Israeli Hostilities
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Israeli settler violence ‘must stop’: French FM
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne has said that Israeli “settler violence must stop” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, AFP reports.
“Under no circumstances can there be forced displacement of Palestinians, neither out of Gaza nor out of the West Bank,” Sejourne said during a Middle East tour aimed at securing a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The French minister denounced anti-Palestinian rhetoric and “even calls to commit war crimes” by Israeli officials, after some Netanyahu allies have appeared to endorse Jewish re-settlement of the Gaza Strip after the war.
UNRWA chief arrives in Gulf countries amid funding issue
The head of the UNRWA is visiting three Gulf states this week, seeking to drum up support after key donors suspended funding following Israeli allegations that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 attack, Reuters reports.
Some 15 of the agency’s most important donors, including the United States, have suspended funding over Israel’s allegations involving 12 of its 13,000 staff, prompting UNRWA to warn last week that it might be forced to shut down by the end of February.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously said nine of those implicated had been terminated, one was dead and the identities of the other two were being clarified.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on X he met with the United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday to discuss UNRWA’s work in “preserving the stability in the region” and delivering aid to two million people in Gaza.
Spokesperson Juliette Touma told Reuters that Lazzarini would then visit Qatar and Kuwait later this week.
Displaced families leave Gaza’s al-Amal Hospital after two-week siege
The Red Crescent says hundreds of displaced families are leaving al-Amal Hospital and the PRCS’s headquarters in Khan Younis “after being besieged for more than two weeks by occupation forces, amid an atmosphere of terror and panic due to ongoing shelling and gunfire”.
The PRCS shows a video of people carrying bags as medics try to help them evacuate amid the sound of drones above them.
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) February 5, 2024
Spain to give UNRWA extra $3.8m after key donors suspend aid
Spain will send the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA an additional 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) in aid, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told lawmakers, Reuters reports.
Major donors to UNRWA, including the United States and Germany, suspended funding after allegations emerged that around 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the October 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.
“UNRWA’s situation is desperate and there is a serious risk that its humanitarian activities will be paralysed in Gaza within a few weeks,” Albares told lawmakers.
Madrid contributed 18.5 million euros directly to UNRWA in 2023, including 10 million euros approved in December following the decision to triple development and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories.
On Friday, neighboring Portugal announced additional aid to UNRWA worth one million euros. Foreign Minister Joao Cravinho wrote on social media platform X it was essential “not to turn our backs on the Palestinian population at this difficult time”.
‘Time running out’ for diplomatic solution in south Lebanon: Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has said that “time is running out” to reach a diplomatic solution in south Lebanon, as tensions flare between the two countries, with daily cross-border fire, AFP reports.
“Israel will act militarily to return the evacuated citizens” to its northern border area if no diplomatic solution is reached to end the violence, Katz told his visiting French counterpart Stephane Sejourne, according to a statement issued by the Israeli foreign ministry.
Jordan carries out aerial drops of humanitarian aid in northern Gaza
The Royal Jordanian Air Force and the Dutch Air Force have made the aerial drops in the vicinity of the Jordanian Field Hospital 77 in northern Gaza, according to the Jordanian army.
“The aid that was dropped contained relief, humanitarian and medical materials by means of special boxes equipped with parachutes guided by the GPS system, with the aim of delivering them to the specified locations and within the necessary timings,” the army said in a statement.
Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims responsibility for drone strike in Syria
The umbrella group that includes armed groups such as Kataib Hezbollah says it was behind the drone attack on a US Base in Al Omar oil field in Syria’s Deir Az Zor province.
The group said in a statement that the attack was a continuation of its approach to “resisting the occupation”, a show of support to the people of Gaza, and a “response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against Palestinian civilians”.
The group was also behind last week’s drone attack that killed three US military personnel in northeastern Jordan, near the border with Syria.
Al-Quds says it struck Israeli troops and vehicles in Khan Younis
Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad group, has said that it conducted an attack on Israeli troops in the city of Khan Younis in the south of Gaza.
“We bombarded a position of enemy soldiers and vehicles with mortar shells in the axis of progress, southwest of Khan Younis,” the group said in a statement on Telegram.
Earlier on Monday, al-Quds said its fighters targeted Israeli soldiers “on the front lines” of Khan Younis with “anti-personnel bombs”, without clarifying the causalities of the attack.
