Shot running to her father's grave: Lebanese families like Khadija's pray for justice after Israel killings
MENA
Teenager's death reflects price paid by civilians for continuing Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire agreement
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Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
German manufacturer mulls relocating to US to avoid arms embargo against Israel
German automotive manufacturer Renk, which produces tank transmissions and engines for the Israeli military, is considering moving production to the US after the German arms embargo on Israel. Renk CEO Alexander Sagel mentioned the prospective shift on a post-earnings call, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday. The call comes five days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the country would freeze military exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, amidst an Israeli plan to occupy the entire Palestinian enclave. Israel's war on Gaza has drawn international condemnation, and its plan to empty Gaza City of its one million inhabitants has drawn criticism even from staunch Israeli allies such as Germany. If enforced, the plan would amount to the forced expulsion of Palestinians, an illegal move under international law. Renk produces tank transmissions and engines for the Israeli military, accounting for two to three percent of the company's business portfolio. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters These parts are essential components in Israel's main Merkava battle tanks, which were used in the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, as well as Namer armoured personnel carriers. 'If we cannot produce [transmissions] in Germany, we will relocate these volumes to a different plant, for example, to the US,' Segal said. 'This might take maybe 8 to 10 months, but if there's no move forward, we will do it because we have this business.' Renk has seen rising profits from its vehicle mobility solutions department in recent months, as Israel's genocide in Gaza continues. German embargo Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that the exports were frozen 'until further notice' and expressed concern for the plight of Gaza's Palestinians, who are suffering under Israeli-imposed starvation. Germany is Israel's second-largest supplier of weapons, following the US. Merz said it was Israel's right to disarm Hamas and seek the release of its captives in Gaza, but that these goals have become harder to achieve due to Israel's planned military action. "The German government believes that the even tougher military action in the Gaza Strip decided upon by the Israeli cabinet last night makes it increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved," Merz said in a statement. Politically, Germany is one of Israel's closest allies. The country has not recognised Palestine and has committed to ignoring the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Norway sovereign wealth fund drops investments in 11 Israeli companies Read More » Germany has also cracked down on pro-Palestine speech by banning symbols associated with the movement, such as the inverted red triangle, and by withholding public funds from individuals and organisations that boycott Israel. After Israel's cabinet approved a plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, Germany announced it would halt 'any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice'. If enforced, a German arms embargo could represent a significant step in Israel's growing international isolation. Yet according to the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, on the same day Germany's arms embargo was announced, the country issued a licence to export a submarine to Israel. On 31 July, Slovenia became the first European Union country to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Citing the failure of the EU to impose restrictions itself, the central European country unilaterally banned the export or import of weapons to Israel.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Israel boasts strikes on Lebanon have breached ceasefire 600 times
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have breached a ceasefire about 600 times, the head of Israel's army boasted on Thursday. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir visited Israeli troops still operating in Lebanon, where he said about 240 "terrorists" had been killed in strikes that regularly pound the south – and sometimes Beirut – despite the truce with Hezbollah last year. The November ceasefire also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon but its army maintains five positions in the south. "We are in a multi-arena war, adapting concepts to the threats," said Lt Gen Zamir in remarks published by Israel's military. "We are in all the arenas – launching strikes, all on our own initiative. "The achievements are unprecedented – since the ceasefire understandings, over 240 terrorists have been eliminated and approximately 600 air strikes carried out." He said Israel's operations in Lebanon had created a "new security and physical reality" that later enabled strikes on Iran during a 12-day war in June. Hezbollah did not intervene in that conflict. Israel's war in Lebanon killed thousands of people, left behind an estimated $11 billion of damage and left Hezbollah reeling from the deaths of senior figures, including leader Hassan Nasrallah. After the ceasefire deal was struck, a new Lebanese government took office, which is now pushing ahead with plans to disarm Hezbollah and bring all weapons under state control. Under the proposals, Lebanon's armed forces are to draw up plans this month to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah rejects the proposals as bowing to Israeli and US pressure. Lt Gen Zamir's visit to Lebanon came hours after he approved the "main framework" for Israel's expanded war in Gaza. The general has done little to dispel rumours that he opposed the new offensive behind the scenes and that his objections were overruled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's security cabinet. His visit came on the day that Iran 's new security council chief Ali Larijani visited Beirut to warn against disarming Hezbollah. He was told, though, by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon "does not accept anyone interfering in its internal affairs" and regards Tehran's comments on the matter as unhelpful.
