Ritabhari Chakraborty spotted at an event on her birthday
Israel's National Security Council intensified an existing warning for Israelis against travel to the United Arab Emirates. Israel ordered the evacuation of the majority of its diplomatic mission staff and their families from the UAE. They said that "terrorist organizations (including Iranian-affiliated groups, Hamas, Hezbollah, and global Jihad) are stepping up efforts to harm Israelis." Watch this video to know more.
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Economic Times
33 minutes ago
- Economic Times
‘Haven't eaten for days, forced to dig his own grave': Family of Hamas hostage releases ‘propaganda' video with message for Netanyahu
Synopsis The family of Evyatar David, a 24-year-old hostage, released distressing video footage showing his severe starvation in Hamas captivity. The videos, dated July 27 and released August 2, depict David emaciated and documenting his meager meals, often consisting of just lentils or nothing at all. David emotionally appealed to Prime Minister Netanyahu, expressing feeling abandoned. Reuters Demonstrators take part in a protest to demand the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and to end the war, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 2, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad A video footage of a 24-year-old hostage, Evyatar David, was released by his family in which he was seen starving for food and facing severe hardships. It was the second 'propaganda video,' which was made public a day after Hamas published what it claimed was a 'sign of life' from the captive. The initial footage, which was posted Friday (August 1, 2025), was released with the consent of the family and was confirmed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum a day the video, David appears severely emaciated, his bones protruding beneath his skin, according to Ynet News. He appears to be sitting in a tunnel, documenting his daily meals on a handwritten chart. On some days, it says 'no food,' and on others, just 'lentils.' The family on Saturday (August 2, 2025) also released a second video dated July 27, in which David, visibly weakened and gaunt, says he has been without proper food or water for an extended period and claims he was forced by his captors to dig his own grave. The family of the hostage released a second video on Saturday, August 2, 2025, dated July 27. In the footage, David, looking frail and thin, says he's gone a long time without proper food or water and claims his captors forced him to dig his own grave.'I don't know what I'm going to eat. I haven't eaten in days,' he said, as quoted by Ynet News. 'I've been living in a really difficult situation and have been for many months,' he further stated. Even though his captors likely dictated his words, David's appearance clearly shows his health is declining. 'I'm getting thinner and weaker by the day,' he said in the video. 'No meat, no chicken, no fish. Almost no bread. On Friday, July 4, I didn't eat anything. I'm writing everything down,' he added, referring to the food chart. David was seen reading aloud from the chart in the footage: 'Lentils, lentils, beans. On July 16 and 17, I ate nothing—two days in a row. Then more lentils, again lentils. On July 20, nothing again. Then lentils, and again nothing. Then again nothing, and again nothing. This can is for two days, just to keep me alive.' While addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, David made an emotional appeal, saying that he feels that he has been abandoned. 'I feel that I have been abandoned... I've been told that in Israel, the government cares for prisoners and cares for anyone imprisoned by the enemy. I feel that I have been abandoned by you and this government,' he said. 'Everything I was taught was simply not true,' he added, as quoted by Ynet News.'What I'm doing now is digging my own grave,' he adds. 'Each day, my body grows weaker and weaker. I'm walking directly to my grave. This is the grave where I think I'm going to be buried. Time is running out. You are the only ones who can end this, [so I can] be released and be able to sleep in my bed with my family.'In a strong statement against Hamas, David's family accused it of intentionally starving him for propaganda purposes. 'We are forced to witness our beloved Evyatar, our son and brother, being deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. He is a living skeleton, buried alive,' the statement said. 'Our son has only days left to live in his current state. Hamas is using Evyatar as a live experiment in a grotesque hunger campaign.'The family called the alleged starvation campaign 'one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen,' as quoted by and appealed to Israel and the international community to intervene. 'Israel and the international community must stand against Hamas' cruelty and ensure Evyatar receives immediate nutrition,' they said. 'This intentional starvation and abuse for propaganda purposes violates even the lowest standards of humanitarian law and basic human decency.'
