Saudia and Iran share same stance on Gaza

Saudi Arabian foreign minister has stated that the kingdom shares Iran’s position over the Gaza issue and that further international efforts are needed to put a stop to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian people.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud held a meeting on the sidelines of the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva on Wednesday.

During their discussion, the two senior diplomats talked about a variety of bilateral, regional, and global topics, with a focus on finding a solution to stop the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza.

Saudi Arabia, according to Bin Farhan, agrees with Iran on the need of supporting the Palestinian people, establishing a prompt truce in Gaza, and delivering humanitarian relief to the beleaguered enclave.

The Saudi minister praised the improving relations between Riyadh and Tehran, calling them on the right track, and stated that his nation supports the growth of political and economic cooperation with Iran.

He called for the fulfillment of the accords, hailing the two countries’ cooperation agreements as a strong point.

Amir Abdollahian expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss the Gaza conflict.

He also condemned the ongoing war crimes and genocide committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza and the West Bank, calling for concerted efforts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the other Muslim and regional states to put pressure on the United States and Zionist regime to guarantee an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

Amir Abdollahian and his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib held a meeting on the sidelines of the GRF in Switzerland on Tuesday.

The foreign minister of Iran issued a warning, stating that if the Zionist regime’s military attacks on Gaza continue, it could escalate tensions and lead to a regional explosion.

“Iran and Lebanon are on the same front, and Iran only wants the best interests of the Lebanese government, nation, and resistance front,” Amir Abdollahian said, praising the ongoing discussions on a range of bilateral and regional issues between Tehran and Beirut.

Touching on the critical circumstances in Palestine, the senior Iranian diplomat said, “It is necessary that the United States put an end to its unlimited support for the Zionist regime and its war crimes against the Palestinian nation.” 

“Lebanon has always been one of the key pillars of anti-Zionist resistance in the region,” Amir Abdollahian continued, emphasizing the necessity for joint efforts to stop the Zionists’ genocide in Palestine.

Lebanese foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the meeting with his Iranian counterpart, stating that “consultations between the two sides have always been fruitful and constructive.”

Bou Habib also spoke on the situation in Lebanon, namely the situation along the country’s southern borders with territories under occupation. 

Iran’s foreign minister asserted that in order to make up for the Zionist regime’s inability to crush the Palestinian resistance groups, the US administration is orchestrating political schemes for the Gaza Strip’s post-war destiny.

Amir Abdollahian emphasized the need for Islamic countries to resolutely stand with Palestine in opposition to the Zionist regime’s ongoing war crimes and brutal attacks in Gaza and the West Bank. 

He further highlighted the blow to the Zionist regime’s dignity on October 07 and its inability to produce meaningful results despite committing heinous war crimes against Palestinian citizens over the last two months.

Ammar, for his part, underlined the need of working together to raise relations to a higher level.

He also advocated for more effective measures to strengthen relationships, notably in the economic and commercial domains, in line with their political ties.

The Tunisian foreign minister praised Iran for its constant support for Palestine, saying, “In Tunisia, we ardently support the cause of Palestine, firmly believing that killing the Palestinian nation will not lead to any gains.”

 

Saudi Arabia improves score in UNCTAD Liner Shipping Connectivity Index

In a significant development that aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), Saudi Arabia has solidified its competitiveness and global standing.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) attained its highest improvement in UNCTAD's Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) for Q4 2023, securing a remarkable score of 79.01 points. This achievement adds to the recent major records, including a score of 77.66 during Q3.

Several factors contributed to this accomplishment. In 2023, 28 new cargo services were added in collaboration with leading shipping liners.

The Kingdom also made significant progress in container handling, rising from the 24th position to the 16th position in the Lloyd's List One Hundred Ports rankings.

Saudi Arabia jumped 17 places in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) to secure the 38th position out of 160 countries.

Mawani's success can be attributed to its continuous infrastructure upgrades and modernization efforts. The optimization of operations, implementation of initiatives to automate port operations, and deployment of cutting-edge equipment align with their mission to adopt smart technologies.

Furthermore, Mawani's commitment to facilitating import and export procedures has promoted national exports and fostered global maritime trade, ultimately reducing the cost of port operations.

The Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) aims to enhance global port connectivity and increase the number of shipping lines.

It achieves this by considering various sub-indicators such as the frequency of scheduled vessel visits per week, standardized ship capacity, and the availability of regular service routes provided by shipping lines for inbound and outbound transportation. These indicators evaluate the level of connectivity between ports across different countries and their associated shipping line networks.

 

 

Saudi Aramco acquires stake in Pakistani company

Reportedly, Saudi Aramco has acquired a 40% stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan (GO Petroleum). This is the second major development in Pakistan’s oil marketing space this year - both led by Saudi Arabia - with Wafi Energy earlier entering into a share purchase agreement to buy Shell Pakistan (SHEL PA).

Incorporated in 2015, GO Petroleum retails fuels and lubricants, backed by about 1,100 outlets and a storage capacity of 200,000 tons. It is the 2nd largest oil marketing company in Pakistan in terms of retail outlets. However, its market share has fluctuated between 6 to 8 percent in the last three years, making it smaller than SHEL and APL. The industry leader remains PSO (enjoying market share of 50%).  

Although, pricing details have not been divulged as yet, according to Pakistan’s leading brokerage house, Intermarket Securities the assessed intrinsic value of US$200 million for SHEL to tentatively price the GO deal.

Given GO’s smaller market share, including in the lubricants business and the lack of a brand value comparable to SHEL, the brokerage house takes the deal price between US$100 million to US$150 million.

