Israel in Focus

Focusing on the last week or so of news around the world.

India and Pakistan have agreed to an uneasy truce mediated by the USA, with Trump saying he threatened both sides that he will stop trade to them if it continues. Each side has claimed the other has broken it yet it still holds. This comes after a number of cross border strikes by both sides starting with India in response to the terror attack in Kashmir which they blame Pakistan for supporting the terror group responsible. The fighting included dogfights at long distance, drone and missile attacks as well as small arms fire and artillery along the border. Casualties were recorded on both sides.

Russia and Ukraine are facing major pressure to start talks, and while both sides have said they agree to direct talks, nothing has actually happened yet. The war in the trenches continues with Russia having taken back control of Kursk, yet small pockets of Ukrainian troops remain there and are fighting a form of guerilla warfare there. Ukraine and the USA have signed a mineral deal giving America a chance to pull away from reliance for rare earth minerals on other less friendly countries and Ukraine gets military aid from America that they have long-awaited.

Trump had put trade tariffs on most countries around the world, at different levels based on what he considered friendly countries. Since then a trade deal has been signed with the UK and talks are ongoing with China which have successfully reduced tariffs from 145% to 10% for 90 days. This has caused the stock markets to recover much of what they lost after the tariffs announcement. Trump is currently on a visit to the Middle East where he is meeting with many Arab leaders including a possible meeting with the President of Syria. Many rumors are swirling about possible deals being signed between Arab countries and the USA yet currently nothing is confirmed. This comes after a ceasefire was agreed between the USA and the Houthis, and during ongoing talks with Iran over a new nuclear deal. Trump also sidestepped Israel and made a deal with Hamas to free Israeli-American IDF soldier Idan Alexander, Hamas say it’s a goodwill gesture to the USA, the question begs, what will they get in return…

Eurovision is happening this week and despite the requests by 3 countries broadcasters and a letter signed by 70 former competitors, Israel will still have a place in the contest. Already one person was filmed giving a hand gesture of death to the Israeli singer, Yuval Raphael, yet she plans to go ahead without letting the threats and boos distract her.

Israel and Hamas continue to be at war, and Israel is preparing for a major offensive inside Gaza with the plan to finish off Hamas. Within this plan is humanitarian aid distribution hubs, protected by the IDF, to prevent Hamas taking control of the aid coming into Gaza. The plan is backed by the USA with an American private security company being hired to give out the aid while the IDF protects the area. The UN has condemned the plan as against international law and refuses to cooperate with Israel.

In Africa, Burkina Faso remains in civil war with jihadist insurgency groups. The government forces are accused of killing civilians for supporting these groups. The junta which rules Burkina Faso after a coup in 2022 has widespread support from Russia and other African countries who see the new president as someone who can revive Africa as a continent and help develop it against reliance on richer countries. White South Africans have received refugee status in the USA and the first refugee flights have arrived. Port Sudan has come under attack for the first time by the RSF in Sudan, A city generally seen a safe haven is no longer.

A trade deal was signed after 3 years of talks between the UK and India, with UK prime minister Keir Starmer promising more deals to come. Not long after, he signed a deal with the USA. A deal with Europe still seems far off in the post-brexit era.