Israel’s war on Gaza updates: UN chief says Middle East ‘on the brink’
Iranian officials warn Israel of a larger attack should it respond to overnight drone and missile assault.
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- United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warns the international community against deeper descent into conflict, addressing the Security Council during a meeting over Iran’s weekend attack on Israel.
- Israel’s war cabinet debates whether to retaliate against Iran for its massive drone and missile attack overnight.
- Iran says it carried out the assault in response to an Israeli raid on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 and says the matter can now “be deemed concluded”.
- Iranian FM says Tehran warned allies 72 hours prior to the strike, but US official denies receiving notice.
- At least 33,729 Palestinians have been killed and 76,371 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive.
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A look at what happened today
We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap from today:
- UN Secretary-General Guterres told the UN Security Council, “We have a shared responsibility to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza”.
- Iran’s ambassador to the UN said its attack on Israel “was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defence”.
- Iranian FM said Tehran warned allies 72 hours before the strike, but US officials deny receiving notice.
- Israeli forces and settlers injured at least five Palestinians in the Jalazoun refugee camp and the al-Mazraa Asharqiya village in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
- The leaders of the G7 nations accused Iran of further stepping “toward the destabilisation of the region”, adding that Tehran “risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation”.
- Hezbollah congratulated Iran’s leadership for its attack on Israel, calling it a “wise decision to respond firmly to the Zionist aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus”.
- The Israeli war cabinet met to debate the response to the Iranian attack.
- Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said Israel will exact a price from Iran when the time is “right”.
Israelis killed four Palestinian civilians in West Bank since Friday: Health Ministry
Israelis have shot and killed four civilians in the occupied West Bank since Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a statement on Telegram.
The ministry said that more than 65 other Palestinians were wounded in the same period, with the majority of injuries caused by gunfire from Israeli forces and settlers.
The ministry said Israelis have now killed at least 464 Palestinians and injured more than 4,800 in the occupied West Bank since October 7.
Israel’s past defiance in spotlight as US calls for Iran attack restraint
The response from US President Joe Biden’s administration to Iran’s historic missile and drone attack on Israel has been twofold: Washington has re-upped its pledge to always stand by its “ironclad” ally Israel, while also appealing to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to take further action that could drag the region into wider war.
The days ahead will show if those two options are compatible, or if the two governments’ priorities are on a collision course, analysts told Al Jazeera.
In the short term, the April 13-14 Iranian attack is a coup for both Israel and its backers in the United States. From their perspective, it offers renewed justification for military support to Israel while weakening the world’s focus on alleged abuses committed in Gaza in seven months of war, according to Trita Parsi, the executive vice president of the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
“[But this] is a moment – given the fact we’re looking into the abyss in terms of the region – that Biden has to be much clearer and much stronger in drawing a red line for Israel and Netanyahu not to bring the entire region into a war,” Parsi said.
Read more here.
Israeli air attack kills five civilians in Nuseirat: Wafa
Israeli air attacks hit a house northwest of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday evening, killing five people and injuring dozens, according to the Wafa news agency.
Wafa also reported that Israeli air attacks levelled a mosque in Nuseirat and struck a residential tower in the camp.
Photos: Pro-Palestine protests in Copenhagen, Denmark
Israel not going to get a UNSC statement of condemnation
Israel was certainly hoping there would be condemnation [of Iran’s attacks] but it appears that there will not be a statement from the Security Council. The council operates with consensus and clearly, they did not have consensus on this.
That will not sit well with the Israelis but I should point out that after the April 1 Israeli attack on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus, Russia and Algeria, and other Security Council members, also asked for a statement of condemnation and that did not happen either, mostly blocked by the United States, France and the UK.
So where are we at? We’re back to the point of everyone calling for restraint and where all council members – and this is where we have some sort of unanimity… on opinions – calling for no escalation.
And clearly, the ball now is in Israel’s court because Iran has said they consider this matter over at this point.
