1. Today, Friday, the Israeli occupation forces continue to close the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing located southeast of the Gaza Strip for the sixth consecutive day.

The Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, decided last Saturday evening to close the border crossings and stop the flow of aid and goods to the Strip, claiming that Hamas refused to extend the first phase of the agreement and respond to the proposal of the US envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff.

As a result of the Israeli decision, the prices of basic goods and materials in the Strip immediately jumped, amid government and international warnings of the return of starvation among the population if the decision to close the crossing remains in effect.

Following the decision to close the border crossings and stop the flow of goods, former and current Israeli officials launched incitement campaigns against the Strip and its residents, most notably the statement of the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and former Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for bombing warehouses containing goods and cutting off electricity and water supplies.

Last week, the Israeli army published the results of its investigations into the failures of October 7, but today, Friday, it turns out that what the army published about its investigations was a small part of the results of the investigations.

The results show that the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack, on October 7, 2023, was carried out on land, at sea and in the air, during which Hamas forces also used gliders to cross the security fence surrounding the Gaza Strip.

A report published by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper today, Friday, shows that the failures of the Israeli army on October 7 and the period preceding the day of the attack were enormous, and in all branches of the Israeli army, especially in the intelligence field, according to what the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, said during a closed meeting with the participation of the commander of the Southern Command and the heads of the local authorities in the "Gaza envelope", before the end of his term, this week.

"We viewed Hamas as a limited military force, and we did not see a scenario of a broad, surprise attack as a realistic scenario. If something like that happened, we would have received advance intelligence warning about it. Intelligence in this war played a role in the great failure. We wanted to receive advance warning, and we wanted to know from the intelligence information that could have changed the reality. We did not receive it," the newspaper quoted Halevy as saying.

The commander of the Southern Command, Yaron Finkelman, added during the meeting that military intelligence said that an attack by Hamas "will not happen in the immediate time frame."

According to the newspaper, during a discussion he held at 4:00 a.m. on October 7, Halevy believed that intelligence was wrong. The summary of the discussion reads, "At the beginning of his remarks, the Chief of Staff stressed that what was required at this stage was to delve into the cause of the events (i.e., indications of Hamas's actions), without relying on concepts that would make Hamas's initiative to attack illogical."

Halevi ordered the air force to "examine targets for a rapid response in the event of Hamas attack activity at dawn." The newspaper reported that Halevi's order was not carried out, and that Halevi did not order Israeli forces on the fence surrounding the Strip to raise their alert status. He did, however, instruct other intelligence agencies to review their information and hold further discussions in the morning.

"October 7th, a deadly disease that spread through the army"

While presenting the results of the investigations to the Israeli army officers last week, the commander of Unit 8200, Yossi Shariel, said that “October 7 is not an accident, but rather a terminal illness that has spread throughout the army. Contrary to the victory over Hezbollah and the claim that the entire Israeli army was victorious, the investigations (about October 7) suddenly show that the entire problem is intelligence.”

The Israeli military sought to mislead the public about the results of the investigations. Although the investigations’ results extended to thousands of pages, the military provided military correspondents with a 15-page summary of them, and instructed the correspondents to write in their reports “in the name of the correspondent” that the investigations were the result of “continuous and in-depth work whose compass is the truth for the purpose of study and correction.”

Among the things that the army did not reveal to the public when publishing its investigations was that during the night of October 7, information was received indicating Hamas movements in the Gaza Strip. The Air Force Intelligence Unit was aware of a Hamas document, entitled “Jericho Wall,” which included details of a large-scale Hamas attack. Unit 8200 had intercepted it in April 2022, and a senior Air Force representative had seen it during discussions in the army’s Southern Command, held on September 3, 2023, during which it was said that there was a problem with the quality of intelligence in Gaza, and that “Hamas will strike when it believes it serves it.”

The IDF concealed from the public in its summary of the investigation findings that “the air force failed to intercept the glider incursion of Hamas’ elite fighters, or to shoot down Hamas drones that destroyed the ‘see and shoot’ systems on the Gaza border.” The IDF also concealed from the public that “the Iron Dome batteries failed to intercept half of the rockets fired from Gaza.”

The investigation, which was not included in the summary published by the army, according to the newspaper, stated that regarding the gliders and drones launched by Hamas, “the air force did not carry out the mission of defending the country’s skies.” The army did not mention the investigation’s findings that the air force attacked targets in the Gaza Strip that were present in the combat aircraft’s computer software, under the “Sword of Damocles” plan, even though it had no connection to the events of October 7, and while Hamas’s elite forces had already begun their attack inside Israel.

The investigations, which the army did not publish, confirmed that "the navy did not fulfill its defense mission at sea," and revealed that Hamas fighters sought to penetrate southern Israel from the sea with seven boats, and that the navy targeted five of them, while two reached the "Zikim" beach and Hamas elements seized a "Savannah" military vehicle and continued their attack in the "Gaza envelope." The newspaper indicated that the investigations into the navy were not presented to army officers when they were informed of their results.

"Where did the failure begin?"

Halevy asked the team investigating the failure to start in 2018, but the team began in 2002. In 2017, then-IDF Chief of Staff and current MK Gadi Eisenkot drew up a plan titled “Strategic Operational Framework for War in the Gaza Strip,” which included three scenarios that could lead to war against Gaza: Hamas initiating a surprise attack; the situation deteriorating as a result of a gradual escalation against Hamas; or Israel initiating a preemptive attack. The team found that the scenario of Hamas initiating a surprise attack, such as the one that occurred on October 7, was removed from Eisenkot’s plan.

In its speech, the Israeli army replaced the phrase “advance warning” with the phrase “intelligence superiority,” which is based on high intelligence capabilities that can know what is happening and any movement at any time. One of the reasons for the feeling of “intelligence superiority” is the so-called “secret tool,” which is a set of technological and operational capabilities aimed at reaching Hamas’s secrets. However, the army’s investigations confirmed that the “secret tool” did not provide advance warning of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack.

The investigation team also did not find any document or intelligence assessment in the Military Intelligence Division, the Southern Command, or the Gaza Division, stating that “Hamas is deterred.” This expression “seemed to appear out of nowhere, and was established as a fact, even in the political establishment.”

The army’s investigations into October 7 revealed that the aggression on Gaza in May 2021 created a perception in Israel that distorted reality. The perception that this aggression ended with a fatal blow to Hamas, and that it would be deterred for many years, has become entrenched in the security establishment and the political establishment in Israel, including Netanyahu.

But Hamas' perception of the results of this battle was the opposite, and Hamas considered that it had achieved a great accomplishment, according to the results of the army's investigations. It succeeded in launching missile attacks, and caused rockets to be fired from Syria and Lebanon, and there was a state of turmoil in the mixed cities in Israel.

The Israeli army conducted three investigations following this battle, which showed that “the success of the Israeli army in it may be a story told by the army and politicians, but in reality, the story was somewhat different.”

Mossad also participated in the October 7 failure, as it was unable to detect “the resistance axis’ preparations for the attack.” Hamas’s sense of the May 2021 battle strengthened its ties with Iran and Hezbollah, and the leaders of the resistance axis began to crystallize what would later be described as a “sense of ability” to launch a large-scale attack. “Contacts began to take place between Gaza, Tehran and Beirut in order to build plans for a joint attack. Mossad completely failed to detect them.”

