Turkish President Erdogan welcomes steps by European countries to recognise a Palestinian state
'We find the recent humanitarian reactions coming from Europe, particularly from France and Britain, very valuable. We welcome every step taken toward recognition of the State of Palestine,' Erdogan said.
'No one can remain silent in the face of the atrocities in Gaza, where children are dying of hunger and civilians seeking food are deliberately shot,' he added.
France announced last week it would recognise a Palestinian state. The move was followed by the UK on Tuesday and Portugal on Thursday.
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Middle East Eye
7 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
United Nations Security Council must issue binding resolutions to stop war on Gaza: Hamas
In a recorded video message broadcast by Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Hamas senior representative Osama Hamdan called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to issue firm and binding resolutions to rein in Israel and end the war on Gaza. "What is required is that the UN Security Council issue clear and binding resolutions to the occupation to stop the war of extermination, including massacres, violations, starvation and destruction of civilian life in the Gaza Strip, and to oblige the occupation to withdraw, open the crossings for humanitarian aid, and stop its violations against [Palestinian] prisoners in Israeli prisons," Hamdan said. His statement comes as the UNSC holds a special session on Monday on the conditions of Israeli captives in Gaza, following an appeal by Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon. Hamdan's video also follows images broadcast by the Hamas military wing, the Qassam Brigades, over the weekend, showing Israeli captives looking emaciated. The images caused outrage in Israel. "The world has witnessed the humane treatment received by the enemy prisoners of the resistance since 7 October 2023 through the duration of their captivity," Hamdan said. "The resistance has always made it clear that the enemy prisoners eat what our besieged and hungry people eat, and they drink from what [our people] drink". Reiterating the statement made by Qassam spokesperson Abu Obeida on Sunday, Hamdan said Hamas is ready to work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to bring in food and medicine to the Israeli captives it is holding in Gaza, in a bid to "force the occupation to open the humanitarian corridors in a normal and permanent manner for the passage of food and medicine to all our people". "Breaking the siege, opening all the crossings immediately, and bringing food, water and medicine urgently to the entire Gaza Strip will end the humanitarian catastrophe" and leave no need for the scandal-plagued, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Hamdan said.
Al Etihad
12 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Early wins for US, but dynamics of EU alliance is changing
4 Aug 2025 23:55 SULTAN KHALIFA AL RUBAEI*Tariffs have once again taken centre stage in US and international trade, following the August deadline set by United States President Donald Trump for countries to present trade agreement proposals or face steep tariffs. The US administration secured deals with several of its trading partners, most notably the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom. However, the global trade landscape now appears to be bracing for profound changes in trade rules that go beyond the post-World War II US agreement with the EU included a 15% tariff on European goods (significantly lower than the 30% previously threatened by the US president), an exemption for pharmaceutical products, and limited exceptions for aircraft and medical equipment. In return, the EU committed to purchasing $750 billion worth of US energy products and investing approximately $600 billion in the US. This agreement secured substantial additional revenue for the American 'America First' policy pursued by the United States in its dealings with both partners and non-partners pushes it toward manoeuvring economic policies. But beyond the deals and manoeuvres lies US-European relations, particularly with the EU, the foundation of which is no longer only partnership, but also competition, or rather, the partnership is taking a backseat in the face of competition. This shift may be attributed to internal divisions among the EU's 27 member states, the multiple challenges facing the ageing continent, and the heavy reliance on the United States when it comes to defence forces. At this time, none of the EU countries can afford the economic strain of a trade the American side, the current administration has shown little regard for the mutual trust in the transatlantic free trade relations, nor for the existing rules of international trade. As a result, there is a possibility that other global actors may adopt similar protectionist policies, posing a threat to the stability of international markets, particularly in light of the tensions that the current environment may create at the level of international trade the changes and uncertainty, the EU chose to stay aligned with America, albeit at a high cost. The newly imposed tariffs place a heavy financial burden on EU-based companies, forcing them to bear additional billions in expenses. While EU member states acknowledge the agreement's potential harm to their economies, they have viewed it as the best possible option under the current circumstances. It may mark the beginning of a longer negotiation process rather than the end, given the limited options available. Without formal trade agreements with Washington, the EU risks being subjected to US terms, leading to imbalanced deals or potential trade United States emerged as the winner in the agreement with the EU. However, the outcome also places a burden on American consumers, who are likely to face higher prices for imported goods as companies pass on the additional costs. This is particularly significant given that Germany is one of the largest exporters to the US, with exports exceeding €161 billion in 2024. Ireland's exports to the US reached €72 billion and Italy's €64 billion in the same year, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. In total, 20% of the EU's goods exports are directed to the United States. This makes the agreement the least damaging option for Europe to avoid a trade confrontation between two allies who together account for nearly one-third of global trade. The effects of this deal may become visible in the US market in the coming this agreement, the US aims to achieve economic balance and address its trade deficit with the EU, which reached $235.6 billion in 2024. Although the deal helps avoid a trade war, it shows that the dynamics of old alliances are shifting, international trade is being reshaped amid global economic uncertainty, and competition for each country to achieve huge gains has become a defining feature of today's international economic and trade relations. *The columnist is a researcher with the think-tank firm, TRENDS Research & Advisory
Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel halts airstrikes
Hamas said on Sunday it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers. Palestinian local health authorities said at least 80 people had been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave on Sunday. Deaths included persons trying to make their way to aid distribution points in southern and central areas of Gaza, Palestinian medics said. Hamas said any coordination with the Red Cross is contingent upon Israel permanently opening humanitarian corridors and halting airstrikes during the distribution of aid. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas, thus far, has barred humanitarian organizations from having any kind of access to the hostages and families have little or no details of their conditions. A Palestinian man carries aid that entered Gaza through Israel, as other Palestinians ride on a truck, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, on Sunday. Reuters On Saturday, Hamas released its second video in two days of Israeli hostage Evyatar David. In it, David, skeletally thin, is shown digging a hole that, he says in the video, is for his own grave. The arm of the individual holding the camera, which can be seen in the frame, is a regular width. The video of David drew criticism from Western powers and horrified Israelis. France, Germany, the UK and the US were among countries to express outrage and Israel's foreign ministry announced that the UN Security Council will hold a special session on Tuesday morning on the issue of the situation of the hostages in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had asked the Red Cross to give humanitarian assistance to the hostages during a conversation with the head of the Swiss-based ICRC's local delegation. A statement from The Hostages Families Forum, which represents relatives of those being held in Gaza, said Hamas' comments about the hostages cannot hide that it "has been holding innocent people in impossible conditions for over 660 days," and demanded their immediate release. Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, on Sunday. Reuters "Until their release," said the statement, "Hamas has the obligation to provide them with everything they need. Hamas kidnapped them and they must care for them. Every hostage who dies will be on Hamas's hands." Six more people died of starvation or malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, its health ministry said on Sunday as Israel said it allowed a delivery of fuel to the enclave, in the throes of a humanitarian disaster after almost two years of war. The new deaths raised the toll of those dying from what international humanitarian agencies say may be an unfolding famine to 175, including 93 children, since the war began, the ministry said. Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel were set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access to the enclave before easing it somewhat as starvation began to spread. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said later in the day that four tankers of UN fuel had entered to help in operations of hospitals, bakeries, public kitchens and other essential services. People mourn during the funeral of Palestinians, who were killed by Israeli fire while trying to receive aid, at Al Shifa Hospital. Reuters There was no immediate confirmation whether the two diesel fuel trucks had entered Gaza from Egypt. Gaza's health ministry has said fuel shortages have severely impaired hospital services, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. Fuel shipments have been rare since March, when Israel restricted the flow of aid into the enclave in what it said was pressure on Hamas fighters to free the remaining hostages they took in their October 2023 attack on Israel. Israel blames Hamas for the suffering in Gaza but, in response to a rising international uproar, it announced steps last week to let more aid reach the population, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, approving air drops and announcing protected routes for aid convoys. UN agencies say airdrops are insufficient and that Israel must let in far more aid by land and open up access to the territory to prevent starvation among its 2.2 million people, most of whom are displaced amidst vast swathes of rubble. COGAT said that during the past week over 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid in 1,200 trucks had entered Gaza but that hundreds of the trucks had yet to be driven to aid distribution hubs by U.N. and other international organisations. Meanwhile, Belgium's air force dropped the first in a series of its aid packages into Gaza on Sunday in a joint operation with Jordan, the Belgian defence ministry said. A woman reacts during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an overnight Israeli strike on an UNRWA school sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday. Reuters France on Friday started to air-drop 40 tons of humanitarian aid. Looted aid trucks The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday that nearly 1,600 aid trucks had arrived since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, witnesses and Hamas sources said many of those trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. More than 700 trucks of fuel entered the Gaza Strip in January and February during a ceasefire before Israel broke it in March in a dispute over terms for extending it and resumed its major offensive. Among those killed was a staff member of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said an Israeli strike at its headquarters in Khan Younis in southern Gaza ignited a fire on the first floor of the building. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostage in a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's air and ground war in densely populated Gaza has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to enclave health officials. Reuters
