Members phkrause Posted October 24, 2023 Author Members Posted October 24, 2023 Is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system ironclad? Since Israel activated the Iron Dome in 2011, the cutting-edge rocket-defense system that has given residents a sense of security has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. But the current war with Hamas might be its stiffest challenge yet. Read more. Why this matters: The system can get overwhelmed if a mass barrage of rockets is fired. In just two weeks, Hamas has fired 7,000 rockets toward Israel, according to the Israeli military. That is more than any of the previous four wars fought between Israel and Hamas since the militant group seized power in Gaza in 2007. While it has generally performed well so far, with most rockets being intercepted, some have managed to get through. This risk could be raised if Hezbollah enters the war. Hezbollah has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles. Related coverage ➤ Pentagon rushes defenses and advisers to Middle East as Israel’s ground assault in Gaza looms It’s Israeli boy’s 9th birthday as he is held in Hamas captivity — and his family waits Dwindling fuel supplies for Gaza’s hospital put premature babies in incubators at risk Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 24, 2023 Author Members Posted October 24, 2023 Scoop: Israel may delay invasion for hostage talks Supporters of Israel wave posters of people believed to be held hostage in Gaza, during a protest Sunday in Trafalgar Square, London. Photo: Frank Augstein/AP Israel is willing to delay a ground invasion of Gaza for a few days to allow talks on releasing a large number of the hostages Hamas is holding there, two Israeli officials tell Axios' Barak Ravid. "Both Israel and the Biden administration want to exhaust every effort to try and get hostages out of Gaza," a senior Israeli official said. "If Hamas proposes a big package, of course we will be ready to do things in return." Why it matters: Hamas has held 200+ hostages in Gaza since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Israeli officials say that once their military launches a ground invasion, a deal for hostages will be nearly impossible. The Israelis told Egyptian mediators that if Hamas wants a hostage deal, it needs to release all the women and children it's holding, the Israeli officials said. State of play: The Israelis' stance on hostages comes as the Biden administration tries to nudge Israel toward delaying a ground war in Gaza. The U.S. is moving military assets into the region to show support for Israel — and to try to discourage others, such as Iran-backed Hezbollah, from joining the war. U.S. officials believe the hostages include several of the 10 Americans who are unaccounted for in Gaza. What we're hearing: The Israeli officials acknowledge it's likely that some hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, which have targeted Hamas positions in Gaza during the last two weeks. Khaled Mashaal, a Hamas official, told Sky News yesterday that the hostages are being held in several locations in the Gaza Strip. Two more hostages out (from left): Hamas releases Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, to the Red Cross in an unknown location yesterday. Image from video: Al Qassam Brigades (Hamas military wing) Telegram channel via AP Hamas has released four hostages in recent days, in two pairs. Yesterday, Hamas released two Israeli women, Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Cooper, 79, in a deal facilitated by an Egyptian mediator. Last week, the terror group released two American women, Judith Raanan and her daughter, Natalie, of Evanston, Ill. A mediator from Qatar aided that release. Behind the scenes: Hamas said in a statement it had proposed releasing the Israeli women over the weekend — but that Israel refused. Israeli officials confirmed that — and said Hamas initially demanded that in return, Israel stop its airstrikes on Gaza for six hours. The Israeli officials said they refused because they didn't want to create a precedent in which Hamas would release two hostages every time it wanted a ceasefire. The Israelis' concern was that every such ceasefire can allow Hamas to regroup, and give the group's leaders a chance to move from one hiding place to another without being targeted. Between the lines: President Biden's team is negotiating with Israel and the Qatari and Egyptian mediators, who are talking with Hamas. Steven Gillen, the U.S. deputy special envoy for hostage affairs, arrived in Israel several days after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel and has been working with his Israeli counterparts and the families of Americans who are unaccounted for or being held hostage. Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday and "reaffirmed [Biden's] commitment to ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages taken by Hamas," the White House said. The other side: Mashaal, the Hamas official, told Sky News that if Israel stops airstrikes in Gaza, Qatari and Egyptian officials will help find a way to have the hostages released. Reality check: Israeli officials stress that even if a hostage deal were struck, the Israeli military wouldn't drop its plans for a ground assault in Gaza. These have been the deadliest few weeks for Palestinians in the West Bank in 15 years, the N.Y. Times reports from Palestinian health authorities and historical data from the UN. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 24, 2023 Author Members Posted October 24, 2023 Now freed, an Israeli hostage describes the ‘hell’ of harrowing Hamas attack and terrifying capture JERUSALEM (AP) — Eighty-five-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz spoke of a “hell that we never knew before and never thought we would experience” as she described the harrowing Oct. 7 assault on her kibbutz by Hamas militants and the terror of being taken hostage into the Gaza Strip. https://apnews.com/article/israel-hostage-hamas-militants-10b5491c6f63b4bf697c95f3ca052d61? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 26, 2023 Author Members Posted October 26, 2023 Russia maneuvers carefully over the Israel-Hamas war as it seeks to expand its global clout Russia has issued carefully calibrated criticism of both sides in the war between Israel and Hamas. But the conflict also is giving Moscow bold new opportunities — to advance its role as a global power broker and challenge Western efforts to isolate it over Ukraine. Read more. Why this matters: Russian President Vladimir Putin has cast the war as a failure of U.S. diplomacy, charging that Washington has opted for economic “handouts” to Palestinians and abandoned efforts to help create a Palestinian state. He declared earlier this month that Moscow could play the role of mediator, thanks to its friendly ties with Israel and the Palestinians. Russia’s statements have played well in the Arab world, where many accused the U.S. and its allies of squarely supporting Israel while turning a blind eye to Gaza. But this position also threatens Russia’s friendly ties with Israel, which hasn’t joined Western sanctions against Moscow or given weapons to Ukraine. Related coverage ➤ U.N. warns Gaza blockade could force it to sharply cut relief operations as bombings rise US developing contingency plans to evacuate Americans from Mideast in case Israel-Hamas war spreads Support for Israel becomes a top issue for Iowa evangelicals key to the first Republican caucuses Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 26, 2023 Author Members Posted October 26, 2023 Behind the Curtain: Inside Biden's slow-walk strategy "Behind the Curtain" is a new column by Axios CEO Jim VandeHei and co-founder Mike Allen, based on regular conversations with White House and congressional leaders, CEOs and top technologists. President Biden, despite full-throated support for Israel and its right to strike Hamas, has methodically and meticulously delayed the expected invasion of Gaza, U.S. officials tell us. Biden dangled high-level visits (including his own), military support and public backing to buy time in Gaza. He also made plain that America doesn't want Israel to act impulsively, or without considering U.S. concerns. Why it matters: The slow-walking strategy flows from five strategic worries, U.S. officials tell us and Axios Middle East expert Barak Ravid. Biden wants more aid delivered to as many Palestinians as possible, to limit a humanitarian crisis and massive global backlash. He wants the estimated 500+ U.S. citizens trapped in Gaza to get out before the fighting intensifies. Half a dozen attempts to get them out since the Hamas attack have failed — partly because Hamas prevented Americans from leaving, officials say. He needs more time to fortify America's military presence in the Middle East, given rising fears that Iran or Iran-backed terrorist groups will attack Israel. He fears a quick, impulsive assault on Gaza will land Israel in a long, bloody street battle that could kill tens of thousands of people — and still not destroy Hamas. It could also push Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies to join the war — with deployed Americans likely in harm's way. He wants to buy time for Benjamin Netanyahu, who has his own reasons to delay. Netanyahu, despite political pressure to move fast against Hamas, has always been risk-averse. He has a somewhat skeptical view of the Israeli military plans — and wants time. So he's entertaining other opinions. He's also willing to give more time for hostage-release talks while the Israel Defense Forces better prepare for a ground assault. 🖼️ The big picture: Israeli military leaders are growing impatient with the delay. IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi said Tuesday the IDF is ready for the ground operation and only awaits an order from the government. Biden wants to free the remaining American hostages and win the release of more captive Israelis. U.S. officials feel progress is being made. Between the lines: Biden shares Bibi's concerns about Israel's plan. Biden wants an Israeli invasion to be more Mosul 2016 and less Fallujah 2004. That's why he sent three-star Marine Lt. Gen. James Glynn — a veteran of Mosul — to advise the Israelis on their military planning, U.S. officials say. Axios has learned that Secretary of State Tony Blinken told a group of Jewish American leaders on Monday: "We're not limiting Israel or telling it what to do. We're asking hard questions and giving our best advice based on our own experience." Share this column ... Read our first and second columns. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 27, 2023 Author Members Posted October 27, 2023 Biden condemns retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday spoke out against retaliatory attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. He also said he was redoubling his commitment to working on a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. https://apnews.com/article/biden-west-bank-settlers-israel-hamas-war-0a2f38878720c962a20d9286315cde94? