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CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas’ conditions for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the release of hostages held there, labeling such a prospect as “surrender.”In order to release the remaining hostages, Netanyahu said Hamas was demanding an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Out of the 253 hostages Israel says Hamas seized on October 7, Israel believes that 132 are still in Gaza, of whom 104 are thought to be alive. Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas attend a protest calling for their release outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, in Jerusalem on Sunday. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from the Israeli public to secure the release of captives in Gaza. Leo Correa/APMeanwhile, the death toll in Gaza on Sunday surpassed 25,000, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ohad, Gadi Eisenkot, Eisenkot, You’d, ” Netanyahu, “, Leo Correa, Joe Biden, Israel’s, Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, CNN’s, Sunday Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Jordan, Palestinian

☆ EU Targets Six People Under New Hamas Sanctions Scheme
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Friday imposed asset freezes and travel bans on six people it said were linked to Hamas, under a new sanctions regime targeting the Palestinian militant group. The EU already listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation but moved to create a legal framework focused on the group after its deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7. The Council listed those sanctioned as Sudan-based financier Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, Nabil Chouman, the former's son Khaled Chouman, senior Hamas financier Rida Ali Khamis, senior Hamas operative Musa Dudin and Algeria-based financier Aiman Ahmad Al Duwaik. "The new sanctions framework shall apply until 19 January 2025. A senior EU official earlier on Friday said the first batch of sanctioned individuals was linked to providing funds to the group.

Persons: Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, Nabil Chouman, Khaled Chouman, Rida Ali Khamis, Musa Dudin, Aiman Ahmad Al Duwaik, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Tassilo Hummel, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Andrew Gray Organizations: European Union, EU, of, Hamas, U.S . Treasury Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Algeria, United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia

☆ EU to Issue Firm Words at China Summit With Limited Expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Top EU officials will raise an array of concerns from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to trade irritants in a summit with Chinese leaders on Thursday that is expected to be long on firm words, but short on outcomes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in the morning and Premier Li Qiang in the afternoon on their one-day visit to Beijing. There will be no joint statement from Thursday's talks, EU officials said, and they do not expect concrete outcomes from the first in-person EU-China summit since 2019. The European Union will also have questions on Chinese intentions towards Taiwan, but its focus will be on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. EU officials say the two sides could cooperate more on action to combat climate change and to promote biodiversity.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Josep Borrell, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Thursday's, Joe Biden, Philip Blenkinsop, Andrew Gray, Laurie Chen, Grant McCool Organizations: European, U.S, The European, European Union Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, EU, Beijing, China, California, Taiwan, Russia, North Korea, Brussels

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Baby among civilians injured in missile strikes on Ukraine; Russia causes a stir at security summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov both blamed the West for creating global insecurity and instability. The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia blocked it for months.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, — Organizations: Organization for Security, Cooperation, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin Locations: Moscow's, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Skopje, North Macedonia, Malta

[1/3] Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disembarks from a plane upon his arrival at an airport ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 30, 2023. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. I think that is simply wrong," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov disembarks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, OSCE Michael Carpenter, Antony Blinken, Helga Schmid, Krisjanis Karins, Humeyra Pamuk, Aleksandar Vasovic, Ronald Popeski, Francois Murphy, William Maclean, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Organization for Security, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin, AS, Ukraine, United, U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, BRUSSELS, VIENNA, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Belarus, United States, Moscow, West, New York, Latvian

☆ Israel's finance minister defends settlement funds in budget row
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. On Sunday, centrist Minister Benny Gantz demanded that Netanyahu remove all political payouts from the new budget, saying they will harm the war effort. Those include so-called "coalition funds" intended for settlements in the occupied West Bank and for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish education system. The row over devoting funds to settlements comes at a sensitive moment for Israel as it seeks to mobilize international support for the war in Gaza. Israel's central bank and hundreds of economists have also called on the government to scrap funds not vital to financing the war.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Amir Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu, Smotrich, Josep Borrell, Gantz's, Mahmoud Abbas, Gantz, Maayan Lubell, Steven Scheer, Ari Rabinovitch, Ali Sawafta, Nick Macfie Organizations: Tel, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, West Bank, Jewish, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Israel, Gaza, United States, Jerusalem

Borrell said all EU members attending the meeting of Mediterranean nations in Barcelona and almost all attendees overall had agreed on the need for a two-state solution. In response to that attack, Israel bombarded the enclave and mounted a ground offensive in the north. A two-state solution envisages a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke as a representative of a group of ministers from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Jordan's Safadi added, however: "Some among us are still refusing to call for a ceasefire... We demand it be implemented immediately."

