Israel-Gaza war

[Storr]

The Israeli military has told the UN that everyone living north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza in the next 24 hours, says a UN spokesperson.

The UN says this amounts to approximately 1.1 million people - about half the population of the entire Gaza Strip

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https://twitter.com/azelin/status/1712505142879142305?s=20

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https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1719034666513273175?s=20

[Storr]

Multiculturalism has never worked in practice except in one of two cases

1. Where one group is dominant and kindly "pretends" to share power equally conditional on all real power remaining in its hands for an emergency - This is the Western liberal model (Sorry folks it is kind of a scam in that in most places it has never been tested under stress and the evidence is it will collapse into type 2 very quickly)

2. An "armed peace" where power-sharing takes place in a political cold war, with voters entirely disempowered, and every side using the threat of turning the cold war hot to block majority or non-sectarian rule - this is Northern Ireland, Lebanon, and to a degree Malaysia - the most "successful version

Humans don't share power. Not in companies. Not in mod teams. Not in companies. Not in clubs. Most certainly not in states.

I'm not sure what category the Swiss or Belgian examples would be. Devolved culturalism, having empowered ethnic regions which make up a country?

[Storr]

"Large focus in U.S. coverage on Netanyahu's position, which has been the same for decades. But this is the bigger story post-10/7: "One in four Israeli adults currently support the existence of an independent Palestinian state, while most (65%) oppose it.""

"This is almost a complete reversal of where they stood on the issue a decade ago, when twice as many Israeli adults supported an independent Palestinian state (61%) as opposed one (30%)."

https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1748364399495004493?s=20

[Storr]

It’s time to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization. Defunding is not enough.
https://twitter.com/yaaricohen/status/1756367547211899278?s=46&t=o2RmfeV6yYJ...

There's no way UNRWA can claim they didn't know about this.

"Directly beneath UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters, IDF uncovers top secret Hamas data center"

https://www.timesofisrael.com/directly-beneath-unrwas-gaza-headquarters-idf-uncovers-top-secret-hamas-data-center/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Storr]

"Here it comes.

Unfortunately, even if all drones and missiles are intercepted by Israeli air defence and aircraft, it is highly unlikely that this will go unanswered by Israel.

To all the “Unfortnately?” comments:

Yes, Israel being forced to respond in an increasing destructive tit-for-tat that eventually ends in a regional war with at least one nuclear power is what I call “unfortunate”."

https://twitter.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1779241211204702407

[Storr]

CNN: "Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion"

"The latest proposal, which Israel helped craft but has not fully agreed to, is laid out in two phases, the first of which calls for 20 to 33 hostages to be released over several weeks in exchange for the pause and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase is what sources described as the “restoration of sustainable calm,” during which the remaining hostages, captive Israeli soldiers and the bodies of hostages would be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners.

The diplomatic source familiar with the talks said the reference to sustainable calm was “a way to agree to a permanent ceasefire without calling it that.”"

[Storr]

CNN: "Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion"

"The latest proposal, which Israel helped craft but has not fully agreed to, is laid out in two phases, the first of which calls for 20 to 33 hostages to be released over several weeks in exchange for the pause and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase is what sources described as the “restoration of sustainable calm,” during which the remaining hostages, captive Israeli soldiers and the bodies of hostages would be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners.

The diplomatic source familiar with the talks said the reference to sustainable calm was “a way to agree to a permanent ceasefire without calling it that.”"

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that Israel will invade Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, even if Hamas agrees to the latest Israeli proposal for a cease-fire.

“The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said, at a meeting with representatives of families of people taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group.

“We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory,” he added."

https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-going-to-invade-rafah-regardless-of-hostage-deal-says-benjamin-netanyahu/

[Storr]

"Hamas says it accepts Gaza truce deal, as Israel readies Rafah operation"

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839?src_origin=BBCS_BBC

"The Hamas leadership says it has accepted the terms of a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

In a statement, the group says it has informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators of its decision.

The finer details are yet to be announced, including how long it will last and what this means for hostages being held in Gaza.

Stay tuned for live updates from us here in London, and analysis from our colleagues in Jerusalem."

[Storr]

"Hamas says it accepts Gaza truce deal, as Israel readies Rafah operation"

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839?src_origin=BBCS_BBC

"The Hamas leadership says it has accepted the terms of a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

In a statement, the group says it has informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators of its decision.

The finer details are yet to be announced, including how long it will last and what this means for hostages being held in Gaza.

Stay tuned for live updates from us here in London, and analysis from our colleagues in Jerusalem."

Great news. Hamas only understands one thing and Israel delivers it. I'm all in favor of Israel giving them whatever temporary peace they want in exchange for the hostages, because Hamas will break the cease-fire eventually and Israel will be ready.

I guess this is Hamas framing the current state of affairs. "We accepted the ceasefire, so it's up to the other side whether fighting continues."

"Hamas official says 'ball now in Israel's court' after group has indicated it would accept the terms of a ceasefire plan.

In a statement published on its official website, Hamas says its leader Ismail Haniyeh conducted a telephone call with the prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and with the Egyptian intelligence minister, Abbas Kamel, and informed them of Hamas's approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire agreement."

[Storr]

Ireland, Spain and Norway say they will recognize a Palestinian state

CNN - Ireland, Spain and Norway have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state next week, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries.

Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a Wednesday news conference in Dublin: “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.”

[...]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/22/middleeast/palestinian-statehood-spain-norway-ireland-intl/index.html

Belgium will likely follow. It's just one government party (MR) that is standing on the brakes here, but I suspect we will eventually recognise Palestine as well.

Belgium is likely the next country to recognize Palestine.

Not to mention Malta and Slovenia which said today "they may follow suit, though not immediately".

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-state-recognition-what-to-know-ed18d4cc50b20c8238e0de0068080eb0

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https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1796595966835081563?s=12
https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1796596756739915954?s=12
Please 🙏

This proposal would be great if implemented. Sadly, I simply don't see Netanyahu agreeing to it. Why would he stop now? For his perspective, Israel has the upper hand and is winning the war.

[Storr]

https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1796595966835081563?s=12
https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1796596756739915954?s=12
Please 🙏

This proposal would be great is implemented. Sadly, I simply don't see Netanyahu agreeing to it. Why would he stop now? He thinks he's winning.

Apparently Israel has offered it, so either Netanyahu has agreed to it or lost control of the government.

The sticking point will be Hamas refusing to guarantee the hostages are alive/will be alive when released.

Thanks for pointing that out. Biden said this, with regards to Israel: "I urge the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes". The fact the President of the US has publicly spoken about such a deal hopefully means that it has at least a decent chance of being agreed to.

When it comes to Hamas, I agree with Biden. I feel like a ceasefire is the best deal they're going to get. ""Israel has made their proposal, and Hamas says it wants a ceasefire - this deal is an opportunity prove whether they really mean it. Hamas needs to take the deal," [Biden] says."

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-69081352