Latest news with #IsraeliDefenceForces
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
US politicians move to put pressure on Irish Govt over Occupied Territories Bill plan with boycott list trade threat
The Occupied Territories Bill has received widespread support across almost all political parties in Ireland BILL BUSTER US politicians move to put pressure on Irish Govt over Occupied Territories Bill plan with boycott list trade threat A GROUP of US politicians have ramped up pressure on the Irish government over plans to ban trade with companies based in Israel's illegally occupied parts of Palestine. The Occupied Territories Bill would make it illegal for goods to be imported into Ireland from parts of Palestine that are currently occupied by Israel such as parts of the West Bank. Advertisement 2 Simon Harris was named in the letter sent by 16 US Congress members Credit: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire There is very little trade of goods between Ireland and these areas with the bill seen as a largely symbolic way of putting pressure on Israel to end its bombardment and occupation of Palestine. However, a group of 16 American politicians have now called on their government to take action against Ireland if it pushes ahead with the Occupied Territories Bill. The US is a long-term ally of Israel and provides weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces. The group of 16 US Congress members is led by New York Republican Claudia Tenney who sent a letter to the US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, to express the group's 'serious concerns' about the Irish government's legislation. Advertisement In the letter, the group calls for Ireland to be added to a list of countries that boycott Israel – a move which could have serious implications for American companies based in Ireland. If Ireland were added to this list, it would force new tougher tax reporting requirements and potential penalties on US companies and individuals who are engaged in business here. The letter says: 'Last month, Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Harris introduced legislation to prohibit the import of goods and services originating from territories under Israeli administration that they characterise as 'occupied', including Judea and Samaria, Gaza, parts of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. 'This measure is part of a broader effort aligned with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which seeks to economically isolate Israel. Advertisement 'Such policies not only promote economic discrimination but also create legal uncertainty for US companies operating in Ireland. 'We encourage the Treasury Department to assess whether Ireland's proposal indicates that they require or may require participation in or encouragement of an international boycott within the meaning of Section 999(a)(3). 'If the criteria are met, Ireland should be added to the boycott list to ensure that US companies are informed of their reporting obligations and protected from unintended legal exposure.' The letter will ramp up pressure on the Government over the Occupied Territories Bill which has received widespread support across almost all political parties in Ireland. Advertisement The Government had indicated that they want to include services alongside goods in the importing ban from occupied territories however, there may be legal barriers to this. The legislation is likely to go before the Dail when politicians return to Leinster House after the summer recess.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Israel's plan to take control of Gaza amounts to dangerous escalation: PM Shehbaz
Condemning the Israeli cabinet's approval of a plan to take illegitimate control of Gaza City, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said it was tantamount to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine. 'This expansion of military operations will only worsen the already existing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region. 'We must not lose sight of the root cause of this ongoing tragedy: that is Israel's prolonged, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. As long as this occupation endures, peace will remain elusive,' he said in a message on social media account X. Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City early on Friday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of the entire strip despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war. Israel approves plan to take control of Gaza City 'The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,' Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces. Gaza City, in the north of the strip, is the largest city in the enclave. Hours after the Israeli cabinet's approving the decision, various countries including Belgium and Denmark demanded from the occupational state to reverse its decision. Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with relevant United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions. He sought global powers' intervention to stop Israeli aggression and protect innocent people. 'We call upon the international community to intervene urgently to bring an immediate halt to Israel's unwarranted aggression, ensure the protection of innocent civilians, and ensure the direly needed delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,' he said.
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
EU chief says Israel must reconsider Gaza control plan
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called on Israel to reconsider its plan to further extend the military's control over the Palestinian territory of Gaza. "The Israeli government's decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered," she said in a post on X. She also urged the release of all hostages and the "immediate and unhindered access" for humanitarian aid in Gaza. "A ceasefire is needed now," Ms von der Leyen said. The Israeli government's decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered. At the same time, there must be the release of all hostages, who are being held in inhumane conditions. And humanitarian aid must be given immediate and unhindered access to… — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 8, 2025 It comes after Israel's political security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. The country's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the Israeli Defence Forces "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones". Hamas has described Israel's plan as a "war crime", adding that the Israeli government "does not care about the fate of its hostages". Meanwhile, Germany has said that it will halt the export of military equipment to Israel which could be used in Gaza. Chancellor Friedrich Merz made the announcement, reacting to Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City. The arms export freeze marks a dramatic change of course for the German government, which has long been one of Israel's staunchest international allies. Mr Merz said it was "increasingly difficult to understand" how the latest Israeli military plan would help achieve the aims of disarming Hamas and freeing the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Saudi Arabia has also rejected Israel's plan, lambasting it for the "starvation" and "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in the blockaded territory. Riyadh said it "condemns in the strongest and most forceful terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to occupy the Gaza Strip", in a foreign ministry statement on X. It added that it "categorically condemns its persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people". Earlier, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that Israel was "wrong" to approve its new plans over Gaza, urging it to reconsider the new offensive. He insisted that Israel should deescalate, rather than launch the operation. "The Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately," Mr Starmer said. "This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed." Meanwhile, Belgium has said that it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over Israel's plans to "take military control" of Gaza City. "The aim is clearly to express our total disapproval of this decision, but also of the continued colonisation," Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot posted on X.
