Over 150 Jewish creatives have signed an open letter in support of Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech on Friday.

The film director won the Oscar for Best International Film for The Zone of Interest, about the daily life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig.

During his acceptance speech, Glazer, who is Jewish, attacked the hijacking of "Jewishness" by Israeli politicians to justify the war on Gaza, which the director denounced.

“All our choices are made to reflect and confront us in the present. Not to say, ‘Look what they did then,’ rather ‘Look what we do now.’ Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst,” Glazer said.

The open letter, obtained by the American magazine Variety, includes signatories such as actor Joaquin Phoenix and his sister Rain, Elliot Gould, Chloe Fineman and Oscar-winning director Joel Coen.

“We are proud Jews who denounce the weaponization of Jewish identity and the memory of the Holocaust to justify what many experts in international law, including leading Holocaust scholars, have identified as a 'genocide in the making'," the letter reads.

"We reject the false choice between Jewish safety and Palestinian freedom,” it adds, while also calling for a permanent ceasefire, the safe return of all hostages, the immediate delivery of aid into Gaza and the end of Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza.

“The attacks on Glazer also have a silencing effect on our industry, contributing to a broader climate of suppression of free speech and dissent, the very qualities our field should cherish. We should all be able to do the same without being wrongly accused of fuelling antisemitism.”

The letter notes how “alarmed” they are to see their colleagues in the industry “mischaracterize and denounce his [Glazer’s] remarks”, referring to the open letter published in March where over 1,000 Jewish creatives condemned Glazer’s speech for helping to fuel “growing anti-Jewish hatred around the world”. Actors, including Debra Messing and Tovah Feldshuh, signed the letter.

The film director was also condemned by The Holocaust Survivors' Foundation USA, where the foundation's president, David Schaecter, condemned Glazer's speech as "factually inaccurate and morally indefensible" in an open letter published on the foundation's website.

'Refuted his Jewishness'

Glazer's speech was misquoted by numerous pro-Israel figures, who falsely claimed he had "refuted" his Jewishness, leading to accusations of deliberately spreading misinformation about the director's criticism of Israel. 

Some of the misinformation was uncritically reported by mainstream media outlets, including an article in Variety that misquoted Glazer, perpetuating the falsehood that he had "refuted his Jewishness". 

Glazer's actual quote denounced Israel's weaponisation of Jewishness and the Holocaust in its ongoing brutal assault on Gaza, something that scholars of genocide have also criticised.

The filmmaker said in his Oscar speech: "Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization.”

The magazine was quick to correct the mistake, adding a note stating that "an earlier version of this article had a typographical error in Jonathan Glazer's speech."

The damage, however, was already done. Multiple American commentators reacted with outrage at Glazer, including Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, and Batya Ungar-Sargon, opinion editor for Newsweek.

'Zionist hoodlums'

Many were also quick to compare viewers' reactions to English actress Dame Vanessa Redgrave's speech in 1977 after she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

The actress critiqued the "Zionist hoodlums” whose behaviour is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world".

While Glazer has been praised for condemning Israel, Redgrave was booed by some audience members during her acceptance speech and even rebuked by a presenter later in the evening.

Glazer's speech coincided with dozens of actors, celebrities, and filmmakers, including Ramy Youssef, Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo and Kaouther Ben Hania, arriving at the theatre wearing red badges displayed as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza amid Israel's destructive assault on the Palestinian enclave.

The pins were provided by the collective Artists4Ceasefire, which leads a campaign for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The film director also donated signed Zone of Interest posters to a Cinema for Gaza auction to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians. The posters, which were the auction’s most highly demanded items, reached over $50,000 on the first day.

CBS quoted American officials today, Friday, as saying that intelligence information obtained by the United States and Israel indicates that Iran is preparing for a “retaliatory response” to the targeting of its embassy in Damascus, and that it may use Shahed drones and cruise missiles, indicating He pointed out that the "proportionate Iranian response" would be to target an Israeli diplomatic facility. The network's sources confirmed that the information indicates that there is no specific time for Tehran's response, but it is likely to be implemented before the end of the month of Ramadan, at a time when Iran constantly threatens that it will respond directly to Israel.

Earlier today, Friday, Iranian Vice President for Political Affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, revealed the content of the letter that Iran sent last Monday to the US administration after the Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus. He said in a post on “X” that “the Islamic Republic of Iran warned in a written message against America not to fall into (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s trap.”

The Iranian official added that Tehran asked Washington to "stay aside so as not to be attacked," as he said that the message addressed the American administration by saying: "Stay aside so as not to be attacked. In its response, America asked Iran not to strike American targets."

Sources close to decision-makers in Iran, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed last Wednesday to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the Iranian government informed Washington through a letter sent to it via Switzerland and the Sultanate of Oman that it would respond to the Israeli attack, warning the American administration through mediators against any He intervened because “it will expose all of America’s interests in the region to great danger and ignite the region,” according to what the sources say.

Last Monday, an Israeli raid targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which led to its complete destruction and the killing of 7 Iranian soldiers, including the two brigadier generals in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, and his deputy, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, who are senior Iranian military advisors in Syria. About five officers accompanying them. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, confirmed on Wednesday that the Israeli occupation “will receive a blow” because of this attack, while the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, also said during the “Jerusalem Platform” event on International Jerusalem Day, that “this crime (bombing the Iranian consulate) "You will not remain without a response."

The United States warned Iran against using the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus as a “pretext to target its interests,” according to CNN, citing a US State Department spokesman.

The spokesman said that the warning came in response to a message from Iran, and did not provide details about its content, nor about the American response or how it was conveyed to Iran.

The spokesman added: "As Iran has publicly indicated, we received a message from them. We responded by warning Iran against using this as a pretext to attack US personnel and facilities."

A high-ranking official in the US administration described his country's warning to Iran as saying, "Don't think about it."

The official added that the United States is on "high alert and is actively preparing for a major attack by Iran that may occur as soon as next week," targeting Israeli or American interests in the region in response to the attack in which prominent leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed.

Earlier, White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby confirmed that the United States was in no way involved in the Israeli strike that targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

According to media reports, Israeli officials have confirmed that they have intelligence information indicating that Iran may attack Israel from its territory using long-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or drones.

A child was injured by live bullets, this Saturday evening, during confrontations with the Israeli forces in the town of Ya`bad, south of Jenin.

According to local sources, the Israeli forces stormed the town, and confrontations broke out with young men, which led to a 15-year-old boy being injured by live bullets and taken to the medical center in the town.

The World Health Organization condemned the massive destruction caused to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza as a result of the recent Israeli siege, and it has become an “empty structure” except for corpses.

The Israeli forces withdrew completely from inside Al-Shifa Hospital and the residential neighborhoods surrounding it, at dawn last Monday, towards the areas south of the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City, after storming into Njou for two weeks.

A World Health Organization mission was able to enter the hospital yesterday, Friday, after several failed attempts since March 25, according to the United Nations body, which condemned the massive destruction there.

