Hack reveals peek into Iran's post-Gaza war and regional strategies

Hacked documents allegedly reveal Iran's regional and domestic strategies, including post-Gaza war dynamics, international sanctions and brutal crackdowns


A correspondent in Iran
14 March, 2024

Since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza, Iran adopted a supportive rhetoric towards Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. [Getty]

Iran's judiciary and parliament experienced severe online attacks in late February, leading to apparently major information leaks. These leaks seemingly reveal documents detailing the establishment's strategies in navigating the regional power dynamics post-Gaza war and handling domestic issues such as suppressing the 2022 uprising.

The hacktivist group Edalat-e Ali, associated with opposition groups outside the country, and another group called Uprising till Overthrow, linked to the exiled opposition group the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI), claimed responsibility for the hacks. They published the leaked information on their website and social media accounts.

Top confidential correspondences between high-ranking officials illustrated the establishment's designs to counter Israel's dominance post-Gaza war and tackle the potential blacklisting of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by Western powers.

These disclosures underscored the credibility of an 8 March report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, highlighting the brutal crackdown on the 2022 nationwide protests in Iran. The UN fact-finding mission stressed that the suppression of peaceful demonstrations and systemic discrimination against women amounted to crimes against humanity.

'Reframed' Iran ties shield Saudi in Gaza war: analysts

Gaza war and international sanctions

Since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza, Iran adopted a supportive rhetoric towards Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. However, to avoid direct confrontation with Israel and the US, Tehran delegated military confrontations to its proxy armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

A confidential analysis by the parliament's research centre warned officials that no positive outcome from the Gaza war was foreseeable. The document, dated 2 December 2023, revealed a new strategy for Iran's proxy groups, emphasising presenting Hamas as the primary decision-maker regarding the future of Palestine and rejecting the two-state solution.

The analysis also highlighted renewed discussions about imposing more sanctions on the IRGC within the international community. The IRGC Quds Force serves as the leading source providing arms, training, and support to Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East.

While the US lists the IRGC as a terrorist group, the EU, Canada, and many other countries have so far refrained from blocking the organisation.

Moreover, a 14-page leaked document disclosed that the establishment had ordered governmental offices to assist sanctioned military and official individuals in changing or concealing their identities to bypass sanctions.

The document also revealed the establishment's provision of monetary, banking, insurance, tax and customs incentives to individuals who helped circumvent international sanctions and provided legal support to those operating outside the country.

Iran accused of 'shadow games' to conceal 'inaction' on Gaza

Crackdown on domestic dissidents and protestors

In addition to international and regional strategies, the leaked documents also seemed to reveal tactics employed by the Iranian authorities during the brutal suppression of the 2022 nationwide uprising.

That year, the demonstrations began in Tehran after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in Islamic morality police custody in September. Protests quickly spread across the country, particularly in the Kurdish region, Amini's hometown.

The leaked documents depicted Iran's intelligence service, police, and IRGC pressuring Amini's family to assert in a TV interview that her death was due to pre-existing health conditions, not beatings during her arrest.

This pressure persisted, leading to Amini's uncle, Safa Aely, receiving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a ban from leaving the country in February for interviews regarding her death.

Furthermore, the documents highlighted the establishment's focus on protests in western provinces with Kurdish populations. Security forces were warned about potential public strikes in Kurdish cities and the mobilising power of non-governmental syndicates in the region.

These factors contributed to deadly confrontations between security and IRGC forces and demonstrators, resulting in at least 57 deaths in the region and over 551 across the country during the nationwide demonstrations.

A correspondent in Iran

Additionally, the establishment executed several Kurdish dissidents as a strategy to spread fear and pressure activists and protestors. One notable instance occurred on 29 January when Iran hanged four Kurdish members of the leftist opposition Komala Party despite international calls to halt the death penalty.

The volume of hacked documents from Iran's judiciary and parliament is immense, with ongoing analysis by experts and exiled Farsi media. So far, the documents have revealed details about a US$160 million budget for purchasing military and police equipment to suppress uprisings, exert pressure on Iranian journalists abroad, and widespread corruption within governmental offices.

Analysts anticipate further revelations as the data continues to be examined since mid-February. The leaks offer a sobering glimpse into the complex geopolitical landscape, prompting questions about accountability, diplomatic repercussions, and the future implications for both Iran and the international community.

