Erdogan terms Israeli assaults in Gaza massacre

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel's blockade and bombing of Gaza in retaliation for Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack was a disproportionate response amounting to a massacre.

With Ankara offering to mediate, Erdogan and his foreign minister held calls with regional powers, the United States and others. However, Israel's envoy to Ankara has said it is too early to discuss mediation.

Speaking to his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said even war had a morality but the flare-up since the weekend had very severely violated that.

"Preventing people meeting their most fundamental needs and bombing housing where civilians live - in short, conducting a conflict using every sort of shameful method - is not a war, it's a massacre," he said, referring to Israel cutting off electricity and water to Gaza and destroying infrastructure.

Turkey, which has backed Palestinians in the past and hosted members of Hamas, has been working to mend ties with Israel after years of animosity. Unlike the European Union and US, Ankara does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

While not openly blaming Israel, Turkey has said the fighting is due to years of injustices against Palestinians and that the only path to peace is the formation of a sovereign Palestinian state in a two-state solution.

On Wednesday, Erdogan criticised Israel's disproportionate attacks on Gaza as devoid of any ethical foundation, and called on the world not to blindly take one side. Leaving the underlying issue unresolved would lead to new, more violent conflicts, he warned.

"We call on countries in the Americas, Europe, and other regions to take up a position between the parties that is fair, just, and based on humanitarian balances. Everyone should refrain from acts that will wholly punish the Palestinian people, like blocking humanitarian aid," he said.

Iranian allies threaten United States over intervention in Israel-Gaza conflict

Powerful Iraqi and Yemeni armed groups aligned with Iran have threatened to target United States interests with missiles and drones if Washington intervenes to support Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza that already shows signs of expanding to further fronts.

The comments come amid strong support by the United States for Israel's response to the attacks and a pledge to rapidly provide additional munitions to Israel and deploy a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean.

In Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful armed faction with close ties to Iran, said it would target US bases with missiles, drones and its special forces if Washington intervened in the conflict.

US officials have accused the group of previous attacks on US interests in Iraq. The group has denied the claims.

The United States currently has 2,500 troops in Iraq - and an additional 900 in neighbouring Syria - on a mission to advise and assist local forces in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized swathes of territory in both countries.

Iraqi politician Hadi Al-Amiri, leader of political and military group the Badr Organization that is close to Iran, had made similar threats on Monday.

"If they intervene, we would intervene ... we will consider all American targets legitimate," Al-Amiri said on Monday.

Badr comprises a large part of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), the state paramilitary organisation that contains many Iran-backed factions.

The PMF has voiced its "unequivocal support" for the Palestinian factions fighting Israel and the Iraqi government has said the Palestinian operations were a natural outcome of what it calls "oppressive" policies by Israel.

In past years, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq regularly targeted US forces in Iraq and the US embassy in Baghdad with rockets, though such attacks have abated under a truce in place since last year, as Iraq enjoys a period of relative calm.

In Yemen, the leader of the powerful Houthi Movement warned on Tuesday that the group would respond to any US intervention in Gaza with drones, missiles and other military options.

He said the group was ready to coordinate intervention with other members of the so-called "Axis of Resistance" which encompasses Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim factions in Iraq and Lebanon's Hezbollah group, which has already entered the fray.

Yemen's Houthi movement has battled a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands, during which it has targeted strategic assets in the Gulf, most notably energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Yemen has enjoyed a year of relative calm as peace negotiations gain traction.

 

 

Greatest intelligence failure of Israel

In the early hours of October 07, 2023 the world was taken by surprise as hundreds of Palestinian resistance fighters infiltrated Zionist settlements around Gaza through ground, air, and sea operations.

This was in addition to the launching of over 5,000 rockets, with targets landing in the heart of Tel-Aviv within the first twenty minutes, after the resistance declared Al-Aqsa Flood Operation.

It is being described as the greatest intelligence failure in the Zionist entity’s history, more so than the Six-Day War in 1973, as the occupation forces today are far more powerful than they were fifty years ago, and Hamas alone is not stronger than the governments of Egypt and Syria combined. How was the intelligence apparatus unable to hatch out a plan of this magnitude, that will have been in preparation for months and that will have leaned on the expertise of the resistance axis?

