Overview

• French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will formally recognize a Palestinian state at a UN session in September. The move was swiftly condemned by Israel as “rewarding terror” and by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “reckless.” Hamas hailed Macron’s statement as a “positive step” toward justice for Palestinians.

• Both Israel and the United States recalled their negotiators from Qatar after weeks of indirect talks with Hamas failed to produce results. US envoy Steve Witkoff described Hamas’ latest response as “selfish,” adding that the group “does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.”

• COGAT publicly stated that, after a situational assessment in response to the recent international “famine” campaign and the mobilization of Western countries to pressure Israel, there is no famine in the Gaza Strip despite Hamas’ latest attempts to blame Israel for causing the famine.

• Col. Abdullah Halabi, head of COGAT’s Gaza Coordination and Liaison, reported that approximately 1,000 trucks’ worth of aid are currently stuck inside Gaza, waiting for UN and aid group collection.

• Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Syrian Foreign Minister Shaibani met in Paris, mediated by the US. According to official statements, both parties reached an agreement: Suwayda…