Over 145 countries HAVE called for, or say, they recognize a Palestinian State…
There actually isn’t one….
(The issue WILL be discussed at the upcoming UN General Assembly shortly in NYC…)
And?
Egypt is building up its military across GAZA, worrying Israel…..
Middle East countries ARE thinking of forming a military group to move into Gaza after the Israeli /Hamas action…
Palestinian state….
There are five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The moves by France and Britain would leave the United States as the only permanent member that does not recognize a Palestinian state.
Last year, the United States blocked the Security Council from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member state at the United Nations. The vote was 12 in favor of the resolution and one — the United States — opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland….
Fleeing Gaza….Protests IN Israel….
Scores of Palestinians, many pushing carts of belongings or carrying their possessions on their backs, fled Gaza City on Saturday as Israel ramped up its offensive, including with strikes that health officials said killed at least 14 people overnight.
Later in Israel, thousands joined the families of hostages still being held by Hamas to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negotiate an end to the war.
There were protests in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv, where a large black banner was unfurled imploring U.S. President Donald Trump to help end the war, with “SAVE THEM!” in yellow letters.
The latest military strikes come as some prominent Western countries prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood at the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly next week. They include the U.K., France, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In a statement Friday, Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it will recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday. The Iberian country had previously announced its plans to do so but now set an official date.
The latest Israeli operation, which began this week, further escalates a conflict that has roiled the Middle East and likely pushes any ceasefire further out of reach. The Israeli military, which says it wants to “destroy Hamas’ military infrastructure” and urged Palestinians to leave, hasn’t given a timeline for the offensive, but there were indications it could take months….
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Hamas…Israeli Hostages fate?
Hamas, shared a compilation picture of the remaining 47 Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Saturday. Hamas said that the image released was a farewell picture and each hostage has been labelled as “Ron Arad”, an Israeli Air Force navigator who was captured in 1986. Along with it, the hostages were also given a number.
The text on the image accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of rejecting a ceasefire-hostage deal and blamed the IDF Chief of Staff for going ahead with the invasion of Gaza despite his reported opposition to it.
It reads, “Because of [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s refusal, and [IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal] Zamir’s capitulation, a parting image as the military operation in Gaza City begins.”
According to a report by Ynet, an Israeli publication, officials say out of the 47 hostages, only 20 are believed to be alive. 2 of the remaining hostages are in a grave condition and the rest are dead.
A statement from al-Qassam Brigades said, “Your prisoners are distributed within the neighborhoods of Gaza City, and we will not be concerned for their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them,” as reported by CNN.
“The commencement of this criminal operation and its expansion means that you will not receive any prisoner, neither alive nor dead, and their fate will be the same as that of (Ron Arad).”….
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Israel IS worried about Egypt’s militarty Buildup…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Trump administration to press Egypt to scale down a recent military build-up in the Sinai Peninsula, one U.S. official and two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Israeli officials say the Egyptian military build-up in Sinai has become another significant point of tension between the countries as the war in Gaza continues.
Behind the scenes: During their meeting in Jerusalem on Monday, Netanyahu presented Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a list of activities in Sinai that he claimed were substantial violations by Egypt of its 1979 peace agreement with Israel, for which the U.S. serves as guarantor.
- Two Israeli officials said the Egyptian have been establishing military infrastructure — some of which could be used for offensive purposes — in areas where only light weapons are allowed under the treaty.
- The officials claimed the Egyptians extended runways at air bases in Sinai so that they could be used by fighter jets, and built underground facilities which Israeli intelligence believes could be used for storing missiles.
There’s no evidence the Egyptians are actually storing missiles in those facilities, the officials say.
- But they claim the Egyptians did not provide a reasonable explanation as to their purpose when asked by Israel through diplomatic and military channels.
What they’re saying: One Israeli official said Israel decided to ask the Trump administration to intervene after direct talks with the Egyptians showed no progress.
- “What the Egyptians are doing in Sinai is very serious and we are very concerned,” a second Israeli official said,
- The official said the situation is made worse by the fact that the U.S.-led multinational force of observers has dramatically decreased its overflights in Sinai, therefore limiting its ability to monitor the situation.
- An Egyptian official denied the Israeli claims and said the Trump administration hasn’t raised the issue with Egypt recently.
The big picture: Tensions between Israel and Egypt have been steadily increasing since the Netanyahu government was formed in late 2022….
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Friction point: The Egyptians have grown increasingly worried during Israel’s war in Gaza that Netanyahu and his government want to push some or all of the two million Palestinians in Gaza into Sinai….
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What to watch: The Egyptians have also alarmed Israeli officials with discussions of a joint Arab military force as a response to the Israeli strike in Doha….
Note….
Did the Israeli’s think that at sometime the Middle East coutries wouldn’t do SOMETHING against the view that they could randomly attack ANY Middel East county ‘at will’ with no repecusions?
Trump is looking the other way….(There won’t be a Trump vacation Resort)
Middle East country HAVE to do SOMETHING one would think politically ?
This could get complicated?