Tag: ISRAEL

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Israel Eyes Lebanon Ground Invasion

Tensions escalated further when Hezbollah targeted the Israeli Mossad spy agency’s headquarters near Tel Aviv, marking the first ballistic missile launch in nearly a year….reports Asian Lite News

Israel has instructed its soldiers to prepare for a potential ground operation against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, following warnings from US President Joe Biden about the risk of an “all-out war” in the Middle East.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Israel’s army chief, indicated that forces are actively “attacking” Lebanon to set the stage for possible troop deployment. Over the past three days, the Israeli military has claimed to have struck more than 2,000 Hezbollah targets in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that military actions against Hezbollah will persist until northern residents displaced by cross-border clashes can safely return home.

Tensions escalated further when Hezbollah targeted the Israeli Mossad spy agency’s headquarters near Tel Aviv, marking the first ballistic missile launch in nearly a year amid ongoing hostilities triggered by the Gaza conflict.

Despite these developments, the United States has expressed that it does not believe an Israeli ground operation in Lebanon is imminent. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated, “It doesn’t look like something is imminent,” while President Biden underscored the potential for “all-out war” in the region.

In a collective response to the escalating conflict, the US, along with France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and other nations, called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed this sentiment, urging for a ceasefire in Lebanon and warning that “hell is breaking loose.” Meanwhile, Iran, Hezbollah’s main ally, condemned Israel’s military actions, asserting that the Middle East is facing a “full-scale catastrophe” and vowing to support Lebanon “by all means” if Israel escalates its offensive.

Joint calls for 21-day truce

The US, France and other allies have jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to facilitate negotiations in the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has claimed over 600 lives in Lebanon in recent days. 

The appeal was made on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday by the US, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and Qatar.

“The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8, 2023, is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of broader regional escalation. This is in no one’s interest, neither the people of Israel nor Lebanon,” according to a joint statement of the countries.

The allies emphasised that diplomacy cannot succeed amid continued conflict.

“It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return to safety,” the statement added.

The joint call urged for the 21-day ceasefire to provide space for diplomatic negotiations, in line with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.

“We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to immediately endorse the ceasefire and give diplomacy a real chance to resolve the crisis,” the statement urged.

Carnage continues

Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua on Wednesday evening that Israeli warplanes carried out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon.

“About 50 raids were recorded on the village of Arqoub, the towns of Marjeyoun, Bint Jbeil, and Jezzine, and the cities of Sidon, Tyre, and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon,” said the sources as reported by Xinhua news agency.

They said that the raids targeted Hezbollah sites, an evacuation centre, and dozens of civilian homes, destroying more than 60 homes and causing extensive damage to the electricity network.

The Civil Defence and the Lebanese Red Cross are working to remove the rubble and transfer the injured to hospitals, the sources added.

According to the National News Agency, 13 out of the 25 members of the Islamic Message Scouts — a local paramedics’ organisation — and the Islamic Health Authority, who were working to remove the rubble following one Israeli raid, were injured during a second raid targeting them.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that it “targeted the Branit barracks this evening with heavy artillery shells and hit it directly”.

Hezbollah added that it also attacked the spy equipment at the Ramyah site in northern Israel on Wednesday evening, which led to its destruction.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said the death toll from the continued Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday across Lebanon had risen to 51, with injuries up to 223.

On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country.

Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel’s bombardment has displaced more than 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours.

The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in.

ALSO READ: Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre drives US partnerships

Categories
-Top News Arab News UK News

UK PM calls for ‘de-escalation’ between Israel and Hezbollah

Starmer appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for “restraint and de-escalation” between Israel and Hezbollah at his Labour Party’s annual conference, although his speech was interrupted by a heckler protesting against the UK’s continuing support for Israel in its war on Gaza.

Addressing party delegates on Tuesday, Starmer urged “all parties to step back from the brink” as Israel and Hezbollah traded cross-border attacks for a second day in a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions.

Starmer also appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas “as a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel”.

The situation in Gaza continues to pose a challenge to the Labour Party, which won a landslide victory in July’s election. As the opposition leader, Starmer only called for a ceasefire in February under intense public pressure after opposing a ceasefire resolution in the UK Parliament.

