Tag: Gaza War

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Gaza war casts shadow over White House correspondents’ dinner

With President Joe Biden heading a long list of VIP guests, more than two dozen Palestinian journalists this week issued an open letter urging their American colleagues to boycott the dinner….reports Asian Lite News

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which annually brings reporters, politicians and a glitzy array of celebrities together in a mostly lighthearted affair, will take place Saturday under very different circumstances, including a call for a boycott by Palestinian journalists.

With President Joe Biden heading a long list of VIP guests, more than two dozen Palestinian journalists this week issued an open letter urging their American colleagues to boycott the dinner.

“You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and uphold journalistic integrity,” said the letter. “It is unacceptable to stay silent out of fear or professional concern while journalists in Gaza continue to be detained, tortured, and killed for doing our jobs.”

According to the New York-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 journalists — including 92 Palestinians — have been killed since war erupted on October 7 with Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel. At least 16 others have been wounded.

In addition to the boycott call, an anti-war coalition is planning a demonstration not far from the Washington Hilton hotel where the dinner is to take place.

The anti-war group Code Pink, part of the coalition, said it planned to “shut down” the dinner to protest “the complicity of the Biden administration in the targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli military.”

It said its action would be “nonviolent” but offered no details.

For months, Biden’s every move has been shadowed by protesters angry over US support for the Israeli military offensive in Gaza. He has been met by shouts of “Genocide Joe” and noisy calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The gala dinner and a surrounding series of society events are taking place as the Gaza protest movement has been spreading to colleges across the country, and as police crackdowns on some campuses have led to hundreds of arrests.

At the dinner, in keeping with longstanding tradition — interrupted during the Donald Trump years — Biden will sit on the dais keeping a steady smile on his face as a guest comedian rips into him.

This year it will be Colin Jost, a longtime writer and actor with NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” who seeks to entertain the crowd of VIPs in their tuxedos and flowing evening gowns. (Jost’s wife, actress Scarlett Johansson, is expected to be there.)

The 81-year-old US president, also in keeping with tradition, will then deliver a speech, sure to include some self-mockery, some ribbing of the press and, no doubt, some sharp-elbowed jabs at Trump, his presumptive opponent in November’s presidential election.

The annual dinner has been organized since 1920 by the influential White House Correspondents’ Association, which honors top reporters and awards journalism scholarships. Last year, 2,600 people attended.

ALSO READ: GAZA CRISIS: Riyadh to Host Top Diplomats From Arab, Western Countries

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Hezbollah Vows Attacks Until Gaza War Ends

Nasrallah noted that the group’s military front in southern Lebanon is aimed at weakening the Israeli enemy until it is convinced that it must stop its aggression in Gaza….reports Asian Lite News

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said that the Lebanese armed group will not stop its attacks in border regions with Israel until the latter’s war on Gaza ends.

Nasrallah in a speech to commemorate Hezbollah fighters broadcasted by local TV channel al-Manar on Tuesday said that the group will “not stop the border offensive before the end of the Zionist war on Gaza”, Xinhua news agency reported.

Nasrallah noted that the group’s military front in southern Lebanon is aimed at weakening the Israeli enemy until it is convinced that it must stop its aggression in Gaza.

“This front will only stop when the aggression against Gaza stops within an agreement with the Palestinian resistance,” he said.

Nasrallah added that Hezbollah also has a national duty to protect Lebanon from “Israeli aggression,” and would continue to fight back if Israel’s attacks go on.

The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since October 8, 2023, after Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 271 people on the Lebanese side, including 190 Hezbollah members and 44 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources.

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UN Human Rights Chief Alarms on ‘Atrocity Crimes’ in Gaza

Turk addressed the reports of sexual violence committed by Hamas, which he said he took extremely seriously…reports Asian Lite News

The UN’s Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, expressed that Palestinians are enduring an “increasing, profound horror,” as reported by the media.

Turk was speaking in Geneva, where he told journalists that in the conflict in Gaza there was a heightened risk of “atrocity crimes,” BBC reported.

He also warned both Israel and Hamas leaders against what he said were “dehumanising statements” which could be seen by a competent court as “incitement to atrocity crimes”.

