Distrust of Israel?
According to the report, US military drones are circling over Gaza
The information from the Israeli military is apparently not enough for the USA: Instead, the Americans appear to be taking their own aerial photographs of the Gaza Strip.
According to a report, the US military has recently started using its own drones over the Gaza Strip to monitor compliance with the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. With the consent of the Israelis, aerial photographs of activities on the ground will be taken, writes the New York Times, citing Israeli and American military sources. The drone operation supports the coordination center in southern Israel, which is staffed by civilians and military representatives and which has been monitoring compliance with the ceasefire since last week and dealing with humanitarian and logistical aid for the people in the Gaza Strip.
The US brokered the ceasefire along with Qatar and Egypt. They currently play a coordinator role in the region and are Israel’s most important ally. However, the newspaper report suggests that the Americans would rather use the drones to get their own picture of the situation instead of relying primarily on the Israelis’ findings. As the Gaza war continued to escalate, disagreements repeatedly arose between the governments of the two countries.
Gaza: “Very invasive form of surveillance”
When asked by the New York Times, neither the US Department of Defense nor the Israeli military commented on the paper’s research. Israeli government officials are said to have privately described the use of drones as quite unusual. US government sources were also quoted as expressing doubts this week about whether Israel will actually respect all agreements to end the Gaza war and honor the fragile ceasefire.
A former US diplomat was even more explicit about the use of drones. “This is a very invasive form of American surveillance on a front where the Israelis see a concrete threat,” US Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, who was stationed in Israel during the time of President Barack Obama, told the newspaper. “If there were full transparency and trust between Israel and the US, this wouldn’t be necessary.” Apparently the US government wants to “eliminate any possibility of any misunderstandings.”
DPA
due
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
