Israel’s Seizure of #Gaza Border Zone Strains Ties With Egypt
Israel defied ominous Egyptian warnings & took control of the #PhiladelphiCorridor, but the reaction from #Egypt, which wants to maintain its #security cooperation with #Israel, has been muted.
The Israeli military has lifted a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel & the occupied #WestBank as its battlefield offensive chokes international aid, acc/to #Palestinian officials, businessmen (sic) & international aid workers.
Israeli war cabinet minister #BennyGantz's #centrist party has proposed holding a vote to dissolve #parliament in a bid to bring about an early #election, his party said in a statement on Thurs.
After a sobering trip to #Kyiv, Secy of State Antony J. #Blinken is urging #POTUS#Biden to lift some restrictions on how Ukraine can use American arms.
Since the 1st US shipments of sophisticated weapons to #Ukraine, #POTUS#Biden has never wavered on 1 prohibition: President #Zelensky had to agree to never fire them into Russian territory, insisting that would violate Biden’s mandate to “avoid World War III.”
But consensus around that policy is fraying. Propelled by the State Dept, there is now a vigorous debate inside the admin over relaxing the ban to allow Ukrainians to hit missile & artillery launch sites just over the border in #Russia….
The Spanish, Irish & Norwegian govts announced Wed that they would recognize a #Palestinian state, saying there would be no #peace in the #MiddleEast w/o it.
Israel denounced the move as giving aid to its enemy #Hamas.
The coordinated announcements are purely symbolic — but not w/o some power.
The leaders of the 3 countries said they hoped their recognition would press #Israel, the #Palestinians & the international community toward a #TwoStateSolution to the conflict.
“In the midst of a #war, w/tens of thousands killed & injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis & Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in #peace & #security,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the immediate recall of the Israeli ambassadors to #Spain, #Ireland & #Norway. “I am sending a clear message today: #Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty & endanger its #security.”
The #UnitedStates govt reiterated its position that recognizing a #PalestinianState was premature & must be the result of direct negotiations between Israel & the #Palestinians.
But the question is where will the Palestinians go?
Palestinians have begun leaving parts of eastern Rafah in Gaza after Israel urged 100,000 people to move towards an expanded "humanitarian zone".
The evacuation comes ahead of an expected offensive on the city, where more than 1.4 million people are sheltering.
The #Biden admin has concluded it is “reasonable to assess” that #Israel’s military campaign in #Gaza has violated #InternationalLaw, but has not found specific instances that would justify the withholding of #military aid, #State Dept told #Congress Fri.
In the admin’s most detailed assessment of #Israel’s conduct in #Gaza, #State said in a written report to #Congress that Israel “has the knowledge, experience & tools to implement best practices for mitigating #civilian harm in its #military operations.”
But it added that “the results on the ground, including high levels of civilian casualties, raise substantial questions” as to whether the #IDF are using them sufficiently.
The report also noted that “#Israel has not shared complete information to verify” whether #US#weapons have been used in specific incidents alleged to have involved #HumanRights#law violations.
Nevertheless, the report, mandated by President #Biden, deems that assurances Israel provided in March that it would use #US arms consistent w/ #InternationalLaw are “credible & reliable” & thus allow the continued flow of #UnitedStates#military aid.
>IDF Warns More Than 100,000 People in #Rafah to Evacuate
#Israel wants to “move people out of harm’s way,” a military official said, a sign that it may be inching closer to invading the Gazan city in defiance of international pressure
The announcement came hours after #POTUS had a tense phone call w/PM #Netanyahu during which Biden threatened to condition future support for Israel depending on how it addresses his concerns about #CivilianCasualties & the #HumanitarianCrisis in Gaza.
In a stmnt, the #NSC said that #Israel had agreed to open the #ErezCrossing to allow #aid into northern #Gaza & to also open the #PortOfAshdod. The measures were being taken “at the president’s request,” the stmnt added.
“These steps,” the stmnt said, “must now be fully & rapidly implemented.”
There was no immediate confirmation from the #Israeli government.
Nearly all of #aid that has reached Gaza has entered through 2 border crossings in the south, & conditions are especially bad in northern #Gaza, where most of the population lived before being #displaced by #Israel’s invasion.
The dire situation in San Diego County is part of a broken system in which border enforcement funding is prioritized above building necessary infrastructure to humanely process a historic number of asylum seekers #Border#HumanitarianCrisis#Asylum
Tens of thousands of #Israelis thronged central #Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government #protest since the country went to #war in Oct. Protesters urged the govt to reach a #CeaseFire deal to free dozens of #hostages held in #Gaza by #Hamas militants & to hold early #elections.
In #Jerusalem outside of #Israel's parliament, some called for the removal of PM Benjamin #Netanyahu, & many said they want the govt to do more to bring the remaining #hostages home.
"This government is doing horrendous things in #Gaza, not in our name, & we want the government to take responsibility & resign today, right now," protester Karen Saar told Williams.
During #Biden’s speech on #healthcare yesterday he was interrupted by protesters advocating for #Palestinians in #Gaza. Instead of ignoring them & moving on, #POTUS responded, “They have a point; we need to get more care into Gaza.” He added, “Everybody deserves healthcare.”
Remarks by #Gallant & #LloydAustin before the meeting underscored the divide. While both noted their countries’ commitment to #Israel’s #security, Gallant emphasized what he said was the urgent need to destroy #Hamas, secure the release of Israeli #hostages & “ensure Israel’s military edge & capabilities.”
#LloydAustin focused on the dire consequences the #war has had for #Palestinian#civilians. “The number of civilian casualties is far too high, & the amount of #HumanitarianAid is far too low,” he said. The safety of #Palestinians in #Rafah, where >1 million people are holed up, was a “top priority,” he added.
A separate Israeli delegation, which includes Min of Strategic Affairs RonDermer & #NationalSecurity adv TzachiHanegbi, is to depart #Israel Mon evening, said an Israeli ofcl…. Israeli PM Benjamin #Netanyahu said he would CANCEL the delegation if the #UnitedStates did not #veto the #Gaza resolution….
Netanyahu repeated his insistence Sun that a military op in #Rafah is needed to eliminate #Hamas.
#Israel’s #Netanyahu on Mon canceled an Israeli delegation of top ofcls after the #UN#Security Council passed its 1st resolution calling for a #Gaza cease-fire. The #UnitedStates abstained, allowing it to pass. The res, backed by 14 nations, demands an immediate #CeaseFire during the Islamic holy month of #Ramadan & release of all #hostages. 4 previous cease-fire resolutions failed, incl’g 1 proposed by the #US Fri.