
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called for expanded military operations in the West Bank as the country’s forces conducted a series of major raids and air strikes in the occupied territory on Wednesday, which Palestinian authorities say have resulted in at least nine deaths so far.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-08-28-2024-41d98ed3cda2ba4a783913b06fbdc7d1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;the Associated Press, the Israeli military confirmed its operations in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank—with the governor of Jenin announcing on local radio that the IDF had surrounded the city and closed off all main roads.</p>



<p>The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, said the raids have resulted in at least nine deaths—two in Jenin and seven in the city of Tubas.</p>



<p>In an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-08-28/ty-article-live/israel-launches-counterterror-op-in-west-bank-palestinians-say-at-least-four-killed/00000191-96c7-d13a-ab93-def775cb0000?liveBlogItemId=743582086&amp;utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=live_blog_item#743582086" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>, the Israeli military said it had killed five terrorists in an airstrike near the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.</p>



<p>Katz also confirmed the Israeli raid into refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm in an X&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Israel_katz/status/1828654399360586025" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>, saying the IDF is working to dismantle the “Iranian-backed terror network” in the West Bank.</p>



<p>Citing a military source, the Times of Israel reported that the IDF’s raid in the West Bank is expected to last several days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">News Peg</h2>



<p>In his&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Israel_katz/status/1828654399360586025" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;confirming the West Bank raids, the Israeli foreign minister suggested more should be done to deal with the “threat” in the West Bank, the same “as we deal with terror infrastructure in Gaza.” Katz suggested this should include the “temporary evacuation of Palestinian civilians” from the West Bank and “any other step needed.” Katz claims Iran was attempting to establish another front against Israel in the West Bank following the “model it used in Lebanon and Gaza, by financing and arming terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons from Jordan.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Number</h2>



<p>652. That is the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza in October last year, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In Gaza, more than 40,400 people have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/least-7-killed-israeli-strikes-west-bank-2024-08-28/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">died</a>&nbsp;since the start of the conflict, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The death toll numbers do not separate combatants and non-combatants, however, in May the UN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240514-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-white-house-sees-no-genocide-in-gaza-condemns-aid-convoy-attacks" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;at least 56% of the victims are women and children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Background</h2>



<p>The strikes and raids in the West Bank come amid concerns of an expanded conflict in the region as a ceasefire in Gaza remains distant. Over the weekend, Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/08/25/major-israel-hezbollah-escalation-fire-exchanged-as-wider-war-feared/">conducted airstrikes</a>&nbsp;on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, claiming it was a preemptive action to prevent an attack by the Iran-backed militant group. Hezbollah responded to the strikes by firing multiple rockets into Israel, raising fears of an all-out war between the two sides.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-08-28-2024-41d98ed3cda2ba4a783913b06fbdc7d1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Palestinian officials say Israeli raids across the occupied West Bank have killed 9</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>


Israeli army raids Jenin in West Bank

Israeli Minister Calls For Gaza-Like Action In West Bank As IDF Conducts Major Raid


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>As Israeli troops continue their progress in a ground offensive on the heavily populated city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, a months-old campaign with the slogan &#8220;All Eyes on Rafah&#8221; has picked up steam, particularly in western Europe, Australia and India as a call for awareness of the ongoing war from activists and humanitarian groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The slogan seems to have stemmed from a comment by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organization’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who&nbsp;<a href="https://healthpolicy-watch.news/all-eyes-on-rafah-says-head-of-who-office-for-occupied-palestine-territories/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">in February said</a>&nbsp;&#8220;All eyes are on Rafah&#8221; days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/israeli-prime-minister-orders-plan-to-evacuate-13-million-people-in-rafah/?sh=33e4bfa92e08">ordered an evacuation plan</a>&nbsp;be created for the city ahead of planned attacks to eliminate what Netanyahu claims are the last remaining strongholds of the militant group Hamas.</p>



