Lazzarini said that when the conflict started nearly ten months ago, “no one thought we would reach this grim milestone…reports Asian Lite News
Nearly 200 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, the head of the UN agency said.
“This is by far the largest loss of personnel killed in a single conflict or natural disaster since the creation of the United Nations — a reality the world must never accept,” the Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said on social media platform X on Saturday.
Lazzarini said that when the conflict started nearly ten months ago, “no one thought we would reach this grim milestone,” Xinhua news agency reported.
“These are not numbers. These are our colleagues and our friends. They are teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, support staff, technicians who spent their life supporting the community.”
Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,258, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday.
Al Hashimy added that as part of the UAE’s historic commitment to the Palestinians, the country continues to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and supplies to the Gaza Strip…reports Asian Lite News
Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, affirmed that the UAE believes that securing stability and peace in the region, can only be achieved through a sustainable and just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and a political path that leads to the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, existing in security and peace alongside the State of Israel, in accordance with bilateral agreements and international law.
Furthermore, it is crucial that any solution enhances the humanitarian response to the ongoing tragic situation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Hashimy added that as part of the UAE’s historic commitment to the Palestinians, the country continues to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and supplies to the Gaza Strip, following the directives of its leadership. The UAE is steadfastly committed to extending a helping hand to the Palestinians and implementing humanitarian relief initiatives whether via land, sea, or air routes.
She also highlighted that during the past ten months, the UAE has dispatched 39,756 tonnes of urgent supplies to the Gaza Strip through 8 ships, 1,271 trucks, and 337 flights. Furthermore, Al Hashimy stated that the UAE will continue to extensively work – through its leading and pioneering role – with the UN and international partners to intensify necessary efforts to support all endeavours aiming to alleviate the humanitarian suffering.
Furthermore, Al Hashimy underscored that a return to the status quo before 7th October 2023 cannot achieve the desired sustainable peace for both the Palestinians, Israelis, and the wider international community. The UAE believes that the first step to achieve peace and security in the Palestinian Territory and the region is through an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of all hostages and detainees.
Al Hashimy stated that consolidating peace and security and ending the humanitarian suffering should begin by the deployment of a temporary international mission in Gaza with a formal invitation from the Palestinian government. A credible, and independent new Prime Minister must lead this government, ensuring transparent operations aligned with the highest global standards. Additionally, the government must commit to necessary reforms to address the challenges faced by Palestinians, fulfil their legitimate aspirations for independence and statehood, achieve growth and security, and also be able to take on the responsibility for rebuilding Gaza. This international mission will be responsible for efficiently responding to the humanitarian crisis the citizens in Gaza are facing, establishing law and order, laying the groundwork for governance, and paving the way to reunite Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate Palestinian Authority.
In this regard, Al Hashimy stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, must do its part to achieve the vision of the international community according to international law and human rights principles. Gaza cannot recover if it continues to live under a blockade, or if the legitimate Palestinian Authority is not allowed to take on its responsibilities and to stop withholding its financing, highlighting the need to halt constructing settlements and violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Al Hashimy emphasised that the UAE believes in the importance of intensifying efforts by regional and international partners, as well as coordinating collective action to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians and all nations in the region. She also affirmed the significance role of the United States within these endeavours, including rebuilding Gaza, and also promoting peace, together with the countries of the region. Critical elements for the success of the international mission is an American commitment to achieving the two-state solution, and Palestinian reforms.
Al Hashimy also affirmed that the UAE will continue its extensive humanitarian support for the brotherly Palestinian people, and stands ready to actively contribute as part of a sustainable endeavour that resolves the conflict in line with the two-state solution, in partnership with the regional and international community. The outcome we endeavour to achieve extends beyond the Gaza Strip and necessitates comprehensive cooperation. Moreover, establishing peace is to everyone’s advantage on a broader scale, benefiting the entire Middle East and the global community.
