The US and Britain have carried out new large-scale air and missile strikes on Houthi rebel facilities in Yemen. “We have attacked Houthi underground warehouses, air control and missile bases.” The US said this in a joint statement with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, commenting on the renewed attack on the bases occupied by Yemeni militiamen. The operation, explains the Pentagon, “came in response to the ongoing attacks on commercial and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten global trade and the lives of innocent sailors.” “Our goal – added the Pentagon in the joint note – remains so “To reduce tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we repeat our warning to Houthi leaders: We will not hesitate to defend lives in the face of repeated threats to the free flow of trade on one of the world's most important routes”.
The (verbal) reaction was immediate. For Houthi militia leader Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, the attacks will “only make the Yemeni people stronger and more determined to fight against you, as you are aggressors of our country.” “The Americans and the British,” he added in a post published on X, “must understand that we are capable of responding and that our people do not know surrender.”
Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to pick up the pieces. And to restart. “We have a proposal for the abductees,” he explains, after meeting a handful of relatives of the hostages who have been caught in a vortex of endless despair since the cursed October 7th. Only in the evening did the outlines of the Israeli “proposal” that had already been sent to Hamas leak out: a two-month break in the fighting in Gaza in return for the release of all hostages.
Under pressure from the protests that took place on Saturday in the country's main cities, starting with Tel Aviv, under pressure from the opposition, which is again calling for elections, under pressure even from his main ally Joe Biden, who wants to achieve a solution to the problem In view of the conflict before the final rush to the US elections, the Israeli prime minister seems to be sinking ever deeper. With the anger that seeped into the halls of power and into the Knesset Finance Committee. A slap in the face to a leadership that even the polls show is exhausted. Netanyahu's Likud party would fall short of winning 16 seats if elections were held today, according to a Channel 13 poll announced by CNN.
According to the survey, 53% of respondents also believe that the prime minister's personal interests were the main concern of his conduct of the war. “We will not leave until the hostages are returned,” shouted Eli Stivi, whose son Idan was “swallowed” by the meanders of Gaza. Along with Eli Stivi, around twenty people – all in black T-shirts – held up signs (“You will not sit here while they are killed”) and loudly shouted “Now, now, now!” for liberation at their family members in the room , in which the commission is moderated. “I want at least one of them to live, at least one in three!” shouted one of the demonstrators. The relatives of the abductees promise to guard the Knesset and the prime minister's house until the release of the 136 hostages, who are believed to still be in Hamas's hands more than three months after the start of the war.
Europe Day
It's Europe Day, which focuses on the complex (and burning) Middle East dossier. After months of US diplomatic work and after US President Joe Biden had the door slammed in his face by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his demand for “concrete steps” to create a Palestinian state, today it is up to the European Union to give its opinion heard to express. Agree.
Collected in Brussels for the Foreign Affairs Council.Twenty-seven diplomatic chiefs address two issues: the EU naval mission in the Red Sea to protect maritime trade from attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, supported by Iran in an anti-Israel capacity, and the broader scenario of the war in Gaza, the has claimed more than 25,000 victims in three and a half months, mostly civilians (source: the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, the missing are not taken into account), and which threatens every day It spread more and more and also affected other regions of the Middle East, from Lebanon to Iraq and Syria, Yemen to Iran.
The foreign ministers of Israel, Israel Katz, and the Palestinian Authority, Riyad al-Malki, also take part in the EU Council. “I have come to discuss two things,” he said cat -: Bring the hostages home as quickly as possible, including a child and four women, and ask for support against Hamas, because we must return to safety.” Katz would also have illustrated the project of an artificial island off the Strip.
“I came here to say that the most important measure is a ceasefire. We must call together for a ceasefire, we cannot accept anything else or hesitate. Innocent people are killed every day – women, children, the elderly – and that is unacceptable,” he said Tol-Malki, He added that he expects condemnation of Netanyahu's comments “rejecting the two-state solution” and “sanctions” against him.
Al-Malki rejected the sender's artificial island hypothesis: “Whoever wants to leave to live on artificial or natural islands can go there.”. We will stay in our land and refuse to stay there for our right to have the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Raids and fighting continue in the Gaza Strip In Israel, dissatisfaction with the government's actions is growing. According to a Washington Post analysis Netanyahu would seek to keep the war at that level while he awaits former President Donald Trump's possible return to power and a “change in political dispensations in Washington.”
The Arab countries: The EU calls for a ceasefire and works with us
That's how it is in Brussels Jordan's Foreign Minister was also presentAyman Hussein Abdullah al-Safadi: Israel, he denounces, “with its policy of aggression in Gaza and the continuation of measures that undermine the two-state solution, condemns the future of the region to further conflict and more war.” The whole world says that the only way out of this situation is the two-state solution.” “We expect the EU to call for a ceasefire and work with us to develop a concrete plan for the two-state solution.”the time is now.”
Jordan is one of the countries along with l'Egypt, more directly involved in the possible consequences of the war in Gaza. Both firmly reject a possible influx of refugees into their territory.
On the Palestinian questionSaudi Arabia had already stated: No process of normalization of relations with Israel and no financing of the reconstruction of Gaza without a serious and credible path to the creation of a Palestinian state. “Otherwise we will be back to square one in a year or two,” Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said on CNN.
