Eurotopics.net

The anonymous Russian Telegram channel General SVR announced Putin's death on Thursday. The channel, which has around 400,000 followers and claims to be written by Kremlin insiders, has reported in the last few months on the creation of Putin doubles with which the Russian president's entourage want to thwart a transfer of power after his death. The commentators selected by eurotopics consider the news to be fake, but not a trivial matter.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has drawn heavy criticism with a speech on the Middle East conflict. Guterres condemned the attack by the radical Islamic Hamas on Israel as "appalling", but at the same time denounced the "suffocating occupation" of the Palestinian territories. The attacks did not take place in a vacuum, he said. Commentaries reflect both outrage and understanding for his position.

Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has been in preparation for two weeks and announced several times, continues to be delayed. France's President Macron has now proposed that the international military coalition against Islamic State, which was founded almost a decade ago, should also fight Hamas. A look at Europe's opinion sections underlines how complex the decision is for Israel.

Turkish President Erdoğan had blocked Sweden's Nato accession for months, but now he has signed the corresponding protocol and submitted it to the Turkish parliament for ratification. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wants Sweden to officially join the defence alliance at the meeting of Nato foreign ministers taking place at the end of November. Commentators discuss the background and still see obstacles ahead.