Retired Lt.-Gen. weighs in on U.S. envoy's Gaza visit
Ret. Lt.-Gen. Mark Schwartz breaks down Steve Witkoff's Gaza visit and what message he may deliver to President Trump as U.S. Special Envoy.
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CBC
8 minutes ago
- CBC
Israel's plan to retake Gaza City sparks condemnation as calls persist to end war
Israel said Friday it plans to take over Gaza City, in what would be an escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas that drew a dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict and stirred fears for hostages still held in Gaza. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. The timing of another major ground operation remains unclear since it will likely hinge on mobilizing thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians, almost certainly exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new framework that will include the release of all hostages — dead and alive — in one go in return for an end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip, two Arab officials told The Associated Press. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier outlined more sweeping plans in an interview with Fox News, saying Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza. Israel already controls around three-quarters of the territory. Hamas rejected Israel's current plans in a statement. "Expanding of aggression against our Palestinian people will not be a walk in the park," the group said. Netanyahu signalled plans for even broader war An expanded offensive could widen discord between Israel and international powers, many of whom have intensified criticism of the war amid reports of famine in Gaza but largely stopped short of concrete action. Australia and the United Kingdom urged Israel to reconsider and Germany said it would not authorize the export of military equipment that could be used in Gaza until further notice. "The even harsher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved by the Israeli cabinet last night, makes it increasingly difficult for the German government to see how these goals will be achieved," Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. Saudi Arabia condemns any Israeli move to take control of Gaza, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The kingdom "categorically denounces Israeli occupation authorities' persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people," it said in a statement. WATCH | Netanyahu says Israel intends to take full control of Gaza: Israel intends to take full control of Gaza, Netanyahu says 12 hours ago Israel's "decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. "It will only bring more bloodshed. ... Both parties must step away from the path of destruction." Tensions could rise further if Netanyahu follows through on the more sweeping plans to take control of the entire territory. Israel's current plan, announced after the Security Cabinet met through Thursday night, stopped short of that, and may be aimed in part at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceasefire on Israel's terms. It may also reflect the reservations of Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who reportedly warned that expanding operations would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel's army after nearly two years of regional wars. The military "will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," Netanyahu's office said in a statement after the meeting. Asked in the interview with Fox News ahead of the security cabinet meeting if Israel would "take control of all of Gaza," Netanyahu replied: "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there." "We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter," Netanyahu said. Hamas-led militants triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them to be alive. No real consequences despite international outcry Amjad Iraqi, senior analyst at International Crisis Group, said that Israel's government believes the solution is to "be more aggressive in carving Gaza's geography and demographics" because it has faced no real consequences despite an international outcry. "It's no wonder Israel is ready to do the same to the strip's de facto capital, even amid a spiral into famine," said Iraqi. A global hunger monitor has said a famine scenario is unfolding in densely populated Gaza, where nearly all the territory's more than two million people have been displaced, often repeatedly. WATCH | Severe malnutrition in Gaza prompts widespread international concern: 'There's nothing,' says starving man in Gaza 2 days ago Israel's military offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. Israel has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to neighbourhoods again and again as militants regrouped. Today, it is one of the few areas in Gaza that hasn't been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders. A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the hunger-stricken territory. It's unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza's largest before the war. Hundreds of thousands fled under evacuation orders in the opening weeks of the conflict, but many returned during a ceasefire at the start of this year.
