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Israel’s Gaza aid drops are ‘a smokescreen’: UN

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

The official dismissed the tactic as ineffective and urged Israel to lift its blockade of the densely populated enclave.

His remarks came after the UN’s food aid program reported that 90,000 Palestinian women and children are suffering from malnutrition.

“Gaza airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction and screensmoke,” Lazzarini wrote on X on Saturday.

He called on Israel to “lift the siege” and guarantee safe access for humanitarian workers.

“At UNRWA, we have the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan and Egypt waiting for the green light to get into Gaza,” he wrote.

“Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper, and safer. It’s more dignified for the people of Gaza,” he added.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had dropped seven pallets containing flour, sugar, canned food, and other supplies. The army pledged to provide safe passage for UN aid convoys and said “local humanitarian pauses” could be implemented.

A video posted on social media reportedly shows desperate Palestinians fighting over food.

The UN, relief groups, and several European governments have stepped up criticism of Israel in recent weeks, as the death toll in Gaza approaches 60,000.

US President Donald Trump told reporters earlier this week that Israel would have to “get rid” of Hamas in Gaza, after ceasefire talks once again stalled.

Syria, Israel hold talks over conflict in Suwayda

By
IFP Media Wire
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The meeting on Saturday was held to address recent security developments around the southern Druze-majority city of Suwayda, which has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent weeks between Bedouins and Druze fighters.

Israel intervened in the conflict, striking government buildings in Damascus and government soldiers in Suwayda province, saying it was doing so to protect the Druze.

The Syrian official told Al Jazeera Arabic that Damascus’s delegation at the Paris meeting emphasised that the unity and sovereignty of Syria are nonnegotiable and Suwayda and its people are an integral part of Syria. It also rejected any attempt to exploit segments of Syrian society for partition, the official added.

The source stated that the Syrian delegation held Israel responsible for the recent escalation and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the points they had recently advanced to during the unrest.

Syria’s state-run Ekhbariya TV, quoting its own diplomatic source, reported that the meeting did not result in any final agreements but the parties had agreed to continue talks aimed at maintaining stability.

The TV source described the dialogue as “honest and responsible” in the first confirmation from the Syrian side that talks had taken place.

On Friday, US envoy Tom Barrack said officials from both sides spoke about de-escalating the situation in Syria during talks on Thursday.

Hundreds of people have been reported killed in the fighting in Suwayda, which also drew in government forces. Israel, which carried out air strikes, during this month’s violence, has regularly struck Syria and launched incursions into its territory since longtime former President Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December.

Last week’s fighting stressed the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilising Syria and maintaining centralised rule.

Syria’s government announced a week ago that Bedouin fighters had been cleared out of Suwayda and government forces were deployed to oversee their exit from the entire province.

The announcement came after al-Sharaa ordered a new ceasefire between Bedouin and Druze groups after a separate US-brokered deal to avert further Israeli military attacks on Syria.

The diplomatic source, who spoke to Ekhbariya TV, said the meeting on Saturday involved initial consultations aimed at “reducing tensions and opening channels of communication amid an ongoing escalation since early December”.

Israel to start humanitarian pause in Gaza early Sunday: Report

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

“The Israeli government announced a humanitarian pause from 10 a.m. on Sunday until the evening in several humanitarian centers across the Gaza Strip,” according to Channel 12.

The broadcaster cited a senior unnamed official who said a meeting was held between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and top security officials, during which it was decided to begin a “humanitarian pause” in Gaza.

The source did not specify the hours during which the pause would end, nor the exact areas it would cover.

The Israeli army also announced its intention to “open humanitarian corridors” to facilitate UN and relief organizations’ convoys, claiming a readiness for “humanitarian pauses” in densely populated areas.

Since May 27, Israel has launched a separate aid distribution initiative through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), bypassing the UN and international humanitarian agencies. The move has been widely rejected by the global relief community. The GHF is supported by the US.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to open fire on Palestinians gathered near distribution centers, killing hundreds.

Gaza’s hunger crisis has spiraled into a humanitarian catastrophe. Harrowing footage shows severely emaciated residents, some reduced to skin and bone, collapsing from exhaustion, dehydration and prolonged starvation.

Gaza’s Health Ministry announced Saturday that five more Palestinians, including two children, have died from hunger and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll since October 2023 to 127, including 85 children.

On Tuesday, the World Food Program warned that one in every three people in Gaza had gone without food for several days due to the ongoing Israeli blockade.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.

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.