Sorry, but Iran is not the aggressor here
Al Jazeera columnist Belen Fernandez argues, “In light of the unceasing slaughter in Gaza … the Western response to the intercepted Iranian missiles and drones is sickeningly cynical.”
Read more here.
Israel intercepted UAV ‘launched from Yemen’: Security firm
UK security company Ambrey says that the Israeli military intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from Yemen near the Israeli port city of Eilat on the Red Sea.
Ambrey said they also observed unprecedented levels of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) interference off Eilat and neighbouring Aqaba, Jordan, on the same day.
“These were due to electronic warfare counter-measures,” the statement said.
Since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October, Houthi rebels in Yemen have fired drones from across the Red Sea towards Eilat and Israeli-linked ships as a show of solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza.
US, UK, France have shown ‘hypocritical behaviour’: Iran’s ambassador
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said, “In response to the Israeli regime’s recurring military aggression, particularly its armed attack on April 1 2024 against Iranian diplomatic premises” and in line with the second article of the UN charter, the Iranian military “carried out a series of military strikes on Israeli military objectives” using missiles and drones.
The operation, he said, “was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defence”.
He then highlighted the US, UK and France as having chosen “to turn a blind eye to reality and overlook the root causes contributing to the current situation”.
“In hypocritical behaviour, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures: to uphold the international commitment to peace and security in the region.
“They made unsuccessful attempts to use lies, manipulate the narrative, spread disinformation and engage in a destructive blame game.
“For over six months now, these countries, especially the United States, have shielded Israel from any responsibility for the Gaza massacre.
“While they have denied Iran the inherent right to self-defence against the Israeli armed attack on our diplomatic premises, at the same time, they shamefully justified a massacre and genocide against the defenceless Palestinian people”.
Israel makes three demands at UNSC
In his pretty long speech, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, had a lot of hyperbole in there but when it got down to what Israel really wants to see, it came down to three things:
There was a strong condemnation that Israel hopes the Security Council will issue against Iran.
Israel is expecting the UN to impose more sanctions and the Israeli ambassador says [JCPOA nuclear deal measures] should be implemented immediately.
And then he also wants the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] to be tagged as a “terrorist organisation”.
But I think it was the sanctions that Israel was really looking for here and we’ll have to see if that comes about.
[Essentially], Israel has laid out the case that they are the victims here and Iran – in their view – is the one spreading “terror”; not only, in their view, in Israel but in other parts of the world and region as well.
Israel’s ambassador compares Iran with Nazis
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, says: “From the moment I began my tenure here, in every speech and in countless letters, I rang the warning bell regarding Iran.
“I called on this council to take concrete action against the Ayatollah regime. I made it clear that Iran and its hegemonic ambitions of global domination must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return, to a regional war that can escalate to a world war.
“Last night, the world witnessed an unprecedented escalation that serves as the clearest proof for what happens when warnings aren’t heeded.”
He then said that Iran’s goal “has been and continues to be world domination by exporting its radical [Shia] revolution across the globe”.
“The Islamic regime of today is no different from the Third Reich and Khamenei is no different from Adolf Hitler,” he added.
Russian ambassador highlights double standards in condemning Iran and not Israel
As expected, the Russian ambassador made a very persuasive case for why Iran took the action it did.
In his words, it was hypocrisy and double standards. His case was that on April 2, when the Security Council met after Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Russia said, let’s have a condemnation of that because it’s a direct and obvious violation of international law, a direct and obvious violation of the Vienna Convention that prohibits aggressions against diplomatic facilities.
And the council didn’t do that. The council could not reach any sort of condemnation of Israel. In fact, the Russian ambassador said, we’ve provided a press statement that we could have sent out in the name of the Security Council and even that was rejected because, as the Americans on April 2 said, we don’t know if Israel was involved. We need to wait. We need more information. We don’t know how condemnation could affect potential ceasefire talks on the ground.
And so the Russian ambassador cited all of that and said, now you want the condemnation when it’s Iran striking Israel but just a couple weeks ago, it was a double standard and you did not want that. I think that was the big message you heard from the Russians.
Five Palestinians wounded in the occupied West Bank
At least five Palestinians have been injured by Israeli forces and settlers in the Jalazoun refugee camp and the al-Mazraa Asharqiya village in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said its crew transferred three of those wounded in the Jalazoun camp to the Istishari Hospital.
The three people were injured during confrontations with settlers from the Beit El settlement who attempted to storm the camp.
The ministry added that the two other injuries in al-Mazraa Asharqiya were due to bullets from the Israeli army during confrontations that took place in the village.
‘A display of hypocrisy and double standards’ at UNSC, says Russia
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, says Western countries, including France, the UK and the US, are displaying “hypocrisy” after they declined to support a statement condemning the Israeli attack on the Iran consulate on April 1.
“The outcome is now clear for everyone to see. You know very well that an attack against a diplomatic representative is a casus belli [an act that justifies/provokes war] under international law and if a Western representation had been hit, you would immediately have rained down reprisals,” Nebenzia said.
“This is because, for you, everything that has to do with Western representation and Western citizens is sacred and needs to be protected. But when it comes to other countries, their rights, including their right to self-defence about their nationals, that’s a different matter.
“Today in the Security Council, what we’re witnessing is a display of hypocrisy and double standards which is almost embarrassing to watch.”
US clearly want an unambiguous condemnation of Iran
You would usually see Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US permanent representative to the United Nations, but she’s not at this meeting because she is travelling on a preplanned trip to the Republic of Korea and Japan.
That’s why you saw the deputy ambassador, Robert Wood, give those remarks.
He clearly laid out what he thought was his case and why the Security Council should condemn Iran’s attacks but also, it should be important to point out he did not do the same and condemn Israel for its attacks on Iran’s diplomatic mission in Damascus.
You heard Wood mention several instances where Iran was in violation of Security Council resolutions, going back several years. But again, he did not mention the fact that Israel is in violation of Security Council resolutions – more recent ones calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
But this is clearly sort of what you would expect to hear from the US, being Israel’s strongest ally on the Security Council.
US statement at the UNSC ‘predictable’
You could almost guess what the deputy US ambassador was going to say.
You might agree with some of what he says, or disagree. Regardless of whether you agree or disagree, the United States does not have credibility, and clearly, it’s not going to echo in much of the area because of its position on April 1, but also because of its position on Gaza and Israel’s genocide there.
At the end of the day, we hear the US being so categorical when it comes to Iran but so wobbly when it comes to Israel.
So, [in terms of] credibility, it doesn’t have any more because of Israel. This continuous justification of Israel’s actions, promoting Israel’s right to self-defence as if it justifies anything, including 56 years of occupation and 75 years of dispossession – all of that is undermining the US’s standing in the region.
Zelenskyy condemns Iranian attack, says Ukraine needs help, like Israel
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated in a post on X that “Iran’s actions threaten the entire region and the world, just as Russia’s actions threaten a larger conflict, and the obvious collaboration between the two regimes in spreading terror must face a resolute and united response from the world”.
Speaking later in his nightly video address, the Ukrainian president said the world had seen that “Israel was not alone in its defence – the threats in the sky were also destroyed by its allies”.
“And when Ukraine says allies cannot turn a blind eye to Russian missiles and drones, it means that it is necessary to act, and act strongly,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s skies, he added, were “not protected by rhetoric”.
Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s Western allies, particularly the United States, for months to summon the “political will” to provide Ukraine with sufficient air defences and weaponry.
In September 2022, Zelenskyy said he was “in shock” at Israel’s failure to give Kyiv anti-missile systems to help counter Russian attacks.
The Ukrainian government has been a strong supporter of Israel during its war in Gaza, despite many critics pointing to what they perceive to be the hypocrisy of decrying Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory while supporting Israel as it occupies Palestinian territory.
Guterres urges caution in UNSC speech
The UN secretary-general is cautioning the world… to step back from the brink.
In his word words, the Middle East is on the brink and the people of the region are confronting the real danger of a devastating, full-scale conflict.
The UN secretary-general’s job is not to take sides and he certainly did not do that in this somewhat brief speech to the Security Council.
But you could tell that he was really laying out the boundaries of international law that all member states, he says, of course, need and should abide by.
He referenced, of course, April 1, when Israel struck the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus. That was a blatant violation of Article 51 of the UN Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel.
I think he was urging restraint and that might sound like something very noncontroversial but that is his job as a secretary-general.
I think he didn’t want to get too deep into this. But I think the stakes from the secretary-general’s standpoint are very high.
UN has obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered: US deputy ambassador to UN
It’s the US’s turn to speak at the UN Security Council, and deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood takes the opportunity to criticise Iran for its attack on Israel, as well as its actions in the wider region.
He says that the US will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable at the UN, and says that Iran will be held responsible for any further actions it takes.
He adds that an unequivocal condemnation of Iran is needed from the UN Security Council.
More from UN Secretary-General Guterres
Antonio Guterres reminded member states that the UN charter “prohibits” attacks on the territorial integrity of states and the “principle of inviolability” of diplomatic and consular personnel “must be respected”.
“It’s time to step back from the brink. It’s vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East. Civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price,” Guterres said.
“We have a shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation.
“We have a shared responsibility to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. We have a shared responsibility to stop violence in the occupied West Bank, de-escalate the situation along the Blue Line and re-establish safe navigation in the Red Sea.”
“We have a shared responsibility to work for peace. Regional and, indeed, global peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neither the region nor the world can afford more war.”
UN Security Council meeting on Iran attack after Israeli request
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is the first to speak, saying that the Middle East is on the brink, with the people of the region facing the real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict.
‘The Muslim world will celebrate the liberation of Palestine’: Khamenei
Iran’s supreme leader has posted a video on X of the Iranian air attack last night in the skies above the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
In Hebrew, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote, “Al-Quds [Jerusalem] will be in the hands of Muslims, and the Muslim world will celebrate the liberation of Palestine”.
אל-קודס הקדושה תהיה בידי המוסלמים, והעולם המוסלמי יחגוג שחרור פלסטין. pic.twitter.com/PB3wZk1jcN
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 14, 2024
Israeli authorities have heavily restricted access for Palestinians looking to worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site.
During Ramadan, thousands of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank were denied entry to occupied East Jerusalem, where a heavy Israeli security presence surrounds the mosque.
A regional war will ‘impede’ Russian interests in the region
Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russia defence analyst, says Moscow “surprisingly” stands with the rest of the international community in that it does not want an escalation following Iran’s attack on Israel.
“This could impede Russian interests region. It could embroil Iran in a war that would mean that Iran would be hardly capable of sending more weapons to Russia, and of course, it could engulf Russian troops in Syria and Lebanon in a possible escalation of this conflict into a regional one,” Felgenhauer told Al Jazeera.
He added that among the Russian establishment were pro-Israeli elements who would not want to have a confrontation with Israel.
“Israel has not joined sanctions [against Russia]. It’s not dedicated as an enemy country. Israel is not supplying weapons or military technology to Ukraine, so Russia would want to keep this status quo,” Felgenhauer said.
Israeli cabinet wants response to Iran attack, is divided over timing and scale: Reports
Israeli officials say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet favours a retaliation against Iran for its mass drone and missile attack, but is divided over the timing and scale of any such response, according to Israeli media reports.
The five-member cabinet, in which Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz have decision-making powers, met on Sunday and was expected to convene again for further discussions.
The Times of Israel, citing multiple Hebrew media outlets, reported that Gantz and his political ally Gadi Eisenkot, an observer in the war cabinet, suggested retaliating, even during Iran’s attack.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Gallant, Army Chief Herzi Halevi and others opposed this idea, in part because the Israeli air force was already deployed to intercept the incoming drones and missiles.