Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid is set to meet with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during his visit to the country on Monday, his office said in a statement.
Archiv: Reaktionen / reactions
Putin‘s options for Ukraine missiles response include nuclear test, experts say
As East-West tensions over Ukraine enter a new and dangerous phase, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden are holding talks in Washington on Friday on whether to allow Kyiv to use long-range U.S. ATACMS or British Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia.
Hear RFK Jr.‘s sister‘s response to her brother endorsing Trump
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister and human rights activist Kerry Kennedy joins CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and shares her reaction to her brother announcing that he is suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump.
Biden Condemned for Ahistorical and ‚Politically Suicidal‘ Attack on Campus Protests
„Biden‘s claim that ‚dissent must never lead to disorder‘ defies American history, from the Boston Tea Party to the tactics that civil rights activists, Vietnam War protesters, and anti-apartheid activists used to confront injustice.“
Blinken Denies US Human Rights ‘Double Standard’ for Israel
“Do we have a double standard? The answer is no,” Blinken said in response to questions about the Biden administration’s handling of allegations of abuses by Israeli forces in Gaza, compared with those attributed to Hamas.
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US Speaks Out About ‚Mass Grave‘ Found in Gaza
„I‘ve seen those reports and we are inquiring about it with the government of Israel,“ Miller said.
When asked in a follow-up question if the U.S. will „press the Israelis to find out more about this issue,“ Miller replied: „that‘s exactly what we are doing.“
Newsweek has also contacted the State Department for further comment.
U.N. Calls for Inquiry Into Mass Graves at 2 Gaza Hospitals
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Palestinian Civil Defense, an emergency services organization, said some of the bodies found in Khan Younis were handcuffed, shot in the head or wearing detainee uniforms. He accused Israeli forces of killing and burying them. Israel’s military declined to address those claims on Tuesday, and they could not be independently verified.
On Tuesday, hours after the top U.N. human rights official called for an inquiry into the mass graves, the Israeli military said that its forces had exhumed bodies that were buried by Palestinians “in the area” of Nasser Hospital and examined them as part of an effort to locate hostages. It did not comment on the report of the mass grave at Al-Shifa.
Mass graves in Gaza show victims’ hands were tied, says UN rights office
The development follows the recovery of hundreds of bodies “buried deep in the ground and covered with waste” over the weekend at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, central Gaza, and at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the north. A total of 283 bodies were recovered at Nasser Hospital, of which 42 were identified.
“Among the deceased were allegedly older people, women and wounded, while others were found tied with their hands…tied and stripped of their clothes,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Citing the local health authorities in Gaza, Ms. Shamdasani added that more bodies had been found at Al-Shifa Hospital.
UN ‚horrified‘ after more than 300 bodies found in mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Gaza
The UN voiced its alarm at the reports, with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, saying he was „horrified“.
He called for an independent investigation into the killing of civilians at Nasser Hospital and what was Gaza‘s largest medical complex, Al Shifa Hospital.
“The intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are ‚hors de combat‘ is a war crime,” Mr Turk said.
“We feel the need to raise the alarm because clearly there have been multiple bodies discovered,” Mr Turk‘s representative Ravina Shamdasani said.
US veto of Palestine statehood at UN sparks international condemnation
The United States Thursday veto at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that blocked full membership of the State of Palestine has drawn strong criticism from various nations and stakeholders.
‘Blatant aggression’: Reactions to US veto of Palestine’s UN membership bid
Here are some international reactions:
Ukraine has nothing to do with the events in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow
„Regarding the events in Moscow‘s Crocus City in the Russian suburbs, where a shooting took place just today, certain terrorist actions by unidentified persons. Let‘s make it clear: Ukraine absolutely has nothing to do with these events,“ Podoliak said in a special video message.
