Progressive legislators in the United States have introduced a congressional resolution urging “an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine”.

Monday’s measure — backed by more than a dozen Democratic members of the House of Representatives, including Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, Summer Lee, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar — highlighted growing calls in Washington for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the proposed resolution reads.

Despite overwhelming support for Israel in Congress, Bush told reporters during an online briefing that the resolution is an urgent push Americans can rally around.

“Leaders lead from the front, and we move with the call of the people,” Bush said. “Our constituents around the country are going to begin calling our colleagues to join us.”

A demonstration organized by multiple Jewish groups was held outside the White House on Monday to advocate for a halt in hostilities in Gaza. 

In a series of posts on X which included photos and video footage, the Jewish activist group IfNotNow said "American Jews and allies have now blocked 4+ doors to the White House.”

"We’re prepared to put our bodies in the way of more slaughter — we’re ready to stay here until (President Joe) Biden forces a ceasefire," it added.

During the demonstration, police reportedly took more than 30 people into custody.

According to a local ABC News affiliated network in the US capital, Washington, D.C., the Secret Service verified the arrests.

The arrests reportedly resulted from protesters either breaching safety barriers or obstructing entrances in the vicinity of the White House complex.

Apart from the humanitarian catastrophe and mass killings in Gaza, the protestors also raised their voices over Israelis who were killed or kidnapped by the Palestinian Hamas group.

"We are also here raising our voices for our Israeli siblings — while burying their loved ones and awaiting news of those kidnapped — (and) are screaming at their government for the bombs to stop," said the group.

European Union leaders are holding an emergency meeting - today, Tuesday, via video technology - in an attempt to send a coherent message regarding the ongoing confrontations between the Israeli army and Palestinian resistance factions, which are entering their 11th day.

Agence France-Presse quoted a European official as saying, “We felt the need to put things in order,” after a week of debate at the Union’s headquarters in Brussels.

European Council President Charles Michel called for the virtual summit at 17:30 local time (15:30 GMT).

In the days that followed the unprecedented military operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Palestinian resistance factions, the European Commission created an atmosphere of confusion regarding the assistance to the Palestinians, which the European Union is the main provider of.

Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi announced the suspension of payments, sparking protests in some capitals, before the European executive corrected the situation by announcing an “emergency review” of development aid was underway, indicating that humanitarian aid was not concerned.

On Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that this humanitarian aid would be tripled to reach 75 million euros ($79.11 million).

Message and resentment

But during the previous day, the message - which von der Leyen sent during a visit to Israel - caused resentment from member states and the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen had defended - in front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - Israel's right to self-defense, without mentioning that this response must comply with humanitarian and international law, which was stressed by European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell at the conclusion of a ministers' meeting. External.

French European Representative Nathalie Loiseau said on Saturday, "I do not understand what the Commission President has to do with the European Union's foreign policy, which she is not responsible for."

For his part, Commission spokesman Eric Mamer defended von der Leyen's right to "travel wherever she wants," saying, "I do not remember anyone criticizing the president when she went to Ukraine after the start of the war."

This controversy led to the call for an emergency European summit via video.

A diplomat said, "We must try to get things back on track so that the talks focus on the situation, and not on the way the European Union is talking," while acknowledging that there was a "problem."

Comment and messages

For his part, Vittorio Infante from the non-governmental organization Oxfam, which was forced to suspend its work in Gaza following Israel’s call on residents to evacuate their homes, said, “This is not the time for contradictory messages. What we need is decisive moral leadership focused on peace. And with every minute that passes, civilians are paying a price.” “Expensive.”

It is noteworthy that a joint declaration was adopted on Sunday to determine the position of the 27 countries before the meeting, which “strongly insist on Israel’s right to self-defense under humanitarian and international law in the face of violent and indiscriminate attacks” launched by Hamas.

They also stressed the importance of providing emergency humanitarian assistance, and expressed their "readiness" to continue supporting civilians who are in dire need of it in Gaza, while ensuring that this assistance is not subject to misuse by what they described as terrorist organizations.

More than 1,000 Palestinian children in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7 as surviving children suffer untold physical and emotional consequences as a result of intensive Israeli bombardment and unprecedented internal displacement. Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian child approximately every 15 minutes since the Israeli military unleashed a massive military offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after Palestinian armed groups fired rockets toward Israel and breached the Israeli perimeter fence surrounding Gaza, launching attacks inside Israel. Israeli forces initiated a large-scale military operation dubbed Operation Iron Swords. 

"The repercussions of this war will not only affect the victims we have lost, some of which are still trapped under the rubble of their homes, and not only the residential areas that have been completely destroyed, including our own homes, but the psychological impact on us civilians and our children will be catastrophic,” said Mohammad Abu Rukbeh, senior Gaza field researcher at DCIP.

