Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government has set a date for a major ground operation in Rafah, the last remaining Palestinian shelter in Gaza.
The Israeli leader is under pressure both from close ally the US, which sees the promised offensive as a major threat to civilians, and from members of his own coalition, who demand military action. Some 1.3 million people, most of them displaced from other parts of the Palestinian enclave, are estimated to be crammed into the city, which is located at Gaza’s border with Egypt. In a short video statement on Monday night, the prime minister said that achieving a victory over the militant group Hamas “requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen – there is a date.” Earlier in the day, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, stating that if he “decides to end the war without a broad attack on Rafah in order to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving as prime minister.” West Jerusalem has declared the elimination of Hamas, which organized a deadly incursion into southern Israel last October, as its primary goal. Netanyahu has previously claimed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “had eliminated 19 out of 24 of the Hamas battalions”. Last Sunday, the IDF announced that it was pulling most of its ground forces from the southern part of Gaza. The move will give soldiers rest, in preparation for a future mission in the Rafah area, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said. Critics of the Israeli tactics say it is a far cry from the precision-targeting of Hamas militants, which is how West Jerusalem portrays it. Over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in more than six months of hostilities, compared to some 1,200 Israelis killed in the initial Hamas massacre. Last week, Israel targeted a convoy of the humanitarian group World Central Kitchen in a series of drone strikes, which killed seven aid workers. The attack, which the IDF described as a tragic mistake, was ordered despite the group having closely coordinated its mission with the military. US President Joe Biden threatened last Thursday to reconsider Washington’s support for Israel unless it changes its approach. Israel has since reopened a border crossing to allow more aid into Gaza and reported a surge in the number of trucks loaded with crucial supplies entering the blockaded territory, after claiming for months that it was not preventing the flow of aid.
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The Israeli military has destroyed 19 of Hamas’ 24 regional battalions in Gaza over the past six months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed.
In a statement ahead of a cabinet meeting on Sunday marking six months since the start of the Gaza war, Netanyahu said Israel was “one step away from victory.” “Today we mark six months since the war began… We eliminated 19 out of 24 of the Hamas battalions, including their senior commanders. We killed, wounded or captured a significant number of Hamas terrorists... We destroyed their factories manufacturing rockets, weapons, ammunition,” the prime minister said. The conflict kicked off on October 7 last year with a surprise Hamas raid that claimed the lives of an estimated 1,200 Israelis and saw the capture of more than 200 hostages. Netanyahu promptly declared war on the militant group and vowed to eradicate it. As a result, due to the density of Gaza’s population, over 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on the enclave in the following months, with much of the area razed to the ground. In his statement, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel needs to continue fighting until all Hamas militants are eliminated. He noted that Hamas still holds 133 Israeli citizens hostage, and stressed that there will be no talk of a ceasefire until all of them are freed. “There is no war more just than this war, and we are determined to finish it with complete victory. To return all those who were abducted, complete the elimination of Hamas in the entire Gaza Strip, including Rafah, and ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he stated. Israeli and Hamas delegations held ceasefire negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar on Sunday in Cairo. According to a report on Al Arabiya TV channel, Hamas’ demands included Israel dropping plans to persecute and eliminate its leaders once the fighting in Gaza stops, as well as a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu called these demands “extreme” and said Israel will not “surrender to them,” as, according to him, they may “endanger our citizens and our soldiers” in the future. Netanyahu’s refusal to strike an agreement with Hamas and thus secure the release of hostages has been brewing discontent among Israelis. Tens of thousands of demonstrators staged a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to demand Netanyahu’s resignation and for a deal to be reached with the Palestinian militants. Today is the last day of a four-day demonstration in Jerusalem. Close to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, hundreds of demonstrators have camped in tents in recent days.
