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📰 Israeli forces intensify offensive

📰 Israeli forces intensify offensive

and EU funds Tunisia crackdown

Billy Robinson & Ross Crabtree
October 14, 2024

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China-EU talks on electric vehicle tariffs have ended with significant disagreements in Brussels, while sectarian violence in Kurram district, Pakistan, has claimed over 16 lives.

In Haiti, Human Rights Watch reports that children are being recruited to confront security forces as the newly deployed Kenyan troops struggle to quell escalating instability.

In the Middle East, the UN estimates that 400,000 people are trapped in northern Gaza as Israel intensifies its offensive in Jabalia. Meanwhile, Washington reveals that Israel has ‘narrowed down’ its targets for a potential strike against Iran.

Stay informed with these stories and more below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇪🇬 🇸🇩 🇪🇹 Egypt and Sudan reject Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA): The CFA came into effect on Sunday, despite ongoing opposition from Cairo and Khartoum, according to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The agreement establishes the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC), which aims to foster collaboration among Basin states on Nile governance. While Egypt and Sudan have rejected the deal, it has gained support from upstream countries, including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and DR Congo. Prime Minister Abiy encouraged non-signatories to join what he termed the "Nile Family," advocating for regional cooperation in the fair utilisation of the river's resources. The CFA marks the first comprehensive multilateral effort to establish a legal framework for managing the Nile. Tensions persist between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia sees as crucial for development, while Egypt fears its impact on water supplies.

2️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇱🇧 🇮🇱 40 nations issue joint statement condemning Israeli attacks in Lebanon: Forty countries contributing to the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon issued a joint statement on Saturday, condemning recent attacks on peacekeepers and calling for an immediate end to the violence. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that gunfire on Friday injured a peacekeeper near the Israeli border, marking the fifth such injury in two days amid ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hizbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called on UNIFIL units to vacate their posts to allow the Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon to proceed, unfettered. However, UNIFIL remains resolute in fulfilling its mandate and continues to maintain its positions. Additionally, Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that Israeli strikes on Saturday targeted two villages, one north and another south of Beirut, resulting in at least nine fatalities. In response to escalating tensions, the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of 23 southern Lebanese villages to areas north of the Awali River. Meanwhile, Hizbollah claimed responsibility for drone attacks on military bases in northern and southern Haifa, Israel.

3️⃣ 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 400’000 people trapped in North Gaza as Israel unleashes new Jabalia offensive: Airstrikes in northern Gaza have claimed dozens of Palestinian lives as Israeli forces intensify their offensive on the Palestinian territory amid escalating conflict in Lebanon. On Saturday, the IDF reiterated evacuation orders for residents in northern Gaza, including areas in Sheikh Radwan and near the Jabalia refugee camp. However, many civilians find it impossible to leave due to ongoing fighting and sniper fire. Currently, 84% of Gaza is under evacuation orders, pushing people into shrinking "humanitarian zones" that continue to be targeted by airstrikes. The UN estimates that around 400,000 individuals are trapped by ongoing ground combat and shelling in Jabalia. Gaza's health ministry has urgently requested access for medical teams and fuel deliveries to northern hospitals, while the World Food Programme reports that food aid to the area has been halted since October 1, raising fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis.

4️⃣ 🇵🇰 Sectarian clashes in Kurram district, Pakistan, kill more than 16 people: At least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in renewed sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan's Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local authorities. Pakistani media reported that a convoy of Sunni Muslims, travelling under paramilitary escort, came under attack, resulting in 14 deaths and six injuries. Border police intervened and killed two attackers, identified as Shia militants. The region has witnessed intermittent conflict between Sunni and Shia tribes for several months, with previous clashes in July and September claiming numerous lives before a local jirga (tribal council) brokered a ceasefire. Kurram, historically a semi-autonomous area, has long been a flashpoint for sectarian strife, leaving hundreds dead over the years. As authorities attempt to negotiate a new truce, the Shia minority continues to face violence and discrimination in Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni nation.