Israeli military says it killed dozens of Palestinian fighters in 24 hours
Here is a summary of what the Israeli military said in a post on X:
Five Palestinian fighters were killed using jets, vessels and tanks in the centre of the Gaza Strip
Hamas fighters were targeted in the north and centre of the Gaza Strip
Over the last day, two combat teams killed dozens of Palestinian fighters
In Khan Younis, a fighter jet targeted Hamas fighters who were planting explosives
In the west of Khan Younis, an infantry brigade is engaged against Palestinian fighters
Over the past 24 hours, the military has killed dozens of Palestinian fighters
It raided parts of Khan Younis and killed 10 Palestinian fighters
‘Newton of Gaza’: Teen generates electricity with basic tools
A 15-year-old Palestinian has been named the “Newton of Gaza” after he successfully generated electricity with basic tools.
Amid a widespread shortage of energy and almost every necessary basic material, he achieved it by using what is left from the destruction of Israel’s war.
‘We’re being starved’: Dispatch from Gaza City as Israeli assault continues
Staying alive for Palestinians is a “war in and of itself”, enduring the daily struggles like staying safe, fighting hunger and protecting ourselves against the biting cold amid Israel’s relentless attacks.
I don’t write to engender sorrow. Had sorrow moved people, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Just finding the bare minimum space and shelter from the elements we need to rest has become a journey of heartache and pain, our miserable daily routine of looking around to see where we can possibly sleep.
Japan’s Itochu to end cooperation with Israel’s Elbit, cites ICJ ruling
Itochu Corp’s aviation unit will end its strategic cooperation with Israeli defence company Elbit Systems Ltd by the end of the month after the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians.
Itochu Aviation, Elbit Systems and Nippon Aircraft Supply (NAS) signed the strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March last year.
“Taking into consideration the International Court of Justice’s order on January 26, and that the Japanese government supports the role of the Court, we have already suspended new activities related to the MOU, and plan to end the MOU by the end of February,” Itochu Chief Financial Officer Tsuyoshi Hachimura said.
Palestinian Foreign Ministry slams Smotrich over proposed new settlements
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has condemned “in the strongest terms” the remarks of Israel’s minister of finance for promoting the deepening of Jewish settlements.
“Ending the occupation and the Palestinian people’s attainment of their national rights is the only way to achieve security and stability on the Palestinian and Israeli sides,” a ministry statement said.
“We call for the imposition of deterrent international sanctions on the leaders of the Israeli extreme right for boasting of violating international law and inciting violence.”
Bezalel Smotrich has promised to advocate for settlement activities in the occupied West Bank. The minister, who is also at the helm of the Israeli governing body that operates in the West Bank, has been pushing for the approval of thousands of more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian’s vehicle near Bethlehem
Israeli settlers have smashed the windows of a vehicle belonging to a Palestinian man in the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reports.
On Friday, Canada joined the United States in pledging sanctions on “extremist” Israeli settlers linked to violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Beersheba
Our colleagues are reporting that a Palestinian man has been shot and killed in Beersheba, southern Israel, after allegedly attempting to grab the weapon of an Israeli police officer.
Elsewhere, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces raided the town of Arraba, south of Jenin, and detained 10 former Palestinian prisoners for several hours, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reports.
The Israeli military has also rearrested a former Palestinian prisoner during its storming of Tubas, as well as two men in the Shu’fat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestinian detainees released by Israel need winter clothes, shoes: UN
Israel has released about 88 detained Palestinians in recent days, including one “unaccompanied” child, the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, has said in its latest daily update.
The released detainees “urgently need winter clothes and shoes, and tents, in addition to cash assistance” and have asked for help “retrieving their personal belongings, that were confiscated while detained by the Israeli military”, OCHA reported.
The people include 60 males from Gaza released at the Kerem Shalom crossing and 28 people who were released in two UNRWA schools in Rafah, of which six were transferred to a health facility after initial medical care and psychological first aid, OCHA said.
Israeli military arrests 11 people in Tulkarem, Ramallah and Halhul
Israeli forces have arrested five men in the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reports. Shots were fired during clashes in the city between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces, but no injuries have been reported.
Wafa also reports that the Israeli military has arrested three people in Ramallah and three people from the town of Halhul, north of Hebron.
Local media is also reporting fighting in the Al-Ain camp in Nablus.
Blinken due in Saudi Arabia amid talks on releasing captives, humanitarian pause
The US Secretary of State is due in Saudi Arabia, as he begins his fifth visit to the Middle East since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October.
Blinken will focus on “diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that secures the release of all remaining hostages and includes a humanitarian pause” in Gaza, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement ahead of the visit.
The humanitarian pause will “allow for sustained, increased delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza”, the statement added.
Blinken will also travel to Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the occupied West Bank.
US plans more air strikes on Iran-backed groups, says White House
The US intends to carry out additional air strikes against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
“We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked,” he said.
