Gaza one of ‘toughest battlefields’ on earth, no guarantee of victory: Israel spox
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a media event on 8 May that Gaza is “one of the most difficult battlefields” in the world and confirmed that Israel’s ongoing operations in Rafah do not guarantee victory against the Palestinian resistance. Hagari said at a conference hosted by Yediot Ahronot:
The most important challenge facing the army is the Israeli public’s confidence what happened on Oct 7 forces us to be more positioned and know how to accept criticism, and after failure we took responsibility. The one who is leading the war is the Chief of Staff, who has taken responsibility, and we also understand the implications of this responsibility. We planned a war that would last for about a year. Gaza is perhaps one of the most difficult arenas in the world in terms of fighting, intensity, and the tunnels that Hamas had dug underground.
He also claimed that the delay of the Rafah operation was due to “operational conditions” relating to the presence of over one million Palestinians sheltering in the city. This is despite the fact that airstrikes on the desperately overcrowded city have been ongoing for months. Rafah is “not as important as Khan Yunis and northern Gaza,” Hagari said. He went on to contradict the official Israeli narrative that the city serves as the resistance group’s final stronghold, saying:
We will deal with Rafah in a way that is right for us. Even after we deal with Rafah, Hamas will move north and try to regroup, even in the coming days. Wherever Hamas returns to, both in the north and in the center of the Strip, we will return to action.
Israel seized the Rafah border crossing with Egypt early on Tuesday after months of promising to attack the city. Israeli airstrikes have relentlessly targeted eastern Rafah since the operation to seize the crossing began, killing dozens, including children. Despite not yet launching a full ground assault on Rafah, the army has begun facing fierce resistance. Hamas’ Qassam Brigades said in a statement:
Al-Qassam Mujahideen were able to detonate a booby-trapped tunnel around a Zionist engineering force consisting of three vehicles, an excavator, and a number of soldiers, leaving them dead and wounded east of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Frustrated Israeli north plans to secede into ‘State of Galilee’
The Cradle, May 9 2024
The heads of settler communities in northern Israel plan to announce a secession from the State of Israel in the coming days, in protest against the Israeli government’s inaction in returning the tens of thousands of settlers who have been displaced from the Galilee by Hezbollah. The decision came at a recent meeting of the Conflict Zone Forum and is expected to be formally announced on May 15, Independence Day for Israelis and Nakba Day for Palestinians. According to a May 9 report by Hebrew news outlet Walla:
It was decided to announce on Independence Day the establishment of the State of Galilee and unilateral disengagement from the State of Israel. This extreme step will be accompanied by additional actions.
Walla reports that the “straw that broke” was Netanyahu’s response to Gantz at a recent meeting. According to Channel 12, Gantz urged that settlers displaced from the north be returned to their homes by Sep 1, with Netanyahu signaling that he is in no rush to deal with the situation, asking rhetorically:
What will happen if they return a few months after Sep 1?
The premier’s comment triggered a wave of anger among displaced residents of the north and the heads of settler communities. Upper Galilee Regional Council head Giora Zaltz told Channel 12 that he is working to return the settlers even without government approval. He said, referring to Netanyahu:
We can’t wait for a decision from someone who never decides!
In early April, the representatives of settler communities in the Conflict Zone Forum had posted advertisements stating:
We invite proposals to be submitted for an alternative government in Israel. The full details of the tender can be found in the hotels and the accommodation apartments of the displaced throughout the country, with the business owners who collapsed in the north, in the dead tourism areas in the north, and in the offices of the authorities in the north.
Displaced settlers of the north currently residing in Haifa and Jerusalem have organized protests for May 16. The organizers plan to protest under the banner:
No to a political agreement with Hezbollah! We call for the restoration of security through military action! This is a battle that we must fight together, a fight for our freedom, our honor and the future of our children! We the people of the north will not be silent!
