Slovenia is the latest European country to recognize a Palestinian state. The country’s parliament voted Tuesday in support of the move, following in the recent steps of Spain, Ireland and Norway . Slovenia's prime minister has said he sped up efforts to recognize a State of Palestine in reaction to Israel's expanding invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The monthlong offensive has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians who are facing widespread hunger. In central Gaza, the Israeli military said Tuesday that its troops backed by airstrikes have launched a ground operation into the Bureij refugee camp. Local hospital officials say a strike in the urban camp killed 11 Palestinians, including three children and a woman.
The Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives across the Gaza Strip come as international mediators wait for Israel and Hamas to respond to a new cease-fire and hostage release proposal , according to Qatar, which has played a key role in negotiations alongside Egypt and the United States. Announcing the proposal last week, U.S.
President Joe Biden said the three-phase plan was Israeli, however Israeli leaders have since appeared to distance themselves from the proposal and vowed to keep fighting Hamas until the group is destroyed. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry , which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel launche.