Biden’s ratings drop, fewer than 3 in 10 approve of his handling of Israel-Hamas war: Poll
US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings continue to drop ahead of the country’s presidential election in November, hitting a record low of 37 per cent, according to new polling data published by NBC on Sunday.
One major issue among US voters is Israel’s war on Gaza, with fewer than three in 10 approving of Biden’s handling of the conflict, according to the polling. Further still, only 15 percent of voters under 35 approved of his approach, while 70 percent disapproved.
In a hypothetical election, the NBC data showed that former President Donald Trump would receive 47 percent of the vote, while Biden would receive 42 percent.
US Senate funding bill includes $4bn for Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling
An emergency funding bill released by US senators on Sunday includes $14.1bn in military aid to Israel out of an overall $118.3bn of funding for national security and foreign aid.
The bill, which still needs to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, includes:
$4bn for Israel’s “Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems to counter short-range rocket threats”
$1.2bn for the “Iron Beam defense system to counter short-range rocket threats”
$3.5bn “in foreign military financing to help Israel reestablish territorial security and deterrence.”
The bill also provides $2.44bn for US operations in the Red Sea.
Unclear how much humanitarian aid US Senate bill provides to Gaza, West Bank
A US Senate bill, which will provide $14.1bn in military funding to Israel, includes funding for humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank but it is unclear how much.
The funding for Gaza and the West Bank is included in a larger pot of $9.2bn for “global humanitarian assistance”, which will also go to “Ukraine … East Africa, South Asia, and elsewhere”, according to a summary of the bill.
The funding, through the US Department of State and USAID will provide “emergency food, shelter, and basic services to populations suffering the impacts of a confluence of complex and protracted crises”.
The bill also includes provisions for the “oversight” of funds to be provided to Gaza as the US continues to withhold funding from the UN Agency for Palestinian refugees over allegations, made by Israel, against a small number of UNRWA staff members.
US lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for the funding to be restored.
“Among an organisation of 13,000 UN aid workers, risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible. The US should restore aid immediately,” Ocasio-Cortez said last week.
‘Significant destruction’ of residential blocks in Gaza: UN
Israeli forces are carrying out “significant destruction” of residential blocks across Gaza, particularly in the city of Khan Younis, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA reports in its latest situation update.
OCHA said that Israeli forces demolished several residential blocks in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday and Saturday.
The Israeli military has been carrying out controlled demolitions across Gaza in recent months, razing entire sections of residential neighbourhoods.
At least 33 controlled demolitions have destroyed hundreds of buildings – mosques and schools among them – since November, the New York Times reported last week, citing analysis of Israeli military footage, social media footage and satellite imagery.
In response to questions about the demolitions, the Israeli military told the NYT that it is “locating and destroying terror infrastructures embedded, among other things, inside buildings”.
Biden ‘war powers’ letter advises Congress of Syria, Iraq strikes
US President Joe Biden has written to the leaders of Congress advising them of US strikes in Syria and Iraq.
“At my direction, United States forces have conducted discrete strikes against facilities in Syria and Iraq used by [Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)] and affiliated militia groups,” Biden wrote in a letter on Sunday, in a formality required by US War Powers legislation.
The Iraqi government has said that 16 people, including civilians, were killed in the attacks. The US warned of more retaliatory attacks after it hit Iran-linked targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday night in response to an attack that killed US soldiers in Jordan amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
The US War Powers Act requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of military action and requires the termination of military action within 60 days of its commencement if Congress has not officially declared war or authorised the military action.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, philosopher and independent presidential candidate Cornel West said that the US is continuing military incursions without Congressional approval.
“Every military incursion has been proceeding out of the executive order without congressional approval,” West told Al Jazeera. The “United States has not declared a war based on its Congress since World War II“.
‘Pressure continues to mount’ on Netanyahu from all sides
There has been pressure on the Israeli prime minister over the last week from members of the right-wing part of the government. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, have been threatening to leave the government if Netanyahu enters a deal they say is unfavourable to Israel, including the release of thousands of Palestinian detainees from Israeli jails.
You also have pressure from the opposition Benny Gantz, who joined Netanyahu’s emergency government. He and his party are not part of the wider coalition and Gantz is saying that if Netanyahu continues to cave to the right, he’s going to leave the emergency government.
Then you have another member of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who has said that if the right wing leaves the government, his party is ready to step in to offer Netanyahu a safety net if it means agreeing to a deal that would bring back captives from Gaza.
Pressure also continues to mount on Netanyahu from the Americans as well as from the families of the captives. They’ve been saying for around four months now that the government has failed them, that they are not with them in their plight to bring back their loved ones.
