Top Catholic cleric says Gaza humanitarian situation ‘morally unacceptable'
'We have seen men holding out in the sun for hours in the hope of a simple meal,' Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa told a news conference. 'It's morally unacceptable and unjustified,' he added.
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Al Arabiya
9 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Hamas publishes video of Gaza hostage
Hamas released a video Friday showing an Israeli hostage held in Gaza, appearing weak and malnourished inside a narrow concrete tunnel. 'They eat what we eat. It is the occupation government that has decided to starve them,' the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in the caption accompanying the minute-long clip, which featured a skinny and bearded man. Several Israeli media outlets identified the man as Evyatar David, who was abducted on October 7, 2023. AFP could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. With AFP
Arab News
9 minutes ago
- Arab News
Is Israel the region's new police?
Seven years ago, I wrote about the 'regional rise of Israel.' Today, its presence is greater than ever, and it is behind dramatic geopolitical changes in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. After all this, how does Israel now view itself? Israel is unlikely to settle for its old role; it will seek political roles that reflect its military capabilities. Tel Aviv maintained a policy for over half a century based on protecting its existence, and its old and occupied borders. This included confronting Iran and manipulating opposing powers, including the regimes of Saddam Hussein and Bashar Assad. Today, Israel is launching a new phase after having dismantled the powers that surrounded it. For the first time in its modern history, there is no regional force declaring a threat against Israel and capable of acting on it. Even Iran, after the destruction of its offensive capabilities, cannot do so. This equation could change in the future if Iran manages to rebuild its internal and external strength, but for now, that seems unlikely or far off. With changing circumstances, Israel's strategy is also changing. It no longer wants to be just a border guard — it wants to be an offensive player in the region. The region itself is scattered, with no clear alliances, as if it is waiting for someone to resolve its instability, including the Tehran axis, which has significantly shrunk. There are two possibilities for what Israel could become. The first: It sees itself as a force to preserve the new status quo and 'stability,' engaging peacefully with its neighbors by expanding relations with the rest of the Arab world. This would mean the end of the era of war and boycott. With the fall or weakening of regimes that opposed it, Israel would bolster its interests by entrenching the geopolitical situation, cleaning up its surroundings, and sidelining what remains of movements hostile to it. The second possibility is that Israel, with its military superiority, wants to reshape the region based on its political vision and interests — and that could mean more confrontations. Regional states have longstanding fears in this regard. Expansionist regimes, such as Saddam's Iraq, and Iran, viewed Israel as an obstacle to their regional ambitions and adopted a confrontational stance, even if their rhetoric was always wrapped in the Palestinian cause. The attacks by Hamas pulled Israel out of its shell and placed it more squarely in the regional equation than ever before. So, is Israel seeking regional coexistence, or does it aim to appoint itself as the region's police? Israel is a small country and will likely remain so due to the nature of its system that insists on preserving its Jewish identity. Abdulrahman Al-Rashed Everything suggests that Israel wants to be a player in regional politics and conflicts. It could act as a military contractor, regional actor, or even the leader of an alliance. It has already quickly blocked Iraqi intervention in Syria and Turkish expansion as well. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government's appetite for conflict has revived fears of a 'Greater Israel' project and ambitions to expand across the region. But the truth is, most of these narratives are pushed by parties involved in the conflict, such as Iran, Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the left. Israel may be seeking a dominant role, but geographic expansion seems unlikely. For 50 years, it has remained inward-looking, using its financial, military, and legal capabilities to absorb the territories it occupied in the 1967 war. It is still struggling to hold onto them and has foiled many attempts to return them — either through a Palestinian state or by restoring them to Jordanian and Egyptian administration. Israel is a small country and will likely remain so due to the nature of its system that insists on preserving its Jewish identity. Today, 20 percent of its citizens are Palestinian. If it were to annex the occupied territories, Palestinians would make up half the population. That makes the real challenge absorbing, not expanding, the West Bank and Gaza. The fear is that Israeli extremists could try to exploit the current chaos for this purpose. That happened after the Oct. 7 attack, which was used as justification to expel part of the West Bank and Gaza population. This is a real possibility with dangerous consequences. However, there is exaggeration in the rhetoric pushed by ideologues warning of a so-called 'Greater Israel,' often citing images and articles calling for expansion beyond the Jordan River. These may exist within Talmudic or political narratives, just as some dream of 'Al-Andalus' in old Arab-Islamic history. Demographically, Israel is bound by its concept of a Jewish state and fears ethnic dilution, unlike most countries in the region, which were formed through and accepted ethnic and cultural diversity. Israel seeks dominance, but it fears the inevitable demographic integration that comes with occupation. Politically, the future strategy of the Jewish state — after its recent military victories — remains unclear and may still be taking shape. Regardless of what it wants — whether a peaceful state open to its Arab neighbors or a regional police entangled in constant battles — the region has its own dynamics. Competing and complex factors drive it, and no single power can dominate it.