A 40% stake at this valuation range translates to US$40 million to US$60 million.

The brokerage house estimates that Vitol Dubai has a 10% share in GO Petroleum but it is unclear at this point if this is part of the 40% stake being acquired by Aramco.

It is likely but not certain that Aramco will take over management rights.

The GO Petroleum deal will be Aramco’s first investment in Pakistan, and comes on the heels of its earlier moves to acquire Valvoline’s global operations and Chile’s Esmax Distribution SpA.

The GO Petroleum investment will likely be very small in comparison to these other overseas downstream ventures. This leads analysts to think it may well represent a testing of the waters, with Aramco reportedly also interested in setting up a mega refinery project in Pakistan.

If GO Petroleum expands rapidly it could eat into the existing market shares of competitors. At present, given its major presence on motorways and the North region, GO primarily competes with HASCOL and APL, while urban centers are dominated by PSO and SHEL.

A possible expansion into the South region will impact the latter two companies more.

 

Russia and Saudi Arabia urge all to join oil cuts

Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's two biggest oil exporters, on Thursday called for all OPEC+ members to join an agreement on output cuts for the good of the global economy only days after a fractious meeting of the producers' club.

Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin went to Riyadh in a hastily arranged visit to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kremlin released a joint Russian-Saudi statement about the conclusion of their discussions.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Russia and other allies agreed last week to new voluntary cuts of about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), led by Saudi Arabia and Russia rolling over their voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd.

"In the field of energy, the two sides commended the close cooperation between them and the successful efforts of the OPEC+ countries in enhancing the stability of global oil markets," said the statement released by the Kremlin.

"They stressed the importance of continuing this cooperation, and the need for all participating countries to join to the OPEC+ agreement, in a way that serves the interests of producers and consumers and supports the growth of the global economy," the statement, which was in Russian, added.

The Russian version used the word join while an English translation of the statement, also released by the Kremlin, used the word adhere to the OPEC+ agreement.

Saudi state news agency SPA said that the crown prince, known as MbS, and Putin had emphasized in their meeting the need for OPEC+ members to commit to the group's agreement.

Oil market sources said that such an explicit public remark from the Kremlin and the kingdom about "joining" cuts appeared to be an attempt to send a message to members of the OPEC+ club who had not cut or not cut enough.

The biggest member of OPEC excluded from the cuts is Iran, the economy of which has been under various US sanctions since 1979 after the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran.

Iran is boosting production and hopes to reach output of 3.6 million bpd by March 20 next year.

After his return to Moscow from Saudi Arabia, Putin on Thursday held talks with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in the Kremlin, along with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Mystery still surrounds Putin's trip to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, on which he was escorted by four Russian fighter jets, and it was not immediately clear what particular issue was so important for Putin to make a rare overseas trip.

The Kremlin said Putin and MbS also discussed the conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Yemen, the Iranian nuclear program and deepening defence cooperation.

MbS has sought to reassert Saudi Arabia as a regional power with less deference to the United States. Saudi Arabia is the biggest purchaser of US arms.

Putin, who sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, says Russia is engaged in an existential battle with the West and has courted allies across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia amid Western attempts to isolate Moscow.

"With regard to the crisis in Ukraine, the Russian side expressed appreciation for the humanitarian and political efforts undertaken by His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman," the joint statement said.

Putin and MbS, who together control a fifth of the oil pumped each day, were shown smiling and engaging in an effusive handshake as Putin emerged from his car in the Saudi capital.

Both MbS and Putin want and need high prices for oil, the lifeblood of their economies. The question for both is how much of the burden each should take on to keep prices aloft, and how to verify the burden.

At the talks with MbS, Putin said that a planned visit by the prince to Russia had been changed at the last minute, prompting him to visit Riyadh.

"We awaited you in Moscow," Putin told MbS with a smile.

"I know that events forced a correction to those plans, but as I have already said, nothing can prevent the development of our friendly relations."

Putin then said: "But the next meeting should be in Moscow."

The crown prince said through a Russian translator that he was ready to do that.

"Then we are agreed," Putin said.

 

 

Putin arrives Saudi Arabia to meet Mohammad

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a rare trip abroad to discuss oil production, OPEC Plus and the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

Putin's meeting with the prince, known as MbS, comes after oil prices fell despite a pledge by OPEC Plus, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, to further cut output.

Putin arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for talks President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. He is due to then travel to Saudi Arabia for his first face-to-face meeting with MbS since October 2019.

The Kremlin said they would discuss energy cooperation, including as part of OPEC Plus, whose members pump more than 40% of the world's oil.

"Close Russian-Saudi coordination in this format is a reliable guarantee of maintaining a stable and predictable situation in the global oil market," the Kremlin said.

The Kremlin's chief's last visit to the region was in July 2022, when he met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran.

It was not immediately clear what Putin, who has rarely left Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, intends to discuss with the crown prince of the world's largest oil exporter, just days after disagreements delayed a key OPEC Plus meeting.

They will also discuss the war between Israel and Hamas militants, the situation in Syria and Yemen, and broader issues like ensuring stability in the Gulf, the Kremlin said. A Kremlin aide said Ukraine would also be discussed.

Putin will host Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Moscow on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Putin and MbS, who together control one-fifth of the oil pumped each day, have long enjoyed close relations, though both have at times been ostracised by the West.

At a G20 summit in 2018, just two month after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi consulate, Putin and MbS high-fived and shook hands with smiles.

MbS, 38, has sought to reassert Saudi Arabia as a regional power with less deference to the United States, which supplies Riyadh most of its weapons and which is the world's top producer of oil.

