Latest news with #HerziHalevi
Al Bawaba
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Netanyahu "Manipulates the world" with sudden withdrawal
ALBAWABA - Amid rising tensions and delayed ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his high-level negotiating team to leave Doha. As part of the first phase of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" prisoner exchange arrangement, the first group of Israeli inmates was freed in Gaza at the same time as the action. The technical team is still in Doha, while the top negotiating group has returned to Israel for talks, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office. Although Hamas is said to still oppose the idea, the Israeli government says it has accepted a proposal for the release of captives made by U.S. ambassador Steven Weitekamp. Threats from the Military During a Diplomatic Deadlock In the event that discussions are unsuccessful, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi threatened to escalate military action, warning Hamas that its only choice is to free the captives. In addition, he said that if an agreement is struck, the Israeli force is ready to modify its approach while extending its ground operation and destroying what he referred to as "terrorist infrastructure." Families of Israeli prisoners of war responded with indignation, claiming that the delegation's departure shows that the government does not really want to put an end to the war. In a statement, they urged the government to prioritize a solution, even if it meant stopping the assault, saying, "This move means the loss of the captives and deeper entrenchment in Gaza." According to a Channel 13 survey, 67% of Israelis are in favor of an agreement that would put an end to the conflict and guarantee the repatriation of all prisoners. Netanyahu Is Misleading the World About Hamas In response, Hamas made harsh charges, claiming that Netanyahu is deceiving the world by sending a team to talk without any actual power. The organization called Israeli claims of letting supplies into Gaza "optical illusions" and said there haven't been any meaningful negotiations since last Saturday. No supply trucks, including those that are said to have arrived at the Kerem Shalom border, have entered the Strip, Hamas said. The organization also said that Netanyahu's refusal to find a peaceful solution is shown by Israel's intentional bombardment of civilian facilities and massacres. Hamas reaffirmed its determination to actively participate in any effort aimed at bringing the conflict to a conclusion and fully blamed the Israeli government for the discussions' derailment. Read "Elon Musk's Grok AI Once Again Going Haywire, Is Now Spontaneously Generating Images Of Jeffrey Epstein, Hitler, Netanyahu' on SmartNews — nickymac (@genekraszewski1) May 20, 2025 United States and Qatar Continue Mediation Efforts Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, affirmed that the United States, Egypt, and Qatar are still working on a truce. He lamented that the release of captive Idan Alexander did not result in a de-escalation but rather in more intense Israeli attacks while speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha. Al Thani further admitted that the continuing Doha negotiations are still stalled by a considerable divide between the parties. He underlined that the only practical way to resolve the problem is still via diplomacy. Spokesman for the White House Karoline Leavitt, meantime, reaffirmed that US President Donald Trump supports a ceasefire and the release of all captives. Washington is interacting with all sides and has called on Hamas to release the prisoners, she said. Progress is being made, according to U.S. captive envoy Adam Boehler, who also said that he is open to any meaningful offer from Hamas. The Washington Post claims that the United States has increased pressure on Israel and warned that Washington's continuing backing might be contingent on Tel Aviv ceasing its military assault in Gaza.
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
A Tragic Mistake? Yes. A War Crime? No
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On March 23, the Israel Defense Forces made a tragic error in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nine humanitarian aid workers, along with six Hamas terrorists who were embedded among them. An investigation into the incidentwas immediately undertaken, and officers found to have been responsible were disciplined soon after. But while all war is a tragedy, not all tragedies are war crimes. What happened that night was an operational error in a combat zone—not a war crime. And the investigation that resulted in that conclusion wasn't reached in a vacuum. It came after a comprehensive, independent fact-finding process led by senior experts outside the chain of command, reviewed by the chief of the General Staff, and subject to further legal scrutiny. Outgoing Israel armed forces chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi (C-L) and his successor, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir (C-R). Outgoing Israel armed forces chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi (C-L) and his successor, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir (C-R). MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images Outrage—along with misleading or outright false images—has overtaken social media. A global mob mentality has formed. Fortunately, the manipulations of social media are not a substitute for international law. Calling something a war crime doesn't make it so. War crimes require specific evidence of intent—not viral videos, emotional overlays, or instant judgment by influencers or pundits acting as judge and jury. International humanitarian law clearly defines war crimes as intentionally directing attacks against personnel, installations, material, units, or vehicles involved in humanitarian assistance, provided they retain protected civilian status. In other words, for an act to constitute a war crime, there must be intent to commit the violation—an element entirely absent in this case. The IDF's internal investigation concluded that the killings resulted from a series of operational errors and professional failures. IDF elements were operating in a "hostile and dangerous combat zone" and believed there to be a "tangible threat." Soldiers misidentified the convoy of vehicles, assessing that they were being used by Hamas insurgents—a tactic the group has systematically employed since Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas has made a practice of blurring the lines between combatant and civilian, systematically exploiting ambulances, hospitals, and