Operation Iron Swords - Day 176 - 30 March 2024
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NEW - War Termination NEW - Operations NEW - Operations - Gaza NEW - Operations - Judea-Samaria NEW - Operations - Lebanon NEW - Operations - Syria / Iraq NEW - Operations - Yemen NEW - Operations Maps NEW - By-Standers NEW - Axis of Resistance NEW - Allied for Democracy UPDATED - By the Numbers |
“At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to
surrender and release every hostage. …
Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
The Red Cow is a manifestation of a scene that returns the conflict to its true square, the religious war. “Temple groups” are racing against time to complete the biblical procedures that permit Jews to carry out mass movements on Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to move forward with the aim of demolishing the Dome of the Rock Mosque in order to build the alleged “ Third Temple ”. It is not unlikely that these extremist religious groups will slaughter the “Red Cow” on the Mount of Olives in occupied Jerusalem, opposite Al- Aqsa Mosque , with the aim of purifying themselves with its ashes, on the 2nd of April according to the Hebrew calendar, which this year falls on the 10th of April 2024, as it is expected to fall Eid al-Fitr day.
In the context of biblical preparations and procedures, extremist Jewish religious groups held a special conference a few days ago to discuss preparations for slaughtering the Red Heifer on the Mount of Olives, and then burning it and mixing its ashes in the waters of the Silwan Spring, under the pretext of purifying the Jews of “the impurity of the dead,” as they described it, and in cooperation with the so-called Temple Mount Administration.
A tour of the extremist Jews on the sidelines of the Red Cow Conference held in the “Old Shilo” settlement inspected five red cows. According to biblical beliefs, the “Chief Rabbinate” in Israel prohibits Jews, according to a “religious fatwa,” from storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, until the appearance of “the Savior Messiah” and the beginning of salvation. Then the Jews are allowed what they call “ascending the Temple Mount,” storming the courtyards of the mosque and embarking on In the construction of the Third Temple, according to the beliefs of the “Council of Torah Sages”.
The conference, in which nearly 100 rabbis from various religious movements participated, was held in the “old Shiloh” settlement, which was built on the ruins of Khirbet Silun northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, noting that the place, according to Jewish religious and biblical beliefs, was the center of the so-called “State of Judea and Samaria.” The rabbis discussed the biblical rituals and procedures for slaughtering the red cow, as 5 red cows are being cared for in the “old Shiloh” settlement, which were brought in by a special flight in September 2022 from private farms in the American state of Texas, according to what Israeli Channel 12 revealed in a report.
The red cows were brought to the country during the era of the previous Israeli government headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid , which was supported by the United Arab List headed by Mansour Abbas, as government ministries funded the import and care of the cows, according to what the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported. Following the example of the Bennett-Lapid government, the Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu continued to support the Red Cows project, participating, promoting and supporting the Red Cow Conference, and procedures that mimic the ritual slaughter of a cow.
The “Boni” organization, which consists of evangelical Christians and extremist Jews, and is headed by Rabbi Tzachi Memo, and the “Mikdash Institute” organization, headed by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, the rabbi of the “Kach” movement, supervised the process of researching and caring for the red cows, establishing biblical procedures, and holding the conference. Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
Uri Ehrlich, spokesman for the Emek Shaveh archaeologists organization, strongly criticized the extremist Jewish groups that are exploiting the war on Gaza in order to impose facts in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, which would ignite a religious war. He also criticized the government’s support for the Red Cow project and the announcement of the associated rituals with it. Ehrlich wrote an article on the website “Zaman Yisrael”, in which he reviewed the shift that Israel is witnessing towards religious extremism and the abandonment of the teachings of democracy and freedoms, saying: “This week, in light of reports of the closure of the largest centers for scientific research in Israel by decision of the government, a conference was held. The Red Cow at the archaeological site of Tel Shiloh, in preparation for the establishment of the Third Temple.
The Israeli writer explained that the invitation to the Red Cow Conference carried the logo of the Ministry of Education, as well as the Department of Jewish Culture in the Ministry of Settlement and National Infrastructure, saying: “Two government ministries are proud of their partnership in the Temple Movements Conference, as the State of Israel was hijacked by the settler government in the West Bank, as it became clear “Religious Christianity is strengthening its influence in Israeli ministries.”
From the Arab and Islamic point of view, the researcher in the issues of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, lawyer Khaled Zabarqa, said: “When we talk about Al-Aqsa, we must bring to mind the ultimate goal of these groups, from the temple movements, extremist Christian groups, and the new evangelicals, which is a religious ideological goal related to their beliefs for the end of time, which focuses on Targeting Al-Aqsa and building the alleged structure.”
Zabarqa explained in his interview with Al Jazeera Net that these groups are striving with all force to achieve the goal, and consider burning the Red Cow and building the Temple an acceleration of the arrival of the end times, saying: “Each of these parties has its concept. The Jews want to accelerate the bringing of Christ the Savior, while the new evangelicals want to accelerate the battle of Armageddon.”
In reading the local, regional and international developments, Zabarqa’s convictions were strengthened that these groups, which have become the most influential in the world and have control and influence even with some Arab and Islamic regimes, are seeking with all their might to accelerate events, and are using the war on Gaza to achieve their goals, so that the war has become part of This doctrine belongs to the Jewish side and to evangelical Christians.
The researcher on Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa issues pointed out that “according to Zionist religious beliefs, the Red Cow must be slaughtered and purified with its ashes at the end of time, in order to accelerate the Judaization of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its demolition to build the alleged Third Temple, regardless of the repercussions of these rituals at the local, regional and global levels.” Zabarqa pointed out that the Jewish groups and temple movements believe that slaughtering the red cow, purification, and demolishing Al-Aqsa to build the Temple are things that will hasten the salvation they have been seeking for two thousand years. They also believe that accelerating events and shortening the stages of accelerating salvation is a purely religious ideological matter.
From the point of view of the specialist in the issues of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, the Red Cow conference and the biblical procedures and discussions to complete the rituals of slaughter, burning, and purification with ashes are an indication of a serious and dangerous matter. He said, “By talking to officials of the Endowments Department in Jerusalem, the feeling of the existence of a scheme and conspiracy being hatched against Al-Aqsa is strengthened.”
Zabarqa explained that simply bringing the red cow from Texas, USA, caring for it in Israel, and promoting it is an extremely dangerous indicator, saying: “If that does not turn on the red light and warn of the dangers facing Al-Aqsa, then this amounts to a lack of understanding,” pointing out that one of the manifestations of the scene is returning the conflict to square one. The real thing is religious conflict and war.
The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and Islamic Jihad confirmed that the success of any indirect negotiations with Israel depends on four basic determinants, including the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip. This came during a meeting held by a delegation from Hamas, headed by the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh , with a delegation from Islamic Jihad, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziad al-Nakhalah , in the Iranian capital.
Hamas said in a statement on its account on the Telegram platform that the four determinants are “the cessation of the (Israeli) aggression in a comprehensive manner, the complete withdrawal of the occupation from all of the Gaza Strip, the freedom to return the displaced (to the northern Gaza Strip), and the entry of aid and the needs of our people and our people in the Gaza Strip” within a prisoner exchange deal. in Gaza.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (official) said last Wednesday that indirect negotiations are continuing between Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to exchange prisoners and ceasefire, while the main dispute centers on the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip.