 

Telegraph bid ‘could undermine newspaper’s pro-Israel coverage’, ministers hear

A Gulf-state backed Telegraph takeover could be intended to undermine the newspaper’s pro-Israel stance, ministers have heard.

By JN REPORTERMarch 14, 2024, 

'Surgeons operate only once every fortnight' Daily Telegraph newspaper headline front page and Prince Charles Prince of Wales 1967 portrait London UK

As the Government set out its plans to ban foreign state ownership of newspapers and news magazines, it also faced warnings that Vladimir Putin’s Russia could be among the hostile states aiming to acquire British media organisations if changes were not enacted.

Peers raised concern about the proposed takeover of The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator by Redbird IMI, an investment fund majority-owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and owner of Manchester City Football Club.

Conservative peer Baroness Fleet, a former editor of the London Evening Standard, who also worked in senior roles at the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, urged ministers to ensure the bid did not go ahead.

“I know that anyone who buys a newspaper wants to influence society, politicans and Government. All proprietors interfere,” said the Tory peer, who was the London Evening Standard’s editor for seven years.

She added: “Importantly, every week the Telegraph has criticised the pro-Palestinian parades through London for their antisemitism.

“The idea that an Arab owner, any Arab owner of the Telegraph or any other newspaper, would allow its editor to support Israel and criticise pro-Palestinian antisemites is an absurd notion.

“I go even further and say that one of the reasons perhaps why a foreign government would want to buy an important newspaper such as the Telegraph would be to promote an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian point of view.”

The Tory peer later claimed that Rupert Murdoch’s News UK group, the owner of the Sun and the Times newspapers, could also be eyed up by foreign state buyers in future if the law were not changed.

She told peers: “If we do not pass this amendment we will send out a signal that, if after Murdoch’s death perhaps, News International is put up for sale, any foreign government is welcome then to buy another chunk of our newspapers.

“Perhaps Qatar or even Russia. We must protect our newspapers from that threat.”

Media minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay told peers the Government is committed to “bringing forward an amendment to this Bill at third reading which prevents foreign state ownership” of the British press.

Journalist Carine Fouteau is to take over from the iconic Edwy Plenel at the helm of Mediapart, the investigative website announced Thursday. All four main leadership positions at the company are now held by women.Issued on: 14/03/2024 - The office of Mediapart in Paris. AFP - JOEL SAGETBy:RFIFouteau, 49 is now the president and editor-in-chief of Mediapart replacing its co-founder, Plenel, aged 71."This long-prepared step is taken in accordance with our values, which always put collective intelligence above personal adventures," she said in a text posted on the site.Plenel, was director of Le Monde's editorial team from 1996 to 2004 and an emblematic figure of investigative journalism in France.Cofounder of the French investigative website Mediapart, Edwy Plenel. REUTERS/Benoit TessierHe co-founded Mediapart in 2008 with François Bonnet, Laurent Mauduit, and Marie-Hélène Smiejan.In February, Plenel, the last of the co-founders still on the management team, announced that he would step down as president but said he would continue to write.All four four main leadership positions at Mediapart are now held by women: Fouteau, Cécile Sourd (general manager since 2023), Lenaïg Bredoux and Valentine Oberti (editorial directors since 2023).Fouteau has worked for Mediapart since the founding of the publication. Previously she worked for the economic daily Les Echos after it was taken over by the luxury group LVMH.Before taking the helm of the investigative site, she worked on migration issues and was co-editorial director from 2018 to 2023."Our project is to make Mediapart a major popular newspaper, which both disturbs and unites, through the strength and quality of its information," she said.Françoise Giroud, a woman to be reckoned with in French media and politicsPress freedom 'under attack' in every corner of the globe, UN warnsMediapart had almost 220,000 subscribers in 2023, about 60,000 more than in 2022.The turnover is €22.45 million (€21.23 million in 2022) and it reported a net profit of nearly €2.3 million (€2.6 million in 2022).The company has 137 employees, including 65 journalists.Mediapart says it is able to guarantee independence thanks to the fact that it relies only subscriptions and secured capital since 2019.According to Fouteau, in its 16 years of existence, the left-leaning website "has established itself as an indispensable power" thanks to its investigations of political scandals, police violence, or sexual violence.(With newswires)

French investigative website starts new chapter with all-female leadership

Journalist Carine Fouteau is to take over from the iconic Edwy Plenel at the helm of Mediapart, the investigative website announced Thursday. All four main leadership positions at the company are now held by women.

