Rafah bombings (Edited by Mumsnet)

I was shocked to read that Israel dropped so many 2,000 lb bombs in the early days of the war, I have to admit. I am glad that the U.S have stopped their delivery to Israel.

This is a good report detailing what Israel dropped and comparing it to similar U.S campaigns (they dropped one in the entire anti ISIS campaign).

Israel claim they were using them as ‘bunker busters’ but I am dubious. There are far better and more precise bombs to use against bunkers.

https://edition.cnn.com/gaza-israel-big-bombs/index.html

I have always believed, and still do, that the removal of Hamas is necessary for both Israel and, in the long run, the Palestinians and this does imply that the leaders can’t just shelter in Rafah (and Qatar) and live to fight another day. However, I think Israel has scored a massive own goal in how it has conducted this campaign, being at the same time both cruel and inefficient.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68980820

That poor baby. It was horrific. About the same size in length as my 6 month old. Born after this latest onslaught.

Israel is blood thirsty.

Given that this 'limited and precise' military action in Rafah has been so devastating - virtually all humanitarian aid currently blocked/effective healthcare more or less brought to an end/tens thousands of people displaced again

How bad does it have to get before Biden's conditioning of military aid kicks in if it's not a 'full scale invasion'?

Seeing a picture of a dead baby with half their body blown off was an obscene way to start the day. Thanks Israel.

Biden on CNN last night clarifying what arms US will provide to Israel in the event of a full scale invasion

US still committed to Israel’s security: President Biden

Biden said the United States is still committed to Israel’s defence and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors and other defensive weaponry.

But if Israel goes into Rafah, “we’re not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used”.

Yesterday afternoon Israeli sources were saying it was no big deal but seem to have somewhat changed their tune this morning

''Israel’s former head of defence production and procurement on Thursday rejected the claim the country could manage without US arms, saying Israel would be forced to source arms elsewhere, reports Reuters citing Israeli public radio.''

Yes it is a massive problem in Israel. It's not correct to say it's a problem in any coalition or in PR systems generally though. Most countries manage to form coalitions that don't involve genocidal religious fundamentalists.

@Newbutoldfather It is a problem with PR or any coalition government, making deals with unsavoury characters, but particularly so in wartime.

it didn't take long for one of Netanyahus unsavoury characters to prove your point. This was Ben Gvir's reaction to president Biden openly saying the US will not provide bombs to Israel if they attack Rafah

This sentence has really gotten to me this morning.

‘Mothers feel the same about their babies the world over.’

Thank you for that

@Efacsen ,

Netanyahu and his reliance on religious extremists is a massive problem. And he won’t boot them for fear of ending up in jail.

I hope a condition of the U.S continued support for Israel is no racists as ministers.

It is a problem with PR or any coalition government, making deals with unsavoury characters, but particularly so in wartime.

Yes it is @Efacsen Nobody can pretend these mothers and babies deserve this and it should be a priority to move them to safety and functioning healthcare.

And healthcare available in Egypt and beyond if only it could be accessed

It's really un-forgivable

Thank you @Nctodayjan24 saw this on twitter yesterday - she's speaking from the NICU which is/was the last unit still functioning in Gaza so all care for prem babies maybe lost too?

Tragic doesn't really cover it

There were 130 cots pre-war and so many more sick/prem babies being born now because of malnutrition and lack of of ante-natal care

They must have reasonable maternity services a few miles away in Israel. Unbelievable these mothers must give birth in conditions like these when there's adequate health care nearby.

It's remarkable that some mothers on this forum are OK with this.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeQXmcuP/
Not sure if the link to TikTok will work but it's an American midwife working in the hospital in Rafah and the plight of pregnant women who come to the hospital.
Heartbreaking especially when you compare to the posts on the forums here about comparatively trivial (but so important to them) issues. Mothers feel the same about their babies the world over.

Here it is - thank you to @DomPom47

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/08/cant-you-kill-some-netanyahus-political-survival-in-hands-of-far-right

Also according to another poster on another thread [will try to find their excellent link] Netanyahu is struggling to keep his coalition together with Smotvich and Ben-Gvir [sp] threatening to bring down the coalition if he accepts a ceasefire - so he's in thrall to their malevolent even more extremist viewpoint

@PeasfullPerson there was only the brief statement from UNFPA - no other details

This was the situation there 2 months ago so can only imagine it's got worse if that's possible

For midwives in Rafah, ‘childbirth means chaos and suffering

’Midwives at the Al-Helal Al Emirati Hospital in Gaza’s Rafah are dealing with a “significant increase” in the number of childbirths due to the influx of displaced people into the southern city, according to the UN family planning agency (UNFPA).

The hospital recently saw 78 babies delivered in a single day, the UNFPA said.
The increase in deliveries at the already overburdened hospital has resulted in “chaos and suffering”, the agency said.

“We are delivering non-stop. In our delivery ward, we only have five beds for so many pregnant women,” one midwife told the agency. “While one woman is giving birth, another expectant mother comes into the ward. We tell the woman who has just given birth, ‘We need the bed. Get up, sit on the chair’.”

Conditions at the delivery ward are “miserable,” she said.

“Most of the women come in with infections. They haven’t been able to check the baby’s weight or movement. They just arrive for the delivery, hoping for the best. The foetus could be dead and the mother wouldn’t even know.”

UNFPA 6/3/24

Awful but at least it was 'something' rather than nothing

It looks that way @Parkingt111

Yes I think that sounds about right. I don't think a ceasefire works in Netanyahus favour though right now. He's trying to stretch the war out for as long as possible

Matthew Miller has responded to this

Responding to the comments, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller calls them “absolutely deplorable,” adding that senior members of the Israeli government should refrain from making them.

I agree with Biden's administration. Netanyahu should listen to him and focus on the negotiations.
If their strategy were going to work it would have already yielded something. They would have found more than 2 hostages and two bodies by now.
Flattening Gaza is only costing civilians lives. It is not working to bring hostages back and I do not see possible for them to differenciate between Hamas fighters and others on the ground.
US and other allies keep reiterating that this is not the way, yet Israel's government does not listen at all.
I really do not get it.

@Parkingt111 I suppose the idea is to get Hamas into the weakest position possible by striking Rafah heavily. Then Israel can negotiate from the strongest position possible. But heavy strikes in Rafah may harm the hostages they are trying to release. It seems more likely the hostages will be released alive with a ceasefire.