Hamas has dismissed claims of progress towards an Israel-Gaza ceasefire as deceptive, following US President Joe Biden’s remarks of increased optimism.

After two days of US-supported negotiations in Qatar, President Biden expressed on Friday that “we are closer than we have ever been.”

Nonetheless, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that no advancement had been made and that the mediators were “selling illusions.”

Israel expressed appreciation for the US and mediator’s efforts to persuade Hamas to agree to a hostage release deal.

The Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas after an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages.

Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 40,000 fatalities.

In November, a ceasefire agreement led to Hamas freeing 105 hostages in exchange for a week-long truce and the release of approximately 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Israel claims 111 hostages are still held, with 39 presumed deceased.

A recent joint statement from the US, Qatar, and Egypt revealed a proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal that aims to “narrow the gaps” between Israel and Hamas.

Israel insists that any ceasefire would necessitate the release of the remaining hostages, some of whom have already been freed while others are believed to have died in Gaza.

Families of hostages still in Gaza view the current negotiations as the “last chance” for saving some of them.

Amid 10 months of conflict and numerous casualties, there is intense pressure for a resolution.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

The possibility of a broader regional conflict looms if talks between Israel and Hamas fail, a scenario that all involved parties are concerned about.

Mediators described the recent ceasefire discussions as “serious, constructive, and conducted in a positive atmosphere.”

Technical teams are expected to continue refining the details of the proposed terms before senior officials reconvene in Cairo, aiming to finalize the agreement outlined in Doha.

Despite the mediators’ optimistic statement, significant challenges remain before a ceasefire can be secured.

This is not the first instance of President Biden expressing belief in a near deal, and not everyone shares his cautious optimism.

Both Hamas and the Israeli government have not been as hopeful in their responses.

Israel maintains that its stance and core principles are “well-known” and accuses Hamas of obstructing a deal for hostage release.

Israelis are primarily focused on the release of the remaining hostages, though skepticism exists about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main objective is not a “total victory” over Hamas.

Hamas’s new leader, Yaya Sinwar, shows little sign of compromise.

In response to President Biden’s statement, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the mediators’ offer was “very disappointing” with no progress made.

Hamas is believed to have shifted from demanding a permanent ceasefire to accepting Biden’s proposal for a six-week pause to broker peace.

Biden’s ceasefire proposal includes withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza’s populated areas, the phased release of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and returning the remains of deceased hostages.

ALSO READ: Haniyeh’s Assassination ‘will not go unpunished’ – Hamas Official

The “bridging proposal” from US, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators will guide US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s discussions in the region and should form the basis for the next talks in Cairo, with all parties, including Hamas, expected to participate.

This proposal reportedly “closes the remaining gaps” between the sides, potentially allowing for “a rapid implementation of the agreement.”

Although this may seem straightforward, significant obstacles remain, and mutual trust between Israeli and Hamas leaders is lacking.

They are being pressured to negotiate by those concerned about the potential consequences of failure.

Hamas and its allies suspect that the US administration is trying to buy more time.

An Iranian attack on Israel could be perceived as a result of Hamas undermining the negotiations.

Hamas openly desires an Iranian and Hezbollah attack on Israel to escalate into a regional war, believing this would weaken Netanyahu and force him to accept a deal.

President Biden cautioned against any actions that could undermine the process.

In the meantime, Israel’s military operation in Gaza continues, with an airstrike early Saturday killing 15 people in al-Zawaida, central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense Authority.

ALSO READ: Biden Calls Netanyahu’s Approach To Hamas War ‘A Mistake’

Mahmud Bassal of the rescue service reported that among the dead were nine children and three women.

Israel has not directly commented, but the IDF stated it had “eliminated several terrorists” in central Gaza, including one who had attacked Israeli forces.

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for several northern Khan Younis and Deir Balah blocks, reducing the humanitarian zone for displaced Palestinians.

Israel claims these blocks have become dangerous due to “significant acts of terrorism” and rocket and mortar fire towards Israel.

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) stated that fear is spreading as families have nowhere to go.

The urgency for a ceasefire is underscored by the circulation of the polio virus within the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that “the ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”

Hamas Dismisses Ceasefire Progress Claims as ‘Illusions’

The post Hamas Dismisses Ceasefire Progress Claims as ‘Illusions’ appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City has resulted in over 70 deaths, according to the director of a local hospital speaking to the BBC.

