Latest casualty figures
Gaza Killed: 29,606 Wounded: 69,737
Occupied West Bank Killed: 406 Wounded: 4,600 Arrested: 7,210
Israel: Killed on October 7: 1,139 (revised down from 1,400) Wounded: 2,962 Soldiers killed since ground invasion: 237
Israeli army maps homes of Ma’ale Adumim shooters
The Israeli army says it has mapped out two homes in Zaatara in the east of Bethlehem, belonging to Palestinians responsible for a deadly shooting attack near the occupied West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, suggesting an imminent demolition.
Israel routinely destroys the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks.
Ahmed al-Wahsh, 31, and brothers Muhammad Zawahra, 26, and Kathem Zawahra, 31, were accused of opening fire at Israelis on the Route 1 highway heading towards Jerusalem, killing one person and wounding 11.
Israeli officer who shot Maale Adumim attacker opposes arms policy
An Israeli army officer hailed as a hero for shooting a Palestinian attacker near the Maale Adumim settlement has spoken out against calls from members of the government to distribute more arms to Israeli citizens. Twenty-three-year-old Hananya Ben Shimon said in a post on X that he did not want to be used to promote “divisive or aggressive discourse” to push the policy of arming as many civilians as possible for a quick response to security incidents.
“Politicians need to find a better solution, because a gun is a band-aid,” he said. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said following the attack on Thursday that a disaster was averted thanks to armed police and civilians and that it was clear “that guns save lives”.
More guns are never the solution and certainly not with trigger happy civilians. Not that the 'professionals' are any better https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-civilian-killed-by-soldier-jerusalem-1.7046525
Mapping the Red Sea attacks
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2024/mapping-red-sea-shipping-attacks/
On November 19, Iran-backed Houthi forces began attacking shipping vessels affiliated with Israel passing through the Red Sea. The attacks, launched in response to Israel’s war on Gaza, have disrupted international trade on the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.
Since then, at least 40 vessels have been attacked, according to data analysed by Ambrey Analytics, a global maritime risk management firm. Three months on, Al Jazeera examines the impact these attacks have had on international trade, the risks faced by seafarers, and the US and UK strikes on Yemen.
Paris talks on Gaza ceasefire, release of captives
According to Israeli media reports, there are indications a deal has been reached in Paris that could see a six-week pause in the fighting in Gaza in exchange for around 40 Israeli captives and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails.
These are preliminary details, but Israeli officials are saying they are approaching this with cautious optimism. They say they now have an outline of a framework that they can move forward with in the negotiations. Israel’s delegation in Paris will present its report to Israel’s war cabinet.
But there are still a lot of sticking points, like which Israeli captives or Palestinian prisoners are going to be released, or how much humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza. The US reportedly wants this deal to happen before the start of the Muslim holy month Ramadan, which is just more than two weeks away.
Citing two sources familiar with the contents of the talks, The Jerusalem Post said the war cabinet was expected to receive an update from the negotiating team and decide on further steps, which may happen as early as Saturday night.
Israel to inform ICJ of measures in compliance with genocide case
Israel will send a formal notification to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday to detail how it is complying with provisional measures handed down by the court, the Times of Israel has reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the foreign and justice ministries to draft a report detailing how Israel is complying with provisional measures to safeguard Palestinian civilians during its war on Gaza, the newspaper said, citing a Hebrew-language report on the Ynet news site.
The document will focus on the orders to “prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide”, take immediate steps to “enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip” and “prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence” pertaining to allegations of genocide.
Israel is waging what many governments have called a genocide in Gaza and is now preparing for an offensive on the southern city of Rafah, where over a million people are displaced, raising questions on its commitment to abide by the provisional measures set by the UN court.
Israel hasn’t taken steps to protect civilians: PA
In light of the ICJ ruling and 141 days into a “genocide”, Israel has not taken any steps to secure their basic humanitarian needs either, says the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) foreign ministry. “This includes security, food, potable water, medicine and electricity,” the ministry said in a statement.
“On the contrary, Israel has been carrying out more massacres, deepening the humanitarian catastrophe and famine, and turning Gaza Strip into a desolate, unliveable area.”
‘A little BBQ is great fun’: Israeli soldier brags about burning Gaza homes on TikTok
In a post on his TikTok account, Israeli soldier Izador Elgabril speaks to his phone camera, bragging about the arson of residential buildings in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City. He speaks sarcastically, saying that Israeli settlements will come to the area in a year and a half, specifically the “Sevouni settlement”. He then turns the camera around and shows buildings engulfed in flames amid the ruins of Gaza City.
“A little BBQ is great fun,” he can be heard saying.
On February 7, we reported on a statement from the Gaza Government Media Office saying that 3,000 housing units had been burned by the Israeli army, mostly in the central and northern Gaza Strip. This statement appeared to confirm reporting from Israeli newspaper Haaretz which found that Israeli army commanders have been ordering mass burning of unoccupied homes in Gaza.
“After the structure is set on fire along with everything inside it, it is allowed to burn out until it is rendered useless,” Haaretz wrote on February 1. This video follows a trend of Israeli soldiers filming themselves mocking Palestinians and posting the footage to social media, acts that have earned a warning from the coutnry’s top military lawyer.
Israeli soldier Izidor Elgabril films himself bragging about burning down homes in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City and uploads it to his TikTok account