On Monday, a protester shouting about British arms sales to Israel briefly interrupted a speech given by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. On Tuesday, activists attempted to write “Genocide conference” at the entrance to the convention centre.

Starmer’s own speech was interrupted by a protester shouting about Gaza.

He resumed his speech with a joking response. “This guy’s obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference. We’ve changed the party,” he said.

“While he’s been protesting, we’ve been changing the party, that’s why we’ve got a Labour government.”

Much of Starmer’s speech was devoted to the theme of change, as recent polls suggested his approval ratings have plummeted and public optimism about his party was already running dry.

Starmer won the election in July on a promise to banish years of turmoil and scandal under Conservative Party governments, rebooting Britain’s sluggish economy and restoring frayed public services such as the state-funded National Health Service.

Since then, his government has announced there is a 22 billion-pound ($29bn) “black hole” in public finances left by the previous Conservative government, warning the upcoming October 30 budget will be “painful”.

Taking “tough long-term decisions now” will mean the “light at the end of this tunnel” can be reached “much more quickly”, he said in Tuesday’s speech. The mood at the conference was also dampened by public outcry over Starmer’s acceptance of freebies at a time when millions of people are struggling with the cost of living.

Starmer insists he followed the rules when he took thousands of pounds worth of clothes and designer eyeglasses from Waheed Alli, a media entrepreneur and Labour donor. After days of bad press, the party says he and other ministers will no longer accept any more free outfits.

“I’m not going to pretend to anyone in this room that I’ve enjoyed some of the headlines and stories over the last week,” Starmer told a meeting at the conference. “But nor am I going to allow them to define the government.”

Starmer’s call for release of Gaza ‘sausages’ goes viral

A video of Keir Starmer calling on Hamas to return “the sausages” as he urged a peaceful solution to the Gaza war with Israel went viral on Tuesday. Starmer’s slip of the tongue came while he was speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, northwest England, as he meant to say “hostages”.

Having first called for “restraint and de-escalation at the border between Lebanon and Israel”, Starmer moved on to the Gaza conflict. “I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the sausages,” he said, before quickly correcting himself with “the hostages” as applause rang out around the conference hall.

“And a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel,” he continued. Almost as soon as the words had left Starmer’s mouth, the video went viral on X and by Tuesday evening it was the second most shared content.

British media were quick to jump on Starmer’s mistake, with the left-wing Guardian calling it a “gaffe” and the right-wing Daily Mail noting a “faux-pas”. Starmer was referring to the nearly year-long war that broke out after the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7 last year and the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza that followed.

Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.

ALSO READ: UK Govt cracks down on ‘gangs’ that smuggle people

Categories
-Top News Arab News USA

US calls on Israel to keep banking ties with Palestine

Smoke rises from the vicinity of the Hamad Towers area northwest of the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 16, 2024. People in the Gaza Strip remain trapped in an endless nightmare of death and destruction, as new evacuation orders have been issued by Israeli authorities, the UN agency for Palestine refugees said on Friday.(IANS/Xinhua)

The current banking correspondence authorization is set to expire on October 31, posing risks to nearly $10 billion in import and export transactions….reports Asian Lite News

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo has urged Israel to maintain its banking relationships with Palestinian banks for at least another year to prevent an economic crisis in the West Bank, emphasizing that Israel’s security is at stake. Adeyemo conveyed this message during a meeting with Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron in New York, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly. He also met separately with Jordan’s King Abdullah.

The Treasury Department highlighted that Adeyemo expressed concerns over threats from some Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to sever correspondent banking ties with Palestinian banks. This relationship is crucial for the Palestinian Authority’s stability, which, if compromised, could negatively impact Israel’s own security.

The current banking correspondence authorization is set to expire on October 31, posing risks to nearly $10 billion in import and export transactions. Adeyemo warned that cutting off these banking ties could push more Palestinian financial activities into unregulated sectors, escalating regional instability.

