Israeli army rounds up, strips and blindfolds civilian men in Gaza, takes them to unknown location.
Israel confirmed in a statement yesterday that it “approved the recommendation of the War Cabinet to allow a minimal supplement of fuel – necessary to prevent a humanitarian collapse and the outbreak of epidemics – into the southern Gaza Strip.” The statement added that “minimal amount will be determined from time to time by the War Cabinet according to the morbidity situation and humanitarian situation in the Strip.”
Israel accuses Hamas of firing 14 rockets from “humanitarian zones,” including Al-Mawasi, a barren area in Rafah that Israeli forces have directed people to evacuate to for safety. It is unclear whether Israel would now regard the area as a military target, with Israeli military spokesperson Major Nir Dinar saying Gazans were “being updated frequently in various ways” about Israeli military activities. The U.N. says that tens of thousands of people fled to the city in Rafah and that it is the only region in the Gaza Strip that received humanitarian aid in nearly a week. Liam Stack and Yara Bayoumy report for the New York Times.
Israeli airstrikes that killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and injured six other journalists in south Lebanon on Oct. 13 were “an apparently deliberate attack on civilians and thus a war crime,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday. The report by HRW relied on evidence by military, audio, and video experts, who reviewed footage before concluding that “the journalists were well removed from ongoing hostilities, clearly identifiable as members of the media, and had been stationary for at least 75 minutes before they were hit by two consecutive strikes.” The report did not find “any evidence of a military target near the journalists’ location.” Reuters also published their own report on the matter yesterday, in which Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni “call[s] on Israel to explain how this could have happened and to hold to account those responsible for his death and the wounding of [other journalists].”
A senior Hamas official in Lebanon warned yesterday that the chances of another hostage release are “dwindling” and that the return of further detainees will not take place until “the aggression stops.” ABC News reports.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it apprehended hundreds of people suspected of terrorism across the Gaza Strip yesterday, including wanted Hamas operatives. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari added in a televised briefing that many suspects had turned themselves in. Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times.
The Hamas-run health ministry said in the past 24 hours alone, 350 people have been killed in Gaza. Bassam Masoud and Maayan Lubell report for Reuters.
A spokesperson for UNICEF in Gaza warned yesterday that “safe zones” risk “being zones of disease and human suffering.”
Gaza has gone “far beyond” a humanitarian crisis, the head of medical charity Doctors without Borders (also known as MSF) said yesterday. “It is a humanitarian catastrophe. It is a chaotic situation, and I’m extremely worried that very soon people will be in a mode of just trying to survive, which will come with very severe consequences.”
The armed wing of Hamas said today it repelled an attempted hostage rescue by Israeli special forces in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of a captive and the casualties of several military personnel. The captive soldier killed was named as Sa’ar Baruch, 25. No location was specified where the incident occurred. Ahmed Elimam and Dan Williams report for Reuters.
The son of Israel’s former top military commander, Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot, was among at least two soldiers killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip yesterday, the IDF said. Eisenkot, 25, was a reserve soldier in a commando unit, who served as chief of staff to the Israeli Army from 2015-2019. Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times.
REGIONAL RESPONSE
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accused the West yesterday of supporting “genocide” by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza, during a televised talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Neither leader referred to their countries’ growing military relationship, while Putin commented that the sight of Gaza makes “tears come to your eyes.” Russia and Arab countries accuse the West of double-standards over their support for Israel in Gaza but accusations of war crimes by Russia in Ukraine. White House spokesperson John Kirby labeled the growing defense relationship between Moscow and Tehran “worrisome.” Reutersreports.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The “solution” to the war is “likely to be a Palestinian Authority who need to be capable of a level of governance,” British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said yesterday. Schapps added that the solution “will require a huge amount of international help and support … and we are not there yet.” A British military team has been in the West Bank advising the Palestinian Authority for years, and Britain is in discussions with the Palestinian Authority and the US about expanding that support, Shapps said. The comments highlight the growing divide between the Israeli government and its allies including the US and the UK, and their respective plans for the future of Gaza, following British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech last month affirming support for a two-state solution. The New York Times reports.
Cities across Europe are increasing security and protections for Jewish communities as the Hanukkah holiday begins, following the recent warning by the E.U. that Europe has a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” over the holidays in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. The London Metropolitan Police said they have made 75 arrests linked to sentiments around the war, with threats aimed at both Jews and Muslims. Josh Lederman reports for NBC News.
U.S. RESPONSE
President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday where Biden noted “it was Hamas’ refusal to release young women civilian hostages that led to” the end of the temporary fighting pause, according to a White House readout of the call. Biden also “welcomed the recent Israeli decision to ensure that fuel levels will meet requisite needs, but stressed that much more assistance was urgently required across the board.” Fritz Farrow reports for ABC News.
Israel has agreed to open up the Kerem Shalom border crossing at the request of the US for screening and inspections of humanitarian aid, according to a senior U.S. official. “This is an important step, and we will continue to be in touch with our Israeli counterparts to ensure it happens,” the U.S. official said. Peter Alexander reports for NBC News.