Today, Friday, settlers raised the occupation flags near citizens' tents in the northern Jordan Valley.

Local sources reported that a number of settlers stormed Khirbet Samra in the northern Jordan Valley and raised the occupation flags near the citizens' tents, amid fears that they would seize more agricultural and pastoral lands in the area.

Last night, settlers roamed among the citizens' tents in the same area, causing terror among children and women.

Today, Friday, the Israeli occupation forces imposed strict restrictions on the entry of worshipers coming from the West Bank to the occupied city of Jerusalem, to perform the first Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Despite the strict military restrictions, thousands of citizens have flocked since this morning through the Qalandia military checkpoint, where the occupation army has reinforced its forces at the checkpoint, checked the citizens’ identities, and prevented men under the age of 55 and women under the age of 50 who obtained “special permits” from entering Jerusalem.

Eyewitnesses reported that the occupation forces returned dozens of elderly people at the Qalandia and Bethlehem checkpoints who were on their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the pretext that they did not have the required permits to enter.

The occupation forces also imposed restrictions on the entry of worshipers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, checked the identities of young men at the entrances to the Old City and the doors of the mosque, and prevented a number of them from entering.

The summit ended without any significant outcomes that would relieve the distress and remove the gloom. This is the state that the nation has not left since the first summit was held on May 28, 1946, in the Zahrat Anshas Palace in the town of Anshas, which is located about 33 kilometers northeast of Cairo, and bore the same name as the Cairo Summit: “The Palestine Summit.”

Between Inshas and Cairo, abundant water and blood flowed in the river of suffering that flowed without stopping, and the Palestinian cause remained the same priority in all Arab summits, both emergency and regular.

Aside from the eloquence in adapting the vocabulary that relieves tensions and raises morale, the outcomes of the summit are disappointing, given that it did not obtain the required consensus, which was evident in the absence of some leaders from its deliberations, which indicates that the Arab summits have not abandoned their differences, and that the phrase “the Arabs agreed not to agree” has remained the permanent refrain that characterizes all successive summits.

The host country is credited with its good organization and its perseverance in removing the trigger of displacement, by proposing an alternative to reconstruction while the Gazans remain on their land and participate in the reconstruction of their destroyed cities, towns, villages and camps.

The danger of displacement has not gone away by presenting an alternative. What is coming, in light of the Israeli and American rejection of the summit outcomes, must set off more than one red flag, to build high Arab and Palestinian walls of resistance, to re-align the ranks and overcome the differences, in preparation for what is coming.

May God save us from the coming!

1. The Israeli aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp entered its 40th consecutive day, and the 27th day on the Nour Shams camp, amidst an escalation in the field, coinciding with intensive military reinforcements, raids, and the demolition of many homes.
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Local sources said that the occupation forces sent military reinforcements towards the city and its two camps, and deployed their vehicles and infantry squads in the streets and neighborhoods, especially in the southern and western areas and the middle of the market, in addition to the surroundings and entrances to the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, in conjunction with the firing of bullets and sound and light bombs, and the sound of huge explosions.

She added that the occupation forces' heavy machinery and bulldozers continue to be present in front of homes and residential buildings on Nablus Street, which connects the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, where soldiers stop and search vehicles, check citizens' identities and detain them for interrogation.

In the details of the daily raids, local sources reported that the occupation forces raided several homes on Nablus Street belonging to the families of Al-Tabbal, Hussein Younis, and Al-Hamdallah, and forced them to evacuate them, after giving them until 10:00 a.m. to leave.

The occupation army also raided the Abu Muntaser Al-Assas building in the Aktaba suburb housing project, east of the city, and searched the residential apartments and destroyed their contents.

Around Tulkarm camp, the occupation forces continued to deploy their vehicles in its neighborhoods, concentrated in the airport, Abu al-Foul, and Dabbat Umm Jawhar neighborhoods in the Balawneh neighborhood, and prevented anyone from entering them, while firing live bullets at anyone who tried to do so.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the occupation forces escalated their operations in the camp, from systematic destruction of every corner of it, such that it turned into an area empty of its residents, except for a few families in some neighborhoods at its entrances, where there was comprehensive destruction in the infrastructure, and the houses that were subjected to demolition, vandalism and burning, while the rest of them were turned into military barracks, in conjunction with extensive bombing operations inside the camp.

In Nour Shams camp, the occupation bulldozers demolished houses and residential buildings in the Al-Manshiya neighborhood, as part of a plan aimed at paving a new road to change the geographical features of the camp, after the occupation notified the demolition of 17 houses in this area.

It is noteworthy that the occupation bulldozers have demolished more than 11 houses in recent days as part of the same plan.

Nour Shams camp is witnessing a continuous escalation and a stifling siege, as the occupation forces are sending military reinforcements and continuing their raids and demolition operations on homes after blowing up their doors and forcing the residents to leave them. Some homes are also being turned into military barracks, in addition to the complete destruction of the infrastructure and property, including homes and shops, which were subjected to demolition, bombing, burning and looting.

The ongoing aggression on the city and its two camps resulted in the martyrdom of 13 citizens, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant, in addition to the injury and arrest of dozens, and the forced displacement of more than 9,000 people from Nour Shams camp, and 12,000 people from Tulkarm camp.

The emergency Arab summit was held in Cairo last Tuesday amidst tense atmosphere and complex political and security conditions in the region. Despite the extensive media coverage and statements issued by Arab leaders, the results seemed, as usual, far from popular expectations, which brings to mind the old Arab proverb, "The piper of the neighborhood does not entertain."

The summit witnessed “strong” speeches and affirmations of Arab unity in the face of challenges, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue, recent developments in the region, and the war on Gaza. However, the outcomes did not go beyond condemnation and denunciation, without being accompanied by practical steps that could make a difference, even once, on the ground. This made many people view the summit as an extension of its predecessors, sharing the same opportunities for success as well as failure, as the same phrases are repeated without any apparent or substantive change.

The Arab League has been suffering for decades from a crisis of influence, as it appears as if it is unable to make binding decisions or adopt unified positions that translate into effective policies, which is the spirit of the League and the basic purpose of its existence. On the contrary, while crises in the region intensify, Arab positions remain different and varied, if not contradictory, which weakens any joint effort and prevents it from having a tangible impact.

As is known, one of the topics of the Cairo summit was the Israeli war in the region, especially on Gaza, the escalation in the West Bank and the consequences of this war, specifically Trump’s plan to displace the Palestinian residents of the Strip. As expected, known and always recognized, the Arab leaders affirmed their support for the Palestinians and their right to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, but this time another condition was added, which is to guarantee the security of the occupying countries. However, questions remain about how to translate this support into practical steps, especially in light of Israel’s rejection of the Arab Peace Initiative and what followed it, the latest of which is the Arab plan, as well as the continuation of some Arab countries’ policies of normalization and bilateral relations that do not necessarily reflect a unified Arab position.

During the summit, Egypt put forward an initiative aimed at stopping the fire in Gaza and preparing the conditions for resuming negotiations. However, this plan was rejected by Israel and the United States, which considered that the conditions were not yet ready for any comprehensive cessation of military operations, which reflects the extent of the complexities surrounding the Palestinian file, where the Arab will clashes with regional and international interests, which makes any Arab move unable to impose itself as a practical solution in the absence of significant international support.

