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Gaza ceasefire agreement 

The Hamas resistance movement has once again slammed Israel’s efforts to obstruct the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, saying the regime continues to violate the truce deal. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said Israel is trying to obstruct the transition to the second phase of the agreement, because it would be obligated to fully withdraw from Gaza, open the crossings, and begin reconstruction. He added that Israel continues to violate the terms of the first phase, and refuses to fulfill its obligations. Naim stressed that despite Israel’s grave violations, Palestinian resistance factions have adhered to all their obligations under the truce deal. According to Naim, the rate of Israeli violations has reached between 10 and 12 per day, resulting in the killing of more than 400 Palestinians. He also touched on the issue of deployment of an international force to Gaza. Naim reiterated that the role of any international force must be limited to monitoring the ceasefire, preventing escalation, and submitting reports, without any interference in internal Palestinian affairs or the administration of Gaza.

Israel expansionist policy 

A group of 14 countries has issued a joint statement, strongly condemning Israel’s decision to establish new settlements in the occupied West Bank. They warned that such moves violate international law and risk fueling regional instability. The joint statement was signed by 12 European countries, including Belgium, France, UK, and Germany, in addition to Canada and Japan. They expressed their “clear opposition” to any form of annexation of Palestinian lands and expansion of settlements, including the approval of the E1 settlement and thousands of new settler units. The countries emphasized that settlement expansion risks undermining the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire plan amid efforts to advance to its second phase, while harming prospects for long-term peace and security across the region. The signatories also reaffirmed their resolute support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Israel has recently approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the number of settlements legalized or approved over the past three years to 69.

US blockade on Venezuela

A group of UN experts has strongly condemned the partial maritime blockade imposed by the United States on Venezuela, saying it violates fundamental principles of international law. In a statement, the experts said the US has no right to enforce unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade. They argued that a blockade is a prohibited use of military force against another country, which is expressly recognized as illegal armed aggression by the UN. The experts warned that the unlawful use of force, along with threats of further military action at sea and on land, gravely endanger the right to life and other human rights in Venezuela and across the region. They said the UN Charter grants the affected state the right to self-defense. The experts also condemned deadly US attacks on Venezuelan boats, which have killed more than 100 people, saying they amount to violations of the right to life and must be independently investigated. They called on all states to urgently take all feasible measures to halt the blockade on Venezuela and the illegal killings, including through diplomatic protest.

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