In one incident, an Israeli airstrike around midnight targeted a house in Al-Zawyda, killing eight people…reports Asian Lite News
Israeli forces intensified their operations in the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, according to health officials.
In one incident, an Israeli airstrike around midnight targeted a house in Al-Zawyda, killing eight people.
Another strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp claimed the life of one man; this camp had already witnessed a tragic airstrike on a school the previous day, which killed 23 people.
Residents reported that Israeli tanks also shelled the eastern areas of Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi camps, and an airstrike destroyed a mosque.
In the southern city of Rafah, Israeli tanks conducted a limited raid in the north before retreating, a strategy previously employed in other areas.
Since May, tanks have been active in most parts of Rafah but have avoided deeper incursions into the northern districts.
Medics reported that two people were killed in Rafah by an Israeli strike on Wednesday. Residents also claimed that Israeli forces had demolished dozens of homes.
The Israeli military stated that their troops were engaged in “precise, intelligence-based operational activity in the Rafah area,” having eliminated a terrorist cell and a launcher used against their forces.
They also mentioned that airstrikes had hit 25 targets across Gaza over the past day, and that troops were continuing operations in the central region to dismantle observation structures.
India presses for Gaza truce, hostage release at UN
India at the United Nations has reiterated its call for an immediate and complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and called for the release of the hostages without any conditions.
Delivering his remarks at the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Open Debate on the Middle East on Wednesday, India’s Deputy Representative to the UN, R Ravindra, also underlined that India’s developmental assistance to Palestine, in various forms over the years, amounts close to USD 120 million.
“India was among the countries which strongly and unequivocally condemned the terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. We have also condemned the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. We have called for restraint, de-escalation and emphasized peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said
He urged adherence to international law and international humanitarian law under all circumstances.
“We reiterate the call for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, safe, timely and sustained humanitarian assistance and unrestricted access to relief and essential humanitarian services in the Gaza Strip. In addition, we also call for immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” Ambassador R Ravindra said.
He also appreciated the role of countries like Qatar and Egypt for their continued engagement with the leadership of Israel and Palestine.
“We have consistently reiterated our position in all the relevant multilateral fora,” he added.
India stands for peace and stability in the region. “It has been our longstanding position that we support a two-state solution that entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine within recognized and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace. With due regard to the security needs of Israel, India was represented at the senior level at the International High-Level Conference on Urgent humanitarian response to Gaza held in Jordan last month,” the Ambassador said.
He also underlined that India’s developmental assistance to Palestine, in various forms over the years, amounts close to USD 120 million.
“Our developmental assistance to Palestine in various forms over the years amounts close to USD 120 million, including USD 35 million as a contribution to UNRWA. India has been providing an annual contribution of USD 5 million since 2018 to UNRWA. We have already announced the disbursement of USD 2.5 million. The first trans of our annual contribution to UNRWA was transferred early this week on July 15, 2024,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, he stated that India stands ready to continue its engagement with the region with an abiding faith in realizing the vision of sustained peace and stability in West Asia.(ANI)
Water tanks were readied and given out in displacement zones with the Water Authority and Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 volunteers across southern Gaza….reports Asian Lite News
The UAE, through its humanitarian arm Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, continued a campaign to provide safe drinking water to displaced Palestinian families in the southern Gaza Strip.
Over 70,000 beneficiaries received water assistance in the war-torn Strip due to infrastructure damage.
Water tanks were readied and given out in displacement zones with the Water Authority and Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 volunteers across southern Gaza.
These tanks are filled daily to facilitate access to water for displaced families, given the difficulties and challenges faced by municipalities in Gaza, which hinder their ability to provide essential services, including water, to citizens, causing a humanitarian disaster.
In the first and second phases, the UAE sought to operate six desalination plants and deliver water to the displaced through supply lines in Rafah and Khan Yunis governorates. Tanks were installed in various southern areas, benefiting thousands of displaced people from the vital projects carried out by Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, the largest relief operation in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, 13 tanks of safe drinking water are filled daily with an estimated quantity of 116,000 litres, along with several vehicles heading to areas where displaced families are located to facilitate their access to water.
