Saturday, April 18, 2026

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WHO warns Gaza hospitals at ‘breaking point’ as death toll tops 1,500

The World Health Organization has called for immediate humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, cautioning Israel’s blockade and bombardment of Gaza have left the coastal enclave’s health system at a “breaking point”.

Iran rejects US media reports over unblocked assets in Qatar

Nour News, which is affiliated to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has rejected a US media report that Tehran had been barred from accessing its $6 billion funds recently unfrozen and transferred to Qatari banks.

Iran’s FM due in Iraq on Thursday

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is slated to travel to Baghdad for talks with the senior Iraqi officials.

It’s too early to exchange Israeli hostages: Senior Hamas official

Izzat al-Risheq, a senior official of the Palestinian resistance group of Hamas, has stated that it's too early to exchange Israeli hostages while the Zionist regime continues to strike Gaza.

Hamas video shows release of female hostage, two children

The Qassem Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, has released a video appearing to show the release of a female captive and two children.

Dozens of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers, settlers in West Bank, East Jerusalem: Health ministry

Violence has risen in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since Israel declared its war on Hamas and continued to strike Gaza on Saturday, leaving a total of 29 Palestinians dead and 150 injured, the Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday evening.

Many Lebanese flee southern towns as Cross-border tensions rise

Cross-border violence between Lebanon and Israel has escalated, pushing many Lebanese in the southern towns to leave as Hezbollah and the Israeli military continue to trade fire.

Palestine sounds alarm over ‘genocide’ in Gaza

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has warned of the risk of “manifestations of genocide” in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli raids on the besieged enclave.

Israeli PM, opposition leader to form emergency unity gov’t

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz agreed to form an emergency unity government. The two leaders have agreed to form a so-called war cabinet comprising Netanyahu, Gantz and the Minister of Military Affairs Yoav Gallant.

Hamas says it ‘does not target children’

The Palestinian group Hamas has said it “does not target children”, adding that Western media should be accurate and “not blindly side with the Zionist narrative, which is full of lies and slander”. It was alleged that Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, "beheaded many Israeli babies" on the Israeli side during Saturday attack launched from Gaza.

Palestine reports Israeli use of banned white phosphorus in Gaza

Palestine's foreign ministry says Israel used banned white phosphorus during its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

Israeli minister calls for Sderot residents to be armed

Israel’s national security minister has called for the residents of Sderot, one of the first cities to be attacked by Hamas fighters on Saturday, to be armed.

Int’l humanitarian law prohibits siege of Gaza: UN rights commissioner

The imposition of sieges that endanger civilians by depriving them of essential goods “is prohibited under international humanitarian law”, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), has stated.

UN says to investigate ‘war crimes’ by Israel and Hamas

The Unites Nations has announced an investigation into potential war crimes committed during the latest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The international body says it has “clear evidence” of serious violations by both sides, calling on them to adhere to international human rights law.

Israel-Palestine conflict: Gaza Strip’s sole power plant shuts down as Israel cuts supplies

Palestinian group, Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, has announced the start of military the operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. Thousands of rockets have been fired from the blockaded enclave towards the occupied territories as far away as Tel Aviv, killing over 1,200 Israelis, including both military and settlers. More than 1,100 Palestinians have been so far killed in an exchange of fire between the two sides.

US aircraft carrier’s arrival could lead to Gaza massacre: Erdogan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the United States for moving a carrier strike group closer to Israel, warning that it would commit "serious massacres" in the Gaza Strip.

Putin blames US for Israeli-Hamas conflict

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East triggered by the surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas into Israel is a testament to Washington’s inability to resolve conflicts, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Nearly two dozen killed in Turkish air raids in Syria

Turkish air strikes in northern Syria targeting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed at least 20 people on Monday, a war monitor has announced.

Hamas says will not negotiate on hostages under Israeli bombardment

The Palestinian movement of Hamas will not negotiate on the issue of hostages while under Israeli fire, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for the movement’s military wing al-Qassam Brigades, said in a video statement.

Hezbollah targets Israel’s military posts after 3 fighters killed in shelling

The Lebanese Hezbollah movement announced it has struck two Israeli military posts in the northern part of the occupied territories in response to Tel Aviv's aggression in South Lebanon, which left three of its fighters dead.

Palestinian president calls on UN to intervene against Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged the United Nations to take immediate action against the continued “Israeli aggression” against Palestinians in the Gaza Srtip.

Turkey’s lira hits new all-time low

The Turkish currency continued to decline, falling below 28 lira against the US dollar, marking its lowest level on record. The currency is down more than 50% against the greenback so far this year.

Israel-Palestine conflict: Rockets fired from Gaza, Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territories

Palestinian group, Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, has announced the start of military the operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. Thousands of rockets have been fired from the blockaded enclave towards the occupied territories as far away as Tel Aviv, killing over 900 Israelis, including both military and settlers. More than 800 Palestinians have been so far killed in an exchange of fire between the two sides.

Afghanistan quake death toll nears 2,500

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Afghanistan on Saturday has risen to 2,445 while more than 9,200 people have been injured, the Xinhua news agency reported. According to the outlet, 13 villages in the Zanda Jan district of Herat have been completely wiped out and many victims remain trapped under the rubble.

Pakistan plan for mass deportations of migrants draws UN criticism

The United Nations has warned Islamabad that its plans for the “phased and orderly” mass deportations of migrants, including up to 1.7 million Afghans, could threaten their safety after Pakistan announced a crackdown on people living in the country illegally.

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