The attack has begun: Israeli forces have declared Gaza City a "war zone" and launched military operations, sparking the ire of Hamas, which has promised a "bloodbath" for the Jewish state's soldiers. Then, the diplomatic bombshell dropped by the Americans rained down on the Palestinians, who have decided to revoke the visas of representatives of the Palestinian National Authority, including President Abbas , slamming the door in their faces on the eve of the next UN General Assembly.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT – "In accordance with the assessment of the situation and directives from the political level, starting today at 10:00 a.m., the local tactical pause in military activity (for aid distribution) will not apply to the Gaza City area, which is a dangerous combat zone," the Israeli army announced this morning. A few hours later, spokesman Avichay Adraee clarified that "we are not waiting; we have begun the initial phases of the attack on Gaza City," while at the same time, Al Jazeera correspondents in the city reported "thousands of displaced persons fleeing under a sky darkened by bombing smoke."

The IDF is heavily pounding the suburbs where it operates "with great force." Israel's planned occupation of the Gaza Strip "will have a devastating effect on its military and political leadership," and "the enemy army will pay the price with the bloodbath of its soldiers," threatened Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.

The hostages "run the same risks as Palestinian fighters," he added ominously in a message warning that "if they die, the Israeli government will be responsible."

Israeli forces, who claim responsibility for killing the alleged ISIS leader in the Gaza Strip, along with Shin Bet operatives, recovered the body of hostage Ilan Weiss, a 56-year-old killed in the early hours of October 7, two years ago, during the attack on Kibbutz Beeri. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, kidnapped by Hamas, were released under the November 2023 agreement. The remains of another body, likely that of another hostage, are being identified.

And while in Gaza people continue to die incessantly, the death toll has broken through the roof of 63,000 Palestinians killed, including over 300 due to starvation , the White House in a surprise move closes the door of the UN to the PA.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the revocation of visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PNA) ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly . The two organizations, the US State Department statement states, "must systematically repudiate terrorism—including the October 7 massacre—and end incitement to terrorism in education." Their representatives must also "end attempts to circumvent negotiations through international campaigns, including appeals to the ICC, and efforts to achieve unilateral recognition of a hypothetical Palestinian state." This latter request strikes Palestinian officials in Ramallah as a mockery. "The US decision on visas is illegal," thundered PA President Abbas.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani addressed the Palestinian statehood issue: "We believe that a Palestinian state can be established through an effort similar to that of UNIFIL, a military mission under the banner of the United Nations, and we are willing to participate," he said, specifying that he was aiming for "an Arab-led mission."

(Unioneonline)

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