Iranian Deputy FM: Messages being exchanged with US via mediators

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran US Flags

Takhte Ravanchi stressed that despite ongoing negotiations, Iran was targeted by attacks, first by the Zionist regime and then by the US.

“These strikes took place in the middle of diplomatic efforts and it was a betrayal of diplomacy, an assault on diplomacy”, he said.

Takhte Ravanchi stressed that before entering a new round of negotiations with the US, Iran must receive guarantees that similar attacks will not happen.

“We don’t want a repeat of the same game…the US must convince us that it won’t take such actions again”, he added.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister underlined that any agreement must be based on the principle of a win-win outcome.

“Both sides must feel they have achieved something. We cannot accept US impositions.”

Takhte Ravanchi further touched on the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities as a result of US and Israeli attacks. He said the extent of the damage is serious, though exact figures are still under evaluation by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

He confirmed that IAEA inspectors were aware of the location of Iran’s nuclear materials prior to the attack.

Takhte Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to the fatwa of Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei banning nuclear weapons.

He said, “Nuclear weapons have no place in our defense doctrine and our uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes and in line with the NPT”.

The deputy foreign minister of Iran also condemned the relentless aggression by the Zionist regime in the region, urging regional unity and international pressure on the US to halt its military and diplomatic support for Tel Aviv.

“Otherwise, the Zionist regime may consider attacking other countries, which would pose a grave danger to the wider region”, he warned.

Sunni Friday prayer leader in SE Iran condemns terrorist attack on Zahedan courthouse

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mowlavi Abdolhamid

In a statement, Molavi Abdolhamid expressed deep sorrow over the deadly assault and underlined that any form of insecurity harms the interests of the people of the province. “Unfortunately, armed assailants attacked the provincial courthouse in Zahedan this morning, resulting in several people being killed and injured”, the statement said.

“I strongly condemn this inhumane attack, which targeted a public, non-military institution and led to the deaths of unarmed civilians, including a woman and a child.”

Molavi Abdolhamid added that such actions are religiously unjustifiable.

“Armed attacks do not serve the interests of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan”, he noted, saying, “Any form of insecurity undermines the well-being and prosperity of the province”.

Gunmen opened fire on the Zahedan courthouse earlier on Saturday, leading to multiple casualties.

The Quds Base of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that the terror attack claimed the lives of six people and injured at least 22 others.

Hamas dismisses Trump remarks on Gaza talks breakdown

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza

Trump made the allegation of Friday a day after Israel and the United States quit indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar that had lasted nearly three weeks.

“Trump’s remarks are particularly surprising, especially as they come at a time when progress had been made on some of the negotiation files,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP.

“So far, we have not been informed of any issues regarding the files under discussion in the indirect ceasefire negotiations”, he added.

Nunu, who is close to Hamas’s most senior political officials, said he was “surprised” that Israel and the United States had left the talks.

Announcing the recall of US mediators on Thursday, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not “acting in good faith”.

Though not part of the Hamas negotiating team, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq insisted the group had shown “flexibility” in the talks.

“The American statements deliberately ignore the real obstructionist to all agreements, Netanyahu’s government, which continues to put obstacles, deceive and evade commitments,” he stated.

Both Hamas officials called on the United States to be more even-handed in its role as mediator in the quest for a ceasefire after more than 21 months of fighting.

“We call for an end to the US bias in favour of Netanyahu, who is obstructing any agreement”, Nunu noted.

Iranian FM stresses legitimacy in self-defense

By
IFP Media Wire
-

“Our personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the innocence of the Iranian people and the legitimacy of self-defense in response to a clear aggression,” the minister stated.

Araqchi delivered the remarks on Saturday, during a high-level meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Ministry officials, stressing that the ministry’s personnel stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation’s armed forces throughout the 12-day conflict, ensuring seamless coordination between the diplomatic front and military operations.

“From 6 a.m. on the day of the attack, June 13, officials were present at the ministry. Many did not return home for days,” he added.

Araqchi stressed that the Foreign Ministry’s role was part of a broader government performance that forced the enemy to retreat and seek a ceasefire without preconditions.

“The enemy stepped back due to the resistance of our armed forces and the extraordinary management shown by the government, which allowed no room for weakness or failure,” he said.

Highlighting diplomatic efforts, he noted that over 120 countries condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Iran due to extensive communications by Iranian embassies worldwide.

“All key international organizations—except for the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors—stood firmly with Iran. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Non-Aligned Movement, Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, African Union, and numerous global leaders acknowledged and endorsed Iran’s rightful stance,” Araqchi continued.

