The cradle – May 3, 2024
Bahraini resistance opens front against Israel
The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain announced on May 2 an attack on the headquarters of an Israeli transportation company in the southern port city of Eilat.
“The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain – Saraya al-Ashtar (Al-Ashtar Brigades) – announces the targeting of the headquarters of the company responsible for ground transportation in the Zionist entity (Trucknet), in the city of Umm al-Rashrash in occupied Palestine (Eilat), on Tuesday, April 27, 2024, using drones in support of the Palestinian cause and in solidarity with our resisting people in Gaza,” a statement read.
“The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain affirms that it will continue its movements and support on all fronts for our patient people resisting in Gaza, and that it will not cease its operations until the Zionist aggression on Gaza stops,” the statement added.
Footage released by the group shows a large drone taking off.
Since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, several fronts have been opened against Israel to support the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has launched daily operations against Israeli military bases and sites near the border. In Yemen, the Ansarallah movement and the Armed Forces of the Sanaa government have imposed a maritime blockade on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, Arab Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean – and have carried out several drone and missile attacks targeting Eilat.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq coalition also began striking US military bases in Iraq and Syria in October, before shifting their focus to targeting sites within Israel.
This is the first time in the ongoing war that a faction in Bahrain joins in on the Axis of Resistance operations against Israel.
https://thecradle.co/articles-id/24698
It is as yet unclear from where the Bahraini group launched the attack. There's a likelihood it was operating from Yemeni territory says Zero Hedge.
According to Islamic World News, Carrying out this attack from Bahrain has sent various messages to the friends and enemies of the Islamic Resistance Axis, and can be analyzed from various aspects. It seems that the Resistance Axis is gradually seeking to increase pressure on the Israeli regime, and in the coming months we will witness that the Islamic Resistance Axis will use other capacities in the face of the axis of evil.
Trucknet
The Israeli land transport company 'Trucknet" is very active in Arab Gulf countries and is seen as a vital element in restoring Israel-Gulf ties.
Trucknet, which is an Israeli transport company, signed an agreement in March to transfer oil between Israel and Arab countries.
According to Tasnim news agency TRAKnet played a significant role in transporting goods from Persian Gulf countries to the occupied territories under Israeli army permission. It came to light after the Yemeni army blockaded the Zionist regime and international vessels encountered obstacles from Sana'a when attempting to reach occupied Palestinian ports.
The Al-Ashtar Brigades
According to available information, the resistance group was formed in 2012 (after the suppression of the Bahraini protests in 2011) and is taking political and armed actions to confront the Al Khalifa government in Bahrain. According to sources close to the Bahraini government and Western media, some opponents of the Al Khalifa government fled Bahrain to avoid punishment and settled in Iran, and then formed this resistance group.
The anti-resistance media claim that the leadership of this group is in the hands of Ahmed Yousef Serhan (known as Abu Muntazar) and Jassim Ahmed Abdullah (known as Zulfiqar), two fugitive Bahraini citizens residing in Iran; However, after several years, Western and Bahraini media have not yet published any credible documents in this regard.
The Al-Ashtar Brigades was designated as a terrorist organization in 2014 by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The United States also added this group to the list of terrorist organizations in 2018.
Saraya al-Ashtar has been accused of several attacks against Bahraini police officers and security forces over the past several years. Bahrain’s Shia majority has long been repressed by the Sunni Al-Khalifa ruling family.
Bahrainﾒs Al-Wefaq opposition party and its leaders, as well as other groups, face significant persecution from Bahraini authorities.
Saudi military intervention in Bahrain in 2011 helped the Al-Khalifa monarchy crackdown on an anti-government uprising.
US rejected proposed plan by PA, Arab nations for Palestinian statehood
The US recently rejected a proposed plan for establishing a Palestinian state presented to Washington by five Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority, exacerbating a diplomatic rift between the sides, according to a Friday report.
Channel 12 said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Arab counterparts that the plan — drafted by the PA with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates — was unrealistic.
The report said the US provided a detailed response to the proposal, effectively rejecting it entirely. Of particular concern to the US was that the plan did not mention the eradication of Hamas, rooting out corruption in the Palestinian Authority or reform of the Palestinian education system, which has been known to incite antisemitism and hatred of Israel.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was reportedly so incensed by the American rejection of the plan that he refused to meet with Blinken when the latter visited Israel this week.
