Yesterday and today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested at least (15) citizens from the West Bank, including children and former prisoners.

The Commission of Prisoners' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported that the arrests were distributed across the governorates of Hebron, Tulkarm, Jenin, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and Nablus.

The occupation forces continue to carry out extensive raids and abuse during arrest campaigns, including severe beatings and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to extensive acts of vandalism and destruction in citizens’ homes.

The number of arrests since the beginning of the ongoing war of extermination and comprehensive aggression against our people has risen to more than 11,800, from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, while the prisoners’ institutions have not been able to count the cases of arrest from Gaza, which are estimated in the thousands, as a result of the occupation’s implementation of the crime of enforced disappearance against them.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that "Israeli forces prevented two-thirds of the 129 different humanitarian aid operations from reaching the Gaza Strip last week."

Dujarric pointed out in a daily press conference held on Friday evening that the Palestinian people in Gaza need appropriate shelter conditions to protect them from the rain and cold as winter approaches.

He explained that the United Nations and its partners are trying to quickly deliver tents to the Strip.

Dujarric pointed out, "The displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and the rapid increase in their needs, with the inability to meet them easily, especially due to the Israeli siege in northern Gaza."

Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi: The American veto is a violation of international law because maintaining peace and security is one of the basic duties of the Security Council

Dr. Rifat Sayed Ahmed: America’s veto is an extension of political hypocrisy and a continuation of a long history of its interventions to protect the Israeli occupation

Aziz Al-Assa: America has become devoted to what responds to the crazy and deviant ambitions that nest in the minds of the occupation leaders

Amir Makhoul: The Security Council is unable to take decisive decisions on the Palestinian issue, which requires the formation of international blocs and alliances

Muhannad Hafizoglu: Washington uses this veto as a tool to escalate the situation and impose its vision in the region in an effort to create a new Middle East

Last Wednesday, the administration of current US President Joe Biden used its veto power to thwart a Security Council resolution to stop the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, confirming its absolute support for the Israeli far-right government in the holocaust that has entered its second year in Gaza.

Writers and analysts who spoke to Al-Quds believe that Washington’s vote alone against the resolution puts it in confrontation with all members of the Security Council, including its traditional allies, which confirms its political isolation with Israel, due to its insistence on its approach that is hostile to the Palestinian people, justice, and international law. They pointed out that it sees Israel as the spearhead of its colonial project in the region.

They warned that the US veto is being used by America as a pressure card to impose its vision in the region in an effort to create a new Middle East, which portends that the situation will escalate and Israeli aggression will expand, threatening the security and stability of the entire region.

They stressed that the American talk about calm and relief aid is nothing but an American political lie, aiming to cover up its absolute bias towards the Israeli aggression, and to maintain the status quo, which is confirmed by its use of the veto last Wednesday, while famine is escalating in the Gaza Strip, and killing, terror and epidemics are spreading, and the victims are in the streets and under the rubble, most of them children and women.

America is obstructing the work of the international organization

“Once again, the United States has violated international law by voting alone, with 14 votes against, a draft resolution submitted by 10 elected members of the Council calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza that is respected by all parties,” said Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi, a specialist in political science and international law.

She added that "the draft resolution stresses the demand that the parties comply with their obligations under international law with regard to the persons they detain and enable the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to immediately obtain basic services and humanitarian assistance necessary for their survival."

Dr. Al-Obaidi stressed that the veto exercised by the United States is a violation of international law because maintaining international peace and security is one of the basic duties of the Security Council, and the United States has no right to stand against a resolution calling for a ceasefire, and that by doing so, the United States is obstructing the work of the international organization.

She pointed out that "the functions and powers of the Security Council are stipulated in Article 24 of the Charter, and that the functions and duties of the Security Council are "the maintenance of international peace and security, and were granted to the five permanent member states of the Council so that the five permanent member states may agree for the sake of peace and not to obstruct the work of the United Nations."

Al-Obaidi pointed out that she had previously submitted a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in which she confirmed that Article 24 of the Charter does not grant a right of veto, but rather states that “the members of the Security Council have primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and they agree that the Council acts on their behalf in carrying out its duties under these responsibilities.” Paragraph 24 does not grant a right of veto.

She added that Article 24, paragraph 2, stipulates that the Security Council, in carrying out these duties, must act “in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and with the specific powers granted to the Security Council to enable it to carry out these duties.”

Al-Obaidi stressed that the use of the veto in the draft resolution is inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and the purposes and principles of the body.

She added that Article 2 (paragraph 1) states that the United Nations "is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members," noting that the veto vote demonstrates the United States' disdain for the will of the international community and the purposes and objectives of the international organization.

The American political orientation is Israeli-oriented.

Dr. Rifat Sayed Ahmed, head of the Jaffa Center for Research and Studies in Cairo, said: “I believe that the American veto constitutes a continuation of a long history of American interventions to protect the Israeli occupation, whether on the military level, as we see in this recent war where all American weapons available to the entity are being used, or on the political level through international organizations and bodies that provide it with full political cover worldwide.”

He added: "Historically, this entity is protected by the United States, and this veto is part of a long series of American protections for it."

Sayed Ahmed pointed out that "the recent American veto confirms the historical American hypocrisy in dealing with the Palestinian issue." He added: "They claim that they seek to achieve peace, but in reality, what they seek is to fuel wars," noting that placing trust in American policy is misplaced, because the American, in his political orientation, is completely Israeli in his inclinations, and all American policy is, in essence, Israeli policy.

Arab resistance and boycott of Israel and America

Dr. Sayed Al-Hamad believed that “the real protection for the Arab nation lies in the choice of resistance, and this choice is not limited to the Palestinians or the Lebanese only, but rather includes the Arab nation as a whole, especially its armies.”

He said: "It is necessary for these armies to move to impose a strong will on the Israeli and American enemies."

He stressed that "there are many possible forms for this movement, whether on the military level or through the Arab regimes," explaining that one of the simplest of these forms is the Arab boycott of Israel and America, especially America, because, as we mentioned, it represents Israel directly.

"In addition, there are effective tools for economic boycott that can hurt both the Israeli entity and the United States, and push them towards justice in this conflict and abandon hypocrisy," he said.

He concluded by stressing that "the American protection of the Israeli entity is nothing but protection of the aggression itself, and any other description is wrong, as the real enemy we face is America, not just Israel."

America considers Israel the spearhead of its colonial project in the region

Writer and researcher Aziz Al-Assa stressed that “since the establishment of the Hebrew state, America has only looked at the region with one eye, in which it sees Israel as the spearhead of its colonial project in the region, and what achieves its security, political and economic interests.”

He pointed out that "in the last three decades, the right has been at the head of the Hebrew state, and America has become devoted to everything that responds to the crazy and deviant ambitions that nest in the minds of the occupation leaders, who no longer see the existence of any Palestinian partner from the sea to the river, knowing that their demographic size exceeds half."

He added: "This Israeli persistence towards a people who possess land, history and civilization would not have happened without the absolute American support, which constitutes a major part of the biased international position."

He pointed out that the American negotiator, who wears the guise of a mediator in the region, is an Israeli par excellence, and any statements he makes that show his neutrality are just throwing dust in people's eyes.

He said: "Any American activity in international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, is an Israeli activity par excellence."

"It is illogical to expect justice from the United States to pressure Israel to stop its crimes against the Palestinians, including the genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the settlement plans and systematic destruction in the West Bank and Lebanon," Al-Assa added.

He pointed out that "what is happening in Lebanon in terms of destroying infrastructure and targeting state sovereignty is part of this policy."

The United States has become isolated.

Political analyst and writer Amir Makhoul said: “I believe that the recent American veto has somewhat different implications. The position is not only directed towards the region or the traditional American position, but rather indicates that the United States has become isolated. This development is important, and the United States must realize it.”

He added: "Even the other member states of the Security Council did not use their veto power in this issue. On the contrary, most of them supported the resolution, which highlights the support of most countries in the world for a different position. These facts confirm that the current international system, as we know it, cannot be an influential factor in resolving the Palestinian issue."

