newsinsightplus.com
- 4.8magnitude
- 40year
- April 5, 2024
- 0 Comments
BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael-Gaza: IDF sacks officers over World Central Kitchen convoy attackPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockImage caption, Those involved in the attack on the convoy did not know the vehicles belonged to World Central Kitchen, the Israeli military report foundBy Kathryn ArmstrongBBC NewsTwo senior Israeli military officers have been sacked after seven aid workers were killed in missile strikes in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called the killing of staff from World Central Kitchen (WCK) a “grave accident”. Drone operators did not follow rules and thought WCK’s cars were carrying Hamas gunmen, its inquiry says.WCK called the IDF’s apology “cold comfort” for the aid workers’ families and urged an independent investigation.The IDF launched an internal investigation into the deaths after coming under intense international pressure to explain the circumstances.Its findings were published on Friday alongside an admission of “serious failure” and the announcement that an IDF colonel and major were being dismissed as a result.Three commanders have been formally reprimanded for their overall responsibility in the strikes, which the IDF said were carried out in breach of army rules.The IDF said those who carried out the attack could also face criminal prosecution. Image source, ReutersIn the space of four minutes on 1 April, seven people working for WCK were killed when three missiles destroyed their cars one by one.The charity’s team had been authorised by the Israeli military to help transfer aid supplies from the coast to a warehouse, but a series of mistakes and miscommunications on the part of the IDF made them a target.In a briefing for journalists on how the incident played out, the IDF said its drone operator identified what appeared to be a gunman on top of one of the aid trucks being escorted by WCK.After the aid convoy reached its warehouse destination, a car carrying what the IDF said were gunmen headed north, while the WCK aid workers began driving south in vehicles marked with the charity’s logo.The investigation found those markings were not visible at night, and attempts to contact the aid workers failed.After a drone operator mistook a bag being held by an aid worker for a gun, the military unit began targeting it with missile strikes.The IDF’s internal investigation also found:A plan setting out WCK’s movements which had been agreed with the IDF was not given to the drone unitEvidence an armed man was in the convoy was insufficient to justify targeting itDrone operators kept firing on the convoy after the initial strikeThe unit involved in the attack has been suspended from duties and evidence has been passed on to the Military Advocate General, the Israeli army’s top legal authority, the IDF said.In response, World Central Kitchen said the IDF had taken “important steps forward” by disciplining those involved in the attack but called for an independent investigation. A statement read: “It is also clear from their preliminary investigation that the IDF has deployed deadly force without regard to its own protocols, chain of command and rules of engagement.”We demand the creation of an independent commission to investigate the killings of our WCK colleagues. The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Family of aid worker killed in Gaza: ‘He had a desire to serve others’US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was carefully reviewing the inquiry and would assess what steps Israel was taking “to ensure that something like this can never happen again”.Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna demanded a criminal inquiry. One of the seven aid workers killed was a Polish national.The deaths have contributed to growing international anger at how Israel is conducting the war, which has led to calls for countries to stop supplying Israel with weapons in recent days.What we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWho were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza?On Thursday, US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington’s ongoing support was contingent on more aid being allowed into Gaza and additional measures being introduced to protect aid workers.Israel later said it had approved the opening of two routes into Gaza for humanitarian deliveries. It is not clear when these would be opened or under what conditions.The Erez Gate in northern Gaza will be reopened for the first time since the start of the war, and the Israeli container port of Ashdod – which is close to Gaza – will accept humanitarian supplies. More aid from Jordan will also be allowed to enter via the Kerem Shalom Crossing. There are serious concerns about the welfare of Gazans after aid organisations suspended their operations in the wake of Monday’s attack. The United Nations (UN) has warned an estimated 1.1 million people – half the population – are facing catastrophic hunger because of Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of order.UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said 196 aid workers had died since the conflict began and called for a “meaningful increase” in the amount of supplies allowed into Gaza.Meanwhile, the head of Hezbollah in Lebanon – which is closely allied with Iran – said Tehran would soon respond to an air strike on its diplomatic compound in Syria, which killed a senior general. Israel is widely believed to be behind the strike.Israel has taken steps to prepare for a potential Iranian response, including blocking GPS in much of the country in an effort to hinder guided missiles and drones.On Friday, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said: “The Iranian response is coming without a doubt.”Much of the Gaza Strip has been devastated during the Israeli military operations that began after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages.More than 33,091 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelGazaMore on this storyGaza charity worker’s death was a crime, say parentsPublished20 hours agoIsraeli minister denies aid workers were targetedPublished1 day agoCharity boss says Israel targeted staff ‘car by car’Published1 day agoTop StoriesIDF officers sacked over fatal aid worker attackPublished1 hour agoLive. Rare 4.8-magnitude quake rattles New York and surrounding areasWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquake. VideoWatch: Moment New York landmarks shaken by earthquakePublished1 hour agoFeaturesInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?Weekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Two brothers, one football club and a 40-year wait for a major trophyAttributionSportWhat we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining? AudioListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining?AttributionSoundsDev Patel: I want to create own story, not be James BondTrain strikes: How will you be affected?Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man2Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods3French pupil dies after being beaten near school4Thames Water troubles swell as parent firm defaults5Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by Netflix6Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?7Six Russian planes destroyed by drones – Ukraine8Director condemns ‘deplorable racism’ against star9IDF officers sacked over fatal aid worker attack10Hunt praises MP’s apology over dating app incident
[ad_1] A report finds officers wrongly thought Hamas gunmen were in the World Central Kitchen cars.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCapitol rioters’ families draw hope from Trump’s promise of pardonsPublished34 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS Capitol riotsBy Bernd Debusmann Jr & Mike WendlingBBC News in WashingtonEvery night since August 2022, a small crowd has gathered outside the Washington DC Central Jail, through frigid winter nights and under spring rain, to protest against the US justice system. The protesters outside the red-brick buildings of the facility pray, discuss the news, and broadcast telephone calls with prisoners inside the jail, where hundreds of accused or convicted rioters have been held in the three years since the 6 January 2021 storming of the Capitol. In recent months, as Donald Trump has gripped the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, the protesters have taken heart from the ex-president’s vocal public support for those who attacked Congress.At rallies, Mr Trump plays a version of the national anthem recorded by the J6 Prison Choir – an anonymous group of prisoners thought to include several violent offenders. On Wednesday, he posted a video of the song on his Truth Social account, describing them as “January 6th hostages” – a term he has increasingly used in reference to the rioters.On a recent chilly evening, Micki Witthoeft was one of a handful of protesters and live-streamers outside the jail. The mother of Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old military veteran who was shot and killed by law enforcement after breaching the Capitol building, Ms Witthoeft said she had received a call from Mr Trump just that day in which he promised to “do his best” for the prisoners should he return to office.”President Trump is a man of his word,” she said. “We don’t really think everybody on January 6 was innocent of all things, but we just want them to be adequately and accurately charged and sentenced.”Image caption, Protesters including Micki Witthoeft (left) outside the Washington DC Central JailWhen a mob of Mr Trump’s supporters breached the US Capitol to try to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, the images of police and security officers under attack and armed rioters surging into the centre of American democracy shocked the country.Around 140 police officers were assaulted, according to justice department figures. In total, more than 1,350 people have been arrested since then. Nearly 30 January 6 inmates are reported to be currently held in the DC jail, most of them charged with assaulting officers.As part of his re-election bid, Mr Trump has promised to pardon many of the January 6 rioters but has never detailed the specific criteria he might use.At times he has distinguished between non-violent rioters and those who “got out of control”, but his focus at campaign events largely centres on unsubstantiated claims that both he and they are victims of political persecution.While political strategists say the focus could hurt Mr Trump electorally – particularly among independent and moderate voters he must win over to defeat Joe Biden – they see the messaging as a bid to keep his loyal base of supporters motivated.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Rendition of Star-Spangled Banner performed by January 6 rioters plays at Trump rally.”They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly,” Mr Trump said last month at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, going on to describe the prisoners as “unbelievable patriots”. In his own words: How Trump’s January 6th language evolved7 January 2021: “I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem… to those who broke the law, you will pay.” (Televised speech)July 2021: “There was such love at that rally… the crowd was unbelievable and I mentioned the word love, the love in the air, I’ve never seen anything like it.” (Fox News interview)January 2022: “If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from Jan 6 fairly… And if it requires pardons we will give them pardons.” (Texas rally)May 2023: “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control… And it’ll be very early on.” (CNN town hall discussion)November 2023: “I call them the J6 hostages, not prisoners.” (Texas rally)12 March 2024: “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!” (Truth Social post)16 March 2024: “You see the spirit from the hostages, and that’s what they are, is hostages. They’ve been treated terribly and very unfairly.” (Ohio rally)3 April 2024: “January 6th hostages with President Donald J. Trump”, with a video featuring the J6 Prison Choir song (Truth Social post)Mr Trump’s attacks on the legal system for alleged political bias against the Capitol rioters echo his public outbursts about his own legal travails. He faces four criminal indictments, including one that accuses him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. And embracing the 6 January defendants, observers say, bolsters his claim to supporters that the legal system is “rigged”.”The political prisoners narrative seems to be an effort to frame the Jan 6 attack as a lawful political protest,” said Barbara McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor and author of the book Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. And Mr Trump’s base want to believe in him and his narrative about the legal system, she said, even though