Tag: israel

Amer Rabee, American teen who moved from New Jersey to West Bank, fatally shot by IDF

An American teen who moved from New Jersey to the West Bank was shot and killed by Israeli troops who said they were targeting “terrorists” throwing rocks at cars.

Amer Mohammad Saada Rabee, a 14-year-old US citizen whose family moved from Saddle Brook when he was in elementary school, was shot along with two other teens in Turmus Ayya in the West Bank on Sunday, the Bergen Record reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops opened fire on “three terrorists who were throwing rocks at a highway with civilian vehicles.”

“The soldiers opened fire toward the terrorists who were endangering civilians, eliminating one terrorist and hitting two additional terrorists,” the statement said.  

Rabee was detained before he was declared dead, with relatives saying his body was returned to his parents with multiple bullet holes.

Mourners gathered Sunday at the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton, where Rabee’s uncle, Saleh Rabee, is a board member.

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Ten Britons accused of committing war crimes while fighting for Israel in Gaza

A war crimes complaint against 10 Britons who served with the Israeli military in Gaza is to be submitted to the Met police by one of the UK’s leading human rights lawyers.

Michael Mansfield KC is one of a group of lawyers who will on Monday hand in a 240-page dossier to Scotland Yard’s war crimes unit alleging targeted killing of civilians and aid workers, including by sniper fire, and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, including hospitals.

The report, which has been prepared by a team of UK lawyers and researchers in The Hague, also accuses suspects of coordinated attacks on protected sites including historic monuments and religious sites, and forced transfer and displacement of civilians.

For legal reasons, neither the names of suspects, who include officer-level individuals, nor the full report are being made public.

Israel has persistently denied that its political leaders or military have committed war crimes during its assault on Gaza, in which it has killed more than 50,000 people, most of them civilians. The military campaign was in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people, also mostly civilian, were killed and a further 250 taken hostage.

Mansfield, who is known for his work on landmark cases such as the Grenfell Tower fire, Stephen Lawrence and the Birmingham Six, said: “​If one of our nationals is committing ​an offence, we ought to be doing something about it​. Even if we can’t stop the government of foreign countries behaving badly, we can at least stop our nationals from behaving badly.

“British nationals are under a legal obligation not to collude with crimes committed in Palestine. No one is above the law.”

The report, which has been submitted on behalf of the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the British-based Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), covers alleged offences committed in the territory from October 2023 to May 2024 and took six months to compile.

Each of the crimes attributed to the 10 suspects, some of whom are dual nationals, amounts to a war crime or crime against humanity, according to the report.

One witness, who was at a medical facility, saw corpses “scattered on the ground, especially in the middle of the hospital courtyard, where many dead bodies were buried in a mass grave”. A bulldozer “ran over a dead body in a horrific and heart-wrenching scene desecrating the dead”, the witness said. They also said a bulldozer demolished part of the hospital.

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Two MPs ‘astounded’ after being denied entry to Israel

Two Labour MPs say they are “astounded” to have been denied entry to Israel while on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank.

Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang said it was “vital” parliamentarians were able to witness the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory first-hand.

They were refused entry because they intended to “spread hate speech” against Israel, the nation’s population and immigration authority said.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticised Israeli authorities, describing the move as “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning”.

But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Israel had a right to “control its borders”, adding it was “significant” there were Labour MPs other countries did not want to let in.

Yang, the MP for Earley and Woodley, and Mohamed, the MP for Sheffield Central, flew to Israel from London Luton Airport with two aides on Saturday afternoon.

The Israeli immigration authority said Interior Minister Moshe Arbel denied entry to all four passengers after they were questioned. It accused them of travelling to “document the security forces”.

The Israeli embassy in London said in a statement on Saturday that the country “will not allow the entry of individuals or entities that act against the state and its citizens”.

It said Mohamed and Yang had “accused Israel of false claims” and were “actively involved in promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers”.

It also said they had supported campaigns aimed at boycotting the country “at a time when Israel is at war and under attack on seven fronts”.

The UK Foreign Office said the group was part of a parliamentary delegation. However, Israel’s immigration authority said the delegation had not been acknowledged by an Israeli official.

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IDF claims it mistakenly identified Gaza aid workers as threat – after video of deadly attack emerges

The IDF says it mistakenly identified a convoy of aid workers as a threat – following the emergence of a video which proved their ambulances were clearly marked when Israeli troops opened fire on them.

The bodies of 15 aid workers – including eight medics working for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) – were found in a “mass grave” after the incident, according to the head of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Jonathan Whittall.

The Israeli military originally claimed an investigation found the vehicles did not have any headlights or emergency signals and were therefore targeted as they looked “suspicious”.

But video footage obtained by the PRCS, and verified by Sky News, showed the ambulances and a fire vehicle clearly marked with flashing red lights.

In a briefing from the IDF, it said the ambulances arrived in the Tel Sultan neighbourhood in Rafah shortly after a Hamas police vehicle drove through.