Evacuees endure hostilities: ICRC
The Palestinians ordered by the Israeli military to leave Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip are lacking essential services and experiencing hostilities, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.
Over the last week, the communities in northern Gaza have endured increased fighting, the ICRC said on Thursday in a statement, adding that the evacuation orders affected thousands of families, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Israeli orders were often unclear, leading to confusion and fear among the residents, the statement noted.
“The grim reality in Gaza today is that nowhere is safe. The struggle to simply survive is robbing people of their dignity,” it added.
Israel’s military said on Wednesday that it dropped thousands of leaflets on Gaza City, urging all residents to leave immediately amid an intensified Israeli military offensive on the city.
Earlier this week, the Israeli army required tens of thousands of Palestinians living in 19 blocs in Gaza City to immediately evacuate, according to a report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
UN statistics estimated in early July that the number of people displaced within the Gaza Strip had risen to 1.9 million, or about nine out of 10 people in the enclave.
Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 others were taken hostage.
Ceasefire nowhere
Hamas said on Thursday that it has not received any new information from mediators regarding the ceasefire negotiations this week.
“We have not yet been informed by the mediator brothers of anything new regarding the negotiations with the aim of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange,” said Hamas in a statement.
The Gaza-ruling faction accused Israel of continuing the policy of procrastination to gain time to thwart this round of negotiations, as it did in previous rounds, adding that “this does not deceive the Palestinian people and their resistance.”
On Wednesday, a meeting between Egyptian, Qatari, US and Israeli delegations was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to push towards reaching a ceasefire between the two warring parties, reports Xinhua news agency.
For months, mediators from Egypt and Qatar, have been trying to broker an agreement to end the conflict in Gaza that has been going on for over nine months, and to return the more than 100 Israeli hostages still being held there.
Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
During the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 50 people and wounded 54 others across the enclave, bringing the total death toll to 38,345 and injuries to 88,295 since the onset of the conflict in early October 2023, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday.
UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that “chaos and panic” are spreading in southern Gaza following the orders….reports Asian Lite News
After the Israeli authorities issued new evacuation orders in the Khan Younis area of Gaza, around 2,50,000 people are expected to face displacement, UN humanitarians warned in a report on Tuesday.
UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that “chaos and panic” are spreading in southern Gaza following the orders.
Gazans fleeing the southern city were forced to erect shelters at the water’s edge because displacement camps were already packed at the coast.
A few weeks ago, Khan Younis was left deserted after intense Israeli bombardment. But many families with few other options went there after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) moved into Rafah at the beginning of May, the report stated.
“It’s another devasting blow to the humanitarian response here, it’s another devasting blow to the people, the families on the ground. It seems that they’ve been forcibly displaced again and again,” said UNRWA Senior Communications Officer Louise Wateridge.
Those forced to move now had a series of “impossible” decisions to make, she added.
“How do parents decide where to go; where is there to go? Already by this morning, just to the middle Gaza area, along the coastal road, you can see the makeshift shelters right up to the shoreline, right up to the water coming in. It is absolutely packed with families who have already had to move,” Wateridge said.
The UNRWA officer noted that heavy bombardment has continued “in the north, middle and south areas of the Gaza Strip…no place is safe. Already on the ground, we are seeing families move away from this area. There is more chaos and panic spreading on the ground.”
Despite a lack of fuel and safety, Wateridge insisted that the UN agency has continued to deliver water, food parcels, flour, nappies, mattresses, tarpaulins and healthcare.
“But it is becoming almost impossible for the UN to provide any kind of response due to the Israeli imposed siege…and now further displacement orders that once again impact our access to the Kerem Shalom border crossing to receive aid”.
Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has raised deep concerns about the lack of aid reaching Gaza and said that it has “significantly compromised” care in the enclave.
Gaza’s healthcare sector alone requires 80,000 litres of fuel every day to function but only 1,95,000-2,00,000 litres last arrived at the end of June; “since then, no fuel has entered Gaza,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The WHO official also explained that the shipment had to be shared by all sectors including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) requiring 70,000 litres a day.
“As a result, hospitals are once again short on fuel, risking disruption to critical services are injured people are dying because ambulance services are facing delays due to shortage of fuel,” Dr Balkhy said, adding that a lack of gasoline and diesel were also affecting essential water and sanitation services such as water, delivery, sewage pumping and waste collection.
From 15 to 23 June the water and sanitation cluster received less than five per cent of the fuel required daily to keep services running and as a result, water service providers “are forced to ration operations of municipal groundwater wells and the two working water desalination plants, reducing water production even more,” the report stated.
This is “significantly contributing to the spread of diseases”, the WHO official said, while further highlighting concerning spikes in the number of adults and children suffering from waterborne diseases such as hepatitis A, diarrhoea, skin conditions and others. (ANI)
The ministers also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution for an “immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire…reports Asian Lite News
The BRICS Foreign Ministers expressed “grave concern” regarding the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip that has led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
The ministers also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution for an “immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire” and the relevant UNGA resolutions and UNSC resolution for immediate safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
The conflict escalated on October 7 after Hamas launched a massive terror attack on Israel killing over 1200 people and holding around 250 as hostages.
Following this, Israel launched a strong counteroffensive, carrying out military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip with the aim of “completely eliminating” Hamas. However, the operations have led to massive civilian casualties with over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed.
“The Ministers expressed grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli military operation that led to mass civilian displacement, death and casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure,” the joint statement of BRICS foreign ministers meeting read.
“In this regard, they called for the effective implementation of the relevant UNGA resolutions and UNSC resolution 2720 and for immediate safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. They also called for the effective implementation of the UNSC resolution 2728 for an immediate, durable, and sustained ceasefire,” it added.
The Foreign Ministers met at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), led the Indian side at the meeting, in what was the first foreign assignment for India’s foreign policy under the historic third consecutive term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The ministers also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and civilians who are being illegally held captive, the joint statement read.
They further expressed grave concern by the increasing attacks by Israel on Rafah, which would compound the dire humanitarian situation. The ministers condemned the Israeli military operation in Rafah and its ramifications that directly impact civilian lives, especially in view of the “high density of Palestinian civilians in this location”, and the “humanitarian catastrophic” results due to the suspension of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.
The ministers also reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt aiming at forcefully displacing, expelling, or transferring the Palestinian people from their land. Furthermore, they cautioned against the spillover effects of the escalation of tensions to the rest of the Middle East region.
They acknowledged the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice in the legal proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel. The Ministers expressed serious concern at “Israel’s continued blatant disregard” of international law, the UN Charter, UN resolutions and Court orders.
“The Ministers reaffirmed their support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and reiterated their unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution based on international law including relevant UNSC and UNGA resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative that includes the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine in line with internationally recognized borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” the statement read.
The ministers expressed serious concern over the prevailing conflicts and the continuing threats posed by terrorist organizations in various sub-regions of Africa and over remaining conflict potential in the Sahel region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Great Lakes Region, and in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Sudan as well as growing activity of numerous terrorist groups and insurgents.
The Ministers reiterated their call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan and unimpeded access of the Sudanese population to humanitarian assistance, and the scaling up of humanitarian assistance to Sudan and neighboring states.
The Foreign Ministers expressed serious concern with the ongoing deterioration of the security, humanitarian, political and economic situation in Haiti.
“They stressed that the current crisis requires a Haitian-led solution that encompasses national dialogue and consensus building among local political forces, institutions and the society and called on the international community to support the Haitian endeavours to dismantle the gangs, enhance the security situation and put in place the foundations for long-lasting social and economic development in the country,” the statement read.