Makhoul stressed that "the transformation that was initially launched at the Palestinian level has begun to gain Arab awareness as well. This awareness means the necessity of forming international blocs and alliances that include: Palestine, Arab countries, Islamic and African countries, and other countries around the world, especially since Latin America constitutes the overwhelming majority in the United Nations General Assembly."

He pointed out that "in the end, it turned out that the Security Council is unable to take decisive decisions, and is completely paralyzed with regard to the Palestinian issue, while it may be able to take decisions on other issues, but Palestine is at the forefront of the obstacles."

As for the American veto, Makhoul said it was not surprising. The American position has always been consistent, and it is not expected to change unless there is a radical shift in US policy towards Israel, which seems far-fetched.

American talk about appeasement to maintain the status quo

As for calls for calm and providing relief aid, Makhoul confirmed that they aim to maintain the status quo.

He said: "The United States may sometimes announce its intention to stop the war, but in practice it continues to support Israel with all the elements that support its war, and this proves that the United States is not a neutral mediator, but rather a fundamental party, and the most important party alongside Israel in this issue."

Humanitarian aid is an American political lie

Regarding humanitarian aid, Makhoul said: “I think it is just an American political ‘lie’. All the projects that are put forward under the name of relief and humanitarian aid aim only to alleviate the burden of the Israeli occupation, not to end or undermine it, as happened with the last initiative that was launched, such as the ‘marine pier’, which was established months ago and went with the wind.”

He stressed that "America's goal in providing humanitarian aid is to use it as a pressure tool against Netanyahu, and sometimes as a negotiating card with the Palestinians and Arabs, but it does not play any real or actual role. If the United States wanted aid to enter in a real way, it would have pressured Israel to open all the crossings from Rafah to Abu Salem, and from the sea crossings to those through Arab countries such as the Gulf and Jordan."

Makhoul pointed out that "the crisis of the siege on Gaza, especially the huge quantities of aid stored in the Egyptian city of Arish, which Israel prevents from entering, is evidence of the failure of these attempts."

He added: "Therefore, the American endeavor here is nothing more than a kind of beautification of the American position and 'humanization' of this position, even though it is in fact a partner in the Israeli crime in all its dimensions from the beginning of the war until today.

The US veto establishes an escalating reality that is expanding geographically

In turn, the Turkish academic and political researcher, Dr. Muhannad Hafizoglu, said: “The United States’ use of the veto on the current events in the region reflects two things:

The first is that the United States is a key partner and main supporter of all the escalation and violence taking place in the region, whether in the Gaza Strip or southern Lebanon, and perhaps in other areas later. Davutoglu stressed that “Washington uses this veto as a tool to escalate the situation and impose its vision on non-international actors in the region, in an effort to create a new Middle East that is consistent with its strategic interests.”

He added: "The second thing is that the American veto shows a desire to complicate the situation for the administration of former President Donald Trump upon his return to the White House."

Oglu explained that the current stage is characterised by great danger and an increasing pace of escalation aimed at strengthening Israel's security and protecting its interests, with continued absolute support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Turkish researcher pointed out that "the current American policies, regardless of the ruling administration, seek to consolidate support for Israel under slogans and false promises that aim only to deceive public opinion."

The situation will remain without any tangible changes before mid-summer.

He added that the situation in the region will remain the same without any tangible changes before the middle of next summer, expecting a continuous escalation during the next eight months, with the scope of violence expanding geographically and increasing in intensity.

Dr. Oglu concluded by saying: “The American veto is nothing but a tool to achieve the United States’ goals in the region, goals that directly support Israel and perpetuate an escalating reality that threatens the security and stability of the entire region.”

Nothing inspires a feeling of vomiting and hatred like American positions that contradict the values established by the founding fathers of truth, justice, freedom and human dignity, for which they built a statue of liberty.

In America’s positions, policies, and statements by its politicians, you see amazing things. Some of them call for a ceasefire, others raise their hands at the highest international forum like a policeman at a crossroads, preventing the flow of cars and increasing the congestion, and others are worried about the death counter accelerating in geometric progression, and wish it would become numerical progression.

But the latest disgusting and nauseating stance is that the White House rejects a judicial decision issued by the highest international judicial body to bring the perpetrators of genocide in Gaza to justice, which puts the superpower in conflict with the human values that urge holding perpetrators accountable and establishing unified rules and standards for justice; by not allowing criminals to escape punishment, regardless of their nationalities.

What kind of positions are practiced by the great state, in which the lineages of concepts are mixed, and in which there is no certainty that the oppressed will resort to the judiciary to obtain justice?!

We do not hate anyone, and we do not discriminate between people on the basis of race, color, or religion. We love all people, in accordance with the Almighty’s saying to His noble Prophet: “We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”

We see Americans free in the university revolution, in challenging manifestations of racism, and in being keen to adhere to the values of truth, justice, and freedom. This is the America that university students represented, and for which they made sacrifices. They are the ones who will assume responsibilities tomorrow, and change the contradictions that plague their country’s policies, which generate feelings of anger and hatred in many societies.

And they ask you... why do they hate us?

The war on Gaza is entering its second year amidst the expansion of Israeli military operations on the northern front of occupied Palestine, where the conflict with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement is witnessing a significant escalation. As confrontations intensify on both fronts, the situation in Lebanon remains different from Gaza. As a sovereign state, Lebanon has a relative ability to provide food and health care to those displaced from conflict zones, while the residents of Gaza, especially in the north, face a stifling blockade and harsh humanitarian conditions, as they are subjected to the most extreme forms of pressure through killing and arrest, while the international community stands helpless in the face of this escalation, which is justified by the fight against terrorism.

In the context of these pressures, Israel is adopting the generals’ plan that aims to evacuate northern Gaza of its original inhabitants, giving them a deadline to leave, considering those who remain in these areas after the deadline as “enemy combatants” and a legitimate target for targeting in the event of non-surrender. This step is accompanied by the imposition of a siege aimed at starving the population and depriving them of water and medical supplies, while the displaced population is transferred to areas that are supposed to be “safe,” with the provision of basic services, according to the claims of the occupation army. However, the Palestinians express doubts about the credibility and effectiveness of these areas, given the previous military targeting they have witnessed.

In these actions, the Israeli army ignores the Geneva Convention, which confirms that giving civilians a warning to flee does not strip them of their protection under international law.

In the context of the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, who played a pivotal role in managing the movement’s policies. This event raised widespread interest regarding its implications for the dynamics of the conflict and Hamas’s capabilities. Sinwar’s martyrdom may lead to temporary confusion within Hamas and a temporary weakening of its military structure, but the movement quickly reorganized its ranks and resumed its military operations in the areas that Israel declared to be cleansed.

Although Sinwar’s death may raise questions about the possibility of ending the conflict, current indications do not support this possibility in the near term. The killing of leaders often leads to strong reactions from Palestinian factions, and Hamas and other resistance factions may be targeted for retaliatory attacks, further complicating the situation and making the chances of a ceasefire more remote.

Despite the expected escalation, some regional and international parties may seek to play a role in mediating a ceasefire, especially with the increasing international pressure to stop the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Countries such as Egypt and Qatar remain in an effective position in this context, as they previously played key roles in managing the conflicts between Israel and Hamas.

The people of Gaza continue to face major challenges as a result of the military escalation and the prolonged blockade. With the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, questions arise about the future of the conflict and the possibility of achieving a calm, amidst conflicting analyses of the possibility of increased escalation or the emergence of diplomatic efforts to consolidate a ceasefire. The situation requires serious international action to protect civilians, alleviate their suffering, and give them a chance for peace and stability within a vision that guarantees a sovereign Palestinian state.

Experts acknowledge that the world has become smaller for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for him and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Galant, in a stunning move that has already divided Western nations over how to respond.

In a statement, the ICC ordered the two men to face charges of “crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed during more than a year of Israel’s brutal and devastating war on Gaza since the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, attacked the Gaza envelope area inside Israel on October 7, 2023, during which an estimated 44,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, the overwhelming majority of them women and children, while Israel continues to prevent humanitarian aid from entering (Gaza) and continues to use starvation as a weapon against Palestinian civilians in the besieged Strip.