The two movements considered - according to the statement - that "the Palestinian people are in an open and direct confrontation with the occupation in light of the attacks and violations it is carrying out in Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, in addition to incursions and assassinations in the West Bank." The Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements stressed "the necessity of escalating resistance in all its forms in all arenas of confrontation."
They praised "the resistance operations in support of (the Gaza Strip) on the multiple fronts in Yemen, Iraq, and southern Lebanon, which confirm the unity of the resistance fronts and that the Palestinian people are not alone in confronting this occupation and those with it." According to the statement, Hamas and Islamic Jihad expressed their appreciation to Iran for the strategic support it provides to the resistance and the Palestinian people and its “steadfast positions in supporting their national rights.”
They called on "the nation, with all its components, to expand the scope of the challenge to the occupation by all legitimate means, and to show their state of anger as a result of the occupation's daily massacres and barbaric aggression against our people and our people, and to intensify solidarity efforts, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan."
The two movements appreciated "what the peoples of the world are doing in expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and the massive marches in various cities and capitals around the world, which pushes towards the isolation of this occupation and those who support it." They considered that "continuing to support Israel militarily and providing political cover for its crimes is participation in the ongoing crime in Gaza."
Islamic Jihad and Hamas affirmed their “rejection of any political projects or steps that would create new realities in Gaza that are far from the will of our people and their resistance,” and stressed that “any step must be the result of complete national consensus.”
On its part, the "Palestinian Resistance Alliance Factions" announced their refusal to send Arab troops to administer the Gaza Strip, warning of the "danger of lining up with such proposals, because they constitute a new Zionist trap and deception, to drag some Arab countries into serving their schemes and projects after their great failure on the ground. They are seeking, along with the United States, to circumvent the crushing defeat they have suffered by relying on some Arab countries and some of their tools in the region to rescue the occupation army from the huge quagmire it has fallen into in the Gaza Strip." The statement confirmed that "the Palestinian people are capable of choosing their leaders and institutions to manage the sector."
The Alliance of Palestinian Resistance factions denounced on Saturday the Israeli proposal that suggests foreign Arab forces should govern the Gaza Strip, warning that such proposals aim to trap Aab countries in serving "Israel's" agendas in Gaza, amid its drastic failure on the battlefield. The factions also warned, in a statement in Damascus, of the dangers of complying with such proposals, affirming that they embody "a new Zionist trap and lie" that the United States and "Israel" try to impose to shift their defeat in Gaza.
"Turning to certain Arab countries for help, it [Israel], together with the US, seeks to avoid the horrible defeat they have suffered... to get the occupation army out of the huge moor it finds itself trapped in the Gaza Strip," the statement read. They also stressed that the Palestinian people can choose their own leadership to govern the Strip to maintain its national sovereignty and foil all Israeli-American plots to undermine its independence. The proposal, according to the Resistance actions, was put forward by Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant before Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, and Lloyd Austin. Moreover, Arab nations must beware of getting caught in the "Zionist trap", according to the factions' alliance, through the promotion or support of Israeli-American plots.
According to American media, Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant proposed deploying an Arab force in Gaza for a transitional period to secure the ongoing construction of a seaport under the supervision of the United States. According to Gallant, the same force will secure the humanitarian aid convoys and the port within the framework of a multinational force. A senior Arab official stated, "Gallant did not understand the position of the Arab countries. We are not prepared to send troops to secure convoys. We would consider sending troops to a peacekeeping force following a war if that force is under American leadership and if this step is associated with enhancing the two-state solution".
Palestinian factions considered that any international or Arab force entering the Gaza Strip is unacceptable and unacceptable, and constitutes an occupying force. This came in a statement by the Follow-up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces, which includes most of the Palestinian factions. The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) published the statement on its digital platforms, on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of Palestinian Land Day .
The factions said, "The occupation leaders' talk about forming an international or Arab force for the Gaza Strip is an illusion and a mirage, and that any force entering the Gaza Strip is rejected and unacceptable. It is an occupying force, and we will deal with it according to this description." They added, "We appreciate the position of the Arab countries that refused to participate and cooperate with the occupation leaders' proposal regarding the formation of the force."
The factions stressed that managing the Palestinian reality is “an internal Palestinian national matter that we will not allow anyone to interfere in, and that all attempts to create alternative administrations that circumvent the will of the Palestinian people will die before they are born and will not be successful.”
In a related context, the factions reaffirmed the unified national position that there is no agreement or exchange deal with the occupation except with a comprehensive cessation of aggression, the return of the displaced, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, shelter for the demolished homes, reconstruction, breaking the siege, opening the crossings, and bringing in aid. Indirect negotiations are continuing in Doha between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, with the aim of reaching a prisoner exchange deal and a truce between the two parties, after a first humanitarian truce that lasted a week until the beginning of last December, and resulted in the exchange of dozens of prisoners and the entry of limited aid into the Strip.
Israeli media reported that Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of progress in talks with the United States regarding a proposal to deploy a multinational force in the Gaza Strip. The private Hebrew Channel 12 reported that Gallant held talks with American officials, during his visit to Washington a few days ago, about forming a multinational force and bringing it into Gaza to be responsible for the security of the region, bringing in humanitarian aid, and organizing its distribution.
The channel claimed that these talks resulted in progress that it did not clarify, pointing out that the elements of this force would be from 3 Arab countries, without naming them. She added that it is not yet certain whether this force will include American soldiers.
A high-ranking Egyptian official revealed to Sky News on Saturday that Cairo rejects the idea of sending Arab or even joint forces to the Gaza Strip. The official said, "Egypt insists on the principle that the Palestinians are the ones who determine the future of the Gaza Strip", and indicated that Egypt sees the Palestinian Authority as the address for ruling the Gaza Strip the day after the war. He added that Cairo will provide support for the Authority to be able to perform its duties.
After consultation between the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff, it was decided not to hold the air force flight and the flotilla in Eilat on Independence Day this year, in light of the IDF's focus on the war and in accordance with the recommendation of the commander of the navy and air force. A flight missing for Memorial Day will be held as usual over Mount Pilots and Mount Herzl.
The New York Times reported on an analysis that the Palestinian factions are still steadfast in the Gaza Strip , in light of the continuing attacks targeting the occupation forces, while the Washington Post reported on the US administration allowing billions in more weapons to be sent to Israel despite the criticism it faces among legislators. The New York Times said that the Israeli occupation forces are fighting to regain the areas they have already seized in the Gaza Strip, which shows the steadfastness of Palestinian fighters.
The newspaper quotes an analysis conducted by the Institute for the Study of War in Washington that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and other Palestinian resistance factions have carried out more than 70 attacks targeting the Israeli occupation forces in and around the Shifa Medical Complex , since the start of the last Israeli attack there on the 18th of this month. The New York Times notes that the high rate of attacks by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip on the occupation forces indicates that the factions maintain a high degree of combat effectiveness in the region, despite what it called “the ongoing Israeli cleansing efforts around Gaza City.”