Fadl Naeem, head of al-Ahli Hospital where many of the victims were taken, reported that this number includes those identified so far; many others are unrecognizable due to severe disfigurement, making identification challenging.

He described the situation as “catastrophic,” with doctors unable to treat the critically injured due to the overwhelming number of casualties.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the al-Taba’een school was an operational base for Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, alleging that around 20 militants were active there. Hamas has denied these claims.

Preliminary reports also indicated dozens of deaths, with the Hamas-run health ministry’s ambulance service estimating over 60 fatalities, while the civil defense agency reported more than 90. The BBC is unable to verify these figures independently.

In recent weeks, Israel has targeted several such shelters in Gaza.

The United Nations reported that by July 6, 477 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza had been hit or damaged, with at least 14 more targeted since then.

The al-Taba’een school, which had recently become a refuge for over 1,000 displaced individuals from Beit Hanoun due to Israeli evacuation orders, also served as a mosque. The Israeli strike occurred during dawn prayers, according to witnesses.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

Jaafar Taha, a nearby student, recounted hearing the bombing followed by screams and chaos.

“‘Save us, save us,’ they were shouting,” he said. “The scene was horrific. Body parts were scattered everywhere and blood covered the walls.”

Salim Oweis, spokesperson for the UN children’s agency, Unicef, called the attack “outrageous,” emphasizing that the schools were filled with civilians seeking refuge.

Israel’s military stated it had targeted a Hamas command center within the al-Taba’een school, asserting that about 20 militants, including high-ranking commanders, were operating from the site.

IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani claimed that the casualty figures reported by Hamas do not match the IDF’s information on the strike’s precision and munitions used.

Hamas condemned the attack as a “horrific crime” and a dangerous escalation in Israel’s “war of extermination” against Palestinians.

Fatah, Hamas’s rival political faction in the West Bank, accused Israel of aiming to “exterminate Palestinians through a policy of cumulative killing.”

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN agency aiding Palestinians, stated that “these horrors must end.”

The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed his horror at the images, stating, “There’s no justification for these massacres.”

ALSO READ: Trump Campaign Scrambles as Harris’ Surge Alters Election Strategy

The casualty figures from this early-morning attack are among the highest reported for recent strikes.

Targeting school buildings has become a frequent aspect of IDF operations in recent weeks, as part of their stated objective to dismantle Hamas military infrastructure.

Since early July, over a dozen schools have been hit, including a period with four schools attacked in four days.

The IDF regularly asserts that Hamas uses these schools as command centers, though Hamas disputes this claim.

These schools, which were often managed by the UN before the conflict, have become crucial shelters for many displaced Gazans, who are suffering the most from these attacks.

It remains uncertain whether this incident will affect the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, which have been complicated by the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

Egypt, one of the mediators in the truce efforts, criticized Israel’s “deliberate killing” of unarmed Palestinians, suggesting a lack of political will to end the conflict.

Jordan characterized the attack as a sign of the Israeli government’s efforts to obstruct ceasefire negotiations.

The conflict escalated following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza.

This attack triggered a large-scale Israeli military response, leading to the ongoing war.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, over 39,790 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli campaign.

Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills Over 70 Amid Ongoing Conflict

The post Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills Over 70 Amid Ongoing Conflict appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan has submitted requests for arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging their “criminal responsibility” in the Gaza war.

Additionally, Khan has urged ICC judges to issue arrest warrants for leaders of the Palestinian Militant group Hamas, attributing to them the perpetration of human suffering during the conflict. This move is perceived as an attempt to maintain a sense of balance amid the hostilities that erupted on October 7, 2023.

This marks the second instance during Khan’s tenure as ICC prosecutor where arrest warrants have been sought for a sitting head of government or state. The decision on whether to approve the request lies with the ICC judges.

The application of such warrants could ignite a series of political disputes regarding the ICC, an entity not typically affiliated with the UN but occasionally reliant on the UN Security Council.

In 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and some of his senior officials for their alleged involvement in forcible population transfer and war crimes during the Ukrainian conflict of 2022. Despite being supported by the US, these warrants have yet to be enforced, impacting Putin’s international travel arrangements.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

Previously, the ICC also issued arrest warrants for former Sudanese leader Omar al Bashir for his alleged involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. However, similar to the situation with Putin, these warrants were never executed.

