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What are Israel’s Nahal and Givati brigades doing in Gaza?
The latest report by the Critical Threats Project think tank provides an overview of what two major brigades of the Israeli military ground forces are doing across Gaza now.
The Nahal Brigade, active in northern and central Gaza, claimed to have killed 18 Palestinian fighters using air strikes as well as tank and sniper fire on Sunday. Having operated in the area for weeks, the brigade has been active while the military builds the so-called “Netzarim corridor”, which is effectively cutting Gaza in half and preventing the movement of displaced Palestinians.
Palestinians from multiple armed factions are still engaging in gunfights with Israeli soldiers, launching mortar, rocket and small arms attacks.
In Khan Younis in the south, the Givati Brigade is still, after weeks, conducting raids in the Hamad neighbourhood of residential buildings. Ground fighting is ongoing there as well.
🫶The PRCS psychological health teams continue to provide psycho-social support services to the PRCS ambulance teams working in the field, in addition to providing psycho-social support services to the wounded and displaced affected by the war, especially children, in the Gaza… pic.twitter.com/VxIjyQSSS2
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) March 17, 2024
Chevron says, not our problem
Chevron responds to UN criticism of business ties to Israeli military
Earlier, we reported that two UN human rights experts called on Chevron and other oil companies to stop supplying to the Israeli military, as reported by Oil Change International.
In response to a query from Al Jazeera, Chevron has provided the following: “We are deeply concerned about the recent events and the devastating impact on communities. Our thoughts are with those affected”
“Chevron is focused on the safe and reliable supply of natural gas for the benefit of the Israeli domestic market and our regional customers. Any questions related to the security situation should be addressed to the appropriate authorities of Israel.”
Israeli opposition leader calls for ‘international pressure’ for Hamas deal
The Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, after meeting in Israel with German Chancellor Scholz, has said that Israelis are united in a call to quickly return captives still held in Gaza. “Israel’s opposition will support any moves that advance a hostage deal,” he wrote in Hebrew on X, with a picture of him shaking the hand of the German leader.
“The international community must put pressure on Hamas and promote a deal quickly,” Lapid said.
It's your government that keeps rejecting deals...
Hamas political chief Haniyeh meets with Chinese officials in Doha
Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh met with a Chinese delegation led by a senior Foreign Ministry diplomat in Qatar’s Doha on Sunday afternoon. The group said in a statement that Haniyeh told the delegation, which also included Chinese envoy to Doha, Cao Xiaolin, that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip need urgent aid and are being subjected to starvation and “massacres” by the Israeli military.
He emphasised demands that Israeli must “quickly stop its aggression and massacres, withdraw the occupying army, return the displaced, provide shelter and reconstruction requirements, and achieve the political goals and aspirations of establishing an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty with [East] Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return and self-determination”.
The Chinese diplomat was quoted as saying that Beijing wants to stop the war, and also sees Hamas as “part of the Palestinian national fabric” and therefore wants to maintain a political relationship.
More empty words from Biden
Biden says ‘urgent need’ for Gaza aid, captive agreement
US President Joe Biden says in a shamrock ceremony at the White House that he agrees with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on a need for a truce deal in Gaza. “The Taoiseach [Irish leader] and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and get a ceasefire deal that brings hostages home and moves toward a two-state solution, which is the only path for lasting peace and security,” Biden said.
Varadkar said people ask him why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people. “We see our history in their eyes, a story of displacement, of dispossession, a national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger,” he said.
The Irish leader, who has previously criticised US arms transfers to Israel, said he “was not shocked” that Washington has decided to continue arming Israel.
