UN Security Council Calls for First Ceasefire Since Start of Gaza War
Plus: Israel-US talks resumed; Israel kills 16 people in Lebanon; Hamas chief visits Iran; Air strikes on Syria; PA unveils new cabinet; ISIS-K Claims responsibility for Moscow’s attack.
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UN Security Council Calls for First Ceasefire Since Start of Gaza War
The UN Security Council urged on Monday an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for the first time since the start of the war in Gaza, with the U.S. abstaining from the vote, causing tension with Israel. The resolution, proposed by ten council members, received approval from the remaining fourteen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the U.S. decision, fearing it would hinder Israel’s military efforts. The resolution also called for the release of all hostages. Amid rising casualties and famine threats in Gaza, Hamas welcomed the resolution, expressing readiness for immediate prisoner exchanges.
Read more on Reuters.
Resumed Talks on Gaza Operations After Israel Cancels Washington Visit Over UN Vote
Talks to discuss potential Gaza military operations were resumed after Netanyahu canceled a Washington visit due to the U.S. stance on a UN cease-fire vote. As the U.S. abstained from voting, Netanyahu criticized Washington, saying it retreated from a principled position. The delegation aimed to discuss a planned ground invasion of Rafah despite U.S. appeals to cancel it. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, already in Washington, met with top U.S. officials, including Sullivan, Blinken, and Austin, discussing various issues, including Gaza.
Read more on AP News.
Israeli Strikes Kill 16 People in Lebanon
A series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed 16 people on Wednesday, March 27, making the deadliest day of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah along the border amid the war in Gaza.
Reports suggest that Israel targeted the Islamic Group, a Lebanese Sunni militant organization, which has joined Hezbollah in its fight against Israel. Israel also bombed Teir Harfa and Naqoura, causing fatalities, including paramedics. Hezbollah retaliated with a barrage of rockets towards Kiryat Shmona, Israel, which killed one Israeli man.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, concerns over further escalation of the military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah have grown significantly. The violence, largely confined to the border area, has prompted international efforts to prevent escalation. Casualties include civilians and soldiers on both sides, with Hezbollah initiating rocket launches following an attack by Hamas in southern Israel.
Read more on AP News.
Hamas Chief Visits Iran for the Second Time Since the Start of the Gaza War
Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of Hamas, visited Iran this week and met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to support Palestinians, and that Israel had failed to reach its goals in Gaza. Haniyeh’s visit marked his second officially reported trip to Tehran since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Iran has supported Hamas since 1987. Reports suggest that Tehran has increasingly trained and funded the group, providing it with weapons and particularly helping it set up a complex maze of underground tunnels in Gaza to shield its equipment and infrastructure from Israeli strikes over the years.
However, amid the ongoing Gaza war, Tehran has publicly distanced itself from Hamas’ military campaign, arguing that it was not involved or even aware of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israel.
Read more on Al-Monitor.
Israeli Allegedly Kills Dozens in Air Strikes on Syria
Syrian authorities claimed that Israeli air strikes killed at least 36 people near the city of Aleppo on early Friday, March 29. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claimed the targets were weapons stores used by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Syria, mainly targeting groups allied with Iran, which is supporting Hamas in the war in Gaza, engaging with Israel on Lebanon’s southern border.
Read more on the BBC.
Palestinian Authority Unveils New Cabinet Amid Calls for Reform
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced a new Cabinet amid pressure for reform. PA’s President Mahmoud Abbas revealed the lineup, including Mohammad Mustafa as prime minister. Mustafa, an independent economist, aims to form a technocratic government and aid Gaza’s reconstruction. Additionally, Mustafa will assume the role of foreign minister. Among the 23 incoming ministers, at least five hail from Gaza, though it remains unclear if they are currently present in the region.
The PA governs portions of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, having lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. However, it is lacking popular support due to prolonged leadership and unpopular security collaboration with Israel, with many Palestinians calling for Abbas’ resignation. While the U.S. supports a revitalized PA for Gaza’s governance, Israel opposes it, preferring indefinite security control and collaboration with non-PA and non-Hamas entities in Gaza.
Read more on AP News.
ISIS-K Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attack on Moscow’s Concert Hall
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting at a Moscow concert last week, resulting in at least 137 deaths and over 180 injuries. Eleven suspects have been detained.
ISIS-K, an offshoot of the Islamic State, emerged in Afghanistan in 2014, known for extreme brutality. Recent attacks include twin bombings in Iran and an assault on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul. The group previously targeted the Russian embassy in Kabul and Kabul’s international airport, resulting in casualties among U.S. troops and civilians.
Read more on Al-Jazeera.
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My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
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Cover photo | AP