Tehran officially announced on Friday evening its categorical rejection of any proposals to transfer its enriched uranium stockpile out of the country. This denial came in response to statements from the American administration hinting at understandings regarding the fate of the Iranian nuclear program amidst ongoing negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baqaei, confirmed in statements reported by official media that enriched uranium represents a major sovereign issue that is not open to compromise. Baqaei stressed that this stockpile will not leave Iranian territory, likening its importance to the sanctity of national soil for the Islamic Republic.

In contrast, US President Donald Trump revealed a completely different vision, stating to press sources that Washington intends to work with Tehran to extract the buried enriched uranium. Trump explained that operations would involve using massive machines to transfer what he described as 'nuclear dust' remaining after previous attacks to the United States.

Trump indicated in a phone interview that these steps would be taken at a calm pace and in coordination with the Iranian side very soon. The US President believes that obtaining these nuclear materials is a security necessity to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, which he considers one of the main objectives of his current actions.

On the diplomatic front, Trump expressed optimism about holding a direct meeting with Iranian officials in the next few hours. This anticipated meeting aims to finalize an agreement that would end the ongoing conflict in the region, amidst reports of tangible progress in drafting the text.

Informed sources reported that negotiations are close to crystallizing a brief, three-page agreement to address outstanding issues. The items proposed for discussion include the US releasing approximately $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for specific nuclear concessions from Tehran.

American proposals include a voluntary freeze on uranium enrichment operations for a period still under negotiation between the two parties. The draft understanding also raises the possibility of Iran retaining research reactors for producing medical isotopes, provided that all facilities are above ground with a ban on the use of fortified underground sites.

Technical estimates indicate that Iran currently possesses a stockpile exceeding 900 pounds of enriched uranium with a purity level of up to 60%. This percentage is very close to the levels required for producing nuclear weapons, making it the most complex point on the international negotiation agenda.

For his part, a high-ranking Iranian official warned that gaps remain wide between Washington and Tehran despite the positive atmosphere promoted by the White House. The official clarified that reaching a final agreement requires serious and in-depth negotiations that go beyond broad headlines to reach precise technical details.

Tehran linked the continued flow of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to the extent of the United States' commitment to the terms of a comprehensive ceasefire. Iranian sources confirmed that any narrative speaking of reaching a final agreement on nuclear issues at present is a distortion of the reality on the ground.

Pakistan emerges as a pivotal player in this crisis through its mediation efforts to bridge the views between the adversaries. The concerned parties hope to reach a preliminary agreement that paves the way for lifting economic sanctions on Iran and obtaining compensation for the damages caused by the war.

Iran's enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere, just as Iranian soil is sacred to us, this issue holds great importance in our view.

The commemoration of Palestinian Prisoner's Day on April 17th this year highlights a reality that is the bloodiest and harshest in decades. The prisoner movement within Israeli occupation prisons faces an unprecedented retaliatory campaign, which has sharply intensified since the start of the widespread aggression in October 2023.

Human rights sources reported a massive surge in the number of detainees, rising from 5,000 prisoners to approximately 9,500 currently. This 83% increase places immense pressure on the prison infrastructure, which has transformed into centers of systematic abuse and torture, far from international oversight.

The head of the Palestinian Prisoner's Club, Abdullah Zghari, warned against strenuous Israeli efforts to legislate a law for the execution of Palestinian prisoners. Zghari described this trend as a war crime and a crime against humanity, considering it a natural extension of the genocide waged by the occupation authorities against the Palestinian people wherever they are.

For his part, expert in Israeli affairs Adel Shadid pointed out that the absence of international accountability has led to an escalation of abuse. Shadid criticized international double standards in dealing with human rights issues, where the martyrdom of nearly 80 prisoners inside prisons since last October is ignored, while international uproar is raised over less severe issues in other regions.

In a related context, international law professor Michael Link confirmed that the pace of brutal treatment has significantly escalated since the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and the extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took office. Link explained that prisons now lack the most basic humanitarian necessities, as prisoners are deliberately deprived of food, sleep, and medical treatment.

Human rights reports were based on what was reported by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who described the prison system as a 'laboratory of calculated savagery.' The reports confirmed that the occupation violates international humanitarian law by transferring prisoners from the occupied territories into Israel, a practice documented by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Documented testimonies included appalling torture methods, including the use of electric shocks and forced stripping. Sources also revealed the use of police dogs to tear at the bodies of naked prisoners, in an attempt to break their human dignity and undermine their steadfastness inside the cells.

Crimes of rape and sexual assault are among the most serious documented recently against Palestinian detainees. Prisoner institutions confirmed that these practices are not individual acts by jailers, but rather a systematic strategic policy aimed at humiliating Palestinians and absolutely violating their dignity.

The leaders of the prisoner movement were not spared from these attacks, as leader Marwan Barghouti and his comrades were subjected to direct beatings and continuous abuse. This policy aims to isolate leaders from the rest of the prisoners and break the will of organization within prisons, which are in a state of constant turmoil as a result of these violations.

As part of the policies of humiliation, detainees are forced to imitate animal sounds and allow soldiers to ride on their backs in scenes reminiscent of the worst global prison scandals. This suffering continues amidst absolute international silence, while Palestinians continue their activities in the West Bank and Gaza to affirm that the issue of prisoners remains at the top of national priorities.

The Israeli prison system, since the beginning of the genocide in October 2023, has transformed into a laboratory of calculated savagery.

Palestinian childhood faces a tragic reality inside the occupation's detention centers, where documented figures indicate the detention of approximately 350 children distributed among 'Ofer,' 'Megiddo,' and 'Damon' prisons. The major shock lies in the fact that 180 of these children are held under 'administrative detention,' which means they are deprived of their basic rights and their school seats without formal charges or fair trials, in a blatant violation of international conventions.

In a related context, the situation of Palestinian female prisoners is no less tragic, as 86 women are held in detention conditions that lack the most basic human and health necessities. Reports confirm that among these female prisoners, 25 are administratively detained, indicating the use of this type of detention as a punitive and retaliatory tool aimed at breaking the will of Palestinian women, who represent the cornerstone of family and societal resilience.

Testimonies leaked from inside the prisons indicate that female detainees are subjected to systematic abuse, physical and psychological assaults aimed at undermining their dignity. These practices are part of a broader psychological war waged by the occupation against male and female prisoners, where they are isolated from the outside world and deprived of communication with their families, amid a complete absence of legal or international human rights oversight over these violations.

Regarding the targeting of younger generations, human rights sources have identified three main paths for the occupation's policy, most notably 'forced ignorance' through keeping children out of school for many years. This path aims to create a generation burdened by the effects of imprisonment and psychological trauma, which hinders their ability to integrate into society in the future, and turns their childhood years into a series of suffering inside dark cells.

Administrative detention of minors also stands out as one of the most dangerous tools through which the occupation transforms children into a 'supposed security threat' to justify their arbitrary detention. This policy continues amidst international silence, despite humanitarian laws explicitly prohibiting the deprivation of children's liberty except as a last resort and for the shortest possible period, which completely contradicts the practices of the prison service that extends their detention for months and years.

The occupation deprives 180 children of their childhood and school seats through administrative detention without charge or trial.

The temporary ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation state came into effect at midnight Thursday-Friday, following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ten-day truce. This development came after a series of direct and rare talks hosted in Washington between the ambassadors of the two countries, in an attempt to break the intensity of the ongoing military escalation.

The concerned parties are scheduled to resume a second round of discussions at the White House in the coming two weeks, with the aim of drafting a framework for a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict. Despite the optimism expressed by the US administration, describing the talks as fruitful, press reports warned that this truce might be merely a cover for managing the crisis rather than resolving it.

Analytical readings indicate that the current ceasefire may pave the way for a long-term occupation in South Lebanon, similar to what is happening in the Gaza Strip. These fears are based on statements by security officials who confirmed that the occupation army does not intend to withdraw from the areas it penetrated during the announced truce period.

In a related context, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz affirmed that Tel Aviv intends to maintain its field control up to the Litani River. Katz explained that military plans include destroying villages near the border to ensure that threats do not return, which reinforces the hypothesis of seeking to impose a new geographical reality.

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly announced his country's intention to maintain a 'buffer zone' extending six miles into Lebanese territory. This approach reflects a long-term strategy aimed at securing the northern borders through direct control, away from traditional diplomatic understandings.

Observers believe that what is happening in South Lebanon goes beyond a confrontation with Hezbollah, reaching a 'scorched earth' policy that targets infrastructure and civilians. Field investigations conducted by journalistic sources revealed widespread destruction in border villages, making the return of displaced persons almost impossible at present.

Historically, the scene of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon has been repeated seven times over the past five decades, including an 18-year occupation that ended in 2000. Political circles fear that history may repeat itself under new security pretexts that legitimize a permanent military presence deep inside Lebanon.

On the Lebanese side, the government faces a complex equation amid international and local pressures aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's military capabilities. Beirut has taken unprecedented steps, including banning the party's armed activities in certain areas and reducing Iranian diplomatic influence.

Despite these official moves, the Lebanese reality remains fragile due to the weak capabilities of the national army and fears of the country sliding into civil war. The government lacks the necessary executive tools to impose its full sovereignty, which puts any future agreement to the real test.

In contrast, the occupation government views the current moment as a strategic opportunity to reshape the balance of power in the region after weakening its adversaries. Opinion polls within Israeli society show widespread support for the continuation of military operations, which reduces the scope for sustainable political solutions.

Researchers residing in Beirut warned that the current course of negotiations could lead to increased internal tensions rather than de-escalation. They pointed out that the conditions imposed on the Lebanese state could put it in direct confrontation with active political and military forces, threatening national stability.

Former security experts in Tel Aviv believe that the options available to Lebanon are limited to two bitter paths; either accepting Israeli military operations or facing the risk of internal conflict. This escalatory vision highlights the absence of a genuine will to reach a settlement that respects Lebanese sovereignty.

Meanwhile, civilians in South Lebanon continue to pay the highest price for the conflict, facing an unknown future amidst the destruction of their properties. The scenes coming from the border villages resemble those witnessed in Gaza, where de-escalation becomes merely a time interval between rounds of fighting.

The fate of the South remains suspended between American diplomatic promises and the military reality imposed on the ground. If the upcoming talks at the White House fail to set a clear timetable for withdrawal, the current truce may be nothing more than a prelude to a broader and more complex confrontation.

Israel has no plans to withdraw its army from South Lebanon during the announced 10-day ceasefire.

Jerusalem - "Al-Quds" dot com - By Ahmed Jalajel - A large Jerusalem delegation, including Jerusalemite bodies, institutions, and personalities, visited the Lutheran Church in the Old City of Jerusalem to congratulate Christian brethren on Glorious Easter and to offer congratulations to Bishop Emad Haddad on his appointment as Bishop of the Anglican Church. The delegation was received by their Excellencies Bishops Walid Shoumali, Attallah Hanna, Munib Younan, and Emad Haddad.

After the delegation offered congratulations to the Christian brethren on Glorious Easter and felicitations to Bishop Emad Haddad on his appointment as Bishop of the Anglican Church.