Various Palestinian Resistance factions continue to confront Israeli occupation forces in multiple combat axes in the Gaza Strip, carrying out several operations against raiding Israeli occupation soldiers and military vehicles in Khan Younis, coinciding with battles in the city of al-Zahraa and al-Maghraqa area in the central part of the enclave. Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that Resistance fighters are engaged in fierce confrontations in Khan Younis and the vicinity of the Nasser Medical Complex.
The Al-Qassam Brigades , the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), announced that it had killed and wounded Israeli soldiers in Khan Yunis, while several areas in the Gaza Strip were subjected to intense Israeli bombing, causing more martyrs. The Brigades announced - in its account on the Telegram application - that it had targeted an Israeli Merkava tank with a “ Shawaz ” device , killing and wounding its crew in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. The Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed that 3 Israeli helicopters landed to evacuate the tank crew in the downtown area of Khan Yunis.
In the same context, al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, confirmed that its fighters shelled positions of Israeli occupation soldiers and military vehicles in the advance axis in Al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, with mortar shells. In addition, the Brigades' fighters shelled an Israeli command and control center with heavy mortar shells.
Yesterday, the military wing of Hamas announced that its fighters targeted Israeli soldiers inside a house in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital, west of Khan Yunis, with an anti-fortified shell, leaving them dead and wounded. At the same time, the Al-Quds Brigades , the military arm of the Islamic Jihad movement, said that its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with a special Israeli force in the Al-Qarara area, north of Khan Yunis, and they also targeted a military vehicle with an anti-armor shell in the Al-Aqqad area, west of the city.
On the other hand, the Israeli occupation army said in a statement today that it is continuing operations in the Al-Qarara area and the Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, as well as in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City. Yesterday, the Israeli army admitted the killing of a soldier and the wounding of 16 others from the Egoz unit, including 6 who were seriously wounded, in battles in the southern Gaza Strip, noting that 81 soldiers were wounded in battles since last Sunday.
During the past 24 hours, the Al Jazeera team monitored military helicopters landing at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, transporting wounded soldiers from the Gaza Strip. Yesterday morning, Israeli websites reported pictures of a military helicopter landing at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, also carrying wounded soldiers from the battles.
The Chief of Staff arrived yesterday (Friday) at Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, where IDF forces are still working to arrest terrorists. The Chief of Staff held an assessment with the Commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, the Commander of Division 162, Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, the Commander of the 13th Squadron, Colonel A., and other commanders. According to the Chief of Staff of the Malays.
The 401st SDF forces and the 13th Sheita forces under the command of Division 162 together with the Amman and the Shin Bet continue fighting and scanning buildings in the Shifa hospital complex. In the last few days, forces encountered terrorists outside the hospital building, the terrorists were thwarted by fighters of the Shaked Battalion. "The Shaked Battalion received a mission to crown the hospital, and to enter selected targets," said MP of the Shaked Battalion, Capt. Rotem, "In one of the selected targets of a senior operative in the area, the forces encountered a terrorist hiding in a closet. The fighters opened fire in front of him while extracting the force from the apartment where the terrorist was staying, after aggressive fire management the terrorist was eliminated and we continued to search the area."
With the intelligence guidance of AMN and the Shin Bet on the presence of the senior members of the terrorist organizations in the buildings at the hospital, Sheitat 13 forces, the Dovdvan unit and the Nahal patrol raided a building in the hospital where they encountered the terrorists. During an encounter between Sheitat 13 forces, the Shaked and Dovdvan battalions with terrorists who came out armed from the sorting compound, a number of terrorists were killed, including senior Hamas official Ra'ad Thabat and Mahmoud Khalil Zakzuk.
During an encounter and chase by the Nahal patrol in the building of the maternity hospital in recent days, the terrorists Fadi Doich and Zachariah Najib were killed. The forces arrested and eliminated terrorists in face-to-face battles, located many weapons, including sniper weapons, Kalashnikov rifles, cartridges, grenades and AMSHT documents. IDF and Shin Bet forces continue to operate in the area while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams and medical equipment.
IDF and Shin Bet forces continue fighting in the area of Shifa' hospital. TSK 401, the Nahal Patrol and the 13th Naval Forces under the command of Division 162 are fighting in the area while avoiding harm to civilians, patients and medical teams. In the last day, the fighters continued to eliminate terrorists, locate weapons and terrorist infrastructure in the area.
Givati TDF continues to operate in the Al-Amal region. The fighters have eliminated in the last day a number of terrorists who tried to attack the forces with an explosive device.
After a launch from the Gaza Strip to a Kissuf area that fell in an open area, an Air Force aircraft attacked the area from which the shooting was carried out and three operational shafts were destroyed.
The Israel Defense Forces continues to operate in the center of the Gaza Strip and eliminated a number of terrorists throughout the last day. In one of the attacks, the forces identified a squad of terrorists in a military building, who were seen trying to transport an anti-aircraft gun, an aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists. After the attack, secondary explosions were seen indicating the presence of a large army in the area. A few minutes later, a combat helicopter attacked and destroyed the military building from which the squad left.
The 215th Fire Brigade identified a number of Hamas terrorists who left a military building of the organization in the northern Gaza Strip, an Air Force aircraft attacked and eliminated them. In addition, the brigade identified a vehicle containing two other terrorists who arrived at the building with the aim of transporting military equipment, an aircraft attacked and eliminated the operatives. After the two attacks, a fighter jet attacked the structure.
Over the past day, the Air Force has carried out dozens of strikes in the Gaza Strip, among other things in cooperation with the forces of the 98th Division, which continue to operate in Khan Yunis in the area of the Al-Amal and Al-Karara neighborhoods. The fighters eliminated terrorists and raided terrorist infrastructures.
Israel responded to a UN report warning of an imminent famine in Gaza, and claimed that the assessment contained inaccurate information. In light of the escalation of UN and international warnings about the worsening famine in the Strip, which has been subjected to an ongoing Israeli war for the 175th day. The Palestinian Civil Affairs Coordination Unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense (COGAT) said, “Israel is aware of the unfortunate repercussions of the war on the civilian population in Gaza,” but disavowed that Israel does not manage food distribution operations in the Strip, and accused UN agencies of what it called an inability to deal with “ Quantities of aid arriving daily.
The Israeli unit questioned the accuracy of information contained in the UN report stating that an average of 500 trucks, 150 of which were loaded with food supplies, entered the Gaza Strip daily before the war, while currently 60 trucks loaded with food enter it per day. Cogat’s response stated, “At any time, there are hundreds of trucks parked on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing after the authorities in Israel finished” inspecting them, saying, “Before the war, an average of 70 trucks loaded with food entered daily,” without providing any source. . The report issued last week exacerbated international concerns by indicating that Gazans were suffering from “catastrophic” hunger and expected that famine would strike the northern Gaza Strip “at any time” in the period extending until May in the absence of any urgent intervention to prevent this.
This comes in light of the tense relations between Israel and some UN agencies, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees ( UNRWA ), which reported last week that Israel is preventing it from distributing aid in northern Gaza. The agency has also previously faced Israeli accusations of the involvement of 12 of its 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip in the attack of last October 7 (the Al-Aqsa flood ) , which prompted many countries to suspend its funding against the backdrop of these allegations.
In addition, Israel criticized the “Integrated Interim Classification for Food Security” for including the figures of the Ministry of Health in Gaza regarding the death toll and the number of injured, and considered that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) has a “strategic interest” in this, while the media, humanitarian organizations and the United Nations rely on it. These numbers, experts say, may be less than the actual numbers of victims. According to the “Integrated Interim Classification of Food Security” report, the number of people facing harsh conditions is estimated at about 1.1 million Palestinians, or half of the population, in light of the difficulty and scarcity of aid access in the Gaza Strip.
Operational Update - Judea-Samaria
The director of Al-Razi Hospital in the city of Jenin announced the martyrdom of the boy Mutasim Nabil Abed from the town of Qabatiya as a result of his injuries sustained during the occupation army’s storming of the town, while the number of Palestinians arrested by Israel since October 7, 2023 rose to 7,870. The occupation forces had pushed military vehicles towards the town and raided several homes under the pretext of searching for wanted persons. As a result, armed clashes broke out and continued until the army withdrew from the town.
The Israeli occupation forces also stormed the city of Al-Dhaheriya, south of Hebron. The occupation forces also raided the Duma area, searched a number of homes, and conducted their patrols towards the city center, erecting barriers and obstructing traffic. Before that, Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that commando forces followed by Israeli occupation military forces surrounded a house in the Jabal al-Nasr neighborhood in Nour Shams camp, and sirens sounded in the camp amid an intense flight of military reconnaissance planes.
The occupation forces also stormed the town of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya, and the village of Madama, south of Nablus. Yesterday, Friday, the occupation forces arrested at least 6 Palestinians from various areas in the West Bank under the pretext of their involvement in operations against Israeli targets.
A statement by the occupation army said that its forces arrested two Palestinians in the city of Nablus suspected of involvement in carrying out shooting operations at a military site yesterday, and three Palestinians were also arrested from Hebron Governorate. The Israeli army added that its forces found weapons and incendiary materials during combing operations conducted in the village of Madama, Nablus district.
This comes after the Israeli army arrested 25 Palestinians from the West Bank during the last 24 hours, including a woman and children, in addition to former prisoners, according to a joint statement issued Friday by the Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs Authority (governmental) and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club (non-governmental). The statement stated that the total number of arrests in the West Bank rose to about 7,870, including those who were arrested from homes and through military checkpoints, those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were held hostage. He explained that the arrests during the last hours were concentrated in the city of Jerusalem after hundreds went to perform Friday prayers in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the rest of the arrests were distributed among the governorates of Hebron (south), Nablus, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya (north).
Confrontations broke out between Palestinian youths and the Israeli occupation forces this Saturday evening in the town of Al-Tur, east of occupied Jerusalem , as well as in Beit Furik, east of Nablus in the West Bank , while settlers carried out new attacks throughout the West Bank. Occupation army forces stormed the village of Beit Furik, and Palestinian media said that resistance fighters threw a homemade bomb (elbow) towards the occupation forces at the entrance to the village. Resistance fighters also threw a similar bomb at an occupation army vehicle in the Al-Muteena area in the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem .
On the other hand, the occupation forces arrested a young man and beat him at the Qalandiya checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem, according to what was reported by Palestinian media. Meanwhile, the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) reported that a 23-year-old Palestinian man was injured by settlers’ bullets during their attack on the town of Mikhmas, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. The agency said, citing eyewitnesses, that at least 30 settlers stormed the town of Mikhmas from the eastern side during iftar time on the 20th day of the holy month of Ramadan.
The agency added that the settlers smashed the windows of a number of vehicles and fired live bullets at citizens. They also attacked young men who responded to the intrusion with sticks, which resulted in a young man being injured by live bullets and three others injured and bruised.
The Red Crescent Society said that its crews in Ramallah dealt with a man injured by live bullets, and he was transferred to the hospital from the town of Mikhmas. Meanwhile, the head of the village council of the village of Duma, south of Nablus, Suleiman Dawabsha, said that settlers attacked the villagers from the southern side and shot the farmers.
For its part, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned today in a statement of “the danger of the noticeable escalation in the crimes of the occupation and its settlers,” and called for urgent international intervention to stop the occupation’s illegal unilateral measures, and force it to stop settlement and adhere to the resolutions of international legitimacy, which will lead to protecting the Palestinian people and preventing their displacement.
Palestinians in the town of Qabatiya, south of the city of Jenin , carried out the funeral of the boy Mutasim Abu Abed (14 years old), who was martyred by the bullets of occupation soldiers during the storming of the town at dawn today. Mourners chanted slogans denouncing the crimes of the occupation and supporting the resistance.
On the other hand, the occupation forces withdrew from the city of Tubas in the northern West Bank after arresting 3 Palestinian youths and wounding 2 others with varying injuries. This morning, special forces from the occupation army stormed the city and surrounded a house in the center of the city and demanded that a young man surrender himself, claiming that he was wanted by their security forces. They then arrested the young man and tampered with the contents of the house.
Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the occupation forces arrested two other young men, one of whom was injured, and the Palestinian Red Crescent said that its crews transported two people who were injured during the occupation forces' storming of the city. The occupation forces also arrested a young man and stormed a cement factory and the Arab Construction Project Association in the city of Jericho, and raided a number of citizens’ homes in Al-Auja in the north, as part of their strict military measures on Jericho Governorate and the Jordan Valley, according to what was reported by the Palestinian News Agency.
Contrary to publications, the IDF did not attack a UNIFIL vehicle in the Ramish area this morning.
Fighter jets attacked terrorist infrastructures used by Hezbollah in the areas of A-Taiba, A-Nakura and Kfar Hanin. Launches were detected during the day towards several areas in the north of the country, the IDF attacked the sources of the shooting.
The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement said its fighters have carried out 10 operations against the Zionist regime’s military sites and soldiers.
The resistance forces in Lebanon continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli regime in support of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and in response to repeated Israeli attacks. In its latest operation on Friday, Hezbollah confirmed that its fighters have attacked the Israeli Jal al-Allam site and occupation soldiers in its vicinity with Falaq rockets, in retaliation for the latest Israeli aggression on Syria's Damascus and Aleppo, Al Mayadeen reported. The resistance forces also attacked the "Metulla" site with appropriate weapons and later hit an Israeli military vehicle station at the same site with an attack drone, inflicting damages during both operations.
The Hezbollah forces also attacked the al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Chouba Hills with rocket artillery, causing a direct hit. The Hezbollah fighters also targeted an Israeli infantry force in the Hadab Yaroun site with artillery shells, inflicting confirmed injuries among its ranks, as well as Israeli military vehicles in the al-Malikiyah site with rocket artillery.
Hezbollah confirmed in its statement that these operations came in support of the steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza and their resistance.
