Live Updates
Middle East Eye, Apr 26 2024
Evening recap
Gaza’s health ministry said that 51 people were killed by Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 34,356 since Oct 7. Additionally, 77,368 people have been wounded since the start of the war. In other developments:
- 37 megatonnes of debris and rubble now litter the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel’s bombardment, according to the UN.
- Hala Rharrit, the Arabic-language spox of the US State Dept, has designed, citing her opposition to the Biden administration’s Gaza policy.
- An Israeli air strike on a home near Gaza City’s al-Rimal neighbourhood killed at least three people, including a woman and a child.
- Pro-Palestine protestors launched a Gaza solidarity encampment in front of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Shaimaa, the eldest daughter of killed Palestinian poet Refaat al-Areer, was killed along with her husband and her newborn son in an Israeli strike near al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City.
- A Palestinian baby rescued from the womb of her mother in Gaza while she lay dying has died, according to her doctor.
- Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sustained minor injuries in a car accident and was transported to the hospital on Friday.
- A group of over 135 imams and religious scholars signed a statement of solidarity with student encampments in support of Palestine.
Over 135 imams and scholars in US stand in solidarity with student encampments for Palestine
on Friday, a group of over 135 imams and religious scholars including Omar Suleiman, Yasir Qadhi, Haifaa Younis, Mohammad Elshinawy and Suhaib Webb released a statement of solidarity with student encampments in support of Palestine saying:
We admire your courageous actions and various sacrifices for Palestine. May your efforts be a beacon of hope and transformation, inspiring further actions towards a just and equitable world. The recent escalatory encampments by students on campuses across the country, calling for divestment and solidarity with Palestine, reflect students’ commitment to holding the American university system accountable for aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza. It is their bravery, sacrifice, and organising that emboldens us to reaffirm our support and dedication to those students, regardless of race or religion. Today, you extend the tradition of resistance that discursively and materially ended Jim Crow and South African apartheid. The continued repression of pro-Palestine organising in this country signals how support for Israel has reached an impasse whereby it cannot sustain itself without draconian measures to silence dissent.
Israel violated US directive regarding aid to Gaza, USAID officials say in report
According to a confidential US document reviewed by Devex, Israeli actions have been deemed non-compliant with a White House directive mandating recipients of American military aid to adhere to international humanitarian law and allow unhindered delivery of US-funded humanitarian assistance. The recent findings, released earlier this month, come after a national security memo was issued by the White House on Feb 8. The memo instructed Blinken to “obtain credible and reliable written assurances” from recipients of US weapons regarding their commitment to abide by international humanitarian law. These findings are to be reported to both the White House and Congress. In the case of Israel, this requirement would pertain only to offensive weapons.
In a submission to Blinken, USAID officials assessed that the “government of Israel does not currently demonstrate necessary compliance” with the memo’s requirement that it facilitate and not impede “the transport of delivery of US humanitarian assistance” as well as US-backed international efforts to provide relief, Devex reported. The USAID document raised significant concerns regarding the death toll of nearly 32k people, with approximately two-thirds assessed by the Government of Israel as civilians. It suggested that these casualties might potentially constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. However, it noted that a definitive conclusion would depend on thorough analysis by US government legal experts.
US urges Iran to question weapons ‘effectiveness’ after Israel attack
On Friday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Iran should reevaluate the effectiveness of its weapons systems following the attack on Israel earlier this month. Austin told reporters:
They should be questioning the effectiveness of their weapons systems and their planning. Hopefully they don’t walk away from this over-confident that they can do this at will, because I think Israel has demonstrated that it has a significant ability to defend itself.
Fresh momentum in Gaza war talks for hostage return, White House says
On Friday, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said he saw fresh momentum in discussions aimed at ending the war in Gaza and facilitating the return of the remaining Israeli hostages. Sullivan told MSNBC in an interview:
I believe that there is a renewed effort under way involving Qatar and Egypt as well as Israel to try to find a way forward. Do I think that there is new momentum, new life in these hostage talks? I believe there is.