Persons: Josep Borrell, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Nasser Nasser, Borrell, Ayman Safadi, Riyad al, Maliki, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Jordan's Safadi, Joan Faus, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Ed Osmond, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank, Rights, European Union, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Reuters, Union of, Saudi Foreign, Arab League, of Islamic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, Rights BARCELONA, Spain, Palestinian, Gaza, Barcelona, Israel, Jordanian, Qatar, Egypt, United States

☆ EU human rights envoy in Cuba to discuss aftermath of 2021 protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, speaks during a meeting with Cuban authorities in Havana, Cuba, November 24, 2023. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on a visit to Cuba earlier this year, announced Gilmore`s visit but told reporters the EU would not "impose" demands on the island`s government. Rights groups say around 1,000 Cubans were jailed for their political beliefs following the demonstrations and several subsequent protests. "No one is convicted for their political opinions," Cuba`s foreign ministry said prior to Gilmore`s visit on social media. "We call on the Cuban government to respect the human rights of everyone, including the rights of political prisoners and those unjustly detained."

Persons: Eamon Gilmore, Alexandre Meneghini, Gilmore, Josep Borrell, Fidel Castro's, Luis Barrios Díaz, la Torre, Barrios Diaz `, Dave Sherwood, Alien Fernandez Organizations: Human Rights, Cuban, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, U.S, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Havana, Cuba, Rights HAVANA, United States, EU, Cuban

☆ Sudan refugees detail second wave of ethnic purge by Arab forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

After seizing swathes of Khartoum, it has forced retreats by the Sudanese army in parts of the Darfur and Kordofan regions. When they were ambushed by Arab militiamen and came under fire along the route, the vehicle’s occupants scattered. In return, the Arab forces would guarantee the safety of the camp’s occupants and allow safe passage out of El Geneina for those who wanted to leave. He said he watched the Arab forces from his hiding place behind a wall at his home. Multiple eyewitnesses said that RSF and Arab militia forces rounded up hundreds of Masalit men, some of whom were executed.

Persons: Ardamata, Josep Borrell, ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Dagalo, Abdullah Omar Abdullah, Al Fadhl Abdullah, Khamis Hassan, ” Ibrahim Youssef, “, Youssef, Gamareldin Mohammed, Mohammed Ahmed Goma, ” Goma, Goma, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, Abdul Rahman Juma, ” Dagalo, RSF, El Geneina, Hussein Fayez, Hassan, Hussein, Yassin Ahmed, Abdu Mohammed Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Reuters couldn’t, Adam Mohammed, Mohammed, Ibrahim Youssef, didn’t, Ben Lesser, Grant Smith, Maggie Michael, Ryan McNeill, Mohammad Kawoosa, Han Huang, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai, Peter Hirschberg Organizations: UNICEF, United Nations, European Union, UNHCR, Diplomats, South, Sudanese, Sudanese Alliance, Army, Reuters, Planet Labs Locations: El, Chad, El Geneina, Darfur, Adre, Chad’s, Sudan, Ardamata, “, West Darfur, Khartoum, Sudanese, Kordofan, Nyala, Port Sudan, South Sudan, U.S, Al Mashtal, El Geneina’s, New York

He said the EU had to show "more empathy" for the loss of Palestinian civilian lives in Israel's war against Hamas, launched in response to the deadly Oct. 7 cross-border assault by the Palestinian militant group. On the trip, which ended on Monday evening, Borrell heard Arab leaders and Palestinian civil society activists complain that the 27-nation EU was not applying the same standards to Israel's war in Gaza that it applies to Russia's war in Ukraine. EUROPE STRUGGLESAs High Representative for foreign policy, Borrell is charged with crafting common positions among EU members. It has largely limited itself to support for Israel's right to defend itself within international law and calls for pauses in fighting. Borrell, a veteran Spanish Socialist politician, last month declared that some of Israel's actions contravened international law - to the annoyance of some EU member countries.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Defence Margarita Robles, Isabel Infantes, Kibbutz Be'eri, Borrell, Israel's, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: EU, Representative, Foreign Affairs, Defence, REUTERS, Palestinian, European Union, Ukraine, Hamas, Reuters, West Bank, United Nations, Spanish Socialist, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Toledo, Spain, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Kibbutz, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, EU, United States, East, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spanish

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (not pictured) at the Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar November 5, 2023. It followed a report in the Washington Post published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. "The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha. "The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Amiri, Imad Creidi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Gray, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Emelia Sithole, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatar's, French, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Hamas, Washington Post, White House, Reuters, Qatari, European Union, Washington, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Israel, United States, Gaza

Ukrainian forces say they have have “gained a foothold” on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. In March, EU member states agreed to provide Ukraine with 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine to be delivered within 12 months. Both Ukraine and Russia need to replenish extraordinary amounts of ammunition as a grinding war of attrition continues in Ukraine’s east and south. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, pictured in court in 2014, has received a presidential pardon after doing a stint fighting in Ukraine. The visit was previously unannounced and comes amid concerns that the Israel-Gaza conflict will divert international attention from the war in Ukraine.