Indeed, the resistance has proved its efficacy, as it created a massive effect from simple resources and ideas, such as the simultaneous operation of border riots and firing of rockets, the deployment of hundreds of fighters in several groups and the use of homemade retro technology such as motorized hand gliders to drop bombs, that were less likely to be detected.

More than anything, the resistance has proved its high morale, courage and conviction about real change; sprouting from a spirit so strong it defeats all the enemy’s tanks.

What are some of the anticipated outcomes of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation?

1)      The release of all 5,200 Palestinian prisoners in the jails of the occupation. In the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation at least 150-200 Zionist soldiers and settlers have been taken prisoners, with senior officers among those captured. Saleh al-Arouri, senior Hamas leader, stated, “What we have in our hands will release all our prisoners. The longer fighting continues, the higher the number of prisoners will become.” Gilad Shalit, a former soldier of the IDF who was captured in 2006 during a cross-border raid by Hamas, was released in 2011 in exchange for 1,027 prisoners. Regarding the fate of the prisoners, Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida stated, “The Israeli army prisoners will be subjected to everything that is subjected to Gaza residents. Threatening Gaza and its people is a losing game and a broken record.”

2)      It is likely there will be no more transgressions on Al-Aqsa, since it could not be more clearly defined as the red line and the price paid for its desecration is the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. Al-Arouri stated, “We expect fighting to continue and the fighting front to expand. We have one prime target: our freedom and the freedom of our holy sites.”

3)      The balance of powers has irreversibly shifted. Even if the Zionists decide to carpet bomb Gaza, the reality is that nothing can undo the sheer turning point in favor of the resistance. That has proved it will take calculated measures as and when it sees fit to attack the enemy, on its own terms and not in retaliation to a specific incursion. From now on the Zionist entity will think many times before laying siege on any other part of the West Bank.

4)      For the first time the commander-in-chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, explicitly called for the merging of the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Hezbollah has already shown its readiness to enter the battlefront. On October 08, 2023 it claimed responsibility for mortar strikes on three posts in occupied Shebaa Farms. The Chief of the IDF Northern Command stated they are preparing for Hezbollah to join the war once ground operations begin in the Gaza Strip and that they are moving forces to the north to defend against that eventuality. The reality is that whilst Defence Minister Gallant may be preparing the mobilization of the reserve forces to the north, the IDF will have a hard time entertaining the possibility of fighting the army that gave it a humiliating defeat 17 years ago in Lebanon.    

5)      The normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia will slow down due to the shift in the balance of forces towards the resistance. It will make Saudi Arabia yield reluctant. In a statement released by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, it highlighted the Kingdom has repeatedly warned of the consequences of the deterioration of the situation as a result of the occupation.

6)      The Zionist entity has proven its demographic vulnerability- manifested by the settlers’ fear of the rocket attacks and confrontation of the resistance. Tens of thousands of settlers were panicking in Ben Gurion Airport as they sought to flee in the midst of flight cancellations to and from the entity. Moreover, it is now unthinkable for those Jewish citizens of Ukraine, America or Russia to move to the occupied lands, since their wish for safety is the most paramount priority.

 

Israel-Hamas war tests Beijing’s aspirations

The war erupting between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel poses a complex test for China's aspirations to become a key diplomatic player in the Middle East as Beijing was looking to broker new peace talks.

Earlier this year, China had pledged to help facilitate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Chinese state media trumpeted the possibility of a settlement based on a three-part proposal by Chinese President Xi Jinping. But the outbreak of severe violence may have shattered those hopes for the foreseeable future, while creating new challenges for China.

"This is like a tightrope walk that they have to perform," said Moritz Rudolf, a China scholar and fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center. "They have an economic interest in the stability of the region and they also have increased their political role."

After Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack on Saturday - firing thousands of rockets, sending fighters into Israeli communities and taking hostages back to Gaza - countries in Asia and around the world quickly condemned the killing of civilians. The death toll in Israel has surpassed 900, while nearly 700 have been killed on the Palestinian side amid a wave of retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, according to local officials.

Unlike the United States, India, Japan and others, which have come out forcefully in support of Israel, the Chinese government has maintained a neutral position.

