Israel in Focus

Starting with the Israel-Gaza war, Israel continues to expand its operation in Gaza with troops taking over the section of the Nitzarim corridor as well as moving into areas in northern Gaza and Rafah. Airstrikes continue across Gaza and at least 3 rockets were fired at Tel Aviv. Israel has threatened to annex parts of Gaza should Hamas harm any of the hostages in response. Currently we are seemingly no closer to a ceasefire. The Houthis have now fired 3 ballistic missiles at Israel causing widespread sirens. America has requested that Israel not respond and leave them to deal with the Houthis with their continued air campaign against targets in Yemen. The Islamic Republic of Iran has said they will respond to Trump’s letter giving a deadline to come to a new nuclear deal next week. In the meantime they have increased air patrols around Tehran and other areas while American spy planes are frequently spotted close to Iranian airspace. In Turkey, protests over the arrest of Erdogan’s main presidential candidate have not stopped, despite the response being violent. In Lebanon talks of peace with Israel continue to pop up, the official response is still that it is not even being spoken about yet. However talks over the border dispute may start in the next few months. In Syria clashes still continue as the new regime tries to consolidate it’s power. Clashes with Lebanon seem to be less than what they were but it’s still very volatile. Reports say that Egypt has given into US pressure and has agreed to accept half a million Gazans into a temporary city in the Sinai Peninsula, as long as they return to Gaza once it’s rebuilt. This is yet to be confirmed.