Attendees from both sides unanimously emphasized in their speeches the necessity of communication and meetings between the people of Jerusalem, meetings that embody the unity of our people and strengthen cohesion and unity among its members at the popular and public levels. Speakers stressed the condemnation of arbitrary and oppressive Israeli measures and practices that contradict international law by restricting freedom of worship and movement for all people of different religions. They saw that the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre does not fall within the framework of the arguments and pretexts promoted by the occupation government and its security apparatus to provide security and protection for worshippers from Iranian missiles. They viewed this as part of a political and ideological path aimed at changing the legal and religious status of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the religious, historical, and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This closure was intended to reshape religious and symbolic sovereignty over Al-Aqsa and the Holy Sepulchre, and to gradually shift from managing the conflict to resolving it with legal and security tools to change the entire scene in the city of Jerusalem.

Speakers condemned the prevention of Christians from observing Palm Sunday rituals in the Holy Sepulchre, and the repression and abuse suffered by those celebrating Holy Saturday, with many of them being prevented from reaching the Holy Sepulchre, and the assault on scout troops and the attempt to remove the Palestinian flag from their clothes. In contrast, the militarization of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the prevention of Muslims from praying there during the holy month of Ramadan, and the failure to observe Laylat al-Qadr and Eid al-Fitr, and the repression, abuse, and arrests suffered by worshippers during their prayers near Al-Aqsa Mosque were condemned.

Speakers also stressed the condemnation of the inappropriate statements and words by President Trump against Pope Leo XIV, who said that he was weak in the face of crimes and strong in foreign policy, and threatened that he would work to dismiss him and tailor a church and a pope to his measure. Pope Leo, who carries a message of love, peace, and support for the oppressed and against wars and killing, responded to Trump by saying that his wars are only for himself and for money, oil, and wealth, and his wars against Iran, Venezuela, Palestine, and Lebanon are unjust wars.

In conclusion, speakers emphasized the necessity of steadfastness and resilience in the city, despite all the oppressive circumstances from the occupation, which aims to liquidate the Islamic and Christian presence in the Holy City, especially its Old City. They praised the activities and events taking place in various countries around the world to expose and denounce the occupying state, which seeks to expel and displace the Palestinian people.

Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations issued a new strategic assessment, number (143), prepared by researcher Mohammed Makram Balawi, to shed light on China's complex stance regarding the ongoing confrontation between the US-Israeli axis and Iran. The report proceeds from the view that Beijing does not merely observe the crisis as a fleeting regional event, but rather deals with it as a real test of its international standing and vital interests.

China's actions in this matter are driven by three fundamental determinants: ensuring the flow of energy supplies, protecting its major geopolitical projects, and managing the escalating power struggle with Washington. Iran emerges in this equation as an indispensable strategic ally, not only because it is a major oil supplier, but also because of its position as a vital node in the Belt and Road Initiative.

By strengthening its relationship with Tehran, Beijing seeks to create alternative land corridors that reduce its historical reliance on maritime routes dominated by Western influence, specifically the Strait of Malacca. Consequently, any attempt to destabilize the Iranian state is considered a direct threat to China's national security and its vision for redrawing global trade maps.

Despite this strategic alignment, China pursues a very delicate balancing policy aimed at maintaining its extensive economic relations with Arab Gulf states and channels of cooperation with Israel. This balance compels decision-makers in Beijing to work to prevent Iran's collapse without engaging in a direct and open military confrontation with the United States.

The strategic assessment clarifies that Chinese support for Iran takes an indirect character, as Beijing continues to purchase Iranian oil despite severe international sanctions. It has also activated innovative financial tools such as the Chinese payment system (CIPS) to serve as an alternative to the global 'SWIFT' system, giving Tehran an economic lifeline away from dollar dominance.

Diplomatically, China leads active efforts within the corridors of the UN Security Council to block any resolutions that legitimize preemptive strikes or aim to change regimes by force. Beijing fears that such moves could turn into international legal precedents that might be used against it in the future in sensitive issues such as Taiwan or South China Sea disputes.

Beijing is also working to internationalize the Iranian crisis through alternative international platforms such as the 'BRICS' group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with the aim of mobilizing a unified international stance against unilateral sanctions. This approach reinforces the 'Global South' narrative adopted by China to counter what it describes as the unipolar hegemony exercised by Washington and its allies.

On the operational and technical level, the assessment reveals that China provides advanced intelligence and technological support to the Iranian side, including sensitive cybersecurity areas. Beijing also allows Tehran to use the 'Beidou' satellite navigation system, which enhances Iran's defensive capabilities without the need for direct Chinese military involvement on the ground.

The report believes that China finds in the continuation of the current state of tension an opportunity to drain American resources and distract Washington's attention from the East Asia and Pacific region. This draining serves China's long-term ambition to accelerate the pace of transition towards a multipolar international system that ends American unipolarity in global decision-making.

Regarding future scenarios, the assessment suggests that China will continue its 'cautious ascent' approach, as long as the military confrontation remains within current controllable limits. Under this scenario, Beijing will continue to provide economic and diplomatic cover for Tehran while monitoring field developments with extreme precision to avoid any strategic surprises.

The assessment indicates the existence of clear Chinese 'red lines', the most important of which is preventing the collapse of the Iranian regime or the comprehensive destruction of its oil infrastructure, which could cut off energy supplies. Should Israeli or American attacks cross these lines, Beijing may be forced to raise its level of technical and intelligence intervention to unprecedented levels to protect its interests.

Broader strategic involvement, including a Chinese naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz or the protection of energy lines by force, remains an option in the event of an existential threat to Chinese interests. However, this option remains linked to the extent of American escalation and Tehran's ability to withstand increasing military and economic pressures.

Al-Zaytouna Centre concludes in its assessment that China's position represents a central factor in determining the outcomes of the conflict in the Middle East and Iran's ability to maneuver. China's policy, which blends caution with strategic maneuvering, may ultimately lead to a reshaping of the balance of power not only in the region but in the entire international system.

In conclusion, the report affirms that Beijing fully understands that the battle for Iran is part of a larger struggle over the shape of the coming world, and therefore it will not allow a strategic defeat for Tehran. This Chinese commitment, though wrapped in diplomacy and economics, represents a real bulwark against American and Israeli ambitions to reshape the region by force.

China views the war as a strategic opportunity to drain the United States and divert its focus away from East Asia, serving its ambition to transition towards a multipolar system.

Lebanon today stands on the edge of a historical precipice, bringing back memories of major divisions, where geographical and political complexities intertwine with the legacy of the civil war that still casts its shadow over the general scene. These developments come amidst a turbulent regional climate, where the fires of open wars intersect with efforts to reach political settlements whose features have not yet been fully defined.

Recently, significant political signals emerged in the speech of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, which focused on the mechanisms for managing the phase following the recent war. Speculation is growing about international arrangements that may include meetings with active parties, including the US administration led by Donald Trump, to discuss ways to close the military front that has drained the country.

Recent military operations have left a heavy toll of blood and destruction, with hundreds of martyrs and wounded, and hundreds of thousands of Lebanese forced to flee their homes. This tragic reality places the state before humanitarian and social challenges that exceed its current capabilities, and deepens the wounds of a national memory burdened by displacement.

At the heart of this scene, the issue of weapons not subject to state authority stands out as one of the most complex and sensitive files within Lebanon. Hezbollah's weapons are seen not only as a military tool but as a political equation that touches the core of the balances that have stabilized the Lebanese system since the Taif Agreement.

Lebanese are divided in their vision of this file; while one group believes that the state's monopoly on weapons is the essential condition for building true sovereignty, another group fears that disarmament may upset the balance of deterrence against external threats. This division transforms the file from a regulatory security measure into an existential knot linked to identity and destiny.

Historically and socially, the Shiite component represents an integral part of the Lebanese fabric, with its presence in Jabal Amel, Beqaa, and the South extending for many centuries. The links between Lebanese Shiites and the regional environment cannot be reduced to transient political dimensions; rather, they are an extension of a deep-rooted intellectual and doctrinal interaction.

Intellectual readings indicate that the scholars of Jabal Amel played a pioneering role in formulating and developing Shiite thought in previous historical stages, reflecting the depth of Lebanese influence in the region. However, this historical dimension is sometimes used in current political debates to deepen the gaps between different sectarian components.

Concerns are escalating in political circles about Lebanon sliding towards a 'state of diminished sovereignty' model, which some liken to the experience of the Palestinian National Authority. This model reduces the state's role to managing daily crises and providing services, while major sovereign and security decisions remain hostage to external agreements and pressures.

The arrangements related to ceasefire agreements and regional settlements may reshape the function of the Lebanese state instead of strengthening it. Observers fear that these grey formulas will lead to a fragile stability that temporarily manages contradictions without offering radical solutions to the structural crises afflicting the country.

Lebanon today faces a fateful test that goes beyond the limits of material reconstruction of destroyed areas, reaching the necessity of redefining national identity. The fundamental question remains about the ability of Lebanese institutions to monopolize decision-making and weapons, or whether the country will remain an arena for the tug-of-war of international and regional wills.

Despite the bleak political scene, Lebanon's cultural and artistic memory remains a safety valve that preserves identity from disintegration, as committed art played a prominent role in documenting resistance. The voices of Fairouz, Marcel Khalife, and Ahmed Kaabour were not mere luxuries, but living documents that preserved the names of the absent and rephrased pain as an act of steadfastness.

Lebanon, which withstood the siege of Beirut and the massacres of Sabra and Shatila, proves each time that it is resistant to breaking or forgetting. When the memory of blood turns into collective consciousness, it becomes the true identity that transcends narrow political calculations and transient settlements that try to abbreviate the homeland.

The Lebanese wound is organically linked to the Palestinian cause, as southern Lebanon represents a natural and geographical extension of occupied northern Palestine. This overlap transcends artificial borders, manifesting in the unity of pain and destiny between Gaza and Beirut, and in the stories of mothers awaiting the return of the absent.

Ultimately, the Lebanese scene remains open to all possibilities, between stability imposed by settlements or an explosion brought back by anxieties. But the only constant is that what was written in blood in the history of this country cannot be erased by days, and that national memory will remain the compass in the face of the abyss.

Lebanon today faces not only the test of reconstruction after a devastating war, but the test of redefining itself as a sovereign state.

The authorities of Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina have officially announced their intention to send military and security units to the Gaza Strip, to join an international force aimed at establishing stability in the region. This step comes under the umbrella of the 'Peace Council' established by the US administration led by Donald Trump, as part of Washington's efforts to arrange security conditions in the Palestinian Strip after the war.

In the capital Pristina, the Kosovo parliament unanimously approved a legal act that gives the green light for security personnel to participate in this international mission, which will be led by the United States. Although the law did not specify a numerical ceiling for the forces, media sources confirmed that the government plans to send about 22 personnel in the first phase of the anticipated deployment.

For his part, the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, revealed details of the discussions he held in Washington with officials from the US State Department regarding the nature of his country's military participation. Helez affirmed that technical and logistical preparations have reached advanced stages, noting that the Bosnian contribution will exceed 60 soldiers from the national armed forces.