The World Bank recently indicated that the Palestinian territories are nearing an economic collapse, with Gaza’s GDP plummeting 86% in the first quarter of 2024, and the Palestinian Authority facing a $1.86 billion financing gap for the year. Although Smotrich extended a waiver for banking cooperation for just four months, U.S. officials have remained non-committal about potential repercussions if Israel does not extend this waiver further, leaving open the possibility of sanctions for non-compliance.

ALSO READ: Israel’s Lebanon bombardment tests US influence

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Israel’s Lebanon bombardment tests US influence

Biden insisted his administration is still “working to de-escalate” tensions….reports Asian Lite News

For nearly a year, President Joe Biden has aimed to prevent the Gaza conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. However, as he prepares for a farewell visit to the UN General Assembly, Israel’s intensified military operations against Lebanon highlight the limits of U.S. influence.

In a meeting with the UAE leader on Monday, Biden insisted his administration is still “working to de-escalate” tensions. Yet, developments have quickly spiraled beyond U.S. control. Following attacks on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, the U.S. claimed it had no prior knowledge of Israel’s military actions and urged restraint.

Rather than de-escalating, Israel ramped up its assaults, reportedly striking 1,000 Hezbollah sites in just one day. Lebanese authorities reported 492 casualties, including 35 children. Following a Hamas attack that traumatized Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed warnings about potential consequences, stating that Israel’s goal is to shift the “security balance” in Lebanon.

These military actions unfolded after unsuccessful U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining Israeli troops along the Gaza-Egypt border and unresolved disputes with Hamas have stymied negotiations. Michael Hanna from the International Crisis Group noted that U.S. initiatives aimed at stabilizing Lebanon depended on achieving a Gaza ceasefire, which now appears unattainable.

With the U.S. political calendar also complicating matters, Vice President Kamala Harris faces a challenging election against Donald Trump. Analysts believe the Biden administration is unlikely to take significant action against Israel, given the political risks involved.

While Biden has expressed concern for civilians in Gaza, he has largely refrained from using U.S. military aid as leverage. Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced additional troop deployments to the region, reinforcing Israel’s position amid rising tensions.

ALSO READ: Growing Frustration in China Over Pakistan’s Duplicity on Counterterrorism Assurances

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Bloodbath in Lebanon

Israel’s sweeping airstrikes across Lebanon have raised the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to a new peak….reports Asian Lite News

At least 492 people have been killed in extensive Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, marking the deadliest day of conflict in nearly 20 years, according to the country’s health ministry.

The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on Monday included 24 children and 42 women, with many victims still unidentified, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Lebanese health officials.

Israel’s sweeping airstrikes across Lebanon have raised the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to a new peak.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, launched more than 200 rockets into northern Israel, according to the military. Paramedics said two people were injured by shrapnel.

This latest surge in hostilities comes on the heels of last week’s mysterious explosions targeting pagers and walkie-talkies throughout Lebanon, which left several dead and a nation on edge.

The rapid succession of events has catapulted the long-simmering tensions to unprecedented levels, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration.

Herzi Halevi, Israel’s military chief, announced on Monday evening that the country was preparing for “the next phases” of its military operation, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted approximately 1,100 sites in southern and eastern Lebanon.

“This morning, the IDF launched a proactive offensive operation,” Halevi said during a situational assessment at the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center in Tel Aviv.

“We are targeting combat infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for the past 20 years,” Halevi noted, adding, “We are striking targets and preparing for the next phases.”

Also on Monday, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut targeted Ali Karki, a senior Hezbollah commander, who was called by Israeli media the “last deputy” of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah later said he was “in full health and has moved to a safe place.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was acting to change the “security balance” in the north. He also issued a stark warning to Nasrallah during a security assessment meeting on Monday, stating that “everyone is in the crosshairs.”

The strikes have caused widespread destruction and displacement in Lebanon, with residents fleeing from cities such as Tyre, Nabatieh, and Iqlim al-Tuffah towards Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

Syrian media reported a significant movement of people fleeing from Lebanon into Syria at the Syrian-Lebanese border.

Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission announced that it has suspended flights of Jordanian airlines to Beirut until further notice, citing increasing regional tensions and the need to ensure safety and security in civil aviation.

