Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #11

[JennieM]

1h ago
Patrick Wintour

Israel faced an unprecedented wave of international condemnation after its troops entered the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza, while the UN and aid agencies expressed concern about the impact of the raid on staff and patients.

The scale and virulence of the global condemnation from Arab and western governments raised questions about how much longer Israel can continue with its offensive in the face of waning international support.

The US also distanced itself from the military takeover of the hospital, saying it had not authorised the Israeli decision to raid the hospital.

The UN spoke of carnage in Gaza and as the pressure rose during the day, Israel relented by announcing it would allow an unlimited number of aid convoys through the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border. Aid convoys have been limited to as little as 30 trucks a day when the UN said it needed hundreds to relieve starvation.

The sense of crisis engendered by the hospital takeover also led to a breakthrough at the UN in New York, with the US lifting its threat to veto a new resolution prepared by Malta calling for extensive and urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors for a sufficient number of days to allow humanitarian aid to get to civilians in Gaza.

Up against what one Palestinian diplomat described as 1 million citizen journalists in Gaza, Israel is under pressure internationally to produce convincing evidence that the basement of the hospital was being used as a Hamas HQ, as it has claimed.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Lebanon – as it happened

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

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

27m ago

UN security council discussing 'humanitarian pause' proposal​

Members of the United Nations security council have just begun their meeting in New York to discuss and vote on a draft resolution from Malta calling for humanitarian pauses to the fighting in Gaza, and a stepping up of efforts to allow aid into the war-torn territory.

Moments before the meeting was called to order, Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of Palestine to the UN, issued a scathing two-page letter accusing Israel of “a grave breach of international humanitarian law” by raiding the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724881081382392041

Israel-Hamas war: Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Lebanon – as it happened

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

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

4m ago

UN adopts resolution calling for humanitarian pause in Gaza​

The United Nations security council has voted to adopt a draft resolution from Malta calling for a humanitarian pause in fighting in Gaza, and greater efforts to allow humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged territory.

Twelve nations voted for the resolution, with three abstentions, including the US and UK. With no votes against, security council president Zhang Junannounced the resolution had passed.

More details soon…


10m ago

Malta tells UN: Gaza a 'graveyard for children'​

The UN security council is now discussing Malta’s resolution as filed. Vanessa Frazier, the country’s ambassador to the UN, says: “Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children”.

Her country’s proposal for a humanitarian pause in fighting “would facilitate the continuous sufficient and unhindered provision of essential goods and services important to the well being of civilians, especially children,” she says.

“Children are suffering disproportionately in this conflict. We cannot close a blind eye to their suffering… I urge all council members to support this draft resolution.”


17m ago

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, has proposed to the security council’s meeting an amendment to Malta’s resolution calling for “an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities”.

He is attacking the US, condemning it for blocking other recent proposals for a pause in the conflict:

I would like to ask our American colleagues, during work on the Maltese draft you struck out anything that could in any way indicate the need for a cessation of hostilities. Does this mean that you are in favor of the war in the Middle East continuing indefinitely?

Security council president Zhang Jun called a vote on adopting Russia’s amendment. US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield votes against, there are nine abstentions and the proposed amendment fails to reach the required number of votes.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Lebanon – as it happened

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

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

6 min ago

Israel claims soldiers found Hamas "military equipment" at Al-Shifa, but no evidence yet of tunnel network​

From CNN's Andrew Carey

Israel said its soldiers have uncovered what the army is calling “military equipment used by Hamas” during a raid at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

Israeli forces entered Al-Shifa in the early hours of Wednesday, after signaling for weeks their intention to move on the complex, which they claim is the site of an underground command and control center for Hamas.

Doctors and health officials in the Hamas-controlled enclave have consistently rejected those accusations.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said soldiers located a room in the hospital where they found, “technological assets, along with military and combat equipment used by Hamas.”

“In another department in the hospital, the soldiers located an operational command center and technological assets belonging to Hamas,” the statement went on, which indicated, the statement said, “that the terrorist organization uses the hospital for terrorist purposes."

The statement said the IDF was continuing to operate in the hospital complex.
CNN is trying to contact the hospital to speak to doctors there, but phone calls are not going through.