“The World Health Organization and its partners were able to gain access to the Al-Shifa Complex, which was once the backbone of the health system in Gaza, and which is now an empty shell except for human graves after the recent siege,” said a post by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the X platform.

Tedros said the team saw "at least five bodies during the mission."

He added that the team members also noticed that "the majority of the buildings of the hospital complex suffered massive damage and that most of the assets were damaged or turned into ashes."

He continued, "Even restoring the operational minimum in the short term does not seem possible," adding, "An in-depth evaluation by a team of engineers is needed to determine whether the remaining buildings are safe for future use."

Tedros expressed his regret that efforts by the World Health Organization and other relief organizations to resume basic services at Al-Shifa Hospital after Israel's first devastating raid on the hospital last year "were in vain, and people were once again deprived of access to life-saving health care services."

Of the 36 main hospitals in Gaza, only ten are partially functioning, according to the World Health Organization.

Tedros stressed that there is a need to take urgent action in Gaza with “looming famine, outbreaks of disease, and increasing traumatic injuries.”

He called for "protecting the remaining health facilities in Gaza and protecting health and humanitarian workers."

The Director-General of the World Health Organization called for "unhindered access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip" and for a "ceasefire."

The Malta mission, which holds the permanent presidency of the UN Security Council, announced that the Council will hold a closed session on Monday, April 8, to discuss Palestine’s request to resume consideration of its admission as a member of the United Nations.

The mission, which assumes the presidency of the Security Council in April, said: “At 10:00, consultations will be held to discuss the Palestinian request to resume consideration of its application for membership in the United Nations.”

Palestine has permanent observer status in the United Nations.

An application for full membership in the United Nations must obtain the approval of the UN Security Council, in which the United States can use its veto power, and then the approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the 193-member General Assembly.

A Security Council committee considered the Palestinian application in 2011 for a few weeks, but the committee did not reach a unanimous position and the council never voted on a resolution recommending Palestinian membership.

Diplomats said at the time that the Palestinians did not receive enough support in the Security Council to make the United States need to use its veto.

The law under which the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) granted the government temporary powers to ban foreign news channels that harm the country’s national security from operating in Israel, or what was called the “Al Jazeera Law,” sparked reactions that ranged from disappointment, anger, and determination to stand firm, according to an article in Haaretz newspaper. 

The article written by journalist Nagham Zubaidat - under the title “Why does Israel fear Al Jazeera?” - stated that the Palestinians consider watching Al Jazeera’s coverage of the occupation and war in the Gaza Strip indispensable.

The writer said that the new law passed by the Knesset last Monday, which may stop the work of Al Jazeera, was met with anger and suspicion.

She added that anyone who passes through the streets and alleys of Palestinian neighborhoods during the rage of the conflict will notice that almost all of the houses glow with light emanating from television screens, as families gather around to watch Al Jazeera.

ِِAl Jazeera law

The Knesset voted on Monday in favor of what was called the “Al Jazeera Law,” which allows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban foreign media outlets that harm security in Israel, led by Al Jazeera.

Zubaidat said that Palestinians of all ages in Israel have always watched Al Jazeera correspondents, such as the late Sherine Abu Aqla, Wael Al-Dahdouh, Elias Karam and Guevara Al-Badiri, covering events in the occupied territories. Viewers saw the voices of these reporters as a source of confidence in their coverage of the occupation’s actions.

She pointed out that Al Jazeera is among the few news channels that have correspondents on the ground in Gaza who are not subject to the supervision of the Israeli army, and they provided continuous coverage of the war that followed the attack of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the seventh of last October.

After the Knesset approved the law, Netanyahu said that Al Jazeera would no longer broadcast from Israel and that it was time to expel it. He stated that he intends to move immediately - in accordance with the new law - to stop its activity, accusing it of harming Israel's security and of having actually participated in the Hamas attack that day and "incited against our soldiers," as he put it.

Al Jazeera Media Network denounced Netanyahu's statements, describing them as a dangerous and ridiculous lie, and considered them part of a series of systematic Israeli violations to silence Al Jazeera.

Hasty reaction

Zubaidat, in her article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoted the head of the National Democratic Rally Party, Sami Abu Shehadeh, in a comment he published on the "Any wrongdoer fears that his crimes will be revealed."

He added that the actual dilemma in Israel stems from its fear of the truth, pointing out that the facts will not change, and that silencing Al Jazeera or any opposing voice is not the solution, as the solution lies in ending the war and its atrocities.

In a separate post in English, Abu Shehadeh wrote, “Israel needs to remain discreet so that it can continue the genocide in Gaza quietly,” adding that Al Jazeera “should be proud, as the less Israel is satisfied with its work, the better it is.”

Another political commentator, Ihab Jabareen from the northern Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, credited Al Jazeera with “leading the new free world,” while “the Israeli media is under siege.”

He added, "This is what embarrasses Bibi (Netanyahu), and the only democracy in the Middle East," as Israel is called in the Western media.

Citizens were martyred and injured, this Saturday evening, as Israeli warplanes and artillery bombed various areas in Khan Yunis, Gaza City and its north.

Local sources said that the Israeli warplanes carried out numerous raids on separate areas west of the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, and targeted a group of residents near the Turkish slaughterhouse to the west, which led to the death and injury of dozens of citizens, in conjunction with bombardment carried out by the occupation artillery on large areas south and west of the city. 

It added that the Israeli forces bombed large areas in Beit Hanoun and the Qalibu area in northern Gaza, in conjunction with artillery shelling on the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, and the southern neighborhoods of the city.

The Israeli army has continued its aggression against the Gaza Strip since the seventh of last October, by land, sea and air, which led to the death of 33,137 citizens, the majority of whom were children and women, and the injury of more than 75,815 others, in an infinite toll.

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said that Israeli forces kill 4 children every hour in the Gaza Strip, while UNICEF said that more than 600,000 children in Rafah suffer from hunger and fear.

The agency added in a statement that among the 33,000 killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip last October, there were 14,350 children, constituting 44% of the total number of deaths.

It pointed out that more than 43,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip currently live without one or both of their parents.

According to the statement, women and children constitute 70% of those missing as a result of the aggression on Gaza, and the Central Bureau of Statistics estimated their number at approximately 7,000 missing persons.

For his part, spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), James Elder, said on Saturday that more than 600,000 children in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, suffer from hunger and fear and face the risk of an Israeli attack on the city, which includes about 1.5 million displaced people.

Elder added that children and families displaced from other areas were subjected to brutal attacks in Rafah, even though he asked them to go to the area, claiming that it would be safe.

The organization published, through its account on the X platform, a video clip about the suffering of children trying to survive in Rafah, and the organization’s spokesman called for an end to this suffering.