Beijing's official response to the Hamas attack on Saturday called for an immediate cease-fire and repeated its support for a two-state solution with an independent State of Palestine as a way out of the conflict. It did not condemn Hamas.

On Sunday, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhan Jun, said China was worried about escalation.

"What's important is to prevent further escalation of the situation and casualties of civilians," Zhang told reporters before an emergency closed-door security meeting. "We condemn all attacks against civilians," he stressed.

President Xi has yet to make any public statement.

Historically, China has had close diplomatic ties with Palestinian leaders. The president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, this year made his fifth official visit to China in his nearly two decades in office. But in recent years, China has also deepened relations with Israel, investing in infrastructure and the country's vibrant technology sector.

Beijing's muted initial reaction to the violence did not go unnoticed.

On Sunday, Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli Embassy in Beijing, said his country expected a stronger response from the world's second-largest economy.

"When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution," Waks told reporters. "We believe that China as a superpower in this world ... should have taken a stronger stand."

But Beijing appears more comfortable playing a mediator role. In March, China brokered discussions between bitter rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, enabling a diplomatic rapprochement. Analysts saw this as a challenge to US influence in the region.

In June, China outlined its vision for brokering peace between Israel and the Palestinians. But in doing so, it stuck its neck into a delicate situation that has vexed the US and other powers for decades.

Even though Israel and the Palestinians signed the Oslo Accords in September 1993, agreeing on a road map to peace, unsuccessful negotiations for a two-state solution have perpetuated tensions and violence. Talks have stalled since 2014, and the prospect of a deal appears to have become even more remote under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition government and Hamas' sudden offensive.

Some observers argue that Beijing's silence on Hamas casts doubt on its ability to realize its ambitions in the region.

"China is still not willing to call Hamas out directly, and instead has tried to refer to them as combatants using language as ambiguous as possible, because it doesn't want to be seen as betraying its developing world friends - especially when that friend is engaged in hostilities against a leading US ally, namely Israel," said Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist focusing on China at Australian National University.

Indeed, the conflict could further complicate China's already tense relations with Washington.

Xi on Monday met with US Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who was visiting with a bipartisan congressional delegation. Schumer expressed disappointment with China's lack of sympathy for Israel. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn the cowardly and vicious attacks," Schumer said to Xi.

After Schumer's visit, China's foreign ministry stressed that it condemns all violence and attacks on civilians and that the most urgent task now is to reach a ceasefire and restore peace. The US senator, writing on Xi, claimed credit: "I pointedly asked that they strengthen their statement. They did."

The same day, however, the Chinese state mouthpiece Global Times published an article criticizing American support for Israel, arguing it will only fan the conflict. "Israel already outweighs Palestine in terms of military might; if the US wants peace, it should take actions to calm down the situation, instead of giving one-sided support to Israel," Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, was quoted as saying.

The story suggested that the pressure from Schumer is part of a US attempt to morally abduct China.

For now, Yale's Rudolf said that China will likely take a more risk-averse approach that advocates for humanity and civilians, without positioning itself on either side.

"The key thing is for China, they don't want to get sucked into this conflict," he said. "At some point, when great powers are to meet and to talk about this situation, China just wants to have a seat at the table, and the difference now is that they're taking it more seriously."

Courtesy: Nikki Asia

 

Saudi Crown Prince affirms unwavering support for Palestinian legitimate rights

In a series of diplomatic discussions, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's legitimate rights during a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

The leaders engaged in a comprehensive dialogue, addressing the military escalation in Gaza and its adjacent areas. They expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation, recognizing the threat it poses to civilian lives and regional security and stability.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored the Kingdom's proactive efforts to collaborate with international and regional stakeholders, aiming to bring a swift end to the ongoing escalation and prevent its further proliferation in the region.

He emphasized the significance of upholding international humanitarian law and refraining from targeting civilians.

Moreover, the Crown Prince reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to standing by the Palestinian people in their pursuit of legitimate rights, advocating for a dignified life, the realization of hopes and aspirations, and the achievement of a just and lasting peace.

President Mahmoud Abbas expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Kingdom's leadership, acknowledging its steadfast stance and dedicated efforts in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause.

