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Blinken Says Israel Accepts U.S. Cease-Fire Proposal, Urges Hamas to Follow Suit

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that Israel has accepted a U.S.-backed proposal aimed at bridging differences in Gaza cease-fire negotiations, and called on Hamas to do the same.

Blinken made the announcement following a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. The secretary did not provide details on whether the proposal addressed Hamas’ concerns about Israel’s demand for control over two strategic corridors inside Gaza.

“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridging proposal,” Blinken told reporters. “The next important step is for Hamas to say ‘yes.'”

The announcement comes amid Blinken’s ninth mission to the Middle East since the conflict began last October. Mediators, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have spent months trying to broker an agreement, with talks repeatedly stalling.

Blinken emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.”

The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, has resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel and more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities. Approximately 250 people were abducted during the initial attack, with about 110 still believed to be in Gaza.

The evolving proposal calls for a three-phase process in which Hamas would release all hostages in exchange for Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza and releasing Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has accused Israel of adding new demands, including maintaining a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border and along a line bisecting the territory.

Israeli officials maintain these are not new demands but clarifications of a previous proposal. Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday that there are areas where Israel can be flexible and unspecified areas where it won’t be.

Late Sunday, Hamas released a statement accusing Netanyahu of setting obstacles to a deal by demanding new conditions, claiming the latest proposal capitulates to Israel’s demands.

Blinken is scheduled to travel to Egypt on Tuesday for meetings in the Mediterranean city of el-Alamein, where mediators will meet again this week in Cairo to try to cement a cease-fire.

The secretary also met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later on Monday. During his visit, Blinken warned against actions that could derail the peace process or escalate the conflict to other regions, in a veiled reference to recent targeted killings of militants in Lebanon and Iran attributed to Israel.

As negotiations continue, both sides face pressure to reach an agreement. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with widespread devastation and displacement of civilians. Meanwhile, Israel seeks the return of hostages and an end to rocket attacks from Gaza.

The coming days are seen as critical for the prospects of a cease-fire, with formal responses to the U.S. outline expected this week that could lead to a declaration unless talks stall once again.

X Announces Closure of Brazil Operations, Citing Judge’s Content Orders

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Social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced Saturday it would cease operations in Brazil “effective immediately,” citing what it called “censorship orders” from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The company claims Moraes secretly threatened one of X’s legal representatives in Brazil with arrest if the platform did not comply with orders to remove certain content. X published images of a document allegedly signed by Moraes, which states that a daily fine of 20,000 reais ($3,653) and an arrest decree would be imposed against X representative Rachel Nova Conceicao for non-compliance.

“To protect the safety of our staff, we have made the decision to close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately,” X said in a statement. The company added that its service would remain available to users in Brazil.

Brazil’s Supreme Court told The Associated Press it would not comment on the matter and would neither confirm nor deny the authenticity of the document shared by X.

Earlier this year, Moraes ordered X to block certain accounts as part of an investigation into “digital militias” accused of spreading misinformation and hate messages during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Musk has previously called Moraes’ decisions regarding X “unconstitutional” and challenged the judge’s rulings. This led Moraes to open an inquiry into Musk earlier this year after the billionaire said he would reactivate accounts that the judge had ordered blocked.

Following Musk’s challenges, X representatives reversed course and informed Brazil’s Supreme Court that the company would comply with the legal rulings. In April, lawyers representing X in Brazil told the court that “operational faults” had allowed some blocked users to remain active on the platform.

Musk, in posts on X on Saturday, called Moraes an “utter disgrace to justice” and said the company could not have agreed to the judge’s “secret censorship and private information handover demands.”

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between social media platforms and Brazilian authorities over content moderation and freedom of expression. It also underscores the challenges faced by international tech companies operating in countries with different legal and regulatory frameworks.

As of Saturday evening, Brazilian authorities had not publicly responded to X’s announcement. The closure of X’s operations in Brazil could have significant implications for the platform’s millions of users in the country and for the broader landscape of social media regulation in Brazil.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad Claim Responsibility for Tel Aviv Bomb Blast

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TEL AVIV, Israel  — The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Monday claimed responsibility for a bomb blast near a synagogue in Tel Aviv that Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency have labeled a terrorist attack.

The explosion late Sunday killed the man carrying the bomb and injured a passerby, according to police at the scene in Israel’s commercial capital.

Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said the man was carrying a backpack loaded with explosives that detonated “before he managed to reach a more heavily populated area.”

In a joint statement, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their “martyrdom operations” inside Israel would continue as long as the “occupation’s massacres and assassination policy” persist. This statement appears to reference Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza and the July 31 killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh’s death in the Iranian capital.