Persons: “, Vladimir Saldo, Pilipey, Saldo, ” Boris Pistorius, Pistorius, Josep Borrell, Dimitar Dilkoff, Anna Politkovskaya, Vladimir Putin, Sergey Khadzhikurbanov, Politkovskaya, Khadzhikurbanov’s, Alexey Mikhalchik, Putin, ” Mikhalchik, Khadzhikurbanov, ”, Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, Pavel Golovkin, David Cameron, Zelensky, ” Cameron, Cameron, ” Cameron –, Alexandra Skochilenko, Skochilenko “ Organizations: CNN —, Defense Forces, CNN, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Getty, Novaya Gazeta, Russian Ministry of Defense, Khadzhikurbanov, AP, Armed Forces, Russian Federation Locations: CNN — Ukraine, Dnipro, Kyiv, Germany, Ukraine, Kherson, Russia, Russian, AFP, Krynky, Crimea, Brussels, EU, Ukraine’s, South, North Korea, Moscow, British, Israel, Gaza, St, Petersburg, St . Petersburg, Skochilenko

There's a lot of military people here, I just don't understand how this objective can be realised," Ayman Safadi said at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas since its deadly Oct. 7 cross-border rampage into nearby Israeli communities. And we need to end that today, not tomorrow," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. "Hamas cannot be in control of Gaza any longer," Borrell told the Manama Dialogue, an annual conference on foreign and security policy. The PA is deeply unpopular among Palestinians, perceived largely as a corrupt security subcontractor for Israel, and Israel is now under a hardline religious-nationalist government.

Persons: Ayman Safadi, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Brett McGurk, Joe Biden's, Prince Turki al, Faisal, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Fatah, Anwar Gargash, Enas Alashray, Michael Georgy, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: UAE, Hamas, Saudi Foreign, Israel, WHO, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, European Union, West Bank ., United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza Gaza, Bahrain, Gaza, MANAMA, Palestinian, Manama, Gaza City, Regional, Saudi Arabia, GAZA, Saudi, U.S, UAE, Cairo

[1/4] Weapons and equipment which Israel's army says it found at Al Shifa hospital complex in the Gaza Strip, as seen in a handout picture released by the Israel Defense Forces on November 15, 2023. The army released a video it said showed a tunnel entrance in an outdoor area of Al Shifa, Gaza's biggest hospital. The United States is confident in an assessment from its own intelligence agencies on Hamas activities in Al Shifa hospital and will neither share nor elaborate on it, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday. The body of a woman hostage was recovered by troops in a building near Al Shifa on Thursday, the army said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, on his first visit to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, called on Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza.

Persons: Gaza's Al Shifa, Al Shifa, John Kirby, Philippe Lazzarini ., Israel, Louis Charbonneau, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Eli Cohen, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Grant McCool, Howard Goller Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, REUTERS Acquire, Gaza's, Reuters, Pentagon, U.S . State Department, United, Human Rights Watch, Thomson Locations: Al Shifa, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Egypt, Al, Gaza's, U.S, United States, Israel, United Nations, Gazans, EU

☆ EU's Borrell Tells Israel: 'One Horror Doesn’t Justify Another'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MAGEN, Israel (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged Israel on Thursday not to be consumed by rage in its response to last month's Hamas attack, declaring that "one horror does not justify another". Borrell made his remarks on a visit to Israel, speaking alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen after the two men had visited Kibbutz Be'eri, a focal point of the Oct. 7 assault. "I understand your rage but let me ask you not to be consumed by rage. Speaking at a regional council building a short drive from the kibbutz, Borrell stressed the EU's solidarity with Israel and its support for the country's right to defend itself in line with international law. "But one thing is to defend Israel and another thing's to take care of the people in need," he added.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Borrell, Eli Cohen, Be'eri, Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer, Christina Fincher Organizations: Israeli, European Union Locations: Israel, Gaza

“It can be assumed that the 1 million rounds will not be reached,” Boris Pistorius said ahead of an EU defense ministers meeting in Brussels. In March, EU member states agreed to provide Ukraine with 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine to be delivered within 12 months. The US has also been ramping up ammunition production to supply Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv urgently needed the EU to ramp up its ability to supply ammunition for the Ukrainian military. Ukraine is “ringing the bells a lot and loudly” over EU ammunition supply, he said on national television on Monday night.

