Israel’s Genocide in Gaza | 2023- till present
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VCheng
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
You don't seem to truly understand: @VCheng is truly a mouthpiece of the Neo Cons!! I don't know why you Mentioned him and he, predictably, rose to defend the Neo Con Biden in his response to you. There are some who are wolves in sheep's clothes. And then there are some who are wolves in wolves clothes, meaning obvious who they are, and he is one of the latter ones. Forum beware!!
Here--the NY Times is not a 'Zealot' , on the contrary, is a known mouthpiece of the Democrats and Israel but even they are saying the Biden admin's symbolic targeting of the Israeli Settlers is to pander to the Arab/Muslim votes while Biden is in Michigan for election campaign.
Biden Orders Sanctions on 4 Israelis Over West Bank Violence
The order served as both a sharp-edged diplomatic notice to Israel and a message to Arab Americans, a key part of the political coalition the president needs to be re-elected.www.nytimes.com
...
The White House announced the sanctions just hours before Mr. Biden held a campaign event in Michigan, a critical battleground state that has a large Arab American population and has been the site of numerous protests over the war in Gaza.
May I gently suggest you stop mischaracterizing me. Thank you.
@Waz @Mr X
Khansaheeb
Elite Member
In summary: divided and ruled mules.
Mehdipersian
Trusted Member
Who among the Muslims have economic relationship with Israel?
Unknowntruth
Trusted Member
Zionist news. I highlighted some of the main things in the article rest of story I didn’t post. They expose their true intentions. They want to annex Gaza and expel the population. This is why they went after UNRWA. This is from the horses mouth, we have 1 little troll who shall be nameless that will just cry, deflect, and make excuses.
www.haaretz.com
Haaretz Today |
When Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gave an interview on Channel 12 last week, it took him just a few split seconds to lay out the astonishing path Israel is – or at least some influential decision-makers are – forging for the future.
"We must not let the aid in through UNRWA… in order to comply with international law… we will get aid in and distribute it by ourselves."
When the hosts argued how dangerous it would be, he said, slowing down for effect: "Listen to what I'm saying: There. Will. Be. A military government in Gaza. Because everyone agrees that we need to stay in Gaza and control it militarily, and there's no military control without civilian control." That last part was spoken so fast, it's as if Smotrich hopes you'll miss it.
This roughly 10-second exchange contains multitudes. First, Smotrich asserts that Israel should comply with international law, by finding a means to get humanitarian aid to Gaza. The world will probably consider that a step in the right direction.
But what happens today sets the course for tomorrow; this is a rule of thumb regarding Israeli-Palestinian relations.
The proposal for Israel to distribute aid sounds good at first, until considering Smotrich's three stated aims: first, permanent Israeli control over Gaza after the war; second, Israeli control will be implemented through a military regime; third, that this military government will have both military and civilian control.
As I've observed before, there is no such thing in practice as Israeli military control over Palestinians that does not ultimately entail civilian control. The Areas A, B and C fiction in the West Bank – which holds that Palestinians control civilian affairs in about 40 percent of the region (A and B) as per the Oslo Accords – just means that Israel influences every aspect of Palestinian life, but declines to pick up the trash or provide health services and social welfare benefits.
Smotrich is thus trying to leverage the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the orders of the International Court of Justice, and some American cajoling to get humanitarian aid in, as a launchpad for the future occupation-annexation of Gaza, with a high likelihood of mass Palestinian exodus in the meantime
Netanyahu allies want to use Gaza aid as launchpad for occupation-annexation of the Strip
Allowing Israel to Distribute Humanitarian Aid Through the Establishment of a Military Government Is a Straight Shot to the Replication of This West Bank Nightmare, the Merging of Settler and Military Violence Against Palestinians by an Authoritarian State
Haaretz Today |
Netanyahu Allies Want to Use Gaza Aid as Launchpad for Occupation-annexation of the Strip
When Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gave an interview on Channel 12 last week, it took him just a few split seconds to lay out the astonishing path Israel is – or at least some influential decision-makers are – forging for the future.
"We must not let the aid in through UNRWA… in order to comply with international law… we will get aid in and distribute it by ourselves."
When the hosts argued how dangerous it would be, he said, slowing down for effect: "Listen to what I'm saying: There. Will. Be. A military government in Gaza. Because everyone agrees that we need to stay in Gaza and control it militarily, and there's no military control without civilian control." That last part was spoken so fast, it's as if Smotrich hopes you'll miss it.
This roughly 10-second exchange contains multitudes. First, Smotrich asserts that Israel should comply with international law, by finding a means to get humanitarian aid to Gaza. The world will probably consider that a step in the right direction.
