Israel-Hamas war

Israel-Hamas war|Votes on

Analysis: "China cautious - does not want to endanger oil"

The sharp division between China and the US is also noticeable in terms of the view of the war between Israel and Hamas, writes Laura He in an analysis in CNN. 

 

In contrast to the US - and much of the rest of the world - China has avoided condemning both Russia's war in Ukraine and Hamas' terrorist attacks against Israel. According to Laura He, this is mainly due to China's heavy dependence on oil and gas supplies from the areas. The Middle East is also a cornerstone of China's New Silk Road infrastructure project.  

 

"If the war between Israel and Hamas spreads to other countries, it could seriously damage China," writes Laura He, noting that China called for a cease-fire and demanded that an international peace conference be held immediately. 

 

However, the war does not appear to be reaching a resolution in the near future, and Israel has indicated that a ground offensive against Gaza is imminent.  

 

“The nature of the invasion is predictable. It will likely be a massive, coordinated land, air and sea attack from several directions, probably launched in the middle of the night," writes Al Jazeera's Zoran Kusovac.  

 

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Biden appeals to paralyzed Congress: "Dictators and terrorists must pay" 

US President Joe Biden is urging the US Congress to approve a military aid package for both Ukraine and Israel, the Washington Post reports. In what the newspaper describes as an impassioned speech to the nation, Biden tried to connect the two wars.  

 

"History has taught us that when terrorists don't pay a price for their terror, when dictators don't pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction," the president said.  

 

The White House is reportedly considering a package of just over $100 billion, and the hope is that it will be harder for Republicans to vote no because it includes both Israel and Ukraine. Several Republicans have previously questioned the large support for Ukraine. 

 

Meanwhile, Congress has been mired in political turmoil since House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was forced out of office in early October. Without the Speaker, no bills can be approved, writes TT. 

 

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EU warns: Real risk of the conflict spreading  

The EU warns that there is a risk that the war between Israel and Hamas spreads to other parts of the Middle East, The Guardian reports. 

 

- We have seen a lot of anger on the streets all over the region, so the risk of a regional spread is real. Hamas' patron Iran wants to fuel the chaos, says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in connection with a visit to Washington. 

 

Several American bases and forces in Iraq and Syria have been subjected to drone attacks in recent days. A US warship in the northern Red Sea on Thursday intercepted several projectiles fired from the coast of Yemen. However, the Pentagon points out that it is unclear whether the ship was the target or whether the projectiles were fired at Israel.  

 

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Expert sure: No airstrike behind explosion  

The Israeli hypothesis about what caused the explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza is reasonable, says war crimes investigator Marc Garlasco to SvD. 

 

Israel claims it has evidence that the terrorist group Islamic Jihad is responsible, while Hamas blames Israel. According to Garlasco, it is clear that the explosion was not the result of an air strike. 

 

- There is no crater, we only see a small hole. And the types of weapons the Israelis use usually leave a crater between 3 and 10 meters wide, he says. 

 

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UN-experts warn: Risk of genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza 

An expert group at the UN Human Rights Council sounds the alarm that Israel is at risk of committing crimes against humanity in Gaza, reports CNN.  

 

"Given statements by Israeli political leaders and their allies, combined with military interventions in Gaza and escalating arrests and violence in the West Bank, there is also a risk of genocide against the Palestinians," they write in a report.  

 

The humanitarian situation for the approximately one million internally displaced people in the Gaza Strip is rapidly deteriorating, warns the UN.  

 

The power outage is in its ninth day, and stores' stocks of food items last only a few more days. In addition, access to clean drinking water is "extremely limited", and hospital care is close to collapsing.  

 

According to Egyptian security sources, the Rafah border crossing is expected to open tomorrow, after which the first 20 trucks with emergency aid can be admitted.

 

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Formed: Difficult to assess if the defense is proportional 

Israel has the right to defend itself, but it is difficult to assess now whether it is done with proportionality. This is what former Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt (M) says in SVT's 30 minutes. 

 

- We'll see when the war is over. Israel wants to knock out Hamas's military capability, it is clear that this leads to military attacks of this type.  

 

The highest priority must be to get help to civilian Palestinians, that the Israelis who have been taken hostage should be released and to avoid the war from widening, says Bildt. After that, you have to find your way back to a political process. The international community has been "remarkably disabled", he assesses.  

 

Bildt emphasizes the importance of respecting international law. - 

 

The Hamas attack was an attack against international law, taking hostages as well, as well as indiscriminate bombing and cutting off humanitarian aid.