Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, especially the developments in Gaza. A telephonic conversation was held between the two leaders, according to a statement released by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. Developments in GazaPakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, it said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1976911958873194844&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=344a9fbe5eaf2d6414c517f6e95858521841675c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 793px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1976911958873194844"></iframe></div></div>According to the statement, the two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly the developments in Gaza and Palestine. They also discussed regional diplomatic efforts and coordination ahead of the forthcoming Summit scheduled to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, it said. Humanitarian crisis in Gaza&nbsp;Moreover, the Pakistani foreign minister also spoke with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov on Saturday, said another statement released by the ministry.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1976928275449471195&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=344a9fbe5eaf2d6414c517f6e95858521841675c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 798px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1976928275449471195"></iframe></div></div>They discussed the situation in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The two ministers also exchanged views on the broader efforts by Arab-Islamic countries to promote peace and stability in the region, as well as on the forthcoming summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the statement added. According to AFP, US President Donald Trump has said he expects to head to the Middle East on Sunday, with stops in Egypt, where the talks took place, and Israel. New Gaza police force&nbsp;With Egypt&#39;s support, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has scheduled a reconstruction conference to take place a month after the ceasefire, Reuters reported on Thursday. Updated World Bank estimates put reconstruction costs for Gaza at $80 billion, up from $53 billion last October, he said. That&#39;s four times the combined GDP of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2022, according to the multilateral lender. Arab states including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar backed the Saudi-French plan, which called for a transitional administrative committee to be formed &quot;under the umbrella of the&quot; PA, and foresaw the deployment of an international stabilization mission at the PA&#39;s invitation. The Trump plan foresees a temporary international stabilization mission deploying to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces, saying it would &quot;consult with Jordan and Egypt&quot;, Reuters reported. Mustafa said the PA had already nominated some 5,500 Palestinians to be part of a new Gaza police force being trained by Egypt. The goal is to train at least 10,000 people.

Foreign Affairs

Views exchanged on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly the developments in Gaza and Palestine; regional diplomatic efforts discussed ahead of the forthcoming Summit scheduled to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday. 

Pakistan’s foreign minister discuss situation in Gaza with Egyptian, Azeri counterparts

ISLAMABAD: The Israeli navy intercepted the Freedom Flotilla Coalition convoy bound for Gaza, forcibly boarding and seizing<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">&nbsp;nine boats&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea, according to reports from international media and flotilla organizers. As reported by Anadolu Agency, a state-run news outlet based in T&uuml;rkiye, the interception occurred approximately 120 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, where Israeli troops boarded several of the aid ships. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1975766044183830923&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=addad1825ab0ca011155675421f18275991ea98d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 649px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The ambush took place while the coalition was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Flotilla organizers stated on social media that Israeli forces boarded the vessels and cut off live transmissions from the ships, adding that communication with most boats was lost shortly after the raid began. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that all flotilla vessels had been intercepted and escorted to an Israeli port. Officials claimed that <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">the 145 activists taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza<span style='color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: "AP Font", "AP Font Local", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;' id="isPasted">, were safe and would be sent back to their home countries in the coming days. <span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">The activists on board the nine-vessel group included doctors, politicians, lawmakers from Turkey and Denmark. Turkey&#39;s foreign ministry said the intervention against the Freedom Flotilla, including Turkish nationals and lawmakers, showed that the &quot;genocidal&quot; Israeli government targeted all peaceful measures and heightened tensions in the region while damaging peace efforts. It added in its statement that all initiatives were being taken for Turkish citizens held by Israel to be freed and returned to Turkey, and that it was coordinating with other countries regarding their citizens too. The operation comes just days after Israeli authorities stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining more than 500 activists headed to Gaza. Most of those detained have since been released, including former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has repeatedly attempted to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which it describes as an unlawful restriction on humanitarian access.&nbsp; The latest seizure is expected to intensify international criticism of Israel&rsquo;s enforcement of the Gaza blockade.

Middle East

Israeli naval forces intercept the Freedom Flotilla Coalition convoy about 120 nautical miles off Gaza, seizing three aid ships and detaining passengers. The flotilla was delivering humanitarian supplies amid growing criticism of Israel’s Gaza blockade.