But what happens today sets the course for tomorrow; this is a rule of thumb regarding Israeli-Palestinian relations.
The proposal for Israel to distribute aid sounds good at first, until considering Smotrich's three stated aims: first, permanent Israeli control over Gaza after the war; second, Israeli control will be implemented through a military regime; third, that this military government will have both military and civilian control.
As I've observed before, there is no such thing in practice as Israeli military control over Palestinians that does not ultimately entail civilian control. The Areas A, B and C fiction in the West Bank – which holds that Palestinians control civilian affairs in about 40 percent of the region (A and B) as per the Oslo Accords – just means that Israel influences every aspect of Palestinian life, but declines to pick up the trash or provide health services and social welfare benefits.
Smotrich is thus trying to leverage the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the orders of the International Court of Justice, and some American cajoling to get humanitarian aid in, as a launchpad for the future occupation-annexation of Gaza, with a high likelihood of mass Palestinian exodus in the meantime
Khansaheeb
Elite Member
More sickening was the murder of the grandmother walking with a white flag with her grandson and those sons of bitches Jewish soldiers Murdered her in cold blood. The child is now without a mother (previously murdered by the Jews) and a grandmother murdered in front of the world without even a squeek from the sick white Nazis in europe. May Allah help destroy these criminal Nazi Jews.
Whatever meagre words of concern from these sick Euro Nazis is too late and too little, their conscience always comes after the crimes have been committed and always follow their sickening support of evil deeds against humanity.
Khansaheeb
Elite Member
Israeli forces follow orders to occupy, burn Palestinian homes in Gaza
Israeli forces have set to fire Palestinian homes in the Gaza strip, following direct orders from their commanders to "burn Gaza."
www.presstv.ir
Israeli forces follow orders to occupy, burn Palestinian homes in Gaza
Thursday, 01 February 2024 11:06 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 01 February 2024 11:12 AM ]
Palestinian firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a house after an Israeli attack in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on December 9, 2023 (Photo by Reuters)
Israeli forces have set fire to Palestinian homes in the Gaza strip, following direct orders from their commanders to "burn Gaza", a move considered an apparent war crime in the South African-led genocide case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday reported that Israeli forces have occupied and then burned hundreds of Gaza homes and everything in them, on direct orders of their commanders, without the necessary legal permission to do so.
Some Israeli troops have posted videos on social media, which showed them taking part in acts of home burning, which they described as revenge for fellow soldiers' deaths or the "October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel."
"Until last month, the army's combat engineering corps mostly used mines and explosives, and in some cases heavy machinery such as D9 bulldozers, to demolish structures. Setting fire to homes belonging to noncombatant civilians, for the mere purpose of punishment, is forbidden under international law," Haaretz wrote.
"Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not a target. They must be protected. Everywhere. At all times," the United Nations account on X platform posted.
Previous UN reports have indicated that Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have displaced more than 90% of the territory’s population and destroyed or damaged over 60% of the infrastructure there.
In the occupied West Bank, the same case is happening, where settlers regularly attack Palestinian people and property and burn their houses. For decades, Israel's policy of destroying the homes of relatives of Palestinian resistance fighters has been condemned as illegal collective punishment.
Meanwhile, international human rights groups have documented Israeli troops conducting systematic looting of Palestinians' homes across Gaza, stealing their property, vandalizing Palestinian businesses and even burning humanitarian aid supplies, including food.
Israeli forces systematically steal, loot Palestinians' belongings in Gaza: Rights group
A rights group says Israeli forces are conducting systematic looting of Palestinians
Several Israeli officials, including the deputy speaker of the Knesset, Nissim Vaturi, who is a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, have called for the destruction, burning, and even nuclear annihilation of Gaza, advocating the policy to "Burn Gaza now."
Some of their statements have been used as evidence in the South African-led genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague as deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are forbidden under international humanitarian law.
The ICJ last week called on Israel to prevent genocidal acts in its ongoing war in Gaza but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire. It also ordered the regime to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches the population in Gaza.
Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:
www.presstv.co.uk
Palestine Gaza war Gaza Israeli forces
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Tehrani021
Registered Member
I agree, but we should be consistent especially with the non-Muslims. So if this applies to the deflated Ummah, it by default also applies to the Kuffar. For example, I do believe the BDS movement was started by Muslims, for example, and labelled antisemetic by the same Kuffar. So let's not get ahead of ourselves.
VCheng
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
Ummah vs Kuffar?
It is obvious who has Allah’s favor these days. Who can argue with His will.
