Approximately 480,000 Palestinians have reportedly left Gaza City since late August, according to statements by the Israeli military
In the lead-up to the annual United Nations General Assembly summit, more than 140 world leaders are set to gather in New York, with the future of the Palestinians and Gaza taking centre stage.
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Israeli military estimates around 480,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since late August. This mass displacement has sparked international concern and calls for action.
One such initiative comes from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is reportedly working on a post-war plan for Gaza. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed this news to Reuters. President Donald Trump has authorized Blair to rally regional and international stakeholders around a proposal to establish a post-war transitional body to govern Gaza.
However, there has been no official Israeli response to these reports. Meanwhile, the US has blocked the UN Gaza ceasefire resolution for the sixth time, a move that has been met with criticism from the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, who called the decision "deeply regrettable and painful."
The Israeli military's actions in Gaza City have also been a hot-button issue in France. Several French mayors have announced their intention to display the Palestinian flag on their town halls next week, but France has warned mayors against this action, citing diplomatic considerations. French President Emmanuel Macron, however, has been vocal about his support for a Palestinian state, stating that recognition is "the best way to isolate Hamas."
Macron has also criticized Israel's offensive in Gaza City, saying it is "completely destroying the image and the credibility of Israel, not just in the region, but in public opinions everywhere."
Other nations have also weighed in on the issue. Luxembourg's prime minister said recognizing a Palestinian state will help keep alive the peace process in the Middle East. Japan, on the other hand, does not plan to recognize a Palestinian state at UN meetings this month.
The conflict has also had an impact on regional travel. Israel has shut the sole gateway between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan following a deadly attack.
As world leaders prepare to convene in New York, the future of Gaza and the Palestinian people remains a pressing issue, with many looking to Blair's post-war plan as a potential solution. However, details of the proposal have not been revealed, and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change has declined to comment.
The UN General Assembly summit promises to be a critical moment in the ongoing struggle for peace in the Middle East, with leaders from around the world set to discuss and debate the best course of action for Gaza and the Palestinian people.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