The authorities in Bosnia had approved the principle of participating in this international force since the beginning of this year, considering that this step enhances the country's role in maintaining international peace and security. This move comes concurrently with intensive meetings held by the 'Peace Council' to coordinate international efforts aimed at rebuilding Gaza and providing the necessary security cover for humanitarian operations.

Reports indicate that the proposed international force may include about 20,000 soldiers of different nationalities, with countries such as Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, and Albania expressing their readiness to participate. Indonesia tops the list of contributing countries with its pledge to send about 8,000 soldiers, making it the backbone of this ambitious international mission.

Despite these diplomatic and military moves, the implementation of the American peace plan still faces severe field challenges amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement. The agreement came into effect in October last year, but the reality on the ground indicates the fragility of adherence to its terms by the Israeli side.

These developments come after a devastating war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, which resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and the fall of tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded. The military operations left massive destruction affecting about 90% of the infrastructure and vital facilities in the Strip, making the need for a stabilization and reconstruction force urgent.

In a related context, official sources in Gaza reported that the Israeli occupation committed thousands of violations since the signing of the ceasefire agreement, including direct killings, arrests, and a continuous blockade. Reports indicated that these violations resulted in the death of hundreds of new martyrs, which weakens the chances of success of any international initiative that does not guarantee a comprehensive and final cessation of hostilities.

The 'stabilization force' file remains subject to major political agreements and the ability of the international community to compel parties to signed agreements, at a time when Palestinian circles are awaiting the effectiveness of these forces. Questions are increasing about the nature of the tasks that will be assigned to these foreign units, and whether they will succeed in providing actual protection for civilians amid the existing tensions.

Preparations for this mission have reached an advanced stage, and we expect more than 60 members of the armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate, which is a significant contribution to international peace and security.

Washington – Said Arikat – 4/18/2026

In a scene that encapsulates the brutality of war and the depth of human tragedy, UN Women announced on Friday that more than 38,000 women and girls had been killed in the Gaza Strip by the end of 2025, due to Israeli shelling and ground military operations. This toll places women and girls at the heart of the catastrophe that has swept through the Strip for more than two years.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, the agency's spokesperson, Sofia Kaltorp, stated that the period from October 2023 to January 2025 saw the deaths of more than 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, at a rate of at least 47 women and girls killed daily. These numbers may seem dry on the surface, but they carry within them images of mothers torn from their children, girls whose dreams were suffocated under the rubble, and families whose human pillars collapsed in moments.

The agency clarified that these figures may not represent the full truth, as many bodies remain buried under the rubble, while documentation and reporting systems face harsh conditions due to infrastructure collapse and the ongoing siege. Between the official figures and what the rubble conceals, the chasm of loss widens further and further.

Kaltorp emphasized that the proportion of women and girls among the casualties in this war far exceeded what was recorded in previous wars on Gaza, reaching 15% during the 2008-2009 war and 22% in the 2014 war, while in this round, it has crossed unprecedented boundaries, reflecting the expanded scope of targeting and the collapse of humanitarian protection rules.

But death was not the only face of the tragedy. The agency noted that approximately 11,000 women and girls suffered severe injuries leading to permanent disabilities, turning survival itself into another form of suffering. Women emerged from under the rubble with exhausted bodies, carrying scars that will accompany them for life, in an environment lacking medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological support.

Concurrently, the war redrew the social fabric of Palestinian society within the Strip. Tens of thousands of families are now headed by women who lost husbands and breadwinners, forced to bear the burdens of the family in conditions where providing a minimum standard of living is impossible. No income, no services, no clear horizon, while the mother becomes the last support for a family besieged by hunger and fear.

Approximately one million women and girls also experienced repeated displacement, while about 790,000 females faced critical or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Between a torn tent and aid waiting lines, the daily journey of searching for water, bread, medicine, and survival is repeated.

The agency indicated that the regional war that escalated after the US-Israeli attack on Iran in February 2025 further complicated the situation in Gaza, due to the closure of crossings and tightened restrictions on aid entry. Despite a fragile ceasefire announced in October 2025, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported the killing of at least 766 Palestinians since its implementation, while the killing of women and girls continued in recent months, according to the UN agency, making it a war not only measured by the number of dead, but by the number of mothers who are gone, the children who never grew up, and the homes that lost their voice and warmth.

These figures reveal that women in Gaza are no longer mere collateral victims of the conflict, but have become central to the bloody equation of war. When women are killed on this scale, society is targeted in its ability to continue and rebuild. In afflicted societies, women are not isolated individuals, but the core of the family, care, and social cohesion. Therefore, the attrition of women means weakening the entire social structure, transforming the effects of war from temporary destruction into long-term scars that extend across future generations.

The international community's silence in the face of this toll raises deep ethical and political questions. When figures are issued by UN institutions, and then pass as fleeting news in the global scene, the imbalance becomes more than just diplomatic impotence; it is a crisis in the value of humanity itself. If these numbers occurred anywhere else, capitals would shake and platforms would be filled with condemnation. But in Gaza, it seems that the tragedy is consumed as news and then folded away, as if the lives of the victims weigh less in the balance of international politics.

Perhaps more dangerous than direct death is what follows: a society of widows, orphans, permanently disabled individuals, and girls who grew up amidst fear, hunger, and homelessness. These are not immediate losses, but a harsh foundation for a future burdened with psychological, social, and economic trauma. Rebuilding stones is possible, but restoring humans requires many years, political will, and absent justice. Without real accountability, Gaza will remain an open laboratory for reproducing tragedy generation after generation.

The streets of the Gaza Strip, in the memory of civil defense crews, transform into an open record of pain and blood. Here, places are not just geographical coordinates, but rather scenes of massacres that have left indelible scars on their souls. Abdullah Al-Majdalawi, a rescue worker, recounts how their field missions turned into direct confrontations with death, as they rush towards the rubble with primitive tools to retrieve what remains of life or to preserve the dignity of scattered bodies.

On a dark night in September, the crews faced a harsh test when the home of the Masoud family in the Al-Daraj neighborhood was targeted. The voice of the girl, Malak Masoud, remained trapped under the rubble for long hours. Despite desperate rescue attempts and descending five meters under concrete blocks, the girl passed away, drowned in her own blood, leaving the crews with a heartbreaking decision: the necessity of amputating her leg to retrieve her body after two days of entrapment.

Tragedies in the Al-Daraj neighborhood did not stop there, but extended to include stories whose horror words fail to describe. Al-Majdalawi described the moments of operating the cutting machine and the scattering of bone fragments on his face. These pivotal moments reflected the extent of the cruelty imposed by the occupation on civilians, and turned rescuers into witnesses to atrocities that exceed the limits of human endurance.

In the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, 12 days after the military incursion, the crews succeeded in reaching the child Ahmed Naim, who was trapped under the rubble amidst intense artillery shelling. The child was extracted with a frail, skeletal body due to hunger and thirst, in a frantic race against time to save him before he was hit by occupation shells that were directly targeting the vicinity of the area.

As for Jabalia camp, Abdul Salam Al-Assi recalls the horrors of the 'Al-Trans massacre' that occurred in November 2023, where the smell of gunpowder mixed with the remains of victims in the streets. Al-Assi describes his shock when a grief-stricken man shouted at him, pushing him away from the body of his wife, whom the rescuer had unintentionally stepped on amidst the dense smoke and widespread chaos left by the airstrikes.

Scenes in Jabalia were not limited to rubble, but extended to include bodies burning inside targeted vehicles, where the skin of the martyrs would stick to the rescuers' hands when trying to retrieve them. Al-Assi says that the sensation of boiling flesh, like fire, remains etched in his tactile memory, images that embody the most horrific types of burning killings that Palestinians have been subjected to during the ongoing war of extermination.

In Beit Lahia project, the tragedy of the Dawawsa family was repeated, whose building was leveled to the ground over the heads of its residents, from under the rubble emerged the groans of a young man pleading not to be left alone. The young man's cries, 'I don't want to die, I am the only one alive from my family,' summarized the tragedy of genocide that erases entire families from the civil registry, leaving survivors to face endless psychological traumas.

The spokesperson for the Civil Defense, Mahmoud Bassal, was not immune to these tragedies, as he received the greatest shock with the martyrdom of his mother in a bombing that targeted their home in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. Bassal recounts how he was on duty at Al-Ma'madani Hospital serving the wounded, only to be surprised by his mother's body arriving with a severed leg, leading him to bury her with his own hands in a moment where personal loss converged with a national duty heavy with tears.

The stories are numerous and similar in their cruelty, such as the story of the family found by Fadi Al-Salibi in Sheikh Zayed City, where he found a father, mother, and their four children in a final embrace under the rubble. The bodies had begun to decompose while still clinging together, forcing rescuers to separate them with difficulty, in a scene that documents the family's attempt to shelter each other from the terror of Israeli shelling and sniping.

In the Faluja neighborhood, ambulances and civil defense vehicles faced intense fire that prevented them from reaching the injured for three consecutive days, leading to the decomposition of bodies in the streets. When the crews were finally able to enter, body parts covered the entrances of homes, a clear indication of a policy of deliberate killing and preventing medical teams from performing their internationally guaranteed humanitarian duties.

These testimonies confirm that civil defense crews in Gaza operate under impossible conditions, lacking the most basic work requirements and heavy machinery needed to remove rubble. Nevertheless, these men continue to perform their duty, turning their bodies into bridges to save what can be saved, and documenting in their memory the details of crimes that will remain a testament to an era of brutal persecution against civilians.

The stories recounted by Al-Majdalawi, Al-Assi, Bassal, and Al-Salibi are not just fleeting memories, but living documents that condemn international silence regarding what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Every paragraph of these narratives carries a humanitarian cry demanding justice for the victims who perished under the rubble, and for the rescuers whose lives have become a series of funerals and impossible missions.

The memory of the Civil Defense in Gaza remains burdened with images of charred children and women who passed away while waiting for a glimmer of hope from above the rubble. These field narratives highlight the extent of the sacrifices made by the Palestinian cadre who face the war machine with bare chests and manual tools, trying to preserve what remains of human dignity in the midst of a comprehensive war of extermination.

Finally, these stories do not end with the cessation of shelling, but new chapters of pain begin with every body recovered and with every cry for help that goes unanswered due to the siege. These are stories written for history with ink of blood and pain, to remain a testament to the steadfastness of a people and to men who chose to remain in the field despite death surrounding them from all sides.

Flesh and bone fragments scattered on my face and hair, and in every moment I felt that the war was pushing me to an inhuman edge.

Talk of Israel and the United States targeting the Turkish state is no longer mere fleeting analysis; it has moved into the open, voiced by senior Turkish officials. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israel, by its nature, which feeds on the existence of an external enemy, will direct its animosity towards Ankara as soon as it concludes its current confrontation with Tehran. This proposition raises fundamental questions about whether Western circles and Tel Aviv view Turkey and Iran as a single civilizational bloc that cannot be separated despite current political differences.