UNICEF described what is happening in Gaza as a war on children, while the World Food Program warned a few days ago that thousands of children would die if aid did not enter the northern Gaza Strip.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, announced that it had eliminated 5 soldiers from the occupation army from zero distance, wounded a number of others, and destroyed a troop carrier with a “Tandum” shell in the Al-Amal neighborhood area, west of the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Qassam had previously reported that its members had confirmed the killing of 6 soldiers, turning them into pieces, and leaving a number of others dead or wounded, in the Al-Zana area, east of the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, bringing the number of soldiers killed in the ranks of the occupation army, according to what Al-Qassam announced, to 11 dead.

The Al-Qassam Brigades also announced that its members were able to target 4 Merkva tanks of the occupation army with “Al-Yassin 105” shells and a guerrilla action device in Khan Yunis.

The Brigades said in a statement on its Telegram channel, on Saturday, that as soon as the rescue forces advanced to the place and reached the middle of a pre-prepared minefield, they were targeted by detonating 3 anti-personnel devices.

On Saturday, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, described the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip as a “betrayal of humanity.”

Griffiths wrote, in a post on his account on the “X” platform, that “the end of the Gaza war is long overdue.”

The UN official wondered whether 6 months of war were not enough for there to be a moment of mourning to commemorate the victims.

Griffiths stressed "the need for this war to stimulate collective determination to hold this betrayal of humanity accountable."

On Saturday, 3 aid trucks containing fuel, medicines and medical supplies entered the northern Gaza Strip.

According to local sources, "3 aid trucks carrying fuel and medicine arrived in the northern Gaza Strip governorate via Salah al-Din Street."

For its part, Palestinian medical sources reported that the trucks, one carrying fuel and two carrying medicines and medical supplies, indicated that they were designated for the Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals in the town of Beit Lahia.

Earlier it was reported that the three trucks arrived through the Beit Hanoun/Erez crossing, but it was later revealed that they arrived from the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt and from there to Salah al-Din Street and turned from the far north of the Strip to the UNRWA warehouses.

Israel restricts the entry of aid into Gaza, which led to a scarcity of food, medicine and fuel supplies and created a famine that began to claim the lives of children and the elderly in the Strip, which is inhabited by about 2.3 million Palestinians, including about two million displaced as a result of the war, and which Israel has besieged for 17 years.

Today, Saturday, many cities and world capitals witnessed massive demonstrations denouncing the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Thousands participated in demonstrations organized in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, the Austrian capital, Vienna, the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, the Dutch city of Rotterdam, the British city of Manchester, Göteborg and Uppsala in Sweden, the Danish Aarhus, the capital Copenhagen, the German city of Dusseldorf and the capital Berlin, in support of the Palestinian people and to demand a ceasefire. Bringing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Participants in the demonstrations raised Palestinian flags and banners denouncing the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against our people.

The participants called for an end to double standards and the need to prosecute the occupation for its massacres against the Palestinian people, especially children, and condemned the genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned on Saturday that the rapid deterioration of the food security situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a severe stage amid the emergence of signs of famine in the north.

The UN organization added, in a post on its account on the “X” platform: “For the first time since the escalation of hostilities, our teams have succeeded in introducing much-needed animal feed into Gaza.”

The FAO stressed that "the collapse of agricultural food value chains led to a rapid deterioration of the food security situation to a severe stage amid the emergence of signs of famine in the north."

The UN organization said that "the introduction of animal feed into Gaza was aimed at providing means of nutrition."

As a result of the war and Israeli restrictions, the residents of Gaza, especially the Gaza and northern governorates, are on the verge of famine, in light of a severe scarcity of food, water, medicine and fuel supplies, with the displacement of about two million Palestinians from the Strip, which has been besieged by Israel for 17 years.

Today, Saturday, the number of Palestinians arrested by the Israeli army in the West Bank rose to 8,080 since October 7, 2023, after 45 Palestinians were arrested on Friday and Saturday.

This came in a joint statement issued by the Commission for Ex-Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.

The statement said, "Yesterday, Friday, and today, Saturday, the Israeli forces arrested at least 45 citizens from the West Bank, including three women, in addition to former prisoners."

Thus, the total number of arrests after October 7 rose to about 8,080, “including those who were arrested from homes, through military checkpoints, those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were held hostage,” according to the statement.

The authority and the club said that the arrests were concentrated in the city of Jerusalem after the worshipers left the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and celebrated Laylat al-Qadr, while the rest of the arrests were distributed among the governorates of Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Jericho.

The two institutions reported "severe beatings, threats against detainees and their families, and vandalism and destruction of citizens' homes" during the arrest operations.

Since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, the army has escalated its operations in the West Bank, leaving 459 killed and about 4,750 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, said that the UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is fully binding and must be implemented.

Albanese explained in a statement to Anadolu that there is no clear measure regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and that this should be achieved as soon as possible, stressing that the relevant UN Security Council resolutions are completely binding and must therefore be implemented.

She stressed that "there are many things that must be done" to ensure the flow of aid to Gaza, including opening all crossings, adding: "It seems to me that we have not reached this stage yet because a ceasefire has not been declared."

“Will this time be different?” This is the question that haunts Tehran political circles as more body bags are flown in from Damascus. The body bags contain the mortal remains of 13 Iranian diplomatic and military officers including two senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Grad Corps Gen. Muhammad-Reza Zahedi (alias Abu Mahdi) and Gen. Muhammad-Hadi Haj-Rahimi killed in an Israeli air raid on what was presented as a consular building in the Syrian capital. To be sure this is not the first time that Israelis take out IRGC officers and Lebanese, Iraqi, Syrian, Pakistan, and Afghan mercenaries in Syria. The take-out operation started in 2015 and reached a peak in 2020. The last time an Islamic Republic official organ provided figures was in 2018 when The Foundation for Martyrs and Self-Sacrificers put Iran’s losses at around 5,000. The figures didn’t show how many were Iranian officers or mercenaries. In the first three years of this deadly cycle, Tehran used the transfer of body bags from Damascus as a propaganda ploy and organized mass rallies on the burial day of its “heroes of Islam.” Later, when Tehran’s losses grew the propaganda aspect was forgotten, and “heroes of Islam” were quietly buried in their native hometowns and villages. 

Over time, partly thanks to the influence of late Gen. Qassem Soleimani Tehran decided to swallow the bitter pill and brag about “taking revenge” but not retaliate. Soleimani would do everything to avoid a direct clash with either Israel or the US forces in the region. In fact, he may have established a channel of communication with the Israelis through his correspondence with Gen. David Petraeus, then the top US commander in the region. In line with that tacit agreement Israel never officially admitted its more than 40 attacks spread over six years. 

