Netanjahu versichert Zivilisten in Rafah einen „sicheren Durchgang“
Sonntag, 11. Februar, 06.50 Uhr: Der Regierungschef Israels, Benjamin Netanjahu, hat zugesagt, dass die israelische Armee den Zivilisten, die in der Stadt Rafah ausharren, einen sicheren Durchgang bieten wird, um sie vor einem zu erwartenden Angriff zu bewahren. „Wir werden (…) der Zivilbevölkerung einen sicheren Weg aus der Stadt ermöglichen“, sagte Netanjahu in einem Interview, das am Samstag im US-Sender ABC News ausgestrahlt wurde. „Wir entwickeln einen detaillierten Plan dafür. Wir sind in dieser Angelegenheit nicht leichtfertig“, betonte Netanjahu.
Netanjahu erklärte, dass Gebiete nördlich von Rafah bereits evakuiert worden seien und als sichere Zonen für die Zivilbevölkerung genutzt werden könnten. Gleichzeitig betonte er, dass der Sieg „nah“ sei: „Wir werden es schaffen. Wir werden die verbleibenden Hamas-Terrorbataillone und die letzte Bastion Rafah einnehmen.“
Borrell warnt vor einer „humanitären Tragödie“ bei israelischem Angriff auf Rafah
23.45 Uhr: Aufgrund der israelischen Pläne für einen Angriff auf die Stadt Rafah im Süden des Gazastreifens hat auch der EU-Außenbeauftragte Josep Borrell vor einer „humanitären Tragödie“ gewarnt. „Ich schließe mich den von mehreren EU-Mitgliedsstaaten geäußerten Warnungen an“, erklärte Borrell am Samstagabend auf X, ehemals Twitter. „Eine israelische Offensive auf Rafah würde eine unbeschreibliche humanitäre Tragödie bedeuten.“
Borrell warnte außerdem, dass es zu „starken Spannungen mit Ägypten“ kommen würde, das an Rafah grenzt. „Die Wiederaufnahme der Verhandlungen über die Freilassung der Geiseln und eine Einstellung der Feindseligkeiten sind das einzige Mittel, um ein Massaker zu verhindern.“
In Rafah sind aufgrund der israelischen Angriffe auf den Gazastreifen mehr als eine Million Flüchtlinge aus anderen Teilen des Palästinensergebiets gestrandet. Israels Regierungschef, Benjamin Netanjahu, hatte seine Armee am Freitag angewiesen, einen „kombinierten Plan zur Evakuierung der Bevölkerung und zur Zerstörung der Bataillone“ der Hamas in Rafah vorzulegen.
Israel: Hamas-Gänge unter UNRWA-Hauptquartier in Gaza entdeckt
21.20 Uhr: Das israelische Militär gab bekannt, dass es einen Tunnel der Hamas-Miliz entdeckt habe, der unter dem Hauptquartier des UN-Palästinenserhilfswerks UNRWA in der Stadt Gaza verlaufen soll. Der unterirdische Gang sei 700 Meter lang, liege in 18 Metern Tiefe und habe als bedeutende Einrichtung des Militärgeheimdienstes der Hamas gedient, teilte das Militär am Samstagabend mit. Zudem behauptete das Militär, dass in den vergangenen zwei Wochen in dem – von der UNRWA in der Anfangsphase des Krieges verlassenen – Hauptquartier der UN-Organisation große Mengen von Waffen und Sprengstoff gefunden worden seien. Darüber hinaus gebe es Hinweise darauf, dass Büros und Räumlichkeiten des UNRWA-Hauptquartiers von Hamas-Terroristen genutzt worden seien. Es gibt keine Angaben dazu, wann genau diese Nutzung stattgefunden hat, ob vor oder nach Kriegsbeginn. Die Richtigkeit dieser Angaben ließ sich zunächst nicht unabhängig überprüfen.
Der Leiter der UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, erklärte zu den Berichten über die Entdeckung des Tunnels unter der Zentrale seiner Organisation in Gaza, dass das Hilfswerk keine Kenntnis davon hatte. Das Personal der UNRWA habe das Hauptquartier auf Anordnung des israelischen Militärs bereits am 12. Oktober geräumt, schrieb er am Samstagabend auf X (vormals Twitter). Seitdem sei das Gebäude nicht mehr genutzt worden. Im Falle der Entdeckung eines verdächtigen Hohlraums in der Nähe oder unter dem UNRWA-Gelände in der Vergangenheit hätte die Organisation sofort Protestschreiben an die Konfliktparteien gerichtet, schrieb Lazzarini weiter – darunter sowohl anperished snipe, as well as the Israeli authorities. This has also been incorporated into annual reports submitted to and published by the General Assembly.