The fatality and injury numbers provided by the Ministry of Health in Gaza only account for people admitted to hospitals, so at least an estimated additional 1,000 Palestinians are missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings, according to the Ministry of Interior, indicating the actual death toll is much higher.

Palestinian children who have so far survived the Israeli military’s intense bombing across the Gaza Strip are suffering in an increasingly dire humanmade humanitarian crisis, compounding existing mental and emotional traumas sustained from 16 years of siege and Israeli military offensives.

An estimated one million Palestinians in Gaza are displaced, according to the UN, including more than 600,000 people hosted in the central and southern parts of Gaza, according to UN OCHA. Since October 11 at 2 p.m. Gaza has experienced a full electricity blackout after Israeli authorities cut the electricity and fuel supply on October 7 and the Gaza Power Plant depleted its reserves, according to UN OCHA. 

The lack of electricity has exacerbated the existing food crisis as refrigeration is not possible and irrigation and agricultural activity has ground to a halt. Fuel reserves and backup generators at hospitals are not expected to last more than 24 hours.

Israeli authorities cut water supply to Gaza on October 9, and since then, all three water desalination plants in Gaza have been forced to cease operations, according to UN OCHA. The vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza have no access to clean drinking water, and some have resorted to drinking dirty well water, raising concerns for waterborne diseases. 

Even though Israeli authorities claimed to resume water supply to southern Gaza yesterday, there is no electricity to operate water pumps, Israeli airstrikes have damaged many water lines, and very little water in Gaza is drinkable in the first place.

The psychological toll on Palestinian children in Gaza is further underscored by the pre-existing challenges they faced prior to the recent series of Israeli military attacks. 

The trauma experienced by Palestinian children in Gaza extends beyond personal suffering. Witnessing the deaths of other children compounds their distress, leaving indelible scars on their mental well-being. Entire families are being wiped out in the blink of an eye, shattering the very foundations of these households. Children, who once found comfort in the embrace of their families, are now left orphaned. 

The emotional repercussions for these children are profound, as they grapple not only with the pain of the current situation in their city but also with the daunting challenge of navigating life without the foundational support of their families.

Israeli airstrikes have destroyed two of the three main lines for mobile communication in the Gaza Strip, according to UN OCHA. The Palestinian Telecommunications Company (Paltel) is still able to provide minimal internet connectivity across Gaza, but fears connection will be completely lost if there is any additional damage to the lines.

“The State of Israel has no choice but to turn Gaza into a place that is temporarily or permanently impossible to live in,” reservist Major General Giora Eiland told Israeli media. “Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieve the goal. Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist.”

“Human animals must be treated as such. There will be no electricity and no water [in Gaza], there will only be destruction. You wanted hell, you will get hell,” said Major General Ghassan Alian, head of Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

Under international law, genocide is prohibited and constitutes the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group, in whole or in part. Genocide can result from killing or by creating conditions of life that are so unbearable it brings about the group’s destruction.

International humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks and requires all parties to an armed conflict to distinguish between military targets, civilians, and civilian objects. Deploying explosive weapons in densely-populated civilian areas constitutes indiscriminate attacks and carrying out direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects amounts to war crimes.

Israeli authorities have imposed a closure policy against the Gaza Strip since 2007 by strictly controlling and limiting the entry and exit of individuals; maintaining harsh restrictions on imports including food, construction materials, fuel, and other essential items; as well as prohibiting exports. Israel continues to maintain complete control over the Gaza Strip’s borders, airspace, and territorial waters.

Today, Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces closed three side roads in the village of Al-Laban Al-Sharqiya, south of Nablus, which were reclaimed by residents several days ago.

Local sources reported that by closing all the secondary roads surrounding the village, the occupation had completely isolated it from its surroundings that branched out to the cities of Nablus and Ramallah, while leaving only one road for entry and exit, which is the road that connects to the city of Salfit, which increases the suffering of citizens who are forced to travel a long distance. More than 10 kilometers out of the village.

The occupation forces closed the main entrance to the village ten days ago, in addition to closing seven side roads in the past days.

The Israeli government fiercely attacked Palestinian model Gigi Hadid on social media, after she shared a post in support of Palestine.

In detail, the official “State of Israel” account published a number of “stories” in which Hadid was accused of anti-Semitism, after she shared a post over the weekend that said: “The Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians has nothing to do with Judaism. Condemning the Israeli government is not considered anti-Semitic.” Supporting the Palestinians does not mean supporting Hamas.”

Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh said: “Our priority now is to stop the occupation’s aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, ensure the delivery of medical, health and food supplies, restore the delivery of electricity and water, and operate water treatment plants and desalination plants, to confront the humanitarian and health catastrophe facing the Strip.”