Israel ambushes yet another aid flotilla en route to Gaza

JERUSALEM: Numbers alone cannot capture the toll the Israel-Hamas war has taken on the Gaza Strip. But they can help us understand how thoroughly the conflict has upended the lives of 2.1 million Palestinians living in the territory and decimated the territory&rsquo;s 365 square kilometers (140 square miles). <ul><li style="line-height: 2;">Out of every 10 people, one has been killed or injured in an Israeli strike.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">Nine are displaced.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">At least three have not eaten for days.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">Out of every 100 children, four have lost either one or both parents.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">Out of every 10 buildings that stood in Gaza prewar, eight are either damaged or flattened.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">Out of every 10 homes, nine are wrecked.&nbsp; </li><li style="line-height: 2;">Out of every 10 acres of cropland, eight are razed (more than three out of every four hectares). </li><li style="line-height: 2;">The war began when Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. </li><li style="line-height: 2;">In response, Israeli leaders promised a punishing offensive on the strip to annihilate Hamas and free the hostages.</li></ul> Here&rsquo;s a closer look at the devastation that followed, by the numbers. Roughly 11% of Gaza&rsquo;s population has been killed or injuredCemeteries are overflowing. Mass graves dot the strip. Israeli airstrikes have killed entire families in their homes. More than 2,000 people seeking food have been killed, according to Gaza&#39;s Health Ministry. In some cases, Israel has acknowledged firing warning shots at chaotic crowds attempting to obtain desperately needed aid. Israeli attacks on health care facilities and limitations on the entry of medical supplies have left overwhelmed doctors to treat advanced burn victims with rudimentary equipment. Israel says it strikes hospitals because Hamas operates in them and uses them as command centers, though it has offered limited evidence. Hamas security personnel have been seen in hospitals and have kept some areas inaccessible. Israel has said restrictions on imports are needed to prevent Hamas from obtaining arms. The war is the deadliest conflict for journalists, health workers, and UN aid workers in history, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and the UN.&nbsp; The British Medical Journal says the prevalence of patients with injuries from explosives in Gaza compares to data on injured US combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Experts commissioned by a UN body and major rights groups have accused Israel of genocide, charges it vehemently denies. In all, Israel&rsquo;s campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and wounded nearly 170,000, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry. More than 40,000 of those injured have life-altering injuries, according to the World Health Organization. The death toll does not include the thousands of people believed buried under the rubble. The ministry, part of the Gaza government and staffed by medical professionals, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts. Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian toll, saying the group&rsquo;s presence in residential areas has turned the population into human shields. Still, its strikes often hit homes, killing many inside with no word of who the target was. Nearly the entire population is displaced and thousands are missingCountless Palestinian families have fled the length of Gaza and back, forced to move every few months to dodge successive Israeli offensives. Many have been displaced multiple times, moving between apartments and makeshift tent camps as they try to survive. Squalid tent cities now sprawl across much of Gaza&rsquo;s south. Displacements have separated families. Heavy bombardment has left thousands buried under the rubble. Troops round up and detain men, from dozens to several hundreds at a time, searching for any they suspect of Hamas ties. The result is families split apart. Israel occupies the vast majority of GazaIsrael&rsquo;s military has gained control of the vast majority of Gaza, pushing most of the Palestinian population to a small zone along the southern coast. Under Israeli control, Gaza&rsquo;s land has been transformed. Forces have flattened or bulldozed entire neighborhoods of Gaza City and small agricultural towns dotting the border, carved new roads across the territory, and built up new military posts. Bombardment has carpeted the Gaza Strip in a blanket of rubble roughly 12 times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Using imagery of Gaza from space, the UN&rsquo;s Satellite Center says that at least 102,067 buildings have been destroyed. In the wreckage lie the ruins of grade schools and universities, medical clinics and mosques, greenhouses and family homes. At least 30% of people go days without eatingHundreds of Palestinians crowd charity kitchens, jostling for a bowl of lentils. Babies are so emaciated that they weigh less than at birth. After months of warnings from aid groups, the world&rsquo;s leading authority on food crises said in August that Gaza City had fallen into famine. Israel disputes the determination. Towns have been leveledTowns scattered across the strip, where Palestinian farmers once planted strawberries and watermelons, wheat, and cereals, are now empty and flattened. Between May and October 2025, Israeli bombardment and demolitions virtually erased the town of Khuzaa, whose rows of wheat and other cereals made it a breadbasket for the city of Khan Younis. With the war entering its third year, Israel has launched an offensive to take over Gaza City and kill the Hamas fighters it says are hiding there. Israel says it also aims to free the 48 hostages who remain in Gaza, about 20 of whom the government believes are alive. Since the war began, 465 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza. A new American peace plan is on the table, even as Israeli tanks and ground troops threaten the heart of Gaza City.