it’s “a con”.The day that still divides America, three years onWhat next for the far-right Proud Boys?Several Trump supporters told the BBC that they felt sentencing of the rioters was too harsh. Scott Nolan, a self-described conservative voter in Reston, Virginia, called Mr Trump’s statements “overblown, but not entirely incorrect”. He said he believed the president was right to say that Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters had been treated differently.Polling, however, suggests the idea that the Capitol rioters are being treated unfairly is broadly rejected by most Americans.A Washington Post-University of Maryland survey in December 2023 found that nearly three-quarters of respondents believed punishments had either been “fair” or “not harsh enough”. And a recent survey by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found two-thirds of Americans thought the riot was “very” or “extremely” violent. Both polls showed sharp differences between Republicans and Democrats.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Officer Harry Dunn is still traumatised by the attack on the CapitolGunner Ramer, political director of Republican Accountability, a political action committee opposed to Mr Trump, said the campaign rhetoric about January 6 “hostages” could be particularly damaging among voters that might ultimately determine the outcome of the election. “Trump talking about ‘political prisoners’ activates victimhood grievance politics and connects with Republican primary voters,” he said. “But when you’re talking about swing voters – those who supported Trump in 2016 but not in 2020 – they are absolutely repulsed by January 6.”Mr Trump has not been specific about why he believes the rioters were treated unfairly. Nor has he been specifically critical of conditions in the DC jail, which has long been the subject of complaints and lawsuits. Some of the people given the longest 6 January sentences, for felonies such as seditious conspiracy – plotting against the government – did not directly participate in vandalism or physical violence. Instead they were prosecuted for co-ordinating attempts to stop the vote and bringing dozens of their members to the Capitol that day. Mr Trump’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, but a spokeswoman recently told the Washington Post: “President Trump will restore justice for all Americans who have been unfairly treated by Joe Biden’s two-tier system of justice.”Analysis by the Washington Post that compared sentences in Capitol riot cases to national sentencing guidelines suggests they received lighter punishments than those usually applied. In two-thirds of Capitol riot cases, judges handed out sentences below federal guidelines. Nationally they go below the guidelines in about half of all cases, the paper reported.The protesters outside the DC jail agreed that a blanket pardon for all of the rioters wasn’t necessarily warranted. But they hoped that most would be freed or have their criminal records expunged.”Our hope is that [Trump] wins and gets back in office,” said Tamara Jackson, a Texas woman whose husband Brian pleaded guilty in February to felony assault charges, and whose brother-in-law Andrew was recently sentenced to a year of weekends in jail. “Them [the detainees] coming home is obviously the goal.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Trump supporters at the US Capitol during the 6 January riotMany of Mr Trump’s political allies have echoed his support for the jailed rioters. But there has been pushback from some leading Republicans that have broken publicly with their party’s nominee. Mike Pence, who served as Mr Trump’s vice-president, told CBS News last month that he thought it was “very unfortunate” that the former president had begun to use the term “hostages” to refer to Capitol rioters. Mr Pence oversaw proceedings in Congress to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 election win as crowds stormed the building. Some chanted “Hang Mike Pence” and he was rushed to safety as protesters broke windows before rampaging through the Senate.”It’s just unacceptable,” he said.Related TopicsUS Capitol riotsUS election 2024Donald TrumpUS politicsUnited StatesMore on this storyThe day that still divides America, three years onPublished5 JanuaryWhat next for the far-right Proud Boys?Published6 September 2023Panel to probe Trump’s actions during Capitol riotPublished21 July 2022Top StoriesLive. Israel military sacks senior officers after aid workers killed in GazaLive. Rare 4.8-magnitude quake rattles New York and surrounding areasThames Water troubles swell as parent firm defaultsPublished3 hours agoFeaturesInside IDF’s detailed briefing on aid convoy attackWhere does Israel get its weapons?Weekly quiz: Which of Marilyn’s belongings went under the hammer?Two brothers, one football club and a 40-year wait for a major trophyAttributionSportWhat we know about Israeli strike on aid convoyListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining? AudioListen: Newscast – When will it stop raining?AttributionSoundsDev Patel: I want to create own story, not be James BondTrain strikes: How will you be affected?Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?Elsewhere on the BBCAmbition, money and deceptionThe scandalous true story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, starring Amanda SeyfriedAttributioniPlayerThe man who taught the world how to eatProfessor Tim Spector shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren LaverneAttributionSoundsAn ordinary couple caught in the centre of a mysteryDiscover the new dark, offbeat comedy drama now on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerTime to learn and laughPaul Sinha improves your general knowledge with fascinating facts and hilarious storiesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Murder inquiry after human torso found in woods2Great-grandad, 111, is world’s oldest living man3French pupil dies after being beaten near school4Thames Water troubles swell as parent firm defaults5Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC interview… as dramatised by Netflix6Six Russian planes destroyed by drones – Ukraine7Director condemns ‘deplorable racism’ against star8Where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?9’My building started shaking… I was freaking out’10Hunt praises MP’s apology over dating app incident](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/104C7/production/_132995766_trumpcapitol2use.png)
