Anxiety in Gaza and Israel as Cease-Fire Nears End of First Phase

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed satisfaction with recent talks with the United States but cautioned that the negotiations might not yield results. As Tehran and Washington prepare for further discussions in Muscat, Khamenei emphasized Iran's military capabilities and regional influence as "red lines" that cannot be negotiated, while also indicating a lack of trust in the U.S. Despite past agreements, he advised against depending on negotiation progress, citing the need for Iran to...

An Israeli airstrike on the Kuwait Specialty Field Hospital in southern Gaza killed a security guard and injured 10 patients, according to the facility's director, Dr. Suhaib al-Hamss. This attack follows a prior strike on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, with Israel alleging it targeted a Hamas command center. Dr. al-Hamss emphasized that the hospital, known to Israeli authorities and treating 3,500 patients daily, was focused solely on providing medical care amidst the deterioration of...

A sandstorm in Iraq caused significant disruptions, closing airports and resulting in over 3,700 hospitalizations due to breathing difficulties, particularly in Basra, which reported the highest number of cases. Visibility dropped to under one kilometer as the storm created an orange haze across central and southern cities; many residents wore face masks to protect against the dust. The environment ministry has indicated that Iraq may experience an increasing frequency of "dust days" in the future...

Israeli media reported that an investigation is underway concerning a sensitive “security case” related to an incident during the Gaza war, conducted under a gag order that restricts publication of details. Key figures involved in the investigation include Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the head of the Police Investigations Unit (PID). The military's gag order prohibits local press from disclosing any information regarding the incident's nature or location. Full Article

Islamic Scholars Urge Action Against Israeli Occupation Prominent Islamic scholars in Pakistan, including Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, have called on Muslim-majority countries to take a stand against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, labeling it a moral obligation. At the National Palestine Conference in Islamabad, they expressed disappointment over the lack of support for those defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque and emphasized the responsibility of Muslim nations and their militaries to protect Palestinians from occupation forces....

Hamas, represented by official Taher Al-Nunu, is prepared to release all Israeli detainees in exchange for a serious prisoner swap, the end of the ongoing war in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid. The Hamas negotiating team, led by Khalil Al-Hayya, has engaged in multiple discussions with Egyptian and Qatari officials, who are mediating the truce negotiations. Al-Nunu criticized Israel for hindering these agreements, emphasizing that the core issue...