The Internet and Western media are roaring from information about the “onion knight”, which is heading to Gaza to break the sea blockade. It is about the Irish actor Liam Cunningham, known for the role of Sir Davos Seaworth, a former smuggler in the series “Game of Thrones”. The figure he played also broke the sea siege to provide food, including onions. Cunningham is known for its propalembling views and has been eager to speak in defense of Gaza for two years. This time he decided to act and joined the Sumud Flotilla. This is another attempt in recent years to break the sea gauze blockade and provide it to the inhabitants of humanitarian aid.
Previous efforts, including a loud cruise from June this year, were blocked by the Israeli army. Earlier actions, however, did not always end peacefully. In 2010, a unit of Israeli commandos invaded the MV Mavi Mavi ship; There was a fight in which 10 Israeli soldiers were wounded, but 10 activists also died (the UN Human Council reported in the report that at least six bodies indicated that the victims were enforced). All passengers and the crew of the ship were deported.
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This time the Sumud Flotilla Cruise has a chance to gain much greater publicity. On August 31, about 100 units set off from Barcelona, which is the biggest attempt to break the sea gas lock in history. Activists and journalists from 40 countries of the world found themselves on their decks.
Although the declared goal is to provide humanitarian aid, it can be expected that this flotilla will be detained by military Israeli and its participants deported. After all, the action will play its role anyway – it will be an expression of a protest against the situation in the Gaza Strip and Israeli armed operations, which led to the death of 60,000. Palestinians (according to the joint investigation of Israeli internet magazines +972 Mag and Sich Mekomit and the British “Guardian”, the data of the defense forces of Israel shows that 83 percent of their victims of their actions are civilians).
As well as against the humanitarian disaster, which is the result of blocking the access of trucks with the helppreventing the UN action or the creation of the ineffective gauze of humanitarian foundation, whose actions have exposed the lives of many people going to food distribution points.
Washington applies the UN?
Although from the perspective of Palestinians, things may happen too slowly and the world ineffectively prevents their tragedy, it is difficult not to notice changes, at least symbolic. Already several European countries – among them France and Great Britain – announced that it will soon recognize the Palestinian state.
Belgium joined this list, but putting hard conditions. It was a difficult decision, developed by compromise between social democrats, Christian Democrats, headquarters and Flemish nationalists. Belgium is going to recognize Palestinian statehood this month. He will also impose sanctions on Israel preventing the import of products from illegal Jewish housing estates in the west shore, as long as the Gaza is released by Israeli hostages, and Hamas will give power.
These types of conditions seem to be difficult to meet; Maybe it's even the point that the Belgian government would not have to fulfill his promises. He is aware of the fact that Hamas considers himself legal Palestinian power after he won the parliamentary elections in 2006, and President Mahmud Abbas has never written more.
Regardless of whether the Belgian government will issue a statement about the recognition of Palestine or not, other European players did not withdraw from this intention. Meanwhile, the growing pressure on Israel meant that Washington joined the action. On September 12 at the 80th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the creation of the Palestinian State was supported. “142 countries voted for” There were 10 against, including Israel and the USA.
On August 29, an article appeared on the website of the US Department of State stating that “Trump administration confirms his commitment not to reward terrorism, and withdraws the visa of Palestinian officials before the UN General Assembly.”
So, do the United States now also recognize Fatah and Palestinian autonomy as terrorist organizations? Perhaps this is overinterpretation, but Washington disturbs the neutrality of the UN forum, in which Member States and members of observers can participate, and such status is in the UN Palestine.
Mateusz Krymski / PAP
European ministers divided
After the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen (29-30 August), the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas called Washington until his decision, which breaks the agreement between the UN and the United States. According to them, Americans have no right to withdraw the visited visas.
The same opinion is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot, who during a press conference protested against restrictions on the possibility of access to the General Assembly. Barrot gave this commentary on the eve of the meeting of ministers, which in the agenda had above all a discussion of joint reactions to the war in Ukraine and a potential suspension of weapons between Kiev and Moscow. But also the issue of war in the Gaza and Humanitarian disaster that affects the Palestinians.
Talks, which was not a surprise, ended without developing a common position. Already before the meeting, Kaja Kallas admitted that the ministers “will certainly not make the decision” to impose sanctions on Israel, which seems to be expected to be expected by a large part of European states. Thus, Europe sends a clear signal that it is divided.
However, the ministers discussed the initial stage of penalties that, as part of exerting pressure, could impose on Israel. I am talking about the suspension of EU financing available for Israeli start-ups. It was from their activities that Tel Aviv made an element of his strong public diplomacy, presenting effectively as an entrepreneurial nation and a state ensuring good conditions for the development of innovative business and technological solutions.
