About the War in Gaza
About seven months into the war in Gaza, hopes for a ceasefire appeared slim as various regional stakeholders met in the Egyptian capital Cairo over the weekend. The two sides blamed each other for the impasse, with the Hamas delegation stating it would leave Cairo truce talks on Sunday night to consult with its leadership. In their second day of talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, Hamas maintained that any truce agreement must end the war, according to Palestinian officials.
Israel’s Stance
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed willingness to pause fighting in Gaza to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130. However, Netanyahu highlighted Hamas’ extreme positions, including the demand to remove all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, stating that Israel cannot accept these conditions.
London, Britain
In London, the Labour Party won mayoral polls in London and central England on Saturday, marking crushing defeats for the Conservative Party ahead of a national election later this year. Labour politician Sadiq Khan was re-elected as London mayor as expected, and Labour also achieved a surprise narrow victory in the central West Midlands region, home to Britain’s second-largest city of Birmingham.
New Delhi, India
New Delhi responded to the preliminary investigation findings in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing as an “internal matter” of Canada, while requesting “specific and relevant evidence” related to any alleged involvement of the Indian government. Recent arrests by Canadian authorities of three Indian nationals linked to the killing of the Khalistani terrorist last year raised concerns in India.
Madrid, Spain
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed his stay in office after a five-day pause from public duties amid corruption accusations against his wife. Opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo criticized Sanchez’s pause as a “piece of theatre,” causing speculation in Spanish politics. The potential resignation of Sanchez could lead to the fourth election in five years in Spain.
Panama City, Panama
As Panama holds its presidential election, the country’s pro-China stance since 2017 has garnered attention. The elections are crucial as Panama City has shown a notable tilt towards China, with significant Chinese investments in the country. The outcome of the election, with eight presidential contenders, could reshape Panama’s position in international relations.
