Blinken: G7 condemns Iran attack on Israel
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the “unprecedented” attack on Israel by Iran was condemned by the G7.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday accepted an independent review of the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency ordered after Israel accused agency employees of helping the attack on Israel that ignited the Hamas-Israeli war.
More than a dozen nations, including the U.S., halted funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees when the allegations became public. The full review, led by the former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, was scheduled to be released later Monday. Reuters reported that the review says Israel had yet to provide supporting evidence for its claim that a significant number of UNRWA staff were members of militant organizations.
The review calls for stronger safeguards to ensure neutrality but says the agency already has a significant system to ensure compliance with “humanitarian principles.”
The review was prompted by Israeli allegations that at least 12 UNRWA employees were directly involved in the Hamas-led attack Oct. 7, another 30 supported the attack in some way, and as many as 12% of the organization’s staff were affiliated with the militant group. UNRWA has over 13,000 aid workers in Gaza. “Moving forward, the Secretary-General appeals to all stakeholders to actively support UNRWA, as it is a lifeline for Palestine refugees in the region,” his office said in a statement.
After six months of war: Pregnant women in Gaza Strip face starvation, no anesthesia
Developments:
∎ The Israeli military said it was on high alert for the Passover holiday, continuing “operational activity and full readiness in all arenas.” It’s the first major Jewish holiday since the festival of Simchat Torah on Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas attack that ignited the current war.
∎ Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded Iran on Monday for taking a strong stand on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. At a briefing alongside visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Islamabad, Sharif called on Muslim countries to unite and raise their voice for an end to the conflict.
The head of Israel’s military intelligence resigned Monday and said he would retire, citing his own role in contributing to the failure to stop Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Major General Aharon Haliva appears to be the first senior official from Israel’s military or political establishment to resign over Hamas’ surprise attack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people. It was the largest loss of life in a single day in Israel’s history. Militants also took 253 hostages back to Gaza, where Israel believes more than 130 may remain.
Haliva, who made the announcement in a letter shared by Israel’s Defense Forces, was on vacation in the Israeli resort town of Eilat on Oct. 7. He was alerted of suspicious militant activity hours before the attack but was not involved in ensuing deliberations that incorrectly determined the activity was likely a drill.
Haliva previously accepted responsibility for the intelligence failures that led to the worst security failure in Israel’s 76-year history.
“The military intelligence directorate under my command did not live up to our mission,” Haliva wrote in the letter. “I have been carrying that black day ever since, day and night. I will live with the horrible pain every day.”
Haliva said he would retire once a successor was found.
‘Antisemitism and anarchy’: Rabbi urges Jewish students to leave Columbia for their safety
The Iraq-based militant group Kataib Hezbollah denied issuing a statement saying it had resumed attacks on U.S. forces. The denial came hours after rockets were fired at a U.S. base in Syria − and hours after a social media post linked to the Iran-backed group appeared to declare a resumption in the attacks after a three-month pause.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited the U.S. last week, and a group…
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