A compelling reason for the US to change course, but pols & donors owned by #AIPAC, #ChristianNationalists, &... are thwarting...
American doctors are trapped in Gaza💔as a result of IL’s post-invasion closure of the Rafah border crossing into EG, acc to sources with knowledge of the plight of 2 ill-fated MED mis-.
He's determined to continue with his strategy *prioritizes MIL goals over humanitarian objectives such as freeing the hostages or safeguarding Gazan civilians. IL ordered a new round of forced evacuations in Gaza -orders that are illegal under INTL law. Although the differences b/w the US & IL are the widest they have ever been, no one expects the 2 countries to totally break relations: they need one another. #IsraelHamasWar https://english.elpais.com/usa/2024-05-13/gaza-war-pushes-us-israel-relations-to-unprecedented-low-point.html
In the Arab world: 92% of the poll's respondents: "Palestinian cause -not solely the concern of #Palestinians but of all Arabs." In JO: "Our people are starving -I feel guilty for sleeping on a bed -eating while people in Gaza starve.” Woman in the crowd: feared that JO, where 1/2 pop. of PA heritage, could become the next Gaza -cited a speech by Smotrich, IL’s FIN MIN, there was “no such thing as a Palestinian” bc -no such thing as the PA ppl.” #IsraelHamasWarhttps://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-jordan/the-other-side-of-the-river
The Israeli military issued an “urgent warning” to evacuate parts of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands out of the area and signaling the next phase of its military campaign against Hamas. NBC News reports: https://flip.it/yB5nQ3 #News#WorldNews#IsraelHamasWar#Israel#Palestine
UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution Supporting Palestinian Statehood. The measure declares that Palestinians qualify for full-member status, a largely symbolic move that reflects the growing isolation of IL.
How does the Israeli AMB to the UN react:
"Gilad Erdan used a paper shredder to shred the UN charter on the podium of the UN general assembly ahead of a vote that will give new privileges to the Palestinians at the UN."
-B Ravid
GAZA IS HELL ON EARTH: famine, lack of water & fuel, untreated injuries, disease, #domicide..
Rafah has a spiraling HC crisis.
Israel’s MIL ops. have overwhelmed hospitals -already struggling to treat patients suffering from malnutrition & disease.
Bodies lay where they fell, in the “red zone” -few ambulances available could not reach bc of Israeli bombardment. Border crossings remained closed Thurs, stranding critically ill patients-.
"IL security CAB approved last night the "expansion of the area of operation" of the IDF in Rafah. 2 sources: this is a "measured expansion" that doesn't cross Pres Biden's red line. 3rd source: approved expansion incl. actions that could be interpreted by the US as crossing Biden's red line The 3 sources: CAB also instructed the Israeli negotiations to continue efforts to reach a hostage deal & try to formulate a new initiative that'd lead to a breakthrough."
-B Ravid #IsraelHamasWar
Israeli cab. decision comes as concern grows in the Biden admin re deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rafah since IL took control of the PA side of the Rafah crossing earlier this week. IL didn't coord.-capturing of the crossing well enough with the Egyptians who got "extremely upset" *refused to send aid trucks, incl. fuel trucks, thru: Kerem Shalom crossing b/w IL & Gaza. Biden admin: pressing the Israelis to reopen-.
Israeli #warcrimes, Palestinians abused in detention💔:
MIL base -now doubles as a detention center in IL’s Negev desert: Rows of men in gray tracksuits seen sitting on paper-thin mattresses, ringfenced by barbed wire -blindfolded -heads hanging heavy under the glare of floodlights.
Snr security official lamented in a prv. meeting: "The Americans want us to create perfect living conditions, even expecting us to put chocolate on their pillows." IL's insistence on full steam ahead in Rafah could spell a weapons embargo from the W -limiting precision munitions might lead to increased civilian casualties, contrary to US intentions -would force: IDF to use a larger stockpile of less precise bombs & missiles -. #IsraelHamasWarhttps://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1lzoqcfr
"The Biden admin has said a major invasion would be a red line -noting that it could result in more civilian deaths. Aid groups -already having difficulty distributing much needed aid to the >1.4M ppl -current fighting: killed dozens of people in the last 24 hrs -more robust IDF presence now. 2 brigades, one’s a specialist in tunnels & the other one were the perpetrators of the WCK incident. Those are the 2 brigades operating now & in South Rafa."
With pressure from Jewish & pro-Israel donors & Republicans, the WH is already walking back their plans to curtail arms to Israel💔:
"DOD spox says right now the Pentagon assesses that Israel's campaign in Gaza is "a limited operation... meant to secure that particular area."
-L Seligman
"Weapons shipments are still going to Israel. They're still getting that the vast, vast majority of everything that they need to defend themselves," Kirby.
-J Jacobs