Jan 4, 2024 8:57 pm
The Israeli ambassador returns to Madrid
The Israeli ambassador to Spain, Rodica Radian Gordon, who was summoned to Tel Aviv for consultations on November 30, will return to Madrid early next week. This was announced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a statement quoted in the online edition El Pais. The recall was decided after the Prime Minister's statements Pedro Sanchez, which questioned whether Israel was respecting international humanitarian law with its military offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7th. The diplomat will return to Spain after Netanyahu's executive noted a “change for the better” in the Spanish government's embassies, the above statement said.
January 4, 2024 7:19 p.m
Israeli Defense Minister: “We will not stop”
“To everyone who thinks that we will stop, I say that instead we will intensify the measures,” said the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant who visited the Gaza border today and observed the ongoing fighting in al-Burj. “In the north of the Gaza Strip – emphasizes Gallant, according to reports from the Israeli television “Channel 13” – The armed forces are fulfilling their current mission and they are moving their troops with the intention of conducting raids and airstrikes soon. In the center of the Gaza Strip, the operation is intense, with forces operating above and underground, destroying key Hamas infrastructure, including the sites where Hamas manufactured all of its rockets.” “In southern Gaza, the operation is huge and intensifying above and below ground,” the Defense Minister added. “The terrorists who started the countdown for the withdrawal of IDF troops must change the count and start counting to the end of their lives on earth, it will come soon.”
Jan 4, 2024 7:08 p.m
Blink: “Increase aid to Gaza”
The mission of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Middle East seeks an “immediate” increase in aid to Gaza: this was stated by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
January 4, 2024 6:27 p.m
Blinken-Colonna conversation: “Avoid escalation”
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna expressed their countries' determination to prevent an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East following the attacks in Lebanon and Iran. This was stated by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. Blinken also called for an immediate end to the Iran-backed Houthis' illegal attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the release of illegally detained ships and crew, the US State Department said in a statement. During the meeting we also discussed the importance of the measures that need to be taken for prevention the expansion of the conflict from Gaza. It is necessary, Blinken and Colonna said, to take positive steps to reduce tensions in the West Bank and prevent escalation in Lebanon and Iran. The importance of minimizing the number of civilian casualties in Gaza was therefore emphasized. Additionally, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Colonna reiterated the urgency of international coordination to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Jan 4, 2024 4:35 p.m
American official resigns: he opposes support for Israel
Another senior Biden administration official has resigned in protest over U.S. military support for Israel in the war on Gaza. The political representative of the Ministry of Education Tariq Habash announced his resignation – as US media reported – marking the second withdrawal over an issue that has deeply divided the government. Josh Paul, a State Department veteran, resigned in October. Habash was primarily concerned with student loan matters and therefore had no mandate on foreign policy issues, but his own Resignation is also a symptom of malaise within the government. “I cannot represent a government that does not value human life equally,” said Habash, who is Palestinian American. “I cannot remain silent while this government turns a blind eye to the atrocities being committed against the lives of innocent Palestinians.” Human rights experts have described it as a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government.”
Jan 4, 2024 4:13 p.m
The threat from IS: “Meeting Jews and Christians everywhere”
“Strike against Jews and Christians everywhere”: This is the call of the ISIS spokesman, Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari, in an over 30-minute audio message focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The audio released by the official al Furqan channel is titled “Kill them wherever you find them,” the networks that monitor online jihadism report.
January 4, 2024 2:30 p.m
Hamas: “22,438 dead in Gaza”
According to the Hamas Ministry of Health, the death toll in Gaza has risen to 22,438 since the war with Israel began.
Jan 4, 2024 2:29 p.m
“Fighting in Hamas military tunnels in Khan Yunis”
In Khan Yunis, there has been heavy fighting over hundreds of meters within Hamas's military tunnels in recent days. “This tunnel,” said the military spokesman, “was used by terrorists, including members of 'Nukhbe' (Hamas' elite unit, editor's note), to channel reinforcements from other areas to the Khan Yunis Brigade .” During these fighting – the spokesman added – five terrorists surrendered and handed themselves over to the soldiers. During interrogations, they then reported that many of their comrades had been killed in underground operations, including the commanders of two Hamas troops. Yesterday, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that in Khan Yunis (the capital in the southern part of the Gaza Strip), Israeli forces continued to advance both above ground and underground, but would move slowly, he explained, so as not to expose the soldiers to avoidable risks.
Jan 4, 2024 2:28 p.m
“Settlers under attack in West Bank after Arouri killing”
West Bank settlers were attacked in dozens of locations yesterday following the assassination of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut. The right-wing extremist website “Ha-Kol ha-Yehudì” reports that armed attacks took place in Huwara (Nablus) and Psagot (Ramallah). In dozens of other locations, Molotov cocktails and stones were thrown at passing Israeli vehicles, he added. According to the website, these tensions are being fueled not only by Hamas, but also by al-Fatah, which organized a general trade strike yesterday in protest of the killing of al-Arouri. Today, a Hamas leader took action in the West Bank to call for demonstrations of support in Gaza to multiply tomorrow, Friday, “against Israeli aggression, against genocide and against ethnic cleansing.” Hamas has also called on the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades (its military wing) to avenge the killing of al-Arouri with weapons in the West Bank. According to Israeli media, the state of alarm has been raised in Jewish settlements.
Jan 4, 2024 2:27 pm
“Debate on the question of the future of Gaza”
The Israeli government will begin a detailed debate tonight on the future of Gaza after the defeat of Hamas. This was announced by the Kan public broadcaster, according to which the investigation into the matter would begin in a small forum made up of members of the War Cabinet. The issue is then shifted to a broader forum, the “Cabinet for Political Security.” The broadcaster explained that the various scenarios that could arise after a defeat of Hamas are illustrated by National Security Adviser Zahi Hanegbi, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and the commanders of the armed forces.