[ad_1]
The Israeli War Cabinet meets on Tuesday to discuss the latest US proposal for a ceasefire after Hamas said it was reviewing the plan but accused Israel of remaining “intransigent” and failing to respond to the demands of the Palestinian people. Hamas wants Israel to withdraw all its forces from Gaza and allow the displaced to return to their homes. Blinken said the latest proposal is “extremely dangerous” and must be accepted by Hamas.
“I think the fact that she continues to not say yes is a reflection of what she really thinks about the people of Gaza, which is not much at all,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference in Washington. “The ball is now in Hamas’ court and the world is watching to see what it will do.”
the Wall Street JournalThe proposal calls for a six-week ceasefire and the release of 40 of more than 100 hostages held by activists in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, he said, citing officials who helped broker the agreement. The newspaper said that 100 of the Palestinians who will be released are serving long sentences on terrorism-related charges.
But the newspaper said that gaps remain over key aspects of any potential agreement, including how and when Palestinians displaced by the war will be allowed to return to northern Gaza, the identities of Palestinian prisoners who will be released and whether the initial six-week pause has taken place. The fire can become permanent.
The Israeli army says several Hamas brigades are still stationed in Rafah and must be removed until Hamas is defeated. Israel has been bombing Rafah for weeks, but President Joe Biden and many other world leaders have urged Israel not to invade the city, fearing large numbers of civilian deaths. Gaza officials say more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7 when Hamas-led militants crashed across the Israeli border, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We are constantly working to achieve our goals, the most important of which is the release of all our hostages and achieving complete victory over Hamas.” He added, “This victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist brigades there. It will happen, and there is a date.”
Developing:
∎ US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that US officials have “no evidence” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
∎ Vice President Kamala Harris will meet on Tuesday with relatives of American hostages being held in Gaza. The families met with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Israel's actions in Gaza did not change the British government's position that allows the export of weapons to the Israeli army. “As always, we will keep the situation under review,” he added.
∎ The British government has faced increasing calls to halt arms sales to Israel, including from London Mayor Sadiq Khan last week.
∎ Turkey issued trade restrictions on dozens of Israeli products on Tuesday, saying they would remain in place until Israel accepts a ceasefire and allows more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Loss of more than 30 thousand lives:Imagine the death and destruction caused by the Israeli war on Gaza
Israel buys 40,000 tents to shelter the displaced people of Rafah
Israel buys 40 thousand tents for Preparing to evacuate Rafah after Netanyahu's defiant announcement of setting a date for the globally condemned invasion of the southern Gaza city. Israeli officials told multiple media outlets, including: Jerusalem Post The tents will house some of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who will be evacuated from the city, where more than a million people have taken refuge after fleeing the devastating attacks that targeted northern and central Gaza.
Blinken said that the United States had not been informed of the date of the Israeli Rafah operation. He said the Biden administration continues to talk with Israel about alternatives to invasion, and if the invasion continues, civilians will be kept out of harm's way.
“The commitments made and the initial steps to implement those commitments are positive, but more needs to be done to make sure people in Gaza have what they need,” Blinken said.
The United States reviews Israeli conclusions regarding the global central kitchen tragedy
Blinken said that the United States is reviewing the results of the investigation conducted by Israel into the attack on a humanitarian aid convoy that killed seven people last week. The Israeli military said a series of mistakes led to the accidental attack on volunteers for celebrity chef José Andres' World Central Kitchen. Two officers were removed from command positions days after the drone strikes. Blinken said that Israel has taken the first steps towards accountability.
“We want to make sure that the investigation produces, once again, real change that can better ensure the security and safety of humanitarian workers,” Blinken said.
US Secretary of Defense warns that deadly famine in Gaza would “accelerate the pace of violence.”
Ozen told the Senate committee that a deadly famine in Gaza would likely “accelerate violence” and ensure a protracted conflict. Austin said the United States is doing “everything we can” to encourage Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the Strip. However, aid agencies have repeatedly complained that Israel does not guarantee access to enough food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies needed to join the European Union. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Israel of using famine as a “weapon of war.”
Israel announced Tuesday that aid is moving into Gaza more quickly, but the United Nations says it remains far short of what is needed to meet humanitarian needs. Israel said 419 trucks, the highest number since the conflict began, entered on Monday, although the Red Crescent and the United Nations gave much lower numbers. The United Nations said many of them were only half full due to Israeli inspection rules.
The United Nations is studying the Palestinian application for membership
The UN Security Council agreed on Monday to consider the Palestinian application for full membership in the United Nations, essentially recognizing the Palestinian state. A similar request failed in 2011, although Palestine later obtained observer status.
Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour said, “All we ask is to take our rightful place among the community of nations.” “To be treated equally with other nations and countries. To live in freedom and dignity, in peace and security, in the land of our ancestors.”
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said, “Granting a Palestinian state not only constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, but also violates the basic principle that everyone can understand about reaching a lasting solution at the negotiating table.”
Malta's Ambassador Vanessa Fraser, who takes over as chair of the council this month, said the admissions committee would meet again on the issue on Thursday. But the United States may ultimately veto the request. The American position is that full membership in the United Nations should come only after a long-term peace agreement is reached between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel withdraws most of its forces from Gaza:Hamas and Israel will hold talks
US seizes Iranian weapons and ships them to Ukraine
US Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday that the US military transferred thousands of small arms to Ukraine, which were seized while being shipped from Iran to Yemeni rebels. More than 5,000 AK-47 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7 grenades and more than 500,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition were sent to Ukraine. The equipment, seized from 2021 to 2023, was destined for Houthi forces who control parts of Yemen and have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region since November, disrupting supply chains around the world.
The statement read: “Iran’s support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic staff and citizens in the region, as well as the security of our partners.” We will continue to do everything we can to highlight and stop Iran’s destabilizing activities.”
Contributing: Reuters
[ad_2]
Source