Tehran reciprocated by not directly blaming Israel, using the euphemism “enemies of Islamic Revolution” instead. Even when Israelis killed Gen. Hussein Hamadani, one of “Supreme Guide” Ayatollah Khamenei’s favorite commanders, Tehran decided not to implement its threat of “taking hard revenge.” Similarly, the assassination of six top IRGC scientists in Iran itself went unpunished. Soleimani’s strategy was to fight Israel and the US through proxies while dangling the promise of reining them in as a card in his deadly poker game with the “Great Satan” and the “Zionist entity.” Has that fragile balance of terror come to its end? Vibes from Tehran suggest that it has. One reason is that there is no personality with Soleimani’s charisma and access to huge financial resources to continue marketing his idea of “kill the enemy with a thousand cuts” and the use of mercenaries as human shields. Another reason is that this time around Israel has bombastically admitted having carried out a punitive attack against the Islamic Republic. More importantly, perhaps, this is the first time that Israel has attacked a building flying the Islamic Republic’s official flag. 

All previous attacks were on bases and buildings where Iranian officers and mercenaries were located as “advisers” to the official Syrian army. Tehran could pretend that those attacks were against the Syrian Republic which had the responsibility to respond. This time the attack was against the Iranian consulate and the adjacent residence of the ambassador, both flying the Islamic Republic flag. In international law and diplomatic norms, an attack on an embassy or consulate is a casus belli (a cause for war). Another factor that might force Khamenei to respond differently this time is genuine anger among his followers, already uneasy about his refusal to back Hamas in the Gaza war. “How much longer should we wait for the promised hard revenge to happen?” demands Ibrahim Azizi vice-chair of the National Security Committee in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis). Announcing the sending of a special mission to Damascus to “see what happened” Majlis spokesman Nizameddin Mussawi says “taking revenge is a national demand that cannot be ignored.” The official news agency IRNA echoed that sentiment with the headline” The Whole Nation Demands Revenge”. In an editorial on Tuesday IRNA suggested that “embassies and consulates of the Zionist enemy in several countries are ready targets for revenge.” Ominously, it added: “the balance of terror must be restored”. The official TV’s chief strategic analyst Mahdi Kharratian surprised viewers by saying “If we do nothing this time, we ought to be prepared for the assassination of the highest officials in Tehran.” The “enough is enough” message is echoed in sermons by some of the most radical mullahs. Ayatollah Hashem Husseini says “As the center of resistance, the Islamic Republic cannot show weakness especially now that Palestinian resistance is rubbing the Zionist nose in the dust.” Ayatollah Pour-Khaqani says Israel attacked the Islamic diplomatic mission in Damascus to hide its humiliation by Palestinians. 

IRNA echoes that theme by claiming that “Netanyahu has failed in his three objectives: Freeing Israeli captives, killing Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Dhif, and destroying the Gaza tunnels.” Kamal Sajjadi, spokesman for The Followers of the Imam Movement suggests that the forthcoming Quds (Jerusalem) Day could be a proper time for revenge. Newly elected Majlis member Hojat al-Islam Ali-Reza Panahyan says the Islamic Republic must maintain its military presence in Syria and this requires assuring the safety of “our Islamic heroes”. The fact that Ayatollah Khamenei ordered a full session of the High Council of National Security, the first in more than two years, shows his concern about dissent in his core constituency and the perception that his “strategic patience” is a pretense for lack of resolve. Seen from his angle there is a growing danger that the radical elements in his camp will see him as an indecisive leader, and blame him for Israeli “audacity.” 

Interior Minister Gen. Ahmad Wahidi says “Israel should expect a suitable answer” but adds that “the decision must come from the Leader of the Revolution” i.e. Khamenei. Islamic President Ayatollah Dr. Ibrahim Raisi, too, has promised “crushing revenge” but insists that the decision must come from Khamenei. The “Supreme Leader” is in a delicate situation. 

Israel has broken the tacit agreement that allowed both sides to cite plausible deniability about attacks against each other. If he does nothing he could anger his core supporters. If he orders attacks on Israeli and/or Jewish targets he won’t be able to cite plausible deniability. And that, as the Islamic TV analyst suggests, could give Israel an excuse for attacks on big targets in Tehran itself.

Source: Asharq Alawsat

Israeli media channels devoted extensive discussions to US President Joe Biden's angry reaction to Israel's policy, and to the issue of Iran's threat to respond to the raid that targeted its embassy in Damascus.

Channel 13's political affairs correspondent, Moria Asrif Wolberg, revealed that informed officials said that the conversation between the US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was charged, and that Biden strongly criticized Israel's behavior in recent days, and demanded that it change its direction in everything related to humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip.

According to Kan 11 political affairs correspondent Suleiman Maswad, this is the first time that Biden has said to Israel, “A deal has not been reached currently because of you and not because of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas),” saying that Biden pressured Netanyahu to grant the negotiating delegation powers in order to reach a deal. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

For her part, Channel 13 correspondent in the United States, Neria Kraus, confirmed that Biden told Netanyahu, “Israel must bring about change and establish new procedures in everything related to preserving the lives of civilian aid workers and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.” She believed that US policy in the Gaza Strip will be Determined based on these procedures.

The United States called on Israel to protect relief workers and civilians in the Gaza Strip after it killed 7 foreign employees of the World Central Kitchen organization.

Israeli alert

Regarding the issue of Iran, Channel 12 spoke about what it described as a state of alert and readiness in Israel in anticipation of an Iranian response, noting that the air defense system was on alert and the army was preventing leave.

The channel reported details of what it considered a possible Iranian attack, claiming that it might take place from several regions at the same time, from Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and “it might be coordinated such that targets are struck simultaneously.”

It pointed out that "the defense agencies have developed a multi-layered defense system with multiple monitoring and interception capabilities," and that "the Patriot and Iron Dome batteries have been modified to intercept drones."

Regarding the nature of the Iranian response, the head of the Military Intelligence Division, Major General Tamir Hayman, reserve, pointed out two things: “that the Lebanese Hezbollah will cross the threshold of war, and that the missiles will be launched from Iran itself,” stressing that Tehran knows that launching missiles will make the United States of America consider it “an attack and a threat.” Existentially for Israel, this may push it to intervene against Iran.”

Israeli warplanes bombed the Iranian embassy in Damascus last Monday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said that 7 Iranian military advisors were killed in the raid, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the senior commander of the Quds Force, the foreign espionage and paramilitary wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Source: Al Jazeera

James Elder, spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), said that more than 600,000 children in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, suffer from hunger and fear, and face the risk of an Israeli attack.

Today, Saturday, UNICEF published on its social media account on the “X” platform a video clip of Elder about the suffering of children trying to survive in Rafah under Israeli attacks after 1.5 million people were displaced there.

Elder recalled that children and families fleeing Israeli attacks were told to go to Rafah and that they would be safe there, stressing that despite this, brutal attacks were carried out against it.

Elder said: "Rafah is a city for children. There are 600,000 boys and girls, but they are threatened by a military attack. They are besieged in Rafah, and they have no safe place to go."

He pointed out that mothers and fathers try every day to give hope to their children despite fear and hunger, and Elder said that the word "hope" is at risk of being deleted from the dictionary in Gaza.

