Israel's Bigotry
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UNRWA chief warns of misinformation endangering staff safety in Gaza
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini has said “too many” staff members are being killed in Gaza amid a “barrage of misinformation and disinformation” portraying them as operatives of armed groups including Hamas.
“Such horrific claims, made publicly, are not backed by evidence and are dangerous,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “Several colleagues told us they no longer feel safe to put on the UNRWA vest.”
He added that the claims were “creating a distraction from the atrocities of this war”, dehumanising humanitarian workers and attempting to justify their deaths, and undermining the largest provider of aid in Gaza.
War drums beat louder: more strikes in northern Israel
At least three drone attacks struck the Israeli areas of Kiryat Shmona and Beit Hillel near the Lebanese border, reports Israel’s Ynet News site.
Air sirens did not go off before the attacks.
Meanwhile, a projectile also hit the northern Israeli community of Ya’ara, injuring several people, reports The Times of Israel.
The attacks follow an earlier missile attack that hit Israel’s Ramim Ridge in the northern Galilee area, injuring at least eight people, one critically.
Mahmoud Abbas expresses deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia
Mahmoud Abbas “expressed deep gratitude” for the Saudi crown prince’s announcement that the kingdom would not normalise ties with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to the Wafa news agency.
Abbas said Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “bold and decisive statements affirm the strong unified Arab and Islamic stance in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.
Time's up for Israeli occupation
The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution urging Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, which it deemed illegal, within a year.
White House warns against 'escalation' in Mideast after Lebanon blasts
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday (Sep 18) warned all sides against escalation in the Middle East after two days of blasts in Lebanon, widely attributed to Israel, on hand-held devices targeting militant group Hezbollah.
"We still don't want to see an escalation of any kind. We don't believe that the way to solve where we're at in this crisis is by additional military operations at all," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Israel enters "new phase" of war, shifts focus to Lebanon border
Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, announced the beginning of a "new phase" of war, claiming that military forces and resources will be redirected from Gaza to the northern border with Lebanon.
Sisi vows intesified Gaza peace talks with visiting Blinken
CAIRO (AFP) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed on Wednesday (Sep 18) to intensify Gaza peace talks in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at salvaging the negotiations.
Blinken's visit to Cairo came hours after a wave of deadly blasts targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon that further complicated the Gaza talks.
Saudi crown prince says no Israel ties without Palestinian state
RIYADH (AFP) – Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler said Wednesday that the kingdom will not establish ties with Israel until a Palestinian state has been created, in a blow to US efforts to seal a normalisation deal.
"We renew the kingdom's rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people," Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the opening session of its advisory Shura Council.
Israel says 'centre of gravity' of war moving north
JERUSALEM (AFP) - The defence minister of Israel, which has been fighting Hamas in Gaza for nearly a year, said on Wednesday (Sep 18) the war's "centre of gravity" was moving north, where Israel has clashed daily with Lebanon's Hezbollah.
"The centre of gravity is moving northward - resources are being allocated," Yoav Gallant said during a visit to an Israeli air base.
UN to demand Israel end 'unlawful' presence in Palestinian territories within 12 months
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United Nations General Assembly will on Wednesday (Sep 18) adopt a Palestinian-drafted resolution that demands Israel end "its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" within 12 months.
The action will isolate Israel days before world leaders travel to New York for their annual UN gathering. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to address the 193-member General Assembly on Sep 26, the same day as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
At least 20 killed, 450 wounded in fresh wave of Lebanon device explosions
BEIRUT (Agencies) - Communication devices used by Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah detonated late Wednesday afternoon across the country's south and in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut, killing at least 20 people and wounding 450, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
The attack comes a day after exploding pagers killed 12 people in Lebanon and Syria, including two children, and injured around 2,800 others.
