The highly explosive situation in the Middle East is threatening to worsen. While the US government announced retaliation after a deadly attack by pro-Iranian militias on US soldiers in Jordan, Israel, its ally in the Gaza Strip, is planning an extremely sensitive army operation in the southernmost part of the sealed-off coastal area, according to a media report.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians have sought protection from the fighting there and are dependent on help. According to its own statements, the controversial UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA) may have to stop all of its work in four weeks if promised funds are not paid. Meanwhile, the US government is increasing the pressure on Jewish extremists in the West Bank with sanctions.
US Secretary of Defense: Dangerous moment in the Middle East
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke of a “dangerous moment” after the deaths of two soldiers and one soldier in a drone attack by pro-Iranian militias in Jordan. US President Joe Biden “will not tolerate attacks on American troops, and I will not do that either.” They want to avoid a major conflict in the region. Those responsible for the attacks will be held accountable, said Austin. He announced a multi-stage response.
The US government blamed the attack on the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group, which had previously claimed responsibility. It is a kind of umbrella group for pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, which have been operating together under this name since October 7th. It remains unclear how much Iran knew about the attack beforehand, Austin said. However, Iran finances these groups and also partially trains them. Without this kind of support, such attacks on US bases would not occur, Austin said. But he made it clear: “We are not at war with Iran.”
Is Israel’s army advancing on Rafah?
In the Gaza war, the Israeli army intends to expand its fighting against Hamas to Rafah, in the southernmost part of the territory, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. The military will also reach and destroy the Hamas brigade in Rafah, just as it is currently dealing with the Hamas battalions in the area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, the newspaper quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant as saying.
There are now said to be more than 1.3 million people in Rafah and the surrounding area. That’s more than half of the Gaza Strip’s total population of around 2.2 million. The Palestinian civilians are seeking protection from the fighting in extremely small spaces.
Almost four months after Hamas’ terrorist attack on southern Israel, Israel’s army has moved deep into the Gaza Strip to crush Hamas. The southern end of the sealed-off coastal area, which borders Egypt with the divided city of Rafah and the border crossing of the same name, is so far out of reach of ground troops. The US newspaper “Wall Street Journal” reported three weeks ago, citing unnamed Israeli and Egyptian sources, that Israeli officials had informed Egypt of a planned military operation along the Gaza side of the border.
Austin and Galant spoke about Israel’s transition from the previous massive bombings in the Gaza Strip to lower-intensity operations, as the Pentagon announced in Washington. The USA has been demanding this for a long time. Austin reiterated the importance of ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the coastal area.
Both defense ministers also discussed support for a diplomatic solution on the Israeli-Lebanese border and stability in the West Bank, it said. There are repeated violent clashes between the Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia and the Israeli army in the border area of both countries.
UNRWA: Aid funds could run out at the end of February
Referring to allegations against individual UNRWA employees of involvement in Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks in Israel, Galant told a UN delegation: “Funds from countries around the world were funneled through UNRWA and used to strengthen the terrorist infrastructure and pay terrorists.”
The organization has lost its legitimacy. Several Western countries such as Germany and the USA have temporarily stopped payments to UNRWA because of the allegations. “It is difficult to imagine that the people of Gaza will survive this crisis without UNRWA,” warned UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini. If funding is not resumed, it will most likely be forced to stop work not only in Gaza but also in the entire region at the end of February.
USA sanctions Jewish settlers in the West Bank
The US government, meanwhile, has imposed sanctions on four Jewish settlers accused of taking part in violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. The US Treasury Department released the names of the four Israelis, who are also accused of intimidation and destruction of property. US President Biden has repeatedly expressed concern about the increase in violence by extremists, a government official in Washington said earlier. These actions pose a serious threat to peace and security stability in the West Bank, Israel and the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed caution about the sanctions. “Israel takes appropriate action against anyone who breaks the law anywhere,” Israeli media quoted him as saying. Therefore, “exceptional measures are not necessary.” The “absolute majority” of West Bank settlers are law-abiding citizens, many of whom served in the armed forces to defend Israel, Netanyahu said, according to his office.