Persons: ” Boris Pistorius, Pistorius, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Boris Pistorius, Omar Havana, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ”, ” Nick Witney, Tom Waldwyn, Waldwyn Organizations: CNN, EU, German, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Ukraine’s, European Council, Foreign Relations, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Brussels, EU, Ukraine’s, South, North Korea, Europe

☆ EU foreign policy chief Borrell makes proposals for post-war Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking to reporters after an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, he presented his proposals as saying "no" to three things and "yes" to three others. He should there should be "a Palestinian authority," which he suggested could be a "reinforced" version of the current Palestinian Authority that runs the West Bank, "with a legitimacy to be defined and decided upon by the (U.N.) Security Council". He said Arab countries would have to be more strongly involved in supporting this Palestinian Authority and that the EU should also be more involved in the region, particularly in building a Palestinian state. "There will be no solution without strong commitment from the Arab states, and that cannot be limited to money. We have delegated the solution of this problem to the United States," Borrell said.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Defence Margarita Robles, Isabel Infantes, Borrell, Andrew Gray, Christina Fincher Organizations: EU, Representative, Foreign Affairs, Defence, REUTERS, Rights, Union, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Security, Thomson Locations: Toledo, Spain, Rights BRUSSELS, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Brussels, United States, Europe

☆ Largest Gaza Hospital 'Not Functioning' Amid Israeli Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan WilliamsGAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The largest hospital in Gaza has ceased to function and fatalities among patients are rising, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday, as a blistering Israeli assault continues in the Hamas-controlled strip. "Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding that Shifa was "not functioning as a hospital anymore." The European Union condemned Hamas for using "hospitals and civilians as human shields" in Gaza, while also urging Israel to show "maximum restraint" to protect civilians. The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with hundreds of thousands protesting in capitals around the world demanding a ceasefire. "Al Quds hospital has been cut off from the world in the last six to seven days.

Persons: Nidal, Dan Williams, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Israel, Josep Borrell, Jake Sullivan, we've, Sullivan, Biden, Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Ashraf Al, Shifa, Ahmed El Mokhallalati, Crescent, Tommaso Della Longa, Nidal al, Adam Makary, Ahmed Tolba, Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, European Union, Union, White, National, Israeli Defense Forces, CBS News, United, Reuters, Gaza's Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Palestinian, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies Locations: Dan Williams GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Shifa, Israel, United States, Washington, U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Al, Quds, Al Quds, Jerusalem

☆ EU condemns Hamas for using 'hospitals as human shields', urges Israeli restraint
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The European Union on Sunday condemned Hamas for using "hospitals and civilians as human shields" in Gaza, while also urging Israel to show "maximum restraint" to protect civilians. Hamas has denied using hospitals in this way. At the same time, he urged Israel to exercise maximum restraint, stressing the obligation under international humanitarian law to protect hospitals, medical supplies and civilians inside hospitals. "Hospitals must ... be supplied immediately with the most urgent medical supplies, and patients that require urgent medical care need to be evacuated safely," he added. "In this context, we urge Israel to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the protection of civilians."

Persons: Israel, Al Shifa, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Sabine Siebold, Adam Makary, Hugh Lawson, Giles Elgood Organizations: European Union, Sunday, Hamas, EU, Union, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Gaza, Al, Israel

[1/6] A satellite image shows Al-Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza November 7, 2023. Israel says it is homing in on Palestinian Hamas militants who launched deadly attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and says the group has command centers under and near the hospitals. "Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, adding that Shifa was "not functioning as a hospital anymore." The Israeli military response has also prompted anger, with hundreds of thousands protesting in capitals around the world demanding a ceasefire. "Al Quds hospital has been cut off from the world in the last six to seven days.

