Independent Senator Bernie Sanders: ‘The ICC may soon issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, who will address Congress. Inviting Netanyahu to address Congress is a disgrace and will be viewed with regret. It is the first time that a war criminal will have the honour of addressing Congress. It is morally irresponsible to turn our backs on the Gaza crisis, especially since it is being funded by the taxpayers.
On the same wavelength is a senior Australian government official who told the Guardian: ‘The opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the issue of settlements cannot be ignored. I do not rule out the possibility that we will impose sanctions on the settlers.
Donald Trump is due to meet Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. But sources close to Netanyahu say they are actually preparing for a meeting on Friday”. Ben Gvir said in a statement: “I believe that with Trump, Israel will receive support to act against Iran. With Trump it will be clearer that the enemies must be defeated”.
On the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech calling for an end to the war in Gaza, hundreds of people protested outside the joint session of the two houses of Congress.
Israeli media report that Israeli President Isaac Herzog was prevented from disembarking in Paris due to a security incident.
In Israel, the director of the port of Eilat, Gideon Golber, announced the need to lay off half the workers this week because of difficulties in paying salaries and the closure of the port for 8 months due to the naval activities of the Yemeni armed forces in the Red Sea. He estimated losses at around 50 million shekels ($13.61 million).
Following Israel’s attack on Sanaa in Iran, a new propaganda and intimidation sign was put up in Tehran’s Palestine Square: “From now on, Tel Aviv will no longer be a safe zone”. Fearing an escalation in southern Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is urging its citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.
Hamas threatens a terrorist attack during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Middle Eastern media report on a Hamas video warning of “rivers of blood in the streets of Paris” during the 2024 Olympics because of French support for Israel: “You have supported the Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.”
On 24 July, the same day that Abu Mazen of the Palestinian Authority sent a letter to Trump saying he was looking forward to meeting Netanyahu and “making peace in the Middle East”. An Israeli army unit shot dead a Palestinian Authority customs officer. No apology was issued, the army said it would investigate. The PA forces are funded and armed by the US and Arab states and have an ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and to crushing any armed Palestinian resistance. They are the Palestinian version of Lebanon’s Lahd army.
A senior Israeli security source told Al-Monitor: The Houthis are a strange enemy and the usual rules of deterrence do not apply to them. Meanwhile, sources close to the Ansar Allah movement said in statements to the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar that the agreement between Sanaa and Riyadh is a ‘positive step’ that will spare Saudi Arabia the consequences of Sanaa’s response to the recent economic escalation, which included commercial and Islamic issues such as banks, as well as private telecommunications companies and money transfer networks. He stressed that the agreement was signed in writing by Saudi Arabia, which is committed to implementing it as it is the real decision-maker.
In a statement, the IDF writes: ‘Ready, willing and determined to defeat the enemy’ – 228th Brigade increases combat readiness in Lebanon.
This week, the 228th Northern Command Reserve Brigade completed a brigade-level exercise conducted by the Ground Forces Training Centre. The troops practised combat scenarios in Lebanon, including moving through dense terrain, advancing along mountainous routes, activating fire, evacuating wounded under fire, and providing logistical and communications support from headquarters.
This is the second deployment of the 228th Brigade along the northern border since the beginning of the war, and the unit continues to play a significant role in the IDF’s defensive and offensive operations along the western part of the border with Lebanon.
And now a look at the escalating situation between Israel – Hamas – Hezbollah, updated at 14:00 on 24 July. The IDF reported on 23 July that numerous projectiles were fired into Israeli territory from the Chihine area in southern Lebanon. During the night, the IAF struck a Hezbollah military site in the area. In addition, a weapons depot was hit in the Kfarhamam area. Secondary explosions were detected during the strike, indicating that there were many weapons inside the depot.
Lebanese reports say there was an Israeli air strike between Kafarshouba and the Kfarhamam area, probably from a rocket launcher. Attacks also on Bint Jbeil. On the morning of 24 July, an Israeli airstrike took place in the Kfarhamam area. No casualties were reported. Two other drone strikes targeted a house in Kafrkila.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed a drone strike in Eilat on 24 July. It was the second attack in a week. Also of concern is the video of Hezbollah surveillance drones operating over the Israeli airbase at Ramat David. The video shows the name and photograph of the base commander, whom the Israeli army has kept secret, identifying him only by the letter A to avoid revealing his personal details. The IDF said the drones did not cause any damage. Attack on base expected after video surveillance.
Hezbollah claimed to have attacked Qiryat Shmona with dozens of rockets and again attacked a base on Mount Neria with a batch of suicide drones. The base is used as the headquarters of the Golani Brigade. The Israeli army claims that three drones were launched, some of which hit the area. Finally, Hezbollah released a statement claiming to have killed and wounded Israeli soldiers in an artillery attack in the Kafarshouba hills at 18:45 on 23 July.
Lebanese sources report that Israel has evacuated six border settlements for security reasons. The Lebanese media urged citizens to ‘stay close to the protected areas and reduce gatherings and planned movements outside the buildings’. For fear of air strikes.
At the end of the article, sirens sounded in Ayelet HaShahar, northern Israel.
In Gaza, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed: “We bombed with a salvo of ‘107’ rockets the Israeli military concentrations on the ‘Netzarim’ axis supply line, south of Gaza City.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry Israel carried out 3 attacks on families in the Gaza Strip, killing 55 people and wounding 110 in hospitals over the past 24 hours.
According to Palestinian media: 5 Palestinians were killed when Israeli aircraft bombed a house in the Al-Jarn area, north of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian resistance targeted Israeli forces with mortar fire in the Juhr al-Dik area, in central Gaza. In Al-Zawaida area, in central Gaza Strip, Israeli shelling killed and injured seven people.
Israeli artillery shelling was also reported in southern Gaza, in the area of Qizan Rashwan, south of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
The West Bank is also very active. Palestinian sources report that Israeli military activity in the entire Jenin governorate is ‘over’. While clashes continued in the town of Tubas on 24 July, the Israelis brought reinforcements to the area.
Settlers continued to attack Palestinian property in Huwwara, south of Nablus, with online videos showing fights and threats between settlers and Palestinians. Israeli raids in Qalandiya, violent clashes broke out with Israeli forces in Qalandia camp, north of Jerusalem, following the demolition of the house of martyr Muhammad Manasra.
An Israeli army vehicle was set on fire in the town of Artas, near Bethlehem, after being attacked with a petrol bomb.
IDF special forces are carrying out a new military operation in the West Bank town of Tulkarem. Palestinian media reported clashes as Israeli troops surrounded a building in the town.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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