Aftermath of Israel’s deadly attack on a Gaza City college

At least two Palestinians were killed and 30 others were wounded after Israeli forces bombed the building of the Nama College in Gaza City on Tuesday, according to the Wafa news agency.

Many displaced Palestinians were sheltering in the building, located in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood when it came under Israeli attack. The bombing triggered a huge fire.

Gaza’s Civil Defence said Israeli forces told them to stop rescue efforts and evacuate the site, but rescuers continued working there ‘at great risk’.

Israeli forces killed at least 43 Palestinians in attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to an Al Jazeera tally.

Civil defence crews working ‘at great risk’ to rescue Gaza City victims

Israeli forces have ordered civil defence crews to halt rescue efforts at a Gaza City college that was struck yesterday by an Israeli air attack.

But the crews are still rushing to dig out dozens of people believed to be trapped under the rubble, Ahmed al-Kahlout, director of civil defence in northern Gaza, told Al Jazeera.

“There is a large amount of destruction in this place and there’s a huge fire as a result of the bombing,” al-Kahlout told Al Jazeera.

“Along with the medical teams, our crews are trying to evacuate a number of killed and wounded and are looking for those missing under the rubble of this destroyed centre.”

He added that Israel “has warned citizens to evacuate this place several times but our crews are still working here at great risk”.

Israeli attacks on Gaza City home kill at least one

Israeli forces have carried out several early morning attacks in Gaza City, killing at least one person and wounding others, reports Wafa news agency.

Their targets include:

Explosions in central Gaza’s Bureij, Maghazi camps

Palestinian children are being vaccinated [in Deir el-Balah] amid loud explosions in the eastern areas of Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps, which are excluded from both the humanitarian pause in fighting and the vaccination campaign.

Witnesses have told us that Israeli military tanks and troops are advancing towards the eastern side of Maghazi refugee camp. As a result, residents of Bureij and Maghazi are struggling to reach Deir el-Balah to get their children vaccinated.

Gaza death toll rises

At least 40,861 people have been killed and 94,398 wounded in Israeli military attacks on Gaza since October 7, the enclave’s Health Ministry says. Of those, 42 Palestinians were killed and 107 wounded in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.

Palestinian girl on roller skates killed in Israeli attack

We’ve been reporting on a wave of deadly attacks in northern Gaza in recent days. One victim, a young girl, was found still wearing her roller skates when she was killed in an Israeli attack.

Another deadly attack on home in Nuseirat

An Israeli air raid has struck another home in central Gaza’s Nuseirat camp, killing and injuring numerous people, report our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic. It is the second deadly attack on the camp today, with the first killing one person in their home.

As we reported earlier, strikes were heard in Nuseirat and Maghazi areas amid a vaccination drive in nearby Deir el-Balah.

Hamas questions Israeli narrative on deaths of 6 captives in Gaza

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Al Jazeera that it was not clear how the six captives whose bodies were recovered from Gaza on Saturday had died.

“We are waiting for the final story or narrative from the resistance on the ground. It is very complicated there on the ground,” Naim told Al Jazeera.

“We can remember, recently when the Israelis tried to rescue some of their captured Israelis in Nuseirat two months ago, they rescued [four] living captured Israelis but they have at the same time killed three others. And killed at the same time 250 Palestinians and wounded hundreds,” he said, referring to Israel’s June 4 raid on central Gaza.

That operation was Israel’s most successful in its 10-month war, but Hamas said at least three other unnamed captives, including a US citizen, died in the assault.

Naim also went on to claim that Israel’s military has killed “70-80 of their own people” in missile attacks and noted that Israeli soldiers had shot at and killed three other captives in Shujayea in northern Gaza last December.

“Therefore, until now we cannot confirm these allegations by the Israeli side. They might have been killed by cross-shooting or cross-firing between the fighters and the Israeli soldiers. But we are not sure how they have been killed. The Israelis themselves haven’t shown any evidence,” he said.

The Western media already runs with "executions" as fact, despite it still just being claims by the IDF. Claims that are too often proven false. It doesn't matter though, the Israeli public doesn't even care whether it were executions or not. The fact that they were still alive before the IDF pressed on, despite they were part of phase 1 in the ceasefire deal sparked the ongoing demonstrations. In the eyes of the public they could easily have been spared, if it weren't for Netanyahu.

Hamas says UN jumping to conclusions on Israeli captives’ deaths

Hamas spokesperson has urged the UN not to accept Israel’s narrative on the six captives whose bodies were found in Gaza before getting all the facts and hearing all sides.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamdan called for the UN to be “balanced” when looking into the captives’ deaths. Israel claims that Hamas guards killed them, while Hamas says it is still awaiting details.

Hamdan also said the UN should consider the role of Israeli forces in killing the captives in previous air raids or botched rescue efforts.

Hamas’s military spokesperson Abu Obeida said on Monday that captives held in Gaza would return to Israel “in coffins” if Israeli military pressure continues and that Hamas had issued “new instructions” to their guards in case Israeli troops approach.

