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Peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been put on hold over major disagreements, Israeli broadcaster Kan has reported, citing anonymous sources. Haaretz has confirmed the “impasse” in the talks, which were mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
Hostilities in Gaza broke out last October after Hamas militants staged a deadly incursion into Israeli territory, killing an estimated 1,200 people and abducting hundreds more, most of them civilians. Israel retaliated with a military campaign against the armed group, subjecting the densely populated Palestinian enclave to months of heavy aerial bombardment. According to Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza, Israel’s military operation has claimed the lives of more than 35,000 Palestinians, with nearly 80,000 sustaining injuries. While Qatari, Egyptian and US middlemen have for months been trying to get the two belligerents to agree to a ceasefire, so far these efforts have apparently been fruitless. In its report on Friday, Kan alleged that the negotiations “are not taking place at the moment” since “Egypt and Qatar have adopted the position of Hamas.” According to the media outlet, the mediators suggested sealing a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. Kan quoted its anonymous sources as saying that there is a “large” divergence of opinion between the Palestinian militant group and Israel, especially over how each would define the “end of the war.” Another major bone of contention, the broadcaster claimed, was Israel’s refusal to unconditionally release incarcerated Hamas militants at the group’s request. On Saturday, Israel’s Haaretz, citing an unnamed foreign source familiar with the talks, also reported that the negotiations “are currently at an impasse, and there is no progress.” On Tuesday, the prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, revealed that recent weeks had seen “some momentum building,” but that “unfortunately things didn’t move in the right direction.” “Right now, we are in a status of almost a stalemate,” he said. Sheikh Al Thani noted that “there is one party that wants to end the war and then talk about the hostages, and there is another party who wants the hostages and wants to continue the war.” There is little hope for progress unless Israel and Hamas see eye to eye on this fundamental issue, he warned. The Qatari prime minister also questioned whether Israel was seeking an end to hostilities in good faith. ”I don’t think that they are considering this as an option… even when we are talking about the deal and leading to a potential ceasefire,” he said. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Hamas to set up a Base in Türkiye5/14/2024 Documents discovered by the Israelis and seen by The Times newspaper reveal Hamas plans to set up a secret base in Türkiye where they could plan attacks against Israeli targets in neighbouring countries. The files also suggest the terror group had plans to set up cells in other NATO countries to launch more attacks. According to reports it is not known if the cells had already been established in Türkiye before the October 7 attacks. According to the IDF, it found a document labelled “Founding a base in Türkiye” in the home of Hamza Abu Shanab. Shanab is chief of staff to Yahya Sinwar, who is Hamas’s leader in Gaza. According to the Hamas document it claims “there is no choice but to act with a major effort to establish military hubs which will be the base for special operations that can strengthen the forces of resistance militarily, diplomatically and morally. Therefore we suggest to establish a security branch abroad that will be capable of carrying out intelligence and military operations in the future.” The three-year plan found in the home of Shanab outlines a plan that would involve “setting up many military cells and safe houses in many countries.” It suggests the group also has plans to train military cells in different countries on the “practical planning of sabotage and assassination”. The document sets its sights on targets such as “officers and commanders in Mossad” as well as “influential Israelis” in the public eye. The plan, which also mentions how it would fund a base in Türkiye, also details ambitions of “sabotage of Israeli naval vessels” and “kidnapping”. The Turkish government has described Hamas as a “liberation group” and attacked Israel over its response to October 7 and the war in Gaza. On Sunday it was reported that President Erdogan of Türkiye said Benjamin Netanyahu, “has reached a level that would make Hitler jealous with his genocidal methods”. Erdogan spoke in support of the terror group, which he claimed was “a resistance movement.”
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara he claimed more than 1,000 Hamas militants were being treated in Turkish hospitals. Erdogan also criticised the Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the country’s decision to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist organisation. While Erdogan allows Hamas to operate offices in Istanbul, he denies the group carries out terrorist operations from Türkiye. According to The Times, intelligence sources say that despite his public support for Hamas’s political leaders Erdogan does not want Türkiye becoming a base for Hamas’s militancy. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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The University of Amsterdam (UvA) has been the scene of pro-Palestinian demonstrations for days. Peter-Paul Verbeek, rector magnificus at the UvA, responds to the events at his university.
