Terowongan Hamas. Foto diambil dari www.detik.com
STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president with a rousing call to end the war in Gaza and to fight tyranny around the world, drawing a sharp contrast with Republican Donald Trump. “In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and I know where the United States belongs,” Harris said. “Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done,” she said to cheers. “And let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.”
A Hamas delegation was expected to arrive in Cairo to resume talks on a hostage swap and a cease-fire in Gaza, which have been stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to give up control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border and the Rafah crossing.
Palestine’s envoy to the United Nations reiterated his call for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and invited the U.N. Security Council members to witness firsthand the “horror” endured by Palestinians. Speaking at a Security Council session on Palestine, Riyad Mansour said he calls on “all those who have spines to come and say we are coming to demand a cease-fire and to demand it now in the Gaza Strip.”
The White House said that Gaza truce talks in Cairo have made progress and were expected to continue at a working level for several days despite clashes between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. “There continues to be progress, and our team on the ground continues to describe the talks as constructive,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “So, despite the rocket and drone attack by Hezbollah over the course of the weekend, which Israel did a terrific job defending against, it has not affected the actual work on the ground by the teams trying to get this ceasefire deal in place,” Kirby said.
Hamas said that they are committed to the cease-fire proposal Hamas said that they are committed to the cease-fire proposal announced by U.S. President Joe Biden on July 2, saying the new offer presented in Cairo does not meet the conditions, including a permanent cease-fire and Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Defense Ministry announced the arrival of the 500th U.S. military transport aircraft. With the arrival, Israel has received 50,000 tons of weapons since the Gaza war began on Oct. 7, 2023. In addition, Israel continues to receive support from three aircraft carriers and several U.S. warships. Israel claimed that the United States had deployed 500 aircraft and 107 ships to transport various weapons to Israel.