In a separate conversation, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan delved into the escalating situation in Gaza, reiterating concerns about its impact on civilian lives and regional stability.

Additionally, in talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, the leaders concurred on the imperative to intensify both international and regional efforts to halt the escalation in Gaza and its surroundings, emphasizing the need to prevent its expansion in the broader region.

 

United States moves warships closer to Israel

According to Saudi Gazette, the United States has announced it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition.

This follows the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which President Biden called an unprecedented and appalling assault.

The US was also working to verify reports its citizens were among those killed and taken captive, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Israel says more than 700 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped.

In Gaza, more than 400 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes, according to Palestinian officials.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers were heading to the region. US fighter jets would also be sent.

Further military aid to Israel would be sent in the coming days, the White House said, adding that the US was working to ensure that Israel's enemies would not try to seek advantage from the situation.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed support for the Hamas attack, saying Israel needed to be held to account for endangering the region.

Hamas has said assistance from Iran helped it carry out its attack, which involved rockets, drones and militants on paragliders and saw hundreds of fighters break through Israeli border fortifications around the Gaza Strip.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had not seen evidence of direct Iranian involvement, but that Iran had been helping the Gaza-based group for years.

"Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support that it's gotten over many years from Iran. We haven't yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack or involved. But the support over many years is clear," he told US TV.

At a UN Security Council meeting, Iran denied involvement in the attack on Israel, Reuters reported.

Blinken also said officials were looking at reports that US citizens had been caught up in the attack.

"We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports," he told US TV on Sunday. Other countries including the UK, France, Ukraine and Thailand have also reported deaths.

He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the border with Gaza.

Israel's ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, told CBS News that he understood Americans were among the soldiers and civilians abducted in southern Israel but did not have details.

The US sends billions of dollars of military aid to Israel, a close ally, each year. Since World War II, Israel has been the largest overall recipient of US foreign aid.

The UN Security Council is due to meet in New York shortly to discuss the violence in Israel and Gaza.

Riyadh concerned about Tehran's response to normalizing ties with Israel

An ex-Iranian envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said that Saudi Arabia was worried about Iran’s response to the establishment of relations between Riyadh and the Israeli regime.

In a recent interview with Jamaran news outlet on Saturday, Sabah Zanganeh noted, “Saudi Arabia agreed to restore ties with Iran to be able to pursue the normalization of relations with Israel is not a precise analysis.”

“Such an analysis would be an exaggeration,” he added. “Saudi Arabia is, has been and will be worried about Iran’s reaction. The other countries which have pursued the same policy are still concerned about Iran’s stance, too,” he averred.

Additionally, the ex-envoy addressed Riyadh’s attitude on Washington as saying, “Saudi Arabia seeks to gain concessions from the United States; namely, it seeks the privilege of atomic energy enrichment from the US.”

He stated that the Saudis were making an effort to obtain concessions in order to justify their choice. 

“The Saudis want Israel’s cutting-edge technologies as well as a trade and oil transit line to the Mediterranean,” he said.

The former Iranian OIC ambassador remarked that the improvement in ties between the two countries has left the Saudis without any excuses to gain more concessions and justify forming an alliance with Israel.”

“Israel, for its part, lost an element which it used to provoke Arab countries to adopt harsh stances against Iran,” he added. 

In a meeting with a group of foreign guests attending a Muslim unity conference in Tehran lately, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Iran aims to further strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia with the purpose of blocking normalization with the Zionist regime of Israel.

He continued, “Today, we are witnessing the resumption of Iran-Saudi relations, our intention is to have deep and extensive relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia with an eye on the interests of the Islamic world and with the aim of disappointing the enemy and blocking the way to normalize relations.”

Back in September, Iran’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, said that Tehran views Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner in the West Asia region. 

In remarks to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Enayati said, “We consider the Kingdom a strategic partner of great importance within the framework of the good neighborliness policy pursued by the current government.”

Enayati told the Saudi paper that he intended to dedicate his efforts in the upcoming period to enhance and foster relations between Tehran and Riyadh.

He emphasized that both sides are strongly determined and sincerely willing to develop these relations, expressing optimism about a promising future.

The ambassador pointed out that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had instructed him to do his utmost to strengthen brotherly and friendly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.