Thousands are expected to participate in the protests. On May 8, Gallant warned troops that a “hot summer” awaits them, hinting at an escalation of military operations against Lebanon. The warning came the same day that an Israeli soldier was killed by a Hezbollah attack on Israel’s Al-Malikiya military site. The soldier was the third to be killed by Hezbollah since Monday. On Sunday, dozens of Hezbollah rockets struck Kiryat Shmona. The attack was carried out in response to an Israeli airstrike that killed an entire Lebanese family the day before. Avichai Stern, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, after the rocket attack:
If there is no clear decision, the Kaplan Street (Tel Aviv) protests will be child’s play compared to what we are planning soon.
Hezbollah began daily operations against Israeli military sites near the Lebanese border on 8 October in solidarity with Gaza and in support of the Palestinian resistance. These operations have recently intensified, including a surge in precise drone attacks on military sites, command headquarters, and troop gatherings. Tens of thousands of settlers from the north are dispersed across Israel as a result. They have repeatedly complained since the start of the war that Netanyahu’s government has done little to accommodate them and have shown significant frustration over the Israeli army’s failure to push Hezbollah away from the border. The US and France have proposed deescalation initiatives aimed at ending the fighting and pressuring the resistance group to withdraw from the border region. Yet the initiatives have failed, and Hezbollah has repeatedly vowed to continue attacking Israel until the war in Gaza is brought to an end.
Israeli troops amass near Rafah as officials tell Biden ‘we cannot be subdued’
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Israeli tanks and troops amassed on the outskirts of Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah on May 9, opening fire on the severely overcrowded city mere hours after Biden declared he would not provide weapons for the planned Israeli ground invasion. Rafah residents reported that Israeli tank fire killed three and wounded others near a mosque in the eastern neighborhood of Barazil on Thursday. Similarly, on the east edge of the city, residents said a helicopter opened fire near residential areas. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Rafah over recent weeks, as Israeli jets have continuously bombed the city, including illegal deployments of white phosphorus munitions on civilian areas. As the army continued to gather outside Rafah, top Israeli officials fired back against Biden’s announcement. Gallant said during a ceremony ahead of Israel’s Memorial Day:
I say from here to Israel’s enemies and its best friends: The State of Israel cannot be subdued, not the IOF, not the Defense Ministry, not the defense establishment, not the State of Israel. We will stand, we will achieve our goals, we will hit Hamas, we will destroy Hezbollah, and we will bring security. Whatever the cost, we will ensure the existence of the State of Israel.
For his part, Netanyahu took to social media to post an excerpt from a speech he gave earlier this week in occupied Jerusalem when he insisted:
Today, we again confront enemies bent on our destruction. I say to the leaders of the world: no amount of pressure, no decision from any international forum, will stop Israel from defending itself. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.
Earlier in the day, Biden told CNN that his government would not support or provide weapons for an expanded Israeli assault on Rafah.“ He said:
I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet: They’re not going to get our support if they go after these population centers. I made it clear that if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, to deal with that problem. We’re not walking away from Israel’s security. We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in crowded areas.
Biden also claimed that Israel has “not yet” crossed the “red line” of conduct in Gaza, despite killing nearly 40k people, over a third of whom were children.
Majority of Democrats deem Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide: report
The Cradle, May 9 2024
According to a poll published on May 8, the majority of US Democrats believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The poll was conducted between Apr 26-29 by Data Progress, a left-wing think tank and advocacy group. While 56% of Democratic voters view Israel’s actions as a genocide, 22% do not agree with this view, and the last 22% are unsure. As for Republican voters, 58% renounce genocide accusations against Israel, while 23% claim that they “do not know.” The survey also indicates that 70% of US voters across the political spectrum support a permanent ceasefire. The US has consistently made arms shipments to Israel since the start of the war. 46% of voters disapprove of Congress authorizing $4b to restock Israel’s missile systems, and 37% believe military aid to Israel should be reduced. A Gallup poll published on Mar 4 also shows that US public opinion of Israel, as well as the Palestinian Authority, has deteriorated since Oct 7. Despite the mass acknowledgment of Israel’s war crimes amongst US citizens, Washington frequently dismisses South Africa’s case against Israel under the International Criminal Court, as many US lawmakers have called the genocide accusation “meritless.” However, earlier this week, an Axios report indicated that a dozen Republican US senators threatened ICC officials with the imposition of unilateral sanctions if the court pushes forward with arrest warrants for high-ranking Israeli officials such as Netanyahu. The Axios report followed a strongly-worded letter from a group of Republican senators to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, cautioning him against pursuing charges of genocide against Israeli officials for actions in Gaza.
