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German Chancellor arrives in Ukraine, pledges $680mn in military support

Olaf Scholz

“I would like to make it clear here on the ground that Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” Scholz said upon his arrival, promising additional arms supplies worth 650 million euros ($680 million) in December, N-TV reported.

This marks Scholz’s first visit to Ukraine’s capital in two and a half years. The chancellor’s arrival comes shortly after his controversial phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which drew criticism from Kyiv.

Scholz previously visited Kyiv in June 2022 alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and then-Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, marking the first visit by the three European leaders since the outbreak of the full-scale war.

Under Scholz’s leadership, Germany has become Ukraine’s second-largest military donor after the U.S. The chancellor was nevertheless often criticized for cautious approach on some key issues, such as his refusal to provide Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Recently, Scholz criticized Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU party leader who will seek to unseat the chancellor in the February snap elections, for the latter’s willingness to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

“All I can say is: be careful! You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security,” Scholz stated at his party conference in Berlin.

Merz, whose party is currently leading in the polls, previously proposed issuing an ultimatum to Putin to end his aggression. Should the Russian leader refuse, Kyiv’s partners would lift all restrictions on already provided weapons, and only then would Berlin approve the delivery of Taurus missiles.

Israeli settler councils drafting plan for annexation of West Bank ahead of Trump inauguration: Report

West Bank settlements

According to a report in the Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom, one of the plan’s most important aspects relates to future control and annexation of Palestinian territories.

The goal is to create “an operational strategy ready for implementation during a potential Trump administration”.

A high-level meeting on the matter was recently attended by Avihai Boaron, a parliament member from the ruling Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several other settler councils to advance the scheme.

“We are at a critical juncture – a window of opportunity that we can utilize either wisely or squander. Taking the foolish path would merely result in 700,000 residents and additional housing units four years from now,” Boaron said at the meeting.

“The wise approach would establish conditions to make West Bank and the Jordan Valley inseparable from Israel – not just by creating demographic facts on the ground, but by fundamentally transforming the region’s administrative framework,” he added.

The plan includes widening the authority of settler councils to extend across regional council areas, effectively giving local authorities control over interconnecting areas, not just their settlement areas, in order to strengthen administration.

Dissolving the Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to this plan, which would see Arab villages fall under complete Israeli jurisdiction.

“The two-state solution must be permanently removed from consideration through clear political directives,” Boaron adds.

The Likud member also aims to ensure that “American policy doesn’t simply resume from where the Deal of the Century left off, which effectively sought to constrain settlement growth.”

The plan also includes the erection of new cities, including “dedicated communities” for the Druze and ultra-Orthodox Jews.

“This demographic shift would fundamentally alter the region’s character, ultimately leading to sovereignty,” an involved source told Israel Hayom daily.

Trump’s victory in the US election has given Israel’s far-right extremist settler movements, who dominate the Netanyahu far-right cabinet, hope for their plans to annex the West Bank.

Haaretz reported in June that Trump received a pledge from Miriam Adelson, the widow of late US businessman Sheldon Adelson, to support his presidential campaign with at least $100 million.

In exchange, she seeks US support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank and recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territory.

US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reported last month, citing an official in Washington, that Israel will soon officially annex the West Bank, which was illegally occupied in 1967.

This came after Israel’s far-right hawkish minister Bezalel Smotrich recently called for the full annexation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Smotrich, who has a history of making outrage-inciting comments and provoking Palestinians, repeated his proposal of expanding Israeli settlements within the West Bank and other occupied territories.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior official with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, has warned of Israel’s plans to annex the West Bank and drive Palestinians out of their villages.

Israel has ramped up its aggression against Palestinians across the West Bank since October 7 last year, when it launched a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands of others injured by Israeli settlers or troops across the occupied territory since the onset of the war.

More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on the occupied territories.

UN halts aid delivery through key Gaza crossing as hunger stalks Palestinians

Gaza War

“We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on X.

“Yesterday, we tried to bring in a few food trucks on the same route. They were all taken,” he added, warning hunger was “rapidly deepening” in the besieged enclave.

Lazzarini listed how the humanitarian operation had become “unnecessarily impossible” due to “the ongoing siege, hurdles from Israeli authorities, political decisions to restrict the amounts of aid, lack of safety on aid routes and targeting of local police”.

He called on Israel to ensure aid flowed to Gaza and stated it “must refrain from attacks on humanitarian workers”.

On Thursday, the UN agency reported “out of the 91 attempts the agency has made to deliver aid to besieged north Gaza between October 6 and November 25, 82 have been denied and 9 impeded”.

Israel has been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war as it has restricted supplies of food, medicine and other essential items into Gaza since launching the war last October. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in nonstop Israeli bombardment since then.

Louise Wateridge, the UNRWA emergency officer, told Al Jazeera that the targeting of aid convoys has been happening since May.

“That has led to desperation of people, who don’t have what they need and it has led and forced criminal activities,” she stressed.