Dubai Eye
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Israel approves plan to take control of Gaza
Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza early on Friday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of the entire strip. "The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces. Gaza City, in the north of the strip, is the largest city in the enclave. Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli official, said on X the plan involved evacuating Palestinian civilians from Gaza City and launching a ground offensive there. Netanyahu on Thursday told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer in an interview "we intend to" when asked if Israel would take over the entire coastal territory. "We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." He said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces that would govern it. He did not elaborate on the governance arrangements or which Arab countries could be involved. Netanyahu made the comments to Fox News ahead of a meeting with a small group of senior ministers to discuss plans for the military to take control of more territory in Gaza. Israeli officials described a previous meeting this week with the head of the military as tense, saying military chief Eyal Zamir had pushed back on expanding Israel's campaign. In its Friday statement, Netanyahu's office said the vast majority of the political-security cabinet members believed that "the alternative plan presented in the cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages". Two government sources said any resolution by the security cabinet would need to be approved by the full cabinet, which may not meet until Sunday. Among the scenarios being considered ahead of the security meeting was a phased takeover of areas in Gaza not yet under military control, one of the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Evacuation warnings could be issued to Palestinians in specific areas of Gaza, potentially giving them several weeks before the military moves in, the person added. Total control of the territory would reverse a 2005 decision by Israel by which it withdrew Israeli citizens and soldiers from Gaza, while retaining control over its borders, airspace and utilities. Right-wing parties blame that withdrawal decision for Hamas gaining power there in a 2006 election. It was unclear whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged takeover or a short-term operation. Israel has repeatedly said it aims to dismantle Hamas and free Israeli hostages. Hamas in a statement called Netanyahu's comments "a blatant coup" against the negotiation process. "Netanyahu's plans to expand the aggression confirm beyond any doubt that he seeks to get rid of his captives and sacrifice them," the statement said. Arab countries would "only support what Palestinians agree and decide on," a Jordanian official source told Reuters, adding that security in Gaza should be handled through "legitimate Palestinian institutions". Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera that the group would treat any force formed to govern Gaza as an "occupying" force linked to Israel. Earlier this year Israel and the US rejected an Egyptian proposal, backed by Arab leaders, that envisaged the creation of an administrative committee of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats entrusted with the governance of Gaza after the war. Opinion polls show most Israelis want the war to end in a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages. The White House had no immediate comment. US President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he supported or opposed a potential full military takeover of Gaza by Israel. Netanyahu's government has insisted on total victory over Hamas, which ignited the war when it staged the October 2023 attack on Israel from Gaza. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true. The idea, pushed especially by far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition, of Israeli forces moving into areas they do not already hold in the enclave has also generated alarm in Israel. Outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, hundreds of demonstrators protested against an expanded war, demanding an immediate end to the military campaign in return for the release of all the hostages. Protesters held signs bearing the faces of hostages still held in Gaza and voiced deep frustration with the government's handling of the crisis. There are 50 hostages still held in Gaza, of whom Israeli officials believe 20 are alive. Most of those freed so far emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations. Talks toward a ceasefire that could have seen more hostages released collapsed in July. A senior Palestinian official said Hamas had told Arab mediators an increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza would lead to a resumption in ceasefire negotiations. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades but now controls only fragmented parts, insists any deal must lead to a permanent end to the war. Israel says the group has no intention of going through with promises to give up power afterwards. The Israeli military says it controls about 75 per cent of Gaza. Most of Gaza's population of about 2 million has been displaced multiple times over the past 22 months and aid groups are warning that the enclave's residents are on the verge of famine.
