Israel says ‘will not be deterred' after Hamas issues hostage video
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Leaders
27 minutes ago
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Saudi Arabia Spearheads Condemnation of Israeli Knesset's Motion to Annex West Bank
Saudi Arabia has led Arab and Islamic condemnation of Israeli Knesset's call to impose sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The Israeli move has sparked regional denunciation as a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Israeli Vote On Wednesday, Knesset lawmakers voted in favor of a non-binding motion that demands the Israeli government to apply sovereignty over territories that make up the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The motion, which got 71 votes against 13, described the territories of the occupied West Bank as 'an inseparable part of the historical homeland of the Jewish people,' according to the Times of Israel. 'This move would make it clear to the world that Israel will not accept solutions that involve dangerous territorial concessions,' the motion said. The motion is part of the agenda that calls for the annexation of the West Bank. However, it is symbolic and will not impact the legal status of the West Bank. Saudi Condemnation Following the declaration, Saudi Arabia on Thursday strongly denounced the motion, which represents a flagrant violation of international laws and UNSC resolutions. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that such Israeli provocative acts undermine efforts to establish peace through a two-state solution and emphasize Israel's insistence on sabotage and destruction. Furthermore, the Kingdom stressed its categorical rejection of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their rights, particularly their right to self-determination. In the light of this, Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take decisive actions to implement UN resolutions that support the Palestinian people's right to live with dignity in an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unified Position against Israeli Policies Later on Thursday, Arab and Islamic nations joined Saudi Arabia in denouncing the Israeli motion. Saudi Arabia, alongside Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Türkiye, the UAE, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli declaration. They called the motion a 'blatant and unacceptable violation of international law, and a flagrant breach of relevant UNSC resolutions, foremost among them Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), all of which affirm the invalidity of all measures and decisions that seek to legitimize the occupation, including settlement activities in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.' Rejecting Israeli Annexation The signatories reiterated that 'Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' They also stressed that 'this unilateral Israeli move has no legal effect and cannot alter the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly East Jerusalem, which remains an integral part of the Territory.' Moreover, the countries reaffirmed that 'such Israeli actions only fuel the growing tension in the region, which has been exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.' International Call The signatories called on the international community, including the UNSC and all relevant stakeholders, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and take decisive actions against Israel's illegal policies designed to 'impose a fait accompli by force, undermining the prospects for a just and lasting peace, and the two-state solution.' The countries also reiterated their commitment to the two-state solution based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and to the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Two-state Solution Conference Saudi Arabia has long advocated Palestinian Statehood as a viable pathway to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In the light of this, Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on July 28-29, 2025, at the UN headquarters in New York. The conference aims to chart a roadmap for a Palestinian State while guaranteeing Israel's security, in a bid to resolve the decades-old conflict. Palestinian Statehood During the conference, more countries are expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine, most notably France and the UK. In a recent visit to the UK, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized support for the two-state solution. 'I believe in the future of the two-state solution as a basis for regional security architecture, which will enable Israel to live in peace and security alongside its neighbors,' Macron told the British parliament. Similarly, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to a 'just political settlement of the Palestinian issue.' Both Macron and Starmer reiterated their commitment to recognizing Palestine. 'We reaffirm our commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state, as a contribution to a peace process. We will work together to support its development and the realization of a Two-State Solution,' they said in a joint statement. Short link : Post Views: 9
Leaders
42 minutes ago
- Leaders
Brazil to Join South Africa's ICJ Genocide Case against Israel