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Tensions escalate as US, Turkey, Israel race to carve up Syria

The tragedy of Syria is a message to the whole world of how the political West’s aggression can destroy an entire nation and push what was once a civilized society into the madness of the Dark Ages. The so-called “Syrian Civil War” that started in 2011 pushed the unfortunate country into a bloodbath for nearly a decade and a half. It should be understood that the very notion of “civil war” in this case is false, as Syria was faced with a brutal and truly unprovoked crawling NATO aggression on virtually all sides. The political West used tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of Islamic radicals from all over the world to invade Syria while also suffocating the country with crippling sanctions, blockades, isolation and even direct attacks every once in a while.

Worse yet, these sanctions were still in place even when a devastating earthquake hit the border area between Turkey and Syria back in 2023. While Ankara got aid from over 90 countries that sent nearly 150,000 people to help with disaster relief, Damascus was left to fend for itself, with the US/NATO refusing to lift some of the sanctions which would’ve enabled aid to reach Syria. Combined with well over a decade of constant warfare, all these factors contributed to the weakening of the central authority. By late 2024, inflation was so high in Syria that a regular terrorist fighter had a higher salary than even generals in the Syrian Arab Army. This crippled the country’s ability to sustain its economy, leading to a total disaster in early December last year when Assad fell.

Ever since, the situation has only gotten worse, with the new terrorist “government” engaging in the slaughter of Alawites, Christians and other minorities. It should also be noted that loyalist Sunnis were also targeted, particularly those who were protecting their Alawite and Christian neighbors. For most Syrians, the diversity of their ancient society was always seen as an asset rather than a liability, which is why they rejected the EU/NATO-backed barbaric murderers who hijacked their country. Unfortunately, there was little they could do to prevent the takeover of Syria. Now that the terrorists are in charge, the actual Syrian Civil War has only started, with minorities desperately trying to survive. Those who haven’t already been slaughtered are now fighting back with any means at their disposal.

Others were lucky enough to reach the safety of Russian military bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. Thousands are housed there, with the Russian military being the only thing standing between them and certain death. In stark contrast, the political West is now carving up Syria and facilitating the destruction of its once-vibrant society. Namely, the United States, Turkey and Israel are supporting various factions and terrorist groups, most of whom are now officially integrated into the new “government”. However, this facade of institutional unity is slowly crumbling as the interests of the occupying foreign powers keep diverging. The US, which supports several factions, including the Kurdish-led SDF, as well as the so-called “Syrian Free Army” (SFA), is looking to expand its zone of control.

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Turkiye ‘wants no confrontation’ with Israel in Syria: FM

Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on 4 April on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting that his country does not want a confrontation with Israel in Syria.

“Turkey wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria” after the massive wave of attacks Tel Aviv launched on the country in recent days, which have “undermined the new government’s ability to deter threats,” Fidan told Reuters. 

The Turkish foreign minister added that Israel’s actions in Syria are paving the way for instability in the region. 

He added that if Damascus wishes to have “certain understandings” with Israel, then that is “their own business.”

His comments came one day after a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement called Israel the “greatest threat” to peace in West Asia, condemning dozens of Israeli airstrikes that hit several military sites in Syria on Wednesday.

“Israel has become the foremost threat to the security of our region through its attacks on the territorial integrity and national unity of the regional countries. As a strategic destabilizer in the region, Israel causes turmoil and fuels terrorism,” the statement issued on 3 April reads, which also calls on Israel to withdraw from land it occupied, particularly Syria. 

The Israeli air force launched over a dozen airstrikes on various cities in Syria on 2 April, targeting the Barzeh scientific research center just outside Damascus, the Hama military airport in western Syria, and the T4 airbase near Palmyra. The Hama airport was almost completely destroyed.

Israeli airstrikes also hit the countryside of Syria’s southern Deraa governorate.

According to a report by Middle East Eye (MEE) on 1 April, the Turkish military has been preparing plans to take control of the T4 airbase, which had been bombed by Israel several times before the strikes on Wednesday. 

Plans included the installation of air defense systems, and construction has reportedly begun already. Turkiye has been illegally occupying Syria since 2016, with its enmity towards Kurdish militant groups serving as the main pretext for its presence there. 

It operated two illegal military bases prior to the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government, and is reportedly planning to establish at least two more, which could potentially be used to train the forces of the new administration.

Following the latest Israeli attacks, Israeli Army Radio reported that the “primary goal” of the late-night blitz was to “send a warning to Turkish President Erdogan.”

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Turkiye calls Israel ‘biggest threat to regional peace’ after deadly Syria strikes

The Turkish Foreign Ministry says Israel is the “greatest threat” to peace in West Asia, condemning dozens of Israeli airstrikes that hit several military sites in Syria on Wednesday.

“Israel has become the foremost threat to the security of our region through its attacks on the territorial integrity and national unity of the regional countries. As a strategic destabilizer in the region, Israel causes turmoil and fuels terrorism,” a Foreign Ministry statement issued on 3 April reads.