5️⃣ 🇭🇹 Human Rights Watch reports children being recruited to fight security forces: Since President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July 2021, Haiti has descended further into chaos, with 5.4 million people facing hunger. Despite Kenya deploying a UN-backed force in June, limited funding has hindered efforts to curb the gangs' influence. Haitian gangs are exploiting the country's dire conditions to recruit starving children in preparation for a potential conflict with international security forces, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. The armed groups, which dominate much of Haiti, are luring hundreds, possibly thousands, of impoverished children by offering food and shelter. HRW estimates that children now make up around 30% of gang members, being coerced into roles as soldiers, spies, or even exploited for sexual purposes. Nathalye Cotrino, the report's author, revealed that these children may eventually be used as "human shields" if clashes with security forces and Haitian police erupt.

Major Story

🇹🇳 🇪🇺 €150M IN EU MIGRATION FUNDS TO TUNISIA LINKED TO RIGHTS ABUSES

The European Union’s €150 million migration and development funding to Tunisia has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of serious human rights abuses linked to the payment. The funds were part of a deal aimed at curbing migration to Europe, despite concerns about Tunisia's growing authoritarianism and the unchecked power of its security forces.

Investigations have revealed disturbing abuses by EU-funded Tunisian security forces, including reports of sexual violence against migrants. However, the EU lacks a mechanism to reclaim the funds, even if they are linked to human rights violations. EU funding rules mandate respect for fundamental rights, with stricter safeguards introduced in 2021 to prevent violations. Yet, no human rights impact assessment was conducted before the EU-Tunisia agreement was finalised, and the funds were disbursed in March.

The deal’s timing has also raised alarms, as it coincides with Tunisian President Kais Saied’s recent re-election, an outcome criticised by rights groups as further entrenching autocracy. Saied’s history of inflammatory rhetoric against sub-Saharan African migrants has fueled concerns about potential escalations in abuses by Tunisian authorities.

Criticism of Migration Agreements with Repressive States

Catherine Woollard, director of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, criticised such migration deals, asserting that human rights violations are inherent in agreements that outsource border control to authoritarian regimes. She emphasised that these arrangements often result in abuses, as repressive governments are incentivized to stop migration through harsh measures.

EU Ombudsman and ICC Investigations

The EU ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, is investigating the migration deal, focusing on its alignment with the EU’s human rights obligations and the absence of safeguards to suspend funding in cases of abuse. The International Criminal Court (ICC) may also launch a probe into the mistreatment of migrants in Tunisia, mirroring an inquiry into abuses in Libya. Following recent allegations, British barrister Rodney Dixon KC filed a submission urging the ICC to investigate.

EU's Credibility at Stake

Internal EU documents have indicated that officials are wary of the union’s reputation being damaged by deals with repressive regimes. While the European Commission insists on the importance of human rights in migration management, it faces growing pressure to reevaluate its approach amid mounting evidence of abuses in Tunisia.

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Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇮🇷 🇮🇱 Israel has ‘narrowed down its targets’ for Iran strike, says Washington: U.S. officials indicate that Israel is focusing its planned response to Iran's recent missile strike on military and energy infrastructure targets. While nuclear facilities and assassinations are reportedly not part of the plan, Israel has not finalised when or how it will act. No exact timeline has been shared with U.S. officials, who speculate that Israel's response could occur during Yom Kippur. The U.S. is prepared to protect its regional assets but is unlikely to offer direct military support for Israel's anticipated retaliation.

2️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇪🇺 China-EU EV tariff talks conclude with ‘major differences’ in Brussels: China and the European Union remain deadlocked over EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) after recent talks in Brussels failed to yield a compromise, according to Beijing. The EU has accused Chinese automakers of flooding the market with low-cost EVs, benefiting from substantial government subsidies, and posing a threat to local car manufacturers and jobs. In response, the EU plans to impose tariffs of up to 35.3% on EV imports from China, citing unfair competition. Beijing, in turn, has warned of a potential trade war if the EU does not reconsider its stance and has already retaliated by imposing temporary tariffs on EU-produced brandy. Despite the tensions, EU Council President Charles Michel expressed cautious optimism, suggesting there is still hope for a resolution.