The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
Saudi FM: Establishment of Palestinian state is only path to ‘sustainable peace’
Saudi Arabia reiterates its stance that normalization with Israel “can only come through the establishment of a Palestinian state.”
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of a UN conference promoting a two-state solution that Riyadh is co-sponsoring with Paris, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan says this was the same position that was expressed over a year ago by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“It is based on a strong conviction that only through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and only through addressing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, can we have sustainable peace and real integration in the region,” Prince Faisal says.
Israeli officials have long insisted that Riyadh would be willing to settle for less, perhaps even mere lip-service to a two-state solution in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel.
Saudi officials have pushed back on such assumptions, while demanding that Israel establish an irreversible, time-bound pathway to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israel under the current government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long rejected such a framework and has taken steps toward formally annexing West Bank lands that Palestinians hope would be part of their future state.
Qatari PM says Doha still continuing to work toward ceasefire-hostage release deal
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman al-Thani says Doha is continuing its efforts to try and secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
He insists in remarks at the UN conference promoting a two-state solution that mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the US have had success, referencing two previous agreements they brokered that saw the release of hostages and a surge of aid in Gaza.
“Despite multiple obstacles and attempts to block humanitarian aid and to demonize the mediators, we continue in our path toward a permanent ceasefire to end the crisis and to start the reconstruction and recovery effort for,” al-Thani says.
Netanyahu considering trip to Buenos Aires next month, says Argentine official
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a reciprocal visit to Buenos Aires to meet with Argentine President Javier Milei toward the end of August, an Argentine official tells The Times of Israel.
However, a key obstacle to finalizing the trip is concern over flying through the airspace of countries such as Brazil and Chile, which are members of the International Criminal Court.
In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations and is contesting the warrants.
Because Argentina is also a member of the ICC, Netanyahu’s visit would require a formal guarantee from the government that he would be permitted to enter the country without risk of arrest, according to the diplomat.
Milei spent three days in Israel last month on a diplomatic visit, during which he announced plans to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and establish direct flights between Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv.
Iran vows to respond in a ‘more decisive manner’ if attacked again by US or Israel
Iran’s foreign minister warns that it would respond to the United States and Israel in a “more decisive manner” should they attack Iran again.
The comments appear to be in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who threatened earlier in the day to “wipe out” the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program if it resumed atomic activities following a round of US strikes last month.
“If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says in a post on X.
“If there are concerns about the possible diversion of our nuclear program into non-peaceful purposes, the ‘military option’ proved incapable — but a negotiated solution may work,” he adds.
It remains unclear how much damage was caused by the US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, which came after Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign that it said was aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining an atomic weapon.
In his post, Araghchi writes: “No one in their right mind would abandon the fruits of tremendous investment in homegrown and peaceful technology” just because of foreign bullying.
Netanyahu: ‘Situation in Gaza is difficult,’ Israel will keep working to ensure ‘large amounts of aid’ enter Strip
In an English-language statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says that Israel “will continue to work with international agencies, as well as the US and European nations to ensure that large amounts of humanitarian aid flows into the Gaza Strip.”
The PMO argues that Israel is already allowing significant amounts of food, water and medicine into Gaza every day.
Israel repeats its charge that Hamas steals aid from Gazans, including by shooting them.
“While the situation in Gaza is difficult and Israel has been working to ensure aid delivery,” the PMO continues, “Hamas benefits from attempting to fuel the perception of a humanitarian crisis. As such, they have been releasing unverified numbers to the news media while circulating images that are carefully staged or manipulated by Hamas.”
“We’ll continue to act responsibly, as we always have, and we’ll continue to seek the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” promises Netanyahu’s office. “That is the only way to secure peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”