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Trump team preparing phone call with Putin: CNN

By
IFP Media Wire
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Putin Trump

According to people familiar with the matter interviewed by the network, the primary aim of the call would be to discuss a face-to-face meeting in the coming months to explore ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Officials within Trump’s national security team reportedly began planning for the call several weeks ago, CNN reported, adding that it remains unclear whether a date for the conversation has been finalized. The network noted that the phone call would be a significant shift from President Joe Biden’s approach, who has not spoken directly with Putin for nearly three years.

Earlier this month, Trump confirmed his intention to speak with Putin, stating that the Russian leader “wants to meet, and we are setting it up.” The president-elect, who has been critical of US aid to Kiev, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine conflict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that Putin is open to negotiations with the US president without any preconditions. However, he stressed that there have been no substantial preparations for talks, while suggesting waiting until Trump is sworn in.

Commenting on the potential Ukraine talks, Putin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov suggested that the incoming US president would be the one to initiate a dialogue.

“We are calmly waiting for Trump’s team to take over. After that, let’s see what happens,” he said.

In recent weeks, US media outlets have reported that Trump’s team is mulling a peace plan for Ukraine which could include a ceasefire along the current front lines and the creation of an 1,300-km (800-mile) demilitarized zone patrolled by European troops. Additionally, Ukraine would agree to delay its aspirations for NATO membership for at least 20 years.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has criticized parts of the reported plan, saying Moscow “is of course not satisfied” with the proposals to postpone Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and deploy a Western peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine.

Moscow has also rejected a freezing of the conflict, insisting that it must achieve all of the goals of its military operation, including permanent Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification. Russia has also signaled that it would immediately declare a ceasefire once Kiev begins withdrawing from Russian territory, including the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye.

UN relief chief cautions “no time to lose”, as hundreds of aid trucks enter Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
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“At least 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 of them going to the north. There is no time to lose,” Tom Fletcher said in a statement Sunday.

“After 15 months of relentless war, the humanitarian needs are staggering. We recognize the logistical challenges facing those delivering this aid, including mountains of rubble and unexploded remnants of war. The safety of all civilians, including aid workers, remains our top priority.”

The ceasefire agreement allows for a dramatic uptick in humanitarian relief to enter Gaza. However, the UN has warned the increased aid allotment would be “only a start” in addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where Israeli strikes have laid waste to large swathes of territory and human rights groups have described “unspeakable” living conditions.

Fletcher called on countries “with influence over the parties to ensure that this lifesaving aid reaches those who need it most.”

“This is a moment of tremendous hope – fragile, yet vital – as we continue to navigate the complexities of the days and weeks ahead,” Fletcher added.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In 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.

Cindy McCain, the head of  UN World Food Programme (WFP), has stated that while this is a “critical first step”, the needs in Gaza are “immense”.

“This is a critical first step, but the needs in Gaza are immense; two million people have been in urgent need of food and other basics for far too long,” she said in a statement.

“After 15 months of war, we need all border crossings to stay open and function efficiently, effectively and reliably. And we need humanitarian teams to be able to move freely and safely across Gaza to reach those in need,” the statement read.

The statement added that WFP has “enough food pre-positioned along the borders, and on its way to Gaza, to feed over a million people for three months”.

Iranian Army Ground Forces stage ‘successful’ missile, drone strike drill

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran Drone

Their mission was to capture and detain the leaders of hypothetical terrorist forces.

During this phase, after gathering intelligence and identifying the locations of cross-border terrorist forces threatening Iran’s security and territorial integrity, the 65th NOHED Brigade’s special units carried out specialized operations.

According to reports, after collecting and analyzing information, various stealth and reconnaissance drones attacked the terrorist groups’ headquarters.

Following the destruction of the bases using Fajr-5 missiles with a range of over 110 kilometers and Mohajer-6 drones equipped with Qaem bombs, the brigade’s rapid reaction special units, supported by heavy fire from Army Aviation helicopters and armored and artillery units, conducted a heliborne operation to arrest the terrorist elements.

Iran, Pakistan set to enhance military cooperation

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Mohammad Bagheri

Major General Bagheri, leading a high-ranking military delegation, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday at the invitation of Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir.

The senior commander highlighted the security challenges along the Iran-Pakistan border and emphasized efforts to transform the areas into a “border of friendship” and foster economic connections.

He noted the significant relation between Iran and Pakistan, two major Muslim countries in the sensitive West and South Asia region, underscoring their extensive ties and shared stances on many regional issues.

Talks with Pakistani officials will focus on regional developments, aiming for coordinated positions in international circles.

The discussions will also cover defense cooperation, especially in border areas, counter-terrorism efforts, and recent regional and Muslim world developments.