Historically, the overlap between Turkish and Iranian identities reveals astonishing depth; Iran was ruled by dynasties of Turkish origin for nearly ten continuous centuries, starting with the Ghaznavid state in 962 AD and extending to the Qajars in 1925 AD. During these centuries, the features of the Iranian state were shaped by Turkish leaders such as Tughril Beg and Malik-Shah I, and even the Safavid state, which solidified the Shiite doctrine, had its military and political core from Azerbaijani Turkish tribes, making the two civilizations merge into a shared cultural and linguistic mold that is difficult to separate.

This fusion did not end with the fall of Turkish dynasties and the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty; it remains present at the core of the contemporary Iranian state, where Turkish ethnic groups constitute about a quarter of the country's population. This fact is clearly evident when looking at the top of the political hierarchy in Tehran, as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and current President Masoud Pezeshkian are of Azerbaijani Turkish origin. This demographic and political presence reinforces the hypothesis of a deeply rooted civilizational partnership that transcends the boundaries of immediate political interests and drawn geographical borders.

In light of these facts, the statements of American and Israeli leaders take on more serious dimensions, especially with former President Donald Trump's hints about targeting Persian civilization. It appears that Washington and Tel Aviv have begun to re-evaluate the region based on this shared heritage, which explains the expansion of the circle of threats to include Turkey. The upcoming conflict may not be merely political, but rather a confrontation with a civilizational bloc that regional and international powers see as an obstacle to their ambitions to redraw the map of the Middle East.

Israel cannot live without an artificial external enemy, and therefore it will antagonize Turkey after concluding its confrontation with Iran.

Lebanese citizen Khader Sahmarani stood stunned amidst the rubble of his home in the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, watching what remained of his family's memories, crushed by a treacherous Israeli raid. The white bandage on his forehead was a testament to his miraculous survival, while his brother, nephew, and neighbors were not so lucky, martyred under the debris.\n\nThe violent raid occurred on Thursday afternoon, leading to the complete collapse of the residential building, turning it into a massive pile of rubble and iron. Sahmarani, 57, recounts the moments of terror, saying he suddenly found himself under the rubble, screaming for his loved ones without receiving any response.\n\nSearch and rescue operations continued for long hours at the targeted site, where paramedics managed to pull Sahmarani out alive from the wreckage. Medical and field sources confirmed that rescue teams recovered one body on Thursday evening, before completing the recovery of three more bodies the following morning.\n\nToday, the city of Nabatieh is considered a disaster-stricken area in every sense of the word, after being subjected to intensive and systematic Israeli shelling for more than forty days. The destruction affected the historic city center and its residential neighborhoods, making it look like a ghost town despite the ceasefire agreement coming into effect.\n\nThe truce agreement came into force at midnight on Thursday-Friday, after US President Donald Trump announced an understanding to end the current round of violence. Despite the cessation of shelling, the bitterness of loss continued to dominate the scene in southern Lebanon, which paid heavy prices in the blood of its people.\n\nStatistics from the Lebanese Ministry of Health indicate that continuous Israeli raids have led to the martyrdom of approximately 2,300 people since the outbreak of confrontations. These figures reflect the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the aggression in various Lebanese regions, especially in the South, Bekaa, and the southern suburbs.\n\nThe streets of Nabatieh, which used to be bustling with life, remained almost deserted on the first day of the truce, with signs of devastation evident in every corner. Partially or completely destroyed buildings became the dominant feature of the city that withstood the Israeli war machine throughout the past weeks.\n\nOn the outskirts of the city, convoys of cars flying yellow flags were seen, with returnees expressing their support for the resistance despite the extent of the sacrifices. These displaced people, who gradually began to return, faced a bitter reality of losing their homes and livelihoods in the border villages and towns.\n\nSahmarani expresses his deep pain that the fatal blow came in the last hours before the truce, considering that its timing magnified the tragedy. With suppressed tears, he wondered about his fate and the fate of his remaining family after losing everything he owned in one moment.\n\nFor his part, Fadl Zuhairi, one of Sahmarani's neighbors, affirmed that the deceased were lifelong companions, noting that among them were elderly men who had no military role. Zuhairi stressed his categorical rejection of any form of normalization with the occupation, emphasizing that dignity is more precious than homes and possessions.\n\nAmidst talks of upcoming political negotiations, the street in Nabatieh appears divided between the desire for stability and adherence to national principles. Sahmarani concludes his speech by affirming that he will remain on the rubble of his home, bitterly wondering who will undertake the reconstruction of what the war destroyed and compensate them for their human and material losses.\n\n"I was upstairs, then I found myself downstairs, and I started screaming: Where are you? And no one answered."

The international arena is witnessing intense diplomatic activity that transcends the boundaries of traditional dialogue, with negotiations hosted in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, and direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, emerging as new tools in the power struggle. These moves are under direct American patronage, stemming from the principle that negotiations are merely another face of war, aiming to achieve political gains that military and economic options failed to secure on the ground.

The marathon negotiation rounds led by US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, which lasted for about 21 hours, revealed an overwhelming American desire to resolve outstanding issues. It appears that the current US administration will not accept returning without tangible results, as the talks were very close to announcing initial understandings that would pave the way for a final and comprehensive agreement ending the current state of tension with the Iranian side.

In contrast, these negotiations showed the cards of strength that Tehran still holds, foremost among them the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz and controlling the Lebanese trajectory through its allies. Iran clearly linked reaching an agreement with it to stopping military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, reflecting the 'unity of fronts' strategy that Washington is trying to dismantle through separate negotiation tracks.

US President Donald Trump, for his part, adopted a rigid stance during the negotiations, stating his desire to get 'everything' and instructing his negotiating team not to concede on any American demands. This approach temporarily pushed the negotiation process into a stalemate, as Vance's round ended with the announcement of failure and a return to Washington instead of signing the anticipated agreement.

Following this, the US administration moved to strip Iran of its pressure cards, imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international navigation. On the Lebanese track, Washington sought to pull the 'Lebanese card' from Tehran's hand by sponsoring direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv, with high-level diplomatic participation including the ambassadors of both parties and the US Secretary of State.

Despite American pressure, the Lebanese side showed resilience in certain positions, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejecting attempts to arrange direct contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Lebanese presidency stipulated a complete cessation of Israeli aggressions before engaging in any direct communication, reflecting the complexity of the scene and the intertwining of security and political issues.

In a related context, the pressure exerted by Trump on Netanyahu led to a relative calm and a ceasefire in southern Lebanon, coinciding with Israel's pursuit of long-term political goals. Tel Aviv hopes through these negotiations to transform the issue of Hezbollah's weapons into an internal Lebanese matter, while maintaining a 10-kilometer deep buffer zone within Lebanese territory as a fait accompli.

As for the Iranian side, estimates indicate that the new regime may show unprecedented flexibility on the nuclear file in exchange for saving the deteriorating economic situation. Reconstruction, improving living standards, and providing essentials for citizens have become priorities that supersede nuclear ambitions, which may open the door for handing over nuclear stockpiles in exchange for the release of billions held in international banks.

The current truce has given all regional and international powers an opportunity to recalculate, from the warring parties to countries affected by the disruption of energy supplies such as China, Japan, and the European Union. These powers collectively pressure the US administration to succeed in the political track, fearing the repercussions of a negotiation collapse on the global economy, already exhausted by the consequences of ongoing wars.

In conclusion, we are facing a difficult birth of what is called 'peace by force,' as the region awaits crucial dates in April 2026 with the expiration of the current truce deadlines. Scenarios oscillate between signing historic agreements that end the conflict, extending deadlines to give diplomacy an additional chance, or returning to the square of comprehensive fighting that this time may be devastating for everyone without exception.

What could not be achieved by military or economic war, the parties seek to achieve through political war and direct negotiations, which are a continuation of the battlefield.

Informed sources reported that a state of bewilderment and extreme concern prevailed in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the surprising statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding military operations in Lebanon. The sources clarified that Netanyahu and his aides did not expect the firm tone Trump used in his recent warnings, especially as they came at a time when Israeli military operations were still ongoing.

The US President had posted on his 'Truth Social' platform, clearly stating that the United States was preventing Israel from launching any additional raids on Lebanese territory, using the phrase 'enough is enough.' This firm stance caused significant confusion in political and security circles within Tel Aviv, which had been counting on a wider margin of maneuver in carrying out its airstrikes.

Immediately, Israeli diplomacy moved to clarify the new American position, with the Israeli ambassador in Washington, Yehiel Leiter, making urgent calls to the White House to request explanations about the nature of this ban. These moves come after the Israeli government learned of Trump's intentions through the media, reflecting a gap in direct coordination between the allies at this critical moment.

For his part, an American official tried to ease the tension by clarifying the terms of the ceasefire agreement sponsored by Trump, indicating that the agreement explicitly stipulates Israel's abstention from launching offensive operations. However, the official stressed that Israel still retains what he described as the 'right to self-defense' in the event of facing imminent or ongoing attacks from within Lebanese territory.

Inside Israel, press reports quoted official sources as saying that current assessments indicate a radical shift in the course of the confrontation, making a return to fighting in Lebanon unlikely. The sources added that Trump's message was clear and decisive, putting an end to Israeli hopes of resuming military operations after the expiration of the ten-day truce period.

American surprises were not limited to the Lebanese file but extended to relations with Tehran, as Trump revealed his expectations of holding a high-level meeting with the Iranian side within two days. This rapid diplomatic move aims to finalize a comprehensive agreement that ends the raging war in the region, representing a major turning point in US foreign policy.

Leaked information indicates that Washington and Tehran have made significant progress in drafting a three-page agreement addressing the thorny issues between the two parties. According to media sources, the draft includes Iranian commitments to stop supporting armed factions in the region, especially Hezbollah and Hamas, in exchange for broad security and political understandings.

The US President also claimed that Tehran had given preliminary approval to cooperate with the United States on its nuclear file, specifically regarding the removal of its enriched uranium stockpile. These developments, if true, would represent a fundamental change in regional power balances and impose a new reality that the Israeli government must deal with very cautiously.

In the context of ongoing US pressure, Hebrew reports revealed that the Trump administration is strongly pressing Tel Aviv to resume the negotiation process with Syria as well. It appears that the current American vision aims to zero out crises in the region through a series of simultaneous agreements involving Lebanon, Iran, and Syria, to ensure long-term stability.

Observers in Tel Aviv believe that the possibility of reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran now outweighs the possibility of returning to direct military confrontation. This growing sentiment reflects a conviction among the Israeli political elite that Washington has decided to impose coercive political solutions that go beyond traditional Israeli reservations regarding northern border security and the Iranian threat.

In conclusion, the Israeli and Lebanese streets alike await what the coming hours will bring from pivotal meetings in Washington or other capitals. While the fragile truce in Lebanon continues, the question remains about Netanyahu's ability to align his policies with Trump's diplomatic 'storm,' which seems unlikely to stop at media statements.

Israel will not bomb Lebanon anymore, and the United States is preventing it from doing so... enough is enough!

By Said Arikat

April 18, 2026

News Analysis

Washington, D.C. — Palestinians know this script by heart. New envoys arrive with fresh mandates, new institutions are unveiled with polished names, and familiar slogans about peace, reform, and stability are repeated with practiced confidence. Yet the political outcome rarely changes. The faces rotate, the titles evolve, but the structure of domination remains intact.