In response to the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah fired over 180 rockets toward northern Israel throughout Monday, the Israeli military reported. Israel’s aerial defence systems intercepted some projectiles, while others fell within Israeli territory, causing fires.

The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that five people were injured by shrapnel.

Hezbollah said in a statement that it had bombed several Israeli military targets, including the reserve headquarters of the Israeli army’s northern corps and Rafael’s military-industrial complexes north of Haifa, “with dozens of missiles.”

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged the public to remain calm in anticipation of potential escalated attacks by Hezbollah in the coming days. “These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure,” he noted in a video statement.

The Israeli Defence Ministry also announced a “special” security situation across the entire country on Monday night, amid concerns that Hezbollah might broaden the range of its retaliatory attacks.

The attacks have prompted condemnations from both regional and international communities.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as “a war of extermination” during a cabinet meeting. He called on the United Nations and the international community to “stand up and deter aggression.”

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a threat to regional stability driven by the “far-right goals of the Israeli government”.

Egypt on Monday condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, warning that its military escalation will only aggravate the crisis. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry urged international powers and the UN Security Council to intervene to stop Israel’s escalation in the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani warned of the serious consequences of Israel’s “bids to expand the conflict in the entire West Asia region”, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the attacks “mark a new phase in Israel’s efforts to drag the entire region into chaos”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave alarm” over the escalating tensions in the region and voiced serious concern for the safety of civilians, including UN personnel. He urged immediate de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

ALSO READ: British troops in Lebanon training its army

ALSO READ: UNSC Meets In Emergency Session Over Lebanon

Categories
-Top News Arab News World News

UNSC Meets In Emergency Session Over Lebanon

The emergency session follows the escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, and deadly wireless device explosions targeting members of the militant group.

The UN Security Council has met in an emergency session on Lebanon, following an uptick in cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, and deadly wireless device explosions targeting members of the militant group.

Rosemary DiCarlo, UN under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, said on Friday that alarming developments in Lebanon and the region have come after nearly one year of hostilities on an almost daily basis across the Blue Line, a buffer zone separating Israel and Lebanon, Xinhua news agency reported.

“These exchanges have been a repeated breach of the cessation of hostilities and in violation of (Security Council) resolution 1701,” she said.

Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanon’s foreign minister, said “Israel, through this terrorist aggression, has violated the basic principles of international humanitarian law … and indiscriminately targeted civilians.”

Denouncing Israel as “a rogue state,” he called on the council to condemn the recent attacks, implement resolution 1701 and stand on the right side of history.

“Isn’t this terrorism when you target a whole population while they tend to their daily life and not fighting on the front?” he asked.

Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations Koussay Aldahhak said the devastating recent attacks were deployed without any regard to international law or to humanity.

He said the Arab Group demands the Security Council condemn this cyberterrorism and Israel’s aggressions against the Palestinian people in Gaza and attacks on other countries, including Syria.

In his national capacity, Aldahhak said Syria condemns the aggression and ongoing terrorism against the Lebanese people.

Speaking in his national capacity, Samuel Zbogar of Slovenia, which holds the Security Council presidency for September, said “We are stepping in a dangerous new territory and as new technology is being used and developed, we underline the need to respect the existing legal obligations.”

He called on the Security Council to act before the situation in the region spirals beyond control, emphasizing that diplomacy must be the only path forward.

Danny Danon, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said his country did not seek the war, stating that on October 8, when Israeli citizens in the south were being “slaughtered” by Hamas, Hezbollah “unleased hundreds of rockets” in the north against civilians.

He said that since then, more than 8,000 rockets have “rained down” on Israel, killing 46 people and injuring a further 294. Danon added that Israel’s objective is to “restore security to our northern borders” and “bring our people home.”

“We are very concerned at the heightened escalation across the Blue Line, including the deadly strike we saw on Beirut today,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at a daily briefing.

He urged all parties to de-escalate immediately, exercise “maximum restraint” and “immediately return to the cessation of hostilities and to fully implement Security Council resolution 1701.”

Warning that the region is “on the brink of a catastrophe,” he said all efforts should focus on finding a diplomatic solution.