The potential issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders is anticipated to stir up division. While the US applauded the ICC’s action against Putin, as a non-member of the Court, it has cautioned the Prosecutor against actions that might be perceived as infringing on the sovereignty of Israel and the US.

In Gaza, where the conflict has resulted in over 32,000 casualties, the repercussions have reverberated even within the US during an election year. Criticism has been directed at President Joe Biden for what some perceive as a failure to rein in Israeli actions.

Israel, in response, has defended its actions as necessary measures to combat Hamas, which it accuses of posing a threat to its very existence. However, it is the civilian population that bears the brunt of the conflict.

ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Palestinian Leaders Over Gaza Conflict

The post ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Palestinian Leaders Over Gaza Conflict appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

Kenya has supported a key resolution at the United Nations that gives the State of Palestine more rights and privileges within the international organization.

This decision comes amid increasing violence in the Gaza Strip, with calls at the United Nations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi for an immediate end to the conflict.

Nairobi had not commented on the situation since President William Ruto initially supported Israel when the conflict began.

Ambassador Martin Kimani, Kenya’s representative at the United Nations, strongly supported the motion during a recent General Assembly debate and vote.

In his speech, Ambassador Kimani emphasized the concept of self-determination, noting, “We cannot deny others who seek self-determination just as we cannot deny our origins as a country founded on a struggle for independence.”

The United Nations General Assembly’s approval of the Palestinian bid for full UN membership is a significant step in the long-standing pursuit of statehood.

With 143 member states supporting and only nine opposing, including the United States and Israel, the decision demonstrates broad global support. Additionally, 25 countries abstained from the vote.

In the East African region, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Djibouti all supported the motion.

The General Assembly resolution “determines that the State of Palestine should therefore be admitted to membership” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s ambassador to the UN, passionately urged the General Assembly before the vote to support “freedom, justice, and peace in this darkest hour.”

Although the resolution does not grant full UN membership, it recommends that the Security Council review Palestine’s status positively.

Despite diplomatic progress in New York, worries about the ongoing Gaza conflict were evident at the United Nations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi.

Civil society groups expressed their collective dismay, calling for an immediate end to the violence in the region.

The death toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks since October 7 stands at 34,904, with tens of thousands wounded.

In Israel, Hamas’s retaliatory strikes have resulted in 1,139 deaths, with several people still held captive.

Amid chants of solidarity such as “In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians,” Carole Agengo, Co-Chair of the Planning Committee of the 2024 Civil Society Conference, delivered a powerful closing statement.

She emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, “The situation in Palestine requires immediate ceasefire, and indeed, we are all Palestinians.”

Kenya, 142 Other Nations Supports Palestinian Rights at UN Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict

The post Kenya, 142 Other Nations Supports Palestinian Rights at UN Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

Supporters of Israel attacked a pro-Palestinian protest camp at the University of California in Los Angeles on Wednesday, while New York’s mayor said a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University broken up by police had been led by outsiders.

Witness footage from UCLA, verified by Reuters, showed people wielding sticks or poles to hammer on wooden boards being used as makeshift barricades to protect the pro-Palestinian protesters before police were deployed to the campus.

On the other side of the country, New York police arrested pro-Palestinian demonstrators holed up in a building at Columbia University and removed a protest encampment on Tuesday night.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said about 300 people had been arrested and he blamed the protests on outside agitators, but without offering concrete evidence.

The Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip and the ensuing Israeli offensive on the Palestinian enclave has unleashed the biggest outpouring of U.S. student activism since the anti-racism protests of 2020.

As student rallies have spread to dozens of schools across the U.S. in recent days expressing opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, police have been called in to quell or clear protests.

About 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed in the Oct. 7 attack but the Israeli retaliatory assault has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health ministry figures, obliterated much of the enclave’s infrastructure, and created a humanitarian crisis verging on famine.

The student protests in the United States have also taken on political overtones in the run-up to the presidential election in November, with Republicans accusing some university administrators of turning a blind eye to antisemitic rhetoric and harassment.

