Egypt’s Sisi appoints new chief of powerful intelligence agency

Paramedic Munther Abed survived an Israeli attack that killed 15 emergency workers in Gaza by diving to the floor in the back of his ambulance. He disputes Israel's claim that the vehicles were moving suspiciously and insists they were clearly marked as civilian. International agencies are calling for an investigation into the incident, which left the paramedics buried in shallow graves and has left the Gaza healthcare workers feeling increasingly insecure and fragile. Full Article

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian fired deputy Shahram Dabiri for taking a lavish trip to Antarctica with his wife during Nowruz, citing economic challenges in Iran. Dabiri was removed from his position for his actions, which were deemed unjustifiable and against the values of simplicity in leadership. The trip, which cost at least $6,685, sparked outrage in Iran amid economic strains and high unemployment and inflation rates. Full Article

President Trump announced direct talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, with a high-level meeting scheduled for Saturday. Despite Iranian reluctance, Trump emphasized the potential for a diplomatic solution like the disarmament agreement with Libya in 2003, aiming for a stronger nuclear deal than the one he withdrew from in 2018. Iran denies military intentions but has accelerated uranium production, prompting Trump to seek a new agreement to prevent nuclear weapon development. Full Article

French President Macron, along with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan, stated that the Palestinian Authority should lead post-war governance in Gaza, excluding Hamas from any role. They emphasized the need for a strengthened Palestinian Authority to oversee governance, law, and security in Gaza. Macron also supported a Gaza reconstruction plan endorsed by the Arab League, opposing any displacement of Palestinians and rejecting Hamas's involvement in governance. Full Article

In southern Lebanon, a Lebanese civilian was killed in an Israeli drone strike, violating a November ceasefire agreement, with the attack targeting a motorcycle repair shop in Taybeh. This incident follows the previous day's air strike that resulted in the deaths of two civilians near Zibqin, amid reports of over 1,250 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, including numerous fatalities and injuries, despite efforts to maintain peace since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in...

Autopsies conducted on 15 Palestinian paramedics and civil emergency responders killed by Israeli forces in Gaza reveal they were shot in the upper body with the intent to kill, sparking international condemnation and demands for an international investigation. The incident, which took place during an Israeli offensive in the Hamas-ruled territory, contradicted Israel’s initial account, leading to calls for accountability and an independent inquiry. Human rights organizations have accused Israel of a culture of impunity,...