Israeli ex-security chiefs urge Trump to help end Gaza war
'It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel,' the former officials wrote in an open letter shared with the media on Monday, calling on Trump to 'steer' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decisions.
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Al Arabiya
25 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Israel set to order new Gaza war plan
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared Tuesday to unveil an updated Gaza war plan designed to destroy Hamas and secure the release of dozens of hostages, with Israeli media reporting he would order the total occupation of the Palestinian territory. Netanyahu was expected to meet security chiefs in Jerusalem to issue new orders, even as Israel's diplomats convened a UN Security Council meeting in New York to highlight the plight of Israelis held in Gaza. The timing of the security meeting has not been officially confirmed. Netanyahu said Monday that it would be 'in the coming days.' Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 said Netanyahu would meet the army chief of staff, and the defense and army ministers. Unnamed senior officials told Israeli media he intends to order the re-occupation of Gaza. 'Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip,' said a report on public broadcaster Kan. 'Several cabinet members who spoke with the prime minister confirmed that he has decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages might be held.' The private daily Maariv declared: 'The die is cast. We're en route for the total conquest of Gaza.' While the reconquest plan has not been officially confirmed, it has already drawn an angry response from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza's government, which insisted it will not shift its position on ceasefire talks. Desperate families After 22 months of combat sparked by the October 7, 2023 cross-border attacks by Hamas that killed 1,219 people and saw hundreds kidnapped, the Israeli army has devastated large parts of the Palestinian territory. More than 60,933 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures from Gaza's health ministry, and humanitarian agencies have warned that the territory's 2.4 million people are slipping into a catastrophic famine. But Netanyahu is under pressure on several fronts. Domestically, the desperate and vocal families of the 49 remaining hostages are demanding a ceasefire to bring their loved ones home. Around the world, humanitarians are pushing for a truce to allow in food to the starving, and several European capitals have announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood, despite fierce US and Israeli opposition. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's far-right allies in his ruling coalition want to seize the opportunity of the war to reoccupy Gaza and tighten control of the occupied West Bank. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was in New York, where Israel's US ally was helping organize a Security Council meeting to focus world attention on the fate of the hostages rather than the looming famine -- which Israeli spokespeople insist is an exaggerated threat. The defense ministry civil affairs agency for the Palestinian territories, COGAT, said Tuesday that Israel will partially reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce its reliance on UN and aid agency convoys and international military airdrops. 'As part of formulating the mechanism, a limited number of local merchants were approved by the defense establishment, subject to several criteria and strict security screening,' COGAT said. Israel has been fighting Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza for 22 months and imposed a total blockade on March 2, partially lifted in May to allow a US-backed private agency to open food distribution centers. Aid convoys and airdrops by Arab and European militaries resumed last month, as UN-mandated expert reports warned famine was unfolding in the war-torn territory. The COGAT statement said private sector deliveries would be paid for by monitored bank transfers and be subject to inspections by the Israeli military before entering Gaza, 'to prevent the involvement of the Hamas terrorist organization.' Staple foods Permitted goods under the new mechanism will include food staples, fruit, vegetables, baby formula and hygiene products, COGAT said. On Monday. Netanyahu insisted Israel's war goals remained 'the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.' His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Netanyahu to end the war, arguing that Israel has already scored a military victory and should seek to negotiate the hostages' release. The families of the hostages are also horrified by talk of escalation, accusing the government of putting their relatives in renewed danger, even as Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad release propaganda videos showing emaciated captives.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Could Require Up to $15,000 Bonds for Some Tourist Visas under Pilot Program