UCLA PROTESTERS REPORT VIOLENT ATTACKS

On Tuesday, UCLA officials announced that the encampment was unlawful and violated university policy. UCLA Chancellor Gene Brock said it included people “unaffiliated with our campus”, though he, like Adams, provided no evidence of the presence of outsiders.

Footage from the early hours showed mostly male counter-demonstrators, many of them masked and some older than students, throwing objects and trying to smash or pull down the wooden and steel barriers erected to shield the encampment.

Some screamed pro-Jewish comments as pro-Palestinian protesters tried to fight them off.

“They were coming up here and just violently attacking us,” said pro-Palestinian protester Kaia Shah, a researcher at UCLA.

“I just didn’t think they would ever get to this, escalate to this level, where our protest is met by counter-protesters who are violently hurting us, inflicting pain on us when we are not doing anything to them.”

Demonstrators on both sides sprayed each other and fights broke out.

Another pro-Palestinian student protester, Sophia Sandino, said: “We had people (spraying) us, beating us with bats and sticks, throwing whatever they could to us and none of this law enforcement was here at all. So it’s kind of disappointing that we’re seen as the perpetrators here.”

Police said they had responded to a request from UCLA to restore order and maintain public safety “due to multiple acts of violence” within the encampment.

Broadcast footage later showed police clearing a central quad beside the encampment. They erected a metal crowd barrier in front of the encampment and the area was quiet at daybreak.

COLUMBIA DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED

On Tuesday night, New York police had arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators holed up in a building at Columbia University and removed a protest encampment that the Ivy League college had sought to dismantle for nearly two weeks.

Mayor Adams told reporters on Wednesday that around 300 people had been arrested but did not specify how many, if any, were believed to be external agitators.

“While those who broke into the building did include students, it was led by individuals who were not affiliated with the university,” he said.

“Students have a right to protest and free speech is a cornerstone of our society…It was external actors who hijacked peaceful protests and influenced students to escalate.”

Columbia President Minouche Shafik asked police to stay on campus until at least May 17 – two days after graduation.

As police stepped in, students standing outside the hall – the site of various student occupations dating back to the 1960s – jeered at police with shouts of “Shame, shame!”.

Police loaded dozens of detainees onto a bus, their hands bound behind their backs by zip-ties, the scene illuminated with the flashing red and blue lights of police vehicles.

“Free, free, free Palestine!” protesters chanted outside the building. Others yelled, “Let the students go!”.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

Sueda Polat of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the coalition of student groups that organized the protests, said they did not pose any danger.

Another protest leader, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian attending Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, denied that outsiders had been among the organizers, as did many other students.

Students had, however, posted videos of visits to the camp by supporters and activists not enrolled at or employed by Columbia, and said they had contacted alumni from major protests at the university in 1968 to learn about their strategies.

Shafik said the occupiers had vandalized university property and were trespassing. The university earlier warned that students taking part in the occupation faced academic expulsion.

Police were also called in to clear encampments and make arrests overnight at Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of Arizona, and City College of New York in Harlem.

Dozens were arrested at City College, the New York Times reported.

Israel Supporters Attack Pro-Palestinian Camp In LA, 300 Gaza Protesters Arrested In New York

The post Israel Supporters Attack Pro-Palestinian Camp In LA, 300 Gaza Protesters Arrested In New York appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

In a clandestine mission that has garnered global scrutiny, Israeli undercover operatives, some posing as healthcare personnel, carried out an incursion into the Ibn Sina Hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin, leading to the fatalities of three Palestinian individuals.

The Israeli military described the individuals killed as members of a Hamas “terrorist cell.”

On January 30, 2024, Israeli forces carried out an operation in which they covertly entered the hospital while the men were in a state of sleep.

As per the information provided, the operatives utilized firearms fitted with suppressors, introducing an additional element of secrecy to the inherently discreet character of the operation.

Video recordings from the hospital’s security cameras depict armed individuals moving through the hospital hallways, donned in different disguises such as women’s attire and medical uniforms.

This video has been widely shared on the internet, offering a visual representation of the raid’s unforeseen character.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

The Palestinian Ministry of Health criticized the deed, highlighting the unique safeguard accorded to medical facilities according to international regulations.

They have urged the United Nations and human rights groups to address what they characterize as a sequence of offenses perpetrated by Israel against both the Palestinian population and healthcare facilities.

