Author: Steven Sahiounie

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that now he will not send a delegation that had been expected in Washington, after the US refrained earlier that day from vetoing a UN Security Council resolution on a Gaza ceasefire. The UNSC passed the resolution on Monday, demanding an “immediate” ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks. The US abstained from casting its vote on the council, while the remaining 14 members voted in favor of the resolution, which also demands the unconditional release of remaining Israeli hostages and highlights “the…

The UN spokesperson explains that Griffiths will continue in his role until the end of June to allow a “smooth transition” to a replacement who has yet to be named. UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who has played a significant role in pushing for relief to Gaza and previously supervised operations in Yemen, is stepping down due to illness, the global organization announced Monday. Griffiths, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency assistance coordinator, “has informed the secretary-general of his intention to step down for health reasons,” according to UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq. Haq added that Griffiths will continue in his role…

Türkiye on Monday welcomes the UN Security Council’s passage of a resolution for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, said the country’s Foreign Ministry. “We consider the UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan and humanitarian access to Gaza to be a positive step,” said ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli in a statement. Ramadan ends on or around April 9, but there are hopes any cease-fire may extend beyond then. Keceli added that Türkiye hopes that Israel will promptly adhere to the stipulations in the resolution. “We…

The grand imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif has commended the head of the United Nations for his support for the Palestinian cause and promoting justice and human rights in Gaza. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, who is also chair of the Muslim Council of Elders, received UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA — the UN agency that supports Palestine refugees — and Elena Panova, the UN’s resident coordinator in Egypt, were also present at the meeting. Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, which has its headquarters in Cairo, is Sunni Islam’s oldest and foremost seat of learning. The sheikh praised Guterres…

The perpetrators and masterminds of Friday’s deadly terrorist attack at a Moscow concert venue must be killed without mercy, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has claimed. At least 137 people have been killed and over 180 were wounded when several men armed with assault rifles opened fire inside the Crocus City Hall and then proceeded to set the concert venue ablaze. Four men suspected of carrying out the attack have been captured. Two of them have confessed in court, and are set to remain in custody until late May. They all face life in prison. “Everyone asks me. What to…

With the United States abstaining, the United Nations Security Council has finally adopted a long-awaited resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The resolution was put forward by the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council. It received unanimous support from the remaining 14 members on Monday. Washington had already vetoed similar bids three times since Israel started its brutal campaign in Gaza in early October. The resolution demands an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the release of Israelis the resistance movement Hamas took captive during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023. It also…

Moscow’s Basmanny District Court has sanctioned the arrest of Aminchon Islomov in the Moscow’s Crocus City Hall terror attack case, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom. “To place Aminchon Islomov in custody until May 22,” the court ruling says. The court session was held behind closed doors. Earlier, the court arrested Dilovar and Isroil Islomovs in the same case. The three are charged under provision “b,” part 3 of article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code (a terror attack committed by a group of persons), which carries a punishment of up to life incarceration. Aminchon and Dilovar Islomovs are…

Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock has lauded Egypt’s efforts to promote regional stability. Her comments came during talks in Cairo with her Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry which dealt with the situation in the Gaza Strip. Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s stance against any Israeli military operation in Rafah which he said could bring about a humanitarian catastrophe and the threat of a wider conflict. In addition, the ministers’ discussions also addressed several regional and international issues of mutual concern while they also considered ways to boost cooperation between Egypt and Germany. Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said…

US presidential candidate Donald Trump says he would have reacted the same way Israel did after Hamas’s October 7 attacks but Israel is losing international support and should wrap up its war in Gaza. Trump told the Israeli newspaper Hayom in an interview that Hamas’s attacks were “one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen”. “That being said, you have to finish up your war. You have to finish it up. You got to get it done,” Trump said in the interview. “And I will say, Israel has to be very careful because you’re losing a lot of the world,…

The resolution was sponsored by the body’s ten elected members, and the remaining 14 council members voted on it. Following the United States’ abstention from the vote, the United Nations Security Council requested an immediate ceasefire between the Israeli occupation forces and the Palestinian Resistance, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all captives. The resolution was sponsored by the body’s ten elected members, and the remaining 14 council members voted for it. Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama expressed after the vote that the Palestinians have “suffered greatly”, citing that the “bloodbath has continued for far too long.” Shortly before…