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Israel forced displacement of over quarter-million Palestinians from Gaza City: Report

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

In a statement, the office said more than 900,000 Palestinians remain in Gaza City and northern areas, refusing to leave despite the ongoing destruction and “crimes of permanent forced displacement.”

“While thousands have fled south due to heavy Israeli airstrikes, at least 22,000 have since returned to Gaza City after moving belongings to the south,” it added, citing the absence of basic necessities there.

The office highlighted that the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis and Rafah, promoted by Israel as a “safe humanitarian zone,” has instead been bombed more than 110 times, leaving over 2,000 people dead.

It noted the area lacks hospitals, infrastructure, clean water, food, housing, electricity, and education, making life “almost impossible.”

According to the office, Israel has allocated just 12% of Gaza’s total area as “shelter zones” while attempting to force over 1.7 million people into them, comparing these to “concentration camps” aimed at depopulating Gaza City and the north.

The office condemned Israel’s actions as “a full-fledged war crime and crime against humanity,” blaming “Israel, its ally the US, and other states supporting the war” for the consequences.

It called on the international community, the UN, and international courts to take “serious and effective measures” to halt the crimes, hold Israeli leaders accountable, and guarantee Palestinians’ right to remain in their land with safety and dignity.

Israel has been waging a devastating genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, killing more than 65,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

US senators seek to sanction Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’: FT

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran Oil Tanker

Russia’s shadow fleet has been increasingly targeted by Western sanctions as Ukraine’s international partners seek to limit Russian oil revenues, which help fund Moscow’s war machine.

The shadow fleet includes hundreds of older, often uninsured or poorly maintained tankers. These typically operate under the flags of other countries and have little transparency, making it difficult for regulators to enforce sanctions.

The proposed Shadow Fleets Act, sponsored by U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen, would expand penalties on vessels that have allowed Russia to skirt Western energy restrictions since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Lawmakers said the measure would also target Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and Moscow’s defense industrial base.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin will use every trick in the book to evade U.S. sanctions, and the U.S. is cracking down on this illicit shadow fleet of ships that he uses to fund his war,” Risch announced in a statement.

The bill has support from both Republican and Democratic parties, including President Donald Trump allies Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton, according to the Financial Times.

It follows other recent proposals in Congress to escalate economic pressure on Moscow, including efforts to label Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over its deportation of Ukrainian children.

The push comes as Trump’s diplomacy with Putin has failed to yield results. The U.S. president hosted Putin in Alaska in August, warning of consequences if Moscow rejected a ceasefire deal.

So far, Trump has not imposed any major sanctions on Russia apart from the imposition of a 25% tariff on India in August over its purchases of Russian oil.

The European Union is also moving ahead with new measures. The European Commission proposed on Sept. 19 a sweeping new sanctions package that includes a complete import ban on Russian LNG by 2027, penalties on 118 shadow fleet vessels, and restrictions on Russian banks and third-country traders helping Moscow bypass restrictions.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the package is a response to Moscow’s “contempt for diplomacy and international law” after Russian drones recently violated Polish and Romanian airspace.

Iranian pro-reform activist: Critical week ahead for a compromise before UN sanctions take effect

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Nuclear Negotiations in Vienna

Zeidabadi said on his Telegram channel that the move to bring the vote forward by one week was likely intentional, designed to create a narrow window of opportunity for a potential agreement with Iranian officials during their visit to New York.

He added that reaching a compromise is neither impossible nor excessively costly at this stage.

According to Zeidabadi, once UN sanctions are reinstated, the whole story will change drastically, not only because of the economic consequences but also due to the broader political and diplomatic atmosphere that would engulf Iran.

Zeidabadi voiced hope that President Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation will return from New York with tangible achievements.

He also warned that there is no room for complacency either for hardline supporters of the government or for its sworn opponents.

EU says to target India and China over ‘breaching Russia sanctions’

By
IFP Media Wire
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Member states will now discuss the proposed package, which must be unanimously approved before being adopted.

The new proposed measures, revealed on Friday, extend beyond the bloc to target foreign energy firms, including in China, which are alleged to be “purchasing oil in breach of the sanctions,” the commissioner claimed.

Russia has emerged as one of the largest suppliers of oil to both China and India since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The two countries have pushed back against Western demands to reduce their reliance on Russian crude, citing domestic economic needs and national interests. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western nations against adopting a “colonial” tone toward China and India and trying to “punish” them.

The package also proposes to ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas into EU markets, adds 118 vessels from what Brussels claims is a Russian “shadow fleet” to the blacklist, and places major Russian energy traders Rosneft and Gazpromneft under a full transaction embargo.

Von der Leyen said the measures also seek to close “financial loopholes,” extending transaction bans to more Russian banks as well as lenders in third countries. For the first time, EU sanctions will also cover cryptocurrency platforms, blocking digital transactions. She added that foreign banks tied to Russian “alternative payment systems,” along with entities in special economic zones, will also face restrictions.

The EC is “in parallel” working on a new solution to finance Ukraine, “based on immobilized Russian assets,” von der Leyen continued.

“With the cash balances linked to these assets, we can provide Ukraine with a reparations loan,” she stated, adding that “The assets themselves will not be touched, and the risk will be carried collectively.”

Von der Leyen said the 19th package of measures against Moscow was drawn up in response to an escalation in the Ukraine conflict, citing missile strikes on Kiev and alleged Russian drone incursions into Poland and Romania. Moscow has dismissed the accusations as “unfounded.”

“We’re increasing the pressure. With our 19th package of sanctions covering energy, financial services and trade restrictions,” von der Leyen stated.

 

President Pezeshkian: Europe, US Cannot Stop Iran through snapback

By
IFP Media Wire
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In his first reaction to Europe and its allies’ attempts to reinstate UN sanctions, President Pezeshkian said: “They try to close paths, but minds and ideas either find a way or create one.”

