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  • Biden’s Controversial Support for Israel: Unpacking U.S. Policy Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict

    Biden Administration’s Middle East Policy Under Scrutiny Amid Ongoing Conflict

    In February, while enjoying an ice cream cone, President Joe Biden proclaimed that a ceasefire in Gaza was “close” and might materialize within days. However, more than seven months later, not only has Israel’s war on Gaza persisted, but it has also escalated, with Israeli troops launching invasions and airstrikes in Lebanon, leading to rising tensions and violence across the Middle East.

    Despite public calls for de-escalation, the Biden administration has consistently backed Israel politically and militarily, supplying a steady stream of bombs to support its military actions. Washington has seemingly approved every aggressive move made by Israel this year, including the targeted killings of Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran, as well as the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

    As the conflict in Gaza continues to intensify, resulting in nearly 42,000 fatalities, Israel is simultaneously conducting airstrikes in Beirut and preparing for potential actions against Iran. This situation has raised questions about the growing disconnect between U.S. rhetoric and actual policy. Is the Biden administration merely failing to rein in Israel, as some liberal commentators suggest, or is it actively responsible for the escalation, leveraging the chaos to push a hawkish agenda against Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah?

    Analysts argue that the U.S., through its military and diplomatic support for Israel, plays a pivotal role in perpetuating the violence in the region, despite its public statements calling for restraint. Evidence increasingly suggests that the Biden administration is closely aligned with Israel, rather than being a passive ally.

    Shifting Support: From Ceasefire to Military Endorsement

    After months of advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, the Biden administration has redirected its focus towards supporting Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed support for Israel’s ground campaign in southern Lebanon, which carries the risk of escalating into a full-scale invasion. “I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” he asserted following a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

    The Biden administration’s stance has evolved amid ongoing violence. Following an assassination campaign against Hezbollah’s military leaders, Israel initiated extensive bombing raids across Lebanon, displacing over a million people and destroying civilian infrastructure. These actions have led to a significant humanitarian crisis, further complicating the situation.

    Despite prior assurances of working toward a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, the U.S. response has shifted. The administration proposed a 21-day ceasefire on September 25, aiming to quell the escalating violence. However, two days later, the assassination of Nasrallah by Israel—an act approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the United Nations General Assembly in New York—rendered any hopes for an imminent ceasefire moot. The White House later described the attack as a “measure of justice.”

    For months, the Biden administration resisted calls for a ceasefire amid growing humanitarian concerns, maintaining that Israel had a right to retaliate against Hamas. Recent investigations by ProPublica and Reuters revealed that the Biden administration ignored internal warnings about potential Israeli war crimes in Gaza while continuing arms transfers to Israel.

    As the situation in the Middle East unfolds, the Biden administration’s approach is increasingly scrutinized, revealing a complex interplay between diplomatic rhetoric and military support that may shape the region’s future.

    Source :Swifteradio.com

  • One Year Since the Oct. 7 Attack: Renewed Violence Erupts as Gaza Rockets Target Israel

    One Year Since the Oct. 7 Attack: Renewed Violence Erupts as Gaza Rockets Target Israel

    On the somber anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack, Palestinian militants in Gaza unleashed a barrage of rockets into Israel, escalating tensions in a region still reeling from a year of conflict. This assault occurred amidst memorial ceremonies marking the deadly assault that claimed approximately 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 250 hostages last year.

    The Israeli military responded with a series of airstrikes and artillery fire aimed at thwarting what it described as imminent threats from Hamas. According to military sources, these strikes targeted Hamas launch sites and underground infrastructures, reflecting Israel’s determination to maintain its security in the face of ongoing hostilities.

    As violence reignited, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least ten firefighters. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with local medical officials estimating that around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of the conflict, displacing nearly 90% of Gaza’s population.

    In a message of solidarity, Pope Francis addressed the anniversary, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and peace. He referred to the “fuse of hatred” that was lit a year ago and called for a day of fasting and prayer. In his letter to Catholics in the Middle East, he expressed particular concern for those suffering in Gaza, including families who have lost children and those who have been forced to flee their homes.

