Tommy Patrio Sorongan, CNBC Indonesia
Tuesday, 12/12/2023 05:23 WIB
Photo: Israeli soldiers operate in the Shajaiya district of Gaza city amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip December 8, 2023. (REUTERS/YOSSI ZELIGER)
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Tensions continue to persist in the Gaza region, Palestine. This was due to Israel’s attack on the region to destroy the Hamas militia which invaded the Jewish State last October 7.
The number of victims continues to increase, especially among civilians, including women and children.
The following are the latest developments quoted from various sources by CNBC IndonesiaTuesday (12/12/2023):
1. Casualties
Fierce urban fighting broke out Monday in the bloodiest war ever fought in Gaza, with the death toll of 18,205 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and 104 Israeli soldiers reportedly killed amid a growing humanitarian crisis.
The war was sparked by a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and led to dozens of hostages being dragged back to Gaza.
They warned the remaining 137 hostages would not survive unless Israel met its demands and released more Palestinian prisoners.
Brutal fighting continued in Gaza, with Islamic Jihad militants saying they blew up a house in the town of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza where Israeli troops were searching for a tunnel.
Meanwhile, rockets fired from Gaza hit Holon on the edge of Tel Aviv, wounding a civilian and leaving holes in a residential street.
2. Arab-Chinese Open Votes on US Veto on Gaza at the UN
Arab countries have opened their voices regarding the maneuvers of the United States (US) which vetoed the draft resolution regarding the Gaza ceasefire at the UN Security Council (DK) forum. They expressed their opposition to Washington’s maneuver.
Previously, the US vetoed a proposal by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding a ceasefire last week. Washington said its reason for vetoing the resolution was that a ceasefire would not be effective.
“A cease-fire will only seed the next war because Hamas has no desire to see lasting peace,” according to Robert Wood, deputy US ambassador to the UN.
This immediately got a reaction from Arabs. During a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the Arab-Islamic Committee of Foreign Ministers (Menlu) reiterated its call for the US to assume its responsibilities and take necessary actions to push Israel towards an immediate ceasefire.
The foreign ministers also renewed their rejection of Israel’s aggression against Palestinians in Gaza, reaffirming the need to end hostilities, protect civilians and lift the siege that is hampering humanitarian aid access to the war-torn enclave.
“They voiced their rejection of efforts to expel Palestinians from Gaza, and emphasized on creating a real political climate leading to a two-state solution,” Saudi media SPA quoted a statement as saying. Arab News.
Meanwhile, China’s permanent representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, said the two months of fighting in Gaza had caused an unprecedented number of deaths and destruction.
“We express great disappointment and regret that the draft has been vetoed by the US. An immediate ceasefire is the main prerequisite,” Zhang said.
3. Resolution 377A (V)
Egypt and Mauritania have officially requested the meeting using UN General Assembly Resolution 377A(V) “United for Peace”.
The letter emphasized the need for another meeting after the “Permanent Members of the Security Council (DK)” vetoed the Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in Gaza. This refers to the maneuver of the United States (US) which vetoed the ceasefire resolution proposed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week at the forum.
Resolution 377A(V) allows UN bodies to take action whenever there are indications that the UNSC is failing to carry out its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. The resolution was first adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1950.
This move came after the US on Friday vetoed a UN Security Council request for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Washington said its reason for vetoing the resolution was that a ceasefire would not be effective.
4. This Arab Country Calls Israel Impossible to Win
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi claimed Israel could not achieve a military victory in Gaza and had suffered a strategic defeat by alienating the entire region.
Speaking on Sunday at the Doha Forum, Safadi said the aim of Israel’s operations against Hamas was to expel the Palestinian population, not to defeat the militant group.
“The destruction in Gaza in the last two months is an indication of Israel’s policy which seems determined to expel the population of the enclave,” he was quoted as saying Russia Today.
“High-ranking Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have been quite candid about those intentions.”
Safadi also brought up Friday’s vote at the UN Security Council, in which the United States (US) vetoed a proposal by Arab countries urging a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. He noted that despite the veto, Washington has openly called on Israel to change its military tactics.
“Simply put, Israel is defying everyone, its allies, international law and the UN,” he said.
Furthermore, Safadi blamed Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and systematic obstacles to the establishment of a Palestinian state as the root cause of the hostility.
“Israel has created a host of hatreds that will haunt the region and will define future generations. This is as detrimental to its people as it is to everyone else in the region.”