The Ministers also emphasized the need for an urgent peaceful settlement in Afghanistan in order to strengthen regional security and stability.
They advocated for Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state free from terrorism, war and drugs. They urged for more visible and verifiable measures in Afghanistan to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorists.
“They further stressed the need to provide urgent and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and to safeguard the fundamental rights of all Afghans including women, girls, and different ethnic groups. They emphasized the primary and effective role of regional platforms and neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and welcomed the efforts of such regional platforms and initiatives to facilitate the Afghan settlement,” the statement added.
This is the first meeting of foreign ministers since the expansion of BRICS in 2023. The 10 full members of the association include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa with new members Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining the grouping in 2023.
Russia took over the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024. (ANI)
The temporary harbour had been damaged in rough seas at the end of May, just a few days after its completion….reports Asian Lite Nws
The US military said that the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid for Gaza residents has resumed after a temporary pier on the territory’s coast was repaired.
The temporary harbour had been damaged in rough seas at the end of May, just a few days after its completion. Due to strong waves, four US military ships anchored in the area broke free from their moorings.
The regional command Centcom on Saturday said in a statement that at about 10:30 am local time (0730 GMT), it “began delivery of humanitarian assistance ashore in Gaza.”
“Today, a total of approximately 492 metric tonnes (1.1 million pounds) of much-needed humanitarian assistance was delivered to the people of Gaza. To date, USCENTCOM has assisted in the delivery of more than 1,573 metric tonnes (3.5 million pounds) of humanitarian aid,” the statement continued.
The regional command stressed that “no US military personnel went ashore in Gaza.”
The humanitarian pier facility, including its equipment, personnel, and assets were not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza. An area south of the facility was used by the Israelis to safely return the… pic.twitter.com/Eg7BNE8Phf
“This ongoing effort in support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to deliver additional aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza is entirely humanitarian in nature and involves aid commodities donated by several countries and humanitarian organisations,” Centcom said.
Under the provisional arrangement, freighters will initially bring aid supplies from Cyprus to a floating platform a few kilometres off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
The goods are then loaded onto smaller ships that can sail closer to the coast. These then dock at the temporary pier attached to the coast. There, the supplies are received by aid organisations and then distributed in the Gaza Strip by lorry.
Iran blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry, Kanaani denounced Israel’s killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the attacks as a “horrendous and shocking crime”.
The “crime” perpetrated by Israel was a consequence of the “inaction” of governments and relevant international organisations in the face of eight months of “war crimes and violations of all international laws and regulations as well as international humanitarian law” by Israel in Gaza, said the Spokesman.
He blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive, Xinhua news agency reported.
At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes on Saturday in central Gaza.
Khalil Al-Dakran, director of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah city in central Gaza, told Xinhua that a large number of wounded Palestinians were sent to the hospital due to intense Israeli bombing on the Nuseirat camp and the city, some of whom have been confirmed dead.
The Israeli army has been waging a large-scale offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, killing nearly 1,200 people.
The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 36,801, with 83,680 people injured, as updated by the health authorities in Gaza on Saturday.
Biden has repeatedly declared that ceasefires were close over the past several months, only for no truce to materialize…reports Asian Lite News
The leader of Hamas said on Wednesday the group would demand a permanent end to the war in Gaza and Israeli withdrawal as part of a ceasefire plan, dealing an apparent blow to a truce proposal touted last week by US President Joe Biden.
Israel, meanwhile, said there would be no halt to fighting during ceasefire talks, and launched a new assault on a central section of the Gaza Strip near the last city yet to be stormed by its tanks.
The remarks by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh appeared to deliver the Palestinian militant group’s reply to the proposal that Biden unveiled last week. Washington had said it was waiting to hear an answer from Hamas to what Biden described as an Israeli initiative.