He added that while these countries may be able to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, Iranian scientists will rebuild them — and create even more advanced ones.

The United Nations Security Council has voted not to permanently lift economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

A resolution on Friday to block the sanctions fell in the Security Council by a vote of four to nine, meaning sanctions will return by September 28 if no significant deal is reached beforehand.

Iran has condemned the move, spearheaded by the E3 – Germany, the UK, and France- supported by the US, as politically-motivated.

Trump confirms US ‘making money’ from Ukraine war

By
IFP Media Wire
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US Weapons

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump praised the deal he signed in July under which the US sells weapons to fellow NATO members, which then deliver them to Ukraine.

“We’re not spending any more on the war. You know, we’re being paid for everything we’ve sent, unlike Biden. He gave them $350 billion, and it was shocking,” Trump said, stressing that “the war is being funded by NATO.”

“In fact, I don’t want to make money on that war, but we are actually making money on that war because they are buying our equipment, as you know,” the president added.

Trump has frequently criticized former US President Joe Biden for approving large military aid packages for Kiev and described President Volodymyr Zelensky as “the greatest salesman on earth.” He also insisted that NATO members in Europe should bear the primary burden of supporting Ukraine.

The US president reopened direct negotiations with Russia earlier this year but recently acknowledged that mediating an end to the conflict has been more difficult than he initially anticipated.

Moscow has maintained that no amount of Western weapons could deter its army from victory, arguing that the NATO countries are de facto participants in the conflict.

 

Iran makes wrestling history with dual world titles

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The Iranian Greco-Roman team secured its title two days before the end of the World Championships, currently hosted in Croatia.

Despite the competition still underway, Iran’s commanding lead over second-placed Georgia made the outcome decisive.

On the second day of Greco-Roman matches on Friday, Iran clinched two gold medals and one silver, further widening its advantage.

On Saturday, Mohammad Hadi Saravi is set to compete in the final, while Danial Sohrabi will wrestle for bronze.

Iran entered Saturday’s bouts with 80 points, 35 points clear of Georgia, before guaranteeing the championship following a Georgian wrestler’s loss in the 63kg category.

The Iranian freestyle team had already sealed victory earlier in the week.

This double triumph marks the first time in history that Iran has captured world titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at the same event.

Russia refutes violating Estonian airspace

By
IFP Media Wire
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Estonia’s military reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets breached its airspace near Vaindloo Island in the Baltic Sea. The planes reportedly remained in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes before being intercepted by NATO aircraft.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its aircraft never entered Estonian airspace.

“On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad Region,” the ministry said.

“The flight was conducted in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring. During the flight, the Russian aircraft did not deviate from the agreed-upon route and did not violate Estonian airspace. The aircraft’s flight route took them over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, more than three kilometers from the island of Vaindlo.”

The ministry did not provide evidence to support the claim or cite the “objective monitors” mentioned in their statement.

Following the reported incursion, Estonia summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires and issued Moscow a formal protest note. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the violation “unprecedentedly brazen.”

European and NATO officials also condemned the breach.

In response to the airspace violation, Estonia has invoked NATO’s Article 4, requesting consultations with allies regarding the escalated security threat.

Russia also denied responsibility for violating Polish airspace during a mass attack against Ukraine overnight on Sept. 10. The incursion forced Poland to shoot down Russian drones, the first time NATO forces have directly engaged Russian military assets during the full-scale war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia’s escalations and continued airspace violations are part of a “a systematic Russian campaign” against Europe, NATO, and the West.

Criminal complaint filed against German Chancellor, FM for aiding Israel’s genocide in Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

During a Berlin press conference, lawyer Nadija Samour from the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) announced that their criminal complaint also names former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as accomplices.

“The genocide against the Palestinian people has been live-streamed for almost two years. It is now time for justice and accountability,” she stated, pointing out that current and previous government officials are complicit in genocide, primarily through their approval of weapons exports that were used against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The complaint specifically accused seven current and former government officials, including current Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who, as members of Germany’s Federal Security Council, approved arms exports to Israel despite international warnings about war crimes and ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza.

The previous German coalition government, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, approved over €485 million (approximately $570 million) in arms and military equipment between October 2023 and May 2025.

The new coalition government headed by conservative Merz, which took office in May, continued this policy, approving additional arms shipments to Israel worth nearly €4 million ($4.7 million) in its first month in office and through June 10, 2025, according to official figures.

While Merz announced last month that Berlin will no longer approve new weapon exports that can be used in Gaza, he did not pledge to stop the delivery of weapons and equipment that were already approved before.

In the criminal complaint filed with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, top managers of several German weapons companies were also accused of aiding and abetting Israel’s crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza.

The complaint named the previous and current CEOs of German armaments company RENK Group AG, which manufactures components, including spare parts for Israeli Merkava tanks. Also included were top executives from Rolls-Royce’s Solutions, which produces diesel engines for Israel’s battle tanks, and Dynamit Nobel Defence, which manufactures anti-tank weapons reportedly used in Gaza.

 

US plans $6bn in new weapons sales to Israel: WSJ

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Army

The proposed sales include a deal worth $3.8 billion for 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters and a $1.9 billion deal for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles for the Israeli army, the WSJ said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The weapons likely would not be delivered for two to three years, the WSJ cited one person.

The arms would be paid for by US-provided foreign military financing, according to the documents reviewed by the journal.

Citing people familiar with the issue, the report added the State Department is seeking the approval of the four top Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The proposed arms sales were first sent to congressional leaders about a month ago, before Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, according to the report.

The administration has continued to seek approval for the sales since the Israeli attack, the people stated, per the report.

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