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EU proposes suspension of trade concessions with Israel over war in Gaza

European Union Flag

The sanctions, however, do not currently have enough support among the EU’s 27 member countries to pass. The proposals announced on Wednesday also included suggested sanctions on “extremist” Israeli ministers and violent settlers as well as on Hamas.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, urged the member nations to increase tariffs on some Israeli goods and impose sanctions on 10 Hamas leaders, Israeli settlers, and two far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The commission also said it was pausing its bilateral support to Israel with the exception of support to civil society and Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

“The proposals follow a review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the Agreement, which found that actions taken by the Israeli government represent a breach of essential elements relating to respect for human rights and democratic principles. This entitles the EU to suspend the Agreement unilaterally,” the commission added.

“Specifically, this breach refers to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following the military intervention of Israel, the blockade of humanitarian aid, the intensifying of military operations and the decision of the Israeli authorities to advance the settlement plan in the so-called E1 area of the West Bank, which further undermines the two-state solution,” it noted.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis must stop. There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, unrestrained access for all humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.”

“Reflecting these principled commitments and taking into account serious recent developments in the West Bank, we propose to suspend trade concessions with Israel, sanction extremist ministers and violent settlers, and put bilateral support to Israel on hold without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem,” von der Leyen added.

Late last month, foreign ministers from across the EU tussled in Denmark’s Copenhagen over what action to take in response to Israel’s punishing war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and heavy crackdown in the occupied West Bank as the bloc’s aid chief urged them to “find a strong voice that reflects our values and principles”.

Growing numbers of protesters have taken to the streets across Europe in recent months to demand action from their governments to pressure Israel to end its war on Gaza, which a United Nations inquiry on Tuesday found to be genocide.

But the EU so far has failed to agree on a unified course of action to pressure Israel to end its bombardment and blockade of Gaza.

Some member states such as Spain and Ireland have called for economic curbs and an arms embargo against Israel while others, including Germany and Hungary, have pushed back against efforts to sanction the Israeli government.

American judge orders deportation of activist Mahmoud Khalil to Syria, Algeria

Court documents, revealed on Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), showed that Louisiana immigration Judge Jamee Comans issued the ruling on September 12, accusing Khalil of failing to disclose key information when he applied and secured lawful permanent residency in the US.

Khalil, a native of Syria and an Algerian citizen of Palestinian origin, has previously stated that he fears being targeted by Israel for his activism if he is deported to either country.

Judge Comans claimed that Khalil did not disclose his ties to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest, an activist group which advocates for an economic boycott of Israel, on his green card application, describing it as a “lack of candor” by the applicant.

“This Court finds that Respondent wilfully misrepresented material fact(s) for the sole purpose of circumventing the immigration process and reducing the likelihood his applications could be denied,” Comans said.

Khalil’s lawyers responded, saying that they intend to appeal the deportation order, and pointed to a federal district court’s order earlier this year prohibiting the government from immediately deporting or detaining Khalil as his federal court case proceeds.

Khalil’s legal team now has 30 days from the day of the deportation ruling, on September 12, to appeal against the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals. His lawyers noted that they expect the appeal process to be swift and their attempt unsuccessful, as noncitizens are “almost never” granted stays of removal.

US immigration agents first arrested Khalil – a former graduate student at Columbia University in New York – on March 8 after showing up at his student apartment building on campus in the city.

The arrest was part of a wider crackdown on pro-Palestine activism on college campuses across the US, which saw several overseas students detained and deported while universities were hit with federal funding cuts by Trump over alleged anti-Semitic activities.

Authorities held Khalil at an immigration detention centre in Louisiana for three months until he was released in June following a ruling by US District Judge Michael Farbiarz that his detention was unconstitutional.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and law enforcement officials had repeatedly portrayed Khalil’s peaceful activism as anti-Jewish and supportive of Hamas, but they failed to provide any evidence backing their allegations.

Farbiarz ruled that the Trump administration was likely violating Khalil’s right to free speech by detaining and attempting to deport him under a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows the removal of foreign nationals who bear “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”.

The White House has been relentless in its attempts to deport Khalil, pivoting more recently to the alleged violations of his green card application.

Khalil’s lawyers expressed concern following the deportation ruling that the “only meaningful impediment” to their client’s deportation was now the “important order prohibiting removal” issued by Judge Farbiarz.

In a statement published by the ACLU on Wednesday, Khalil also accused the Trump administration of using “fascist tactics” to retaliate against him for his “exercise of free speech”.