Putin, who sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, says Russia is engaged in an existential battle with the West - and has courted allies across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia amid Western attempts to isolate Moscow.

Both MbS and Putin, 71, want and need high prices for oil - the lifeblood of their economies. The question for both, is how much of the burden each should take on to keep prices aloft - and how to verify the burden.

OPEC Plus last month delayed its meeting by several days due to disagreements over production levels by some members. Saudi's energy minister said OPEC Plus also wanted more assurances from Moscow it would do good on its pledge to reduce fuel exports.

Relations between Saudi and Russia in OPEC Plus have at times been uneasy and a deal on cuts almost broke down in March 2020, when the markets were already shaken by the onset of the COVID pandemic.

But the two nations managed to patch up their relations within weeks and OPEC Plus agreed to record cuts of almost 10% of global oil demand, to prop up the oil markets.

Since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 07, Putin has cast the conflict as a failure of US policy in the Middle East and has fostered ties with Arab allies and Iran, as well as with Hamas.

When Russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, it helped tip the balance in Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's favour, ensuring the Syrian leader's survival despite Western demands that he be toppled.

"The Kremlin seeks to build its line of behaviour taking into account the opinions of the main regional players - Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran, who are not just observers, but also, in a sense, participants in the situation," Andrey Kortunov of the Russian International Affairs Council think tank told the Vedomosti newspaper.

 

Palestinian Red Crescent thanks Saudi Arabia

The Executive Director of Palestinian Red Crescent Dr. Bashar Murad thanked Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), for its humanitarian role in providing relief to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Murad explained that there were many violations against hospitals and health centers carried out during the current crisis that the Gaza Strip is going through, in addition to the direct targeting of ambulances.

As a result of these attacks, more than 30 ambulances have been out of service so far, in addition to facing difficulty in transporting casualties, he said.

The executive director indicated that they had received a group of ambulances provided by Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, to support the ambulance fleet in Gaza.

As for the Saudi aid that was sent to the Gaza Strip, which included various food, medical, and shelter materials, Dr. Murad confirmed that they sent it quickly to the neediest areas in the Strip.

He also added that they sent medical materials and supplies provided by the Kingdom to the Ministry of Health and hospitals working in the field to strengthen the health system in the southern regions of the Gaza Strip.

The executive director drew attention to the meetings held in Riyadh between representatives of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and officials of the KSrelief to discuss the urgent needs for relief for the people of the Strip, especially the southern regions, noting that the number of displaced people there exceeded 1 million.

Dr. Murad praised the support provided via land and sea bridges by Saudi Arabia, which was offered through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

Iran-Saudi Arabia military cooperation

High ranking military officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran deliberated on proposals to strengthen military ties between the two Muslim nations. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri discussed a number of topics over the phone on Thursday.

The Iranian Armed Forces are prepared to strengthen their military ties with Saudi Arabia, according to General Bagheri.

In addition, he praised Riyadh for convening an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently to discuss the Gaza issue and the strengthening of amicable ties between Tehran and Riyadh.

The Saudi minister of defense praised the efforts to strengthen military ties between the two countries.

The two dignatories also spoke about the urgent problems facing the Muslim world.

On November 01, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in the Saudi capital for a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders on the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.

This was the first visit by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh under a Chinese-brokered agreement last March. 

Also, Raisi’s trip to Saudi Arabia was the first visit by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia in 11 years. 

President Raisi spoke to reporters before leaving Tehran for Riyadh, saying the OIC summit should have not been a platform for declaring positions but instead, it should have resulted in actions on Gaza. 

Raisi called the holding of an emergency meeting of the OIC and reaching a fully operational and executive decision about Gaza the expectation of all the people of the world, especially the Islamic Ummah, according to the official website of the Iranian presidency. 

“This platform is not one for mere speech and announcement of positions, but must be a platform for action to quickly stop the bombings, lift the blockade of Gaza, and open the way to help the oppressed and authoritative people of this region, as well as to achieve the rights of the Palestinians, which was basically the main philosophy of the establishment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” Raisi said.

He stated that the main purpose of his trip to Saudi Arabia was to participate in the emergency meeting of the OIC on the Palestinian issue.

Referring to the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to hold this meeting immediately since the beginning of the Zionist regime's invasion of Gaza, he said, “The issue of Palestine is the main issue of the Islamic Ummah and the Muslims of the world, but it is also the issue of humanity and all the people of understanding and thinking all over the world who have taken to the streets in millions these days and they shout about the oppression of the Zionist regime and the support of the Americans for this genocide.”

President Raisi stated that the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza today are a clear example of war crimes and crimes against humanity, adding, “The Americans claim in their statements and messages that they are not looking to expand the domain of the war, while this claim is not compatible with their actions at all, because the fuel of the Zionist war machine is provided by the Americans.”

He described the US efforts to obstruct a ceasefire in Gaza at various meetings including at the UN Security Council as examples of the Americans lying about recent events. “Today the world should see the main face of the Americans, to see how, as stated by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, they are the main supporter of crimes against the oppressed nations with good appearance and velvet hands,” he continued.

Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement on March 10 to reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies and missions following seven years of estrangement, following protracted discussions mediated by China.

The two reginal powerhouses have emphasized the need of respecting one another’s national sovereignty and abstaining from meddling in one another’s domestic affairs.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of the Iranian Navy, revealed intentions in June for several regional nations, notably Saudi Arabia and Iran, to join a new naval coalition in the northern Indian Ocean.

Later, in August, representatives from the two governments’ defense ministries came to an agreement to swap military attachés.

