Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The United States stepped up pressure Monday for a Gaza ceasefire with a call for a UN Security Council vote on a truce as it redeployed Washington's top diplomat to the region scarred by eight months of war.
Issued on: 10/06/2024 -
A Palestinian looks at the debris from fighting following the hostage rescue operation by Israeli special forces in Nuseirat camp, central Gaza, on June 8, 2024
© Bashar TALEB / AFP
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's regional tour was preceded by further bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces, with witnesses reporting overnight strikes in the centre of the strip and helicopter gunfire on ravaged Gaza City.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile faced domestic dissent, with war cabinet member Benny Gantz quitting Sunday over the premier's handling of the war.
Washington sought to bring a ceasefire closer by tabling a draft resolution at the United Nations, calling for an "immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages" between Israel and militant group Hamas.
A staunch ally of Israel, the United States has been widely criticised for having blocked several earlier UN draft resolutions calling for a halt to the fighting.
Freed Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, 26, is embraced by her father at a hospital on June 8, 2024
© Handout / Israeli Army/AFP
A new push for a deal by President Joe Biden on May 31, separate from the UN, has so far failed to produce tangible results, while further doubts have been cast on a truce by an Israeli special forces raid to free hostages which killed scores of Palestinians on Saturday.
"People were screaming -- young and old, women and men," said Muhannad Thabet, 35, a resident of the crowded Nuseirat refugee camp area.
"Everyone wanted to flee the place, but the bombing was intense and anyone who moved was at risk of being killed due to the heavy bombardment and gunfire."
The Israeli military said the extraction team and the four rescued captives came under heavy gun and grenade fire by militants, who killed one police officer, while Israel's air force launched strikes that reduced nearby buildings to rubble.
A new push for a deal by President Joe Biden on May 31, separate from the UN, has so far failed to produce tangible results, while further doubts have been cast on a truce by an Israeli special forces raid to free hostages which killed scores of Palestinians on Saturday.
"People were screaming -- young and old, women and men," said Muhannad Thabet, 35, a resident of the crowded Nuseirat refugee camp area.
"Everyone wanted to flee the place, but the bombing was intense and anyone who moved was at risk of being killed due to the heavy bombardment and gunfire."
The Israeli military said the extraction team and the four rescued captives came under heavy gun and grenade fire by militants, who killed one police officer, while Israel's air force launched strikes that reduced nearby buildings to rubble.
Palestinians inspect damage to buildings following the hostage rescue raid in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip on June 8, 2024
© Bashar TALEB / AFP
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said 274 people were killed and 698 wounded, in what it labelled the "Nuseirat massacre", figures that could not be independently verified.
Among those were at least 64 children, 57 women and 37 elderly people, the ministry said.
'Abandon the battle'
Many Israelis shed tears of joy when they heard of the release of the four captives, all reported in good health.
Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, had been abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war.
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said 274 people were killed and 698 wounded, in what it labelled the "Nuseirat massacre", figures that could not be independently verified.
Among those were at least 64 children, 57 women and 37 elderly people, the ministry said.
'Abandon the battle'
Many Israelis shed tears of joy when they heard of the release of the four captives, all reported in good health.
Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, had been abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war.
Former army chief Benny Gantz's resignation from the war cabinet marks the first major political blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the eight-month Gaza war
© JACK GUEZ / AFP
Pressure is mounting over Netanyahu's failure to return remaining hostages and the departure of Gantz from the war cabinet marked a major political blow.
Gantz's decision, which will not bring down the right-wing government, comes after he had issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu to present a post-war plan for Gaza by June 8.
Responding to the first major political blow to him during the conflict, Netanyahu told Gantz it was "not the time to abandon the battle".
Pressure is mounting over Netanyahu's failure to return remaining hostages and the departure of Gantz from the war cabinet marked a major political blow.
Gantz's decision, which will not bring down the right-wing government, comes after he had issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu to present a post-war plan for Gaza by June 8.
Responding to the first major political blow to him during the conflict, Netanyahu told Gantz it was "not the time to abandon the battle".
A rescued hostage is seen on a large screen at a rally in Tel Aviv by relatives and supporters of Israelis taken captive in Gaza in the October 7 attacks
© GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP
The four freed hostages are among only seven that Israeli forces have managed to rescue alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 in their October 7 attack.
Dozens were exchanged in a November truce for Palestinian prisoners. After Saturday's rescue operation, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 of them are dead.
Israel's top diplomat rejected accusations "of war crimes" in the operation.
The four freed hostages are among only seven that Israeli forces have managed to rescue alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 in their October 7 attack.
Dozens were exchanged in a November truce for Palestinian prisoners. After Saturday's rescue operation, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 of them are dead.
Israel's top diplomat rejected accusations "of war crimes" in the operation.
Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov, 27, disembarks with soldiers from an air force CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter after his rescue from captivity in the Gaza Strip, near Tel Aviv on June 8, 2024
© GIDEON MARKOWICZ / AFP
"We will continue to act with determination and strength, in accordance with our right to self-defence, until all of the hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the hostage release and said reports "of another massacre of civilians are appalling... the bloodbath must end immediately".
Devastation, displacement
With no breakthroughs on the horizon, Blinken is set to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar during his eighth regional tour since the war erupted.
"The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal," he said Saturday.
"We will continue to act with determination and strength, in accordance with our right to self-defence, until all of the hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the hostage release and said reports "of another massacre of civilians are appalling... the bloodbath must end immediately".
Devastation, displacement
With no breakthroughs on the horizon, Blinken is set to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar during his eighth regional tour since the war erupted.
"The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal," he said Saturday.