humanitarian symbols for military purposes. This tactic forces troops into impossible split-second decisions under fire—precisely the kind of dilemma that international law accounts for, but online critics ignore. International humanitarian law also recognizes that tragic mistakes can happen during active combat, especially when insurgents like Hamas use protected facilities and vehicles to launch or shield attacks. Such conduct undermines the protections that civilians and humanitarian actors are entitled to. No army—American, British, or Israeli—is immune to errors in war. What matters is what follows: transparency, investigation, disciplinary action, and institutional learning. That is the measure of a professional military in a democratic society. In the IDF incident, surveillance indicated that five vehicles approached rapidly and stopped near IDF troops, with passengers quickly disembarking. The deputy battalion commander assessed the situation as a credible Hamas threat and ordered fire. Though that judgment proved incorrect, the belief was reasonable under the circumstances, including poor nighttime visibility, and which only underscored that the IDF complied with the rule of distinction under law of armed conflict. The examination into the incident was conducted by the IDF General Staff Fact Finding Mechanism, a professional team outside the operational chain of command. Their findings were presented to the chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and included operational breaches, failures to follow orders, and reporting deficiencies. As a result, the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade was dismissed, and the commander of the 14th Brigade was severely reprimanded. The case is also being reviewed by the IDF Military Advocate General's Office for potential legal proceedings. The IDF expressed deep regret for the civilian harm and emphasized that the investigation is part of an ongoing commitment to learn from operational failures and reduce the risk of recurrence. In short, the IDF acted exactly as a military in a democracy should: it investigated, acknowledged fault, and held individuals accountable. There must also be a clear distinction between errors made in the course of legitimate military operations and intentionally directing attacks against civilians, which is Hamas' standard practice and a blatant war crime. Israel mourns every innocent life lost. Hamas counts every innocent death as a victory. That is not just a moral difference—it is the difference between law and lawlessness, between a tragedy and a crime. Arsen Ostrovsky is a human rights attorney who serves as CEO of The International Legal Forum and senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security. You can follow him on 'X' at: @Ostrov_A. John Spencer is chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point and host of the "Urban Warfare Project Podcast." He is the co-author of "Understanding Urban Warfare." You can follow him on 'X' at: @SpencerGuard. Brian L. Cox is an adjunct professor of law at Cornell Law School, a retired U.S. Army judge advocate, and a journalism graduate student at Carleton University. You can follow him on 'X' at: @BrianCox_RLTW. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
Al Bawaba
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Israeli army chief highlights strategic military presence amid Syrian disintegration
ALBAWABA - During an operational evaluation and field inspection on Sunday, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi underlined the military's strategic relevance in Syria. Halevi said the visit coincides with the "disintegration" of Syria, which has led Israeli soldiers to seize vital locations in the area. Division 210 Commander Brig. Gen. Yair Palai, Northern Command Commander Ori Gordin, and other high-ranking military officials followed Halevi, according to a statement released by IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee. The group briefed soldiers on the ground and went over current operations plans. This is a very crucial place. "We entered because Syria collapsed, and we are staying on the frontline and controlling key points to ensure our defense," Halevi said during the visit. The topography provides unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain range, he said, calling it a "strategic observation point." According to Halevi, maintaining a robust Israeli presence is crucial for national security, even if the future of the area is still unclear. The IDF will continue to operate in the guarded buffer zone to safeguard Israeli residents from any possible dangers resulting from instability across the border, the army commander said.
Al Bawaba
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
IDF faces internal dissent over Gaza war
ALBAWABA — As hundreds of soldiers and thousands of academics join an expanding petition calling on the government to halt the military assault and ensure the release of Israeli captives, opposition to the current conflict in Gaza is spreading in Israeli society. Also Read Over 100 killed in a single day as Israeli massacres ravage Gaza Over 2,000 university professors and reservists from Unit 8200, a crucial military intelligence unit, signed a petition stating that diplomatic diplomacy, not more military escalation, is the only practical way to rescue prisoners, according to Israeli media. The government's strategy was criticized for prioritizing political goals above national security. According to Channel 13, reservists from Unit 8200 raised concern about an increase in reservists refusing to serve and warned that continuous warfare is killing both troops and prisoners. Around 100 reserve military physicians have also signed the plea for a ceasefire, according to Army Radio. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi responded by approving the firing of over 1,000 reservists who signed the letter and a number of senior commanders. Furthermore, in a joint statement, about 1,000 Israeli Air Force members, both active and retired, called for the prompt repatriation of all Israeli captives, even if it means stopping the war. Notable signatories include former Air Force Commander Nimrod Shefer and former Chief of Staff Dan Halutz. The declarations were rejected by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who accused signatories of compromising the legitimacy of a "just war." With an estimated 9,500 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails under allegedly appalling circumstances and 59 Israeli captives remaining in Gaza, the conflict, which has been going on since October 7, 2023, has resulted in unparalleled military and civilian deaths.