“When their first effort to deport me was set to fail, they resorted to fabricating baseless and ridiculous allegations in a bid to silence me for speaking out and standing firmly with Palestine, demanding an end to the ongoing genocide [in Gaza],” Khalil stressed.

Gaza death toll surges past 65,000

Gaza War

In its daily update, the ministry reported 98 deaths and 385 injuries in the past 24 hours alone. It warned the figures remain incomplete, as many victims are still trapped under rubble or on roads that rescue teams cannot reach.

Since Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on March 18, at least 12,511 people have been killed and 53,656 wounded, according to the ministry.

The statement added Israeli forces continued to target Palestinians seeking food aid, with seven people killed and 87 injured in the past day. This brought the total number of aid seekers killed to 2,504, with over 18,381 injured since May 27.

The ministry also confirmed four deaths from famine and malnutrition in the past day, raising the toll since October 2023 to 432, including 146 children.

Since famine was formally declared in Gaza last month, 154 such deaths have been recorded, among them 31 children.

Israel has sealed Gaza’s crossings since March 2, preventing food and aid trucks from entering despite hundreds waiting at the border. The move has exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave, leaving residents without access to basic supplies.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

Iran’s health minister: Sanctions cause more deaths than wars

Iran Hospital Surgery Doctor Nurse

Speaking on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the 17th National Olympiad of Medical Students in Tehran, he spoke about a study published in The Lancet about sanctions in 150 countries between 1971 and 2021.

The minister said sanctions result in about 564,000 deaths each year, largely due to shortages of food and medicine.

The health minister also pointed to challenges such as population decline and air pollution. According to him, around 50,000 Iranians die annually from air pollution, while 700,000 children worldwide lose their lives for the same reason.
He called on universities and students to focus on solutions.

Samineh Baghcheban, founder of deaf education institutions, dies at 97

Born on March 24, 1927, in Tabriz, Ms. Baghcheban was the daughter of Jabbar Baghcheban, the pioneer of deaf education in Iran. Baghcheban authored acclaimed children’s books such as “The Wooden Bridge” and “Nowruz and Kites”, both recognized by the Children’s Book Council of Iran.

She also translated and produced materials in sign language and promoted folklore for deaf children.

A graduate of Columbia University in deaf education and speech therapy, Ms. Baghcheban played a key role in teacher training and curriculum development. Her funeral is expected to be held in Tehran on Thursday.

Two smugglers killed in police operation in Iran’s northeast

Iran Police

Through intelligence efforts and a joint operation by the anti-narcotics police of South Khorasan province and the 102nd special forces unit in Dehkhod, which took place on Wednesday morning near the Halvan police station in the Tabas county, two armed criminals and smugglers were killed, and one other was injured; this was reported by the spokesperson of the Police Force, Brigadier General Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi.

Following the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Police Force, Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan, a large-scale operation against criminal and terrorist elements has been initiated.

The identification and elimination of eight terrorists involved in the terrorist incident in Iranshahr, located in southeastern Iran, and the discovery of a workshop for producing explosives and suicide vests are among the recent operations by the Police Force in combating terrorist groups in the past weeks.

Brigadier General Montazer al-Mahdi stated that during this operation, in addition to seizing quantities of various drugs and military weapons and ammunition, several vehicles and motorcycles left behind by the criminals were also discovered and confiscated, and that the agents are currently in the process of clearing the area.

Ukraine’s Zelensky ready to meet Russia’s Putin without preconditions except one

Putin and Zelensky

Putin has said he is ready in principle to meet Zelensky and suggested talks in Moscow, which Kiev rejected as “deliberately unacceptable.”

At the same time, Putin has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy and whether talks with him would be “meaningful.” Zelensky’s term expired in May 2024, but he has refused to hold elections, citing martial law.

Trump has been pushing for direct talks between Zelensky and Putin and previously claimed that he would need to “intervene” personally to bring them together.

In an interview with Sky News released on Tuesday, Zelensky said he is “ready to meet with President Trump and Putin trilaterally or bilaterally … without any kind of conditions.”

Asked whether he was prepared to travel to Moscow for talks at Putin’s invitation, Zelensky stated no, calling it the capital of the country that “attacked” Ukraine.

Trump suggested holding a one-on-one meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders first to allow them to exchange views directly before moving on to a broader summit.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said direct talks between Russia and Ukraine remain possible but are now “paused.” He noted negotiators can use existing channels, though no meetings are planned.

