Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #10

[JennieM]

3m ago
Chris McGreal

A New York civil liberties group is suing Joe Biden for allegedly failing in his duty under international and US laws to prevent Israel committing genocide in Gaza.

The Center for Constitutional Rights’ (CCR) complaint on behalf of several Palestinian groups and individuals alleges that Israel’s actions, including “mass killings”, the targeting of civilian infrastructure and forced expulsions, amount to genocide. The CCR said that the 1948 international convention against genocide requires the US and other countries to use their power and influence to stop the killing. The complaint argued:

As Israel’s closest ally and strongest supporter, being its biggest provider of military assistance by a large margin and with Israel being the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II, the United States has the means available to have a deterrent effect on Israeli officials now pursuing genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, asks the court to bar the US from providing weapons, money and diplomatic support to Israel.

It also seeks a declaration that the president, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, are required “to take all measures within their power to prevent Israel’s commission of genocidal acts against the Palestinian people of Gaza”. These include pressing Israel to end the bombing of Gaza, to lift its siege of the territory and to prevent the forcible expulsion of Palestinians.

Israel-Hamas war: Brazil’s president accuses Israel of ‘killing innocent people’ – as it happened

This blog has closed. You can see all our Israel-Hamas war coverage here and see our latest full report on the conflict here

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

UK PM says Israel must protect civilians in Gaza​

More from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's keynote speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in the City of London, where he has said that while he supports Israel's right to "defend itself against terror", more needed to be done to keep civilians safe during the war with Hamas.

Sunak went on to say that Israel had a responsibility "to act within international law".

"They must take all measures to protect innocent civilians, including at hospitals. Stop extremist violence in the West Bank and allow more aid into Gaza," he said.

Sunak told the banquet that the UK was doubling its aid to Gaza and was talking directly to the UN and Israel about getting "unhindered humanitarian access and urgent and substantive humanitarian pauses".

He also offered British bases in Cyprus as a staging post for aid distribution.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67400490

 

[Cryptic]

Why should Israel settle for "up to 70 hostages" in exchange for 275 detained Palestinians and a five day ceasefire?

I dont think Israel would, but the Netanyahu administration might.

Prior to 10/07, Netanyahu was accused by some Israelis for needlessly (key word) provoking Palestinians in particular and Muslims in general. Despite all the "get tougher and ever vigilant" rhetoric, he then fails to anticipate a massive surprise attack.

As @Dotta stated, "hostages are symbols of a nation". Netanyahu is under alot of pressure to show at least some good news despite his failings. Needs for a long, sniper / IED filled occupation of Gaza are not really good news. Neither would the destruction of HAMAS if the hostages are killed.

But.... at least some hostages released would be good news.

 

[MyBelle]

3m ago
Chris McGreal

A New York civil liberties group is suing Joe Biden for allegedly failing in his duty under international and US laws to prevent Israel committing genocide in Gaza.

The Center for Constitutional Rights’ (CCR) complaint on behalf of several Palestinian groups and individuals alleges that Israel’s actions, including “mass killings”, the targeting of civilian infrastructure and forced expulsions, amount to genocide. The CCR said that the 1948 international convention against genocide requires the US and other countries to use their power and influence to stop the killing. The complaint argued:


The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, asks the court to bar the US from providing weapons, money and diplomatic support to Israel.

It also seeks a declaration that the president, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, are required “to take all measures within their power to prevent Israel’s commission of genocidal acts against the Palestinian people of Gaza”. These include pressing Israel to end the bombing of Gaza, to lift its siege of the territory and to prevent the forcible expulsion of Palestinians.

Israel-Hamas war: Brazil’s president accuses Israel of ‘killing innocent people’ – as it happened

This blog has closed. You can see all our Israel-Hamas war coverage here and see our latest full report on the conflict here

www.theguardian.com

Very interesting! It would not surprise me one bit if Biden asked for the lawsuit to be filed.

JMO

 

[Momoffourboys]

NO!!

74-year-old Vivian Silver, the Israeli peace activist and leader of Women Wage Peace, was thought kidnapped in Gaza. They only just identified her body, five weeks after she was killed. Read about her life's work, and may her memory be a blessing to all

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724193840809054481

 

[JennieM]

2m ago

Trucks could stop delivering aid to Gaza from Tuesday, warns UN official​

Trucks transporting desperately needed aid through the Rafah crossing from Egypt could stop operations on Tuesday due to a lack of fuel, a senior UN humanitarian official has warned.

Andrea De Domenico, the head of the UN humanitarian affairs office in the occupied Palestinian territory, told journalists in New York that “lives are hanging by a thread” in Gaza, including those of babies in incubators at hospitals that depend on fuel for electricity.

Humanitarian ceasefire, fuel supplies – all of these should be happening now. We are running out of time before really facing major disaster.

On Sunday, 76 trucks delivered aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, he said, adding:

Actually, instead of a much-needed increase of this assistance, we have been informed by the colleagues of UNRWA that due to the lack of fuel, as of tomorrow the operations of receiving trucks will no longer be possible.

“Operational conditions in general are deteriorating by the hour,” he added.

Israel-Hamas war: Brazil’s president accuses Israel of ‘killing innocent people’ – as it happened

This blog has closed. You can see all our Israel-Hamas war coverage here and see our latest full report on the conflict here

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

NEW

UK to 'bolster' support for Palestinian Authority and two-state solution​

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that while the immediate priority in the Middle East conflict is to address "the suffering" in Gaza, work needed to be done to ensure future stability in the region.

Sunak said, "We need to do more to create a new political horizon."

He called for unity around supporting a two-state solution which he described as "the only answer that can come close to creating peace".

Sunak said he was ready to offer "serious, practical and enduring support" to help "bolster" the Palestinian Authority who he insisted were the best option to challenge Hamas in the territory.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67400490

 

[PapillonVert]

The Free Palestine March in DC was very peaceful. There was a huge turnout, including Jewish citizens who were also calling for a cease fire.

“Pedro Kremer, 48, was raised Jewish in Argentina and now lives outside D.C. He says he was taught that Jews seek justice "everywhere and for everyone."

"What is happening right now is the farthest that justice can be," he said.

“His stance, questioning Israel's leadership, has created a rift between family and friends, he says — even his best friend, who called him antisemitic. Kremer, who pushed his baby in a stroller during the march, said there's no difference between the value of his son's life or that of a child living in Gaza.”

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/04/1210669096/palestine-march-washington-dc-cease-fire-israel-protest-gaza

I’m sure there were peaceful moments, but there were also moments where a whole crowd was chanting for “intifada”. That’s hardly peaceful. There was also a lot of vandalism.

https://x.com/YoniMichanie/status/1720922309098189130?s=20

Antisemitic vandalism rocks capital as 100,000 protesters erupt in DC

Upwards of 100,000 people flocked to the nation's capital as a day of pro-Palestine protests erupted across the globe, resulting in several disturbing anti-Semitic incidents.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Vern]

Just so we're all tracking. It is actually THREE Palestinian Civil Rights Groups who have now filed Genocide Lawsuits vice just the single one (the most recent being filed against against Biden).

Google Search

www.google.ca

ICC receives lawsuit over Israel’s ‘apartheid’, ‘genocide’ in Gaza

The lawsuit urges the ICC to include ‘genocide’ in Gaza war crimes probe and issue arrest warrants for Israel’s leaders.

www.aljazeera.com

Is What's Happening in Gaza a Genocide? Experts Weigh In

Scholars are torn on whether the current conflict can be yet classified a genocide officially.

time.com

Ditto:

Understanding Hamas’s Genocidal Ideology

A close read of Hamas’s founding documents clearly shows its intentions.

www.theatlantic.com

Israeli victims' families urge ICC to investigate Oct. 7 Hamas attacks

Israeli families of victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks appealed on Tuesday to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to order an investigation into the killings and abductions, despite Israel's opposition to the court.

www.reuters.com

Holocaust & Genocide Scholars condemn Oct 7 Hamas Massacre

Verified Videos of Hamas attack October 7, 2023 credit: Human Rights Watch To view videos click on https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/18/israel/palestine-videos-hamas-led-attacks-verified and go to video.STATEMENT OF SCHOLARS OF HOLOCAUST STUDIES AND OF GENOCIDE STUDIES AND...

www.genocidewatch.com

 

[JennieM]

18 min ago

Blinken acknowledges disagreements within State Department on Israel-Hamas war in email to staff​

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged disagreements within the State Department over the Biden administration’s approach to Israel-Hamas war in an email to staff Monday.

His message to personnel, sent on the heels of his recent travels, comes amid growing anger and dissent not only from staff at the State Department but within the broader Biden administration.

CNN reported last week that hundreds of personnel at the US Agency for International Development signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire, and there are reports of a “dissent memo” inside the State Department.

Last month, a State Department official publicly resigned in protest of the administration’s policy on the Israel-Hamas war.

