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Russia demands release of hostages in talks with Hamas

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Russia demands release of hostages in talks with Hamas



Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov demanded the release of hostages held in Gaza in telephone calls on Sunday and Monday with Hamas and other Palestinian factions, the Russian foreign ministry said.

The statement followed a series of meetings and calls between President Vladimir Putin and Middle East leaders in the past week.

The ministry said Bogdanov’s conversations highlighted the military and humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Russia “confirmed its principled position on the need to cease hostilities and urgently resolve all humanitarian problems that have arisen, including the release of hostages.”

The statement did not make clear whether Russia sought the release of all hostages seized by Hamas during its Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel or just the release of any Russian nationals among them.

The minister spoke to senior figures in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the Palestinian Democratic Union, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Hamas.

Bogdanov stressed the need to restore Palestinian unity “in the framework of the PLO” and reaffirmed Moscow’s support for a Palestinian state to co-exist alongside Israel, the statement said.

SEVENTEEN ISRAELI women are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Why are international women’s groups not rallying? (credit: MARINA MEDVIN: TWITTER/X)

Russia called on Sunday for an international monitoring mission to go to Gaza to assess the humanitarian situation.

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Condemning Israel’s response

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow strongly condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, but it was unacceptable for Israel to use that as justification for “the collective punishment of millions of Palestinian people with indiscriminate shelling.”

Analysts say the Gaza war has proved helpful to Russia by distracting the world’s attention from its war in Ukraine and making it harder for Kyiv to compete for Washington’s attention and military aid.

Putin has also used it as an opportunity to criticize the failings of US diplomacy in the Middle East and raise Russia’s own profile as a regional player with ties to all the main actors.

Putin has stepped up his own contacts in the past week, though the aim of his latest diplomatic flurry is not yet clear.

He spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuhu on Sunday, having last week met the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.





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Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine -opinion

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Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine -opinion



Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa signed a joint communiqué for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Palestine. On June 21, the Armenian Foreign Ministry officially recognized the state of Palestine, making Armenia the 149th country to take this step.

The formalization of Armenian-Palestinian diplomatic relations comes at a complicated time for the State of Israel.

The official establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Palestine comes at a time when Israel just eliminated Hezbollah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah in the hopes of derailing the Iran-backed terrorist groups that are presently fighting against the Jewish state. Many could view Armenia’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Palestine at this time as a move designed to give Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other Iran-backed terrorist groups breathing room to continue to wage a violent struggle against Israel.

As we speak, these terrorist groups continue to attack Israel. Last week, the Iran-backed terrorist groups in Iraq attacked Eilat. This comes after the Houthis in Yemen took responsibility for an attack on Tel Aviv, and Hezbollah itself rained down a series of missiles at central Israel a week earlier which targeted areas of the country previously not under rocket fire, including Netanya, Kfar Yona, and Even Yehuda. At a time like this, Armenia recognizing Palestine is a victory for terrorism.

Although the PA is not the same as the Iran-backed terrorist groups fighting against Israel, it is critical to recall that the PA has given emotional support to these groups. According to Palestinian Media Watch, “Ignoring the thousands of rockets and drones fired at northern Israel by the Iranian-backed Lebanese terror organization Hezbollah since the start of the 2023 Gaza war, the Palestinian Authority and its ruling party, Fatah, continue to express support for Hezbollah against Israel by painting Hezbollah as a victim.”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov walk in the garden as they meet for peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Berlin earlier this year. (credit: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS)

Azerbaijan in contrast with Armenia 

Following Israel’s recent pager attacks, in which Hezbollah has announced that at least 38 of its members were killed, both the PA and Fatah hurried to express their support for “sister Lebanon.” PA head Mahmoud Abbas’s office “condemned” the attacks as “acts of terror,” claiming they “harmed innocent civilians.” Also ignoring Hezbollah’s numerous attacks on Israeli civilian areas – and the murder of over 40 Israelis, including 12 children who were playing soccer – Abbas’s adviser Mahmoud al-Habbash accused Israel of “escalating” the situation and seeking to “undermine the region’s stability” with its “aggressive operations.”

Fatah also condemned Israel’s “aggressive and criminal operation,” stressing its continued support for Lebanon and its “great appreciation for the support” that Lebanon – i.e., terrorist organization Hezbollah – “has given the [Palestinian] cause.” In addition to promising to “continue on the path of struggle” by committing more terrorist attacks, Fatah has also directly called on Hezbollah to continue attacking Israel. Recently, top PA/Fatah official Jibril Rajoub encouraged Hezbollah and Iran to “punish the Israeli enemy.”

In contrast, Azerbaijan has not issued any statements in support of the Palestinians at this crucial time when Israel eliminated Nasrallah. The only action that Azerbaijan took was to cancel its flights to Israel due to “security concerns.” It also advised its citizens not to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority at this time again because of security concerns. Azerbaijan has not expressed any hostility toward Israel as the Jewish state continues to fight against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other proxies of Iran.

This shows why Israelis should appreciate Azerbaijan and the friendship that it offers to the Jewish people. During our difficult moments, Azerbaijan is there, standing beside us, offering solidarity and support. In fact, the economic relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel continues to blossom despite Israel’s war against Iran and its proxies. 

Azerbaijan is one of the few countries where it is safe for Israelis to travel despite the war in Gaza and Lebanon. Antisemitism is alien to the Azerbaijani culture.It is for this reason that Israelis should support Azerbaijan and condemn Armenia for supporting Iran’s proxies, especially at this critical time.


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One of the reasons Azerbaijan is so understanding of Israel is that it must deal with a biased approach similar to the one Israel must grapple with. For example, Holland called Azerbaijan’s control of Karabakh the “takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh,” just as the Armenians now consider Judea and Samaria, and Gaza, to be “occupied Palestinian land” that must be liberated.

The Azerbaijanis have a rich history in Karabakh that dates back to antiquity, just as the Jewish connection to Judea and Samaria dates back to ancient times. Four UN Security Council resolutions have recognized that Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, just as the Mandate for Palestine recognized Judea and Samaria as part of Israel.

Azerbaijan and Israel are facing the same struggle to get their rights recognized by biased states such as Armenia and Holland, which prefer to condemn both countries rather than recognize their historical rights.

The writer is a Middle East scholar and commentator on the region.





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Gallant flying to DC for Iran talks on Wednesday

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Gallant flying to DC for Iran talks on Wednesday



Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected to fly to Washington DC on Wednesday to discuss all of the Middle East security situations with top US defense officials, including a potential attack on Iran.

On Sunday, Gallant continued to threaten to hit back hard for Tehran’s massive attack on Israel on October 1.

He also claimed that the IDF’s Nebatim base, which he visited on Sunday, was fully operational, though satellite footage from foreign reports has indicated 30 impacts from Iranian rockets, including on at least one runway.

Previously, the IDF has said not a single fighter plane or pilot was lost during the attacks, though there are reports that Nebatim and Tel Nof both had damage.

Questioned about whether Gallant’s trip to Washington meant a delay in Israel’s attack on Iran until Gallant had spoken in person with top American officials, there was no response from Gallant’s office at press time.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin receives Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon in Washington, US, June 25, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE)

War developments

Alternatively, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his trip to speak at the UN two weeks ago as a cover for a secret plan to assassinate Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. 

In the meantime, Iran grounded all flights throughout the country until at least Monday out of concern of a possible Israeli attack, hoping it would be easier to track Israeli aircraft or missiles coming in if the airspace was clear. 





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IDF invasion keeps pressure on Hezbollah – analysis

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IDF invasion keeps pressure on Hezbollah – analysis



The IDF on Sunday undertook around 150 airstrikes in support of ground troops Divisions 98 and 36, which have been operating in southern Lebanon since September 30.

IDF Col. Or Volozinsky of Brigade 188 said that his forces were destroying large amounts of Hezbollah Radwan forces weapons stored in almost every house.

In one house alone, the IDF found dozens of anti-tank missiles.

The anti-tank missiles are Hezbollah’s main threat against IDF invading forces and caused deaths and injuries to IDF soldiers on October 2.

Since that incident, however, Volozinsky said the IDF has adjusted its tactics to generally only enter new areas after having used greater amounts of artillery, tank fire, and air strikes to clear out potential Hezbollah ambush forces.

IDF soldiers operate in southern Lebanon. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)

Significant timing possible

IDF sources did start to signal that they expect to be in Lebanon longer than the two to three weeks originally set down by top IDF officials when the invasion started.

In addition, the IDF noted that the air force killed the Hezbollah commander who planned the anti-tank missile attack, which killed two Israelis in Kfar Yuval in the North on January 14.

With almost a week having passed since the start of the invasion, IDF sources suggested they were still just at the very beginning of taking apart Hezbollah’s capabilities in southern Lebanon and that significant time could be needed to carry out the mission properly.

Given that most of the world opposed any invasion, pressure could quickly ratchet up on Israel if it continues past the original few declared weeks.

At the same time, the number of dying Lebanese civilians has dropped significantly in recent days since most had evacuated southern Lebanon before the invasion began.


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To date, Hezbollah has only provided a small number of spots of resistance during the invasion, far less than during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

Late Sunday night, the IDF continued to close off border towns for military use, adding Manrah, Yiftach, and Malchiah to several towns that have been closed off since last week.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has maintained rocket fire both on the northern border and deeper into Israel, including with a direct hit on a residence in Maalot, though there were no reported injuries. 

The IDF estimated Hezbollah fired around 25 rockets midday and around 30 rockets overnight between Saturday and Sunday.





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