The US could require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program launching in two weeks, a government notice said on Monday, an effort that aims to crack down on visitors who overstay their visas. The program gives US consular officers the discretion to impose bonds on visitors from countries with high rates of visa overstays, according to a Federal Register notice. Bonds could also be applied to people coming from countries where screening and vetting information is deemed insufficient, the notice said. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on illegal immigration a focus of his presidency, boosting resources to secure the border and arresting people in the US illegally. He issued a travel ban in June that fully or partially blocks citizens of 19 nations from entering the US on national security grounds. Trump's immigration policies have led some visitors to skip travel to the United States. Transatlantic airfares dropped to rates last seen before the COVID-19 pandemic in May and travel from Canada and Mexico to the US fell by 20% year-over-year. Effective August 20, the new visa program will last for approximately a year, the government notice said. Consular officers will have three options for visa applicants subjected to the bonds: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, but will generally be expected to require at least $10,000, it said. The funds will be returned to travelers if they depart in accordance with the terms of their visas, the notice said. A similar pilot program was launched in November 2020 during the last months of Trump's first term in office, but it was not fully implemented due to the drop in global travel associated with the pandemic, the notice said. A State Department spokesperson listed the criteria that will be used to identify the countries that will be affected, adding that the country list may be updated. "Countries will be identified based on high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies, concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement, and foreign policy considerations," the spokesperson said. The State Department was unable to estimate the number of visa applicants who could be affected by the change. Many of the countries targeted by Trump's travel ban also have high rates of visa overstays, including Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar and Yemen. US Travel Association, which represents major tourism-related companies, estimated the "scope of the visa bond pilot program appears to be limited, with an estimated 2,000 applicants affected, most likely from only a few countries with relatively low travel volume to the United States." Numerous countries in Africa, including Burundi, Djibouti and Togo also had high overstay rates, according to US Customs and Border Protection data from fiscal year 2023. A provision in a sweeping spending package passed in the Republican-controlled US Congress in July also created a $250 "visa integrity fee" for anyone approved for a non-immigrant visa that could potentially be reimbursable for those who comply with visa rules. The $250 fee goes into effect on October 1. US Travel said that fee could hinder travel and said "if implemented, the US will have one of, if not the highest, visitor visa fees in the world."
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Canada airdrops humanitarian aid to Gaza amid plans to recognize Palestinian state
Canada delivered more than 21,600 pounds of humanitarian aid to Gaza via military airdrop this week, as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to announce his country's recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month. The Canadian Armed Forces deployed a CC-130J Hercules aircraft to conduct the operation on Sunday, delivering critical supplies to Palestinians facing what officials described as 'unprecedented' humanitarian needs in the war-torn territory. The airdrop comes as Canada intensifies diplomatic pressure on Israel over Gaza access restrictions, with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Defense Minister David McGuinty condemning Israeli government obstruction of humanitarian aid as a violation of international law. 'Despite the scale of need, humanitarian partners face severe challenges in delivering life-saving food and medical assistance by land due to ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli government,' the ministers said in a joint statement. Canada's latest aid delivery follows Carney's announcement last week that the country plans to join several others, including France and Britain, in recognizing Palestinian statehood at a UN meeting in September. The Prime Minister cited the deteriorating situation in Gaza, including widespread starvation, as a driving factor behind the decision. 'Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza,' Carney said, drawing rebukes from both Israel and the United States, Israel's closest ally. The humanitarian operation was coordinated through Jordan, which Canada thanked for facilitating the aid delivery. Officials said the airdrop measures became necessary due to severely restricted ground access to the Palestinian territory. Last week, Minister Anand announced $30 million in new funding to address Palestinian humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank, along with an additional $10 million to support the Palestinian Authority's governance role. The funding will support logistical operations along the Jordanian Corridor and scale up deliveries through UN and Red Cross partners. Since October 7, 2023, Canada has committed more than $355 million in international assistance for Palestinian civilians, including $99 million announced in March 2025 and $50 million pledged in November 2024. Canada maintains that a two-state solution remains 'the only viable pathway to a just and lasting peace,' with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in security. The government said it would continue working with international partners to promote regional peace and stability. The Canadian Armed Forces said it stands ready to conduct additional humanitarian operations as directed by the government.
