US to lead ceasefire talks with Qatar on behalf of Israel
The outlet said the matter was raised in talks between the Israeli and Qatari prime ministers, as well as in a meeting between an Israeli envoy and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Spain.
Channel 12 reported that Israel and Hamas could return to negotiations soon. It said Hamas leaders in Turkey are expected to move to Egypt's Cairo and Qatar's Doha, quoting a senior Shin Bet official as saying the group is ready to 'show flexibility' under pressure from Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Hamas has not commented on the reports but has previously stated it supports a deal to end the war and bring humanitarian aid into Gaza,
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Middle East Eye
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German manufacturer mulls relocating to US to avoid arms embargo against Israel
German automotive manufacturer Renk, which produces tank transmissions and engines for the Israeli military, is considering moving production to the US after the German arms embargo on Israel. Renk CEO Alexander Sagel mentioned the prospective shift on a post-earnings call, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday. The call comes five days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the country would freeze military exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, amidst an Israeli plan to occupy the entire Palestinian enclave. Israel's war on Gaza has drawn international condemnation, and its plan to empty Gaza City of its one million inhabitants has drawn criticism even from staunch Israeli allies such as Germany. If enforced, the plan would amount to the forced expulsion of Palestinians, an illegal move under international law. Renk produces tank transmissions and engines for the Israeli military, accounting for two to three percent of the company's business portfolio. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters These parts are essential components in Israel's main Merkava battle tanks, which were used in the killing of six-year-old Hind Rajab and her family, as well as Namer armoured personnel carriers. 'If we cannot produce [transmissions] in Germany, we will relocate these volumes to a different plant, for example, to the US,' Segal said. 'This might take maybe 8 to 10 months, but if there's no move forward, we will do it because we have this business.' Renk has seen rising profits from its vehicle mobility solutions department in recent months, as Israel's genocide in Gaza continues. German embargo Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that the exports were frozen 'until further notice' and expressed concern for the plight of Gaza's Palestinians, who are suffering under Israeli-imposed starvation. Germany is Israel's second-largest supplier of weapons, following the US. Merz said it was Israel's right to disarm Hamas and seek the release of its captives in Gaza, but that these goals have become harder to achieve due to Israel's planned military action. "The German government believes that the even tougher military action in the Gaza Strip decided upon by the Israeli cabinet last night makes it increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved," Merz said in a statement. Politically, Germany is one of Israel's closest allies. The country has not recognised Palestine and has committed to ignoring the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Norway sovereign wealth fund drops investments in 11 Israeli companies Read More » Germany has also cracked down on pro-Palestine speech by banning symbols associated with the movement, such as the inverted red triangle, and by withholding public funds from individuals and organisations that boycott Israel. After Israel's cabinet approved a plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, Germany announced it would halt 'any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice'. If enforced, a German arms embargo could represent a significant step in Israel's growing international isolation. Yet according to the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, on the same day Germany's arms embargo was announced, the country issued a licence to export a submarine to Israel. On 31 July, Slovenia became the first European Union country to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Citing the failure of the EU to impose restrictions itself, the central European country unilaterally banned the export or import of weapons to Israel.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Israel boasts strikes on Lebanon have breached ceasefire 600 times
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have breached a ceasefire about 600 times, the head of Israel's army boasted on Thursday. Lt Gen Eyal Zamir visited Israeli troops still operating in Lebanon, where he said about 240 "terrorists" had been killed in strikes that regularly pound the south – and sometimes Beirut – despite the truce with Hezbollah last year. The November ceasefire also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon but its army maintains five positions in the south. "We are in a multi-arena war, adapting concepts to the threats," said Lt Gen Zamir in remarks published by Israel's military. "We are in all the arenas – launching strikes, all on our own initiative. "The achievements are unprecedented – since the ceasefire understandings, over 240 terrorists have been eliminated and approximately 600 air strikes carried out." He said Israel's operations in Lebanon had created a "new security and physical reality" that later enabled strikes on Iran during a 12-day war in June. Hezbollah did not intervene in that conflict. Israel's war in Lebanon killed thousands of people, left behind an estimated $11 billion of damage and left Hezbollah reeling from the deaths of senior figures, including leader Hassan Nasrallah. After the ceasefire deal was struck, a new Lebanese government took office, which is now pushing ahead with plans to disarm Hezbollah and bring all weapons under state control. Under the proposals, Lebanon's armed forces are to draw up plans this month to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah rejects the proposals as bowing to Israeli and US pressure. Lt Gen Zamir's visit to Lebanon came hours after he approved the "main framework" for Israel's expanded war in Gaza. The general has done little to dispel rumours that he opposed the new offensive behind the scenes and that his objections were overruled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's security cabinet. His visit came on the day that Iran 's new security council chief Ali Larijani visited Beirut to warn against disarming Hezbollah. He was told, though, by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun that Lebanon "does not accept anyone interfering in its internal affairs" and regards Tehran's comments on the matter as unhelpful.