After the meeting at a press conference, Kallas did not mention gas, and her social media profiles refer primarily to the war in Ukraine.
Although the meeting is defined as informal, it is a barometer of European moods. First of all, Germans and the Czech Republic oppose all initiatives that would lead to freezing free trade between Israel and the European Unionwhich is Israel's greatest trading partner. The German Minister of Foreign Affairs also objected to the suspension of the Israeli participation in the “Horizon Europa” program, a key in terms of granting research and development grants.
According to the Israeli Innovation Agency, Israeli researchers and enterprises in the years 2021 and 2024 received over EUR 1.1 billion in grants. The majority of funds went to academic centers (EUR 592 million), and as many as 386 enterprises received EUR 228 million. At that time, 626 Israeli researchers and companies took part in projects in which they cooperated with other centers or scientists from European countries. These funds were allocated to various branches of science and economy. The German minister Johann Wadephul argues that The freezing of Israel's participation in the “Horizon Europe” program hits civil areas, not related to the Israeli army.
Italians and Austrians also opposed imposing sanctions to Israel, arguing that their rule could agree to placing extremist settlers on black letters, preventing them from coming to Europe. In turn, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže clearly pointed out that from the perspective of her government, Israeli actions are within the limits of legal response to aggression from Hamas on October 7, 2023.
It is difficult to be an optimist in the face of such divided positions. Most of the sanctions discussed as part of the common foreign and security policy would require unanimity, and it should be expected that Berlin, Prague or Riga will veto such ideas. On the other hand, the suspension of the Israeli participation in the “Horizon Europa” program is a matter of qualified majority, would require approval by 15 countries representing 65 percent. European Union population. The role of Germany may therefore be crucial in both cases and beneficial for Israel, whose economy severely felt European sanctions.
Israel's attack on a goal in the city of Gaza (September 10)Mohammed Saber / PAP
The Middle East loses patience
In fact, the situation in the Middle East is similar, where the patience of the close partners of Tel Aviv also ends, although everyone has a different concept of the future of the region. Lana Nusseibeh, a special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, made a warning that the annexation of the West Bank announced by Israel is a red line for Abu Dłi.
Recent years, after signing on September 15, 2020 in Washington, the so -called Abraham's agreements, which normalized Israel's political relations from Zea and Bahrain, were for the Emirates and Israelis like a honeymoon. Brought warming not only political but also cultural relations and a clear increase in tourism. Lana Nusseibeh in an interview with the Times of Israel portal on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the agreements makes the matter clearly: for her government, annexation would mean that there could be no lasting peace, and would be the end of dreams of regional integration.
For other countries in the region, Israel's activities also turn out to be the basis for pre -emptive movements. In July, there were reports that Egypt trains hundreds of Palestinian policemen who would take care of order in post -war gas and take control of the area. To this end, Egyptian soldiers train police officers of Palestinian autonomy from anti -terrorism activities, but also cooperation with partners in Israel. The plan is part of Cairo's counter -proposal towards Trump's plan from the beginning of the year. Washington then pressed Egypt and Jordan to adopt a large part of the Gaza Zone population during the reconstruction.
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This concept met with resistance from Amman and Cairo. Both capitals believe that the gauze population should remain in the area of it, which will be covered by a 10-year reconstruction program. Palestinian autonomy should take power in the Gaza Strip after the end of the war.
Current actions that the Egyptians have already started to be implemented are in opposition to an Israeli position regarding the role of Palestinian autonomy. Tel Aviv would prefer to cooperate with partners in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Riyad and Abu Dhabi do not support the Egyptian reconstruction plan, because in their opinion the future of the Gaza Strip must be based on the disarmament of Hamas and the exile of its leaders. The issue of influence in gas and among Palestinian autonomy officials, which would strengthen the regional position of Egypt, is also involved.
While politicians are discussing how to resolve the conflict extending at least since 1948, more scientists speak. On August 31, the International Association of Genocide Researchers (IAGS) voted a resolution (86 percent of the votes of members), according to which “Israel's policy and actions in the Gaza Strip meet the legal definition of genocide contained in Article 2 of the UN Convention on the prevention and punishment of genocide crimes.” The association called the international community to stop these activities and prevent further tragedy, while considering that the Hamas attack of October 7 was a war crime.
Further voices of protest and criticism show primarily how the world is divided in the matter of conflict, which we watch live, 24 hours a day.