This came during his meeting with the Norwegian envoy to the Middle East peace process, Hilda Haraldstad, today, Tuesday, in his office in Ramallah, in the presence of Norway’s representative to Palestine, Torne Veste.

The Prime Minister renewed his call to pressure Israel to stop its aggression and adhere to international humanitarian law, and the necessity of creating a political horizon and path based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative to end the occupation and establish the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Shtayyeh expressed his rejection of all attempts by the occupation to displace our people from the north of the Gaza Strip towards the south, and also the attempt to displace them from the Gaza Strip abroad, as a new nakba that our people are experiencing.

The Jordanian Royal Court announced on Tuesday that King Abdullah II will hold a four-way summit in Amman tomorrow, Wednesday, with US President Joe Biden, his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Royal Court said in a brief statement that the summit will discuss “the dangerous developments in Gaza and their repercussions on the region and ensuring the entry of humanitarian and relief aid into the Strip.”

Earlier today, the White House announced that the US President will visit Israel tomorrow and then Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah, Sisi and Abbas. The White House said in a statement that Biden will discuss in Jordan the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza.

Yesterday, the White House said that Biden and Sisi discussed the need to maintain stability in the Middle East during a phone call. The White House added that the two leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

At a time when the war entered the eleventh day, and stopping the escalation in the Gaza Strip seemed to be far away, after an American, British, and French “veto” thwarted attempts in the Security Council to pass a draft Russian resolution to establish a humanitarian truce, while Israel continued its bombing of the Strip to expect more than 50 dead in the early hours of Tuesday.

While hundreds of trucks were lined up inside the Egyptian border, not far from Gaza, waiting for a signal to transport tons of aid to hundreds of thousands of people besieged inside the Strip, the Palestinian death toll in the Israeli raids on Gaza reached more than 2,800 people, more than half of whom were women and children, and the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. The number of wounded exceeds 10 thousand. The Security Council failed to pass a Russian draft resolution that called for a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.

Official Gulf news agencies reported that an international summit will be held in Egypt to discuss “developments in the Palestinian issue” next Saturday.

The Kuwaiti and Qatari news agencies reported the invitation sent by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, “to participate in a summit to discuss developments and the future of the Palestinian issue and the peace process, scheduled to be held in Cairo on the 21st.” This October.

On Sunday, Egypt called for holding a regional and international summit on “the Palestinian issue,” according to a statement published by the Egyptian presidency.

This call was issued at the conclusion of a meeting held by the Egyptian National Security Council headed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces imposed a curfew on residents of a number of Bedouin communities east of Jerusalem, after soldiers came to the Bedouin settlements in Khan al-Ahmar and verbally informed the residents of the decision.

According to local sources, the occupation forces informed residents of the Bedouin communities located east of the city of Jerusalem that they were prohibited from moving or roaming after five o’clock in the evening on a daily basis, in an effort to force them to emigrate and leave the area.

The International Center for Justice for Palestinians threatened to sue the leadership of the British Labor Party on charges of incitement to commit war crimes against the Palestinians, after issuing a similar warning to the government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Yesterday, Monday, this human rights center sent a notification in this regard to party leader Keir Starmer and the Ministers of Justice and Defense in the Labor shadow government, Emily Thornberry and David Lammy.

He said - in a statement - that Starmer, Thornberry and Lammy made statements justifying the collective punishment practiced by Israel against the residents of Gaza by cutting off food, water and electricity supplies, claiming that it was “self-defense.”

The center's statement added that those who are supposed to be human rights advocates must realize that the pretext of self-defense does not justify collective punishment of civilians, which is in violation of international law.

He also confirmed that Scotland Yard had made calls to obtain evidence related to possible war crimes in the context of the current war, describing this as a shift that could lead to the prosecution of senior politicians for committing war crimes.

The "For Justice for the Palestinians" statement indicated that the Center sent a letter to Thornberry calling on the leadership of the Labor Party to comply with international law or else be subject to prosecution, explaining that a notice to prosecute party officials had already been issued.

He stated that after threatening to sue him, the leader of the Labor Party withdrew his absolute support for the Israeli siege on Gaza, but he did not acknowledge or denounce the war crimes committed in this besieged sector.

This human rights center had sent a letter to Sunak in which he said that officials in his government would be pursued and tried for “aiding and abetting the commission of war crimes in Gaza.”

The ministers also called on the ministers to withdraw any statements that encourage committing war crimes in Gaza, and to work to secure civilians in this Palestinian sector, bring in relief supplies, and immediately cease fire.

The US administration confirmed President Joe Biden's visit to Israel on Wednesday, where he will meet the Israeli Prime Minister and Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, then leave for the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the same day, to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah. Sisi.