Turk also addressed the reports of sexual violence committed by Hamas, which he said he took extremely seriously,

They must be investigated, he added, because the victims must get justice, BBC reported.

He revealed that he had written to the Israeli government in the second week of October, offering to deploy a team of UN human rights monitors to investigate the attacks on Israel.

He said he had yet to receive an answer, but still hoped for a response.

Israel has traditionally refused to cooperate with UN human rights investigators, claiming they are biased, BBC reported.

Israel’s relationship with international organisations like the UN and the ICRC has worsened recently, amid claims by Israel that they are neglecting the suffering of Israelis in the Hamas attack, and sensitivity from Israel over aid agencies’ vocal concerns about the conduct of the war in Gaza.

This week Israel said it would not renew the visa of the Resident UN humanitarian coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories, because it had lost trust in her.

ALSO READ: Beijing’s Hidden Agenda in Gaza Strip

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Gaza War: Two states Are Better Than One

A halt needs to be called out to both Deniers of Israel and Deniers of Palestine, something that has long been obvious to a majority of the citizens of Israel, writes Prof. Madhav Das Nalapat

It is not accidental that the inclusion of US citizens in the list of hostages that were released by Hamas in exchange for a pause in the fighting was initially low. In the calculations of Hamas commanders and remote controllers, US citizens as well as captured members of the Israeli Defense Forces are the most valuable. They do not forget the exchange of a thousand Palestinian prisoners for a single Israeli soldier who had been captured in 2006 and who spent five years in a Hamas prison. Those who ask why ten Palestinians should be released for every hostage captured by Hamas should remember that unfortunate precedent set by none other than Benjamin Netanyahu, who was Prime Minister of Israel at the time the hostage release was negotiated.

Almost 80% of Israelis supported the trade-off, a reflection of the high sensitivity to pain suffered by a fellow Israeli by a people whose history over more than a millennium has been dotted with agony. Small wonder that many Israelis are less concerned about wiping out the entirety of Hamas than they are about getting the hostages back. Of course, ensuring that the military wing of Hamas ceases to exist should remain a priority. It was public pressure for the release of the hostages that finally made Netanyahu agree to a humanitarian pause. Before he did, much of the infrastructure of Gaza was wiped out by IDF fire, although it is not clear how much damage was done to Hamas in the process.

What is beyond doubt is that the ferocity of the Israeli counter-offensive was a surprise to Hamas, who had not reckoned with the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu relied on fringe parties for his majority, whose leaders placed a higher premium on wiping out Hamas than on getting the hostages back through a compromise reached with the militant organisation. Ultimately, political pragmatism prevailed over the three Cabinet members who opposed the pause. Slowly, hostages began to be released, although to expect Hamas to release all of them without getting in effect a safe conduct from the IDF may be unrealistic. The intention of Hamas would be to release the last tranche of hostages only after the organisation is certain that Netanyahu will call off his “Eliminate Hamas” mission.

On the part of the militant organisation, to believe that Israel can be eliminated is to adopt courses of action that can only bring grief. Iran is an example. Its people have suffered privation as a consequence of the obsessive desire of the clerical regime to continue with Ayatollah Khomeini’s command to try and finish off the Jewish state. Hamas and Hezbollah have similarly caused substantial suffering to the Lebanese and Palestinian people by seeking to achieve this through terrorist acts against Israel, while Iran has lost several opportunities for growth as a consequence of assisting both. There are other players besides Iran who help Hamas in particular, but thus far, they appear to have escaped punitive action by Israel and the allies of that country.

What took place on 7 October is a warning to those Israelis who believe that they can incrementally remove Palestinians from the West Bank. Equally, the havoc that has been witnessed in Gaza over the subsequent period is a lesson to those who believe Israel can be extinguished as a state. The Jewish state is here to stay, and attempts ought not to be made to remove the Palestinians from the territory left to them after multiple failed efforts by their leaders to defeat Israel in battle resulted in more territory being ceded. Rather than boost their chances for getting more seats in the Knesset, the Hamas-IDF war is likely to see a fall in the number of seats held by fringe groups that believe in a Single State solution that fails to acknowledge the rights of the Palestinians at least to the territof Israel and Deniers of Palestine, something that has long been obvious to a majority of the citizens of Israel.

