Author: Faheem al-Yacoub

Today, the leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe García, called for the unity of the European Union to put an end to the spiral of violence in the Middle East and avoid a regional spill over. In a debate during the plenary session in Strasbourg, García committed to Israel’s security after Iran’s unprecedented attack. Referring to Gaza, the S&D leader reiterated the urgency of humanitarian aid in the Strip, and a cease-fire to end the massacre of the Palestinian population, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and negotiations for peace and two states between the…

Prince Rahim Aga Khan, representing the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), recently engaged in asignificant dialogue with Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, underlining their shared commitment toadvancing sustainable development in the country. The meeting, held at the Ala Archa State Residencein Bishkek on March 1, highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing critical issues such asclimate change, education, economic opportunity, and cultural preservation.President Japarov welcomed Prince Rahim’s visit, acknowledging the AKDN’s longstanding contributionsto Kyrgyzstan’s socio-economic progress. He expressed gratitude for the AKDN’s efforts in improvingliving conditions, particularly in mountainous regions, and invited further partnership in combatingclimate change, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing…

Shafaq News / British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced in an interview with The Telegraph that Britain will not join the retaliatory strikes by the US against targets, including Iranian individuals and facilities, inside Iraq and Syria. The minister stated that London aims to avoid a “large-scale regional conflict” and calls on Tehran to control its affiliated forces in Syria and Iraq, as reported by Russia Today. Shapps emphasized that Britain will continue to cooperate with the US “in the war against the Houthis in Yemen to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.” At the same time, he…

The Israeli military says it killed three hostages who were being held in Gaza after they were “mistakenly identified as a threat” in the northern town of Shejaiya. They have been identified as: Yotam Haim, 28, and Alon Shamriz, 26, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka, 22, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Am. The bodies have been returned to Israel. The Israeli military says the incident is under investigation. Its statement says that “the IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences”. An estimated 240 people were taken…

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, said on Sunday that four of its leaders had been killed since Oct 7, including Ahmed Al-Ghandour, a member of the Military Council and commander of the Northern Brigade, Anadolu Agency reports. “The Al-Qassam Brigades is mourning a group of its heroic leaders, namely Commander Ahmed Al-Ghandour, known as Abu Anas, a member of the Military Council, the commander of the Northern Brigade, and the leaders: Wael Rajab, Raafat Salman, and Ayman Siam,” the group said in a statement. The Al-Qassam Brigades did not provide any information about the dates of their…

The Turkish media has a “big role” in proving the use of white phosphorus by Israel in the Gaza Strip, a French lawyer has said, Anadolu Agency reports. Gilles Devers, the lawyer who advocates Palestinians’ rights at the International Criminal Court (ICC), attended a meeting in the Parisian suburb of Stains on Saturday about the complaint that was filed on Nov. 9 against Israel’s alleged war crimes. He criticized the French officials for their indifference towards what happens in the Middle East and the attacks targeting Palestinian civilians. Devers recalled that the ICC was the only judicial body where Palestine was considered…

Time to Make Hard Choices If devastation is the goal, Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip has been a resounding success. More than two months after Hamas killed over 1,100 people on October 7, Israeli air and ground operations have killed some 20,000 Palestinians, many of them children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. Much of Gaza lies in ruins, with the United Nations estimating that almost 20 percent of the territory’s prewar structures have been destroyed. More than half of Gazans are experiencing severe hunger, unemployment has risen to 85 percent, and disease is spreading. But the statements…

The UK will send two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean in plans to “bolster security”, No 10 says. It comes after six days of violence following the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas. The aircraft will begin patrols on Friday to “track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups”. Three Merlin helicopters and Royal Marines are also being dispatched. The government is also arranging flights for British nationals stranded in Israel. The first plane was expected to leave Tel Aviv on Thursday, but as of Friday morning it had not yet…

Damascus International Airport was out of service again yesterday following Israeli airstrikes, hours after it had resumed operation, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported. “The runway of Damascus International Airport was targeted within the past 24 hours, following its recent return to service, in Israeli raids on the evening of November 26th,” the group said, citing Syrian regime media outlets. It added that the Syrian outlets have confirmed hearing explosions in Damascus and observing smoke rising in the Mezzeh, Moadamiya, and Sumaria areas. All flights to and from the country’s largest and main airport have been halted since 22 October…

Mhairi Black quoted the UN saying power “runs out tonight” in Gaza and says a ceasefire is now the “best and maybe the only way to stop to this conflict escalating beyond all control”. Rishi Sunak replies saying he wants humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, and for that to happen there has to be a “safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses, as distinct from a ceasefire”. He reiterates that “everything must be done to protect civilians in line with international law”.