Hamas says it won't disarm unless independent Palestinian state established
In a statement, the Palestinian militant faction said its 'armed resistance ... cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.'
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza war and deal for the release of hostages ended last week in deadlock.
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Arab News
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Hamas says no special food privileges for Gaza hostages
GAZA CITY: The Palestinian militant group Hamas said Sunday that Israeli hostages would not receive any 'special privileges' in the food they are given compared to the rest of the Gazan population. '(Hamas) does not intentionally starve the captives, but they eat the same food our fighters and the general public eat. They will not receive any special privileges amid the crime of starvation and siege,' Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, wrote in a statement. The group added that it would only allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide aid to Israeli hostages on the condition that humanitarian corridors are opened to Gaza. '(We) are ready to respond positively (to) any request by the Red Cross to deliver food and medicine to enemy prisoners. However, we condition our acceptance on the opening of humanitarian corridors... for the passage of food and medicine... across all areas of the Gaza Strip,' Hamas's military wing wrote in a separate statement. The response came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested that the ICRC help provide food to the hostages held in Gaza, and after the agency issued a 'call to be granted access to the hostages' in a statement posted on X.
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Iran announces formation of National Defense Council
Iran on Sunday announced the establishment of a new National Defense Council, tasked with centrally reviewing defense strategies and enhancing the country's military capabilities. The new body will 'review defense plans and enhance the capabilities of the armed forces in a centralized manner,' state media reported, citing the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council. The council will be chaired by President Masoud Pezeshkian and will bring together senior leadership from across Iran's government and military establishment. Its members will include the speaker of parliament, the head of the judiciary, top commanders from the armed forces, and select ministers from relevant ministries. The council's creation was approved by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body, under Article 176 of the country's constitution. Earlier on Sunday, Iranian army chief Amir Hatami said threats from Israel remain serious. 'A 1 percent threat must be perceived as a 100 percent threat. We should not underestimate the enemy and consider its threats as over,' Hatami said, according to the official IRNA news agency, adding that Iran's missile and drone power 'remains standing and ready for operations.' In June, Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iranian territory, including on nuclear facilities, during what has been dubbed the 12-day war. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drone attacks against Israel. Last month, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that his country would strike Iran again if threatened.
Al Arabiya
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Turkey condemns Jewish prayer on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Ankara on Sunday blasted an Israeli government minister for conducting a Jewish prayer on the Al-Aqsa compound in east Jerusalem. In a highly controversial move, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir publicly conducted on Sunday a Jewish prayer at the mosque's compound, which is Islam's third-holiest site, and sits on the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest place. 'We strongly condemn the raid carried out on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by certain Israeli ministers, under the protection of Israeli police and accompanied by groups of Israeli settlers,' the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. 'The security of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the preservation of Jerusalem's sacred identity are not only regional priorities but also a primary responsibility on behalf of humanity's collective conscience,' it said. Jewish religious rituals are prohibited in the compound by a long-standing agreement between Israel and Jordan, custodian of the site. In recent years, the understanding, known as the 'status quo' has been repeatedly violated by Jewish visitors, including members of Israel's parliament.