Hamdan said Abu Obeida’s comments were directed at Israel’s attempts to rescue the captives.

“The message from Abu Obeida [to Israel] was: You have tried to try to get your people back by force and each time that caused their killing,” he said. “If you continue to try this way, you will cause the death of your people.”

Indeed not the way it is reported on CNN.

Hamas’ brutal new tactics signal new phase in war and hostage crisis

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/middleeast/hamas-israel-hostage-deal-raise-stakes-intl/index.html

With its announcement that militants guarding Israeli hostages in the buildings and tunnels of Gaza had “new instructions” to kill them if Israeli troops closed in, Hamas signaled the opening of a chilling new chapter in an already brutal war.

Western journalism is dead.


No information on possible new ceasefire proposal, says Hamas

Spokesman Osama Hamdan says Hamas has not received any official word on a possible new ceasefire proposal from the US. However, he questioned whether Washington’s optimism was genuine or simply geared at a domestic audience ahead of the November elections.

“We don’t need more negotiations,” said Hamdan, accusing the Israeli government of repeatedly sabotaging them. “I think what we need now is real pressure on Israel from the Americans” to accept the US-backed ceasefire proposal put forward back in May, he said.

Protests outside the headquarters of Netanyahu’s party in Tel Aviv

Dozens of family members and supporters of Israeli captives have gathered outside the headquarters of Netanyahu’s Likud party in Tel Aviv, according to The Times of Israel. The protesters are holding a banner that reads, “The cabinet of death is killing the hostages. The people demand they return alive,” the newspaper reported.

Uri Sela, an Israeli reporter at the scene, posted a video of the protest, showing demonstrators holding up large cutouts of the faces of the six captives whose bodies were recovered from Gaza on Saturday.

Translation – Gal Goren, the son of Avner and Maya Goren: “Netanyahu has officially become Mr Death and Bereavement. You had a chance to make amends, but when you appeared in front of the cameras, you chose not to take responsibility. You offered an empty apology and lies about why you are sentencing the abductees to death.”

Israeli minister says halt negotiations, cut off Gaza’s fuel and electricity

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says the government should “stop negotiating” with Hamas and cut off fuel and electricity to Gaza.

“A country whose six hostages were murdered in cold blood does not negotiate with the killers but rather halts the negotiations, stops providing them with fuel and electricity, and crushes them until their defeat,” he said in a post on X.

“Continuing negotiations only encourages them to produce more and more terror.”

Israel has accused Hamas of murdering six captives found in a Gaza tunnel on Monday, saying they were alive days before the military’s rescue operation and were killed as forces got close.

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Al Jazeera it was not clear how the six captives had died, saying the group was awaiting details from Hamas’s forces on the ground.

Jordan, Kuwait condemn Netanyahu’s smuggling accusations against Egypt

Jordan and Kuwait have joined a list of Arab countries defending Egypt against Israel’s PM Netanyahu’s accusations that Cairo is smuggling weapons to Hamas.

In a statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said the allegations were “baseless” and intended to obstruct ongoing ceasefire negotiations, in which Egypt is a key mediator.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council also condemned the statements by Netanyahu, who has insisted on a continued Israeli presence at a corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Former negotiator says Netanyahu obstructing ceasefire deal

A former Israeli negotiator has said that while a quick deal with Hamas is possible to end the war, Netanyahu is intentionally obstructing it by insisting on Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which he called a “ploy”.

“I’ve talked to numerous military personnel in Israel who all agree that this war could end in three weeks,” Gershon Baskin said.

“Hamas told me in private conversations that, if the war ends in three weeks, they would be willing to release all the Israeli hostages. Of course, they are demanding that Israel release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. But it’s a deal that can be made.”

The majority of Israelis, he added, would favour such a deal, as their top priority is bringing home the captives.

“But the society is very divided,” he added. “There are those [in Israel] who believe that if we bring the hostages home and make a deal with Hamas we are just inviting another October 7. And there’s a great deal of fear.”

Israel bombs south Lebanon

The Israeli military said its air force attacked a Hezbollah rocket launcher in Zebqin in southern Lebanon and hit “military structures” in the towns of Khiam and Aita al-Shaab. The military said it also launched artillery attacks on Shoba, Alma ash-Shaab and Kfar Kila.

 
Two wounded by Israeli air raid in Khiam, southern Lebanon

Earlier, Israel’s military claimed its air force had attacked Hezbollah “military structures” in the Lebanese towns of Khiam and Aita al-Shaab. The air raid on Khiam is now confirmed to have injured at least two people, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

The victims, who the agency did not name, have been taken to Marjayoun Governmental Hospital.

Israel carries out another attack on Lebanon

Israeli jets have launched air attacks on the towns of Ainatha and Kunin in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency (NNA) is reporting. The NNA earlier reported that an Israeli air raid on Khiam in southern Lebanon wounded at least two people.

