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Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a flashpoint holy web site in Jerusalem’s Outdated Town.
Tensions over the web site in occupied East Jerusalem have fuelled previous rounds of Israeli-Palestinian violence, and Ben-Gvir’s seek advice from on Thursday threatens to disrupt delicate talks geared toward achieving a ceasefire in Israel’s more-than-nine-month conflict on Gaza.
The Palestinian International Ministry condemned the seek advice from 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 could also be respected by way of Jews, who discuss with it because the Temple Mount.
Underneath the established order, non-Muslims would possibly seek advice from the web site however can’t pray. Alternatively, Jewish guests had been more and 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 wish for the go back of Israeli captives “however with out a reckless deal, with out surrendering”.
Hamas mentioned the transfer by way of Ben-Gvir used to be a “unhealthy escalation” and known 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 gang used to be chickening out from the talks after fresh 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 free up deal as it didn’t need to finish the conflict.
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 almost certainly some distance upper than this,” he mentioned.
“This morning, a complete circle of relatives of 3 generations – grandparents, oldsters, and their kids – had been all killed. That is the trend of systematic mass killing that we’ve witnessed again and again,” Mahmoud said.
Palestinians survey the wear at a United International locations-run faculty 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 High Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s because of cope with the USA Congress subsequent week, made a wonder seek advice from 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 step with a observation from his place of business.
Round 250 folks had been taken captive all the way through the Hamas-led October 7 assault on Israel, wherein no less than 1,139 folks had been killed, in step with an Al Jazeera tally in line with Israeli statistics.
Israel’s next conflict on Gaza has killed no less than 38,848 folks and wounded 89,459 others, in step with Palestinian officers.
Israelis launched from captivity within the Gaza Strip are making plans a protest on Thursday in opposition to Netanyahu’s US shuttle.
They are saying they’ll free up a “particular observation” at a sq. in Tel Aviv the place protesters calling for the discharge of captives and new elections have accumulated for the reason that get started of the conflict.
