Tag: palestine

Israel will defend itself at the UN’s top court against allegations of genocide against Palestinians

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

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Accused of committing genocide against Palestinians, Israel planned to defend its war in Gaza in front of the United Nations’ highest court on Friday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the allegations as hypocrisy that “screams to the heavens”.

Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has vehemently denied the accusations brought by South Africa in one of the biggest cases ever to come before an international court. South African lawyers asked the court on Thursday to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in the besieged coastal territory that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians.

Israel often boycotts international tribunals and UN investigations, saying they are unfair and biased. But, in a sign of how seriously they regard the case, Israeli leaders have taken the rare step of sending a legal team and engaging with the International Court of Justice to defend their reputation.

South African lawyers argued that the war is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

“The scale of destruction in Gaza, the targeting of family homes and civilians, the war being a war on children — all make clear that genocidal intent is both understood and has been put into practice. The articulated intent is the destruction of Palestinian life,” lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said in opening statements Thursday.

The case’s “distinctive feature” was “the reiteration and repetition of genocidal speech throughout every sphere of the state in Israel,” he said.

Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting Hamas, the militant group whose fighters stormed through Israeli communities on October 7 and killed some 1,200 people, mainly civilians. The assailants also abducted around 250 people, nearly half of whom have been released.

“This is an upside-down world — the state of Israel is accused of genocide while it is fighting genocide,” Netanyahu said Thursday in a video statement. “The hypocrisy of South Africa screams to the heavens.”

The case strikes at the heart of Israel’s national identity and goes to the core of one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.

More than 23,000 people in Gaza have died during the military campaign, according to the the Health Ministry in the territory, which is run by Hamas.

“Nothing will stop the suffering except an order from this court,” South African lawyer Adila Hassim told the judges in a packed room of the Peace Palace in The Hague.

A decision on South Africa’s request for “provisional measures” will probably take weeks. The full case is likely to last years.

Israel launched its massive air and ground assault on Gaza soon after Hamas’ deadly attack. Three months later, the offensive has driven nearly 85% of Gaza’s population from their homes.

With only a trickle of food, water, medicine and other supplies entering through an Israeli siege, a quarter of the territory’s residents face starvation. And much of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, has been reduced to a moonscape.

‘Although the courts findings are considered binding, it was unclear whether Israel would heed any order to halt the fighting. If it doesn’t, it could face UN sanctions, although those may be blocked by a United States veto.

The White House declined to comment on how it might respond if the court determines Israel committed genocide. But National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby called the allegations “unfounded”.

“That’s not a word that ought to be thrown around lightly, and we certainly don”t believe that it applies here,” Kirby said.’

Israel says it is battling a fierce enemy that carried out the deadliest attack on its territory since the country was founded in 1948. Israeli leaders insist they are following international law and doing their utmost to avoid harm to civilians. Israel blames Hamas for the high death toll, saying the militants operate in residential areas.

In a post on X after the hearing, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat called South Africa’s presentation “one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy” and referred to the legal team as “Hamas’ representatives in court”. He said South African lawyers distorted the reality in Gaza through a series of “baseless and false claims”. He did not elaborate.

The case targets the center of Israeli identity, which is rooted in the country’s creation as a Jewish state after the Nazi slaughter of 6 million Jews during World War II.

It also evokes issues central to South Africa’s own identity: Its governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own history under the apartheid regime of white minority rule, which restricted most Black people to “homelands” before ending in 1994.

South Africa sought to broaden the case beyond the Israel-Hamas war.

“The violence and the destruction in Palestine and Israel did not begin on October 7, 2023. The Palestinians have experienced systematic oppression and violence for the last 76 years,” said South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.

“Mothers, fathers, children, siblings, grandparents, aunts, cousins are often all killed together. This killing is nothing short of destruction of Palestinian life. It is inflicted deliberately. No one is spared. Not even newborn babies,” said South African lawyer Hassim.

About two-thirds of the dead in Gaza are women and children, according to health officials there. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The world court, which rules on disputes between nations, has never judged a country to be responsible for genocide. The closest it came was in 2007, when it ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the July 1995 massacre by Bosnian Serb forces of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica.