Earlier in the day, a senior Israeli defense official said troops had uncovered “concrete evidence that Hamas terrorists used the Shifa hospital as a terror headquarters,” promising to present the evidence later.
Israel is under significant international pressure to prove its claims about Hamas's infiltration of the hospital, in order to justify some of its military decisions — which could otherwise constitute a possible serious violation of international humanitarian law.

There is certainly no indication yet that troops have uncovered a multi-level tunnel structure with underground chambers — of the kind illustrated in an animation presented by the army spokesman at a briefing almost three weeks ago.
Hamas responded to earlier comments from the Israeli army – that troops had found weapons inside the hospital – as a blatant lie and propaganda.

November 15, 2023 Israel-Hamas war

Israeli forces raided Gaza's biggest hospital in what the military said was a "precise and targeted operation." Soldiers found "military equipment used by Hamas," the military said in a statement but offered no evidence yet of a vast tunnel network it claimed was used by Hamas.

edition.cnn.com

 

[margarita25]

Exclusive: Video from Hamas militant shows early moments of the October 7 attack on Israel https://cnn.it/3szyTmK

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724886219543466162

“Allah…Akbhar!!!”

Every time I hear this it opens up very deep 9/11 wounds. Sickening!

Muslim extremism, terror attacks…

It’s like Hitler and 9/11 all over again.

They say history repeats itself.

What’s next?

I think since 9/11, many safety improvements have been made.

If I were to guess what the next domestic threat would look like, I’d anticipate a simple soft target, suicide and other type of bombing. Sporting event, concert, trains/buses, infrastructure, something like that.

IMO every type of crowd event, infrastructure, everything needs to be on highest alert.

We know Jewish facilities, and government buildings will be on high alert. The terrorists would know this.

And terrorists can’t get into cockpits anymore…

So…

I think something’s going to happen, jmo.

 

[JennieM]

Israel appears not to have much to show for its Al-Shifa operation​

Orla Guerin
Reporting from Jerusalem

After besieging and then storming the largest hospital in Gaza, Israel doesn’t have too much to show for its efforts. This controversial operation – which provoked international criticism – did not net a major arsenal of weapons. Unless Israel has more to reveal.

The video material released by Israel so far tonight shows about a dozen old assault rifles – neatly laid out on a carpet.

There are a few bullet proof vests, three hand grenades, some CDs, a handgun, a laptop, a rucksack, and a few knives.

It didn’t look sufficient for a "command centre" but Israel claims Hamas was running one in a labyrinth beneath Al-Shifa hospital.

Israel Defense ForcesCopyright: Israel Defense Forces
The IDF shared images of what it say are Hamas weapons it found at Al-Shifa

That said there was no element of surprise. Hamas knew Israel was coming. If it was operating beneath the hospital it had weeks to clear out through Gaza’s extensive tunnel network.

Did Israeli troops find more than they are showing us at this stage? Perhaps. And an Israel Defense Forces spokesman says what has been found so far is "only the tip of the ice-berg".

But it seems likely that the army would want to show the maximum at this point, to justify its assault on the hospital.

No international media have had access to the hospital today - or since 7 October - so we cannot confirm Israel’s claims.

Hamas has said Israel’s allegation that weapons have been found was "lies and cheap propaganda".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67423274

 

[JennieM]

Palestinian doctor says conditions at north Gaza hospital 'extremely critical'​

We've been reporting on the tense situation at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City but BBC News has received a voice message via the group Medical Aid for Palestinians from Dr Ahmed Muhanna, director of the Al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia, which is in the north of Gaza.

Dr Muhanna describes the conditions at the hospital as “extremely, extremely critical”. According to him, Israeli bombardment within the vicinity of the hospital has been ongoing.

In the voice message, he explains that all hospitals in northern Gaza and Gaza City are now unable to provide medical services.

Dr Muhanna adds that the Al-Awda hospital is receiving “about 40 to 50 patients per day approximately” from “all northern areas".

He says staff at the hospital have not been able to leave for 39 days and the facility has not had fuel for a week.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67423274

 

[JennieM]

BREAKING​

UN Security Council backs 'extended humanitarian pauses' in Gaza​

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York

The UN Security Council has voted in favour of the resolution put forward by Malta which calls for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip "for a sufficient number of days".

Twelve members voted for the resolution with three abstentions from permanent members the US, UK and Russia.

The resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. It demands that all parties comply with their obligations under international law and it calls on the UN secretary-general to monitor and report back on its implementation.