It almost looks like a festival site. In addition to speakers, there are music performances, posters with political statements hang everywhere, and the overnight demonstrators can get food and drinks in special tents. But the joy of a festival is certainly not there. People are frustrated and angry with the government. They want elections to be held as soon as possible and Prime Minister Netanyahu to leave. When the war started, there was already dissatisfaction with the prime minister. But then there was the feeling that unity was the most important thing, and that it was not the time for demonstrations against the government. Those days are over, says Ami Dror, one of the organizers of the protest in Jerusalem: "A change is happening. The Israeli people are slowly moving away from their wait-and-see attitude to the view that they want a different government as soon as possible." In recent days, tens of thousands of people have attended the demonstration, which has become the largest anti-government protest since the start of the war. “This government no longer represents the Israeli people, they are so far away from us,” Dror said. The demonstrators believe that Netanyahu is deliberately prolonging the war and blocking a deal with Hamas to remain in power. They blame him for putting his own interests above those of the people. Political analyst Aviv Bushinsky, who was Netanyahu's political assistant for many years, also thinks that the prime minister is not looking for a deal with Hamas: "Hamas wants an end to the war as part of the deal, but that is something Netanyahu does not agree to." will agree. Because above all he wants to destroy Hamas. And he knows that if he does not succeed, the right-wing voters will punish him for it. He will then lose the support of the right, but these are precisely the voters who are now putting him on the have held power." Yet many protesters also say they want to defeat Hamas and win the war. Only they have no confidence that Netanyahu is the man who will bring the war to a successful conclusion. “I want new elections as soon as possible,” says Ilana Kaminka. Her son was in the army and was killed by Hamas on October 7. She carries a flag with his photo on it. “We need leaders who can give us hope. Who present a vision. Leaders who understand how to unite a society. Not people who tear our society apart as they have done from day one.” Netanyahu doesn't want to know anything about elections. He keeps repeating that victory is in sight and that this is not the time for elections. And the fact that such a victory would be achieved under his leadership is crucial for his political survival, says Bushinsky: "Let's say that Netanyahu achieves the ultimate victory. Then he could say that he was indeed responsible for the lack of preparedness on October 7. But that he fought himself back. And he kept his promises." The demonstrators no longer want to wait for that, says a demonstrator who is staying the night in the tent camp. "We are all here to make it clear to Netanyahu that he must leave, we don't want him anymore. He may not listen to us, but we will continue to convey that message." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his intention to eliminate the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza, despite international efforts to organize a ceasefire.
In a short post on social media on Monday Netanyahu claimed Israeli forces had killed a top Hamas leader, and that it is just a matter of time before other group leaders meet the same fate. “On the way to this victory, we already eliminated number four in Hamas. Three, two and one are on the way. They are all dead men, we will reach them all,” Netanyahu said in the 13-second video. The ‘number four’ in Hamas that Netanyahu referred to is likely Saleh al-Arouri, who was killed in an airstrike in the Lebanese capital, Beirut in early January. In his statement, the prime minister “apparently” confirmed that Israel was behind al-Arouri’s assassination, The Times of Israel newspaper wrote. Netanyahu’s remarks come amid an investigation into the fate of Hamas’ number three, Marwan Issa, one of the key figures involved in the militant group’s attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Issa was targeted in an airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) over the weekend. According to DPA news agency, Netanyahu spoke of ‘numbers one and two’ in reference to the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yehya al-Sinwar, and the head of the al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif. Netanyahu’s comments came on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Egypt, Qatar, and the US tried to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas before Monday, and UN chief Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire during Ramadan. The latest figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry indicate that more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October. المتظاهرون المؤيدون لفلسطين يهاجمون الشرطة ويطلقون صيحات الاستهجان على كينغ عند افتتاح متحف المحرقة12/3/2024 استقبل المتظاهرون الملك ويليم ألكسندر بصيحات الاستهجان لدى وصوله لحضور الافتتاح الرسمي لمتحف المحرقة الوطني في أمستردام. كما تعرض الرئيس الإسرائيلي إسحاق هرتسوغ، الذي وصل إلى متحف المحرقة الوطني بعد وقت قصير، لصيحات الاستهجان من قبل المتظاهرين.
