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Israeli far-right leaders convened this week to explore the concept of transforming the Gaza Strip into a tourist destination, a proposal emerging amidst a severe humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.

The meeting, titled “The Riviera in Gaza: From Vision to Reality,” took place within Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset. It was reportedly organized or supported by some of the Knesset’s most hardline members.

Notable attendees included Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and activist Daniella Weiss, known for her advocacy of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

This initiative echoes a previous suggestion made by former U.S. President Donald Trump in February, who proposed developing Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump’s concept involved the relocation of Palestinian residents and placing the territory under American administration.

The proposal has faced significant criticism from Arab nations and Palestinians.For Palestinians, any plan to forcibly remove them from their land is reminiscent of the “Nakba,” or catastrophe, which refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s establishment in 1948.

The discussion about redeveloping Gaza into a tourist resort occurs while a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in the devastated territory.

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Stellantis has reported a significant financial downturn, with revenue for the frist six months of the year reaching EUR 74.3 billion, a year-on-year decrease exceeding twelve percent. This decline is largely attributed to the high one-off costs associated with restructuring and project cancellations.

The North American division, historically the group’s financial bedrock, experienced the most pronounced weakening in sales and profitability. In the second quarter alone, sales on the continent plummeted by twenty-five percent, a contraction not seen in the region’s automotive industry since the financial crisis. This downturn is characterized by reduced orders from key fleet clients and consumers delaying purchases due to elevated prices and economic uncertainty.

Adding to the financial strain, American import duties have played a substantial role in the company’s losses. New customs rates implemented in May 2025 have impacted the import of specific automotive parts, notably affecting Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.

The company’s management has also been substantially impacted by extensive restructuring and the discontinuation of several uncompleted programs. Stellantis has incurred EUR 3.3 billion in write-offs for accounting and development costs. These costs encompass the termination of certain model lines,the abandonment of specific platform strategies,and adjustments to comply with new US regulatory requirements. A key change involves adapting to stricter CAFE standards for fuel consumption, which has notably affected large, fuel-inefficient SUVs and pickup trucks, traditionally the most lucrative segments in the North American market.

This challenging habitat has underscored the necessity for a fundamental strategic shift. Following a CEO change in june 2025, with Antonio Filosa succeeded by Carla Tavarese, the company has unveiled a series of measures aimed at stabilizing and consolidating its operations. These initiatives include the complete finalization of the product development program.

Stellantis Faces Significant Financial Challenges Amidst Restructuring and Market Weakness

Automotive giant Stellantis has announced a substantial decline in its financial performance for the first half of the year. The company’s revenue has fallen by over twelve percent year-on-year, totaling EUR 74.3 billion. This downturn is exacerbated by considerable one-off expenses stemming from the restructuring and cancellation of multiple projects.

The North American market, a crucial pillar of Stellantis’s financial stability, has shown the most significant weakening in both sales and profitability. Sales in this region dropped by twenty-five percent in the second quarter, marking the steepest decline since the financial crisis. This slump is attributed to a broad-based weakening of demand, with major fleet clients reducing their orders and consumers postponing purchases due to higher prices and economic uncertainty.

The impact of American import duties has also contributed significantly to the company’s losses. New customs rates, effective from May 2025, on imported automotive parts have primarily affected brands such as Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.

Furthermore, extensive restructuring efforts and the discontinuation of several development programs have had a profound effect on Stellantis’s financial results. The company has written off EUR 3.3 billion in accounting and development costs, which includes the cessation of certain model series, the withdrawal from specific platform solutions, and adaptations to new US regulatory standards. Notably, the company has had to adjust to more stringent CAFE standards for fuel consumption, impacting its profitable segment of large combustion engine SUVs and pickup trucks.

In response to these challenges, Stellantis has recognized the need for a fundamental strategic overhaul. Following the appointment of Carla Tavarese as CEO in June 2025, replacing Antonio Filosa, the company has initiated a series of measures to stabilize and consolidate its business, including the full completion of its product development program.

Stellantis Loss: 2.3 Billion Euros – Crisis and Restructuring Read more Stellantis

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Global Outcry Over Gaza Aid Deaths as Israel Launches New Offensive

Dozens killed seeking aid; 25 nations condemn Israeli actions

International outrage has erupted after Israeli forces reportedly killed over 100 individuals seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza over the weekend. Coinciding with the announcement of a new Israeli military push into central Gaza, a coalition of 25 foreign ministers has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s aid delivery practices.

‘Unacceptable’ Aid Denial

The foreign ministers, representing nations across Europe, North America, and Oceania, stated that the Israeli government’s approach to aid distribution is detrimental, fostering instability and stripping Gazans of their human dignity. They declared the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population as unacceptable and demanded Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law.

Israel Cites Threats, Disputes Casualty Figures

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a social media post, maintained that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots in order to remove an immediate threat posed to them on Sunday. The ministry also stated that the number of casualties reported does not align with the information held by the IDF, attributing alleged disruptions to Hamas militants.

Key Nations Abstain from Joint Statement

Notably absent from the signatories were the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. The United States and Germany have consistently backed Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

However, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his deepest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation to his Israeli counterpart, urging urgent… implementation of the agreements with the EU to facilitate humanitarian aid.

Escalating Military Action in Central Gaza

The diplomatic fallout intensifies as Israel announced a new ground and air offensive in Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza city, on Monday. This military action follows a weekend marked by intense violence and reported deaths of aid seekers. The ongoing conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting that over 70% of Gaza’s population is now displaced due to the hostilities (UNRWA, 2025).

The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., Norway, Japan, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

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