On July 29, 2024, US President Biden delivered a speech on the Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, USA, to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act.
Elisabeth Franz | Reuters
US President Joe Biden stated he nonetheless needs Iran to step down regardless of its threats to avenge the assassination of Hamas chief in Tehran, as fears develop that Israel’s battle in opposition to Palestinian militants in Gaza might escalate into one thing extra critical. Widespread Center East Battle.
Hamas’s prime chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli assault in Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s prime army commander, Fouad Shukr. Fuad Shukr, a bunch that, like Hamas, is backed by Iran.
Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh and, together with Hezbollah, have vowed revenge. Israel has not claimed or denied duty.
Requested by reporters whether or not Iran would step down, Biden stated Saturday in response to a loud query, “I hope so. I do not know.”
To bolster defenses within the Center East in opposition to threats from Israel’s enemies, the Pentagon stated on Friday it will deploy extra fighter jets and Navy warships to the area.
Because the battle in Gaza approaches its eleventh month, Haniyeh’s loss of life is one in every of a sequence of killings of senior Hamas figures, fueling issues that the battle in Gaza is evolving right into a broader Center East battle.
Hamas stated it had begun “in depth consultations” to decide on a brand new chief, three days after Haniyeh’s assassination.
The USA continued diplomatic contacts with worldwide companions together with France, Britain, Italy and Egypt on Saturday to stop additional escalation of regional tensions.
The USA has urged residents wishing to go away Lebanon to begin planning instantly, and the British authorities has suggested its nationals to “depart instantly.” Canada warned residents to keep away from touring to Israel and stated regional armed battle jeopardized safety.
Violence in Gaza and the West Financial institution
Violence continued within the Palestinian territories on Saturday.
Hamas stated an Israeli airstrike on a college housing displaced folks in Gaza Metropolis killed at the least 15 Palestinians on Saturday, hours after two airstrikes within the occupied West Financial institution killed a number of Palestinians together with Palestinians. 9 militants, together with Commander Maas, died.
The Israeli army stated the primary of two airstrikes within the West Financial institution hit a automobile in a city close to the town of Tulkarem, concentrating on an armed group it stated was finishing up assaults.
Hamas’ assertion stated one of many useless was a commander of its Tulkarem brigade, whereas its ally Islamic Jihad claimed the opposite 4 males killed within the assault had been its fighters.
The Israeli army stated a second airstrike within the space hours later focused one other group of militants who fired on troops in what it stated was a counterterrorism operation in Tulkarem.
Palestinian information company WAFA stated the assault killed 4 folks, whereas Hamas stated all 9 folks killed in two Israeli assaults within the West Financial institution had been militants.
Not less than 39,550 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s army operation in Gaza, in line with Gaza well being officers. The offensive was triggered by a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,200 folks useless and 250 kidnapped, in line with Israeli statistics.
A high-level Israeli delegation paid a quick go to to Cairo on Saturday in an try and revive Gaza cease-fire talks, Egyptian Airports Authority sources stated. Israeli media stated Israeli officers returned to Israel a couple of hours later.
After latest occasions in Lebanon and Iran, the probability of a breakthrough seems low. Israel has not revealed whether or not it was behind Haniyeh’s assassination. However Netanyahu stated earlier this week that Israel had not too long ago dealt devastating blows to Iranian proxies together with Hamas and Hezbollah.