    U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also commemorated the tragic day, condemning Hamas’ actions and advocating for ceasefire agreements to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians. Biden highlighted the need to remember both the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks and the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people, stressing the importance of bringing hostages home safely.

    As military operations continue in both Gaza and southern Lebanon, Israel has issued evacuation warnings to residents in various towns, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region. The latest developments signal that the conflict is far from resolution, with tensions escalating amidst a backdrop of violence and tragedy.

    Source: Swifteradio

  • Israel Conducts Ground Raids Against Hezbollah Amid Tensions on Lebanese Border

    Israel Conducts Ground Raids Against Hezbollah Amid Tensions on Lebanese Border

    Israel has initiated small ground raids against Hezbollah as preparations intensify for a potential larger military operation in Lebanon, according to official reports on Monday.

    A U.S. official confirmed that Israel has kept the United States informed about the ongoing raids, although no specific timeline has been given for a more extensive operation. The U.S. has not instructed Israel to halt its actions in Lebanon, maintaining support for Israel’s right to self-defense.

    A Western diplomat, involved in de-escalation efforts in Cairo, stated that an Israeli ground operation in Lebanon appears “imminent.” The diplomat indicated that Israel has shared its plans with both the U.S. and other Western allies, describing the upcoming operation as likely to be “limited.” Both officials requested anonymity due to the sensitivity surrounding the situation, and the Israeli military has not issued any official comments regarding the operations.

    Hezbollah has declared its readiness to continue fighting, despite suffering significant losses, including the recent deaths of key leaders, including longtime head Hassan Nasrallah.

    In the past ten days, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of Nasrallah and six other high-ranking commanders, alongside targeting thousands of militant sites across Lebanon. The Health Ministry reported that over 1,000 individuals have lost their lives in the region in just the past two weeks, with nearly a quarter of those being women and children.

    On Monday, an Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in central Beirut, leading to the destruction of one apartment and damaging others while killing three Palestinian militants. This action illustrates Israel’s intention to assert that no area in Lebanon is off-limits.

    Despite the significant setbacks, Hezbollah’s acting leader Naim Kassem affirmed the group’s resilience in a televised statement, asserting that Israel has failed to diminish their military capabilities. “There are deputy commanders and replacements ready if any commander is injured,” Kassem stated, emphasizing the group’s preparedness for a potential Israeli ground offensive. He also indicated that they anticipate a prolonged conflict.

    Hezbollah has reportedly increased its rocket attacks significantly over the past week, launching several hundred daily, though most have been intercepted or have landed in uninhabited areas. Notably, there have been no Israeli fatalities since two soldiers were killed near the border on September 19.

    The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, addressed troops on Monday, stating, “We will utilize all available capabilities,” hinting at an upcoming ground operation. Concurrently, several European nations have begun withdrawing diplomats and citizens from Lebanon, with Germany dispatching a military plane to evacuate diplomats’ relatives.

    As Israeli forces have frequently targeted Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Monday’s strike represents a deviation from previous engagements, which typically avoided civilian-dense areas. The airstrike reportedly killed three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group that has not been significantly involved in the recent hostilities.

    In another development, Hamas confirmed the death of its top commander in Lebanon, Fatah Sharif, along with his family, during an airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, a targeted operation confirmed by the Israeli military.

    With the ongoing conflict, both sides remain engaged in escalating violence, while calls for a ceasefire from the United States and its allies continue to be met with resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Source: AP

  • Iran says Hamas leader killed from close range

    Iran Says Hamas Leader Killed From Close Range

    The recent assassination of a top Hamas leader, Mazen Fuqaha, has caused shock and outrage throughout the Middle East. The incident took place in Gaza City on March 24, 2017, when Fuqaha was killed by multiple gunshots to the head. While Hamas has blamed Israel for the attack, Iran has come forward with evidence suggesting that the assassination was carried out by individuals within Hamas itself.