<p>The phrase is meant as a request for bystanders to not look away from what’s happening in the city of Rafah—where as many as&nbsp;<a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146347" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">1.4 million people</a>&nbsp;are sheltering after fleeing from violent fighting elsewhere in Gaza—as Israel continues its offensive despite the large civilian population.</p>



<p>Organizations and lobbying groups like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.savethechildren.net/blog/all-eyes-rafah-what-s-next-children-gaza" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Save the Children</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/oxfamgb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1757455403967787475%7Ctwgr%5E1353c685dd6cfc87eb1e11b266bf73d848b4d32a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indy100.com%2Fnews%2Fall-eyes-on-rafah-meaning" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Oxfam</a>, Americans for&nbsp;<a href="https://ajpaction.org/urgent-action-all-eyes-on-rafah/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Justice in Palestine</a>&nbsp;Action,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jewishvoiceforpeace/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Jewish Voice for Peace</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://palestinecampaign.org/events/all-eyes-on-rafah-ceasefire-now/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Palestine Solidarity Campaign</a>&nbsp;then repeated the slogan, and it has been used as a rallying cry at protests in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/hands-off-rafah-protest" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Paris</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/sahouraxo/status/1795524576849596668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1795524576849596668%7Ctwgr%5E0ff027adb6c95532ddb4744823ef850327a486f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsx.com%2Fworld%2Fall-eyes-on-rafah-trends-on-social-media-all-you-need-to-know%2F" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">London</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maastrichtdiplomat.org/post/all-eyes-on-rafah-protest-march-23-05-um-statement-24-05" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Netherlands</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/nyregion/new-school-faculty-protest-encampment.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">New York City</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jpost.com/international/article-799547" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;and beyond.</p>



<p>A number of celebrities in India, including actors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/varundvn/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Varun Dhawan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alygoni/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Aly Goni</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/samantharuthprabhuoffl/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Samantha Ruth Prabhu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/tripti_dimri/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Tripti Dimri</a>, posted identical “All Eyes on Rafah” graphics to their Instagram stories Tuesday, and other celebrities who have spoken out include Australian cricket player&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ImTravisHead/status/1795468435310162009" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Travis Head,</a>&nbsp;British singer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leighannepinnock/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Leigh-Anne Pinnock</a>, model&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/bellahadid/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bella Hadid</a>&nbsp;and actresses&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/saoirsemonicajackson/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Saoirse-Monica Jackson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SusanSarandon" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Susan Sarandon</a>.</p>



<p>There are more than 195,000 posts with millions of views for the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah on TikTok and the topic was trending on Instagram on Tuesday, on which another almost 100,000 posts have been made.</p>



<p>The most popular videos on TikTok have come from Palestinian American pop singer Zach Matari, whose posts with the slogan have racked up millions of views this month, and a number of other pro-Palestinian creators including Lubna Alhilo, Liz Kuhn and Reema Bassoumi also account for some of the most popular videos.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">NEWS PEG</h2>



<p>Israel has faced international outrage since a strike Sunday that was targeting a Hamas compound ended up killing dozens of people in Rafah, including civilians. Netanyahu on Monday said the civilian deaths were a &#8220;tragic accident,&#8221; but assaults continued Tuesday, The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/28/world/israel-gaza-war-hamas-rafah" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">New York Times&nbsp;</a>reported. Another 21 people were reportedly killed after an airstrike on a &#8220;humanitarian area&#8221; in west Rafah,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/israel-army-denies-tuesday-strike-on-humanitarian-area-in-west-rafah-f344fb88" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">AFP reported</a>, though the Israeli army has denied involvement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The possibility of mass casualties in Rafah has been floated for months as Israel pushes to eliminate remaining outposts of Hamas, the militant group that attacked the country last October and sparked a bloody war in the Middle East. In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/israeli-prime-minister-orders-plan-to-evacuate-13-million-people-in-rafah/?sh=33e4bfa92e08">Israeli officials said</a>&nbsp;Rafah was the last place in Gaza with a powerful Hamas presence and announced its plans to move forward with attacks. Months of stop-and-start negotiations between the two sides followed, and delegates to Hamas and Israel met in Egypt for cease-fire talks that mediators hoped would end the war. After the attack in Rafah on Sunday, a Hamas official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/25/hamas-official-rejects-talk-of-new-negotiations-with-israel" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told Al Jazeera</a>&nbsp;the group would not be participating in further Gaza truce talks. The Israeli military ordered evacuations of areas east of the city center, near Gaza’s border with Israel, ahead of the Rafah offensive. The Tal al Sultan neighborhood that was later bombed was believed to be in a safe zone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">CHIEF CRITIC</h2>



