News Analysis India

Tag: Palestine

  • Why is ‘All Eyes on Rafah’ trending and why is the US refusing to criticize Israel’s action? ,

    Israel has been making advances in Palestine’s Rafah. The Rafah region shot into the news once again on Tuesday after dozens of people died in a fresh attack, allegedly carried out by Israel. This happened two days after 45 people died in another airstrike, that Palestine claimed to be carried out by Israel. Israeli tanks were deployed in the Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood, which was hit by the airstrike on Sunday.

    “Despite our efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the strike, the fire that broke out was unexpected and unintended…Our investigation seeks to determine what may have caused such a large fire to ignite,” said IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari.

    “Despite our efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the strike, the fire that broke out was unexpected and unintended…Our investigation seeks to determine what may have caused such a large fire to ignite.”

    Watch the full statement by IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel… pic.twitter.com/fzaRSnpgbE — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 28, 2024

    The Israeli army had pushed into the heart of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip amid its military operations carried out in multiple places in the enclave. As per reports, the Israeli army had intensified its bombardment in Rafah on Tuesday morning, forcing a great number of Palestinians to flee to other places.

    However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed Monday’s strike as a tragic incident saying that the country will investigate it. Netanyahu, however, vowed to continue the war against Hamas despite international criticism.

    What Is All Eyes On Rafah?

    After 45 people died in civilian camps following airstrike by Israel, netizens and key personalities expressed their solidarity with Palestine by sharing a graphic image on which it was written ‘All Eyes On Rafah’. People prayed for the safety of civilians in Rafah through their social media posts and called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

    Why did the US not call for ceasefire?

    The White House said that its policy related to the Israel-Hamas war won’t change following Rafah’s ‘airstrike’ mistake. Though the US said that it would seek answers from Israel. The US administration hinted that the Isarel has not crossed the ‘red line’ yet. The United States’ firm stance with Israel suggests that the Biden administration wants Hamas to surrender and return those in its captivity.

    Israel’s Advances in Rafah

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Tuesday that they conducted military operations in various locations across Gaza. In Jabalia, northern Gaza, the Israeli army killed Palestinian militants who attempted to fire at Israeli forces and destroyed several military targets, including underground tunnels, observation posts, and weapon depots. In central Gaza, the IDF carried out airstrikes on multiple targets, resulting in the deaths of several Palestinian militants.

    Gaza’s health authorities have said that the Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip reached 36,096 and more than 81,000 people have been injured.

  • At least 35 killed as Israeli strikes hit refugee camp in Rafah, majority women and children: Report |

    Israel’s fresh strike in Gaza on Sunday claimed the lives of 35 people and left dozens injured, according to CNN, citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. As per the ministry’s statement, the majority of those killed and injured are women and children.

    The airstrike struck a refugee camp, according to officials from Gaza and the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Social media videos depicted a significant fire, with paramedics and firefighters striving to handle the aftermath. The targeted area included a sizable container serving as a shelter for numerous families, surrounded by numerous tents.

    In an earlier statement, the ministry said, “There is no hospital in Rafah with enough capacity to take this number of killed and injured, causing confusion among ambulance teams on where to transfer them.”

    According to a CNN report, Gaza’s government office stated that the Israeli army had marked these areas as safe zones, urging citizens and displaced individuals to seek shelter there. However, when displaced people sought refuge in these areas, they reportedly came under attack.

    In a post on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated, “An IDF aircraft struck a Hamas compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating a short while ago. The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law through the use of precise munitions and on the basis of precise intelligence that indicated Hamas’ use of the area. The IDF is aware of reports indicating that, as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited, several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review.”

    As per the IDF, those killed in the airstrike include the Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria, along with another senior Hamas official.

    According to the Israeli health ministry, CNN reported that the airstrike was detected after sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and certain areas of central Israel on Sunday following rocket fire directed at the city.

    Since January of last year, there have not been any rocket launches in the city.

    (Based on inputs from ANI)

  • Israel’s War On Gaza: Indian Ex-Soldier Serving As UN Aid Worker Killed In Rafah | world news

    The UN aid worker who was killed while driving to a hospital in the Khan Younis area from Rafah has been identified as an Indian national. Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, was a former Indian Army soldier. Farhan Haq, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesperson, confirmed the identity of the deceased aid worker in a statement issued Monday night.

    According to the UN official, Waibhav Anil Kale started working for the UN as a security service coordinator in Gaza a month ago. According to UN sources, Kale was traveling in a vehicle bearing the United Nations logo.

    However, UN sources said it was unclear who fired on the vehicle in which Waibhav Anil Kale was traveling with another UN aid worker. This is the first such UN death in the Gaza conflict.

    The IDF has already stated that it is investigating the firing and death of a UN aid worker. In a statement issued late Monday night, the IDF stated that the attack took place in an active combat zone and that it was investigating the attack and death of the UN aid worker.

  • Israel-Gaza War: Biden Warns Netanyahu Of Losing US Support If Rafah Is Invaded, Says ‘No More Weapons…’ | world news

    In a first since its war in Gaza, US President Joe Biden publicly warned Israel on Wednesday that if Israeli forces launched a significant assault of Rafah, a city packed with refugees in southern Gaza, the US would stop providing it with weapons. In an interview with CNN, Biden stated, “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah…, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities – that deal with that problem.”