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
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France: 'From the River to the Sea' colouring book sparks far-right fury
A children's colouring book on the history and culture of Palestine is at the centre of a debate about the representation of Palestinians and pro-Palestine advocacy in France. Originally published in English, From the River to Sea by South African author and illustrator Nathi Ngubane was in the summer window display of the Violette and Co bookstore in Paris, alongside titles addressing themes of racism, colonialism and the Palestinian cause. This display triggered what the bookstore described as "intimidation, harassment, cyberbullying, defacement, and threats from the far right", starting in July. In a post on Instagram dated 11 August, Violette and Co, which identifies as a feminist and LGBTQIA+ space, detailed the graffiti on its storefront reading 'Islamocomplice' and 'Hamas rapist', "hateful, LGBT-phobic, sexist, and racist comments", as well as death threats. "A group of five people came to the bookstore to intimidate us," the statement continued, adding that right-wing media outlets in the country fuelled a "disinformation campaign" regarding the shop. From the River to the Sea was singled out by the media, politicians and social media users alike. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters French channel CNews decried the book as "teaching kids to hate Israel", while Europe 1 labelled its title a "Hamas slogan". The title is based on the decades-old chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", widely used by pro-Palestinian campaigners. It refers to liberating the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea in historic Palestine. Propagande du Hamas… en coloriage pour enfants ? Vendu dans le 11eme chez Les Violette and CO. Un livre intitulé 'From the River to the Sea' est en vente. Et il est destiné aux plus jeunes. ➡️ Ce n'est pas un ouvrage d'analyse. C'est un album de coloriage. 🤔 ⬇️ — Jugé Coupable (@JCoupable) August 7, 2025 Translation: Hamas propaganda… in a colouring book for kids? Being sold in the 11th arrondissement at Les Violettes and Co. A book titled "From the River to the Sea" is on sale. And it's aimed at young children. This isn't a political analysis. It's a colouring book. Supporters of Israel claim it implies the destruction of the country. French MP Aurelien Veron joined the chorus, calling it an "appeal to the destruction of Israel", while MP Nelly Garnier and Isabelle Nizard, deputy mayor of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, called for the withdrawal of government subsidies granted to Violette and Co. Amid the backlash, some elected officials voiced their support for the bookstore, with Paris's deputy mayor, Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, posting on X: "Full support to the Violette and Co bookstore, which is currently facing a campaign of intimidation and harassement for placing a colouring book on Palestine in its window." Online, supporters defended the bookstore and the colouring book against attempts at "censorship". Many stated that the right-wing backlash was misplaced amid Israel's ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Soutien à la librairie Violette and Co qui subit des menaces et intimidations depuis quelques jours, en plus d'essuyer des insultes lesbophobes sur les réseaux sociaux. Ces obscurantistes qui sont plus dérangés par une librairie que par un génocide sont répugnants. — Marion Beauvalet (@MarionBeauvalet) August 12, 2025 Translation: Standing with the Violette and Co bookstore, which has been facing threats and intimidation for several days now, along with a flood of lesbophobic abuse on social media. The fact that these reactionary bigots are more outraged by a bookstore than by a genocide is nothing short of disgusting. "Certain struggles, particularly the Palestinian cause, unfortunately expose one to many aggressions and attempts at intimidation and censorship," said Turkish-Israeli-French historian Esther Benbassa in a solidarity message about Violette and Co. One commenter on Instagram said: "People are more offended by a colouring book than by genocide." The backlash also appeared to introduce the book and shop to new and curious readers. "The only good thing about this kind of rage-tweet is that they make you discover lots of people and initiatives," posted journalist Sihame Assbague on X. "If this pisses off the Zionists, then you should go buy this colouring book," said another user. 'Hysterical reaction' Violette and Co, which champions feminist and anti-colonial literature, stated it sought to promote diverse narratives through its display in an effort to counteract "homonationalist and femonationalist" political discourse. "We salute Violette and Co for continuing to elevate Palestinian narratives and for remaining steadfast," said Ngubane, the author and illustrator of the colouring book, in a statement. "The hysterical reaction from the French right wing shows Zionism for what it is: an ideology based on intimidation and supremacy," added the book's publisher, Social Bandit. The book covers key moments such as the Nakba - the ethnic cleansing of around 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland to make way for the creation of Israel - the ongoing Israeli occupation and Palestinian resistance movements. This isn't the first time From the River to the Sea has faced backlash from pro-Israeli groups. In June 2024, South Africa's biggest bookstore chain pulled the book from sales, sparking protest online.