<p>Leaders around the world, including President Joe Biden, have criticized Israel for pursuing attacks in Rafah due to the more than 1 million civilians currently living there. Biden last month <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4#:~:text=Biden%2C%20in%20an%20interview%20with,weapons%20and%20artillery%20shells%20used.%E2%80%9D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told CNN</a> that while the United States would supply defensive arms to Israel, “we&#8217;re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used” for an attack in Rafah. The International Criminal Court <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/05/20/what-does-icc-arrest-warrant-mean-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-hamas-putin-yoav-gallant-omar-al-bashir-kony/?sh=3f84d431125c">confirmed last week</a> that it is seeking arrest warrants for both Hamas and Israeli officials—including Netanyahu—for alleged war crimes, but the court has no way to enforce its own warrants even after they are issued.</p>


Global Action For Rafah In Mexico

‘All Eyes On Rafah’ Slogan Spreads On Social Media: What To Know About Its Origins


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Israel released 39 Palestinians it was holding in its Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank on Friday as part of a deal for the release of Israeli hostages Hamas took during its Oct. 7 attack—the Palestinians released were mostly teenage boys and women, a vast majority had not yet been convicted of a crime and many had been imprisoned for years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Seventeen of the released Palestinian prisoners are minors and, of those 17, 15 are boys and two were girls, while the remaining 22 are adult women,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/24/who-were-the-palestinian-prisoners-israel-released-on-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al Jazeera</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>Israel holds 2,200 Palestinians in detention under its controversial “administrative detention” policy that Israel says is a counter-terrorism measure it uses against people who plan to commit future offenses, according to the AP.</p>



<p>The released prisoners include Iyas Khatib, 17, the son of a U.N. aid worker who was put in “administrative detention” last year based on secret evidence without being publicly charged of a crime or put on trial, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-prisoner-exchange-hostage-92545883b1fef86fb9b34549b7deca58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>The prisoners also include Marah Bakeer, 24, who was a 16-year-old high school student in occupied East Jerusalem when Israeli forces shot at and arrested her for allegedly trying to stab an Israeli officer, an accusation Bakeer and her family deny,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/25/family-celebrates-return-of-free-palestinian-prisoner-marah-bakeer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al Jazeera</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>The 39 are part of a list of 300 Palestinians Israel said it was considering releasing as part of its deal with Hamas—some on the list were held on minor charges like throwing stones (though some were held on charges as serious as attempted murder), less than a quarter of them were convicted of a crime and most were being held on remand while awaiting a trial, the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67522703" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC</a> reported.</p>