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, announced that President Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday. He told reporters at the US embassy in Jerusalem, at dawn on Tuesday, “The president, with this visit, will confirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel and our strict commitment to its security. He will confirm Israel’s right to pursue terrorists and obtain the greatest amount of information about the hostage situation so that we can develop political options.”

He added, "The president will confirm our clear message to any country or organization that tries to take advantage of this crisis to attack Israel, and to achieve this goal he has deployed two groups of aircraft carriers and other military assets to the region."

The military spokesman for the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari, said today (Tuesday) that the status of the Gaza Strip after the planned Israeli attack on the Palestinian Strip will be a “global issue” up for international discussion.

Hagari said, during a press conference, in response to a question about whether Israel will occupy the entire Strip or not: “We have all the final visions.” He added: “The Cabinet is also discussing what the matter could look like... This is also a global issue, what the situation will look like in this region.” Hagari indicated that the army “presented an action plan” to the Israeli Cabinet, but did not provide details.

He continued: “Gaza has borders with other countries... so when we say things related to the final status, these things will combine the orders of the political level and the army.”

Israel is preparing to launch a ground attack on the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, in response to the attack launched by the movement on nearby towns and residential areas in southern Israel on October 7.

Israeli forces launched the heaviest bombing ever on the besieged Strip since the Hamas attack, and are mobilizing ground forces to launch an attack.

In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza and imposed a blockade in 2007, when the movement took over the Strip. The only crossing into Gaza that is not controlled by Israel is the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt.

The United Nations World Food Program warned Tuesday that the situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating rapidly, with only four or five days of food stocks left in stores.

“Inside stores, (food) stocks are sufficient for less than a few days, perhaps four or five days,” Abeer Atifa, spokeswoman for the World Food Program in the Middle East, told reporters.

Amir Abdollahian warned Monday that time is running out to “find political solutions” before the “widening” of the war between Israel and Hamas becomes “inevitable.”

Iran warned on Monday of a possible “preemptive measure” against Israel “in the coming hours,” while the Hebrew state is preparing to launch a ground attack on the Gaza Strip.

Tehran has previously repeatedly warned the Israeli army against launching a ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, which is subject to an applied siege, stressing that any such operation would be met with a response from other fronts, which raised fears of the expansion of the scope of the conflict and the involvement of other parties in it.

Amir Abdullahian warned Monday that time is running out to “find political solutions” before the “expanding” scope of the war between Israel and Hamas becomes “inevitable.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in a television interview on Monday evening that “taking any preemptive measure in the coming hours is possible,” referring to his meeting with the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also warned, in a call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that a “ground attack” by the Israeli army on Gaza “will lead to a long, multi-front war,” according to a message published by his political advisor, Mohammad Jamshidi.

In the television interview, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, “The leaders of the resistance will not allow the Zionist entity to take any action in the region.”

He continued, "If we do not defend Gaza today, we must defend our cities" tomorrow.

Five countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the Russian draft resolution, while four countries, the United States, Britain, France, and Japan, voted against it, while six countries abstained from voting, including Brazil.

The UN Security Council failed to adopt a Russian draft resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli army has launched violent bombardment on for the 11th day in a row.

Five countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the Russian draft resolution, while four countries, the United States, Britain, France, and Japan, voted against it, while six countries abstained from voting, including Brazil.

The adoption of any resolution in the UN Security Council requires the approval of at least nine of the fifteen members of the Council, and the non-use of veto power by any of the five permanent members of the Council (the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China).

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, expressed his regret that Western countries "obstructed the sending of a joint and unique message from the Security Council in the service of selfish and purely political interests."

The Russian diplomat warned that his country is "deeply concerned about the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the very great danger of the conflict expanding" to the entire region.

His British counterpart, Barbara Woodward, responded to the Russian ambassador, saying that her country "cannot support a resolution that avoids condemning the terrorist attacks launched by the Hamas movement."

As for the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, who was invited to attend the session, he appealed to the Security Council “not to send a signal that Palestinian lives do not matter.”

He added, "Do not dare say that Israel is not responsible for the bombs it drops on the heads of Palestinians. Do not justify the killings... What is happening in Gaza is not a military operation. This is a large-scale aggression against our people. These are massacres against innocent civilians."

The Security Council was supposed to vote during Monday's session on a second draft resolution submitted by Brazil, the rotating president of the Council during the month of October.

But diplomats reported that the Security Council will meet again this evening, Tuesday, to vote on the Brazilian text.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the devastating occupation war against our people, and the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing it is committing for the 11th day in a row, the latest of which was the Rafah and Khan Yunis massacres this morning, which left 80 martyrs, including children and women, and more destruction.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned, in a statement today, Tuesday, the targeting of health centers, hospitals, press crews, schools, universities, and others.

