More countries are suspending funding for UNRWA. Estonia, France, and Japan joined the party. Meanwhile, the UN (and UNRWA in particular) went into damage control mode. They claim to be shocked by the revelations and claim that a dozen individuals shouldn’t be enough to blacken the reputation of the thousands working for UNRWA. Well, that … More Gaza War 29 Jan
The ICJ issued an interim report that ordered Israel to take more care to avoid harming civilians in Gaza. They did NOT order Israel to put a halt to the IDF campaign on the ground. Israel will have to supply the court with reports of measures taken to avoid civilian casualties. That will probably be … More Gaza War 28 Jan
The International Court of Justice in the Hague will release its decision later today. I won’t be able to comment about it until Sunday. What I can comment about is the war. CNN, in particular, spends an inordinate amount of time talking about Gazan casualties. They also view the conflict threw a seriously distorted lens. … More Gaza War 26 Jan
I’m still hearing about hostage release talks, but the reported red line positions of both Hamas and Israel seem just as far apart as ever. Hamas wants to survive and stay in power and Israel wants them gone. It doesn’t seem to me that there is much room for negotiations. In the north, Hezbollah fired … More Gaza War 25 Jan
The media is full of speculation about possible hostage release deals today. Part of it is fueled by some official statements from parties who seem to have a special interest in putting an end to the fighting. It’s an admirable desire, but the rumors, so far, don’t appear to have much substance to back them … More Gaza War 24 Jan
This morning it’s time for a comparison. How does the UN handle the crises in Gaza and Sudan? The Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has been making daily statements calling on Israel to stop the war, and to grant Palestinian statehood. He hasn’t mentioned Hamas as being responsible for initiating the hostilities. He has also barely … More Gaza War 22 Jan
Over the weekend the IDF has been continuing the methodical exploration of the underground tunnel system beneath Khan Yunis. Yesterday one of the discoveries was an underground prison where hostages had been held. There were iron bar cells and lots of detritus that pointed to prior occupation by hostages although none were present now. There … More Gaza War 21 Jan
It looks to me like the little dispute between Iran and Pakistan will dry up and go away. If there is a lesson to be learned from it, I would think it’s one the USA should take to heart. If someone uses force against you, or your territory or citizens, then you need to respond … More Gaza War 19 Jan
The sad news released last night was that 4 hostages were killed while held by Hamas, apparently by Israeli strikes that killed a Hamas division commander. Hamas may not have dropped the bomb, but I see them as entirely responsible; first, because the hostages should have been released over 3 months ago, and second, because … More Gaza War 18 Jan
Following yesterday’s successful terrorist attack inside Israel, It seems Hamas is trying to create another front to distract Israeli attention from Gaza. If that is what Hamas is trying to do, it isn’t exactly a roaring success. Israeli intelligence picked up information on another terror squad on the West Bank that was about to drive … More Gaza War 17 Jan
Wetherhorn 