Gaza: Europe and the Arabs

Reporters Without Borders announced that 67 journalists were killed worldwide in one year while performing their duties or because of the nature of their work, with nearly half of those deaths occurring in the Gaza Strip "at the hands of Israeli forces."

The organization deemed the Israeli army "the worst enemy of journalists," noting the killing of 29 journalists and media workers in the Palestinian territories during the past year while on assignment, bringing the total number of victims since October 2023 to over 220. According to a report by the Brussels-based European news network Euronews, "On the ground, Israeli forces launched raids outside their designated areas of deployment in Gaza on the 60th day of the ceasefire, resulting in deaths and injuries. In the West Bank, clashes erupted following Israeli incursions into several locations, after the killing of a Palestinian in Qalqilya and the wounding of others in the town of al-Ram near the separation barrier."

In southern Lebanon, the Israeli army stated yesterday that it targeted a training compound and sites belonging to Hezbollah, including military installations and a launch site used by the "Radwan Force," according to its statement. Haaretz quoted sources as saying: "Trump is pushing for the transition to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and for another Israeli withdrawal from the Strip."

Meanwhile, a mother and her son were found dead inside a house in northern Israel, and police have opened an investigation. According to an investigation, The Times of Israel reported that Magen David Adom paramedics found the bodies of two people in an apartment in northern Israel this morning.

The deceased were identified as a 69-year-old woman and her 39-year-old son.

Police stated that they have opened an investigation into the incident and that officers, including forensic experts, were at the scene.

In a related development, under the headline "Arab and Muslim Objections Remove Tony Blair from Candidates for Gaza 'Peace Council'," the website reported that after his name was put forward as part of US President Donald Trump's initiative to form a "peace council" for Gaza, the former British prime minister's name was withdrawn from consideration following Arab and Muslim objections, likely stemming from his controversial political legacy and ambiguous involvement in Middle Eastern affairs. In late September, Trump announced his 20-point plan to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which included the creation of a "peace council" under his chairmanship, with Tony Blair as one of its members. The US president described Blair as "a very good man," while Blair welcomed the plan, calling it "bold and smart," and expressed his willingness to work within the council.

The Financial Times reported on Monday that Blair's name had been dropped amid Arab and Muslim objections.

These objections likely stemmed from Blair's declining image in the region since his support for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, and from concerns that his presence would marginalize the Palestinians within the governance structure that would be established under the plan.

Trump himself acknowledged in October the possibility of objecting to Blair's appointment, saying, "I've always liked Tony, but I want to make sure it's someone everyone is happy with."