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Haaretz says Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing in north Gaza
https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/2024-11-10/ty-article-opinion/netanyahus-ethnic-cleansing-is-on-display-for-all-to-see/00000193-12ac-d3a2-a3d7-5bed1d8d0000
The Israeli daily Haaretz has published an editorial accusing Netanyahu and the military of “conducting an ethnic cleansing operation in the northern Gaza Strip”.
“The few Palestinians remaining in the area are being forcibly evacuated, homes and infrastructure have been destroyed, and wide roads in the area are being built and completing the separation of the communities in the northern Strip from the center of Gaza City,” it wrote.
The editorial echoes statements by Palestinian officials, witnesses and journalists who have said Israel is waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where civilians under constant bombardment are being denied the right to their homes, food, water, medical support and safe travel. They reject the military claims that its push, which began in early October, is simply aimed at closing in on Hamas fighters in the area.
Qatar’s withdrawal from Israel-Hamas negotiations a ‘tactical’ move
Tamer Qarmout, an associate professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says Qatar’s decision to withdraw as a key mediator in ceasefire talks is a “tactical” move to “put pressure” on Israel and Hamas while also signalling Qatar’s “concern” over the new US administration.
“The Qataris have been in a very delicate position,” Qarmout told Al Jazeera, adding Republicans in the US have become more vocally critical of Qatar’s involvement.
“I think Qatar is increasingly concerned about this particular angle – being blackmailed or intimidated, both by certain elements within the US administration and by Israel as well,” he said.
“But at the same time, it’s not the end of the game for [Qatar],” said Qarmout. “They’re freezing [the negotiations], but that doesn’t mean that if the parties seek out Qatar to be involved again, it won’t be there to do this mission.”
Egypt expected to ‘remain active’ in Israel-Hamas negotiations
Tamer Qarmout, the associate professor from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says despite Qatar’s decision to withdraw from Israel-Hamas negotiations, Egypt is expected to “remain active” albeit with a “less visible” role.
“At the political level, they may follow Qatar at some point,” he told Al Jazeera. “But the reality on the ground is that they will still have some open channels with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, because they know them and because they share geography with them.”
Qarmout added that due to its geographic proximity, Egypt has a “unique” connection to Gaza.
“It has more direct ties with the people on the ground since Egypt shares a border with Gaza,” he said.
