Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized a delegation to engage in renewed negotiations with Hamas for a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages. The decision follows recent discussions with Qatari and Egyptian mediators and has received backing from the United States.

During a phone call on Thursday, President Joe Biden supported Netanyahu’s decision to engage in talks, emphasizing the importance of reaching an agreement, according to a readout of the conversation issued by the White House. Mossad chief David Barnea will lead the Israeli delegation, scheduled to travel to Qatar to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.

Israeli officials have expressed optimism about the new Hamas proposal, describing it as the most promising since the conflict began nearly nine months ago.

Despite progress in negotiations, internal political challenges pose risks to the deal. Far-right elements within Netanyahu’s coalition have threatened to withdraw support if the war concludes before their objectives are fully achieved. The Israeli response to the Hamas proposal, delivered through mediators, was notably different from previous instances during the nearly nine-month war in Gaza, where Israel had said the conditions attached by Hamas were not acceptable.

Hamas stated on Wednesday that it had consulted with the mediators about the proposed deal. “We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people,” the group said in a statement.

The potential ceasefire deal represents a critical juncture in the conflict, offering a glimmer of hope amid the devastation and ongoing hostilities. This development also marks a renewed attempt to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that broke out in early October 2023, which has claimed over 38,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza health authorities.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The death toll continues to rise, and essential services are on the brink of collapse due to fuel shortages. The Hamas-run health authorities have reported that in the past 24 hours alone, 58 Palestinians were killed and 179 injured. Many victims remain trapped under rubble, with rescue efforts hampered by the ongoing conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), has faced significant obstacles in delivering aid due to the closure of the Rafah crossing. Hundreds of trucks loaded with food and medical supplies are stuck, with fears that the perishable items may spoil before reaching those in need. Abdullah al Rabeeah, head of KSRelief, has urged Israel to lift the restrictions and allow the aid to reach Gaza.

In parallel, Israel’s actions in the West Bank have exacerbated tensions. The Israeli government has approved plans to construct 5,295 new settler homes, a settlement monitoring group said on Thursday.

The move came a day after Israeli authorities approved the appropriation of 12.7 square kilometers of land in the Jordan Valley, marking the largest single appropriation since the 1993 Oslo accords. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called it “a step in the wrong direction,” emphasizing the need for a negotiated two-state solution.

In 2024, Israel has designated approximately 23.7 square kilometers of West Bank territory as “State Lands,” according to Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watchdog. This bureaucratic process allows the Israeli government to nullify Palestinian ownership rights over the declared lands, allowing the land to be leased exclusively to Israelis for settlement expansion.

Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East war and has since expanded its settlements in the region.

Furthermore, the conflict has extended to the Lebanese border, where Israeli forces have launched air strikes in response to Hezbollah attacks. Hezbollah fired at least 175 rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israel, retaliating for the assassination of a senior commander by Israeli forces.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that their aerial defense systems intercepted several of these projectiles, although some caused damage and fires in northern Israel. The situation remains volatile, with both sides exchanging heavy fire.

The ongoing conflict has severely impacted tourism in Israel. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of foreign tourists visiting Israel dropped by 74.9 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The outbreak of violence in October 2023 has deterred tourists, with monthly arrivals plummeting since then.

Source(s): CGTN

SINGAPORE, July 4 (Xinhua) — Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized over 350,000 e-cigarettes and components worth more than 6 million Singapore dollars (4.4 million U.S. dollars) in operations from June 14 to June 18, it said Thursday.

Two men and two women are assisting with investigations.

HSA noted that it had seized e-cigarettes and components worth over 18 million Singapore dollars this year.

It is illegal to import, distribute, or sell e-cigarettes and their components in Singapore.

Source(s): Xinhua

China on Tuesday called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law and respond to the international community’s calls to ensure the rapid and safe entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

During his remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by extreme shortages of essential supplies and dire health conditions.

Fu noted, “millions of people are struggling with hunger, disease, pain, and despair,” describing the situation as a man-made humanitarian disaster and a serious violation of international law.

He pointed out that Gaza has been under a blockade for nine months, forcing over 2 million people to live in an “open-air prison” and depriving them of adequate access to water, electricity, food, medication and fuel.

Fu criticized the closure of the Rafah crossing due to Israeli military operations, which has resulted in thousands of trucks loaded with humanitarian supplies waiting in long lines.

“The existing crossing points are far from being able to meet the demand for humanitarian aid,” Fu said, emphasizing that land transport routes are key to expanding humanitarian access.

Fu also addressed the obstruction of humanitarian supplies and the challenges faced by humanitarian workers, who often encounter unreasonable difficulties and accusations.

He condemned the repeated attacks on facilities of humanitarian agencies and noted that over 200 humanitarian workers have died in the conflict, calling this “unprecedented in history and shocking.”

Reiterating that “hunger cannot be weaponized, humanitarian issues cannot be politicized,” Fu described the man-made exacerbation of the humanitarian disaster as”unacceptable.”

He urged Israel to ensure the “rapid and safe entry of humanitarian supplies at scale into Gaza,” and to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations.

The council’s adoption of Resolution 2720 aimed to expand humanitarian access, yet its implementation has fallen short.

Fu called for an examination of the reasons behind this and urged the concerned parties to work harder to remove obstacles to the large-scale entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Fu concluded by emphasizing that the fundamental way to alleviate the humanitarian disaster is through a lasting ceasefire and the early relaunch of the two-state solution.

He called on the international community to continue efforts toward this end and supported the council in taking further necessary action.

Source(s): CGTN