Israel says it's open to dialogue, claims there are ‘lies' about starvation in Gaza; UN calls for immediate ceasefire

Indian Express

4 days ago

Amid the deepening conflict between Israel and Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar Tuesday said that military pressure in Gaza was effective but it was not the only option, adding that 'Israel is ready to also use diplomacy', news agency Reuters reported.
'No external force will cause Israel to sacrifice its security, but it is always open to constructive dialogue,' the minister said, adding that military pressure, which has worked twice in the past to get Hamas to make hostage deals, is effective but isn't the only option, Reuters quoted.
Criticising the Palestinian military group, which launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the minister said, 'Hamas staying in power would be a tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians. We will not allow jihadist terror state in heart of our ancient homeland,' the minister also said, adding that the international pressure on Israel for ceasefire had caused Hamas to 'harden its position, sabotaging chances for a ceasefire and hostage deal'.
Saar, once again, accused Hamas of stealing aid, saying the Palestinian group not only steals aid, but they are 'profiting from it and using funds as financial resource during the war'.
This comes even as USAID officials failed to find any evidence that Hamas had engaged in widespread diversion of assistance, according to a presentation reviewed by ABC News.
The country acknowledged the 'tough' situation in Gaza, amid the deepening hunger crisis, and said that it is ready to work with anyone who wants to participate in airdrops in Gaza. 'More than 5,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza in the last two months, it claimed, while refuting claims related to starvation as 'lies,' Reuters quoted.
Israel-Palestine conflict at 'breaking point': UN
A day earlier, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to take 'urgent, concrete, irreversible steps' towards a two-state solution, warning that the conflict between Israel and Gaza is 'at a breaking point'.
Speaking at a UN conference on peaceful settlement, Guterres asserted that 'statehood for Palestinians is a right, not a reward', and that its denial would be 'a gift to extremists everywhere'.
The high-level international conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution resumed its meeting on Monday, co-chaired by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of France and Saudi Arabia.
The UN chief, calling for a ceasefire, said, 'Words, speeches, declarations may not have much meaning to those on the ground as 'destruction and annexation bulldoze ahead', stressing that 'the obligation is on all of us to prove that this effort is something different'.
'The central question for Middle East peace is the implementation of the two-state solution, where two independent, sovereign, democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security,' Guterres stated at the opening of the international conference.
'Death is not peace, death is not justice. Death is not in accordance with international law, and death is not acceptable. Death will only increase the growing isolation of Israel on the global stage,' he said expressing his concern at the increasing death toll in Gaza.
'Let's be clear: statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward, and the denial of statehood would be a gift to extremists everywhere,' he highlighted in his speech.
'Time is running out. With every passing day, trust is slipping, institutions are weakened, and hopes are dashed.' Guterres condemned the deepening crisis in Gaza, including mass casualties, starvation, and destruction of infrastructure, according to UN News, saying it 'has descended into a cascade of catastrophes'. He also condemned the October 7 attacks led by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel.
'I welcome recent steps to reduce restrictions to lifesaving humanitarian aid – but this is far from the solution to end this nightmare. We need an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, full and unfettered humanitarian access. These are not preconditions for peace. They are the foundation of it,' he asserted.
He urged the international community to ensure the conference becomes a turning point for irreversible progress toward a two-State solution, as per UN News. 'Let us reject the false choice between Palestinian statehood and Israeli security — there is no security in occupation,' he stated. Rather, Israel's legitimate security concerns must be addressed, he said — 'and so must the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people'.
'We cannot wait for perfect conditions — we must create them,' he added.
France to recognise Palestinian state in September
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, addressing the world leaders at the UN conference, said: 'France is ready to fully recognise the State of Palestine, and will do so in the month of September.'
France also rejected the idea that the 'war camp is winning over the peace camp', and rejected Hamas' contestation of Israel's right to exist, adding: 'It is also a rejection of allowing the extremists in Israel to say that the Palestinians have no right to exist.'
This recognition, he pointed, is an appeal to all people and countries of the world to 'bring your contributions to this edifice of peace'.
France's declaration comes just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced his decision to recognise the Palestinian state, which drew criticism from both the US and Israel.
'Ready to invite temporary Arab and international support force': Palestinian PM
Addressing the world leaders, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, Mohammed Mustafa, urged the conference to be 'a turning point in which positions and declarations are translated into immediate and unprecedented practical steps to stop the genocide and end the Israeli occupation'.
'The world must act to stop the aggression, starvation and displacement, and send a clear message: Enough disregard for the life and dignity of Palestinians — Palestinians are human beings,' he said.
'We have been waiting for long years for a genuine international intervention that would move us towards a peaceful, just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question,' he said, stressing that, 'In this period of waiting, we have lost what we have lost, and we have suffered immensely.'
He added the State of Palestine is ready to invite a 'temporary Arab and international support force', through a Security Council resolution, to protect the Palestinian people, ensure a ceasefire and support Palestinian Government and security services — 'and not as a substitute for it'.
Canada pledges additional $10 million for Palestinian Authority
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada, Anita Anand, said that her country is pledging an additional $10 million in 2025 to accelerate reform and capacity-building for the Palestinian Authority.
Addressing the leaders, she also urged support for a principled humanitarian response through 'organisations with a proven capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance at scale'. Canada is the third-largest bilateral donor in response to the crisis, and she announced another $30 million 'in new money this year for civilians in Gaza', according to the UN News.
'This will allow more aid to be pre-positioned in Jordan and the region and ready to be delivered at scale,' she said, adding: 'The Government of Canada will be present with humanitarian aid, and we will play a leading role in building bridges to more aid for Gaza with our international partners.'
Trump-Starmer meet
United States President Donald Trump spoke to United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a meeting in Scotland, and discussed the 'appalling scenes' in Gaza, agreeing upon the need for 'urgent action' to end the humanitarian disaster, Al Jazeera reported.
When asked if he agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it was a 'bold-faced lie' to say Israel was fuelling hunger in Gaza, the US president replied: 'I don't know… those children look very hungry… that's real starvation stuff,' BBC reported.
Trump's comments come after UN's humanitarian chief said 'vast amounts' of food were needed to stave off starvation.
Netanyahu on Sunday had dismissed claims that Israel was deliberately starving civilians in Gaza, which would amount to a war crime, BBC report noted. 'What a bold-faced lie. There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza.' he said.
'We enable humanitarian aid throughout the duration of the war to enter Gaza. Otherwise, there would be no Gazans. And what has interdicted the supply of humanitarian aid is one force, Hamas. Again, the reversal of truth,' he added.
Rising death toll in Gaza
It's been 21 months since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began, and the situation is worsening each passing day.
The territory's Hamas-run health ministry said another 14 people died as a result of malnutrition over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of malnutrition-related deaths since the war began on October 7, 2023 to 147, including 88 children.
On Monday, local hospital sources said Israeli attacks across Gaza had killed more than 30 people, including aid seekers, BBC reported.
Hamas began its attack on Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. At least 59,821 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the health ministry.