The nearby International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Israel will be back on the International Court of Justice’s docket in February, when hearings open into a UN request for an advisory opinion on the legality of Israeli policies in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Gaza and Ukraine wars shape US political landscape — Trump surges ahead in polls amidst global turmoil

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

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The ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are proving to be pivotal factors shaping the political landscape in the United States, with former President Donald Trump gaining momentum in the polls against incumbent President Joe Biden. As the world grapples with economic recovery and global unrest, the impact of these international crises is becoming increasingly apparent on domestic approval ratings.

Recent polls, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, indicate that Trump has a lead over Biden, with 47% of respondents favoring the former president compared to Biden’s 43%. Biden’s approval ratings have reached a low point, with 64% disapproving of his handling of the presidency, according to PEW research. Among Republicans, Trump remains a popular choice, with 52% naming him as their preferred candidate for the next presidential election.

Nelson Cunningham, a Former Campaign Advisor to President Clinton, in an interview with CNBC-TV18, highlighted the reason why Trump doing better in a head-to-head against Joe Biden right now.

“Well, I’d start with the fact that the world is complicated just at the moment. You have Russia, Ukraine, Gaza Hamas. You have an economy recovering from the pandemic. Inflation has gone way down. We had global inflation over the last two years; it’s gone way down in the US from 14% last year to 3% now,” he said.

“But the world is complicated. It’s easier at this moment to be Donald Trump on the outside and say, ‘If I were president, all these problems would go away’ than it is to be Joe Biden on the inside, working to fix these problems,” Cunningham added.

Additionally, Cunningham noted the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party concerning international conflicts. While historically anti-communist, Republicans are no longer as unified in their support for Ukraine, with a noticeable change in sentiment influenced by Trump’s previous approach to Russia.

However, Cunningham observed that Joe Biden’s status as the Democratic candidate is unequivocal. “No question that Joe Biden will remain Democrat Candidate. Joe Biden is the overwhelming candidate for Democrats; he will clearly be the nominee. Just as Biden is the Democrat candidate of choice, Trump is the person to lead on the Republican side. Republicans have a process to go through in the next few months, but no question Trump will be the Republican candidate.”

Democrats, on the other hand, continue to support Ukraine, but concerns are rising, especially among progressive voters, regarding the Israeli-Gaza conflict. The traditionally strong support for Israel is facing scrutiny from some quarters on the American left due to civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.

Cunningham emphasised that Trump has significantly altered the Republican Party, transforming it into a party of the working class with a different stance on global alliances. In contrast, Biden’s administration is navigating challenges both domestically and internationally. Biden’s age, while a concern for some voters, is countered by his decades of experience, as Cunningham argues that Biden remains vigorous and capable.

The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are emerging as critical issues in the run-up to the elections. The Biden administration is facing pressure to exercise caution in both conflicts, with an emphasis on transitioning from immediate crisis responses to long-term security measures.

With 11 months until the elections, the political landscape remains fluid, leaving room for opinions and views to change. Biden’s focus on economic recovery, coupled with the administration’s approach to international conflicts, will play a significant role in shaping the narrative leading up to the elections.

As the world navigates through crises, both domestic and international, the impact on US politics underscores the complexities facing the Biden administration and the evolving dynamics within the Republican Party.

Watch video for full interview

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

India votes in favour of UN General Assembly resolution seeking ceasefire in Gaza

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

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The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, with 153 nations, including India, in favour of the resolution.

The resolution demands an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, release of hostages, protection of civilians and ensuring humanitarian access.

A total of 153 to 10 nations voted in favour of the resolution, while 23 of them abstained. Austria and Czech Republic were the only two nations from the European Union who voted against it.

Last week, the US had vetoed the resolution by the UN Security Council that would have called for a ceasefire.

During a General Assembly vote in October, as many as 120 nations voted in favour of calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Israel and the US were joined by 12 countries who voted against, while 45 nations had abstained.

Earlier on Tuesday (local time), US President Joe Biden acknowledged the world opinion was moving against Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israel Prime Minister. He said that while Israel continues to have the support of the US and important allies in Europe, it is “starting to lose that support.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Protest outside IIT Bombay against professor, guest speaker for ‘glorifying’ Palestinian ‘terrorist’

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

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A protest was held on Saturday outside the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay seeking the arrest of a professor and a guest speaker for allegedly glorifying terrorism while talking about the Palestinian freedom struggle against Israel.

According to the protesters, Professor Sharmistha Saha of the Humanities and Social Sciences department of the prestigious institution and guest speaker Sudhanva Deshpande, during a talk under academic course ‘HS 835 Performance Theory & Praxis’ on November 6, had allegedly spoken highly of “terrorists” and armed rebellion.