He says he is constantly talking to protesters, but some of them appear not to know who they are because they are wearing face coverings. "That is really a handicap in the conversation," the rector acknowledges. Yet he continues to talk to this group. “It's also very important that you try to de-escalate.” Verbeek says that the students he thinks he will be sitting with are involved in action groups. He also talks to a number of UvA lecturers, he says. The rector finds it complicated that not everyone shows their face. "It is difficult for you to understand each other and it is just very important that you know who you are talking to." Yesterday, the Binnengasthuis site in the city center was cleared by the police after the UvA filed a report. Protesters attacked the police by emptying fire extinguishers and throwing objects. riot police hit demonstrators. Verbeek says he filed a report because the situation became too unsafe. "Stones were removed from the street, people came with torches who tried to disrupt the demonstration, the barricades made it impossible for emergency services to get there. We couldn't let that continue." Carlos van Eck, who says he is negotiating with the UvA board on behalf of the students, says that the police were deployed while they were still in discussions. "That is of course very bad." Rector Verbeek calls this patently untrue. "I was there when the report was filed and that happened after the last conversation." Teachers also participated in the occupation. Today they hit out at the university board in an open letter. The letter states: 'The board has shown bad faith during negotiations with students and employees. We are shocked by the absolute disregard, disrespect and general indifference shown by the board towards its students and staff.” "It is very sad to read this," says Verbeek. "We obviously do not want to ban demonstrations at all. That is part of it and is allowed if you do not intimidate, do not use violence, do not occupy, etc.." Verbeek says he no longer wants to talk to people who have participated in vandalism. "You only end the conversation in extreme circumstances. But you no longer want to have a conversation with people who have caused such enormous destruction. That shows that you cannot talk to each other in a reasonable manner. But then it is of course important to know who you are sitting with." Verbeek calls the demands that the demonstrators have put on the table, including severing ties with companies and organizations that support Israel, "almost non-negotiable." It is public information which Israeli universities the UvA collaborates with, he says. "We have neatly listed that. But we do not want to cut ties. We are an institution where you want to agree with each other on the basis of scientific dialogue, or you can disagree in a peaceful manner." The UvA does have an ethical framework that determines the boundaries of collaborations, Verbeek explains. "Because you don't want to do everything. We don't want to contribute to military projects, we want to work on a sustainable world. What we have agreed with the people is that we would like to see with them to what extent we can formulate our framework in such a way that it is clearly how it can help us in this situation. Not a new framework, but working out what our framework can mean in concrete terms." The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Samidoun, meaning "steadfast" in Arabic, stands as a resilient grassroots network advocating for the rights of Palestinian political prisoners. Founded on principles of justice and solidarity,
History and Founding Samidoun emerged amidst the longstanding struggle for Palestinian liberation. This essay delves into the history, founding, background, reasons, and financial aspects that underpin the vital work of Samidoun. The origins of Samidoun can be traced back to the ongoing Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation, which has resulted in the mass incarceration of Palestinians. Formally established in 2011, Samidoun emerged as a response to the urgent need to address the plight of Palestinian political prisoners. Its founding members, comprising activists, former prisoners, and supporters of Palestinian rights, recognized the necessity of a dedicated platform to advocate for prisoners' rights within the broader struggle for Palestinian liberation. Background and Mission Samidoun operates within the broader context of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, which encompasses various forms of resistance against occupation, colonization, and oppression. Palestinian political prisoners, numbering in the thousands, endure unjust detention, torture, and inhumane treatment in Israeli prisons. Samidoun's mission is rooted in the principles of solidarity, resistance, and justice, aiming to amplify the voices of Palestinian prisoners, demand their release, and expose the injustices perpetuated by the Israeli occupation. Reasons for Existence The existence of Samidoun is necessitated by the systemic violations of Palestinian prisoners' rights under Israeli occupation. Palestinians, including activists, students, women, and children, are targeted for their resistance to occupation policies. Arbitrary arrests, administrative detention without trial, and torture are commonplace tactics employed by Israeli authorities to suppress dissent and maintain control over Palestinian lives. Samidoun serves as a vital platform to challenge these injustices, raise awareness, and mobilize support for Palestinian prisoners' struggle for freedom and dignity. Financial Background As a grassroots network, Samidoun relies on the support of individuals, organizations, and solidarity movements worldwide. Funding for Samidoun's activities primarily comes from