He called on everyone who feels the pain and fear of parents towards their children and everyone who believes in childhood to stop this suffering in Rafah.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the occupation forces kill about 4 children every hour in the Gaza Strip, and 43,349 children live without their parents or one of them, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip since the 7th of last October.

He explained that among the 33,000 martyrs, more than 14,350 were children, constituting 44% of the total number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip.

The Biden administration is making plans to require goods produced in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to be clearly labeled as coming from there, US officials told the Financial Times on Saturday, another sign of White House dissatisfaction with Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

The final green light for this step and its timing have not been determined, but it aims to increase pressure on Israel due to increasing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, and comes amid American frustration with the behavior of the Hebrew state in the war on besieged Gaza. The move would reverse a policy introduced by the Donald Trump administration in 2020 that required goods produced in the West Bank to be labeled “Made in Israel.”

The Biden administration was about to announce this move last month, after far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, announced the largest confiscation of West Bank land in decades. Smotrich's announcement came during a visit by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Israel, which angered the administration. Two days later, the United States abstained from a vote on the ceasefire resolution at the United Nations, allowing it to pass, and officials did not want to reveal the labeling requirements at the same time. The US State Department declined to comment. Other countries also label goods coming from settlements.

The EU Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that goods arriving from Jewish settlements in the West Bank must be marked as produced in the occupied territories and must not mislead buyers that they come from Israel itself. The potential decision to label settlement goods highlights years of American frustration with Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, which most of the world considers illegal and an obstacle to the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The Israeli war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 people, according to Palestinian authorities, has also increased tensions between the two allies. Biden warned Netanyahu in a phone call on Thursday that US support for Israel in the conflict would depend on taking immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in the Strip.

The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem says that 620,000 Jewish settlers live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967.

Labeling goods as produced in Jewish settlements in the West Bank would make it easier for American consumers to avoid these products. It would also spark a backlash from Israel, which has described these policies as anti-Israel and discriminatory. Until Trump changed that in 2020, US policy had for years required products made in the West Bank to be labeled as such, and the Barack Obama administration warned in 2016 that labeling them as “Made in Israel” could result in fines. The United States has recently intensified its criticism of the Netanyahu government over the civilian cost of its war against Hamas, with the United Nations warning that hundreds of thousands of Gazans face imminent famine.

The United States also opposes Netanyahu's plan to launch an attack on Rafah, where more than a million displaced Gazans have taken refuge. But Biden refused to apply any conditions to US military aid to Israel. The administration is also moving forward with an $18 billion arms sale to Israel, including F-15 fighter jets, over the next five years — one of the largest US arms deals with its ally. The discussion of the classification step comes after the Biden administration said last February that Israeli settlement expansion is “contrary to international law.” It also announced the imposition of sanctions on settlers accused of committing acts of violence against Palestinians. Last year, the United States stopped funding Jewish academic institutions in the West Bank.

The Axios news website quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides were surprised by US President Joe Biden’s request to stop fighting in Gaza, outside the context of the prisoner exchange deal, in their last call, which was described as the most difficult since the beginning of the war.

Sources told the website that Netanyahu said that new measures would be taken on the humanitarian side in the Gaza Strip, and therefore “there is no need to stop the fighting.”

On the other hand, Biden warned Netanyahu that the US administration would not be able to support him unless Israel changed its course in Gaza, according to what informed sources confirmed to Axios.

But Biden did not specify the manifestations of the loss of American support, nor did he mention the possibility of halting arms shipments to Israel.

The same sources stated that the phone conversation, which took place yesterday, Thursday, between Biden and Netanyahu, was the most difficult “in terms of tone and content” since the seventh of last October.

However, Axios quoted an American official as saying, “We still support a ceasefire as part of the hostage deal, and this must happen immediately.”

Earlier, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said - citing political sources - that the phone call held by the two parties was “more difficult than expected,” while the White House said that the tough tone adopted by Biden during the call reflects “growing frustration” over the lack of response from Tel Aviv to protect civilians.

Following the call, Israeli media said that the mini-ministerial council decided to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip immediately, and also agreed to open the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Strip.

Senate pressure

On the other hand, the Democratic member of the US Senate, Senator Tim Kaine, said that despite American and other pressures, the aid that Israel allows to the Gaza Strip is insufficient.

Kane urged the Biden administration to prioritize the delivery of defensive weapons to Israel and withhold offensive weapons, noting that delivering the latter type would only “exacerbate the suffering in Israel, Gaza, and the region.”

The Democratic Senator added, "Biden's position that pushed Israel to open a border crossing was a clear solution that should have been taken months ago."

For his part, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders issued a warning to the Israeli Prime Minister, saying, "If thousands of trucks do not arrive to feed the hungry in Gaza, all military aid will stop."

The United States is the largest supporter of Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for about 6 months, as it established an air and sea bridge to supply it with thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition.

American reports: Biden waved to Netanyahu to restrict support and request a settlement in northern Gaza

American media reports revealed more details about the phone call that US President Joe Biden made with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, Thursday, in which he asked him to take concrete steps to reduce “harm to civilians” in Gaza.

On Friday, NBC quoted American officials as saying that Biden assured Netanyahu that Washington might make its aid to Israel conditional on its behavior in the war.

The officials added that Biden asked the Israeli Prime Minister to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and expand the powers of the negotiating delegation in the prisoner exchange talks.

Regarding the reasons for this change in the American tone, the same sources told the network that the killing of the World Central Kitchen relief team in an Israeli raid in Gaza last Monday, and the appeal of Jill Biden, wife of the US President, to stop the war, and the movement of the Muslim community, are all things that led to a shift in Biden’s position.

American officials added that Biden told invitees at a meeting of American Muslims that his wife calls on him daily to stop the war in Gaza.

On the other hand, the Wall Street Journal quoted an informed source as saying that Biden asked Netanyahu to reach a settlement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) regarding the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, to ensure the progress of prisoner exchange and ceasefire negotiations.

The Hamas movement says that Netanyahu is still procrastinating and refuses to reach a specific agreement, stressing at the same time its adherence to the vision it presented last March 14 and its four demands: a comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a real exchange of prisoners.

"Tough call"

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said - citing political sources - that the phone call held by the two parties was “more difficult than expected,” while the White House said that the tough tone adopted by Biden during the call reflects “growing frustration” with Tel Aviv’s failure to respond to demands to protect the country. Civilians.

Biden also called on Netanyahu - during the call - to “announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, human suffering, and the safety of aid workers,” according to a White House statement.

The statement added that Biden "made clear that American policy regarding Gaza will be determined by our assessment of the immediate action that Israel will take regarding these steps."

For his part, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, “Look, I will just say this: If we do not see the changes we need to see, there will be changes in our policy.”

The United States is the largest supporter of Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for about 6 months, as it established an air and sea bridge to supply it with thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition.

Medical sources announced today, Saturday, that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 33,137 deaths, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli occupation aggression on the 7th of last October.