Israel gives ‘last chance’ for hostage negotiations with Hamas
Israeli officials told their Egyptian counterparts on Friday that Israel is prepared to grant hostage negotiations “one last chance” to secure a deal with Hamas before considering an invasion of Rafah, as reported by Axios, citing two Israeli officials. It quoted one of the officials as saying:
Israel told Egypt that it is serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that it will not let Hamas drag its feet.
Israeli minister Ben-Gvir injured in car accident
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sustained minor injuries in a car accident and was transported to the hospital on Friday, according to police who said they are probing the incident’s details. Footage on Israeli media showed the overturned car in which Ben-Gvir was travelling. Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai told reporters that two additional individuals sustained injuries in the event. Ben-Gvir was departing from a site in the city of Ramle, close to Tel Aviv, where authorities reported a suspected stabbing incident had occurred just moments earlier.
Hamas dismisses ceasefire proposal that puts release of hostages as first step
Hamas has slammed an international proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza which placed the release of Israeli hostages as the first step in the process. The group said they were open to a ceasefire, but said that the new proposal made by the US and 17 other countries failed to address Palestinian demands.
Palestinian baby rescued from dying mother’s womb dies: doctor
A Palestinian baby rescued from the womb of her mother in Gaza while she lay dying has died, according to her doctor. The baby, named Sabreen al-Rouh, had been on a ventilator since being saved from her mother who was mortally wounded by an Israeli strike which also killed her husband and their three-year-old daughter. Doctor Mohammad Salama, head of the emergency neo-natal unit at Emirati Hospital, said the baby died on Thursday. He told Reuters by phone:
I and other doctors tried to save her, but she died. For me personally, it was a very difficult and painful day. She was born while her respiratory system wasn’t mature, and her immune system was very weak and that is what led to her death. She joined her family as a martyr.
Blinken calls Gaza protests a ‘hallmark of democracy’
Blinken has called the Gaza protests taking place across university campuses a “hallmark of democracy” but decried the lack of criticism of Hamas. Speaking at a press conference in China, Blinken said:
In our own country, it’s a hallmark of our democracy that our citizens make known their views, their concerns, their anger, at any given time, and I think that reflects the strength of the country, the strength of democracy. It is also notable that there is silence about Hamas, as if it wasn’t even part of the story. But as I’ve also said repeatedly, the way Israel goes about ensuring that Oct 7 never happens again matters profoundly. And we’re working every day to try to minimize the damage that’s done to innocent people and to make sure that they have the assistance and support that they need.
Gaza death toll rises to 34,356
Gaza’s health ministry said that 51 people were killed by Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 34,356 since Oct 7. Additionally, 77,368 people have been wounded since the start of the war.
Blinken says he understands US protesters for Gaza, questions silence on Hamas
Blinken said he “very much understands” the passion behind ongoing pro-Palestine protests in US campuses and respects their right to protest. Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, he said:
It is notable that there is silence about Hamas. As I’ve said before, this could be over tomorrow, it could have been over yesterday, it could have been over months ago, if Hamas had put down its weapons, stopped hiding behind civilians, released the hostages and surrendered. But of course it has chosen not to do that.
Blinken insists that Israel is “working every day to try to minimise the damage done to people,” but protesters in the US are accusing him and the Biden administration of complicity with Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Smotrich calls for ‘complete destruction’ of Gaza Strip
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the “complete destruction” of the Gaza Strip as he hit out against truce talks between the government and Hamas. Writing on Twitter, Smotrich said negotiating with Hamas was irresponsible and members of the group should be killed instead. He said:
The time has come for the Mossad to return to doing what it was trained to do: to eliminate the heads of Hamas all over the world and not in negotiations that are conducted irresponsibly and harm Israel’s security. With Hamas from now on we should only talk with shells and bombs.
READ MORE: Smotrich calls for ‘complete destruction’ of Gaza Strip.