The latest figure to re-emerge in this cycle is Nickolay Mladenov, introduced in early 2026 as Director-General and High Representative for Gaza under the U.S.-backed “Board of Peace.” The title is sleek, the rhetoric humanitarian, the branding contemporary. But for many Palestinians, the substance is unmistakably old: another foreign administrator appointed not to end occupation, but to manage it more efficiently and render it more acceptable abroad.

Mladenov’s defenders present him as an experienced diplomat, a former United Nations envoy deeply familiar with the region’s complexities. But for many Palestinians, that résumé is not an asset—it is the indictment. Those who observed his years in office do not recall an honest broker or principled mediator. They remember a political operator whose consistent function was to preserve Israeli supremacy while containing Palestinian demands for freedom, sovereignty, and self-determination.

To many critics, Mladenov did not fail despite the system. He served it.

His broader record only reinforces that perception. During his tenure as UN Special Representative in Iraq, observers frequently described an official more invested in bureaucratic process, profile, and institutional maintenance than in transformative leadership or moral clarity. The pattern was familiar: prestigious office, polished diplomacy, limited courage.

That same pattern now appears poised to repeat itself in Gaza.

Throughout his years as UN envoy, Mladenov repeatedly elevated “security” as the organizing principle of diplomacy. In theory, security should apply equally to all peoples. In practice, under his stewardship, it overwhelmingly meant Israeli security first and Palestinian life second.

Palestinian rocket fire was condemned swiftly, publicly, and without hesitation. Yet Israeli bombardment, settlement expansion, siege, land confiscation, home demolitions, and the daily violence of military occupation were too often treated as regrettable complications rather than the central injustice driving the conflict.

Even in interpreting the October 7 Hamas attack, Mladenov emphasized incitement and hateful indoctrination while minimizing the political context of decades of occupation, blockade, dispossession, and systematic brutality. Such framing did not merely omit history—it distorted it.

This was not a matter of careless language. It reflected a broader Western doctrine: Palestinian resistance is treated as the problem, while Israeli occupation is treated as the backdrop. Symptoms are denounced. Causes are managed. Mladenov became one of the more polished executors of that formula.

Nowhere was this clearer than in Gaza.

Rather than advocate genuine liberation, he repeatedly promoted a model of economic relief in exchange for political silence. Cash transfers, temporary truces, donor conferences, infrastructure promises, and emergency understandings were marketed as progress. Rights were replaced with projects. Sovereignty was substituted with aid packages.

Gaza was to be stabilized, not freed. Pacified, not empowered.

That same logic now appears fully institutionalized in the so-called “Board of Peace,” a proposal to place post-war Gaza under externally supervised technocratic administration. In Washington policy circles, this may be sold as pragmatic governance. To Palestinians, it resembles colonial rule updated for the twenty-first century.

What is a government Palestinians cannot elect?

What is reconstruction without sovereignty?

What is administrative efficiency under military domination?

If Palestinians cannot choose their leadership, control their borders, manage their resources, or define their national priorities, then no boardroom structure—however elegantly branded—can disguise the absence of self-rule.

Technocracy is often invoked when democracy becomes inconvenient. Experts, appointees, and foreign overseers are presented as more “responsible” than the people themselves. In Gaza, the message is blunt: Palestinians may rebuild roads, hospitals, and ministries—but they may not determine their own political future unless Israel and foreign capitals consent.

Mladenov further deepened Palestinian distrust through his enthusiastic support for the Abraham Accords. Those agreements were celebrated in Washington as historic peace breakthroughs, yet they normalized relations between Israel and Arab states while leaving occupation untouched and Palestinians further marginalized.

Israel was rewarded diplomatically without meaningful concessions on settlements, borders, refugees, Jerusalem, or statehood.

That was not peace-making, It was political laundering.

For a man claiming concern for regional stability, Mladenov appeared remarkably comfortable with a framework in which Palestinians were instructed to wait indefinitely while others advanced their strategic and commercial interests.

Equally revealing was his repeated insistence on disarming Palestinian factions as a precondition for progress. Weapons in conflict zones are serious matters, and no society benefits from endless militarization. But demanding Palestinian disarmament while ignoring one of the most heavily armed states on earth exposes the selective morality at work.

Occupied people are routinely lectured about violence by those who enable, finance, or excuse the far greater violence of occupation itself. In such a framework, calls for Palestinian disarmament absent liberation are not a formula for peace, but a demand for surrender. Yet the deeper problem extends well beyond Mladenov as an individual. He has come to symbolize an international class of envoys who arrive promising to “de-escalate,” “coordinate,” and “stabilize,” while carefully refusing to confront the real source of instability: permanent occupation and the systematic denial of Palestinian national rights. They manage the consequences while protecting the causes. This helps explain why many Israeli officials viewed him favorably, and why many describe him as enemy of the Palestinians. He understood the limits they did not want crossed, and he mastered the language of humanitarian concern while operating safely within political boundaries set elsewhere. That may be considered successful diplomacy in elite circles; for those living under siege, it appears instead as a carefully managed betrayal.

They treat consequences while protecting causes.

This helps explain why many Israeli officials viewed him favorably. He understood the limits they did not wish crossed. He could speak the language of humanitarian concern while operating safely within political boundaries drawn elsewhere. That may qualify as successful diplomacy in elite circles.

For those living under siege, it looks more like managed betrayal.

If Gaza is to have a future worthy of its people, it will not emerge from Washington committees, foreign trusteeships, or recycled administrators such as Mladenov. It must come from Palestinian legitimacy, Palestinian consent, and Palestinian leadership.

The world keeps offering Palestinians managers when they are demanding freedom.

Nickolay Mladenov may carry a new title in 2026, but to many Palestinians he remains what he has long represented: the polished international face of a failed order—one that mistakes domination for stability, obedience for peace, and occupation for governance.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed that the current direct negotiations have reached a delicate and pivotal stage in the country's history, stressing the need to unify national responsibility to face the challenges of the next phase. He clarified during his reception of a delegation of Beirut MPs that the state is committed to establishing a ceasefire as a top priority that precedes any other steps.

Aoun indicated that the basic pillars of the Lebanese position are to ensure a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories in the South, and to work seriously on the file of prisoner recovery. He also pointed out the importance of addressing outstanding border disputes to ensure long-term stability that ends the ongoing conflict.

The Lebanese President revealed details of the phone call he had with US President Donald Trump, where the latter affirmed Washington's full support for Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. According to Aoun, the US administration expressed its commitment to stand by the Lebanese people to end their suffering and support the path of economic recovery.

The US President had announced that a ceasefire would come into effect for ten days, starting from midnight Thursday/Friday Beirut time. This announcement comes within the framework of international efforts to calm the Lebanese front and give a chance for diplomatic solutions after a bloody military escalation.

Regarding the field arrangements, Aoun affirmed that the Lebanese army would play a pivotal role after the Israeli withdrawal, as immediate deployment would begin up to the international borders. This step aims to end all armed manifestations and confine weapons to the legitimate security forces, thereby ensuring the reassurance of returning residents.

In contrast, escalating statements emerged from the Israeli side, where Security Minister Israel Katz said that military operations against Hezbollah had not ended definitively. Katz warned residents of South Lebanon that they might face new waves of displacement if the Israeli army was forced to resume fighting.

Katz added in a televised statement that ground maneuvers and air strikes had achieved significant goals and gains, but the military mission had not yet been completed according to security assessments. He indicated that any resumption of operations would include the evacuation of residents from areas he described as the 'security zone' to ensure freedom of movement for forces.

On the ground, thousands of Lebanese families began their journey back to their villages in the South immediately after the truce came into effect, amidst an atmosphere of caution and anticipation. For its part, the Lebanese army command called on citizens to be patient in their movements, noting that Israeli violations of the agreement had been observed since the early hours of its implementation.

The ceasefire constitutes the essential entry point for proceeding with the negotiation process, a choice that enjoys broad internal and external support.

Israeli settlers escalated their systematic attacks against Palestinian citizens and their properties in several areas of the occupied West Bank today, Friday. These assaults coincided with incursions and raids carried out by occupation forces, resulting in the destruction of private property and the arrest of several citizens amidst a tense atmosphere.

In details of the field aggression, a group of armed settlers from the 'Otniel' settlement infiltrated the 'Majd al-Ba'a' area west of Yatta town. The attackers set fire to two vehicles belonging to brothers Khaled and Yasser Abu Ali, completely burning them and terrifying the residents of the area.

Attacks were not limited to Hebron but extended to Bethlehem, where dozens of settlers stormed the Khalayel al-Louz area and stationed themselves at the water well in a provocative move aimed at restricting farmers. These actions come in the context of attempts to impose control over water resources and agricultural lands surrounding the city.

In the Jordan Valley, human rights sources reported that settlers attacked the 'Arab al-Malihat' community north of Jericho city, chasing sheep herders and raiding citizens' homes. It is worth noting that these families had been forcibly displaced in July 2025 before returning to settle in the area amidst continuous threats.

Also in the field, occupation forces blew up the doors of commercial shops in Yatta town and tampered with their contents, while raiding a house in Beit Awwa town and deliberately destroying its furniture. These practices fall within the policy of collective punishment adopted by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank.

In Nablus city, occupation vehicles stormed the Al-Ma'ajin, Al-Dahia, and Schools Street neighborhoods, launching a widespread search campaign of residential homes. The operation resulted in the arrest of citizens Muhammad Amin Al-Qawqa and Raed Al-Qawqa, who were taken to an unknown destination after a thorough search of their homes and destruction of their belongings.

As for occupied Jerusalem, Al-Ram town witnessed a widespread arrest campaign at dawn today, which included the detention of a number of young men and their abuse in the field. Local sources confirmed that occupation soldiers deliberately destroyed the contents of the homes that were raided, causing significant material losses to the residents.

Official statistics indicate that the West Bank has been in a state of turmoil since October 2023, with more than 1148 martyrs and thousands injured. The number of arrests has also reached record figures, exceeding 22,000 cases, under harsh detention conditions that lack the minimum humanitarian standards.

Regarding the issue of prisoners, the number of detainees inside Israeli prisons has risen to about 9600 prisoners, a massive increase of 83% since the beginning of the war. Among these prisoners are 350 children, who face 'slow death' policies through deprivation of treatment, food, and documented physical assaults.

In a related context, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented about 497 attacks carried out by settlers during last March alone. Reports confirmed that these attacks have become more deadly and coordinated with army forces, leading to the martyrdom of 9 citizens and the destruction of hundreds of agricultural dunams and facilities.

These repeated attacks systematically target Bedouin communities to undermine the security and stability of the residents and push them towards forced displacement.

Human rights sources reported a harsh testimony from a released Palestinian prisoner from the Gaza Strip, in which he detailed the types of torture and severe violations faced by detainees inside Israeli detention centers. The prisoner, who held an administrative position in the education directorate in Gaza, explained that his journey of suffering began the moment he was arrested in March 2024 from Hamad Residential City in front of his family and children.