كما ردد المتظاهرون شعارات مختلفة مثل "فلسطين حرة" و"إسرائيل إرهابية"، حسبما سمع مراسل الشرطة الوطنية الأفغانية. وتم تعليق لافتاتين كتب عليهما "أوقفوا الإبادة الجماعية" و"لن يحدث ذلك مرة أخرى الآن" على مبنى بجوار المتحف مباشرة. وقبل دخول الملك ويليم ألكسندر المتحف، قام بتسليم مزوزة لحفيدة الناجي من المحرقة رودي كورتيسوس بمناسبة افتتاح المتحف الوطني للمحرقة. المزوزة عبارة عن جعبة تحتوي على جزء من نص التوراة، يتم لصقه على عمود الباب وفقًا للعادات اليهودية بعد التسليم، قام كورتيسوس بربط الميزوزا بإطار باب مدخل المتحف الوطني للهولوكوست. خلال هذا العرض الافتتاحي، هتف المتظاهرون بعدة شعارات، بما في ذلك "فلسطين حرة" في وجه الملك. وبعد الافتتاح بدأ جلالة الملك جولة في المتحف. أثناء افتتاح متحف الهولوكوست في أمستردام، حدثت مواجهة بين وحدة الشرطة المتنقلة (ME) والمتظاهرين عند طوق الشرطة بين واترلوبلين وفيسربلين في أمستردام. وفي وقت سابق، تمركزت الوحدة المتنقلة على الطريق بين الكنيس البرتغالي وواترلوبلين لمنع المتظاهرين من التحرك من واترلوبلين نحو الكنيس. وصعد عدد من المتظاهرين إلى سيارات الشرطة التي أقيمت كحاجز. وقام الجيش الوطني بضربهم هناك بالهراوات، وفقًا لمراسل الشرطة الوطنية الأفغانية. كما بدأ المتظاهرون في إلقاء الألعاب النارية والبيض على الشرطة ومركبات الشرطة. وألصق المتظاهرون منشورات تحمل رأس الرئيس الإسرائيلي إسحق هرتزوغ وعبارة "مطلوب" على هذه المركبات. واحتج المتظاهرون على حضور الرئيس الإسرائيلي إسحاق هرتسوغ حفل افتتاح المتحف الوطني للهولوكوست. علاوة على ذلك، تحدت مجموعات من المتظاهرين بعضهم البعض أمام المتحف الوطني للهولوكوست في أمستردام. ورددت مجموعة من أنصار فلسطين شعارات مثل "عار عليكم" و"فلسطين ستتحرر من النهر إلى البحر" أمام عشرات المتظاهرين المؤيدين لإسرائيل. وقال مراسل الوكالة الوطنية للشرطة إن المتظاهرين بدورهم لوحوا بالأعلام الإسرائيلية بشكل استفزازي.. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have attempted to use a submersible drone for the first time, but it was destroyed in yet another wave of US-led coalition attacks over the weekend, the US Central Command has claimed.
The US Navy conducted a series of five strikes, hitting three Houthi cruise missiles, an unmanned surface vessel (USV), and one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) on Saturday, CENTCOM announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. “This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23,” the US military wrote, claiming it presented an “imminent threat” to US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the area. Since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, the Houthi militants, who are in control of a large portion of Yemen, have harassed multiple vessels sailing the Red Sea. In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, the Houthis vowed to attack any ships they find to be linked to Israel until the siege of Gaza stops. In response, the US launched an international maritime coalition to patrol the Red Sea called ‘Prosperity Guardian’, with the stated goal of protecting shipping lanes. Since mid-January, the US and UK have carried out air- and sea-launched attacks against “multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters” in Yemen in an attempt to “degrade Houthi capabilities” to attack military vessels and merchant ships. The Houthis vowed to “meet escalation with escalation” and expanded their list of potential targets to include US- and UK-owned merchant vessels. While no Houthi missiles have hit a US Navy vessel thus far, the group has launched scores of missiles and drones against the US-led coalition ships in the Red Sea. The attacks on Suez Canal freight – a route which normally accounts for around 15% of the world’s commercial shipping – have forced major companies to avoid the Red Sea altogether and sail around the coast of Africa, facing increased costs and spiking insurance premiums. On Sunday, another vessel sailing off the coast of Yemen was hit, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. The master of the ship reported an “explosion in close proximity of the vessel resulting in damage,” adding that all crew members were safe.
The newspaper’s anonymous sources also attributed a separate incident to Israeli sabotage – an explosion that rocked a chemical factory on the outskirts of Tehran on Thursday, which local officials ruled an accident. The two gas pipelines run for more than 1,000 kilometers and carry around 2 billion cubic feet (57 million cubic meters). The blasts temporarily took out around a sixth of Iran’s daily natural gas production, causing local outages. While Iran has said the damage was minor and the repairs were finished by Wednesday evening, the strikes were a “stark warning” of the kind of damage Israel could inflict, one of the NYT’s sources said. Given the vast distances and varied terrain the pipelines run, and the regular Iranian patrols, inside knowledge of the system would have been needed to carry out the sabotage, an Iranian official told the paper.