She stressed that it has become clear that the occupying state is continuing with the crime of ethnic cleansing using internationally prohibited weapons, to get rid of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, as an integral part of pre-prepared plans to get rid of Israel’s strategic crisis represented by the presence of millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, this is confirmed by the mass killings committed by Israeli aircraft around the clock, and the scenes of mass destruction and humanitarian catastrophe in all its aspects in the Gaza Strip, the suffocation of the occupied West Bank, and the intensification of the factors of expulsion and displacement of citizens.

The statement stressed that what Israel is doing is not related to the excuse of “self-defense”, but rather aims to comprehensively destroy the Palestinian presence in the Gaza Strip, leading to the liquidation of the Palestinian cause and bringing about a strategic change in the course of international dealing with the rights of Palestinians, which is also What is promoted by the Israeli media misinformation campaigns regarding turning every citizen, wherever he is, into an accused.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that his country put forward the idea of a system in which there would be guarantors for the parties in order to bring lasting peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in statements made by Fidan on Monday, October 16, 2023, in an interview with representatives of the Turkish media in the capital, Ankara. .

In response to a question about some countries obtaining the status of guarantor for the Palestinian side and other countries for the Israeli side, Fidan said: “We presented the main idea of the issue of guarantee, and we say that the system should be discussed first and then its methodology separately.” Fidan also stressed that “it is unacceptable that “Israel is bombing Gaza in an unprecedented way, killing large numbers of civilians, and condemning the region to poverty and hunger by cutting off electricity, water, and fuel.”

The Al-Aqsa Flood operation was a surprise!

The Turkish official pointed out that what happened following the Hamas operation on the Israeli settlements surrounding Gaza on October 7 “was a surprise to everyone, especially to Israel.”

He added that the ease of crossing (Palestinian fighters) from Gaza to the other side (Israeli) and the operations that resulted from this crossing “surprised everyone.”

Fidan continued: “After demolishing a certain part of the wall separating Israel from Gaza, it was surprising that Hamas members, other groups, and civilian elements entered, without facing any resistance.” He added: “This situation revealed the weakness of the Israeli security apparatus, which will be discussed for many years. "Are the circumstances that led to October 7? Perhaps we need to talk about this separately. Of course we do not agree with any actions that targeted civilians on October 7 and the period that followed. On the contrary, we condemn the targeting of civilians."

Ankara's diplomatic efforts

Regarding the Hamas operation, Fidan stressed the need not to target civilians regardless of any classification, he said, and the Turkish official added: “We say that no one should target civilians, but Israel, as it did in the past, did not exclude civilians in "Return it."

While the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that when the Israeli occupation began its operations, Ankara informed the Americans, Israelis and other parties of its deep concern about the situation of civilians.

Regarding the diplomatic efforts he is making to calm the situation, he said: “As you know, we visited Egypt, and we will visit Lebanon today (Monday). After Lebanon, there is an extraordinary emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the level of foreign ministers in the Saudi city of Jeddah, and we will go there. And our president (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan is conducting extensive contacts, and we, as a foreign ministry, have contacts, as do our intelligence services.”

He pointed out that Turkey also does not accept the displacement of civilians from their places, especially from the northern parts of the Gaza Strip to the southern parts, by intimidating them.

He also revealed Ankara's efforts to determine what can be done with its counterparts to stop attacks against civilians and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Fidan explained that Turkey is seeking to turn the current crisis into an opportunity for peace, and that it has conveyed this idea to its counterparts. He continued: “We always say that Israel has suspended the two-state solution until now. Its main concern was achieving peace with other Arab countries and not with the Palestinians. This is because Israel’s perspective There is no civil Palestinian state.”

Fidan also pointed out that Israel had previously had problems with accepting its existence by the Arabs and other countries in the region, adding: “And when its existence was accepted, it became easy for it not to accept the other (the Palestinians),” and pointed out that the United States of America considers Also positive about the idea of a two-state solution in order to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Japan will provide $10 million in aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip to deal with the humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said on Tuesday.

Kamikawa also said at a news conference that Japan and Iran are arranging telephone talks between her and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian later on Tuesday in an effort to help reduce tensions in the Middle East as quickly as possible.

“We will continue to make diplomatic efforts to improve humanitarian access so that necessary assistance, such as food, water, medical and health services, can be provided to innocent civilians and Palestinian refugees,” Kamikawa said.

Kamikawa said that humanitarian aid would be provided through international institutions, without going into details.

Japan relies heavily on crude oil imports from Middle Eastern countries and has traditionally maintained friendly relations with them.

Kamikawa, who assumed her position about a month ago, held telephone conversations with her counterparts from the region, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Israel and Palestine.

