Pentagon says Israel’s hostage operation did not involve Gaza pier/node/2527756/middle-east
Pentagon says Israel’s hostage operation did not involve Gaza pier
A truck carries humanitarian aid across Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver aid, off the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (Reuters/File Photo)
Pentagon says Israel’s hostage operation did not involve Gaza pier
The US military’s pier operations resumed briefly on Saturday after nearly two weeks offline
Updated 10 June 2024
Reuters
WASHINGTON DC: The Pentagon on Monday sought to dispel what it said were false perceptions on social media that Israel staged part of its hostage rescue operations on the US military’s floating pier off Gaza, saying that was not true and no US personnel were involved.
Still, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder acknowledged there were Israeli helicopter operations “near” the pier, which was announced by US President Joe Biden as a way to bring desperately needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
“It was near but I think it’s incidental. Again, the pier, the equipment, the personnel all supporting that humanitarian effort had nothing to do with the IDF rescue operation,” Ryder said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
In a raid in Gaza on Saturday, Israeli forces rescued four hostages held by Hamas since October. In Saturday’s operation 274 Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Ryder said the US military was trying to “push back on some of the inaccurate social media allegations” circulating about the pier.
“The humanitarian pier facility, including its equipment, personnel and assets, were not used in the IDF’s operation to rescue hostages in Gaza. And any such claim to the contrary is false.”
The US military’s pier operations resumed briefly on Saturday after nearly two weeks offline but have been halted against since Sunday due to bad weather. On Saturday, 492 metric tons of aid were delivered from the pier, the US military’s Central Command said.
The Israel-Hamas war has now entered its ninth month, since Hamas-led fighters killed 1,200 people and took some 250 others hostage in a rampage through southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians and reduced most of the enclave to wasteland, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Any perception that the pier could be used by Israel militarily could undermine US efforts to increase the flow of aid to Palestinians and potentially increase the threat to US troops.
Ryder acknowledged misinformation and disinformation about what US troops were doing in the Middle East. But he dismissed the idea that the current misperceptions that the pier was used by Israel increased the threat to US forces, who have air defenses installed to shield them from possible rocket attack.
“No, I don’t think it puts our forces at greater risk,” he said, without explaining how he came to that conclusion.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank refugee camps
The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups
Updated 9 min 2 sec ago
Reuters
JERUSALEM: Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps in the occupied West Bank have left their homes as a weeks-long Israeli offensive has demolished houses and torn up vital infrastructure in the heavily built up townships, Palestinian authorities said.
Israeli forces began their operation in the refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Jan. 21, deploying hundreds of troops and bulldozers that demolished houses and dug up roads, driving almost all of the camp’s residents out.
“We don’t know what’s going on in the camp but there is continuous demolition and roads being dug up,” said Mohammed Al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee.
The operation, which Israel says is aimed at thwarting Iranian-backed militant groups in the West Bank, has since been extended to other camps, notably the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby Nur Shams camp, both of which have also been devastated. The camps, built for descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled or were driven from their homes in the 1948 war around the creation of the state of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups. They have been raided repeatedly by the Israeli military but the current operation, which began as a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza, has been on an unusually large scale. According to figures from the Palestinian Authority, around 17,000 people have now left Jenin refugee camp, leaving the site almost completely deserted, while in Nur Shams 6,000 people, or about two thirds of the total, have left, with another 10,000 leaving from Tulkarm camp.
“The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee. “The Civil Defense, the Red Crescent and the Palestinian security forces brought them some food yesterday but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp.” The Israeli raids have demolished dozens of houses and torn up large stretches of roadway as well as cutting off water and power, but the military has denied forcing residents to leave their homes.
“People obviously have the possibility to move or go where they want, if they will. But if they don’t, they’re allowed to stay,” Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters.
The operation began as Israel moved to banish the main UN Palestinian relief organization UNRWA from its headquarters in East Jerusalem and cut it off from any contact with Israeli officials.
The ban, which took effect at the end of January, has hit UNRWA’s work in the West Bank and Gaza, where it provides aid for millions of Palestinians in the refugee camps.