5. Russia-Hamas relations
Russia said it was in correspondence with the Gaza branch of the Gaza militia, Hamas, in Qatar. This comes as the group is at war with Israel, triggering a Tel Aviv attack that devastated the Palestinian enclave.
In an official statement, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he had discussed war-related matters with the Hamas branch in Gaza, including the release of Israeli citizens held hostage by the group.
“Hamas launched a terrorist attack on October 7, and we immediately condemn it. Hamas has a political branch operating in Doha, and we have relations with that political branch, and we immediately contacted the community in Doha to discuss the fate of those taken hostage,” explained Lavrov told the audience at an online forum in Doha on Sunday (10/12/2023) quoted Russia Today.
6. France Wants to Sanction Israel
France is considering imposing nationwide sanctions on those involved in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said ahead of a European Union meeting on Monday.
“The situation in the West Bank worries us, especially because there are too many cases of violence committed by extremist settlers,” Colonna said in a Reuters report.
This step itself was previously carried out by the US. Last week, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said his party would impose visa restrictions on Israeli settlers involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the occupied West Bank.
“Currently, the State Department is implementing a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals believed to be involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the West Bank, including committing acts of violence or taking other actions that unduly restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic needs,” said Blinken, quoted by Al Jazeera.
7. PBB Scream
A top UN humanitarian official on Sunday offered a grim assessment of Israel’s war against Hamas as the world marked International Human Rights Day.
In a statement, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Lynn Hastings condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel but said Israel’s response in Gaza was disproportionate.
“Today could be the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was born out of the cruelty of two world wars,” Hastings said.
“In contrast, human rights are under attack in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Violations committed against these two population groups will not bring peace or security to either country.”
Armed non-state actors such as Hamas have obligations under international law, Hastings said, adding that the perpetrators of the October 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and took more than 240 hostage must be held accountable.
8. Gaza is starving
A resident of one of the Gaza towns of Khan Younis, Ahmad Naseem, on Sunday told CNN that he saw a bullet hit his neighbor’s house, killing five people and wounding many others.
As his city in southern Gaza has become the main focus of Israel’s ground operations, the 38-year-old said he had moved his wife and 18-month-old son to his neighbor’s ground-floor apartment to feel a little safer.
“But finding essential food and drinking water remains a big challenge,” he said CNN via telephone call.
“The price of basic commodities such as flour has risen eightfold since the start of the conflict, and cooking gas, in particular, is in very short supply.”
9. Israel Expels Gaza Residents
Video footage obtained by the news agency Reuters shows smoke bombs thrown at the Jabaliya refugee camp causing panic among residents.
Some people were seen coughing and screaming, while others tried to cover or remove bombs from tents where people had taken shelter.
Jabaliya Camp, one of the largest camps in Gaza, has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes since the war began. Dozens of Palestinians were killed and many houses were destroyed.
10. France-Italy-Germany Proposes Hamas Sanctions
The foreign ministers of the three countries have asked the European Union to impose ad hoc sanctions against Hamas and its supporters.
“We express our full support for… the proposal to create an ad hoc sanctions regime against Hamas and its supporters,” said the letter written to European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, seen by Reuters.
“The rapid implementation of these sanctions will allow us to send a strong political message about the EU’s commitment to Hamas and our solidarity with Israel,” he added.
11. Gaza’s Ancient Mosque Destroyed
The medieval Omari Mosque in Gaza has been bombed and reduced to rubble. Al Jazeera reporter Jihad Abu Shanab visited the site to see the scale of the destruction.
“This place of worship has been destroyed by Israeli forces,” he said.
The mosque was built in the pre-Islamic period, standing on the site of an ancient Philistine temple.
In the fifth century, a Byzantine church was built on the site, before being restored by the Ayyubids. In 1260 the mosque was destroyed by the Mongols and later rebuilt.
At the end of the century, the city was destroyed by an earthquake. But 300 years later, the Ottomans restored it.
“The Omari Grand Mosque is one of the most prominent historical and religious landmarks in Gaza. It was once home to traditional manuscripts and ancient parchments,” said Abu Shanab.
“The mosque has a large library containing many valuable books. There is also a place for recitation.”
Watch the video below:
Video: Thanks to US Veto Support, Israel is Getting “Crazy” in Gaza
(luc/luc)
2023-12-11 22:23:51
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