In a related context, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced a series of internal reforms aimed at strengthening governance in Palestinian institutions and restructuring some government agencies. It is no secret that these steps come in response to external and internal pressures demanding improved performance of the Palestinian Authority and ensuring broader representation of Palestinians in the political process. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of these reforms in bringing about fundamental change in light of the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, in addition to the internal division.

The question remains: Can Arab summits transform from a platform for exchanging data and speeches into an actual mechanism for making decisive decisions? It seems that the answer is known in the foreseeable future, but as for the future, the answer depends on the ability of Arab leaders to overcome their differences and develop policies that are consistent with the aspirations of their peoples.

Finally, it must be remembered that, as every time, the Arab leaders left the summit hall after their closing statements, while the challenges remained the same, without radical solutions or decisions that would bring about tangible change. It seems that the “pipe flute” will continue to play, but who will hear him?

The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reported that the Israeli occupation authorities refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City of Hebron, with all its halls, courtyards and facilities, to the Endowments Administration, as is customary on Fridays during the month of Ramadan every year.

The ministry said in a statement issued on Friday that this is a dangerous and unprecedented step, in its size and timing during the holy month of Ramadan, as part of a systematic plan to obstruct the opening of the Grand Mosque, with all its halls and courtyards, completely to Muslims.

The ministry added that on Friday night of Ramadan, the ceremony of receiving the Ibrahimi Mosque begins by the director and custodians of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in preparation for its full opening to worshippers. These Fridays in Ramadan are among the ten days in which the mosque is fully open to Muslim worshippers. However, the Waqf employees were surprised by the occupation’s failure to open the eastern gate area, which is the women’s prayer area during Friday prayers. This step represents a dangerous and surprising precedent that will necessarily lead, if approved, to the establishment of this new reality in preventing the opening of new sites each time in preparation for taking full control of the Ibrahimi Mosque, as a member of the Knesset threatened a short while ago.

She pointed out that this new and ongoing violation comes to satisfy the desire of the settlers who reject the procedures for opening the sanctuary completely to Muslim worshippers, and comes within their desire to control the sanctuary completely and transform it into a synagogue in which they perform their Talmudic rituals, noting that the occupation has prevented those under the age of twenty-five from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Ministry of Endowments confirmed its rejection of the occupation’s measures to obstruct the opening and complete handover of the sanctuary during the agreed upon days, and its refusal to receive the sanctuary within these measures that violate our rights within it, calling on UNESCO, which has placed the Ibrahimi Mosque on its list of world heritage sites, to work to stop this occupation from its attacks and violations of the sanctuary.

Israeli occupation army vehicles opened fire towards the east of the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Yunis, south of Gaza, while the humanitarian suffering of the people of the Strip worsens, especially during the days of the month of Ramadan, with the continued prevention of the entry of aid.

This comes as the occupation authorities continue to prevent the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and completely close the crossings, while negotiations are witnessing a state of stagnation in light of Israel’s denial of the requirements of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, while US President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, asked Israel to postpone its resumption of the war on Gaza, in an attempt to achieve a breakthrough in the talks.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati reviewed with the US envoy to the Middle East the Arab plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, and stressed his country's aspiration to continue positive interaction with Washington to present the advantages of the plan in a comprehensive manner.

The Foreign Ministry said that Abdel Aati reviewed, during a phone call between the two sides on Thursday, "the Arab plan for early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, addressing its various elements and stages," noting that the minister highlighted "the full Arab consensus on the plan, as reflected in the Arab summit hosted by Cairo on March 4."

Abdel-Ati stressed his country's aspiration to continue "positive and constructive interaction" with US President Donald Trump and his administration, "to review the plan and its advantages in a comprehensive manner."

The Israeli occupation forces arrested three citizens at dawn today, Friday, during their raid on the city of Nablus, and raided a number of mosques in the old city and prevented the dawn prayer from being held there.

Security and local sources reported that occupation forces stormed several neighborhoods of the city and its old town, and fired live bullets, tear gas and sound bombs.

She added that the occupation forces raided a number of homes, searched them, and wreaked havoc on them, and arrested three citizens: Majd Muhyi al-Din Subh from Kashika Street, Ataya Muhammad Tabuk, and Omar Jihad al-Qawqa from inside the Old City.

The occupation forces raided and vandalized a number of mosques, including: Al-Satoun Mosque in Al-Yasmina neighborhood, Ajaj Mosque in Al-Basha Street, Al-Salahi Al-Kabir Mosque in the Eastern Market, Al-Tina Mosque in Al-Qaryoun neighborhood, Al-Nasr Mosque in Bab Al-Saha, and Al-Baik Mosque in Al-Nasr Street, all of which are located in different areas of the Old City.

The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the occupation forces’ storming and searching of the mosques in the Old City, in a move that is considered a dangerous precedent of this magnitude and timing in the holy month of Ramadan, in which the occupation desecrates its sanctity by storming the mosques before dawn prayers and preventing prayers from being held in them.

The ministry said: This dangerous incursion in its size and timing is nothing but a systematic step taken by this occupation, the details of which have become clear in the desecration of our sanctities, mosques and places of worship, disregarding human rights, especially those related to freedom of worship and the right to access them, and disregarding the feelings of Muslims towards the desecration of their sanctities under the eyes and ears of the world.

In Hebron, the occupation forces stormed the Fawwar camp in the south, raided a number of citizens’ homes and ransacked their contents, and arrested the freed prisoner Fares Adel al-Titi after severely beating him, as well as Mahmoud Ali Abu Warda, Ismail Yaghi, Muhammad Ahmad al-Najjar, and Mahmoud Nael al-Titi.

It also stormed the town of Dura in the south, and arrested Abdullah Amer Al-Darabi, Muhammad Al-Darabi, Akram Al-Fasfous, Humam Ali Hantash, Issa Yousef Al-Awawdeh, Aref Salama Ahribat, and Muhammad Salama Awidat, and arrested Ismail Hussein Qadimat from the town of Kharas in the west.

In the same context, the occupation forces continued to close the towns, camps and entrances to the city of Hebron with iron gates and earth mounds, and tightened their military measures in the neighborhoods of the Old City, the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque and the military checkpoints.

The Ministry of Endowments called on the international community and international institutions concerned with human rights and heritage preservation to work to stop these attacks and end them completely. The mosques that were desecrated by the occupation at dawn today, in addition to being places of worship, are historical heritage buildings that are affected by the barbarity of this occupation.

Dr. Hussein Al-Deek: US talks with Hamas are a message to Netanyahu that Washington has other options for negotiation if he does not complete the deal

Hani Abu Al-Sabaa: These negotiations may reflect a growing American awareness of the impossibility of reaching any permanent solution in the region without involving Hamas.

Dr. Dalal Erekat: This American move comes within a broader approach to contain armed resistance movements instead of confronting them directly

Noman Abed: It would have been better for Hamas to enter these talks as part of a unified Palestinian delegation, while ensuring that the Palestinian issue is discussed as a whole.

Dr. Walaa Qadimat: Washington wants to communicate with Hamas to control the pace of changes in the Palestinian arena, especially the future of Gaza and the Palestinian cause

In a remarkable development, there is talk that the administration of US President Donald Trump has begun opening channels of communication with the Hamas movement, in a move that is considered a precedent since the movement was classified as a terrorist organization in 1997, which is considered a shift in US policy towards the movement.

