Germany, France and the UK called upon Israel “not to escalate” after Iran’s strike on Saturday. Israel killed 43 Palestinians attempting to return home to north Gaza as Hamas presents a new counter-proposal for a ceasefire.
BY QASSAM MUADDI
Casualties
- 33,729 + killed* and at least 76,371 wounded in the Gaza Strip.
- 466+ Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.**
- Israel revises its estimated October 7 death toll down from 1,400 to 1,139.
- 604 Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 7, and at least 6,800 injured.***
*Gaza’s Ministry of Health confirmed this figure on its Telegram channel on April 13, 2024. Some rights groups estimate the death toll to be much higher when accounting for those presumed dead.
** The death toll in the West Bank and Jerusalem is not updated regularly. According to the PA’s Ministry of Health on April 5, this is the latest figure.
*** This figure is released by the Israeli military, showing the soldiers whose names “were allowed to be published.” The number of Israeli soldiers wounded is according to Israeli media reports.
Key Developments
- Israel kills 43 Palestinians, wounds 62 in the past 24 hours across Gaza, raising the death toll since October 7 to 33,729 and the number of wounded to 76,371, according to the Gaza health ministry.
- Hamas responds to latest ceasefire proposal, presents its own new proposal that reportedly includes phased pauses in fighting.
- Germany, France and the UK urge Israel not to respond to Iran’s attack, as the EU mulls new sanctions on Iran.
- Iran says its response to Israel’s attack on its consulate earlier this month was “logical and responsible.”
- Israeli army radio says four Israeli soldiers were wounded in a landmine explosion at the border with Lebanon.
- Israeli Finance Minister and ultra-nationalist settler Bezalel Smotrich calls for full Israeli control of Gaza.
- Israel releases two Palestinian medics in Gaza after 50 days of detention. Six other medics remain detained.
- Israeli army shoots at Palestinians attempting to return to the northern Gaza Strip, killing one girl.
- The UN says 41% of its aid to Gaza was stopped from reaching the northern Gaza Strip.
- Israeli settlers continue attacks on Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank, following a weekend of pogroms that burned down dozens of homes and properties, and left several Palestinians dead.
- Palestinian human rights groups say Israel is obstructing lawyers’ visits to Palestinian detainees, as Itamar Ben-Gvir vows to make conditions worse for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.
Israel’s Genocide War in Gaza Continues unabated.
Israel vowed to “exact a price” from Iran as it weighs possible responses to Iran’s strikes on Saturday. Israel’s war cabinet has been authorized to respond to the attack and met on Sunday, with one of its members, Benny Gantz, saying the “event is not over.” Early today, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Peter Lerner told reporters Israeli military officials had submitted a “wide range of options” to respond. The IDF’s response could be “strike or no strike,” Lerner said, adding that there are “a lot of different scenarios in between those two.” The Israeli government will “decide on the steps forward” as early as today or within the coming days, Lerner noted. ABC News reports.
President Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call on Saturday that Washington will not support any Israeli counterattack against Iran, according to a senior White House official. “You got a win. Take the win,” Biden reportedly told Netanyahu during the call. The official said when Biden told Netanyahu the United States would not participate or support any offensive operations in Iran, Netanyahu said he understood. Meanwhile, the White House said Biden and King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke yesterday about the Iranian attacks, with both officials pledging to stay in contact in the upcoming days. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
The U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss Iran’s attack on Israel, with diplomats calling for restraint by all parties. Israel’s ambassador, Gilad Erdan, who had requested the meeting, said Iran’s attack had “crossed every red line” and that Israel reserved the right to retaliate. Erdan called on the Council to take concrete action against Iran, including “crippling” sanctions. Iran’s ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, said his country had an “inherent right to self-defense” after Israel’s attack on its consulate building. Iravani said that Iran “does not seek escalation or war in the region,” but that if its interests, people, or security came under attack, it would “respond to any such threat or aggressions vigorously and in accordance with international law.” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres told the meeting it was time to “step back from the brink.” Farnaz Fassihi and Gaya Gupta report for the New York Times.
Turkish, Jordanian, and Iraqi officials said yesterday that Iran gave warning before attacking Israel, but U.S. officials said Tehran did not warn Washington in advance. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said that Iran gave neighboring countries and the United States 72 hours’ notice it would launch the strikes. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it had spoken to both Washington and Tehran before the attack, adding it had relayed messages as an intermediary to ensure reactions were proportionate. A senior U.S. official denied Amirabdollahian’s statement, saying the United States had contact with Iran through Swiss intermediaries but did not get notice 72 hours in advance. Jeff Mason, Ahmed Rasheed, and Samia Nakhoul report for Reuters.
