CAIRO: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a comprehensive and authoritative peace conference to address the escalating conflict in Gaza.
Speaking in Egypt over the weekend, Wang Yi emphasized the need for a specific timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the “two-state solution” while supporting the immediate resumption of Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
As the international community grapples with the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, released a video on Sunday showing three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The hostages, Noa Argamani (26), Yossi Sharabi (53), and Itai Svirsky (38), were featured in the 37-second video, with the caption ominously stating, “Tomorrow (Monday) we will inform you of their fate.”
Tensions in Region Extend Beyond Gaza
Meanwhile, tensions in the region extend beyond Gaza, as the US military reported intercepting an anti-ship cruise missile fired from Houthi-operated areas in Yemen toward a US destroyer in the Southern Red Sea. The Houthis have targeted international shipping, citing their campaign to support Palestinians under siege from Israeli forces in Gaza. Last week, American and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen drew threats of a “strong” response from the group.
The conflict has also spilled over into Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where the military reported killing four persons attempting to cross the border. Additionally, the war in Gaza has triggered violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with Palestinian health officials reporting five deaths, including boys aged 14, 16, and 17, in separate incidents.