Issued on: 14/03/2024 - 

The office of Mediapart in Paris. AFP - JOEL SAGET

By:RFI

Fouteau, 49 is now the president and editor-in-chief of Mediapart replacing its co-founder, Plenel, aged 71.

"This long-prepared step is taken in accordance with our values, which always put collective intelligence above personal adventures," she said in a text posted on the site.

Plenel, was director of Le Monde's editorial team from 1996 to 2004 and an emblematic figure of investigative journalism in France.

Cofounder of the French investigative website Mediapart, Edwy Plenel. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

He co-founded Mediapart in 2008 with François Bonnet, Laurent Mauduit, and Marie-Hélène Smiejan.

In February, Plenel, the last of the co-founders still on the management team, announced that he would step down as president but said he would continue to write.

All four four main leadership positions at Mediapart are now held by women: Fouteau, Cécile Sourd (general manager since 2023), Lenaïg Bredoux and Valentine Oberti (editorial directors since 2023).

Fouteau has worked for Mediapart since the founding of the publication. Previously she worked for the economic daily Les Echos after it was taken over by the luxury group LVMH.

Before taking the helm of the investigative site, she worked on migration issues and was co-editorial director from 2018 to 2023.

"Our project is to make Mediapart a major popular newspaper, which both disturbs and unites, through the strength and quality of its information," she said.

• Françoise Giroud, a woman to be reckoned with in French media and politics
• Press freedom 'under attack' in every corner of the globe, UN warns

Mediapart had almost 220,000 subscribers in 2023, about 60,000 more than in 2022.

The turnover is €22.45 million (€21.23 million in 2022) and it reported a net profit of nearly €2.3 million (€2.6 million in 2022).

The company has 137 employees, including 65 journalists.

Mediapart says it is able to guarantee independence thanks to the fact that it relies only subscriptions and secured capital since 2019.

According to Fouteau, in its 16 years of existence, the left-leaning website "has established itself as an indispensable power" thanks to its investigations of political scandals, police violence, or sexual violence.

(With newswires)

SXSW BOYCOTT GROWS IN SOLIDARITY WITH GAZA

The SXSW festival, which celebrates film, comedy and music attracts more than 300,000 people each year. 

GSPhotography / Shutterstock

14 March 2024

Graeme Green

Graeme Green speaks to the artists backing out of the ‘war machine’ at a major US festival.

‘This was not a difficult decision,’ says South African artist Shalom on her move to pull out of this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. ‘This would have been my first time playing SXSW, but I will never abandon my morals for exposure.’

Shalom is among around 80 acts who have withdrawn from the festival, taking place from 8-16 March, to protest sponsorship by the US Army and defence companies supplying weapons to Israel in its war on Gaza.

Kneecap, a hip hop trio from Northern Ireland announced on Instagram that they had cancelled their shows ‘in solidarity with the people of Palestine’, adding: ‘We cannot in good conscience attend at arts festival that has “The US Army” as a “Super Sponsor” and is platforming RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems, the very companies selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children. These organisations are literally profiting from and facilitating war crimes.’

A similar statement from the US hardcore band Scowl read: ‘We refuse to participate in the war machine.’

The US is the biggest supplier of weapons and munition to Israel, its closest ally in the region, which declared war on the Gaza strip following the 7 October Hamas attacks. At least 31,000 people in Gaza have been killed, many from bombs directly supplied by the US, and a looming famine due to Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to the strip has already claimed many more lives.

In a stunning display of irony, President Joe Biden announced earlier this week that the US Army will set up a temporary pier off Gaza to deliver humanitarian supplies to the starving population.

The SXSW festival, which celebrates film, comedy and music attracts more than 300,000 people each year. It is a major promotion and networking opportunity for artists. Cancelling shows means losing income and incurring costs for many who decided to pull out.

‘Opting out of SXSW means not only a considerable financial loss for us as an independent band but also the loss of a significant opportunity to share our music on a large and diverse platform,’ says Faye O’Rourke, lead singer of the Irish indie band Soda Blonde. ‘But we firmly believe the ethical considerations outweigh the costs to the band.

‘To stand on a stage funded by the architects of conflict, directly opposing our values of peace and unity, is something we cannot and will not do.’

