All posts tagged: offensive

Biden says he’ll stop sending offensive weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah

Biden says he’ll stop sending offensive weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah

Published by skeptic

President Biden on Wednesday warned he would stop supplying Israel with offensive weapons like bombs and artillery shells if Israeli forces launch an invasion of Rafah, laying down a clear line amid outcry over the conflict in Gaza. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in an interview. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities — that deal with that problem,” Biden added. The White House has urged Israel against sending forces into Rafah without a clear plan to evacuate civilians safely, as the war has already left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead. About a million refugees have settled in Rafah after fleeing fighting in northern Gaza. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been adamant about plans to destroy …

Timeline of events leading to Israel’s Rafah offensive

Timeline of events leading to Israel’s Rafah offensive

Published by skeptic

An Israeli army battle tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on May 7. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images An Israeli army battle tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on May 7. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images The Gaza Strip’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been a key lifeline for people in the Palestinian enclave. Throughout seven months of war, this has been the only way in and out of Gaza for aid workers and people trying to flee. It is also where most food, medical supplies and fuel have entered Gaza, even as other crossings with Israel opened up. Most international aid groups serving Gaza are based in Rafah. For months, Israel has vowed to launch a Rafah military operation regardless of whether there is a cease-fire with Hamas. Here is a timeline of events leading up to its offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population had sought shelter. Oct. …

US pauses weapons delivery to Israel over Rafah offensive concerns: Reports | Israel War on Gaza News

US pauses weapons delivery to Israel over Rafah offensive concerns: Reports | Israel War on Gaza News

Published by Sam

United States President Joe Biden’s administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by its forces to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior administration official has said. Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by the Israelis against Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere in the Gaza Strip. The AFP, Reuters and The Associated Press news agencies on Tuesday quoted unnamed US officials as saying Washington began to “carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah” in April when it seemed Israel appeared close to making a decision on the assault. “As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-pound [907kg] bombs and 1,700 500-pound [227kg] bombs,” one official reportedly said. “We are especially focused on the end-use of the 2,000-lb bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in …

Azerbaijan’s climate charm offensive is backfiring – POLITICO

Azerbaijan’s climate charm offensive is backfiring – POLITICO

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When Egypt hosted in 2022, activists used the event to highlight the government’s crackdown on political opponents. Last year saw widespread criticism when COP28 host the United Arab Emirates appointed the man tasked with expanding the country’s oil and gas output to lead the talks. Likewise, the incoming president of COP29 is a former Azerbaijani oil and gas industry executive — though he was later tapped to lead the country’s ecology ministry. Still, Baku has been unapologetic about its intention to use the conference to promote its own economic interests. Aliyev used a speech as host of the talks to brand his country’s natural gas reserves “a gift of the gods” and to push for more investments in the fossil fuel industry, in addition to renewable projects — climate critics be damned. Europe has increasingly turned to Azerbaijan in recent years as a replacement for the Russian fossil fuel it shunned after Moscow invaded Ukraine. | Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images “As a head of the country, which is rich with fossil fuels, of course, we will defend …

Biden Withholds Shipment Of Boeing-Made Precision Bombs From Israel Over Rafah Offensive

Biden Withholds Shipment Of Boeing-Made Precision Bombs From Israel Over Rafah Offensive

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Update(1212ET): We noted earlier that Israel’s Rafah ground offensive currently in progress constitutes a glaring instance of Netanyahu’s willingness to blow past Biden’s ‘red line’ which was repeatedly verbalized in the last weeks and months. It now appears that Biden is ready to belatedly get ‘tough’ (or at least keep up the appearance of getting tough on Israel for the sake of US Progressives who have been revoking their support in droves). The below major headline just hit via Politico: Biden administration is holding shipments of Boeing manufactured precision bombs to send a political message to Israel, according to Politico. https://t.co/2vgsTYZxYg pic.twitter.com/IH1EiQifAj — Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) May 7, 2024 This follows on the heels of Axios’ Sunday reporting which said an initial ammo shipment has been held up. Israeli officials are said to be seething. Anyway… The US is only paying for Israel’s war and providing the weapons they use in Gaza. No need to pay attention to any “red lines” that doddering old man in the WH issued.https://t.co/yOIQOiwZk9 pic.twitter.com/ueUw4sSSlU — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) …

