International newspapers and news sites focused on the developments of the Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and the deadline granted by Israeli War Council member Benny Gantz to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the start of work on the temporary American naval pier off the coast of Gaza.
In an article in the American newspaper “The New York Times”, writer Nicholas Kristof says, “Settlement of Rafah to the ground may be in Netanyahu’s interest, because the continuation of the war keeps him in his position, but it does not serve Israel.”
The writer stressed that eliminating the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is not possible, recalling that Netanyahu, after destroying the cities of Gaza and Khan Yunis under the pretext of the presence of Hamas leaders there, will promote this time that the movement’s leaders are in Rafah, before adding, “And even if that were true, Thousands more civilians will be killed in the search for them.”
In turn, the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” quoted sources in the Israeli National Unity Party, which Gantz heads, as saying that “Gantz is looking for an excuse to leave the government behind the deadline he granted to Netanyahu.”
Other political sources estimate – according to the newspaper – that Gantz hopes that his threat, along with the statement of Defense Minister Yoav Galant, will put pressure on Netanyahu to discuss the day after the Gaza war, anticipating that the chances of Netanyahu responding to Gantz’s deadline are slim.
In a related context, the Israeli “Jerusalem Post” saw that the other topic that Gantz is seeking to pressure Netanyahu is Lebanese Hezbollah.
The newspaper explained that dealing with Hezbollah is fraught with risks, noting that the September 1 deadline for residents to return to their homes and schools to work in northern Israel is a risk open to all possibilities.
She pointed out that Netanyahu hates making fateful decisions, and “Gantz’s threat may force him to take action,” she said.
As for the temporary naval pier, the French newspaper Le Monde says that the entry into service of the floating port in Gaza means that US President Joe Biden has fulfilled his commitment, a “commitment” that was tantamount to an admission of impotence in the face of Israel’s refusal to allow a sufficient amount of aid to enter Gaza by land.
The newspaper quoted a United Nations official – whose name was not mentioned – as saying, “The entire operation is throwing dust in the eyes. It is unreasonable for the quantities through the port to compensate for what Israel prevents from entering by land.”
While an article in the American magazine “The Nation” suggested that Gaza would be a disaster for President Biden during the upcoming elections.
Writer Joshua Cohen downplayed the role of the economy and internal issues in Biden’s decline in popularity, stressing that his biggest problem currently is his record in foreign policy.
He pointed out that the aura surrounding candidate Biden in 2020 was about his supposed ability to restore America’s role in the world, in a way that his predecessor, Donald Trump, was unable to do.
On another topic, the French newspaper Liberation touched on massive demonstrations that took place in the French capital yesterday, Saturday, on the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
The newspaper said that the commemoration of the Nakba this year was accompanied by a special circumstance, entitled the Israeli war on Gaza, noting that what distinguished the demonstration was the predominance of Palestinian colors and symbols, as well as the demonstrators’ agreement to carry the keys to their homes, in reference to adherence to the right of return.
Source : American press + Israeli press + French press
