Israel-Gaza conflict stay: Spain to recognise Palestinian state as anger continues over Rafah assault | Israel-Gaza conflict

The previous head of the Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence company, allegedly threatened a chief prosecutor of the worldwide felony courtroom in a sequence of secret conferences through which he tried to strain her into abandoning a conflict crimes investigation, the Guardian can reveal.

Yossi Cohen’s covert contacts with the ICC’s then prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, came about within the years main as much as her resolution to open a proper investigation into alleged conflict crimes and crimes towards humanity in occupied Palestinian territories.

That investigation, launched in 2021, culminated final week when Bensouda’s successor, Karim Khan, introduced that he was in search of an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over the nation’s conduct in its conflict in Gaza.

The prosecutor’s resolution to use to the ICC’s pre-trial chamber for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, alongside three Hamas leaders, is an final result Israel’s navy and political institution has lengthy feared.

Israel’s overseas minister, Israel Katz, has stepped up his assaults on Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, accusing him of being “complicit in inciting the homicide of the Jewish folks and conflict crimes”.

Because the Guardian reported earlier, the accusation comes after Spain’s labour minister and deputy PM, Yolanda Díaz, used the controversial slogan, “From the river to the ocean, Palestine might be free” in a video assertion final week.

Díaz later denied allegations of antisemitism and clarified her remarks, saying: “We’ve all the time had the identical place, the popularity of two states from the river to the ocean, which share an financial system, which share rights, and which, above all, share a peaceable future.”

Writing on X, previously Twitter, Katz mentioned: “Prime minister Sánchez, by not sacking Yolanda Díaz and saying the popularity of the Palestinian state you’re complicit in inciting the homicide of the Jewish folks and conflict crimes.”

A number of Israeli tanks on Tuesday reached the centre of Rafah, witnesses instructed Reuters, three weeks right into a floor operation within the southern Gaza Strip metropolis.

The tanks had been noticed close to Al-Awda mosque, a central Rafah landmark, the witnesses mentioned. The Israeli navy didn’t instantly touch upon their account, saying it will situation an announcement concerning the Rafah operation later.

Israel has been pounding the town with airstrikes and tank fireplace immediately, urgent its offensive regardless of worldwide condemnation of an assault that sparked a blaze in a tent camp for the displaced, killing not less than 45 folks.

Round a million folks have fled Rafah up to now three weeks, the United Nations Palestinian refugee company (UNRWA) mentioned on Tuesday.

UNRWA mentioned the flight from Rafah “occurred with nowhere secure to go and amidst bombardments, lack of meals and water, piles of waste and unsuitable dwelling circumstances” with help and safety now turning into almost “unimaginable”.

Since early Could, Israel’s navy has been finishing up what it says is a restricted operation in Rafah to kill fighters and dismantle infrastructure utilized by Hamas.

It has instructed civilians to go to an “expanded humanitarian zone” some 20 km (12 miles) away.

The Spanish, Irish and Norwegian resolution to recognise a Palestinian state has drawn a livid response from Israel, which has recalled its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin and Oslo.

In a sequence of tweets, Israel’s overseas minister, Israel Katz, has accused Spain of giving in to Hamas.

On Sunday, Katz posted a video to X displaying flamenco dancers alongside a message that learn, “Pedro Sánchez, Hamas thanks you on your service.”

In a put up the next day, he wrote that “the Israeli folks and the Spanish individuals are mates”, including that they might not be separated by Sánchez nor by his deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, who was criticised final week for utilizing the controversial slogan “Palestine might be free from the river to the ocean”.

Spain’s “historic” resolution to recognise the state of Palestine later immediately has been taken in an effort to result in peace between Palestinians and Israelis and has not been taken “towards anybody, least of all Israel”, Spain’s prime minister has mentioned.

Talking an hour earlier than his cupboard meets on Tuesday to formally recognise Palestine – a call that has infuriated Israel and triggered a diplomatic disaster between the 2 nations – Pedro Sánchez mentioned the choice was based mostly on justice and worldwide legislation.