The Foreign Ministry announced a Putin-Zelensky summit could happen only once a proper agenda is set, while Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov added that it would require a “reasonable response” from Kiev to Moscow’s proposals.

Trump administration approves first Ukraine weapons aid funded by NATO allies: Reuters

The aid will be the first use of the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a mechanism developed by NATO members and the United States to coordinate and fund Kyiv’s most urgent battlefield needs.

The shipments, valued at up to $500 million each, were cleared by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, according to Reuters. The packages could ship “soon” as Washington is resuming arms deliveries to Ukraine, this time financed by allied governments.

Through PURL, allies pool contributions to buy American weapons, munitions, and equipment from U.S. stockpiles. The initiative could ultimately provide as much as $10 billion worth of weaponry, according to the sources cited by Reuters.

Since taking office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has sold weapons to Ukraine or shipped deliveries authorized under former U.S. President Joe Biden. The new mechanism marks the first aid packages initiated during Trump’s second term.

“It’s the stuff they’ve been asking for. A lot of stuff,” one source reportedly said.

In August, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine aims to secure at least $1 billion a month from its allies to purchase American-made weapons.

The plan also calls for a $50 billion partnership with Ukrainian companies to produce drones and includes at least 10 U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems.

US pressuring other states not to support Tehran’s IAEA resolution: Iran envoy

IAEA

The draft, submitted by Iran and five other nations to the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calls for a ban on any attack or threat against nuclear sites under the IAEA Safeguards.

Reza Najafi said on Tuesday that the US has no valid argument against the resolution, which is rooted in longstanding international norms, including UN Security Council Resolution 487, which condemned Israel’s 1981 strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor.

He added the resolution’s principles align with the UN Charter, the IAEA Statute, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and have previously been endorsed at NPT review conferences.

Najafi also noted that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, though inadequately, affirmed that no attack should occur under any circumstances.

He warned that attacks on facilities containing nuclear material could have devastating environmental and public health consequences.

The resolution comes in the wake of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran in June, which targeted the country’s nuclear facilities.

Iran says the attacks on its safeguarded nuclear facilities have endangered personnel, nuclear material security, the environment, and the credibility of the non-proliferation regime.

Iran has sought international support for the resolution, with its ambassadors meeting foreign ministries in various capitals, and similar consultations taking place in Tehran.

Despite broad agreement on the resolution’s principles, Najafi said political pressure has led some countries to withhold support. So far, only five nations, in addition to Iran, have endorsed the draft.

The Iranian envoy added that it remains unclear how far the US pressure will influence the final vote, which is scheduled for September 18.

He said reason dictates support for the resolution, though reason does not always prevail in international politics.

Najafi cited two years of Israeli crimes against the Palestinians, particularly women and children, that have gone unaddressed by the international community.

He criticized the post-WWII international system for concentrating power in the hands of a few states, citing the US veto in the Security Council as a barrier to even basic ceasefire resolutions.

Iran, along with Belarus, China, Russia, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, has submitted the draft resolution to the IAEA General Conference.

It stresses the need to prohibit any attack or threat against peaceful nuclear facilities under the IAEA Safeguards, considering such actions a serious violation of international law and a threat to global peace and security.

The 69th IAEA General Conference opened on Monday and will run until September 19.

Russia warns oil producers of possible output cuts after Ukrainian drone attacks: Reuters

The warning comes as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in an effort to undermine the Kremlin’s war effort and revenues.

Ukrainian forces have targeted at least 10 refineries since last year, reducing Russia’s refining capacity by almost a fifth at one point, according to Reuters.

Transneft, which handles more than 80% of Russia’s crude output, has restricted firms’ ability to store oil in its pipelines and warned it may have to accept less oil if infrastructure sustains further damage, Reuters reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has described drone strikes on Russian energy assets as “the sanctions that work the fastest.” Kyiv maintains that oil facilities are legitimate military targets, as they finance and fuel Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

Russia’s oil and gas sector has long been its most important source of state revenue, providing between a third and half of the federal budget. The country has managed to redirect much of its crude to Asian buyers despite Western sanctions, but recurring drone strikes have forced suspensions, disrupted exports, and deepened domestic fuel shortages.

In the past week, Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s largest oil-loading port of Primorsk, temporarily halting operations, and hit the Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast, one of the country’s biggest, with an annual processing capacity of 60 million tons.

The Kirishi site had previously been targeted in March, Ukraine’s military intelligence announced.