While Israel is not a member of the court, 124 countries are — from the UK and Germany to South Africa and the Seychelles. They would be legally obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he set foot on their territory, effectively making him a pariah in much of the world.

Netanyahu is the first world leader to face such a warrant since Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was indicted for allegedly kidnapping Ukrainian children last year and has since been forced to skip a number of international summits after host countries warned Moscow they would be obliged to detain him.

“The ICC warrant means that countries have to think twice before interacting with someone,” a US official told Politico. “In Putin’s case, we’ve seen it limit his ability to travel.”

Experts believe the move risks dividing Israel’s allies and partners, as the incoming US administration is already setting itself on a collision course with the court. In a post on social media, Michael Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said “the ICC has no credibility” and insisted that the allegations had already been disproven. He threatened retaliation, saying “you can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC and the UN on January 20th” when Trump takes office.

Meanwhile, Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham have said Washington might consider imposing consequences on countries that cooperate with the ruling. “If we don’t act forcefully against the ICC after its terrible decision … we are making a grave mistake,” he said. Even the Biden administration has rejected such a move, citing “procedural errors.”

For his part, Republican Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas threatened to invade the Netherlands on behalf of the Israeli genocidal regime, since the Netherlands (where the Hague court is located) has made it clear that “we are obligated to cooperate with the International Criminal Court... We are 100 percent committed to the Rome Statute,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on Thursday.

Cotton, one of the most prominent American politicians who has written for the Israeli lobby AIPAC, has implicitly threatened military action against the Netherlands if it complies with the arrest warrants it is legally required to comply with as a member state of the International Criminal Court.

“The ICC is a kangaroo court, and Karim Khan is a mentally ill fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw orders,” Cotton said. “Let me remind them all in a friendly way: The U.S. law on the ICC is known as the Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it.”

It is noteworthy that the United States itself is not a member of the court, and since 2002 it has maintained a policy of authorizing the president to use all necessary means to free any American or US ally who is dragged before its judges.

However, European countries that are part of the court's jurisdiction now face a dilemma, with the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, telling a press conference that the arrest warrant "is not a political decision - it is a court decision," and according to him, "the court's decisions must be respected and implemented."

Meanwhile, a handful of countries, including NATO members France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey, have pledged support for the ICC ruling and defended the court's independence.

However, according to Seth Frantzman, an adjunct fellow at the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based front for the Israel lobby, the arrest warrants will not change Netanyahu’s behavior.

“Israel’s leadership will obviously condemn this ruling, but it remains very focused on its war with Hamas,” Frantzman said. “The United States has been Israel’s closest ally for decades, and there is hope that the next administration will take the lead and encourage European countries to reject this ICC ruling.”

Israel launched airstrikes on the Basta area in the center of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, early Saturday.

The Lebanese Civil Defense reported that the bodies of 11 dead and 23 wounded were recovered from under the rubble as a result of the Israeli raid on two buildings in central Beirut.

Reuters quoted security sources as saying that at least 4 missiles were launched in an air strike on central Beirut, as Israel continues its intensive military campaign against Hezbollah.

The attack targeted the Basta neighbourhood in Beirut. Witnesses told Reuters that at least one loud explosion was heard in Beirut.

After clashes with factions in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, which began after it launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, Israel expanded the scope of its war since September 23 to include most of Lebanon’s regions, including the capital, Beirut.

The Israeli occupation forces stormed the city of Tulkarm and its suburbs tonight.

Local sources said that a number of occupation vehicles stormed the city from the southern entrance, and patrolled its main streets and neighborhoods, specifically Faroun Street, Al-Salam Roundabout, and Khadouri Roundabout, amidst random live bullets being fired, without any injuries being reported.

She added that the occupation forces stormed the suburbs of Artah, south of the city, and Ezbet al-Jarad and Dhnaba, east of it, and deployed their foot patrols in its neighborhoods.

It has been known in history for more than thirty years after a hundred, specifically in the late nineteenth century, that US President Cleveland assumed power for a period of (1883-1889) then lost to Harrison, then assumed power for a period of (1893-1897), and this is what happened with Trump, as he reached the seat of power in two separate periods, the first (2016-2020) then lost to Biden, and now returned again. This calls for saying that Trump’s return is a strong historical return, despite the rising indicators that exclude his candidacy; Being the only president in the history of America who was subjected to two attempts to remove him from Parliament, the first in (2019) in the so-called "Ukraine scandal", and the second in (2021), in addition to his conviction in forty-three criminal cases, most of which are related to crimes of forgery of documents and records, as in his election campaigns in (2016 and 2020) to reach certain results that corrupt the elections, as well as other fraud cases, ending with his direct relationship in the incident of his supporters storming Congress in (2021) after his failure against Biden, and this is a precedent in the history of America that the people try to change the result of the government by force instead of votes.

Trump's First Term By examining Trump's first term (2016-2020) and its reflection in his dealings with Israel, the most prominent step that remains in the minds of the world is his work to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. At that time, Netanyahu and his supporters raised their voices that the Arabs did nothing and that if Jerusalem was taken, they would do nothing. However, the truth is that after 3 years, the "Al-Aqsa Flood" occurred and it became clear then that Trump was surrounded by a misleading entourage. Now the question crystallizes in "Will Trump in his second term be like his first term?" In all cases and changes, the American people elected Trump to solve America's problems, not Israel, even if it is the spoiled son, not the Arabs, even if they are forces that influence and are influenced, and not the Middle East. In fact, what is striking about Trump’s victory this time is the naive joy of the right, despite the unlimited support from the Biden administration to Israel in the form of weapons, ammunition, F35 aircraft, and even the THAAD defense system. It is estimated that more than 70% of the cost of the war was paid by the Biden administration. The support was not limited to material. On the ground, when the Bab al-Mandab was closed to ships heading to Eilat, the Biden administration harnessed its warships, forces, and policies to enhance food and economic security and diplomatic protection for Israel.

Trump's slogan I wrote previously immediately after Biden's victory was "From Trump to Biden, O heart, do not rejoice." I say now that Biden is absolute evil, and Trump is a painted evil. Trump, who claims to bring peace to the Middle East, is the same promoter of the Deal of the Century, and the one who paved the way for normalization. What is hidden is not great, but what is coming is shameful and humiliating for the Middle East.

In an article published in the Jerusalem Post titled “If you support Israel, you should vote for Trump,” the article praised Trump’s positions, especially on sanctions on Iran, and the Deal of the Century, which paved the way for normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel during his rule.

Since the first media debate between Biden and Trump, the latter stated that "Israel is the one who wants to continue the war, and they must be allowed to finish their work," and he also confirmed his support for Israel and his support for military operations inside the Gaza Strip, and Trump opposed Biden's efforts to end the war.

It is well known that the Gaza war is one of the most prominent foreign issues that strongly influence the course of the US elections, along with the issue of immigration, the economy, the relationship with China, and the Ukraine war. The secret to ending the war: Returning to Trump's election propaganda, we find that he succeeded in making statements that appeal to emotion, especially after a year of a bloody war that occupied the world, statements and pledges in a distinctive style in parallel with a negotiating strategy that suggests ending all wars, not just the Gaza and Lebanon wars, but the return of this propaganda is a landslide victory in the elections. Some scenarios looming on the horizon if Trump decides to make his statements actions that are seen, not words that are heard, and since he is a seasoned politician in deals, he may adopt the following:

1. A comprehensive deal that ends the wars on biased Israeli terms, by disarming Hamas, and the return of the Lebanese to beyond the Litani, in exchange for the reconstruction of the two countries and their economic revival, and thus Israel will have supreme authority.

2. A partial deal to cease fire with strict conditions for the Palestinians and the Lebanese in exchange for promises to ease the siege or improve the living conditions. Thus, the solution is superficial, not radical.

3. Indirect pressure on Iran to stop or reduce its support for Hezbollah and Hamas, thus reducing the risk of escalation between Israel and the Iranian-backed arms, and then stopping the war.