Protesters under the aegis of the Vivek Vichar Manch claimed Deshpande had glorified Palestinian terrorist Zakaria Zubeidi, who is allegedly part of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade which has been designated a terror organisation by several countries, and had even admitted to meeting him in 2015.

They sought a probe into the phone calls and emails of Saha and Deshpande to find out the motive behind the November 6 talk, adding that the professor should be removed from IIT Bombay.

A student told PTI the talk was a blatant move to indoctrinate those studying at IIT Bombay through hateful and false narratives.

In the letter submitted to police on November 7, some students claimed Saha had used her position inappropriately to invite speakers like Deshpande, who they claimed was a “radical Leftist”, for a virtual talk.

Such events have troubling consequences for the academic integrity and safety of IIT Bombay since they promote ideologies linked to terrorism, the letter submitted to the police claimed.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas war: PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates no ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza | Latest updates

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

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Over a month into the war, the situation in Gaza does not seem to be improving. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that there will be no ceasefire unless Hamas releases its hostages. Simultaneously, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a united and Palestinian-led government for Gaza and the West Bank after the war ends. Here are the latest updates:

# Netanyahu reiterates decision against ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reiterated that a ceasefire won’t occur unless Hamas releases the hostages held by the group.

“There will be no ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” the Israeli Prime Minister wrote on ‘X’ on Thursday.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday, “We won’t let Hamas win, we will rebuild our communities in southern Israel and we will continue to live our lives.”

Netanyahu said that Israel plans to maintain “security responsibility” over the Gaza Strip for an indefinite period after the war against Hamas.

# Blinken calls for Palestinian-led government in Gaza and West Bank

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Wednesday for a united and Palestinian-led government for Gaza and the West Bank after the war ends, as a step toward Palestinian statehood. That vision sharpens U.S. differences with ally Israel on what the future should look like for the Palestinian territories once Israel’s military campaign against Hamas winds down.

Any postwar governing plan for Gaza “must include Palestinian-led governance and Gaza unified with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority,” Blinken told reporters in Japan.

# International journalists get in-depth look at Gaza Strip

The Israeli military allowed international journalists to enter the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, offering them a firsthand view of the aftermath of 12 days of intense fighting in the region.

During the visit inside Gaza, journalists travelled in a windowless armoured vehicle with a screen displaying images of the damaged coastline, buildings, and fallen trees. Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles were stationed in the area, with soldiers on patrol.

During the tour, the army said it had found ammunition and a weapons-making facility inside one building. Much of the lab had been removed, but the remnants of rockets, thousands of which had been launched at Israel during the fighting, could be seen.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas war: Kashmir remains unusually silent as pro-Palestine protests are barred

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

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From Western capitals to Muslim states, protest rallies over the Israel-Hamas war have made headlines. But one place known for its vocal pro-Palestinian stance has been conspicuously quiet: Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian authorities have barred any solidarity protest in Muslim-majority Kashmir and asked Muslim preachers not to mention the conflict in their sermons, residents and religious leaders told The Associated Press.

The restrictions are part of India’s efforts to curb any form of protest that could turn into demands for ending New Delhi’s rule in the disputed region. They also reflect a shift in India’s foreign policy under populist Prime Minister Narendra Modi away from its long-held support for the Palestinians, analysts say.

India has long walked a tightrope between the warring sides, with historically close ties to both. While India strongly condemned the October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas and expressed solidarity with Israel, it urged that international humanitarian law be upheld in Gaza amid rising civilian deaths.

But in Kashmir, being quiet is painful for many.

“From the Muslim perspective, Palestine is very dear to us, and we essentially have to raise our voice against the oppression there. But we are forced to be silent,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance leader and a Muslim cleric. He said he has been put under house arrest each Friday since the start of the war and that Friday prayers have been disallowed at the region’s biggest mosque in Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the Himalayan region which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. In 2019, New Delhi removed the region’s semi-autonomy, drastically curbing any form of dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms.

Kashmiris have long shown strong solidarity with the Palestinians and often staged large anti-Israel protests during previous fighting in Gaza. Those protests often turned into street clashes, with demands for an end to India’s rule and dozens of casualties.