In separate interviews with “I,” writers, political analysts, specialists, and university professors believe that these talks may be part of American efforts to resolve the issue of detainees in the Gaza Strip, but they may extend to broader political arrangements that redefine the future of the Gaza Strip and the role of Hamas in it.

But they point out that the move could send a clear message to the Israeli government that Washington has other negotiating options if Israel does not complete the second phase of the current deal.

They point out that these talks may come as part of a broader American approach to contain armed resistance movements rather than confront them directly, while the talks may reflect a growing American awareness of the impossibility of reaching any permanent solution in the region without involving Hamas.

1. A historical precedent and a message that nothing is impossible in politics

The writer and political analyst specializing in American affairs, Dr. Hussein Al-Deek, explains that in a remarkable development, the United States of America has begun opening channels of communication with the Hamas movement, in a step that is considered a historical precedent since the movement was classified as a terrorist organization in 1997.

According to Al-Deek, this move sends a clear message that “nothing is impossible in politics, and when it comes to interests, everything is possible.”

Al-Deek points out that these talks come within the framework of American efforts to resolve the issue of detainees in the Gaza Strip, but they may extend to broader political arrangements that redefine the future of the Strip and the role of Hamas in it.

Al-Deek points out that relations between the United States and political Islam movements are not new. Historically, Washington has negotiated with Islamic forces on more than one occasion. For example, after the Muslim Brotherhood won in Egypt in 2012, the US administration established strong diplomatic relations with President Mohamed Morsi. The administration of President Donald Trump in his first term also negotiated with the Taliban movement, which was classified as a terrorist organization, and signed the Doha Agreement with it in 2018. These precedents show that the United States deals with these movements based on its strategic interests, which explains its current orientation towards Hamas.

According to Al-Deek, the talks with Hamas carry multiple messages. There is a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington has other options for negotiating if Israel does not complete the second phase of the current deal.

According to Al-Deek, this step is a pressure on Netanyahu to push him towards completing the second phase of the agreements related to the exchange of prisoners and detainees, as well as a strong message to the Israeli opposition and the families of Israeli prisoners, who have begun to see that the key to resolving the issue of their sons lies in Washington and not in Tel Aviv.

Al-Deek confirms that President Trump recently met with eight prisoners and detainees who were released from Gaza, arranged by the Zionist lobby in the United States, as this step shows that there is a new trend towards pressuring the American administration to play a more effective role in pushing Netanyahu’s government to complete the deal.

Although the current talks seem to be focused on the issue of prisoners and detainees, Al-Deek believes that they may extend beyond that to broader political files. The ongoing contacts between the American hostage file official, Adam Boehler, and Hamas leaders in Doha may lead to a permanent ceasefire and a political agreement on the future of the Gaza Strip. This step is a historic precedent, as the United States has never coordinated with Hamas since it was classified as a terrorist organization.

Al-Deek points out that the United States has a precedent for changing its positions on movements that were classified as terrorist. Previously, Washington considered the PLO a terrorist organization, but later recognized it as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The same thing may happen with Hamas, especially in light of its great popularity in the Palestinian street and the Israelis’ own recognition that it represents an intellectual and political movement that cannot be eliminated by military force.

Al-Deek believes that there is an important development in these negotiations, which is Washington’s realistic acceptance of Hamas as a political movement and part of the Palestinian national liberation movement. This acceptance may translate into American recognition of Hamas’ role as a representative of part of the Palestinian people, which may radically change the political scene in Gaza.

Al-Deek confirms that the current talks are addressing the possibility of reaching a long-term truce and a comprehensive agreement that would end the war and rearrange the situation in the Gaza Strip.

He points out that these developments are receiving great attention from international and regional parties, including Israel and Arab countries, which are closely following the details of these negotiations.

Al-Deek points out that the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Hamas may be the beginning of major changes in the political scene in Gaza. In addition to the issue of prisoners, there is a strong possibility that these talks will develop into political arrangements that recognize Hamas as a major player in the political future of the Strip. However, the success of these negotiations depends on developments in the coming days and weeks, and the ability of the parties concerned to overcome the obstacles that may stand in their way, especially the issue of hostages.

Washington seems ready to expand dialogue with Hamas

Writer and political analyst Hani Abu Al-Sabaa considers the remarkable shift in American discourse towards Hamas that has taken place in the political arena, where direct negotiations between American envoy Adam Mueller and a high-level Hamas delegation in the Qatari capital, Doha, were officially announced as a surprising development of great importance.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that this step comes only weeks after the Trump administration threatened to open the “gates of hell” on the movement, which raises questions about the nature of this shift and its causes.

According to the writer Abu Al-Sabaa, these negotiations, although they focused publicly on the issue of releasing dual-nationality prisoners, also addressed deeper and more complex issues, including the management of the Gaza Strip, the permanent ceasefire, in addition to pending issues such as reconstruction and the management of the crossings.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that these negotiations may reflect a growing American awareness of the impossibility of reaching any permanent solution in the region without involving Hamas, which held out throughout the last war and still enjoys broad support among citizens in Gaza despite the massive destruction that befell the Strip.

Abu Al-Sabaa raises a fundamental question: Do these negotiations constitute an implicit recognition of Hamas’s legitimacy? Or are they merely a tactical move by Washington to contain the movement within the framework of a broader strategy? It seems that the answer may be closer to the second possibility, as the United States appears prepared to expand the scope of dialogue with Hamas, which was expressed by the movement’s leader, Musa Abu Marzouk, the official in charge of the foreign relations file, when he expressed the movement’s readiness to enter into dialogue with America as soon as the first phase of the deal begins to be implemented.

Although the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern about this direct dialogue between the Trump administration and Hamas, Abu Al-Sabaa believes that this dialogue will not be the last, but will be repeated and expanded to include discussing all pending issues between the two parties.

He points out that given the location of the meetings, Qatar, which previously successfully mediated between the Taliban and the United States regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan, appears once again to be an effective mediator.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that the next rounds of negotiations may reach a stage that will be announced in advance, with their outcomes being revealed to the public.

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that the region may be on the cusp of a new phase of restructuring, as the United States seeks to stop wars and begin a phase of investment in the economy. Washington’s support for wars in the region has allowed countries like China to compete economically with it worldwide without engaging in direct wars, prompting America to re-evaluate its strategy in the region.

Deep political and strategic implications

Dr. Dalal Erekat, professor of diplomacy and conflict resolution at the Arab American University, points out that Washington’s holding of direct talks with Hamas in Qatar through its envoy for the hostage file carries several deep political and strategic implications. This step comes in the context of an intertwined context of internal and external pressures facing the US administration, in addition to Washington’s awareness of the failure of Israeli military solutions to achieve its goals.

Erekat points out that the US administration’s primary focus in these talks is on the issue of detainees, especially American hostages. The message of former US President Donald Trump via his “X” platform after his meeting with eight of the freed hostages in the White House confirmed this approach, as his message was full of threats and coercive orders, which raises questions about the nature and seriousness of these direct talks.

She explains that Trump's priorities revolve primarily around ending the hostage crisis, in light of intense domestic pressure from the families of the detainees and American public opinion.

