Europa Press, Sputnik and AFP
The newspaper La Jornada
Friday, July 19, 2024, p. 27
Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday to encourage his troops, who continued their offensive against the enclave, where at least eight schools were bombed this week, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
Netanyahu stressed in a video broadcast on X that the Israeli army’s control of the Philadelphia corridor – a 14-kilometer strip that runs along the border with Egypt – and Rafah is essential to Israel’s security. He insisted that he must remain in Rafah even if a ceasefire agreement is reached in Gaza, with the aim of freeing hostages held by Hamas, the newspaper reported. The Times of Israel.
Parliament rejects Palestinian state
The Israeli parliament has strongly rejected the creation of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River because, it says, it constitutes a existential threatThe resolution, approved early yesterday morning by 68 votes in favor out of 120 possible, explained that the creation of a Palestinian State in territories occupied by Israel would perpetuate the conflict and would destabilize the regionfearing that Hamas will seize power in a future Palestinian state, to turn it into a base of radical Islamic terror that works in coordination with Iran to destroy Israel.
Meanwhile, the Gazan Ministry of Health announced yesterday that the death toll has risen to 38,848 in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war with Israel more than nine months ago.
Drone attack on Tel Aviv
One person was killed in an explosion early this morning in Tel Aviv caused by the fall of an aircraft, the army said, AFP reported, citing an emergency services spokesman.
It was also reported that 10 people were injured in the incident, which was claimed by the Houthi rebels hours later.
Israel’s defense forces say they are investigating an apparent drone attack in the center of its capital, Tel Aviv.
