This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Ukraine accuses Russia of shooting down military transport plane
- Egypt proposes a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war
- Palestinian lawyer says that proving Israeli war crimes would be difficult
Ukraine accuses Russia of shooting down military transport plane
A Ukrainian AN-26 military transport flying near the border withRussia was shot down on Monday. Ukraine is accusing Russia ofshooting down the plane from Russian territory, which, if true, could bean important game-changer in the geopolitical battle that currentlyinvolves Russia, Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States.
According to Ukraine’s government:
Factoring in that the plane was flying at thealtitude 6,500m, it was impossible to hit it with man-portableanti-aircraft system, which means the plan was attacked by someother, more powerful rocket weapon, which was used, probably, fromthe territory of the Russian Federation…
At the moment, judging from the data provided by Ukrainian airmen,two theories are being considered: the shot was fired from theup-to-date surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artilleryweapon system Pantsir or a self-guided air-to-air missile X-24from a Russian plane, which could have been scrambled from theairfield Millerovo [Russia].
Ukrainian officials are examining the wreckage. If it’s proved thatRussian forces shot down the plane, then Ukraine may be forced to makeits own military response, targeting Russian assets. Furthermore, EUand American officials may now feel obligated to impose much harshersanctions on Russia or be accused of letting Russia cross another
Russia has made no comment. Separately, NATO reported a Russian troopbuild-up near the Ukraine border, increasing their number to 12,000troops. Ukraine News Agency and AP and BBC
Palestinian lawyer says that proving Israeli war crimes would be difficult
The Palestinian representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council(UNHCR) was interviewed on TV on the subject of going tothe International Criminal Court (ICC) and charging Israelwith war crimes and crimes against humanity. Accordingto Ibrahim Khreisheh:
The missiles that are now being launched againstIsrael – each and every missiles constitutes a crime againsthumanity whether it hits or misses, because it is directed at acivilian targets. What Israel does against Palestinian civiliansalso constitutes crimes against humanity. With regard to crimes ofwar under the Fourth Geneva Convention – the settlements, theJudaization, the checkpoints, the arrests, and so on – we findourselves on very solid ground. However, there is a Palestinianweakness with regard to the other issue. Therefore targetingcivilians – be it one civilian or a thousand – is considered acrime against humanity…
Please note that many of our people in Gaza appeared on TV andsaid that the Israeli army warned them to evacuate their homesbefore the bombardment. In such a case, if someone is killed, thelaw considers it a mistake rather than an intentional killing,because [the Israelis] followed the legal procedures. As for themissiles launched from our side: We never warn anyone about wherethese missiles are about to fall, or about the operations we carryout. Therefore, people should know more before they talkemotionally about appealing to the ICC.”
Egypt proposes a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war
Egypt is proposing to mediate a cease-fire starting early on Tuesdayin the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, followed by a series ofmeetings and negotiations. It’s not believed that Israel would agreeto a cease-fire without a permanent cessation of rocket launchingsfrom Gaza into Israel.
It’s believed that pressure form Islamic Jihad would prevent Hamasfrom agreeing to any cease-fire. A cease-fire would be humiliatingbecause Hamas has launched hundreds of rockets, but not a singleIsraeli has been killed. Many have landed on unpopulated farmland,and many others have been shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome missiledefense system, so that Hamas has absolutely nothing to show for allthe rockets they’ve sent. BBC
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Ukraine, Russia, AN-26,Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL,Indonesia, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Iron Dome,UN Human Rights Council, UNHCR, International Criminal Court, ICC
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