4. An international peace conference with the participation of newly normalized Arab countries, claiming to end the war with a comprehensive initiative that hides in its details its Israeli agreement. A vision for the Middle East in the time of Trump Let us remember that Trump is originally an economic businessman, as he mentioned in his book "The Art Of The Deal" several conditions for the success of any position he takes, the most important of which is the return, meaning that he measures the success of any deal or step by the result of its return, so he thinks and deals as a president in a political position with a negotiating mentality, not a political one.

This is clearly reflected in the impact of his overwhelming victory, which has put the Middle East on a hot plate: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, passing through Turkey and the Gulf, where difficult days await them, tactical changes, and deals looming on the horizon.

Starting in Turkey, where Trump said in his first term that “Turkey is an important regional ally for Washington,” Erdogan is pinning his hopes on giving him more space in Syria to act against the Kurds, especially after Trump promised to withdraw from it, while preserving American interests, re-reaching an agreement on the F35 aircraft that were halted during the Biden era, and supporting the Turkish economy by expanding trade exchange.

In Iraq, a number of American forces are a line of defense against ISIS, but there is a fear that relations will be reversed after the participation of Iranian-backed militias in striking Israel, as they may enter into sub-state militias. In parallel with Yemen, difficult days await it as it is part of a plan to eliminate sub-state militias.

As for Syria, the Syrian regime is concerned because it is considered part of the Iranian axis, but what melts this fear is its failure to confront Israel since October 7. As for the Syrian opposition, its fate is the same as Ankara’s in its relationship with Washington, as its influence could expand in northeastern Syria.

The Gulf States are a strategic partner for security challenges, especially against Iran, during Trump’s first term. With his second victory, Saudi Arabia in particular is betting on the necessity of reaching an agreement that would allow it to enter the nuclear club through pressure in two directions: normalization with Israel and recognition of a Palestinian state.

Finally, Iran is the most important and most tense party since Trump’s first term. His withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2015, in parallel with the “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, led to the imposition of economic sanctions against it. Estimates indicate that his second victory will reactivate this campaign with a focus on reducing Iranian oil sales and isolating Tehran diplomatically. However, this does not negate the possibility that Trump may strike a better deal that includes Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile program, and Tehran’s regional influence.

The New York Times quoted informed regional and American officials as saying that the outlines of a possible agreement between Israel and Lebanon are beginning to crystallize, opening the door to cautious optimism regarding reaching a settlement.

The newspaper said that the details of implementing the settlement regarding Lebanon still need to be agreed upon, noting that the possible agreement includes a 60-day truce during which Israel withdraws from Lebanon, while Hezbollah withdraws to the north of the Litani River.

In the same context, the dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that he heard of significant progress in the settlement issue with Lebanon, which included the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.

Galant revealed this in a tweet he posted on his account on the "X" platform after a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein, describing the meeting as "successful."

Galant added, "Thanks to the security and military achievements we have made during the period in which I have been in charge of the security apparatus, Israel can, and must, move forward with settlement and return the residents of the north to their homes."

He considered that "this step would greatly weaken Iran and Hezbollah and allow Israel to carry out additional operations to return the kidnapped and complete the objectives of the war in Gaza."

In the same context, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that estimates in Israel indicate the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon "within days if small details remain pending."

She added that the most prominent outstanding details after the talks of US envoy Amos Hochstein are Israel's rejection of any role for France in the monitoring mechanism, in addition to some disagreements regarding the formulations related to the disputed border points.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation also quoted sources familiar with the US envoy's talks as saying that there was progress that could be described as significant, but that work still needed to be done to reach a ceasefire.

The sources said that Hochstein pressured the Israeli and Lebanese officials, saying that it was time to make a decision and reach an agreement.

This evening, Friday, the Israeli occupation forces attacked members of an ambulance crew from the Aqraba Municipality, and arrested a female ambulance officer, while covering clashes in the village of Osarin, south of Nablus.

The ambulance officer, driver of the Aqraba municipality ambulance, Yousef Diriya, said in a phone call with the official news agency "Wafa" that the occupation forces detained the crew members, assaulted them, interrogated them in the field, and searched the vehicle, before arresting the ambulance officer, Rana Abu Saqr.

He added that the ambulance crew was covering the clashes that erupted in the neighboring village of Osarin when it was attacked.

China has expressed its support for the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Galant.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Xiyin said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday, in response to a question about the International Criminal Court's decision and China's position on it, that "China supports all initiatives of the international community that contribute to ensuring justice in the Palestinian issue and defending the authority of international law."

He pointed out that the conflicts and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis are still ongoing in Gaza, which is being subjected to genocide at the hands of the Israeli occupation army.

He said the priority was to ensure an urgent and unconditional ceasefire and take the necessary measures to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

The Italian government announced on Friday that 4 Italian soldiers were slightly injured during a new "attack" on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), holding Hezbollah responsible.

Later, the UNIFIL force reported that the soldiers were injured by the firing of "two 122 mm rockets" at the headquarters of the Western Sector in the town of Shama, suggesting that Hezbollah, which has been engaged in clashes with Israel in the town since last week, was responsible for the launch of the rockets. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement: "I have learned with great dismay and concern that new attacks have targeted the Italian headquarters of the UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon and have injured Italian soldiers." She added: "These attacks are unacceptable and I reiterate my call to ensure the security of UNIFIL soldiers at all times, and to cooperate to quickly identify those responsible for the attack." Meloni did not indicate a specific party that launched the attack, but her Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani pointed the finger at Hezbollah, telling reporters in Turin in the north of the country: "They are apparently two rockets, also fired by Hezbollah."

"Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two 122mm shells exploded and hit a base housing the Italian battalion and UNIFIL's Western Sector Command in Shamaa," the Italian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"I will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, which has been impossible since he took office, to ask him to avoid using UNIFIL bases," the statement quoted Defense Minister Guido Crosetto as saying.

Hezbollah claimed in a statement that it had targeted "a gathering of Israeli army forces in the town of Shamaa" with a barrage of rockets on Friday morning.

In a later statement, UNIFIL said the two rockets were "most likely fired by Hezbollah or its affiliated groups," adding that the attack was the "third" on its base in Shama within a week.

It urged "warring parties to avoid fighting close to their positions" and "to respect the sanctity of UN premises and personnel at all times".

The UN force recorded more than 30 incidents in October that resulted in material damage or injuries to soldiers, including about 20 that resulted from Israeli gunfire or actions.

UNIFIL has been deployed in Lebanon since 1978, and its personnel are tasked with ensuring respect for the Blue Line drawn by the United Nations between Lebanon and Israel following the Israeli army's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.

Italy is the largest contributor to this force (1,068 soldiers according to the United Nations), followed by Spain, France and Ireland.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that the decision of the Israeli occupation state to cancel the administrative detention of settlers encourages them to commit more crimes.

It added in a statement on Friday that it views with great concern the decision of the Minister of the Occupation Army to cancel administrative detention against settlers who commit crimes and violations against Palestinian citizens, noting that the number of those arrested is very small and based on the principle of formal arrests in a revolving door style.

The ministry considered that this decision encourages extremist settlers to practice terrorism against the Palestinians, their land and their property, and gives them an additional sense of immunity and protection.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates called for effective international action to curb the terrorism of the settlers' militias, put an end to their continued impunity, and protect our people from the encroachment of the occupation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thwarted efforts to reach an agreement on the "hostages" at least three times in recent months, Haaretz newspaper quoted informed sources as saying.

The newspaper also quoted former officials who worked with Netanyahu accusing him of "knowing no limits, becoming fearful and dragging the country to the bottom."

1. 7

This evening, Friday, settlers attacked citizens in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron.

Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhamreh said that settlers, under the protection of the occupation army, attacked citizens from the village of Al-Mafqara in Al-Masafir and abused them.

Yesterday evening, a group of settlers stole a vehicle from in front of a house in the Hawara area in Masafer Yatta, while the occupation forces seized several vehicles from the towns of Dura and Yatta.

Thousands of settlers, including the so-called "Minister of National Security" in the extremist Israeli occupation government, Itamar Ben Gvir, stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron on Friday evening.

This afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers and desecrated it to settlers under the pretext of Jewish holidays.

The occupation forces also closed the Old City and imposed a curfew in several neighborhoods in preparation for the settlers to storm the streets of the city, the closed areas in the city of Hebron and the surrounding area of the sanctuary, through the streets of Jaber neighborhood, Wadi al-Hussein and al-Salaima.

Director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, Moataz Abu Sneineh, told WAFA that the occupation forces forced the employees of the mosque and the Awqaf to leave, in preparation for the settlers to storm the mosque and its courtyards.

He pointed out that the occupation announced the closure of the sanctuary before the afternoon prayer until Saturday evening, and tightened its measures at the military checkpoints and gates of the sanctuary and prevented many citizens from praying in the sanctuary.

He stressed that the occupation has exceeded the number of days in which settlers violate the sanctuary to 12 days during this year, denouncing the settlers’ desecration of the sanctuary and its courtyards with noisy parties.

The Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the Old City of Hebron, which the Israeli occupation imposes its control over. About 400 settlers live there by force, guarded by about 1,500 occupation soldiers, amidst the spread of dozens of military checkpoints.

Since 1994, Israel, the occupying power, has divided the Ibrahimi Mosque into 63% for Jews and 37% for Muslims, following a massacre committed by a colonizer that resulted in the martyrdom of 29 worshipers. The call to prayer room is located in the section designated for Jews.

The occupation completely closes the sanctuary for 10 days a year, under the pretext of Jewish holidays, and deprives Palestinian worshippers of their right to pray there.

U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Thursday led Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) in introducing legislation that would restore U.S. congressional funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Vermont Business Journal reported Friday.

Senator Welch’s legislation will help address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank by reversing the funding ban on UNRWA contained in legislative appropriations bills and directing the U.S. Department of State to revoke the temporary suspension of funding to UNRWA. The legislation expresses congressional support for allocating critical funds to UNRWA in the FY 2025 appropriations package.

The overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats consider UNRWA essential to the humanitarian response in Gaza and the only organization currently able to provide essential services in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. They argue that funding restrictions from the United States, as well as the Israeli Knesset’s recent passage of legislation to end the agency’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem and prevent it from carrying out tasks necessary to operate in Gaza, jeopardize UNRWA’s ability to safely deliver humanitarian assistance to those in need.

“Since day one of this conflict, UNRWA has proven to be the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza. It is unacceptable that this entire organization – and the civilian population of Gaza and the West Bank – should pay such a devastating price for the actions of a few individuals,” said Senator Welch, who called for the restoration of U.S. funding to UNRWA. “As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, supporting humanitarian assistance is more important than ever,” said Senator Welch.

“Congress must pass this legislation to ensure that UNRWA can safely provide humanitarian assistance to hungry women, children and families desperate for food, medicine and shelter,” they added.

“UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza and does critical work across the region,” said Senator Sanders. “With hundreds of thousands of people starving in Gaza — including tens of thousands of children — the United States must stand with UN aid workers who are trying to provide food, water, and medical care to millions of innocent people.”

“UNRWA is not only the primary means of distributing much-needed food and medical aid in Gaza, but it also provides essential education and health care services to millions of Palestinians in the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Innocent civilians in Gaza and beyond who rely on UNRWA should not be punished for the unacceptable actions of a few staff members — who have rightfully been terminated and must be held fully accountable. The suspension of funding to the agency has crippled its efforts at a time when its humanitarian support is more critical than ever, and we must restore U.S. funding to UNRWA to ensure it has the resources it needs to carry out its critical humanitarian work.”

“UNRWA plays a critical role in providing essential social services and life-saving humanitarian assistance such as food and medicine in Gaza, the West Bank, and throughout the region,” said Senator Hirono. “After identifying and implementing critical reforms to UNRWA, this legislation will reauthorize hundreds of millions of dollars in State Department funding to ensure UNRWA can continue to provide much-needed assistance to millions of Palestinian civilians currently suffering in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. There is simply no alternative to UNRWA when it comes to delivering food and other life-saving assistance in Gaza.”

In response to allegations that fewer than 12 of UNRWA’s approximately 13,000 employees participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Congress included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Act a provision prohibiting US funding to UNRWA until March 25, 2025. After UNRWA was informed of the Israeli government’s allegations, UNRWA dismissed the employees in question. UNRWA has since undergone an independent review and developed a high-level action plan to implement the reform recommendations. Following the completion of these steps and by the end of the UN review, every country that had suspended contributions to UNRWA, except the United States, has resumed funding the agency.

The UNRWA Emergency Funding Restoration Act has been endorsed by 75 organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Friends Committee for National Legislation, Demand Progress, TIMEP, Human Rights First, Norwegian Refugee Council, Human Rights First, Borgen Project, KinderUSA, American Friends Service Committee, Church World Service, Peace Action, Center for Middle East Democracy, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Center for International Policy, and Win Without War.

“For more than a year now, the catastrophic suffering caused by Israel’s blocking of humanitarian access and other actions in the occupied Gaza Strip has been on full display – and it is getting worse,” said Elizabeth Raghibi, Amnesty International USA’s Middle East and North Africa Advocacy Director, in a press statement. “UNRWA has played an indispensable role in providing food, water, medical assistance, education and shelter to nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. This legislation comes as a critical moment after the Israeli government moved to ban UNRWA, effectively criminalizing humanitarian aid. “Congress must act quickly to pass this legislation to urgently restore US funding to ensure that Palestinian refugees in the region receive the life-saving humanitarian aid and essential services they need.”

“If we want peace and prosperity in the Middle East, and peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis, funding UNRWA is critical. Without the essential humanitarian services UNRWA provides to millions of Palestinians, these dreams would be further from reality, not closer,” said Sean Carroll, president and CEO of ANERA. “Defunding UNRWA would represent a catastrophic failure of our moral and humanitarian obligations. UNRWA is an irreplaceable lifeline for more than six million Palestinian refugees, providing essential medical care, food, shelter, and hope in the face of unimaginable hardship. We must protect U.S. funding, especially during an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. We must assert our role as global humanitarian leaders and act decisively to protect innocent lives.”

“This effort to restore U.S. support for aid in Gaza could not be more urgent,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, in a press release on the effort by Senator Welch and his colleagues. “If the United States says it cares about the hungry people of Gaza, it should restore funding to the agency that feeds the people of Gaza. There is simply no alternative to UNRWA.”

Five Lebanese paramedics were killed today, Friday, in raids launched by Israeli occupation aircraft on southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced the martyrdom of three paramedics and the injury of three others in an occupation raid that targeted an ambulance in the town of Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain in Tyre District.

The Lebanese News Agency also announced the martyrdom of two paramedics in an occupation raid on the village of Al-Qatrani in the Jezzine district.

The number of women and children martyrs in Lebanon as a result of the Israeli aggression has reached 905 martyrs and 4,043 wounded, and 214 health workers have been martyred and 321 wounded, since October 2023, according to the latest data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, since that date, Israel has targeted 94 medical and emergency centers, 40 hospitals, and 249 health sector vehicles, according to the ministry.

The Israeli aggression on Lebanon resulted in a total of 3,583 martyrs and 15,244 wounded, including a large number of children and women, in addition to about 1,400,000 displaced persons. Most of the victims and displaced persons were recorded after September 23, according to official data.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 2024 is the “deadliest year” for humanitarian workers, due to the aggression that Israel has been waging on Gaza for more than a year.

The office indicated in a statement, today, Friday, that "280 aid workers were killed in 33 countries in 2023," and that this year's number exceeded previous "record numbers."

He pointed out that "2024 is the bloodiest year for humanitarian relief organizations, due to the impact of the war in Gaza."

He stated that "the killing of more than 320 humanitarian workers since the start of the Israeli war of extermination on Gaza on October 7, 2023, played a major role in increasing the number of aid workers killed in total."

He added that "the majority of those killed (in the Strip) were on the job at the time of their killing, and that they were generally employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)."

