Author: Steven Sahiounie

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was publicly challenged about post-war plans for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday by his own defense chief, who vowed to oppose any long-term military rule by Israel over the ravaged Palestinian enclave.The televised statement by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant marked the most vocal dissent from within Israel’s top echelon against Netanyahu during a seven-month-old and multi-front conflict that has set off political fissures at home and abroad.Netanyahu hinted, in a riposte which did not explicitly name Gallant, that the retired admiral was making “excuses” for not yet having destroyed Hamas in a conflict now in…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a telephone call Wednesday with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, to discuss Gaza cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, according to diplomatic sources. Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, which killed less than 1,200 people. More than 35,200 Palestinians have since been killed in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, and over 79,000 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities. In the West Bank, nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed and…

On the sidelines of the 33rd Arab Summit, which will commence tomorrow, President Mahmoud Abbas met with Special Envoy of the Russian President for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, at his residence in the Bahraini capital, Manama. President Abbas briefed the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, particularly the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and efforts exerted to end the war of genocide and ensure the entry of humanitarian and medical aid into the Strip. The president warned against the serious Israeli aggression in the West Bank and Jerusalem,…

Ukraine may engage in negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict if Moscow shows “any interest” in a dialogue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba in Kiev. “If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin showed any interest in seriously engaging in negotiations, I’m sure Ukrainians will respond to that,” he said, adding that Moscow was allegedly not prepared to do this. Blinken added that in terms of negotiations, these are “decisions for Ukraine to make.” Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova said that Western countries were using the word ‘peace’…

The Bahraini Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced Wednesday that the regular flights resumed with Syria, while the Syrian Ministry of Transport welcomed the decision. Bahrain News Agency quoted the Bahraini Civil Aviation Affairs as saying in a statement that the details of the flight times and numbers will be announced soon after completing all procedures and issuing official licenses in this international regard . For its part, the Ministry of Transport welcomed the decision of Bahraini Ministry of Transportation and Communications to resume operating flights between Syria and the Kingdom of Bahrain via Syrian Airlines. The Ministry indicated that…

The Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah received today a delegation of leaders from the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas headed by Khalil al-Hayya and including Mohammad Nasr and Osama Hamdan. During the meeting, the two sides extensively discussed events and developments in occupied Palestine, particularly Gaza, alongside various support fronts. They also discussed the recent ceasefire negotiations, the implications of the international political positions on the war on Gaza, and student protests across the world. They reaffirmed their united stance and the continuation of efforts in political, Resistance, and popular fields to achieve the honorable goals that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood sought to achieve,…

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has warned of dire consequences as a result of Israel escalating its activities in the Gaza Strip. During talks with his Jordanian and Iraqi counterparts, Ayman Al-Safadi and Fuad Hussein, he also said there would be negative repercussions for the security and stability of the whole region. The discussion in Manama on Wednesday took place on the sidelines of an Arabian foreign ministers’ meeting being held in preparation for the Arab Summit. Shoukry talked about Egypt’s efforts to reach an immediate, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and its call for allowing immediate delivery of…

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and the head of the Hamas movement’s Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday discussed latest the latest situation in the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, according to diplomatic sources. This came during a phone call between Fidan and Haniyeh, the sources said. Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 people. More than 35,200 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and over 79,000 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities. In the West Bank, nearly 500 Palestinians have…

Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility on Wednesday for two drone and missile attacks on a US warship and a commercial ship in the Red Sea, vowing to continue striking ships in international seas, mostly near Yemen’s borders, in support of Palestinians. In a televised broadcast, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said that the militia’s naval forces launched an “accurate” missile strike on the US Navy destroyer USS Mason in the Red Sea, as well as a combined attack on the Destiny in the Red Sea. Sarea did not specify when Houthis forces assaulted the two ships, or if the militia…

President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas met today with his Iraqi counterpart, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, at his residence in the Bahraini capital, Manama, on the sidelines of the 33rd Arab Summit, which is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday. President Abbas briefed his Iraqi counterpart on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, particularly the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and on efforts exerted to end the genocidal war and ensure the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid to the Strip. President Abbas reiterated the sovereignty of the State of Palestine and its firm rejection of any attempts…