Erekat points out that the US administration is exerting great pressure to achieve this goal, which makes the hostage file a major axis in the negotiations.

Erekat explains that despite the United States' classification of Hamas as a terrorist organization, entering into direct talks with it indicates Washington's recognition of its ability to influence the course of events, especially in light of the complexity of the regional scene and Washington's unwillingness to engage militarily.

Erekat points out that Trump's demand that Hamas leaders leave Gaza to leave a future for civilians reflects this implicit recognition.

She believes that this American move comes within a broader approach to contain armed resistance movements rather than confronting them directly. Washington has previously dealt with various factions in the Middle East, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (Kurdish) in Syria, and undeclared understandings with Hezbollah in Lebanon. This reflects a shift in the way it deals with non-state actors that Israel refuses to recognize.

Erekat points out that this step may reflect Washington's awareness of the limitations of the Israeli military option and the need to search for negotiated political solutions. After more than a year and a half of intensive military aggression, Israel has not been able to achieve its goals of defeating Hamas or subjugating the Palestinian people in Gaza.

According to Erekat, Washington is facing internal pressure from American public opinion and progressive Democrats to stop unconditional support for Israel, and is also exposed to international pressure from its allies in the Middle East and Europe to push for a political solution, noting that these pressures may be a major driver behind changing the American approach.

Erekat believes that in the absence of a strong Palestinian authority in Gaza, Hamas appears to be the only party capable of negotiating and implementing any future agreements, whether regarding prisoners or ceasefire arrangements.

Erekat points out that this reality makes Hamas an indispensable party in any future negotiations.

She explains that on the surface, the talks seem to focus on the release of detainees, but they may expand to deeper and larger files, including: a long-term ceasefire, as Washington may use the detainees file as a pressure card to push the two parties to a long-term truce, in preparation for a broader agreement.

Among the files, according to Erekat, are post-war arrangements in Gaza, as the talks may include security arrangements such as easing the siege, guarantees of no escalation in the future, and perhaps re-establishing previous agreements such as the 2014 understandings.

Erekat points out that Qatar, Egypt and Turkey may play a role in expanding the talks to include reconstruction, humanitarian aid and reorganizing the internal Palestinian scene.

She believes that the talks focus primarily on the hostage issue, but involving Hamas in the dialogue goes beyond this goal to reflect an American approach to containing armed actors rather than isolating them, which is what we have seen in other issues such as Syria and Lebanon.

Erekat points out that the continuation of these talks may reflect a shift in American policy towards the Palestinian issue, which may lead to new dynamics in the region, while maintaining Israel's interests as a priority.

Trump administration adopts approach aimed at calming conflict zones

Writer, political analyst and international relations specialist Noman Abed explains that the current US administration is adopting an approach aimed at calming conflict zones globally, including the Middle East, in a way that serves its strategic interests.

Abed points out that Washington has become convinced that it is impossible to defeat the Palestinian resistance militarily, despite the unprecedented military support it has provided to the Israeli occupation government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.

Abed explains that the US administration, after five months of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, has come to realize that military means have not achieved their goal of breaking the Palestinian resistance.

He points out that Netanyahu used all the tools of modern military power, intelligence and operations, with direct support from the United States, and yet he failed to eliminate the Palestinian resistance and the Hamas movement or to completely subjugate the Gaza Strip.

He stresses that this realization prompted Washington to adopt a new strategy, which was represented in shifting to negotiations with the Palestinian factions, headed by the Hamas movement, where mediation began in the ceasefire talks, and the introduction of humanitarian aid, then moving to more complex files such as withdrawing forces, and declaring the end of the Israeli aggression.

Abed points out that the US talks with Hamas in Qatar are part of a new US approach based on direct negotiations with parties that Washington considers “adversaries,” citing Trump’s experience in dealing directly with the North Korean leader, and Trump’s desire to engage in dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Abed believes that the Biden administration is now applying the same approach in the Gaza file, by opening direct channels of communication with the Hamas movement.

Abed believes that direct negotiations with Hamas carry several political messages, the first of which is to the Palestinian interior, as these discussions reflect American recognition of the movement’s existence as a major party that cannot be bypassed, which strengthens its position in the Palestinian political scene.

The second message, according to Lab D, is to Netanyahu's government, as the talks reflect the US administration's dissatisfaction with the Israeli prime minister's stalling tactics in the negotiations, and his attempts to exploit time for domestic purposes, which could affect his political position if direct negotiations between Washington and Hamas continue, especially if they yield tangible results.

Abed links these negotiations to the plan proposed by the recent Arab Summit, which came at the initiative of Egypt, considering that direct negotiations with Hamas may support the implementation of this plan, which aims to stop the Israeli aggression and rebuild the Gaza Strip, in addition to stabilizing the situation in the Strip in preparation for reorganizing the Palestinian scene.

Abed confirms that the talks between Hamas and the United States are not limited to the prisoner exchange file, although it represents a priority for Washington, especially since there are American prisoners among those held by Hamas.

Abed explains that the US administration had initially focused on freeing prisoners who held US citizenship, but the negotiations expanded to include other issues, reflecting a shift in the US vision for the future of the conflict.

However, Abed warns that these talks may affect national unity, criticizing that they are being conducted by Hamas alone without the participation of all factions, most notably the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Abed points out that it would have been more appropriate to form a unified Palestinian delegation that includes all parties, because the Palestinian people in Gaza are the ones being subjected to genocide and destruction, not a specific faction.

Abed points out that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are exchanging accusations regarding the lack of a unified Palestinian position, at a time when everyone was supposed to overcome their differences and unite to confront the Israeli aggression and plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

Abed believes that excluding the Palestine Liberation Organization from the negotiations may lead to weakening its political position regionally and internationally, especially after it appeared as if it was separate from what was happening after October 7, 2023, in terms of a war of extermination, although what happened after that requires a unified Palestinian position to confront this unprecedented attack.

Abed points out that it would have been better for Hamas to enter these discussions as part of a unified Palestinian delegation, while ensuring that the Palestinian issue is discussed as a whole, including the aggression on Gaza and the West Bank.

Abed believes that this approach may affect the outcomes of the Arab Summit, and may increase the distance between Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which will reinforce the exclusivity of each faction individually, instead of achieving true Palestinian unity.

Abed believes that the ongoing negotiations with Hamas reflect a strategic shift in American policy, but at the same time they raise questions about the future of Palestinian representation in these talks.

Abed stresses that overcoming the Palestinian division was necessary before starting the negotiations, because that would have prevented each faction from acting alone, and would have ensured a unified Palestinian position capable of imposing its political conditions in any future settlement.

Talks may signal Washington's disinterest in Arab plan

Writer and political researcher Walaa Qadeem explains that the ongoing talks between Hamas and the United States may reflect Washington’s desire to move forward towards ceasefire negotiations, according to a path it deems appropriate.

She points out that these talks come within the framework of the United States' focus on releasing the largest possible number of detainees and reaching a temporary truce. They also fall within an American plan to pressure Hamas to follow the arrangements that are consistent with the American-Israeli vision for the future of the Gaza Strip.

Qadeem believes that these talks may also indicate the United States' indifference to the Arab plan, and may even reflect an attempt to put pressure on all parties to accept what Washington and the Israeli occupation state want.