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 27, 2023 Author Members Posted October 27, 2023 Israeli troops launch brief ground raid into Gaza ahead of expected wider incursion After conducting more than two weeks of devastating air raids, Israeli troops and tanks began striking several militant targets to “prepare the battlefield” ahead of a widely expected ground invasion. Read more. Recent developments: The raid came after the U.N. warned it is on the verge of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, forcing it to sharply curtail relief efforts in the territory, which has been sealed off since Hamas’ bloody rampage across southern Israel. The rising death tolls in Gaza are unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war is now the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. Even greater loss of life could come if Israel launches a ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Related coverage ➤ Live updates | Israeli troops briefly enter Gaza Fearing airstrikes and crowded shelters, Palestinians in north Gaza defy Israeli evacuation orders An increase in harassment against Jewish and Muslim Americans has been reported since Hamas attacks Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 27, 2023 Author Members Posted October 27, 2023 Biden's post-war plan for Gaza President Biden is signaling for the first time what his plan would be for the day after the war in Gaza — a new generation of peace talks in the Middle East on a "two-state solution" in which Israel would co-exist with a Palestinian state, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: Biden's call for a "concentrated effort" to begin talking about a two-state solution represents a pivot for the president. Biden had focused largely on trying to avoid conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank — and securing a big peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. But after Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, there's no going back to the "status quo" between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as it stood on Oct. 6, Biden said yesterday during a news conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. "Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live side by side in safety, dignity, and peace," Biden said. "And there's no going back to the status quo as it stood on October the 6th. That means ensuring Hamas can no longer terrorize Israel and use Palestinian civilians as human shields." "It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next. And in our view, it has to be a two-state solution. It means a concentrated effort from all the parties — Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, global leaders — to put us on a path toward peace." Behind the scenes: During a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, Biden noted the importance of a permanent pathway to peace for Israelis and Palestinians after this crisis, the White House said. Biden emphasized to Netanyahu that Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations for a state of their own. Reality check: A two-state solution has been an elusive goal for many Middle East diplomats for decades. Animosity in the region already seems to be the worst since the Palestinian uprising known as the second Intifada, two decades ago. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 28, 2023 Author Members Posted October 28, 2023 Nearly 300 Bernie Sanders Alumni Call On Senator to Back a Ceasefire in Gaza “Many of us, your former staff, share your Jewish heritage,” the letter said. “Our pain and sorrow at the losses on October 7 will not be weaponized.” https://theintercept.com/2023/10/24/bernie-sanders-ceasefire-letter-israel/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 28, 2023 Author Members Posted October 28, 2023 Secret U.S. War in Lebanon Is Tinder for Escalation of Israel–Gaza Conflict Billions in security aid to Lebanon, along with off-the-books commandos, could embroil the U.S. in a regional conflagration. https://theintercept.com/2023/10/24/israel-lebanon-us-military-hezbollah/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 28, 2023 Author Members Posted October 28, 2023 Death Toll in Gaza Now Exceeds 5,000 Yousef Munayyer joins Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain to discuss how the political and regional implications of the war in Palestine extend far beyond its borders. https://theintercept.com/2023/10/25/intercepted-israel-gaza-bombing-palestine/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 28, 2023 Author Members Posted October 28, 2023 This Duet Between Israeli and Palestinian Superstars Is Giving Me Hope The music of Noa and Mira Awad is a candle in the dark. https://www.kveller.com/this-duet-between-israeli-and-palestinian-superstars-is-giving-me-hope/? ps:I posted this here for obvious reasons! There is a video that you have to scroll down a little ways of these two singers. I hope you enjoy it!! Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 29, 2023 Author Members Posted October 29, 2023 Israel widens war after hostage stalemate Israel's war Cabinet decided to expand ground operations in Gaza after talks on a possible hostage release with Hamas reached a stalemate, two Israeli officials told Axios' Barak Ravid. Hamas is holding more than 220 people hostage, according to Israeli officials. What's happening: The Israeli military launched massive air raids and artillery strikes before announcing late Friday night local time that it was "expanding" ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Cellular, internet and other communications in the enclave have also been cut, according to Palestinian human rights groups and several reports. Hamas fired a barrage of rockets on Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel. Zoom in: Israeli officials have said the goal of a ground offensive is to "dismantle" Hamas infrastructure and completely "destroy" the militant group, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S. and other countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the war would be "long and difficult." Early in the fighting, Netanyahu told President Biden that Israel had no choice but to invade. What to watch: There are growing concerns worldwide that the war could widen into a regional conflict. Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Tehran have both warned Israel against launching an invasion of Gaza. In Gaza, it's unclear what Israel plans to do if it achieves its aim of dismantling Hamas. Israeli officials say they want to create a "new security regime." Keep reading. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 29, 2023 Author Members Posted October 29, 2023 Israel steps up air and ground attacks in Gaza and cuts off the territory’s communications DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel knocked out internet and communications in the Gaza Strip in stepped-up bombardment Friday night, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from contact with each other and the outside world and creating a near-blackout of information, as the military said it was “expanding” ground operations in the territory. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-airstrikes-region-e41b5b12e8cdf9db62395314d9a782b6? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 29, 2023 Author Members Posted October 29, 2023 Israel bombs tunnels Israel's "expanded" ground offensive in Gaza — launched last night local time — is much bigger and more significant than the limited raids of recent days, Axios' Barak Ravid reports from a senior Israeli official. The ground operation is backed by heavy bombardment of the enclave. Israel says it is targeting Hamas tunnels. Gaza's more than 2.2 million people remained largely cut off from the outside world amid a communications blackout. Hamas fired a barrage of rockets on Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel. Two Israeli officials said the decision to "expand" ground operations in Gaza was made by the Israeli war cabinet on Thursday night, after talks on a possible hostage release reached a stalemate. Israel allowed some aid into Gaza from Egypt after growing pressure worldwide, including by the U.S. But aid groups say it's only a fraction of the enclave's needs. No one, including hundreds of Palestinian Americans, has been allowed to leave despite efforts by foreign governments to get their nationals out. Families of the hostages being held in Gaza gathered in a Tel Aviv square today to express deep concern about the implications of the intensified fighting for their loved ones. What to watch: There are growing concerns worldwide that the war could widen into a much bigger conflict. Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Tehran have both warned Israel against launching an invasion of Gaza. Get the latest. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 30, 2023 Author Members Posted October 30, 2023 Fighting underway inside Gaza as Israel says it will ‘expand’ operations but not to full extent planned (JTA) — Fighting was reportedly underway inside Gaza late Friday night, after Israeli officials announced plans to “expand” their offensive inside the territory. https://www.jta.org/2023/10/27/israel/fighting-underway-inside-gaza-as-israel-says-it-will-expand-operations-but-not-to-full-extent-planned? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 30, 2023 Author Members Posted October 30, 2023 Biden braces for broader war The White House is preparing for the possibility the Israel-Hamas war will expand across the Middle East, Axios' Hans Nichols and Barak Ravid report. Why it matters: The alarming prospect of regional escalation — fueled by skirmishes beyond the fighting in Gaza — hangs over conversations among top West Wing officials. Israeli intelligence services believe Hezbollah — which is based in Lebanon and backed by Iran — will increase the intensity of its attacks against Israel on its northern border because of Israel's ground operation in Gaza. Israeli officials think Hezbollah will try to escalate, without provoking an all-out war that could easily go out of control. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced "the second stage of the war," warning his country of a "long and difficult campaign." Israel didn't encounter much resistance in Gaza during the first day of the assault. But Israeli forces are still on the outskirts of urban areas, and expect the fighting to become much harder. "We are moving carefully without going wild," a senior Israeli official said. "There is no need to rush because it will take months anyway." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 30, 2023 Author Members Posted October 30, 2023 Israel says its war can both destroy Hamas and rescue hostages. Their families are less certain The Israeli military has sought to assure the public it can achieve the two goals of its war on Hamas simultaneously. But as the army ramps up airstrikes and ground incursions on the enclave – in preparation for a broader invasion – the anguished families of hostages are growing increasingly worried those aims will collide with devastating consequences. Read more. Recent developments: A military invasion raises the prospect of intractable warfare in densely populated cities and subterranean tunnels that could suck young soldiers into a months-long quagmire. With the hostages believed to be hidden in Hamas’ sprawling tunnel network, heavy fighting raises the prospect of unmitigated chaos for soldiers and hostages alike. Balancing the families’ interests with the military goal of destroying Hamas has presented a dilemma for Netanyahu, who is already under fire for his government’s failure to prevent the worst attack in Israeli history and to swiftly come to people’s aid that day. Meanwhile, Hamas political leaders are in negotiations with mediators Egypt and Qatar to secure the freedom of at least some trapped Israeli civilians. Four hostages have been released so far. Late on Friday as the Israeli military struck Gaza by air, land and sea with a ferocity never seen before, families of hostages were on edge, acutely aware of the dangers facing their loved ones. On Saturday, crowds protested outside Israel’s Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, demanding that Netanyahu and other officials address the fate of their loved ones. Related coverage ➤ Israel expands ground assault into Gaza as fears rise over airstrikes near crowded hospitals Biden says Mideast leaders must consider a two-state solution after the war ends A spiderweb of Hamas tunnels in Gaza Strip raises risks for an Israeli ground offensive Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 30, 2023 Author Members Posted October 30, 2023 5 Big Lies About Israel’s War with Hamas We are being bombarded with inflammatory smears and misinformation about Israel’s war with Hamas. Here are five big lies about Israel, along with the facts to help you respond. https://aish.com/5-big-lies-about-israels-war-with-gaza/? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 31, 2023 Author Members Posted October 31, 2023 Israel pushes deeper into Gaza and frees Hamas captive; Netanyahu rejects calls for cease-fire KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into Gaza on Monday, advancing in tanks and other armored vehicles on the territory’s main city and freeing a soldier held captive by Hamas militants. The Israeli prime minister rejected calls for a cease-fire as airstrikes landed near hospitals where thousands of Palestinians are sheltering beside the wounded. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-war-news-10-30-2023-131e9537aaad8e74586cc114d2668e5a? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 31, 2023 Author Members Posted October 31, 2023 🔎 Inside Israel's war plan Israel's military has been secretive about its "expanded" ground operation in Gaza. But parts of its strategy have become clear, Axios' Barak Ravid and Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath report. The Israel Defense Forces' attack on Hamas also has become a hostage-rescue mission. State of play: The IDF won't call its operation in Gaza an invasion. But two Israeli sources tell Axios that at least two armored and infantry divisions — amounting to more than 20,000 Israeli troops — have entered the Gaza Strip since the operation began Friday. The IDF also is using intelligence sources on the ground to try to locate and free hostages, the sources say. Israeli officials were encouraged this weekend when IDF special forces and the Shin Bet intelligence agency rescued an Israeli soldier, Pvt. Uri Magidish, from a remote building where Hamas was holding her hostage. Magidish was among dozens of Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped by Hamas in Israel and taken to Gaza on Oct. 7. Between the lines: Urban warfare is difficult and ugly, but is expected to be especially so in Gaza because of Hamas' vast tunnel system. The number of hostages further complicates Israel's operation. Israel is also under growing pressure — including by the Biden administration — to protect Palestinian civilians who are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis. What's next: It's not clear what Israel intends to do if it achieves its goal of destroying Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant previously said Israel wants to create "a new security regime in the Gaza Strip." But Israel hasn't elaborated on what exactly that means — including who would govern the territory. Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 31, 2023 Author Members Posted October 31, 2023 Trey Yingst: "You smell like death" Screenshot: Fox News Trey Yingst, a 30-year-old Jerusalem-based foreign correspondent for Fox News, has covered wars and power battles in the Middle East and Europe since 2018. He tells Axios' Sara Fischer that he's seen "the worst of humanity on display" during the Israel-Hamas war. Why it matters: The personal toll of the war on journalists is rarely covered on air or in print. "There are some moments we don't talk about — you get back from these scenes and you smell like death. The smell sticks to your clothes and to your hair," Yingst told Axios by email from the Gaza border. "It's those moments that people don't think about in this coverage that are challenging because you are sitting there alone on the floor of the hotel room scrubbing blood of someone else off your boots." Yingst and his team are currently staying in Ashdod, Israel, just north of Gaza. He is traveling with his producer, videographer, engineer and security. He and his crew are working around the clock, leaving to shoot interviews or video at 9:30 a.m. and doing reporting and live shots "until we fall asleep at night." Multiple times over the past three weeks, Yingst said he has fallen asleep with his clothes and