Family of killed Palestinian poet killed in Israeli strike: report
The chairman of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said that Shaimaa, the eldest daughter of killed Palestinian poet Refaat al-Areer, was killed along with her husband and her newborn son in an Israeli strike near al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City. Refaat was killed along with several members of his family in an Israeli strike on Gaza City back in December.
Protesters start Gaza solidarity encampment in front of Scottish parliament
Pro-Palestine protesters have launched a Gaza solidarity encampment in front of the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh. The group said in a statement:
We are here creating a liberated zone to stand in solidarity with the people in Palestine. We are here in protest against Scottish and UK’s government complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The move follows days of Palestine solidarity protests across university campuses in the US, which have recently extended to France and Australia.
Nasser hospital mass grave: Pain and patience in Gaza as bodies are exhumed
For the past four mornings, Amal al-Baiouk has come to Nasser hospital to watch the dead bodies be brought out. Like the other parents of missing people, who keep returning to this devastated corner of Khan Younis, disappointment is etched across her face. Rescue workers begin exhuming early, with dozens pulled out of the ground as the day goes on. For Palestinian mothers waiting patiently around the burial pits, any news of their sons is good news, even if that means they are dead. Some have been missing for three months. Baiouk tells Middle East Eye:
I look at each body’s face, but I have not been guided to my son.
Read more: Nasser hospital mass grave: Pain and patience in Gaza as bodies are exhumed.
Israeli army says civilian killed in Hezbollah attack
The Israeli army said that an Israeli truck driver has died after being injured by a Hezbollah antitank missile attack from southern Lebanon. The army said the man, Sharif Suad, was carrying out “infrastructure activity” for the military near Israel’s northern border.
Lebanon postpones municipal elections due to ongoing clashes with Israel
Lebanon’s parliament postponed the country’s municipal elections, which were due to be held in May, due to the “complex security, military and political circumstances following the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.” The bill, which passed on Thursday, postponed the elections until a date “no later than May 31 2025.” Municipal elections in Lebanon are supposed to be held every six years. They were postponed for the first time in 2022, purportedly to prioritise parliamentary elections that year, and again in 2023 due to alleged funding constraints. Lebanon’s east and south have been regularly subjected to Israeli attacks due to the ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. One lawmaker said this would make holding municipal elections very difficult in these regions.
Gaza flotilla delays departure blaming Israeli pressure
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition delayed the departure of their ships to Gaza, which were supposed to set sail today. The organisation accused Israel of pressuring the Republic of Guinea Bissau to withdraw its flag from their lead ship, Akdeniz, triggering “request for an additional inspection, this one by the flag state.” The group’s statement read:
This is another example of Israel obstructing the delivery of life-saving aid to the people in Gaza who face a deliberately created famine. How many more children will die of malnutrition and dehydration because of this delay and an ongoing siege which must be broken? We do not expect this hurdle to cause more than a few days’ delay. Israel will not break our resolve to reach the Palestinians of Gaza.
US State Dept Arabic spokesperson resigns in opposition to Gaza policy
Hala Rharrit, the Arabic language spokesperson of the US State Dept, has resigned, citing her opposition to the Biden administration’s Gaza policy. Rharrit joined the State Dept almost two decades ago. She said on LinkedIn:
I resigned Apr 2024 after 18 years of distinguished service in opposition to the US’ Gaza policy.
This marks at least the third resignation from the State Dept over the Biden administration’s Gaza policy. Additionally, Tariq Habash, senior official at the US Education Department, also resigned in January.
Morning update
Here are the latest updates:
- An Israeli air strike on western Gaza City killed at least eight people, WAFA reports
- Rescue workers who recovered bodies from Nasser hospital’s mass grave said some of them may have had their organs stolen
- Israeli raids on cities and refugee camps across the West Bank led to the arrest of a female teacher and two brothers
- Egypt’s intelligence chief is reportedly in Tel Aviv today to continue hostage exchange and ceasefire talks
- At least 550 arrests have been made over the past week across US universities as police crack down on pro-Palestine protests in the country.
Niqnaq 