Old sources indicate that the United States may be seeking to bypass Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position regarding the ceasefire negotiations, as Washington wants to reach a calm or truce, perhaps to avoid the continuation of the war in the bloody manner it was.

Qadeemat explains that the United States seeks, in short, to manage the negotiations as it sees fit, in line with its interests and the vision of Netanyahu and the Israeli occupation state, noting that these talks come in the context of American pressure on Hamas to move forward on the path adopted by Washington.

Qaddimat believes that direct communication with Hamas, which the United States classifies as a terrorist organization, is a significant development, as these talks are taking place with the American envoy for hostage affairs, who has the authority to speak and listen to all parties.

Qadeem believes that Washington wants, through this communication with Hamas, to control the pace of changes in the Palestinian arena, especially with regard to the future of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian cause.

Qadeemat indicates that these talks are primarily aimed at extracting the largest possible number of detainees, but they may develop in the future to include reaching a truce between Hamas and the Israeli occupation state, which is what the United States wants.

Qadeemat points out that these talks may be a first step towards more effective American management of the crisis in the region, but they will remain governed by the framework that Washington and Tel Aviv draw up for the future of Gaza and the Palestinian issue.

Tammy Bruce, the new spokeswoman for the US State Department, said in her first press conference at the State Department building since the administration of President Donald Trump took office on January 20, that all the US president did in his message threatening Hamas and the Palestinian people was to confirm the fixed US policy.

In response to a question from a Al-Quds newspaper correspondent regarding the US President’s threat to the people of Gaza with death if he continued to hold the hostages, while the White House announced on the same day that its envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, had met with senior Hamas officials in Qatar to discuss the issue of the detainees, and how she explains that, Bruce said: “President Trump has not changed or altered anything in his statements regarding Hamas, and he has stuck to this position regardless of whether the platform from which he speaks is his meetings in the White House with journalists, his speeches, or his tweets on social media platforms. His position is consistent and represents US policy towards what Hamas has done, this terrorist movement, and what it is doing in Gaza.”

The official spokeswoman added: "The president declared from the beginning that there is no place for Hamas in Gaza, and that the priority lies in releasing the unjustly held hostages."

President Trump had sent a strongly worded message to Hamas threatening to unleash hell on them if they did not immediately release the hostages. He also issued a blunt warning to the people of Gaza, saying: “Also, to the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits you, but not if you take hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision. Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later.”

Regarding the efforts and plans of the President's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, Bruce responded to the question of the Jerusalem correspondent by saying that she does not have a specific time for his return to the region.

Witkoff had asked Israel to maintain the ceasefire until he returned to the area.

In turn, Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, described the situation in Gaza as "dangerous" on Thursday, considering the idea of rebuilding the Strip within 5 years "unrealistic."

In a press conference at the White House, the US envoy said that the situation in Gaza is "dangerous," especially for children, and therefore the idea of rebuilding the Strip within 5 years is "unrealistic."

In response to a question about the possibility of moving to the second stage or extending the first stage of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Witkov said: “We do not care much about the names. What we are focusing on is reaching a solution and recovering the prisoners from the Strip.”

Envoy Witkoff said that the US discussions with Hamas activists came recently and that the message to the movement was that the United States wanted the hostages returned.

The Chief of Staff of the Israeli occupation army, Eyal Zamir, conducted a field tour in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, accompanied by the commander of the Southern Command, the commander of the 252nd Division, and a number of military leaders, according to a brief statement by the army.

During his meeting with the soldiers, Zamir stressed the importance of constant readiness, saying: “You have to be prepared and ready and train all the time. Look at the houses behind you, at the houses of Sderot, you are defending its citizens.”

He continued: "You are the first line of defense, and you bear a great responsibility, and I have complete confidence in you that you will perform your duties to the fullest."

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is preparing to hold an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers tomorrow, Friday, at the headquarters of the organization's General Secretariat in Jeddah, to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the plans for annexation and displacement from their land.

According to the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA), this meeting comes to confirm the rejection of the policies of displacement, annexation, aggression and destruction, and sends a clear message to the world that the Palestinian issue remains the central issue of the Islamic nation.

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy, said that US discussions with Hamas activists came recently, and that the message to the movement is that the United States wants the hostages back.

Witkoff also said the United States did not believe Hamas was being forthright.

The US envoy to the Middle East praised Egypt for presenting a new plan for Gaza without endorsing the details contained in this proposal as an alternative to President Donald Trump's project for US control of the Palestinian Strip and the expulsion of its residents.

"We need more discussion about it, but it is a first step of good faith on the part of the Egyptians," Witkoff said.

Ceasefire talks with Russia

Witkov said he intends to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss with Ukrainian envoys a ceasefire with Russia and a "framework" for a permanent peace agreement.

"We are currently in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or maybe in Jeddah," Witkov said, stressing that "the idea is to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire." In Kiev, a Ukrainian official told Agence France-Presse that American and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The general manager of the Israeli branch of the American Jewish left movement "J Street", Nadav Tamir, attacked the policy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, accusing it of sabotaging efforts to calm the situation in the region. He considered its war goals to be illusory, its political claims to be false, and that what it wants today is to abort the political settlement.

“Since October 7, the Netanyahu government has been selling us the illusion of ‘absolute victory.’ In practice, there is no real plan to defeat Hamas, because the idea of a Gaza without Hamas, under the rule of a renewed Palestinian Authority and with regional support, threatens Netanyahu more than anything else,” Tamir said.

"Hamas also knows that the moment another Arab-Palestinian force enters Gaza, it will lose its grip, not only on the government, but also on the Palestinian public in Gaza, which is waiting for the moment when it can be freed from Hamas's destructive strangulation. Thus a desperate alliance was created, the price of which is paid by the kidnapped soldiers, the civilians and the soldiers," he added.

Tamir told the Israeli newspaper Maariv that “the detainees in Gaza are not at the top of Netanyahu’s concerns, but rather his fear of any political change that would lead to the dismantling of his government.”

He noted that Netanyahu has been following the same approach over the years: when there is a ceasefire, he does everything in his power to prevent a transition to a political process. When there is a war, he talks about a “decisive” outcome that cannot be achieved.

“Israel could have chosen something else,” he continued. “It could have introduced a Palestinian entity in coordination with moderate Arab states, and created a new governing mechanism in Gaza. But for that to happen, the government would have had to conduct a real political process, one that Netanyahu would never allow, because it would destroy the ideological basis of his rule in recent decades: weakening the Palestinian Authority, erasing the Green Line, and de facto annexation of the West Bank.”

"Creating a new reality"

Tamir refuted Netanyahu’s claims about Hamas, saying that the movement “will survive as long as there is no other force capable of ruling Gaza. For such a force to exist, Israel must stop acting with military impulse, begin formulating a political vision, and cooperate with the Palestinian Authority and moderate Arab states, which will lead to the establishment of a civil-security governing mechanism that can govern Gaza on the ‘day after.’ This is the only solution that will not lead to another round of bloodshed in a few years.”

“Israel must return to the negotiating table with moderate Arab states, just as it did during the Abraham Accords,” he continued. “This time, however, such a move must include the Palestinian Authority, with mechanisms to ensure that it becomes a more effective body. As long as Gaza lives under Hamas, it will send one message to the world: We are the fighters against the Zionist occupation.”