The pause in the delivery of aid also follows an Israeli attack on Saturday that killed three contractors of the US charity World Central Kitchen (WCK).

The UN reported last month that 333 aid workers had been killed since the start of the war in October of last year, 243 of them employees of UNRWA.

Israel, which imposed a total siege on Gaza in the early stages of the war last year, blames the inability of relief organisations to handle and distribute large quantities of aid.

Hamas’s Interior Ministry in Gaza have responded to the looting, saying more than 20 of the gang members suspected of carrying out the robbery had been killed by its security forces acting in coordination with tribal committees.

Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza have told Al Jazeera of their confusion over how, in one of the most heavily surveilled territories on the planet, the presence of so many armed men could have gone undetected by Israeli forces.

An internal UN memo from October said the gangs in Gaza “may be benefitting from a passive if not active benevolence” or “protection” from the Israeli army.

One gang leader, the memo added, had established a “military-like compound” in an area “restricted, controlled and patrolled by the IDF (Israeli army)”.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 44,382 Palestinians and wounded 105,142 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day, and 250 were taken captive.

FM Araghchi: Iran shares concerns with Turkey, supports Syria along with resistance groups

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Ankara from the Syrian capital on Monday, Araghchi emphasized the importance of regional stability and cooperation.

Araghchi described his recent visit to Damascus as “very productive,” highlighting his extensive meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The foreign minister reaffirmed Iran’s comprehensive support for Syria, but noted that the Arab country has managed to overcome tougher challenges in the past, such as the internal strife fueled by Daesh and other terrorist groups.

He stated, “The current situation, exacerbated by Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Palestine, is a miscalculation by the terrorists, as the Syrian army and government, with the help of resistance groups and Iran, are capable of confronting them.”

The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues, including the ongoing situation in Syria.

They will hold a press conference later in the day to outline the positions of Iran and Turkey on regional developments.

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi released from prison after serving sentence

Toomaj Salehi

Salehi was freed from prison on Sunday after completing his one-year sentence, according to the report.

Toomaj, a rapper known for his outspoken views and criticism of the Iranian government, faced multiple legal charges.

He was briefly released and rearrested earlier this year following a Supreme Court decision to re-examine his case within the Judiciary on charges of spreading falsehoods and causing public unrest.

Protests and deadly riots erupted in Iran in 2022 after the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of police for not wearing a proper hijab in September that year.

Iran says foreign intelligence services were involved in the deadly events.

Iran vice president Zarif sweeps aside ‘disqualification’ hype, says will stay on in gov’t

Javad Zarif

In an interview with Khabar Online, Zarif argued that the amendment to the law on sensitive positions had nothing to do with him personally and instead highlighted the importance of focusing on real cases of infiltration rather than hypothetical threats.

Zarif praised President Massoud Pezeshkian’s administration for its achievements in fostering national unity during its first 100 days.

Regarding the potential challenges posed by the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency, Zarif acknowledged that the current administration inherited many issues, including the nuclear dossier and rocky relations with Europe.

Zarif, however, stressed on Iran’s newfound ability to view the world as an opportunity rather than a threat, thanks to its self-reliance and defense capabilities.

The former foreign minister also called for leveraging the potential of Iranian expatriates and emphasized the need for constructive engagement with neighboring countries to resolve misunderstandings and strengthen regional cooperation.

Iran FM: Syria to overcome terror groups again

Assad Araghchi

During the meeting, Araghchi conveyed the warm greetings of the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He reaffirmed Tehran’s principled position of providing comprehensive support to the Syrian government, people, and armed forces in their fight against terrorism and in safeguarding regional security and stability.

The Iranian Foreign Minister described the recent activities of terrorist groups as part of the conspiracies orchestrated by the enemies of regional stability and security.

He further highlighted the alignment of the malevolent objectives of terrorist groups with those of the United States and the Zionist regime in perpetuating conflict and insecurity in the region and compensating for the Zionists’ failures against the Resistance Front.

Araghchi expressed confidence that Syria, as it had previously triumphed over terrorism, would once again overcome terrorist groups.

He emphasized Iran’s unwavering and comprehensive support for the Syrian government, people, and Resistance in confronting the aggression of the Zionist regime and terrorist groups.

The top diplomat described this strategic approach as essential for preserving enduring stability and security in the region and safeguarding the security of all regional nations.

For his part, President Assad expressed gratitude for the support of the Iranian government and people. He conveyed his regards to the Supreme Leader and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Assad praised Iran’s responsible and resolute stance in supporting the stability and security of regional countries, particularly Syria, in the face of the ominous phenomenon of terrorism.

He stressed the importance of collective and responsible efforts by all regional states to eradicate terrorism, which solely benefits the enemies of Islamic nations, particularly the Zionist regime.

President Assad also described the Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit to Syria at this critical juncture as highly significant, interpreting it as a message of Iran’s steadfast support for and solidarity with the countries of the Resistance Axis against the Zionist regime, a gesture deserving of deep appreciation.