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Israel's plan to take Gaza City draws international criticism, concern over Palestinians, hostages
Israel said Friday it plans to take over Gaza City – in what would be an escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas that drew a dismissal from the militant group, renewed international calls to end the conflict, and stirred fears for hostages still held in Gaza. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. The timing of another major ground operation remains unclear since it will likely hinge on mobilizing thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians, almost certainly exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new framework that will include the release of all hostages — dead and alive — in one go in return for an end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip, two Arab officials told the Associated Press. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier outlined more sweeping plans in an interview with Fox News, saying Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza. Israel already controls around three-quarters of the territory. Hamas rejected Israel's current plans in a statement. 'Expanding of aggression against our Palestinian people will not be a walk in the park,' the group said. What to know as Israel weighs reoccupying the entire Gaza Strip Germany halts military exports that could be used in Gaza after Israel approves plan to expand war An expanded offensive could widen discord between Israel and international powers, which have intensified criticism of the war amid reports of famine in Gaza but largely stopped short of concrete action. Australia and the United Kingdom urged Israel to reconsider. Israel's 'decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong,' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. 'It will only bring more bloodshed. ... Both parties must step away from the path of destruction.' Tensions could rise further if Netanyahu follows through on the more sweeping plans to take control of the entire territory. Israel's current plan, announced after the Security Cabinet met through Thursday night, stopped short of that, and may be aimed in part at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceasefire on Israel's terms. It may also reflect the reservations of Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who reportedly warned that expanding operations would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel's army after nearly two years of regional wars. The military 'will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,' Netanyahu's office said in a statement after the meeting. Asked in the interview with Fox News ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting if Israel would 'take control of all of Gaza,' Netanyahu replied: 'We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there.' 'We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter,' Netanyahu said. Hamas-led militants triggered the war when they stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251 people. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of them to be alive. The new efforts for a ceasefire have the backing of major Arab Gulf monarchies, the officials said, as they are concerned about further regional destabilization if Israel's government proceeds with a full reoccupation of Gaza, two decades after Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the strip. The officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions. One is involved directly in the deliberations and the second was briefed on the efforts. The yet-to-be finalized framework aims to address the contentious issue of what to do with Hamas' weapons, with Israel seeking full disarmament and Hamas refusing. The official directly involved in the efforts said discussions are underway about 'freezing arms,' which may involve Hamas retaining but not using its weapons. It also calls for the group to relinquish power in the strip. A Palestinian-Arab committee would run Gaza and oversee the reconstruction efforts until the establishment of a Palestinian administration with a new police force, trained by two U.S. allies in the Middle East, to take over the strip, he said. It is unclear what role the Western-backed Palestinian Authority would play. The second official said that a powerful Gulf country is supporting the efforts. A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to brief the media, said the group's leadership has been aware of the Arab mediators' efforts to revive the ceasefire talks, but has yet to receive details. AP reached out to the governments in Qatar, Egypt and Israel for comment. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff told hostage families during his recent visit that Israel was shifting its approach to pursue a comprehensive 'all-or-nothing' deal aimed at ending the war and securing the release of hostages, a person who attended the meeting told the AP, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak about the private meeting. Israel has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to neighbourhoods again and again as militants regrouped. Today, it is one of the few areas in Gaza that hasn't been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders. A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the hunger-stricken territory. It's unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza's largest before the war. Hundreds of thousands fled under evacuation orders in the opening weeks of the war, but many returned during a ceasefire at the start of this year. Palestinians were already anticipating even more suffering ahead of the decision, and at least 42 were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings on Thursday, according to local hospitals. 'There is nothing left to occupy,' said Maysaa al-Heila, who is living in a displacement camp. 'There is no Gaza left.' Of those killed Thursday, Nasser Hospital said at least 13 were seeking aid in an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where U.N. aid convoys are regularly overwhelmed by hungry crowds and people stealing food to resell it. Another two were killed on roads leading to nearby sites run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor, according to the hospital, which received the bodies. GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites on Thursday. Israel's military said its forces did not fire in the morning and that it knew of no encounters in the area. The military zone, known as the Morag Corridor, is off limits to independent media. Israel's military offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The United Nations and independent experts view the ministry's figures as the most reliable estimate of casualties. Israel has disputed them without offering a toll of its own.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Canada is trying to salvage its relationship with Mexico after falling out with Trump
