Latest news with #PalestinianConflict
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
What Netanyahu fears the most in Gaza
The war in Gaza, with all its horrors, is approaching its second year, making it the longest and deadliest confrontation in the history of the Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflict. Why has the Gaza war lasted this long? Some believe that Israel fears for the remaining hostages. Others think Israel wants to avoid further losses among its troops. And some see it as incapable of eliminating what remains of Hamas. In my opinion, Israel does not want to end the war except on its own terms – by preventing the return of the Palestinian Authority to rule the Gaza Strip. To prolong the crisis, it will use whatever weapons it has left, from starvation to displacement. In short, what Netanyahu fears most is the establishment of a Palestinian state. Washington has a practical solution to stop the war: Hamas leaves Gaza, and Israel halts its military campaign. But neither Hamas nor Israel is willing to accept this! Israel, in particular, as the stronger party, refuses to eliminate Hamas if the price is the return of the Palestinian Authority. Netanyahu and his team are convinced that the Palestinian Authority poses a greater threat to Israel than Hamas. Hamas has no international legitimacy and represents everything that terrifies most of the world – even the Arab world. It is a militant, ideological jihadist group. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority is recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. If it regains control over Gaza, that would mark the path toward a Palestinian state. Despite all that Hamas has done – including the attacks on October 7 – it remains, in Israel's eyes, merely a 'terrorist group' that can be dealt with just as other countries deal with similar groups. Netanyahu believes it would be foolish to destroy Hamas only to reward the Palestinian Authority with control of Gaza, allowing it to emerge as the victor of these wars and create a de facto Palestinian state. Netanyahu has personally worked to prevent this scenario, fostering a symbiotic relationship with Hamas since the early days of his rule by empowering the group to govern Gaza. Netanyahu is corrupt and opportunistic – but not a fool. He understands that handing over the keys to Gaza to Ramallah would automatically mean the countdown to the creation of a Palestinian state has begun. After his swift and dazzling victories over Hezbollah, al-Assad, and Iran, Netanyahu now faces a reckoning similar to the post-Gulf War moment in 1991. Back then, the US-Gulf coalition defeated Saddam Hussein, liberated Kuwait, and eliminated a major threat to Israel – then demanded a price: A solution to the Palestinian issue. In that same year, the Madrid Conference was held despite Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's reluctance. He ultimately accepted, paving the way for the later Oslo Accords, which for the first time allowed the Palestinians to return from exile. Netanyahu knows this history – and fears his own victories could similarly 'deviate' toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. In practice, Israel – having destroyed Hezbollah and tracked its leader Hassan Nasrallah underground – could do the same to Hamas. As we've seen, Israel is not deterred by casualties among its soldiers, its hostages are not a top priority, and certainly, the scale of Palestinian deaths is of no concern. Of the 251 original hostages, only about 23 remain alive in captivity. Today, the American envoy's negotiations have reached an advanced stage to end the tragedy in Gaza, secure the release of the remaining hostages – around 50, dead or alive – and disarm Hamas. Yet Netanyahu's main concern remains: the return of the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza. Even without a deal from the envoy Brett McGurk or David Satterfield, Netanyahu could end the war by eliminating the remaining Hamas forces. He has proven willing to accept further casualties, as he has in parallel wars. He risked his people's safety by opening fronts with Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis, and he is prepared to take risks and accept losses in a final showdown with Hamas. So why doesn't Netanyahu end the war? As the conflict nears a possible resolution in the coming two months, I believe his dilemma lies in finding an arrangement that prevents the emergence of a Palestinian state. What's stopping him from ending the Gaza war is not concern over additional Israeli casualties or even losing his role as prime minister – especially since Trump is openly working to shield him from accountability and helping him stay in power. From a strategic perspective, the issue goes beyond current events: Israel does not want the Palestinian Authority to return to Gaza and unite it with Ramallah – even if that means reinstating Hamas or handing Gaza to Ibrahim al-Arjani to run it.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Transport for NSW threatens to deregister Sydney driver's car over numberplate
A Lebanese-Australian has been forced to hand in a set of number plates after Transport for NSW said they 'may give rise to controversy or public disagreement'. Mahmoud, who lives in Greenacre in Sydney 's south-west, was told by Transport for NSW last month that it would deregister his 'FU2IDF' number plates if he didn't turn them in. Mahmoud registered the plates in 2024 as 'my silent protest' in response to the Gaza War between Hamas and its allies and Israel. The war is the deadliest for Palestinians in the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian and Gaza–Israel conflicts dating back to the 20th century. 'My wife is Palestinian. Her family has had people killed since the start of the occupation in 1948. They've been displaced, they can't go home. So this is raw for us,' he told the publication Deepcut. Mahmoud received a letter from Transport for NSW on June 30 telling him to return his plates within 18 days or risk losing his registration. 'Transport for NSW has policies that prevent particular number plate content being displayed,' the letter read. 'This is related, but not limited to, content that has a religious theme, is discriminatory, is political, promotes violence, has a sexual reference, promotes drug taking/drinking or may be deemed to give rise to controversy or public disagreement. Mahmoud shows off the letter he was sent by Transport for NSW on June 30 'Transport for NSW has determined that these number plates may give rise to controversy or public disagreement and must be returned.' Mahmoud claimed his free speech rights were being taken away as he protests the war in the Middle East and Israel's treatment of Palestinians. 'I thought this was a free country where people can express themselves and their opinions,' he said. 'Some people find my number plate offensive, but the murder of tens of thousands of women and children isn't offensive to them.' Mahmoud even told a story of how a NSW police officer pulled him over before asking about the number plates. 'He was adamant that he wanted me to disclose what the plates meant. Once I disclosed what it meant, he actually shook my hand,' Mahmoud said. Mahmoud will turn the plates in, but has no plans to stop speaking out about the situation in Gaza. His other vehicle - a Toyota LandCruiser - has information about the Israel-Palestine war printed on the back. 'People see my car and give me the thumbs-up all the time. I want to spread that awareness so people understand the reality of what's been going on in Palestine for decades.'
South China Morning Post
11-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Asean accuses Israel of ‘openly committing genocide', demands end to Gaza war
Southeast Asian leaders on Friday called on the United States and others to bring a swift end to the Gaza war , accusing Israel of 'openly committing genocide' in its assaults on the Palestinian enclave with little consequence. More than 56,000 people, mostly women and children, have reportedly been killed so far under aerial bombings and ground assaults by Israel in its nearly two-year war against Hamas, which has levelled much of Gaza and displaced millions. The war was triggered by a deadly October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel by Hamas, which killed around 1,200 people. The militant group also took 251 people hostage during the attack, many of whom have since been released. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Friday said Israel could not be allowed to continue with its assaults on Gaza, which the bloc argued was rooted in decades of 'unjust and illegal occupation' of Palestinian territories. 'Eighty years of impunity have emboldened Israel to the extent of openly committing genocide, which includes babies and children,' Malaysia 's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said at the start of the East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur. 'This is unacceptable. It must not be allowed to continue. It must be stopped.'
The Guardian
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israeli forces kill three Palestinians after settlers attack West Bank town
Dozens of Israeli settlers have attacked a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank, Kafr Malik, sparking a confrontation that ended with Israeli soldiers killing three Palestinians. Since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, Israeli troops and settlers have killed at least 941 Palestinians, including many militants, according to the Palestinian health ministry
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Settlers Raid West Bank Town, Troops Kill 3 Palestinians
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian West Bank town on Wednesday, sparking a confrontation that ended with Israeli forces killing three Palestinians, the Israeli military and Palestinian authorities said. Three Palestinians were killed and seven wounded in the violence in Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, the Palestinian health ministry said. An Israeli military statement said dozens of Israelis set fire to property, and military and police forces were dispatched to the scene after receiving a report of ensuing violence that included an exchange of stone-throwing. The military statement said several Palestinians opened fire and hurled rocks at the forces, who returned the fire. Five Israeli suspects were arrested. An Israeli army officer was lightly wounded. Video footage showed at least two cars had been set ablaze. Reuters could not independently verify the video. Hussein al-Sheikh, the deputy to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, posted on X: "The government of Israel, with its behavior and decisions, is pushing the region to explode." "We call on the international community to intervene urgently to protect our Palestinian people," he said. Earlier on Wednesday a Palestinian boy was shot dead by the Israeli army during a raid on Al-Yamun, a West Bank town west of Jenin, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