Israeli officials said its Iron Dome defense system intercepted 99% of the 300 “threats of various types” launched by Iran on Saturday. A spokesperson for the IDF said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched 170 unmanned aerial vehicles and over 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles. Several countries, including the United States, Britain, and Jordan, assisted Israel in intercepting Iranian drones, with French President Emmanuel Macron also confirming today that Paris took part in foiling Iran’s attack at “Jordan’s request.” James Gregory and Adam Durbin report for BBC News; Victor Goury-Laffont reports for POLITICO.
Reactions to Iran’s strikes on Israel have poured in from world leaders, with almost all urging restraint. British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said Iran’s attack was a “double defeat” which showed Tehran to be the “malign influence in the region.” Oman expressed “profound concern” over the escalation of Iran-Israel hostilities, Malaysia and Indonesia issued separate statements calling for restraint, and New Zealand condemned Iran’s “shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.” Hungary also condemned Iran’s strikes, warning they posed a “grave” threat globally. Negar Mahmoodi, Eyad Kourdi, Kathleen Magramo, and Teele Rebane report for CNN.
Leaders of the G7 nations issued a joint declaration yesterday demanding that “Iran and its proxies cease their attacks.” The leaders accused Iran of “provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation” and said their countries were ready “to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives.”
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Israeli authorities have released 150 people previously detained in Gaza, the Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders said today. Two of the detainees were ambulance workers for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the PRCS said. Kareem Khadder and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN.
Israeli troops fired at a crowd of displaced Palestinians returning to their homes in northern Gaza yesterday, according to an emergency worker and two people who tried to make the journey. Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, reported that five people were killed and 23 wounded by Israeli gunfire on Al-Rashid Street south of Gaza City. The Israeli military has not responded to questions about the incident at the time of writing. Yesterday, a spokesperson for the IDF wrote on social media that rumors the army was allowing residents to return to northern Gaza were false, adding, “The I.D.F. will not allow the return of residents. For your safety, do not approach the forces operating there.” Raja Abdulrahim and Ameera Hourda report for the New York Times.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers surrounded Palestinian villages and attacked residents across the occupied West Bank over the weekend after an Israeli boy who had gone missing from a settlement was found dead, eyewitnesses told CNN. Netanyahu said authorities were searching for whoever is responsible for the boy’s death. On Saturday, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands during the “hunt for the terrorists.” Abeer Salman, Zeena Saifi, and Eugenia Yosef report.
U.S. RESPONSE
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said yesterday that the House would vote in the coming days on aid for Israel following Iran’s attack. “House Republicans and the Republican Party understand the necessity of standing with Israel,” Johnson said on Fox News. He added, “We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together. Right now, we’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues.” Johnson also suggested that aid for Ukraine could be included in the legislation. Catie Edmonson reports for the New York Times.
Israel attacks Palestinians in Gaza as they attempt to return north.
The Gaza-based Palestinian health ministry announced that 43 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes, their bodies arriving at the Gaza Strip’s remaining hospitals alongside 62 other wounded people over the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the area of Gaza City, Palestinians found several dead bodies under sand mounds made by Israeli forces in Beit Lahia, north of the city. Israeli artillery also shelled the north and east of Gaza city.
In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire at crowds of displaced Palestinians as they attempted to return to their homes in the northern Gaza Strip through the Wadi Gaza bridge. A five-year-old girl was reported killed after she was shot in the head by the Israeli army. Israeli forces also stopped thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes after entering Gaza city through al-Rashid street.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to bomb al-Nuseirat refugee camp, and al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
In the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces bombed the east of Khan Younis, while Palestinian medical teams recovered tens of dead bodies from previous bombings, more than a week after Israel’s withdrawal from the city. The Palestinian civil defense called upon the International Red Cross to provide body bags due to dwindling supply in Gaza.
Hamas presents a new counter-proposal for ceasefire
Hamas responded on Sunday to the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal presented through Egyptian and Qatari intermediates, putting forward a new counter-proposal.
On its Telegram account, the Palestinian group said on Sunday that it advanced a new proposal after internal consultation with the group’s leadership in Palestine.
On Sunday, Al-Jazeera reported from “sources close to negotiations” that Hamas’s proposal involves three 42-day-long phases of ceasefires, including captive exchanges.
The group proposed an Israeli withdrawal to the Gaza borders from all areas of the Strip during the first phase and a permanent ceasefire to be announced during the second phase, allowing for an exchange of captives.
According to reports, Hamas proposed to release one Israeli civilian captive for every 30 Palestinian captives, and one Israeli military captive for every 50 Palestinian captives, including 30 Palestinians serving high sentences in Israeli prisons.
Hamas’s proposal insisted on allowing displaced Palestinians to return to the north of Gaza, and the beginning of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip during the third phase.
For its part, Netanyahu’s office released a statement by the Israeli Mossad, saying that Hamas had “given a negative response” to Israel’s ceasefire proposal.