An Israeli citizen, who identified herself as Yasmine, gave a remarkable statement about the events to which she was an eyewitness in Kibbutz “Be’eri” in the “Gaza envelope” area during the massive and sudden attack launched by Hamas fighters, on October 7 of this year. Her statement came during an interview with the Israeli public radio, Kan, on Sunday.

Yasmine said, “I was held hostage by Hamas for two and a half hours. Before that, we did not know about the infiltration of Hamas “terrorists.” After we learned of this, we were afraid. We were 12 people with 40 “terrorists” inside a house. There were 100 “terrorists” in the kibbutz.” .

She added that Hamas fighters "did not abuse us. They treated us very humanely. They gave us water to drink. They saw that we were tense and calmed us down. None of them were violent with us. The kidnappers asked that we call the police, and we called. After the police arrived, there was an intense exchange of gunfire. Huge amount of ammunition."

Yasmine continued, "During this, one of the kidnappers used me as a protective shield. He decided to surrender. We left the house under fire. Then the police heard me and stopped shooting."

She reported, "I saw 5-6 kibbutz members on the ground. They were killed during the exchange of fire. The police killed everyone, including the hostages. I was released."

She added, "Two tank shells fell inside a house and everyone inside was killed by fire from our forces. That's for sure. I was evacuated and my life was saved thanks to that 'terrorist' who decided to surrender himself. Dozens of my friends were killed."

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club revealed, on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, that Israel arrested 55 Palestinians in the West Bank in one day, including former representatives and leaders of the Hamas movement, in light of an arrest campaign launched by the Israeli occupation in the West Bank, in conjunction with Operation “Flood.” Al-Aqsa" launched by the Palestinian resistance against the occupation, in response to the increasing violations by the occupation against the Palestinians.

Amani Sahrna, media official at the Palestinian Club, said that “the occupation forces arrested at least 55 citizens, from cities and towns in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” and reported that “the arrests were distributed in all governorates of the West Bank, and among those detained were former representatives in the Legislative Council.” The Palestinian Parliament and leaders of the Hamas movement.

She also indicated that among those detained was former Speaker of the Legislative Council Aziz Dweik.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing at a time when the fighting in Ukraine is escalating and the Gaza Strip crisis is becoming more difficult.

The Russian President will be among the most prominent guests at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Xi's announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has burdened countries such as Zambia and Sri Lanka with debt after they signed contracts with Chinese companies to build roads, airports and other public infrastructure, which they cannot afford. The former Soviet Union were Cold War rivals for influence between left-leaning countries, but have since forged a partnership in the economic, military and diplomatic spheres.

Just weeks before the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Putin met with Xi Jinping in Beijing, and the two sides signed an agreement pledging a “borderless” relationship.

Beijing's attempts to present itself as a neutral peace broker in the Ukraine war have been widely rejected by the international community. Xi visited Moscow in March as part of a wave of visits between the two countries.

China condemned the international sanctions imposed on Russia, but did not directly address the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Putin for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of thousands of children from Ukraine.

Yesterday, the Israeli District Planning and Building Committee in Jerusalem approved the establishment of a new settlement called “Kadmat Zion” in Ras al-Amud, next to the apartheid wall near Abu Dis.

The Haaretz newspaper reported on 5/2/2023 that the army must provide a guard network for this settlement consisting of four armed guards, establish an electronic wall, facial recognition cameras, a fortified car, bright lights, and a patrol street.

The Israeli occupation police said in a report yesterday that it investigated more than 40 Palestinian men and women for publishing words of praise for the attack carried out by the Hamas movement against military bases and settlements around the besieged Gaza Strip on October 7.

According to the occupation police report: “60 other people were arrested inside the Green Line.” The Israeli Attorney General's Office said: "An investigation must be opened, and anyone who publishes words of praise and support, even if it is a word or a post - a single publication, must be arrested and prosecuted."

The occupation police said that a doctor at Hadassah Hospital was suspended from his work after he liked a post praising Muhammad Al-Deif and calling him the undisputed leader of the Palestinian people. The occupation municipality in Jerusalem also expelled an employee after he expressed his support for the attack carried out by Hamas.

The occupation municipality and (Al-Ma’arif - the Israeli Ministry of Education) also sent letters and text messages to all teachers, male and female, and workers in the education sector in the municipality, warning them, administrative staff, and even workers in cleaning and logistical services, trainers, and school inspectors, of the necessity of adhering to the government’s instructions and its war on Hamas. - Lack of sympathy or expression of political or social positions that might be interpreted as sympathy for the operation that took place on the 7th of this month.

Israeli universities and colleges in Jerusalem and the interior also suspended and expelled many Palestinian students who expressed their support for Hamas.