Al Arabiya
9 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Exclusive Palestinian official: Sanctions won't stop diplomacy, US inaction enabling Gaza war
Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Varsen Aghabekian said that new US sanctions imposed on Palestinian Authorit y officials were 'not a shock' and would not derail the PA's diplomatic efforts ahead of a key international conference in September. 'It didn't come as a shock because sanctions by the US are not new,' Aghabekian told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. The comments came as US State Department officials announced additional restrictions targeting PA figures, citing governance concerns. The move was criticized by Palestinian officials who say the measures are politically motivated. She said the US is 'more vocal about it' due to the upcoming 80th UN General Assembly in September where many countries, including France and Canada, have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state. 'I don't think it will stop our efforts toward the September conference,' she added. Aghabekian also voiced strong criticism of the ongoing war on Gaza and the lack of decisive US action to stop it. 'We should always stay optimistic. My utmost priority is to save lives. This war is stoppable. If the US wants to stop a war, it can stop it,' she said. When asked why the US hasn't acted to bring an end to the war, Aghabekian replied: 'Because that's what Netanyahu wants. He wants to continue the war for personal reasons.' The minister's comments follow a visit by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to a US-backed humanitarian aid site in Gaza operated by the Global Humanitarian Foundation. Aghabekian questioned the timing of the visit and its necessity, given the widely documented destruction. 'It's questionable why the visit is taking place. What is happening in Gaza is crystal clear – mass destruction, starving people, famine. It doesn't need any confirmation,' she said. 'I hope that he takes back the real picture because we are confident he will see the destruction and the famine.' According to UN figures, nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution points in Gaza. While Israeli officials blame Hamas, Aghabekian dismissed that narrative. 'What we hear and see is the deaths – 1,300 killed queuing for food. The pictures and reports from international and Israeli organizations say what is happening is genocide. The situation is clear.' Aghabekian also rejected recent comments by US President Donald Trump that countries recognizing a Palestinian state are 'rewarding Hamas.' 'No, they are not rewarding Hamas. They are in line with international law,' she said, referring to recognition moves by Canada, the UK, and France. She reiterated the Palestinian Authority's stance that it is not engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas. 'We are not in direct talks with Hamas,' she said. 'As soon as possible, the hostages should be released and the war should stop.' On the broader question of international law, Aghabekian said the rules are clear but remain unenforced. 'International law is very clear about what is happening. But we are yet to see the international law take effect. The meeting in NYC is a good platform to get started,' she told Al Arabiya English. Asked whether a two-state solution is still realistic, she warned that no alternative path will bring lasting peace. 'Any other solution will not grant peace and security, not for Palestine, not for Israel, and not for the region.' Finally, when asked what message she would send directly to President Trump, Aghabekian said: 'The rights of the Palestinians have been violated for too long. Trump wants to forge peace in the area. The only way to achieve that is to follow international law.'
