Gaza ceasefire seen imminent as Witkoff finalizes Hamas-Israel deal

Iran has demanded an "official explanation" from Austria following a report by its intelligence agency claiming Iran has an "active nuclear weapons program." Esmail Baghaei, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, dismissed the allegations as "false and baseless," asserting that Iran's nuclear activities are under UN supervision and that the country opposes nuclear weapons. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the nation's commitment to a diplomatic resolution with the U.S., highlighting the ongoing negotiations and the need...

The mother of imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, Laila Soueif, has been hospitalized for the second time after resuming a full hunger strike, reportedly suffering dangerously low blood sugar and blood pressure. Despite losing over 40% of her body weight, she is refusing medical treatment, echoing her son’s own hunger strike in prison. Both families have called for international intervention, with a UN panel declaring Alaa's detention arbitrary and urging his release due to...

The aid distribution process in Gaza, backed by the Israeli-American initiative, has devolved into "complete chaos," according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. She criticized the new distribution plan, which forces civilians to travel long distances for aid, as contradictory to humanitarian principles and potentially dangerous due to military presence. With only 10% of needed aid reaching the 2.1 million residents, including over a million children, Russell highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing conflict,...

Egypt has dismissed concerns that a recent court ruling regarding the land use of Sinai's Saint Catherine monastery jeopardizes its UNESCO heritage status, despite warnings from Greek and church authorities. The ruling affirmed the monastery's right to use the land, prompting criticism from Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, who claimed it infringes on religious freedoms and could lead to the property's confiscation. The Egyptian government, however, pledged to uphold the monastery's sacred status and rejected rumors...

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is set to sail for Gaza on Sunday aboard a humanitarian ship organized by the Freedom Flotilla, aimed at protesting the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007. The mission, which includes European Parliament member Rima Hassan, seeks to denounce the humanitarian blockade and raise international awareness regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza. Thunberg's previous attempt to sail to Gaza was thwarted when her ship was struck by a drone...

SummaryLast month, Saudi Arabia's defense minister conveyed a warning to Iranian officials in Tehran, urging them to take President Trump’s nuclear negotiation offer seriously to prevent potential war with Israel. During the April 17 meeting, Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized that the U.S. administration desires a swift agreement, as the diplomatic window is closing. Iranian officials expressed a willingness to negotiate for economic relief but voiced concerns about the unpredictable nature of U.S. demands regarding...