Tag: Israel Palestine conflict

Israel says it will reopen border crossing with hard-hit northern Gaza

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Israel on Friday said it is taking steps to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including reopening a key border crossing into hard-hit northern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the plans, just hours after President Joe Biden told him that future US support for the war in Gaza depends on Israel taking more action to protect civilians and aid workers. The announcement did not elaborate on quantities or types of items to be let in.

Still, despite their differences, the Biden administration has continued to provide Israel crucial military aid and diplomatic support for Israel’s six-month war against Hamas. Israel faces growing international isolation after its forces killed seven aid workers helping deliver food in Gaza. The Palestinian death toll soared above 33,000 people on Thursday, with another 75,600 wounded, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

The United Nations says much of the population in northern Gaza is on the brink of starvation. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza – a charge Israel strongly denies – and the UN Security Council has issued a legally binding demand for a cease-fire. The war began on Oct 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Joe Biden tells Benjamin Netanyahu US support hinges on protecting civilians

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that US support for his war in Gaza depends on new steps to protect civilians, a shift in position for the American leader who has faced increased pressure to take a harder line against Israel amid mounting deaths.

The warning, delivered in a Thursday phone call between the two leaders, signaled that Biden is toughening his stance after an Israeli strike that killed seven people delivering food to displaced Palestinians in Gaza. Biden called the incident “unacceptable,” according to a White House description of the conversation.

Hours later, the prime minister’s office announced that the country’s security cabinet had authorized action to bolster assistance and “prevent a humanitarian crisis.”

Israel will allow the temporary delivery of aid to Gaza through the Ashdod and Erez checkpoints in Israel, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, which added that more Jordanian aid could flow through a crossing at Kerem Shalom. The decision, according to the statement, would also “ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goals of the war.”

Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said “We welcome the steps announced by the Israeli government tonight at the president’s request following his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

The prime minister’s office has not released an account of the Biden-Netanyahu call, which came amid heightened tensions between the two men.

Biden said Israel must “announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” the White House said in a statement earlier Thursday. Biden said an “immediate” cease-fire is necessary to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged Netanyahu to secure a deal in long-running, indirect negotiations with Hamas.

“He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” according to the statement. “President Biden emphasized that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable.”

Biden did not specify when and how he might shift his approach to the Israel-Hamas war, which is in its sixth month and has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. But his statement is the closest he has come to placing new requirements on US support for Israel’s military operations.

Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu vowed to press on with its war effort.

White House spokesman John Kirby declined to elaborate on what steps the US would take if Israel does not do more to protect civilians, including if Biden would withhold military assistance.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels that “if we don’t see the changes we need to see, there’ll be changes in our policy.” He did not detail the nature of those potential changes.

The US for weeks has urged Netanyahu to curb civilian deaths and has objected to a plan to invade the southern enclave of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians fled during Israel’s war with Hamas.

This week’s air strike on a convoy of workers from World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief group founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, signaled a breaking point for the White House.

Kirby said Thursday’s call, which he said lasted around 30 minutes and described as “direct” and “businesslike,” was scheduled in response to the bombing. Biden was “shaken by the attack” that killed the aid workers and “felt strongly” it was time to talk to Netanyahu, the spokesman said. It was their first call since mid-March.

Israel has said the strike inadvertently hit the aid workers and is conducting an investigation to determine how the strike occurred. Kirby said that probe is “close to complete.”

The president is facing mounting political pressure from progressives, as well as Arab- and Muslim-Americans, who object to his support for Israel’s war effort. The aid-worker attack prompted Democrats to issue fresh calls for placing conditions on American military backing for Israel.

Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US and European Union, has also drawn criticism from Republican Donald Trump, who vocally supported Netanyahu during his presidency.

Trump in a Thursday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt said Israel had to finish the war quickly and that it is “losing the PR war,” while declining to answer whether he still remains 100% behind Israel.

“You’ve got to get it over with, and you have to get back to normalcy. And I’m not sure that I’m loving the way they’re doing it, because you’ve got to have victory,” he said. “They shouldn’t be releasing tapes like that. They’re doing, that’s why they’re losing the PR war.”

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Israel’s military says ‘misidentification’ led to Gaza airstrikes that killed aid workers

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Israel’s military chief says a deadly Israeli strike that killed seven aid workers in the Gaza Strip was the result of a misidentification in complex conditions.

Announcing the results of a preliminary investigation early Wednesday, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi expressed remorse over the killings and called the event a grave mistake.

It was a mistake that followed a misidentification – at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened, he said. He gave no further details. He said an independent body would conduct a thorough investigation that would be completed in the coming days.

