Six more people evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border cros...
Donald Trump’s Gaza statements have prompted Israel to prepare a military plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz outlined evacuations by land, sea, and air, raising concerns over the potential regional impact of the controversial move.
In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump's statements on Gaza have resonated in Israel, prompting the Israeli government to take further action. Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. According to Israel’s state broadcaster Kan, this plan includes evacuations by land, sea, and air. Katz argued that European countries which recognised the Palestinian state last year should be obliged to accept Palestinians from Gaza, aiming to give this process an international dimension.
Trump’s initial statements included an extreme proposal, such as transferring Gaza to the United States and relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt. However, after facing strong backlash, Trump clarified that this plan did not mean “forced migration,” but rather that the US would take over Gaza, rebuild it, and launch one of the largest development projects in the region.
Although these new statements appear softer than Trump’s initial stance, they do not change the essence of the plan. Two possibilities stand out here: Trump is softening his rhetoric due to international backlash but not changing his policy. He may be trying to legitimise the process by framing it within a more positive theme, such as the rebuilding of Gaza. Alternatively, Trump may be covertly supporting Israel’s plan and wants to implement it gradually over time.
The realism of Israel’s forced displacement plan is questionable. Forcibly expelling more than two million people would require a significant military operation, inevitably increasing the risk of regional war. As an alternative, Israel could use Trump’s “rebuilding” rhetoric to solidify its control over Gaza and pursue a long-term plan to gradually reduce the Palestinian population.
However, if Israel implements this plan, Palestinian resistance groups may respond harshly, further escalating conflicts in the region. Alternatively, regional balances could shift, with neighbouring countries like Jordan and Egypt getting involved, potentially leading to new alliances and conflicts in the Middle East.
Trump’s latest statements may appear to be a retreat on the surface, but they indicate that his policy remains unchanged. Initially, he proposed a shocking idea to test reactions, and now he is promoting a more “moderate” version to increase its feasibility. The fact that Israel is already preparing such a plan suggests that Trump’s statements are not just political rhetoric but part of a strategy with real consequences on the ground. The key question now is how quickly and by what means Israel will attempt to implement its forced displacement plan.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of candidates almost exclusively fielded by the Communist Party, ensuring the party's continued overwhelming dominance.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials began a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-launch of 12 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers on Saturday (14 March), state media KCNA said, after the United States and South Korea this week launched their annual large-scale military drills in South Korea.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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