ALSO READ: Israeli jets rain bombs on Lebanon

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Israeli jets rain bombs on Lebanon

Fire and smoke are seen following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on April 7, 2023. Israel on Friday intensified airstrikes on military posts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, in response to rockets fired from the areas at several parts in Israel, escalating tensions with Palestine over the past three days after Israeli police forcibly expelled Palestinian worshippers from the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Israeli planes reportedly dropped 150 air-to-ground missiles in their most intense raids since October 8, according to Lebanese sources. Israel’s military confirmed striking 100 rocket launchers….reports Asian Lite News

Israeli warplanes have launched about 60 airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said that “the planes on Thursday dropped about 150 air-to-ground missiles”, adding that the casualties and damage caused by the intensive raids, “the most violent since October 8”, are not yet known, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli military said the Air Force had struck “100 rocket launchers, consisting of approximately 1,000 barrels.”

After hours of intensive strikes that began in the afternoon, the Israeli military announced just before midnight that the operation was complete.

The Lebanese sources said that about 50 Katyusha rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.

The exchange of fire occurred amidst two consecutive days of deadly explosions of pagers and communication devices across Lebanon allegedly carried out by Israel, which resulted in at least 37 fatalities and 2,931 injuries.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied being behind the attacks but multiple security sources have said they were carried out by its spy agency Mossad.

The Lebanese army said on Thursday it was blowing up pagers and suspicious telecom devices in controlled blasts in different areas. It called on citizens to report any suspicious devices.

Lebanese authorities banned walkie-talkies and pagers from being taken on flights from Beirut airport until further notice, the National News Agency reported. Such devices were also banned from being shipped by air.

Qatar Airways bans pagers, walkie-talkies

Qatar Airways has prohibited passengers travelling from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport from bringing pagers and walkie-talkies on flights.

On Thursday, the airline, on social media platform X, said that the regulations would be in place until further notice.

“Effective immediately: Following the directive received from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Republic of Lebanon, all passengers flying from Beirut Rafic Harirl International Airport (BEY) are prohibited from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on board flights,” Qatar Airways posted on X.

Qatar Airways said that the ban applies to both checked and carry-on luggage, as well as cargo, and will be enforced until further notice.

The recent explosions add a new layer to the ongoing 11-month clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, marked by deadly Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry described the explosions as a “dangerous and deliberate Israeli escalation” which it said had been “accompanied by Israeli threats to expand the war towards Lebanon on a large scale”.

Lebanese internal security forces said several wireless communication devices were detonated across Lebanon, especially in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

The pagers that detonated were the latest model brought in by Hezbollah in recent months, three security sources said.

Use shelters, Israel alerts residents

The Israeli military has instructed residents in dozens of northern communities to stay near shelters and avoid non-essential outdoor activities due to possible “retaliation” from Hezbollah.

Residents in the Upper Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights were on Thursday night requested to minimize movement, avoid gatherings, monitor gates at the entrances to communities, and remain close to shelters, Xinhua news agency reported.

The unusual restrictions were issued by the Home Front Command after dozens of Israeli warplanes carried out one of the largest-scale attacks in Lebanon.

Israel’s new ceasefire deal

Israel has submitted a new proposal for a ceasefire deal with Hamas, which includes offering Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other members “safe passage” out of Gaza in return for the release of hostages, Israeli state media reported Thursday.

The proposal has been conveyed to the United States, which has been mediating the indirect talks alongside Qatar and Egypt, state-owned Kan Reshet Bet radio reported, citing Israeli officials.

Under the proposed terms, Israel will guarantee “safe passage” for Sinwar and any Hamas member wishing to leave the Palestinian territory without any assassination attempts, it reported.

The proposal also calls for demilitarizing Gaza and replacing Hamas there with what Israel describes as “a different governing mechanism,” it reported.

So far, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has not officially confirmed the report.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV quoted a senior Hamas official as saying that while the group has not yet received the proposal, the outline, based on media reports, was “absurd” and disregarded the mediators’ extensive efforts over the past eight months.