<p>Other common offenses the prisoners have been accused of include threatening security officers, entering Israel illegally without a permit, supporting terrorism and associating with hostile or unknown organizations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/24/who-were-the-palestinian-prisoners-israel-released-on-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al Jazeera</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The released prisoners were being held in Israel’s Ofer prison, which is situated in the occupied West Bank near its western border north of Jerusalem. Israeli forces began using it in 2002 and it has since housed scores of Palestinian detainees, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.addameer.org/content/offer-prison" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Addameer</a>&nbsp;Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, a Palestinian non-governmental organization. The Israeli military court system is designed to prosecute Palestinians that violate its various military orders in occupied Palestinian territory, according to Addameer. Human rights groups allege that Israel’s military court system rules Palestinains guilty 99% of the time, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67528844" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC</a>. Addammer points to other perceived issues with the military court and Israeli prison systems, including that Israeli officers, despite being required to interrogate prisoners in their native language, allegedly often&nbsp;<a href="https://www.addameer.org/israeli_military_judicial_system/military_courts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get them to sign</a>&nbsp;statements in Hebrew they don’t understand and that prison officials allegedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.addameer.org/key_issues/medical_negligence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliberately don’t provide</a>&nbsp;prisoners with necessary medical care.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>750,000. That’s how many Palestinians have at one point been in an Israeli jail since 1967, according to estimates from human rights groups, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-prisoner-exchange-hostage-92545883b1fef86fb9b34549b7deca58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AP</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEWS PEG</h2>



<p>The release of the Palestinian prisoners was part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/11/22/what-to-know-about-the-israel-hamas-hostage-deal/?sh=64f13bfe5845">an agreement</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas that ended weeks of ferocious fighting between the two. That fighting began Oct. 7 after Hamas crossed the border of northern Gaza into Israel, killing around 1,200 and taking 240 hostage in a bloody attack. Israel responded with frequent airstrikes and a ground military incursion into Gaza. More than 14,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel declared war, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/11/24/temporary-ceasefire-takes-effect-in-gaza/?sh=2c11d07321a5">fighting paused</a>&nbsp;as part of a temporary cease-fire. As part of the cease-fire deal, Hamas agreed to release some of the hostages it took on Oct. 7, and Israel agreed to free some of its Palestinian prisoners. Along with the 39 released Palestinians, 13 Israeli hostages were released Friday. The pause in fighting—which is set to last four days, but could be extended if both sides come to further agreement—allowed trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>More Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages to be released. Israel has promised to release 150 Palestinian prisoners and Hamas agreed to release 50 hostages. All of those are expected to be released by the end of the four-day cease-fire. However, even more could ultimately be released soon. As part of the deal, Israel agreed to continue the pause in fighting one more day for each additional 10 hostages released by Hamas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>The newly freed Palestinian minors’ names are Yousef Mohammad Mustafa Ata, Qusai Hani Ali Ahmad, Jibreel Ghassan Ismail Jibreel, Mohammad Ahmad Suleiman Abu Rajab, Ahmad Nu’man, Ahmad Abu Na’im, Baraa Bilal Mahmoud Rabee, Aban Iyad Mohammad Said Hammad, Moataz Hatem Moussa Abu Aram, Iyas Abdul Qader Mohammad Khatib, Hazma Laith Khalil Othman Othman, Mohammad Mahmoud Ayoub Dar Darwish, Jamal Khalil Jamal Barahmeh, Jamal Yousef Jamal Abu Hamdan, Mohammad Anis Saleem Tarabi, Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahman Suleiman Rizq, Zeina Raed Abdou and Noor Mohammad Hafez al-Tahir, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/24/who-were-the-palestinian-prisoners-israel-released-on-friday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Al Jazeera</a>. The adults’ names are Rawan Nafez Mohammad Abu Matar, Marah Joudat Moussa Bakeer, Malak Mohammad Yousef Suleiman, Amani Khaled Nu’man Hasheem, Nihaya Khader Hussein Sawan, Fayrouz Fayez Mahmoud al-Baw, Tahreer Adnan Mohammad Abu Suriya, Falasteen Fareed Abdul Latif Najm, Walaa Khaled Fawzi Tanja, Maryam Khaled Abdul Majid Arafat, Asil Muneer Ibrahim al-Tayti, Azhar Thaer Bakr Assaf, Raghd Nashat Salah al-Fanni, Fatima Nu’man Ali Badr, Rawda Moussa Abdul Qader Abu Ujaima, Sara Ayman Abdul Aziz Abdullah al-Suweisa, Fatima Ismail Abdul Rahman Shahin, Samira Abdul Harbawi, Samah Bilal Abdul Rahman Souf, Fatima Bakr Moussa Abu Shalal, Hanan Saleh Abdullah al-Barghouthi and Fatima Nasr Mohammad Amarnah, according to Al Jazeera.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/11/24/heres-what-to-know-about-the-hostages-released-from-gaza/?sh=4800c2e1aff7">Here’s What To Know About The Hostages Released From Gaza</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/11/24/first-hostages-released-amid-temporary-israel-hamas-ceasefire/?sh=1c663278e9fe">First Hostages Released Amid Temporary Israel-Hamas Ceasefire</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/11/24/temporary-ceasefire-takes-effect-in-gaza/?sh=2c11d07321a5">Temporary Ceasefire Takes Effect In Gaza</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/11/22/what-to-know-about-the-israel-hamas-hostage-deal/?sh=64f13bfe5845">What To Know About The Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/11/23/israeli-forces-reportedly-arrest-director-of-gazas-largest-hospital/?sh=28e410055505">Israeli Forces Reportedly Arrest Director Of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