The first station of abuse began in the notorious 'Sde Teiman' prison, where his detention lasted for about twenty months, during which he faced a policy of complete stripping of clothes and electric shocks. He stated that prisoners were forced to remain in painful positions, blindfolded and their limbs tied, for periods exceeding 24 continuous hours without interruption.

The released prisoner indicated in his testimony that the prison administration imposed immediate and severe penalties for any slight movement made by the detainee, even if it was an attempt to pray or move fingers to relieve pain. Collective torture methods included throwing stun grenades and gas inside the narrow cells, causing cases of nervous spasms and temporary paralysis for many detainees.

The prisoner described a tragic scene of police dog attacks unleashed by soldiers on prisoners lying on the ground, unable to move due to iron restraints. He confirmed that these dogs urinated and defecated on the bodies of the detainees with the encouragement of the guards, in a deliberate attempt to humiliate them and break their human dignity amidst the laughter of the soldiers.

In more horrific details, the prisoner recounted an incident that occurred on the first day of Eid al-Fitr in 2024, when occupation forces isolated eight prisoners and completely stripped them of their clothes. These prisoners were subjected to brutal sexual assaults using trained dogs, based on direct military orders issued by the officers present at the site.

The prisoner recalled the cries for help that filled the place without finding any response; instead, the response came with more severe beatings using military boots and thick sticks. After this crime, the prisoners were forced to wear their clothes despite their severe injuries and continuous bleeding, without being presented to any medical staff or receiving first aid.

This testimony comes at a time when human rights reports indicate an escalation in violations against Palestinian prisoners since the start of the recent aggression, with prisons turning into arenas for systematic revenge. Institutions concerned with prisoner affairs confirm that what is happening in secret and public detention centers exceeds all international conventions and humanitarian laws related to the treatment of prisoners of war.

According to the latest statistics issued in April 2026, the number of those held in occupation prisons exceeded 9,600 prisoners, living in detention conditions lacking the most basic necessities of life. Among these detainees are 86 Palestinian women, who face similar conditions of abuse, in addition to about 350 children distributed among Ofer, Megiddo, and Damon prisons.

These figures highlight the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe inside prisons, where among the female prisoners, 25 are detained under 'administrative detention' without any formal charges or trial. Human rights organizations demand an urgent international investigation into the testimonies of torture and sexual assaults that are increasingly reported by released prisoners.

We were stripped of our clothes and sexually assaulted by dogs under direct orders from the officers, and we remained bleeding without any medical care.

Elements of the Israeli police today, Friday, prevented the preacher of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, from entering the courtyards of the mosque. This arbitrary measure came shortly before the Friday prayer, as forces intercepted his path and prevented him from crossing the security barriers set up around the Old City.

Sources from Sheikh Sabri's office stated that the prevention occurred specifically at the Lions' Gate area, where the Sheikh tried to reach the mosque as usual to lead worshippers or participate in prayer. Despite repeated attempts and protests against this measure, Israeli forces insisted on their stance without providing any clear justifications or presenting judicial orders that legitimize this restriction.

For his part, the legal team accompanying Sheikh Sabri clarified that the interception and prevention occurred spontaneously and on the ground, confirming that no official legal decision had been issued preventing the preacher from exercising his natural right to worship. The defense considered this step to be part of the ongoing political and religious persecution that the Sheikh has been subjected to for many years, with the aim of marginalizing him from the Jerusalem scene.

In an angry reaction, the Supreme Islamic Council in occupied Jerusalem condemned this act, describing it as 'police thuggery' that lacks any legal or moral cover. The Council stressed in a press statement that sovereignty in Al-Aqsa Mosque is an exclusive right of Muslims and the Islamic Endowments Department, considering the occupation's interventions null and void and without any legitimate effects.

The Council indicated that the city of Jerusalem has turned, due to Israeli practices, into something resembling a military barracks, where strict restrictions are imposed on the movement of worshippers and the entrances leading to holy sites are militarized. It affirmed that Sheikh Ekrima Sabri represents a significant religious authority in Palestine, and that attempts to curtail his role through unjust laws will not succeed in deterring him from fulfilling his national and religious mission.

This incident comes after a series of harassments targeting Sheikh Sabri over the past two years, including administrative decisions to ban him from travel and repeated raids on his home in the Al-Sawana neighborhood. This systematic policy aims to restrict influential figures in Jerusalem and impose a new reality that reduces the Palestinian presence within the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is worth noting that Sheikh Ekrima Sabri had been arrested and interrogated several times in the past on charges related to incitement, charges he always denies, asserting that his role is limited to defending the Islamic character of Al-Aqsa Mosque. These developments coincide with escalating tensions in the holy city due to continued settler incursions and the tightening of restrictions on Palestinian worshippers.

The Israeli police have no sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque, and this prevention was carried out without any legitimacy and by military rule.

Media sources reported a state of muted tension between the American administration and the Israeli government regarding the negotiation process related to the Lebanese front. US President Donald Trump seeks to impose a state of relative stability in the region to enable him to manage broader international issues, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adheres strictly to maintaining freedom of military action and rejecting any formula that might be interpreted as a retreat or surrender.

The sources indicated that this divergence in views has not yet reached the stage of public confrontation, but the gaps remain deep between the two sides. The last direct meeting held in Washington between representatives of the Israeli and Lebanese sides failed to achieve any tangible breakthrough, as clear agreements and specific timelines to end the ongoing conflict were absent.

For his part, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was quick to describe those talks as merely the beginning of a long-term political process. Political circles in Washington believe that merely having the conflicting parties sit at one table is the only possible achievement to point to at present, given the complexities of the field and political landscape.

The divergence in views became clear after the meeting, as each party presented a vision that served its own agenda before its public. While Tel Aviv focused on praising the positive atmosphere and opening a direct negotiation channel, Beirut adhered to its basic and sole demand for an immediate and comprehensive cessation of the war on Lebanese territory.

The picture becomes more complicated in the absence of Hezbollah, described as the most central player in the arena, from the official negotiation table. This absence raises fundamental questions about the utility of any papers that may be signed, and the extent of the Lebanese government's ability to impose commitments and pledges on the ground given the party's military and political influence.

US mediation in this file is part of a broader strategy aimed at calming regional tensions associated with the crisis with Iran and the disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington considers pressuring Israel to accept a ceasefire as a fundamental pillar to prevent the region from sliding into a comprehensive explosion that could harm international economic and security interests.

In contrast, Tehran remains strongly present in the background of the negotiation scene despite its unofficial participation, as it considers Hezbollah a strategic pillar that cannot be relinquished. Observers confirm that any attempt to reach a final agreement in Lebanon without considering the influence of Tehran and its allies will encounter major field obstacles that make lasting stability a distant prospect.

The question is not just what will be written on paper, but whether the Lebanese government is capable of enforcing anything on the ground?

Lebanese Hezbollah issued a final statement on its military operations over the past 45 days, announcing the execution of 2184 operations targeting Israeli occupation positions and movements. The party clarified that these operations were a direct response to the targeting of civilians and the destruction of Lebanese infrastructure, emphasizing that its military capabilities remained effective throughout the confrontation period.

This announcement coincided with the temporary truce agreement, announced by US President Donald Trump for ten days, coming into effect. This agreement aims to halt combat operations in Lebanon starting from midnight Thursday, amidst cautious field anticipation from both sides regarding adherence to the truce terms on the northern front.

In its statement, the party described the recent battle as 'The Eaten Chaff,' indicating that it witnessed heroic epics in confronting the encroaching occupation forces. The statement mentioned that the resistance issued 1828 military communiqués between early March and late April of this year, documenting its strikes that did not cease despite the intensity of Israeli raids.

The targeting map included military sites, barracks, and strategic bases within the occupied Palestinian territories, reaching a depth of 160 kilometers. The resistance used kamikaze drones and advanced missiles in its attacks, targeting settlements and major cities, including the Tel Aviv area, at a daily average of 49 military operations.

On the humanitarian front, official data revealed the extent of the catastrophe left by the recent Israeli aggression, with over 2196 martyrs and thousands injured. The military escalation also caused a widespread displacement wave, affecting more than one million Lebanese who were forced to leave their homes due to intense shelling and the destruction of residential areas.

Reports indicate that Israel had expanded its ground and air aggression on March 2nd, attempting to impose a new geographical reality in southern Lebanon. Despite the Israeli occupation of new border areas, field sources confirmed that the resistance maintained its rate of fire and its ability to reach sensitive targets deep inside Israel.

Hezbollah concluded its statement by affirming the full readiness of its fighters despite the ongoing truce, stressing that 'hands will remain on the trigger' to confront any potential violations. This stance comes in light of a long history of Israeli violations of previous ceasefire agreements, making the current truce a real test for international diplomatic efforts.

The hands of the mujahideen will remain on the trigger in anticipation of any treachery, and we will remain steadfast until our last breath.

The US military suffered a significant military loss after one of its most expensive and rarest drones crashed over the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Media sources reported that an MQ-4C Triton aircraft belonging to the Navy crashed and lost communication while performing operational missions last week, with the exact reasons behind the incident still shrouded in mystery.

This aircraft is classified as one of the rarest and most advanced aerial assets in the US Navy's fleet, with the cost of a single unit reaching approximately $240 million. This enormous figure is more than double the cost of building a modern stealth fighter, reflecting the high technological and military value of this type of drone, which is dedicated to long-range surveillance operations.

The 'Triton' aircraft boasts superior capabilities in maritime intelligence, reconnaissance, and targeting, and is designed to operate in complex strategic environments. The loss of this aircraft in the vital Strait of Hormuz region represents a blow to US monitoring and reconnaissance efforts in the area, at a time when no detailed official comment has been issued clarifying whether the crash resulted from a technical malfunction or external targeting.

The aircraft is a pioneer in maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting, and its price is more than double that of a stealth fighter.

Economic circles in Israel are facing a state of severe confusion following the decline in the dollar's exchange rate against the shekel to unprecedented levels in 30 years, touching 3.01 shekels per dollar. Financial estimates indicate that the continued appreciation of the shekel may push the exchange rate to break the 3 shekel barrier downwards before the end of this month, placing immense pressure on the export and industrial sectors.

Economic sources reported that this dramatic shift is due to a combination of factors, most notably military de-escalation and a ceasefire with Iran, which led to a tangible decrease in the risk premium associated with the Israeli market. The activity of financial institutions, which sold nearly $13.5 billion in exchange for purchasing local currency during the last quarter of last year, also contributed to the excessive strengthening of the shekel.

Despite the high purchasing power of the local currency, Israeli markets have not witnessed a parallel decrease in the prices of basic or imported goods, such as fuel, cars, and electronic devices. Observers attribute this imbalance to importers citing high operating and insurance costs, as well as the disposal of inventories previously purchased at high dollar prices, which kept the cost of living at record levels.

In a related context, experts warned that the government's neglect to support the industrial sector at this critical stage represents a fatal blow to the local industry's ability to compete in international markets. Specialists demanded that the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank awaken from their state of inertia, emphasizing that supporting factories should be viewed as a strategic investment and not merely a burden on the state's general budget.