Persons: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Israel, Josep Borrell, Jake Sullivan, we've, Sullivan, Biden, Joe Biden, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al, Ashraf Al, Shifa, Ahmed El Mokhallalati, Crescent, Tommaso Della Longa, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Adam Makary, Ahmed Tolba, Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal, Simon Lewis, Diane Craft Organizations: Hamas, Maxar Technologies, REUTERS Acquire, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, European Union, Union, White, National, Israeli Defense Forces, CBS News, United, Reuters, Gaza's Health Ministry, Health Ministry, Palestinian, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Shifa, United States, Washington, U.S, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Al, Quds, Al Quds, Jerusalem

☆ EU condemns Darfur violence and warns of 'another genocide'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 12 (Reuters) - The European Union (EU) condemned on Sunday an escalation of violence in Sudan's Darfur region, warning of the danger of "another genocide" after conflict there between 2003-2008 killed some 300,000 people and displaced more than 2 million. A war since April between Sudan's regular army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary has destabilised the western region and reignited long-simmering feuds there. "These latest atrocities are seemingly part of a wider ethnic cleansing campaign conducted by the RSF with the aim to eradicate the non-Arab Masalit community from West Darfur, and comes on top of the first wave of large violence in June," Borrell said. "The international community cannot turn a blind eye on what is happening in Darfur and allow another genocide to happen in this region." The RSF said last week it had taken control of the army headquarters in West Darfur's capital of El Geneina.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Borrell, RSF, El, Rishabh, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: European Union, Sudan's, Rapid Support Forces, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Sudan's Darfur, Ardamta , West Darfur, West Darfur, Darfur, West Darfur's, El Geneina, Bengaluru

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A European Union plan to spend up to 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion) on military aid for Ukraine is meeting resistance from EU countries and may not survive in its current form, diplomats say. The debate over military aid comes as EU nations are also in discussions over a proposal to give Ukraine 50 billion euros in economic assistance. The EU is also facing challenges over other aspects of its military aid to Ukraine. SECURITY PACKAGESEU governments have stressed that long-term EU military aid must be coordinated with security packages that individual EU countries are negotiating with Kyiv, making it hard to settle on a price tag while those talks are ongoing. Some EU members have also argued they will struggle to make a big long-term pledge as domestic budgets are squeezed.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Josep Borrell, I'm, Olaf Scholz, David Evans Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Rights, Germany, EU, Peace Facility, Ukraine, Facility, Kyiv, Krisztina, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Rights BRUSSELS, Brussels, Russia, EU, Germany, Kyiv, Hungary, OTP

☆ China urges G7 to stop 'inciting confrontation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A two-day G7 foreign minister meeting held in Tokyo ended on Wednesday and mainly called for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war to allow in aid and help the release of hostages. "China will resolutely counter any smear campaigns from external forces," the embassy said, adding it strongly protested against other countries' intentions to curb China with regards to Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen, of the democratically governed Taiwan island, said she would continue to work with G7 members toward a free and open Indo Pacific. Critical comments on Taiwan and Hong Kong have long riled Beijing, which considers such criticism as outside interference in its domestic affairs. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China considers as part of its territory, is the most sensitive issue.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Melanie Joly, Tsai Ing, Hong Kong, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Ben Blanchard, Bernadette Baum Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Canadian, France's, Hong, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, BEIJING, China, Japan, Tokyo, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Hong

The statement gave no details of options being discussed if the Hamas militant group is ousted from Gaza as the result of an ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has so far been vague about its long-term plans for Gaza. Diplomats in Washington, the United Nations, the Middle East and beyond have also started weighing the options. The statement will present the G7's "united stance" on the Middle East situation, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. The G7 group of wealthy, industrialised nations is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with the European Union also participating in the talks.

Persons: Josep Borrell, James, Annalena Baerbock, Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Eli Cohen, Hirokazu Matsuno, Netanyahu, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Satoshi Sugiyama, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, German, Foreign, Group, Wall Street Journal, Union, Gaza, Diplomats, United Nations, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: British, U.S, TOKYO, Gaza, Tokyo, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, China, Washington, Palestinian, United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy

REUTERS/Andrew Galbraith/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The European Union Chamber of Commerce on Friday criticised an upcoming trade fair in China as being more of a "political showcase" than about doing business and pushed for more tangible measures to restore confidence among European companies. "It's more a government affairs event, more a marketing event and there's been really little said on business. You can say CIIE has become more of a political showcase rather than a business event," Carlo D'Andrea, the chamber's vice president, told reporters at a briefing in Shanghai. "European businesses are becoming disillusioned as symbolic gestures take the place of tangible results needed to restore business confidence," he said. The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, visited last month, as have several other top EU officials in recent months.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Andrew Galbraith, Li Qiang, Anthony Albanese, there's, Carlo D'Andrea, Josep Borrell, Brenda Goh, Sonali Paul Organizations: China, REUTERS, Rights, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Australian, European Union, Micron, Nestle, Burberry, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Europe, EU

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