Latest news with #Hamas-Israel
West Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Justin Amler: Call for ceasefire wilfully ignores realities of Gaza conflict
On Monday, Australia joined 27 other Western countries in signing onto a statement regarding Gaza that was not only highly critical of Israel but bereft of any value in solving the ongoing Gaza war, or ending the suffering that results from it. It demonstrated once again the profound lack of understanding of the Middle East or the Hamas-Israel conflict that has become all too common in this country. It's also incredibly ill-timed. US mediators said on the weekend that Israel is 'bending over backwards' to reach a six-week ceasefire deal with Hamas that would see the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza improve dramatically, but Hamas is still refusing. So why would Hamas agree to any deal when statements like the one we just signed on to give it every reason to continue refusing? Far from neutral, the statement actually empowers Hamas and rewards its intransigence. The statement attacks the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid delivery model system set up by the US with support from Israel, saying it 'fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity'. Yet it conveniently ignores the fact that the GHF has delivered almost 85 million meals to Gazans so far, and it's done so without Hamas interference — and Hamas had previously routinely hijacked aid to resell for profit and to bankroll terror. There is hunger in Gaza, but it's not because of Israel — it's because of Hamas, so while some civilians may go hungry, Hamas terrorists never do. For these countries to ignore the complicity between UN organisations and Hamas is more than just an oversight. The reason why Hamas is so adamant in its demands that the GHF be shut down is because it's a direct threat to the power of Hamas, which relies on weaponising aid by controlling civilians through food. The statement also blindly accepts as fact the figure that 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid, without once questioning the validity of that claim, which is based largely on information provided by Hamas itself — often with amplification by UN agencies which take Hamas claims as gospel. It is simply astounding that information from a proscribed terror organisation, whose claims have repeatedly been debunked, continues to be accepted as fact. Would we accept casualty claims from ISIS as fact? Then why from Hamas? The statement does mention the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and condemns 'their continued detention', but calls for their release via a negotiated ceasefire. However, elsewhere it calls for an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.' So why should Hamas release them in exchange for a ceasefire when Australia and the others are telling Israel it must accept a ceasefire unconditionally and permanently even if Hamas does not release anyone? Hamas is currently attempting to kidnap more Israeli soldiers, so the idea of calling for an 'immediate and permanent ceasefire' without addressing Hamas' stated goals of repeating the October 7 atrocities doesn't mean an end to the conflict, but at best a pause until the next one. This provision also contradicts our Foreign Minister's and Prime Minister's repeated declarations that Hamas must have no future role in Gaza. Because just how do they propose to make that happen with a permanent ceasefire that leaves Hamas in power? The statement's call for 'all parties to protect civilians and uphold the obligations of international law' is also farcical when the entire modus operandi of Hamas is a deliberate strategy to inflict casualties on Gaza's civilians through its use of human shields. But perhaps most telling of all is that Hamas has welcomed the statement. So if a terror organisation, proscribed by Australia, and whose acts have shocked all people of good conscience in their brutality and cruelty, welcomes such a statement, it clearly means that such a statement demonstrates serious flaws in its basic understanding of right and wrong. This statement does nothing to help either Palestinians or Israelis. It is neither constructive nor helpful in bringing about the end of the conflict. It ignores the fact that Hamas has rejected repeated ceasefire offers, including the one from just a few days ago. Instead of a joint statement calling on Hamas to end the war and release the hostages, the conditions required for ending the war, it instead focuses on denouncing Israel, which is defending itself against Hamas and attempting to release the hostages. If these 28 countries genuinely want peace, let them issue a joint demand that would be genuinely reality-based and effective: Return the hostages, disarm Hamas. Then, and only then, will peace be possible, benefiting both Israelis and the long-suffering residents of Gaza. Justin Amler is a policy analyst at the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
Leaders
5 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Israel Urges UN to Abolish Investigation Commission for Palestinian Territories
Israel has urged the UN Human Rights Council to abolish the commission of inquiry into human rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, according to Reuters. Israel also accused the council of bias and discrimination. In the message sent on Wednesday, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Daniel Meron, said The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, discriminated against his country. 'The Commission of Inquiry, both in its mandate and in the work of its members, constitutes nothing less than a manifestation of the institutional discrimination against Israel in the Human Rights Council,' read the letter. Israel has repeatedly criticized findings by the UN-mandated commission, that has denounced the Israeli military's actions since it has launched its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Council spokesperson Pascal Sim said that Council President Jurg Lauber had already received the letter, but it would be up to the Council's 47 members to abolish the commission. In March, the commission concluded that Israel had carried out 'genocidal acts' against Palestinians during its war in Gaza. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Israel to Increase Defense Spending amid Ongoing Deadly War in Gaza ICC Declines Israel's Bid to Halt Netanyahu Arrest Warrant Israel Strikes Damascus as Clashes Rage in Sweida Short link : Post Views: 5
