Saudi Crown Prince calls for Palestinian state on 1967 borders

According to Saudi Gazette, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called for creating conditions that lead to stability in Gaza and lasting peace that ensures a just solution to the Middle East conflict by establishing a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Prince Mohammed affirmed the Kingdom's categorical rejection of targeting civilians under any pretext and stressed the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and the need to stop military operations against civilians and their infrastructure that directly affects their lives.

The Crown Prince made the remarks during his opening speech at the GCC-ASEAN summit in Riyadh on Friday.

"As we are holding this meeting, we are pained by the escalation of the ongoing violence in Gaza, the price of which is being paid by innocent civilians," he said.

Deputizing for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Prince Mohammed chaired the Riyadh Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Crown Prince received the leaders and heads of delegations participating in the summit upon their arrival at the summit's venue.

At the outset of the summit, verses of the Holy Qur'an were recited, following that the Crown Prince delivered the opening speech.

He said, "On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, I am delighted to welcome you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are pleased to hold this summit that is a testimony to the friendship and cooperation between the GCC states and ASEAN.

"Our meeting today aims to further develop cooperation and partnership in a way that fulfills the interests of peoples, increases opportunities for development, and consolidates security and stability."

He added, "The GCC-ASEAN countries have achieved a milestone in economic development, with the collective GDP of our countries exceeding US$7.8 trillion. We have witnessed economic growth that has increased our countries' contribution to the global GDP; the economies of the GCC and ASEAN countries have grown by 7.3% and 5.7%, respectively in 2022, motivating us to work together toward a more prosperous economy."

The growing GCC-ASEAN trade relations are evident by the volume of trade with the ASEAN countries, amounting to US$137 billion, 8% of GCC's global trade. The GCC exports to the ASEAN countries constitute 9% of its total exports; the GCC imports from ASEAN amount to 6% of the total GCC imports.

Over the past 20 years, the GCC invested 4% of its total foreign investments in ASEAN countries, amounting to US$75 billion. The ASEAN investment in the GCC accounts for 3.4% of the total foreign direct investments in the GCC countries, amounting to US$24.8 billion.

"We look forward to strengthening our economic relations, taking advantage of the available opportunities, and opening new scopes of cooperation in all fields, in light of the human resources, commercial opportunities, and promising investment projects that our countries possess."

Prince Mohammed commended "the level of coordination and cooperation our countries enjoy when it comes to international developments," while reaffirming the keenness to further advance joint action "to realize our goals and meet the aspirations of our peoples."

The Crown Prince appreciated ASEAN countries' support for the Kingdom's bid to host the Expo 2030 in Riyadh.

"The joint GCC-ASEAN action plan for 2024-2028 sets out a clear road map for increasing cooperation and partnership, which we are all keen to do, in various fields in order to serve our interests," he said.

He pledged that GCC countries will continue to be safe and reliable sources of energy, and contribute to maintaining the stability of global energy markets. "We are striving, at an accelerated pace, to meet, in a sustainable way, the requirements for developing clean, low-carbon energy technologies and petrochemical supply chains," Prince Mohammed said.

"We also look forward to achieving the maximum benefit from logistical resources and infrastructure, for expanding cooperation in tourism and cultural activities, enhancing communication among our peoples and establishing partnerships among the business sectors in our countries, to contribute to achieving the goals of our ambitious visions for a better future of prosperity, development and progress."

  

Israel reduces Gaza district to ashes

Israel has reduced a northern Gaza district to ashes on Friday after giving families a half-hour warning to escape. An Orthodox Christian church where people have been sheltering was also attacked.

The Secretary General of the United Nations visited the crossing between the besieged Gaza Strip and Egypt, and said humanitarian aid must be allowed across as soon as possible.

Israel has vowed to wipe out the Hamas Islamist group that rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through the barrier fence surrounding the enclave on October 07 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has told troops a command to invade would come soon. Meanwhile, Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes and put the enclave's 2.3 million people under a total siege, banning shipments even of food, fuel and medical supplies.

Since October 07, at least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed and 13,000 wounded in Gaza in Israeli strikes.

The UN says more than a million have been made homeless.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the main Palestinian Christian denomination, said Israeli forces had struck the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought sanctuary.

They felt they would be safe here. They came from under the bombardment and the destruction, and they said they would be safe here but destruction chased them.

Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed, while the health ministry later gave a toll of 16.

Targeting churches that were used as shelters for people fleeing bombing was a war crime that cannot be ignored.

Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go with southern areas also under attack.

In Zahra, a northern Gaza town, residents said their entire district of some 25 apartment buildings was razed to the ground.

They received Israeli warning messages on their mobile phones at breakfast, followed ten minutes later by a small drone strike that hammered the message home. After another 20 minutes, F-16 warplanes brought the buildings down in huge explosions and clouds of dust.

"We don’t want to receive aid, we want the destruction and the killing of children in their sleep to stop. We are tired," said Joumana Khreis.

International attention has focused on getting aid to Gaza through the one access point not controlled by Israel, the Rafah crossing to Egypt. US President Joe Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday, emerged with a promise from Israel to allow limited shipments from Egypt provided that the aid is monitored to prevent any from reaching Hamas.

Western leaders have so far mostly offered support to Israel's campaign against Hamas, although there is mounting unease about the plight of civilians in Gaza.

Biden delivered a televised speech on Thursday calling for billions of dollars in US military aid for Israel to fight Hamas. But he also said, "We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity."

The conflict is also spreading to two other fronts - the West Bank and the northern border with Lebanon.

The defence ministry ordered residents of the largest Israeli town near the Lebanese border, Kiryat Shmona, to evacuate. Clashes at the border between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement have been the deadliest since a full-blown war in 2006.

The territory, where Palestinians have limited self rule under Israeli military occupation, has seen the deadliest clashes since the second intifada uprising ended in 2005.

 

Bangladesh allows export of 4,000 tons of Hilsa fish to India

Ahead of West Bengal’s most prominent festival, Durga Puja, the Bangladesh government has granted permission for the export of nearly 4,000 tons of Hilsa fish to India.

This decision, announced in an official statement, aimed at catering to the high demand for Hilsa, a beloved delicacy among Bengalis.

The Bangladesh Commerce Ministry has authorized 79 business organizations to export a total of 3,950 tons of Hilsa to India.

Each exporter will be allowed to export 50 metric tons of this prized fish. The permission is valid until October 30, 2023, as per the official release from the administration led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hilsa, often referred to as the national fish of Bangladesh, holds a special place in the hearts of fish-loving Bengalis. It is also one of the country’s export items that boasts the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, signifying its regional significance and quality.

This decision to allow Hilsa exports to India follows a request made in 2020 by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Kolkata.

Banerjee urged her Bangladeshi counterpart to consider lifting the ban on Hilsa exports to India.

In response, Prime Minister Hasina conveyed that her country would be willing to ease restrictions on Hilsa exports if India ensures a fair share of water from the Teesta River in North Bengal, a matter of significance to both nations.

 

NATO boosts Baltic Sea patrols

NATO has stepped up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region, the transatlantic military alliance said on Thursday.

"The increased measures include additional surveillance and reconnaissance flights, including with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO AWACS planes, and drones. A fleet of four NATO mine hunters is also being dispatched to the area," NATO said in a statement.

The move followed announcements by authorities of damage to a Baltic Sea telecom cable connecting Sweden and Estonia and to a Finnish-Estonian pipeline and cable at around the same time earlier this month.

Officials from the countries involved have said they have yet to reach firm conclusions on who caused the damage or whether it was accidental or deliberate.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely, and we remain in close contact with our Allies Estonia and Finland, and our partner Sweden," said NATO spokesperson Dylan White.

"NATO will continue to adapt its maritime posture in the Baltic Sea and will take all necessary steps to keep Allies safe."

The buildup illustrates that NATO allies are vigilant and ready for action, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

"The decision does not mean that there is an increased military threat. Instead, it shows that relations between Allies are strong and NATO as a whole sees the protection of critical infrastructure as an important issue," he added.

Two of the four mine hunters are expected to visit Tallinn on Friday.

NATO, the European Union and national governments have made protection of undersea pipelines and cables a high priority since explosions in September 2022 ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea and cut Europe's supply of Russian gas.

Investigators have said those blasts were an act of sabotage but have not yet decided who was responsible.

 

 

Sunak follows Biden to Israel to show support

Israel pounded Gaza with more air strikes on Thursday and Egypt took steps to let in aid, as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak followed US President Joe Biden on visits to demonstrate Western support for the war against Hamas.

