Main events on July 29th
- Israeli attacks on Gaza have now killed at least 60,034 people and wounded 145,870 others since the war began in October 2023.
- The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitoring system, warned the “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding in Gaza.
- At least 83 Palestinians were killed since dawn across the war-battered territory including 33 people searching for food, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
- Save the Children says the number of children aged under 5 with acute malnutrition in its Gaza clinics has surged over the past four months.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes more steps to end the “appalling situation” in Gaza.
- Israel called Starmer’s announcement “a reward for Hamas”.
- Senate Democrats are pressuring President Trump’s administration to intervene as Palestinians starve in Gaza and Israel continues to block desperately needed aid.
Saudi Arabia, France seek support for declaration on two-state solution
Saudi Arabia and France called on countries to support a declaration that outlines “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
The first step outlined in the declaration is to end the 21-month war on Gaza.
“Following the ceasefire, a transitional administrative committee must be immediately established to operate in Gaza under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority,” the declaration said.
It supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission, mandated by the UN Security Council, and welcomes “the readiness expressed by some member states to contribute troops”.
It calls on Israel’s leadership to “issue a clear public commitment to the two-state solution, including a sovereign and viable Palestinian State,” to immediately end violence and incitement against Palestinians, and to halt all land grabs, and annexation activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
“Only by ending the war in Gaza, releasing all hostages, ending occupation, rejecting violence and terror, realizing an independent, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state, ending the occupation of all Arab territories and providing solid security guarantees for Israel and Palestine, can normal relations and coexistence among the region’s peoples and states be achieved,” it said.
Does that include releasing the 3,500 Palestinian hostages in administrative detention (no representation, no/secret 'evidence') under horrible conditions including torture? Plus the rest of the 10,000+ in jail most of whom never saw a fair trial.
Anyway just calling for a declaration doesn't mean much, not that Israel will ever give that without actual pressure.