Major General Bagheri’s visit includes meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

WHO welcomes Gaza ceasefire but warns of immense health challenges ahead

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel’s 15-month military campaign in Gaza has pulverized neighborhoods, depleted food, water and fuel supplies, and decimated health care infrastructure, and aid groups are now scrambling to step up their response to the humanitarian catastrophe.

“Only half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, nearly all hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed, and just 38% of primary health care centres are functional,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said Sunday.

WHO warned that the number of Palestinians killed and wounded was likely much higher than the official count from the Ministry of Health, and said an estimated 30,000 people had sustained injuries that needed ongoing rehabilitation largely unavailable in Gaza.

“Transmission of infectious diseases has massively increased, malnutrition is rising, and the risk of famine persists. The breakdown of public order, exacerbated by armed gangs, raises further concerns,” the WHO added.

In response to the challenges outlined in the statement, WHO said it would work with its partners to implement a 60-day plan to restore and expand the health system in the strip.

“Given the high level of malnutrition and disease outbreaks, WHO is working with partners to expand infant and young child feeding programmes, enhance immunization efforts and reinforce disease surveillance systems for timely prevention, reporting, and outbreak management,” the agency noted.

“WHO calls on all parties to uphold their commitment to fully implement the ceasefire agreement and to continue working towards a political solution to address the protracted crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, which is essential for lasting peace,” it added.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel took effect on Sunday.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In 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.

90 Palestinian freed from Israeli jails

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

At about 1am local time on Monday (23:00 GMT), Red Cross buses carrying the 90 Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where they were greeted by crowds of thousands despite warnings from Israeli forces that celebrations would not be allowed.

The freed Palestinians included 69 women and 21 teenage boys – some as young as 12 – from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Among them was Khalida Jarrar, 62, a leading member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who had been held for six months in solitary confinement under “administrative detention”, which allows Israeli authorities to jail suspects indefinitely without charge or court verdict.

In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, crowds lifted many of the returned prisoners up onto their shoulders in an emotional show of support, as others shouted and whistled. Some attending the gathering carried the flags of Fatah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other armed resistance groups.

Seven hours earlier, three Israeli women captives in their mid-20s to early 30s were released in Gaza.

Bushra al-Tawil, a Palestinian journalist jailed in Israel in March 2024, was also among the prisoners released on Monday.

Tawil said she began her journey at 3am on Sunday morning (01:00 GMT), when she was taken from another Israeli prison ahead of release. In the second prison, she was grouped with other Palestinians awaiting release.

“The wait was extremely hard. But thank God, we were certain that at any moment we would be released,” she said.

Tawil said her father, who is also in an Israeli jail, will be released soon, too.

“I was worried about him. He is still a prisoner, but I just received good news that he will be released as part of this deal,” she added.

Amanda Abu Sharkh, 23, from Ramallah, was among the crowd of hundreds who gathered to greet the freed prisoners.

“We came here to witness it and feel the emotions, just like the families of the prisoners who are being released today,” Abu Sharkh said.

“All the prisoners being released today feel like family to us. They are part of us, even if they’re not blood relatives,” she told the AFP news agency.

Muhammad, 20, said he had come from Ramallah with his friends as soon as he heard the prisoners would be released.

Recently freed from Israel’s Ofer Prison himself, he expressed “great joy” at the thought of families being reunited.

“I know a lot of people in prison, there are innocent people, children and women,” he said.

The prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel marks the first of its kind since November 2023.

The exact number of Palestinians due to be released as part of the ceasefire deal is still unknown, with reported estimates ranging from approximately 1,000 to nearly 2,000.

In the first phase of the deal, Hamas is expected to return a total of 33 Israeli captives over the next 42 days – with the next release due on Saturday.

The second phase of ceasefire negotiations is due to begin in two weeks.

More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, and nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced by Israeli evacuation orders and attacks.

Iran Judiciary spokesperson: Arrests made following assassination of two senior judges

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

Asghar Jahangir stated that those potentially involved in the assassination of Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh are under thorough investigation “with technical measures ongoing.”

He added that some individuals have been identified, summoned, and arrested, with investigations starting immediately after the assassination on Saturday.

Jahangir emphasized the importance of a judicial process that is both documented and precise, promising to report to the public as soon as possible.

Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday led prayers over the bodies the assassinated judges in Tehran.

According to reports, the assailant, identified as a janitor at the Supreme Court, shot the judges with a pistol before taking his own life for hitherto unknown reasons.

Al-Aqsa Storm final nail in Israel’s coffin: Hamas

By
IFP Media Wire
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Hamas

Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, made the remarks in a videotaped speech on Sunday, hours after the ceasefire agreement between the Israeli regime and the resistance group went into effect in Gaza.

