The landscape of global tensions continues to evolve with new developments. Israel prepares for an offensive in Rafah and presented a plan for the evacuation of civilians from the “combat zones” to Gaza. This announcement was made by the services of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Furthermore, The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Mohammad Shtayyeh, has discharged. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the situation remains extremely tense as the Hungarian parliament prepares to vote on ratifying the request for adhesion of Sweden to NATO. Here are the latest news of the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Israel strikes Lebanon, Gaza increasingly exhausted and hungry
In Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is striking "deeply" the territory of Lebanon hitting the eastern Lebanese Bekaa valley, a Hezbollah stronghold. This was reported by the military spokesman. According to media, the airstrike targeted the outskirts of Baalbek, about 100 km northeast of the capital Beirut.
The continuous bombings and the total Israeli siege of the Strip are making life, already very difficult, even more tragic for Gaza. The Israeli army confirmed that operations continue in both the north and center of the Strip, with more than 30 Hamas terrorists killed in Zeitun, in the north, and another 10 in the centre. Gaza's Health Ministry reported a balance more and more dramatic than victims: so far almost 30 thousand have been killed and more than 70 thousand wounded since the beginning of the war.
In the meantime, comes the complaint from Omar Shakir, director of the Israeli-Palestinian section at Human Rights Watch: "The Israeli government is starving the 2,3 million Palestinians of Gaza, putting them in even greater danger than before the International Court's binding order on aid.
Resignation of the Palestinian prime minister
According to official sources reported by Watan TV, it was the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas who requested the resignation of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Shtayyeh. This decision was taken after pressure from the Arab countries of the region and from the United States.
The request for resignation is considered a sign of change, in view of a possible reform of the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the end of hostilities. This development could pave the way for the goal of a two-state solution, although there are still numerous obstacles to overcome, starting with firm opposition from Israel.
Netanyahu and comments on Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed uncertainty regarding a possible agreement hostages with Hamas, but insisted that the radical Islamic group must "reach a reasonable position." At the same time, he assured that, once the military operation begins in Rafah (a town in the south of the Palestinian territory that Netanyahu has described as the "last bastion" of the Islamist movement Hamas) total victory will be a matter of "weeks" . The Israeli prime minister also made it clear that a hostage deal would not interfere with plans to attack Rafah. According to Israeli sources, there are currently 101 hostages still alive in Gaza.
Meanwhile, a massive one is being prepared march through Israel, organized by the families of the hostages held in the Strip since October 7th. The Forum of Hostages and Missing Persons has announced the route of the march, which will begin on Wednesday from the Re'im area. The procession will pass through Sderot, continue through Kiryat Gat, Beit Guvrin and Beit Shemesh, before concluding next Saturday in Jerusalem.
Hungary: Parliament vote on Swedish membership of NATO
Il Hungarian parliament is preparing to vote on ratification of the membership request of Sweden to the NATO. This issue, initially tabled in 2022, was the subject of an agreement between Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a recent visit to Budapest. The deal includes Hungary's purchase of four Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen jets and the extension of a support contract for the existing Gripen fleet.
Meeting at the Elysée with European leaders for Ukraine
Around twenty heads of state and government, or their representatives, are meeting this evening in Paris at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. The goal is to reiterate the support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian offensive and coordinate international efforts to counter the aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, present in a video conference, declared that Ukraine's fate depends on Western aid and called on allies for a "collective relaunch" of commitment to his country.
Italy and support for Ukraine
In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, theItaly plays a significant role. The Ukrainian president Zelensky, at a press conference in Kiev on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, expressed gratitude for the support of Prime Minister Meloni, while underlining the presence of pro-Putin positions in the country. “That's why I think you should send them away,” the Ukrainian leader said, suggesting the cancellation of visas for those who support the Russian president, indicating this as a concrete action of solidarity with Ukraine. “We are preparing a list, but not only regarding Italy, about Russian propagandists. It is long and we want to present it to the European Commission, the European Parliament, the leaders of the EU and the United States. They are propagandists and companies close to Russia who try to circumvent sanctions."
For Zelensky, 2024 will be the decisive year of the war. In fact, he concluded that 2022 was "the year of survival" and 2023 was a "year of resilience".
Further developments in Ukraine
The heaviest clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops are taking place in the area Marinka, in Donetsk, reports the Kiev General Staff on Facebook. The Russian army attacked Sumy with missiles and drones, causing the death of a couple in a private home. The Ukrainian Air Force reported several Russian attacks, including missile and drone launches from several regions.
