Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Media Wire

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.

Putin says Iran discussing gas supplies with Russia

Tehran is discussing the possibility of Russian gas supplies with Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said at the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week.

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.

Putin says US policy in Middle East ‘obviously failed’

The US abandoned international instruments and proposed its own solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has now been exposed as a complete failure, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated.

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.

Nigeria’s prominent Shia cleric arrives in Iran

Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has arrived in Tehran as part of his second foreign visit after the termination of his home arrest by the Nigerian government.

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.

Iran says ready to host OIC extraordinary meeting on Palestine

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Permanent Mission in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah has sent an official letter to the secretariat of the organization, announcing Tehran’s readiness to host an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the organization on Palestine.

Hamas rejects Biden’s remarks on Israel

Hamas firmly rejected US President Joe Biden’s remarks on Israel, calling it an inflammatory statement that aims to “escalate the tension by the barbaric Zionist regime against the Palestinian people,” according to a written statement.

US aircraft carrier arrives in eastern Mediterranean

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to “deter any actor” looking to escalate or widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the administration of US President Joe Biden has announced.

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.

No evidence of direct Iran role in Hamas military operation: Pentagon

The United States has no evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said, noting however that Tehran has backed the group for years.

Americans amongst Hamas captives: Biden

US President Joe Biden has confirmed that Americans are among the captives held by the Palestinian group Hamas without specifying the number. He also announced that 14 US citizens have been killed in the recent Hamas attack on Israel.

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.

UK says waving Palestinian flag could be an offence

The UK government has urged police chiefs to consider whether waving a Palestinian flag could be a criminal offence in the wake of calls by senior figures for people deemed to have expressed support for Hamas, to be prosecuted.

EU opposes total siege of Gaza: Borrell

The European Union foreign ministers have urged Israel not to cut "water, food, or electricity" to Gaza and called for humanitarian corridors for those trying to flee the territory, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has stated.

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.

No “formal proof” of Iranian involvement in Hamas attacks: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Tuesday that he has no “formal proof” of Iranian support for Hamas’ military operation against Israel.

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.

US says does not have “direct information” linking Iran to Hamas attacks on Israel

US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer has reiterated that while Washington believes Tehran is “broadly complicit” in Hamas military operation against Israel, the US does not at this time have “direct information” linking Iran to the raids.

EU says not to suspend aid payments to Palestinians

The European Union will not suspend aid payments to the Palestinian Authority, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has stated, contradicting an earlier announcement by Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.

Biden may ask US Congress for more funding to support Ukraine, Israel: WH

The administration of US President Joe Biden may ask the Congress to approve additional funding to better support Israel and Ukraine at the same time, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby has stated.

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