The Israeli military defended the operation, claiming that the persons in question had hidden within the hospital and were engaged in significant terrorist activities.

Muhammad Jalamnah, recognized by the military as a prominent member of Hamas, was among the casualties. He was known for his role in distributing weapons and participating in the planning of attacks.

This event has escalated tensions in a region that was already tense due to ongoing conflicts and confrontations.

WATCH: Israeli Commandos Dressed As Medics Infiltrate Hospital For Kill Mission

The post WATCH: Israeli Commandos Dressed As Medics Infiltrate Hospital For Kill Mission appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

On Saturday, the British government expressed significant apprehensions regarding a decision from the top court of the United Nations, which called for Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent any occurrences of genocide in Gaza.

The initial verdict in a significant case initiated by South Africa was delivered on Friday by The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The ruling also mandated Israel to permit humanitarian entry to the Palestinian territory.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

“We respect the role and independence of the ICJ. However… we have considerable concerns about this case, which is not helpful in the goal of achieving a sustainable ceasefire,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

“Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with IHL (international humanitarian law),” the spokesperson added.

“Our view is that Israel’s actions in Gaza cannot be described as genocide, which is why we thought South Africa’s decision to bring the case was wrong and provocative.”

1948 UN Genocide Convention

South Africa has accused Israel of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, established in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. This accusation comes in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which was initiated following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

Nevertheless, the Foreign Office expressed its approval of the ICJ’s urging for the prompt liberation of hostages and the increased delivery of aid to Gaza.

“We are clear that an immediate pause is necessary to get aid in and hostages out, and then we want to build towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to the fighting.”

The Hamas assault on October 7 led to approximately 1,140 fatalities in Israel, with the majority being civilians, as reported by AFP and based on official Israeli statistics.

Since then, the Gaza Strip has witnessed Israeli bombardments and ground offensives, resulting in the death of at least 26,083 Palestinians. Approximately 70 percent of the casualties are comprised of women, young children, and adolescents, according to the health ministry of the Hamas government.

Israel’s Actions In Gaza Cannot Be Described As Genocide: UK

The post Israel’s Actions In Gaza Cannot Be Described As Genocide: UK appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

Hours after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden played down his disagreement with Netanyahu over a future Palestinian state as a political goal in postwar Gaza.

Biden told reporters Friday at the White House he believed “there are several types of two-state solutions” and that Netanyahu may be open to one of them.

“There are several countries that are members of the U.N. that … don’t have their military, several states that have limitations,” he said. “And so, I think there are ways in which this can work,” Biden said, providing the most detail so far about his conversations with Netanyahu on Gaza’s future.

Biden also dismissed the notion that a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians could not be reached with the current Israeli government in power — the most hard-line in the country’s history.

The Middle East has been a tinderbox since Iranian-backed Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people while taking about 240 people as hostages, Israel said. Israel’s response has killed more than 24,000 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

On Thursday, Netanyahu said he told the United States he opposes Washington’s long-standing support for the creation of a Palestinian state following Israel’s war with Hamas, prompting criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. The White House denied that Netanyahu’s statement was a factor in setting up the Friday call, the first in nearly a month.

With a two-state solution, the White House hopes at the same time to broker a normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a long-sought prize with broad economic and security implications for the region.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

Biden and Netanyahu also discussed efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas and Israel’s shift to more targeted military operations, John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, said Friday at the White House press briefing.

Asked by VOA whether Biden believes Netanyahu can be persuaded to change his mind, Kirby said the president still believes in “the promise and possibility” of a two-state solution.

“He believes it’s going to take hard work and leadership,” Kirby said. “He’s willing to put his shoulder to the wheel for that eventual outcome.”

Kirby added that the U.S. welcomes Israel’s decision to permit the shipment of flour for the Palestinian people directly through Ashdod Port while the U.S. is separately working on options for more direct maritime delivery of assistance into Gaza.

“These are people, not numbers, and we are failing them,” Bahous said. “That failure, and the generational trauma inflicted on the Palestinian people over these 100 days and counting, will haunt us all for generations to come.”

It is also time, she said, for the immediate and unconditional release of all of the Israeli hostages.