Turkiye renews supply of construction materials to Israel despite trade ban
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Turkiye’s Ministry of Trade has issued temporary approval for the renewed supply of construction materials to Israel, according to informed sources who spoke with Israel’s Globes. The report highlights:
This is not approval for the export of general building products to Israel, but one that is temporary and only for factories that have already worked with Israel. The decision stems from a meeting in Ankara that took place between senior officials of the Turkiye–Israel Chamber of Commerce and senior officials of Turkiye’s Ministry of Trade. Turkish businesspeople expressed their displeasure at the sweeping ban on the export of goods. The Israeli foreign and finance ministries have been working feverishly to end the country’s dependence on Turkish imports.
Ankara reportedly announced the decision in letters delivered to these particular factories. In a document reviewed by Reuters, the Turkish Ministry of Trade “outlines the three-month reprieve for companies exporting to Israel.” Separately, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “retreated” on his earlier position and lifted many of the trade restrictions he imposed on Israel.
In response to the claim, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat told media that Ankara permanently easing its trade ban with Israel is “absolutely fictional” and has “nothing to do with reality.” More than six months into the Israeli genocide in Gaza, last week, Turkiye finally announced an official halt to all trade with their longtime partner, building upon the decision in April to restrict some exports. In a deal that significantly developed Israeli–Turkish economic relations, Turkiye and Israel signed a Free Trade Agreement in 1996 that mutually exempted both countries from customs duties on industrial product imports. According to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly, Turkish exports to Israel expanded five-fold from $1.4b in the early oughties to $5.1b in 2023. Moreover, Turkiye is among the top four states for Israeli imports. Until last week’s ban, Turkiye provided Israel with 95% of its cement, with notable clients that include the Israeli Ministry of Defense. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, cement exports to Israel totaled $174m in 2023, with $6.39m recorded from Oct 7 to the present. Turkiye also provided 65% of Israel’s steel imports. Data shows that Turkiye exported $105k worth of weapon parts to Israel last October and that in 2023, arms exports amounted to $823,112. This included firearms and accessories, as well as firearm components. Furthermore, 40% of Israel’s annual oil consumption is delivered via the Turkish oil hub port of Ceyhan.
Several casualties in Israeli bombing of south Lebanon
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon resulted in a number of casualties on May 9, as Hezbollah continues to turn up the heat of its operations against Israel. The Israeli army bombarded the southern town of Naqoura with artillery shells at around noon on Thursday. One person was killed and two injured a few hours earlier when an Israeli airstrike targeted a car in the town of Bafliyeh, in the southern Lebanese district of Tyre. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported:
There were one martyr and two wounded, one of them in critical condition, as a result of the raid that targeted a car on the Bafliyeh Road.
According to security sources cited by Reuters, four members of Hezbollah were killed in the Israeli attack on Bafliyeh. Hezbollah announced the killing of its fighter, Ali Ahmad Hamza, that morning. The Lebanese resistance group has intensified its operations against Israeli sites near the Lebanese border in recent days. The IOF announced on Thursday morning the killing of one Israeli soldier and the wounding of another in a Hezbollah rocket attack on the Al-Malikiya military site. The attack was one of eleven operations carried out by Hezbollah against IOF on May 8 and marked the third killing of an Israeli soldier by the group this week. As Hezbollah targets Israel’s military sites, Israeli airstrikes on south Lebanon continue to hit residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Over 350 people have been killed in the south of Lebanon since Oct 8, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Israel has also continued its relentless bombing campaign against Syria. Israeli jets bombarded the outskirts of Damascus in the early hours of May 9. Tthe Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday:
At approximately 03:20 am today, the Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, targeting a building in the Damascus countryside. Our air defense forces were able to intercept some of the missiles. Some damage to infrastructure was caused as a result of the attack.
Last week, eight Syrian soldiers were injured in an Israeli airstrike near Damascus.