The bombing occurred about an hour after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, where fighting has raged for 10 months.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen crossed the border into Israeli communities, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and at least 40,000 deaths, according to the enclave’s health authorities.

The Tel Aviv attack has heightened concerns about potential escalation across the wider region. Iran has threatened retaliation against Israel following Haniyeh’s assassination.

Israeli authorities are investigating the incident, with police and intelligence agencies on high alert for potential follow-up attacks.

The bomb blast underscores the ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, even as international efforts to broker a ceasefire intensify.

As of Monday afternoon, no further attacks have been reported, but security measures in Tel Aviv and other major Israeli cities have been heightened in response to the bombing.

The incident may complicate diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict, as Israeli officials cite security concerns in negotiations for a potential ceasefire agreement.

Pro-Palestinian Protests Expected to Draw Thousands at Democratic Convention

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CHICAGO — Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to gather outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, challenging the Biden administration’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict as the event opens.

The March on the DNC, an umbrella group comprising more than 200 organizations, plans a one-mile march near the convention arena hours before President Joe Biden is scheduled to address delegates. The Democratic gathering will officially nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential candidate.

Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesman for March on the DNC, told The Associated Press that organizers are negotiating with authorities to extend the march route to accommodate the large number of expected participants.

“We expect tens of thousands of marchers at the 1 p.m. CDT event,” Abudayyeh said Monday morning. He added that the group has its own security and does not anticipate violence from protesters amid the heavy police and U.S. Secret Service presence around the security perimeter.

Protesters are calling on police to respect their free speech rights. “That’s their only responsibility. We don’t need them to keep us safe. We don’t need them to protect us, just not to infringe on our rights,” Abudayyeh stated.

The protests target the Biden administration’s military and financial support for Israel during its war against Hamas. According to Gaza health officials, the conflict has resulted in more than 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive following the October 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel.

Organizers told Reuters last week that many protesters would be coming from Palestinian and Arab communities in Illinois and neighboring states. The coalition also includes groups advocating for various causes, including reproductive rights and racial justice.

On Sunday night, approximately 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through downtown Chicago, chanting “Shut down the DNC.”

“The Democrats are the ones in power,” Abudayyeh said. “It’s their war. They’re responsible for it, they’re complicit, and they can stop it.”

Another large protest is scheduled for Thursday when Vice President Harris is expected to accept the nomination.

These demonstrations follow a series of pro-Palestinian protests that swelled on U.S. college campuses last spring, leading to police clearing student encampments, sometimes after confrontations between protesters and counterprotesters.

As the Democratic National Convention begins, the protests highlight the ongoing tension between the Biden administration’s foreign policy and a significant portion of the party’s base concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Local authorities and convention organizers are preparing for the protests, balancing security concerns with the right to free speech as the political event unfolds in Chicago.

Ukraine’s President: Kursk Incursion Aims to Create Buffer Zone

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KYIV, Ukraine  — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that the ongoing military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region aims to establish a buffer zone to prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border.

“It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall: to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions. This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory – our operation in the Kursk region,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

The operation, which began on August 6, has seen Ukrainian forces advance into Russian territory, reportedly capturing numerous villages and prisoners. Ukrainian Commander in Chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, claimed last week that his forces had advanced across 1,000 square kilometers (390 square miles) of the region, though this could not be independently verified.

Over the weekend, Ukraine targeted key infrastructure in Kursk. Ukrainian forces destroyed a bridge on the Seim River near the town of Glushkovo and struck a second bridge nearby, according to Ukrainian and Russian officials. Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraine’s air force chief, released video footage of an airstrike cutting the first bridge in two.

Russian military bloggers acknowledged that the bridge destruction would impede supply deliveries to Russian forces in the area. According to Russia’s Mash news site, the attacks left only one intact bridge in the vicinity, potentially complicating Moscow’s efforts to replenish its forces and evacuate civilians.

Zelenskyy urged Kyiv’s allies on Saturday to lift remaining restrictions on using Western weapons to attack targets deeper in Russia. “It is crucial that our partners remove barriers that hinder us from weakening Russian positions in the way this war demands,” he said on social media platform X.

The Ukrainian president’s statements come as Russia appears to have increased attacks on Kyiv. The capital was reportedly targeted with ballistic missiles on Sunday for the third time this month, according to Serhii Popko, head of the municipal military administration. Popko stated that Ukrainian air defenses intercepted all missiles in both Sunday attacks.

As the conflict intensifies, both sides seek to establish buffer zones. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in May that Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region aimed to create a buffer zone in response to Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Belgorod region.

The ongoing incursion into Kursk has demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to seize initiative and has boosted morale following a failed counteroffensive last summer. However, analysts caution that consolidating gains inside Russia could be risky due to Ukraine’s limited resources and potentially vulnerable supply lines.