Recent strikes by Israel and the US have killed Iranian commanders in Syria and hit ‘Axis of Resistance’ targets in Iraq and Syria. The Axis of Resistance – composed of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Yemen’s Houthis – is an unofficial coalition that opposes US and Israeli influence in the Middle East. While Iran supports the Axis of Resistance, they have categorically denied any involvement with the events of October 7 – when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking another 240 hostage. US forces have begun a new bombing campaign in the Middle East to punish Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups for a series of drone and missile attacks on American military bases in the region.
Washington’s latest airstrikes began around midnight Baghdad time on Saturday and hit more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. The operation involved “numerous aircraft,” including long-range bombers flown from the US, which dropped over 125 precision munitions on their targets. Those targets included command and control centers, intelligence sites, weapons caches, and supply-chain facilities of Iranian-backed militias, as well as “their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and coalition forces,” CENTCOM said. The bombings follow a series of assaults on American military bases in the Middle East, including a drone attack that killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40 others at secretive US installation in Jordan. That base, called Tower 22, is located near the Syrian and Iraqi borders. The attack on Tower 22 was “planned, resourced and facilitated” by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday. The group consists of multiple militias, including Kataib Hezbollah, which has launched multiple rocket and drone strikes against US forces in the region since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. Media reports in recent days raised concern that Biden was telegraphing his plans and giving the militias too much time to take preparatory steps, such as vacating obvious targets. Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin tried to deflect those worries on Friday, denying that the administration was giving Iran too much warning. He said the US response will be “multi-tiered” and insisted that neither he nor Biden would tolerate attacks on American troops. Biden has blamed Iran for supplying the weapons that Islamic militants have used in attacking US forces in the Middle East more than 150 times since the Israel-Hamas war started. He has faced political pressure to respond aggressively, including calls by Republican lawmakers to launch devastating strikes inside Iran. The IRGC’s Quds Force is an elite unit that specializes in guerilla warfare and intelligence-gathering outside Iran. It has sought to drive American forces out of neighboring Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. The UN's new humanitarian coordinator, Sigrid Kaag, said Tuesday that no organization can replace or substitute the "tremendous capacity" of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
"I think you've heard the Secretary-General and other agencies, and they've been very clear. At the moment, beyond political decisions, which are GA (General Assembly) bound, there is no way any organization can replace or substitute the tremendous capacity, the fabric of UNRWA, their ability and their knowledge of the population in Gaza," Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, said during a news conference following a closed session on Gaza at the UN Security Council. Some of UNRWA's staff were allegedly involved in the cross-border attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. At least 12 countries — Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Finland, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, the US, France, Austria and Japan — have suspended funding for UNRWA, which was established in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. UNRWA said it terminated contracts with several employees following the Israeli allegations. The main issues discussed during the UN Security Council session were supply routes to Gaza and distribution across the enclave as well as the establishment of the UN mechanism, according to Kaag. "This is not about counting trucks," she said. "This is about volume, quality, speed and continuous delivery of humanitarian and commercial goods to reach the civilians of Gaza, and the mechanism went up and running and can really help facilitate that. It helps us to track, it helps us to enhance the transparency that we know what's coming in…It helps with the verification and obviously to know if it really reached the civilian population," she added. Several aid workers with the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA helped kidnap Israelis and arm Hamas during its attack on October 7, the New York Times claimed on Sunday citing the contents of a secret Israeli government report.