As he noted, „firstly, we are in a full-scale, full-fledged, large, intense war with the Russian regular army and with the Russian Federation as a country. And everything will be decided on the battlefield. It is important for Ukraine to conduct effective combat operations, offensive actions in order to destroy the Russian regular army and thus end this war.“
Secondly, according to Podolyak, Ukraine has never used terrorist methods of warfare. At the same time, he noted that, for its part, it is in Russia‘s recent history that it has repeatedly used certain terrorist acts against its own citizens.
Moscow terrorist attack: World sends condolences and condemnation
Allies and adversaries alike have denounced the massacre at the Crocus City Hall concert venue
Leserbriefe zu „Nach Frage zu Taurus: Kanzler-Sprecher hinterfragt Status der NachDenkSeiten als deutsches Medium“
Florian Warweg weist hier auf seine Frage hin, „ob Taurus tatsächlich ohne direkte Beteiligung von Bundeswehrsoldaten durch die Ukraine vollumfänglich nutzbar wäre“. Ehemalige und aktive Angehörige der Bundeswehr hätten erklärt, dass der Marschflugkörper Taurus, insbesondere sein Gelände-Referenz-Navigationssystem, nicht ohne direkte Beteiligung von Bundeswehrsoldaten betrieben werden könne. Das Verteidigungsministerium verweigerte eine Antwort, während Regierungssprecher Hebestreit einen Diffamierungsversuch gegen die NachDenkSeiten unternahm. Wir danken für die zahlreichen und interessanten Leserbriefe.
Ignoring ICJ, Israel accelerates genocide by targeting UNRWA and Gaza‘s healthcare
It ruled on several provisional measures, including that Israel must abstain from genocidal acts, bring accountability for the normalised genocidal rhetoric from state level to civil society, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
But just hours after the verdict, not only did Israel resume its indiscriminate attacks, it took it even further by going after UNRWA, the UN agency that serves as a lifeline for millions of people in Gaza.
US says it cannot independently verify Israel‘s UNRWA claims
The intelligence report‘s findings are in stark contrast to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken‘s remarks in January, in which he said that the accusations against UNRWA were “highly, highly credible”.
The Journal also reported that Israel has not “shared the raw intelligence behind its assessments with the US” despite the strong security relationship between the two countries.
Israel has shared a dossier of sorts outlining its accusations, alongside details of where their evidence stems from, with the US and several western news organisations.
A US intelligence report has said that Israel‘s claims that UNRWA staff took part in Oct 7 „cannot be independently verified“, & that it had “low confidence” in the allegation.
Major UNRWA donors, incl the US, have frozen vital funds bcz of Israel‘s allegations.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says „the UN has never, never, ever received any written dossier, despite our repeated call.“
@antonioguterres, in consultation @UNLazzarini, has appointed an independent review group to assess whether @UNRWA is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality & respond to allegations of serious breaches:
Breaking .. Channel 4 have finally been shown the dossier for Israel’s claims that UNRWA staff were behind Oct. 7th. Channel 4 concludes that “Israel provides NO evidence to support this claim”.
As donors suspend critical funding to UNRWA, allegations against staff remain murky
But Israel refuses to share either its evidence or the intelligence dossier – a summary of which was seen by FRANCE 24 – with UNRWA, posing a challenge for the UN agency to complete its inquiry.
UNRWA Set to Lose $65 Million, Documents Show
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the main aid agency in Gaza, is set to lose $65 million by the end of February as donors’ funding cuts begin to kick in, according to internal accounting documents reviewed by The New York Times.
If we “do not seek conflict,” then let’s get the troops out of there. They are not welcome. They are not needed. They are indefensible targets for anyone in the region who wants to provoke a conflict. Get them out!
(03.02.2024)
The US war machine just bombed 85 locations in Iraq and Syria — and Biden is promising more. Biden is driving us deeper and deeper into a regional war through escalations. What we need is not only a ceasefire in Gaza, but all U.S. troops OUT of the Middle East immediately!