Nearly the entire population is displaced, and thousands are missing; at least 30% of people go days without eating.



These numbers show how 2 years of war have devastated Palestinian lives in Gaza

Gaitty Ara Anis

MARYLAND: Students in the United States (US) gathered in solemn silence on the campus lawns today, Tuesday, marking two years since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The peaceful protest, held on the anniversary of the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, was a stark reminder of the ongoing violence that has claimed over 67,000 lives in Gaza. Though Washington D.C. is typically a hub for large-scale protests, the capital city has seen fewer demonstrations in recent years due to stricter law enforcement measures. As National Guard troops now patrol the city, protests have shifted to universities like the University of Maryland, where students continue to speak out against the war. &quot;We&#39;ve been protesting against this war from day one,&quot; said Khaula T. (name changed for privacy), an engineering student who was arrested in April 2024 for participating in a similar protest. &quot;Today, we reflect on how far we&#39;ve come, but also on the lives lost.&quot; The protest took a quieter, more reflective form today, with students sitting together in peaceful solidarity. Rather than chanting or marching, they participated in interactive discussions with experts and faculty members, focusing on the call for universities in the US to sever financial and academic ties with institutions in Israel. Zahid Khan, a Pakistani-American student, echoed the sentiments of many in attendance. &quot;We can&rsquo;t let the world forget what&rsquo;s happening in Gaza,&quot; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &quot;This isn&rsquo;t just another headline. It&rsquo;s real lives that are being lost every day.&quot; The event also included discussions on the history of Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and efforts to raise awareness among their peers. Eric, a Jewish political science graduate student, shared his personal perspective: &quot;I know what&rsquo;s right and wrong. This isn&rsquo;t about politics; it&rsquo;s about humanity.&quot; As the day progressed, some students worked on artwork while others sat in quiet contemplation. Maliha, one of the participants, created a piece that read &ldquo;Falasteen,&rdquo; a tribute to the Palestinian people. &quot;This is about honoring the martyrs and standing for peace,&quot; she explained. The University of Maryland has been a focal point of student activism, notably for its role in challenging administrative restrictions. In August 2025, the university settled a lawsuit filed by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group after it attempted to ban a vigil for Gaza victims. A judge ruled the ban unconstitutional, and the university agreed to a $100,000 settlement. Dr. Joe Frank, an activist and researcher, noted that the history of student-led protests in the US is long and storied. &quot;From Vietnam to Gaza, students have always been at the forefront of calling for peace, even when their voices have been silenced,&quot; Frank told Pakistan TV Digital. As the protest came to a close, many students expressed hope that a newly announced peace plan might bring an end to the conflict, though skepticism remained among others. Regardless of the outcome, the students at the University of Maryland made one thing clear: their fight for peace will continue.

Americas

University of Maryland students stage a silent protest, calling for an end to the conflict, urging US universities to sever ties with Israeli institutions supporting the war.

