Annexation on Ice ❄️
In a cliffhanger twist worthy of your favorite binge-watch, Israel’s Knesset voted to delay bills that would formally annex the West Bank and Maale Adumim near Jerusalem. Coalition chair Ofir Katz announced the annexation plans are on hold until further notice.
Regional Backlash 🌍
The preliminary vote, held during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit, was slammed by Vance himself as a stupid political stunt. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Türkiye, 13 other Muslim-majority nations, plus EU leaders in Brussels, demanded Israel halt settlement expansion and military operations while praising Gaza’s first-phase ceasefire achievements.
Cairo Diplomatic Push 🤝
On the diplomatic front, Hamas and Fatah delegations convened in Cairo to map out Gaza’s post-war phase. Senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya met with Fatah’s Hussein al-Sheikh and intelligence chief Majed Faraj. Egypt is also hosting talks on the next phase of the US peace plan and gearing up for a Gaza reconstruction conference in November.
Humanitarian Emergency in Gaza 💧
UN OCHA teams report dire conditions: no clean water, damaged sanitation, and widespread skin diseases in Gaza City. Displaced families are urgently calling for food, hygiene kits, winter clothing, and cash assistance. The WHO evacuated 41 critical patients and 145 companions—the first such medical airlift since October 10—but around 15,000 patients still await outside-care approval.
Keep it locked here for more updates on this unfolding story 📱
Reference(s):
Israel's West Bank annexation bid condemned as Fatah, Hamas meet
cgtn.com
