Pakistan, Arab, Asian states join US-led Gaza peace mechanism, Netanyahu’s participation criticized
Washington: A group of countries from the Middle East and Asia have agreed to participate in a United States-backed peace mechanism for Gaza, endorsing efforts led by US President Donald Trump to work towards a permanent ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict.
Al Jazeera reported that in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar confirmed their decision to join what has been described as a “board of peace” for the Gaza Strip. The ministers said their participation reflects support for initiatives aimed at ending hostilities, facilitating reconstruction in the war-hit territory and advancing a lasting settlement based on Palestinian self-determination and statehood under international law.
Kuwait later announced that it had also accepted Washington’s invitation to be part of the proposed body.
The developments come shortly after the White House disclosed details of the peace board, which forms part of a broader plan announced by President Trump to bring an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. The mechanism is expected to supervise a Palestinian technocratic committee that would handle the enclave’s administrative affairs.
According to US officials, the board will include senior presidential advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The composition of the body and the role envisaged for Israel have drawn scrutiny, particularly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he would take part in the process.
With the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Netanyahu for war crimes, residents in Gaza have questioned about the initiative's reliability, while noting ongoing Israeli military operations and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Abu Ramzi al-Sandawi, a resident of Gaza City, rejected Netanyahu’s participation, holding him responsible for the devastation in the enclave and describing him as the central figure behind the ongoing war.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah urges Centre to increase LPG supply
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged the Centre to immediately intervene to address a severe shortage of commercial LPG in Bengaluru, saying the crisis is forcing restaurants and related establishments to shut down and impacting a wide cross-section of the public dependent on the hospitality sector.
In a letter written to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday and shared with the media on Thursday, Siddaramaiah highlighted a sharp mismatch between demand and supply, noting that only a fraction of the required cylinders is being made available.
“As against the demand of 50,000 LPG cylinders from restaurants, hotels, catering establishments and PG accommodations etc., we are able to supply only 1,000 cylinders per day,” the Chief Minister said.
ALSO READ: Andhra Pradesh CM pushes for population growth, joint family values on Ugadi
He added that the shortage has led to a visible increase in shutting down of establishments due to unavailability of commercial LPG, affecting students, IT professionals, farmers, dairy producers and others reliant on the hospitality ecosystem.
Referring to recent directions from the Ministry prioritising domestic LPG supply, Siddaramaiah said the State has taken steps to regulate allocation for essential segments in line with the Centre’s guidelines, but the situation remains critical.
The CM also flagged the absence of an integrated monitoring system for commercial LPG distribution, in contrast to the existing IT system for domestic gas supply, leading to gaps in transparency and oversight.
He further pointed out that Auto LPG, a key fuel for autorickshaws that provide last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru, is also facing similar issues due to the lack of a monitoring mechanism.
Noting that India is expected to receive two LPG tankers soon, Siddaramaiah sought the Union Minister’s intervention to ensure adequate allocation to Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, considering its operational needs and dependency patterns.
“I request your kind intervention to ensure adequate allocation and availability of commercial LPG and Auto LPG to Karnataka, keeping in view the operational requirements and unique dependency patterns of the State, especially city of Bengaluru,” he said.
