Daily Archives: 16. April 2024


16.04.2024 - 20:01 [ Counterpunch ]

Germany, Gaza and the World Court: Broadening the Scope of Genocide

Germany has been most prominent in this regard. In 2023 30% of Israel’s military equipment purchases totalling US$326 million came from Berlin. The Scholz government has also been a firm public supporter of Israel’s offensive. “There is only one place for Germany at this time, and that is by Israel’s side,” proclaimed German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to German lawmakers on October 12 last year. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock curtly stated that “It was not the job of politicians to tell the guns to shut up.

Baerbock’s remarks were all the more jarring given the 2006 views of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was then serving as Germany’s foreign minister. With puffed up confidence, he claimed then that Europeans and Germans had played a seminal role in ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon in “silencing of the guns.”

16.04.2024 - 19:55 [ Middle East Eye ]

Ghassan Abu Sittah accuses Germany of ‚genocide complicity‘ after being refused entry

(13.04.2024)

„This morning, at 10 o‘clock, I landed in Berlin to attend a conference on Palestine, where I had been asked, along with many others … to give my evidence of the 43 days that I had seen in the hospitals in Gaza, working in both al-Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals,“ he said.

Abu Sittah said he was escorted from the passport office to the basement of the airport, where he was questioned for three-and-a-half hours.

„At the end of three-and-a-half hours, I was told that I woud not be allowed to enter German soil and that this ban will last the whole of April,“ he said.

16.04.2024 - 19:44 [ Krone.at ]

Berlin: „Palästina-Kongress“ von Polizei aufgelöst

812.04.2024)

Die Organisatoren hatten den Tagungsort erst am Vormittag bei einer Pressekonferenz im Stadtteil Wedding und auf der Webseite des Kongresses bekannt gegeben. In der Ankündigung für den Kongress und in der Pressekonferenz warfen sie Israel unter anderem „Apartheid“, „Kolonialismus“ und „Völkermord“ (Genozid) im Gazastreifen vor. Deutschland trage eine „Mitschuld“, weil es Waffen an Israel liefere.

16.04.2024 - 19:36 [ Nachdenkseiten ]

Beweise begraben, Zeugen zum Schweigen bringen

Es ist Freitag gegen Abend, der 12. April 2024. In der Hand hält der Arzt ein Mikrophon von Middle East Eye (MEE), einem in England ansässigen Internetportal, das in englischer und französischer Sprache Nachrichten über den Nahen und Mittleren Osten veröffentlicht. Ruhig und überlegt berichtet der Arzt, was ihm am Berliner Flughafen widerfahren ist, eindringlich blicken seine Augen durch die großen, dunkel gerahmten Brillengläser.

16.04.2024 - 18:45 [ Palestinian News and Information Agency - wafa.ps ]

Gaza death toll from Israel‘s deadly aggression surpasses 33,843

GAZA, Tuesday, April 16, 2024 (WAFA) – The Palestinian death toll from Israel‘s deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip since October 7th, 2023, has now soared to 33,843, medical sources confirmed on Wednesday.

Sources added that at least 76,575 others have also been injured in the onslaught.

16.04.2024 - 18:27 [ Washington Post ]

Biden counsels Netanyahu to ‘slow things down’ after Iranian attack

At about 9 p.m., Biden spoke with Netanyahu, who was with his own war cabinet in Israel’s war room monitoring the situation. “It was shortly after we believed the attack was largely defeated,” said the senior administration official. “Both leaders had just gone through 10 days of preparations” and seeing the results, “we were feeling pretty good about where we were.”

16.04.2024 - 18:15 [ Reuters ]

Biden tells Netanyahu US would not take part in Israeli counter strike against Iran

(14.04.2024)

President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran, U.S. officials said on Sunday.