 

Saudi Arabia extends oil production cuts

The Ministry of Energy announced that Saudi Arabia plans to prolong its one million barrels per day voluntary production cut, initiated in July 2023, until the end of the first quarter in 2024.

This collaborative decision involves coordination with select OPEC Plus nations, maintaining the Kingdom's production at around 9 million barrels per day until March 2024.

“A phased return of these additional cut volumes will be executed, contingent upon market conditions, to bolster overall market stability,” an official source at the ministry said.

The announcement emphasized that this voluntary cut is an augmentation to the earlier disclosed 500 thousand barrels per day reduction, declared in April 2023, which is slated to persist until the culmination of December 2024.

The source underscored that this supplementary voluntary cut is part of the collective precautionary measures taken by OPEC Plus countries to fortify efforts aimed at upholding the stability and equilibrium of global oil markets.

 

BRICS an evidence of failure of Modi Doctrine

According to, Alan Paul Varghese, an independent foreign affairs and geopolitical analyst based in New Delhi, it became clear that India continues its alignment with the West and Israel.

At the BRICS Plus extraordinary meeting hosted by South Africa on the conflicts in West Asia, it became clear that India continues its alignment with the West and Israel. While most of the members reiterated how Israel’s settler colonialism is the root cause of the conflict, Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar stood firm on blaming Hamas. He also stated that there can be no compromise to terrorism.

The Modi doctrine of diplomacy for the past nine years has stagnated India’s internal reputation and aspirations. Narendra Modi had skipped the online meeting due to the election campaigns in poll-bound states.

Though the officials stated that Modi was preoccupied with the campaign schedules, it is obvious that the outcome of the extraordinary meeting was anticipated.

In a close examination of recent diplomatic events by India, one can categorically see how the Modi doctrine is failing to capture its promised achievements.

While the economy is trailing and seldom benefitted through trade agreements, the only resort of Narendra Modi and Jaishankar was their self-projection as the leader of the Global South.

It is noteworthy that the extraordinary meeting succeeded the Voice of Global South Summit which had references to ongoing genocide in Palestine.

BRICS Plus comprising of mostly countries from the global south has proved that India is isolated for its stand on the Israel-Palestine issue. This isolation has a serious impact on the future geo-political prospects of India.

In evaluating the BRICS extraordinary meeting Iran urged the members to cease economic and military interactions with Israel. Vladimir Putin who attended the meeting criticized the US monopolization of mediation efforts. He urged the international community to unite in an effort to achieve a speedy de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and added that the BRICS nations and regional actors could play a leading role in this process.

This can be a possible indication of Argentina’s disassociation from BRICS as Milie, a far-right economist is a proactive supporter of dollarizing the economy. 

Xi Jinping in his address said “The root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the fact that the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence, and their right of return have long been ignored. It has been often reiterated that the only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine. There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine. China calls for early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace and work toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just, and sustainable.”

Saudi Arabia called for the cessation of arms and ammunition supplies to Israel.

Argentina’s newly elected President Javier Milie condemned Hamas and demanded that Israel must adhere to international humanitarian law.

India had three diplomatic events before this extraordinary meeting. The ICC World Cup, Voice of Global South Summit, and ministerial dialogue between India and Australia.

During the World Cup Modi tried for cricket diplomacy by inviting his counterparts of the UK and Australia. Though Rishi Sunak expressed his readiness, due to some reasons he didn’t make his presence.

A sideline discussion with Anthony Albanese prior to the 2+2 ministerial dialogue was expected to boost talks in favour of India. But Albanese prioritized the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit over his QUAD partner.

The core weakness of Modi doctrine – neglecting the neighbours was visible in the failed innings of cricket diplomacy. In the interview given to The Hindu, Australian finance minister Penny Wong in reply to a question on whether India’s urge to take action against the Khalistan group was fulfilled, she said “ ….In relation to that I’d say is we respect your sovereignty. And we also are very clear about the line between peaceful protests, freedom of expression, and violence and vandalism.”

She has already clarified that the cooperation with India is for the balancing of power to counter China. The failed cricket diplomacy, Australia’s stand on the India-Canada standoff, and the statements by Wong proved how India has turned into a vassal of the Western countries under the Modi doctrine.

The current stand of the union government has isolated India in the Global South. Meanwhile, China is on the verge of emerging as the new dominant player in West Asian geopolitics. In the background of the Saudi-Iran peace deal that was brokered by China, Arab countries held direct talks with Beijing.

The officials holding meetings with China were from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestinian authorities, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others. Succeeding this South Africa, one of the strongest allies of China in the African continent hosted the virtual meeting of BRICS. Joining the dots, China is set to emerge in the role of mediator. Arab countries met Chinese diplomats to give a strong message to the USA too.

With the BRICS extraordinary meeting, China was able to successfully entrap the United States between the Zionist pressure for continuous aggression and the Middle East pressure for a ceasefire. One will not be mistaken to assume that China is working to diminish the outreach of US in West Asia.

Though, a joint declaration was not issued from the statements of various leaders except Jaishankar all others demanded a ceasefire and held Israel’s settler colonialism as the reason for the conflict. They endorsed the initiatives of Arab countries for establishing peace. South African parliament has voted for the closure of the Israel Embassy in Pretoria.

Undoubtedly India has trailed from its glorious legacy of being the voice of global south. China emphasized on the strategy that India forgot during the Modi era. In the past, India’s diplomacy focused on creating a New Economic World Order based on the liberation of Asian, African, and Latin American countries from neo-colonialism. The Non-Aligned Movement led by India comprised countries that gained independence from colonial regimes.

These were not powerful countries but had the potential of multiple dimensions. It was never the service or submission to power that helped India and NAM to develop their influences. China has built deep economic cooperation with African and Asian post-colonial countries than with the Western countries.

Bharath Karnad assessed Modi’s foreign policy as “bowing to the powerful and bullying the weak.” Such policies only result in the rupture of the country’s power.

In an article written by Rahul Nath Choudhary in East Asia Forum, he noted that the majority of free trade agreements signed by India failed to cater better results. In the period between 2017 and 2022, India’s exports to its FTA partners increased by 31%, while its imports increased by 82%. India’s FTA utilization remains very low at around 25%, while utilization for developed countries typically is 70% to 80%. 

The alternative for this – bilateral agreements and multilateral forums can be achieved if India could revamp another NAM based on multipolarity and de-dollarization. If the escalation continues in West Asia the future of India’s Middle East Corridor will be forever at a crossroad. Even a peace treaty based on the intervention of China and BRIC countries will bring the same fate.

 

Saudi Arabia-China currency swap agreement

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has signed a three-year currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of China, marking a milestone in financial cooperation between the two nations.

The accord establishes a maximum swap value of 50 billion Chinese yuan.

This strategic agreement reflects the commitment of both central banks to enhance collaboration and strengthen ties founded on mutual interests.

The three-year duration underscores the long-term nature of this financial partnership, showcasing the enduring commitment of Saudi Arabia and China to bolstering their economic relations.

United States needs war in Gaza

A summit by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resulted in a blanket condemnation of Israel, but lacked substantive solutions. The summit was sabotaged by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, who recently normalized relations with Israel. These countries block significant actions due to extensive US influence and future geopolitical calculations, causing disappointment among the international Muslim community.

After all, the Arab street – even while repressed in their home nations – has pulsed with protests expressing ferocious rage against Israel’s wholesale massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Arab leaders were forced to take some sort of action beyond suspending a few ambassadorships with Israel, and called for a special Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit to discuss the ongoing Israeli war against Palestinian children.

Representatives of 57 Muslim states convened in Riyadh on 11 November to deliver a serious, practical blow against genocidal practitioners and enablers. But in the end, nothing was offered, not even solace.

The OIC’s final statement will always be enshrined in the Gilded Palace of Cowardice. Highlights of the tawdry rhetorical show: we oppose Israel’s self-defense; we condemn the attack on Gaza; we ask (who?) not to sell weapons to Israel; we request the kangaroo ICC to investigate war crimes; we request a UN resolution condemning Israel.

For the record, that’s the best 57 Muslim-majority countries could drum up in response to this 21st-century genocide. History, even if written by victors, tends to be unforgiving towards cowards.

The Top Four Cowards, in this instance, are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco – the latter three having normalized relations with Israel under a heavy US hand in 2020. These are the ones that consistently blocked serious measures from being adopted at the OIC summit, such as the Algerian draft proposal for an oil ban on Israel, plus banning the use of Arab airspace to deliver weapons to the occupation state.

Egypt and Jordan – longtime Arab vassals – were also non-committal, as well as Sudan, which is in the middle of a civil war. Turkiye, under Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan, once again showed it is all talk and no action; a neo-Ottoman parody of the Texan “all hat, no cattle.”

Britain based anti Iranian TV channel to close operations

Manoto, a Britain based television channel, often attracting criticism for its anti-Iranian stance and being the platform for monarchists living outside the country, has announced the cessation of its operations by the end of January 2024.

Keyvan and Marjan Abbassi, the heads of this network, communicated the decision via a Telegram message, stating that they might continue broadcasting until the end of January 2024, after which they will bid farewell to the network.

Manoto TV, a longstanding player in Iran's media landscape, has been a source of controversy due to its alignment with anti-Iran sentiments. Accused of propagandist inclinations and aligning with monarchists, this media outlet has faced substantial criticism for its productions.

The recent announcement unfolds against the backdrop of a turbulent year for anti-Iran fronts, where media outlets sharing similar ideologies grappled with credibility challenges and a decline in audience engagement.

The development draws parallels with the fate of Iran International TV channel, once funded by Saudi capitalists. Compelled to undergo a paradigm shift due to a change in ownership, the network found itself aligning with Zionists’ views. The transformations in media ownership and allegiance underscore the intricate interplay of political and financial forces shaping the narrative in the region.

Having operated for over 14 years, Manoto TV attempted to propagate news against the Iranian government, serving as a mouthpiece for particular political and religious groups who are mostly funded by foreign spy agencies.

 

Saudi Crown Prince blasts international failure to halt Israeli aggression

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has affirmed the Kingdom’s unequivocal rejection and condemnation of Israel’s unjust war on Palestine.

Prince Mohammed described there was a humanitarian catastrophe that exposes the failure of the Security Council and the international community to curb the blatant Israeli violations.

He reiterated the call for an immediate cessation of military operations and the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the relief of civilians.

Crown Prince made his remarks as he chaired and opened the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Saturday, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

He said, “This summit convened under exceptional and painful circumstances. In this regard, we strongly condemn and reject this unjust war, which our brothers in Palestine are enduring.

“Thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, have fallen victim, and hospitals, places of worship, and infrastructure have been destroyed.”

“Saudi Arabia has exerted continuous efforts since the beginning of the events to protect civilians in Gaza, consulting and coordinating with its brothers and effective countries in the international community to halt the war.”

He renewed Saudi Arabia’s demands for an immediate cessation of military operations, the provision of humanitarian corridors for civilian relief, and enabling international humanitarian organizations to fulfill their roles.