donations, fundraising events, and solidarity campaigns organized by supporters of Palestinian rights. Financial transparency is maintained through regular reporting and accountability mechanisms to ensure that resources are utilized effectively in pursuit of Samidoun's mission. Samidoun's steadfast commitment to advocating for Palestinian prisoners' rights epitomizes the resilience and determination of the Palestinian people in the face of oppression. Through grassroots mobilization, solidarity activism, and advocacy efforts, Samidoun continues to play a crucial role in amplifying the voices of Palestinian prisoners, challenging the injustices of the Israeli occupation, and advancing the cause of Palestinian liberation. As long as Palestinian political prisoners remain incarcerated, Samidoun's work remains indispensable in the ongoing struggle for justice, dignity, and freedom. The connection with the PFLP The PFLP is a leftist Palestinian political and militant organization that has been active in the Palestinian struggle for liberation for decades. It has a significant presence in Palestinian society and has been involved in various forms of resistance against Israeli occupation. Samidoun, as a grassroots network advocating for Palestinian prisoners' rights, includes individuals and activists from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations who share a common goal of supporting Palestinian prisoners and their families. While Samidoun is not officially affiliated with any specific political organization, it does collaborate with and advocate on behalf of prisoners associated with groups like the PFLP. Samidoun's advocacy efforts often include raising awareness about the cases of individual prisoners, organizing solidarity campaigns, and participating in events and actions aimed at highlighting the plight of Palestinian political prisoners. In this capacity, it may work closely with the families, legal teams, and support networks of prisoners, including those affiliated with the PFLP. Banned in Germany and Hamas The ban of Samidoun in Germany establishes a legal framework to fully stop the activities of the groups. It means anyone who continues to be active in any way for either organization is committing a criminal offense. The decision allows authorities to confiscate any of the groups' assets, and it outlaws any internet presence or social media activities by them. Hamas was already banned, but the latest move further outlaws any activities linked to it, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explained. "With Hamas, I have today completely banned the activities of a terrorist organization whose aim is to destroy the state of Israel," Faeser said in a statement. The German domestic intelligence agency BfV estimates that some 450 people in the country actively support Hamas, which carried out the massacres in Israel. Meanwhile, Faeser said Samidoun's German wing had shown itself to be part of an international network that spreads anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda under the guise of solidarity for Palestinian prisoners. Samidoun was behind an action in which a group of people handed out pastries in a Berlin street in celebration of Hamas's attack. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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For 16 years, Israeli governments worked to manage the Hamas leaders in Gaza, not topple them. The Islamist group rejected Israel's existence and engaged in violence, but kept order over the territory. Better Hamas than chaos.
The carnage last weekend, when Hamas militants killed hundreds of Israeli civilians after a sophisticated breach of the border fence, has shifted official views. Now, the aim is to destroy the organization's military capability and kill its leaders. Left unsaid in Israel but widely assumed is that, when the war ends, Hamas will no longer rule in Gaza. In announcing the formation of an emergency unity government on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the Islamic State organization from the previous decade, saying, "Hamas is ISIS, and we will crush and eliminate it just as the world crushed and eliminated ISIS." Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, told reporters on Thursday: "Right now, we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, not only the military but also their government leadership." 'Mowing Lawn' This is a change from the previous military policy of occasional invasions, harsh but limited, sometimes referred to as "mowing the lawn," meaning a task to which one is required to return repeatedly. Any operation against the militant group is destined to result in more civilian deaths and raise diplomatic dilemmas. Turkey has already signaled a shift away from the intense diplomacy that was underway to normalize ties with Israel after years of estrangement. Rulers from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates could follow if public opinion in their countriesturns increasingly hostile to Israel. A former top military officer who remains in close touch with the army, speaking on condition of anonymity, said when the war ends, Israel may set up a temporary military regime and hand Gaza over to some international force. The head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who didn't join the new government with Benny Gantz, another opposition leader, said this week on French television, "The endgame is there will be no Hamas in Gaza." His goal, he said, is for the Palestinian Authority, which holds power in the West Bank and recognizes Israel, would take over. Requests for comment from the prime minister's office and the defense minister weren't immediately answered. Little Mercy Israeli officials are showing no mercy for ordinary