He stressed that humanitarian organizations continued to provide vital aid despite the risks, explaining that last year, about 144 million people in need were reached, while more than 116 million people around the world were reached until November 2024.

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip, by land, sea and air, since October 7, 2023, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to end it immediately, and the orders of the International Court of Justice to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, which resulted in the martyrdom of 44,056 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and the injury of 104,268 others, in an incomplete toll, as thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and rescue crews cannot reach them.

Five citizens were killed and others were injured today, Friday, in raids launched by Israeli occupation aircraft on the cities of Gaza and Rafah and the Al-Bureij camp.

Local sources reported that three citizens were killed and others were injured when the occupation aircraft bombed a group of citizens near the "Snafour" intersection east of Gaza City.

In the southern Gaza Strip, a citizen was killed and another was critically injured, after the occupation's drones bombed a group of citizens in the Khirbet al-Adas area, north of Rafah city.

In the middle of the Gaza Strip, a citizen was killed and others were injured when the occupation aircraft bombed a group of citizens east of Al-Bureij refugee camp.

In a related context, medical sources warned that all hospitals in the Gaza Strip would stop working or reduce their services within 48 hours, due to the occupation’s obstruction of the entry of fuel needed to operate their electric generators.

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip, by land, sea and air, since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in the martyrdom of 44,056 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and the injury of 104,268 others, in an incomplete toll, as thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and rescue crews cannot reach them.

Today, Friday, settlers broke citrus trees and destroyed their fruits in the Wadi Qana area, west of the town of Deir Istiya, northwest of Salfit.

According to local sources, a group of settlers attacked the orchard of farmer Abdul Razzaq Mansour in the Al-Basah area in Wadi Qana, broke lemon and orange trees, and destroyed their fruits.

The sources added that the farmers of Wadi Qana are subjected to continuous attacks by the settlers, under the protection of the occupation army, in an attempt to force them to leave their lands, in favor of colonial expansion.

Today, Friday, the Israeli occupation's aggression continues on various areas in Lebanon, amid widespread destruction of buildings, facilities and infrastructure.

The occupation forces have renewed their shelling since dawn today on the areas of Shiyah, Tayouneh, Al-Kafaat, Haret Hreik, Al-Hadath and Al-Ghobeiry in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The occupation aircraft and artillery bombed the city of Tyre and the towns of Ghazieh, Burj al-Shamali, al-Ma'shouq, Ma'arka, Shokin, Ain Qana, Meifdoun, al-Naqoura, Tyre Harfa, al-Malikiyah, Bayut al-Sayyad, Yahmar al-Shaqif, Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain, al-Qatrani, al-Khiyam, Alma al-Shaab, Ain Alma, Hamoul, Arnoun, Sheheen and al-Jbeen in southern Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on Friday that he will stop issuing administrative detention orders against terrorist settlers who carry out attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Katz said in a statement that he informed Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar this week of the decision to stop administrative detention orders against settlers, and asked the Shin Bet chief to take alternative measures.

As of the beginning of this month, 8 settlers are subject to administrative detention orders, while there are 3,443 Palestinian administrative detainees in the occupation prisons, according to the Haaretz website.

Katz claimed in his statement that "in a reality in which the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria faces serious Palestinian terrorist threats, and unjust international sanctions are imposed on settlers, it is inappropriate for the State of Israel to use such a harsh step against settlement elements. If there is suspicion of carrying out criminal acts, the perpetrators can be prosecuted, and if it is not possible to prosecute, there are other preventive steps that can be taken outside the framework of administrative detention."

Following Katz’s decision, coalition ministers and MKs demanded that he cancel the administrative detention orders against eight settlers, claiming that “these are detention orders that were signed with incomprehensible ease, based on political motives and foreign pressures, at the height of the war. The correct treatment of citizens of the state requires understanding that the use of administrative detention, without judicial proceedings, should only be used in very extreme cases, such as those known to us in the activities of murdered enemies among the Israel-haters.”

If there are suspicions against these settlers, the police should kindly open a criminal investigation, as in any other criminal incident in the country.”

Finance and National Security Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed Katz’s decision, claiming that it “eliminated years of discrimination against the settlers of Judea and Samaria. Katz put an end to the injustice in which the settlers were second-class citizens, and were subjected to extreme and undemocratic methods that trampled on their rights, methods that are not used against any other population group in the State of Israel except for terrorists and dangerous enemies.”

It is noteworthy that the Knesset approved in its preliminary reading, last July, a bill that allows administrative detention only against "members of terrorist organizations that threaten the state or its citizens." The bill aims to create obstacles to issuing administrative detention orders against settlers who carry out terrorist attacks against Palestinians.

On Thursday evening, the Israeli occupation forces arrested a Syrian citizen who was herding sheep on lands in the Quneitra Governorate in southern Syria.

A.S., a resident of the area, told Al Jazeera Net that the Israeli occupation forces penetrated into Syrian territory and reached the town of Al-Rafid, which is close to the border fence, and arrested a citizen named Mahmoud Hilal Al-Fneish, while he was working as a shepherd.

The source added that the incursion was participated in by dozens of occupation soldiers accompanied by vehicles equipped with machine guns, in addition to the mobilization of Israeli armored vehicles inside the occupied Golan Heights.

He pointed out that the reasons for the arrest of Al-Fneish, who is 63 years old, and his being taken into the occupied Golan Heights are unknown until now, as he works in raising livestock and has never been active in any military formation, stressing that the man was arrested in front of the eyes of the Syrian regime forces present at the nearby military points.

The Israeli occupation army had previously published a video clip at the beginning of this month of a Syrian citizen named Ali Suleiman Al-Asi, after he was arrested on July 18 from inside his farm in the town of Saida, Golan, in the countryside of Quneitra Governorate.

It is noteworthy that the Israeli occupation forces have penetrated into Syrian territory several times recently, especially with the beginning of the war on Lebanon, and have dug tunnels and removed earthen barriers that the Syrian regime forces had previously raised.

At least 12 civilians, most of them children and women, were killed in Israeli shelling of Gaza City, Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, and Khan Yunis in the south.

Local sources confirmed that at least 8 citizens were killed and several others were injured in an Israeli raid on the Abu Asr family home in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

The sources reported that a woman and her daughter were killed and her husband was seriously injured in an Israeli occupation raid on a tent housing displaced people in Al-Hedaya Mosque Street in the Mawasi Al-Qarara area, northwest of Khan Yunis.

The sources reported that two citizens were killed and a number of others were injured in an Israeli raid that targeted the Abu Samra family's house west of Deir al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip.

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip, by land, sea and air, since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in the martyrdom of 44,056 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and the injury of 104,268 others, in an incomplete toll, as thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and rescue crews cannot reach them.

The decision of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Galant has restored a glimmer of hope and confidence in international institutions, and the need for them to follow a path consistent with justice, equality, and integrity.

Taking such a historic decision confirms that justice must take its course, and therefore Netanyahu and Galant must be handed over to the international judiciary as soon as possible for trial, given that they have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity against a defenceless civilian people. The condemnation is clear and publicly announced, and all that remains is to take practical implementation measures.

The International Criminal Court has succeeded in monitoring the serious humanitarian and catastrophic situation caused by Israel as a result of its aggression and crimes that were directly directed by both war criminals Netanyahu and Galant. Accordingly, the facts monitored by the court made it direct four indisputable charges, the first of which is the use of starvation as a means of warfare, by deliberately depriving the citizens of Gaza of food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel. The second is the killing that was manifested by creating dire living conditions that led to the death of civilians due to malnutrition and famine. The third is the inhumane acts that included withholding basic medical equipment and forcing doctors to perform surgeries without anesthesia. The fourth is the persecution that is manifested by depriving the civilian population in Gaza of their basic rights for national and political reasons.

The extent of the provocation that resulted from the statements and criticisms of senior Israeli officials, from the president, prime minister, ministers, and even opposition leaders, proves that the Israeli entity is in real trouble. How could it not be, when Israeli statements repeatedly promoted a democratic Israel that is oppressed by saboteurs and criminals? In fact, the recent court decision revealed the truth and provided clear evidence to the world about the identity of the two criminals who were convicted in preparation for their trial. They are a major part of an entity based on killing, displacement, migration, and colonization.

