Israel-Hamas war: Air strikes pound Gaza as efforts made to break deadlock on aid

October 17, 2023
MediaIntel.Asia

Key Points
Israel’s strike on the Gaza Strip has intensified in advance of an expected ground incursion, as the war entered its 11th day. The air bombardment continued even inside an evacuation zone where Israel had told residents to gather in advance of an expected ground offensive. Israel appears set to mount a big assault on the northern part of the territory aimed at rooting out Hamas
US president Joe Biden will to travel to Israel to ‘demonstrate his steadfast support’, Martin Wall reports. Mr Biden will also travel to Jordan to meet Arab leaders amid fears the fighting could expand into a broader regional conflict as fighting intensified along Israel’s border with Lebanon
President Michael D Higgins has criticised Ursula von der Leyen’s approach towards the Israel-Hamas conflict as “thoughtless and even reckless” as EU leaders hold emergency meeting on block’s response
The Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,778 people and wounded 9,700 others in Gaza, according to the health ministry there. More than 1,400 Israelis and dozens more have been taken captive and brought to Gaza by militants
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Israel pulls out of participation in Web Summit event over Paddy Cosgrave tweets
Web Summit founder apologises following backlash from Israel
Paddy Cosgrave, founder of the Web Summit tech conference, has issued an apology over recent comments he made on social media about the Israel-Hamas conflict, which drew criticism from supporters of Israel.
In a previous post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cosgrave said “war crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.”
He said he was “shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing”.
In a subsequent post, he added the actions of Hamas were “outrageous and disgusting”.
The initial comments led several figures across the tech world to state they would not participate in future Web Summit events. While Dor Shapira, the Israeli ambassador to Portugal, said Israel would also boycott the event, which takes place in Lisbon.
Following the backlash, Mr Cosgrave issued a lengthy apology on Tuesday.
“I understand that what I said, the timing of what I said, and the way it has been presented has caused profound hurt to many”, he said.
“What is needed at this time is compassion, and I did not convey that. Web Summit has a long history of partnership with Israel and its tech firms, and I am deeply regretful that those friends were hurt by any of what I said,” he said.
“I unequivocally support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself. I unequivocally support a two-state solution,” he said.
“Like so many figures globally, I also believe that, in defending itself, Israel should adhere to international law and the Geneva conventions,” he said.
“My aim is and always has been to strive for peace. Ultimately, I hope with all my heart that this can be achieved,” he said.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said Ireland will push for additional funding for the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, to help avert a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, discussed the need for extra funding with the head of the UN agency, Philippe Lazzarini, on Monday night.
Spoke with @UNRWA DG @UNLazzarini last night. Discussed need for immediate supplies into #Gaza to avert humanitarian catastrophe.
Clearly a dire shortage of water, the most fundamental requisite for life itself. UNRWA needs injection of funding. Ireland will advocate at EU level. pic.twitter.com/FzyoOKCxay — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 17, 2023
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher has joined those criticising Ursula von der Leyen, who he said “does not have the authority to decide Union foreign policy”.
In a statement, Mr Kelleher said the commission president “needs to reflect on her actions over the last nine days, especially if she is considering seeking a second term”.
“Unless I hear her say clearly that Israel must operate under the rules of the Geneva Convention and applicable international law, I will find it very difficult to consider giving her a second mandate after the next elections,” he said.
Hungary’s Orbán meets with Putin ahead of EU talks
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban met with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and expressed support for maintaining the countries’ ties, in a rare meeting with a European leader since Russia invaded Ukraine, Naomi O’Leary reports.
Mr Orban has maintained relations with Moscow since the invasion and has often sought to weaken or block European Union sanctions against Russia, and Hungary is seen as the big obstacle to Ukraine starting EU membership talks this year.
The meeting took place in Beijing, where Mr Putin has travelled to attend a Chinese summit on overseas infrastructure investment in a rare overseas trip since the International Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for him on allegations of the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine, a war crime.
The meeting is sure to raise eyebrows when EU leaders meet for talks later.
Vladimir Putin meets Viktor Orban on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
Our Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary has details below of the man suspected to have killed two Swedish football fans in Brussels last night.
The incident is expected to be discussed when EU leaders hold extraordinary talks this evening, as part of their discussions were due to focus on the potential risks that the conflict in the Middle East could fuel violence in Europe or cause a new wave of migration.
Belgian authorities have named the suspect as a 45-year-old rejected asylum seeker from Tunisia who had been on their radar for extremist leanings.
After an overnight manhunt he was spotted by a member of the public in a cafe in the district of Schaerbeek, Belgian prosecutors said in a statement.
“The police arrived at the scene and during the intervention, the suspect was shot,” the statement read.
Emergency services tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead in hospital, it added. The shooting incident is being investigated by Belgian prosecutors.
“A military weapon and a bag of clothes were found in the bar,” the statement read.