US students protest as Gaza war marks two-year anniversary

Doha: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will attend the ongoing Gaza peace talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said. Sheikh Mohammed&#39;s &quot;participation in the meetings... comes at a critical stage of the talks, reaffirming the determination of the mediators to reach an agreement that would bring an end to the catastrophic war in the Gaza Strip,&quot; the ministry said Tuesday on X.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will attend the ongoing Gaza peace talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said

Qatar PM to join Gaza peace talks in Egypt: foreign ministry

Reuters

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican&#39;s top diplomat sharply criticized Israel&#39;s &quot;ongoing massacre&quot; in Gaza in comments published on Monday &mdash; one of the Catholic Church&#39;s strongest condemnations of Israel&#39;s bombardment against Hamas. In an interview tied to the second anniversary of Hamas&#39; attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, Cardinal Pietro Parolin also called those attacks &quot;inhuman and indefensible&quot; and urged Hamas to free remaining hostages. &quot;Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality,&quot; said Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state and one of Pope Leo&#39;s top deputies. &quot;The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants disregards the fact that it is targeting a largely defenseless population, already pushed to the brink, in an area where buildings and homes are reduced to rubble,&quot; he said. &quot;It is ... clear that the international community is, unfortunately, powerless and that the countries truly capable of exerting influence have so far failed to act to stop the ongoing massacre,&quot; Parolin told the Vatican&#39;s media outlet. The Vatican, which has embassies in many capitals, normally uses guarded language in addressing conflicts, preferring to avoid press coverage and operate behind the scenes. But Leo, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has been stepping up criticism of Israel&#39;s campaign in Gaza. He has urged Israel to let in more aid and raised Gaza in a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September. Parolin added: &quot;It&#39;s not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then continue to allow it to happen. &quot;We must seriously ask ourselves about the legitimacy ... of continuing to supply weapons that are being used against civilians.&quot; He did not name any countries. Israel attacked Gaza after the Hamas-led attack in 2023 in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel&#39;s campaign has killed more than 67,000 in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Europe

Leo, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has been stepping up criticism of Israel's campaign in Gaza; he has urged Israel to let in more aid, raised Gaza in a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September.

Top Vatican diplomat condemns Gaza 'carnage'

