Hamas says guards kill Israeli captive; war on Gaza continues

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation in the Middle East with Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow on Tuesday, the Kremlin said late on Monday.

"It is expected that an exchange of views will be held on the situation in the Middle East in light of the current aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip," the Kremlin said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Abbas is in Moscow on a long-expected visit until Wednesday and is to travel to Turkey for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan afterwards.

Russia, which has forged close ties both with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Arab leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has condemned the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, calling on all parties to refrain from further destabilisation of the Middle East.

It has also repeatedly scolded the West for ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.

(Reuters)

A Palestinian and his son were killed and others were wounded in bombing by Israeli aircraft of a home in Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Two people were killed and others injured following an Israeli strike on an apartment east of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

A suspected attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the southern reaches of the Red Sea early on Tuesday, officials said.

The attack happened around 115 kilometres (70 miles) south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said.

The attack saw an explosive detonate near the ship, though "the vessel and crew are reported safe", the UKMTO said.

The private security firm Ambrey similarly reported the attack, saying the ship saw "two 'close-proximity' explosions".

Though the Houthis didn’t immediately claim the attack, it sometimes can take hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults. They've also claimed others that apparently haven't happened.

Seven Palestinians were injured after Israeli bombing targeted a residential building housing displaced people near a Sheikh Radwan police station in Gaza City, says the Civil Defence agency in the coastal strip.

The UN children's agency UNICEF says the hygiene conditions in Gaza are "appalling and threatening children's lives and health".

The agency adds on X that it is "on the ground providing clean water", saying this was "not enough" and that "more aid is required and a ceasefire is urgently, critically needed".

UNICEF attaches a video to its post, dated 1 August.

In the video, agency spokesperson Salim Oweis says: "We're in Deir Al-Balah and as you can see, sewage water is all over the streets.

"With the lack of clean water [and] the destruction of the sanitation system [and] sewage treatment systems, children and families are still struggling, even more now, with diseases such as diarrhoea, skin diseases, and most recently the polio that is detected in sewage water."

The hygiene conditions in Gaza are appalling and threatening children’s lives and health.

UNICEF is on the ground providing clean water.

But it’s not enough - more aid is required and a ceasefire is urgently, critically needed. pic.twitter.com/2DSuokOvzi

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) August 12, 2024

The Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Monday, while the Israeli military claimed it had "neutralised" an attacker who fired at an Israeli.

The ministry based in Ramallah said an 18-year-old Palestinian was killed "by bullets fired by Israeli occupiers" in the town of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement the alleged attacker had "fired at an Israeli civilian who was in the city" of Qalqilya, despite Israel forbidding Israelis from visiting built-up Palestinian areas.

The Israeli was wounded along with two other Palestinians, the military said.

The Israeli military "conducted a pursuit" after the alleged attacker and "neutralised him adjacent to Qalqilya", it added.

A photograph from the 18-year-old's social media account shows him wearing a military-style uniform and holding an assault rifle and ammunition.

Hamas said he was one of its members.

(AFP, Reuters)

US credit rating agency Fitch downgraded Israel a notch on Monday, warning that the Gaza war could last "well into 2025" and weigh on economic activity.

Fitch lowered Israel's rating from "A+" to "A".

"The conflict in Gaza could last well into 2025 and there are risks of it broadening to other fronts," Fitch said in a note.

"In addition to human losses, it could result in significant additional military spending, destruction of infrastructure and more sustained damage to economic activity and investment, leading to a further deterioration of Israel's credit metrics."

Public finances have been hit, with Israel projected to run a budget deficit this year, according to Fitch.

"The war will likely continue until end-2024 with a risk of intense operations continuing beyond," the credit rating agency said.

"This implies continued high spending on immediate military needs, and disruptions to production in the border areas and in tourism and construction."

Israel has also exchanged near-daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, forcing Israelis to be evacuated from the northern border region.

The Israeli army has demolished residential buildings west of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

An Israeli air raid targeted central Khan Younis in central Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday urged Canadians to leave Lebanon, warning of the risk of escalating regional conflict between Israel and others, including Hezbollah.

"We see that the risk of escalation is real," he said at a press conference. "We're encouraging and asking all Canadians to please leave Lebanon while there are commercial routes available."

Tens of thousands of Canadians are believed to be living in the country, which has already seen Hezbollah trade near-daily fire with Israel.

Canada issued an advisory in late June against travel to Lebanon, citing a "volatile and unpredictable" situation with the possibility of violence between Hezbollah and Israel flaring up without warning.

