America urges Israel to pull back on Attacks on Gaza
News is breaking by the minute, and the positions of world leaders and diplomats are becoming less supportive of Israel’s all-out war on Gaza.
President Biden claims to have persuaded Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s elected Prime Minister, to consider some restraint for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip. He went further by saying that, eventually, discussions must take place, by both sides, on a two-state solution.
But, in the same breath, he confirmed that the U.S. will continue to support Netanyahu’s plans for destroying the whole of the Hamas military and their infra-structure.
It is unlikely that Hamas will ever be totally destroyed. And, given America’s views on a two-state solution, the long-term future seems to be for the remnants of Hanas to join with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to form a separate, and internationally recognised, sovereign state of Palestine, separate from the sovereign state of Israel.
No-one is prepared to forecast WHEN that might happen. But happen it will.
Water Supplies being Restored.
Although President Biden has prided himself on getting Netanyahu to restore water supplies to Gaza, it’s not the humanitarian gesture that he first thought. Many of the pipelines have already been destroyed by the Israeli army, and there is no electricity to pump the water anyway.
Civilians being Advised to Leave Gaza City.
Following leaflet drops, the Israel military are encouraging the inhabitants of Gaza City to leave their homes and move further South to avoid the collateral damage that will occur when the full invasion to eradicate Hamas begins. Some Hamas militants are hiding in hospitals and schools, using the children and patients as human shields.
The Israeli army is still bombing roads leading to these “safe” areas, and army commanders have told hospital officials in Rafah hospital, near the Egyptian border, to evacuate immediately. Quite where they should go was not explained. How to move sick patients, some on life support, was also not explained.
There are some big questions for world leaders to answer.
Will those leaving their homes be allowed to return?
Who will rebuild the destroyed buildings and infrastructure?
Will Netanyahu be arrested and tried for war crimes because he is implicit in carrying out collective punishment as opposed to exercising Israel’s right to self defence?
Reaction from the UK
Both the Prime Minister and Kier Starmer have followed Biden’s lead by urging restraint but confirming their support for Israel. No mention of the continuing attacks on civilians in Gaza, no mention of the non-resumption of electricity supplies, without which Israel’s “concession” of allowing water to be supplied from Israel to Gaza is impossible anyway.