Operational Update - Syria / Iraq
In the the sixteenth Ramadan lecture by the leader of the revolution, Mr. Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, Saturday, Ramadan 20, 1445 AH - March 30, 2024 AD, he said: "There are people who are distracted by other things, and take up part of their time: either in the context of Qat meals, and talking that has no importance in it, but a person may bear other burdens from it, in evening gatherings and evenings, or with bad companions and bad companions, God forbid. Or a person is someone who neglects himself, his life, his time, and these great opportunities; He spends his time either on social networking sites, or watching satellite channels all his time, or behind electronic games, which have become one of the scourges and problems of addiction for many young people.
"These are very dangerous situations, and bad situations for a person, and they are among the reasons that make a person bored and sluggish, and his resolve decreases, and his interest decreases, with regard to important, great, and blessed matters, such as: reviving the nights of the blessed month of Ramadan by reciting the Qur’an, by remembrance of God, by supplications, by prayers, Or reviving part of it for those who are under pressure in their life circumstances....
"Laylat al-Qadr is a blessed night of great importance. It is the night of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, the Book of Blessings and Goodness, the Book of Guidance and Light, to which the fate of humanity in this world and the afterlife is linked. This is what shows us the importance of that blessed night: it is the night of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, with everything in it. ... we do not know when it is of the ten nights it is expected, which night of the ten nights, and on some nights it is more expected, and what is required is to pay attention to all of them as the Messenger of God used to do, “may God’s prayers be upon him and his family.” And he encourages that, and encourages that - the title is: Al-Baraka, {Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night}. The blessings of Laylat al-Qadr are vast blessings, and great and important blessings. Among these blessings are: The descent of blessings from heaven to earth, and the descent of vast goodness, in the goodness and blessings that descend therein. Among its blessings: It is a night of peace and safety from the punishment of God...
"The Commander of the Faithful, Ali, peace be upon him, had a good ending as a victorious martyr, on a blessed night, and thus completed his great record of good deeds, in which he was the first, the initiator, and the distinguished. He received the martyrdom by saying: ((I have won, by the Lord of the Kaaba)), this reception. It is strange, great, and special. He received it as a believer, confident, and given good tidings before, just as the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, gave him the good tidings of martyrdom as a martyr, a victor, accepted by God, Glory be to Him, and his religion was handed over to him. Because when the Prophet gave him good tidings and told him of the martyrdom, he told him that he would be killed, and his beard would be dyed with the blood from his head....
"The enemies: the Jewish-Zionist lobby in the forefront, believes that Islam in its pure truth, in its original truth, Islam in its origin as it is, constitutes an obstacle to the Jewish-Zionist lobby, a real obstacle; Because the Jewish-Zionist program is a program of corruption, crime, vice, abomination, falsehood, and misguidance... and thus, a trend towards humanity deviating from the message of God, from the instructions of God, and Islam is the religion of truth, justice, light, virtue, values, and fairness. And goodness; These people - their evil, their corruption, their abomination, their falsehood, their vice, and their obscenity - find in Islam that it is different from them, and protects society from what they want with it, from: corruption, evil, misguidance... and other things, so they seek to remove this obstacle....
"Despite what is happening now in Gaza, and what the whole world is witnessing, especially Muslims, of terrible crime and unjust aggression by the Zionist enemy against the Palestinian people, the Takfiris are not moving, and neither Al-Qaeda nor ISIS are moving to open a direct front to fight the Israeli enemy. Even though they present themselves as having the ability to penetrate all countries, to reach Europe, to reach Russia, to reach any country they want, and to carry out bombings there, and hostilities there... and so on, they spread throughout our Islamic world in any country they want, carrying out their crimes in The various Arab countries, if they were given a compass towards an Arab country, or an Arab country here or there, they would head towards it in droves, with great momentum, great pressure, fighting, ferocity, valor, brutality, and terrible crime, but with the exception of the Israeli enemy, they never, ever want to They open a front against him, not even by inciting against him, not even by talking about him as an enemy. They try to marginalize this side, as if there is no such thing as Zionist Jews. They occupy the land of Palestine, kill the Palestinian people, and commit the most heinous crimes in targeting the Palestinian people, as if that never existed."
Maps
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All maps are lies. “Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential,” wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.
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Bystanders
Axis of Resistance
The ideals of the Islamic Revolution have extended beyond the boundaries and have offered a beacon of hope to the free nations that seek to rid themselves of the hegemonic Western powers, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s ideals, aspirations and guidelines that entail confrontation with tyranny, opposition to arrogance, advocacy for religious democracy and support for the oppressed have gone beyond the geographical borders, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said in a statement in commemoration of the anniversary of beginning of the Islamic Republic on Farvardin 12th, dubbed the “Islamic Republic Day”.
The statement said that despite the unending hostile plots, the values of the Islamic Revolution have turned into a beacon of hope for the nations that struggle against the dominating hegemony of outsiders, specifically the US, Britain and a number of European countries. It also noted that the signs of promotion of the “Islamic Revolution culture” have become obvious in the world with the rise of anti-imperialist movements, formation of the resistance front, the decline of the US’ power, and the emergence of anti-Israeli spirit and thoughts across the world, even in the countries that sponsor the Zionist regime. The General Staff finally reaffirmed that the Iranian armed forces spare no effort to safeguard the Islamic Revolution’s tenets, protect the Islamic Republic’s establishment, and ensure the security and independence of Iran.
On Sunday, March 31, Iran is going to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the outset of the Islamic Republic as the country’s official ruling system, which was approved by the overwhelming majority of Iranians in a landmark referendum back in 1979.
Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri said today, Saturday, that Israel will collapse without the support provided to it by the United States of America. This came during a meeting between Bagheri and the head of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), Ismail Haniyeh , who is currently visiting Tehran. The Iranian Chief of Staff said that Israel was not able to respond to the Al-Aqsa Flood operation except by killing innocent women and children, destroying hospitals, and practicing the policy of starvation in the Gaza Strip .
Major General Bagheri stressed that his country will continue to support the Palestinians. On the other hand, a statement by the Iranian General Staff quoted Ismail Haniyeh as expressing his appreciation for holding meetings with Iranian military leaders, and saying that the Iranian forces’ support for the Palestinian cause gives the resistance more determination to achieve the goals of the Al-Aqsa flood.
Haniyeh had earlier met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei , President Ebrahim Raisi , and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. Haniyeh stressed at the time from Tehran that "the enemy will not be able to impose its equations on the Palestinian people, neither through war nor through politics." He said that the UN Security Council's adoption of a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip shows Israel's "unprecedented political isolation."
Haniyeh stressed to reporters that this vote shows that “the United States of America is unable to impose its will on the international community.” For his part, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi considered the recent events in Gaza a scandal for America and Western countries that support Israel.
Dr Basem Naim, a leading member of Hamas’ politburo, told RT that the war in Gaza is being fought by a joint command of Palestinian groups in the besieged coastal enclave, not only Hamas. He also discussed Hamas-Russia relations, regional alliances and internal Palestinian politics. Dr Naim raised concerns about the US plan to build a port in Gaza, which he warned could be used by the Israelis to commit further war crimes against the Palestinian people.
