Egypt warned Israel three days before Hamas attack: senior US lawmaker

 

Egypt warned Israel three days before Hamas attack: senior US lawmaker

(AFP) - Israel got a warning from Egypt of potential violence three days before Hamas caught Israeli forces off-guard in a large-scale attack, the chairman of the powerful US House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday.

   "We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen," Republican Michael McCaul told reporters following a closed-door intelligence briefing for lawmakers on the crisis.

   "I don't want to get too much into classified (details), but a warning was given," he said. "I think the question was at what level."

   Israel is reeling from the deadliest attack in its 75-year history, as more than 1,500 militants stormed through the Gaza security barrier in their coordinated land, air and sea attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

   Hamas' ability to remain undetected while preparing and launching such a big, complex assault from the closely monitored and heavily guarded Gaza strip represents an unprecedented intelligence failure for US ally Israel.

   Israeli authorities say Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,200 people and wounded over 2,700 as they swept into small towns and kibbutzim and indiscriminately killed residents who hid in their homes or died defending their communities.

   Israel has been relentlessly pounding Hamas targets in Gaza in response, and the war has already claimed the lives of more than 3,700 lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, soldiers and combatants.

Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

   In Washington, President Joe Biden has pledged to send more US munitions and military hardware and expressed revulsion at the "sheer evil" of the slaughter of civilians.

   McCaul said the attack may have been planned as long as a year ago.

   "We're not quite sure how we missed it. We're not quite sure how Israel missed it," he told reporters.

   Cairo has not commented officially on suggestions that it may have offered an early warning.

   But Egyptian media with close ties to the country's intelligence services on Wednesday quoted senior security sources denying Israeli press reports that such a warning was issued.

Death toll

 

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 687 

At least 687 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israel since October 7, says the health ministry in the besieged coastal enclave. 

A statement from the ministry posted to Facebook reads: 

The Israeli occupation expands the targeting of medical teams, health facilities and ambulances, causing 5 medical personnel to die and 10 others to be injured with various wounds.

The ministry also said some 3,726 people have been injured.

Israel death toll soars to over 900 - reports 

At least 900 people in Israel have been killed in the attacks launched by Hamas, according to local media reports. 

Meanwhile, more than 100 people have been taken captive by Hamas, Israel’s foreign ministry said.

UN chief says 'deeply distressed' by Israeli siege of Gaza

 

United Nations, United States, Oct 9, 2023 (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned the Hamas attack against Israel but said he was "deeply distressed" by the country's subsequent imposition of a total siege on the Gaza Strip.

   "The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities," Guterres told reporters. "Now it will only deteriorate exponentially."

   Earlier in the day, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his country would impose a "complete siege" on the long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed."

   Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate hostages.

   "This most recent violence does not come in a vacuum," Guterres stressed. "The reality is that it grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year long occupation and no political end in sight."

   "While I recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law," Guterres said.

   Following the Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death toll there to 560 people.

   Guterres began his speech by expressing "utter condemnation of the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza periphery."

   "I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people," Guterres said. "But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians."

   Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamas' surprise attack.

   The militant group surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, storming military bases, spraying gunfire at civilians and dragging off about 100 hostages.

   The conflict has only escalated since then, prompting Israel's promise Monday to cut off supplies to the region.

   "I am deeply distressed by today's announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in -- no electricity, food, or fuel," Guterres said.

   The UN will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to needs in Gaza, Guterres said.

   "Israel must see its legitimate needs for security materialized -- and Palestinians must see a clear perspective for the establishment of their own state realized," Guterres added.

 

V V Brown - 'Black British'

Musician, Artist, Mother, Activist, Writer

Can Kenya help solve Haiti's deep insecurity crisis?

 

A piece I wrote last week on an important issue: 

Can Kenya help solve Haiti's deep insecurity crisis? 

Kenya is preparing to lead an international police force to combat gang violence in Haiti – an historic first for the East African nation.

By: Melissa Chemam with RFI 

The Caribbean country has about 10,000 police officers for more than 11 million people. Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 security officers. No other country has been willing to take charge of Haiti's security. Canada considered it before deciding it was too risky. 

More than 2,400 people have died in Haiti's violence since the start of the year, according to the United Nations. 

Haiti welcomes Kenyan offer to lead multinational force to quell gang violence 

History of peacekeeping 

In July Kenya volunteered to lead a multinational police intervention to train the Haitian police, but the mission still needed a green light from the UN Security Council. Kenya's proposition is "bold and comes in good faith", Keith Mines, as an expert on the Caribbean with the United States Institute of Peace, told RFI. 

Nairobi cited its “very long history of global peacekeeping” in Kosovo, neighbouring Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a key reason to lead the mission. It is still heavily involved in fighting the Shabaab extremist group in both Kenya and Somalia. 

For Kenyan President William Ruto, the mission to Haiti is a chance to once again perform on the international stage, says Roland Marchal, an East Africa analyst at CERI Sciences Po Paris. "Ruto is also thinking about how much money the Kenyan army and police would receive for such a mission," Marchal told RFI. 

