Middle East Crisis

Israel-Palestine Conflict
Analysis: A Coordinated Attempt to Pressure Trump

The fact that several countries have announced that they are planning or considering recognizing the state of Palestine is pretty empty talk, says Yalda Hakim in an analytical text for Sky News.

“It is a symbolic but largely meaningless move,” she writes, regarding Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s promise to recognize Palestine if Israel does not end its war in Gaza. She continues:

“What is needed in Gaza right now is food – and fast.”

However, ABC News’ Laura Tingle believes that this is not the whole picture. What we see as individual recognitions of Palestine appear to be part of a coordinated international effort with the ultimate goal of achieving a two-state solution, she writes. If France and Britain recognize Palestine, it also means that four out of five permanent members of the UN Security Council will do so.

“Then only the US is left blocking, and that increases the pressure on President Donald Trump to move as well.”

Regardless of the intentions, the statements are in any case a sign of how sharply Israel's position in the world has deteriorated, writes Mark MacKinnon in The Globe and Mail.

"Canada, France and Britain gave the first and most vocal support to Israel after the attack on October 7," he reminds.

Israel-Hezbollah
Israel: Hezbollah tries to build up new capacity

Four people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Thursday, the country's health ministry said, according to AFP.

The Israeli military said it had attacked weapons factories and weapons depots with links to Hezbollah.

Israel believes that Hezbollah is violating the ceasefire agreement signed last year by trying to rebuild its military capacity.

- We will not allow Hezbollah to threaten the residents of northern Israel, says Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to L'Orient Today.

At the same time, Israel still has troops stationed in southern Lebanon and carries out recurring attacks in the country. 

Gaza War 

Witkoff Visits Gaza: “Will Develop a Plan for Food”

On Friday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee spent five hours in Gaza. On X, they posted photos of themselves visiting the Israeli-American GHF food distribution center in Rafah, wearing protective vests.

“The purpose of the visit was to give the president a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help develop a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza,” Witkoff writes.

GHF’s four food distribution sites are located in areas controlled by the Israeli military. Human Rights Watch describes them as “death traps,” and according to the UN, almost 900 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach the facilities, The Guardian writes.