CAIRO: Israeli and Hamas officials are set to hold indirect talks at an Egyptian resort on Monday on a US-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza on the eve of its second anniversary.&nbsp;Many uncertainties remain about the plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, including the disarmament of the militant group &mdash; a key Israeli demand &mdash; and the future governance of Gaza. Trump has indicated an agreement on Gaza could pave the way for a Middle East peace process that could reshape the region.&nbsp;Despite Trump ordering Israel to stop the bombing, Israel continued to pound Gaza with airstrikes, killing at least 19 people in the last 24 hours, Gaza&#39;s Health Ministry said.&nbsp;The indirect negotiations will take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the Israeli delegation, headed by top negotiator Ron Dermer, is scheduled to arrive on Monday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s office. Hamas&rsquo; delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayyah, arrived Sunday in Egypt, the group said.&nbsp;It said negotiations will focus on the first stage of a ceasefire, including the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces as well as the release of hostages held by the militants in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention.&nbsp;US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump&rsquo;s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also expected to join the talks, Egypt&rsquo;s state-run al-Ahram reported.&nbsp;This latest push for peace comes after Hamas accepted some elements of the US plan that Israel also said it supported. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages &mdash; about 20 believed to be alive &mdash; within three days. It would give up power and disarm.&nbsp;The talks in Egypt are expected to move quickly. Netanyahu said they would be &ldquo;confined to a few days maximum,&rdquo; though some Hamas officials have warned more time may be needed to locate the bodies of hostages buried under rubble.&nbsp;Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi hailed Trump&rsquo;s efforts. &ldquo;A ceasefire, the return of hostages and detainees, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the start of a peaceful political process leading to the establishment and recognition of a Palestinian state mean that we are on the right path toward lasting peace and solid stability,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He underscored the importance of preserving the US-crafted &ldquo;peace system&rdquo; in the Middle East since the 1970s, which he said &ldquo;served as a strategic framework for regional stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;El-Sisi spoke in a televised address commemorating the anniversary of the Oct. 6, 1973, war with Israel that led to Egypt reclaiming the Sinai Peninsula, where Sharm el-Sheikh is located. US wants Israeli bombing to stopThe US has said Israel&#39;s heavy bombardment of Gaza would need to stop for the hostages to be released. Israel says it&#39;s largely heeding Trump&#39;s call.&nbsp;Israel&#39;s military said it is mostly carrying out defensive strikes to protect troops, though dozens of Palestinians have been killed since the military&#39;s statement Saturday night.&nbsp;Gaza&#39;s Health Ministry said Monday the bodies of 19 people, including two aid-seekers killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, had been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours. Another 96 were wounded. The deaths brought the Palestinian toll to 67,160 since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, triggered the war, with nearly 170,000 wounded, the ministry said.&nbsp;The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the UN and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.&nbsp;Hamas-led abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack. Most of the Israeli hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals.&nbsp;Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages petitioned the Nobel Prize Committee to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump for what they called his unprecedented contributions to global peace.&nbsp;&ldquo;At this very moment, President Trump&rsquo;s comprehensive plan to release all remaining hostages and finally end this terrible war is on the table,&rdquo; the families wrote. &ldquo;For the first time in months, we are hopeful that our nightmare will finally be over.&rdquo;&nbsp;In a commemoration ceremony for Israelis killed at the Nir Oz Kibbutz on Oct. 7, Daniel Lifshitz said the primary focus of talks should be the swift release of all remaining hostages.&nbsp;&ldquo;Israel will pay painful concessions by releasing mass murderers and terrorists that killed many among our friends and families here in Israel, but we cherish life and in Trump we trust to make it happen, and that we will have good news in 24 to 36 hours,&quot; said Lifshitz, grandson of slain hostage Oded and released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz. &#39;Living in fear, war and displacement&#39;In Gaza, families of Palestinian babies born on the day the war began hoped to celebrate their second birthday to the sound of laughter and cheers instead of the cacophony of bombing and bullets.&nbsp;Mothers&#39; hope for a normal life has long worn thin amid repeated displacements, a constant fear for their safety and a lack of access to proper healthcare.&nbsp;Rola Saqer said the two years since giving birth to her daughter Masa have been full of suffering.&nbsp;&ldquo;I was hoping (Masa) would grow up with a strong personality, but she is weak. She has suffered malnutrition. The girl has weighed eight kilos (17 pounds) for five months now,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Laundry, a plastic chair, and a carpet make up the bulk of the family&#39;s possessions in their tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp.&nbsp;Amal al-Taweel and her husband, Mostafa, had their son, Ali, after three years of trying to conceive a child. They now live in a tent without proper sanitation, food, vaccination,s and even toys.&nbsp;&ldquo;I was envisioning a different life for him &hellip; He couldn&rsquo;t experience what a safe family life feels like,&quot; al-Taweel said.&nbsp;

Israeli and Hamas officials are set to hold indirect talks at an Egyptian resort on a US-drafted peace plan to end the ruinous war in Gaza

