Conflict in the heart of Asia - Hamas urges Israel to honor a truce agreement.
Hamas persists in demanding a long-term truce as a requirement for approving an end-of-war accord, as per their own reports. Additionally, Israel's military needs to fully withdraw from Gaza, a Hamas representative stated at a press conference in Beirut last night. Any unwillingness from the Israeli side would result in no agreement. The Hamas is waiting for Israel's response. Hamas leaders have voiced these conditions before.
US President Joe Biden startled many on Friday with details of a three-stage plan to halt the fighting. In phase one, a complete and unconditional ceasefire is proposed for six weeks. During this time, some hostages will be freed. Along with this, Palestinians held in Israel will be freed. In the second phase, the ongoing battle would cease completely and the remaining captives will be released. In the last phase, the reconstruction of Gaza would begin, according to the plan.
Neither Israel nor Hamas have accepted or rejected this proposal yet. Contradictory reports from Cairo indicate that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel flew to Qatar on Wednesday for mediation talks. He is to meet with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CIA Director William Burns there.
For months, Qatar, the United States, and Egypt have been serving as unofficial mediators between Israel and Hamas, attempting to broker a ceasefire and a swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Reports of a fresh strike on Hamas in Gaza's central area
The Israel Defense Forces allegedly began a new operation in the crowded Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, as per media reports. Both the air force and ground troops are involved in the operation. The military was in the area at the beginning of the year but withdrew, according to the "Jerusalem Post."
The Islamist Hamas is still prominent in this densely populated region. The army's objective is to dismantle the terrorist organization. The military claimed that a Hamas facility in a UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) school had been attacked by a drone. The Islamists planned numerous assaults against Israeli civilians and troops from there. The authenticity of this information is uncertain.
Court sanctions Al-Jazeera shutdown
An Israeli court has supposedly confirmed the state-requested, temporary closure of the Arab television broadcaster Al-Jazeera, according to local news sources. The court deemed it proven that Al-Jazeera had a close connection with the Islamist Hamas. The broadcaster presents a threat to the country's security, the judges asserted. Reasons for this include it disclosing the locations of Israeli soldiers and distributing incitement.
The court partially granted a request from Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel, who sought a 45-day suspension. The court reduced the duration to 35 days due to reports that Al-Jazeera had not been heard before the request.
The television station was turned off on the government's orders in Israel. Cable and satellite providers halted broadcasting the sender, and its websites on the internet were blocked. Israel's government labels the channel "Hamas' megaphone." Al-Jazeera has denied any impartiality and refuted the decision, vowing to appeal.
Dispatches: Egypt's intelligence chief visits Qatar
Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel is reportedly in Qatar for peace talks, sources say. He is meant to convene with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the airport in Cairo. The head of US foreign intelligence, CIA, is also speculated to be present.
UN: Desalination plants cease functioning due to lack of fuel
In the Gaza Strip, UN-reported desalination plants have stopped operating owing to insufficient fuel supplies for power generators. "The people are struggling for water," the UN Palestinian Refugee and Works Agency warned on Wednesday. "Survival is a struggle."
Families and children had to travel long distances in the sweltering heat to secure water for themselves. The organization called on Israeli authorities to rapidly rectify the condition. Israel mentioned in April that it had fixed a main water pipeline from Israel to the Gaza Strip, after it had been destroyed during the conflict against Hamas.
Israel agrees with the US to purchase 25 F-35 fighter jets
Israel has reached a deal with the US to buy an additional 25 F-35 (Adir) fighter jets. This would form the third unit of these stealth fighters to be incorporated into the Israeli Air Force. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced this. With this, Israel's air force will have over 75 of these stealth aircraft from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The delivery to Israel is expected to begin in 2028, with a delivery rate of three to five planes per year. The cost is estimated at around three billion dollars (approximately 2.8 billion euros).
The third squadron of F-35s being delivered to Israel showcases the strong strategic alliance between Israel and the United States, according to Defense Minister Joav Galant. These fighter jets possess significant impact on both nearby and far-off conflict areas. In his statement, Galant emphasized the powerful message sent to all enemies in the region.
