By News18

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Doha, Sep 10 (AP) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she will seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel over the war in Gaza.
The 27-nation EU is deeply divided in its approach to Israel and the Palestinians, and it’s unclear whether a majority will be found to endorse the sanctions and trade measures.
Emergency personnel in Qatar dug through the rubble of an Israeli attack on Hamas’ political leaders who had gathered in the energy-rich Mideast nation to consider a US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The strike on Tuesday on the territory of a US ally drew widespread condemnation from several countries in the Mideast and beyond.
Hamas said in a statement that all of its leaders survived the attack but that five lower-ranked members were killed. Qatar said a member of its Internal Security Force died and others were wounded in the attack.
Here’s the latest: 5 Palestinians die from malnutrition-related causes The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday five people, including a child, died of causes related to malnutrition in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, raising the overall toll of such deaths since the beginning of the war to 404, including 141 children.
The ministry said the overall tally includes 126 Palestinians — among them 26 children — who died of malnutrition-related causes since international experts announced famine in Gaza City on Aug. 22.
UAE leader visits Qatar The leader of the United Arab Emirates travelled on Wednesday to Qatar, a day after Israel launched an attack there on Hamas’ political leadership.
The visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, likely underscores the growing unease the UAE feels with Israel.
In recent days, the Emirates warned Israel that any effort to annexe the West Bank, part of the land that Palestinians want for their future state, would be a “red line” that would threaten the Abraham Accords, the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal it struck with Israel.
Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, welcomed Sheikh Mohammed.
The two leaders had been on opposite sides of a political dispute for years during the first Trump administration, which saw the UAE and three other nations boycott Doha.
Saar criticises the EU leader Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in a social media post, said Von der Leyen had succumbed to pressures that undermine Israel-Europe relations.
He said her actions will embolden Hamas.
Analyst says Qatar has few options after Israeli attack Qatar has limited means by which to respond to the attack, analysts say, which likely entered into the Israeli calculus on launching the assault.
“Qatari officials have condemned the attack, but its options are constrained by the absence of formal ties with Israel,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at the risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.
“And more importantly, after investing considerable time and diplomatic effort into strengthening ties with Washington, Qatar’s political leadership is acutely aware of the potential repercussions of any actions that could jeopardise relations with Washington.” Israel’s attack on Doha threatens negotiations The Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar threatens to upend negotiations over a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and Israel’s efforts to reach out to Gulf Arab states.
That’s according to an analysis on Wednesday by the New York-based think tank The Soufan Centre.
“The attack has profound strategic implications because by striking a Gulf Cooperation Council state, Israel risks undermining the Abraham Accords and unravelling the fragile normalisation framework with Arab partners,” the centre said, referring to the 2020 diplomatic recognition deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“Israel’s strike on Qatar raises the uncomfortable question: if a state like Qatar, with its carefully cultivated neutrality and commitment to peacemaking, is punished for its role, who will dare step into the vacuum of mediation in the future?” the centre asked.
Japan condemns the attack Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Wednesday that his country “strongly condemns” Israel’s attack on Qatar as a move that interferes with the ongoing diplomatic efforts toward achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and further destabilises the region.
“While we express our solidarity with Qatar, we strongly demand that Israel immediately return to negotiations toward achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” Hayashi said.
He also called on all related parties to refrain from actions that would destabilise the region, including terrorist attacks, and to de-escalate the situation. (AP) SKS SKS