‘Ceasefire urgently needed to protect Palestinian lives’
Ahead of the UN Security Council’s meeting on the Israeli air raids on the al-Tabin school, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) says it is “deeply concerned” at reports of the high civilian casualties, including children.
“Schools are protected under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and should never be a target,” the organisation said.
“Ahead of today’s UN Security Council meeting on the attack, the IRC reiterates its call for parties to uphold IHL and for all measures to be taken to protect civilians. A ceasefire is urgently needed to protect Palestinian lives, enable the release of hostages, and scale up aid delivery.”
PA prime minister urges going ‘beyond statements’ to help Gaza
The Palestinian Authority’s prime minister has urged the international community to go beyond statements expressing rejection or concern and turn to action.
The global community needs to take “concrete actions to address the massive humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the attempts to transform it into an uninhabitable place”, Mohammed Mustafa said in a post on X.
The account of the prime minister also released images of the Palestinian man who lost his wife and their four-day-old twins today in an Israeli air strike on the enclave.
Bereaved Palestinian father & husband, Mohammad Abu AlQumsan, displaced from northern war-ravaged Gaza, clutches the birth certificates of his newborn twins, who, along with their mother, were killed in an indiscriminate Israeli airstrike on Gaza, only four days into their lives. pic.twitter.com/QHTJtJSH7H
— PM of Palestine (@PalestinePMO) August 13, 2024
The US is certainly going beyond statements....
Blinken approves sale of more than $20bn in arms to Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has approved the sale of military equipment, including fighter jets, to Israel that are worth more than $20bn.
The announcement by the Pentagon comes despite the mounting death toll in Gaza and as the Biden administration pushes for a ceasefire deal.
Earlier this week, Washington released $3.5bn to Israel to spend on US weapons and military equipment in line with Congress legislation.
F-15s, missiles, shells: Latest US weapons sales to Israel
Here are the weapons sales to Israel that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has just approved.
Some, including the fighter jets, could take years to deliver while equipment like tank shells could arrive immediately.
- 50 F-15IA AND F-15I+ aircraft for $18.82bn
- Nearly 33,000 tank cartridges for $774.1m
- Modified M1148A1P2 family of medium tactical vehicles for $583.1m
- Advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles for an estimated $102.5m
- 120mm high explosive mortar cartridges for $61.1m
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the US Department of State said about the F-15s, which are made by Boeing.
Blinken slams Ben-Gvir… but approves arms sales to Israel
The US Secretary of State says in a statement that the White House is “firmly against” the Israeli national security minister’s leading of prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Blinken said the move “demonstrated blatant disregard for the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites in Jerusalem”.
“These provocative actions only exacerbate tensions at a pivotal moment when all focus should be on the ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement and secure the release of all hostages and create conditions for broader regional stability.”
Backed by armed forces and far-right supporters, Ben-Gvir has stormed the compound multiple times since the start of the war, specifically when ceasefire talks have appeared to progress.