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Rubio says ‘hopeful' for Gaza ceasefire
KUALA LUMPUR: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was 'hopeful' about the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, telling reporters on Thursday that negotiations were 'closer' than they had been in some time. Israel and Hamas began their latest round of talks on Sunday, with representatives seated in separate rooms within the same building. 'We're hopeful… It appears that generally the terms have been agreed to, but obviously now you need to have talks about how you implement those terms,' Rubio said on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian countries in Malaysia. 'I think perhaps we're closer than we've been in quite a while, and we're hopeful, but we also recognise there are still some challenges in the way.' Hamas-Israel talks for Gaza truce enter fifth day in Qatar: official He acknowledged that previous rounds of talks had fallen apart at similar stages. 'One of the fundamental challenges is Hamas' unwillingness to disarm, which would end this conflict immediately,' Rubio said. The top US diplomat added that 'the Israelis have shown some flexibility'. Hamas has said disagreements over the free flow of aid into Gaza and Israel's military withdrawal were sticking points, as were its demands for 'real guarantees' for a lasting peace. The latest iteration of indirect negotiations, brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, entered their fifth day in Doha on Thursday. Despite a week-long truce in November 2023 and a two-month halt that began in January 2025, the back-and-forth talks, principally held in Doha and Cairo, have failed to bring about a durable end to the hostilities.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Gaza civil defence says 52 killed by Israeli forces
GAZA CITY: Gaza's civil defence agency on Thursday said at least 52 people, including eight children, were killed by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory battered by more than 21 months of war. The latest wave of deadly strikes and gunfire came just hours after Hamas, which runs Gaza, announced it was willing to release 10 hostages as part of indirect ceasefire talks with Israel in Qatar. Israel has recently expanded its military operations in the Gaza Strip, where the war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million people. Civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughair told AFP that 52 people were killed across the territory, including 17 in a strike in front of a medical point in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. EU says Israel has agreed to 'expand' Gaza aid access There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military and AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details due to media restrictions in Gaza. Mughair said eight children and two women were among the dead following the strike in Deir el-Balah, adding Israeli aircraft targeted 'a gathering of citizens in front of a medical point'. Four people were killed and several injured in a pre-dawn air strike on a family home in Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, Mughair added. AFP footage from Al-Bureij showed a family including three young children sitting among rubble outside their tattered tent after an air strike hit a house next door. 'Without warning' 'Suddenly – and without warning – the house with people inside was bombed,' said Olfat Salim, inspecting the damage to her tent, which was ripped and covered in dust. 'We were sleeping and saw dust and stones falling on us. We started screaming to wake our children from under the rubble. Thank God we managed to get them out.' Hamas-Israel talks for Gaza truce enter fifth day in Qatar: official Mughair reported 27 more people killed in bombardment across the territory, including 15 people in five separate strikes in the area of Gaza City. One person was killed southwest of the southern city of Khan Yunis by 'Israeli military fire', Mughair said. Three more, including a woman, were killed by Israeli gunfire on civilians near an aid centre in the northwest of nearby Rafah, he added. More than 600 people have been killed around aid distributions and convoys in Gaza since late May, when Israel began allowing in a trickle of supplies, the United Nations said in early July. Israel killed at least 57,680 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations deems the figures reliable.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
EU says Israel has agreed to ‘expand' Gaza aid access
BRUSSELS: The EU on Thursday struck a deal with Israel to increase aid access to Gaza that should see more food trucks entering and the opening of additional crossing points, the bloc's top diplomat said. 'Today, we reached an agreement with Israel to expand humanitarian access to Gaza,' European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X. 'This deal means more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers. We count on Israel to implement every measure agreed,' Kallas added. Gaza's two million residents are facing dire humanitarian conditions as Israel has severely limited aid during its devastating war with Hamas. In a statement Kallas said that the measures agreed by Israel 'are or will be implemented in the coming days, with the common understanding that aid at scale must be delivered directly to the population.' Hamas-Israel talks for Gaza truce enter fifth day in Qatar: official She said the steps included a 'substantial increase of daily trucks for food and non- food items' going into Gaza, the opening of several more crossing points in both the northern and southern areas, and the reopening of routes from Jordan and Egypt. 'The EU stands ready to coordinate with all relevant humanitarian stakeholders, UN agencies and NGOs on the ground, to ensure swift implementation of those urgent steps,' the statement said. The move comes as Israel and Hamas continue to haggle over the details of a US-backed ceasefire deal to halt the war. The EU has been weighing taking measures against Israel after finding it in breach of a cooperation deal between the two sides because of its actions in Gaza. But the 27-nation bloc has struggled to find consensus on what steps to take as it is divided between staunch supporters of Israel and countries backing the Palestinians. Israel have killed at least 57,680 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations deems the figures reliable.