“Therefore, in order to establish security throughout the region, Israel must first abandon its expansionist policies, withdraw from the territories it occupies, and stop undermining efforts to establish stability in Syria,” the statement adds.

On Wednesday night, Israeli warplanes launched an intense bombing campaign across Syria that killed at least 11 people. The main targets of the attack were the Barzeh Scientific Research Center just outside Damascus, the Hama military airport in western Syria, and the T4 airbase near Palmyra. 

The Israeli blitz almost entirely destroyed Hama airport.

According to several reports in Israeli media, the attacks were intended to send a message to the Turkish government. “We will not allow you to establish a presence in Syria,” officials told the Jerusalem Post.

In recent weeks, Ankara has begun the process of taking over the Tiyas Air Base in Syria’s central governorate of Homs, also known as the T4 airbase, with plans to equip it with a complex defense system that includes short, medium, and long-range capabilities against jets, drones, and missiles.

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Ankara of playing a “negative role” in Syria, saying that “they are doing their utmost to have Syria as a Turkish protectorate. It’s clear that is their intention.”

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Belgium Is Latest To Declare It Won’t Arrest Netanyahu, In Reversal

Did Hungary’s Viktor Orban start a trend? He is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a four-day trip to Budapest through Sunday. PM Orban used the occasion to declare that Hungary, an ICC founding member, will pull out of The Hague-based International Criminal Court.

The ICC slammed the move, and said that member states have an obligation to enforce its arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Interestingly, Belgium too has declared in all likelihood it would never arrest the Israeli head of state.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday said his country would ignore a warrant for the arrest of Netanyahu, in a reversal from the stated policies of the prior government. This could lead to more and more countries declaring the same, also amid ongoing US pressure to not confirm to ICC dictates.

“To be completely honest, I don’t think we would either,” De Wever told a journalist from the VRT broadcaster. He was specifically responding to Hungary’s announcement that it wouldn’t arrest the Israeli leader, who is accused by The Hague of overseeing war crimes in Gaza.

“There is such a thing as realpolitik, I don’t think any European country would arrest Netanyahu if he were on their territory. France wouldn’t do it, and I don’t think we would, either,” the Belgian prime minister added.

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Video footage appears to contradict Israeli account of Gaza medic killings

Mobile phone footage has emerged that appears to contradict Israel’s account of why soldiers opened fire on a convoy of ambulances and a fire truck on March 23, killing 15 rescue workers.

The video, published by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), shows the vehicles moving in darkness with headlights and emergency flashing lights switched on – before coming under fire. The PRCS said the video was obtained from the phone of a paramedic who was killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initially denied the vehicles had their headlights or emergency signals on.

But in response to the new video, the IDF told the BBC: “All claims, including the documentation circulating about the incident, will be thoroughly and deeply examined to understand the sequence of events and the handling of the situation”.

A surviving paramedic previously told the BBC that the ambulances were clearly marked and had their internal and external lights on.

The latest video, which the PRCS said had been shown to the UN Security Council, shows the marked vehicles drawing to a halt on the edge of the road, lights still flashing, and at least two emergency workers stepping out wearing reflective clothing.

The windscreen of the vehicle being filmed from is cracked and shooting can then be heard lasting for several minutes as the person filming says prayers. He is understood to be one of the dead paramedics.

The footage was found on his phone after his body was recovered from a shallow grave one week after the incident. The bodies of the eight paramedics, six Gaza Civil Defence workers and one UN employee were found buried in sand, along with their wrecked vehicles. It took international organisations days to negotiate safe access to the site.

Israel claimed a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been killed in the incident, but it has not provided any evidence or further explained the threat to its troops.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar earlier this week echoed the army account, saying “the IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance”.

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Hamas Ready To Free All Hostages At Once For Permanent Truce

Amid an expanded Israeli military (IDF) ground operation, which has again seen Rafah surrounded, Hamas is signaling that it’s ready to release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire.

A Thursday Times of Israel report cited a senior Palestinian official who described that Israel has had a “longstanding rejection” of such a deal, which is why Hamas has so far offered a phased release approach; however, negotiations are at a “standstill” as the IDF has moved to a military solution.

Israel has reportedly countered by asking Hamas to release eleven hostages, but with no commitment this would lead to permanent ceasefire talks.

“While Netanyahu signed onto the deal, he has long rejected the latter two clauses of phase two, arguing they would allow Hamas to remain in power,” the report observes. “Accordingly, he has largely refused to hold talks regarding phase two of the deal, which were supposed to begin on February 2.”

The senior Palestinian official sourced in the Israeli media report said, “The number of hostages is not the issue. If Israel demonstrates its intention to reach a permanent ceasefire, [Hamas is] prepared to release all of the hostages.”

“Israel only wants a partial agreement so that it can continue fighting. It wants [Hamas] to give up all the hostages without entering the second phase,” the official claimed.

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