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, little has been revealed by Western media regarding the coordination between Palestinian armed factions, which represent around a dozen groups based in the besieged territory. In addition to this, most interviews with Hamas officials focus on “gotcha questions” and the events of October 7, without delving into substance or detail. This could be down to the fact that most Western nations consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization, along with every other major Palestinian political party/movement, the only exception being the mainstream branch of the Fatah party. However, throughout the rest of the world, most of these movements, including Hamas, enjoy open relations and dialogue.
The US is planning to build a sea port in Gaza, an idea that reportedly originally came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the stated goal of facilitating the delivery of humanitarian supplies. While Dr Naim believes the port could allow aid to be delivered much more easily and directly, this would require a stable ceasefire, and that should be the main priority.
“Now, when it comes to this step, yes, on one hand we could see it as a positive step in the right direction. But, at the same time, why are they going this very long and complicated way? The shortest and easiest way is to oblige Israel to open all the ground crossings and to allow all the requirements of Gazans to come in and to allow all international bodies, including UNRWA, to work freely on the ground,“ he said.
"Second, which is more important, is to stop the aggression. How can aid be distributed inside the Gaza Strip while the Israelis continue firing? We are reading every day about people being killed while they are waiting for aid trucks to enter Gaza, especially in the north. All the international bodies have clearly stated, or declared, that no one can talk about satisfactory humanitarian aid without a ceasefire. Therefore, the first and most important step is to stop the firing.
“When it comes to how this affects the reality in the field, yes, there are ways that this port could be used for other purposes. Maybe it is not clear now, but there is something there,” continued Dr Naim.
When asked what other purposes he meant, he raised the following frightening prospect: “I think this could be used for an American presence here. For example, this could be part of a long-term plan for control, by the Americans and the Israelis, of the seashore and of the landline from the west to the east.
“It could be, theoretically, a way to allow more people to leave the Gaza Strip under this inhuman situation on the ground. How can this aid port work without a partner on the ground? and who is the partner? and how will this partner work? How will it operate? Who will receive the aid and donations?
“I think there are a lot of questions which should be raised, and also we are in need of a lot of answers. But again, this could be seen as an urgent step to help the people and seen as a positive step. But we have to keep in mind that the other way of transferring aid is shorter and easier.”
The Palestinian attack on Israel that started the war on October 7, in which more than 1,000 people were killed and over 200 were taken hostage, is often linked solely to the armed wing of Hamas. However, several other Palestinian armed movements including secular nationalists, Marxists and Islamic groups, all participated in the initial attack. These groups, from across the political spectrum, have also coordinated with Hamas in confronting Israel’s invasion of Gaza since late October. Inside the Gaza Strip, the groups collaborate under a unified command labeled the ‘Joint Room’.:
“The Joint Room was established a few years ago, shortly before the ‘Sword of Jerusalem’ battle in May of 2021. And it was a step in two primary ways: On one side, it allowed for organizing and to cooperate in the field, during the Israeli aggressions, while coordinating military operations with the different factions.
“On the other side, this helped create a new nucleus for Palestinian political unity. In other words, instead of coming from the top downwards, it was decided... why not go from the bottom upwards, by starting in the field, by cooperating together and working together?
“In the current battle [the ongoing war in Gaza], based on observations and some other information, I think it was very helpful to coordinate the military activities in different areas and at different times. Therefore, we have in some cases seen joint operations together from the Qassam Brigades with Saraya al-Quds [Palestinian Islamic Jihad armed wing], with the Mujahideen Brigades, and with many other groups.”
Hamas takes issue with a number of positions held by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which currently serves as the representative organization for the State of Palestine at the United Nations. However, there has been wide speculation surrounding the group's desire to be reintegrated into the PLO. Regarding this issue, Dr Naim stated the following:
“I think Hamas has expressed its opinion or declared this, its stance is that we are looking to be a member of the PLO, but it has to be reformed before doing this because Hamas has a political vision, which was, decades ago, the same vision of the PLO. But unfortunately, the political vision of the PLO has been undermined repeatedly, by signing the Oslo agreement, by changing the PLO charter in 1996, and therefore, yes, we are looking to be members of the PLO, but changes have to be made.
“We need free, transparent and comprehensive elections at all levels, this means presidential elections, PLO national elections, PLC [Palestinian Legislative Council] elections, and this has to lead to choosing a new leadership. This new leadership has to sit together and come to a common national political project or national political agenda for the future of the Palestinian people everywhere, in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank and in the diaspora.
“Until that could happen, we have proposed that we can have a temporary leadership, which can coordinate between the different factions, especially the two main big factions, Hamas and Fatah.”
Dr Naim stated, however, when questioned about the potential implementation of joint plans with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA), such as a PA administrative role in a post-war Gaza, that the post-October 7 reality has to be taken into account.
When asked whether a similar deal to one that was almost implemented in 2017, by which the PA was on the cusp of taking over the civil administration in Gaza, he responded that “we have signed a lot of documents and agreements over the last 17 years, or 16 years, after the division [between the West Bank and Gaza’s administrations in 2007]. And all of these documents are satisfactory enough to lead to unity if the parties are serious, to implement agreements based upon national interest and this means excluding any external interventions.”
He also stated that Israel’s “fascist government will not accept any Palestinian State,” and Israel is now seeking a “so-called final solution plan... which means they seek to eliminate or to undermine Palestinian existence altogether, whether at the political level, at the human existence level, at the geographical level, at the regional religious level.”
“[Israel] openly seek total control over Al-Aqsa Mosque and the building of the [Jewish] temple there, along with the total judaization of Jerusalem, the annexation of the West Bank, the forceful displacement or expelling of Palestinians, especially from the West Bank, the separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the normalization with the Arab countries without solving the Palestinian conflict.”
Dr Naim says the threats made by Israel’s ministers, the prime minister himself, and others throughout the upper echelons of power within the Israeli military, political and security establishment, all have to be taken in context when preparing any future political vision within the Palestinian national movement.
As Israel and Hamas, through mediators, are currently in the process of negotiating a potential ceasefire that would lead to a prisoner exchange, I asked what the potential benefits are for freeing leaders from other Palestinian political parties during the exchange. Some of the names frequently noted have been the Fatah party’s Marwan Barghouti and the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Sa’adat.
“We are looking for the release of all the Palestinian prisoners, regardless of their age, sex or political affiliation. But, yes, when it comes to specific names, we believe that the release of some leaders, not only from Hamas but also from other parties, will have a great impact on the internal Palestinian political dynamics.
“One of the problems we have today is that the internal political dynamics is poor for big leaders, who can see the big national goals and who can fight for big national goals and who can make some compromises for big national goals.
“Therefore, yes, it is, I think, very important, very crucial and very strategic to have some of the big national leaders from different factions freed from the Israeli jails.” The position of Russia on the ongoing war between Gaza and Israel has been notable, with Moscow having hosted Hamas delegations. Dr Naim believes Russia can play a major role in both protecting Palestinians on the global stage and achieving accord between various intra-Palestinian factions.