"Given few countries volunteered, for Ruto it's a financial opportunity as much as a choice of external policy, while his predecessors in Kenya were very absent on the international scene."

Ruto last week urged the UN to quickly work out a framework to allow the mission to begin. However, observers say the main weakness of Kenya's plan is the lack of legitimacy of Haiti's own government. 

Multiple challenges 

The Haitian government is unelected, with Prime Minister Ariel Henry coming to power following the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in early July 2022. 

"The international community should  stop supporting the Haitian government because it is illegitimate and corrupt," says Frédéric Thomas, of the Belgian NGO research centre Centre tricontinental (CETRI). It is also unpopular and "contested by the majority of the population", he adds. Amnesty International worries about a "troubling history of abuses and impunity associated with past multinational or foreign interventions in Haiti". 

Thomas says there is also evidence the Henry government is linked to the local gangs, and profits from trafficking. 

Kenya signed defence agreement with United States ahead of planned deployment to Haiti Another issue is the US involvement in the Kenyan mission. 

On Monday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin went to Nairobi to sign a deal to establish a plan and a supporting budget for the mission over the next five years. 

Some say the United States has a historic responsibility to help Haiti and that supporting Kenya's mission is insufficient. 

The Kenyan army, meanwhile, is said to have little experience of good urban policing.

 

'Troubled nation' 

The UN discussions on the Kenya-led mission happened as a bleak report on Haiti came out on Wednesday. 

Haiti is sinking further into bloodshed and lawlessness, the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned, urging the international community to provide security and financial aid. 

"Gang-related violence has continued to increase in intensity and brutality, with gangs expanding their control within and beyond Port-au-Prince," Guterres said. 

"Sexual violence, including collective rape, continues to be used by gangs to terrorise populations under the control of rival gangs."

Bristol Festival of Ideas - D-14

 

Hello everyone. 

Most of you here must now know that I'm the biggest fan of the city of Bristol, England, and wrote a book about its culture, well counterculture to be exact, and its tendency to great activism. 

This year, the city is celebrating its 650 years, and we're lucky to have the Bristol Festival of Ideas to ask all the relevant questions! 

On the climate emergency, on citizenship, on community, business, work, how to fight inequality, gentrification, urban planning, and many more key issues. 

I hope to see some of you there at Bristol Ideas - details here: https://lnkd.in/esqcj8D4

I’ll be at more than half of the talks, and will be reporting on climate solutions.

The Festival is also launching a book I wrote a chapter for:

Bristol 650 Showcase and Book Launch

https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/bristol-650-showcase-and-book-launch/

This event will launch the Bristol 650 book, a collection of newly commissioned essays about the future of Bristol.

Here is a selection of events and talks:

Is There a Future for Democratic Capitalism?
https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/is-there-a-future-for-democratic-capitalism/

Democracy and Cities: How Do We Promote and Extend Democracy? https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/democracy-and-cities/

Make It Real: How We Achieve a Just Transition in Cities: https://www.bristolideas.co.uk/attend/make-it-real-how-we-achieve-a-just-transition-in-cities/

I hope to come back and report more about it all…

See you there,

melissa

The European Correspondent - Western Europe newsletter - Thursday 28 September 2023

 

The European Correspondent

Western Europe newsletter 

Thursday 28 September 2023

The United Kingdom ・ Climate crisis

British PM waters down climate targets

Rishi Sunak came under immense scrutiny after saying he wanted to be honest about the "costs" of tackling climate change. Announcing slower-moving policies, the deadline for banning fossil fuel cars has been moved by five years and homeowners no longer have to replace inefficient gas boilers.

Jacob Perkins While the UK is legally bound to reach net zero by 2050, there is little doubt this will slow down progress. Sunak's move also risks setting a precedent and some wonder whether other European countries will follow suit.

Sources: UK Gov

The United Kingdom ・ Climate crisis UK greenlights development of largest untapped oilfield amidst climate concerns The UK has given the go-ahead to develop the country's large untapped oilfield off Shetland, causing emissions equal to those of the world's 28 lowest-income countries. While the firm behind the build claims this will be a "green" oil field, it is unclear how this will allow the UK to reach net zero by 2050. Jacob Perkins It is a tumultuous time for climate activists in the UK. The government appears to be gearing up for a general election in which the climate might be a hot topic, with new subsidies for oil firms and reduced demands for change. Sources: The Guardian

France ・ Anti-racism

France marches against racism

Tens of thousands rallied in France to protest police violence and racism on Saturday. People took to the streets of different cities in France to protest police violence in demonstrations organised by the left, for a new anti-racist movement, with the main rally in Paris and others taking place in Marseille and beyond.

Melissa Chemam I attended the Paris march myself: many groups were represented, and the family members of those killed by the police over the years gave emotional speeches, including Nahel Merzouk's mother and Assa Traoré.

