Ahead of new talks, Iran blames Europe for nuclear deal collapse
The 2015 agreement – reached between Iran and UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United
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Otago Daily Times
15 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
US meets Netanyahu for Gaza aid, ceasfire push
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, in a bid to salvage Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's military assault in the enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine is unfolding. Shortly after Witkoff's arrival, President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social network: "The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!" The US State Department also announced sanctions on officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, saying the groups were undermining peace efforts. It was Washington's latest apparent diplomatic shift backing Israel against the Palestinians and diverging from its European allies. The PA and PLO, rivals of the Hamas fighters that control Gaza, are internationally accepted as the representatives of the Palestinian people and administrators of a Palestinian state that France, Britain and Canada have said in recent days they could soon recognise as independent. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The full impact of the US move was not immediately clear: the State Department said targeted individuals would be barred from travelling to the United States but did not identify those targeted. Witkoff arrived in Israel with Netanyahu's government facing mounting international pressure over the widespread destruction of Gaza and constraints on aid in the territory. Following the meeting, a senior Israeli official said an understanding between Israel and the US was emerging that there was a need to move from a plan to release some of the hostages to a plan to release all the hostages, disarm Hamas militants, and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. The official did not provide details on what that plan would be, but added Israel and the United States will work to increase humanitarian aid, while continuing the fighting in Gaza. Witkoff will travel to Gaza tomorrow to inspect food aid delivery as he works on a final plan to speed deliveries to the enclave, the White House said. "The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Trump on Thursday called the situation in Gaza "a terrible thing," when asked about comments from his ally and Republican US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who termed Israel's offensive in the Palestinian enclave a genocide. "Oh it's terrible what occurring there, yeah, it's a terrible thing. People are very hungry," Trump said when asked about Greene's social media comments. Trump also noted financial assistance by Washington to address the hunger crisis in Gaza. Israel denies genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice and war crimes accusations at the International Criminal Court while calling its war in Gaza self-defense after the deadly October 2023 Hamas attack. Indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha ended in deadlock last week with the sides trading blame for the impasse and gaps lingering over issues including the extent of an Israeli military withdrawal. Today two senior Israeli cabinet ministers, Defence Minister Israel Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, voiced support for annexing the West Bank, Israeli-occupied territory where the Palestinians hope to build their state. "At this very moment, there is a moment of opportunity that must not be missed," they wrote. Palestinians say annexation would foreclose the prospect of a two-state solution and terminate any peace process. Israel sent a response yesterday to Hamas' latest amendments to a US proposal that would see a 60-day ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a source familiar with the details said. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. Gaza medical officials said at least 23 people were reported killed by Israeli fire across the enclave, including 12 people among crowds who had gathered to receive aid around the Netzarim corridor, an area held by Israeli troops in central Gaza. The Israeli military said its troops had fired warning shots to disperse crowds, and had not identified any casualties. Since Israel's offensive began, the Gaza health ministry has recorded 156 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, most of them in recent weeks, including at least 90 children. Confronted by rising international outrage over images of starving children, Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and designate secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine. CALLS ON HAMAS TO DISARM The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said yesterday the United Nations and its partners had been able to bring more food into Gaza in the first two days of pauses, but the volume was "still far from enough". Residents face peril from Israeli forces and Palestinian looters when trying to reach supplies. "I have tried several times to grab a sack of flour. The only time I managed to do so, someone with a knife froze me in the street and took it away, threatening to stab me," one man from Deir Al-Balah told Reuters, asking not to be identified. Pressure has been mounting in Gaza on Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel. Hamas is still holding 50 hostages in Gaza, of whom around 20 are believed to be alive. Mothers of hostages led a protest outside Netanyahu's office, calling on the government to end Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition includes two far-right parties that want to conquer Gaza and re-establish Jewish settlements there, has said he will not end the war until Hamas no longer rules the enclave and lays down its arms. Hamas rejects calls to disarm. Qatar and Egypt, who are mediating ceasefire efforts, backed a declaration on Tuesday by France and Saudi Arabia which outlined steps for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The declaration says Hamas "must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority." Israel has ruled out the PA gaining control of Gaza. Hamas-led factions said today Palestinian resistance will not stop until "the occupation" ends and an independent, fully sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital is established. Israel has denounced declarations by France, Britain and Canada since last week that they may recognise a Palestinian state, which Israel says amounts to rewarding Hamas for its October 7, 2023, assault on Israeli territory. That attack, in which fighters killed 1200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, precipitated Israel's ongoing assault in the enclave and sparked the latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, embarking on a visit to Israel, said negotiations for a two-state solution must begin, while for Germany the recognition of a Palestinian state would come at the end of that process.