Channel 12 said Abbas also prepared a response to the American reservations, but did not send it out as the Arab countries urged him not to bicker with the US.
According to the network, the proposals in the plan included:
Immediate international and UN recognition of a Palestinian state.
Provision of full protection and funding to Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.
A complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza within three weeks of the inception of a ceasefire.
Full transfer of governmental authority in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority and the entry of PA forces into Gaza with international assistance.
International assistance in building security mechanisms for the Palestinian Authority along with the installment of UN peacekeeping forces in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem based on a resolution to be passed by the UN Security Council.
Full implementation of all previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including deals struck in recent years in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Launching negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, to be completed within 180 days, in tandem with the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
The transfer of Israeli authority at Gaza and West Bank border crossings to the Palestinian Authority with international supervision.
The convening of an international donor conference to raise funds for the Palestinian Authority.
The establishment of a regional security plan together with the US to ensure the security of Israel and the eventual Palestinian state.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-us-rejected-proposed-plan-by-pa-arab-nations-for-palestinian-statehood/
NYT: Israeli plan for post-war Gaza, shared power with Arab states, US
By Al Mayadeen English
Due to the lack of a ceasefire in Gaza and Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch opposition to establishing a Palestinian state, alongside an Israeli potential offensive on Rafah, Saudi Arabia is advocating for a scaled-down "plan B".
According to The New York Times, senior Israeli officials are allegedly discussing sharing administration of the land in the postwar Gaza Strip with a partnership of Arab countries and the United States.
The concept indicates that the Israeli-US alliance with Arab normalizing states will what was described as "Gazan leaders" to rebuild the infrastructure and "maintain calm," according to the publication.
According to the source, after 7 to 10 years, Gazans would be allegedly able to vote on whether to join the united Palestinian government, which is slated to oversee both the strip and the West Bank.
Arab rulers allegedly rejected the idea, seeing it as inadequate since it does not pave the path for a Palestinian state.
The idea is anticipated to be proposed by the Israeli occupation in exchange for normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, which has been considered a potential alliance partner with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, according to the newspaper. However, Saudi authorities fear the idea would be rejected by Arab countries since it does not guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to reports.
This comes as The Guardian reported that the US and Saudi Arabia have formulated a series of pacts regarding security and technology exchange, initially intended to be part of a larger Middle East resolution encompassing "Israel" and the Palestinians.
Due to the lack of a ceasefire in Gaza and Benjamin Netanyahu's staunch opposition to establishing a Palestinian state, alongside "Israel's" potential offensive on Rafah, Saudi Arabia is advocating for a scaled-down "plan B" that does not involve "Israel", the report added.
Under Riyadh's proposed "plan B", "Israel" would receive an offer of normalizing diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in exchange for accepting the "two-state solution". However, completing the US-Saudi agreements would not be contingent on approval from the Netanyahu government, as per the alternative proposal.
In March, Responsible Statecraft reported that some of the masterminds behind the US' invasion of Iraq were mulling a plan for reconstructing and "de-radicalizing" Gaza's remaining population and maintaining "Israel's freedom of action."
The Trust would also have the liberty to “hire private security contractors with good reputations among Western militaries,” which will collaborate with Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
Hamas stands firm rejecting external pressure, studying proposal
The Hamas representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, in an interview with Al Mayadeen, said that although the movement is "seriously studying" the proposals for a ceasefire agreement, it is "too early to judge the results," noting that the papers presented contain "general phrases that could suggest something ambiguous," and emphasizing the role of the negotiators in this part.
Abdel Hadi pointed out that the only sides discussing positive outcomes from reaching an agreement are the US and Israeli sides. He stressed that no one has succeeded in pressuring the Resistance to accept any deal and emphasized that "the popular support for the Resistance cannot raise the white flag."
Regarding the threat of an Israeli military operation in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, Abdel Hadi said, "Netanyahu wants to prolong the war, and he agreed to a partial cessation of it. The threat to invade Rafah is to pressure the Resistance," he said, stressing that "many surprises will confront the Israeli Prime Minister if he decides to invade Rafah."