Sunak borrowed a phrase associated with British wartime leader Winston Churchill, pledging to stand by Israel "in its darkest hour" following the October 07 rampage by Hamas gunmen who killed 1,400 Israelis.

Israel has responded to the deadliest attack in its 75-year history by vowing to annihilate Hamas, putting the entire Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people under a total siege, and bombarding the enclave in strikes that have killed thousands and made more than a million homeless.

Western countries have tried to balance their support for Israel with calls to ease the plight of Gazans, but Sunak's emphasis was firmly on the former.

"Above all, I'm here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," Sunak told reporters after landing in Tel Aviv hours after Biden left.

Later appearing beside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said, "We will stand with you in solidarity. We will stand with your people. And we also want you to win."

Western media accused of biased reporting

Accusations of biased media coverage in the United States and Europe regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have resurfaced as critics claim that mainstream media outlets are allegedly favoring Israel. The debate over media objectivity has gained renewed attention due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In recent years, concerns about biased reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been a topic of discussion among media watchdog groups, activists, and some public figures. Critics argue that media outlets in the United States and Europe tend to present a narrative that is perceived as sympathetic to Israel.

Critics point to the choice of language used in news reports, stating that terms like clashes or conflict may downplay the power imbalance between Israel and Palestine. Some believe that the situation should be more accurately described as an occupation.

Allegations suggest that the media frequently gives more airtime and attention to Israeli government officials, experts, and analysts, while Palestinian voices and perspectives are underrepresented or portrayed less prominently.

Critics argue that some media outlets occasionally portray Palestinians in a dehumanizing light, which can contribute to a negative biased against them.

Some argue that media coverage often lacks a comprehensive historical context, making it challenging for the audience to understand the root causes of the conflict.

This renewed discussion on media bias has led to increased public scrutiny of news outlets. Advocacy groups and concerned citizens are calling for more transparency and accountability in media reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Additionally, some politicians and lawmakers have weighed in on the issue, urging media organizations to provide a more balanced perspective. They have proposed measures to ensure that all voices are heard and that news coverage reflects the complexities of the situation.

The accusations of media bias favoring Israel in US and European media have reignited debates about the role of the press in shaping public perception and influencing international relations.

As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a highly contentious and closely-watched global issue, discussions on media coverage and objectivity are likely to persist, with calls for more inclusive and balanced reporting gaining momentum.

 

President Biden are you a Netanyahu partner in genocide of Palestinians?

US President Joe Biden left Washington Tuesday evening on a whirlwind trip that was originally expected to touch down in Israel for an update on Israel's war aims in its battle with Hamas militants, and then Jordan, to stress the need to get humanitarian assistance to Gaza civilians.

A strike on a Gaza hospital late on Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians saw Arab leaders call off their planned summit with Biden in Jordan.

Biden is spending part of Wednesday in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials as Israel prepares a ground offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas militants in Gaza who are accused for killing 1,300 people during a rampage through southern Israeli towns on October 07.

Biden will no longer fly to Amman for talks about humanitarian assistance after Jordan's King Abdullah cancelled a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Abbas, who has long been opposed to Hamas and whose organization exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said after the Gaza hospital strike he would not meet the US President.

Palestinian authorities say Israel is responsible for the strike; Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, which denied blame. Biden backed Israel's account.

His goal was originally to show American solidarity with Netanyahu while trying to avoid a broader regional war involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and Syria.

The United States has stationed a carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean in a show of force for Israel and a second is on the way.

Biden also wants to avert a humanitarian calamity in Gaza where authorities say thousands have already been killed in Israeli bombardment over the last week.

Hundreds of tons of aid from several countries have been waiting in Egypt's Sinai peninsula for days pending a deal for its safe delivery to Gaza and the evacuation of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing.

"He'll make it clear that we want to continue working with all our partners in the region, including Israel, to get humanitarian assistance in and provide some kind of safe passage for civilians to get out," said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

Biden and Netanyahu, thrown into a wartime partnership despite deep political differences on the way forward in the Middle East, have joined forces.

Biden has given Israel full-throated support while stressing the need to head off a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Biden will also get an update on the scores of hostages taken by Hamas. The State Department has said 29 citizens of the United States were killed in the Hamas attacks, with 15 citizens and one lawful permanent resident unaccounted for.

Biden will make clear that Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

He said Israel would brief Biden on its war aims and strategy and how it will conduct operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas.

The US and Israel agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza, Blinken said.