“The movement and factions of the resistance will deal seriously and positively with any agreement that is based on a comprehensive ending of the aggression and the complete withdrawal and prisoners swap,” Haniyeh said.
Washington is still pressing hard to reach an agreement. CIA director William Burns met senior officials from mediators Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the ceasefire proposal.
Since a brief week-long truce in November, all attempts to arrange a ceasefire have failed, with Hamas insisting on its demand for a permanent end to the conflict, while Israel says it is prepared to discuss only temporary pauses until the militant group is defeated.
Biden has repeatedly declared that ceasefires were close over the past several months, only for no truce to materialize. Notably, Biden said in February that Israel agreed to a ceasefire by the start of the Ramadan Muslim holy month on March 10, a deadline which passed with military operations in full swing.
But last week’s announcement came with far greater fanfare from the White House, and at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting domestic political pressure to chart a path to end the eight-month-old war and negotiate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Three US officials told Reuters that Biden, having obtained Israel’s agreement for the proposal, had deliberately announced it without warning the Israelis he would do so, to narrow the room for Netanyahu to back away.
“We didn’t ask permission to announce the proposal,” said a senior US official granted anonymity to speak freely about the negotiations. “We informed the Israelis we were going to give a speech on the situation in Gaza. We did not go into great detail about what it was.”
Hamas, which rules Gaza, precipitated the war by attacking Israeli territory on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Around half of the hostages were freed in the war’s only truce so far, which lasted a week in November.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 36,000 people, according to health officials in the territory, who say thousands more dead are feared buried under the rubble.
Although Biden described the ceasefire proposal as an Israeli offer, Israel’s government has been lukewarm in public. A top Netanyahu aide confirmed on Sunday Israel had made the proposal even though it was “not a good deal.”
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s government have pledged to quit if he agrees to a peace deal that leaves Hamas in place, a move that could force a new election and end the political career of Israel’s longest-serving leader. Centrist opponents who joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet in a show of unity at the outset of the conflict have also threatened to quit, saying his government has no plan.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said there would be no let-up in Israel’s offensive while negotiations over the ceasefire proposal were under way.
“Any negotiations with Hamas would be conducted only under fire,” Gallant said in remarks carried by Israeli media after he flew aboard a warplane to inspect the Gaza front.
Israel announced a new operation against Hamas in central Gaza on Wednesday, where Palestinian medics said airstrikes had killed dozens of people.
Early on Thursday, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said Israeli missiles killed at least 27 people and injured dozens who were sheltering at a UN school in Nuseirat in central Gaza.
Israel’s military said there was a Hamas compound inside the school and fighters who took part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel “were eliminated.” It said that before the strike by Israeli fighter jets, the military took steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.
The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they had fought gunbattles with Israeli forces on Wednesday in areas throughout the enclave and fired anti-tank rockets and shells.
Two children were among the dead laid out on Wednesday in the city’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, one of the last hospitals functioning in Gaza. Mourners said the children had been killed along with their mother, who had been unable to leave when others in the neighborhood did.
“This is not war, it is destruction that words are unable to express,” said their father Abu Mohammed Abu Saif.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed emphasised that the UAE is making every effort to assist the Palestinian people, offering aid by land, sea, and air….reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, in Abu Dhabi.
The two sides discussed developments in the Middle East, mechanisms to enhance the response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and ways to provide sustainable support to civilians in the Strip.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed emphasised that the UAE is making every effort to assist the Palestinian people, offering aid by land, sea, and air.
He reiterated the UAE’s support for the efforts of the United Nations and Sigrid Kaag in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people and addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed noted that the current dangerous conditions in the Middle East undermine efforts to enhance the humanitarian response, stressing the importance of the international community’s combined efforts to end extremism, tension, and escalating violence.
He called for a sustainable ceasefire and the establishment of safe and sustainable channels to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip without obstacles.
The meeting was attended by Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs.
