gideon saar Archives - LN24

Israel Rejects Turkish Troops in Gaza Under U.S. Peace Plan

LN24 — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:09:18 +0000

Israel has rejected the idea of Turkish troops being deployed in Gaza under a U.S. plan to secure a lasting ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.

The U.S. plan envisions an international force in Gaza to help maintain a fragile truce that began this month, ending two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. It remains uncertain whether Arab or other states will commit troops to the multinational force.

“Countries that want or are ready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel,”

Saar said at a news conference in Budapest.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have worsened sharply during the Gaza conflict, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan criticising Israel’s military campaign in the small Palestinian enclave.

“Turkey, led by Erdogan, led a hostile approach against Israel,”

Saar said, speaking alongside his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto.

“So it is not reasonable for us to let their armed forces enter the Gaza Strip and we will not agree to that and we said it to our American friends,” he added.

While the U.S. has ruled out sending its own soldiers into Gaza, it has been discussing contributions to the multinational force with countries including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Last week, Netanyahu indicated he would strongly oppose any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza. On Sunday, he said Israel would decide which foreign forces to allow in the territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel to support the truce, said on Friday the international force would have to be made up of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with.” He made no comment on Turkish involvement.

Israel Accepts U.S. Ceasefire Plan, Hostage Exchange and Disarmament on the Table

LN24 — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:29:20 +0000

For over two years, the Gaza conflict has seen intermittent ceasefires. A significant earlier agreement came into effect in January 2025 a phased, hostage prisoner exchange that began January 19, involved the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, and included a temporary ceasefire. However, escalation resumed as Hamas and Israel disagreed over subsequent phases.

Latest Developments: On September 8, 2025, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking in Budapest alongside his Hungarian counterpart, Saar said Israel is ready to agree to a full peace deal aimed at ending the war, including provisions for releasing hostages and demanding Hamas’s disarmament.

Israel Intensifies Strikes as U.S. Ceasefire Proposal Moves Forward

History & Background
Despite temporary pauses in fighting earlier this year, hostilities have persisted. Israel has repeatedly conditioned further negotiations or extensions on Hamas releasing more hostages and submitting to demilitarization. However, phases stalled as both sides remained far apart, and a rising humanitarian crisis deepened the stakes.

Latest Developments

On September 8, 2025, Israel demolished another Gaza City high-rise, citing Hamas’s use of the building for surveillance and military storage, despite prior evacuations.
The toll is stark: in the previous 24 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 65 Palestinian deaths and 320 wounded, with four Israeli soldiers killed, pushing Israeli war casualties since the 2023 invasion to over 450.
Simultaneously, Israel vowed a “mighty hurricane” of strikes to compel Hamas to surrender, coinciding with the U.S. envoy’s fresh ceasefire proposal that includes releasing all remaining hostages (around 48) in exchange for a temporary truce and Israeli pullback.

History & Background
Ceasefire talks have long been mediated by regional and global players Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. but stalemated over disarmament, governance of Gaza, and hostages. Israel has also previously paused or conditioned aid in response to stalled talks.

Latest Developments

On September 9, 2025, Israel ordered a mass evacuation of Gaza City ahead of a ground offensive, triggering panic among its roughly one million residents.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed urgency, warning civilians to leave before operations begin. Qatar, acting as mediator in Doha, continues urging Hamas to accept the U.S.-backed ceasefire-hostage proposal, which Israel now backs.
Humanitarian agencies warn that a further push into Gaza City could worsen famine and displacement across the territory, which already houses 2.2 million people in crisis. Israel reports control over about 75% of Gaza.

Summary of Current Situation

Israel has publicly accepted a U.S.-sponsored ceasefire plan endorsed by President Trump, focused on hostage release and disarmament of Hamas.
Meanwhile, military operations have escalated, with significant civilian impact and mass evacuations underway.
The humanitarian outlook remains dire even as international mediation intensifies.

Israeli Foreign Minister: “There Would Not Be Any” Palestinian State

LN24 — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 20:35:08 +0000

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday that the establishment of a Palestinian state is not being considered.

In response to a question about future plans regarding a Palestinian state, he said,

“there would not be any.”

The comment came after a meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which Saar described as “very good.”

Zambia-Israel Relations Enter New Chapter as Embassy Reopens After 50 Years

LN24 — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:55:27 +0000

In a significant diplomatic development, Israel has officially reopened its embassy in Zambia, more than five decades after it was closed. The move marks a major step toward deepening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across key sectors.

Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, hailed the reopening as a sign of “renewed and strengthened commitment” between the two nations. Speaking at the ceremony in Lusaka, Haimbe noted that the development reflects shared goals in trade, agriculture, science, health, and culture.

The embassy’s reopening also gives new momentum to the 2023 General Framework Agreement of Cooperation signed between Zambia and Israel. The agreement lays out a roadmap for enhanced economic and social collaboration.

“This is more than a diplomatic milestone it’s the beginning of a deeper and more meaningful partnership,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who described the event as a “new chapter” in Zambia-Israel relations.

Israel’s Ambassador to Zambia, Ofra Farhi, also expressed enthusiasm and pride, saying the reopening represents the culmination of “months of dedicated work and mutual goodwill.”

Background:

Israel first opened its embassy in Zambia in the 1960s but closed it during the early 1970s amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and changing alliances in post colonial Africa. Relations between the two nations have improved significantly in recent years, driven by mutual interests in innovation, development, and security.

The renewed diplomatic presence is expected to facilitate government to government cooperation and pave the way for private sector investments, especially in technology and agricultural development.