Hamas demands implementation of Biden truce outline instead of more talks [_link] pic.twitter.com/4l5CoR1yDT

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) August 12, 2024

Desperately Seeking Support for Biden's Plan on Gaza   Arab Center - 18 June 2024 |

'Sapere aude'

Gaza confronting Israeli-created Famine as Kerem Shalom Food Aid Trucks drop 80% to 24 Trucks a Day [_link]

— Juan Cole (@jricole) August 12, 2024

Nuclear Balancing Would Mean Stability
By Kenneth N. Waltz - Foreign Affairs July/August 2012

By all accounts a nice guy but kinda insane in pushing the theory that more nuclear weapons will make the world a safer place 😭😭😭 [_link]

— Conrad Barwa (@ConradkBarwa) April 14, 2024

At the Regional Meeting on "Perspectives on the Middle East Nuclear Weapons and Other WMDs Conference," Izumi Nakamitsu emphasized regional cooperation for a nuclear-free Middle East. 🤝

🔗 [_link] pic.twitter.com/ILklp1uNZO

— ODA (@UN_Disarmament) June 11, 2024

One of humanity's most important accomplishments of the last century - the Geneva Conventions - turn 75 today. But what are the rules of war, and why do they matter? [_link] pic.twitter.com/KaxV47hAds

— Australian Red Cross (@RedCrossAU) August 11, 2024

The Geneva Conventions at 75: do the laws of war still have a fighting chance in today's bloody world? | The Conversation |

'Sapere aude'

Past U.S. presidents rejected Israel's push to strike Tehran, but Biden is falling into Netanyahu's trap. [_link]

— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) April 15, 2024

Biden told Netanyahu 'I'm out' if Israel retaliated for Iran missile attack - report [_link]

— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) July 3, 2024

The #US reaffirms its decision to resume offensive weapons sales to #SaudiArabia as a result of improvised ties and an about-face on a decision in the early days of the Biden administration to target Gulf countries with foreign policy moves. [_link]

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) August 9, 2024

USS Vincennes, a United States Navy guided missile cruiser, shot down Iran Air flight 655, an Airbus A300 jet bound for Dubai Airport with 290 people on board | 3 July 1988 |

'Sapere aude'

From Tehran to Beirut: The shift from overt military action to covert intelligence [_link]

— Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 (@ejmalrai) August 12, 2024

US envoy in Beirut faces major hurdles in efforts to prevent war | The National News - UAE |

According to diplomatic and political sources, the US and western efforts are met in Beirut with "frustration" from the powerful armed group, which has rejected incentives corruption bribes in return for limiting its response to the killing of its top commander.

"It is not a personal issue, but Hezbollah is generally frustrated, it now sees that the US is either ineffective or complicit in the Gaza war," a diplomatic source told The National on Wednesday.

Tensions have risen since the assassinations of Hamas official Ismael Haniyeh in Iran and senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in the southern suburbs of Beirut two weeks ago, both blamed on Israel. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack on Mr Haniyeh. Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah have promised severe retaliation, without giving details of its nature or timing, sparking fears of all-out war.

Western powers have concerted efforts with a flurry of [last-minute] diplomacy in the region to defuse tensions, with several senior Biden administration officials expected to visit the Middle East this week.

William J Burns, the CIA director will visit Qatar while Brett McGurk, Mr Biden's Middle East co-ordinator will visit Egypt and Qatar.

>> Veteran diplomat Wendy Sherman resigns from Biden's team <<

This is Mr Hochstein's fifth visit to the region in an attempt to prevent the near-daily strikes between Israel and Hezbollah on the Lebanese-Israeli border from escalating into a full-scale war.

Hezbollah opened a front at the border on October 8th, in support of its ally, Hamas, a day after the Palestinian militant group's unprecedented attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war.

Hezbollah's frustration

Back-channel diplomacy has faced major hurdles in the wake of Mr Shukr's killing with growing frustration from Hezbollah's side.

The commander's death shocked Lebanon, as the government publicly said it had received foreign assurances that Israel would not attack Beirut's suburbs.
"It was a misunderstanding," a source told The National, stressing that foreign powers were given no guarantees about the nature of Israel's attack, which also killed an Iranian military adviser and at least five civilians.

Israel said it was in retaliation for a rocket attack from Lebanon on the Israeli-controlled occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children. It was the first time since October that civilians had been killed in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway. Mr Shukr, a founder of the militant group, was also one of its most senior military figures.

The incident has not severed backdoor diplomatic channels between the group and the US, although there is now a growing frustration within the group, the source said.

"The rhetoric has become more aggressive towards the West," added the source. Pro-Hezbollah media called Mr Hochstein a "godfather of deception".

Timeline of Nuclear Diplomacy With Iran, 1967-2023

'Sapere aude'

Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States. See? Isn't it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018

A Blatant Violation of Iraq's Sovereignty

'Sapere aude'

This is an obscene and ignorant statement. 200k innocent people displaced. Hundreds dead. Credible reports of war crimes. ISIS prisoners escaping. US evacuating and bombing its own positions or handing them to Russia. Two kids in a lot? [_link]

— Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) October 18, 2019

How A Deeply Controversial White House Adviser Is Running The Agenda On Gaza [_link]

— Carlos H. Echevarría (@carlos_hem) December 3, 2023

Israel strikes targets in eastern Rafah as Netanyahu says deal Hamas accepted is "far from meeting demands"
Follow live [_link]

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 6, 2024

How Will Iran Respond and Why Should It Avoid Direct War with Israel? [_link]

— Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺 (@ejmalrai) August 13, 2024

Analysis: High-wire diplomacy on possible #Iran retaliation in the Israel-Hamas war draws in world (from @AP) [_link]

— Jon Gambrell | جون (@jongambrellAP) August 13, 2024

Two days ago, the US government resumed sending the Israeli military 500-pound bombs. The results couldn't be clearer: The US isn't just allowing the Israeli government to commit a genocide, it's actively assisting it. It's well past time for a weapons embargo.

Stop Arming... pic.twitter.com/FfPC2zrg03

— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) July 13, 2024