16.04.2024 - 18:10 [ Shafaq.com ]

Tehran reverses course on Amir-Abdollahian‘s statements, confirms Shafaq News reports

Committee rapporteur Ali Nehmeh clarified to Shafaq News that „Iraq was taken by surprise by the timing of Iran‘s response and had no agreement with Tehran to allow Iranian drones or missiles through its airspace. The decision to halt air traffic came as a precautionary measure after the attack, with Iraq playing no role in Iran‘s actions.“

A government source familiar with the situation suggested that Tehran may have refrained from informing Baghdad of the attack‘s timing to prevent leaks, noting that Iran had notified several regional countries three days prior, as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated.

16.04.2024 - 17:55 [ White House ]

Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States and the Republic of Iraq

The two leaders expressed their commitment to the ongoing Higher Military Commission (HMC) process and its results, and the three working groups that will assess: the continued threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and bolstering Iraq’s security force capabilities. The two leaders affirmed they would review these factors to determine when and how the mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq would end, and transition in an orderly manner to enduring bilateral security partnerships, in accordance with Iraq’s Constitution and the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.

16.04.2024 - 17:49 [ Almayadeen.net ]

US, Iraq agree on talks for withdrawal of US-led coalition from region

„The two leaders affirmed they would review these factors to determine when and how the mission of the Global Coalition in Iraq would end,“ the statement noted.

According to AP, the objective would be to transform talks into a bilateral agreement that could still keep a few US troops in Iraq, which already exist as 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria as part of the coalition, knowing that in Syria they are officially considered occupation forces.

16.04.2024 - 17:42 [ Shafaq.com ]

Iran-Israel conflict: Iraq caught in the crossfire

Dr. Al-Gharbawi stressed Iraq‘s pivotal role in managing the tensions by advocating for an independent position through official statements that condemn violence and extremism.

„This stance aligns with Iraq‘s historical position against normalization with Israel, highlighting a commitment to peaceful resolutions and adherence to international norms.“

Al-Gharbawi touched on Iran‘s psychological impact on Israel, noting that the Islamic Republic succeeded in creating panic and tension, prompting international reactions such as citizen evacuations.

„This psychological warfare, alongside military and diplomatic strategies, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing regional dynamics,“ She added.https://shafaq.com/en/Report/Iran-Israel-conflict-Iraq-caught-in-the-crossfire

16.04.2024 - 17:10 [ Tehran Times ]

10 Questions and answers about Iran‘s retaliatory attack on Israel

2- What was the legal basis for Iran‘s attack?

Article 51 of the UN Charter states that „nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security.“ This article recognizes the right of countries to defend themselves against armed attacks.

3- Is Iran‘s attack on Israel the beginning of a war?

In its attack, Iran used its less advanced weaponry in relatively low quantity. It also made sure that no infrastructure or civilian sites were hit during the operation. Iranian military leaders have explicitly explained that they are not looking for a war and that the attack was meant to send a message to Israel.

16.04.2024 - 17:03 [ Government of Lebanon - leb.gov.lb ]

Security Update: One martyr, two injured in enemy air raid on Ain Baal town

NNA – National News Agency correspondent reported that one was martyred and two were injured in the enemy air raid on the southern town of Ain Baal.

16.04.2024 - 16:54 [ Times of Israel ]

Hezbollah source says Israeli strike in Lebanon killed local commander

(Today, 5:32 pm)

“The field commander in charge of the Naqura region has been martyred in an Israeli strike,” the source tells AFP, with the official National News Agency reporting one dead in an Israeli strike on a car in Ain Baal, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the border.

16.04.2024 - 16:49 [ Times of Israel ]

US said to believe Israel won’t strike Iran directly, will focus on proxies instead

(Today, 1:03 pm)

Noting that the US’s assessment is based on conversations with Israeli officials prior to the attack and that Israel’s approach may since have shifted, four US officials told NBC that the lack of serious damage caused by Tehran may lead Jerusalem to seek a less aggressive response.

Instead of directly striking Iran in response — which Israel’s allies have warned runs the risk of sending the region spiraling into an all-out war — the officials told NBC that Israel may strike Iran’s proxies, such as its militias in Syria or the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon.