Middle East Crisis

Gaza War
Israeli Defense Chief: Annex almost all of Gaza

Israeli Defense Chief Eyal Zamir has developed a new plan for Gaza and the idea is to squeeze the Palestinians into a small “humanitarian zone” in the al-Mawasi area. He wants Israel to then annex the rest of the Gaza Strip, reports TT.

The area covers less than a fifth of Gaza and is about the same size as the municipality of Täby. The proposal reflects a hardening attitude on the part of both the country’s government and the United States.

It has only been a few weeks since the Israeli defense chief took office and the plan has not yet been raised at a political level in Israel.

Demonstrations against Hamas in Gaza: “Stop the war”

Hundreds of Palestinians protested against Hamas in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza on Tuesday, calling for an end to the war with Israel. This is reported by AFP, citing witnesses.

The protesters chanted "Hamas out", "We want to eat" and held signs with the text "Stop the war", according to The Times Of Israel.

- I participated to send a message on behalf of the people: Enough of the war, "one man told AFP, adding that he saw members of Hamas security forces in civilian clothes break up the protest.

The New York Times describes it as rare to speak out against Hamas because Palestinians, at least publicly, tend to blame Israel for much of the death, destruction and hunger that the war has brought. But at least some also hold Hamas responsible for starting the ongoing war, the newspaper writes.

Reactions
European far-right on its way to Israel: “New friends”

European leaders of far-right parties previously accused of anti-Semitism are gathering in Jerusalem this week for a conference on anti-Semitism, AFP reports.

The invitations have gone to, among others, the French National Rally and the Hungarian Fidesz. According to analysts, they show how Israel’s right-wing government is cultivating new relationships.

They need “new friends” after being isolated by the war in Gaza, Israeli political scientist Denis Charbit told AFP.

The National Rally, formerly the Front National, was founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen, who once said that the gas chambers were just “a detail” of history.

Fidesz leader and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has previously praised Hungary’s World War II leader who was an ally of Adolf Hitler and has been accused of anti-Semitic rhetoric, AFP writes.