The same sources added that the death toll has risen to 75,815 since the start of the aggression, while thousands of victims are still under the rubble.

It pointed out that the Israeli forces committed 4 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 46 citizens and the injury of 65 others, during the past 24 hours.

It explained that a number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.

A delegation from the Hamas movement will head to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, “soon” to resume negotiations on a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Al-Mayadeen channel reported from what it described as a "leading source in the resistance" that negotiations would resume in Cairo in light of the continued gaps between Hamas and the Israeli occupation.

He pointed out that the United States is putting pressure on the Egyptian and Qatari mediators and on Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan confirmed two days ago that the movement informed the mediators of its position in the negotiations against the backdrop of the meetings that brought together occupation officials with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Hamdan stressed that the movement adheres to that position, which was officially delivered on March 14.

Despite the high flexibility and positivity shown by the movement, Hamdan reported that there is no progress in the indirect negotiations with the occupation regarding the exchange of prisoners, indicating that they are stalling.

He added that after the recent Cairo round, the occupation government "is still evasive," which has made the negotiations "revolving in a vicious circle."

He reaffirmed the positions represented in the necessity of stopping the aggression, withdrawing the occupation forces from Gaza, returning the displaced to their homes, especially in the northern Gaza Strip, intensifying relief access to all places in the Gaza Strip, beginning reconstruction, and achieving a real and serious prisoner exchange process.

Biden, as the US presidential elections approach, and there are great risks of his resounding fall in these elections, linked to the American adherence to the Israeli position and identification with it, in the aggressive war being waged on the Gaza Strip. Perhaps the scale and costs of Israeli "savagery", especially after the killing that targeted seven aid workers working in the "World Central Kitchen", and the accompanying global discontent against the occupation government, discontent that manifested itself in widespread popular protests around the world, and restlessness at the level of decision-makers in Countries supporting the occupying state, especially the British threat to the Netanyahu government, that a British report will be published, stating that Israel is a state violating international law. 

Biden is now realizing that if he does not jump from the top of the tree and let Netanyahu drown, his fate will be a resounding fall in the US presidential elections, as happened with the Turkish “Justice and Development” Party, which suffered a severe loss in the Turkish local elections, against the backdrop of the Turkish position on the aggressive war on the Gaza Strip, there is an American fear that the state of popular rebellion and the ongoing and continuing marches and demonstrations in European countries may lead to the fall of Biden’s far-right allies in those countries.
CIA reports clearly tell Biden that your attachment to Netanyahu will push the swing states inhabited by an Arab-Muslim majority, African immigrants, young Americans and Jews not to vote for you and the Democratic Party, and therefore Biden, who is fed up with Netanyahu’s political childishness and recklessness, which the most recent of which was Netanyahu’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the killing of a number of commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. This operation was intended by Netanyahu as an escape forward, in order to shuffle the cards and compensate for the predicament he is experiencing in the ongoing war of attrition in which his army is drowning in the quagmire of the Gaza Strip. With the entry of war is in its seventh month, and it has not been able to achieve any military or field goal or achievement, other than committing more killings against civilians. There has been no victory achieved, no image of victory, no elimination of the resistance and its leaders, and no recovery of prisoners. Netanyahu wanted to provoke an Iranian response that would lead to a comprehensive war, in which America and NATO would intervene alongside Israel. Here, the cards would be shuffled and international attention would be diverted from his crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Iran has decided to respond to the military operation, and its highest religious authority and Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, Imam Ali Khamenei, tweeted on the “X” website in Hebrew, “The response is coming and you will regret your action.” This Iranian response, which seems to have been decided, has created a state of extreme panic and confusion. 

Within Israel, whether in terms of mobilizing the home front and opening shelters, or calling up the reserves in the Air Force and Air Defense, announcing the start of jamming the GPS system, and mobilizing more anti-missile missile batteries and drones towards the northern and eastern fronts, which are the fronts from which the targeting is expected to come later, the Israeli military spokesman addressed the settlers, urging them not to rush to ATMs to withdraw money, and to stop panicking in stockpiling food supplies, and stressing that there was no need to buy electrical generators, after consumable supplies had run out of food supplies, generators had run out at points of sale, and cash had dried up from Automated teller machines, due to the state of panic that struck the settlers, with a climate of political and military alert in anticipation of a coming response, as Israeli newspapers and media reported on American messages that reached the leaders of the entity.

After the killing of the seven aid workers, the intensity of the tactical dispute between America and Israel escalated, and it became clear that Biden had become fed up with Netanyahu and his childish actions and pranks, and that these behaviors might expose him to a severe defeat in the American presidential elections, and therefore came the reprimanding call between Biden and Netanyahu, which Netanyahu swallowed. Against the backdrop of the American position summarized by US Chief National Security Advisor John Kirby and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (from the Zionist team in the US administration) that Israeli behavior may push towards changing US policy towards Israel, the American position was summarized in four points, which are: No discussion. In the battle of Rafah, anger at the assassination of the international kitchen team, insistence on opening the crossings for humanitarian aid, and an open mandate to the head of the Mossad and the head of the Shin Bet to reach a negotiated solution regarding a ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners.

Netanyahu is terrified of the American administration abandoning him, in light of Iranian threats to respond to the operation he carried out against its consulate in Damascus and the resulting killing of a number of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders there, as the American administration cannot tell Iran not to escalate and expand the circle of war, in accordance with the agreement. Between the two parties in the negotiations that took place in Oman between them, it was unable to restrain its ally and partner from carrying out a raid on its consulate in Damascus.

Iran is fully aware that Netanyahu’s operation expresses his ongoing dilemma in his ongoing aggressive war in the Gaza Strip, and the internal and external crises he faces, which he wanted to export abroad and to convince the Israeli public that he is capable of achieving achievements by killing many leaders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. And that he seeks to impose new rules of engagement, and to restore part of the prestige of military deterrence, which will not enable him to achieve this because it harms its prestige and reputation inside Iran and among allies and friends, and constitutes a retreat in the face of the Israeli deterrence force. Therefore, the decision to respond was taken by the highest religious authority and the commander. Supreme Leader of the Iranian Armed Forces, Imam Ali Khamenei.

This American position terrified Netanyahu, as he called his war council to convene and approve the American demands, which he justified as necessary for the continuation of the military operation, the invasion of Rafah, and the achievement of what he calls an “overwhelming victory.” The expansion of the entry of humanitarian aid, food, medical, and fuel from Israel, was approved. More than one crossing, by opening the “Erez” and Kerem Shalom crossings to Jordanian aid, and using the port of Ashdod to enter that humanitarian aid as well, and increasing that aid by up to 500 trucks per day, and punitive measures were also taken against a number of military commanders against the backdrop of the killing of aid workers. The seven include dismissing the commander of the Al-Nahal Brigade, the commander of the District Assistance, reprimanding the commander of the Southern Region and the commanders of the 162nd Division and the Al-Nahal Brigade, as well as giving the commanders of the “Mossad” and “Shin Bet” broader powers to reach an exchange deal with the Palestinian resistance, and a temporary ceasefire for 42 days. 