Iraqi armed groups claim drone attack on Israel

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed it launched a drone attack on the Israeli port of Haifa, according to Al Mayadeen TV.

The Iran-aligned umbrella group said it was committed to defending Palestinians by continuing its operations against “the Israeli occupation until the genocide and massacres are brought to an end”, Al Mayadeen reported.

The Israeli military said its forces spotted a drone coming from the east but successfully intercepted it and that the aircraft did not cross over into Israel’s territory.

Saudi firm says its oil tanker was not targeted in Red Sea

Saudi shipping company Bahri has refuted the US military’s claim that its tanker Amjad was hit in the Houthis’s most recent attack on vessels in the Red Sea.

“We unequivocally affirm that AMJAD was not targeted and sustained no injuries or damage. The vessel remains fully operational and is proceeding to her planned destination without interruption,” Bahri said in a statement.

The US’s Central Command said on Tuesday that the Houthis had struck the Saudi Arabian-flagged Amjad and the Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon in the Red Sea the previous day.

But while the Yemeni-rebel group claimed responsibility for targeting the Blue Lagoon, it did not make any mention of the Saudi tanker.

The Reuters news agency, citing two unnamed sources, said the ships were sailing near each other when they were hit but were able to continue their voyages with no major damage or casualties.

Salvage teams unable to tow damaged Red Sea tanker

The European Union’s naval mission said the private companies involved in salvaging the MV Sounion have decided against towing the oil tanker, which was damaged in a Houthi attack in August.

The companies “concluded that the conditions were not met to conduct the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed”, the mission said in a post on X. “Alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies.”

_{Flames and smoke rise from the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which has been on fire since August 23}

Corbyn says UK could still face legal action over weapons sales to Israel

Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn told Al Jazeera’s Inside Story that the UK’s decision to partially suspend weapons exports to Israel shows the UK foreign secretary is “cognisant” of human rights abuses in Gaza.

But, Corbyn added, the UK could still face legal action, because “Britain still supplies a lot of other weapons to Israel”, including F-35 jet parts.

“There is nothing right about what Israel is doing at the present time. They are committing acts of genocide and we should be acting accordingly, in accordance with international law,” said Corbyn.

The UK should also face legal action for all the has happened so far... Surrendering your gun after mass killing doesn't absolve you of the crime.

Corbyn says UK decision to partially suspend arms exports to Israel ‘political’

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says while the arms export licensing legislation requires every UK government to assess such exports, the partial suspension of weapons to Israel was a “political decision”.

“[Foreign Secretary] David Lammy announced he was going to suspend 30 arms licences out of 350, but then went on to say that this wouldn’t damage Israel’s ability to defend itself,” he told Al Jazeera.

“The Defence Secretary John Healey has gone a bit further on Tuesday to essentially say it doesn’t make very much difference.”

Moreover, Corbyn said that the use of British weapons [in Israel] in light of the ICJ rulings earlier this year, as well as the applications filed by the ICC for Israeli leaders, leave the UK in a “very vulnerable position”.

“Parts of the F-35 jets are made in Britain. Britain still supplies a lot of other weapons to Israel, so I don’t think the legal case against Britain is actually finished,” he added.

Large number of Labour MPs concerned over Israel’s actions in Gaza: Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader says, a number of MPs from the party were feeling an “enormous” amount of pressure from their constituents amid the continuing war in Gaza.

“In many parts of the country, the Labour vote went down in the recent general election [in July], very significantly largely because of issues surrounding Gaza,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that public demonstrations against the war have only “increased in size, not decreased”.

“The popular support for the Palestinian people is bigger than I have ever known in my lifetime. We will be upping our game, our campaigning … making the case to end arms sales to Israel and save lives.”

Australian senator queries missing evidence in aid worker murder investigation

Senator Mehreen Faruqi has written to Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong questioning why “crucial audio taken from Israeli drone footage” was not included in Australia’s investigation of the attack that killed Australian Zomi Frankcom and six other World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza.

In the letter, Faruqi asked why the investigation appeared not to have the ability to translate dialogue from the drone footage from Hebrew, according to information Zomi’s brother Mal Frankcom shared with Australian public broadcaster, the ABC.

“It is the Australian government’s duty to expend all efforts to seek justice for the murder of Zomi Frankcom and hold the perpetrators accountable,” wrote Faruqi, who is also the deputy leader of the Australian Greens.

Mourners bury Palestinian girls killed by Israeli army in Jenin: Report

Palestinians near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank held a funeral procession for a 16-year-old girl killed by Israeli forces, Reuters news agency reports.

Lujain Osama Musleh was killed in the town of Kafr Dan, just outside Jenin, which Israeli troops have been raiding for days.

The girl’s father, Osama Musleh, wept as funeral prayers were said over his daughter’s body. He said the teenager looked out the window at the sound of gunfire and he then found her with a gunshot wound to the forehead.

“I tried to save her. I tried to do something, but I couldn’t,” he said. “The army was surrounding our area. I called for an ambulance, and they arrived late because a sniper shot towards them.”