Author: Anadolu Agency

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called Monday for massive destruction in the West Bank cities of Nablus and Jenin as the case in Jabalia in northern Gaza. “Funduq, Nablus, and Jenin must look like Jabalia,” Smotrich said. His call came after three illegal Israeli settlers were killed in a shooting attack in the village of Funduq in the central West Bank. The extremist minister called for an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss what he called “a change in Israel’s approach” in the occupied West Bank. Jabalia was reduced to ruins amid Israel’s massive offensive in northern Gaza, which Tel…

Illegal Israeli settlers blocked the convoy of Palestinian Local Government Minister Sami Hijjawi on Monday in Masafer Yatta, south of the West Bank city of Hebron. A statement by the Local Government Ministry said the minister’s vehicle was stopped by settlers dressed in military uniform. No further details were provided by the ministry. The incident followed calls by illegal settlers to launch attacks against Palestinians in retaliation to a shooting attack that left three settlers dead in the northern West Bank. According to media reports, illegal settlers blocked several roads between the cities of Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarem, and Jenin, attacking…

Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday agreed to further boost economic, political, and cultural ties. This came during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Pakistan’s city of Rahim Yar Khan, where the latter arrived on his private visit. The two leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including economic collaboration, regional stability, climate change, and the promotion of mutual interests on the global stage, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. Sharif underscored Pakistan’s readiness to expand cooperation in sectors such as renewable…

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed that the US will impose ‘full sanctions’ on the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), a company largely owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom Neft. In an interview with Serbia’s Radio and Television (RTS), Vucic addressed ongoing concerns about possible US sanctions, confirming that they are expected to take effect in mid-January. According to him, the sanctions are not connected to Russia’s military activities or financial matters but appear to be aimed at pressuring Serbia to align more closely with US policies. Vucic pointed to two key uncertainties regarding the sanctions: whether they will target…

Billionaire Elon Musk confirmed Saturday that Starlink applied to launch internet services in Pakistan but was “waiting for approval from the government.” It is in response to a post by a Pakistani netizen, Sanam Jamali, who said Starlink internet services could “leap” Pakistan “into the future, where every citizen has the chance to connect and grow.” “Please, let Starlink be our bridge to tomorrow,” Jamali urged the billionaire, who also owns the electric vehicle company, Tesla. Later, in a second post tagging Musk, Jamali claimed Pakistan had “approved Starlink!” “Now is the perfect time to bring your transformative internet service…

An Israeli soldier accused of committing war crimes during the Gaza war has fled Brazil where authorities were pressing for an investigation, local media said on Sunday. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgium-based organization advocating for justice for Palestinian victims, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said. According to Israeli Channel 12, the complaint includes over 500 pages of evidence, including videos, geolocation data, and open-source intelligence, linking the soldier to destruction in Gaza. HRF called for the soldier’s immediate detention to prevent his escape or the destruction of evidence, the channel…

At least two Palestinians were killed and several others injured in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, medics said. The Civil Defense Agency said the body of a Palestinian was recovered and several people were injured after an Israeli strike that reduced a home to rubble in the southern city of Khan Younis. Another Palestinian was killed in Israeli bombardment in the northern town of Jabalia, a medical source said. Artillery shelling also targeted northwestern Rafah in southern Gaza and the western and northern parts of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, witnesses said. No information about…

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will pay a visit to Türkiye on Monday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler and head of the Turkish Intelligence Organization İbrahim Kalın will hold a 3+3 format meeting with the Jordanian delegation. Jordanian Chief of Staff Major General Yousef Huneiti, and head of Intelligence Department Major General Ahmad Husni will also visit Ankara tomorrow, according to diplomatic sources. GAZA, SYRIA WILL BE DISCUSSED During the meeting, the diplomatic sources said, Fidan is expected to discuss Türkiye’s cooperation with Jordan…

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned on Saturday that his group’s patience “might run out” over Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement. Addressing critics of Hezbollah’s silence on Israel’s violations of the cease-fire agreement, Qassem said in a televised speech that the group’s leadership “is the one that decides when to resist, how to resist, the method of resistance, and the weapons to use.” Warning further, he said: “Our patience (regarding these violations) might run out … and when we decide to act, you will see it immediately.” In this context, Qassem said that the cease-fire agreement “exclusively applies to the…

Lebanese authorities reported on Saturday 12 more Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement that was meant to end hostilities between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group on Nov. 27. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the violations occurred in the districts of Marjayoun, Nabatieh, and Bint Jbeil in the Nabatieh Governorate, as well as in the Tyre district in the South Governorate. In the Marjayoun district, Israeli military personnel advanced toward the town of Burj Al-Muluk and stationed near the Farah gas station before blocking the road with barbed wire. Israeli incursions were also observed in the area…