The occupation police said: "Now it turns out that this war has very strong support from the Public Prosecution, which allowed the opening of an investigation into dozens of cases and the arrest of about 100 Palestinians. Some of them even appeared before the court during the past two days."

The police said: “There must be zero tolerance towards those who publish - explicitly and even implicitly - expressions of support for the enemy and its actions against the Israelis who were killed and humiliated, as well as expressions of support for harming the Israeli army.”

The occupation police report continued: “The Public Prosecution also refers to serious cases in which investigations were allowed to be opened, most of them in Jerusalem. The report included examples of what was published on social media platforms. Among the examples it included was a citizen of East Jerusalem who published a number of publications supporting and praising the Hamas movement.” Among them: “May God make this day a day of conquest, victory, control and rule - the morning of imminent liberation.”

The police said in its report that a resident of East Jerusalem posted several posts on Facebook, including: “Palestine Day is a day of pride,” “Today are your missiles, and tomorrow you (the Green Heart) are our promise that we kept.”

The police pointed to a sermon last Friday in the Sur Baher neighborhood south of occupied East Jerusalem, in which he said, among other things: “The Mujahideen in the Holy War (‘Mujahideen’) are patient, fighting in the Holy War, fighting in the field with all determination... What? Waiting. Tell us, O God, what makes you walk on the path of fighting in jihad and for the sake of God. Please tell us - when will we see your victory in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque... Will you remain in your homes humiliated?

In addition, large forces of police, special forces, and Israeli intelligence stormed the home of freed prisoner Nasser Abu Khudair in the Shuafat neighborhood, north of Jerusalem, arrested him, and then proceeded to destroy the contents of the house under the pretext of searching.

The occupation forces also withdrew the "Israeli Board" - the certificate to practice the legal profession - from his daughter, the lawyer "Asala", under the pretext of writing statements hostile to the occupation and supporting the Gaza Strip operation.

Large police forces surrounded Hamdi Obaid's house in Beit Hanina and arrested him and three of his sons under the pretext of supporting and assisting the operation on Saturday, 10/7 of this month. The police, special forces, and intelligence forces severely beat Hamdi, 62 years old, and when his sons intervened to defend him, they abused them and beat them with rifle butts in a brutal and violent manner. They were all arrested.

On the other hand, the occupation forces released the elderly woman, Niama Qaraeen, “Umm Khaled,” from the town of Silwan, south of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, after interrogating her at the police station on Salah al-Din Street, and kept her son, “Walid,” in detention.

The occupation police stormed Silwan at dawn yesterday, and arrested the two boys, Qais Ghorab and Qusay Ghorab. They also arrested Jamal Mustafa from Jerusalem, four young men from the town of Al-Tur, and a girl.

The occupation police, with the help of the border guards and intelligence, stormed Shuafat camp and arrested 6 young men and the Jerusalemite girl, Safaa Al-Rishq, while they stormed the town of Al-Issawiya and arrested a number of visitors to the main mosque there under the pretext of praying for Gaza. They also arrested Muhammad Dari from Al-Issawiya, after they raided and searched his house.

In the same context, the occupation forces arrested the freed prisoner Musa Zahran and Muhammad Zahran, son of the martyr Zahran Zahran, from the town of Biddu, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, after they were summoned to meet the occupation intelligence yesterday afternoon.

The occupation forces also arrested the freed prisoner, Hamza Mar’i, from the town of Abu Dis.

Today, Tuesday, Israeli occupation army artillery bombed Hamams Hill and the towns of Wazzani and Kafr Kila on the Lebanese-Palestinian border with several missiles.

The occupation army also bombed the Marjayoun-Khiyam Plain with phosphorus shells, and tonight witnessed violent Israeli bombing targeting the border town of Al-Dhahira.

The Lebanese border area is witnessing continuous Israeli attacks targeting the border villages.

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, warned of the serious repercussions of running out of potable water on the lives of Gaza’s approximately 2.2 million residents, in light of the Israeli war that has caused a major humanitarian crisis. The Associated Press quoted Lazzarini as saying. He said, “Drinking water is running out, and Gaza faces death.”

The agency noted that Gaza usually obtains water supplies from various sources, including a pipeline from Israel, seawater desalination plants, and wells.

She explained that these supplies declined when Israel cut off water from the Gaza Strip, following the Hamas movement’s launch of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” on October 7, in parallel with the interruption of fuel and electricity that operates the water stations and the sewage network.

The Associated Press reported a warning from the World Health Organization that the lack of potable water in the Gaza Strip puts the lives of patients in hospitals and the population in general at risk.

The Ministry of Interior in Gaza said - yesterday, Monday - that the Israeli occupation did not pump any liter of drinking water to any of the governorates of the Strip for the tenth day in a row, which prompted citizens to drink unsafe water, warning of a serious health crisis that threatens the lives of citizens.

