Ariel Rusila's Conflicts [Ex-BalkanPerspective]

February 28, 2025 The first phase of the three-phase hostage and ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ends on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Under the agreement, 602 terrorist prisoners will then be released in exchange for the bodies of four slain Israeli hostages. Of the prisoners to be released, 50 are serving life sentences, many of whom were responsible for orchestrating the horrific suicide bombings of the mid-1990s. Saturday’s exchange of hostages for terrorists marks the end of the first phase of the agreement. There are no signs from either side of the warring parties or the various mediators that Israel and Hamas are close to reaching an agreement on implementing the second phase of the hostage and ceasefire agreement. Saturday, March 1, 2025~~? US Ambassador Steve Witkoff has been trying to broker an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire. Such an extension would specifically include the release of hostages deemed to be in need of immediate medical attention. The re...

February 9, 2025 US President Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza has been met with a largely negative reception around the world. The initiative has been described as outrageous, illegal, ethnic cleansing, a violation of international order, forced displacement, impossible to implement, dramatic, shocking, etc. On the other hand, it has been described as “out of the box” thinking, a panacea, a masterstroke, radical, unconventional, etc. From my perspective, Trump’s vision is a game changer, the cards have now been redistributed, disregarding the traditional rules, resulting in a pragmatic plan that promises a better future and is feasible due to the presenter. Trump’s vision President Trump presented his Gaza vision a little over two weeks ago and has since returned to it on two occasions, also presenting clarifications. The main features of the Trump plan’s control elements: After the end of the Gaza war, Israel will hand over the Gaza Strip to US control in terms of Gaza and Hamas; US so...