Modi, a staunch Hindu nationalist, was one of the first global leaders to swiftly express solidarity with Israel and call the Hamas attack “terrorism.” However, on October 12, India’s foreign ministry issued a statement reiterating New Delhi’s position in support of establishing a “sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel.”

Two weeks later, India abstained during the United Nations General Assembly vote that called for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, a departure from its usual voting record. New Delhi said the vote did not condemn the October 7 assault by Hamas.

“This is unusual,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute.

India “views Israel’s assault on Gaza as a counterterrorism operation meant to eliminate Hamas and not directly target Palestinian civilians, exactly the way Israel views the conflict,” Kugelman said. He added that from New Delhi’s perspective, “such operations don’t pause for humanitarian truces.”

India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, sought to justify India’s abstention.

“It is not just a government view. If you ask any average Indian, terrorism is an issue which is very close to people’s hearts, because very few countries and societies have suffered terrorism as much as we have,” he told a media event in New Delhi on Saturday.

Even though Modi’s government has sent humanitarian assistance for Gaza’s besieged residents, many observers viewed its ideological alignment with Israel as potentially rewarding at a time when the ruling party in New Delhi is preparing for multiple state elections this month and crucial national polls next year.

The government’s shift aligns with widespread support for Israel among India’s Hindu nationalists who form a core vote bank for Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party. It also resonates with the coverage by Indian TV channels of the war from Israel. The reportage has been seen as largely in line with commentary used by Hindu nationalists on social media to stoke anti-Muslim sentiment that in the past helped the ascendance of Modi’s party.

Praveen Donthi, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the war could have a domestic impact in India, unlike other global conflicts, due to its large Muslim population. India is home to some 200 million Muslims who make up the predominantly Hindu country’s largest minority group.

“India’s foreign policy and domestic politics come together in this issue,” Donthi said. “New Delhi’s pro-Israel shift gives a new reason to the country’s right-wing ecosystem that routinely targets Muslims.”

India’s foreign policy has historically supported the Palestinian cause.

In 1947, India voted against the United Nations resolution to create the state of Israel. It was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinians in the 1970s, and it gave the group full diplomatic status in the 1980s.

After the PLO began a dialogue with Israel, India finally established full diplomatic ties with Israel in 1992.

Those ties widened into a security relationship after 1999, when India fought a limited war with Pakistan over Kashmir and Israel helped New Delhi with arms and ammunition. The relationship has grown steadily over the years, with Israel becoming India’s second-largest arms supplier after Russia.

After Modi won his first term in 2014, he became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel in 2017. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, travelled to New Delhi the following year and called the relationship between New Delhi and Tel Aviv a “marriage made in heaven.”

Weeks after Netanyahu’s visit, Modi visited the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, a first by an Indian prime minister, and held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “India hopes that Palestine soon becomes a sovereign and independent country in a peaceful atmosphere,” Modi said.

Modi’s critics, however, now draw comparisons between his government and Israel’s, saying it has adopted certain measures, like demolishing homes and properties, as a form of “collective punishment” against minority Muslims.

Even beyond Kashmir, Indian authorities have largely stopped protests expressing solidarity with Palestinians since the war began, claiming the need to maintain communal harmony and law and order.

Some people have been briefly detained by police for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests even in states ruled by opposition parties. The only state where massive pro-Palestinian protests have taken place is southern Kerala, which is ruled by a leftist government.

But in Kashmir, enforced silence is seen not only as violating freedom of expression but also as impinging on religious duty.

Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi, a Kashmiri religious leader, was not able to lead the past three Friday prayers because he was under house arrest on those days. He said he had wanted to stage a protest rally against “the naked aggression of Israel.” Authorities did not comment on such house arrests.

“Police initially allowed us to condemn Israel’s atrocities inside the mosques. But last Friday they said even speaking (about Palestinians) inside the mosques is not allowed,” Hadi said. “They said we can only pray for Palestine — that too in Arabic, not in local Kashmiri language.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas war: Palestinians flee on foot as Israeli troops enter ‘heart of Gaza city’ | Latest updates

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

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Over 1,400 people have died and 240 have been taken hostage since the Hamas attacks that took place in Israel on October 7. As Tuesday marked a month of the war, people in Tel Aviv lit candles at a memorial to remember those killed and missed. Here are the latest updates from the war:

# Palestinians flee on foot as Israeli troops battle inside Gaza City

Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing south on foot with only what they can carry after running out of food and water in the north, a United Nations agency said Wednesday, as Israel said its troops were battling Hamas militants deep inside Gaza City.

Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already fled their homes, but the growing numbers making their way south point to an increasingly desperate situation in and around Gaza’s largest city, which has come under heavy Israeli bombardment.

# G7 nations back US call for ‘humanitarian pauses’

Top diplomats from the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel’s right to self-defence and calling for humanitarian pauses to speed aid to desperate civilians in the Gaza Strip.

# India’s ban on pro-Palestinian protests amidst growing pro-Israel sentiment

Indian authorities have barred any solidarity protest in Muslim-majority Kashmir and asked Muslim preachers not to mention the conflict in their sermons, residents and religious leaders told The Associated Press.

While India strongly condemned the October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas and expressed solidarity with Israel, it urged that international humanitarian law be upheld in Gaza amid rising civilian deaths.

But in Kashmir, being quiet is painful for many. Read more here.

# Israeli troops are in the ‘heart of Gaza city’

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has announced that Israeli troops have penetrated deep into the heart of Gaza City. Gallant further declared that the country intends to maintain “complete freedom of action to respond to any situation in the Gaza Strip” once the conflict concludes. He emphasised that in the aftermath of this campaign, Hamas, both as a military organisation and a governing body in Gaza, will cease to exist.

# Blinken pushes for humanitarian aid expansion in Gaza

The Group of 7 leading industrial democracies worked to forge a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war at intensive meetings in Tokyo on Wednesday, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior diplomats looking to contain a worsening humanitarian crisis and stop a spillover of fighting into the wider Middle East. Read more here.

# Biden cautions Israel against reoccupying Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned Israel against reoccupying Gaza, emphasising the need for the Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state. He asserted that not all Palestinian people are represented by Hamas and its extreme elements.

# Cyprus to present plan for Gaza humanitarian sea corridor to EU leaders

Cyprus will present its plan for a humanitarian sea corridor to Gaza when the Cypriot president meets other EU heads of state in Paris at an international donor conference for the besieged Palestinian enclave on Nov 9, an official said Tuesday.

Government spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis told reporters the initiative to ship aid from the eastern Mediterranean island will be discussed at length during the conference, which will also seek to address Gaza’s pressing needs including water, electricity and fuel supply.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas conflict: UN says 5,000 people fled on foot to southern Gaza in 4 hours on Monday | Latest updates

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

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Over 10,000 people have been killed across Gaza and the West Bank as Israel continues to bombard the region. Gaza City has been encircled and communication lines are cut off as top United Nations humanitarian agencies are demanding a ceasefire, calling the situation “horrific” and “unacceptable” in a rare joint statement.

Here are the latest updates from the Israel-Palestine conflict:

# More than 400 Americans have departed Gaza, according to US State Department

More than 400 Americans have successfully left Gaza with the assistance of the US State Department. This evacuation came after efforts to secure safe passage faced various challenges and logistical issues, with the first group departing last Wednesday.

# UN says 5,000 people fled on foot to southern Gaza in 4 hours on Monday

On Monday, approximately 5,000 individuals embarked on a four-hour journey by foot to southern Gaza, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This mass movement occurred following an Israeli military advisory for the residents of Gaza and the North Gaza governorates to relocate to the south. The advisory created a corridor available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, as specified by OCHA.

Due to extensive damage to roads leading to the main crossing junction, the area was only accessible on foot. Families, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, were observed walking long distances while carrying their personal belongings by hand.

OCHA’s report indicates that approximately 1.5 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced. Among them, about 717,000 have sought shelter in 149 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) facilities, while 122,000 are taking refuge in hospitals, churches, public buildings, and 110,000 people have found shelter in 89 non-UNRWA schools. The remainder have been hosted by local families.

The Khan Younis Training Centre, the most crowded UNRWA shelter, currently accommodates over 22,000 internally displaced individuals. The living conditions there are extremely cramped, with less than two square meters (about 22 square feet) of space per person, and a single toilet being shared by at least 600 people, according to OCHA’s statement on Tuesday.

# Israel will control Gaza security after war ends, Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that Israel is planning to assume control of the security situation in Gaza once the current conflict concludes. He stated that Israel will have the “overall security responsibility” in Gaza for an “indefinite period.”

Netanyahu emphasised the importance of Gaza being governed by those who do not follow the path of Hamas, and he expressed his belief that Israel will maintain this security responsibility due to the consequences of not doing so.