ALSO READ: Hamdan, Abdullah discuss future UAE initiatives

Categories
-Top News Arab News World News

WHO: Over 22,500 in Gaza suffer life-changing injuries

Severe limb injuries – estimated to affect between 13,455 and 17,550 individuals – were the leading cause of long-term rehabilitation needs, reports Asian Lite News

At least 22,500 people, or a quarter of those injured in the Gaza conflict as of July 23, are suffering from life-changing injuries that will require long-term rehabilitation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.

The report published o Thursday underscored the immense burden on Gaza’s already crippled healthcare system, saying that severe limb injuries were the leading cause of rehabilitation needs. These limb injuries are estimated to affect between 13,455 and 17,550 individuals, Xinhua news agency reported.

These injuries are compounded by some 4,000 amputations, and a sharp rise in cases of spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and severe burns, many of which involve women and children.

Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, warned that Gaza’s health infrastructure is unable to meet the increasing demands.

“The huge surge in rehabilitation needs occurs in parallel with the ongoing decimation of the health system,” he said, emphasizing the critical shortage of acute rehabilitation services and specialized care for complex injuries.

As the conflict continues, ensuring access to essential healthcare, including rehabilitation services, remains crucial to preventing further illness and fatalities, the Geneva-based health agency said.

ALSO READ: Global outrage as Israel pounds UN-run Gaza school

Categories
-Top News Arab News World

Global outrage as Israel pounds UN-run Gaza school

UNRWA reported that six of its employees, who had been providing aid to families taking refuge in the facility, were killed.

Countries in the Middle East condemned on Thursday an Israeli airstrike on a school operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza’s al-Nuseirat refugee camp, which occurred on Wednesday and resulted in 18 fatalities.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) asserted that the target was a Hamas command and control centre concealed within the shelter. UNRWA reported that six of its employees, who had been providing aid to families taking refuge in the facility, were killed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry described the attack as a “blatant violation of international laws,” criticized the targeting of international and UN facilities, and called for accountability for the perpetrators. Egypt emphasized the urgent need to address “Israeli breaches” and urged influential parties to ensure Israel’s compliance with international obligations.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a “blatant violation of international law” and a “new war crime” amidst ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza. Spokesperson Sufian Qudah denounced the attack as part of Israel’s “ongoing aggression,” which he argued contradicted human values and international law. He called for immediate international intervention and support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack in the “strongest” terms. The Saudi foreign ministry called for an immediate ceasefire, civilian protection, and an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, criticized Israeli violations of international law, and urged accountability for attacks on relief facilities.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the strike on social media, highlighting that schools and shelters in Gaza had become primary targets. Kanaani called on the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia to address their role in supplying arms to Israel.

Qatar’s foreign ministry labelled the attack a “horrifying massacre,” describing it as further evidence of Israel’s “criminal practices” violating international humanitarian law. Qatar demanded an urgent international investigation and the deployment of independent UN investigators to assess the ongoing targeting of schools and shelters.

Iraq also condemned the school attack, with Iraqi government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi stating that the Israeli attack was part of a “brutal and criminal” pattern of violence against Palestinian civilians and infrastructure.

‘Endless & senseless killing’

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres deplored the killings and said these “dramatic violations of international humanitarian law” needs to stop.

“What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable. A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today. Six of our @UNRWA colleagues are among those killed. These dramatic violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now,” the UN chief stated in a post on X.

UN Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini also deplored the killings and said that at least 220 UNRWA staff have been killed in this war. He further added that “longer the impunity prevails,” the more international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions will become “irrelevant.”

“Endless & senseless killing, day after day. Another school sheltering displaced people hit in Nuseirat today. Among the people killed are six @UNRWAstaff working & providing support to families who have sought refuge in the school.

“Since the beginning of this war, at least 220 UNRWA staff have been killed in #GazaHumanitarian staff, premises& operations have been blatantly & unabatedly disregarded since the beginning of the war. The longer impunity prevails, the more international humanitarian law & the Geneva conventions will become irrelevant,” he added.

Meanwhile, the UN reported that health workers are continuing efforts to vaccinate young children in northern Gaza against polio, part of a wider campaign to defeat the disease, which can cause paralysis.