New York Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Israel approves Netanyahu's plans to take control of Gaza City
Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war. 'The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces. While Netanyahu said on Thursday Israel intended to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, the plan approved on Friday focused specifically on Gaza City, the largest city in the enclave, located in its north. Advertisement 9 Israeli soldiers prepare military equipment near the border with the Gaza Strip on Aug. 6, 2025. Getty Images Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an Israeli official, said on X the plan involved evacuating Palestinian civilians from Gaza City and launching a ground offensive there. Asked if Israel would take over the entire coastal territory, Netanyahu told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer in an interview on Thursday: 'We intend to.' Advertisement But he said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces that would govern it. He did not elaborate on the governance arrangements or which Arab countries could be involved. 'We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body,' he said. Israeli officials described a previous meeting this week with the head of the military as tense, saying military chief Eyal Zamir had pushed back on expanding Israel's campaign. 9 Gaza City in the Gaza Strip during a humanitarian aid airdrop from a Jordanian Air Force plane on Aug. 7, 2025. AP Advertisement 9 Palestinians run towards parachutes carrying aid packages in northern Gaza City on Aug. 7, 2025. REUTERS Among the scenarios being considered ahead of the security meeting was a phased takeover of areas in Gaza not yet under military control, one government source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Evacuation warnings could be issued to Palestinians in specific areas of Gaza, potentially giving them several weeks before the military moves in, the person added. In its Friday statement, Netanyahu's office said the vast majority of the political-security cabinet members believed that 'the alternative plan presented in the cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.' Advertisement Two government sources said any resolution by the security cabinet would need to be approved by the full cabinet, which may not meet until Sunday. 9 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Oct. 15, 2017. REUTERS 'BLATANT COUP' Total control of the territory would reverse a 2005 decision by Israel by which it withdrew Israeli citizens and soldiers from Gaza, while retaining control over its borders, airspace and utilities. Right-wing parties blame that withdrawal decision for the terrorist Palestinian group Hamas gaining power there in a 2006 election. It was unclear whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged takeover or a short-term operation. Israel has repeatedly said it aims to dismantle Hamas and free Israeli hostages. 9 Humanitarian aid is airdropped into Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Aug. 7, 2025. AP Hamas in a statement called Netanyahu's comments 'a blatant coup' against the negotiation process. 'Netanyahu's plans to expand the aggression confirm beyond any doubt that he seeks to get rid of his captives and sacrifice them,' the statement said. Advertisement Arab countries would 'only support what Palestinians agree and decide on,' a Jordanian official source told Reuters, adding that security in Gaza should be handled through 'legitimate Palestinian institutions.' Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera the group would treat any force formed to govern Gaza as an 'occupying' force linked to Israel. 9 Armed Hamas terrorists abduct Israeli hostage Adina Moshe in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023. AP Earlier this year, Israel and the United States rejected an Egyptian proposal, backed by Arab leaders, that envisaged the creation of an administrative committee of independent, professional Palestinian technocrats entrusted with the governance of Gaza after the war. Advertisement Opinion polls show most Israelis want the war to end in a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages. The White House had no immediate comment. President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he supported or opposed a potential full military takeover of Gaza by Israel. 9 People wave Israeli flags from a hill overlooking the northern Gaza Strip on July 30, 2025. Getty Images 9 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a conference in Jerusalem on July 27, 2025. AP Advertisement Netanyahu's government has insisted on total victory over Hamas, which ignited the war when it staged a deadly October 2023 attack on Israel from Gaza. The UN has called reports about a possible expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza 'deeply alarming' if true. The idea, pushed especially by far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition, of Israeli forces moving into areas they do not already hold in the enclave has also generated alarm in Israel. 9 An Israeli tank and other military vehicles travel towards the Gaza Strip ahead of an occupation campaign. Getty Images REMAINING HOSTAGES Advertisement There are 50 hostages still held in Gaza, of whom Israeli officials believe 20 are alive. Most of those freed so far emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations. Talks toward a cease-fire that could have seen more hostages released collapsed in July. A senior Palestinian official said Hamas had told Arab mediators an increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza would lead to a resumption in cease-fire negotiations. Israeli officials accuse Hamas of seizing aid to hand to its fighters and to sell to finance its operations, accusations the terror group denies. Videos released last week of two living hostages showed them emaciated and frail, stirring international condemnation. Recent images of starving children from Gaza have also shocked the world and fueled international criticism of Israel over the sharply worsening conditions in the enclave. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades but now controls only fragmented parts, insists any deal must lead to a permanent end to the war. Israel says the group has no intention of going through with promises to give up power afterwards.