The Palestinian Authority is working with the US on a plan to run Gaza after the war ends, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said yesterday. U.S. officials visited Shtayyeh earlier this week where discussions for post-war Gaza took place, he said, adding that “we need to put together a mechanism, something we’re working on with the international community. There will be huge needs in terms of relief and reconstruction to remedy the wounds.” Shtayyeh said that Israel’s aim of defeating Hamas is unrealistic, and said his preferred outcome would be for Hamas to become a junior partner under the broader Palestine Liberation Organization, helping to build a new independent state which would include Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Ethan Bronner and Fadwa Hodali report for Bloomberg.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said yesterday he could not confirm “individual reports and stories” claiming Hamas sexually assaulted hostages, but said “because of who we’re dealing with, we certainly aren’t in a position to disabuse these reports.” Kirby added that “And the truth is, they’re believable, just on the face of it, because of who these guys are, and what they believe. And because we have heard other accounts from other survivors that have come back and other hostages.” Fritz Farrow reports for ABC News.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared his strongest criticism of Israel’s conduct yesterday saying “it remains imperative that Israel put a premium on civilian protection. And there does remain a gap … between the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we’re seeing on the ground.” Blinken also met with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Washington yesterday, and President Biden also spoke separately by telephone with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Netanyahu yesterday. The White House said Biden “emphasized the critical need to protect civilians and to separate the civilian population from Hamas including through corridors that allow people to move safely from defined areas of hostilities.” Bassam Masoud and Humeyra Pamuk report for Reuters.
IRAN-BACKED MILITANTS
A guided-missile attack from Lebanon killed an Israeli civilian in northern Israel yesterday, an IDF spokesperson said, following Netanyahu’s warnings that Beirut would be turned “into Gaza” if Hezbollah started a war. The IDF said the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah carried out the attack, with Hezbollah themselves saying that one out of the 11 attacks it carried out yesterday was targeted at an Israeli barracks in Matat, on the Lebanese border. Dan Williams, Maayan Lubell, and Maggie Fick report for Reuters.
Iraq’s Green Zone which houses the U.S. Embassy was targeted with several rockets today, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials. Sirens calling on people to “duck and cover” were activated according to social media from the scene, as explosions were heard at around 4am in Iraq’s capital. U.S. forces at military bases in Iraq and Syria have faced more than 70 attacks since Mid-October. The Embassy did not provide a comment and no group has claimed responsibility at the time of writing. Timour Azhari reports for Reuters.
| UN Security Council Prepares for Latest Vote on Israel-Hamas WarThe UN Security Council is expected to vote today (Reuters) on a resolution that calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, and for Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages. It comes as Israeli forces continue their heavy offensive in southern Gaza, where they said they have detected rockets (NYT) being fired from humanitarian zones. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that there is a “gap” (WaPo) between Israel’s stated intent to protect civilians and what is happening on the ground. Israel also said yesterday it would take steps to allow some more fuel to enter Gaza. In the broader region, rockets hit the U.S. embassy in Baghdad (CBS) this morning, though no casualties were reported. In the wake of recent attacks on commercial ships by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said yesterday that the United States reserves the right to use force (Bloomberg) against the Houthis. |
U.S. officials say PA must be involved in post war Gaza
Senior US officials said Israel has no interest in discussing the “day after the war” because it does not want to send a message that the fighting is nearing its end, however in Israel, there is an understanding that the matter must be discussed although it has little political viability. Arab nations would have to be involved and they are concerned that Israel would not be prepared to discuss the broader plan. Israel said there would be no Palestinian Authority (PA) involvement in the rehabilitation of Gaza and that Arab nations were willing to be involved, but they seek assurances that a broad initiative would be discussed. The American officials said the US position was that the PA must be somehow involved in post-war Gaza, but no one could say what that involvement would look like. PA President Mahmoud Abbas would not be the one to run Gaza, but the PA’s involvement is critical for the support of Arabs. The Biden administration describes a “revitalized Palestinian Authority,” which would be stronger and different than the current PA. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu told Sky News in Arabic that as long as he is prime minister, Abbas would not be given control of Gaza and the West Bank.
Egypt warned Israel of “a rupture’ in relations if Palestinians flee to Sinai
Egypt warned the US and Israel that if Palestinian refugees flee into the Sinai as a result of the Israeli military operation in southern Gaza, it could create “a rupture” in relations between Egypt and Israel, according to four US and Israeli officials. The close relations between Egypt and Israel, especially between the military and intelligence services, have been critically important at several points in the war, including around the release of hostages. Egypt sees the war in Gaza as a threat to its national security and wants to prevent Palestinian refugees from crossing the border into its territory. According to UNRWA, almost 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85% of the population, were estimated to be internally displaced. At least 17,700 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed, per the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza. Egypt, Jordan and the PA have been concerned since the early days of the war that Israel would push Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt — and not allow them to return after the war. Israeli officials denied this both in private and in public and gave assurances to Egypt that any wounded Palestinian permitted to leave Gaza for medical treatment would be allowed to return to the enclave.