Gazans in their campaign, having cut electricity, fuel and food shipments from Israel and given residents few choices of where to hide as heavy bombings continue. At least 1,350 have been killed to date. According to Elai Rettig, an expert of the geopolitics of energy and environment at Israel's Bar-Ilan University, a power cut will result in water shortages in a week or two. That's likely to hinder access to health care or drinkable water for Gaza's 2 million people, half of whom are under the age of 18. Israeli authorities are worried about a humanitarian corridor into Egypt, saying that would allow Hamas leaders to sneak out. Rettig also said Hamas has been given aid to fix and upgrade the electrical system in Gaza but hadn't done so. Hostage Fate Nearly all analysts in Israel believe ground troops are headed in after the aerial pounding. Many of the dozens of Israeli hostages and some of the soldiers seem likely to meet their deaths. And that too is quietly discussed as a price the country is willing to pay to end Hamas's hold on Gaza and send a broader message to the country's enemies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and its Iranian sponsor. Israel's biggest deployment of reserves in its history shows its leaders are aware how difficult it might be to crush Hamas, but eliminating it from Gaza is an even bigger task. An Israeli cross-border operation into southern Lebanon to attack Iran-backed Hezbollah in 2006 ended in massive casualties following more than a month of fighting. Since Saturday's attack, Hezbollah has fired into Israel every now and then, a reminder that it may be tempted to open a new front in the war after the Gaza ground offensive begins. The direness of the rhetoric is driven by the images of inhumanity on display last Saturday and the collective memory of Jews being slaughtered in the Holocaust and in pogroms a century ago. It has made many Israelis feel this is a war for their very existence, and they must show how tough they are. Retired Major General Yaakov Amidror, who was Netanyahu's national security adviser a decade ago, said, "We cannot go back to square one. This will take a few months. How many will be killed? Many, many. It's up to Hamas, which operates from populated areas. This is the last time we allow Hamas to be strong enough to attack Israel." Asked who will rule Gaza when Israel is finished, he replied, "The people in Gaza will have to decide what is next. That is their problem." The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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US plays down Rafah assault5/8/2024 The United States has played down the deadly Israeli assault on Rafah, saying the offensive appears to be “limited” despite concerns over the fate of the more than 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in the southern Gaza city.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday that the US still opposes a major Israeli offensive against Rafah. Israel had stepped up its bombardment of Rafah on Monday, killing dozens of people after ordering about 100,000 residents in its eastern areas to evacuate. Israeli troops also stormed the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which serves as a major gateway for humanitarian aid. “This military operation that they launched last night was targeted just to Rafah gate,” Miller said on Tuesday. “It wasn’t an operation in the civilian areas that they had ordered to be evacuated. So we will continue to make clear that we oppose a major military operation in Rafah.” Still, Miller acknowledged that the attack on the crossing “does look like the prelude” to a larger offensive. The Israeli attack closed the Rafah crossing, further straining the already inadequate flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Since October 9, Israel has intensified its existing blockade on the territory, bringing the Palestinian enclave to the verge of famine. The Rafah crossing also serves as an entry point for humanitarian workers going into Gaza, and critically sick and injured people use it to leave the territory and receive treatment abroad. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said 120 patients who were set to cross from Gaza to Egypt for treatment were prevented from leaving on Tuesday. Shutting down the crossing also has blocked medical supplies and fuel needed to operate the remaining medical centres in the territory, the ministry said. “The situation of patients in Gaza hospitals has been very difficult since the beginning of the war due to the loss of medical equipment and the total collapse of the health system,” the ministry said in a statement. “We have travel lists for sick and injured people in the thousands. And now they are prevented from leaving.” At the US State Department, Miller called for reopening the crossing, but he also appeared to justify the Israeli attack that closed it. “Hamas did control the Gaza side of Rafah crossing, and Hamas was continuing to collect revenue from that crossing being open,” he told reporters. “So it is a legitimate goal to try and deprive Hamas from revenue, money that they could use to continue to finance their terrorist activities. That said, we want to see the crossing open, and we’re gonna work to try to get it back open.” On Saturday, Israel also closed the Karem Abu Salem border crossing, also known as Kerem Shalom, barring aid trucks after Hamas launched a rocket attack on Israeli troops nearby, killing four soldiers. On Tuesday, Miller falsely said the crossing between Gaza and Israel was “bombed” by Hamas when the crossing itself was not targeted. When pressed about his assertion, Miller said: “You could make that argument it was that strike at Kerem Shalom that precipitated its closure.” “But that said, you should