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UN chief renews call for two-state solution, says Gaza an ‘open wound’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the war on Gaza “is an open wound that threatens to infect the entire region”.
“The only permanent way to end the cycle of violence and instability is through a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as capital of both states,” he wrote.
The war in Gaza is an open wound that threatens to infect the entire region.
The only permanent way to end the cycle of violence & instability is through a two-state solution, Israel & Palestine living side-by-side in peace & security, with Jerusalem as capital of both states.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 18, 2024
An open wound the UN created in 1947, perpetuated by the USA.
Netanyahu ‘doesn’t know how to deal with this’
Rami Khouri, distinguished public policy fellow at the American University of Beirut, says Israel’s prime minister faces intense pressure from at least half a dozen different sources in the country as he struggles to juggle various forces.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Khouri said, “He can’t achieve his war aims. He can’t look weak. He has to keep fighting and he’s probably looking at a position now where he thinks he and his right-wing partners can drive Palestinians out of Gaza.
“I think Netanyahu has a military problem on his hands. But he’s also got a political problem domestically, a diplomatic problem with the US, and the whole world is up in arms to support the Palestinians. And he doesn’t know how to deal with this.”
Israeli opposition leader says Gantz should withdraw from government
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says war cabinet minister Benny Gantz should use his speech, which is expected soon to announce he’s stepping away from “the worst government in the country’s history”.
“He must announce that he is no longer ready to lend his hand to the abandonment of the abductees, the abandonment of the north, the crushing of the economy and the middle class,” he wrote in a post on X.
“He should say that he will no longer help Netanyahu stay in power and he is leaving the government immediately and calling for elections now.”
Netanyahu puts his own interests before lives of soldiers: Qassam Brigades
The armed wing of Hamas says the Israeli military is “throwing soldiers into the alleys of Gaza to return in coffins” in an effort to find the remains of the captives who the military has “deliberately targeted and killed”.
“Netanyahu would rather have his soldiers killed while searching for remains than go for a prisoner exchange that does not serve his political and personal interests,” said Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, in a short statement.
This comes after the Israeli military said it found the remains of three captives in Gaza who were allegedly killed by Palestinians during the October 7 attacks.