The Israeli occupation police arrested Palestinian artist Dalal Abu Amna, on Monday, because of a post she wrote on her Facebook page against the backdrop of the aggression against Gaza.

Abeer Bakr, the lawyer assigned to defend the artist Abu Amna, confirmed the news of the latter’s arrest, noting that the artist Abu Amna was arrested for investigation regarding a post on Facebook, which stated: “There is no victor but God,” next to which is the symbol of prayer and the flag of Palestine. It was published last Saturday, by the artist’s media team.

Lawyer Bakr indicated that the artist “is still subject to investigation, and at this moment no (official) decision has been taken to extend her detention,” but she stressed that “this is the intention of the police (to arrest her), even before they interrogate her.”

Bakr said that police officers arrived at the artist’s house with the intention of arresting her, explaining that police officers arrived at the artist’s house to arrest her, at a time when she was “filing complaints against incitement against her by settlers.”

Activists circulated on social media platforms a video clip of Jeremy Corbyn, a member of the British Parliament and leader of the opposition Labor Party, giving a speech of solidarity with the Palestinian people and denouncing the war on Gaza.

Corbyn appeared delivering a speech the day before yesterday, Sunday, in which he demanded an end to the occupation and bombing of Gaza and the achievement of a just and stable peace, stressing that depriving innocent people of basic life rights such as water and electricity is immoral, in addition to being illegal.

His speech said, "I say to every political leader in this country: Do not condone war crimes and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. If you believe in international law and human rights, then you should not condone what is happening now in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli occupation army."

For the 11th day in a row, Israel continues its land, sea and air raids on the Gaza Strip, which led to the death of thousands, the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the displacement of residents.

Israel cut off water and electricity from the Strip and prevented humanitarian and medical aid from reaching those affected, amid warnings of an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, where about 2.2 million Palestinians live.

The Israeli occupation army announced that about half a million Israelis have been displaced from their homes since the attack carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades, "Hamas," on October 7.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted the occupation army spokesman for foreign media, Yonatan Conricus, as saying that these displaced people are residents who were evacuated from the southern region near the Gaza Strip, in addition to about 20 settlements near the border with Lebanon.

The head of the Israeli Hotels Association said yesterday, Monday, that half of Israeli hotel rooms are used to house families evacuated from communities near the Gaza Strip.

The Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted the association's CEO, Yael Daniel, as saying that Israel has 56,000 hotel rooms, and 28,000 rooms are being provided for evacuees, with the state footing the bill.

A parliamentary committee discussing compensation for residents affected by the war reported that another 27,000 people are expected to arrive from border towns near Lebanon.

Those who believe that if Hamas is defeated, the way will be opened for the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to achieve a two-state solution, as some Palestinians imagine, and as the United States of America propagates, are mistaken, which raises the two-state solution as a slogan only to throw ashes in the eyes and give the occupying state sufficient time to achieve its goals in liquidating the Palestinian issue and resolving the conflict in its favor.

If Hamas is defeated, and this is very unlikely, and indeed the entire Palestinian resistance, then the Israeli evil will turn to the West Bank to complete its annexation and Judaization as it is the one that achieved victory over the resistance and therefore its aspirations will not be towards resuming peace negotiations, and if that happens, its goal is not to achieve a two-state solution. Rather, to extend the period of these negotiations for at least ten years to impose a fait accompli in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, that prevents the achievement of our people’s goals of complete freedom and independence and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

In previous experiences with Shamir, Netanyahu, and other leaders of the occupying state, we believe that negotiations are only a waste of time and to achieve the Israeli goals of annexation, expansion, establishing more settlements, increasing the number of settlers to reach one million settlers, and making Palestinian cities, towns, and camps like separate islands separated by more settlements and settlers.

Not only that, but the occupying state will increase its escalation against our people in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in terms of killings, arrests, and demonization of prisoners through what it has done and will do later, and not only robbing them of their achievements, but issuing laws and laws against them and their families and preventing them from giving them Any rights or achievements.

Therefore, it is important and necessary for the Palestinians not to bet on the statements issued by America regarding the two-state solution, and for the official Palestinian side to continue to unite with the people, achieve national unity, and take practical steps on the ground to defend our people, whether in the Gaza Strip or in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

They continue to stagnate and respond, even partially, to American and Western pressures under the illusion that after the overthrow of the Hamas regime in Gaza, its rule will be restored to the Palestinian Authority and a path will be opened for a settlement and solution to the Palestinian issue through the two-state solution.

The correct path is to work to restore national unity, which is necessary and important at this stage, through which the destructive division will be ended and we will stand united in the face of the occupation’s attempts to liquidate the issue. Any betting on anything other than the unity of the national ranks will be ruinous, and then regret will be of no use.