Russia — hostages

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry said Friday it had held direct talks with a delegate from Hamas, which the U.S., U.K., EU, and other countries have designated as a terrorist group, urging them to release the hostages it is holding in the Gaza Strip, including three Russian nationals.

The ministry said in a statement that Mikhail Bogdanov, a deputy foreign minister, had received Hamas Politburo member Abu Marzouk.

“During the conversation, the focus was on the ongoing confrontation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone against the backdrop of which the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached catastrophic proportions,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Russian side stressed the need for the speedy release of civilians captured during the attacks of 7 October 2023 and held by Palestinian factions, including three Russian citizens — A. Kozlov, A. Lobanov, and A. Trufanov,” the statement read.

Israel has said it does not plan to reoccupy Gaza at the end of the war with Hamas but has refused to spell out its day-after plans for the territory.

Netanyahu said Israel has destroyed about two-thirds of Hamas’ fighting regiments in the Gaza Strip during more than three months of war and vowed to continue the war until Israel has achieved “complete victory.”

“There are two stages to the fighting. The first is destroying the Hamas regiments, those are their organized combat frameworks,” Netanyahu said.

“Up until now, 16 or 17 out of 24 [regiments] have been destroyed. After that, there is the [stage] of clearing the territory [of militants]. The first action is usually shorter. The second usually takes longer,” Netanyahu said. “Victory will take many more months, but we are determined to achieve it.”

The U.S. has for weeks pressed Israel to curtail its massive offensive in Gaza to sharply limit the number of civilian deaths in the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea.

Biden Downplays Disagreement With Netanyahu On Palestinian Statehood

The post Biden Downplays Disagreement With Netanyahu On Palestinian Statehood appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

Prosecutor Karim Khan of the International Criminal Court stated that five nations have requested that his office investigate whether crimes were committed in the Palestinian territories in retaliation for the Hamas terror assaults of October 7.

Khan stated that Djibouti, South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, and Comoros had submitted the referral.

“By the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a State Party may refer to the Prosecutor a situation in which one or more crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court appear to have been committed requesting the Prosecutor to investigate the situation to determine whether one or more specific persons should be charged with the commission of such crimes,” Khan said in a statement.

He stated that his office was already digging into the situation in the Palestinian territories regarding probable crimes committed in Gaza and the West Bank since June 2014. Commencing its inquiry was in March 2021.

“It is ongoing and extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on 7 October 2023,” Khan said. “By the Rome Statute, my Office has jurisdiction over crimes committed on the territory of a State Party and concerning the nationals of States Parties.”

With each passing day in the conflict, accusations of war crimes are leveled against both Hamas and Israel. According to medical sources based in the Hamas-controlled enclave of Gaza consulted by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, Israeli attacks on Gaza have claimed the lives of approximately 11,500 Palestinians since October 7. Israel asserts that its airstrikes are designed to target Hamas infrastructure and commanders in retaliation for the militant organization’s terror attacks on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israeli citizens and held 240 others captive.

ALSO READ:

• Inside Job Exposed: Kenyan Prison Wardens Convicted for Orchestrating Daring Terrorist Escape
• Uganda Pulls the Plug: Nationwide Internet Blackout Ordered Days Before Crucial General Election
• African Elections Under the Spotlight as Zambia Turns to Kenya Ahead of 2026 Vote
• “Two Drug Barons in Cabinet?” Kenya Government Fires Back as Ex-Deputy President Sparks Explosive Drug Claims
• Kenyan Court Freezes Use of Private Lawyers by Government, Sparks Nationwide Legal Storm

The siege of Gaza by Israel has encompassed an almost complete obstruction of food, water, and electricity, except a “trickle” of humanitarian aid, as described by the United Nations. However, on Friday, the Israeli war cabinet reached a consensus to permit the daily entry of two fuel tankers into Gaza to supply water and sanitation systems.

A multifaceted framework of international law, which emerged in the aftermath of World War II, regulates the conflict to strike a balance between military necessities and humanitarian considerations.

A report from the United Nations stated a month ago that it was gathering evidence of war crimes following the Hamas attack. The report alleged that Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, may have committed the war crime of collective punishment by ordering a “complete siege” of Gaza. Several prominent human rights organizations share the assessment of the United Nations.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, labeled the October 7 attacks “atrocities” and the hostage-taking a violation of international law earlier this month.

