The Times of Israel is liveblogging Friday’s events as they unfold.
Hackers tweet ‘F*ck Israel’ during brief takeover of soccer star Kylian Mbappe’s account
Hackers managed to briefly take over French soccer star Kylian Mbappe’s X account, tweeting a series of posts including one that declared, “F*ck Israel” and another that read, “Free Palestine.
Mbappe has subsequently gotten back in control of his account and the tweets have been deleted.
Kylian Mbappe account was hacked
Here’s a thread about everything that was posted on the account while it was hacked: pic.twitter.com/XZ1TgZUqdF
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) August 29, 2024
Harris says she won’t change Biden’s policy on arming Israel
US Vice President Kamala Harris says she won’t change US President Joe Biden’s policy of arming Israel.
Harris is pressed on the matter during a CNN interview with her running mate Tim Walz — her first since becoming the Democratic party’s presidential nominee.
Highlighting calls by progressives to withhold weapons shipments to Israel, CNN asks Harris whether she would take a different approach to the Israel-Hamas war than Biden has. Interviewer Dana Bash doesn’t mention that Biden has in fact withheld one transfer of heavy bombs, though part of it was eventually released and all other shipments have continued.
Harris begins her answer by pivoting, reiterating the remarks she made in her speech at the Democratic National Convention last week.
“I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself, and that’s not going to change,” Harris says.
“But let’s take a step back. October 7 — 1,200 people were massacred, many young people who were simply attending a music festival. Women were horribly raped,” the vice president continues.
“As I said then, I say today: Israel has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, and we have got to get a deal done,” she says referring to negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“This war must end, and we must get a deal that is about getting the hostages out,” Harris stresses, noting that she has met with the families of the eight American hostages. “Let’s get the ceasefire done.”
Pushed again on whether she would change the current policy regarding weapons shipments, Harris responds, “No” before quickly continuing her point about the need for a hostage deal.
“When you look at the significance of this, to the families, to the people who are living in that region — a deal is not only the right thing to do to end this war but will unlock so much of what must happen next.”
“I remain committed — since I’ve been on October 8 — to what we must do to work toward a two-state solution where Israel is secure and in equal measure, the Palestinians have security and self-determination and dignity,” the Democratic presidential nominee adds.
US pans ‘deeply troubling’ IDF shooting of WFP vehicle, says Israel must ensure aid workers protected
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller tweets, “The Israeli Defense Forces shooting of a World Food Programme vehicle in Gaza is a deeply troubling incident.”
“Humanitarian workers are there to help innocent civilians, and Israel must ensure they are protected,” Miller adds.
On Wednesday, the WFP suspended the movement of its employees across the Gaza Strip, saying at least 10 bullets struck one of its clearly marked vehicles as it approached an Israeli military checkpoint.
Earlier today, US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood revealed that Jerusalem had informed Washington that an initial review found that shots were fired at the clearly marked vehicle after a “communication error” between IDF units.
“We have urged them to immediately rectify the issues within their system,” Wood told a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza. “Israel must not only take ownership for its mistakes but also take concrete actions to ensure the IDF does not fire on UN personnel again.”
US military says it rescued two civilian Iranian mariners last week
Sailors assigned to a US aircraft carrier rescued two civilian Iranian mariners in international waters on Aug. 23, the US military says in a statement.
“The Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group rescued two mariners in distress in the US Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of operations (AOR),” the US Central Command says.
Two carrier strike groups — the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Abraham Lincoln – are currently in the Middle East. The Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group is conducting routine operations in Central Command’s area of operation.
“Aiding distressed mariners is a mission that our strike group will always stand ready to support. It is the right thing to do, and further demonstrates that the US Navy is a force ready when called upon,” the statement adds.
Israel tells US shots were fired at WFP vehicle in Gaza due to ‘communication error’
Israel tells the United States that an initial review found that shots were fired at a clearly marked World Food Programme (WFP) vehicle in the Gaza Strip after a “communication error” between IDF units, the deputy US envoy to the United Nations says.
“We have urged them to immediately rectify the issues within their system,” deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood tells a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza. “Israel must not only take ownership for its mistakes, but also take concrete actions to ensure the IDF does not fire on UN personnel again.”