Reuters: Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 11 civilians
Fact: Eleven people, including six children, were killed by Israeli strikes on villages across southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
Israel
Israeli offensive on Rafah would be a humanitarian catastrophe, says Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that an Israeli offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah, where 1.3 million people have sought refuge, would result in a humanitarian catastrophe. She also stated that Germany is urging the European Union to consider sanctions against extremist settlers who attack Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Gaza man separated from fiancee by war tries to contact her for Valentine’s Day
Youssef Shalha is unable to buy his fiancee Bisan Badah flowers or a teddy bear for Valentine’s Day due to the war in Gaza. The war has made life in Gaza extremely difficult, leaving many homeless and unable to plan for the future. Shalha and Badah had planned to visit their families during Ramadan, but now have no one left to visit as their relatives were targeted and everything was destroyed. Shalha is currently living in a tent in Rafah and is struggling to communicate with Badah. He hopes to be able to give her a modest gift once they are able to connect. The war in Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas fighters, and has resulted in the deaths of over 28,000 people and widespread destruction.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill four including two children, say security sources
Fact: A barrage of Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon killed four people and wounded nearly a dozen.
Greece’s Star Bulk to avoid Red Sea after attacks on its ships
Star Bulk, a Greece-headquartered shipping company, has announced that it will halt sailings through the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis. The Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels with drones and missiles in the Red Sea since mid-November as a show of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war. Star Bulk’s CEO, Petros Pappas, stated that the company will no longer pass through the Suez Canal, as they are a target of the Houthis and are a public company registered in the US. The company had requested to avoid the Suez Canal, but were advised to follow the charter party and send the vessels through. The Houthis recently attacked two of Star Bulk’s ships, causing minor damage. This has led to an increase in war risk insurance rates.
Chief Rabbi of the UK visits Cyprus
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the religious leader of Jews in the United Kingdom, is currently in Cyprus. He was welcomed by the Chief Rabbi of Cyprus, Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, and the Ambassador of Israel, Oren Anolik. The welcoming ceremony took place at the Jewish Museum of Cyprus in Larnaca. Chief Rabbi Mirvis also attended a ceremony organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Cyprus for the 75th anniversary of the closure of British detention camps for Jewish Holocaust survivors. He met with House President Annita Demetriou and Archbishop George. This is Chief Rabbi Mirvis’s first visit to Cyprus.
Steinmeier calls for , ‘bold steps’ and compromise
Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for both sides in Cyprus to show a willingness to compromise and take bold steps to find a solution. He expressed support for the resolution of the Cyprus issue and emphasized Germany’s support for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation within the framework of the United Nations. Steinmeier also praised Cyprus’s role as a safe harbor for the European Union and highlighted the need for Turkey to address the Cyprus problem in relation to its approach to the EU. The Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated that the current state of affairs in Cyprus is unacceptable and that the key to a solution lies with Ankara. He called for the European Union to play a more active role in resolving the Cyprus problem and expressed hope for the reunification of Cyprus. The two presidents also discussed bilateral relations, including cooperation on defense, economics, and energy. Steinmeier commended Cyprus’s contribution to the evacuation of German citizens from Israel and expressed support for the EU’s stance on Ukraine. He also addressed the issue of immigration, with Steinmeier acknowledging the burden faced by Cyprus and calling for a common European asylum system.
Foreign investors want more info on energy, relocation
Foreign investors active in Cyprus attended a “Foreign Investors Dialogue with the Government” event where they were informed about actions being implemented or planned by the government. The government aims to make Cyprus an attractive destination for living, working, and doing business. Some of the actions mentioned include new housing policies, the possibility of submitting electronic applications for renewable energy projects, the implementation of the Strategic Investments Law, and improvements in the education system for children of foreign workers. The government has also introduced measures to improve the business environment, support innovation and entrepreneurship, and streamline licensing procedures. The Company Facilitation Unit has registered almost 2,000 foreign companies since its establishment. The government is also addressing housing affordability and delays in the naturalization process. The labor market is being made more accessible for third country nationals studying in Cyprus.
Israel's prime minister rejected Hamas' terms
Hamas proposes a 4.5-month ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the withdrawal of the Israeli army. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposed terms, stating that a "total victory" for his country is possible within the next few months. He also dismissed the negotiations with Hamas as "going nowhere" and called their demands "strange." Netanyahu reiterated the goals of the war, which include the destruction of Hamas, the return of hostages, and ensuring that Gaza is not a threat to Israel. He stated that the Israeli army is prepared to fight in Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border. The Egyptian and Qatari officials are facilitating negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire. Hamas agreed to the talks with the goal of achieving a ceasefire, ending the war, and an exchange of prisoners. The Israeli authorities will discuss whether to reject Hamas' proposal or seek alternative terms, as some of their demands for the release of hostages cannot be met.
Min. Council: Continuation of the debate on participation in the Great Sea Interconnector will be given in today's session
The modified proposal of the Ministries of Energy and Finance was presented to the Cabinet last Friday. The proposal is about the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the Great Sea Interconnector project, which involves the electrical interconnection between Cyprus and Greece (via Crete) in the first phase and Cyprus and Israel in the second phase. The Cabinet is currently discussing the proposal. The Great Sea Interconnector project aims to connect the national electricity networks of Cyprus, Israel, and Greece through submarine cables. The project has a capacity of 2,000 MW and is being implemented by the Independent Power Transmission Operator of Greece. The distance between Cyprus and Israel is 380 km, while the distance between Cyprus and Crete is approximately 900 km. The water depths between Cyprus and Crete range from 3-3.5 km, and between Israel and Cyprus, they range from 2-2.5 km. The cable for the project is being manufactured by the French company Nexans in Norway.