Four EU member states set to recognize Palestinian statehood: Report
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Ireland, Spain, and at least two other EU member states are considering jointly recognizing the State of Palestine on May 21, according to sources who spoke with Irish public broadcaster RTÉ, which reported on May 9:
Contacts between Dublin and Madrid, as well as between Slovenia and Malta, have been intensifying with a view to the countries jointly recognizing Palestinian statehood.
The EU nations have reportedly been awaiting a UNGA vote set for May 10 that could lead to the recognition of Palestine as a full UN member state. Earlier this week, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez said via social media that they held talks “on the wish of both Ireland and Spain to recognize the State of Palestine.”
On Mar 22, Spain, Ireland, Malta, and Slovenia issued a similar statement, saying the four nations agreed to take the first steps towards recognizing a Palestinian state. The statement reads:
We agree that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is through the implementation of a two-state solution, with Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side, in peace and security.
Since 1988, 139 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Palestinian statehood. Eight of those are EU member states: Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, the Greek Cypriot administration, and Sweden. EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell recently said that he expected some EU countries to officially recognize Palestine. Friday’s vote at the UNGA is expected to remain largely symbolic without the UNSC also approving the recognition of a Palestinian state. The US has already blocked one attempt by the UNSC this year to grant Palestine full UN membership. Furthermore, US law prohibits funding to any UN agency that accepts the Palestinian Authority as a member state.
Biden to Israel: Full Rafah invasion means no US arms
The Cradle, May 9 2024
Biden claimed on May 8 that his government will not support or provide weapons for an expanded Israeli assault on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, coming just a day after Israel’s military seized the city’s border crossing with Egypt. The president told CNN:
I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet, they’re not going to get our support if they go after these population centers.
When asked if US weapons have been used to kill civilians, Biden said:
Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which it goes after population centers. I made it clear that if they go into Rafah. I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, to deal with that problem.
Referring to the operation that saw Israeli troops seize the Rafah border crossing, Biden said:
It’s causing problems with Egypt. But it’s just wrong. We’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells. We’re not walking away from Israel’s security. We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas.
He did say, however, that Israel has “not yet” crossed the “red line” regarding conduct in Gaza but that it was close to doing so. Washington paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on May 8 that the delivery was held back over concerns of a wide-scale Israeli operation in Rafah. Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said in response to the US threat to hold back arms from Israel:
This is a difficult and very disappointing statement to hear from a president to whom we have been grateful since the beginning of the war.
The Biden administration has already approved over 100 US arms sales to Israel since the start of the war in Gaza in October. Israeli forces moved on Rafah late on Monday and by Tuesday morning had seized control of its border crossing with Egypt. Sources told Israeli and US media that the operation at the crossing was a limited one that aimed to pressure Hamas in truce negotiations. According to an May 8 report by Haaretz, the US, Egypt and Israel have agreed that a private US security firm will assume control of the Rafah crossing once the Israeli operation there is concluded.
The report states Israel has vowed to the US and Egypt that it will “restrict” its Rafah operation. However, a US official told the Times of Israel on Wednesday that Netanyahu aims to turn the Rafah operation into an “all-or-nothing” political campaign. Israel believes Rafah is Hamas’ final stronghold and has promised an invasion of the city for months. Far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition, namely National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, are fully in favor of expanding the Rafah operation into a full-blown attack on the city. On Thursday, in response to the US president’s comments, Ben Gvir said in a satirical post on social media, “Hamas loves Biden,” seemingly insinuating that US calls against a full attack on Rafah will shield the Palestinian resistance group from defeat. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the prime minister to immediately terminate Ben Gvir from his position over the post. Lapid said:
If Netanyahu does not fire Ben Gvir today, he is endangering every soldier in the IDF and every citizen in the State of Israel.
Several people, among them children, have already been killed in Rafah, as Israel’s seizure of the crossing coincided with a significant intensification of airstrikes in the east of the city, including illegally-deployed white phosphorus munitions. WAFA reported on Thursday:
In Rafah, occupation aircraft bombed a house belonging to Eid family, west of the city, killing eight civilians, including three children, one of whom is an infant.
Niqnaq 