Attention is currently focused on the Bank of Israel, as calls are escalating for urgent measures, including lowering interest rates to align with global trends and alleviating the burden of financing on producers. Demands also included activating mechanisms to absorb financial hedging surpluses, providing tax incentives that allow taxes to be paid in dollars, and accelerating the pace of capital asset consumption to enhance competitiveness.

On the other hand, markets are awaiting the release of the Consumer Price Index for March, amid expectations of an increase of up to 0.5%, driven by rising housing costs, airfare, and clothing. Despite a slight decrease in food prices associated with the holiday season, inflation still represents a major challenge for monetary policymakers in light of the current political and security conditions.

In conclusion, analysts believe that the exorbitant costs of military operations, which raised the army's budget by more than 35 billion shekels, prevented bold decisions to cut interest rates earlier. The Governor of the Central Bank is expected to maintain current interest rate levels unchanged in the near term, with the possibility of postponing any significant reduction until the second quarter of 2027, instead of previous expectations that pointed to the end of 2026.

The war proved that industrial production is the true backbone of the economy, but decision-makers decided to abandon this stronghold at the most critical moments.

Two Palestinian brothers were martyred and a third sustained varying injuries this Friday morning, as a result of Israeli occupation army forces opening fire on them in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, located east of Gaza City. This crime comes within a series of daily violations committed by Israeli forces against civilians, despite the ongoing ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025.

Medical sources reported that the bodies of the two martyrs, Muhammad and Eid Abu Warda, arrived at the hospital, in addition to their brother who is suffering from moderately severe injuries. The sources clarified that the direct targeting occurred on the vital Mansoura Street within the neighborhood, where the area was experiencing normal movements of citizens before they were subjected to sudden gunfire from occupation vehicles stationed in the area.

Local sources and eyewitnesses reported that occupation soldiers directly targeted a civilian car designated for distributing and filling potable water, which immediately led to the casualties. This targeting represents part of the policy of restricting essential services and water sources that residents rely on amidst the widespread destruction left by ongoing military operations in the Strip.

In a related context, the early hours of dawn witnessed a field escalation represented by intense Israeli artillery shelling that targeted various areas northwest of Rafah city and east of Khan Yunis city in the southern Strip. The shelling also extended to include the eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City and the outskirts of Jabalia town in the north, causing a state of panic among displaced people attempting to return to their residential areas.

For its part, the government media office in Gaza revealed shocking statistics regarding the extent of the occupation's adherence to the truce, confirming the monitoring of more than 2400 violations of the ceasefire agreement since its signing. These violations varied between direct killings, arbitrary arrests, tightening the siege, and using starvation as a weapon against the besieged population in various governorates of Gaza.

Ministry of Health data indicates that these continuous violations have resulted in the martyrdom of 765 people and the injury of approximately 2140 others since the agreement came into effect. These developments come after a genocidal war launched by Israel since October 2023, which left enormous destruction affecting 90% of the Strip's infrastructure, and led to the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

The occupation committed approximately 2400 violations of the ceasefire agreement, including killings, arrests, siege, and systematic starvation.

The first hours of the ceasefire agreement coming into effect in Lebanon witnessed escalating field tensions. Official sources reported the martyrdom of a boy and the injury of another due to the explosion of remnants from the Israeli army in the town of Majdal Zoun, in the Marjayoun district. This incident highlights the grave dangers facing displaced people returning to their villages amidst the spread of mines and unexploded ordnance.

In a clear violation of the ten-day truce announced by US President Donald Trump, Israeli occupation artillery and machine guns targeted an ambulance team belonging to the Islamic Health Authority in the town of Konin, in the Tyre district. This assault resulted in varying injuries among the paramedics, hindering humanitarian efforts aimed at providing urgent medical assistance in the affected areas.

For its part, the Lebanese Army officially announced monitoring a series of Israeli violations that affected several towns and villages in South Lebanon since midnight Thursday/Friday. A military statement clarified that Israeli forces carried out intermittent shelling operations, in addition to engineering activities that included booby-trapping and demolishing residential buildings in the border town of Khiam.

The Lebanese Army command reiterated its warnings to citizens about the necessity of exercising caution when returning to villages and towns located on the front lines, emphasizing that the area is still not entirely safe. Military units deployed in the south urged residents to fully adhere to their directives and avoid approaching sites that witnessed intense military operations to preserve their lives.

In the town of Khiam, local sources reported that the Israeli army carried out extensive booby-trapping and demolition operations of buildings, in a move aimed at changing the field landscape before a full withdrawal. The town of Deirmimas also came under artillery shelling before the truce came into effect, causing widespread fires in homes and properties before civil defense teams brought them under control.

On the humanitarian front, the head of the Lebanese Red Cross, Antoine Zoghbi, affirmed that relief teams prioritize extracting victims from under the rubble at this stage. Zoghbi indicated that assessing the total extent of the damage requires extensive coordination between various official and international bodies to ensure an effective response to the increasing needs.

Zoghbi pointed out that the Red Cross is currently working to identify the victims who have been transferred to morgues, in preparation for handing them over to their families. He warned that the humanitarian aid currently reaching Lebanon covers only 30% of the actual needs of the affected and displaced populations, portending a severe living and health crisis.

In the city of Tyre, civil defense revealed the presence of more than 12 martyrs still under the rubble of destroyed buildings in the surrounding villages, where rescue teams face logistical difficulties in reaching them. Field sources confirmed that work is ongoing without interruption to extract the bodies, despite continuous security threats and violations that hinder the movement of heavy machinery.

These field developments come amidst international anticipation of the parties' commitment to the ceasefire agreement, which aims to end an aggression that has left thousands of martyrs and wounded since October 2023. Observers believe that the repeated Israeli violations in the first hours put the agreement to a real test, especially with the continued systematic demolition and destruction operations in border villages.

Displaced Lebanese are living in a state of anticipation and anxiety between the desire to quickly return to their homes and military warnings of mines and shelling. Diplomatic efforts continue to strengthen the stability of the temporary truce and transform it into a permanent cessation of hostilities, while medical and relief teams race against time to extract victims and treat the wounded in complex field conditions.

The current priority is to extract victims from under the rubble, and work is underway to identify those in morgues.

US President Donald Trump revealed official movements within the US administration to ascertain the truth of reports about the mysterious disappearance of a number of scientists specializing in nuclear and defense sectors. Trump confirmed in press statements he made in Washington that he had just concluded a meeting dedicated to discussing this issue, which he described as serious, noting that authorities are paying great attention to these reports despite not being definitively confirmed yet.

The US President explained that the coming few days will be crucial in determining the nature of these incidents, as he expected the investigation results to emerge within a week or two. Trump added that some of the individuals named in the reports held very important positions and responsibilities in the state, expressing his hope that these cases are merely random events not linked by an organizational connection or systematic targeting.

These presidential moves come amid escalating questions within scientific and security circles in the United States about the fate of experts in space and energy fields. Media reports have observed an increase in sudden deaths or disappearances of specialists working on sensitive defense projects, which has raised a wave of concern about the safety of high-level scientific personnel in the country.

Among the cases that sparked controversy is what journalistic sources reported about the death of veteran scientist Michael David Hicks, who worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the US space agency 'NASA'. Hicks's death was recorded in 2023 without the real reasons behind his demise being disclosed, which opened the door to widespread speculation in the absence of official clarifications from the relevant authorities.

Available data indicates that Hicks's case may be part of a longer list including about nine American experts who have gone missing or died under mysterious circumstances recently. The specializations of these experts are distributed among space sciences, defense system development, and nuclear files, which are sectors that represent a fundamental pillar of US national security and are usually subject to strict security control.

In a related context, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt confirmed that the US administration is seriously considering opening a comprehensive investigation into these allegations to ascertain the facts. Leavitt said that she is in the process of communicating with the relevant intelligence and security agencies to gather sufficient information, stressing that if these reports are proven true, the government will take strict measures to deal with the situation.

Observers believe that Trump's direct interest in this file reflects the extent of concern about the possibility of external targeting or security breaches affecting American scientific minds. While the American public awaits the promised investigation results, speculation remains about whether these incidents are merely temporal coincidences or reflect a new security threat facing the United States in its most vital sectors.

I have just come out of a meeting on this subject, and it seems very serious, and I hope these cases are just random coincidences.

The Palestinian Authority, today, Thursday, handed over citizen Mahmoud Al-Adra, known by his nom de guerre Hisham Harb, to the French authorities. This step comes against the backdrop of French accusations against Harb of involvement in an armed attack targeting a restaurant in the Jewish quarter of Paris in 1982, which at the time resulted in the death of six people and the injury of dozens.

Harb's family confirmed that they had received an official notification from the Palestinian Authority stating that the extradition process had been completed and that he had been transferred to Jordan as an intermediary before his arrival in France. Harb had been detained three days ago in a prison in the city of Yatta, south of Hebron, before being unexpectedly transferred to implement the international extradition order issued against him years ago.

Bilal Al-Adra, Hisham Harb's son, recounted the details of a final phone call he received from his father this morning, where he was speaking from a private number and was in a state of extreme distress. The son explained that his father informed him of his imminent extradition to the French authorities, asking his family to remain steadfast and take care of themselves in these difficult circumstances he is facing.

Local sources reported that the Palestinian police in Ramallah summoned Harb's son this afternoon to officially inform him of the completion of the extradition procedures. This measure came at a time when lawyers were awaiting a court session to consider the legality of his extradition, but the field movements preceded the stalled legal process.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Palestinian Administrative Court rejected an urgent request submitted by the defense team to prevent Harb's extradition to France without giving clear reasons for the rejection. The defense indicated that this rejection paved the way for the executive authority to proceed with the extradition procedures, which human rights activists describe as illegal.

Harb's family is in a state of extreme concern about his health and legal fate in France, especially since he is 72 years old and suffers from chronic diseases. The family confirms that their father suffers from cancer and neurological diseases, which makes his trial abroad a real danger to his life in the absence of guarantees of a fair trial.

For his part, lawyer Ammar Dweik of the Independent Commission for Human Rights described the extradition process as a dangerous precedent and a clear violation of the provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law. Dweik explained that local laws prohibit the extradition of citizens to foreign entities, considering what happened to undermine the sovereignty of the Palestinian judiciary and citizenship rights.

Thirteen Palestinian human rights and civil organizations had previously issued a joint statement warning against taking this step. The organizations considered that the extradition of any Palestinian citizen to an external entity represents a flagrant violation of constitutional rights and opens the door to other international prosecutions that may affect other Palestinians.

The extradition decision is linked to previous political understandings, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his readiness to respond to the French request last November. The Palestinian presidency at the time considered that France's recognition of the State of Palestine provided an appropriate framework for judicial and security cooperation between the two countries in such complex issues.

Hisham Harb is a retired colonel in the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, and he joined official security work after returning to the Palestinian territories in the 1990s. Harb had returned with the late President Yasser Arafat in 1994 as part of the arrangements of the Oslo Accords, which included settling the status of hundreds of Palestinian military cadres.