Biden is fully aware that Netanyahu is trying to continue wasting time, deceiving, and misleading, in order to get closer to holding the American presidential elections, and he is waiting for the return of his Republican friend Trump, and that the American administration cannot exert harsh pressure on him, and therefore Biden, within the framework of differentiation in interests and priorities, He will not be sorry for Netanyahu's departure, if the price is that he reaches the White House again, and his attitude is now saying: After all these successive developments, "Saad has survived, Saeed has perished."

The Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip continues unabated for the 183rd day, with continuous bombing operations targeting several areas in the besieged Palestinian Strip.

Israel continued its aggression on land, air and sea, resulting in the death of 33,091 Palestinians, the majority of whom were children and women, and the wounding of more than 75,750, an infinite toll, according to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip.

A number of Palestinians were killed and others were injured, at dawn on Saturday, in rocket and artillery shelling by the Israeli occupation forces on various areas of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli artillery targeted citizens' homes in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, the Al-Sabra neighborhood, and the Tal Al-Hawa and Sheikh Ajlin neighborhoods, southwest of the city, leading to the death of three citizens and the injury of about 10 others, who were taken to the Baptist Hospital in the city.

The Israeli artillery also bombed the homes of citizens in the areas of Al-Mughraqa, Al-Zahraa, and the northern outskirts of the Nuseirat camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, which led to injuries among citizens, after which they were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir Al-Balah, in the center of the Gaza Strip.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday that Israel's decision to open some crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid is insufficient.

This came in a post on the “X” platform, commenting on Israel’s agreement to temporarily allow the delivery of humanitarian aid through the port of Ashdod and the “Erez” crossing (Beit Hanoun), and to increase Jordanian aid through the “Kerem Shalom” crossing.

The European official described the Israeli decision as a result of widespread condemnation from the international community and pressure after the killing of World Central Kitchen employees in the central Gaza Strip last Monday.

The Israeli army targeted an air strike on the “International Kitchen” convoy in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing 7 people holding the nationalities of Australia, Poland, Britain, the United States, Canada and Palestine.

Borrell stressed that the border crossings that will be opened are not enough to prevent famine in Gaza.

He stated that Security Council Resolution No. 2728, which aims to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, must be implemented.

The President of the European Union Council, Charles Michel, also confirmed in a statement on Friday that the Israeli decision regarding the entry of aid into Gaza is not sufficient.

This comes after the "War Cabinet" agreed to temporarily allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza through the port of Ashdod and the "Erez" crossing, and will also allow an increase in Jordanian aid through the "Kerem Shalom" crossing.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in the context of a phone call he made with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the night before last, expressed his anger at the Israeli army’s launching of an air strike in Gaza that resulted in the killing of 7 employees of the international relief organization “World Central Kitchen” [“The Kitchen” World Central Bank"] and warned of its impact on future operations in the Gaza Strip.

A statement issued by the US Department of Defense said that Austin also called for immediate concrete steps to protect relief workers and the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, in light of what he described as the repeated failure to coordinate with foreign relief organizations. Austin also urged Gallant to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation, share its findings publicly, and hold those responsible accountable. He warned him that this tragedy reinforced the expressed concern about any possible Israeli military operation in Rafah, with particular emphasis on the need to ensure the evacuation of the Palestinian civilian population and the flow of humanitarian aid.

The statement indicated that Austin stressed the importance of the "World Central Kitchen" organization, and that he informed Gallant that the incident impedes the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The statement also indicated that Austin urged the Israeli Defense Minister to press for a rapid increase in aid coming through all crossings in the coming days, especially to areas at risk of famine in the northern Gaza Strip.

According to the statement, Gallant briefed Austin on the “Global Central Kitchen” incident and stressed that a comprehensive and transparent investigation is being conducted, and its conclusions will be shared with partners and lessons applied by the security establishment.

The two ministers also discussed the latest developments in the war against Hamas and the ongoing efforts to ensure the return of 130 Israelis who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023 and are still detained in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli public opinion poll conducted by the Maariv newspaper yesterday (Thursday) showed that if the Israeli general elections were held now, each of the party camp lists supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would obtain 45 seats (one seat less than the number of seats it obtained in this week’s poll). last), while the lists of the parties camp opposing him will obtain 66 seats (two seats more than the number of seats they obtained in last week's poll). The coalition list between Hadash [the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality] and Ta'al [the Arab Movement for Change] will get 5 seats, the Ra'am list [the United Arab List] will get 4 seats, and the Balad list [the National Democratic Rally] will not be able to exceed the electoral threshold (3.25%).

According to the poll, the Likud Party list headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will get 17 seats, the “Official Camp” list headed by “War Cabinet” Minister Benny Gantz will get 32 seats, and the “There is a Future” list headed by Knesset member Yair Lapid will get 15 seats.

The “Religious Zionism” party list headed by Minister Bezalel Smotrich gets 4 seats, while the “Otzma Yehudit” list [“Jewish Power”] headed by Minister Itamar Ben Gvir gets 9 seats, and the Shas party list of Haredi [religiously extremist] Eastern Jews gets 10 seats. 9 seats, the ultra-orthodox United Torah Judaism party list gets 6 seats, the “Israel Our Home” party list headed by Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman gets 11 seats, and the Meretz party list and the “Official Right [formerly “New Hope”]” list headed by Minister Gideon each get 11 seats. Sa'ar has 4 seats, and the Labor Party's list will not be able to exceed the electoral threshold.

48% of respondents said that the head of the “official camp” Benny Gantz is the most suitable to assume the position of Prime Minister of Israel, while 33% of them said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the most suitable.

48% of respondents expressed their belief that the demonstrations taking place in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel for the release of kidnapped Israelis detained in the Gaza Strip affect the efforts made to release them, while 31% of them said that they advance these efforts and 23% of them refused to answer this question.

The survey included a sample of 528 people representing all categories of the adult population in Israel, with a maximum error rate of 4.4%.

The emergency meeting held by the UN Security Council today, Friday, to discuss the threat of famine in the Gaza Strip witnessed numerous demands for Israel not to obstruct the arrival of aid to the Strip, and to stop targeting humanitarian organizations, after the World Central Kitchen team was killed in an Israeli raid.

Algeria's representative to the Security Council, Ammar Ben Jama, said, "The crime against the World Central Kitchen in Gaza is not surprising because the attack was carried out deliberately," as he saw that humanitarian workers in Gaza were being killed within the framework of Israeli doctrine, as he put it.

He also pointed out that Israel has killed 484 health workers in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war last October.

Bin Jama stressed that hunger "is rampant in Gaza, and the occupation does not care despite the adoption of a decision by the International Court of Justice."