“Operation al-Aqsa Strom began from the outskirts of Gaza, but it changed the face of the region and introduced new equations in the conflict with the occupying entity, and led to the opening of new battlefronts and forced the entity to turn to international powers to support it,” he said.

The spokesman added, “Hamas and all the resistance factions fought as one across the Gaza Strip and they dealt fatal blows to the enemy, with great valor and courage until the last hours of the battle, and they were fighting in conditions that seemed impossible.”

He also stressed that “all attempts to integrate the Zionist entity into the region will face deep-rooted resistance,” emphasizing that all efforts and plans must be focused on how to contain “this criminal enemy.”

Abu Ubaida further noted that “the great sacrifices” of Palestinians during 15 months of Israel’s brutal aggression against Gaza “will not go in vain,” adding that Operation al-Aqsa Strom hammered the final nail in the Israeli regime’s coffin and the occupying entity will undoubtedly disappear.

He also called on all mediators to force the Israeli regime to implement the ceasefire agreement, while reaffirming Hamas and the resistance factions’ commitment to the truce.

Earlier this week, Israel was forced to agree to a ceasefire, accepting Hamas’ longstanding negotiation terms.

The ceasefire deal consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days. Negotiations for the second and third phases will begin 16 days after the implementation of the first phase.

The first phase will see the release of some 1,900 Palestinian abductees in exchange for 33 Israeli captives held in Gaza. It also requires Israeli occupation forces to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphi corridor – also known as the Salah al-Din axis – on the Gaza-Egypt border.

Israel unleashed its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, the Tel Aviv regime failed to achieve its declared objectives of freeing captives and eliminating Hamas despite killing nearly 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza.

Israeli finance minister threatens to topple government if Gaza not seized

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The extremist minister called a Gaza ceasefire agreement a “very serious mistake” and “surrender to Hamas.”

The Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement took effect at 11.15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay.

Israel “must occupy Gaza and create a temporary military government because there is no other way to defeat Hamas,” Smotrich told Army Radio.

“I will overthrow the government if it does not return to fighting in a way that [leads to us] taking over the entire Gaza Strip and governing it.”

Earlier, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced his party’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition after the Gaza ceasefire.

After Ben-Gvir’s party withdrawal, the ruling coalition still survives with 62 parliamentary seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

On Saturday, 24 ministers in the government approved the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement while eight rejected it.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war on Gaza has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In 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.

First three Israeli captives in Gaza freed

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

On Sunday evening, the Red Cross vehicles took off from Gaza City in the heavily besieged northern part of the enclave after Hamas brought the captives to as-Saraya Square as a crowd gathered.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari has stated that 24-year-old Romi Gonen, 28-year-old Emily Damari, and 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher were handed over to the Red Cross and are “in safe hands” in Israel.

Later, media reported that a helicopter carrying the three released hostages has arrived at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

Gonen, Damari and Steinbrecher were said to be in good health, but they will receive further treatment at the hospital.

“The three released hostages, together with their mothers, just landed at a hospital, where they will be reunited with the rest of their families and receive medical treatment,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement.

They will remain there for at least four days for psychological and medical evaluations after being reunited with their families.

Ninety Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the three Israeli captives. A Red Cross delegation was verifying the identities of Palestinians ahead of their release from Israel’s Ofer Prison as part of the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire deal is set to roll out in three phases and includes sending in many more humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza to alleviate the disaster in the enclave. The first stage will last 42 days as Israeli forces pull out of parts of Gaza.

Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida stated in a televised speech that the Palestinian group is committed to the agreement, but continued implementation will depend on Israel’s reciprocity.

A deal could have been achieved over a year ago and was blocked by the “malicious ambitions” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obeida said.

The Israeli leader has insisted he will continue fighting as some far-right legislators in his government, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, resigned in protest. Netanyahu emphasised after the first captives were released that Israel will achieve all the goals it has set in the war, which include “defeating” Hamas and releasing all captives.

The United Nations and world leaders also welcomed the ceasefire, with outgoing United States President Joe Biden saying “guns in Gaza have gone silent”.

Thousands of Palestinians celebrated the long-anticipated ceasefire that could improve conditions in Gaza, after more than 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks that have killed at least 46,913 Palestinians and left thousands missing.

In a statement, Hamas announced that the next prisoner swap will occur next week, on Saturday, January 25.

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that four Israeli captives will be released during this exchange.

About 250 people were seized during the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. About 100 captives still remain in Gaza after others were released in late 2023 or their bodies were recovered, although it remains unclear exactly how many are alive.

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