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry revealed on Wednesday that the country is currently finalizing its submission to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel's war in Gaza at the International Court of Justice, according to Reuters. Brazil also accused the Israeli government of violating the international law by annexing the territories 'by force.' Meanwhile, Israel denies deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians, stressing that its objective is to eliminate Hamas. Lawyers for Israel have also labeled South Africa's case as an abuse of the genocide convention. 'The breaking of Brazil's long-standing friendship and partnership with Israel is a misguided move that proves the extremism of our foreign policy,' Brazil's National Israeli association CONIB said in a statement. Strong Condemnation In June, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned Israeli war on Gaza and called it a 'premeditated genocide,' during his visit to Paris. 'This is not a war. It is genocide. A genocide being carried out by a highly trained army, against women and children' Lula said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. '[It is] a premeditated genocide from a far-right government that is waging a war, including against the interests of its own people,' he said. This was not the first time for Lulu to use the term 'genocide' to describe Israel's actions in Gaza. Genocide Case South Africa accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians, following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. It submitted various evidence claiming, 'acts and omissions' by Israel 'are genocidal, aimed at bringing about' the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group'. South Africa accused the Israeli occupation of carrying out air strikes and killing thousands of Palestinians, mentioning comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as evidence of 'genocidal intent'. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 137,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Countries Joining Genocide Case Other countries such as Spain, Turkey, and Colombia have also sought to join the case against Israel. Turkey joined the case as a response to Israel's violations during the war on Gaza after it has already taken serious steps against Israel, such as the restrictions on some exports. Moreover, Nicaragua's application was submitted under Article 62 of the ICJ Statute, requesting intervention in South Africa's case against Israel. Columbia supported South Africa's case and requested a different type of intervention under Article 63 of the Statute to assist the Court in interpreting the provisions of the Convention in this case. Israel's Response Israel fiercely dismissed the case and accused South Africa of presenting 'grossly distorted' allegations of genocide. Israel insists that its bloody war in Gaza is 'self-defense,' and it targets Hamas, not the Palestinians, and that its leaders have shown no genocidal intent, reported CNN. In addition, it asked the UN court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the evidence is 'unfounded.' The ICJ also ordered Israel to stop its Rafah military assault in Gaza in response to a complaint from South Africa. It also ruled Israel must keep Rafah crossing open for 'unhindered' humanitarian aid. The ICJ also ordered Israel to submit a report to the court within one month containing all measures taken to comply with the order. In April 2024, the court set deadlines for the parties to submit their evidence and counter-memorials, which will be October 28, 2024, and July 28, 2025, respectively. Related Topics: ICJ Rejects Israel's Bid to Dismiss Genocide Case Cuba to Join South Africa's Genocide Case against Israel at ICJ The Hague Group: More Nations Join Legal Efforts Against Israel Short link : Post Views: 20
Leaders
44 minutes ago
- Leaders
Knesset Passes ‘Symbolic' Motion to Annex West Bank
Over 70 Israeli lawmakers passed a motion in the Knesset on Wednesday, calling on the government to annex the West Bank amid mounting violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, according to AFP. Symbolic Motion Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition and some opposition lawmakers have supported this non-binding vote in the Knesset. However, this symbolic move has nothing to do with the Palestinian territory's legal status. Moreover, fifteen Israeli Cabinet Ministers from Netanyahu's Likud party have recently pushed him to immediately annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The lawmakers have signed a petition requesting the administration 'to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (West Bank) before the end of the Knesset summer session,' which ends on July 27. They also implied that the current moment is appropriate for the annexation thanks to strong US-Israeli relations and the recent military gains. On Wednesday, lawmakers stressed that annexing the West Bank 'will strengthen the state of Israel, its security and prevent any questioning of the fundamental right of the Jewish people to peace and security in their homeland.' They justified this move by stating that the West Bank was an integral part of the realization of Zionism and the national vision of the Jewish people. Palestinian Rejection In a response to this move, Hussein Al-Sheikh, Deputy to Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, described the motion as 'a direct assault on the rights of the Palestinian people.' Al-Sheikh also noted that it undermines the prospects for peace, stability and the two-state solution. 'These unilateral Israeli actions blatantly violate international law and the ongoing international consensus regarding the status of the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank,' he wrote on X. Mounting Settler Violence The UN Human Rights Office said that violence against Palestinians in the West Bank is growing with increasing number of killings and attacks by settlers and security forces, according to Reuters. Approximately 1 million Israeli settlers live in illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in violation of international law. OHCHR noted that settlers have launched 757 attacks on Palestinians or their properties since January 2025. Building Jewish State In May, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel planned to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank, according to Al-Arabiya. Katz's remarks followed Israel's announcement of the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. He also noted that the new settlements would be a clear message to French President Emmanuel Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but Israel will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground. Related Topics: Time for Decisive Action: Over 100 Aid Agencies Warn of Mass Starvation in Gaza Palestinians Protest against Settler Outpost at West Bank Israel Kills American Citizens in West Bank, Anger Turns toward US Short link : Post Views: 33
