Israel’s objective is ‘annihilation of diplomacy’ itself
8 hours ago
22:16 BST
“The stated objective of Israel’s attack on Qatar today was the assassination of Hamas’s ceasefire negotiation team, but the unspoken objective was the annihilation of diplomacy itself,” wrote Hanna Alshaikh, Palestine Project Coordinator, Arab Center in Washington, on the center’s website.
Gaza flotilla fire: What the surveillance videos tell us
Middle East
On the night of September 8-9, just after midnight, a boat that is part of a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza was struck by an incendiary device off the coast of Tunisia. Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla say they heard a drone flying three or four metres above their heads before the device hit, causing a fire that damaged the boat but caused no injuries. A drone expert said that such devices can be dropped by commercially available consumer drones.
Israel Steps Up Attacks on Gaza City Ahead of a Planned Wider Offensive
An Israeli strike hit the Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City on Friday. The Israeli military said Hamas used the building for intelligence-gathering, but Hamas denied the accusation.
The Israeli military destroyed a landmark building after saying it had taken control of almost half of the city, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
More countries announce plans to recognize a Palestinian state
Belgium, Australia, Portugal, Canada and Malta announced plans to join Britain and France in recognizing Palestinian statehood, joining more than 140 other countries.
Countries that have recognized a Palestinian state
Note: Data is as of September 2, 2025 and includes all countries that have formally recognized or announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood since 1988. Several European countries, such as Czech Republic and Hungary, originally recognized a Palestinian state in 1988 when they were part of the Communist bloc of Soviet-aligned nations and followed a unified policy, but their current diplomatic stance may be different.
Correction: This graphic has been updated to reflect that North Korea recognizes the State of Palestine.
Sources: United Nations, State of Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, statements from national governments
Retired, living in the Scottish Borders after living most of my life in cities in England. I can now indulge my interest in all aspects of living close to nature in a wild landscape. I live on what was once the Iapetus Ocean which took millions of years to travel from the Southern Hemisphere to here in the Northern Hemisphere. That set me thinking and questioning and seeking answers.
In 1998 I co-wrote Millennium Countdown (US)/ A Business Guide to the Year 2000 (UK) see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780749427917
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