He mentioned:

On the assembly of the council of ministers that might be held immediately, the federal government will approve the official recognition of Palestine as a state. With this resolution, Spain joins the greater than 140 nations that already recognise Palestine. It is a historic resolution that has a single objective: to contribute to attaining peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The popularity of the state of Palestine just isn’t solely a matter of historic justice with the reliable aspirations of the Palestinian folks; it’s also an crucial want to realize peace.

It’s the solely solution to recognise the answer that all of us recognise as the one attainable one to realize a way forward for peace – that of a Palestinian state that coexists alongside the state of Israel in peace and safety. The state of Palestine have to be viable with the West Financial institution and Gaza related by a hall and with East Jerusalem as its capital and it have to be unified underneath the reliable authorities of the Palestinian nationwide authority.”

Sánchez mentioned that whereas it was lower than Spain to outline one other nation’s borders, its place was aligned with these of the UN safety council and the EU: “Due to this fact we gained’t recognise change within the 1967 traces apart from these agreed to by the events.”

The prime minister additionally confused that “the popularity of Palestine isn’t towards anybody – least of all Israel, a pleasant nation that Spain values and holds in excessive regard and with whom we goal to foster the strongest attainable relationship”. He mentioned the choice mirrored Spain’s “absolute rejection” of Hamas, which opposes the two-state answer.

“From the outset, Spain has strongly condemned the terrorist assaults of seven October,” he mentioned. “This clear condemnation is the resounding expression of our steadfast dedication within the struggle towards terrorism.”

Sánchez mentioned Spain would do all in its energy to make the two-state answer a actuality, and renewed his requires a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza, for humanitarian assist to be allowed into Gaza, and for all of the Israeli hostages to be launched. He additionally mentioned Spain would work to result in a global peace convention on the two-state answer.

“The choice that Spain is solemnly adopting immediately is predicated on the respect for worldwide legislation and the defence of the rules-based worldwide order,” he mentioned. “These are the rules that information us all the time, regardless of the context – each in Gaza/Palestine and in Ukraine. Spain will all the time defend the proposal and rules established within the UN constitution.”

The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has mentioned his cupboard will recognise a Palestinian state at its Tuesday morning assembly.

Eire and Norway had been additionally to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state later within the day. Whereas dozens of nations have recognised a Palestinian state, not one of the main western powers has achieved so.

“That is a historic resolution that has a single objective, and that’s to assist Israelis and Palestinians obtain peace,” mentioned Sánchez, standing on the gates of the prime minister’s palace in Madrid, throughout a televised speech.

The Socialist chief, who introduced his nation’s resolution earlier than parliament final week, has spent months touring European and Center Japanese nations to garner assist for recognition and a cease-fire in Gaza.

Relations between the EU and Israel nosedived Monday, the eve of the diplomatic recognition EU members Eire and Spain, with Madrid insisting that the EU ought to take motion towards Israel for its continued lethal assaults in southern Gaza’s metropolis of Rafah. Norway, which isn’t an EU member however typically aligns its overseas coverage with the bloc, handed diplomatic papers to the Palestinian authorities over the weekend forward of its formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

In the meantime Canada is the newest nation to react to the airstrikes on Rafah, saying it’s horrified by the civilian deaths.

At the least 45 folks had been been killed after the Israeli strike brought about an enormous blaze at a tented space for displaced folks in Rafah, in line with medics.

Canada’s International Minister Melanie Joly mentioned in an announcement:

We’re horrified by strikes that killed Palestinian civilians in Rafah.

Joly added that Canada doesn’t assist the Israeli navy operation in Rafah:

This stage of human struggling should come to an finish. We demand a right away ceasefire.

They’re feedback which were echoed by different world leaders who’ve urged the implementation of a global courtroom of justice order to halt Israel’s assault.

The USA mentioned on Monday that Israel should make each attainable effort to keep away from civilian casualties after the lethal strike in Rafah.

A US nationwide safety council spokesperson mentioned in an announcement:

As we’ve been clear, Israel should take each precaution attainable to guard civilians …

We’re actively partaking the IDF and companions on the bottom to evaluate what occurred.