(03.02.2024)
From retaliation to escalation: decoding the US Strikes in Iraq and Syria
(03.01.2024)
Despite the US Administration‘s announcement that the Iraqi authorities were notified about the strikes, Iraq condemned these attacks and did not confirm the American allegations.
Iraqi government spokesman Bassem Al-Awadi denied any „prior coordination“ between Baghdad and Washington in this regard.
Al-Awadi stated, „The American administration committed a new aggression against the sovereignty of Iraq,“ noting that the strikes caused casualties, injuries, and damage to residential buildings and property. He accused the US of „falsifying facts by claiming prior coordination, emphasizing that this aggression jeopardizes security in Iraq and the region.“
Israel says UNRWA intel now ‚based on surveillance‘, after earlier ‚confessions‘ claim
„The dossier said that Israeli intelligence officers had established the movements of six of the men inside Israel on Oct. 7 based on their phones; others had been monitored while making phone calls inside Gaza during which, the Israelis say, they discussed their involvement in the Hamas attack,“ the NYT report says, referring to a dossier reportedly handed to US officials in recent days.
(…)
The NYT report on Sunday, based on the dossier seen by its reports, made no mention of confessions.
France, Japan join UNRWA fund freeze as Jordan warns against ‘collective punishment’
France and Japan said Sunday that they were suspending funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency, becoming the latest country to make such a move after accusations of staff involvement in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, while Jordan warned that cutting financial support to UNRWA amounted to “collective punishment.”
Lifesaving programmes in peril, UNRWA chief urges countries to reconsider funding suspension
Nine countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, have suspended funding to UNRWA following allegations that several Agency staff were involved in the 7 October terror attacks in southern Israel
Mr. Lazzarini said that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative body in the UN system, has already been seized of the matter.
“An investigation by OIOS into the heinous allegations will establish the facts,” he said.
UN-Sonderberichterstatterin kritisiert Zahlungsstopp an UNRWA
Die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin für die Palästinensergebiete, Francesca Albanese, hat den Zahlungsstopp mehrerer Länder an das UN-Hilfswerk für palästinensische Flüchtlinge (UNRWA) als möglicherweise rechtswidrig kritisiert. Die Entscheidung der Länder, darunter die USA und Deutschland, werde „rechtliche Verantwortung nach sich ziehen“ …
UNRWA fund cuts by the West ‘collective punishment’ against Palestinians
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said he was shocked such decisions were taken as “famine looms” in Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly four months of relentless Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 26,000 people.
The agency, with its 13,000 employees in Gaza, is the main organisation aiding Gaza’s population amid the humanitarian disaster. More than two million of the besieged enclave’s 2.3 million people depend on the UNRWA for “sheer survival”, including food and shelter, Lazzarini said, warning this lifeline can “collapse any time now”.
UNRWA employs 30,000 people. Israeli intelligence claims 12 were involved in the 7 October attack. That‘s 0.04% Biden, Trudeau, Albanese and Meloni immediately move to accelerate genocide by collective punishment, cutting desperately needed relief aid. It is beyond belief.
@lauraches21
Replying to @CraigMurrayOrg
Let‘s be honest. We all know how reliable „Israeli intelligence“ is its just another pathetic way of deflecting and giving the UN/UNRWA less credibility due to their witness statements read out yesterday.
@CraigMurrayOrg
Yes. I assume this was planned in advance including with the neoliberal states who leapt in.
@bigbaddommie
Replying to @CraigMurrayOrg
The 12 have also been sacked
@CraigMurrayOrg
Sacked before the investigation. It is disgraceful.
So now Britain, Italy, Netherlands and Finland have pulled out today – joining the already Canada, the US and Australia who had backed out of donating to @UNRWA. What the fuck is this – a ploy just to starve any remaining #Palestinians in #Gaza to death?
Germany announced the freezing of funds to UNRWA following the report that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 massacre. In doing so, it joins the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Finland and the Netherlands.