In October, the Security Council failed four times to pass resolutions calling for either a ceasefire or humanitarian pauses.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67423274

 

[MyBelle]

1h ago
Patrick Wintour

Israel faced an unprecedented wave of international condemnation after its troops entered the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza, while the UN and aid agencies expressed concern about the impact of the raid on staff and patients.

The scale and virulence of the global condemnation from Arab and western governments raised questions about how much longer Israel can continue with its offensive in the face of waning international support.

The US also distanced itself from the military takeover of the hospital, saying it had not authorised the Israeli decision to raid the hospital.

The UN spoke of carnage in Gaza and as the pressure rose during the day, Israel relented by announcing it would allow an unlimited number of aid convoys through the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border. Aid convoys have been limited to as little as 30 trucks a day when the UN said it needed hundreds to relieve starvation.

The sense of crisis engendered by the hospital takeover also led to a breakthrough at the UN in New York, with the US lifting its threat to veto a new resolution prepared by Malta calling for extensive and urgent humanitarian pauses and corridors for a sufficient number of days to allow humanitarian aid to get to civilians in Gaza.

Up against what one Palestinian diplomat described as 1 million citizen journalists in Gaza, Israel is under pressure internationally to produce convincing evidence that the basement of the hospital was being used as a Hamas HQ, as it has claimed.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah-linked sites in Lebanon – as it happened

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

www.theguardian.com

BBM. A few guns aren't convincing evidence.

Thanks for the link. I was hoping the Malta resolution would pass.

JMO

 

[margarita25]

dbm

 

[Chimera]

Gazan criticizes Hamas on Al Jazeera as reporter turns away, ignores him | The Jerusalem Post

A resident in Gaza publicly criticized Hamas during an interview on the Qatar-run news channel on Tuesday. In response, the reporter turned away and ignored his statement.

m.jpost.com

The resident was a heck of a brave dude !
Good for him.
Hope he'll be safe.

Shame on the Al Jazeera reporter.
Omo.

 

[Baby baby Jane]

Do you really believe the 'big dogs' in Qatar would allow the local boys to do that? I rather get the feeling everyone is expendible in that outfit.

Keep them alive long enough to get the bank and cryto passwords ..

 

[justtrish]

“Allah…Akbhar!!!”

Every time I hear this it opens up very deep 9/11 wounds.

Muslim extremism, terror attacks…

It’s like Hitler and 9/11 all over again.

They say history repeats itself.

What’s next?

I think since 9/11, many safety improvements have been made.

If I were to guess what the next domestic threat would look like, I’d anticipate a simple soft target, suicide and other type of bombing. Sporting event, concert, trains, infrastructure, something like that.

IMO every type of crowd event, infrastructure, everything needs to be on high alert.

We know Jewish facilities are on high alert. The terrorists would know this.

And terrorists can’t get into cockpits anymore…

So…

I think something’s going to happen, jmo.

I worry for our military bases overseas. I worry for our servicemembers in some of these countries that are showing themselves now to not be very loyal.

I think of targets like power plants, internet, cellular.. When power is out or internet is down many places literally stand still. Can't operate businesses without internet because everything is online now. Even in small outages in my area, businesses close and people don't have a clue what or how to do things. If a larger scale outage hit a large metro area of the US.. I would imagine panic would ensue.

 

[Chimera]

Exclusive: Video from Hamas militant shows early moments of the October 7 attack on Israel https://cnn.it/3szyTmK

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724886219543466162

The cowardly murderer sounded like a girl yelling, at the end of the video clip.
All tough guy until they get winged by a bullet.
These Hamas would be just fine and unharmed if they'd stayed on their own land, and not trespassed with intent to kill.


Thankful they blurred the face of the victim laying in the road; but they shouldn't have obscured the killer's faces ! People need to see them and know who they are, esp. if they're escaping with hospital staff or patients.
Omo.

 

[Vern]

RSBM
Do you suppose raiding al-Shifa hospital was (at least partly) about optics and gathering intel all along? It proved Hamas  was using the hospital, and proved Israel was willing and able to take it over. Also, those were Palestinian babies who were to be evacuated, weren't they?
(Although I still think hostages were there) jmo

I do get what you are trying to state here, but I just want to point out that any conventional military worth their salt is guaranteed to already have the int they require before going into any conventionally protected site else it's a war crime. Israel notified the ICC and the UN long ago it had the 'receipts'. They've probably also provide some of those receipst to those entities in addition to the US (which we know has received it). They then took the nexts steps required IAW LoAC, GCs and IHL - they effected the required "notification" of the lapse of "protected designation" due to illegal use of hospital/ambulances etc by the enemy (Hamas) for military purposes (unlawful actions during conflict/war crimes), issued the required calls and notices to evacuate the lapsed-protected sites in order to minimize civilian casualties, then went in. All is IAW international law.

