This week, Sudan rejects UN fact-finding mission’s call for peacekeepers. Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire without new conditions from any party. Zelensky criticizes China-Brazil peace initiative as “destructive” and “political.”
Sudan rejects UN fact-finding mission’s call for peacekeepers
Following a UN fact-finding mission that documented war crimes in Sudan, Sudan’s military-led government has rejected the mission’s recommendation for deploying an international peacekeeping force to protect civilians amid the ongoing civil war. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to over 18,800 deaths and displaced nearly eight million people.
The UN mission’s 19-page report details severe human rights abuses by both sides, including torture, murder, and ethnic violence, especially by the RSF against non-Arab communities. The mission, which interviewed 182 survivors, has also called for an arms embargo on both factions and warned that foreign support for either side could be seen as complicity in the atrocities.
Sudan’s foreign ministry has dismissed the UN recommendations, labeling them as politically motivated. The RSF has yet to comment on the proposal. The World Health Organization has urged global intervention to address the crisis, which has been worsened by flooding and a famine declared in a displaced persons camp in Darfur. Mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and the US have so far been unsuccessful.
Hamas says it is ready for ceasefire without new conditions
The Palestinian group Hamas says it is ready to implement a Gaza ceasefire deal proposed by US President Joe Biden without any new conditions from any party. This comes after talks on Wednesday in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, including Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. These discussions focused on a truce and a potential exchange of hostages and prisoners.
The latest conflict between Hamas and Israel began when Hamas attacked Israel and killed over 1,000 Israelis on October 7 2023. The subsequent war between Israel and Hamas has since led to the killing of over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Despite ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, a comprehensive ceasefire has remained elusive. The sole truce occurred in late November 2023, resulting in a temporary exchange of 105 hostages for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas says it is committed to the previously proposed ceasefire framework without any additional demands from other parties. Key issues, such as control of the Philadelphi Corridor on Gaza’s border with Egypt, continue to hinder progress. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining control of this area to prevent Hamas from rearming, a point of contention that has stalled negotiations.
Zelensky criticizes China-Brazil peace initiative as “destructive” and “political”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a peace initiative proposed by China and Brazil as “destructive” and lacking genuine engagement with Ukraine. The initiative, announced in May, calls for an international peace conference to address the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the aim of avoiding escalation and promoting humanitarian efforts.
Zelensky’s criticism centers on the absence of Ukrainian input in the proposed plan. He argued that the initiative did not respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and dismissed it as a mere political statement rather than a viable solution. He also questioned why such proposals were made without direct consultation with Kyiv.
Zelensky’s own proposals demand a complete Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, the restoration of Ukraine’s 1991 post-Soviet borders, and accountability for the invasion.
Zelensky’s criticism comes amidst the ongoing challenges in negotiating a resolution to the war, which remains unresolved with no direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since early 2022.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