The roots of the case go back to Harb's previous affiliation with the Fatah-Revolutionary Council organization, a movement that split from Fatah and was active in the 1970s and 1980s. France accuses members of this organization of carrying out a series of operations in Europe, including the attack on the 'Jo Goldenberg' restaurant, for which Harb is currently being prosecuted.

According to Harb's biography, he rose through military ranks within the splinter organization, working as a weapons instructor in Syria before taking on logistical responsibilities in Europe and Asia. However, he later decided to abandon armed struggle and commit to the political path of the Palestinian Authority since its establishment, settling in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Authority had arrested Harb last September, coinciding with French diplomatic moves to support the recognition of the Palestinian state at the United Nations. French President Emmanuel Macron at the time praised what he described as 'excellent cooperation' with Ramallah, confirming close coordination for the extradition of suspects in old cases.

France is also demanding the extradition of three other Palestinians it accuses of involvement in the same attack: Nizar Tawfiq Hamada, Amjad Atta, and Nabil Othman. Harb's extradition raises questions about the fate of the remaining wanted persons, and the extent of the Palestinian Authority's ability to balance its international obligations with the protection of its citizens' rights under local law.

The extradition represents a serious violation of the Palestinian Basic Law and a dangerous precedent in dealing with citizens.

The French Parliament is preparing to discuss the 'Yadan' bill during its sessions on April 16 and 17, which aims to criminalize what are described as new forms of antisemitism. This move comes amidst sharp political and human rights divisions, as critics see it as a tool to stifle voices opposing Israeli policies under legal cover.

The bill, introduced by MP Caroline Yadan, a member of the 'Together for the Republic' party, was first proposed in late 2024. Despite the time since its submission, controversy surrounding it has recently escalated with its arrival on the actual parliamentary discussion platform, driven by support from French center and right-wing blocs.

The legal justifications for the bill are based on a significant increase in incidents classified as antisemitic since 2023. However, sources indicate that this increase directly coincided with the escalation of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which the bill's drafters ignore in their official preamble.

The new law seeks to redefine 'contemporary antisemitism' to fill what it describes as gaps in previous legislation, specifically the 'Gayssot Law' issued in 1990. This amendment aims to establish a binding framework for the French judiciary that imposes severe penalties for certain speeches previously classified as freedom of opinion.

One of the most alarming points in the bill is the introduction of the crime of 'indirect incitement' or implicit incitement against Israel. The proposed penalties for this crime reach five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros, which human rights activists see as a dangerous expansion of legal interpretation.

The proposal also includes a penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros for anyone convicted of 'downplaying' attacks targeting Israel. This particular clause raises concerns among academics and journalists about its potential use to suppress any critical analysis of Israeli military or political operations.

In contrast, the French scene witnessed widespread popular action in the form of an online petition that collected more than 700,000 signatures demanding the withdrawal of the bill. The petition argues that the law deliberately conflates hatred of Jews with criticism of Zionism and the policies of the Israeli government, threatening the essence of French democracy.

The organizers of the popular petition affirmed that the 'Yadan' bill contradicts the principles of international law, as it indirectly entrenches the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. They also warned that equating Jews with Benjamin Netanyahu's policies harms efforts to combat real racism instead of serving them.

Warnings were not limited to the popular side but extended to the country's highest administrative judicial body, as the French Council of State issued an advisory opinion warning against violating freedom of expression. The Council affirmed that existing laws are fully sufficient to prosecute any actual hostile acts targeting Jewish citizens or their property.

Despite these legal and popular warnings, the balance of power within the National Assembly seems to favor the adoption of the law. Seven parliamentary blocs, comprising more than 450 deputies, announced their intention to vote in favor of the bill, ensuring it a comfortable majority against the opposing bloc.

The opposition front to the law within Parliament consists of a left-wing alliance including the 'La France Insoumise' party and the Green Party, in addition to a wing of the Socialist Party. The number of opposing deputies is about 120, and they emphasize the need to protect scientific research and political debate on the Palestinian issue from criminalization.

Anticipation remains the order of the day awaiting the results of parliamentary deliberations, as observers believe that the adoption of the 'Yadan' law will constitute a legal precedent in Europe. This shift would change the form of solidarity with Palestine in France and impose unprecedented restrictions on political and human rights activities related to the Middle East.

The bill involves a deliberate conflation of antisemitism and criticism of Israeli policies, posing a real threat to public freedoms.

Political science and international affairs professor Marc Lynch affirmed that the Israeli leadership made a grave strategic error by shifting from a policy of conflict management to an attempt to resolve it by absolute force. Lynch explained in an article published by 'Foreign Policy' magazine that this approach, adopted by Benjamin Netanyahu after the October 7 attacks, led to completely counterproductive results, as the occupation army became mired in a spiral of military and political attrition with no prospect of victory.

The analysis indicated that the new security doctrine formulated by Netanyahu was based on the illusion of being able to completely eliminate regional threats instead of dealing with them. Despite Netanyahu's claims of achieving 'historic accomplishments' in propaganda videos, the reality on the ground, especially after the events of 'Bloody Wednesday' in Beirut, revealed strategic confusion that threatens fragile international understandings.

Lynch believes that the state of frustration within Israeli society extends beyond Netanyahu himself to encompass the failure of an ambitious government vision that sought to achieve regional transformation through unrestricted military intervention. The war's objectives expanded to include the complete destruction of Hamas, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and regime change in Tehran—goals that have proven over time to exceed the capabilities of military force, no matter how brutal.

Decisive victory eluded the occupation state on every front it opened, despite the use of unprecedented violence and flagrant violations of international norms and law. Lynch adds that the return to talking about weakening capabilities instead of crushing them is an implicit admission of defeat, and a forced return to the 'mowing the grass' strategy that Netanyahu had hoped to abandon permanently.

Before October 7, Tel Aviv relied on short, intense military campaigns aimed at enhancing deterrence while avoiding comprehensive escalation, a policy that ensured relative stability. However, the breach of the border fence by Hamas fighters shattered this strategic consensus, pushing Israeli leaders towards a major gamble aimed at imposing a 'Hebrew peace' based solely on the occupation's terms.

This extremist vision sought to permanently remove the Palestinian issue from the international agenda by expanding the 'Abraham Accords' and building a regional security structure that excluded Palestinians. Unconditional American support, from both the Biden and Trump administrations, encouraged Israeli leaders to believe they possessed complete immunity from punishment, no matter the atrocity of the crimes committed in Gaza.

However, technological successes such as the Iron Dome and the assassination of Hezbollah leaders in September 2024 gave the occupation a false sense of being able to decisively resolve matters. This feeling of impunity was reinforced after airstrikes in Syria and Iran, leading Tel Aviv to believe it could reshape the region with minimal costs and military risks.

But these ambitions collided with the harsh reality in Lebanon, where the occupation army failed to impose its will as Hezbollah reasserted its field capabilities and the costs of a ground invasion increased. The comprehensive air war against Iran also failed to achieve its primary goal of regime change, instead leading to a severe depletion of Israeli interceptor missile stockpiles.

On the diplomatic front, the horrors of the war in Gaza led to a radical shift in global public opinion, with people in Europe and the United States beginning to view the occupation as a rogue state. In the Arab region, reckless interventions convinced many countries that Israel represents a direct security threat, not a potential partner in any future alliance.

The Israeli strike targeting a meeting in Doha in 2025 marked a negative turning point in the occupation's relations with Gulf states, revealing Tel Aviv's disregard for its allies' sovereignty. This incident, along with the aggression against Lebanon and Iran, reinforced fears that Israeli policies aim to spread chaos and state collapse, threatening the stability of the entire region.

Israeli actions in the West Bank also embarrassed Arab leaders and made it difficult to justify any security cooperation with the occupation to their populations. Cracks appeared in regional alliances, such as the Saudi-Emirati dispute at the end of 2025, as a direct result of apprehension about the expansion of Israeli influence and its negative impact on Arab national interests.

Recent military developments proved that American bases in the region have become targets rather than protective shields, revealing the limits of security guarantees offered by Washington. Gulf states found themselves facing existential threats to their oil infrastructure, at a time when the United States appeared unwilling or unable to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ultimately, Lynch concludes that the occupation's strategy after October 7 fundamentally failed to achieve its major objectives despite the immense destruction. Tel Aviv did not succeed in eliminating Hamas, nor in securing its northern borders, but instead lost a huge amount of international support that was a fundamental pillar of its survival and stability.

Critics within Israeli society who accuse Netanyahu of dragging them into endless, futile wars are touching upon the bitter truth that the far-right refuses to acknowledge. The international isolation and regional quagmire in which Israel has become entangled are the direct result of Netanyahu's forward-flight policy to protect his political career at the expense of regional security.

Netanyahu's claims of success based on weakening adversaries' capabilities are, in fact, an admission of defeat and a return to the very doctrine he had hoped to abandon.

US President Donald Trump revealed dramatic developments in the Iranian file, indicating the possibility of a high-level meeting with the Iranian side early next week. Trump explained in press statements from the White House that current indications suggest a comprehensive agreement with Tehran is close, describing the progress made in the negotiations as significant and unprecedented.

Despite the optimistic tone, the US President set a firm condition for the continuation of the truce, stressing that US forces would immediately resume combat operations if efforts to reach a final agreement faltered. Trump expressed hesitation about extending the current ceasefire, which began on April 8, emphasizing that the military option remains on the table to ensure the achievement of American objectives.

Regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, Trump affirmed that Tehran showed surprising flexibility, agreeing to completely abandon its ambitions to possess nuclear weapons. He added that the Iranian side also agreed to hand over its existing nuclear materials to the United States, considering that the Iranian leadership is now prepared to accept conditions it had previously categorically rejected.

On the ground, the US President stressed that the blockade imposed by the United States on the Strait of Hormuz remains in place and is operating with high efficiency. He also sent a message to the Vatican, indicating the necessity for Pope Leo to realize the seriousness of the threats Iran posed to global stability before the current path of settlement began.

Trump then turned to the Lebanese file, expressing confidence in reaching an imminent peace agreement that would end the escalation in the region. He clarified that any future agreement would directly involve Hezbollah, as the Lebanese government would coordinate and work with the party to ensure the sustainability of de-escalation and the implementation of the proposed agreement's terms under international auspices.

In a diplomatic surprise, Trump revealed potential arrangements for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's visit to Washington within the next two weeks. He indicated the possibility of a summit meeting between Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, a step aimed at breaking the stalemate and achieving lasting peace in the border region.

The US President affirmed his intention to visit Lebanon at the appropriate time to support peace efforts, noting that the US administration is working intensively to see tangible results on the ground. These statements come just hours after he officially announced a ten-day ceasefire in Lebanon, effective from midnight Thursday Beirut time.

These rapid developments come amidst broad regional complexities, as the White House attempts to close conflict files in the Middle East through a mix of economic pressure and the threat of military force. Anticipation remains high for the outcomes of next week's meetings and the extent of commitment of the various parties to the terms of the announced truce in Lebanon and the negotiation path with Iran.

Iran is now ready to do things it refused yesterday, and has agreed that it will not possess nuclear weapons and to return nuclear materials to us.