They had the int proof prior, they are now gathering the physical proof.

Some people may not like that what they did is actually in compliance with international law, but that doesn't negate the fact that it is/was lawful.

The reason that law and convention will remain as such is that it prevents/minimizes the risk of conventional armies (Israel is conventional) in future wars from avoiding the consequences of their actions by hiding in/under/on/ and amongst innocent non-combattant populations and protected sites. If International Law ever allowed for "absolutely no fighting in/under protected sites for any reason" then the cowards of war-fighting (unconventional militaries, guerilla armies and terrorist organisations) will forever shelter and fight from within those protected sites to save their own sorry butts and nobody would ever be able to do anything about it - the wars would indeed become never-ending and the casualty toll upon innocent civilians even greater.

Now, we all know that the terrorist organization that is Hamas never has and never will comply with International Law, IHL, LoAC or the Geneva Conventions and ergo there will always remain the allowance for legitimate lapsing of protected sites status' when an enemy chooses to commit war crimes by placing those targets there. The enemy doesn't just get a "bye" in the fight because they choose to cower and hide amongst civilians and protected sites. What is Israel to do ... sit outside the hospital for decades until the terrorists all die off? That's simply not feasible.

As for the optics ... the IDF didn't go in there for the optics (the usual suspects gave them some pretty bad 'optics' about the whole thing no? and they have surely suffered for it worldwide on the 'condemnation scale'), they went in there to deal with the legitimate military structure threats.

The optics won't change however because the group that has now proven it was right to the world ... is ... Israel. The same players condemning them from the get-go all knew full well what the truth was before Israel even entered Gaza and thats why they don't want anybody leaving the Gaza strip IMO. The know and knew the truth, it's just not considered PC to actually speak it.

IMO (got my 'miitary planner' hat on thinking this one through), the hostages were moved southwards the moment Israel asked everyone to evacuate south. Hamas knew the hostages would be safer and thus 'worth more for longer' as their baragainning chips once moved to the south. Don't forget they still had the hospital patients and the ordinary Gazan civilians to use, and whom they did use, as their shields in the north.

 

[margarita25]

I worry for our military bases overseas. I worry for our servicemembers in some of these countries that are showing themselves now to not be very loyal.

I think of targets like power plants, internet, cellular.. When power is out or internet is down many places literally stand still. Can't operate businesses without internet because everything is online now. Even in small outages in my area, businesses close and people don't have a clue what or how to do things. If a larger scale outage hit a large metro area of the US.. I would imagine panic would ensue.

YES, AND again on the cybersecurity front, Iran is quite competent at this, with backing from Russia, and in fact getting better every day.

 

[Momoffourboys]

“There’s no excuse for failing to condemn these acts of terror let’s be crystal clear… Hamas set this conflict in motion”- Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724892510168977696

 

[justtrish]

dbm

The silence is deafening. We hear LOUD AND CLEAR.

If you aren't FOR freedom, then you are for terrorism. You can't ride the middle line, you can't keep quiet becaues it isn't impacting you.. because who will save you when it does impact you? I'm sick of everyone wanting the US to help, but then when we do, silence or a lot of experts saying what should be done.. well if people know so much then they need to put some skin in the game then and stop criticizing the US or other countries that are out there trying to do something.. some of these countries can't even say HAMAS is bad and Oct 7th was an at of terror.

I see you deleted your post, but you aren't alone in your thinking. It's getting old.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Not everyone calling for a ceasefire wants Israel to cease to exist. But everyone who wants Israel to cease to exist is calling for a ceasefire. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Republic of Iran are all calling for a ceasefire.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724577427735687183

 

[Chimera]

Not everyone calling for a ceasefire wants Israel to cease to exist. But everyone who wants Israel to cease to exist is calling for a ceasefire. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Republic of Iran are all calling for a ceasefire.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1724577427735687183

This is encouraging ! Thanks for linking.