"The way to change this is not through more bombing, but by creating a new reality on the ground: infrastructure, an economy, and a different future for the people of Gaza," he added.

The American Jewish leftist official concluded by saying: “Whoever talks today about ‘eliminating Hamas’ while conspiring all the time to create an alternative government in Gaza, is lying brazenly. Israel under Netanyahu will not defeat Hamas, but rather he is using it.”

He stressed: "The only way to break free from the cycle of blood is to stop managing the conflict and work in a way that creates a reality in which Hamas is no longer a relevant party. It is not certain that this can happen under Netanyahu's leadership."

Hundreds of students gathered on the campus of the prestigious Columbia University in New York City on Wednesday, in a demonstration against former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who was on campus to give a speech, calling him a "war criminal."

Student demonstrations have swept across most American universities across the country since Israel began its war on the Gaza Strip, which Israel waged with unprecedented brutality, targeting Palestinian civilians in the wake of the Hamas attack known as “Al-Aqsa Flood” on October 7, 2025 on the Gaza envelope area.

“The decision to host a man with a history of violence and open discrimination sends a message that the university values some voices over others,” a spokesperson for the Columbia Palestine Solidarity Coalition, one of the groups involved in the protest, said in a statement.

A university spokesperson told the campus newspaper, The Columbia Spectator, that officials coordinated with the pro-Israel student branch of Hillel on security preparations for the event, “including regarding any protest activity on campus and to minimize potential disruptions to academic activities.”

It is noteworthy that Bennett did not just boast about killing Palestinians and Arabs, but he previously pledged to do everything in his power to displace Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip, as well as from the occupied West Bank.

Bennett said in 2018, when he was education minister and three years before becoming prime minister, that he would order the army to shoot and kill Palestinian children who breach the border fence with Gaza, saying: “They are not children — they are terrorists.”

In a statement released ahead of his speech, the student committees that organized the protest said they learned of the conversation from a leaked email in which organizers allegedly sought to keep the rally under the radar and urged that the speaker's identity be kept secret.

“The decision to host a man with a history of violence and open discrimination sends a message that the university values some voices over others,” a spokesperson for the Columbia University Palestine Solidarity Coalition, one of the groups participating in the protest, said in a statement.

“They are bombing Israel left and right, they are bypassing Congress and encouraging ethnic cleansing, they are encouraging them to expel people in Gaza. Now, students are facing expulsion from the university,” said one protester.

It is also noteworthy that between October 7, 2023 and January 19, 2025, Israel committed genocide in its war on Gaza, leaving more than 160,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 14,000 missing, with full American support, in terms of weapons, equipment, money and diplomacy.

Police called on protesters to leave the university after announcing a bomb threat on the campus of Barnard College.

After the police demanded that the university be evacuated, the police forces entered and arrested a number of demonstrators.

Earlier on Wednesday, pro-Palestine students gathered at the university library building to protest Bennett's visit, wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and waving the Palestinian flag.

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli authorities' suspension of the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian Gaza Strip during the month of Ramadan.

This was stated by French Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoyne on Thursday, during a press conference held in the capital, Paris.

Lemoine said that France condemned, in a joint statement with Britain, Israel's prevention of aid from entering Gaza.

He added: "We strongly condemn the Israeli government's decision to suspend aid, and we call on Israel to abide by its responsibilities and allow aid to enter the Gaza Strip."

The French Foreign Ministry spokesman pointed out the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, given the catastrophic situation the Palestinians are experiencing there.

Last Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said about stopping the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza: “We decided the day before yesterday (Saturday) to stop the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip.”

Aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of the Strip, and through a crossing or point that Israel created during the genocide war, located northwest of the Strip and called "Zikim", and the Beit Hanoun "Erez" checkpoint in the north of the Strip.

The military spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, confirmed that the Israeli occupation has evaded many of its obligations that are considered basic rights for the Palestinian people, stressing that the resistance has committed to the agreement out of respect for the mediators’ pledges.

Abu Obeida added, in a press statement, that the world has witnessed the good health of the detainees despite the difficulty of preserving their lives in light of the "barbaric war," noting that the occupation is seeking American cover to continue its aggression.

Regarding the occupation's threats to return to fighting, Abu Obeida said that they "will only bring disappointment to it," stressing that the resistance is prepared for all possibilities, and that these threats are "a sign of weakness and a feeling of humiliation."

Abu Obeida accused the occupation leadership of trying to evade the agreement, considering that his prime minister seeks to put his partisan interests above the lives of the detainees.

He also pointed out that the occupation continues to abuse Palestinian prisoners, who tell "horrific testimonies of criminal treatment."

He concluded his statement by saying, "The complex of criminality and sadism is nesting in the mind of the occupier, not only in Gaza, but in Lebanon, Syria, and the entire region," stressing that the resistance will not retreat in the face of the occupation's threats.

This evening, Thursday, the Israeli occupation forces stormed the city of Nablus and raided one of the buildings there.

According to local sources, the occupation forces stormed the Rafidia area, took up positions around the An-Najah National University Academy building, and raided one of the buildings there.

A number of citizens suffocated on Thursday evening, during the Israeli occupation forces' storming of the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem.

According to local sources, the occupation forces stormed Al-Khader, and positioned themselves at the gate area on the main Jerusalem-Hebron road, and fired tear gas canisters at the citizens, which led to a number of them suffocating.

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber flew with the Israeli Air Force and the British Royal Air Force over the eastern Mediterranean (i.e., the beaches and besieged city of Gaza) on Tuesday, March 4, a U.S. Defense Department official confirmed to Air Forces & Space. The sortie marks the third mission by the strategic bomber task force to the Middle East in just the past month.

Armed with heavy bombs, 30,000 pounds, and nuclear weapons, the B-52 bomber took off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, flew over the Mediterranean Sea, and circled off the coast of Israel, flying alongside Israeli Air Force F-35s and F-15s. The mission also involved integration with Royal Air Force fighters. The RAF has fighters based in the Mediterranean supporting missions in the Middle East.

The mission came just two weeks after B-52s “flew multiple missions over the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea without landing,” the Air Force Center said in a Feb. 20 news release. Those missions, which took place over two consecutive days, included dropping live weapons. They also included a rare Feb. 17 flight by two U.S. B-52s accompanied by Iraqi F-16s.

“The bomber task force’s missions demonstrate the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly deploy combat power anywhere in the world and integrate with coalition and partner forces to enhance U.S. Central Command’s ability to promote security and stability in the region,” Air Forces Central said in a press release in February.

All of the bomber group's recent missions to the Middle East were flown by B-52s temporarily based at RAF Fairford. These aircraft belonged to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

Bombers have played an increasingly important role in the Middle East over the past year. “In addition to their active deterrent role, bombers have amplified U.S. strike capabilities against Iranian-backed militias over the past year,” U.S. Air Forces Central Command said last month.

In February 2024, the United States used B-1B Lancer bombers to strike 85 targets in Syria and Iraq in response to the killing of three U.S. Army soldiers at Tower 22 in Jordan in a militia drone attack. The site supports the Tanf garrison just across the border in eastern Syria.

The B-52 strategic bomber was deployed at the height of the Cold War, and can remain airborne for days with aerial refueling. It was used extensively in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and remains the primary bomber in America's strike capabilities.

