Israeli Chief of Staff Meets with Jewish Community in Marrakech

Kohavi meets with members of the Jewish community in Marrakech (Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee’s Facebook page)
Kohavi meets with members of the Jewish community in Marrakech (Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee’s Facebook page)
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Israeli Chief of Staff Meets with Jewish Community in Marrakech

Kohavi meets with members of the Jewish community in Marrakech (Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee’s Facebook page)
Kohavi meets with members of the Jewish community in Marrakech (Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee’s Facebook page)

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi concluded on Thursday a three-day official visit to Morocco, during which he held talks with senior commanders of the Royal Armed Forces and security and intelligence officers.

He met Wednesday with the local Jewish community, headed by Jackie Kadosh, in the Old City of Marrakech.

Kohavi paid tribute to the community members and thanked them for their contribution to the Jewish people in both Israel and the Jewish diaspora.

“I feel a sense of pride and admiration to meet you, the Jewish community of Morocco, some of who fought for the State of Israel, and are today working here for the Jewish community and to deepen the connection with Israel.”

He visited the local Jewish cemetery and attended a prayer service at the Slat al-Azama Great Synagogue.

He also met with members of the community who fought in the Yom Kippur war and later returned to Morocco.

Prior to his visit to Marrakech, Kohavi held talks with Commander the Moroccan Air Force Base Ben Greyer Colonel Major Hassan Mahwar.

Both sides discussed means of bolstering cooperation ties between both countries’ air forces.



ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas Officials

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas Officials

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.

The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic.

US President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request.

But the ICC said Thursday that Israel's acceptance of the court's jurisdiction was not required.

Israel launched its war against Hamas after militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

Health officials in the Gaza Strip said Thursday the death toll from the 13-month-old war has surpassed 44,000.

The Israeli offensive has also caused heavy destruction across wide areas of the coastal territory and displaced 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people.