Refugees leave the southern outskirts of Khan Yunis, where fighting is imminent, and head along the coastal road towards Rafah in the Gaza Strip's far south – Ansa
Borrell (EU): Cooperation with Arab countries for a Palestinian state
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza couldn't be worse, there is no food, no medicine and people are under bombs.” Some ministers accept that there are too many civilian casualties, but when is enough enough? Today we will also talk about it,” he explained this morning EU High Representative Josep Borrell. “It is not the way to conduct a military operation and I say this out of respect for the victims of October 7,” he added.
The head of EU diplomacy expects “we will discuss an overall approach” with the foreign ministers. We have to stop talking about the peace process and instead start talking more specifically about the process of the two-state solution. Because peace can be of different kinds. So let's talk about what we want to do, which is to build a two-state solution. From now on – he continued – I will no longer talk about the peace process, but about the process for a two-state solution. And we mean it: in the meantime, we must eliminate the causes that prevent this from happening. And Hamas is certainly one of them, an important one. But there are others. And this approach needs to be discussed and studied, I know it is difficult, there are 27 different visions, but we need to work with the Arab world.”
Tajani: “Two states are the only solution for peace”
In Brussels, the Deputy Prime Minister e Foreign Minister Antonio Tajaniclarified Italy's position: “Two states are the only solution if we want peace,” he said, referring to the creation of a Palestinian state recognized by the international community and the simultaneous recognition of Israel by Arab states that do so, such as Saudi -Arabia do not do but recognize it fully.
In response to journalists who asked him if the European naval mission in the Red Sea it was not a military intervention, Tajani specified that it was “a military intervention to defend Italian merchant ships.”. Trade is collapsing, we are an exporting country and have a duty to defend our ships. We are not at war with anyone, but the defense of our ships is a duty of the Republic and the Government.”
“We propose, together with France and Germany, a mission that can ensure the safety of maritime transport.” I I hope that the mission can be given final approval as early as the next Foreign Affairs Council, following the broad green light given at today's meeting“said the minister, adding that the operation for Italy “could also include the Emasoh/Agenor mission in the Strait of Hormuz”.
The EU Council Presidency (Belgium) is calling for a ceasefire
“In the name of Belgium and the EU Presidency – said the Foreign Minister of Belgium Hadja Lahbib – the message I will deliver today is clear: we demand an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages, respect for international law and a return to the peace process that must lead to the creation of the two states.” “It is clear the risk of regionalization of the conflict,” he adds. We must also stop the violence in the West Bank. We hope to be able to organize a peace conference in Brussels in the near future This can really reinvigorate the political dialogue.”
Madrid: “West Bank and Gaza should be connected by a corridor”
One of the first European countries to support the creation of a Palestinian state since the beginning of the conflict was Spain. Foreign Minister José Albares Bueno calls for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “We need a Palestinian state with the West Bank and Gaza Strip connected by a corridor to ensure territorial continuity.”. The Palestinian and Israeli peoples have exactly the same right to live in peace and security.” “The peace and security of the peoples of the Middle East,” he adds, “passes through.” Creation of a Palestinian state with access to the sea and a capital in East Jerusalem».
The war: The army surrounds the Khan Yunis hospital, 25,300 dead
Tensions high today in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip as Israeli forces gradually advance west towards the sea and south towards Rafah. According to military radio The army surrounded Nasser Hospital and completes the isolation of the city center. The Red Crescent's central building, an eight-story building, was also besieged by tanks: all activities were paralyzed, including ambulance services. Snipers are stationed on the roofs of surrounding buildings. Local sources add that there are thousands of displaced people in the immediate area who are unable to move in any direction. There would also be crowds. The troops have also reached Al-Aqsa University and are one kilometer from the Moassi humanitarian area, near the sea, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are.
The latest update on the death toll, as always provided by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, is 25,295 confirmed deaths and 63,000 injured. This does not take into account the number of missing people, which is estimated to be thousands of people buried under the rubble. Within 24 hours, 190 people were killed and 340 injured.
Palestinians flee Khan Yunis refugee camp as ground fighting approaches – Portal
Israel, criticism of the government. Protest by the families of the hostages
Dozens of demonstrators stormed the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and demanded new electionsHe accused the parties in the ruling coalition of being “traitors who handed over the hostages.” Last night, a group of family members of the hostages camped outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence, urging him to reach an agreement that would ensure the 132's return home.
And for the first time since the beginning of the war There The Knesset has voted on a motion of no confidence against the government. Presented by the Labor Party, which only has 4 seats out of 120, has not exceeded the 61-vote threshold required to undermine the executive branch, even if has received 18 votes for and none against. In fact, the majority coalition did not vote and left the chamber. Some family members of the abductees present in the audience railed against the government representative, Minister Mai Golan. The reason for the request was in fact the “failure (of the Netanyahu government, editor’s note) to bring the hostages home.”
The largest opposition party is Yesh Atid Yair Lapid, called on Netanyahu to choose a date for new elections himself. “It will take another month, two more months.” It will come at some point. “There are enough people in your coalition who can’t take it anymore,” said Lapid.
Avigdor Liberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu, said he was against new elections because at this moment “we need unity” and “not wars between Jews.” If the right wants to stay in power, the only option is to sack the prime minister, he added. If Netanyahu “had a shred of conscience and was capable of taking responsibility, he would resign.”
According to media reports, at a meeting of his right-wing extremist party Otzma Yehudit The minister National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly said the government would fall if the war ended. Ben-Gvir strongly opposes any ceasefire agreement and any easing of military pressure on Hamas until its complete destruction.