When a fringe holds the upper hand in policy over the mainstream, it is not a happy augury for any country, a fact evident in Israel before the unexpected attack from Hamas, a group that was regarded by the fringe in the Netanyahu government as being deserving of far less attention than the Palestinian Authority, the humiliation of which became a priority for the Netanyahu government. A multiplication of IDF patrols in the absence of palliative measures designed to improve the prospects of those living in Gaza would only regenerate Hamas.

Just as there ought not to be the presence within the Israeli government of those who deny any legitimacy to Palestine, any government in the Palestinian territories needs to ensure that those harbouring thoughts of wiping out Israel are similarly kept out. It is self-defeating to believe that a Palestine “from the river to the sea” is possible. The only solution, as so many have pointed out, is a Palestine existing together with Israel in a mutually respectful manner. The post-Saddam experience of the US in Iraq would be a useful template to avoid, for the manner in which the country was sought to be governed through US administrators after the welcome downfall of Saddam Hussein created terror groups where none were visible previously.

The purpose of a terror organisation is to create hatred and fear. Partly as a consequence of the way in which the situation in Gaza is being presented by some media outlets, both emotions are being generated in abundance. It is not in buildings and infrastructure that Hamas lives, but in the minds of a section of the Palestinian people. They need to understand the cul-de-sac that Hamas represents to their lives, and shun such organisations. An increasing presence of moderate options and opportunities would increase the prospects of such a mindset change. There are times when compromise may be the best way to move forward, and mutual acceptance by both Israelis and Palestinians of a two-state solution is an example of that principle.

ALSO READ: UN Urges Restraint in Israel-Gaza Conflict

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‘Gaza War Stalls Regional De-escalation’

Dr. Anwar Gargash expressed concerns that the current violence will only fuel further extremism and instability in the region….reports Asian Lite News

The ongoing war in Gaza represents a serious setback for the efforts to reduce tension in the region as a whole, said Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President.

“Prolonging the war would only amplify its associated risks, including the possibility of the conflict engulfing the wider region,” he cautioned.

In a speech at the 19th Manama Dialogue, titled “Transition to Global Competition,” Gargash expressed concerns that the current violence will only fuel further extremism and instability in the region.

“To prevent the entrenchment of divisive narratives and confront all forms of extremism, a resolute and collective effort is imperative,” he stressed.

While the full impact of this crisis on regional and international relations remains to be seen, its far-reaching reverberations will be felt for years to come, Gargash added, noting that the unfolding situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need to safeguard international standards, uphold shared values, and re-evaluate the effectiveness of traditional crisis resolution approaches.

“I believe it’s now evident that some of these methods, such as the long-standing policy of containment regarding the Palestinian Cause, require thorough re-examination. The events of the past month have made it abundantly clear that a failure to re-engage politically in the peace process, with the aim of achieving a two-state solution, would be a grave misstep. A two-state solution offers the only viable path to lasting peace for both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and it demands strong and sustained international participation.”

While the UAE remains committed to ending hostilities, he continued, “the country’s immediate priority is to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access and the delivery of substantial relief supplies to alleviate the suffering of the civilians in Gaza. In response to this urgent need, the UAE has significantly amplified its humanitarian efforts, not only by increasing its financial contributions but also through collaborative efforts with medical teams in Gaza to establish an emergency field hospital there and by facilitating the medical transfer of children and their families from Gaza to the UAE for treatment. The UAE is actively engaged at various levels, including diplomatic efforts as a member of the UN Security Council and collaborations with regional partners, to save lives and contribute constructively to conflict resolution.”

He further stated, “The war in Ukraine is further exacerbating geopolitical uncertainty, with its indirect consequences reverberating across the global economy, food security, and energy security. This has deepened divisions among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, making it increasingly challenging to reach consensus on critical issues related to international peace and security. Similarly, the initial deadlock reached by the UN Security Council on the tragic situation in Gaza, which has persisted for several weeks and continues to this day despite the UN General Assembly’s consensus on the next steps in Gaza, reflects the reality of a divided international arena.”