# Pakistan sends second relief flight to Egypt with aid for Gaza

Pakistan has dispatched a second relief flight to Egypt, carrying essential aid for Gaza, which includes hygiene kits, medicine, and food provisions. The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this announcement.

At the Islamabad International Airport, the send-off ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Minister for Human Rights Khalil George, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan. During the event, the foreign minister expressed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and strongly denounced Israel’s use of excessive and indiscriminate force against the civilians in Gaza, including women and children, who are currently trapped.

# Israeli military says it located and destroyed several tunnels in Gaza residential area

The Israeli military reported on Tuesday that it had destroyed a number of tunnels in a residential area in the northeastern part of the Gaza Strip. The operation, conducted with the assistance of reservists, took place in the Beit Hanoun area. While the IDF released a video showing the destruction of tunnels in Beit Hanoun, CNN has not independently confirmed the location.

For additional context, in 2021, Hamas claimed to have built approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) of tunnels beneath Gaza. These tunnels are used for various purposes, including the transportation of people and goods, as well as serving as command centers for Hamas, providing a degree of concealment from Israeli surveillance due to the blockades in place since 2007.

# All 140 evacuated Palestinians receiving treatment in Egypt are in serious condition, health ministry says

According to Egypt’s health ministry, all 140 Palestinians who were evacuated to Egypt for medical treatment from Gaza are in critical condition. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the health ministry spokesperson, conveyed this information through the Egyptian government-affiliated ON TV on Monday.

Among the evacuees, there are 55 children under the age of 18 and 35 women, as reported by Abdel Ghaffar. The medical teams in Egypt are currently performing more than 30 surgical operations daily to address various injuries, including burns, and some cases require specialised treatment.

Despite the substantial medical efforts, the number of injured individuals evacuated to Egypt is considered relatively low. According to the spokesperson, Egypt’s medical teams and hospitals are well-prepared to handle a larger influx of patients if necessary.

Egypt’s Minister of Health, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, expressed concern over the severity of burns among the children, with some cases involving burns that affect up to 60% of their bodies.

# PM Netanyahu open to ‘little pauses’ in Gaza

After more than a week of public pressure from the US for “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has allowed that his government might be open to only “little pauses” in its assault on Hamas. He also vowed that Israel will take control of “overall security” of besieged Gaza after the war.

“Well, there’ll be no cease-fire, general cease-fire, in Gaza without the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said when asked about US President Joe Biden’s call for humanitarian pauses. “As far as tactical little pauses, an hour here, an hour there. We’ve had them before, I suppose, we’ll check the circumstances in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages to leave. But I don’t think there’s going to be a general cease-fire.”

# UN Security Council fails to agree on resolution again

The UN Security Council on Monday failed again to agree on a resolution on the month-long Israel-Hamas war.

Despite more than two hours of closed-door discussions on Monday, differences remained. The US is calling for “humanitarian pauses” while many other council members are demanding a “humanitarian cease-fire” to deliver desperately needed aid and prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza.

# Hezbollah and Hamas’ military wings in Lebanon exchange fire with Israel

The military wing of the Palestinian group Hamas said Monday it fired rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese side of the border.

The Qassam Brigades said in a statement its militants fired 16 rockets on the town of Nahariya and the southern outskirts of the city of Haifa in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The Israeli army said approximately 30 rockets were fired from the Lebanese side targeting northern Israel, adding it was responding by shelling the origin points of rocket launches. The exchange lasted about half an hour and Israel’s Iron Dome could be clearly seen intercepting rockets from Lebanon. Relative clam prevailed afterwards.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas war: Blinken wraps up Middle East tour with mixed results on Gaza diplomacy

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

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a grueling Middle East diplomatic tour on Monday in Turkey after only limited success in efforts to forge a regional consensus on how best to ease civilian suffering in Gaza as Israel intensifies its war against Hamas.

In the Turkish capital, Ankara, Blinken met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following a frantic weekend of travel that took him from Israel to Jordan, the occupied West Bank, Cyprus and Iraq, to build support for the Biden administration’s proposal for “humanitarian pauses” to Israel’s relentless military campaign in Gaza.

“All of this is a work in progress,” Blinken said before leaving Turkey. “We don’t obviously agree on everything, but there are common views on some of the imperatives of the moment that we’re working on together.”