The dossier allegedly details Israel’s claims about 12 UNRWA employees said to have been involved in the raid. Seven were teachers with the agency and two more worked at its schools in other capacities, while the other three were a clerk, social worker, and storeroom manager. Ten of the workers were also allegedly members of Hamas, whose civilian wing remains the legally elected government of Gaza despite its classification as a terrorist group by Israel, while another was said to be affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. A school counselor from Khan Younis supposedly worked with his son to kidnap an Israeli woman, while a social worker from Nuseirat reportedly removed a dead Israeli soldier’s body back to Gaza and helped distribute vehicles and ammunition ahead of the raid. Another three men allegedly received text messages summoning them to meeting points on October 7, with one ordered to bring rocket-propelled grenades. Two US officials told the New York Times that while they had been briefed on the Israeli allegations, they had not verified the details. Washington was nevertheless first to cut off UNRWA’s funding on Friday, followed by Canada and over half a dozen more on Saturday. Because UNRWA lacks any emergency cash reserves, it may have to curtail the vital services it provides to some 5 million Palestinians starting in February. The funding cutoff comes at a precarious time for Gaza’s residents, many of whom already face hunger and starvation. Over 85% of them have been displaced from their homes since the war began, according to the UN. Israel’s accusations came just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take action to prevent genocide in Gaza, including by allowing more aid deliveries to reach the territory’s besieged residents. While the ruling indicated the court found South Africa’s genocide case against Israel to have some merit, it stopped short of issuing an immediate demand for a ceasefire. Israel had been sitting on the information regarding the UNRWA workers for weeks, three unnamed diplomats told Israel Hayom on Saturday, claiming the government had kept it quiet because “there was an understanding in the Israeli political system that UNRWA must be preserved in Gaza, because it is the only functioning body in Gaza and without it, the chaos would be even greater.” However, Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday called for UNRWA to be “replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development,” demanding the resignation of its director, and Israel has previously claimed the agency is a Hamas front. The UN launched a probe into the allegations, and immediately terminated staff members suspected of terrorist activity, but Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Western nations not to penalize all relief workers indiscriminately. Egypt remains committed to the Palestinian cause and rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians, reiterated Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki during his meeting with UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag.
The meeting, which took place in Cairo on Wednesday, was attended by top military officials. It addressed developments in Gaza and outlined strategies for coordinating efforts to ensure a continuous flow of humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the population facing severe shortages of basic necessities due to ongoing military operations, read a statement by the Egyptian military spokesperson. "Zaki affirmed Egypt's steadfast stance in supporting the Palestinian cause in accordance with the provisions of international legitimacy," the statement noted, adding that the minister "strongly rejected any attempts to displace the Palestinian people." The defence minister expressed Egypt’s desire to coordinate with regional and international parties to effect de-escalation in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of its residents, the statement added. Kaag hailed Egypt's efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, expressing hopes that the international endeavours would result in a ceasefire. This is Kaag's first visit to the region since her appointment on 26 December 2023 under Security Council Resolution 2720, meant to facilitate, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Kaag met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday. During their meeting, Shoukry stressed Egypt's support for Kaag’s role and efforts to facilitate her duties, including the swift launch of a UN mechanism to expedite the dispatch of humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza. Last week, the Israeli defence team speaking before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) claimed that Egypt is responsible for preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip through the Rafah border crossing. The claim was refuted by several Egyptian official statements. On Sunday, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service Diaa Rashwan stated that the major hurdle for the swift delivery of aid to Gaza over the past 100 days has been the deliberate delays imposed by Israeli authorities inspecting aid material at border crossings. Rashwan said Egypt's Rafah crossing has never been closed for a moment during the 100-day war, noting that Egypt, via several official statements, has called on Israel to stop hindering humanitarian aid under the pretext of inspection delays. Egypt’s private and public contributions comprise 82 percent of total aid delivered to Gaza, which in total has reached 9,000 aid-loaded trucks until Sunday. Since October 2023, Israel has launched a relentless military campaign on the Gaza Strip that has killed at least 24,285 Palestinians, with 61,154 reported injuries, according to the Palestinian health ministry's latest figures. Israeli intelligence organizations have been working in collaboration with their European counterparts to counter Hamas in Europe, they announced via the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday evening. Hamas has been working with criminal elements to procure drones for planned attacks across Europe and the Middle East, as ordered by the senior Hamas leadership. In December, the security services and police in Denmark and Germany announced the arrest of an extensive network of Hamas operatives in Europe, those arrested have since had legal proceedings opened against them. Further arrests came earlier this week in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. More information regarding the arrests in Europe is restricted due to the ongoing legal cases in the respective countries. The assassination of Saleh Arouri earlier this month is linked to the arrests, with the claim being that he was involved in ordering operations across Europe and the Middle East. The two other men killed in the strike that killed Arouri were Samir Fandi and Azzam Akre, both fellow senior Hamas commanders. Akre had commanded Khalil al-Kharaz the former deputy commander of Hamas forces in Lebanon until his assassination in November. Kharaz was in charge of the Hamas cells operating in Europe, the very same ones arrested by European security services, which had been involved in the purchase of drones for planned attacks. Kharaz is claimed to have been involved in building relations with a Danish street gang called "LTF - Loyal To Familia," who were banned by Denmark in 2021.