Its military is setting up emergency resources in Cyprus to evacuate its nationals from the region if commercial flights from Lebanon are halted.

Hamas said on Monday that its guards executed an Israeli captive and injured two others in two separate incidents in Gaza.

"Two guards assigned to guard Israeli hostages killed an Israeli captive and wounded two others in separate incidents," Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement on the messaging app Telegram.

"Attempts are underway to save their lives," he said.

Read more from The New Arab's Gaza correspondent.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant exchanged criticism on Monday over stalled talks for a ceasefire deal that would free captives held in Gaza.

"The reason a hostage deal is stalling is in part because of Israel", Israeli media, including television channel Kan, reported Gallant saying in a private briefing for a parliamentary committee on Monday.

Gallant was discussing the choice Israel faced between a ceasefire deal that could end the fighting in the north with Lebanese Hezbollah and in Gaza, and escalating the war, Kan reported.

"I and the defence establishment support the first option," he said, rather than talk of "'total victory' and all that nonsense", a phrase frequently used by Netanyahu in his communications.

Within hours of Gallant's words leaking to the media, Netanyahu hit back in a statement issued by his office, in which he accused Gallant of jeopardising a deal to secure the release of captives.

"When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he harms the chances of reaching a hostage release deal," Netanyahu said, adding that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is the one "who has been and remains the only obstacle to a hostage deal".

He concluded by saying that Israel's only choice was "to achieve total victory", which "obligates everyone – including Gallant".

Gallant defended himself in a post on X stating that during the briefing he had "emphasised that [he is] determined to meet the goals of the war and continue the fighting".

He also blasted what he called "incessant leaks" since the beginning of the war, including the one on Monday.

Hamas commented on the row between the two politicians, with one of its leaders, Izzat al-Rishq saying in a statement that "Gallant's admission… confirms what we have always said".

"Netanyahu is lying to the world and to hostage families, he doesn't care about the hostages' lives and doesn't want to reach an agreement", he added.

The Israeli army has demolished a residential block north of the town of Abasan Al-Jadida east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

An Israeli air raid targeted the town of Bani Suheila in southern Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

An Israeli airstrike targeting a home in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in several injuries, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, says in cooperation with Hamas's military branch, the Al-Qassam Brigades, that an Israeli Merkava tank was destroyed using a bomb in the Tel Al-Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Abu Obaida, the spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, says two of the group's militants killed an Israeli captive and wounded two others as a reaction to Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Six Palestinians were killed following Israeli bombing of a home in the vicinity of the Al-Tahlia area in Khan Younis city in southern Gaza, The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.

At least 39,897 Palestinians have been killed and 92,152 injured in Israel's war on Gaza since it began, the coastal enclave's health ministry says in a statement.

In the last 48 hours, some 142 Palestinians were killed, the ministry adds.

An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school compound housing displaced families killed around 100 people, the Gaza Civil Emergency Service had said on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden spoke on Monday to the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the UK to discuss de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and a ceasefire in Gaza, a White House spokesperson said.

(Reuters)

The Biden administration on Monday said it expects Gaza peace talks to move forward as planned, adding that it believes that a ceasefire agreement is still possible.

State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel, speaking to reporters at a briefing, said the department fully expects talks to continue and that it would continue to work with the parties involved, adding that agreement was still possible.

(Reuters)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the continued loss of life from the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urged both sides to rejoing and conclude a ceasefire and hostages release deal, deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

"He also again underscores the need to ensure the protection of civilians and for unimpeded and safe humanitarian access into and across Gaza," said Haq.

(Reuters)

According to Fox News Iran and its regional allies could attack Israel in the next 24 hours, according to a report from Fox News citing unnamed sources.

"Officials [in the Middle East] believe we are reaching hour zero," Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst said.

Palestinian news agency Wafa is reporting that Israeli shelling in Khan Younis has killed a number of civilians.

According to initial reports, an unknown number of civilians were killed during Israeli shelling in the Maan area of Khan Younis, while Israeli shelling on Salah al-Din Street east of Khan Younis killed three people injured 10 others.

Ryanair has cancelled all flights to Israel until the 26 August, according to the Guardian, which quoted the airline as saying the announcement was "due to operational restrictions which are beyond our control."

Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over his characterisation of Netanyahu's narrative of attaining absolute victory in Gaza as "gibberish".

Netanyahu called said characterisation, which was made in a Knesset committee discussion concerning conflict with Hezbollah, as an "anti-Israel narrative" that "hurts the chances of reaching a hostage deal." 

