Author: Gulf News Week
Fragile ceasefire to end Israel’s two-year war on Gaza hangs by a thread, with Rafah crossing closed, aid restrictedIsrael has killed nearly 100 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 230 since the fragile truce brokered by the United States came into effect on October 10.Over a tense period of accusation and counter-accusation, Israel’s army has shot at unarmed Palestinians and bombed Gaza on more than one occasion. The latest was on Sunday, when it claimed Hamas fighters had attacked its soldiers in the Rafah area, which Israel controls.Israel’s war on Gaza, described by international organisations and a United Nations commission as…
A fragile ceasefire is in effect, and the living Israeli captives are back home, but Israel is continuing to restrict humanitarian aid into Gaza. With decimated medical infrastructure across the strip and famine conditions in the north, what will it take for Gaza to get the aid it needs?In this episode:Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2The Take: Will Madagascar’s coup overshadow its Gen Z revolution?list 2 of 2The Take: Why the Nobel Peace Prize sparked fury in Caracasend of list Hisham Mhanna (@MhannaHesham) – Spokesperson, International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza Episode credits:This episode was…
More than 218,000 people voted in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) leadership election that could shape the island’s political direction.Opposition candidate Tufan Erhurman has won the presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), decisively defeating incumbent Ersin Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot High Electoral Council has announced.Erhurman, chairman of the centre-left Republican Turkish Party (CTP), secured 62.76 percent of the vote, compared with 35.81 percent for Tatar in Sunday’s election.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Turkey’s Erdogan, Cyprus president see different paths for divided islandlist 2 of 3Turkiye’s booming defence industry – a quick looklist…
Islamabad and Kabul commit to ceasefire mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, but will it hold amid mutual distrust?Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an “immediate ceasefire” after a week of deadly clashes along their border, as the ties between the two South Asian neighbours plunged to their lowest point since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.Both countries agreed to stop fighting and work towards “lasting peace and stability” after peace talks in Doha, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday, about the deal it mediated alongside Turkiye.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘New Normal’: Is…
United Nations demands the release of its employees after Houthi forces raided a facility and detained staff in Sanaa.Yemen’s Houthi authorities have detained about two dozen United Nations employees after raiding another UN-run facility in the capital Sanaa, the UN has confirmed.Jean Alam, spokesperson for the UN’s resident coordinator in Yemen, said staff were detained inside the compound in the city’s Hada district on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Nobel Peace Prize 2025: What are Trump’s credentials, and can he win?list 2 of 3Yemen’s Houthis say military chief killed as Israel claims responsibilitylist 3 of 3LNG tanker…
Hamas maintains it is abiding by ceasefire as 21 Palestinians are killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza on Sunday.Israel’s military has launched a wave of air strikes on southern Gaza as the fragile United States-brokered ceasefire intended to end the two-year war comes under threat.The Israeli army said on Sunday that it was conducting a “massive and extensive wave” of strikes on dozens of targets, just hours after it struck the city of Rafah. It claimed its troops had come under fire from Hamas fighters in the area, a charge the Palestinian group denied.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1…
Restoring education in Gaza is as urgent as humanitarian provision. It can help children begin to recover from trauma.When the ceasefire in Gaza was announced, I experienced a range of mixed emotions. I felt joy that the bombs had finally stopped, but also dread that they could resume at any time. I felt optimistic that we could go back to normal life, but also anxious that this could once again be short-lived.As an English teacher, I hope to see education restored as soon as possible. Education is the only means of reviving hope and helping children start to overcome the…
Although haunted by loss and uncertainty, Palestinians find relief in wedding celebrations and cups of coffee.Deir el-Balah, Gaza — Late on October 8, 2025, while everyone else in the house was asleep, I lay awake scrolling through my phone and journalist chat groups for updates. There were conflicting accounts from the ceasefire talks — of progress, setbacks, hope and doubt.As my phone battery dwindled, I finally drifted off to sleep, stirred occasionally by distant shelling that told me what my phone couldn’t.When I awoke just before dawn on October 9, my wi-fi was dead. I rushed to the roof, searching…
The Shia leader withdrew from the political process three years ago to position his bloc for a powerful return.In a statement last month, Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr said his movement would boycott the November elections, hinting he wants to “change the faces and save Iraq” – reportedly his endgame since he withdrew his bloc from parliament in June 2022.He also took aim at political rivals, the Shia Coordination Framework (SCF), a coalition of Iran-backed parties that became the largest Shia bloc in parliament after he withdrew, accusing them of rocket attacks against his allies.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist…
US State Department claims the Palestinian group is planning an attack against civilians in Gaza ‘in grave violation of the ceasefire’.Hamas has rejected a statement from the United States State Department in which it cited “credible reports” indicating the Palestinian group would imminently violate the ceasefire deal with Israel.In a statement on Sunday, Hamas said the US allegations were false and “fully align with the misleading Israeli propaganda and provide cover for the continuation of the occupation’s crimes and organised aggression” against the Palestinians in Gaza.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Hamas returns bodies of two more captives,…