"I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll,” Blinken wrote in his email Monday, which was seen by CNN. “The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself.”

The top US diplomat noted that “some people in the Department may disagree with approaches we are taking or have views on what we can do better.”

The State Department head then noted that forums have been organized in Washington, DC, so that employees can provide feedback.

“We’re listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages,” he said.

In his email, Blinken provided an overview of his trip to the Middle East and Asia last week, saying that the US’ “overarching objective remains the same: to bring this terrible conflict to a close as quickly as possible, while standing by Israel’s right and obligation, in full accordance with international humanitarian law, to ensure a terrorist attack like October 7th never happens again.”

He reiterated that “far too many Palestinian civilians have died” and “much more can and should be done to reduce their suffering.”
“As I said in private and in public, we believe Palestinian people’s voices must be at the center of post-crisis governance in Gaza,” Blinken wrote. “We believe in Palestinian-led governance of Gaza, with Gaza unified with the West Bank. Gaza’s reconstruction must be supported with a sustained mechanism.”

HuffPost was the first to report on Monday’s email.

At a State Department briefing Monday, spokesperson Matt Miller noted that “the State Department, like every organization, not just in government but around the world, contains people with a diversity of views.”

[…]

November 13, 2023 Israel-Hamas war

Conditions at the Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, are "catastrophic" as essential units have collapsed, the facility's director told CNN.

edition.cnn.com

 

[JennieM]

33s ago

Indonesian president urges Biden to 'do more to end atrocities in Gaza'​

Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, has urged Joe Biden to do more to stop the “atrocities” in Gaza and help bring about a ceasefire.

Widodo, the leader of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, held talks with the US president on Monday at the White House. He said:

Indonesia appeals to the US to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza.

He added:

Ceasefire is a must for the sake of humanity.

Israel-Hamas war: Brazil’s president accuses Israel of ‘killing innocent people’ – as it happened

This blog has closed. You can see all our Israel-Hamas war coverage here and see our latest full report on the conflict here

www.theguardian.com

 

[MyBelle]

Premature babies don’t really wear clothes at the start and it’s very normal for them to just be in nappies. There are many reasons for this. They have very delicate skin so handling needs to be minimal, temperature control is easier to control this way and also they have many intravenous lines.

All, very good points!

JMO

 

[Arkay]

Why should Israel settle for "up to 70 hostages" in exchange for 275 detained Palestinians and a five day ceasefire?

I think all good people would rejoice tremendously if “up to 70” hostages were released.

BUT HOWEVER THOUGH——“up to” can mean anything. It can mean two hostages or ten or 30, just not MORE than 70.

Most importantly, when 6000 Palestinian criminals were released from prison in Israel to secure the release of Gilad Shalit after five years as a hostage, many of them became the Hamas that exist now, including the leader Sinwar.

It’s likely that if Palestinian prisoners are released AGAIN, they will AGAIN attack Israel on some future date and AGAIN take more hostages and kill more Israelis.

IMO it is a losing proposition for Israel.

I say this knowing that I am desperate for the hostages to be released. Even 70 or fewer. But Israel cannot self-perpetuate this cycle.

JMO

 

[otto]

NO!!

74-year-old Vivian Silver, the Israeli peace activist and leader of Women Wage Peace, was thought kidnapped in Gaza. They only just identified her body, five weeks after she was killed. Read about her life's work, and may her memory be a blessing to all

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724193840809054481

That's the Canadian woman that we all hoped was alive.

Who is Vivian Silver, Canadian-Israeli peace activist presumed held by Hamas? - National | Globalnews.ca

Canadian-Israeli Vivian Silver is believed to be among the dozens of civilian hostages held by Hamas, following the militant group's coordinated weekend attack on Israeli soil.

globalnews.ca

 

[JennieM]

'I found out on social media that my relatives had died'​

Ashitha Nagesh
BBC News Community Affairs Correspondent

ICPJCopyright: ICPJ
Lubaba Khalid

Here in London, a group of British Palestinians held a press conference earlier on Monday to talk about the impact the war had been having on them.

Lubaba Khalid, who stepped down as Young Labour's BME representative over comments made by party leader Keir Starmer, said she had found out through social media that her relatives had been killed.

"Due to the lack of electricity and networks, we have found it very difficult to keep in touch with family members just to check if they're alive," Khalid said.

"As a result, I found out my great uncle's house was bombed on the social media platform X [formerly Twitter] before I could get any confirmation from my own family.

She says that in that bombing, six members of her family were killed - five of whom were children.