Sources: RFI, Deutsche Welle, and Personal YouTube channel

France ・ France and Africa Niger sees hope in France's withdrawal Niger welcomed the decision of France to finally withdraw its diplomatic staff from the country, including supporters of Niger’s deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum. For almost three months, Macron rejected the junta's call to leave. French military contingents will follow in the next months. Melissa Chemam Niger's relations with France, its former colonial power turned pseudo ally in its fight against jihadism, went downhill when Paris stood by the president ousted in a military coup in June. France finally agreed to retrieve its ambassador. Sources: The Guardian and Rfi

France ・ Sport's politics France bans headscarves at the Olympics, UN defends freedom of choice While France's sports minister said the country's women athletes would be barred from wearing headscarves during the Olympic Games, United Nations Rights Office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva that "no-one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear." Melissa Chemam French authorities justified their decision as "in line with the country's rules on secularism", but for the UN it's up to the Olympics' host to respect all the participants' cultures, habits and choice of faith. Sources: rfi

Youth 4 Climate: Unprecedented court hearing

 

My latest for RFI English:

Young people take European nations to court over climate failures

Six young European people will bring 32 countries before the European Court of Human Rights for failing to do their part to avert climate catastrophe. The unprecedented hearing, to be held this week, is the world’s largest climate legal action to date.

After witnessing devastating forest fires and experiencing ever-worsening heatwaves, six young people from Portugal decided to act.

Aged between 11 and 24 years old, they launched an unprecedented case against over 32 European countries in the European Court of Human Rights in September 2020.

Three years later, their case will be heard on Wednesday, 27 September.

The applicants argue that European Union member states have contributed to global warming with greenhouse gas emissions, which has resulted, among other things, in heatwaves affecting their living conditions and health.

Collective action

The claimants are supported by activists from Youth 4 Climate Justice and Avaaz, and they are represented by lawyers Stéphanie Caligara and Gearóid Ó Cuinn, of the Dublin-based human rights NGO Global Legal Action Network (GLAN).

"These young people are not even activists," Caligara told RFI. "They are just young people who have been deeply affected by the fires in the Leiria region and by devastating heatwaves, so they wanted to act.

The claimants say they were driven to act by their experiences in the wildfires that ripped through the Leiria region in Portugal in 2017, killing 66 people and destroying 20,000 hectares of forest.

“Climate change has had a profound impact on our lives," 18-year-old claimant Sofia dos Santos Oliveira said in a statement.

"It has limited our ability to partake in activities like going out and enjoying the day. It is not normal, heatwaves damage our daily lives.”  

David vs. Goliath

"This is truly a David and Goliath case," said Ó Cuinn. "It is unprecedented in its scale and consequences.

"It also makes legal history. Never before have so many countries had to defend themselves in front of any court anywhere in the world."

The countries named in the action are the 27 members of the EU, as well as Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The hearing comes following the hottest ever summer in Europe on record, with fires and floods ravaging the European continent and beyond.

The case has been supported by a global crowdfunding appeal that raised more than 138,000 euros.

The claimants hope the judges will issue a binding that would force the countries to rapidly escalate their emissions reductions.

Lawyer Caligara hopes the court will recognise that "the inaction of governments affects negatively the right to life of the claimants", and that countries will finally take the "drastic measures" needed to cut carbon emissions.

A successful outcome for the claimants would be a historic milestone in climate litigation, and would require the 32 countries named not only to ramp up emissions cuts, but also to tackle their overseas contributions to climate change, including their exports of fossil fuels.

"Pas de Justice, pas de Paix" : Assa Traoré à la marche contre le racisme du 23 septembre

 

French journalist Ariane Lavrilleux about press freedom

My article for RFI: 

Freed French journalist calls for respect of press freedom after arrest

French journalist Ariane Lavrilleux, who was arrested over her report alleging that French intelligence was used by Egypt to kill civilians, denounced attacks on press freedom on Thursday following her release from custody.

“My arrest shows that journalists have an impact and that we are necessary," Lavrilleux told a media briefing held at the Reporters Without Borders headquarters in Paris.

"We will push our efforts to inform on arms sales to dictatorships so that citizens know what our governments are doing."

In November 2021 the online media outlet Disclose published a series of articles, based on hundreds of secret documents, that said French intelligence had been misused by Egypt to target smugglers on the Libyan border and kill civilians.

Their publication prompted France’s armed forces minister to call for an investigation. 

Lavrilleux was arrested on Tuesday and her home in Marseille was searched. She was freed after 39 hours in custody.

• French journalist arrested over report on Egypt spy operation

Condemnation

Rights groups condemned what they said was an unacceptable attack on the secrecy of sources – a view backed by Reporters without Borders and the Society of Journalists.

"I am not indicted at the moment, but a sword of Damocles hovers above my head and above Disclose. Three of their journalists have already been targeted by the DGSI," Lavrilleux said.

DGSI, or the General Directorate for Internal Security, is a French agency in charged with countering espionage, terrorism, cybercrime and the surveillance of potentially threatening groups.

France's Ministry of the Armed Forces filed a complaint for "violation of national defence secrecy" following the publication of the articles, and a case was opened in July 2022 by the Paris prosecutor's office that was then placed in the hands of the DGSI.