Posted on 05/06/2024 6:32:02 AM PDT by SJackson
People flee the eastern parts of Rafah after the Israeli military began evacuating Palestinian civilians ahead of a threatened assault on the southern Gazan city, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 6, 2024.
Hamas warned that the IDF’s evacuation of civilians from eastern Rafah was a dangerous escalation that could scuttle the already strained hostage talks.
"The US administration, alongside the occupation, bears responsibility for this terrorism," the official, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Reuters, referring to Israel's alliance with Washington.
He warned that it was a "dangerous escalation that will have consequences.”
Walla’s Barak Ravid posted on X that Hamas warned that hostage talks could be suspended.
Egypt, which alongside Qatar has mediated talks for the release of the remaining 132 hostages, worked to contain the damage to negotiations, which were also harmed by Hamas attack Sunday on the Kerem Shalom crossing that killed four soldiers.
Kerem Shalom attack caused ceasefire talks to falter An Egyptian source told Al-Qahera News that it was the Kerem Shalom attack Sunday that caused the talks to falter.
The Hamas delegation returned to Doha from Cairo for consultations with its leadership which is based there. CIA Director William Burns left Cairo for Doha last night and is expected in Israel this week.
At issue had been Hama's insistence on a permanent ceasefire, with Israel standing firm that it could only accept a pause to the war because it was determined to conduct a military operation in Rafah to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there.
Belgian Vice Premier Petra De Sutter warned that a Rafah “invasion will lead to a massacre.”
"Belgium is working on further sanctions against [Israel],” she wrote in a post on X.
De Sutter has been a fierce and early critic of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza that began on October 7, calling already in November for sanctions against the Jewish state.
The French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna reiterated in a post on X on Monday her country's opposition to a possible Israeli operation in Rafah.
"The President of the Republic yesterday recalled France's firm opposition to an Israeli offensive on Rafah during his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu," she wrote.
The international community, including the United States, has also opposed a Rafah operation fearing it would lead to a humanitarian disaster for the over 1.3 million Palestinians located there, many of whom sought shelter there to escape Israeli bombardments in northern Gaza at the start of the war.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is the main organization that services Palestinian refugees, wrote on X that “an Israeli offensive in #Rafah would mean more civilian suffering [and] deaths. The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people."
UNRWA “is not evacuating” Palestinians from Rafah, it stressed, adding that “Agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible [and[ will continue providing lifesaving aid to people.”
Israel updates US about evacuation Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke overnight with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, updating him on the Kerem Shalom attack and Israel’s pending Rafah operation.
Gallant indicated that “at this stage, Hamas refuses the frameworks at hand" and “emphasized that military action is required, including in the area of Rafah, at the lack of an alternative,” according to the Defense Ministry
“The State of Israel will not tolerate the ongoing presence of terrorist frameworks bordering its communities, and is committed to achieving the goals of the war - the destruction of Hamas as a military and governing authority, and the return of 132 hostages,” Gallant said.
Thanks for the update. I knew that Israel had the capacity but not how much. Biden is attempting his “Quid Pro Quo” strategy on Bibi, just like he used on Shokin in Ukraine. It operates like the movie Godfather, “I will make him and offer that he can’t refuse”. Now I hope that Hashem is giving Bibi a chance to totally wean himself from the west. He should take it.
Thanks for the update. I knew that Israel had the capacity but not how much. Biden is attempting his “Quid Pro Quo” strategy on Bibi, just like he used on Shokin in Ukraine. It operates like the movie Godfather, “I will make him and offer that he can’t refuse”. Now I hope that Hashem is giving Bibi a chance to totally wean himself from the west. He should take it.
Not enough, but I doubt this is an issue. A single shipment delayed portrayed as canceled by the media likely for political benefit.
Hamas admitted months ago they didn’t even know where the remaining hostages were or their condition.
They are like cockroaches. Exterminate them.
“Correction: Bibi should inform Biden.”
Okay, got it now. Of course, the possibility that Joe could be negotiating with himself cannot be dismissed.
Israel is well aware of the situation.
Civilian evacuations are a dangerous escalation. That pretty much tells you all you need to know about these animals. In a SANE part of the world, this statement would make no sense.
LOL. I always thought he was consulting all of the paintings of former Presidents hanging on the wall in the White House.
Endanger hostage talks? What hostage talks? What hostages for that matter? Videos aren’t proof of life unless they include verification of when they were made. Rumors abound that they are not alive. Where does that leave the hostage talks?
Petra De Sutter belongs to the Green Party. The Greens all over Europe have allowed themselves to be taken over by radical islamists (see Britain, Sweden, Germany etc etc). And PdS is not a real woman, but a "woman" - the first transgender minister in Europe.
Go figure!
Caring about the hostages is one thing. Letting Hamas dictate the conduct of the war by using the hostages to manipulate the response against them for taking hostages is exactly why taking hostages is a war crime. If they kill them, they’ll be held responsible. Period.
In February 2024, Colonna was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to lead an independent review group to look into accusations by Israel that 12 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were involved in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
Well, how do you think that went?
I am sure you guessed it: "The Colonna-led review’s final report determined that UNRWA has robust frameworks in place to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles, though issues persist."
One of those issues can be seen in a photo in the following link, where UNRWA workers driving a white UN jeep, can be seen taking possession of the body of Jonathan Samerano, who was killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
Also, one would think Mme Colonna would have more pressing issues given that France is introducing soldiers from the French Foreign Legion in Ukraine. Maybe they have already suffered their first losses:
The Bloom | French Troops Were Hit In Sloviansk. Another Destroyed Abrams. Military Summary 2024.5.5
I hope PDJT will take over the White House soon otherwise we will have a new world war. The present crop of politicians are probably worse than the "geniuses" who engineered the start of WWI.
Most of the hostages were dead by the end of December 2023, those that were left alive as “BAGAINING CHIPS” have already been released.
THE REST ARE DEAD!
Be held responsible by whom?
The ICC in the Hague, the same court that wants to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu?
OH, how about the Biden Administration or better still their fellow MUDSLIMES!
You know, all those members of the “RELIGION OF PEACE”!
“Be held responsible by whom?”
By the State of Israel. F@#$ the Hague.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