The press conference was held by the UK-based International Centre of Justice for Palestinians. Six people, including Khalid, spoke about grieving for dozens of family members killed in Gaza.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67400490

 

[JennieM]

2 min ago

White House seeks to clarify Biden's comments about protecting Gaza hospitals​

From CNN's Donald Judd

The White House sought to clarify comments from President Joe Biden on Monday that hospitals “must be protected” in Gaza. It comes as Israel defended military action around the Al-Shifa hospital, saying Hamas has a command and control center under the enclave's largest hospital.

Biden was referring to "this extra burden that faces the IDF as they go into Gaza – because Hamas does shelter themselves behind civilian infrastructure," said John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications. This includes places like hospitals, schools or tunnels under residential buildings, he said.

Hamas operating this way places civilians in Gaza at greater risk, which is a tough problem for the IDF when “legitimate targets” are buried inside civilian infrastructure, Kirby said.

“It makes it much harder for any military force to go after those targets because the hospital itself ought to be — as the president said — ought to be protected. So, he's really talking about this incredibly difficult conundrum that Israeli military forces are facing right now,” Kirby said.

Remember: Biden on Monday expressed concern about the enclave's hospitals.
“Well, you know, I have not been reluctant expressing in my concern with what's going on, and it’s my hope and expectation that there will be less intrusive action relative to the hospitals, we’re in contact with the Israelis,” the president said.
Biden added that there is an effort to take “this pause to deal with the release of prisoners, and that's being negotiated as well, and the Qataris are engaged, so I remain somewhat hopeful, but the hospitals must be protected.”

November 13, 2023 Israel-Hamas war

Conditions at the Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, are "catastrophic" as essential units have collapsed, the facility's director told CNN.

edition.cnn.com

 

[SouthAussie]

I think all good people would rejoice tremendously if “up to 70” hostages were released.

BUT HOWEVER THOUGH——“up to” can mean anything. It can mean two hostages or ten or 30, just not MORE than 70.

<RSBM>

I wonder how many hostages are still alive. "Up to 70" may be all who are still alive.

imo

 

[MyBelle]

I wonder how many hostages are still alive. "Up to 70" may be all who are still alive.

imo

I think that number might be the number of women and children.

JMO

Israeli tanks outside Gaza hospital, Biden hopes for 'less intrusive' action

Israeli tanks advanced on Monday to the gates of Gaza City's main hospital, a chief target in Israel's battle against Hamas, as U.S. President Joe Biden said hospitals must be protected and he hoped for less intrusive Israeli action.

www.reuters.com

Separately, the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group said it was ready to release up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for a five-day truce in the war triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel.

 

[Simply Southern]

3m ago
Chris McGreal

A New York civil liberties group is suing Joe Biden for allegedly failing in his duty under international and US laws to prevent Israel committing genocide in Gaza.

The Center for Constitutional Rights’ (CCR) complaint on behalf of several Palestinian groups and individuals alleges that Israel’s actions, including “mass killings”, the targeting of civilian infrastructure and forced expulsions, amount to genocide. The CCR said that the 1948 international convention against genocide requires the US and other countries to use their power and influence to stop the killing. The complaint argued:


The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California, asks the court to bar the US from providing weapons, money and diplomatic support to Israel.

It also seeks a declaration that the president, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, are required “to take all measures within their power to prevent Israel’s commission of genocidal acts against the Palestinian people of Gaza”. These include pressing Israel to end the bombing of Gaza, to lift its siege of the territory and to prevent the forcible expulsion of Palestinians.

Israel-Hamas war: Brazil’s president accuses Israel of ‘killing innocent people’ – as it happened

This blog has closed. You can see all our Israel-Hamas war coverage here and see our latest full report on the conflict here

www.theguardian.com

Well I never. @PrairieWind can they really sue the president?

 

[Brightchaser47]

IDF bids to back up its claims about Hamas and hospitals​

Nick Beake
Reporting from Jerusalem

The Israel Defense Force's chief spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari set high expectations, promising his briefing would expose to the world that Hamas uses hospitals as an “instrument of war.”

The BBC has no way of verifying the claims made this evening.

Hagari showed himself in one video pointing to what he called a covert “terror tunnel” which reached 20m below ground.

He said an electrical panel and protruding cables proved solar panels had been powering a bunker and this was being explored further by an Israeli military robot. There was no further evidence presented for the existence of a command centre but Hagari said investigations continued.

RSBM
In all fairness, the IDF must be very selective in what "evidence" they share publicly, so as not to reveal the extent of their knowledge and capabilities to the enemy (imo).