Yes, the decision has indeed revealed the extent of the crimes that the occupation has concealed behind it, and led it with a system that has paid no attention to international law, in light of the bloody massacres committed by the Israeli colonists, and the time has come for accountability for these criminals, in light of the insistence of our people and their leadership to continue working to defend our legitimate national rights.

Most international reactions were positive and welcoming of the arrest of Netanyahu and Galant, with some countries that signed the Rome Statute expressing readiness to immediately implement the arrest decision, which makes them wanted and pursued, and this is truly the true picture of the state of the criminal entity, which continues its horrific massacres and repeated attacks on our Palestinian people.

The entire international community is required to oblige Israel to stop the war of extermination against our people, and to review its positions that have sided with Israel since the beginning of the war. It is time for this international system to recognize the Israeli entity for its criminal reality and aggressive image, which is being painted by the White House, which is also provoked by the decision of the International Court, which succeeded in exposing the image of the United States as well, its shameful positions, and its contribution to the killing of the Palestinian people and placing these humanitarian disasters on its head.

Let us summarize, from a macroeconomic perspective, the expected effects of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies on the US economy. Then, we will seek to read the effects of these American effects on the global economy and some Arab economies.

According to what economic experts say, whether they are professors at major universities or consultants at major global economic institutions, and according to what President Trump himself announced during his election campaign, let us see what conclusion we will come up with. First: Trump's policy calls for getting rid of illegal workers who have infiltrated the United States, and for the idea of limiting this immigration. The goal of this is to provide job opportunities for Americans.

One of the reasons for the success of President Biden’s policy to reduce inflation rates in the labor market was opening the door to immigration, which put a ceiling on wage increases at a time when labor unions called for raising them, because the cost of living that rose during the Covid-19 period and then the Ukraine war, harmed workers.

Therefore, Trump’s policy of banning immigration will inevitably lead to higher wages and increased production costs for the American economy. This will put deliberate pressure on the price level. Second: As for the budget, the US president-elect wants to stimulate the economy through an extensive program to reduce corporate profits taxes by up to 10 percentage points. And to give companies that decide to move their factories back to the United States a reduction of up to 15%.

He also wants to eliminate taxes on non-essential sources of income such as overtime, tips, etc. To make up for some of these losses, he will raise customs duties on imports from China by rates that may reach 60%, from Europe by rates between 10% and 20%, and from Mexico, if it does not respond to his demands and cooperate with him in preventing illegal immigration, by a rate that he threatens to reach 100%.

If we estimate the amount of revenue the government will lose from his tax exemptions (on income and profits), it will be much greater than the amount of revenue it will gain from raising tariffs on imports. More importantly, the rich will receive the lion’s share of the exemptions, compared to the exemptions on overtime and tips, most of whose owners are not subject to direct tax in the first place, or pay low rates, which makes them benefit little from the proposed cuts.

Economists say these policies may help increase jobs in the United States, but they all rely on a policy of “deficit financing,” which in the short term benefits a country that prints currency whenever it wants. But in the long term, this policy is inflationary.

Thus, the benefits that productive companies will gain from these policies will dictate in the future that the Federal Reserve raise interest rates, causing losses for investors in financial markets and stock exchanges, such as banks, financial companies, and hedge funds, or so-called Hedge Funds. Therefore, inflation and its pressures will increase.

Third: In order to control oil prices, the US President-elect will allow the extension of pipelines and the expansion of oil exploration and extraction, which is considered inconsistent with environmental and climate agreements that the President has not participated in or withdrawn from.

Will he simultaneously reduce imports or become an oil exporter? But in return, he wants to impose additional economic sanctions on Iran, Venezuela and their oil exports, and perhaps on Russia, which could have an impact on raising the price of oil on the one hand, and increasing oil smuggling from these countries. If the OPEC+ group holds together and reduces its production, this will lead to an increase in oil prices inside and outside the United States.

Fourth: If the pressures resulting from the budget deficit, the labor market, and the financial markets are pulling things towards more inflation resulting from increased costs and higher demand in the short term in the real market (goods and services), the American citizen will feel these inflationary effects, but in the first year he may not find them high unless they cause some disruption in economic performance. Some economists monitor the possible disruption in the following matters:

First: Rising wages may make producers more willing to use artificial intelligence, which will create demand for some real, high-level professions, but it will displace human labor (Automation), or replace humans with robots. Second: The success of the new American policy, especially the financial one, depends to a large extent on the success of monetary policy in keeping the dollar exchange rate strong due to the strong demand for it, either for exchange, or as a safe store of value.

But if some countries gradually start to fear that Trump’s policies may lead to higher inflation rates. And some economists even fear the return of stagflation, as happened after the rise in oil prices in the 1970s. I say that some countries, in this case, will focus more on searching for safe investment havens such as gold.

Some countries have begun to abandon the use of the dollar as a measure of value, or a means of exchange and payment of obligations in their dealings. If doubts begin to creep into the resilience of the dollar, this will lead to a major disruption in the ability of the United States to adopt a policy of expanding public debt, and to the effectiveness of its policies in using deficit financing to correct or restructure the economy.

Third, the possibility that the incoming Trump administration will clash with its desire to keep interest rates low may clash with the Federal Reserve’s insistence on using interest rates as an effective means of curbing inflation.

In this case, such a conflict and contradiction between fiscal and monetary policy will intensify and may cause panic among investors, especially pension funds, which are one of the main sources of investment in financial markets. The situation presented by British economist Paul Ormerod in his book The Death of Economics published in 1994 describes the situation that will lead to if President Trump’s policies are implemented in full and without opposition, namely that the capitalist model copied from the ideas of the conservative (neoclassical) economist, Milton Friedman, and the Chicago School of Economics, which President Trump adopts, will cause a major imbalance in the distribution of wealth and income in the world and will lead to a decline in the middle class, and an increase in crime, poverty and unemployment rates.

But there are those who say that the man is compromising, and that some conservative economists close to him will not let him exercise his full freedom to implement his policies to the letter, as he promised in his election campaign. The reason is that his program to restore America's greatness, or what is called the (MAGA) movement, wants to increase production, self-reliance, build strength, outperform enemies, and tend toward isolationism, and this will lead to a decline in financial markets, investment in stocks and technology exchanges. The interests of both sides (stocks, stock exchanges and the financial sector on the one hand and industrial, oil and defense companies on the other hand) may clash, knowing that both supported President Trump, which will force him to reduce his drive to implement the policies he called for, and put him in a compromising position in an attempt to reconcile the two parties.

The Arab Gulf states have contradictions with President Trump in terms of his oil policies, which may pressure them to keep oil prices low, which will affect their programs for economic diversification and moving towards a post-oil era. The second is his desire and perhaps his pressure on the Gulf states to reduce their dealings and coordination with both Russia, a main member of the OPEC+ alliance, and China, the largest trading partner of these countries, and therefore the matter requires attention.

As for the countries that are allies of America, export to it, and benefit from its foreign aid and free trade agreements with it, they will remain prepared to cooperate with the United States, provided that it does not reduce aid or raise customs tariffs on their exports to America.

The most important of these countries are Jordan, Morocco and to a lesser extent Egypt. But the question that must be asked is: Will President Trump, his economists and his ministers pressure international economic and financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to change the current economic model, which is closer to the Keynesian model, and replace it with Milton Friedman’s model, which calls for reducing the role and size of governments, lowering taxes and reducing interference in the functioning of markets? These are some of the challenges. Time will reveal where things will lead. The important thing is: Can Trump end the wars as he promised, at what cost, and by pressuring whom?