Al Mayadeen had acquired theﾠdetails of the latest proposed deal between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, specifically related to the prisoner exchange deal and related clauses.
The framework of the agreement aims to achieve the release of all Israeli civilian and military captives, be they dead or alive, held in the Gaza Strip. The agreement will not only encompass captives taken on October 7 but all Israeli captives.
Primarily, the deal's objective is to achieve calm in the area and work on reaching a ceasefire, the document acquired by Al Mayadeen explains.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/nyt--israeli-plan-for-post-war-gaza--shared-power-with-arab
ICC warns against any threats of retaliation, intimidation against it
The International Criminal Court's Office of the Prosecutor issued a statement emphasizing that threats or retaliation against the Court or its personnel may constitute an offense under the Rome Statute.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a statement today on X warning about any threats of retaliation against the Office stressing that the latter may constitute an offense against the administration of justice.
In recent weeks, Israeli authorities have become more anxious since reportedly the names of Netanyahu, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, and Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi have been circled as suspects of war crimes that the ICC will look to prosecute and issue arrest warrants against.
The ICC has been looking into war crimes committed back in 2014 in the Gaza Strip, however, it has produced no punitive decisions against individuals. The inquiry has been expanded to include the events of October 7, as well as the current war on Gaza.
In its statement, the Office of the Prosecutor welcomed all comments, communication of concerns, and engagement in its activities from "State and elected officials, non-governmental organizations, scholars, and activists."
It stressed that as long as such dialogue is "consistent with its mandate under the Rome Statute to act independently and impartially," it would engage constructively with all stakeholders.
Threats and retaliation are not welcome
However, the Office made it very clear that "when individuals threaten to retaliate against the Court or against Court personnel should the Office, in fulfillment of its mandate, make decisions about investigations or cases falling within its jurisdiction," the independence and impartiality are "undermined".
It emphasized that these kinds of threats even if not accompanied by any actions upon them, "may also constitute an offense against the administration of justice under Art. 70 of the Rome Statute."
This provision, according to the statement, explicitly prohibits both " [r]etaliating against an official of the Court on account of duties performed by that or another official" and "[i]mpeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties."
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/icc-warns-against-any-threats-of-retaliation--intimidation-a
New round of escalation if Gaza genocide continues: Sayyed Al-Houthi
In a speech on Thursday, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement announced preparations for a new round of escalation if the Israeli occupation continues its aggression against Gaza.
Sanaa is preparing for a new round of escalation if the Israeli occupation continues its aggression against the Gaza Strip, the leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said on Thursday.
Sayyed al-Houthi stressed that the naval operations carried out by the Yemeni armed forces are "complex, important and based on advanced capabilities," noting that the economic losses of the United States and the UK will multiply after they are faced with the Indian Ocean dilemma.
Sayyed al-Houthi added that Washington and London are looking for alternative routes and view this dilemma as a "very big issue."
"The enemies are stunned by the important and influential development of our operations in the Indian Ocean, and they have become very anxious as they were followed by strikes after retreating from the Red Sea to the Route of Good Hope," Sayyed al-Houthi said.
In the same context, the Ansarullah leader noted the withdrawal of 10 US warships and 8 European warships from the Red Sea, attributing this to a sense of failure to prevent or limit the operations of the Yemeni armed forces.
Sayyed al-Houthi also emphasized that Washington has failed to prevent the armed forces from achieving casualties in their targets, despite its efforts to prevent the launch of missiles and drones, and conducting extensive monitoring.
The Ansar Allah leader also added that there is a clear impact of the Yemeni support front's operations in Umm al-Rashrash, in southern occupied Palestine.
In his speech, the leader of Ansar Allah announced the outcome of the operations carried out by the Yemeni armed forces during the week, which amounted to 8 operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, all the way to the Indian Ocean and southern occupied Palestine.
Sayyed al-Houthi explained that these operations were carried out using 33 ballistic and winged missiles and drones.
The leader then added that the armed forces targeted six ships associated with the Israeli occupation, the US and the UK, bringing the total number of ships targeted to 107, he said.
Sayyed al-Houthi also referred to the downing of an armed US MQ9 reconnaissance aircraft in the airspace of Saada, noting that this is the third operation during this period.
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