Egypt proposes “framework” to end Gaza conflict, but with little hope of success – National & International News – THU 28Dec2023

Egypt proposes “framework” to end Gaza conflict, but with little hope of success.

UN: Atrocious massacre of three families sheltering in Gaza City by IDF.

IDF says it “regrets” civilian deaths at refugee camp, then bombs it again.

Egypt proposes “framework” to end Gaza conflict, but with little hope of success

Egypt has put forward a plan to end the current hostilities in Gaza. Reports suggest it would call for renewable ceasefires and releases of hostages by both sides culminating in a permanent ceasefire. Earlier versions of the plan called for a technocratic government in Gaza which would supervise rebuilding and governance after the war. Further details have been withheld pending consultation with Hamas and Israeli representatives. However, it seems that both Israel and Palestinian leadership have different ideas.

Today, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said that Hamas was “open to any ideas” that would bring a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. However, Hamas previously said they would not release anymore hostages until there is a permanent ceasefire. Hamdan said the governance of Gaza would be a “decision of the Palestinian people alone”. He added that Gazans would “not accept a leadership that comes on the back of a Zionist or American tank”.

The Israeli side seems even less likely to accept Egypt’s plan. Benny Gantz, Israel’s far-right former Defense Minister and current member of its war cabinet, reiterated today that Israel expects to continue the war in Gaza “for months”. Gantz also said the fighting would be “continuous, powerful and deeper than Hamas imagines”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also now openly pushing for “voluntary” migration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. There is little doubt what would happen to any Palestinians who don’t “volunteer” to leave their homes. Netanyahu’s plan would amount to an involuntary expulsion, a form of ethnic cleansing which would violate international law.

UN: Atrocious massacre of three families in Gaza City by IDF

The outrages and atrocities committed daily by the IDF in Gaza are too numerous to recount one by one. Just today, the IDF bombed hospitals, shelters, and refugee camps. But an incident occurred several days ago that exemplifies the singular brutality of Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Despite a reputable source (the UN), this incident has gotten almost no press coverage. The UN’s release cites reports from media sources on the ground as well as the group EuroMed Human Rights Monitor.

According to witness statements, on the night of December 19, IDF forces surrounded a home where three related Palestinian families were sheltering, all of them civilians. IDF soldiers took control of the building and separated the men, mostly in their 20s and 30s, from the women and children. They shot and killed at least eleven of the men in front of their families.

The IDF then allegedly ordered the women and children into a room where they either shot at them or threw in a grenade. Some of them were seriously injured, including an infant and a child. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has confirmed the killings but the details and circumstances are under investigation.

IDF says it “regrets” civilian deaths at refugee camp, then bombs it again

Earlier today, the IDF issued a statement saying it “regrets the harm caused” when it bombed the crowded Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps in Central Gaza earlier this week. The attacks killed at least 86 people at the Maghazi refugee camp alone on Sunday. Referring specifically to the Maghazi incident, an IDF spokesperson said, “The type of munition did not match the nature of the attack, causing extensive collateral damage that could have been avoided”.

A later statement from the IDF read, in part, “A preliminary investigation revealed that additional buildings located near the targets were also hit during the strikes, which likely caused unintended harm to additional uninvolved civilians”.

The statements came after condemnation of the strike from the World Health Organization and the UN, which is responsible for refugee affairs in Gaza.

Today, just hours after expressing “regret” for Sunday’s incident, the IDF bombed the Maghazi refugee camp, again.