Israeli tanks taking up positions in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Israeli tanks taking up positions in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Israeli tanks taking up positions in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Israeli tanks taking up positions in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters

White House says Israel has responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza


Jihan Abdalla
  • English
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Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Israel has a responsibility under international law to protect civilians, as its forces expand their ground operations in Gaza, a US official said on Sunday.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Israeli army should be taking every possible step to distinguish between Hamas and Palestinian civilians.

Mr Sullivan said Hamas was hiding behind civilians but that does not lessen Israel’s “responsibility under international humanitarian law and the laws of war to do all in their power to protect the civilian population”, he said in an interview with ABC.

In another interview on CNN, Mr Sullivan said the Israeli army should do all it can to distinguish between civilians and military targets.

“What we believe is every hour, every day of this military operation, the IDF [Israeli military], the Israeli government should be taking every possible means available to them to distinguish between Hamas terrorists who are legitimate military targets and civilians who are not,” he said.

His comments came amid growing international outcry over Israel's air and land bombardment of the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel, killing 1,400 people.

The backlash was magnified on Friday, after communication services were cut amid a step up in Israeli air strikes on the territory, including from Mr Biden's own Democratic party.

“We have to recognise that our credibility and our authority on the world stage is greatly diminished if we do not also call out this siege that Israel is launching on Gaza as violations of international law,” US Representative Pramila Jayapal, leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said on NBC.

“We're being isolated in the rest of the world,” Ms Jayapal said.

At least 8,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 3,000 children, according to medical officials in Gaza, and the enclave's 2.3 million residents are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as Israel has blocked the entry of water, food, medicine and fuel.

The US has vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, and has instead called for “humanitarian pauses” that would allow aid in.

“There have been deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians in this conflict and that is an absolute tragedy,” Mr Sullivan told ABC.

“Those people did not deserve to die,” he said. “Those people deserve to live lives of peace and safety and dignity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is intent on destroying Hamas and that the war, now in its third week, has now entered a new phase.

Mr Sullivan said President Joe Biden was due to speak to Mr Netanyahu later on Sunday with a view to holding “candid” talks.

The Biden administration is negotiating the entry of more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the exit of American citizens and the release of hostages.

So far only several dozen lorries carrying much-needed supplies have been able to enter Gaza through the Egyptian border.

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Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

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THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Director: Simon Curtis

 

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Rating: 4/5

 
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

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iPhone XS
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Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Britain's travel restrictions
  • A negative test 2 days before flying
  • Complete passenger locator form
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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

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You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

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BIO

Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.

Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.

Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.

Favourite colour: Black.

Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.

Updated: October 30, 2023, 8:35 AM