Jordan News
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
'Stop the Gaza War' – The Message of 1,000 Soldiers Shakes Israel - Jordan News
'Stop the Gaza War' – The Message of 1,000 Soldiers Shakes Israel Nearly 1,000 reservists and active-duty soldiers signed a letter calling for an end to the war, which Israel's official broadcasting authority labeled as 'insubordination within the army.' اضافة اعلان Haaretz: The Chief of Staff and the Air Force Commander decided to discharge active reservists who signed the letter. Yedioth Ahronoth: The letter sparked concern among senior military and state officials due to its political nature. The Air Force does not rule out that more soldiers may join. A security source told Army Radio: The signatories suffer from a significant lack of trust in the Air Force Commander, the Chief of Staff, and the missions assigned to them. Israel awoke Thursday to a military-political storm after nearly 1,000 retired and active Air Force soldiers published a letter calling for an end to the ongoing war in Gaza, now lasting more than a year and a half. The signatories, including senior retired commanders, stated: 'At this point, the war primarily serves the political and personal interests of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not the security interests.' On Thursday, Haaretz reported that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar decided to dismiss the active reservists who signed the letter. The army stated that 'most of the signatories are not in active service,' but did not reveal exact numbers. Two days prior, the content of the letter had already become known, and Israel's state broadcasting authority described it as 'insubordination within the army.' However, the soldiers' bold move to publish the letter publicly shocked the Israeli military leadership—especially the Air Force. Fearing its implications, the Air Force Commander had tried in recent days to dissuade the signatories from publishing the letter, but to no avail. A Failed Attempt Yedioth Ahronoth reported: 'The letter had already raised concern among senior military and state officials even before its publication due to its political tone.' The newspaper added: 'Major General Bar met with a number of senior Air Force reservists, including former Air Force Commanders Eliezer Shkedi, Dan Halutz, and Ido Nehoshtan, in the presence of Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, in an attempt to dissuade them from releasing the letter.' The goal of the Chief of Staff's presence was to show his support for the Air Force Commander. However, the letter was published on Thursday morning and widely covered by all Israeli media, including state broadcasters. More Might Join According to Channel 14, out of the approximately 1,000 signatories, 90 are active reservists—drawing particular attention, since the rest are retirees. Yedioth Ahronoth wrote: 'Initial army checks indicate that 10% of the signatories are active-duty reservists—mostly volunteers—while the rest are former or retired personnel.' The report continued: 'Dozens of active personnel have withdrawn their signatures over the past two days after talks with branch commanders.' Still, the Air Force does not rule out the possibility that more active personnel will join, depending on how the situation develops. A Deep Trust Crisis According to Maariv, 'in recent hours, the Air Force has been reviewing the list of pilots, flight crews, and ground personnel who signed the letter.' The army has determined that: 'Due to the political content of the letter, those who signed it cannot continue to serve.' Maariv added: 'It appears that only a very small number of active-duty reservists signed the letter, as most are no longer serving due to age.' An unnamed army official was quoted: 'The letter undermines the legitimacy of continuing the war in Gaza. Therefore, anyone who signed it cannot continue to serve.' Army Radio quoted a security source saying: 'Anyone who signs such a letter clearly has a deep trust issue with the Air Force Commander, the Chief of Staff, and the missions they receive, making it very difficult for them to remain in service.' High-Profile Signatories Among the signatories are: Former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (Res.) Dan Halutz Former Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nimrod Shefer Former Civil Aviation Authority head Col. (Ret.) Neri Yarkoni Former Head of Human Resources Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Gil Regev Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Relik Shafir Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Amir Haskel Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Assaf Agmon The letter topped headlines in all Israeli media outlets, at a time when Israel—backed fully by the U.S.—has continued its campaign of mass destruction in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The signatories wrote: 'We, reservists and retired members of the air crew, demand the immediate return of the hostages—even if it requires an immediate cessation of hostilities.' Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza has left over 166,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them women and children, with over 11,000 still missing. Israel estimates 59 hostages remain in Gaza, including 24 still alive, while more than 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, many reportedly suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect—resulting in multiple deaths, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights sources. The signatories emphasized: 'The continuation of this war no longer contributes to any of its stated objectives and will only lead to the deaths of hostages, soldiers, and innocent civilians, while exhausting the reserves.' They added: 'As proven in the past, only a negotiated agreement can bring the hostages home safely. Military pressure, by contrast, mostly leads to their deaths and endangers our troops.' Background on Ceasefire and Renewed War On March 1, 2025, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel—brokered by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the U.S.—formally ended. The deal had started on January 19, 2025, and was fully honored by the Palestinian side. However, Netanyahu—wanted by the International Criminal Court—reneged on implementing the second phase, and resumed mass killing in Gaza on March 18, responding to pressure from the far-right elements of his government, according to Israeli media. The signatories concluded by calling on: 'All citizens of Israel to demand, everywhere and by all means, an immediate end to the fighting and the return of all the hostages.' Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza for 18 years. As of now, about 1.5 million of Gaza's 2.4 million residents are homeless due to the destruction of their homes in this war of extermination. The territory has also entered famine, as Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from entering through the crossings. Source: Anadolu Agency (AA)