After the sweeping victory of former (and future) US President Donald Trump, especially after his "seizure of the three powers", opinions have multiplied about the future of US/Israeli relations and the position on the Arab-Zionist conflict. In this context, it was possible - mainly from solid Israeli and Western political literature - to limit three major scenarios:

The first: is based on what Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister (also currently the sole ruler) is planning. What is meant here is: repeating the process of "milking the cow" (the American Trumpian one) with the beginning of the new presidential term of the president-elect. In this context, and at the minimum level, Netanyahu is pushing - with an open appetite - towards enlarging "very small Israel" (according to Trump). Accordingly, the "King of Israel" is planning to obtain the approval and support of "King Trump" to annex large parts of the West Bank, recognize the legitimacy of additional "settlements" there, and also confirm Israeli control over the northern Gaza Strip, and perhaps unleash the "settlement monster" there, in addition to establishing a security buffer zone in Lebanon up to the borders of the Litani River! Perhaps the pinnacle of Netanyahu's aspirations: succeeding in convincing the next American president to launch a war to strike the Iranian regime, its institutions and foundations, and especially the "nuclear facilities." In this context, the researcher finds many balanced Israeli, Western and Arab opinions and quotes that support this scenario, especially after the general picture of the team that will assume power alongside President Trump became clear. This team includes a group of extremists and hard-line Zionists who are “loyal” to Israel (perhaps sometimes more loyal than they are to the United States itself), and some of them are also the fiercest opponents of China and Iran.

The second scenario is very different, as a growing number of Israeli observers (and others) expect that the next US president will not respond to everything Netanyahu and his ruling coalition wish for. The narcissistic/dictatorial Trump (especially since this is his last term) is striving hard to go down in history as the “builder of great America” and the “fire-extinguisher” of wars around the world, in addition to expanding the Abraham Accords (which may qualify him for the Nobel Peace Prize, thus ending the multiple criminal records that have stuck to his name over the years). Therefore, President Trump is likely to take Saudi Arabia and its role into consideration, especially after confirming its image as the leader of the Islamic camp (mainly Sunni, but not clashing with, and perhaps cooperating with, the Shiite Islamic camp). In addition to this, Netanyahu’s “success” in “burning” his political reputation has made him a burden on his allies, as his “maintenance has become… expensive,” which has led one to expect that Trump will overthrow Netanyahu!! However, you will not find a serious researcher or observer who hopes that President Trump will back down from the essence of his previous policies, which are mainly included in what he previously called the infamous and notorious “Deal of the Century”!

Regarding the third scenario, a growing number of politicians, researchers, media professionals, and military personnel believe that the outcome of Trump’s policy in his new era will be a mixture (with no precise percentages specified) that includes within its folds a mixture of the elements and components of the policy and positions described in the two previous scenarios.

So, we are faced with the contents of three harsh scenarios, the sweetest of which are bitter in taste and results, and they are likely to last with us for four lean years! However, this conclusion should not make us forget the fact that Trump’s first term passed without him being able to impose his policy and vision on the patient, struggling and resisting Palestinian people for a “century” of time, and he - along with the honorable and free people of the world - is capable of overcoming Trump’s “deal of the century” in its expected new version!

As negotiations on a ceasefire on the southern Lebanon front heat up, questions are being raised about Hezbollah’s willingness to accept a separate agreement on the situation in Gaza, which could reshape the resistance’s strategies and affect the positions of regional and international parties on the one hand, and the continuation of the humanitarian tragedies in the Gaza Strip in the face of the brutal aggression of genocide, displacement and starvation. Since the beginning of the confrontation, Hezbollah has raised the slogan of unity of fronts as a means of increasing pressure on Israel and preventing it from dividing the confrontations or exploiting the circumstances of each front separately. However, with the growing international pressure and the increasing humanitarian cost, it seems that the party is facing major challenges in re-evaluating this strategic link without submitting to a negotiating path under fire as Netanyahu wants. Rather, the speech of its new Secretary-General emphasized Lebanon’s sovereignty and considering Tel Aviv equivalent to Beirut in the missile strikes it is carrying out, making it a costly matter for the occupying state, especially in the north and in terms of the economic losses on the one hand, and the unprecedented human losses among the occupation soldiers on the other.

Hezbollah’s rhetoric has long relied on strengthening the connection between Gaza and southern Lebanon, within a larger vision of what has been called the axis of resistance. This connection reflects the party’s ideological and political framework, which views the Palestinian cause as the center of the conflict with the Israeli occupation state. However, the complexity of the field conditions may make maintaining this connection costly at the present time. Accepting a separate ceasefire may be seen as a tactical necessity to avoid a comprehensive escalation that could drag Lebanon into an unwanted confrontation that would place Hezbollah in a position of responsibility before some other Lebanese parties that promote a surrender mentality, which could put Lebanon at risk of a civil war incited by forces that we used to call isolationist forces in the past, which have spared no effort in opposing the Lebanese national movement and the Palestinian revolution since the 1970s.

In contrast, abandoning this linkage poses internal challenges to the party with its popular base, which expects a firm stance on Gaza. Moreover, its regional allies, such as Iran, Syria, and other pro-Iranian movements in Yemen and Iraq, may view any step toward a separate agreement as a sign of a decline in the unity of what has been agreed to be called the axis and the unity of the arenas.

Hezbollah has several scenarios in dealing with this dilemma. On the one hand, the party may seek to present a convincing discourse to its supporters stating that accepting a separate ceasefire does not mean abandoning Gaza, but rather is part of a long-term strategy in the concept and practice of resistance to the Zionist project on the one hand, and to strengthen the role of Iran and Russia in the region on the other hand. The party may also demand international guarantees obligating Israel not to violate the agreement, which would give it a justification to deal with this option without giving up its principled positions, although nothing would oblige Israel to deal with any future guarantees.

On the other hand, the party may use its current position as a pressure card to obtain greater political and security gains, whether in Lebanon or at the regional level. These gains may include ensuring the continuation of its role as protector of southern Lebanon and avoiding any agreement that limits the resistance’s ability to respond to Israeli threats, and also preserving the Iranian role in the region, which is pursuing its project.

The visit of US envoy Amos Hochstein to Lebanon comes in the context of these sensitive negotiations, where the US side is focusing on calming tensions, preventing regional escalation, and achieving a political achievement for the outgoing administration, especially in light of the tense situation in Gaza. The Lebanese demands, which include strengthening the role of the Lebanese army and protecting infrastructure, may be in line with some of Hezbollah’s aspirations, but they remain conditional on the extent of the guarantees provided by international parties.

On the other hand, Israel insists on ensuring its freedom of military action in the region, and Netanyahu believes that any agreement concluded now may be considered a concession to the Biden administration, which contradicts his ambitions that seek to achieve strategic achievements with an ally more committed to Israel’s interests without Trump’s conditions. Therefore, the tactic of delay and maneuver is one of Netanyahu’s tools to strengthen his positions locally and internationally.

Which raises questions about the possibility of reaching an agreement that satisfies all parties at the present time. In this context, the role of major countries, such as Iran and Russia, remains decisive in directing the course of negotiations and influencing Hezbollah’s positions, due to Iran’s desire to strengthen its position in any negotiations related to the nuclear file later, and Russia’s desire with Chinese support for a policy of pressure on the United States in light of the crisis in the Ukrainian file.

With the escalation of diplomatic efforts, it seems that the coming days will bring answers about the future of southern Lebanon and its relationship with Gaza. The American partnership may force Israel to accept the formula of an agreement with Lebanon, in return for this partnership and this support being translated on the ground by enabling Israel to implement its project known as the Generals’ Plan, which aims to divide Gaza geographically and confine it to a narrow area not exceeding 200 square kilometers, while isolating the northern region and tightening the siege on it. These plans do not only aim to achieve field gains, but also to impose a new political reality that serves its settlement vision and Israel’s expansionist goals, including, of course, the project of annexing settlement areas from the West Bank that Trump considers legitimate, and the price may be through a deal that Trump presents in the Negev lands that are within the lands of the Palestinian state according to his concept of it.

Hezbollah, which is facing internal Lebanese and regional pressures, will try to balance its positions to maintain its image as an effective resistance movement without compromising its grand strategies. Ultimately, the question remains: Can a stable truce be achieved without harming the principle of unity of fronts, or will tactical imperatives impose a new path that could reshape the equation of the conflict, especially with Trump taking over the reins of the White House soon?