Gilad Shalit Swap Deal

Israel Released 39 Palestinian Prisoners: Here’s What We Know About Them


<p><strong>South Africa&#8217;s National Assembly has voted in favor of suspending diplomatic relations with Israel, including closing its embassy, in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This significant political move reflects escalating tensions and calls for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.</strong></p>



<p>South Africa’s National Assembly voted yesterday to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel, as well as the closure of the Israeli embassy within the country, due to Israel’s continued war against Hamas in Palestine. The vote, which came hours after Israel recalled its ambassador to South Africa, passed with 248 votes in favor and 91 against. However, the vote is not binding unless enforced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.</p>



<p>The vote, initiated by opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and supported by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), called for a suspension of all diplomatic ties with Israel until a ceasefire is reached. Earlier this week during a virtual summit of the BRICS nations, chaired by President Ramaphosa, it issued a statement condemning attacks on civilians in Palestine.</p>



<p>The move was welcomed by the South African branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. “There is no role for diplomacy with a settler-colonial apartheid state that is guilty of genocide against a population that it occupies,” said SA BDS Coordinator Roshan Dadoo to FORBES AFRICA. “South Africa should not be having relations with a state that perpetrates war crimes with impunity, and treats the United Nations, international law, and the rest of the world with utter disdain.”</p>



<p>However, the National Assembly’s vote was not appreciated by all parties. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemned the vote as pointless in light of Israel’s withdrawal of its ambassador for consultations, and condemned the chanting of “from the river to the sea” by some members of parliament “a chant which calls for the destruction of the only Jewish state, makes a mockery of the ANC’s stated position of supporting a two-state solution,” said Professor Karen Milner of the SAJBD in a statement.</p>



<p>Both the Israeli ambassadors’ recall as well as the National Assembly vote indicate a further breakdown in diplomatic relations between Israel and South Africa, which has historically had strong political, historical, and ideological ties to Palestinians. The ANC-led government has long condemned the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza, and it remains to be seen how this recent development will impact the already strained relations.</p>



<p>The resolution, titled ‘Closure of the Israel Embassy in South Africa and suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel’, was presented by Julius Malema of the EFF. This parliamentary decision, while symbolic, reflects a long-standing stance of the South African government since Nelson Mandela&#8217;s presidency, likening the Palestinian struggle to the country’s own fight against apartheid. The ANC&#8217;s chief whip, Pemmy Majodina, emphasized the resolution&#8217;s call for a ceasefire and commitment to United Nations-facilitated peace negotiations.</p>



<p>President Ramaphosa has been vocally critical of Israel&#8217;s military actions in Gaza, urging the International Criminal Court to investigate potential war crimes.</p>