shoes on. Fox News has been reporting from southern Israel for weeks. But access to Gaza and the Gaza border is becoming more difficult. Reporters trying to cover the conflict should try to keep contact with people inside Gaza, Yingst said: "That part of the story is the most challenging to cover." Yingst has covered a slew of ground conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. But he said that this month, "I've seen some of the most horrific things that can be done to humans." He gave a few examples: watching the bodies of police officers and militants being stacked in the back of a pickup truck in Sderot, Israel, and witnessing authorities at the site of the music festival massacre pick up burned pieces of festivalgoers and put them in bags." The bottom line: "There is no room for the fog of war among journalists," Yingst said. "We have to get it right." Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted October 31, 2023 Author Members Posted October 31, 2023 UN agency in Gaza says urgent cease-fire is a matter of life and death for millions of Palestinians Philippe Lazzarini warned that a further breakdown of civil order after the agency’s warehouses were broken into by Palestinians searching for food and other aid “will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the largest U.N. agency in Gaza to continue operating.” Read more. Recent developments: Briefings to the Security Council by Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF painted a dire picture of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its ongoing retaliatory military action aimed at “obliterating” the militant group, which controls Gaza. Many speakers at the council meeting denounced Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attacks on Israel that killed over 1,400 people, and urged the release of some 230 hostages taken to Gaza by the militants. But virtually every speaker also stressed that Israel is obligated under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and their essentials for life including hospitals, schools and other infrastructure. In a sign of increasing U.S. concern at the escalating Palestinian death toll, U.S. ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council Biden reiterated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday “that while Israel has the right and responsibility to defend its citizens from terrorism, it must do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law.” Related coverage ➤ Israeli forces battle Hamas around Gaza City, as military says 800,000 have fled south Putin claims without proof that airport riots targeting Israelis were staged from Ukraine Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted November 1, 2023 Author Members Posted November 1, 2023 Israeli airstrikes crush apartments in Gaza refugee camp, as ground troops battle Hamas militants KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A barrage of Israeli airstrikes leveled apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City on Tuesday, and footage showed rescuers pulling men, women and children from the rubble. Israel said the strike destroyed a Hamas command center set up in civilian houses and an underground tunnel network. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-war-news-10-31-2023-54ab6bd7f6861be86266770c245827e1? Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Members phkrause Posted November 1, 2023 Author Members Posted November 1, 2023 Foreign passport holders seen entering Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt, first travelers to do so since war began Dozens of people could be seen entering the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press journalist, while Palestinians reported another widespread outage of internet and phone service in Gaza, hours after Israeli airstrikes leveled apartment buildings and as ground troops battled Hamas militants inside the besieged territory. Read more. Recent developments: It appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the war over three weeks ago. Hundreds have gathered at the crossing at different times in recent weeks but have not been allowed out due to disagreements among Egypt, Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian telecoms company Paltel reported a “complete disruption” of internet and mobile phone services in Gaza, marking the second time in five days that residents were largely cut off from the world. Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that blackouts severely disrupt work in an already dire situation in Gaza, where over half of 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced and basic supplies are running low. On Tuesday, a barrage of airstrikes leveled apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City. Rescuers frantically dug through the destruction to pull men, women and children from the rubble. The director of a nearby hospital, Dr. Atef Al-Kahlot, said hundreds of people were wounded or killed. Israel said the strike, which targeted senior Hamas military leader Ibrahim Biari, destroyed a militant command center and an underground tunnel network, and killed dozens of other fighters. Neither side’s account could be independently confirmed. Related coverage ➤ Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim attacks on Israel, drawing their main sponsor Iran closer to Hamas war The FBI director warns about threats to Americans from those inspired by the Hamas attack on Israel Quote phkrause Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. - ChL 60
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.