    According to Iranian officials, their intelligence agents have discovered that Fuqaha was killed by a close range shot from a 9mm handgun, a weapon commonly used by Hamas militants. This finding contradicts Hamas’ initial claim that the assassination was carried out by Israeli Mossad agents using a silencer-equipped gun.

    Iran’s involvement in the investigation of Fuqaha’s murder comes as no surprise, as the country is known for its close support and alliance with Hamas. However, the revelation that Hamas may have played a role in the killing has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about a power struggle within the Palestinian militant group.

    Source: BBC

  • Hamas Leader Killed On Third Day Of West Bank Operation, Says Israel

    The military in Israel announced it had killed the head of the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Jenin and two other members of the terrorist group, as a major operation continued for a third day in the northern occupied West Bank. 

    Israeli security forces “encountered and eliminated” Wissam Khazemi in a vehicle, then carried out airstrikes on two other fighters as they tried to flee, according to a statement. 

    The Palestinian Ministry of Health said the three men were killed overnight near the town of Zababdeh, southeast of Jenin. 

    Reports according to Palestinian media said that Israeli forces withdrew from Tulkarem after causing serious damage to buildings and infrastructure in the city’s refugee camps.

    The Israeli military had no immediate comment but said on Thursday it had killed five members of the armed groups in Tulkarem, including its local leader.  

    The Israeli army, however, announced that its forces had withdrawn from the al-Faraa refugee camp, near Tuba, after achieving what it called the objective of defeating terrorism, uncovering the terrorist infrastructure and eliminating armed terrorists. 

    More than 19 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli operation started, which is one of the largest in the West Bank in two decades, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. 

    As the war in Gaza rages, it is causing international concern. 

    On Friday, the UK said it was “deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure”.

    “The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

    The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the raids were “fuelling an already explosive situation”.

    Violence has increased in the West Bank since Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7 and following the war in Gaza. 

    Several Palestinians were killed as Israeli forces stepped up raids, saying they were trying to stop deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank and Israel.

     

    Source: BBC News

  • UN Calls For Calm After Attacks Between Israel And Hezbollah

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply concerned” by the most significant cross-border attacks carried out by Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement since the start of  the war in Gaza. 

    Israeli warplanes struck dozens of sites in southern Lebanon on Sunday in what they said were pre-emptive strikes to prevent a much wider attack, and Hezbollah fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. 

    The UN boss cautioned that their actions put civilians at risk and threatened regional security and stability.

    The United States has said it is working to avoid a further escalation of hostilities, and both sides have indicated they are not interested in such a situation. 

    There have been exchanges of fire almost every day on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the day after the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began on October 7. 

    Hezbollah said it is acting in support of the Palestinian group. The two groups are supported by Iran and are considered terrorist organizations by Israel, the United Kingdom and other countries.  

    Since October, more than 560 people have been killed, most of them Hezbollah fighters according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, while 26 civilians and 24 soldiers have been killed in Israel, according to authorities.  

    Close to 200,000 people were also  displaced on both sides of the border.  

    The Israeli attack on Hezbollah began before dawn on Sunday, when the military said about 100 warplanes bombed thousands of missile launchers at more than 40 locations in southern Lebanon.

    The Israeli military said the strikes were launched after the discovery of “extensive preparations” for a large-scale Hezbollah airstrike.  

    Hezbollah said two of its fighters were lost in the attacks, along with another fighter from the allied Amal movement.  

    Hezbollah said 11 military installations were targeted and hit in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights with 340 missiles and a “large number” of drones.

    It said the barrage was in response to the assassination of senior military commander Fuad Shukr, killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut on July 30. 

    The Israeli forces said it had intercepted “numerous threats” fired by Hezbollah and that the shells that landed caused “little damage.” 

    However, it also said a navy soldier had been killed in the fighting in northern Israel, with local media saying he was on a patrol boat when an interceptor missile engaged a drone.

