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Tag: Israel

  • 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

  • Israel’s War on Gaza: ‘All Rules of War’ Broken as Eight Schools Bombed

    Gaza City, July 18, 2024 – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate the region, with at least eight schools sheltering displaced Palestinians bombed in the last ten days. Philippe Lazzarini, chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), stated, “All rules of war have been broken in Gaza.”

    Latest Air Strikes and Casualties A recent Israeli airstrike near Cairo School in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinians, including three children. Additionally, the collapse of the Abdullah Azzam Mosque in Nuseirat, following an Israeli bombing, left at least two people dead and 15 injured.

    UNRWA Chief Under Fire David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, has sparked outrage with his inflammatory remarks against UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, accusing him of being a “terrorist sympathiser” and “Jew-killing enabler.” The UN condemned these comments as “unacceptable” and “dangerous,” stressing the increased risk to Lazzarini’s safety.

    International Condemnation Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks, describing them as “genocidal crimes” and calling for accountability for those responsible. This condemnation follows a wave of Israeli strikes, including one that killed 23 Palestinians sheltering in a UNRWA school in Nuseirat.

    Protests in the United States Protests outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee highlighted concerns over the US-backed Gaza war, linking it to broader issues like economic inequality and civil rights. Demonstrations are set to continue at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, with activists targeting President Biden’s policies.

    Threats in Jenin The Israeli military has escalated tensions by dropping leaflets in the Jenin refugee camp, threatening to kill wanted individuals if they do not surrender. This area has been a significant center of Palestinian resistance in the West Bank.

    Further Casualties Israeli attacks across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians, including children. Strikes targeted residential areas, including the al-Ramli family home and an apartment in az-Zawayda, causing extensive damage and injuries.

    Knesset Resolution Israel’s Knesset adopted a resolution opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, further straining the prospects of a two-state solution. This move comes amidst ongoing violence and administrative changes in the occupied West Bank, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized as undermining peace efforts.

    Summary The conflict in Gaza has intensified, with increasing casualties and widespread destruction. The international community continues to call for restraint and humanitarian relief, while local and global protests reflect growing discontent with the handling of the crisis. As the violence escalates, the hope for a peaceful resolution seems increasingly elusive.

  • UWaterloo Protesters Dismantle Encampment, Legal Action Dropped

    WATERLOO, Ont. – Pro-Palestinian protesters have dismantled their encampment at the University of Waterloo, which had lasted nearly two months. In response, the university has decided to withdraw the legal action it had initiated against the group.

    The university filed a lawsuit against the encampment participants, claiming the demonstration, which began on May 13, damaged its property and harmed its reputation.

    The student-led group behind the protest announced they chose to “voluntarily decamp” on Sunday night as a strategic move. The group now plans to focus on the university’s investments and partnerships with Israel, which they assert were exposed due to the encampment protest.

    University president Vivek Goel confirmed the peaceful dismantling of the encampment and stated the school is withdrawing its lawsuit and related injunction proceedings.

    Goel acknowledged the recent period as “difficult and divisive” and emphasized the university’s commitment to exploring opportunities for engagement to address complex issues and bring the community together.

    The university’s lawsuit had named several individual protesters identified as representatives of the encampment, along with unnamed individuals involved in the demonstration. The school sought an order to dismantle the encampment and requested authorization for police to arrest and remove any individuals refusing to leave.

    Protesters criticized the lawsuit on social media, viewing it as an attempt to intimidate students with the threat of unaffordable fines. They also claimed that those named in the lawsuit experienced harassment and that the legal action “emboldened agitators.”

    In his Monday statement, Goel expressed hope that the upcoming weeks would allow the university and students to “work together to bring healing and peace to our community.”