‘To stand on a stage funded by the architects of conflict, directly opposing our values of peace and unity, is something we cannot and will not do.’

Questions remain as to the impact of so many artists pulling out of a festival which last year raked in more than $150 million.

‘We’re under no illusions about the scale of our influence, especially when it comes to the US military or its partnership with SXSW,’ says O’Rourke. ‘Our withdrawal is less about expecting a seismic shift in their operations or decisions, and more about staying true to our collective conscience as a group.

‘This decision is a reflection of our values and a statement that, in our own small way, we hope contributes to a larger conversation about peace and the role of art and culture in advocating for it.’

But individual decisions can make an impact, argues the South African artist, Shalom. ‘The only way we can live out our dreams for liberation is by demanding it, and providing consequences when we don’t get it. I’ve wanted to play [SXSW] for years. But boycotts work, and, by withholding our labour as artists, we can put pressure on [the festival]. We can say: “End the army and defence contractor sponsorships, or there’s no music festival.”’

SXSW is not the only arts event to come under fire amid the ongoing war on Gaza. This month artists Yto Barrada and Cian Dayrit, asked for their work to be removed from an exhibition at the Barbican in London after the venue pulled out of hosting a speech about the conflict in Gaza. In November 2023, artists Nicholas Galanin and Merritt Johnson also withdrew their work from an exhibition of contemporary Native American art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, in protest of the US government’s military backing of Israel.

In a statement to the BBC, the US Army said it was ‘proud to be a sponsor of SXSW, and to have the opportunity to showcase America’s Army… explore new ideas and insights, and create dynamic industry partnerships.’

SXSW also issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying the organization ‘welcomes diverse viewpoints’ and ‘fully respects the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech.’

SXSW did not respond to New Internationalist’s request for comment.

Artists boycott SXSW festival in solidarity with Palestine

The protest pertains to the arts festival's sponsorship by the US army, who are heavily involved in Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Images Staff

DAWN
14 Mar, 2024

Over 70 artists and panellists have boycotted the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in solidarity with Palestine after the festival’s ties with the United States military came to light — the US army sponsors the festival.

The festival, which is held annually in Austin, Texas, “is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture”, according to its website.

Artists highlighted the US army and government’s support of Israel despite the atrocities it has committed and continues to commit in Gaza. They also protested the platforming of defence contractors such as RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace and BAE Systems for their sale of weapons.

“I have decided to pull out of my official SXSW showcases in protest of the SXSW’s ties to the defence industry and in support of the Palestinian people,” Ella Williams, known by the stage name Squirrel Flower, wrote on her Instagram. The singer maintained that she was specifically pulling out of the festival because it platformed defence contractors.

In her post, Williams also highlighted that the “IDF [Israel Defence Forces] has now killed at least one in every 75 inhabitants of Gaza, including 12,300 children. The International Court of Justice has ruled that this plausibly amounts to genocide.”

Similarly, Kneecap, an Irish hip-hop group also announced that they cancelled three shows at the SXSW and do not plan to travel to Austin.

“It is done in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population.”

Kneecap also stated that they couldn’t “in good conscience” attend a festival which hosted companies “selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children”.



Singer Shalom also stated that in an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people she pulled out of the festival despite her dreams of attending as an official performer.

“A dream power by the US army, defence contractors, the CIA — those dreams are powered by the blood of innocents. I will not be complicit in the ongoing, US-sponsored genocide of the Palestinian people.”

Austin For Palestine, “a coalition of various Austin-based advocacy groups and organisations… demanding Austin support a permanent ceasefire in Palestine”, have supported the artists pulling out of the SXSW.

The organisation, along with United Musicians & Allied Workers, has announced a rally on March 14, demanding “fair pay and no warmongers at SXSW”.



According to the BBC, Belfast punk band Enola Gay are among the acts boycotting the festival; instead choosing to play the ‘Anti-SXSW Fest’, organised by the Austin For Palestine Coalition.

“Our schedule for our time in Austin has changed for the better,” the band stated. “We refuse to partake in SX while they run military events and panels displaying their new technology, such as AI and drones.”

The Coalition’s festival features artists who dropped out of SXSW in solidarity with Palestine.

  https://www.instagram.com/p/C4brlvwAwyI/?img_index=1      

They also took to Instagram to highlight more than 70 artists and panellists who boycotted and dropped out of SXSW.