Convergence among Muslim states key to preventing spread of terrorism in region: Iran president to Iraqi PM

Pezeshkian and Sudani

In a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani on Sunday, Pezeshkian said unity among Muslim countries will help Syria in its fight against terrorist groups.

Pointing to the recent resurgence of Takfiri terrorism in Syria, he added, “Such incidents are part of the Zionist regime’s sinister plans to spread insecurity, discord and conflict among Muslim countries.”

He emphasized that Iran’s regional strategy is based on protecting territorial integrity of countries such as Syria.

“Under the circumstances that the region was moving towards relative peace following the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon and attention was focused on Gaza, recent events in Syria raised serious concerns about regional security,” Pezeshkian pointed out.

He expressed Iran’s readiness for any type of cooperation with the purpose of combating terrorist moves and maintaining security in the region.

Terror outfits led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied terrorist factions launched on Friday their largest assault in Syria in years and took control of parts of the country’s second-biggest city, Aleppo, and advanced southward toward the city of Hama.

However, the Syrian army announced later that it thwarted the large-scale terrorist operations through a preemptive strike.

On Sunday, Russian and Syrian warplanes targeted militant positions in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib to repel an offensive by foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists.

The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, expressed concern over the expansion of insecurity in northern Syria and warned that the recent terrorist moves are part of an Israeli attempt to undermine security and disintegrate Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He urged the international community and regional countries to play a dynamic diplomatic role to prevent the spread of terrorism.

Otherwise, Sudani said, acts of terror will pose a serious danger to global peace and security.

He also expressed his country’s readiness to play an active role in the fight against terrorist groups and said Baghdad is in constant contact with regional countries to prepare the ground for joint cooperation in this regard.

The Iraqi government and nation will focus all its attention on the battle against terrorism and will thwart the Israeli regime’s sinister plots to promote sectarianism, he emphasized.

Militants seize key territory as Russian and Syrian warplanes step up bombing

Syria War

Air strikes on a university hospital in central Aleppo killed at least five people, including civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

At least eight more people, including two women, a child and a rescue worker, were killed in bombing earlier in central Idlib.

On the ground, rebels led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups, including some backed by Turkey, solidified their takeover of Aleppo, seizing two towns and an airbase in the city’s countryside.

Thousands of fighters had begun marching towards Hama, about 230km south of Aleppo, on Saturday night after reports that government forces had fled their positions.

However, SOHR reported that government forces had begun reinforcing their positions around several key cities and villages around Hama on Sunday.

Elsewhere, the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) coalition – an ally of HTS – clashed with Kurdish armed groups in Aleppo’s northern countryside.

A Turkish source told Reuters that the SNA had blocked an attempt by Kurdish groups to establish a corridor connecting Tel Rifaat to northeastern Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday vowed to “break terrorism” with the use of force.

The dramatic turn of events in Syria began on Wednesday when rebels broke out of Idlib in a surprise offensive towards Aleppo. By Saturday, they had seized full control of the governorate of Idlib and most of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city.

This was the first time a Syrian city had fallen out of government control since independence in 1946.

According to SOHR, 372 people have been killed on both sides, including combatants and civilians.

The frontlines of Syria’s civil war have barely shifted since 2020.

A “de-escalation” agreement in 2019 between rebel-backer Turkey and Assad’s sponsors, Russia and Iran, created some stability and a long-term ceasefire.

Most of Idlib province has since been held by HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, which has established a civilian administration. The SNA has held sway in other areas of the north.

However, despite Russia being distracted by the war in Ukraine and Assad’s forces weakened by frequent Israeli attacks, Syrian and Russian fighter jets have stepped up air strikes on opposition-held areas since August 2023.

Meanwhile, Assad’s government used the stability to make diplomatic inroads, normalising relations with several regional countries and rejoining the Arab League.

Four Palestinians killed in Israeli attack in West Bank

Israel Palestine West Bank

The attack occurred in the village of Sir near Jenin on Sunday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It added the killings were a result of “the occupation’s aggression”.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society has reported that Israeli forces had been “preventing our teams from reaching the bombing site”.

Fares Irshaid, a resident of Sir, described the attack.

“In the morning, the planes came and started bombing this area,” Irshaid said, noting, “Shortly after that, the army stormed the entire area. They declared it a closed military zone.”

“There was a group of young men, including my nephew and the son of our neighbours, and we do not know their fate,” he stated.

Israel has not released the bodies of those killed although the military identified one of the dead as 31-year-old Wael Lahluh.

There has been a surge in Israeli military operations and violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank since the war in Gaza began October last year.

At least 780 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, adding to the 44,400 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war.

Israel claimed 24 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank during that period while Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killed at least 1,200 people.

While Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and are seen as a major obstacle to a future Palestinian state, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continued their expansion. The military regularly intervenes to protect Israeli settlers.