As the situation continues to develop, international observers are closely monitoring the potential for escalation and the impact on diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Former Saudi Official Claims Crown Prince Forged Signature on Yemen War Decree-BBC

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A former Saudi intelligence official has alleged that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman forged King Salman’s signature on the royal decree that launched Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen’s civil war, according to a BBC interview published Monday.

Saad al-Jabri, who lives in exile in Canada, told the BBC that a “credible, reliable” official linked to the Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed to him that the crown prince, then defense minister, signed the decree in place of his father.

“We were surprised that there was a royal decree to allow the ground interventions,” al-Jabri said. “He forged the signature of his dad for that royal decree. The king’s mental capacity was deteriorating.”

Al-Jabri provided no evidence to support his claim. Saudi Arabia has not immediately responded to requests for comment on the allegations. The kingdom has previously described al-Jabri as “a discredited former government official.”

The allegation comes as Prince Mohammed, 38, serves as Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, often meeting with world leaders in place of his 88-year-old father, King Salman.

The Yemen conflict, which began in 2015, has resulted in more than 150,000 deaths and created what the United Nations calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. Recent Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea have led to increased U.S. military involvement in the region.

Al-Jabri, who once worked for former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, fled Saudi Arabia in 2017. He has sued Prince Mohammed in U.S. federal court, alleging the crown prince sought to have him assassinated.

“He planned for my assassination,” al-Jabri told the BBC. “He will not rest until he sees me dead. I have no doubt about that.”

Al-Jabri also reiterated an earlier claim that Prince Mohammed considered assassinating former King Abdullah with a poison ring from Russia, an allegation he first made in a 2021 interview with CBS.

The former intelligence official’s two children are currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, in what he describes as an attempt to lure him back to the kingdom.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to power has been marked by a wider crackdown on perceived dissent and potential challenges to his rule. In 2017, King Salman replaced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef with his son, Prince Mohammed. The former crown prince is believed to have been under house arrest since then.

As the Yemen war approaches its ninth year, international pressure has grown for a resolution to the conflict. The recent escalation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea has further complicated regional tensions and international shipping.

The U.S.-based lawyer for al-Jabri did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the BBC interview.

Nigerian University Union Issues 21-Day Strike Notice to Government

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria has issued a 21-day strike notice to the federal government, sources within the union’s National Executive Council confirmed on Monday.

The notice, decided at a meeting held at the University of Ibadan, is expected to be formally transmitted to the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education.

“It is not an ultimatum but a strike notice. We are giving them 21 days’ notice, after which we shall embark on strike,” a union source told The PUNCH newspaper. “Our aim for putting out the notice is that it is a requirement under labour laws so we are trying to ensure that all our actions are done according to the law.”

ASUU’s decision comes after repeated threats to strike over the non-implementation of agreements reached with the federal government. Key issues include:

1. Non-implementation of the 2009 re-negotiated agreements, which have lingered for over six years.

2. Unpaid academic allowances accumulated over six years.

3. Failure to fully implement the Needs Assessment Report, which agreed to raise 200 billion naira annually for five years for university revitalization. Only one payment has been made since 2013.

4. Concerns over the proliferation of new universities without adequate funding.

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU’s national president, highlighted these issues following a June 26 meeting with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. Osodeke stated that the meeting’s agreements had not been implemented.

“At the meeting called by the Minister of Education, we agreed that after two weeks, we will meet to see the progress the government has made,” Osodeke said. “We will also see what we will do next if the government fail to implement the agreements reached.”

The union argues that the revitalization funds are crucial for upgrading Nigerian universities to international standards and attracting foreign students and lecturers.

This latest development follows a series of strikes by ASUU in recent years, including an eight-month strike in 2022 that significantly disrupted the academic calendar across Nigerian public universities.

The federal government has not yet publicly responded to ASUU’s strike notice. The situation continues to highlight the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s higher education sector, including funding issues, infrastructure decay, and disputes over staff welfare.

As the 21-day notice period begins, stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector are watching closely to see if a resolution can be reached to avert another potentially lengthy disruption to the country’s university system.

Blinken Calls for Urgent Gaza Cease-Fire Deal During Israel Visit, Says It’s Last Chance for Peace Talk

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TEL AVIV, Israel  — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgency of concluding a Gaza cease-fire agreement during his visit to Israel on Monday, describing the current moment as “maybe the last” chance for a deal that would return hostages held by Hamas and bring relief to Palestinians.

Blinken, on his ninth mission to the Middle East since the conflict began, arrived days after mediators expressed renewed optimism about a potential agreement. His visit precedes new talks expected this week in Egypt.

“This is a decisive moment, probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a cease-fire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security,” Blinken said as he opened talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

The Secretary of State also cautioned against actions that could derail the process, urging restraint amid fears of a wider regional conflict following recent killings of militant commanders in Lebanon.