    Source: The Canadian Press

  • State Department Issues Level 3 Alert After Hamas Attack

    blue and white flag on pole

    ABC News recently reported on the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel, which has resulted in significant casualties and prompted a series of advisories and flight cancellations. Here are the key points from the report:

    Escalation and Casualties:

    • Attack by Hamas: Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza into Israel, causing substantial loss of life and injuries.
    • Casualty Figures: As of Thursday, the Israeli Health Ministry reported at least 1,200 deaths and 2,900 injuries in Israel. In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 1,417 deaths (including 447 children and 248 women) and about 6,268 injuries due to Israeli retaliatory airstrikes.

    Travel Advisories:

    • State Department Advisory: The U.S. State Department elevated its travel advisory for Israel and the West Bank to Level 3 (“reconsider travel”) and issued a “do not travel” advisory for Gaza due to terrorism and civil unrest.
    • FAA Advisory: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urged U.S. airlines and pilots to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace, highlighting the potentially hazardous situation.

    Airline Responses:

    • Suspended Flights: Major U.S. airlines (American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines) and several foreign carriers (Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, KLM, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Lufthansa, ITA, Ryanair, Norwegian Air, Finnair, TAP, Gulf Air, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines) have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv.
    • Ongoing Flights: Some airlines, including El Al and flydubai, continue to operate flights with caution.

    U.S. Government Actions:

    • Charter Flights: The U.S. State Department is arranging charter flights for American citizens currently in Israel, with plans to fly them to sites in Europe starting Friday.
    • Safety Recommendations: U.S. citizens in Israel are advised to increase their security awareness, follow local government advice, and verify flight statuses before heading to Ben Gurion Airport.

    This comprehensive coverage emphasizes the severe impact of the conflict on travel and the heightened security measures being implemented. For those considering travel to the region, it is crucial to stay informed through reliable sources and adhere to official advisories to ensure safety.

    Source: ABC News

  • Hamas Attack in Israel – State Department Issues Level 3 Travel Advisory

    FAA Urges Caution for Flights Amid Escalating Conflict in Israel

    The FAA has urged U.S. airlines and pilots to “use caution” when flying in Israeli airspace following an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel. This conflict has resulted in over a thousand fatalities and thousands more injured.

    Current Situation:

    • Casualties: At least 1,200 people have died, and 2,900 are injured in Israel. In Gaza, 1,417 people, including 447 children and 248 women, have been killed, with about 6,268 others injured due to Israeli retaliatory airstrikes.
    • Travel Advisory: The U.S. State Department elevated its advisory for Israel and the West Bank to Level 3 (“reconsider travel”) due to “terrorism and civil unrest” and maintains a “do not travel” advisory for Gaza.
    • FAA Notices: The FAA issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) urging caution and describing the situation as “potentially hazardous.” The updated NOTAM on Tuesday clarified that there are currently no restrictions on U.S. certificated airmen or operators flying into or out of Israel.
    • European Response: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) recommending air operators ensure robust risk assessments and contingency planning for operations in Israeli airspace.

    Airline Operations:

    • Suspended Flights: All major U.S. airlines and several foreign carriers have suspended services to and from Israel. Specific suspensions include:
      • American Airlines: Flights canceled through Dec. 4.
      • Delta Air Lines: Flights suspended until the end of October.
      • United Airlines: Flights suspended until conditions improve.
      • Air Canada: Flights canceled through Friday.
      • Air France, British Airways, KLM: Flights suspended until further notice.
      • Wizz Air, EasyJet, ITA, Ryanair, Norwegian Air, Finnair: Canceled flights through various dates.
      • Gulf Air, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines: Suspended flights for specified periods.
    • Continuing Operations: El Al continues flights, operating per Israeli security forces’ instructions. flydubai’s flights are on schedule, and Hainan Airlines plans limited round-trip flights.

    Assistance for U.S. Citizens:

    • The U.S. State Department will arrange chartered flights for American citizens in Israel, starting Friday, to transport them to European sites.
    • U.S. citizens in Israel are advised to follow local government advice and check the status of border crossings or flights before heading to Ben Gurion Airport. Assistance can be requested via the crisis intake form to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

    Source: ABC News