Israel's conflict with its neighbours

[firestar464]

Hamas officials say group willing to disarm if Palestinian state is established

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ha ... r-AA1nF3tp

No. We are not integrating Hamas into any future Palestinian state

[wjfox]

Gaza’s 37m tonnes of bomb-filled debris could take 14 years to clear, says expert

Fri 26 Apr 2024 17.56 BST

Israel’s war in Gaza has created 37m tonnes of debris, much of it laced with unexploded bombs, which could take more than a decade to remove, a top UN demining official said.

Nearly seven months into the war, there is an average 300kg of rubble a square metre of land in Gaza, Pehr Lodhammar, the former United Nationals Mine Action Service chief for Iraq, told a news conference.

“Based on the current [amount] of debris in Gaza, with 100 trucks we are talking about 14 years of work … to remove it,” he said. With the war continuing, it was impossible to estimate how long clearance might take at its end, he added.

Israel has been accused of “domicide” over the intensity of its bombing campaign in Gaza, which has reduced large swathes of the strip to ruins. Sixty-five per cent of the buildings destroyed in Gaza were residential, Lodhammar said.

Clearing and rebuilding them will be slow and dangerous work because of the threat from shells, missiles or other weapons buried in collapsed or damaged buildings. On average about 10% of weapons failed to detonate when they were fired, Lodhammar said, and had to be removed by demining teams.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... ays-expert

[wjfox]

One of my favourite journalists and radio presenters.

I'm going to really miss her on LBC.

[wjfox]

This petition is now going viral, and is currently trending on X. https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-sang ... ion-at-lbc

[weatheriscool]

Mass graves found at Gaza hospitals raided by Israel prompt demands for independent investigation

At mass graves in southern Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, Palestinian authorities say they are uncovering bodies that bear signs of having been shot in the head, their hands bound by zip ties, stripped of their clothes, or buried in hospital gowns with tubes or needles still in their skin. Among the dead are women and children.

The remains found in the mass graves have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths during the months of intense fighting in and around Nasser Hospital. Israel denies wrongdoing but acknowledges exhuming bodies that had already been buried, then reburying them, in its search for hostages taken captive into Gaza during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Thursday called the reports from Nasser Hospital “deeply disturbing,” adding that “we’d like to see this investigated.” Kirby said the White House was in dialogue with Israeli counterparts.

“We want answers,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters during a news briefing Wednesday. “We want to see this thoroughly and transparently investigated.”

…

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna149110

[firestar464]

Mother of Israeli-American hostage speaks about hope amid her son’s captivity by Hamas

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mo ... i-AA1nICgU

[firestar464]

State Department reviewing plans to sanction IDF unit

https://www.axios.com/2024/04/26/state- ... n-idf-unit

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

Israel-Gaza - live: Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire as IDF orders 100,000 to evacuate Rafah

1 minute ago

Hamas has accepted a Gaza ceasefire deal hours after Israel launched airstrikes on Rafah and ordered more than 100,000 people to leave part of the city.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the Qatar-Egypt brokered deal, but Israeli media outlet N12 reported the deal was “unacceptable” to Netanyahu’s war cabinet.

After the release of the statement, Palestinians erupted in cheers in the sprawling tent camps around Rafah, hoping the deal meant an Israeli attack had been averted.

The news comes hours after Rafah’s population were struck with panic-inducing posters which read: “The IDF is about to operate with force against the terror organisations in the area you currently reside, as the IDF has operated so far.

“Anyone in the area puts themselves and their family members in danger. For your safety, evacuate immediately to the expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 40175.html

[Time_Traveller]

Gaza: Israel takes Rafah crossing as truce talks continue

1 hour ago



The Israeli military says its troops have taken "operational control" of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Rafah has been a key entry point for aid and the only exit for people able to flee since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.

A tank brigade moved in to the crossing area after a night of intense strikes.

With Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing also closed, the UN warned Gaza's two main aid arteries were now choked off.

On Monday, the Israeli military ordered tens of thousands of civilians to begin evacuating nearby eastern parts of Rafah city, ahead of what it called a "limited" operation to eliminate Hamas fighters and dismantle infrastructure.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68967397