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First Post
09-08-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Congo says Rwanda-backed rebels killed 80 civilians amid peace talks
Rwanda backed rebels have killed at least 80 people in eastern Congo in recent weeks, Congolese authorities said, despite the ongoing Qatar led peace process aiming to end the conflict. read more At least 80 civilians have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks by rebels backed by Rwanda, Congolese officials said, despite ongoing Qatar-mediated peace efforts aimed at halting the violence. Eastern Congo has faced decades of conflict, and tensions escalated earlier this year when the M23 insurgent group supported by Rwandan forces captured two major cities. The region remains home to over 100 armed groups competing for control of its vast mineral resources. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The continued bloodshed threatens hopes of finalizing a permanent peace agreement by August 18. One of the deal's key provisions is ensuring civilian safety and enabling the return of millions displaced by the fighting. In a statement late Friday, the Congolese army condemned what it called 'a series of mass murders of civilians in South Kivu.' It said 80 people were killed on August 4 in the village of Nyaborongo, while six others, including two minors, were murdered on July 24 in Lumbishi. It blamed the the RDF/M23-AFC coalition, which includes the rebel groups M23 and AFC backed by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF). 'In addition to this excessive criminality, the M23/AFC is engaged in the forced recruitment of young people, including minors, to join their illegal organization,' the statement said. There was no immediate comment from M23. When asked for a comment, the Rwandan foreign minister Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe told The Associated Press that he could not comment on 'any stupidity coming from DRC,' using the acronym of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights chief said that M23 killed 319 people over the past month in a different part of the region, describing the toll as one of the largest documented of such attacks since the M23 rebels resurfaced in 2022. Citing firsthand accounts, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement that the rebels, backed by members of the Rwandan Defense Force, targeted four villages in North Kivu province's Rutshuru territory between July 9 and July 21. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD M23 denied the accusations and called the U.N. statement 'unverified and politically motivated.' 'These allegations constitute a blatant manipulation of the facts, a violation of basic principles of impartiality, and a serious attack on the credibility of U.N. institutions,' said Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance, an umbrella organization which includes M23. 'We call for the opening of an independent investigation and hope that the organizations that published this report can participate in it.' The two sides on July 19 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end the fighting and commit to a comprehensive peace agreement that would include the restoration of state authorities in key eastern cities controlled by the insurgents. With inputs from agencies
Russia Today
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
US and Israel condemn Macron's move to endorse Palestinian statehood
The United States and Israel have strongly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron following his announcement that France intends to recognize the state of Palestine. Macron made the statement Thursday, with an official declaration expected in September, saying the move would advance peace efforts in the Middle East. Washington and West Jerusalem have condemned the pledge, warning that it would have the opposite consequences. 'This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. 'It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,' 2023, he said, referring to the date Gaza-based Hamas militants led a deadly assault on southern Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Macron's decision, calling it an act that 'rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.' Qatar-mediated peace talks collapsed again this week, after the US and Israel pulled out of them, accusing Hamas of not acting in good faith. Major Western news agencies have warned that their journalists in Gaza are facing starvation. BBC News, Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Associated Press and Reuters have called on Israel to allow foreign press access to the enclave. Israel's far-right Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said the government should not intervene as the residents of the enclave face starvation. 'All of Gaza will be Jewish,' he told local media. West Jerusalem has denied allegations of obstructing humanitarian aid and blamed distribution problems on Hamas 'looting' and what it described as United Nations inaction. The initial incursion by Palestinian fighters in 2023 killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the capture of dozens of hostages. More than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel's miliary response, according to local officials, which critics have described as disproportionate and potentially genocidal. The conflict has since expanded to involve other nations, including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran, raising fears of a regional war. Several countries have formally recognized the state of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict, including Spain, Norway, Ireland and Mexico.