MEXICO CITY - Prime Minister Mark Carney is scrambling to save his country's relationship with Mexico after it disintegrated late last year when Canadian officials suggested they'd be better off negotiating a trade deal with the Trump administration alone. Carney attempted to break the ice in a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in July by complimenting an indigenous-made soccer ball she had gifted him at their last meeting and saying he hoped to visit Mexico soon. The warm overture, relayed to Reuters by three people familiar with the call, highlights Canada's attempt to repair the damage after a string of public slights by Canadian officials, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said in November that any comparison of Canada to Mexico was 'the most insulting thing I've ever heard.' Mexico and Canada are in many ways natural allies. They've benefited from trilateral trade deals with the U.S. for 31 years: first the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 and subsequently the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that replaced it in 2020. But the relationship between the two countries has been beset by allegations of betrayal on both sides and memories of fraught negotiations with Trump. Top officials virtually stopped talking in November after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mused about cutting a trade deal with the U.S. without Mexico, suggesting the U.S. and Canada were more aligned on issues like China. A few days later, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago for a surprise visit with U.S. President Donald Trump, stunning Mexican officials. It seemed as if Canada had already developed a strategy for dealing with Trump while Mexico was wringing its hands, one Mexican official said. An infuriated Sheinbaum directed her lieutenants to stop dealing with the Canadians, at least until Trudeau left office, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Nine months later, Canada finds itself on the back foot with Trump while Mexico is reveling in its relative success. Last week, Trump gave Mexico a 90-day pause on new tariffs going into effect, keeping the rate at 25%, while raising tariffs on Canada to 35%. Now, in a remarkable about-face, Canadian officials are on a campaign to win back Mexico's favor and save the trilateral trade deal Trudeau suggested he was willing to ditch, according to two people with knowledge of the countries' tense relationship. That treaty continues to shield a large number of Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. from Trump's latest rounds of tariffs. Carney said on Tuesday that 'it's important to preserve' the trilateral agreement while Canada's foreign minister and finance minister traveled this week to Mexico for a two-day visit with top officials. Asked by Reuters whether the purpose of her visit was to repair shattered ties with Mexico, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said: 'It is extremely important for Canada to have a resilient relationship with Mexico, and indeed, I'm here to kick start that relationship.' Sheinbaum, on X, reiterated that message. 'We're strengthening the relationship between our countries,' she wrote. A spokesperson for Sheinbaum declined to comment. 'Look in the mirror' Whether they repair their partnership and become a tightly-knit bloc in negotiations with the U.S. will have lasting consequences not only for the three countries but the thousands of companies that depend on free trade in the region, from automakers to medical suppliers, three trade analysts said. 'The big question I have is whether there's a real sense of communication or coordination between Mexico and Canada,' said Kenneth Smith Ramos, a former trade negotiator for Mexico. 'I don't get the sense that is the case. I think both are operating bilaterally with the U.S. and that's it.' He said Mexico saved Canada from being ousted from the USMCA treaty when Canadian and U.S. negotiators got into a 'severe fight' during negotiations in 2018. 'Mexico insisted that the agreement remain trilateral,' said Smith, who represented Mexico in those negotiations, adding it's that history that likely made Mexican officials especially bitter when Canada appeared to spurn Mexico to curry favor with Trump. A Canadian source involved in the 2018 talks sharply disputed that characterization. 'The Mexican team went behind our back and negotiated their own bilateral deal with the U.S. Trump then used that to pressure Canada to make concessions,' said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The source said the bad blood with Mexico stemming from the 2018 negotiations is part of the reason Canadian officials expressed interest last year in a bilateral deal with the U.S. 'If there are Mexicans who feel Canada betrayed them, they should look in the mirror.' Trading barbs After Trudeau came away from Mar-a-Lago empty-handed at the beginning of the year, the relationship became openly hostile with him and Trump trading barbs. Sheinbaum, meanwhile, insisted on staying on Trump's good side, virtually at any cost, according to three people familiar with her strategy. As the Canadians fell into a deeper rut with Trump, Carney, who replaced Trudeau as prime minister in March, sought to make amends with Mexico by inviting Sheinbaum to attend the Group of 7 summit in Canada. Sheinbaum delayed accepting for nearly three weeks but eventually assented. Trump left the summit early without meeting Sheinbaum, a development that 'worried' Mexico's president, one of her advisors said. Carney's invitation and Sheinbaum's attendance appeared to be a reset of sorts in the two countries' relationship, said Pedro Casas, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. It sent a 'clear message' that the two leaders are 'in this together,' he said. The Canadian prime minister extended his good-faith gestures to Sheinbaum during their follow-up phone call in July. He told her that the following day Canada would announce limits on imports of steel produced in other countries in an effort to help the country's domestic steel sector, which is reeling from Trump's 50% tariffs. But Carney assured Sheinbaum that the measure wouldn't affect imports from Mexico, according to two people with knowledge of their conversation. Whatever her reservations about Canada, Sheinbaum has made clear she is completely invested in saving the trilateral trade deal with it and the U.S. If the three countries fail to renew the pact next year, the treaty will automatically expire in 2036, creating a potentially disastrous economic blow to Mexico. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has privately raised the idea of ditching the agreement in favor of a bilateral trade deal with Mexico, according to the Mexican official – a scenario the person said Mexico is not keen to pursue. Secretary Lutnick did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. 'Mexico knows very well that if we try to go head-to-head, toe-to-toe with Washington the asymmetry in the negotiations is going to favor the U.S,' said former Mexican trade negotiator Juan Carlos Baker. 'It's always better to have a three-player game.' Reporting by Emily Green, David Ljunggren and Stephen Eisenhammer. Editing by Christian Plumb and Michael Learmonth, Reuters