The Mossad added that Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, “doesn’t want a humanitarian deal and the return of hostages”.
Mossad also accused Sinwar of exploiting the crisis with Iran to “create a regional escalation,” stressing that Israel will continue its war to “achieve its goals.”
Ceasefire negotiations have been at a deadlock for months, with Israel rejecting a number of proposals set forward by Hamas, despite mounting pressure from within Israel to secure the release of the Israeli captives being held in Gaza.
Amman’s Strategic Mistake – Why Did Jordan Shoot Down Iranian Missiles, Drones?
By Palestine Chronicle Editors
Critical voices argue that Jordan would not think about shooting down Israeli missiles, drones or fighter jets if the target was Iraq, Syria or Iran.
Though France’s contributions to western efforts aimed at blocking as many Iranian drones and missiles from entering Israeli airspace remains unclear, Jordan’s contributions to the campaign are well known.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi was unapologetic for his country’s role in shooting down the Iranian drones and missiles.
He was outraged, however, over Iranian criticism that Jordan has opted to take a stance in defense of Israel, though did nothing to protect Palestinians after six months of an Israeli genocide.
The Jordanian government insists that shooting down the Iranian missiles was only done to protect its airspace, not that of Israel. Few are convinced, however, as Jordanian airspace has been violated time and again by the US and other western powers to launch attacks at multiple Arab countries.
Critical voices also argue that Jordan would not think about shooting down Israeli missiles, drones or fighter jets if the target was Iraq, Syria or Iran.
Summoning Iranian Ambassador
Despite the fact that Jordan refrained from severing its diplomatic ties with Israel, it was swift to react against Iran.
“Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Amman summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest offensive remarks,” Al-Jazeera reported, citing Jordan’s state news agency.
According to Petra, Safadi renewed his country’s commitment to “confront every drone or missile that penetrates its airspace.” He also argued that “Benjamin Netanyahu is driven by a ‘cancellation’ ideology toward the Palestinians and is trying to provoke a confrontation with Iran to distract attention from what is happening in Gaza,” Al-Jazeera reported.
His logic, however, is flimsy at best. Safadi, as a seasoned diplomat, understands that an Iranian failure to respond would cost Tehran dearly, in terms of reputation, standing amongst its allies, and will certainly embolden Israel to escalate further.
Palestinians, Jordanians and other Arabs on social media don’t seem to share Safadi’s convenient rationale. In fact, Palestinians, like other Arabs, celebrate the Iranian retaliation to the Israeli attack on Tehran’s consulate on April 1, whether on the ground or on social media.
While some anti-Iranian writers continue to fault Iran, whether for responding or not doing more, many questions are being raised about what Arab governments have done to help Gaza.
Helping Israel
Not only did Arab miltaries failed to even threaten Israel if it continues with the genocide in Gaza, Arab states are actively keeping the Israeli economy afloat by creating alternative shipping lanes to offset the damage created by Yemen’s embargo on Israeli ships.
If it were not for these Arab states, including Jordan, the Israeli economy would have faltered at a much faster speed.
But Jordan’s position is particularly difficult, and the government’s decision to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones shall complicate its attempt to paint its position as pro-Gaza.
The country is a home of a population that detest Israel. Mass protests, calls for boycott and demands for action have emanated from Jordan since the start of the Israeli genocidal war. Yet no action has been taken, aside from well-choreographed scenes of Jordanian air force dropping a few containers of supplies over northern Gaza. The airdrops took place in full coordination with Israel.
But ‘action’ has been taken against Jordanian protesters, who have been dispersed using violent means. Many Jordanians have also been arrested for attempting to storm the Israeli embassy, which remains active in Amman.
Betrayal
Safadi may try to justify his country’s action in the name of sovereignty. That sovereignty however didn’t seem to matter numerous times in the past, when Jordanian territories were used as launchpads to attack other Arab countries and anti-Israeli, US groups.
The nature of accusation over what Jordan has done to protect Israel are no longer confined to typical criticism of weak Arab governments and armies. Social media activists are referring to what Jordan is doing as a direct act of betrayal of Palestine and the Arab nation.
“The question is,” tweeted Saeed Ziad, a social media activist, “when Israeli drones and missiles cross over the Jordanian airspace (in retaliation to the Iranian attack – PC) will the Jordanian air defenses confront them as they have done with the Iranian drones?”
“Who is the enemy of the Arabs? Israel, or Iran?,” he asked.
The behavior of some Arab countries since October 7, and even before, makes the answer quite obvious, but also dangerous, as it raises yet another question:
How long will Arab governments be allowed to champion US, Israeli interests and priorities, at the expense of the collective interests and priorities of the Arab peoples?
(The Palestine Chronicle)
English
Arabic