“The situation is apocalyptic,” as Israel bombs another UN school – Day 243

contact@ifamericansknew.org June 6, 2024discrimination, fake news, famine, flag march, humanitarian aid, israeli bombing, Jerusalem, killer drones, West Bank

Palestinians start to fix and restore the Shifa Hospital after being heavily damaged by Israeli attacks and demolished some parts to prepare it to service again in Gaza City, Gaza on June 05, 2024 (photo)

“I am a rabbi calling on my elected officials to stop arming the Israeli military as it wages a genocidal campaign in Gaza. The Jewish tradition teaches us the most holy commandment is pikuach nefesh – saving a life – and I am calling on my representatives to do all that they can to save lives now,” said Lonnie Kleinman, a rabbi based in Philadelphia.

Ha’aretz reports: Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the pro-Israel stalwart and highest-ever ranking Jewish elected official in US history, of “becoming like a Palestinian” amid his criticism of the Israeli government earlier this year.

“They don’t have the backing,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity about Israel’s standing with Democrats. “Even Schumer, he’s become like a Palestinian. Chuck Schumer. Jewish. Always strong for Israel. He’s become like a Palestinian.”

“It’s a very bad thing. It’s a very sad thing, and it’s a very dangerous thing,” he added.

In reality Schumer is a long time supporter of Israel. In a speech to AIPAC he said:

“For as long as I live, for as long as I have the privilege of serving in the Senate from New York, I will unflinchingly, unstintingly and with all of my strength be Shomer Yisrael, a guardian of Israel. Ladies and gentlemen, Am Yisrael Chai, in Israel and America, the Jewish nation lives now and forever.”

US hoping to ‘re-anchor’ Gaza pier repaired by end of week:

The US-built pier anchored on the coast was severely damaged in rough seas at the end of May just a few days after it was completed.

“We’re hoping we will be able to re-anchor the pier into Gaza at the end of the week,” US Department of Defense spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. “As soon as the temporary pier is re-anchored to the beach in Gaza, we expect aid to flow pretty immediately.”

Aid groups have criticized the pier as a costly and ineffective distraction from the fact that land deliveries are the most efficient way to help Gaza. Israel continues to restrict humanitarian relief from entering the territory as severe hunger spreads.

Singh also announced that the cost of the pier would be around $230 million, instead of the original $320 million thanks to a berthing vessel contributed by the UK.

In this image provided by the U.S. Army, soldiers assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) and sailors attached to the MV Roy P. Benavidez assemble the Roll-On, Roll-Off Distribution Facility, or floating pier, off the shore of Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea on April 26, 2024 (photo)

Mysterious files on Netanyahu:

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs features a 1996 report from its archives: “Spook, Terrorist or Criminal? America’s Mysterious Files on Netanyahu”:

“Netanyahu has lived both in Israel and the U.S.: first grade in Israel; second and third in the U.S.; fourth through eighth in Jerusalem; high school in suburban Philadelphia; military service in Israel; B.A. and M.A. at MIT. He held dual citizenship, which enabled him to travel freely between both countries, study in the U.S., receive federal loans to cover his education costs at MIT and work legally. Like every U.S. citizen, Netanyahu has a social security number, a credit account, and numerous other files in a variety of government offices.”

“Netanyahu’s files differ from those of most U.S. citizens. The Israeli weekly Ha’ir reports that four requests for credit approval appear in U.S. social security file number 020-36-4537. Under each request one finds a different name: Benjamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Nitai, John Jay Sullivan and John Jay Sullivan Jr.—one man, four names.”

Netanyahu left his job in 1982 as a furniture salesman to be a policy adviser at the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, and within 14 years became prime minister.

Marvin Josephine, the head of ICM, one of the biggest publishing companies in the U.S., is a major contributor to Netanyahu. Another donor is Barry Slotnick, an attorney who has among his clients the Italian and Russian Mafias. Ted Arison, who owns cruise lines in the U.S., is considered not only a friend, but a confidant. In London, Netanyahu often stays with Rupert Murdoch. Netanyahu has an ally in Ronald Lauder of the Este Lauder cosmetic dynasty. Lauder is founder, major contributor, and chairman of Shalem Institute, a right-wing think tank located in Jerusalem. He is currently president of the World Jewish Congress.

MORE NEWS:

Al Jazeera: Israel destroyed Khan Younis yet these Palestinians came back home.

Middle East Eye: US lawmaker moves to pull aid to Maldives over Israel passport ban: Report.

Middle East Eye: War on Gaza: Why Biden’s ceasefire speech was a sham.

Middle East Monitor: Will Gaza change the interactions between the Global North and the South?

Bloomberg: Colombia calls for curbs on coal sales to Israel.

IMEMC Reports.

STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – JUNE 5:

Palestinian death toll from October 7 – June 5: at least 37,183* (36,654 in Gaza* – 4,959 women (20%), 7,797 children (32%). This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 529 in the West Bank (~131 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 43,640 Palestinian deaths. (Ralph Nader has estimated 200,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.)

At least 42 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 14 from West Bank).

At least 37 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition**.

About 1.7 million, or 75% of Gaza’s population are currently displaced.

About 1.1 million (out of total population of 2.3 million) are facing Catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

Palestinian injuries from October 7 – June 5: at least 88,349 (including at least 83,309 in Gaza and 5,040 in the West Bank).

It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7 – June 5: ~1,448 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 293 military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 16 in the West Bank) and~8,730 injured.

Times of Israel reports: The IDF also listed 41 soldiers killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents – nearly 16%.

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.

**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Thursday 6 June 2024