An American offer that Blinken conveyed to Abbas... and Tel Aviv refers to 20,000 Palestinian deaths... and criticism of an Israeli minister who threatened “nuclear attack.”

On the 30th day of the Israeli war on it, the Gaza Strip turned into a mass of flames, with no less than 100 air strikes recorded on its northern parts within just half an hour yesterday evening, just hours after the expiry of a new deadline for the displacement of civilians south, in an indication of the desire to... Israel is achieving a field achievement in conjunction with American talk about arrangements for after the end of Hamas’ rule in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed, on Sunday, when he received US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, his readiness to accept responsibility for the Gaza Strip, but “within a new atmosphere without war or Violence, and within granting the Palestinian Liberation Organization the reins of governance in all regions; Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Abbas said that the crazy Israeli war on Gaza is part of a war of annihilation of the Palestinian cause.

Blinken had explained that he was visiting Ramallah “to confirm that the American administration is thinking about what will follow this war, so that the goal will be a beacon that guides us in what we do.” Blinken indicated that there are a number of proposals for the post-war Gaza Strip, but the administration of President Joe Biden prefers a solution in which “a combination of a renewed Palestinian authority, in cooperation with international organizations, and perhaps a peacekeeping force.” Along with this, seeking to open horizons of hope for a political process that ultimately leads to a two-state solution.

In response to Blinken, Abbas said, “The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine, and we will bear our full responsibilities within the framework of a comprehensive political solution for both the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.”

On the ground, on Sunday, the Israeli army continued its attempts to advance deep into the Gaza Strip, amid reports of fierce fighting taking place from house to house, amid more air strikes that caused the death of at least 200 people in the past hours. This brings the number of victims of the Israeli attack on Gaza to nearly 10,000 dead, according to Palestinian sources, while Israel said that the death toll in Gaza actually reached nearly 20,000, half of whom were members of the Hamas movement who died in tunnels destroyed by the Israeli army.

In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “punished” the Minister of Jewish Heritage in his government, Amichai Eliyahu, by preventing him from attending government sessions, after he threatened to drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Saudi Arabia denounced Eliyahu’s statements in the strongest terms, and its Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “Failing to immediately dismiss the minister from the government, and merely freezing his membership, reflects the height of disdain for all human, moral, religious and legal standards and values of the Israeli government.” Similar denunciations were issued by other Arab parties, such as Jordan, Qatar, and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry

Asharq Al-Awsat