    On Sunday evening, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addressed his supporters, who seemed to want an end to the escalation, in a televised broadcast.  

    He said the group’s “initial response” to the retaliation for Shukr’s killing had gone “as planned,” though he said its impact was still being evaluated.

    “If the result is not sufficient, we will reserve the right to respond at another time,” he said.

    In the meantime, he said further, the people of Lebanon “can be at ease and carry on with their lives, as the country has been in tension for a month now”.

    Earlier, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, informed a cabinet meeting that “what happened today is not the end of the story”.

    “We are striking Hezbollah with surprising crushing blows,” he said. “Three weeks ago, we eliminated its chief-of-staff and today we thwarted its attack plan.”

    “Nasrallah in Beirut and [Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei in Tehran need to know that this is an additional step in changing the situation in the north, and returning our residents securely to their homes.”

    The UN secretary-general called for an “immediate de-escalation” and asked the parties to return urgently and immediately to the cessation of hostilities, a spokesman said. 

    White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan expressed hope that Sunday’s events would not lead to a regional war.

     

    Source: BBC News

  • Israeli Strike On Gaza School Kills More Than 12 People, Says Civil Defence

    No less than 12 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school hosting displaced people in Gaza, Hamas’s Civil Defense Authority said.

    A spokesman said rescue teams were trying to find a number of missing people who were believed to be trapped under the rubble of the Mustafa Hafez school in the western neighborhood of Rimal.

    The Israeli military said it  targeted a Hamas command and control center at the school and took measures to mitigate the risk of civilian harm. 

    Earlier, it announced that troops had found the bodies of six Israeli hostages held in the Khan Younis area. 

    The men were among  251 people kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen during the October 7 attacks in  southern Israel last year, in which about 1,200 people were also killed.

    Israel launched an air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas in response, during which more than 40,170 people were killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas territory’s  health ministry.

    Women and children can be heard screaming and seen running from the dust-covered Mustafa Hafez school in a video posted on social media showing the immediate aftermath of the strike on Tuesday morning.

    The camera then pans to the ruins on the ground, next to the completely flattened remains of a two-story building. 

    “We were sitting safely, we did not see the explosion,” witness Umm Mohammed later told Reuters news agency.

    “The people are gone, they’re dead. They are under the rubble.”

    Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said in the afternoon that rescue teams had recovered the bodies of up to 12 people.  

    He said the attack had targeted the entire wing of the school, where he said 700 displaced people live. 

    The Israeli military said the jets carried out a “a precise strike on terrorists who were operating within a Hamas command and control centre” that was embedded in the school and used to plan and launch attacks against its troops and Israel. 

    “Before the attack, numerous measures were taken to mitigate the risk of civilian harm, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence,” it added.

    The Israeli military has accused Hamas of violating international law by operating inside civilian infrastructure and exploiting Gaza’s civilian population, allegations Hamas has previously denied.

    Earlier in the month, the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned what it called the “increasing frequency” of Israeli attacks on schools that host displaced people and accused the Israeli army of carrying out with apparent disregard for the high number of civilian deaths.

    The warning came after at least 70 Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on the al-Taba’een school in Gaza City, according to the director of a local hospital.

    The Israeli military said the school had served as an active military installation of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and that it had confirmed the identities of the 31 “terrorists” who were killed.

    The UN said at the time that it was at least the 21st attack on a school  shelter since July 4 and left at least 274 dead.

    Source: BBC News

  • US President Joe Biden Warns Against Undermining Gaza Ceasefire Deal

    US President Joe Biden has warned all parties involved in negotiations for a possible cease-fire agreement in Gaza not to jeopardize efforts. 

    Biden said “we are closer than we’ve ever been” to a ceasefire after the latest round of negotiations, but a senior Hamas official was skeptical. 

    The president also announced that he would send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel to continue the “intensive efforts to close this agreement.” 

    His comments followed a joint statement from the United States, Qatar and Egypt, saying they had put forward a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal that would “close the gap” between Israel and Hamas.

