WORLD BRIEFING: October 19, 2023
Israel-Gaza War
At least 1,300 Israelis killed since October 7. Hamas: 3,500 Palestinians killed, some 12,000 wounded. At least 306 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Hamas' attack on October 7, according to an Israeli military spokesperson. At least 203 Israeli citizens and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Israel says it won't block aid sent to Gaza from Egypt. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office says that Israel "will not thwart humanitarian supplies from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population in the southern Gaza Strip". But it will "not allow any humanitarian aid from its territory to the Gaza Strip as long as our hostages are not returned," the statement adds, reports BBC. However, minutes after Biden said aid would flow again, a statement from Netanyahu's office: no aid will be delivered via Israel until hostages are freed, but "in light of Biden's demand" Israel "will not hinder" shipments of food, water, medicine from Egypt to Gaza. One outlet reported the aid would start moving into Gaza Friday, but many questions remain on how it will be distributed and what will follow
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak landed in Israel on Thursday following U.S. President Joe Biden's unprecedented snap visit to the country on Wednesday, during which Israel announced that it would allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. According to Downing Street, the visit was made possible by this statement. Sunak will meet with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, before travelling to a number of other regional capitals on his two-day visit to the Middle East - Haaretz
The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Wednesday condemning Hamas attacks on Israel and violence against civilians, saying it did not include language about Israel’s right to defend itself - The Hill
"We are on the ground doing the hard work of diplomacy," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the 15-member council after the vote. "We believe we need to let that diplomacy play out. Yes, resolutions are important. And yes, this council must speak out. But the actions we take must be informed by the facts on the ground and support direct diplomacy efforts. That can save lives. The council needs to get this right," she said.
Egypt is set to host a summit involving Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Saturday on the release of hostages held in Gaza, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister has announced.
Elsewhere
Jim Jordan has lost his second bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker as rank-and-file resistance to his candidacy swells in the chamber. The deadlock of speakership of the chamber and third constitutional officer in line to the presidency threatens the release of future funding pledges to Ukraine, Israel and possibly Taiwan.
Russia has unleashed another wave of drone and missile strikes on four Ukrainian regions overnight, Ukraine's military said on October 19, but most of them were intercepted and destroyed by air defenses - RFE/RL
Ukraine's school curriculum will now include lessons on how to operate drones, ArmyInform reported on Oct. 18, citing Ukraine's Education and Science Ministry. The courses, a part of the "Defense of Ukraine" discipline in Ukrainian schools, involve lessons on a variety of different aspects relating to drone operation. The lessons will not be limited to drones' military use. Students will be able to gain basic knowledge of drones and have the possibility of pursuing further education or future professional opportunities in the control, production, design, or modernization of drones - Kyiv Independent
Donald Trump's decision to declassify evidence given by ex-British spy Christopher Steele over the former U.S. president's alleged links with Russia led to the disappearance of two sources, Steele said in court documents made public on Tuesday. Steele said in a witness statement that Trump's decision to declassify his 2017 testimony to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was "one of the most egregious breaches of intelligence rules and protocol by the US government in recent times" - Reuters
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky have held talks about events in the Middle East. Both affirmed their closer co-operation and shared desire for a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war, said a spokesperson. This was one of many phone calls between the two leaders in a bid to bring about a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict which started in February 2022 “President Ramaphosa committed South Africa’s continued active engagement in the African peace initiative and participation in the Ukraine peace formula talks that are held at the level of national security advisors. "President Ramaphosa welcomed President Zelensky's commitment to the revival of the Black Sea grain initiative. Both leaders pledged to continue working together in this regard” - SA Times
Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam highlighted the significant water challenge faced by the Middle East and North Africa region. The population in this region has increased from 100 million in 1960 to over 450 million in 2018, and it is projected to reach over 720 million by 2050. He said that nearly two-thirds of the region’s population live in water-stressed areas. Moreover, the region only possesses 1% of the world’s renewable fresh water, making it the most water-stressed region globally. Out of the 17 countries in the region, 14 are affected by water stress, including the top six countries. In Egypt, limited water resources and population growth have led to a per capita water share that has approached the water scarcity line - Daily Egypt
With thanks to Preeti Bali for her research support
Required reading…
Hamas’s actions are war crimes. Israel should not respond with further war crimes.
By Elise Baker
Hamas’s attacks in Israel on October 7 and Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip have been war crimes met with more apparent war crimes. International humanitarian law (IHL), or the law of war, is clear that targeting or indiscriminately attacking civilians is prohibited, and parties must take precautions to protect civilian life when pursuing legitimate military aims. There are clear indications that both Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have violated IHL, and some of their attacks constitute grave violations, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
This piece discusses provisions of IHL and international criminal law as they apply to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. While events are developing rapidly, continued loss of civilian life looks all but guaranteed. Hamas and Israel must change their tactics to halt the continued commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Read the entire Atlantic Council analysis here