Israel-Hamas war

Dubbla krig på toppmötet – EU ska enas om hållning

Double war at the summit – the EU must agree on a stance Today's EU summit in Brussels is overshadowed by two wars – Russia's war against Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas. The last few weeks have been characterized by different messages from the EU leaders about the war in the Middle East and now the goal is a common stance, according to the BBC. 

  

AFP writes that several days of negotiations led to a proposal that the EU should call for "humanitarian corridors and breaks" to bring emergency aid to Gaza. 

 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is among those who have wanted to see a longer ceasefire, while other member states have argued that it would be a limitation of Israel's right to defend itself.

 

At the same time, criticism has been directed at an overly one-sided support for Israel from the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. On a visit to the country, she emphasized Israel's right to self-defense without giving any pointers about international law.  

 

However, an EU diplomat tells the BBC that everything that is said is not communicated publicly.  

 

- Anyone who wants to be efficient avoids "megaphone diplomacy", says the source and signals that parts of the talks were held behind closed doors. 

 

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"The war must end with a vision of a two-state solution" 

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas must be followed by peace talks to bring about a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, says Joe Biden during a press conference.  

 

After the Hamas attacks, Israel and Palestine cannot possibly go back to the "status quo" that prevailed before October 7, the US president believes, according to Axios. 

 

- When this crisis is over, there must be a vision of what will happen next, and in our view, it must be a two-state solution. It requires a concerted effort to move us towards peace.  

 

Biden delivered the same message in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. He then emphasized that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or its legitimate claim to an independent state. 

 

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USA: Settler attacks on the West Bank must stop

Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank to avenge Hamas massacres in Israel must stop. That is what US President Joe Biden says, according to AP. He also says that he is increasing his commitment to achieving a two-state solution that could mean the end of the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

  

Regarding the attacks in the West Bank, Biden says that "extreme settlers" are fueling the already very hostile atmosphere in the Middle East.

   

- It must stop. They must be held accountable. 

  

Settler violence against Palestinians has increased following Hamas attacks on October 7, according to Palestinian authorities who also say Palestinians have been killed in these attacks.  

 

At the same time,Biden again condemns the attacks by Hamas on October 7, when 1,400 Israelis were killed, and accuses the terrorist group of now using civilians as human shields in Gaza.  

 

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Israel confirms attack that killed journalist's family 

Israel's military confirms that airstrikes have been carried out against "terrorist targets" in the area of Gaza where twelve family members of Al-Jazeera bureau chief Wael Dahdouh were killed yesterday, writes CNN.  

 

Among the dead were Dahdouh's wife, 15-year-old son, seven-year-old daughter and a grandson. Images broadcast on Al-Jazeera showed the journalist crying over the bloodied bodies of his relatives in the hospital. 

 

In a statement, the media company accuses Israel of indiscriminate attacks. According to the company, the family had sought refuge in central Gaza following Israel's call for civilians to move south. 

 

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The satellite images show how entire areas have been erased  

New satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the devastation following Israel's airstrikes on Beit Hanoun and Atatra in the Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem Post reports. The pictures show how entire areas have been practically wiped out.  

 

Israel's large-scale attacks on Gaza are a response to the terrorist group Hamas' sudden attack on Israel on October 7, when 1,400 Israelis were killed. More than 200 Israelis are also being held hostage in Gaza. 

 

More than 7,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza, according to Thursday's figures from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Ministry of Health. The death toll has not been independently confirmed.

 

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Amnesty: Strong evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza  

Israel has committed several war crimes in connection with the bombing of Gaza, according to the human rights organization Amnesty International after reviewing five attacks. 

 

In all cases, the Israeli attacks violated international humanitarian law, according to Amnesty. This is due, among other things, to the fact that Israel has not taken sufficient measures to protect civilians or has simply carried out attacks that may have been aimed at civilian objects.  

 

Among other things, Amnesty has examined an attack on a multi-storey building in which 40 civilians were killed. A person who is a member of Hamas lives or has lived at the address, but was not at home. Secretary-General Anna Johansson is thus turning against Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M), who previously said that Israel's response to Hamas attacks is proportionate.  

 

- I mean that this review shows that it is not proportionate, that Israel has not done its utmost to avoid injuring and killing civilians, but on the contrary directs attacks at completely civilian targets, she tells TT.

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