    Any sign of progress in Qatar’s negotiations is seen as essential by governments desperate to prevent the war in Gaza from developing into a full-blown regional conflict. 

    Mediators said the past two days of ceasefire talks had been “serious, constructive and conducted in a positive atmosphere.”

    Technical teams are expected to continue working in the coming days on the details of the implementation of the proposed terms before senior government officials meet in Cairo, with the hope to reach an agreement on the terms set in Doha. 

    Biden later said in a statement that he had separately discussed with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, who  expressed strong backing for the proposal.

    He added that he was also sending Blinken to the Middle East to reaffirm his unwavering support for Israel’s security and to emphasize that with the complete ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages now in view, no one in the region should take steps to undermine this process”.

    While the mediators’ statement is clearly a positive development, there is still much to be done before a ceasefire can be reached. 

    However, Blinken told US reporters that he had become more optimistic than ever about the possibility of a deal, but said that if he gave the reason, he’d “give it away”. 

    Asked when a possible ceasefire could begin, he said “that remains to be seen.” 

    This is not the first time the US president has expressed optimism that he thinks a deal is close, and not everyone shares his cautious optimism. 

    A senior Hamas official – who did not take part in the talks but was in contact with Qatari and Egyptian officials – told the BBC: 

    “What the movement’s leadership was informed of today regarding the results of the Doha ceasefire meetings does not include a commitment to implement what was agreed upon on 2 July.”

    Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he appreciated the efforts made to discourage Hamas from rejecting a deal that would release the hostages.

    The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack in southern Israel on October 7, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

    Source: BBC News 

  • Hamas Military Commander Killed in July Strike, Says Israel

    The Israeli military has confirmed that Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip last month.
    Deif was the target of an attack on a compound in the Khan Younis area on July 13. Hamas has not yet confirmed his death.
    Israel says Deif was one of the masterminds of the October 7 attacks in southern Israel that left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
    Hamas political leader Ismael Haniyeh was killed on Wednesday during a visit to Iran. Israel has not commented directly on his death.
    In a statement released on Thursday, the Israeli military said that “following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated” in the July 13 attack.
    The Hamas-run Gaza health authorities said at the time that the airstrike killed more than 90 people, but denied that Deif was among the dead.
    Deif was widely seen as Hamas’ second-ranking official in Gaza, after Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in the territory.
    Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Deif’s death was “a significant milestone” in disbanding Hamas.
    “This operation reflects the fact that Hamas is disintegrating, and that Hamas terrorists may either surrender or they will be eliminated,” he added.
    Mohammed Deif is the leader of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement.
    For decades, he was one of the most wanted men by Israel and survived seven assassination attempts.
    According to Israeli and Palestinian media, Deif was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza in 1965, when the territory was occupied by Egypt.
    In the 1980s as a young man, he joined Hamas and quickly rose in rank.
    Israel accused him of plotting and overseeing bombing of buses that killed dozens of Israelis in 1996, and of being involved in the capture and killing of three Israeli soldiers in the mid-1990s.
    Deif is also known for helping build tunnels that allow Hamas militants to enter Israel from Gaza.
    In 2002, he assumed the position of head of the military wing of Hamas.
    In 2014, Israel tried to kill Deif by launching an airstrike on a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza, killing his wife, Widad, and their infant son, Ali.
    Israel thought Deif was also killed, but he was not in the building at the time.
    In the current conflict, Deif is suspected of directing Hamas military operations from underground tunnels inside Gaza.
    Confirmation of Deif’s death came at the end of a tumultuous week in the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has raised fears of a wider regional war.
    On Saturday, 12 Israeli children and teenagers were killed after a rocket hit a soccer field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Lebanon-based Hezbollah, vowing that it would pay a heavy price.
    On Tuesday, Israel responded by launching an airstrike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s senior commander Fuad Shukr and four others, including two children.
    Hours later, Hamas political leader Ismael Haniyeh was killed in an attack on the building he was staying in during a visit to Tehran, the capital of Iran.

    Source: BBC News