#WATCH | Ankara, Turkey: US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken says, “We just had a very good, lengthy, productive conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Hakan Fidan….We talked about the important work that we’re doing in support of Ukraine. Turkey has… pic.twitter.com/nlsMnr1FBl

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023

Blinken’s shuttle diplomacy came as Israeli troops surrounded Gaza City and cut off the northern part of the besieged Hamas-ruled territory. Troops are expected to enter the city Monday or Tuesday and are likely to face militants fighting street by street using a vast network of tunnels. Casualties will likely rise on both sides in the month-old war, which has already killed more than 10,000 Palestinians according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The top U.S. diplomat hopes that pauses in the war would allow for a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the release of hostages captured by Hamas during the militants’ deadly Oct. 7 incursion into southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians — while also preventing the conflict from spreading regionally.

“We’ve engaged the Israelis on steps that they can take to minimize civilian casualties,” Blinken said before leaving Ankara. “We’re working, as I said, very aggressively on getting more humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

“We are very focused on the hostages held by Hamas, including the Americans, and we are doing everything possible to bring them home,” he added.

State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said in a statement both Blinken and Fidan “emphasized the importance of the longstanding U.S.-Turkish cooperation as NATO Allies and Euro-Atlantic security priorities including Sweden’s NATO accession.”

Blinken did not meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has been highly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an outlier among NATO allies in not expressing full support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

As the Blinken-Fidan meeting got underway, dozens of protesters from an Islamist group waved Turkish and Palestinian flags and held up anti-U.S. and anti-Israel placards outside the Foreign Ministry. Police earlier in the day dispersed a group of students marching toward the ministry chanting “murderer Blinken, get out of Turkey!”

Also Monday, about 150 people rallied outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, carrying a large banner that read: “No to genocide!”

It was the second day of protests denouncing Blinken’s visit. On Sunday, pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with Turkish riot police outside the U.S.-Turkish Incirlik military air base in the southern city of Adana. Police fired tear gas and water cannon as the demonstrators tried to cross fields to enter the base.

Turkish officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, said Fidan had urged Blinken to prevent the targeting of civilians in Gaza and their forced displacement, and also press for a “full cease-fire.”

Blinken’s mission, his second to the region since the war began, has found only tepid, if any, support for his efforts to contain the fallout from the conflict. Israel has rejected the idea of pauses while Arab and Muslim nations are instead demanding an immediate cease-fire as the casualty toll soars among Palestinian civilians under Israeli bombardments of Gaza.

U.S. officials are seeking to convince Israel of the strategic importance of respecting the laws of war by protecting non-combatants and significantly boosting deliveries of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s beleaguered civilian population.

It remained unclear, however, if Netanyahu would agree to temporary, rolling pauses in the massive operation to eradicate Hamas — or whether outrage among Palestinians and their supporters could be assuaged if he did.

Already Jordan and Turkey have recalled their ambassadors to Israel to protest its tactics and the tide of international opinion appears to be turning from sympathy toward Israel in the aftermath of October 7 to revulsion as images of death and destruction in Gaza spread around the world.

On Saturday in the Jordanian capital of Amman, both the Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers appeared at a joint news conference with Blinken. The two said Israel’s war had gone beyond self-defense and could no longer be justified as it now amounted to collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

That sentiment was echoed by tens of thousands of demonstrators who marched in the streets of world capitals over the weekend to protest Israel and condemn U.S. support for Israel.

From Turkey, Blinken headed to Asia where the Gaza conflict will likely share top billing with other international crises at a series of events in Japan, South Korea and India — including Russia’s war on Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

On Sunday, Blinken flew from the occupied West Bank, where he held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Met with President Abbas and affirmed our commitment to delivery of humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services in Gaza. Made clear that extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank must end and reiterated our support for a two state solution. pic.twitter.com/gax3F23ned

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 5, 2023

When word spread of Blinken’s arrival in the West Bank city of Ramallah, dozens of Palestinians turned out to protest, holding signs showing dripping blood and with messages that included, “Blinken blood is on your hands.” The meeting with Abbas ended without any public comment.

The Palestinian Authority administers semiautonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It has not been a factor in the Gaza Strip since 2007, when Hamas seized control after winning in elections there a year earlier. Abbas himself is unpopular among Palestinians.

American forces in the region face a surge of attacks by Iranian-allied militias in Iraq and elsewhere. U.S. forces shot down another one-way attack drone Sunday that was targeting American and coalition troops near their base in neighboring Syria, a U.S. official said. From Baghdad Blinken traveled to Turkey.