Israel Moving Forward With Rafah Ground Offensive

Israel Moving Forward With Rafah Ground Offensive

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Summary:  Hamas claims to accept ceasefire, hostage deal while Israel says ‘This isn’t what we agreed to’ Bombardment and air strikes on eastern Rafah Over 50 targets hit as IDF prepares for ground operation President Macron warns against ground op Civilians warned to evacuate. Tens of thousands of flyers dropped Biden phoned Netanyahu to urge against Rafah ground op without acceptable evacuation plan  Axios reported that for the first time the US has paused ammo shipments to Israel Senior official: Israel will achieve all its war objectives Palestinians on streets holding premature celebrations over Hamas accepting deal, but Israel rejects thus far ‘Bibi is abandoning the hostages!’: Protesters in Jerusalem demand deal Al-Quds Brigades fires rockets towards Israel Israel says ground offensive necessary after four soldiers killed by rocket fire out of Rafah European Union says offensive is “unacceptable” Palestinian Authority alleges US not interested in achieving truce Jordan says PM Netanyahu jeopardizing ceasefire by bombing Rafah ????????????????Video from the Egyptian side as Israel creates firebelts around Rafah. Israel commenced a military operation on Rafah …

Biden Speaks With Netanyahu as Israelis Appear Closer to Rafah Offensive

Biden Speaks With Netanyahu as Israelis Appear Closer to Rafah Offensive

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But soon after Israel announced that it was ordering about 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah, Hamas said in a statement it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a cease-fire to halt the seven-month-long war with Israel in Gaza. Details of the proposal had not been released. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari says Israel will continue its operations in Gaza as Israeli officials deliberate the cease-fire proposal approved by Hamas. And the Israeli War Cabinet voted unanimously to approve a Rafah military operation but will continue cease-fire efforts. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that Biden had been briefed on the matter. CIA Director William Burns, who was in Qatar for hostage talks with regional officials, was discussing the Hamas’ response with allies in the region. Kirby declined to discuss the parameters of what Hamas is saying it has agreed to. “Bill Burns is looking at that response. He’s talking to the Israelis about it,” Kirby told reporters. “And we’ll see where this goes. Hopefully, it can lead to those …

Rishi Sunak ‘deeply concerned’ about potential Israeli offensive in Rafah after Palestinians told to evacuate | Politics News

Rishi Sunak ‘deeply concerned’ about potential Israeli offensive in Rafah after Palestinians told to evacuate | Politics News

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Rishi Sunak is “deeply concerned” about a potential Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah in the south of Gaza. It comes after Israel’s military told Palestinians to leave parts of the city, with the announcement appearing to signal a long-threatened Israeli ground invasion is imminent. Hamas accepts ceasefire deal proposed by mediators – follow live Speaking on Monday, Mr Sunak said: “I’ve been very consistent that we are deeply concerned about the prospect of a military incursion into Rafah, given the number of civilians that are sheltering there and the importance of that crossing for aid. “I’ve made those points repeatedly to Prime Minister Netanyahu. “The priority right now should be on all parties, but particularly Hamas, to agree to a deal to release hostages and allow more aid to go in as part of a temporary pause, which will allow us to build a sustainable ceasefire. “That’s the best way to end the suffering. And that’s what I continue to call on all parties to do.” Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said …

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says Israeli offensive ‘must not go ahead’ after Palestinians told to leave Rafah in Gaza | Politics News

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says Israeli offensive ‘must not go ahead’ after Palestinians told to leave Rafah in Gaza | Politics News

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said an Israeli offensive “must not go ahead” after the military told Palestinians to leave parts of the city of Rafah. The army’s announcement appeared to signal a long-threatened Israeli ground invasion is imminent. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy called for an “immediate ceasefire” and said an Israeli offensive in Rafah “would be catastrophic”. Israel says Rafah is the last significant Hamas stronghold but had previously paused plans to attack the city in southern Gaza so hostage release negotiations could take place. However, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant claimed on Sunday that Hamas was not serious about a deal and the army was preparing “a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah”. On Sunday, Hamas set off rockets from Rafah towards Kerem Shalom, Israel’s main crossing point for delivering aid, killing three Israeli soldiers. Overnight, Israeli strikes killed at least 19 people, including a baby, according to Palestinian health officials. Follow live updates from the Israel-Hamas war Image: A house in Rafah was hit by Israeli strikes …