Amid growing concerns about the spread of the Gaza war to the wider region, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has arrived in Israel for a visit. Meetings in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, including with his new Israeli counterpart Israel Katz, are likely to focus on how to prevent the conflict from spreading to neighboring countries – especially Lebanon. In Lebanon, a key commander of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, Wissam al-Tauil, was killed in a suspected Israeli drone strike on Monday.
The question of what might happen after the end of the war in the Gaza Strip is also likely to be discussed in Tel Aviv. “We want to work together and coordinate our efforts to help stabilize and recover Gaza, chart a political path for the Palestinians and work toward long-term peace, security and stability,” Blinken said earlier, according to a report in The Times of Israel Saudi -Arabia. There, Blinken held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday evening as part of his mediation trip to the Middle East.
The Israeli army said it killed a missile expert from the Islamist Hamas in Syria on Monday. The military said Hassan Hakascha was responsible for rocket fire on Israel from Syria in recent weeks. He led Hamas terrorist cells that fired rockets into Israeli territory from the neighboring country to the north.
Hakasha was killed in the town of Beit Jinn, southwest of Damascus, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel will not tolerate terrorism from Syrian territory and will hold Syria responsible for all activities originating from its territory, the army further emphasized. Israel does not normally comment on attacks on opponents abroad.
During a trip to various countries in the Middle East, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens) also wants to support the dialogue process in the region in view of the Gaza war. “There must be peace again. The Palestinian people need a clear perspective on a two-state solution,” Habeck said on Monday evening before leaving for Oman. “Israel needs protection and has the right to defend itself. But above all, the killing must stop now,” he demanded.
After Oman, Habeck also wants to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank. The trip ends on Thursday. In Israel, Habeck reportedly wants to hold talks with government representatives in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In Ramallah in the West Bank, he will meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtaje and local business representatives. Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock also continues her trip to the region. This Tuesday she is in Egypt.
Israeli soldiers killed three young men during an operation near the town of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Authority. The victims, aged 22, 23 and 24, were in a car when the soldiers opened fire. The victims were members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, the Palestinian organization said. It was not said whether they also belonged to Fatah’s armed group, the Al-Aqsa Brigades. When asked, the Israeli army said it was investigating the reports, but initially provided no further information.
Since the start of the Gaza war, 326 people have been killed in Israeli military operations in the West Bank.
United Nations experts called on Monday for the perpetrators of brutal murders, kidnappings and sex crimes against Israelis to be held legally accountable by October 7, 2023. “The growing body of evidence supporting reports of sexual violence is particularly distressing,” said UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Jill Edwards and Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on arbitrary executions. They pointed to alleged gang rapes, but also to mutilations and gunshot wounds to the genital area. This concerns not only sexual torture and war crimes, but possibly also crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden was interrupted during a campaign speech in the state of South Carolina by protesters demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He understands their passion, Biden said Monday at a church in the city of Charleston. He is working “quietly” with the Israeli government and wants to ensure that Israel significantly reduces its military presence in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, a handful of protesters had shouted: “Ceasefire, now.” Finally, they were escorted out of the church.
While US Secretary of State Blinken holds talks in Israel as part of his mediation tour in the Middle East, Economic Affairs Secretary Habeck visits the Gulf state of Oman for talks on economic ties. His fellow Green Party Foreign Minister Baerbock continues her Middle East visit to Egypt. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
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