LTF is charged with working on behalf of Hamas in Europe, including but not limited to Denmark, Germany, and Sweden, with some members now believed to be operating out of Lebanon. The use of local criminal gangs as a facade for terror activity is a common element of Iranian intelligence and terror operations, often used to maintain a space for denial of involvement. The integration of inter-organizational resources in Israel and across the world led to a comprehensive and in-depth picture of Hamas's terrorist activity development, including details about Hamas's actions and targets of attacks. The intelligence also revealed who was involved in implementing terror activity, from the Hamas commanders in Lebanon to the last member in their operational infrastructure. One piece of information discovered was about an intention to attack the Israeli embassy in Sweden, this required the purchase of drones and the use of criminal organizations close to Hamas in Europe. "Hamas draws inspiration from the terrorist activities of the Iranian regime, and like it, aims to hit Israeli, Jewish, and Western targets at any cost," the PMO said in a press release. "The Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the IDF, in partnership with international security and enforcement bodies, will continue to work to thwart the terrorist intentions.of Hamas and all terrorist organizations, to come to terms with them anywhere in the world for the security of the State of Israel and the Jewish people." According to the Mossad. Israel’s intelligence agency. the Palestinian militant group Hamas is running a network of operatives tasked with carrying out terrorist attacks in European countries.
The statement came after seven people were arrested last month in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands on suspicion of planning to target Jewish sites. “Hamas terrorist organization has acted to expand its violent activity abroad in order to attack innocents around the world,” Mossad and the Israel Security Agency said in a statement released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Saturday. It added that the militants planned to attack the Israeli Embassy in Sweden and sought to purchase drones. The suspects arrested in Europe last month were part of a larger Hamas network coordinated from Lebanon, Israeli officials said, adding that Hamas had planned to enlist the help of “criminal organizations” on the continent. Danish prosecutor Anders Larsson confirmed that the case stemming from the December arrest “has links to Hamas,” Danish police told AFP on Friday. The group itself has not commented on the matter, but said in the past that it only commits attacks in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. As Israel marks 100 days of its war with Hamas, Netanyahu addressed the nation on Sunday, reiterating that the operation in Gaza will continue until Israel completely neutralizes the threat coming from Hamas. “Nobody will stop us – not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anybody else,” Netanyahu said, referring to the genocide case brought before the International Court of Justice by South Africa. Israel rejected the accusations of indiscriminately killing Palestinians, speaking during the first day of hearings on Thursday. The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when the Palestinian militants carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas and vowing to “eradicate” the group. More than 23,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, according to the local Hamas-run government. The Houthi rebels in Yemen have been widely reported to receive support from Iran. Iran is often accused of providing financial aid, military equipment, and training to the Houthi forces. The Houthi movement belongs to the Zaidi sect of Shia Islam, and Iran, being a Shia-majority country, is seen as a natural ally. The accusations of Iranian support for the Houthis have been a significant source of tension in the region, particularly with Saudi Arabia, which views Iran as a regional rival. The Saudi-led coalition, which includes several Arab states, has intervened militarily in Yemen to support the internationally recognized government against the Houthi rebels. While Iran denies direct military involvement in Yemen, evidence of its support for the Houthi rebels includes the supply of weapons, financial assistance, and alleged training of Houthi fighters. The conflict in Yemen has thus become a proxy battleground for regional powers, exacerbating the already complex political and humanitarian crisis in the country. It's important to note that the situation is fluid, and geopolitical dynamics can change. The information provided here is based on the situation as of my knowledge cutoff date in January 2022, and developments may have occurred since then. Introduction Yemen, a country steeped in history and tradition, has been home to various ethnic and religious groups for centuries. Among these groups, the Houthi community stands out as a significant and influential faction, particularly in recent times. The origins and history of the Houthi community are intertwined with Yemen's complex socio-political landscape, marked by a series of historical events, religious affiliations, and regional dynamics. Historical Background The Houthi community traces its roots back to the 1990s, when a charismatic religious leader named Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi founded the movement in the northern Saada