Tehrani021
Registered Member
Let's not mistake amount of rizq (material wealth), strength and size as a sign of Allah's love. Pharoah, Babylon, Persia, Rome were all wealthy but were destroyed by Allah completely. This is referenced many times in the Quran. Final reply.
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Khansaheeb
Elite Member
Explainer: What did ICJ order Israel to do on Gaza genocide and what lies next?
In a much-anticipated interim ruling on Friday in a case filed by South Africa against Israel over genocide in Gaza, the ICJ issued provisional measures but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.
www.presstv.ir
Explainer: What did ICJ order Israel to do on Gaza genocide and what lies next?
Saturday, 27 January 2024 1:16 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 January 2024 3:31 PM ]
By Press TV Staff Writer
In a much-anticipated interim ruling on Friday in a case filed by South Africa against the Israeli regime over genocide in the Gaza Strip, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provincial measures but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire in the besieged territory.
The provisional measures, which need further follow-ups, signaled a major victory for the South African side that created history by dragging the Tel Aviv regime to the top UN court based in The Hague.
In a 45-minute ruling, ICJ judge Joan Donoghue rejected the Benjamin Netanyahu regime’s claim that the UN court lacks jurisdiction to hear South Africa’s genocide case against it.
However, many human rights campaigners say the ruling was inadequate as it did not clearly charge the Israeli regime with genocide and issued no order for a full ceasefire in Gaza.
Since October 7, Israeli aerial and ground aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of more than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women.
The territory has been rendered uninhabitable, according to the United Nations.
In late December, South Africa filed a case at the ICJ, charging Israel of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention and calling for an immediate halt to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The court held two days of intense hearings earlier this month, hearing the arguments of both sides. The interim ruling came on Friday. The final ruling is expected to take years.
Ahead of interim ruling, which countries back ICJ genocide case against Israel?
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to announce its interim ruling on Friday in the case filed by South Africa against the Israeli regime over ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
What is the ICJ ruling?
The Hague-based court rejected the Israeli claim and said it has the prima facie jurisdiction to hear the case filed by South Africa under Article IX of the Genocide Convention.
The court issued six provisional measures under Article 41, which are as follows:
- Israel must take all measures possible to prevent acts under Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, which include killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, deliberately inflicting harm on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”
- Israel must ensure its military does not carry out any of the above actions.
- Israel must prevent and punish “the direct and public incitement to commit genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.
- Israel must allow humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.
- Israel must ensure the preservation of, and prevent the destruction of, evidence related to acts under the scope of Article II and Article III of the Genocide Convention against Palestinians in Gaza.
- Israel must submit a report to the ICJ on all measures taken to uphold the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ within one month.
How Israeli legal squad fumbled, failed, got exposed at ICJ genocide hearing
While the South African team presented compelling evidence of the Israeli genocide in Gaza at the ICJ, the team representing Tel Aviv fumbled, failed and got exposed.
What did the court say about genocide?
The top UN court said there was a dispute under Article IX of the Genocide Convention to call Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide, which came as a big surprise to many legal experts.
“The parties appear to hold clearly opposite views as to whether certain acts or omissions allegedly committed by Israel in Gaza amount to violations by the latter of its obligations under the Genocide Convention,” the court said in its ruling.
However, it ordered Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide as the war on Gaza drags on.
Donoghue said Israel must “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts included in the genocide convention and ensure “with immediate effect” that its forces do not commit acts deemed genocidal.
“The court is also of the view that Israel must take measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to the members of the Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip,” she said.
Since October 7, the Israeli regime has wreaked havoc in Gaza, killing more than 26,000 Palestinians and destroying the infrastructure, including residential houses, schools, hospitals and refugee camps.
What did the court say about the ceasefire?
The UN court, much to the chagrin of Palestinians, stopped short of calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In contrast, it had ordered Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine less than two years ago.
However, the judge said the court is “of the view that Israel must take measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide”.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, who was present in the court, said she was “hoping” the court would order a ceasefire in the besieged strip in provisional measures.
Pertinently, the US and some of its allies had previously opposed the ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations, with US President Joe Biden publicly backing the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Explainer: What’s next for Israeli regime after ICJ genocide hearing?
South Africa this week dragged the Israeli regime to the International Court of Justice over genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip, presenting compelling evidence. Here is what lies ahead.
What did South Africa demand?
South African complaint stated that the Israeli regime “has breached and continues to breach its obligations under the Genocide Convention, in particular the obligations provided under Article I, read in conjunction with Article II, and Articles III (a), III (b), III (c), III (d), III (e), IV, V and VI.”
