What’s happening

Belgium has initiated diplomatic procedures against Israel. The Israeli ambassador will be summoned following the destruction of a Belgian development agency office in Gaza.

Why it matters

The loss of this office is seen as a major blow to Gaza’s civilian support infrastructure and signals a potential diplomatic rift between Belgium and Israel.

Context

Egypt has voiced apprehension regarding Israeli military operations along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the ‘Philadelphi Route’. The operations could prompt an exodus of Gazans into the Sinai Peninsula.

The Response

Jerusalem has ensured Cairo that actions on the border would not push Palestinians to migrate, seeking to downplay Egypt’s fears tied to the reconstruction of settlements and mass migrations.

Clarity on the incident

Upon investigation, the Australian police clarified that the actual anti-Semitic chants during a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney were misreported and not as extreme as initially believed.

Continuing Dialogue

Though offending slurs did occur and are considered unacceptable, the police have not found evidence of slogans as offensive as “gas the Jews”. Comprehensive investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Russian response

Russian officials engaged in mockery on social media, using the successful entry of the band opposed to Ukraine invasion into Israel to take a jab at the hostage situation in Gaza.

Tensions Highlighted

The attempt at humor from the Russian Foreign Ministry comes as tensions increase due to the prolonged captivity of over a hundred civilians held by Hamas in Gaza, underscoring the complexities of Israel’s diplomatic interactions.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.