Middle East Eye
4 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli media praise killing of Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif
"It's about time," wrote Daphna Liel, a senior journalist at Israel's Channel 12 News, on her Telegram page on Sunday night. "The IDF killed the terrorist who operated under the guise of an Al Jazeera journalist," her report said, referring to the Israeli army. The picture of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was attached. The killing of Sharif on Sunday has provoked outrage from press freedom groups and other media outlets - but in Israel, the response by most of the media has seemingly been that Sharif, in fact, had it coming. Ynet described Sharif as "the reporter-terrorist who was assassinated", Maariv newspaper said he was "a journalist in the service of Hamas", and Israel Hayom wrote that he was "a terrorist disguised as a journalist". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters On Sunday night, the Israeli military announced that it had attacked a journalists' tent near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Sharif, who was one of the most prominent journalists covering Israel's assault on Gaza, was the target of the attack. In addition to Sharif, six other Palestinians were killed in the attack, including Al Jazeera correspondent and Middle East Eye contributor Mohammed Qreiqeh as well as camera operators Mohammed Noufal, Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa. "The Israeli media's response to the killing of the journalists was frightening," Zahra Saeed, a Palestinian journalist at Radio Al-Shams, told MEE. "Amit Segal [a senior journalist at Channel 12 News] wrote on his Telegram account that he was waiting for this assassination, it's unbelievable. He is part of the Israeli apparatus of incitement against journalists." 'Murder. Plain and simple' The Israeli attack on Sunday was condemned around the world. Sara Qudah, regional director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said: "Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. That's murder. Plain and simple." The war in Gaza is the deadliest conflict for journalists since such data began to be collected. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has killed 270 journalists and media workers. The Israeli army spokesperson claimed it had documents indicating that Sharif was active in Hamas, but did not produce the evidence. 'The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently' - Hanin Majadli, Haaretz Hanin Majadli, a Palestinian journalist who writes for Haaretz, told MEE that Israeli media were actively trying to misrepresent the current situation as normal. "The Israeli media is an inseparable part of the Israeli apparatus, which also includes the government, the military, and the public, which commits crimes in Gaza," Majadli said. "The Israeli media plays a central role in the genocide in Gaza, whether actively or silently." Right-wing journalist Yinon Magal of Channel 14 criticised a demonstration by Palestinians in Umm al-Fahm, in northern Israel, "for the 'journalist'-terrorist, Anas al-Sharif". Saeed said there was effectively no difference between the mainstream media and the far-right media regarding the coverage of the assassination of Sharif. "Anyone who asks questions and casts doubts finds himself under attack and outside the national consensus. He is labelled a traitor," she told MEE. "The Israeli crimes in Gaza are justified in the mainstream media, just as they are in the extreme right media outlets," Majadli said. "There is no justification for the assassination of Anas al-Sharif. According to Israeli logic, Israeli journalists are also legitimate targets - while an Israeli journalist called for the killing of 100,000 Gazans and another blew up houses in Lebanon, they are considered professional journalists." 'Hunt down Arabs' Journalists in Israel that condemned the attack faced criticism of their own. Majadli and Saeed said they received abuse while expressing their views on the assassination of Sharif. Saeed said that a post on her Instagram account lamenting the killing of Sharif was translated into Hebrew and led to incitement. According to Saeed, the purpose of translating the post was to "hunt down Arabs", adding that this is what happens "when a Palestinian journalist in Israel wants to express her opinion". Exclusive: MPs urge UK to disclose if it holds spy plane footage of Israel's journalist killings Read More » "All of our journalistic work has been reduced to whether you are for or against terrorism. Asking questions beyond the borders of the IDF spokesperson is considered a crime," Saeed said, adding that "it is dangerous to be a journalist in Israel as well, not only in Gaza". "In Israel, the equation is very simple - the Palestinians are terrorists," Majadli said. "A Palestinian journalist who speaks out against the killing of Anas al-Sharif is considered an encourager of terrorism, a sympathiser of terrorism, or an inciter to terrorism. "There is no journalistic space in Israel. The vast majority of Palestinians in Israel can't even say about Anas al-Sharif 'may Allah have mercy on him'." "The incitement against Palestinian journalists is open, it is the norm, it is urgent," Majadli said. "The incitement is here to stay for a long time. In Israel, the Palestinians need to know that they have to keep their mouths shut."