BREAKING: 7 COUNTRIES HAVE THUS FAR SUSPENDED FUNDING TO THE UNRWA
– USA
– Canada
– UK
– Finland
– Australia
– Italy
Canada, U.K., Australia, others join U.S. in pausing funding to UNRWA
Driving the news: A senior Israeli official said the Shin Bet and Israeli military intelligence provided information that pointed to the active participation of UNRWA staffers and the use of the agency‘s vehicles and facilities during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
„This was strong and corroborated intelligence,“ the official said. „A lot of the intelligence is a result of interrogations of militants who were arrested during the Oct. 7 attack.“
World reacts to ICJ interim ruling in Gaza genocide case against Israel
ICJ President Joan Donoghue noted that the court had found sufficient evidence of dispute for the genocide case and said it would not throw it out.
Israel has also been ordered to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and has been asked to report back to the court within a month about how it is upholding the court’s orders.
Here are some global reactions:
Statement on UNRWA Allegations
The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.
(…)
The United States has reached out to the Government of Israel to seek more information about these allegations, and we have briefed Members of Congress.
Serious allegations against UNRWA staff in the Gaza Strip
(26.01.2024)
„The Israeli Authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October.
“To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
International leaders hail ICJ ruling in Israel genocide case as ‘decisive victory’
In response to the court‘s decision, Riyadh al-Maliki, Palestinian minister of foreign affairs, said that Palestine „welcomes“ the order and that it is an „important reminder that no state is above the law“.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also welcomed the court‘s decision, and called „on all parties to implement the interim measures it has decreed“.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the injunction was „valuable,“ and that Turkey „will continue to follow the process to ensure that war crimes committed against innocent Palestinian civilians do not go unpunished.“
Netanyahu: „We are fighting a just war, and we will continue until complete victory– until we defeat Hamas, return all our hostages and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.“ Netanyahu has been repeating this line since October 7.
(26.01.2024)
Hamas posts another hostage video showing Israeli women kidnapped on October 7 and taken hostage to Gaza. The three – Doron Steinbrecher, 30,Daniella Gilboa, 19 & Karina Ariev, 19– the latter two IDF soldiers–, apparently filmed 4 days ago.
(26.01.2024)
Israel must comply with key ICJ ruling ordering it do all in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza
“Today’s decision is an authoritative reminder of the crucial role of international law in preventing genocide and protecting all victims of atrocity crimes. It sends a clear message that the world will not stand by in silence as Israel pursues a ruthless military campaign to decimate the population of the Gaza Strip and unleash death, horror and suffering against Palestinians on an unprecedented scale,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
“However, the ICJ decision alone cannot put an end to the atrocities and devastation Gazans are witnessing. Alarming signs of genocide in Gaza, and Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law highlight the urgent need for effective, unified pressure on Israel to stop its onslaught against Palestinians. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential and – although not ordered by the Court – is the most effective condition to implement the provisional measures and end unprecedented civilian suffering.
Experts react: What the International Court of Justice said (and didn’t say) in the genocide case against Israel
Click to jump to an expert analysis:
Celeste Kmiotek: The ICJ puts the countries supporting Israel on notice
Thomas S. Warrick: A blow to the argument that death and destruction are sufficient to establish genocide
Tuqa Nusairat: The ruling shows how isolated the US is in its support of Israel
Shalom Lipner: The ruling is unlikely to change Israel’s warfighting or narrative
Elise Baker: Israel’s continued failure to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza risks genocide
Gissou Nia: The ICJ’s decision pushes talk about ‘genocide’ from the rhetorical to the factual and legal
Lisandra Novo: The ICJ’s order to preserve evidence could impact war crimes cases elsewhere
Alexander Tripp: South Africa is putting its ideals on the world stage
Alyssa T. Yamamoto: The ICJ embraces another case brought by a state not directly affected by violations
Akila Radhakrishnan: It didn’t call for a cease-fire, but the ICJ did rule that Israel must drastically curtail its operations
Rayhan Asat: This case could have implications for a future genocide case against China