Also Read: Joe Biden escalates criticism of Israel after aid worker deaths

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Joe Biden escalates criticism of Israel after aid worker deaths

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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US President Joe Biden said Israel hadn’t done enough to protect civilians after the death of seven aid workers, in some of his sternest criticism yet of the country’s conduct in the months since it launched a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed,” Biden said in a statement released on  Tuesday night. “This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult – because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians.”

“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” Biden said.

Biden has called out Israel before but the sharply worded statement was among the most critical since Israel launched its campaign in response to Hamas’s assault on Oct 7. It also highlighted growing US frustration with Israel’s prosecution of its war and the mounting civilian death toll.

“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen. Israel has also not done enough to protect civilians,” the president added.

Biden’s statement was among several issued by Western leaders who have condemned the air strike that killed seven workers from World Central Kitchen, a prominent disaster relief group founded by the chef José Andrés. His remarks came as the administration raises the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Netanyahu Tuesday and said he was “appalled” by the aid workers’ deaths. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he expressed “anger and concern” in a telephone call with Netanyahu. “This is completely unacceptable,” Albanese told reporters. The seven dead include three British citizens, one dual-citizen American and one Australian.

Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken by the deaths” and called for a swift investigations. “Israel has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into why the aid workers’ vehicles were hit by airstrikes. That investigation must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.”

Biden said he would continue to press Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid, and that he is pushing “hard for an immediate cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.”

Biden said he had spoken with Andrés to express condolences.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials expressed regret over the deaths. “Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” the prime minister said on the social media platform X. “This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.”

Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi, speaking in a video statement uploaded to X, said Israel will continue to protect aid workers.

“The strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers. It was a mistake that followed a misidentification — at night, during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza.”

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Israeli attack on Iranian consulate in Syria increases the risk of escalation in the region: Expert

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The recent air strikes on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, allegedly conducted by Israel, have sparked condemnation and raised concerns about escalating tensions in the region. At least 11 people, including senior Iranian military commanders, were reportedly killed in the attack, prompting swift reactions from Iran, Syria, and international observers.

DP Srivastava, former Indian Envoy to Iran and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) expressed concern over the violation of Syrian sovereignty and the potential repercussions of the attack. He questioned the motives behind Israel’s actions, highlighting the risks of escalation.

“This attack was a violation of Syrian sovereignty and it was a violation of the Vienna Convention. I’m wondering why would Israel do it? Because the attack on a government facility raises the risk of escalation. And I don’t think that is something which is either Israel’s interest or in the interest of countries of the region. So the timing of this attack, if it is carried out by Israel is very concerning,” Srivastava stated in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

Iran swiftly accused Israel of carrying out the strikes, while Syria condemned the attack without explicitly naming Israel. The Iranian Foreign Minister indicated that Iran reserves the right to retaliate and will decide on the appropriate response to the aggression.

Srivastava emphasised Iran’s demonstrated restraint despite its regional influence, echoing Iranian statements regarding the reserved right to retaliate. He warned against the expansion of conflict, stressing that a broader regional confrontation would not serve the interests of any party involved.

The militant group Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, vowed to mete out “punishment and revenge” in response to the attack. However, the United States denied any involvement or prior knowledge of Israel’s actions, while Israel’s military refrained from commenting on the reports.

Burzine Waghmar, from the Centre for Iranian Studies at the University of London, contextualised the attack as part of Israel’s strategy to maintain deterrence against Iran. He suggested that Israel seeks to prevent Tehran from dictating the timing and location of potential conflict, which could escalate into a multi-front war involving Iranian proxies across Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.

Amidst the escalating tensions, a tragic incident occurred in central Gaza, where at least seven foreign nationals working for the non-profit organization ‘World Central Kitchen’ were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The NGO, involved in delivering food aid to civilians in Gaza, reported that its workers were operating in a ‘deconflicted’ zone when they were hit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident, describing it as an unintentional tragedy.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

World Central Kitchen says workers killed in Israeli strike

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Several workers from World Central Kitchen were killed in an airstrike by the Israeli military in Gaza, the disaster relief group founded by celebrity chef José Andrés said in a post on X.

World Central Kitchen said it was aware of reports that members of its team were killed in the attack while working to support its humanitarian food efforts in Gaza. Four foreign aid workers and a Palestinian driver were killed, according to Hamas health authorities and witnesses.

“I am heartbroken and grieving for ta postheir families and friends and our whole WCK family,” Andrés said on X. “The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon.”

The Israel Defense Forces said it was conducting a “thorough review at the highest levels” to understand the circumstances of the incident.

WCK has helped oversee the construction of a pier and the delivery of aid through it to the northern Gaza Strip, where humanitarian agencies say hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are living in dire conditions, including malnutrition and hunger.

Last month, the charity delivered the first shipment of aid via a sea route. Two more ships have set sail from Cyprus and arrived in Gaza.

WCK staffers, along with thousands of volunteers and contractors, responded to disasters in nearly 20 countries last year — feeding war victims in Ukraine, delivering meal kits to earthquake survivors in Syria and Turkey and partnering with local aid groups in Gaza, Israel and surrounding countries to feed war victims and the families of hostages.

WKC said on its website that its teams have been set up a field kitchen in Rafah and created a network of community kitchens across Gaza.

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Israel agrees to US talks on Rafah after scrapping earlier visit

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The US and Israel agreed to hold an in-person meeting to discuss their dispute over an expected Israeli invasion of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrapped an earlier visit amid increasingly sour ties.

The meeting, which could take place as early as next week, was announced in a carefully worded readout from a video call of the two sides’ ‘Strategic Consultative Group’. It said the US “expressed its concerns with various courses of action in Rafah,” while Israel “agreed to take these concerns into account and to have follow up discussions between experts.”

That appeared to mark a concession, however small, by Netanyahu, who has so far publicly dismissed US warnings about his plans for a full-scale attack on Rafah as part of his forces’ bid to root out Hamas militants in the wake of the group’s Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by the US and the EU.

The US has urged Israel to protect the more than 1 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in Rafah, with Biden calling an invasion a “red line” and Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning an attack would worsen the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has insisted his forces will go ahead once they come up with a plan to remove civilians from the area.

The US team that attended Monday’s virtual meeting was led by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Blinken. Israel was represented by National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and Minster for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

The meeting was initially meant to take place in person, but Netanyahu told his delegation not to travel to Washington after the US declined to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

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Israel team leaves Doha as official blames Hamas for ‘dead end’ on Gaza truce talks: Report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Israel has called its negotiators back from Doha after deeming the mediated truce talks on Gaza at “a dead end” because of demands put forth by Hamas, news agency Reuters quoted a senior Israeli offiial as saying.

The official is close to the Mossad spymaster, who is heading the talks, the agency reported. The official has accused Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza leader, of sabotaging the diplomacy “as part of a wider effort to inflame the war over Ramadan,” Reuters reported.

Israel and Hamas had stepped up negotiations, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, on a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in exchange for the release of 40 of the 130 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Hamas has sought to parlay any deal into an end to the fighting and witdhrawal of Israeli forces, Reuters reported, adding that Israel has ruled it out, saying it will eventually resume efforts to dismantle the military and governance capabilities of Hamas.

Hamas also wants the thousands of Palestinians who fled from Gaza city and its surrounding areas to the south to be allowed to return to the north.

The Israeli official said that Israel had agreed to double the number of Palestinians it would release in exchange for the hostages to 700-800 prisoners and allow some displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Tuesday that Hamas had made “delusional” demands, which it said showed the Palestinians were not interested in a deal.

In Tel Aviv, a crowd of around 300 family members of hostages and their supporters gathered outside the Israeli defence headquarters demanding a deal be done to release the captives. Some locked themselves inside cages in protest, holding placards with photos of their loved ones. “No price is too high,” one of the signs said.

Hamas has accused Israel of stalling at the talks while it carries out its military offensive.

The discussions in Doha are continuing as Palestinians in Gaza face severe shortages of food, medicine and hospital care, and concerns grow that famine will take hold.

With inputs from Reuters

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has blunt welcome for his Israeli counterpart

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The number of “civilian casualties is far too high, and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low” in the Gaza war, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a blunt welcome to his Israeli counterpart at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

The US visit by Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was already underway when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip to Washington by other senior officials after the Biden administration decided not to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Although a US defense official described Austin and Gallant as good friends, the growing tensions over Israel’s conduct of the war were evident. Gallant made no reply to Austin’s remarks on casualties and aid, according to a Pentagon transcript, focusing on Israel’s fight against Hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the US and European Union. He said Israel faces “attacks from seven different fronts” and cited Iran’s support for groups threatening his country.

Negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas “require us to join hands in our military and diplomatic efforts” and increase pressure on Hamas, Gallant said, according to the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

The US defense official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Austin emphasized Israel must move the more than one million civilians sheltering in the southern Gaza city of Rafah out of harm’s way before launching an attack on Hamas forces there.

Speaking to reporters later, Gallant said that “the ground maneuvering in Gaza serves two goals: destroying Hamas as a military organization, and creating the conditions necessary to bring the hostages home.”

“We discussed the humanitarian efforts in Gaza – not only in terms of bringing the aid in but the real issue of distribution,” he added. “Hamas is doing everything to sabotage the delivery of aid and to create pressure at the expense of the Palestinian people.”

Gallant also met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in what White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described as a “good, productive meeting.”

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, Jean-Pierre said Sullivan conveyed President Joe Biden’s “ironclad support for Israel’s security and defense against all threats, including Iran” and also “discussed the need for Israel to do more to sustain and expand humanitarian assistance going into Gaza.” Gallant also met Monday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow