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Political Escalation and Peace Opportunities in the Middle East
After US envoy Steve Weitkoff confirmed yesterday that Washington presented a 21-point peace plan for the Middle East during United Nations meetings, he expressed hope for progress regarding the Gaza crisis in the coming days. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before heading to the United States on a diplomatic visit, announced that he would meet for the fourth time with US President Donald Trump, discussing "the great opportunities made possible by Israeli victories, and the necessity of completing the objectives of the wars."
In his remarks before the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu said: "I will condemn those leaders who merely give terrorists a state in the heart of Israel’s land, instead of condemning the killers and child arsonists. That will never happen," a clear reference to his rejection of any movement toward establishing a Palestinian state.
He also confirmed that the recent recognition of Palestine by some Western countries, including France and Belgium, does not impose any obligations on Israel, asserting that "there will be no Palestinian state."
Regarding American initiatives, Weitkoff stated that the US President delivered various proposals to officials from Arab and Muslim countries during a meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly, aimed at "achieving comprehensive peace in the region." He added that the plan aims to address the concerns of Israel and its neighbors, expressing hope for a breakthrough expected in the coming days.
In another context, Israel continues its war in Gaza, which is approaching its second year without any real signs of a ceasefire. The war has caused widespread destruction in the besieged Palestinian sector and resulted in the death of over 65,000 Palestinians, according to UN estimates. A global hunger monitoring observatory indicated that a large part of the sector is now suffering from famine due to the Israeli blockade a human tragedy that has intensified as the escalation continues.
