WEEKLY ROUNDUP - 04.04.2025

The Red Cross Condemns Israel’s Targeting of Paramedics in Gaza, Israel Expands Operations, and Hamas Attempts to Silence Critics

The Red Cross expressed outrage over Israeli strikes that killed fifteen Palestinian medics and civil defense workers in Gaza on 23 March. According to the UN and Palestinian Red Crescent, Israel initially targeted an ambulance aiding distressed Palestinians and then targeted successive emergency vehicles (five ambulances, a fire truck, and UN vehicle) sent to aid the first. The bodies of the medics and aid workers were discovered in a shallow grave outside Rafah this past weekend. The IDF claimed the targeted vehicles were not clearly marked and advanced into the area in a suspicious manner.

In recent weeks, the IDF expanded its military operations in Gaza and announced on Wednesday that it would occupy large areas of the territory. According to a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, military operations in Gaza are “expanding and evolving” and he insisted on a maximum pressure campaign to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The families of the hostages remaining in Gaza expressed outrage toward the Israeli government noting that the government negotiations freed far more hostages than military operations. An Israeli poll conducted by Channel 12 revealed that sixty-nine percent of Israelis support ending the war with Gaza in exchange for a release of the remaining hostages. Even a majority (fifty-four percent) of coalition voters support ending the war. Since breaking the ceasefire, Israel has killed more than 1000 Palestinians.

In related news, Gazans in Beit Lahyah continued to protest against Hamas and their rule in Gaza. According to the family of Oday Nasser Al Rabay, Hamas kidnapped and tortured Oday to death for his participation in anti-Hamas protests. Some Israeli outlets are claiming that Hamas has killed six Palestinians for their participation in protests. In one incident representing possible cracks in Hamas’ control of the territory, a Gazan family kidnapped and executed a Hamas police officer and posted a video on social media. The police officer reportedly was part of a group that had killed a number of Gazans for reportedly stealing and/or hoarding food.

Two Netanyahu Aides Arrested in “Qatargate” Scandal

Israeli police arrested two aides of PM Benjamin Netanyahu for their role in a scandal dubbed “Qatargate” by the Israeli media. According to reporting from the Times of Israel, Jonathan Ulrich, a senior aide to the PM, and Eli Feldstein, a former spokesperson for the PM, are accused of taking bribes in exchange for promoting pro-Qatari messaging in the Israeli press and down playing Egypt’s role as mediator in Israeli-Hamas negotiations. Israeli authorities suspect the two of dealing with a foreign agent, fraud, and money laundering. Netanyahu responded to the arrests by claiming they are part of a politically motivated witch-hunt.

The latest scandal comes as the embattled Israeli PM continues his efforts to replace Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. Earlier this week, the Israeli High Court of Justice ordered a freeze on the move as it heard complaints related to the firing. Initially Netanyahu selected Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit to lead the intelligence agency but back tracked within 48 hours after a flurry of criticism from within Israel and abroad. Without a viable candidate to replace Bar, Netanyahu said that a Shin Bet deputy would serve as the interim head until a suitable replacement is found.

In Other News

• Anti-government activists in Turkey continued their protests against longtime leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling for a nation-wide boycott on Wednesday.

• The US is increasing its military presence in the Middle East sending a second aircraft carrier to the region amid new strikes targeting the Houthis in Yemen and rising tensions with Iran. According to a report in the Telegraph, Iranian officials urged a pre-emptive strike on a US base in the region.

• Interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa formed a new government on Sunday. The new government included Druze, Alawite, and Christian religious minorities along with one woman. Supporter noted that the government represented Syria’s diversity while critics noted that the most important cabinet positions remain in the hands of al-Sharaa’s allies.

• Israel carried out a series of operations in Syria Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday. An Israeli drone strike in Beirut targeted a Hezbollah operative according to the IDF and killed four according to Lebanese officials. The IDF shelled locations of the southern Syrian province of Deraa during a ground incursion on Wednesday night killing nine Syrians. This comes on the heels of airstrikes in the Homs province targeting military sites. In response, Syrian authorities accused Israel of seeking to destabilize the country.

Recommended:

• “Israel is Escalating its War in Syria” Foreign Policy

• “Ramadan TV Series Stokes Tensions Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims” The New York Times

• “The Israeli Right’s Long March Through the Media” Newlines Magazine

• “Tunisia’s Climate Crisis, Economic Downturn, and Growing Dependence on Algeria” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• “Israel’s New Military Plan for Gaza is Incredibly Dangerous” Ilan Goldenberg (substack)

• “Protests broke out against Hamas in Gaza. What do Palestinians think about the militant group?” Associated Press

• “Saudi Arabia emerges as key hub for Trump’s foreign policy ambitions” Washington Post