Israel has accused UNRWA of cooperating with Hamas and said some UNRWA workers even took part in the Hamas-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that set off the 15-month war in Gaza.
Algiers slams French minister’s visit to W. Sahara
France’s stance on Western Sahara has been ambiguous in recent years, often straining its ties with Morocco
Updated 9 sec ago
AFP
ALGIERS: Algeria on Tuesday denounced a visit by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati to Western Sahara, after Paris recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory, as “objectionable on multiple levels.”
The vast desert territory is a former Spanish colony largely controlled by Morocco but claimed for decades by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
Dati, who described her visit as “historic,” launched with Moroccan Culture Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid a French cultural mission in the territory’s main city, Laayoune.
An Algerian foreign ministry statement posted on social media Tuesday said the visit “reflects blatant disregard for international legality by a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
“This visit reinforces Morocco’s fait accompli in Western Sahara, a territory where the decolonization process remains incomplete and the right to self-determination unfulfilled,” it said.
Dati’s trip, a first for a French official, “reflects the detestable image of a former colonial power in solidarity with a new one,” the statement added.
The United Nations considers Western Sahara to be a “non-self-governing territory” and has had a peacekeeping mission there since 1991, whose stated aim is to organize a referendum on the territory’s future.
But Rabat has repeatedly rejected any vote in which independence is an option, instead proposing autonomy under Morocco.
France’s stance on Western Sahara has been ambiguous in recent years, often straining its ties with Morocco.
But in July, French President Emmanuel Macron said Rabat’s autonomy plan was the “only basis” to resolve the Western Sahara dispute.
Algeria has backed the separatist Polisario Front and cut diplomatic relations with Rabat in 2021 — the year after Morocco normalized ties with Israel under a deal that awarded it US recognition of its annexation of the Western Sahara.
In October, the UN Security Council called for parties to “resume negotiations” to reach a “lasting and mutually acceptable solution” to the Western Sahara dispute.
In November 2020, the Polisario Front said it was ending a 29-year ceasefire with Morocco after Moroccan troops were deployed to the far south of the territory to remove independence supporters blocking the only road to Mauritania.
The Polisario Front claims the route is illegal, arguing that it did not exist when the ceasefire was established in 1991.
Kurdistan region’s pipeline restart ready to go, foreign minister says
Baghdad has periodically withheld the Kurdistan region’s share of the federal budget to try to stop it from exporting oil independently
Updated 10 min 9 sec ago
Reuters
BAGHDAD: A major pipeline connecting Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkiye is ready to reopen and resume exports, the Kurdish foreign minister said on Tuesday, potentially ending a dispute between Baghdad and Irbil that led to the closure of the pipeline in 2023.
Foreign Minister Safeen Dizayee declined to say when the pipeline would reopen but said it would mark a turning point in relations between Kurdistan and Baghdad.
Iraq’s oil minister said on Monday the Iraq-Turkiye pipeline (ITP) will resume next week.
“All arrangements that were set on the table have been agreed to, with the aim to prepare for re-exports. There shouldn’t be any hiccups. The legal aspects have been met, the technical aspects are in place,” Dizayee told Reuters by phone. “The button just has to be pushed to increase production and then re-export.”
The oil flows were halted by Turkiye in March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorized pipeline exports by the Kurdistan Regional Government between 2014 and 2018.
Negotiations to restart the pipeline have been ongoing, with US officials participating in some of the talks.
Resuming oil exports will boost the Kurdistan region’s budget, Dizayee said.
“This means Kurdistan will benefit from the federal budget and hopefully this will end the saga of (civil servants’) salaries coming or not coming, received in dribs and drabs,” Dizayee said.
Baghdad has periodically withheld the Kurdistan region’s share of the federal budget to try to stop it from exporting oil independently.
Oil producers in the Kurdistan region have had to wind down production without an export route. It will likely take some time for them to restart their oil wells and for the pipeline to use its full capacity. Before it was shut down, it transported around 450,000 barrels per day.
“They’ve invested a lot. It was a risk they took and it must pay off. They [the companies] need assurances that their investment will not be down the drain,” Dizayee said. “Compensation is something that needs to be discussed.”