Thus, the regime “must cease forthwith any acts and measures in breach of those obligations, including such acts or measures which would be capable of killing or continuing to kill Palestinians,” it added.
South Africa further called for “persons committing genocide, conspiring to commit genocide, directly and publicly inciting genocide, attempting to commit genocide and complicit in genocide contrary to Articles I, III (a), III (b), III (c), III (d) and III (e)” be “punished by a competent national or international tribunal, as required by Articles I, IV, V and VI.”
It also asked the ICJ to indicate the following in its provisional measures to Israel: immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza, ensure that any military or irregular armed units directed, supported or influenced by it take no steps in furtherance of the military operation.
How did South Africa react to the ruling?
In a statement, South Africa hailed the interim ruling as "a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people."
"There is no credible basis for Israel to continue to claim that its military actions are in full compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention, having regard to the Court's ruling," the South African government statement read.
Foreign Minister Pandor said if the ruling is read carefully, “a ceasefire must happen."
"How do you provide aid and water without a ceasefire?" Pandor was quoted as saying on Friday.
Can the ruling be enforced?
Both South Africa and Israel are required to comply with the court’s rulings and cannot appeal a decision made by the ICJ. However, the UN court itself lacks the mechanism to enforce its orders, which experts believe will allow the Israeli regime to continue its aggression.
If the Israeli regime continues its genocidal war, South Africa can take the case to the UN Security Council where member states would be asked to vote to pressure the Israeli regime into compliance.
If the UN Security Council passes a resolution that calls on the Tel Aviv regime to adhere to the ICJ ruling, the regime could even face punitive action, according to legal experts.
What’s the next step in the case?
Israel has to submit a report on its actions in response to the interim ruling by February 26, after which South Africa will have the chance to respond to the Israeli report.
After that, the ICJ will analyze the report and the South African response and see whether the Israeli regime is actually abiding by Friday’s ruling or not.
It will be followed by more hearings in the case based on the evidence presented to the court.
The decision to move forward is because the UN court on Friday ruled that it cannot reject the case filed by South Africa, which the Israeli regime had asked for.
Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:
www.presstv.co.uk
VCheng
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
Yes. And so were all the great Muslim empires of history too. Allah has no favorites. He has the same rules for all of His creatures.
Khansaheeb
Elite Member
Mass starvation, collossal suffering and inhumane bombardment continues yet the "civilised world" stays muted. Where is Pakistan army, the Palestinians are pleading for help?:-
Smoke from bombardment billows in the background as displaced Palestinians flee from Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.— AFP/File
LISTEN TO ARTICLE1x1.2x1.5x
• 125 killed in latest Israeli air strikes
• UN officials fear stoppage of aid will have ‘catastrophic consequences’
GAZA CITY: Artillery fire pounded southern Gaza early on Wednesday as Israel said it had begun “flooding Hamas tunnels” and mediators sought a halt to the nearly four-month hostilities.
The focus of the fighting in recent weeks has been Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip’s main city, where a constant barrage of air strikes and shelling rent the air all night.
The health ministry recorded 125 deaths across southern Gaza in the latest Israeli strikes.
United Nations agencies’ chiefs said a bitter row over the main aid organisation for Palestinians could “have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza”.
Major donors, including the United States and Germany, have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over accusations that several staff members were involved in the Oct 7 raids in Israel.
Withholding the funds was “perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza”, the heads of the UN agencies said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, mediation efforts gathered pace following a Sunday meeting of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials that produced a proposed framework for a new truce and prisoner release.
‘Constant fear’
The Israeli army said on Wednesday its troops had killed 15 “terrorists” in northern Gaza, and captured 10 “militants” during an attack on a school where they were allegedly hiding.
In Khan Yunis, where the Hamas media office said there were “dozens of air raids” overnight, vast areas have been reduced to a muddy wasteland of bombed-out buildings.
According to witnesses, artillery shells hit the area of Nasser Hospital, the city’s largest, where the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Eyewitnesses reported people fleeing Khan Yunis on Tuesday as explosions sounded nearby. “We left Nasser Hospital… under tank fire and air strikes. We didn’t know where to go,” said one woman.
“We’re out in the cold, left to fend for ourselves.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on social media platform X that “Israeli shelling and gunfire continue” around another hospital in Khan Yunis.
Staff and patients at the Red Crescent’s Al Amal Hospital “and thousands of displaced people, primarily children and women, live in constant fear and anxiety”, it said.
Israel accuses Hamas of operating from tunnels under hospitals in Gaza and of using medical facilities as command centres, a charge denied by the Palestinian group.