The judges of the International Court of Justice ordered Israel - in a unanimous decision issued on March 28 - to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure the entry of basic food supplies to the residents of the Gaza Strip without delay.

On the other hand, Chinese representative Zhang Jun said during the Security Council session that Israel must stop targeting humanitarian organizations and their workers in Gaza.

Zhang also stressed the need to open all land crossings to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.

For his part, Russia's representative Vasily Nebenzia criticized Israel because it "continues to launch its worst military operation despite the Security Council's decision to stop the war," referring to Resolution No. 2728 issued last March 25 and calling for an immediate ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. .

Nebenzia called on Israel to stop targeting humanitarian organizations and their workers in Gaza.

In turn, British delegate Barbara Woodward said that Israel must "make major and immediate changes to the military campaign in order to protect civilians."

She also stressed the need to provide "adequate protection" for those carrying out humanitarian work.

Palestinian regret

On the other hand, Palestine's representative to the Security Council, Riyad Mansour, expressed his regret that "the killing of foreigners was necessary to recognize the status of the Palestinians in Gaza for 180 days."

Mansour said that Israel destroyed homes in Gaza, killed entire families, displaced an entire people, and prevented the arrival of aid.

He added that it also killed patients and medical staff in Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza.

For his part, Israeli delegate Gilad Erdan said that targeting the workers at the World Central Kitchen was not intentional, and that the Israeli military did not respect the standards, as he put it.

He continued, "We will learn from this investigation and do our best to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated."

Erdan stressed that the immediate ceasefire is contingent on the surrender of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the release of all detainees, as he put it.

An Israeli investigation into the killing of the World Central Kitchen team, consisting of seven people, in an Israeli raid in Gaza last Monday, concluded that serious errors and violations of procedures were committed by the army, which led to the decision to dismiss two officers and reprimand senior commanders.

Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip for about 6 months, leaving tens of thousands martyred and wounded, most of them children and women.

Israel continues the war despite the issuance of a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan, and despite its first appearance before the International Court of Justice on charges of committing genocide.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies

The administration of US President Joe Biden is intensifying its pressure on Israel to refrain from entering the city of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip, where the occupation army says that 4 battalions affiliated with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) are still largely intact.

The occupation claims that the movement's senior leaders are "hiding" among more than 1.4 million civilians who were displaced from the northern and central Gaza Strip to Rafah in recent months.

Voices have risen on the American side in recent weeks, demanding that the occupation facilitate the entry of aid and change plans to storm Rafah, amid accusations from United Nations relief agencies and other international relief organizations that Israel is preventing the entry of aid into the Strip and that it is on the verge of a severe humanitarian disaster.

Anger and criticism

Biden expressed his deep anger at Israel's attack on the cars of humanitarian relief workers affiliated with the World Central Kitchen organization, which resulted in the death of 7 of them. He criticized - in a White House statement - Israel for that, and called for "accountability" of those responsible for the attacks.

Biden also called for allowing more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and did not indicate any intention to change his country's policies towards unconditional support for Israel.

American and Israeli officials met remotely last Monday to discuss Tel Aviv’s plans to storm Rafah. The meeting witnessed tension after the American side questioned an Israeli plan to evacuate more than 1.4 million Palestinian civilians from the city.

The officials said that Israel presented a plan to transfer 1.4 million civilians over several weeks from Rafah to tents that will be erected north of the city, but the American side stressed that the plans do not include meeting sanitation needs or an assessment of the amount of food or water required or where it will come from, and that any plans must That takes months.

On the other hand, during a meeting last Tuesday between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon, Austin stated that the tragedy of the World Kitchen victims reinforced American concern about a possible military operation in Rafah, focusing on the need to ensure the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the flow of humanitarian aid. .

Biden's position on continued support for Israel did not surprise most of the observers in the American capital who Al Jazeera Net spoke to, and none of them expected any change in unconditional American support if the Israeli government implemented its pledge to storm Rafah by land after Eid al-Fitr, despite the American reservation.

Disagreements and tension

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, defense affairs expert Michael Beck pointed out that "some disagreements were inevitable, especially with Israel focusing on the goal of destroying Hamas, while the Biden administration is trying to achieve a balance between its global priorities while continuing to support Tel Aviv."

The same expert explains that "what may happen is a compromise, where Israel carries out a more limited operation in Rafah aimed at ensuring its security while satisfying American concerns."

For his part, David De Roche, professor of security studies at the Pentagon’s National Defense University and former NATO official, says, “It is not at all uncommon to see this kind of tension between partners - not allies - during conflicts, especially when there is Civilian casualties and an increase in international condemnation of the conduct of the war by the partner state.”

He added, "Also, American support for Israel is not complete. For example, the Israelis requested Apache attack helicopters and their request was rejected."

Des Roches explained to Al Jazeera Net that a large part of what is happening takes into account the electoral process in both the United States and Israel. “Biden saw the war dividing his popular base and that he still has weak numbers in the opinion polls against his rival, former President Donald Trump.”

The professor of security studies continues, "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also knows that if he does not win the war against Hamas, he will not have a political future in Israel and may be imprisoned. It is inevitable that there will be tensions between partners, especially when there are divergent strategic goals."

Internal pressure

For Biden, voter dissatisfaction with his handling of the Gaza war is a growing source of concern, and anti-war sentiment has emerged in the Democratic Party primary contests, including this week in the state of Wisconsin, where nearly 48,000 people - or 8.3% - did not vote for Biden, and chose to vote. With “non-compliance.”

These results came after a strong effort by anti-war activists urging the state's voters to register their dissatisfaction with Biden by making this choice, and four years ago only 3,500 voters - or 0.4% - chose to vote "no commitment" in the primary elections in Wisconsin.

It is noteworthy that Biden won the state of Wisconsin by only 20,000 votes in the 2020 elections, which means that the current dissatisfaction with him could have serious consequences in next November’s elections.

Wisconsin is one of the few states that are expected to determine the outcome of the presidential election, and the results in it are similar to the Democratic Party primary competitions this year in other swing states, led by Michigan, where more than 100,000 Democratic voters - or 13.2% - did not vote in favor. Biden, and voted “no commitment.”

In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Ambassador David Mack, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, pointed out the refusal of Netanyahu and his partners in the right-wing coalition to follow a path towards a peaceful solution in Gaza despite the urging of the “more moderate” Israeli leaders and many Israeli military commanders.

He added that Biden said the right things, but did not take actions such as halting arms shipments because of his strong and emotional attachment throughout his life to full American support for Israel.

Mack continued, "But internal political pressure is increasing on Biden to use more sticks and carrots in an attempt to change Israel's policy."

In turn, former diplomat Aaron David Miller tweeted on the X platform, saying, “If Biden is going to exert any pressure on the Netanyahu government, it will not be because of Rafah or global cuisine, and the pressure will focus on Netanyahu towards concluding an agreement with Hamas to remove detainees and increase humanitarian aid within a temporary ceasefire.” ".

Source: Al Jazeera