Governorate. Al-Houthi, a Zaidi Shia Muslim, sought to address what he perceived as the marginalization of Zaidi communities in Yemen, especially in the north. The Zaidis are a sect within Shia Islam, and their historical influence in Yemen dates back to the early Islamic period. During the early years, the Houthi movement focused on socio-economic issues and the protection of Zaidi identity. However, tensions with the central government escalated, leading to a series of confrontations between Houthi supporters and Yemeni authorities. The movement gained traction by emphasizing local grievances, such as perceived discrimination and neglect, resonating with a significant portion of the population in the north. Ideological Foundation The Houthi movement draws its ideological inspiration from Zaidism, a branch of Shia Islam that has a long history in Yemen. Zaidism emphasizes social justice, equitable distribution of resources, and resistance against perceived tyrannical rule. The Houthi leaders framed their struggle within this context, presenting themselves as defenders of Zaidi rights and traditions against external and oppressive forces. The Houthi movement's ideology became more pronounced with time, evolving into a broader anti-government sentiment and opposition to foreign interference. As the Yemeni government faced internal challenges and struggled to address the grievances of various communities, the Houthi movement gained momentum, particularly in the northern regions. External Influences and Regional Dynamics The Houthi movement's evolution and growth were also influenced by external factors and regional dynamics. The complex web of alliances and rivalries in the Middle East played a role in shaping the Houthi community's trajectory. Iran, a Shia-majority country, has been accused of providing support to the Houthi rebels, amplifying sectarian tensions in the region. The ongoing conflict in Yemen, often referred to as the Yemeni Civil War, has further fueled the Houthi movement's prominence. The involvement of external actors, including a Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government, has turned Yemen into a battleground for regional influence. The Houthi community, finding itself at the center of this geopolitical struggle, has attracted attention and support from various quarters.
The history and origins of the Houthi community in Yemen are complex and multifaceted, shaped by historical grievances, religious identity, and regional dynamics. The movement's evolution from a local socio-economic protest to a prominent player in Yemen's political landscape reflects the intricate interplay of internal and external factors. Understanding the Houthi community's roots is crucial for comprehending the ongoing conflict in Yemen and exploring potential paths towards peace and stability in the region. Israel’s military has said it will transition to a less intensive phase in its war against Hamas, suggesting it will rely on more surgical missions following months of heavy fighting in the Palestinian enclave.
The chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, announced the change on Monday, telling the New York Times that smaller groups of soldiers will carry out more one-off raids, as opposed to the wide-scale maneuvers seen in the earlier stages of the war. “The war shifted a stage,” Hagari told the NYT, adding, “the transition will be with no ceremony. It’s not about dramatic announcements.” Though IDF operations previously focused on Gaza’s north, they will continue to move south, around cities such as Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, the admiral said. He noted that he expects additional humanitarian aid to enter the besieged territory, where rights groups and international organizations, including the UN, have warned of grave shortages in essential goods such as food, fuel, and medicine. During a regular press conference later on Monday, Hagari elaborated that though there were still “terror operatives and weapons” in northern Gaza, they did not “function within an organized military framework and now we operate there in [a different] way, and with a different mix of forces.” According to unnamed US officials cited by the New York Times, Israel has slashed the number of troops in northern Gaza by more than half of the 50,000 previously stationed there. Other administration staffers also told the paper that the transition period should end by late January, citing private discussions between American and Israeli officials. Israel’s defense chief, Yoav Gallant, made a similar announcement, telling the Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the IDF would shift from the “intense maneuvering phase of the war” to “different types of special operations.” However, he later clarified that the change would happen soon, and had not already taken place. “We need to take into consideration the huge number of civilians,” Gallant told the Journal, adding that that change would “take some time” to implement. The latest conflict in Gaza erupted following Hamas’ deadly October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and saw at least 240 captured by Palestinian militants. The IDF responded with months of heavy airstrikes and a major ground incursion, leaving much of the enclave in ruins and killing more than 23,000 people, according to local health officials. An estimated 2 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes due to the fighting. |
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