Qatar rejects US lawmaker’s claim that it pays Hamas ‘$30m per month’
Qatar’s embassy in Washington has rejected a statement by US House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer that “inaccurately claims” Doha has paid Hamas “$30m per month since 2018”.
The embassy said that “Qatar does not pay Hamas”, adding that it has provided assistance to Gaza in two ways with the “full coordination” of the Israeli government.
The first is a Qatar-funded fuel purchasing scheme to generate electricity in Gaza, and the second is a project in partnership with the World Food Programme that provides “$100 per month to the poorest families in Gaza”.
It added that the Israeli government had oversight over both projects and “encouraged and strongly supported” the contributions. “Misinformation about Qatar and its humanitarian contributions is unhelpful to these delicate negotiations,” the embassy wrote.
Australia keeps Israel defence deals secret for ‘reputation’ reasons
Defence Australia has told Senator David Shoebridge it won’t release details of arms transfers to Israel because it could damage Australia’s reputation. Responding to a Freedom of Information request from Shoebridge’s office, the department said, “The release of such information could harm Australia’s international standing and reputation.”
Shoebridge, a member of the Australian Greens party, questioned how Australia could have “hundreds of secret defence export permits … but no weapons sold to Israel”. “Australia has a secret defence industry cooperation deal with Israel and you’re not allowed to know what’s in it,” he said in a post on social media.
Australia’s weapons manufacturing industry has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, with regular protests from pro-Palestinian supporters outside Australian firms making components for F-35 fighter jets.
So it's bad...
‘Flagrant violations’: Turkey imposes export restrictions on Israel
The restrictions apply to products in 54 categories, spanning iron and steel products, construction equipment, machines and more, according to Turkey’s Trade Ministry. The ban takes effect immediately, the ministry announced.
“Israel continues to flagrantly violate international law and ignores the international community … This decision will remain in place until Israel declares a ceasefire immediately and allows adequate and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” it said on social media.
The new measures come a day after Turkey said Israel blocked its attempt to airdrop aid to Gaza. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan promised reprisals against Israel, saying they would be implemented “step by step” and “without delay”.
Relations between Israel and Turkey, which have traditionally cooperated closely, deteriorated to their lowest point in years during the Gaza war, with Turkey’s President Erdogan calling Israel a “terror state” whose leaders are engaging in “genocide”.
Israel should break away from Turkey: Industry official
“Israel must be independent,” says Ron Tomer, president of Israel’s Manufacturers Association, in response to Turkey imposing export restrictions on Israel.
“About 50 percent of cement, steel and marble imports are imported from Turkey. Maybe now the government will wake up and break away from Turkish dependence,” Israel’s Army Radio quoted Tomer as saying.
Turkey is also in the process of “taking over” a number of areas, including Israel’s construction industries, he alleged.
Israel threatens Turkey with retaliation after export ban
Israel’s foreign minister says Turkey has “unilaterally violated” trade agreements with its decision to restrict exports to Israel and Israel will respond with its own trade restrictions on products coming from Turkey.
Israel Katz said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “is again sacrificing the economic interests of the people of Turkey in order to support Hamas, and we will respond in kind”.
Turkey, which has denounced Israel for its attack on the densely populated Gaza Strip and has called for an immediate ceasefire, has sent tens of thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid there since the start of the war on October 7.
French foreign minister proposes sanctions on Israel to get aid into Gaza
Stephane Sejourne says the international community should pressure Israel and potentially impose sanctions to force it to open up more land crossings and increase the amount of aid entering Gaza.
“There must be levers of influence and there are multiple levers, going up to sanctions to let humanitarian aid cross checkpoints,” he told French outlets RFI radio and France 24.
“France was one of the first countries to propose European Union sanctions on Israeli settlers who are committing acts of violence in the West Bank. We will continue if needed to obtain the opening of humanitarian aid,” he added.
Governments should impose sanctions on Israel to force aid into Gaza: HRW
Human Rights Watch has called for “targeted sanctions” and the suspension of arms transfer to press Israel to ensure access to humanitarian aid and basic services in Gaza.
The rights group said in a statement children in the besieged and bombarded territory have been dying from starvation-related complications since the Israeli government began “using starvation as a weapon of war, a war crime”.
“Governments outraged by the Israeli government starving civilians in Gaza should not be looking for band-aid solutions to this humanitarian crisis,” said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at HRW.
“Israel’s announcement that it will increase aid shows that outside pressure works. Israel’s allies like the US, UK, France, and Germany need to press for full-throttle aid delivery by immediately suspending their arms transfers.
Activists calling for Israel arms embargo paint UK Labour Party office red
Video shows activists spraying red paint on the UK’s Labour Party headquarters in London in a protest calling for an arms embargo against Israel.
At least two people were arrested. Calls continue to grow for a halt to weapons transfers to Israel over its conduct during the six-month war on Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 people.