Israeli special forces swooped in to free the captives from two buildings
© Eyad BABA / AFP
Hamas has insisted on a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal from all parts of Gaza -- demands that Israel has firmly rejected.
The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.
Hamas has insisted on a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal from all parts of Gaza -- demands that Israel has firmly rejected.
The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators holding a 'red line' at a rally near the White House on June 8, 2024
© Mandel NGAN / AFP
The war has brought widespread devastation to Gaza and displaced most of its 2.4 million inhabitants, many whom are on the brink of starvation.
Aid has arrived only sporadically by truck, airdrops and sea.
The US military said a temporary pier that had suffered storm damage late last month had been rebuilt and used on Saturday to deliver about 492 tonnes of "much needed humanitarian assistance".
burs-jd/rsc/mtp
© 2024 AFP
The war has brought widespread devastation to Gaza and displaced most of its 2.4 million inhabitants, many whom are on the brink of starvation.
Aid has arrived only sporadically by truck, airdrops and sea.
The US military said a temporary pier that had suffered storm damage late last month had been rebuilt and used on Saturday to deliver about 492 tonnes of "much needed humanitarian assistance".
burs-jd/rsc/mtp
© 2024 AFP
US calls for Security Council vote on Gaza ceasefire deal
The United States announced Sunday it has requested a UN Security Council vote on its draft resolution backing a plan for an "immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages" between Israel and Hamas.
Issued on: 10/06/2024 -
Diplomatic sources said the vote is planned for Monday, but has not yet been confirmed by South Korea, which holds the Security Council presidency for the month of June.
"Today, the United States called for the Security Council to move towards a vote... supporting the proposal on the table," said Nate Evans, spokesman for the US delegation, without specifying a vote date.
"Council members should not let this opportunity pass by and must speak with one voice in support of this deal," Evans said.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has been widely criticized for having blocked several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden on May 31 launched a new push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, separate from the United Nations.
Under the proposal, Israel would withdraw from Gaza population centers and Hamas would free hostages. The ceasefire would last an initial six weeks, with it extended as negotiators seek a permanent end to hostilities.
The United States is placing primary responsibility for accepting the proposal on Hamas, specifically calling on the Palestinian militant group to accept the document in the latest version of the draft text.
That version, which was distributed to member states on Sunday and was seen by AFP, "welcomes" the new ceasefire proposal while stating, unlike in previous versions, that Israel has already accepted.
The draft resolution "calls upon Hamas to also accept it, and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition."
In response to requests from several member states, the latest text clearly lays out the proposal.
This includes a first phase with an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire," release of hostages taken by Hamas, and "exchange of Palestinian prisoners" plus "withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza."
This also includes the "safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip to all Palestinian civilians who need it."
Member state disagreements
According to diplomatic sources, several Security Council members indicated their reservations on two previous versions of the text, in particular Algeria which is the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, and Russia which wields a veto.
Since the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 against Israel and Israel's subsequent counterattack, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice.
Following two resolutions mainly focused on humanitarian aid, the Security Council finally at the end of March successfully demanded an "immediate ceasefire" for the duration of Ramadan, which was achieved with the United States abstaining from the vote.
Following the International Court of Justice's decision at the end of May ordering Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah, Algeria circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and, more specifically, a halt to the Rafah offensive.
The United States, however, said such a text was not helpful, stating that it instead favored negotiations on the ground to achieve a ceasefire.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
(AFP)
The United States announced Sunday it has requested a UN Security Council vote on its draft resolution backing a plan for an "immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages" between Israel and Hamas.
Issued on: 10/06/2024 -
U.S. President Joe Biden leaves the State Dining Room after announcing a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, DC.
© Chip Somodevilla, AFP
Diplomatic sources said the vote is planned for Monday, but has not yet been confirmed by South Korea, which holds the Security Council presidency for the month of June.
"Today, the United States called for the Security Council to move towards a vote... supporting the proposal on the table," said Nate Evans, spokesman for the US delegation, without specifying a vote date.
"Council members should not let this opportunity pass by and must speak with one voice in support of this deal," Evans said.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has been widely criticized for having blocked several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden on May 31 launched a new push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, separate from the United Nations.
Under the proposal, Israel would withdraw from Gaza population centers and Hamas would free hostages. The ceasefire would last an initial six weeks, with it extended as negotiators seek a permanent end to hostilities.
The United States is placing primary responsibility for accepting the proposal on Hamas, specifically calling on the Palestinian militant group to accept the document in the latest version of the draft text.
That version, which was distributed to member states on Sunday and was seen by AFP, "welcomes" the new ceasefire proposal while stating, unlike in previous versions, that Israel has already accepted.
The draft resolution "calls upon Hamas to also accept it, and urges both parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition."
In response to requests from several member states, the latest text clearly lays out the proposal.
This includes a first phase with an "immediate, full, and complete ceasefire," release of hostages taken by Hamas, and "exchange of Palestinian prisoners" plus "withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza."
This also includes the "safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip to all Palestinian civilians who need it."
Member state disagreements
According to diplomatic sources, several Security Council members indicated their reservations on two previous versions of the text, in particular Algeria which is the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, and Russia which wields a veto.
Since the unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 against Israel and Israel's subsequent counterattack, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice.
Following two resolutions mainly focused on humanitarian aid, the Security Council finally at the end of March successfully demanded an "immediate ceasefire" for the duration of Ramadan, which was achieved with the United States abstaining from the vote.
Following the International Court of Justice's decision at the end of May ordering Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah, Algeria circulated a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and, more specifically, a halt to the Rafah offensive.
The United States, however, said such a text was not helpful, stating that it instead favored negotiations on the ground to achieve a ceasefire.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
(AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment