Middle East & North Africa

Israel army, Shin Bet admit no ‘senior leaders’ arrested at Al-Shifa Hospital

23 March 2024; MEMO: The Israeli army and Shin Bet published misleading reports about the military operation at Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, which has been ongoing since late last Sunday night, as well as the martyrdom of dozens of Palestinians there, claiming that “very senior” leaders of Al-Qassam Brigades had been arrested.

Israel: Sara Netanyahu criticises released Israeli captives

23 March 2024; MEMO: The wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara, sparked a wave of reactions from the Israeli captives who were returned from Gaza during the exchange deal with Hamas.

Sara criticised the liberated captives and complained in private conversations with a member of the Knesset that she and her husband had not yet received thanks for returning some of the captured Israelis.

Palestine: 3 more journalists killed in Israel's attacks on Gaza

23 March 2024; MEMO: Another three Palestinian journalists were killed in fresh Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 136 since 7 October 2023, Anadolu Agency reports.

A statement by the media office identified the slain journalists as Muhammad Al-Rifi, Abdul Rahman Saima, and Mahmoud Imad Issa.

Israel: 2 Hezbollah drones fall in Kfar Blum

23 March 2024; MEMO: Two Hezbollah drones fell down in the Galilee Panhandle area in northern Israel, Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation reported Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports.

“Two Hezbollah drones fell near Kfar Blum in northern Israel where a fire broke out at the place,” it said without providing any further details.

Netanyahu accuses Israel officials of helping US prevent attack on Rafah

20 March 2024; MEMO: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday accused Israeli officials of cooperating with the US to prevent a ground attack in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, Anadolu reported.

“Some in Israel are cooperating with the Americans to prevent entry into Rafah,” Netanyahu told a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. He did not name the officials involved.

Israel's Eilat Port to lay off half of its staff

20 March 2024; MEMO: Half the workers at Israel’s Eilat Port are at risk of losing their jobs after the seaport took a major financial hit due to the crisis in Red Sea shipping lanes, Reuters reported officials saying today.

Eilat sits on a northern tip of the Red Sea and was one of the first ports to be affected as shipping firms rerouted vessels to avoid attacks on Israel-linked vessel by the Houthis in Yemen.

Israel using fake social media accounts to target UNRWA, report reveals

20 March 2024; MEMO: An online Israeli influencing campaign employing fake social media accounts has been attacking the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), according to a recent report by a disinformation watchdog cited by Haaretz.

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