An international consultancy will be brought in to do an assessment of the cost of production, expenses, cost recovery and the production sharing agreements, he said.
How Baghdad’s first skatepark reflects renewed focus on the aspirations of Iraqi youth
The park’s opening aligns with government efforts to engage youth, including job training programs and the creation of Iraq’s first Youth Advisory Council
Iraq has one of the world’s youngest populations, with more than 50 percent aged under 25, making youth-focused initiatives critical for stability and growth
Updated 27 min 41 sec ago
Nadia Al-Faour
DUBAI: In a city long defined by conflict and uncertainty, a new skatepark in Baghdad is giving young Iraqis a space to express themselves, find community, and momentarily escape the pressures of everyday life.
The project, funded by Germany and France and supported by the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports, reflects a growing recognition of the need to invest in the country’s youth — many of whom have spent their entire lives navigating war, economic hardship, and political instability.
The skatepark, which opened on Feb. 1, is the first of its kind in the Iraqi capital. Located near Al-Shaab International Stadium and tucked away from public view, it offers a safe haven for skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters of all skill levels.
It was built by Make Life Skate Life, a Belgian-American charity that has constructed similar facilities in Morocco, India, and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s northern city of Sulaymaniyah.
“For five years, we tried to secure land for this project,” said Arne Hillernes, founder of Make Life Skate Life. “After witnessing scores of Iraqi youngsters drive six hours to Sulaymaniyah to enjoy the Suli Skatepark, I knew this was something that Baghdad needed.”
The skatepark, which opened on Feb. 1, offers a safe haven for skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters of all skill levels. (AFP)
The new skatepark in Baghdad, which has been designated as the 2025 Arab Capital of Sports, is more than just ramps and rails — it represents a shift in how Iraq is catering to its younger generation.
The facility, which is free to use, provides a structured, creative outlet for young men and women in a country where public recreational spaces are limited.
For many Iraqi youth, years of war and economic struggle have left them with few opportunities. Poverty and joblessness remain significant challenges, while some young men face recruitment efforts from armed militias that promise income and status in exchange for allegiance.
For others, the daily stress of financial hardship at home is overwhelming.
“Sometimes I feel the need to escape my house,” Mehdi, a 17-year-old Baghdad local, told Arab News. “I take my younger brother with me as the situation at home can sometimes be tense. My parents don’t seem to mind. I think they believe it’s better we are out playing sports than causing trouble or pledging allegiance to one of the armed groups.”
Iraqi security forces deploy to disperse protesters during a demonstration against the government’s employment policy near the parliament building on June 7, 2022. (AFP)
The park’s appeal extends to female skaters as well, despite the lingering societal resistance to women in sports.
“Finding a place in Baghdad to build a free and public skatepark was incredibly challenging,” said Safeen Mohammed from Suli Skatepark. “It took more than five years of persistence, but finally the dream of hundreds of skaters living in Baghdad has come true. The skateboarding community in Iraq will grow from here.”
The launch of the skatepark comes at a crucial time, as Iraq’s government attempts to engage with its young population in more meaningful ways. The Ministry of Youth and Sports, which helped facilitate the project, has also been involved in initiatives aimed at improving employment prospects and civic engagement for young Iraqis.
Among these initiatives is the Job Search Club, a program launched in partnership with the UN’s International Labor Organization and Prospects, an initiative aimed at enhancing youth employability.
Additionally, the ministry has teamed up with the UN to establish Iraq’s first Youth Advisory Council, designed to ensure that young people have a voice in shaping government programs and policies.
The park’s appeal extends to female skaters as well, despite the lingering societal resistance to women in sports. (AFP)
Such efforts have been welcomed, particularly in the wake of the October 2019 protests, when thousands of young Iraqis took to the streets demanding reform.
Frustrated by high unemployment, corruption, and poor public services, these demonstrators faced violent crackdowns, with more than 500 people killed and thousands more injured.
Although the movement succeeded in forcing the resignation of former Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and securing parliamentary seats for youth-driven political parties, many of the grievances that fueled the protests remain unresolved.