Israel, Hamas prepare for Egypt talks before Gaza war anniversary

ANKARA/ROME: Some 137 activists detained by Israel for taking part in a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to Gaza arrived in Turkey on Saturday after being deported, with two alleging that Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg was mistreated during her detention. Israel did not immediately comment on the new allegations, but its foreign ministry earlier described reports that detainees had been mistreated as &ldquo;complete lies.&rdquo; The activists who landed at Istanbul Airport included 36 Turkish nationals, as well as citizens from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Jordan, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources. Thunberg &lsquo;treated terribly,&rsquo; activist allegesTwo of them, Hazwani Helmi, a Malaysian citizen, and Windfield Beaver, an American citizen, told Reuters at the airport that they had witnessed Thunberg being mistreated, saying she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag. &ldquo;It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,&rdquo; said Helmi, 28, adding that detainees were not provided with clean food or water and that medication and belongings were confiscated. Beaver, 43, said Thunberg was &ldquo;treated terribly&rdquo; and &ldquo;used as propaganda,&rdquo; describing how she was pushed into a room as Israel&rsquo;s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived. Israel has faced international condemnation after its military intercepted about 40 boats in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza and detained more than 450 activists. Its foreign ministry wrote on X that all detained activists were &ldquo;safe and in good health,&rdquo; adding it was keen to complete the remaining deportations &ldquo;as quickly as possible.&rdquo; In a separate X post, it accused some flotilla members of &ldquo;deliberately obstructing&rdquo; the deportation process, without providing evidence. Reuters was unable to verify the allegation independently. Israel denies allegations of mistreatmentItaly&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians were on board the Turkish Airlines flight, with another 15 still held in Israel and set to be expelled over the next few days, along with activists from other nations. &ldquo;I have once again given instructions to the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure that the remaining compatriots are treated with respect for their rights,&rdquo; Tajani wrote on X. A first group of Italians from the flotilla &mdash; four parliamentarians &mdash; arrived in Rome on Friday. &ldquo;Those who were acting legally were the people aboard those boats; those who acted illegally were those who prevented them from reaching Gaza,&rdquo; Arturo Scotto, one of the Italian lawmakers who took part in the mission, told a press conference in Rome. &ldquo;We were brutally stopped ... brutally taken hostage,&rdquo; said Benedetta Scuderi, another Italian parliamentarian. According to Adalah, an Israeli group offering legal assistance to flotilla members, some detainees were denied access to lawyers, water, medication, and toilets. They were also &ldquo;forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours after some participants chanted &lsquo;Free Palestine,&rsquo;&rdquo; Adalah said. Israel denied the allegations. &ldquo;All of Adalah&rsquo;s claims are complete lies. Of course, all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully upheld,&rdquo; a foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters. The flotilla, which set sail in late August, marked the latest attempt by activists to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, where Israel has been waging a war since the Palestinian militant group Hamas&rsquo;s deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. Israeli officials repeatedly denounced the mission as a stunt and warned it against violating a &ldquo;lawful naval blockade.&rdquo;

Halil Rifat Canakci of Turkey, one of the activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla which were seized by Israeli forces, reacts after arriving at Istanbul Airport on a special flight, in Istanbul, Turkey, October 4, 2025. RE

Some 137 activists detained by Israel arrive in Turkey after being deported, with two alleging that the Swedish campaigner was mistreated during her detention. Israel's foreign ministry describes reports that detainees had been mistreated as 'complete lies.'

Freed activists allege Greta Thunberg mistreated in Israeli custody

ROME: Huge numbers turned out at pro-Palestinian rallies in Europe on Saturday, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of activists on board a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the territory.&nbsp;Organizers of the protest in Rome said hundreds of thousands of people had turned out for a fourth day running, after Israel intercepted the 45-strong flotilla seeking to reach Gaza earlier this week.&nbsp;Some 70,000 people, according to police, took to the streets in Barcelona, in one of several pro-Palestinian protests to take place across Spain.&nbsp;Elsewhere, several thousand people marched through the centre of the Irish capital, Dublin, to mark what organizers said was &quot;two years of genocide&quot; in Gaza.&nbsp;With Ireland, Spain is one of the fiercest European critics of Israel&#39;s military offensive in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas &nbsp;October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;But in Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni&#39;s hard-right government has been criticized for its inaction on the siege of the Palestinian territory.&nbsp;On Saturday, Meloni accused demonstrators of defacing a statue of Pope John Paul II with graffiti in front of Rome&#39;s main train station, calling it a &quot;shameful act&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;They claim to take to the streets for peace, but they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace,&quot; she said in a statement.&nbsp;Protesters in the Italian capital, including families with children, shouted, &quot;We are all Palestinians&quot;, &quot;Free Palestine&quot; and &quot;Stop the genocide&quot;, with many carrying Palestinian flags and wearing black-and-white chequered keffiyehs.&nbsp;&quot;Usually, I don&#39;t appreciate large-scale demonstrations, but today, I couldn&#39;t bring myself to stay home,&quot; Donato Colucci, a 44-year-old scout leader accompanying 150 youths from a secular association, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;I think countries like Italy, France, and Spain have developed a culture of resistance and democratic values more than others because they experienced dictatorship and violence.&quot;&nbsp;In Barcelona, Marta Carranza, a 65-year-old pensioner demonstrating with a Palestinian flag on her back, said Israel&#39;s policy &quot;has been wrong for many years and we have to take to the streets&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;SolidarityThe Global Sumud flotilla, which was intercepted on Wednesday, left Barcelona in early September and had been seeking to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold.&nbsp;Around 50 Spaniards on the flotilla have been detained by Israel, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public television in an interview aired on Saturday.&nbsp;The flotilla organisers say Israel&#39;s actions were &quot;illegal&quot; since they intercepted the vessels while they were traversing international waters.&nbsp;In Paris, where some 10,000 people gathered, a spokesperson for the French contingent of Global Sumud, Helene Coron, told the crowd: &quot;We&#39;ll never stop.&nbsp;&quot;This flotilla didn&#39;t get to Gaza. But we&#39;ll send another, then another until Palestine and Gaza are free.&quot;&nbsp;Jordi Bas, a 40-year-old primary school teacher waving a Palestinian flag in Barcelona, said he was not surprised by the huge turn-out.