He also called for the release of hostages and detainees, the preservation of lives, and the protection of the innocent.

“We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe that testifies to the failure of the Security Council and the international community to put an end to the blatant Israeli violations.

“It violates international laws, norms, and humanitarian law, demonstrating double standards and selectivity in their application.

“This threatens global security and stability. Therefore, it requires a coordinated collective effort to address this unfortunate situation.

Prince Mohammed called for working together to lift the blockade by providing humanitarian and relief aid, securing medical supplies for the sick and injured in Gaza.

He emphatically expressed Saudi Arabia’s firm rejection of the ongoing aggression, occupation, and forced displacement of Gaza residents.

The Crown Prince asserted the Saudi position, holding the occupying authorities responsible for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people and their resources.

He reiterated the conviction that the only way to achieve security, peace, and stability in the region is to end the occupation, siege, and settlement, ensuring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and establishing their independent state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Iranian president lands in Riyadh for landmark summit

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his delegation touched down in Riyadh on Saturday to partake in the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit.

Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Saudi Ambassador to Iran Abdullah Al-Anzi, Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr. Alireza Enayati, and various officials, this marks the first visit of an Iranian president to the Kingdom in over a decade.

Notably, diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were reinstated in March 2023, leading to the exchange of diplomatic missions and the reopening of embassies in both capitals.

Raisi is slated to participate in the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, convened in response to the situation in Gaza.

The summit aims to underscore the significance of consolidating efforts and presenting a unified stance that reflects the joint Arab-Islamic stance concerning the serious and unprecedented developments in Gaza and the Palestinian territories.

Who will ultimately get control over Gaza?

Israel’s unabated bombardment at Gaza is raising questions over how the coastal enclave would be managed once the fighting is over. This exposes a growing divide between United States and Israeli officials on the issue. 

Several US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have said Israel should not occupy Gaza and the strip must be run by Palestinians. That has contrasted with Israel’s messaging. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to hold Gaza for an indefinite period once the dust settles, though he has not clarified what exactly that would mean for Palestinians. 

The post-conflict management of Gaza is also dependent on the outcome of the war and whether Israel fulfills its mission to eradicate Palestinian militant group Hamas — along with how much destruction is inflicted to that end. 

“The military operation itself may go on for a very, very long time, depending upon what form it takes and how successful it is, there are different possibilities,” said Ian Lesser, the vice president of German Marshall Fund US.  

“In the worst case, it could be that Israel is dealing with an ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operation that is essentially open-ended,” he added. “So it could be a long time until we even see some kind of new phase.” 

Israel held Gaza from 1967 to 2005, when it withdrew following a major Palestinian uprising.  

Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, but the US-designated terrorist group is now fighting for its survival after it launched a surprise attack on southern Israel October 07 and killed 1,200 people, according to Israel’s revised figures.

Both Israel and the US agree that Hamas cannot be returned to power in Gaza, but the messaging on what happens next is muddied. 

Blinken said there may need to be a transition period at the end of the war, but that it was imperative that the Palestinian people be central to governance in Gaza. 

“We’re very clear on no reoccupation, just as we’re very clear on no displacement of the Palestinian population,” he said at a press event this week. “We need to see and get to, in effect, unity of governance when it comes to Gaza and the West Bank, and ultimately to a Palestinian state.” 

On Friday, Blinken also reiterated that the US is against the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and any efforts to reduce its territory. He also said Gaza must not be used as a terrorist base ever again. 

But Israel is still reeling from the October 07 attacks and officials are pushing to take whatever steps necessary to protect their people, both during and after the war. 

Netanyahu told ABC that he is committed to ensuring Israel cannot suffer the fate of October 07 again, promising a new security reality for the citizens of Israel. 

“For an indefinite period, Israel will have the overall security responsibility because we’ve seen what happens when we don’t have it,” he said. “When we don’t have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn’t imagine.” 

While Netanyahu later clarified he does not seek to reoccupy Gaza, he said at a meeting on Friday that Israel would have total security control of the coastal enclave after the war, according to Israeli media. 

It’s unclear what that will look like, whether it would mean an Israeli presence along the border of Gaza or involve control within the territory itself. 

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday the US was having active discussions with Israel about the issue but declined to speak on Israel’s specific intentions. 

While Israel has resisted a global pressure campaign calling for a ceasefire, it remains susceptible to pressure from the US, its key security partner. Israel agreed to officially implement four-hour humanitarian pauses each day after pressure from the Biden administration. 

Paul Fritz, a professor of political science at Hofstra University who specializes in international conflict, said he views the ongoing dialogue as bargaining between allies with different objectives. 

“There are definitely some significant rifts between the US and Israel, along with other states in the international system, but the sort of quiet diplomacy that’s going on might be bearing some fruit,” he said. 

“Any movement in that way could ultimately be helpful because these are small issues compared to the big political questions that are regarding what to do after the war.”

The war in Gaza is dividing the United States into pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel camps, and any Israeli occupation after the fighting would only widen those divisions. Occupation could also spark more anger against Israel, including among those still supportive of its retaliatory war. 

In the Senate, progressives like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have not joined calls for a ceasefire, but they have issued statements opposing any potential occupation.  

“Palestinians have a right to determine their own future,” Warren posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Israeli military occupation of Gaza undermines efforts to build two independent states that advance respect for every human being.” 

Rather than occupation, the US has backed the idea of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs the Israeli-occupied West Bank, also taking over the Gaza Strip. 

PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told PBS the government is open to governing Gaza only in the event of a comprehensive solution that creates a Palestinian state. 