SXSW sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Austin for Palestine Coalition, threatening legal action because the activist group used trademark art without permission in a post urging the festival to disinvite defence contractors. The post, dated February 21, highlighted that the defence contractors “have direct ties to the arming of Israel, supporting their violent oppression of the Palestinian people. By supporting these companies, SXSW is complicit in human rights abuses and violations of international law.”

After news broke of bands pulling out of the SXSW, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reaffirmed his support of the US army and bid the artists a rather snarky adieu.

“Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. We are proud of the US military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here.”



In response, SXSW swiftly stated that it did not agree with Abbott and instead welcomed diverse viewpoints.

“We fully respect the decisions these artists made to exercise their right to free speech,” they wrote in an Instagram post, adding that it was crucial to “come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues”.

However, the festival did not sever ties with the defence industry, claiming that it provided grounds for “many of the systems we rely on today”.

“We believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.”

Profit over people: A symbolic gesture for peace at the Oscars



Finneas O’Connell and US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish wear an Artists4Ceasefire pin, calling for de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel as they attend the 96th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2024. [Photo by DAVID SWANSON / AFP]

by Giorgia Bianchi
MEMO

March 14, 2024 

In the glamorous world of Hollywood, where glitter and gold often speak louder than words, a small but significant symbol made its appearance at the latest Academy Awards ceremony, otherwise known as the Oscars. A red pin, a symbol of solidarity with the Artists4Ceasefire movement, was worn by a number of celebrities in a bid to show their support for a ceasefire amid the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

At the heart of the movement is an open letter addressed to US President Joe Biden and Congress and signed by the participating artists urging the American leadership to advocate for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in the region. The goal is clear: “To honour all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.”

However, despite the gravity of the letter and the cause it champions, the method of its delivery—at a high-profile event dominated by fashion and celebrity endorsements—raises questions about the depth of commitment behind the gesture.

The red pin, while a visible marker of support, was still small enough to ensure that it would not detract from the fashion statements and designer labels—many of whom have either voiced their support for or have financial ties with Israel—that are a hallmark of the Oscars. Significantly, this (perhaps unintentional) decision symbolises a broader dilemma of activism in the age of celebrity culture: the balance between making a statement and maintaining a relationship with the brands and industries that support artists’ lifestyles and careers. The understated nature of the pin, therefore, can be seen as a compromise, a way to show support without overshadowing the primary purpose of the event or the fashion on display.

WATCH: Celebrities wear red pins at Oscars for Gaza ceasefire

Indeed, prior to this gesture, few celebrities had been vocal about Israel’s offensive on Gaza or engaged with the issue publicly. This lack of prior engagement raises questions about the sincerity of their support and whether the decision to wear the pin was driven more by a desire for positive public perception than by a deep commitment to the causes of peace and justice.

However, in a notable moment at the Academy Awards, Director Jonathan Glazer, whose film ‘The Zone of Interest’ is set in Auschwitz, used his acceptance speech as a platform to voice a poignant message on the war on Gaza.

He stressed: “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.” Interestingly, Glazer’s words appear to have resonated deeply with the audience, who erupted in applause.

A stark reminder of the ongoing conflict was palpably felt through a protest staged outside the ceremony, leading chants such as “While you’re watching, bombs are dropping.” In an attempt to shut down the Oscars, demonstrators gathered to challenge attendees and viewers and remind them of the ongoing war beyond the confines of the red carpet. The protest served as a stark contrast to the evening’s festivities, suggesting that a more profound act of solidarity, such as boycotting the event, could have made a stronger statement in support of peace and against the violence.

Most importantly, the presence of these activists underscored the juxtaposition between the entertainment industry’s spectacle and the harsh realities of global conflicts, pressing the celebrities and the industry at large to reflect on their roles and responsibilities in such violent times.

Actor Mark Ruffalo, who has been one of the most vocal celebrities regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was seen expressing solidarity with the protestors outside the venue. He shouted, “The Palestinian protests shut down the Oscars tonight. Humanity wins!”, as he rushed down the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre.