He pointed out that the attack came during ongoing diplomatic talks, making clear who pursued diplomacy and who resorted to force and domination.

“This 12-day period confirmed the legitimacy of the Iranian nation,” he added.

Araqchi also mentioned ongoing cooperation with the Legal Affairs Office of the presidency to document Israeli war crimes.

He said the Foreign Ministry has recently focused on Gaza, with multiple calls made to coordinate international efforts to stop Israeli crimes and prevent starvation used by the Zionist regime as a weapon of war.

“The resistance of the people in Gaza has blocked the (Zionist) enemy from gaining political concessions during ceasefire negotiations,” he stated.

Concluding, Araqchi praised Pezeshkian’s strong and energetic leadership, which, he said, boosted morale and enabled effective coordination amid the crisis.

Iran’s president vows to focus foreign policy on regional outreach, ties with Russia, China

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Masoud Pezeshkian

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Saturday as he met with Iranian deputy foreign ministers and senior diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Tehran.

“Through established coordination and policies, we will seek to prioritize expansion of closer, deeper, and better relations with our neighbors, and then develop and advance our ties with the countries with which we have good interactions, including Russia, China, the BRICS group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Union,” he said.

“We will also continue the process of cooperation with European countries and other countries based on wisdom, dignity, and expediency.”

Turning to the June 13-25 Israeli aggression on Iran that took place amid unprecedented American support, Pezeshkian said the occupying regime aggressively sought during the recent 12-day war to bring the country to its knees, but the dear Iranian nation took outstanding measures that need to be appreciated earnestly.

He underlined that Iran’s diplomacy, as shown by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and other Iranian media outlets, was active round-the-clock throughout the war.

“Even though some departments were shuttered down for a while, our loved ones were present in relevant bodies and established international ties,” the president said.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the efforts of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus during the 12-day Israeli-imposed war, saying that the result of such efforts was that almost all international agencies, except for the Security Council and the United Nations, condemned the aggression.

He further said that the Israeli regime initiated a war that was fundamentally unlawful under all international principles and regulations. “Unfortunately, in today’s world, such aggressive actions are often justified by major powers,” he added.

He also said that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, emphasized that Iranian security and defense forces must prepare themselves to defend the country, while also noting that diplomacy must be placed on the agenda.

The Iranian president finally expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy and diplomacy.

Iran’s FM praises Tehran’s missile power for defeating Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Iran Missile

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi made the remarks on Friday, meeting with the family of Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Aerospace Force, who was martyred during the war.

“Iran’s missile defense power forced the Zionist enemy to request a ceasefire,” the top diplomat told Hajizadeh’s survivors.

“It has now been proven that the flag of esteem and strength of [our] dear Iran will never fall to the ground,” he added.

“The path towards ensuring Iran’s dignity, independence, and security will continue with unwavering resolve.”

Iran’s Armed Forces, including the Aerospace Force, launched at least 22 phases of determined counteroffensives in the face of the war, targeting many critical Israeli nuclear, military, and industrial sites.

The retaliation that deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones forced the Israeli regime to request a ceasefire only after 12 days into the war, despite receiving unprecedented American military and intelligence support throughout the course of the aggression.

Also on Friday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the country’s military and scientific advancements would move forward with greater speed and determination.

The Leader made the remarks in a message marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Hajizadeh and other senior Iranian commanders during the aggression.

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the “wicked and criminal Zionist ruling group” for the atrocities, calling the attacks “a blow delivered by the vile and spiteful enemy of the Iranian nation.”

“But the foolish and shortsighted enemy did not achieve its goal,” the Leader stated, pointing to the triumph scored by the Iranian defense forces.

Death toll in southeast Iran terrorist attack rises to six, 22 injured

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Police

According to official statements from the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and provincial judiciary officials three assailants, affiliated with Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, armed with grenades and wearing explosive vests, attempted to storm the courthouse but were stopped by security forces before entering the building.
A gunfight broke out outside the complex, during which the attackers opened fire on civilians.

According to provincial judicial chief Mojtaba Mohebi Rad, most casualties were ordinary citizens. Three security personnel were also reported killed in the line of duty.

Tragically, among the dead are a baby less than one year old and a woman believed to be a 60-year-old Baluch, whose identity remains unconfirmed. The child’s mother was among the wounded.

Of the 22 injured, several were treated on-site for stress and trauma, while others were transferred to hospitals. Some remain in critical condition.

Authorities say all three terrorists were neutralized. The situation in Zahedan is now under control, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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