Israel’s safety minister toured a courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque in a provocative transfer that might threaten ceasefire talks.Israel’s far-right Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a flashpoint holy web site in Jerusalem’s Previous Town.
Tensions over the web site in occupied East Jerusalem have fuelled previous rounds of Israeli-Palestinian violence, and Ben-Gvir’s consult with on Thursday threatens to disrupt delicate talks geared toward achieving a ceasefire in Israel’s more-than-nine-month warfare on Gaza.
The Palestinian International Ministry condemned the consult with as a “provocative intrusion” that endangered the delicate established order in regards to the Jerusalem compound.
The mosque is positioned within the Al-Aqsa compound, the 3rd holiest web site on the earth for Muslims. The web site may be respected by way of Jews, who check with it because the Temple Mount.
Below the established order, non-Muslims would possibly consult with the web site however can’t pray. Alternatively, Jewish guests had been increasingly more defying the ban, one thing Palestinians believe provocation, fearing that Israel intends to take over the web site.
Ben-Gvir mentioned he went as much as the web site to hope for the go back of Israeli captives “however with no reckless deal, with out surrendering”.
Hamas mentioned the transfer by way of Ben-Gvir used to be a “bad escalation” and referred to as at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to take “critical motion to prevent those systemic violations” of the holy web site.
Truce talks in jeopardy as Israel steps up offensive
Israeli negotiators landed in Cairo on Wednesday to proceed truce talks, which seem to have stalled after a senior Hamas legitimate mentioned that the crowd used to be retreating from the talks after contemporary Israeli moves on Gaza however used to be in a position to go back if its perspective adjustments.
Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, has accused Israel of intentionally undermining negotiations for a truce and captives liberate deal as it didn’t need to finish the warfare.
Israel’s army offensive in central Gaza continues to accentuate, with 54 Palestinians killed in 24 hours, Palestinian government mentioned on Thursday.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah, mentioned the serious Israeli bombing marketing campaign within the centre of the enclave has left 500 folks useless prior to now 10 days.
“That’s most likely a conservative quantity. While you believe all the ones lacking, it’s most likely a long way upper than this,” he mentioned.
“This morning, an entire circle of relatives of 3 generations – grandparents, folks, and their youngsters – have been all killed. That is the development of systematic mass killing that we’ve witnessed time and again,” Mahmoud said.
Palestinians survey the wear and tear at a United Countries-run college sheltering displaced folks, following an Israeli strike in Gaza Town, July 18, 2024 [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]
Netanyahu visits Rafah
As Israeli forces endured assaults on Gaza, Israeli Top Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s because of deal with the US Congress subsequent week, made a wonder consult with to Israeli troops within the space round Rafah, telling them that army force mixed and an insistence on securing the discharge of dozens of captives nonetheless held in Gaza used to be generating effects.
“This double force isn’t delaying the deal, it’s advancing it,” he mentioned, in keeping with a observation from his place of business.
Round 250 folks have been taken captive all over the Hamas-led October 7 assault on Israel, wherein a minimum of 1,139 folks have been killed, in keeping with an Al Jazeera tally in keeping with Israeli statistics.
Israel’s next warfare on Gaza has killed a minimum of 38,848 folks and wounded 89,459 others, in keeping with Palestinian officers.
Israelis launched from captivity within the Gaza Strip are making plans a protest on Thursday towards Netanyahu’s US shuttle.
They are saying they’re going to liberate a “particular observation” at a sq. in Tel Aviv the place protesters calling for the discharge of captives and new elections have collected for the reason that get started of the warfare.