More than 81,600 boys and girls were vaccinated as of Tuesday, according to preliminary data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Polio was detected in Gaza in June and UN agencies and partners launched a two-round campaign this month to provide over 640,000 children with two doses of novel oral polio vaccine type 2.

So far, nearly 5,28,000 children have been reached in the first round.

“More than 230 teams are on the ground trying to reach all children under the age of 10 with the first batch of the polio vaccination,” UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in New York, adding that “they will need to do this again in four weeks.”

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza had reached 41,118, according to health authorities in the region, amid Israel’s large-scale offensive against Hamas that began in response to a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

ALSO READ: Iran seeks closer ties with Iraq

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Arab FMs demand Israel’s complete withdrawal

The Arab ministers also appealed to the UN General Assembly and Security Council to consider additional actions to address Israel’s ongoing violations…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign ministers of Arab countries on Tuesday urged Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, including from the Philadelphi Corridor and the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.

The ministers categorically rejected Israel’s plans for “the day after its aggression” and its control over any part of Gaza, according to a resolution issued after the 162nd session of the Arab League (AL) Council at the ministerial level held in Egypt’s Cairo.

They have urged the international community to enforce the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion declaring Israel’s settlements illegal in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

They called on the UN General Assembly and Security Council to consider additional measures to end Israel’s illegal occupation.

The ministers also urged the ICJ to expedite its judgment on the case brought by South Africa against Israel, which accuses Tel Aviv of failing to abide by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

They called on the UN to suspend Israel from participating in its general assembly, SPA reported.

In addition to officials from the United Nations and the European Union, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also attended the meeting, marking the first attendance of a top Turkish diplomat in an AL ministerial meeting in 13 years.

The Palestine-Egypt borders are sovereign ones that “should not be touched,” the resolution said, stressing “the need to operate the Rafah crossing in accordance with the applicable rules, and to remove all obstacles to safe, sufficient and rapid humanitarian access through the crossing.”

The Israeli army took control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 100-meter-wide and 14-km-long buffer zone along the Egypt-Gaza border, and the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in May, halting the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza.

On Sept. 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a news conference that Israeli forces are “not going to withdraw” from the corridor, reiterating that keeping it under control is critical for preventing future weapons smuggling from Egypt to Gaza.

In the resolution, the ministers said Netanyahu’s “allegations and lies” were “desperate attempts” to justify his refusal to withdraw from the corridor, obstruct mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, and distract attention from his government’s provocative policies against the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, the ministers called for confirming the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in Gaza, ending its illegal presence there as soon as possible, and immediately dismantling all settlement activities, according to the resolution.

They also agreed to officially intervene to support the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel before the UN’s principal judicial organ, the International Court of Justice, and urged the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, who they believed have committed crimes falling within its jurisdiction, the resolution noted.

UN deeply alarmed by continued loss of life in Gaza

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is deeply alarmed by the continued loss of life in Gaza and strongly condemns today’s Israeli air strikes in an Israeli-designated zone for displaced persons in Khan Younis.

“The use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas is unconscionable. Palestinians had moved to this area in Khan Younis in search for shelter and search of safety, after being repeatedly instructed to do so by the Israeli authorities,” said Guterres in a statement released by the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General during his daily briefing.

“As the Secretary-General has repeatedly said, there is no safe place in Gaza. He repeats yet again his call for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and other nationalities still being held in Gaza.”
Earlier today, Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in his own statement strongly condemned the attack. He said that international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack, must be upheld at all times.

He also emphasised that civilians must never be used as human shields.

“Despite this incident, our partners were able to start the polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza today. This is the third phase of the campaign and is expected to continue through Thursday. UNRWA says thousands of children in northern Gaza have been vaccinated so far. We hope to have more details later or tomorrow,” he added.

The World Health Organisation says vaccines, cold chain equipment, and finger markers – which are used to track who’s actually been vaccinated – were delivered successfully to Gaza yesterday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that work is ongoing to deliver more fuel to ensure that vehicles used by vaccination teams remain functional, and to resupply hospitals so that they can maintain essential services.

ALSO READ: OPEC hails UAE’s thriving non-oil sector