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‘Clock is ticking’ for Harris: Pro-Palestinian activist
A coalition of about 200 social justice organisations are planning to march at the US Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Monday, protesting one of the thorniest electoral issues – Washington’s aid to Israel.
Hatem Abudayyeh, spokesperson for the March on the DNC coalition, told Reuters dozens of coalition group leaders met after President Joe Biden ended his campaign but decided to go ahead with the rally nonetheless.
The Abandon Biden campaign group believes his replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, bears responsibility for Gaza’s humanitarian crisis but is not yet launching an Abandon Harris campaign, spokesperson Hudhayfah Ahmad was quoted as saying by the agency.
The group will be in Chicago and watching for changes to the Democratic Party’s position on Israel-Palestine. “We’re going to give [Harris] a lot more grace than we gave Joe Biden,” Ahmad said. “However, I will emphasise, the clock is ticking and our patience is running out.”
No ‘positive signals’ yet from ceasefire talks: Hamas spokesman
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan has spoken with Al Jazeera about the status of ongoing ceasefire talks in Doha.
He said that Hamas, which is not directly participating in the talks, does not yet have a clear picture of where the negotiations stand, but that its officials have no reason to believe Israel is sending any positive signals.
“Mediators are still talking about bridging the gaps, but it is clear that the Israeli side is adding more conditions, talking about new issues,” said Hamdan. “I believe they are trying to undermine the process.”
Specifically, Hamdan pushed back on the prospect of Israel maintaining security control over Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor, saying Hamas continued to demand a “complete withdrawal” from the Strip, which it had previously received assurances from mediators of.
If Israel relays any “positive signals”, Hamas would be willing to participate in the talks, but that has not happened yet, said Hamdan.
Ceasefire talks were ‘serious and constructive’
A joint statement from the mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US says the talks this week in Doha were “serious and constructive”.
It says both sides were presented with a proposal that “narrows the gaps between the parties” while being consistent with the “principles” laid out in the plan presented by President Biden in May.
“Senior officials from our governments will meet again in Cairo before the end of next week, hoping to reach an agreement on the terms set out today,” the statement said, reiterating that “there is no more time to waste and no excuses for further delay that can be accepted by any party.”
“The path is now clear to achieve this outcome, to save lives, to bring relief to the people of Gaza, and to calm regional tensions.”
Israel expects UK, French support in potential attack against Iran
Israel’s foreign minister says Israel expects Britain and France to join it in attacking Iran if Tehran hits Israel.
Israel Katz relayed the message directly during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who are visiting Israel, the AFP news agency reported.
“If Iran attacks, we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defence but also in attacking significant targets in Iran,” Katz told his French and UK counterparts.
UN says seven-day ceasefire needed for polio vaccination drive
The UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) and children’s fund (UNICEF) have renewed their request for a Gaza truce to allow for a mass polio vaccination campaign, saying a seven-day pause is needed to complete the initiative.
The agencies are planning the vaccination drive because samples of polio, which can cause paralysis, have been found in Gaza’s wastewater, while several children have shown symptoms consistent with the infectious disease.
Planned for late August and early September, the campaign aims to vaccinate 640,000 children under the age of 10, against type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2), the UN agencies said in a media release.
It will take 2,700 health workers to deliver the vaccinations in two rounds across the Strip, it added. “Without the humanitarian pauses, the delivery of the campaign will not be possible,” said the agencies.