“We are not going to go to Gaza on an Israeli military tank,” he said. “We are going to go to Gaza as part of a solution that deals with the question of Palestine that deals with occupation.” 

There’s no guarantee that Palestinian people accept the PA as a governing body, given its own issues with corruption, ineffectiveness and being perceived as too passive toward Israel. 

Will Wechsler, the senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, said, it was unrealistic to go back to the PA in the event that Israel defeats Hamas. 

He said they are struggling to do the practical work to govern in areas of the West Bank they currently control. 

Wechsler said the PA can still play an important role in the transition process, which could involve an international peacekeeping force.

“It’s going to be a real challenge and this is the most positive scenario,” Wechsler added. 

The war has also brought a renewed focus on a two-state solution — in which Israel and Palestine would exist in separate countries side-by-side — which many see as the only path toward lasting peace. 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Reuters there must be a serious negotiation for a two-state solution with the involvement of the US and other interested parties. 

Blinken said at a press briefing on Friday that the tragedy of October 07 reinforces us in our conviction and our commitment to durable and lasting peace through a two-state solution.

However, Hamas represents a swath of the Palestinian population that rejects the idea of existing peacefully alongside Israel, and even if the militant group is defeated in the war, the ideology will live on in some form. 

The war is already taking a massive death toll, with more than 11,000 Palestinians killed so far, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That has spurred fears that more Palestinians will be radicalized after the war, continuing the cycle of violence.  

“That’s the real danger,” said Fritz from Hofstra University, for Israel, for the Palestinians that they are going to be driven in this way.”

 

 

 

 

 

Saudi Arabia extends voluntary oil production cut

Saudi Arabia has decided to continue its voluntary cut of one million barrels per day, initially implemented in July 2023 and previously extended, until the end of December 2023.

This decision maintains the Kingdom’s production at approximately 9 million barrels per day for the month of December 2023, an official statement from the Ministry of Energy read.

The official source emphasized that a comprehensive review of this voluntary cut’s efficacy will take place next month, determining whether to extend, deepen, or adjust the production cut.

It was highlighted that this measure is an additional step following the voluntary cut announced by Saudi Arabia in April 2023, persisting until December 2024.

The source clarified that this supplementary voluntary cut aligns with OPEC Plus countries’ collective efforts to ensure the stability and equilibrium of global oil markets.

Saudi fundraising campaign to aid Palestinians

The donations in Saudi Arabia's fundraising campaign to aid Palestinians in Gaza Strip exceeded SR294 million within 2 days from its launch. The number of donors so far has reached 499,313.

The fundraising campaign to aid Palestinians in Gaza Strip, which is being carried out through the Sahem platform affiliated with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), was launched on Thursday.

The fundraising campaign is in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman.

KSrelief has announced that the Sahem platform is the only platform that collects donations from abroad in Saudi Arabia, pointing out that the platform does not charge any fees for the donation process, while it goes through governance stages befitting the name of the Kingdom.

The Center noted that Gaza is in need of relief, and the aid that has reached there is not enough.

It is noteworthy that donations to the fundraising campaign were opened with a donation from King Salman, who donated SR30 million, and the Crown Prince, who donated SR20 million.

Donations to the campaign can be made via the Sahem platform through the following link https://sahem.ksrelief.org/Gaza, or through the Sahem mobile app via Apple Store and Google Play.

Donors can also send their contributions directly to the campaign bank account (SA5580000504608018899998) at Al Rajhi Bank.

Secret US Base in Israel

According to a report, two months before Hamas attacked Israel, the Pentagon awarded a multi million dollar contract to build US troop facilities for a secret base it maintains deep within Israel’s Negev desert, just 20 miles from Gaza. Code-named ‘Site 5’, the longstanding US base is a radar facility that monitors the skies for missile attacks on Israel. 

On October 07, however, when thousands of Hamas rockets were launched, Site 512 saw nothing — because it is focused on Iran, more than 700 miles away.

The US Army is quietly moving ahead with construction at Site 512, a classified base perched atop Mt. Har Qeren in the Negev, to include what government records describe as a ‘life support facility’: military speak for barracks-like structures for personnel.

Though President Joe Biden and the White House insist that there are no plans to send U.S. troops to Israel amid its war on Hamas, a secret US military presence in Israel already exists. And the government contracts and budget documents show it is evidently growing. 

The US$35.8 million US troop facility, not publicly announced or previously reported, was obliquely referenced in an August 02 contract announcement by the Pentagon. Though the Defense Department has taken pains to obscure the site’s true nature — describing it in other records merely as a “classified worldwide” project — budget documents reviewed by The Intercept reveal that it is part of Site 512.

“Sometimes something is treated as an official secret not in the hope that an adversary would never find out about it but rather because the U.S. government, for diplomatic or political reasons, does not want to officially acknowledge it,” Paul Pillar, a former chief analyst at the CIA’s counterterrorism center who said he had no specific knowledge of the base, told The Intercept.

“In this case, perhaps the base will be used to support operations elsewhere in the Middle East in which any acknowledgment that they were staged from Israel, or involved any cooperation with Israel, would be inconvenient and likely to elicit more negative reactions than the operations otherwise would elicit.”

Rare acknowledgment of the US military presence in Israel came in 2017, when the two countries inaugurated a military site that the US government-funded Voice of America deemed “the first American military base on Israeli soil.”

Israeli Air Force’s Brig. Gen. Tzvika Haimovitch called it “historic.” He said, “We established an American base in the State of Israel, in the Israel Defense Forces, for the first time.” 

A day later, the U.S. military denied that it was an American base, insisting that it was merely a living facility for US service members working at an Israeli base. 