In October 2024, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber struck Houthi facilities in Yemen. In November 2024, six B-52 bombers deployed to U.S. Central Command for 45 days—the first BUFF deployment to the region since 2019—and participated in airstrikes against ISIS.

On Feb. 27, two B-52s also conducted a simulated weapons drop in Turkey, which, although officially in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, borders Syria, Iraq and Iran, countries covered by U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The BUFF aircraft continued their intensive activity on March 3, operating a BTF mission with Romanian F-16s, Croatian Rafale jets and Bulgarian MiG-29s, according to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).

The B-52 maneuvers over Gaza coincided with Trump's threats to open the gates of hell on Gaza.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means hello and goodbye – you choose. Release all hostages now, not later, and immediately return all bodies of those you have killed, or it’s over for you. Only sick and deranged people keep bodies, and you are sick and deranged! I am sending Israel everything they need to finish the job, and no Hamas member will be safe if you do not do as I say. I just met with your former hostages whose lives were destroyed. This is your final warning! To the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits you, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision. Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later.”

A young man sustained fractures and wounds, today, Thursday, after the Israeli occupation army attacked him, at the entrance to Al-Arroub camp, north of Hebron.

According to local sources, the occupation soldiers assaulted a number of citizens and abused them with rifle butts, while they were trying to enter the camp to reach their homes, which resulted in a young man being injured and suffering fractures in his face and jaws.

He said that the occupation army stormed the camp, spread out in its alleys, and forced shop owners to close their shops, while firing sound bombs and toxic tear gas at citizens' homes.

An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale struck the Gulf of Aqaba, southern Jordan, on Thursday afternoon.

The Jordanian Seismological Observatory Center said in a statement that an earthquake occurred at 14:42 local time (11:42 GMT).

He added that the earthquake was "felt" and occurred 60 km south of the city of Aqaba, at a depth of 19 km.

As of 12:05 (GMT), the Jordanian authorities have not announced any human losses or material damage.

The southern regions of the Kingdom and the Jordan Valley are witnessing seismic activity, the strongest of which was in the city of Aqaba in November 1995, with a magnitude of 7.3 degrees.

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested seven young men and a woman after raiding their homes in Tamoun, south of Tubas.

The director of the Prisoners Club in Tubas, Kamal Bani Odeh, reported that the occupation forces arrested Rashid Burhan Bani Odeh and his two sons, Ahmed and Amjad, the young man Aqab Nidal Bani Odeh, Bassam Muhammad Basharat, Louay Abdul Rahman Basharat, Anas Omar Basharat, in addition to Mrs. Ibtihal Jawdat Bani Odeh, after raiding their homes in the town.

The occupation forces had previously arrested two women and a young man from the town, after raiding their homes in the town.

The occupation is launching a campaign of arrests and field investigations in Tamoun, during the ongoing aggression on the Far'a camp and the town of Tamoun, for three days, and what accompanied it of destroying the infrastructure and citizens' property, and expelling residents from their homes and turning them into military barracks.

China vowed on Thursday to fight a trade war with the United States "to the end" as Washington's tariffs weighed on the global economy and threatened to crimp Beijing's slowing growth.

Beijing set an ambitious annual growth target of around 5% this week, pledging that domestic demand will be the main driver of the economy as an escalating trade standoff with the United States hurts exports.

US President Donald Trump imposed more sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports this week, following a similar move last month. The tariffs are expected to add hundreds of billions of dollars to total trade between the world’s two largest economies.

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao warned that US tariffs threaten to "destabilize the global industrial supply chain and dampen global economic growth."

"If the United States continues on this wrong path, we will fight to the end," he said at a press conference, accusing Washington of "acting unilaterally and bullying."

China's chief economic planner, Zheng Shanjie, admitted that "the uncertainty in the external environment is getting more and more intense."

But he said China had "full confidence" in its ability to meet its growth target this year.

"We have the basic support and guarantee to achieve this year's growth target of around 5 percent," Cheng said, speaking alongside Wang on the sidelines of annual political meetings in Beijing.

"We also face some problems, such as insufficient domestic demand and production and operating difficulties in some industries and companies," he added.

"However, we feel that these difficulties and challenges... can be overcome and resolved," he continued.

China's key growth figures, announced by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday at the Communist Party's annual meeting, were largely in line with a poll of analysts.

But experts say it is ambitious given the scale of China's economic challenges, and they hope officials will announce more economic support this week.

The country will cut interest rates further this year "as appropriate, in light of domestic and international economic and financial conditions," central bank governor Pan Gongsheng said Thursday.

Beijing's central bank cut two key interest rates to historic lows in October.

Finance Minister Lan Fu'an pledged on Thursday to "continue to increase" fiscal spending in 2025, saying it would promote "sustainable and healthy development of the economy and society" in China.

China has been seeking to regain its position since the Corona pandemic, with domestic consumption continuing to decline and the ongoing debt crisis in the huge real estate sector.

Trump's latest round of tariffs has exacerbated the challenges.

Beijing announced on Tuesday that it would take measures in response to the recent increase in customs duties imposed by Washington, and pledged that it would fight a trade war until the "end."

Through these measures, China will impose tariffs of up to 15% on a range of American agricultural products, including soybeans, pork and wheat, starting early next week.

A citizen was killed and others were injured, Thursday evening, when the Israeli occupation forces bombed a gathering of citizens east of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of the Gaza Strip.

Today, Thursday, Israeli occupation bulldozers demolished several houses and burned others in Jenin camp.

Local sources reported that the occupation bulldozers demolished more than four houses since the morning hours in the Al-Faluja and Al-Samran neighborhoods, in the middle of the camp, and paved new roads inside it.

Video clips also showed columns of smoke rising from houses in the camp, as the siege and aggression continued for the 45th consecutive day.

The number of dead in the Gaza Strip has risen to 48,446, and the number of injuries to 111,852, since the beginning of the Israeli occupation aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said that six dead and seven injuries arrived at hospitals in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours.

A number of victims and dead are still under the rubble of destroyed buildings and on the streets, amid attempts to rescue them, but ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them.

The occupation forces launched an aggression on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of tens of thousands of citizens, including about 17,581 children and about 12,048 women, while about 11,000 are still missing under the rubble and on the roads, which led to a 6% decrease in the population of the Gaza Strip by the end of 2024.

About 96% of the Gaza Strip’s population (2.2 million people) face high levels of acute food insecurity until September 2024, and more than 495,000 people (22% of the population) face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 5), some of whom are at risk of death due to malnutrition and food shortages.

Today, Thursday, the Israeli occupation forces continue to close the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing located southeast of the Gaza Strip for the fifth consecutive day.

The Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, decided last Saturday evening to close the border crossings and stop the flow of aid and goods to the Strip, claiming that Hamas refused to extend the first phase of the agreement and respond to the proposal of the US envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff.

As a result of the Israeli decision, the prices of basic goods and materials in the Strip immediately jumped, amid government and international warnings of the return of starvation among the population if the decision to close the crossing remains in effect.

Following the decision to close the border crossings and stop the flow of goods, former and current Israeli officials launched incitement campaigns against the Strip and its residents, most notably the statement of the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and former Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for bombing warehouses containing goods and cutting off electricity and water supplies.