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Call For U. S. President Donald Trump To Rescind His Aggressive Rhetoric On Russia
President Donald Trump of the United States of America is playing the game of the oppressor billionaire with the peace, security and existence of the human race. It has come to our notice that the US president in his usual aggressive rhetoric has threatened to attack Russia's nuclear sites with an ultimatum issued if Moscow fails to yield to a ceasefire with the Nazis enclave in Ukraine. This is insulting, insincere and disrespectful statements emanating from the President of the United States of America. To the New African Charter International (NACI), there is no substitute to peace and security, and the two cannot be achieved through threatening the world's most powerful military nation, that is Russia. It was reported worldwide that President Trump has issued a 10-12 days provocative ultimatum to attack Russia's nuclear arsenals if Moscow fails to yield to the desires of the Nazis enclave in the Ukraine, for a ceasefire on the Ukrainian conflict. Earlier, Trump and its western European allies had imposed sanctions that are designed to kill Russians, cause long-term physical and mental injury, and damage the Russian economy. The New African Charter International critically observes and unequivocally condemns Trump's vile, unwarranted and harmful rhetoric regarding Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine, which has become headlines in the news and social media. In general, we forcefully oppose the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) efforts at escalation of tension between the alliance and Russia over the Nazis enclave in Ukraine. NACI fully supports alternative efforts to NATO's neo-Nazis agenda of domination and remote control; and stand in solidarity with Russia and the Russian people. We wish to recognize the remarkable courage of the Russian people for rallying their support behind their leaders, especially the youths, who took to the streets recently, to vent out their grievances towards NATO members who want to be seen as hostile forces against Russia, and who aided also the Ukrainian Nazis enclave's evil attack on Russia's territory, dubbed: 'Operation Spider Web'. We want to make it very clear to Mr Trump and NATO that their provocative and disrespectful mentality towards Russia is a source of profound concern for the entire global community. We unequivocally denounce these unnecessary escalation, red tagging, hatreds, inflammatory and violent statements, which constitute grave danger to the peace, security, and stability of the global community, with far reaching consequences. No Russian territory would be the Hiroshima or Nagasaki of the 21st century; Russia is not Libya, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, the Sahel region, Sri Lanka, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mozambique where leaked documents have revealed the role of the US and NATO allies in the mass killings and cleansing campaign. Russia, like any other members-state of the United Nations reserves the right to defending its independent sovereignty and territorial integrity against any outside threats, no matter who would be the forces that may be behind such an evil agenda. Again, we want to warn the US and NATO to abandon their dangerous nuclear war project on Russia as such plan would lead the whole world into a devastating catastrophe. Russia, if attack as Donald Trump is threatening to do, will spare no effort to resist any persistent endeavours to undermine its peace, stability, independent sovereignty and territorial integrity. Trump's latest threats and offensive and unacceptable statements have gone a long way to violate Article 2(4) of the UN Charter. Its represents also, acts of rhetoric aggression as defined under General Assembly resolution 3314 of 1974. We are also deeply concerned about the reported transfer of US nuclear arsenals to the soil in Britain. We urge countries with ties to the US to uphold international law by opposing this dangerous expansion of the Ukrainian conflict. Mr Trump's aggressive rhetoric on Russia is more regrettable because it came at a when the civilized international community is confronted also with a plethora of challenges, including climate change and biodiversity loss, disaster risks, the ongoing genocide and cleansing in the Palestinian Gaza and other occupied lands and territories in the Middle-east. Mr Trump's dangerous threats and ill-intention agenda to attack Russia's nuclear arsenals must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by the United Nations and all its members. The global community should rise to the challenges posed by My Trump's nuclear war threats. The global community should rise to the challenges and act decisively and effectively to ease the dangerous and worrisome situation. In its cherished history as a peaceful sovereign nation, Russia has never provoked conflict, and any response to Trump's latest aggressive rhetoric would only mean a just response to unjust attacks, and to ensure peace and stability, and to send a clear message to the modern Nazis, who are hell-bent on undermining the peace, security and stability of Russia. And as a free, sovereign and independent nation, Russia reserves the right to determine the most appropriate measures to