The US military employs similar euphemistic language to characterize the new facility in Israel, which its procurement records describe as a life support area.

Such obfuscation is typical of US military sites the Pentagon wants to conceal. Site 512 has previously been referred to as a “cooperative security location”: a designation that is intended to confer a low-cost, light footprint presence but has been applied to bases that, as The Intercept has previously reported, can house as many as 1,000 troops.

Site 512, however, wasn’t established to contend with a threat to Israel from Palestinian militants but the danger posed by Iranian mid-range missiles.

The overwhelming focus on Iran continues to play out in the US government’s response to the Hamas attack. In an attempt to counter Iran — which aids both Hamas and Israel’s rival to the north, Hezbollah, a Lebanese political group with a robust military wing, both of which are considered terror groups by the US — the Pentagon has vastly expanded its presence in the Middle East.

Following the attack, the US doubled the number of fighter jets in the region and deployed two aircraft carriers off the coast of Israel. 

“My speculation is that the secrecy is a holdover from when US presidential administrations tried to offer a pretense of not siding with Israel.”

Top Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have nonetheless castigated Biden for his purported “weakness on Iran.”

While some media accounts have said Iran played a role in planning the Hamas attack, there have been indications from the US intelligence community that Iranian officials were surprised by the attack.

The history of the US–Israel relationship may be behind the failure to acknowledge the base, said an expert on overseas US military bases.

“My speculation is that the secrecy is a holdover from when US presidential administrations tried to offer a pretense of not siding with Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts,” David Vine, a professor of anthropology at American University, told The Intercept.

“The announcement of US military bases in Israel in recent years likely reflects the dropping of that pretense and a desire to more publicly proclaim support for Israel.”

 

Isolating Iran No Longer Possible

The US President Joe Biden is convinced that one of the reasons Hamas launched the attack on Israel was the announcement during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor .

Biden has been telling so many lies to reclaim its leadership role in the Muslim Middle East. The two most compelling realities rejecting the American leadership are: one, a strong united regional solidarity cutting across sectarian divides to seek a settlement on Palestine, like at no time before, and, two, the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement. 

The latest developments involving Hamas and Israel undermined the US efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel. No doubt, the Saudi stance on the Palestine problem has hardened.

Do these words sound as if Biden is preparing for a war with Iran? For the first time, perhaps, there is a ray of hope that the US will no longer work around the Palestine problem. The bottom line, as the deliberations at the UN Security Council also testify, is that all responsible powers understand that the Middle East continues to be the centre of gravity in world politics and a conflagration in the region could easily turn into a world war. And none of the big powers wants such an apocalyptic outcome. 

That said, while the US still has unrivalled power in the Middle East, its influence has diminished, as new realities emerged which include:

Israel has grown more powerful militarily and economically vis-a-vis Palestinians, but no longer enjoys regional dominance. 

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two dominant powers in the Middle East, are increasingly asserting their own interests. 

China, although a relatively new player, is no longer confining itself to economic diplomacy. 

US has lost the capacity to leverage the world oil market, as Russia works closely with Saudi Arabia within the ambit of OPEC Plus to calibrate oil production level and prices. 

Consequently, petrodollar is weakening.  

The Abraham Accords have been shelved practically. 

The Arab-Israeli conflict has assumed new dimensions in the recent years, thanks to the ascendance of the axis of resistance, which require new postures and operational thinking on the part of the US. 

Israeli politics has swung sharply to extreme right. 

The global environment is highly complicated; the peace process can no longer be under US mentorship.

Russia hosted a trilateral meeting in Moscow with Iran’s deputy foreign minister  and a Hamas delegation. Later, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, announced that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will soon arrive on an official visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

In an all-out war with Iran, the US will take heavy casualties and the state of Israel may face destruction.

Iran may opt for nuclear deterrent capability. It is a near-certainty that a US-Iran war will turn into a world war. Clearly, war is not an option. 

There is high risk, therefore, in an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza. If Israel gets bogged down in Gaza, which by no means cannot be ruled out, there is a high possibility that Hezbollah may open a second front. And that, in turn, can trigger a chain reaction that may spin out of control. There is a danger if a ceasefire is not agreed upon early enough in the conflict, the repercussions could be very serious.

 

Israeli ground operation risks endless violence in region warns Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia issued a stark warning against the dangers of Israel's ground operation in the Gaza Strip. A Saudi official emphasized that such a ground invasion could plunge the region into a prolonged and endless cycle of violence.

The Kingdom expressed concern that the operation would have serious and grave repercussions for international peace and security.

He highlighted the real challenge and ethical responsibility facing the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, urging swift and binding action to halt the violence, protect civilians, and address the ongoing conflicts.

Saudi Arabia called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and underscored the need for urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan conducted multiple calls with Arab counterparts, including those from Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt.

The discussions focused on intensifying collective efforts to halt military escalation, prevent forced displacement of Gaza citizens, and engage the international community in providing consistent relief aid and medical assistance.

Furthermore, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, Jassem Al Budaiwi, stressed the absence of a political solution contributing to worsening conditions in Gaza, emphasizing the Security Council's responsibility for achieving peace and security in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Israel continued its military actions, urging Palestinians in Gaza to move south temporarily for their safety. The Israeli army accused Hamas of using civilian areas for military purposes, widening its air and ground attacks.

The death toll in Gaza has risen significantly, with a disproportionate impact on women and children. The UN General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce, a resolution supported by 120 states but rejected by Israel.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents face severe shortages of essentials due to the ongoing conflict and blockade.