The man was suspected of killing two Swedish citizens and injuring a third in a shooting on Monday as Belgium and Sweden were about to play a Euro 2024 qualifier match in the capital.
In a video published online, a man thought to be the suspect declared responsibility for the attack and said he had sought revenge by killing Swedes on behalf of Muslims.
The match was abandoned at half time when players learned of the attack, and spectators were gradually allowed to leave the stadium under high security.
Several European Union institutions shut their doors to visitors on Tuesday after Belgian authorities raised the country’s terror alert to its top level, and staff were told to work from home.
Call for Hungarian Commissioner to be sacked over Palestinian aid
Irish Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews is among a group of lawmakers to call for the resignation of the Hungarian EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi over his unapproved announcement of a freeze in Palestinian aid last week, Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary reports.
In the days after the Hamas attack Mr Varhelyi announced on X, formerly Twitter, that “there can be no business as usual” and “all payments” of European development funds for Palestine would be “immediately suspended”.
The declaration pre-empted a discussion of the matter by the foreign ministers of the European Union that was due to take place the following day, and was taken without consulting other commissioners.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reacted strongly, saying there was “no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual Commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid”.
In the following days the European Commission walked back the announcement, but has maintained there will be a review of development funding to ensure it does not inadvertently support any terrorist activities.
In a joint letter on Tuesday, MEPs from left-wing, centre-left, green, and liberal parties issued a joint letter calling for Mr Varhelyi “to resign or for him to be relieved of his duties”.
“Commissioner Várhelyi had no authority to unilaterally decide this, nor to officially communicate this on his social media accounts without this decision being taken with due process,” the letter reads.
“Unilaterally, Mr Várhelyi implied through his communication that EU funds used for the promotion of the rule of law, healthcare, education and civil servants’ salaries were likely to have been used to fund Hamas. Yet, according to sources within the Commission, these funds are among the most scrutinised by the Commission.”
The letter notes that it is “not the first time Mr Várhelyi steps out of line and goes against inter-institutional rules”, as he previously obstructed the dispersment of €215 million in EU Palestinian aid due to “unbased allegations concerning Palestinian schoolbooks”.
“Commissioner Várhelyi’s actions undermine not only the image of our institutions, but the trust that EU citizens put in the Commission,” it concludes.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Irish MEPs FF Barry Andrew and Green Grace O'Sullivan are among those to call for the resignation of Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi over his rogue announcement last week that the EU would freeze Palestinian aid.
Their letter - more on our live bloghttps://t.co/RSVe2vpNZ7 pic.twitter.com/Jx8OS2giy2 — Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) October 17, 2023
Our lead story on the front page of today’s paper focuses on the sharp criticism President Michael D Higgins had for Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, over her approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Her actions, which included a visit to Israel where she offered prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu the EU’s unconditional support, were labelled “thoughtless and even reckless” by Mr Higgins.
You can read our full news report here.
17/10/2023. The front page of today's Irish Times print edition.
UN body criticises Israeli order for civilians to leave northern Gaza
The direction by Israel for civilians to leave northern Gaza, ahead of an expected ground invasion, could amount to a “breach of international law”, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said.
In a statement on Tuesday, the United Nations human rights body said “appalling” reports of civilians being killed while trying to relocate to southern Gaza needed to be thoroughly investigated.
The UN body said the order from Israel for civilians to leave the densely populated area “must be accompanied by the provision of proper accommodation for all evacuees, undertaken under satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition”.
However, it said there appeared to be “no attempt” by Israel to ensure these conditions for the 1.1 million civilians ordered to leave northern Gaza.
“We are concerned that this order combined with the imposition of a ‘complete siege’ on Gaza may not be considered as lawful temporary evacuation and would therefore amount to a forcible transfer of civilians – in breach of international law,” the statement said.
Reuters is reporting that Turkey claims its foreign minister has spoken with Hamas leaders over the release of Israeli hostages taken during the start of the conflict more than a week ago.
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister, reportedly spoke with Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, about the release of prisoners held by the group in the Gaza Strip.
One of the big set pieces today will be the virtual meeting of European Union leaders to discuss the escalating conflict.
The extraordinary meeting is a bid to enforce a coherent response from the block to the conflict as it fuels tensions in Europe and threatens to spread to neighbouring countries, with warnings it could trigger a fresh migration crisis as refugees flee to safety.
At the meeting, which will be held over video conference, Ireland is set to stress the importance of opening a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
In a statement ahead of the talks, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was “vital for the leaders of the European Union to set out our common position and establish a unified course of action”
“Israel has a right to defend itself, but it must do so within the parameters of international humanitarian law. The rules of war exist to protect citizens, on all sides,” he said.

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