The Biden administration, while remaining the strongest backer of Israel’s military response to Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, is increasingly seeking to use its influence with Israel to try to temper the effect of Israel’s weeks of complete siege and near round-the-clock air, ground and sea assaults in Gaza, home to 2.3 million civilians.

Arab states are resisting American suggestions that they play a larger role in resolving the crisis, expressing outrage at the civilian toll of the Israeli military operations and believing Gaza to be a problem largely of Israel’s own making.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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

Israel-Hamas war: Over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, says Health Ministry | Latest updates

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

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On Monday, November 6, Israel launched “significant” airstrikes on Gaza while its soldiers engaged with Hamas forces in the besieged territory. The country disregarded ceasefire appeals from United Nations aid agencies, which have criticised the rising number of civilian casualties during the month-long conflict.

#Over 200 Indian Bnei Menashe Jews join IDF’s fight against Hamas

More than 200 Indian Jews, members of the Bnei Menashe community, made Aliyah since the October 7 massacre and were called up for either reserve or active combat duty, the Shavei Israel nonprofit announced Monday. Seventy-five of the recent immigrants from India have enlisted in combat units, while 140 were called up for reserve service across Israel.

#PM Modi, Iran president share views on ‘difficult situation’ in West Asia; stress de-escalation, continued humanitarian aid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on Monday exchanged views on the “difficult situation” in the West Asia region, with the PM expressing deep concern at the “terrorist incidents, violence and loss of civilian lives”. The two leaders stressed the need for preventing escalation, ensuring continued humanitarian aid and early restoration of peace and stability, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

#South Africa recalls ambassador & diplomatic mission to Israel, accuses it of genocide in Gaza

South Africa’s government has recalled on Monday its ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel in condemnation of the bombardment of the Gaza Strip, calling it a genocide. The government also threatened action against the Israeli ambassador to South Africa over his recent remarks about the African country’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war. No further details were given about the remarks.

The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” said minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She added the cabinet noted the disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa about those who are opposing the atrocities and genocide of the Israeli government and that the department of international relations has been instructed to take the necessary measures within the diplomatic channels and protocols to deal with (his) conduct”.

#Palestinian death toll in Israel-Hamas war exceeds 10,000: Hamas Health Ministry 

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip says the Palestinian death toll in Israel-Hamas war now exceeds 10,000.

# Israeli troops surround Gaza City and cut off northern part of the besieged Hamas-ruled territory

Israeli troops early Monday had surrounded Gaza City and cut off the northern part of the besieged territory as communications lost for several hours across Gaza overnight were gradually being restored. Troops are expected to enter the city Monday or Tuesday, Israeli media reported, and militants who have prepared for years are expected to fight street by street using a vast network of tunnels. Casualties will likely rise on both sides in the month-old war, which has already killed more than 9,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

# Israel army says ‘coordinated’ with Jordan to drop medical aid into Gaza

The Israeli army said Monday it had “coordinated” with Jordan to air-drop vital medical supplies to a field hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip, more than four weeks since the start of the war.

“Overnight, in coordination with the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), a Jordanian airplane dropped medical equipment and food to the Jordanian Hospital in the Gaza Strip. The equipment will be used by the medical staff for patients,” the Israeli army said in a statement.

# 22-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi arrested during raid: Israeli army

The Israeli army says it has arrested the prominent 22-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

“Ahed Tamimi was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence and terrorist activities in the town of Nabi Salih” near Ramallah, an army spokesman told AFP. “Tamimi was transferred to Israeli security forces for further questioning”

# Israeli warplanes hit refugee camps in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. The strikes came as the US kept urging Israel to take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and rising civilian deaths.

The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 9,700 with more than 4,000 of them children and minors, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 140 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.

# France reports rising anti-Semitic acts since October 7 attack

France’s interior minister said the number of anti-Semitic acts committed in the country has “exploded” since the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza, with more than 1,000 recorded.

# US State Secretary Antony Blinken visits West Bank unannounced

U. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Ramallah in the West Bank for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken later flew to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

On Saturday, Blinken met with Arab foreign ministers in Jordan, after holding talks in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insists there could be no temporary cease-fire until all hostages held by Hamas are released. President Joe Biden suggested that progress was being made on the humanitarian pause.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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