“Russia is a superpower, and therefore they are very important and very crucial in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the permanent states on the Security Council, they are involved in different areas of this region and, therefore, they can help in a lot of cases politically and diplomatically.
“They are very important in protecting the Palestinians generally, and resistance in particular, when it comes to, to their seat on the Security Council and having the veto right in front of the American plans to undermine the Palestinians and their resistance.
“Russia is also important when it comes to Palestinian-Palestinian relations. They enjoy good relations with all Palestinian factions and this is something that is not present in a lot of cases.
“We can also say they have the same relations with all factions and this is also very helpful in helping achieve Palestinian unity. Also, when it comes to the existence or the presence of Russia in the region, Russia is here in Syria.
“I think, therefore, even in the battle itself, they might have the capability to affect it. Russia can also help Palestinians at the military level if it is feasible. I don’t know how much they can do, but I mean it is theoretically possible. Again, I think Russia is a big central country and it’s very important to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”
Various regional factions, including Yemen’s Ansarallah (the Houthis), Lebanese Hezbollah, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Iran, have been providing support for Hamas in the current conflict with Israel in one way or another. Dr Naim believes that, with every such war, which have happened multiple times in recent years, this support grows and gradually coalesces into a cohesive resistance alliance.
“I think during this battle, it was clearer than during Saif al-Quds [the title Hamas gives to the May 2021 Gaza-Israel war] and Saif al-Quds made it clearer than before. Therefore, yes, we are witnessing the birth, or the creation of a full-blown picture of the resistance alliance, day after day. But the strategy was discussed years ago,” he added.
On the issue of the US and its role in the conflict in Gaza, Dr Naim said there were “a lot of American officers who are around the table in the war cabinet planning and implementing decisions.”
He also stated that “they secure military intelligence to get information from the Gaza Strip to help the Israelis to achieve their goals.”
“Most of the weapons being used to kill women and children in the Gaza Strip are American weapons,” he said, adding that the Americans are speaking about humanitarian aid as Palestinians face famine, but “fail to pressure Israel and they could end this all if they chose, but do not stop and are talking about a temporary ceasefire only for the purpose of the upcoming election, this is why their rhetoric shifts.”
The Resistance movement appreciated the Arab nations' refusal and rejection of the Israeli proposal, vowing that governing the Palestinian reality is purely an internal national affair that does not allow any force's intervention. All attempts, according to Hamas, to instate alternative authorities that do not consider the Palestinian people's will, "will die before its birth" and will not succeed. Hamas also addressed the United States and its president, Joe Biden, condemning his intention to send new shipments of weapons, including missiles and warplanes, to the criminal zionist entity, which confirms the full partnership of this administration in the brutal war of extermination waged by the Nazi-zionist occupation against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
"The insistence of Biden's administration on its biased position and its unlimited political and military support for the occupation and its fascist policies, which seek to exterminate our people and displace them from their land, confirms the lie of the American positions regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and the catastrophe caused by the American-backed zionist killing machine," the statement read.
Hamas added that the ideas it proposes to protect civilians are aimed at misleading and covering up the ongoing crimes of the occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip. The movement called on the international community and the United Nations to impose a complete ban on the supply of weapons to the criminal zionist entity, and to take steps to stop the aggression, leading to holding the occupation and its leaders accountable for the violations and crimes against humanity they have committed.
Allied for Democracy
A report published by the French newspaper La Croix confirmed that the United States and Germany are the main source of weapons arriving in Israel, while other countries announced that they would stop sending weapons to Tel Aviv after the outbreak of the war on Gaza. Lacroix added that several other countries claim to have stopped arms exports to Israel, unlike France, which refuses to take such a step. The report explains that the numbers indicate that 68% of arms exports to Israel between 2013 and 2022 originate from the United States, according to data from the Swedish research institute “Siberi.” During the same period, Germany provided 28% of weapons to Israel.
As for the United States, Israel's imports are partly funded by the $3.3 billion in military aid that Washington provides to Tel Aviv annually, and $500 million from the Washington Center for Missile Defense Cooperation. Lacroix stated that, in addition to the supply of F-35 fighters , American aid also includes missiles and bombs, which have been consumed at an accelerated rate since the outbreak of the war on Gaza. It quoted a French military source as saying, "The Israelis have enough stock for a month."
For its part, Germany delivered equipment worth about $352 million to Israel in 2023, which includes armored vehicles to transport soldiers and other protective equipment, and Israel obtained a large portion of it after October 7. Lacroix reported that Italy was consistently ranked third among arms suppliers to Israel, far behind the United States and Germany. But in January, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that his country had stopped all arms shipments to Israel since October 7.
Canada indicated that it had frozen any new arms agreement with Israel as of January 8, a decision that was reaffirmed in March during a non-binding vote in Parliament. Also, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Belgium announced a complete or partial cessation of arms exports to Israel. According to Lacroix, Israel is considered a secondary client for France, which has restricted its export policy towards Tel Aviv. In 2022, sales of military equipment amounted to about $27 million, less than 0.5% of total French exports, according to a parliamentary report.
Despite their agreement on the goals of the war in the Gaza Strip , the United States and Israel differ on the way to manage this war, which was emphasized by the guests of the program “Gaza... What Next?” It is not unlikely that Washington will take the initiative in the future on this issue.
Dr. Hassan Ayoub, professor of political science at An-Najah National University, believes that the United States is trying to define the goals of the war in Gaza in a workable way, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adheres to his position stating the necessity of eliminating the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
Regarding the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv, Ayoub said in his speech to the episode (3/29/2024) of the program “Gaza... What Next?” The damage has been caused by the fact that major questions are being asked in the United States regarding whether Israel constitutes a strategic asset for them.
He expected that the effects of the tensions between the two sides would be far-reaching, explaining that for this reason the administration of President Joe Biden resorted to using carrots and sticks with Netanyahu. On the one hand, it offered him the carrot of continuing the normalization project within an American regional project and introducing the Palestinian Authority into the Gaza Strip through the humanitarian portal.
On the other hand, the United States has bared its teeth a little in order to regain the initiative, and at the same time continues to support Israel, says Ayoub, who also pointed out that Netanyahu’s clash with successive American administrations was caused by his position on the Palestinians, as he was elected on the basis that he was the person who He will end the Oslo Accords and never wants to acknowledge the possibility of establishing an independent Palestinian state.
Netanyahu - continues to be a professor of political science at An-Najah National University - is strengthening his allies within the US Congress, but his exaggeration in challenging the Biden administration has turned even legislators who are friends of Israel against him, stressing that the Israeli Prime Minister could not this time get the opportunity to address the US Congress, as he refused his request.
From the point of view of the senior researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Dr. Liqaa Makki, there is no problem with the fundamental and organic relationship between the United States and Israel, and what happened is merely a misunderstanding between them, stressing that they agree on the goal of the war in Gaza, which is to destroy the Palestinian resistance in the Strip.
According to Makki, the misunderstanding occurred between Washington and Tel Aviv because Netanyahu is leading the war in a way that caused moral embarrassment to the American ally, in addition to the destruction carried out by the occupation army in Gaza did not lead to the elimination of the Palestinian resistance, which showed a lot of strength and was able to repel the Israeli attacks.