Deccan Herald
33 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Realising the Palestinian state remains a complex challenge
Spurred by the declaration of French President Emmanuel Macron in early July, a host of Western powers are lining up and promising to recognise the State of Palestine next month, coinciding with the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Following similar announcements by Britain and Canada, an Australian minister remarked that his country's recognition was a matter of 'when, not if'.Currently, European nations such as Ireland, Norway, Spain and Sweden have already recognised the State of Palestine. The Gaza crisis and the escalating humanitarian catastrophe — widely feared to lead to mass starvation — are prompting many to push for the only viable option on the table: the two-state cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France convened a meeting in New York with the participation of key Western (Canada, Britain, Japan, and Spain), Arab (Egypt, Jordan and Qatar), Islamic (Indonesia and Türkiye) and Global South (Brazil and Senegal) powers. Much of the globe has already endorsed the New York Declaration, which outlines the contours, rationale and roadmap for a two-state solution. However, two notable dissenters remain: Israel and the United States. Israel has criticised Macron's recognition plan as a 'reward' for Hamas. Despite his frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu over delaying the Gaza ceasefire deal, the Trump Administration is reportedly fuming over Western powers taking the lead and has even threatened to punish Canada for its recognition under Russian missile attack, says Ukraine military .Recognition of the State of Palestine is largely a political act with legal implications. It assumes that the entity in question satisfies international criteria regarding territory, population, government, and, crucially, sovereignty. Countries only grant recognition after being satisfied that these conditions are met. As a sovereign decision, recognition is often used by countries to gain diplomatic leverage and strategic advantages. For instance, the US took more than two decades to accept the People's Republic of China and support its admission to the United Nations in 1971. For similar reasons, a vast number of countries—including some even today—have not recognised the State of Israel, despite it meeting all the criteria of an independent sovereign entity decades many others, India adopts a cautious approach when recognising and accepting a newly emerged entity into the international community. This caution was evident in its stance towards the then East Germany, which it recognised only in 1972, shortly before the latter joined the United Nations in September 1973. At the same time, India's immediate recognition of Bangladesh on 7 December 1971—amidst the war with Pakistan—paved the way for the latter's international same caution and legal considerations informed India's approach towards Palestine. Despite its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause dating back to the early 1920s, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru refrained from recognising the hastily formed and short-lived All-Palestine Government announced in the Gaza Strip in 1948. As global opinion began to coalesce around an independent Palestinian leadership under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), New Delhi initiated engagement with Yasser the wake of the 1973 oil crisis and the sudden rise in political clout of key oil-exporting nations— particularly Iraq and Saudi Arabia — the regional stance towards the Palestinian leadership began to shift. At the Rabat Arab Summit in October 1974, the Arab League recognised the PLO as the 'sole and legitimate' representative of the Palestinians. This led India to sign a formal agreement with the PLO in January of the following year, soon after which an independent PLO office began functioning in New her landslide victory in the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi extended full diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian mission in March, granting it all diplomatic privileges and immunities on par with United Nations missions. The first Intifada prompted the PLO to accept the UN's partition plan for Palestine — albeit four decades late — indicating its readiness to coexist with the State of Israel. Consequently, India became one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988. The Palestinian mission in New Delhi was upgraded to a full-fledged embassy. At that time, the Israeli consulate in Mumbai remained limited in function and jurisdiction, primarily serving the state of then, India has hosted both Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas as heads of state. The last such visit occurred in May 2017, when Prime Minister Modi hosted Abbas. Following the Oslo Accords, India also opened a diplomatic mission in Gaza City, which was later relocated to the West Bank due to worsening security conditions, which also forced Arafat to move his headquarters to support for the two-state solution has remained consistent, vocal and unwavering. Even after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, India reiterated its backing for the two-state framework. During a detailed media briefing on 12 October, the MEA spokesperson reaffirmed India's consistent support for 'a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine, living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel.'Despite growing normalisation and deepening strategic ties with Israel, India's commitment to the two-state solution remains resolute. The rising support among key Western powers only reinforces the strength and vision of India's long-held position. Yet, without active American support and endorsement, France and its European and Arab allies may struggle to realise Palestinian statehood — and this remains a major hurdle.(The writer teaches contemporary Middle East at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi)
United News of India
33 minutes ago
- United News of India
Iran's IRGC slams efforts for two-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, condemns killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
Tehran, Aug 2 (UNI) Iran's powerful paramilitary group – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – has slammed efforts to promote a two-state solution for the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict, a few days after a UN conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabi pushed for the solution. 'These satanic efforts are prescribing a two-state solution to end the Palestinian issue,' the IRGC said in a statement, marking the first anniversary of the Israeli killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. 'But the resistance remains firm on the path of martyr Haniyeh and others,' reports Iran International. Stating that the solution lies not in compromise but active resistance, the IRGC, quoting a Hamas slogan attributed to Haniyeh declared 'We don't recognise Israel – never, never, never.' A two-state solution was discussed in a UN session in New York from July 28-30, 2025, aimed at resolving the conflict. The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed to revitalise efforts towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, with a focus on achieving a just and lasting peace. However, Iran's long-held position on the matter refuses to recognise any form of compromise on the issue, and has called for the creation of a sovereign Palestine from the ashes of Israel. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called for the total destruction of the Jewish state within 25 years back in 2015. The IRGC's statement described Tel Aviv's war with Hamas in Gaza as a full-fledged genocide, claiming that it was carried out with the broader aim of seizing the strategic and resource-rich regions of the Islamic world. 'Those who engineered the genocide in Gaza are undoubtedly pursuing larger goals—the swallowing of the Muslim world's rich and strategic regions,' it said. 'But with God's help, the breaking of global silence and the surge of anti-Zionist international protest will shatter the hopes and ambitions of the Zionist-American criminal band, which must now await the unmasking of its hidden fate.' It also condemned the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran, which occurred while he was in the city for Iran's presidential inauguration. The IRGC credited continued Palestinian resistance to what it called the legacy of Haniyeh and other slain leaders of the anti-Israel struggle. 'The Aqsa Storm was not a passing event but a strategic doctrine sealed by the blood of martyrs,' it said, referencing the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. UNI XC ANV GNK