Iraq has one of the world’s youngest populations, with more than half of its 42 million people under the age of 25, according to the World Bank. Despite the country’s gradual economic recovery, opportunities for young people remain scarce, with unemployment at 14.2 percent.
The situation is further exacerbated by climate pressures, which have disrupted farming livelihoods, rising living costs, and a struggling education system.
In October 2019, frustrated by high unemployment, corruption, and poor public services, thousands of young Iraqis took to the streets demanding reform. (AFP)
For years, militia groups have sought to exploit this vulnerability, recruiting disillusioned young men with promises of stability, money, and respect. Iran-backed armed groups like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Al-Nujaba have been particularly notorious for such recruitment efforts.
The presence of a skatepark may seem like a small step in comparison to these challenges, but for many young Iraqis, it represents a much-needed alternative to a bleak and uncertain future.
“I think this is the first time I feel seen by the leaders in government,” said Mehdi. “Usually, we feel like ghosts in our own cities, but this time they have actually done something for us.”
At the skatepark’s opening, Ishtar Obaid, a member of Iraq’s Olympic Committee, highlighted its significance beyond sports.
“This will provide a safe and welcoming environment for all our youth to express themselves and engage in physical activity,” she said. “It represents more than just a place to skate — it is a space for creativity, connection, and hope.”
The presence of a skatepark may seem like a small step in comparison to these challenges, but for many young Iraqis, it represents a much-needed alternative to a bleak and uncertain future. (AFP)
Hillernes, reflecting on the project’s completion, believes the skatepark will be a launching pad for a new era of youth engagement in Iraq.
“Skateboarding is not just a sport. It builds community,” he said. “The more spaces we create like this, the more young people will have a reason to stay engaged in something positive.”
For Baghdad’s youth, this skatepark is not just a recreational facility — it is a symbol of possibility, a glimpse of a future where their needs are acknowledged, and their potential is nurtured.
As Iraq continues on its path toward stability and development, initiatives like this serve as a reminder that addressing the aspirations of young people is essential to securing a more peaceful and prosperous future for the country.
AI models supplied to Israel by tech giants contributed to deaths of innocent people
After a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s use of Microsoft and OpenAI technology skyrocketed, an investigation found
The investigation also revealed new details of how AI systems select targets and ways they can go wrong, including faulty data or flawed algorithms
Updated 18 February 2025
AP
TEL AVIV: US tech giants have quietly empowered Israel to track and kill many more alleged militants more quickly in Gaza and Lebanon through a sharp spike in artificial intelligence and computing services.
But the number of civilians killed has also soared, along with fears that these tools are contributing to the deaths of innocent people.
Militaries have for years hired private companies to build custom autonomous weapons. However, Israel’s recent wars mark a leading instance in which commercial AI models made in the US have been used in active warfare, despite concerns that they were not originally developed to help decide who lives and who dies.
The Israeli military uses AI to sift through vast troves of intelligence, intercepted communications and surveillance to find suspicious speech or behavior and learn the movements of its enemies.
After a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, its use of Microsoft and OpenAI technology skyrocketed, an investigation found.
The investigation also revealed new details of how AI systems select targets and ways they can go wrong, including faulty data or flawed algorithms.
It was based on internal documents, data and exclusive interviews with current and former Israeli officials and company employees.
Israel’s goal after the attack that killed about 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages was to eradicate Hamas, and its military has called AI a “game changer” in yielding targets more swiftly.
Since the war started, more than 70,000 people have died in Gaza and Lebanon and nearly 70 percent of the buildings in Gaza have been devastated, according to health ministries in Gaza and Lebanon.
“This is the first confirmation we have gotten that commercial AI models are directly being used in warfare,” said Heidy Khlaaf, chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute and former senior safety engineer at OpenAI.
“The implications are enormous for the role of tech in enabling this type of unethical and unlawful warfare going forward.”
Among US tech firms, Microsoft has had an especially close relationship with the Israeli military spanning decades.
Israel’s war response strained its own servers and increased its reliance on outside, third-party vendors, according to a presentation last year by Col. Racheli Dembinsky, the military’s top information technology officer.
As she described how AI had provided Israel “very significant operational effectiveness” in Gaza, the logos of Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services appeared on a large screen behind her.