The Presidential Advisor cautioned that the ongoing changes in the global system have major implications for international relations, and these changes could lead to a bigger crisis for the international system if the necessary steps are not taken to address them. “These changes are exacerbated by broader issues such as climate change, the interconnected nature of our modern world, and the political, economic, and security implications of technology competition.”

The Middle East is well aware of the ongoing geopolitical competition in its regional system, he added. “In fact, one of the main challenges we face is the changing dynamics of global politics. We are well aware that a more chaotic international system will inevitably affect our region, and this is an issue we must deal with, whether it is about concerns on how the geopolitical competition between the major powers in the Middle East will evolve, or about questions on what the international system will look like on the day after the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.”

Gargash explained that the transition to a more divided system is not in the interest of anyone, and the same is true for the growing uncertainty in various parts of the Middle East. The region, he said, has gone through one of the most difficult decades in its history due to what was called the ‘Arab Spring’ decade, and this is the region where the risk of escalation and the growing power vacuums pose a constant threat.

“It is essential for the Middle East to continue to chart its course carefully to ensure stability, prosperity, and peace for our countries,” Dr Gargash stressed.

“This must be done amidst the ongoing state of instability and turmoil in international and regional affairs, and in a world characterised by rapid changes and increasing competition.”

Dr. Gargash expressed his hope that the Middle East will chart a new course in the years to come, pointing to some promising signs in recent years, as the countries of the Middle East have worked together to find solutions to reduce tensions and calm conflicts, rebuild relationships, and focus on common goals. He acknowledged that this progress has been uneven, but he remains optimistic about the future of the region.

“It is time to look to the future and ask ourselves some deep and probing questions: Can we maintain the momentum of looking ahead despite regional crises? And in light of the ongoing war in Gaza and its repercussions, can we work together to find lasting solutions to calm the current tensions in the Middle East? I believe the answer to these questions is that we must firmly continue our way in defending regional stability.”

He cautioned that while the current crisis in Gaza is being addressed, efforts must continue to “reform the region” by strengthening national development plans to ensure progress, and through cooperative efforts with international and regional partners to develop long-term strategies for the region.

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NZ Gives Further Humanitarian Support Amid Gaza War

This brings New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response to the Gaza conflict so far to NZ$10 million…reports Asian Lite News

The New Zealand government is contributing an additional NZ$5 million ($3 million) to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Saturday.

This brings New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response to the Gaza conflict so far to NZ$10 million, reports Xinhua news agency.

“New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the grave humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict,” Hipkins said.

New Zealand strongly supports the UN Security Council resolution passed on Thursday calling for full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, and to facilitate the provision of essential goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, he said.

“Hostilities must stop to allow the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid and support to get to those in need. All parties must act to protect civilians and to allow access for humanitarian aid,” Hipkins added.

New Zealand’s latest humanitarian funding includes a further NZ$2.5 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross’ response in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.

New Zealand will also increase its support to the World Food Programme, with a further NZ$2.5 million contribution to its response to help provide emergency food and cash assistance to over 764,000 affected people.

Foreign Minister Grant Robertson said both organisations will continue to expand their operations as conditions allow.

They act with full independence and neutrality.

ALSO READ: Hamas Signals Release of Israeli Hostages Soon

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US flying drones over Gaza in search of hostages

Two officials said the aim of the surveillance flights was to help in locating hostages, monitor for signs of life and pass potential leads to the Israel Defence Forces….reports Asian Lite News

The US military is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to help in hostage rescue efforts, The New York Times reported citing its analysis and two Defence Department officials.

The aircraft MQ-9 Reapers, operated by US Special Operations forces, were first spotted on Saturday on Flightradar24, a publicly accessible flight-tracking website. However, Pentagon officials said that the aircraft has been active in the region since the days after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Hamas.

While Israel continues to frequently fly reconnaissance flights over Gaza, US Defence officials said it was believed to be the first time that US drones have flown missions over Gaza, according to The New York Times report.