The aid organization has recently come under heavy criticism. From the Israeli side, there have been repeated accusations that it is collaborating with Hamas. Specifically, some employees were accused of being involved in the terrorist attacks of the Islamist Hamas on October 7th in Israel. Several Western countries temporarily suspended payments to UNRWA due to the accusations, including the two largest donors, the USA and Germany.
Attack on last Hamas stronghold – Baerbock: “Humanitarian catastrophe with warning”
11:56 am: Foreign Minister Annalena Baebock has once again urgently warned against an Israeli military offensive in the south of the Gaza Strip and at the same time announced another trip to Israel.
“An offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe with warning,” wrote the Green politician on Saturday on X (formerly Twitter). “The people in Gaza cannot disappear into thin air.” Baerbock pointed out that the plight in Rafah is already unfathomable and that 1.3 million people in the area are seeking shelter from the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the army to prepare an offensive on Rafah on Friday. According to him, there are still four remaining Hamas battalions in the city. Accordingly, the military leadership is supposed to plan the evacuation of civilians in the area. Meanwhile, Israel reportedly carried out initial air strikes on targets in Rafah. Rafah is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.
Baerbock emphasized on X that Israel must defend itself against Hamas terrorism, but must also alleviate the suffering of the civilian population as much as possible. Therefore, another ceasefire is needed, including the release of more hostages. “I will discuss the way forward again in Israel next week,” she announced.
Media: Israel targets locations near the Syrian capital Damascus
Saturday, February 10, 03:04 AM: According to media reports, the Israeli armed forces have targeted locations near the Syrian capital Damascus. From the Golan Heights, the Israeli military reportedly shelled the outskirts of Damascus, as reported by the state-run Syrian news agency (Sana) on Saturday, citing a military source. Heavy explosions were reportedly heard west of the Syrian capital.
The Syrian air defense reportedly shot down some of the rockets. Sana further reported that only material damage was caused. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that a residential building west of the Syrian capital was hit. On Friday evening, the Shiite Hezbollah militia claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on an Israeli barracks in the Golan Heights.
Biden: Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip are excessive
Friday, February 9, 08:18 AM: US President Joe Biden has toughened his stance towards Israel and described the actions against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza conflict as disproportionate. “I believe the response in the Gaza Strip is excessive,” Biden said on Thursday evening (local time) at the White House. “There are many innocent people who are hungry, in need, or even losing their lives. This has to stop.” The Democrat had actually commented on a domestic issue during his appearance in front of reporters, but answered a question on the crisis in the Middle East at the end.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also raised concerns on Wednesday during aDuring his visit to Israel, Blinken adopted a notably strong tone and earnestly urged the Israeli leadership to do more to protect civilians in the Gaza war. He emphasized that the dehumanization experienced by Israel during the Hamas massacre in October cannot justify dehumanizing others. Blinken stated in Tel Aviv that the daily toll on innocent civilians from military operations was still “unacceptably high” and conveyed the same message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government members during his discussions.
The US has been urging Israel to strengthen the protection of civilians and provide more assistance to the population in Gaza. However, the recent statements from the US government indicate growing dissatisfaction with the response of the Israeli leadership to their appeals.
On October 7, terrorists acting on behalf of Hamas perpetrated a devastating massacre in Israel, predominantly targeting civilians. Since then, Israel has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza war and the humanitarian crisis for the Palestinian population as a result of the conflict have sparked sharp international criticism of Israel’s actions.
Demonstrations in Israel regarding a potential hostage agreement with Hamas
At 10:45 PM: Numerous people in Israel demonstrated on Thursday evening for and against a potential hostage agreement with Hamas. In Jerusalem, thousands protested against negotiations with Israel’s enemies and in favor of continuing the Gaza war, as reported by several Israeli media outlets on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Tel Aviv demonstrated at the same time in favor of reaching a deal to secure the release of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip. According to reports, the demonstrators in Israel’s coastal metropolis temporarily blocked streets. The Israeli security cabinet met on Thursday evening to discuss a potential agreement with Hamas.
In recent weeks, thousands in Israel have taken to the streets to exert pressure on the government to do more to secure the release of people abducted by Hamas from Israel. Some demonstrators also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over the fate of the hostages. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition members have threatened to collapse the government coalition should the Prime Minister make concessions to Hamas as part of a hostage deal.
As part of an international mediation proposal for the release of additional hostages, the Palestinian Islamist organization demands that Israel release more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners from jails, including 500 prisoners serving life or very long sentences. Hamas also continues to insist on a ceasefire, which Israel rejects. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, there are prospects for a possible deal between the two parties.
According to Israeli military reports, out of approximately 136 hostages still in Hamas custody, at most slightly over a hundred are believed to be alive.
For all developments regarding the attack in Israel, visit the following pages.
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