21/08/2025

THURSDAY | AUG 21, 2025

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Israel approves plan to conquer Gaza City

Fast for peace tomorrow, urges Pope VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo has asked Catholics and other religious faithful to observe a day of fasting and prayers for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and other war-torn areas of the world tomorrow. “As our Earth continues to be wounded by wars in the Holy Land, in Ukraine and in many other regions ... I invite all the faithful to live the day of Aug 22 in fasting and prayer,” the pontiff said during his weekly audience at the Vatican yesterday. Leo suggested the faithful could ask God to “grant us peace and justice and to wipe away the tears of those who suffer because of the ongoing armed conflicts.” Leo, the first US pope, was elected by the world’s Catholic cardinals on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis. He has made several appeals to end the war in Ukraine during the first months of his papacy, and his first known phone call with a foreign leader in May was to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whom the pope also met in person last month. Catholics have a practice of fasting on or before important spiritual holidays as a way of coming closer to God in prayer. Francis had previously called a special day of fasting and prayer last October, on the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war. – Reuters WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had ruled out putting US troops on the ground in Ukraine, but said the United States might provide air support as part of a deal to end the war. A day after Trump pledged security guarantees, the path to peace remained uncertain as the US and allies prepared to work out what military support for Ukraine might include. “When it comes to security, (Europeans) are willing to put people on the ground. We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably ... by air,” Trump said in an interview. Trump did not elaborate. Later, in another interview, Trump characterised his negotiating style in trying to end the war as “probably instinct more than process”. – Reuters FRANCE PROBES LIVE STREAMING DEATH OF MAN NICE: Prosecutors in the south of France said on Tuesday they are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who died during a live streaming event showing him being maltreated by two partners. The man – real name Raphael Graven, but known online as “Jean Pormanove” or “JP” – had built a following by putting on live internet shows in which he was abused or humiliated. Prosecutors in Nice said he died on Monday. Internet users said that the video showed Graven lying immobile under a bed cover as one of two men in the room with him threw a plastic water bottle in his direction. The prosecutors’ office said it had launched an investigation to determine the cause of death and had ordered an autopsy. – AFP VIENNA: Vienna was chosen yesterday to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, the world’s biggest live televised music event, Austria’s public broadcaster announced, with the final set for May 16. Austria’s JJ won this year’s competition, held in Basel in Switzerland, with his hit Wasted Love – making his home country the 2026 host. Vienna edged out Innsbruck, the capital of western Tyrol province, to stage next year’s contest. The final of Eurovision’s 70th edition will be held on May 16, 2026 at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena, with semi-finals set for May 12 and 14, Eurovision said. – AFP U.S. MULLS AIR SUPPORT TO BACK UKRAINE DEAL VIENNA TO HOST EUROVISION 2026

o Defence Ministry calls up 60,000 reservists

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said on social media that his group had “opened the door wide to the possibility of reaching an agreement, but the question remains whether Netanyahu will once again close it, as he has done in the past”. The latest truce proposal came as Netanyahu faces increasing pressure at home and abroad. In Gaza, the civil defence agency reported Israeli strikes and fire killed 48 people across the territory on Tuesday. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the situation was “very dangerous and unbearable” in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, where he said “shelling continues intermittently”. The Israeli military declined to comment on specific troop movements, saying only that it was “operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities” and took “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm”. The military later said a strike in Khan Younis overnight targeted a gunman. – AFP

prisoners and provisions allowing for the entry of aid into Gaza. Israel and Hamas have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout the war, resulting in two short truces during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The latest truce proposal came after Israel’s security Cabinet approved plans to conquer Gaza City, despite fears it will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have mediated the frequent rounds of shuttle diplomacy. Qatar said the latest proposal was “almost identical” to an earlier version agreed by Israel, while Egypt said on Monday that “the ball is now in its (Israel’s) court”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly comment on the plan, but said last week that his country would accept “an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war”.

TEL AVIV: Israel’s defence minister has approved a plan for the conquest of Gaza City and authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists to carry it out, his ministry confirmed yesterday. Defence Minister Israel Katz’s move, confirmed by a spokesperson, piled pressure on Hamas as mediators pushing for a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war in Gaza awaited an official Israeli response on their latest proposal. While mediator Qatar had expressed guarded optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Israeli official said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages. The framework that Hamas had approved proposes an initial 60-day truce, a staggered hostage release, the freeing of some Palestinian

BR I E F S

Albanese downplays Netanyahu criticism SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday played down Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s pointed condemnation of his decision to recognise a Palestinian state, saying he treated the leaders of other countries with respect. can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry. “Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there’s a decision that we know Israel won’t like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu.” Palestinian girl Shahed Thary breaks down at the funeral of her parents and brother at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

to support a Palestinian state before his centre left government formally announced the plan. “At that time, I gave Prime Minister Netanyahu a clear indication of my view and Australia’s view going forward but also a clear indication of the direction in which we were headed,” Albanese said. “I gave him the opportunity to outline what political solution there was and gave him that opportunity.” Israel this week revoked the visas of Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority after Albanese’s Labor government cancelled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker over remarks the Australian government considered controversial and inflammatory. – Reuters

“I don’t take these things personally, I engage with people diplomatically. He has had similar things to say about other leaders,” Albanese said during a media briefing. Netanyahu’s personal attack on Albanese, describing him as a “weak politician”, has further strained relations between the two countries. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told national broadcaster ABC earlier that strength was “not measured by how many people you

Ties have soured since Australia decided last week to conditionally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month. “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews,” Netanyahu said in a post on X on Tuesday. Albanese told reporters that he had informed Netanyahu about Australia’s decision