Notably, Israel is in the early stages of a ground invasion in Gaza. Israel has said that Hamas has held more than 240 hostages, 10 of whom are believed to be Americans. According to US Defence Department officials, the unarmed surveillance flights are not supporting Israeli force’s operations on the ground.

Two officials said the aim of the surveillance flights was to help in locating hostages, monitor for signs of life and pass potential leads to the Israel Defence Forces. The US military has been providing military assistance, including bombs and artillery rounds, to Israel, according to The New York Times report.

The US has deployed two aircraft carriers and hundreds of troops to the Middle East after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7. Several dozen American commandos have been sent to Israel to help advise on hostage recovery efforts. However, the surveillance flights flying over Gaza suggest that the Pentagon is taking a more active role in the IDF mission for rescuing hostages.

There appear to be at least six separate MQ-9 aircraft involved in the effort, The New York Times reported citing Amelia Smith, an aviation researcher who has been tracking the flights. The MQ-9 was designed as the US Air Force’s first “hunter-killer” drone. However, it is primarily being utilised for surveillance missions due to its sophisticated sensors and ability to loiter above an area for more than 20 hours at a time.

The MQ-9 aircraft is being used to carry out airstrikes and gather intelligence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. As per the news report, many militaries around the world make use of MQ-9 and not Israel.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden held a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader. He also met Chile President Gabriel Boric of Chile in the Oval Office of the White House.

During his separate meetings with leaders of Chile and the Dominican Republic, Biden said the US will continue to back Israel’s right to defend itself “in line with international humanitarian law,” according to the readout of the two meetings released by the White House. He said that the US will continue working to increase humanitarian assistance for people in Gaza.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated support for Israel during her visit to London, The Times of Israel reported. She said that the US would not add any conditions on the support given to Israel to defend itself.

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Gaza war deaths hit 7,703

More than 3,500 children were among the dead…reports Asian Lite News

The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that at least 7,703 people have been killed in the war with Israel that erupted on October 7.

More than 3,500 children were among the dead, the ministry added.

The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel has caused the highest number of fatalities in Gaza since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the territory in 2005.

Relatives of Palestinian young man Ahmed Al-Shenbari mourn during his funeral in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, May 11, 2021. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua/IANS)

On Friday evening Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the army said, striking dozens of Hamas targets, especially underground tunnels.

The blistering air and artillery assault destroyed hundreds of buildings and thousands of houses across the strip, the civil defense service in the Palestinian territory said.

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Sisi and King Abdullah Urge ‘Immediate Stop’ to Gaza War

The leaders have warned that any expansion of the war could “send the region into a slippery slope” and called for the war “to immediately stop…reports Asian Lite News

Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi have voiced their opposition to a possible Palestinian exodus as a result of the conflict in Gaza.

The two leaders “affirmed that any attempt at the expulsion to Jordan or Egypt is rejected”, official Jordanian TV said after the two leaders met in Cairo.

The leaders have warned that any expansion of the war could “send the region into a slippery slope” and called for the war “to immediately stop,” according to the Jordanian TV.

During their meeting in Cairo, King Abdullah and President El Sisi “emphasised their rejection of collective punishment like blockading, starving or evicting the Palestinians from their lands … They also warned against the extreme danger of such plans on regional security.”

King Abdullah’s visit to Cairo comes days after he toured London, Rome and Berlin to warn of the impact of Israel’s retaliation on Gaza, in response to the Hamas attack on October 7.

Recently, Jordan had cancelled a four-way summit between the US, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt in the wake of the Gaza hospital bombing.

The monarch was set to welcome US President Joe Biden to Amman on Wednesday, along with other Arab leaders.

But Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority cancelled the planned meeting with Biden less than 24 hours before he was set to arrive for the four-way summit.

The cancelation followed a blast in Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.

While Palestinian officials accused Israel of hitting the hospital with an airstrike, Israel laid out evidence that it said shows a misfire by militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast.

While speaking in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Biden supported Israel’s explanation, citing US intelligence, CNN reported.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council later said that analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information suggested that Israel was “not responsible”.

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