be very clear about what our position is: We want to see it open. We want to see it open as soon as possible. They said that they’ll open it tomorrow. We’re going to work to see that that happens.” The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Still kidnapped by Hamas5/8/2024 The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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The Israeli army has taken over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing. According to an army statement, soldiers killed at least twenty Hamas members and destroyed tunnels in fighting. At least two Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Israel carried out heavy air strikes on Rafah last evening and night. At least twelve people were killed, according to Palestinian media. There are great international concerns about the more than a million citizens who have sought refuge in the southern city. Humanitarian aid access through the Rafah border crossing has been halted, several sources confirmed to the Reuters news agency. This concerns the border post between the southern city in Gaza and Egypt. The border crossing at Kerem Shalom, which is essential for the access of emergency aid, will also remain closed for the time being. Hamas had attacked it with rockets the day before yesterday. It is unclear whether the capture of the border crossing is the prelude to a larger ground offensive in Rafah. The Israeli army says it is operating "in several locations" in eastern Rafah. Israel yesterday ordered citizens to leave the eastern part of the city. According to the army, most people have now left, but this information cannot be verified. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been threatening for weeks that Israel will invade the city to defeat Hamas. In the background are the advanced talks about a ceasefire with Hamas. The militant movement yesterday agreed to a ceasefire proposal, but Israel has not yet. It is not uncommon for warring parties to launch last-minute attacks on each other in this phase of negotiations in the hope of obtaining as many concessions as possible from the opposing side. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Israel has urged Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah, warning that it will take “extreme” military action against Hamas militants in the southern Gaza city.
The Jewish state has been preparing for an incursion in Rafah, which is currently home to over a million people, despite warnings against doing so from the US, EU, and UN. The Israeli military issued “an urgent appeal to all residents and displaced people” living in several neighborhoods of Rafah to “evacuate immediately,” according to Avichay Adraee, the head of the Israel Defense Force’s Arab media division. “The IDF will act with extreme force against terrorist organizations” in the area, Adraee said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. There was no clarification on when the military action might start. “The IDF will act with extreme force against terrorist organizations” in the area, Adraee said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. There was no clarification on when the military action might start. A senior Hamas official has told Reuters that the evacuation order was a “dangerous escalation” that would have consequences. The evacuation call comes a day after Israel closed the main border crossing used to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza. The closure came in response to a Hamas rocket attack that left three soldiers dead and 11 wounded on Sunday. West Jerusalem claims Rafah is the last significant stronghold of Hamas, and that potentially dozens of Israeli hostages may be held there. Victory over the militant group is impossible without taking the city, the Israeli government insists. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Rafah is currently home to 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled the northern parts of the enclave since October. The international community has sounded the alarm over the number of civilian casualties that a military operation in the city could cause. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has described the Rafah evacuation order as “unacceptable” and demanded that Israel denounce its ground offensive plan. The Rafah plan has opened a rift between Israel and its staunchest ally, the US. The administration of President Joe Biden previously declared that an Israeli invasion of the city would be a “red line,” a statement that was dismissed by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. Washington has been under increasing pressure from the UN, pro-Palestinian protesters, and human rights organizations to stop arming Israel. According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Rafah is currently home to 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled the northern parts of the enclave since October. The international community has sounded the alarm over the number of civilian casualties that a military operation in the city could cause. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has described the Rafah evacuation order as “unacceptable” and demanded that Israel denounce its ground offensive plan. The Rafah plan has opened a rift between Israel and its staunchest ally, the US. The administration of President Joe Biden previously declared that an Israeli invasion of the city would be a “red line,” a statement that was dismissed by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. Washington has been under increasing pressure from the UN, pro-Palestinian protesters, and human rights organizations to stop arming Israel. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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