<p>This recent parliamentary vote, amidst the backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza and Israel&#8217;s strategic military campaign against Hamas, marks a pivotal moment in South Africa&#8217;s foreign policy, mirroring its historical commitment to human rights and international law. As the world watches, the actions of Ramaphosa&#8217;s administration in the coming days will be crucial in shaping the future of South Africa-Israel relations and, possibly, the broader geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.</p>


Israeli attacks continue on the 47th day in Gaza

South Africa Votes to Suspend Diplomatic Ties with Israel Amid Gaza Conflict


<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Gaza militant groups launched another round of more than 100 rockets into central Israel in retaliation for the Israeli military&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tzXlZ5_Sds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leveling another Gaza Tower</a>, a move that sent millions of Israelis into hiding in bomb shelters as the conflict’s death toll continues to climb.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-1024x698.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51100" width="734" height="500" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-300x204.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-768x523.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-1536x1047.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GettyImages-1232823091-2048x1396.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px" /><figcaption>TOPSHOT &#8211; Smoke billows from Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, on May 11, 2021. &#8211; Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza exchanged heavy fire, killing at least 26 Palestinians and two Israelis, in an escalation sparked by violent unrest at Jerusalem&#8217;s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. (Photo by ANAS BABA / AFP) (Photo by ANAS BABA/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, said the 130 rockets it fired toward Israel Wednesday afternoon were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/12/israeli-bombardment-continues-on-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a direct response</a>&nbsp;to the destruction of Gaza City’s Al Sharuk tower earlier in the day.</p>



<p>Footage circulating on social media Wednesday shows the 14-story tower&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tzXlZ5_Sds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collapsing</a>&nbsp;after it was targeted for a strike by the Israel Defense Forces.</p>



<p>Besides residential apartments, the building also housed the offices of local and international&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/12/israeli-bombardment-continues-on-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">media outlets</a>, according to reports.</p>



<p>More than 335 Palestinians in Gaza have been wounded in the attacks, Gaza’s health officials said Wednesday, and of the 56 who have been reported killed, 14 were children.</p>



<p>Strikes from Hamas and other Gaza militant groups like Islamic Jihad have injured roughly 100 and killed 6 in Israel, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1392482375490211844?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">21-year-old soldier</a>&nbsp;and an Indian woman who was reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-woman-killed-in-israel-was-struck-by-rocket-strike-during-a-video-call-with-husband-384415" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on a video call</a>&nbsp;with her husband when she died.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>International powers are calling for a ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will send top diplomat Hady Amr to the region “to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/world/middleeast/israel-palestine-blinken.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">urge deescalation</a>&nbsp;and to bring calm,” Blinken said Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Weeks of tension reached a tipping point Saturday when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/05/10/hamas-fires-rockets-into-israel---and-threatens-to-launch-more---as-tensions-escalate/?sh=3c99b7b6312c">Hamas fired rockets</a>&nbsp;into Jerusalem after Israeli security forces confronted Palestinian protestors within the compound of the city’s Al Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. Relations between Israel and Palestinians had been strained over the efforts of Jewish settlers to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/05/10/hamas-fires-rockets-into-israel---and-threatens-to-launch-more---as-tensions-escalate/?sh=35fdef5d6312">forcibly evict Palestinian families</a>&nbsp;from their homes in East Jerusalem and celebrations of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/jerusalem-alaqsa-templemount-haramalsharif/2021/05/10/17f29614-b161-11eb-bc96-fdf55de43bef_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jerusalem Day</a>, a controversial holiday that marks the anniversary of Israel seizing control of East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/05/12/49-dead-hundreds-injured-amid-warning-israeli-palestinian-violence-escalating-toward-full-scale-war/?sh=45955a53424e">49 Dead, Hundreds Injured Amid Warning Israeli-Palestinian Violence Escalating Toward ‘Full-Scale War’</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/05/11/tel-aviv-comes-under-fire-as-israel-and-palestinian-militants-trade-blows/?sh=750d983b557e">“Tel Aviv Comes Under Fire As Israel And Palestinian Militants Trade Blows”</a> (<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Tag: Israelis

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