The senior researcher at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies refers to the Rafah issue , which - in his opinion - constituted a dispute between Netanyahu and the administration of US President Biden, and says that Israel wants to invade, but the United States rejects that.
After the recent UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Washington presented a proposal stipulating that Israeli operations in Rafah be limited to a specific strike on the leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) in Rafah and not a comprehensive attack, stressing that Netanyahu decided after that to directly send his delegation to Washington, who had prevented him from going, suggested that Washington might take the initiative in the future regarding managing the war in Gaza.
Makki spoke about the post-war period with the formation of a Palestinian government, whose appointed head, the economist Muhammad Mustafa, said that it would administer Gaza, that it would undertake reconstruction and distribute aid, and that it would have a police and army, with international and perhaps Arab support, Makki added.
In light of the major role played by the print and visual media in shaping public opinion trends toward foreign policy crises, many experts and commentators turned their attention to the American media, because of its major role that contributes to shaping American foreign policy on the one hand, and its also being influenced by the position of the American administration on another side. As the American media diversifies, partisan, ideological and political divisions plague major media networks and newspapers, and generational divisions also plague many newsrooms, where younger journalists feel empowered to speak out and criticize Israel, while the older generation is reluctant to deviate from the traditional script supporting it.
Professor Sahar Khamis, professor of media at the University of Maryland, points out that the American media’s bias towards the Israeli side began from the first moments, and she considered that “describing the crisis as a war creates a false equivalence between the occupier and the party under occupation, especially in light of the blatant imbalance in military capabilities and resources between Hamas and Israel. ” ". The professor noted that “the biased framing of Israel shaped the public narrative about the crisis, as a terrorist attack that led to legitimate retaliation, thus granting legitimacy to Israel’s disproportionate attack on civilians in Gaza.”
In general, Gaza has become the most important foreign issue addressed by the American media over the past half year, and dozens of opinion articles appear daily, spreading in various newspapers and news sites, and reflecting different and contradictory opinions, from full support for Israel to some support for the Palestinian side.
Most of the media - in the first days and weeks of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood - completely adopted the Israeli narrative. Professor Joshua Guitar, Professor of Media and Communications at Kean University in New Jersey, pointed out in his interview with Al Jazeera Net that, “The media coverage was initially completely biased towards Israel, by repeating the saying of Israel’s right to defend itself.” However, the intense youth activity on social media, especially TikTok and Instagram , provided an alternative and different news material from inside Gaza, which embarrassed the traditional coverage of the aggression.
Professor William Youmans, assistant professor of media at the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communications at George Washington University, said: “Despite my view that there has been an improvement, American news media coverage has been mostly disappointing, and continues to attribute much to the Israeli government as a source, even after it has lost power.” Its credibility many times over.” Youmans noted in his conversation with Al Jazeera Net that "the Israeli framing still has very great credibility, partly because American politicians continue to repeat it, even when we are told that the Biden administration increasingly disagrees with Netanyahu , while financing and arming Israel and giving it diplomatic cover."
The position of the American media as a whole developed with the increase in the number of victims of the Israeli aggression, especially among women and children, and the destruction of the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip, and it tended to highlight the humanitarian crisis afflicting its population. Professor Guitar believes that “the increasing popular pressure sparked a wave of support for Palestine in the American media.”
While Professor Youmans pointed out “the failure of the American media to treat Palestinian deaths as an issue worthy of news coverage, on par with Israeli deaths, there is very little reporting from the field in Gaza, as if the mainstream media does not trust reporters.” Palestinians on the ground inside the Gaza Strip.”
While the Israeli army prevents the entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip , the major American media outlets do not object to this, and are content with covering it through their networks of correspondents spread inside Israel. The Israeli army often accompanies American journalists, allowing them to see what it deems important from the point of view of Israelis.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Professor Guitar considered that “it is clear that partisan and ideological tendencies guide many positions, especially with regard to defending Israel’s actions, and this has led to a media battle, as critics and politicians use images and narratives about massacres, especially those involving "Children, to influence public opinion in favor of their adopted position. In this regard, media accounts of tragedies often seem to support a partisan position, rather than to acknowledge that this represents a serious humanitarian crisis."
The Biden administration has a good record in its relationship with most American media, and this allows it to follow the tactic of leaks many times, to pass on specific messages, or to present ideas and policies for public discussion. Youmans points out that there is a very familiar pattern of American news reporting on foreign policy issues: “At the beginning of any crisis, the news media tends to rally around the science, stick closely to the US government’s position, but then does not allow more critical reporting until after the crisis begins.” "Destruction, unfortunately, is often too little, too late." The professor believes that “over the past few months, the American media has improved somewhat in its coverage of Israel’s behavior in Gaza,” and there are several reasons for this:
- First, news audiences were watching live footage from the ground that undermined media narratives, and they openly criticized media bias.
- Second, there has been more reporting in independent media about how biased the mainstream media is, and this has put pressure on newsrooms to improve.
- Third, there have been leaks about divisions in newsrooms and discussions that have highlighted internal criticism, especially at CNN and the New York Times. In many ways, these show that reporters disagree with editors who often try to please upper management. When these internal discussions become public, editors have more pressure to correct course.
- Fourth, as divisions between policymakers increase, news media have more breathing room, in terms of critical coverage of what is happening in Gaza.
The Washington Post quoted a member of the US Senate, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, as saying that the United States must be careful not to be involved in committing a war crime in Gaza, as those involved in preventing aid from reaching Gaza are violating international law, as he put it. At the same time, he stressed the need for Washington to use more of its influence tools to deliver aid to Gaza. The Democratic Senator described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to achieving peace, and added that his government does not comply with the requirements of American law related to military support, so Washington must stop delivering bombs that will be used in Gaza until the Netanyahu government allows more aid to the Strip.
The newspaper also quoted Josh Paul, who resigned from the State Department, as saying that President Joe Biden’s approval of transferring weapons to Israel is an abrogation of moral responsibility. Josh added that the flaw in policy making makes everyone complicit in Israeli war crimes.
Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers
- 75,190 Gazans injured, 28% adult male
- 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza
- 40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble
- 33,000 Gaza targets attacked
- 32,705 Gazans martyred
- 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]
- 15,000 rocket launched from Gaza
- 14,793 Israelis were injured [i24 TV]
- 13,750 Gazan children martyred
- 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]
- 12,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]
- 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023
- 9,920 Gazan women martyred
- 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons
- 9,000 IDF psychological assistance
- 8,000 Gazans missing under the rubble
- 7,870 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th
- 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]
- 5,500 IDF wounded [reports]
- 4,750 West Bank Palestinians wounded
- 3,484 administrative detainees
- 3,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria
- 3,079 IDF wounded [IDF]
- 2,100 Gazan women are missing
- 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day
- 1,600 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas
- 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day
- 595 Israeli officers and soldiers killed
- 453 West Bank Palestinians martyred
- 254 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza
- 222 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon
- 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers
- 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody
- 50 civilians killed in Lebanon
- 29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"
- 15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel
Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.
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