Netanyahu's office said that absolute victory in Gaza is "the clear directive of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet, and it is binding on everyone - including Gallant." 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appealed to Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, to do everything possible to prevent a further military escalation in the Middle East in a phone call on Monday, according to a German government spokesperson.

The spiral of violence in the Middle East must be broken now, as any other course would lead to incalculable danger for the countries and people in the region, Scholz was quoted as telling Pezeshkian.

(Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks on Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is visiting Russia, state news agency TASS reported.

(Reuters)

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell reiterates the need to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and calls for the Israeli government to distance from inflammatory statements from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir 

Smotrich hit back at Borrell, accusing him of applying double standards to Israel and saying he "has chosen the wrong side of history". 

I urge the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from these incitements to commit war crimes, and call it to engage in good faith in the negotiations facilitated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt for an immediate ceasefire.

2/2

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 11, 2024

Israel's air force on Monday suspended travel abroad for its service personnel, a military spokesperson said.

The region is bracing for possible attacks against Israel by Iran and its allies after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

The directive only applies to career officers and non-commissioned officers, not conscripts. Safety instructions from the military for the general public remained unchanged. 

(Reuters & The New Arab Staff)

Commissioner-General of the UN's Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) has said on the 75 anniversary of the Geneva Conventions that the rules put in place have been consistently broken since the start of Israel's war on Gaza.

"In the past 10 months, these rules have been broken day in, day out in Gaza by the Israeli Forces as well as the Palestinian armed groups including Hamas," he said in a post on X.

"More concerning, Member States- party to the Geneva Conventions- have failed in their responsibilities to respect the conventions and ensure that parties to the conflict respect them under all circumstances."

"It is time to re-instate those values + re-commit to the Conventions. They are the compass of of international humanitarian law," he added.

75 years ago today, the Geneva Conventions were put in place to protect civilians in times of wars.
They are the universal “Rules of War” meant to limit the devastating impact of wars & conflicts on humanity.
The one set of rules we “all agree on”, but do we?

In the past 10…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 12, 2024

The health ministry in Gaza said on Monday that at 142 people were killed, 107 of whom have been identified, and that 150 people were injured in the last 48 hours. 

It added that a total of 39,897 people have been killed and 92,152 wounded since 7 October.

Swiss International Air Lines said on Monday it had extended the suspension of its flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut up to and including 21 August.

It added that the airspace over Iran, Iraq and Israel would be avoided until 21 August. The airline also reissued a previous statement about extending flight suspensions until 13 August.

(Reuters)

Iran has the "right to an appropriate and deterrent response" against Israel to ensure regional stability, the country's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani told his Chinese counterpart on Monday according to state media.

(Reuters)

Germany's Lufthansa Group has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil up to and including 21 August, the airline said on Monday, amid fears of an escalation in conflict in the Middle East.

Lufthansa will not be using Iranian and Iraqi airspace during that period, it said in an emailed statement.

(Reuters)

In a joint statement released on Monday the UK, France and Germany commended a renewed effort by the US, Egypt and Qatar to push for ceasefire negotiations, saying that "there can be no further delay".

"The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid," the statement read.

It also added warnings about heightened tension in the region amid expectations that Iran and Hezbollah will launch a retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

The three called on Iran to refrain from attacks that would jeopardise regional security, arguing that "no country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East".

A joint statement from the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/zqXplcegeB

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 12, 2024

Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France have again extended the suspension of their flights to Beirut, through Wednesday 15 August, because of continued tensions in the region, the companies said on Monday.

The flights have been suspended since 29 July because of the "security situation in Lebanon" and their resumption "will be subject to a new assessment of the situation on the ground", Air France said in a statement.

The airline said "the safety of its clients and crews are its absolute priority".

Clients with reservations for flights before 18 August can annul or modify their trips without cost.

Numerous international companies have ceased serving Beirut over fears of a military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

However, Air France said it continues to operate its flights to Tel Aviv even though some international carriers, such as Italy's ITA, have suspended their flights until at least 15 August.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday that Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack on Israel, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a post on X, citing a source with knowledge of the call.

In a statement on Monday, Gallant's ministry confirmed the call took place overnight. It said Gallant and Austin discussed operational and strategic coordination and the Israeli military's readiness in the face of Iranian threats.

Austin has meanwhile ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East. The US military had already said it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region to bolster Israeli defences.

On Friday, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy commander was quoted as saying by local news agencies that Iran was set to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to "harshly punish" Israel over the assassination on July 31 of the leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Tehran.

(Reuters)