Huge numbers turned out at pro-Palestinian rallies in Europe on Saturday, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of activists on board a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the territory

Hundreds of thousands turn out at pro-Palestinian marches in Europe

ISLAMABAD: Hamas says it is ready to free Gaza hostages under US President Donald Trump ceasefire proposal, AFP reported on Saturday. &quot;The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages -- living and remains -- according to the exchange formula included in President Trump&rsquo;s proposal,&quot; Hamas said in a statement, adding it was ready to enter negotiations &quot;to discuss the details&quot;. US President Donald Trump said Friday he believed Hamas was ready for peace and told Israel to stop bombing Gaza, after the Palestinian group declared it was ready to free hostages under his ceasefire plan.&nbsp; &quot;Based on the Statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!&quot; Trump posted on Truth Social.<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video" style="line-height: 2;"><iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115312298602997974/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The US president also shared Hamas&#39; response to his peace proposal on Truth Social.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video" style="line-height: 2;"><iframe src="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115312181572421839/embed" class="truthsocial-embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s office said on Saturday that Israel was seeking the &quot;immediate implementation&quot; of US President Donald Trump&#39;s plan to free Israeli hostages in Gaza, after Hamas said it was ready for peace talks, according to AFP. Closest to ceasefire, gratitude due to Trump: PM Sharif Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that a ceasefire was closer &quot;than we have been since this genocide&quot; started against the Palestinian people.&nbsp; In a post on X, PM Sharif said Pakistan has always stood by the Palestinian people and shall always do so.&nbsp; &quot;Gratitude is due to President Trump, as well as to leaderships of Qatar, Saudia Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia who, met with President Trump on the sidelines of UNGA80 [United Nations General Assembly] for the resolution of the Palestinian issue,&quot; PM Sharif said.&nbsp; &quot;The statement issued by Hamas creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again,&quot; he said. He added that Pakistan would continue to work with all its partners and friendly nations to everlasting peace in Palestine. &#39;Immediate implementation&#39;&nbsp; &quot;In light of Hamas&#39;s response, Israel is preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan for the release of all the hostages,&quot; Netanyahu&#39;s office said in a statement. &quot;We will continue to work in full cooperation with the President and his team to end the war in accordance with the principles set out by Israel, which align with President Trump&#39;s vision.&quot; Israel&#39;s political echelon instructed the military to reduce offensive activity in Gaza after it said it was preparing for an &quot;immediate implementation&quot; of the first stage of US President Donald Trump&#39;s Gaza plan following Hamas&#39; response on the plan, according to Reuters. A statement issued by St&eacute;phane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated: &ldquo;The Secretary-General welcomes and is encouraged by the statement issued by Hamas announcing its readiness to release hostages and to engage on the basis of the recent proposal by US President Donald J Trump.&rdquo; &ldquo;He urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end. The Secretary-General also thanks Qatar and Egypt for their invaluable mediation work. The Secretary-General reiterates his consistent call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;The United Nations will support all efforts toward these objectives to prevent even more suffering,&rdquo; it added.

Israel says ready to implement first stage of Trump's plan for release of all hostages; Hamas also seeks administration of Gaza to a Palestinian body; PM Sharif says closest to ceasefire, gratitude due to Trump.


Articles tagged with "Gaza"

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