    In an attempt to prevent an Israeli attack on Rafah, Biden used his strongest language in public to date in his remarks, which also highlighted the widening divide between the United States and its most powerful Middle Eastern ally. Biden acknowledged that US bombs provided to Israel have killed Gaza civilians in the seven-month-old offensive aimed at annihilating Hamas.

    Biden’s comments, his starkest to date, increase the pressure on Israel to refrain from a full-scale assault on Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge after fleeing combat further north in Gaza.

    There was no immediate comment from Israel on Biden’s remarks, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Rafah operation would go ahead. Israel says it must hit Rafah to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are there.

    Biden has faced pressure from his Democratic colleagues and growing campus protests to prevent Israel from invading Rafah. His support for Israel has become a political liability as the president seeks re-election.

    The United States is by far Israel’s largest supplier of weapons, and deliveries accelerated following the Hamas attacks on October 7, which triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Biden stated that the United States would continue to provide weapons for Israel’s defense, such as the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

    On Wednesday, US officials confirmed that the delivery of bombs to Israel had been halted due to the risk to civilians in Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, continued tank and aerial strikes on southern Gaza after moving in via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday, cutting off a vital aid route.

  • Yemeni Army Claims Of Targeting American Vessel 'Mado' In Red Sea

    Yemeni Armed Forces' spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the port of Eilat in the allegedly Israel-occupied territories with several cruise missiles.

  • Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Calls For 'Freedom Of Kashmiris, Palestinians' In Victory Speech | world news

    ISLAMABAD: Addressing the National Assembly after being picked as the next prime minister of the ruling coalition of the PML(N), PPP and other small outfits, Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called out the 'global silence' on the prevailing situation in Gaza while seeking a bipartisan resolution in the House advocating 'freedom' for Kashmiris and Palestinians, Dawn reported.

    “Let's all come together…and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” PM-designate Shehbaz said in a 'victory speech' at the Assembly. The Pakistan National Assembly on Sunday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif as the 24th elected Prime Minister of the country, during a session that started with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members creating a ruckus by shouting slogans.

    The PM-designate stated further that amid the severe economic downturn in the country and livelihood concerns of the people, even the expenditures of the National Assembly were being paid by borrowed money, Dawn reported. He replied that the biggest challenge for Pakistan was that “all of the expenditure was being met via loans only”, the report noted.

    “All of these (expenses for running the House) is being met via loans over the last few years. This is the biggest challenge faced by the country today,” he said. “All of our salaries are being paid via taxes. Does such a situation warrant such hooliganism?” he added, in a veiled dig at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and other rival voices who have been contesting the results of the February 8 general elections.

    He also rued the debt crisis that the country is grappling with, Dawn added in its report. Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party leadership decided to go to the Parliament despite its reservations over the poll outcome in the country.

    Despite its decision to participate in the session of the newly elected National Assembly, Rehman said his party's original position to reject the 2024 elections was being proven right. “In the history of Pakistan, we used to think that 2018 was the biggest rigging that took place in the general election, however, 2024 has broken that record,” Rehman said in Karachi.

  • Who Was Aaron Bushnell? US Air Force Personnel Who Set Himself Ablaze For ‘Free Palestine’

    According to reports, Aaron Bushnell walked up to the Israel embassy around Sunday afternoon and live-streamed on the video streaming platform Twitch.

  • US Destroys Three Houthi Missiles In Red Sea; Biden dials Netanyahu world news

    As the Houthi militants continue to attack cargo ships in the Red Sea, the United States forces have also been carrying out retaliatory actions. In a fresh round of attack against the Houthis, the US destroyed three anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea. It was the fourth preemptive action taken by the US military. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also dialed Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

    US Destroys Houthi Missiles

    The US Central Command informed that the attack was carried out at around 6:45 pm (Sanaa time). “As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, US Navy ships are present in the Red Sea. On Jan. 19 at approximately 6:45 pm (Sanaa time), US Central Command forces conducted strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed into the Southern Red Sea and were prepared to launch,” the US Central Command posted on X.

    It added that the US forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. “US forces subsequently struck and destroyed the missiles in self-defense. This action will make international waters safe and secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels,” it added.

    US CENTCOM Destroys Three Houthi Terrorists’ Anti-Ship Missiles

    As part of ongoing efforts to protect freedom of navigation and prevent attacks on maritime vessels, US Navy ships are present in the Red Sea. On Jan. 19 at approximately 6:45 pm (Sanaa time), US Central… pic.twitter.com/vPYUaIvvA5 — US Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 19, 2024

    Before this incident, US forces had conducted airstrikes targeting 14 Houthi missiles that were poised for launch in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen on Thursday. The Houthi group had previously been reclassified by the US as a “terrorist” organization. The Houthis, aligned with the Palestinian armed group Hamas, initiated their attacks in retaliation to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

    Biden Calls Netanyahu

    Biden called Netanyahu after nearly a month and reiterated his vision of a ‘two-state solution’ while guaranteeing Israel’s security. The US President also addressed the current initiatives to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and assessed the situation in Gaza.

    The White House also issued a statement in this regard saying, “The President and Prime Minister discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas. The President and the Prime Minister reviewed the situation in Gaza and the shift to targeted operations.” that will enable the flow of increasing amounts of humanitarian assistance while keeping the military pressure on Hamas and its leaders.”

    President Biden also emphasized Israel’s responsibility to reduce civilian harm and protect the innocent. “The President discussed Israel’s responsibility even as it maintains military pressure on Hamas and its leaders to reduce civilian harm and protect the innocent. The President also discussed his vision for a more durable peace and security for Israel fully integrated within the region and a two- state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed,” the statement added.