Israel says it is acting with ‘sound judgment' in Syria
Earlier, Israeli air strikes targeted governmental buildings, including the army headquarters in the capital, Damascus, and other parts of the country.
'The commanders and soldiers are acting with responsibility, restraint and sound judgement,' said chief of staff Eyal Zamir as he visited the frontier with Syria in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
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Middle East Eye
33 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Over 100 humanitarian groups sound alarm on starvation of staff in Gaza
More than 100 international human rights and humanitarian organisations have called for an end to Israel's siege of Gaza, citing widespread starvation affecting their staff. Famine caused by Israel's ongoing war and blockade has led to a growing number of deaths from malnutrition and dehydration in recent days. A joint letter released on Wednesday, signed by 109 organisations, including Amnesty International, War Child UK, and EuroMed Rights, warns that the humanitarian crisis is reaching catastrophic levels. 'As the Israeli government's siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families," the joint letter said. "With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The signatories rejected the "military-controlled distribution models," in reference to the scandal-ridden Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli-US initiative designed to bypass the UN's infrastructure for aid delivery and distribution in Gaza. They also urged the immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade and allowing aid groups to do their work. "Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale," the statement added. "But, with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams. "Every day without a sustained flow means more people dying of preventable illnesses. Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive." 'Chaos, starvation and death' The organisations also accused Israel of creating "chaos, starvation, and death", noting that the starvation of civilians as a "method of warfare is a war crime". "Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions. It is not just physical torment, but psychological. "Survival is dangled like a mirage. The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access." As a medical aid worker, I've never seen suffering like Gaza. It must end Read More » The statement comes after the after Palestinian health ministry on Tuesday announced that 15 Palestinians died from malnutrition the previous day. Ten more people died from lack of food on Wednesday. In total, 111 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died from malnutrition, according to the Palestinian health ministry. On Monday, AFP journalists' union warned that its colleagues working in Gaza are facing death from starvation, as a result of Israel's blockade on the besieged Palestinian territory. "We have lost journalists in conflicts, we have had wounded and imprisoned in our ranks, but none of us remembers seeing a colleague die of hunger," the union, Society of Journalists (SDJ), said in a statement. Following the union's statement, AFP management said it "shares the anguish expressed by the SDJ regarding the appalling situation of its staff" and urged Israel to allow their evacuation. "For months, we have been helplessly witnessing the dramatic deterioration of their living conditions. Their situation is now untenable, despite exemplary courage, professional commitment and resilience," an AFP statement said. The AFP has ten Palestinian photographers and reporters working in the enclave.
Middle East Eye
39 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Global powers will not end Israel's genocide in Gaza. Only our actions can make them
Twenty-five nations, many of them allies of Israel, have said in a joint statement that the Gaza war 'must end now'. The UK, France, Australia, Canada and others condemned the 'drip feeding of aid' that has led to the deaths of more than 1,000 Palestinian aid seekers since May, while more than 100 have died from starvation, most of them children. As the situation grows increasingly dire, Israel has shown no signs of slowing down its genocide, dismissing global concerns about its policy of forced starvation with a callous 'what are you going to do about it?' attitude. Indeed, despite countless public condemnations from governments around the world over the past 21 months, little has actually been done to force Israel to stop the genocide. Some of the very same governments making these statements continue to supply Israel with weapons and financial aid, enabling its ongoing slaughter of Palestinians. For nearly two years, we have witnessed a live-streamed genocide. War crimes have been well-documented by journalists, rights groups, doctors and civilians. There's enough evidence to sift through for decades to come. Activists and celebrities have reminded the western world of their vow to 'never again' allow something like this to happen. Countless social media campaigns have pleaded with the public to keep 'all eyes on Rafah' and on Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters But still the genocide persists. Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have become more brazen and violent than ever. Why is this happening? It's not because Israel is a small beacon of democracy in the Middle East surrounded by enemies. Rather, it's because Israel is a rogue state surrounded by capitulators who have allowed this to unfold. Rhetoric and excuses Nations around the world, no matter how big or powerful, are apparently only capable of mustering up rhetoric and excuses. If the UK, EU, Canada, Australia and others truly wanted an end to the war, they would take concrete actions against Israel's genocide in Palestine. These governments are capable of various consequential actions - arms and trade embargoes, sanctions, severing diplomatic ties, arresting Israeli war criminals within their borders - that could lead to real pressure on Israel to stop its genocide. Such actions would be consistent with public opinion across the West. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel-Palestine war On Sunday, Belgian authorities arrested two Israeli soldiers facing accusations of war crimes in Gaza, advancing the goal of isolating war criminals around the world. But this is just one small step that needs momentum to continue - and most western nations have not taken this approach. The UK is instead busying itself with arresting octogenarian protesters, apparently deeming them a greater threat than the genocide they are opposing. And an investigation by Israel's Channel 13 revealed that behind the scenes, the Biden administration did not actually attempt to end the Gaza genocide - an unsurprising finding, since the US has provided a continuous flow of aid and weapons to Israel since the start of the war. This is the callousness of a world order that emerged from the ashes of World War II on the slogan of 'never again', with a public commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights. But as this new world order emerged, nearly a third of the world's population was still living in colonised territory, many facing immense violence and brutality at the hands of their colonisers. Israel's starvation of Gaza is a cruel display of the impunity of power Read More » The UN, held up to the Global South as the barometer for ethics, human rights and peace, was created by some of these very same colonisers. Israel today is merely an extension of this world order, masquerading as a beacon of modern values. It is thus no surprise to see western nations hiding behind meaningless condemnations, while ensuring that Israel continues to serve their imperial interests in the region. Until Israel faces real diplomatic and financial pressures, it will not cease in pursuing its goal of eradicating Palestinians from their land. No change has ever been effected by asking politely. As activists push towards Gaza by land and sea, and protesters around the world engage in acts of opposition to Zionist violence, we must think about where each of us fits in all of this. Palestinians face an unprecedented existential crisis. Radical action is necessary to end it. Our actions - whether by boycotting, protesting, lobbying or other tactics - must push our governments to enact sanctions, embargoes and diplomatic isolation. The fear barrier between the world and Zionism has been broken, and we must begin to think beyond ourselves, our jobs, our money, our friends and our own public image. Those who remain silent should come to a sombre realisation: if you do not stand up now for Palestinians, a people facing total eradication, you will likely never stand for anything meaningful again. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Israeli strike kills journalist and family in Gaza
Medical officials say at least nine Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids targeting the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, southwest of Gaza City, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Among the dead is Palestinian journalist Walaa al-Jaabari, who was killed alongside her husband, Amjad al-Shaer, and their five children when Israeli forces bombed the family's home. Reports say the intensity of the strike reportedly forced the unborn child from her womb. The last message al-Jaabari posted on Facebook read: 'I am not afraid of dying of hunger. I am afraid of heartbreak if this crazy war does not stop.' Her death brings the number of journalists killed in Gaza this year to 34, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate. In its mid-year report, the group documented the killing of 41 relatives of journalists, the destruction of 32 of their homes, and injuries to 66 media workers – mostly from shrapnel and live fire. Palestinian journalist Walaa al-Jaabari (Social Media)
