Australia joins France and Portugal in recognizing Palestine
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are expected to present their plan for occupying the Gaza Strip within two weeks, Israeli channel 12 reported today .
According to the source who consulted drafts of the plan, the military operation will be large-scale and will attempt to achieve two objectives: maintaining the safety of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip and minimizing damage to Israel's reputation in the international community.
To this end, the Israel Defense Forces will initially mobilize 250,000 reserve troops to prepare for a prolonged military operation in the city.
Simultaneously, the IDF plans a complete siege of Gaza City. During this siege, supply routes will be cut off , isolating the city, which, in theory, will weaken Hamas forces.
Israel is also considering setting up food distribution points in Gaza City, under Tel Aviv's supervision.
After this siege, Israeli troops will prepare to take the city, eliminating pockets of resistance and possibly even expanding the military operation.
Israel is aware that this plan is rejected by practically the entire international community, with the exception of its greatest ally, the United States.
Therefore, as an Israeli leader told Channel 12, the country will have to “act intelligently” to also “not lose the support” of the United States.
Hamas reacted to the death of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif during an Israeli attack.
For the Islamic group, cited by Hareetz, the journalist's death is a "barbaric crime that goes beyond all limits of fascism and criminality."
“Martyr Anas al-Sharif was a model of a free journalist, who documented the crime of famine and showed the world the scenes of starvation imposed by the occupier,” Hamas said.
Israel accused Anas al-Sharif of belonging to Hamas and of being a senior leader of the Islamic group.
A Hamas delegation will arrive in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, in the coming hours to return to the negotiating table to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
According to information provided by the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed , Hamas will try to revive negotiation channels in order to try to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Turkey is reportedly encouraging Hamas to continue negotiations and has reportedly attempted to bring the Islamic group closer to Egypt.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg announced on social media that a new fleet will depart from Spain on August 31st with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
"On August 31, we will launch the largest attempt to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza with dozens of boats departing from Spain," the activist announced on Instagram this Sunday.
“We will meet with dozens of other [activist organizations] on September 4th, departing from Tunisia and other ports,” says the announcement, in which, in addition to Thunberg, several pro-Palestinian activists participate.
This is yet another country planning to recognize the Palestinian State. Along with France, Australia announced today that it will move forward in this direction at the United Nations General Assembly, which will be held in September.
"The two-state solution is humanity's best hope for breaking the cycle of violence in the Middle East and ending conflict, suffering, and hunger in Gaza," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said during a press conference broadcast on public broadcaster ABC.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the country's Council of Ministers this morning in Canberra and comes after criticism of Israel over plans announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to occupy Gaza City.
Before Albanese's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday criticized steps by several nations toward recognizing Palestine, calling them "shameful."
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