Herzog thanked Blinken for the Biden administration’s support, noting recent attacks against Israelis. “This is the way we are living these days,” Herzog said. “We are surrounded by terrorism from all four corners of the earth and we are fighting back as a resilient and strong nation.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks before a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/Pool

The war, which began on October 7 when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, has resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel and over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

The evolving cease-fire proposal calls for a three-phase process, including the release of all hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza and releasing Palestinian prisoners.

However, both sides have expressed reservations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet there are areas where Israel can be flexible and others where it cannot. Hamas has accused Netanyahu of setting new obstacles and criticized the latest mediation offer as capitulating to Israel’s demands.

An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that an Israeli delegation held talks with Egyptian officials on Sunday, focusing on the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. The meeting reportedly did not achieve a breakthrough, with Israel insisting on maintaining control of the border and a bisecting route through Gaza.

Blinken is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later Monday before traveling to Egypt on Tuesday.

As the diplomatic efforts continue, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and led to widespread devastation in the territory.

Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. are set to meet again this week in Cairo to attempt to finalize a cease-fire agreement, with responses to the U.S. outline expected to potentially lead to a declaration unless talks collapse.

Nigerian Troops Reportedly Kill Boko Haram Commander, Three Others in Sambisa Forest

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MAIDUGURI, Nigeria  — Nigerian troops have reportedly killed a Boko Haram commander and three other terrorists during an operation in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State, according to security sources.

The operation, conducted on Saturday by troops from Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Hybrid Force and Civilian Joint Task Force, targeted a terrorist camp in the Bula Daloje area of Bama Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, cited intelligence sources for the information. The sources reported that the military incursion into the terrorist enclave met with resistance, leading to a heavy gunbattle.

Despite an ambush by the insurgents en route, the troops successfully fought back, reportedly killing several terrorists and forcing others to withdraw. Among those reportedly killed was Abu Rajab, described as a notorious Boko Haram commander.

The operation reportedly resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and a mobile phone, which security experts consider a significant achievement in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the Lake Chad region.

However, the operation was not without cost. One member of the Hybrid Force was reportedly struck by gunfire during the operation and later died from injuries.

The Nigerian military has not yet issued an official statement confirming these reports. Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, has not commented on the alleged deaths of its members.

The Sambisa Forest has long been known as a stronghold for Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Nigerian security forces have conducted numerous operations in the area as part of their efforts to combat the insurgency.

This reported operation comes as part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to neutralize terrorist threats in the region. The conflict has displaced millions and resulted in thousands of deaths over the past decade.

As the situation continues to develop, local communities and international observers await further details and potential confirmation from official military sources regarding the outcome of this operation and its impact on the broader counter-insurgency efforts in northeastern Nigeria.

Nigerian Government Postpones Arraignment of #EndBadGovernance Protest Leaders

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ABUJA, Nigeria  — The Nigerian government has postponed the arraignment of #EndBadGovernance protest leaders, including Michael Adaramoye, also known as Michael Lenin, amid a heavy security presence at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

Michael Adaramoye, a.k.a Michael Lenin

Adaramoye and other activists, including Mosiu Sodiq and Eleojo Opaluwa, were arrested on August 5 for their involvement in the recent 10-day nationwide protests against bad governance. They have been in detention for two weeks under the directive of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, according to activist groups.

The Take It Back (TIB) Movement, a pro-democracy organization, condemned the postponement in a statement, describing it as “a show of incompetence and the challenges of criminalizing protests.” The group added that lawyers are still awaiting specific charges against the activists.

Francis Nwapa, National Secretary of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), and Salako Kayode, Publicity Secretary of RSM, issued a joint statement criticizing the government’s actions. “Instead of releasing them, the federal government wastefully used public money to transport the army, police and DSS to court because of planned solidarity protests by Nigerians at the Federal High Court in Abuja,” the statement read.

Eyewitnesses reported a significant deployment of security personnel, including army, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) officers, around the court premises on Monday morning. The security buildup came in response to TIB’s announced plans to occupy the court from 7 a.m. in support of the detained protesters.

Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, has previously condemned the continued arbitrary detention of the protesters.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which concluded recently after a 10-day run, focused on issues of corruption, economic hardship, and demands for better governance in Nigeria. The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings have drawn criticism from human rights advocates who argue that the right to peaceful protest should be protected.

As of Monday afternoon, the Nigerian government had not issued an official statement regarding the postponement of the arraignment or the status of the detained activists. The situation continues to evolve, with activist groups calling for the immediate release of those detained and for charges to be dropped.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between the Nigerian government and civil society groups over issues of governance, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly.

Source: Saharareporters.com

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