safeguard its security and the well-being of its people. As we navigate this disturbing mirror, it is warranting to address the concerns of Russia and that the legitimate grievances of the Russian people should not be misconstrued as a weapon for violent political agenda. Trump's aggressive rhetoric on Russia therefore poses grave threat to the existence of humanity. We Call on NATO leaders and politicians to distance themselves from Trump's nuclear war project; to stop supporting or sending provocative language that can intensify existing tension in the Ukrainian conflict. We call on African governments and leaders to any threat of the use of nuclear weapons anywhere, support peace and promote understanding in dealing with issues that posed danger to the existence of the global community. We are closely monitoring the situation and efforts at diverting nuclear confrontation amongst the world's nuclear powers. The legacy of the 1945 decision by the United States to reign atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must not be forgotten, and efforts towards the peaceful end of the Ukrainian crisis must be given priority. The New African Charter International does not promote violence, but support peace, justice and stands against all those who seek to destabilize other nations and erode the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
UK plans to recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes action
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain is prepared to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly in response to growing public anger over the images of starving children in Gaza. Starmer spoke a day after talks in Scotland with US President Donald Trump, who said he did "not mind" if Britain recognised a Palestinian state, though Washington - Israel's closest ally - has long declined to do so. Britain, if it acts, would become the second Western power on the UN Security Council to do so after France last week, reflecting Israel's deepening isolation over its conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, where a humanitarian disaster has set in and the Palestinian death toll has risen above 60,000. Starmer said Britain would make the move unless Israel took substantive steps to allow more aid to enter Gaza, made clear there will be no annexation of the West Bank and committed to a long-term peace process that delivers a "two-state solution" - a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel. "The Palestinian people have endured terrible suffering," Starmer told reporters. "Now, in Gaza, because of a catastrophic failure of aid, we see starving babies, children too weak to stand, images that will stay with us for a lifetime. The suffering must end." Starmer held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before making his announcement, said a source, who asked not to be named. In response, Israel's foreign ministry said in a post on X that Britain's move constitutes a "reward for Hamas" and would harm efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. The sight of emaciated Gaza children has shocked the world in recent days. Earlier on Tuesday, a hunger monitor warned that worst-case scenario of famine was unfolding in Gaza and immediate action was needed to avoid widespread death. Israel has denied pursuing a policy of starvation. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday the situation in Gaza was "tough" but there were lies circulating about starvation there. With international criticism intensifying, Israel announced steps over the weekend to ease aid access. But the U.N. World Food Programme said it was not getting the permissions it needed to deliver enough aid. PARTY PRESSURE Starmer's decision marks a striking reversal in policy after he last week disappointed many in his party by rejecting calls to recognise a Palestinian state, saying the timing must be right as part of a wider peace process. In recent days, Starmer has been increasingly vocal about the crisis in Gaza, saying this week that the people there faced an "absolute catastrophe" and the British public were "revolted" by the scenes of mass hunger and desperation. Starmer said that before taking a final decision his government would make an assessment in September on "how far the parties have met these steps", but that no one would have a veto over the decision. He spoke after recalling his cabinet during the summer holidays on Tuesday to discuss a new proposed peace plan being worked on with other European leaders and how to deliver more humanitarian aid for Gaza's 2.2 million people. Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions. Some lawmakers in Britain's governing Labour Party said they thought Starmer had been reluctant to formally recognise a Palestinian state because it would mean distancing itself from the position of its closest ally, the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called France's announcement last week recognising a Palestinian state a "reckless decision". China and Russia are the only other world powers that are permanent members of the UN Security Council to recognise a Palestinian state. SHIFTING POSITIONS The issue of recognition for a Palestinian state - seen as a powerful diplomatic lever to put pressure on Israel - came to the fore after President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognise Palestine as a state in territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel and staunch supporter the United States blasted France's move, branding it a reward for Palestinian Hamas militants who ran Gaza and whose attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 triggered the current war. At the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, when Starmer was the opposition leader, he fully backed Israel's right to defend itself. But his stance has shifted over the years to a tougher approach to Israel, especially since his election as prime minister just over a year ago. His government dropped the previous government's challenge over arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has suspended some weapon sales to Israel. Last month, Britain sanctioned two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians.