The Israeli military said it had begun “flooding the tunnels” with water in a bid to “neutralise the threat of Hamas’s subterranean network”.
Negotiations
Qatar, which helped broker a previous truce and prisoner release in November, voiced hope an initial deal now being negotiated might lead to a “permanent ceasefire”.
A Hamas official said the group is “open to discussing all issues, including prisoner exchange and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip”.
The official reiterated Hamas’s demand for a comprehensive and complete cessation of Israel’s aggression and the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office earlier called the negotiations “constructive”, ruled out releasing “thousands” of Palestinian prisoners as part of any deal.
“I would like to make it clear… We will not withdraw the army from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists. None of this will happen,” he said on Tuesday.
A pro-Iran group in Iraq, Kataeb Hezbollah, said it would halt attacks on US “occupation forces, in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government”.
The United States and Britain have also launched a campaign of air strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, who have carried out repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Houthis said on Wednesday they had fired “several” missiles at a US warship, hours after the US military said it had shot down another anti-ship missile over the vital trade route.
Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024
Humanitarian ‘collapse’ facing Gaza, warns UN
125 killed in latest Israeli air strikes; UN officials fear stoppage of aid will have "catastrophic consequences".
www.dawn.com
Humanitarian ‘collapse’ facing Gaza, warns UN
AFP Published February 1, 2024 Updated a day ago
Smoke from bombardment billows in the background as displaced Palestinians flee from Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.— AFP/File
LISTEN TO ARTICLE1x1.2x1.5x
• 125 killed in latest Israeli air strikes
• UN officials fear stoppage of aid will have ‘catastrophic consequences’
GAZA CITY: Artillery fire pounded southern Gaza early on Wednesday as Israel said it had begun “flooding Hamas tunnels” and mediators sought a halt to the nearly four-month hostilities.
The focus of the fighting in recent weeks has been Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza Strip’s main city, where a constant barrage of air strikes and shelling rent the air all night.
The health ministry recorded 125 deaths across southern Gaza in the latest Israeli strikes.
United Nations agencies’ chiefs said a bitter row over the main aid organisation for Palestinians could “have catastrophic consequences for the people of Gaza”.
Major donors, including the United States and Germany, have suspended funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over accusations that several staff members were involved in the Oct 7 raids in Israel.
Withholding the funds was “perilous and would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza”, the heads of the UN agencies said in a joint statement.
Meanwhile, mediation efforts gathered pace following a Sunday meeting of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials that produced a proposed framework for a new truce and prisoner release.
‘Constant fear’
The Israeli army said on Wednesday its troops had killed 15 “terrorists” in northern Gaza, and captured 10 “militants” during an attack on a school where they were allegedly hiding.
In Khan Yunis, where the Hamas media office said there were “dozens of air raids” overnight, vast areas have been reduced to a muddy wasteland of bombed-out buildings.
According to witnesses, artillery shells hit the area of Nasser Hospital, the city’s largest, where the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
Eyewitnesses reported people fleeing Khan Yunis on Tuesday as explosions sounded nearby. “We left Nasser Hospital… under tank fire and air strikes. We didn’t know where to go,” said one woman.
“We’re out in the cold, left to fend for ourselves.”
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on social media platform X that “Israeli shelling and gunfire continue” around another hospital in Khan Yunis.
Staff and patients at the Red Crescent’s Al Amal Hospital “and thousands of displaced people, primarily children and women, live in constant fear and anxiety”, it said.
Israel accuses Hamas of operating from tunnels under hospitals in Gaza and of using medical facilities as command centres, a charge denied by the Palestinian group.
The Israeli military said it had begun “flooding the tunnels” with water in a bid to “neutralise the threat of Hamas’s subterranean network”.
Negotiations
Qatar, which helped broker a previous truce and prisoner release in November, voiced hope an initial deal now being negotiated might lead to a “permanent ceasefire”.
A Hamas official said the group is “open to discussing all issues, including prisoner exchange and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip”.
The official reiterated Hamas’s demand for a comprehensive and complete cessation of Israel’s aggression and the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office earlier called the negotiations “constructive”, ruled out releasing “thousands” of Palestinian prisoners as part of any deal.
“I would like to make it clear… We will not withdraw the army from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists. None of this will happen,” he said on Tuesday.
A pro-Iran group in Iraq, Kataeb Hezbollah, said it would halt attacks on US “occupation forces, in order to prevent embarrassment to the Iraqi government”.
The United States and Britain have also launched a campaign of air strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, who have carried out repeated attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Houthis said on Wednesday they had fired “several” missiles at a US warship, hours after the US military said it had shot down another anti-ship missile over the vital trade route.
Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024
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