However, he continued, “The collective punishment of Palestinian civilians by Israel and the unlawful forcible evacuation of civilians both constitute war crimes.”

The South African government and Hamas have both issued a ceasefire request. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa accused Israel of war crimes in a statement released last month, stating that “the ongoing bombardment of civilian targets and the denial of water, food, fuel, and electricity to the civilian population of Gaza violates Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.”

ALSO READ:

International Duo Nabbed with Explosives Near Kenya-Tanzania Border

Maraga-Led Task Force Proposes Elimination of Police Roadblocks, Advocates 5 Key Changes

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has dismissed as “baseless” allegations that his country is involved in war crimes in Gaza. “We are purposefully exerting every effort to apprehend the terrorists; as in any lawful conflict, collateral damage can occur among civilians,” he explained to NBC News on Sunday.

Israel is a non-member of the International Criminal Court and denies its jurisdiction. Despite this, the court continues to examine its activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at the time, Fatou Bensouda, spent five years conducting a “painful preliminary examination” before concluding that “war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.” However, no charges were filed, and Bensouda resigned from office in 2021.

Khan has previously stated that Hamas’ actions on October 7 constitute “serious violations of international humanitarian law if proven.” Additionally, he emphasized that “Israel has unambiguous responsibilities concerning its conflict with Hamas: not merely ethical responsibilities, but legal ones… It is explicitly stated in the Geneva Conventions. “It exists in both black and white.”

Global Appeal: ICC Urged to Probe Palestinian Territories by Five Nations

The post Global Appeal: ICC Urged to Probe Palestinian Territories by Five Nations appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.

President William Ruto has provided additional commentary on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has witnessed violence in the Gaza Strip as Israel responds to a militant group Hamas’ attack on October 7.

Ruto stated from the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, during a summit of African leaders with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that Kenya rejects terrorism and occupation as viable solutions to any conflict.

“We believe that terrorism cannot be an answer to any conflict; neither is occupation,” Ruto told the convention of mainly pro-Palestine leaders who had gathered to discuss Africa-Saudi relations.

“We believe that Palestine should be a free state and we stand for a two-nation solution as a means of resolving the conflict.”

This stood in opposition to his previous remarks that he issued at the onset of the conflict, in which Ruto declared Kenya’s “solidarity” with Israel.

Kenya has historically advocated for a two-state resolution to the protracted Israel-Palestine conflict. However, at that juncture, Ruto acknowledged the “complex and delicate” nature of the situation and merely requested a cessation of hostilities; he further implored all involved parties to abstain from military engagement.

“Kenya joins the rest of the world in solidarity with the State of Israel and unequivocally condemns terrorism and attacks on innocent civilians in the country. The people of Kenya and their government hereby express their deepest sympathy and send condolences to the families of all victims. We also wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said then.

ALSO READ:

• IG Koome and DCI Boss Amin Face Legal Firestorm in Sh17bn Diesel Mystery
• Ruto’s Year One: Promised Ease, Delivered Crisis – Kenyans Face Tougher Times

“Kenya strongly maintains that there exists no justification whatsoever for terrorism, which constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. All acts of terrorism and violent extremism are abhorrent, criminal, and unjustifiable, regardless of the perpetrator, or their motivations.”

His views were in opposition to those of the African Union, which denounced Israel for instigating the conflict using its illegitimate occupation of Palestinian territory.

Later, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei defended President Ruto, stating that the head of state was not departing from Kenya’s traditional position of supporting a two-state solution but rather referring to a specific violent incident.

Ruto expressed gratitude to Salman on Saturday for his assistance in the peace negotiations taking place in Jeddah, where the belligerent factions of Sudan have been convening to resolve a six-month-long conflict that has claimed the lives of thousands of individuals.

Ruto conveyed a sense of optimism regarding the potential restoration of peace in Sudan through the negotiations, as he advised the crown prince, “Your involvement in this area will additionally afford us the chance to address the ongoing challenges between Israel and Palestine.”

Hamas-run health ministry statistics indicate that over 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since the conflict began.

More than 1.5 million individuals are displaced, as reported by the United Nations.

‘Palestine Should Be A Free State,’ President Ruto Now Says

The post ‘Palestine Should Be A Free State,’ President Ruto Now Says appeared first on GOSSIP A - Z.