Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, on Tuesday discussed the efforts being made by Egypt to encourage a ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of hostages. Ahmed Fahmy, a spokesperson for the presidency, said the two leaders expressed concern about the potential danger of a threatened Israeli military escalation in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which has become the final refuge for more than a million Palestinians displaced by fighting from other parts of the territory. They said it would add a further, catastrophic dimension to…

A joint statement from Arab and European foreign ministers highlighted critical priorities in addressing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, following a meeting in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. The statmenet called for the urgent need to halt all unilateral violations in Palestinian territories. It also called for the release of prisoners and hostages, putting an end to the war in Gaza and all illegal unilateral actions and violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. It was also attended by foreign ministers and representatives from…

Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa stated today that the Palestinian government is committed to fulfilling its obligations towards its people under its legal and political mandate. This commitment includes efforts to halt the Israeli aggression, provide relief, restore basic services, and prepare for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, paving the way for freedom and independence. Speaking at the opening of the third session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan in Doha, Mustafa emphasized that the Israeli blockade and the use of food, water, healthcare, and humanitarian services as weapons in a…

Hundreds of university students in Lebanon protested on Tuesday against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, inspired by recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have rocked US and European campuses, AFP correspondents said.Dozens of students gathered at the prestigious American University of Beirut (AUB), some wearing the traditional Arab keffiyeh scarf that has long been a symbol of the Palestinian cause, an AFP photographer said.“We are Palestine’s neighbors. If we do not stand with them today, who will?” asked AUB student Zeina, 23, declining to provide her surname.“Around the world, students my age, from our generation, are the ones raising their voices,” she added.The…

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for piling up pressure on the Israeli regime so that the issue of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip cannot be undermined. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in an address to a group of teachers and academics on Wednesday on the occasion of the National Teachers’ Day, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari. “Today, the issue of Gaza tops the world’s issues. At the international scene, the Zionists and their American and European supporters are doing whatever they can to cross out the issue of Gaza from…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Tuesday to launch an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering from the almost 7-month-long war, as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining steam.Netanyahu’s comments came hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel to advance the truce talks — which appear to be one of the most serious rounds of negotiations between Israel and Hamas since the war began. The deal is meant to free hostages, bring some relief to the population and avert an Israeli offensive…

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu held a meeting at the headquarters of Russia’s unified group of forces and received reports on the current situation in the special military operation zone, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “During the meeting, the Russian defense minister noted that battlegroups continue implementing their tasks on operational directions in accordance with the plan of the special military operation and pointed out the necessity to increase supplies of weapons, military hardware and munitions,” the military agency said. Shoigu said that it is necessary to increase the volume and quality of arms supplies and military hardware to support…

King Abdullah of Jordan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. During their meeting in Amman, at which they were joined by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, the king said it was imperative that swift action is taken to ease the escalating humanitarian crisis in the territory and protect innocent civilians. He called for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, including relief supplies and medical assistance, to Gaza using all available channels, and cautioned against any Israeli military operations in the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, which has…

MOSCOW, April 29. /TASS/. The volume of Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine is 41.9 mln cubic meters per day, a Gazprom spokesman told reporters.

MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. A ceremony for launching the small-size missile ship Taifun and the patrol ship Viktor Veliky will be held next month, the Russian Defense Ministry announced.