However the NSC spokesperson additionally mentioned that “Israel has a proper to go after Hamas, and we perceive this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists who’re chargeable for assaults towards Israeli civilians,” earlier than imploring extra warning.

The Israeli navy mentioned it had launched a probe into the strike which it mentioned was carried out based mostly on “exact intelligence info”.

It launched the assault on Rafah hours after Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets in the direction of the Tel Aviv space, most of which had been intercepted.

In different developments:

• Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to proceed preventing in Gaza regardless of widespread anger over Sunday’s strike in Rafah. At the least 45 folks had been killed after an Israeli airstrike that brought about an enormous blaze at a tented space for displaced folks in Rafah, medics have mentioned. Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry mentioned about half of the useless had been girls, youngsters and older adults. The Israeli strike, one of many deadliest single incidents within the eight-month conflict so far, got here two days after the worldwide courtroom of justice’s ruling ordering Israel to cease its operation in Rafah instantly.

• Netanyahu described the airstrike as a “tragic mishap” and mentioned the incident occurred “regardless of our greatest efforts to not damage them”. Israel’s prime navy prosecutor described the airstrike as “very grave” and mentioned an investigation was underneath means. The Israeli navy mentioned its air drive struck a Hamas compound and that the assault was carried out with “exact ammunition and on the premise of exact intelligence”. Lots of of individuals gathered in Israeli cities on Monday after the Rafah assault to name for a right away ceasefire in Gaza.

• Photos of charred and dismembered youngsters in Rafah after the Israeli strike have brought about an outcry from world leaders and put ceasefire talks in jeopardy. Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas in makes an attempt to safe a ceasefire and the discharge of Israeli hostages, mentioned the Rafah casualties would complicate the protracted negotiations. Israeli media reported that Hamas had determined to tug out of the newest proposed talks over what its senior management described as a bloodbath.

• The UN safety council is about to convene an emergency assembly Tuesday over the Rafah strike. Diplomats mentioned the council would convene for an emergency session referred to as by Algeria to debate the assault.

• Spain, Eire and Norway will formally recognise a Palestinian state Tuesday. Israel has described the choice as a “reward” for Hamas greater than seven months into the devastating Gaza conflict. The three European nations consider their initiative has sturdy symbolic impression, which might encourage others to observe go well with, reviews AFP.

• The French president, Emmanuel Macron, mentioned he’s “outraged” by the Israeli airstrike on Rafah. “These operations should cease. There aren’t any secure areas in Rafah for Palestinian residents. I name for full respect for worldwide legislation and a right away ceasefire,” he posted to X on Monday. Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, mentioned Israeli assaults on Palestinian civilians in Gaza had been now not justifiable in one of many strongest criticisms Rome has made thus far towards Israel’s conflict.

• Desperately wanted assist deliveries to Gaza have floor to a halt, because the Rafah border crossing, and the close by Kerem Shalom crossing are in impact blocked by the fierce preventing. About 200 assist vehicles had been imagined to enter Gaza by Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday after an settlement was reached with Egypt, however UN and Palestinian officers mentioned on Monday that no assist provides have been distributed.

• An Israeli strike concentrating on a bike in southern Lebanon hit subsequent to a hospital entrance Monday, killing the motorbike driver and a hospital safety guard and wounding a number of civilians close by, native well being officers mentioned. It was not instantly clear who the driving force was or why he was focused within the strike within the city of Bint Jbeil, reviews Related Press. The Israeli military didn’t give an announcement on the strike however mentioned it had focused different areas of southern Lebanon in response to “terrorist launches.”

• Egypt’s navy says a border guard was killed in a capturing within the Rafah border space with Gaza on Monday, the place Israeli forces are deployed, including {that a} probe had been launched. “The Egyptian armed forces, by the competent authorities, are investigating a capturing incident within the Rafah border space which led to the martyrdom of a guard,” a navy assertion mentioned. The Israeli navy reported a “capturing incident” on the Egyptian border and mentioned it was discussing the incident with Egypt, reviews Agence France-Presse.