The gestures of solidarity with the Artists4Ceasefire movement at the Oscars highlight the complexities of navigating celebrity activism. While these symbols and statements represent a step towards acknowledging global conflicts, they also underscore the necessity for actions that extend beyond the symbolic. The protest outside the Oscars draws attention to the urgency of this moment, reminding us that in the face of injustice, the choices made by those in the spotlight can either contribute to a deeper awareness and change or remain as fleeting moments of support.

As the entertainment world continues to grapple with its influence, the hope is that such gestures evolve into sustained engagement and advocacy for peace and humanitarian causes worldwide.

WATCH: Mark Ruffalo supports pro-Palestine protest at Oscars

Israel plans to place the Palestinians on ‘humanitarian islands’ ahead of invasion of Rafah

March 14, 2024 

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (L) visit the troops participating in Gaza Strip and made a situation assessment with the commanders in Rafah, Gaza on March 13, 2024. [Ariel Hermoni (GPO) / Handout – Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli occupation army announced that it intends to direct a large portion of the 1.4 million displaced Palestinians living in the southern Gaza town of Rafah towards “humanitarian islands” in the centre of the Strip before its expected ground assault on the area.

Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, said that transferring those in Rafah to the designated areas, which he said would be done in coordination with international actors, was a major part of the army’s preparations for the expected invasion of Rafah. Israel says Hamas maintains four battalions in Rafah that it wants to destroy.

Hagari added: “We need to make sure that 1.4 million people or at least a significant amount of the 1.4 million will move. Where? To humanitarian islands that we will create with the international community.”

He stressed that these islands would provide temporary housing, food, water and other necessities for the evacuated Palestinians.

BLOG: Putting a spin on ‘obstacles’ to peace in Palestine

He did not mention when Rafah would be evacuated nor when the attack on the city would begin, explaining that Israel wants the timing to be appropriate from an operational standpoint and for it to be coordinated with Egypt, which said it does not want an influx of displaced Palestinians crossing its borders.

Rafah has grown in recent months as Palestinians in Gaza fled fighting from almost every corner of the enclave and tents cover the town.

The fate of the citizens in Rafah has become a source of great concern to Israel’s allies, including the US and humanitarian organisations, which believe that an attack on the area would lead to a disaster.

Rafah is also the main entry point for much-needed aid into Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the attack on Rafah is crucial to achieving Israel’s declared goal of destroying Hamas.

At the beginning of the war, Israel directed evacuees to a patch of undeveloped land along Gaza’s Mediterranean coast that it designated as a safe zone, but aid groups said there were no real plans to receive large numbers of displaced people there. Moreover, Israel has also targeted the area in its air strikes, killing scores of Palestinians, including children.

No evidence from Israel to back UNRWA accusations, says EU humanitarian chief

The European Union’s top humanitarian aid official has said he has seen no evidence from Israel to back its accusations against staff from the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), which should continue playing a “critical” role in Gaza, Reuters reports.

Janez Lenarcic, the head of humanitarian aid and crisis management at the European Commission, said that neither he nor — according to his knowledge — anybody else at the EU executive, or any other UNRWA donor had been presented with evidence by Israel.

“Even if those allegations, at the end of the day, prove to be true, that doesn’t mean that UNRWA is the perpetrator,” he told journalists.

In that case, Lenarcic said individual accountability would be in order rather than summary justice — and the “irreplaceable” agency would be asked to clean up and carry on.

“UNRWA has reacted properly, immediately, effectively. It took several measures. There is an investigation. There is a review. We are satisfied so far with all this,” said Lenarcic.

“UNRWA has of course a critical role to play here because it has unmatched infrastructure, warehouses, shelters, logistical capacities.”

DAWN

WATCH: FO condemns Israeli attack on UNWRA food distribution centre

about 9 hours ago

Former Israeli presidential adviser says US ‘enabling the damage and then trying to cover up’

Former Israeli presidential adviser, Daniel Levy, says US plans to build a seaport in Gaza to transport aid is a ‘pathetic addition to the existing pathetic policy of the administration’. In an interview Shelagh Fogarty on LBC, he emphasised the ridiculous behaviour of the US, in supplying Israel with the arms and weaponry that’s causing the death and destruction in Gaza and then seeking to build a seaport for aid that could enter through land crossings that Israel is deliberately blocking, with US support. Levy said there have been reports in US media that the Biden administration is ‘deliberately avoiding transparency and accountability’ in its provision of weapons to Israel, dividing weaponry into different channels so they would avoid going through Congress.


March 14, 2024