The Guardian
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US and Israel ditch ceasefire talks as Trump envoy points finger at Hamas
The US is withdrawing its negotiating team from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar after Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, pointed the finger at Hamas for a 'lack of desire to reach a ceasefire'. 'While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,' Witkoff said on Thursday. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' The announcement suggested a setback for diplomatic efforts to end the relentless siege, destruction and ruin of Gaza that has devastated the territory for more than 21 months. Israel also recalled its negotiating team following Hamas's response, in effect suspending weeks of Qatar-mediated talks that had shown only limited progress. It's also unclear what 'alternative options' are under consideration. According to a Haaretz report, Israeli sources described the teams' recall as a coordinated move designed to pressure Hamas. Hamas said it was surprised by Witkoff's remarks, adding that the group's position had been welcomed by mediators and had opened the door to reaching a comprehensive agreement. 'The movement affirms its keenness to continue negotiations and engage in them in a manner that helps overcome obstacles and leads to a permanent ceasefire agreement,' Hamas added in a statement early on Friday. The announcement comes as Gaza endures cataclysmic humanitarian conditions. Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 desperate and hungry people in Gaza in recent weeks trying to fetch food according to the UN, with at least 85 Palestinians killed on Sunday alone. The World Health Organization on Wednesday described the situation as 'man-made mass starvation' caused by restrictions on aid deliveries. Witkoff added that it was 'a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way' while insisting the US remains 'resolute' in ending the bombardment of Gaza, though American officials have consistently attributed negotiation failures to the Palestinian side. The proposed deal under discussion would have established a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in staged phases. In exchange, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, increase aid deliveries to Gaza, and both sides would enter negotiations for a permanent truce. The talks had been bogged down over where Israeli troops would redeploy after any ceasefire – specifically whether Israel would maintain control of the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors – a sticking point that is proving insurmountable thus far. Israel also refuses to end the war until Hamas surrenders power and disarms, though Hamas has indicated a willingness to discuss stepping down from power under certain conditions. The Haaretz report suggested that other sticking points include the areas from which Israel would withdraw during a pause in fighting, and the identities of the prisoners who would be released. Thursday's development comes in contrast with recent signs from the Trump administration, which had been optimistic about securing a breakthrough and had campaigned on ending foreign wars. A temporary ceasefire deal was last reached between Israel and Hamas in January, but collapsed after Israel launched surprise airstrikes in March that killed more than 400 people.
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US and Israel ditch ceasefire talks as Trump envoy points finger at Hamas
The US is withdrawing its negotiating team from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar after Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff pointed the finger at Hamas for a 'lack of desire to reach a ceasefire'. 'While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,' Witkoff said on Thursday. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' The announcement suggested a setback for diplomatic efforts to end the relentless siege, destruction and ruin of Gaza that has devastated the territory for more than 21 months. Israel also recalled its negotiating team following Hamas's response, effectively suspending weeks of Qatar-mediated talks that had shown only limited progress. It's also unclear what 'alternative options' are under consideration. According to a Haaretz report, Israeli sources described the teams' recall as a coordinated move designed to pressure Hamas. The announcement comes as Gaza endures cataclysmic humanitarian conditions. More than 1,000 desperate and hungry people in Gaza have been killed in recent weeks trying to fetch food according to the UN, with at least 85 Palestinians killed Sunday alone. The World Health Organization on Wednesday described the situation as 'man-made mass starvation' caused by restrictions on aid deliveries. Witkoff added that it was 'a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way' while insisting the US remains 'resolute' in ending the bombardment of Gaza, though American officials have consistently attributed negotiation failures to the Palestinian side. The proposed deal under discussion would have established a 60-day ceasefire during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in staged phases. In exchange, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, increase aid deliveries to Gaza, and both sides would enter negotiations for a permanent truce. The talks had been bogged down over where Israeli troops would redeploy after any ceasefire – specifically whether Israel would maintain control of the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors – a sticking point that is proving insurmountable thus far. Israel also refuses to end the war until Hamas surrenders power and disarms, though Hamas has indicated a willingness to discuss stepping down from power under certain conditions. The Haaretz report suggested that other sticking points include the areas from which Israel would withdraw during a pause in fighting, and the identities of the prisoners who would be released. Thursday's development comes in contrast with recent signs from the Trump administration, which had been optimistic about securing a breakthrough and had campaigned on ending foreign wars. A temporary ceasefire deal was last reached between Israel and Hamas in January, but collapsed after Israel launched surprise airstrikes in March that killed more than 400 people.
![Iranian Majlis National Security Council Deputy Chair Mahmoud Nabavian: 'Before The Iranian Attack [On The U.S. CENTCOM Base In Qatar], The Americans... Proposed The "Location" Of A [Different U.S.] M](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.memri.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fnew_images%2Forg%2F12090_SD_thumb_320.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![Iranian Majlis National Security Council Deputy Chair Mahmoud Nabavian: 'Before The Iranian Attack [On The U.S. CENTCOM Base In Qatar], The Americans... Proposed The "Location" Of A [Different U.S.] M](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fmemri.org.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Memri
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Iranian Majlis National Security Council Deputy Chair Mahmoud Nabavian: 'Before The Iranian Attack [On The U.S. CENTCOM Base In Qatar], The Americans... Proposed The "Location" Of A [Different U.S.] M
In a July 13, 2025 interview with the Iranian Fars News agency, which is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Majlis National Security Council Deputy Chair Mahmoud Nabavian discussed the Qatar-mediated behind-the-scenes contacts between the U.S. and Iran prior to Iran's June 23, 2025 attack on the U.S. CENTCOM base in Qatar. According to Nabavian, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had sent a message to the Iranians stating that Israel was about to attack Iran but that the Americans were not involved in this. He added that Rubio asked Iran not to attack the U.S. Iran, said Nabavian, had also informed Qatar prior to its June 23 attack on the U.S. CENTCOM base in Qatar, that came the day after the U.S. bombing of the nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to him, the Qataris had replied that they and Iran were "in this together" and had also conveyed a message from the Americans proposing that Iran attack a U.S. base in a different country, which Iran rejected. He clarified: "The Americans sent specific coordinates to strike such-and-such a base, but we targeted the base that we saw fit, not the one that the U.S. had proposed." He added that Iran had attacked the U.S. CENTCOM base, "the most important American base in Qatar – that is how humiliated the U.S. was." He also said that after Iran's June 23 attack on the base, the U.S. had repeatedly begged Iran not to retaliate, and that a ceasefire would be reached. "When we attacked... the Americans again contacted us and asked us to stop. For the tenth time, perhaps the twentieth, they begged us... The Iranian people must know that the Americans truly begged, in the full sense of the word." The following is a translation of statements made by Nabavian in the July 13 interview, and of boasts by the IRGC-Affiliated Tasnim News Agency about the damage Iran caused the U.S., ridiculing President Trump: Navabian: The U.S. Warned Us In Advance About Israel's Attacks And About Its Own Bombing Of Our Nuclear Sites; "Victory Is Inscribed On The Foreheads Of The Iranian People, And Defeat Is Etched Upon The Face Of The Global Heresy" In the interview, Nabavian noted that the Iranians had made it clear that they would not agree to a ceasefire before retaliating against the U.S. for the June 22 bombing. He said that U.S. Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff had contacted the Iranians with the message that the U.S. and Israel wanted a ceasefire and added that this was the tenth or maybe the 20th time that they had begged for this. He concluded by saying that the Iranian people had stood up to all of NATO and won, stating: "Victory is inscribed on the foreheads of the Iranian people, and defeat is etched upon the face of the global heresy." To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below: Navabian's Statements, As Published By Saed News: "The Iranian People Need To Know That The Americans 'Begged,' In The Full Sense Of The Word"; "The Iranian Nation Faced Down All Of NATO, And Triumphed – We Will Surely Defeat The Enemy As Well" The following is a translation of the main points of Navabian's statements from a July 13 report published by the Iranian Saed News website: "... Before the Iranian attack, the Americans sent a message through one of the countries in the region [Qatar] and even proposed the 'location' of a [U.S.] military base to be attacked... On Saturday afternoon [June 21, sic], the day before Iran's response[sic], one of the countries in the region contacted Iran and conveyed a message from the Americans. The same Americans who attacked us and threatened to retaliate harshly if Iran responded were now sending a message in which they begged, 'Although you want to respond, don't strike us.' "On the night of Israel's attack [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio contacted one of the ministers of the countries of the region, who in turn sent a message to our foreign minister [Abbas Araghchi] stating that 'Israel wants to attack, but we (the Americans) are not involved, don't attack us.' "The very next day [June 22], Sunday morning, the Americans sent another message saying, 'If you are going to attack, come strike [an]other of our bases, we have no problem!' It was as if they wanted to involve us in a theatrical scenario. When we told the Qataris where the target was, they said, 'Wait, let's consult with the Americans,' and then the Americans sent specific coordinates for striking a particular base. "But we targeted a base that we saw fit – not the one that the U.S. had proposed. The important [CENTCOM] American air base [Al-Udeid] in Qatar, that is one of their most important operational centers in the Middle East, was the focus [of our attack]. "Prior to the attack, the Americans said clearly that if we responded, they would respond forcefully [in turn]. But when we attacked, they changed their tune, and they called back and asked [for us] to stop. Ten times, maybe 20, they begged us. The Iranian people need to know that the Americans 'begged,' in the full sense of the word. "I swear before God, the Iranian nation faced down all of NATO, and triumphed. We will surely defeat the enemy as well. Victory is inscribed upon the foreheads of the Iranian people – and defeat is etched upon the face of the global heresy [the West]."[1] IRGC-Affiliated Tasnim News Agency Magazine Boasts Of Iran's Attack On CENTCOM Base, Ridicules President Trump Over Damage It Caused The previous day, July 12, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency's magazine published a cartoon on its cover page mocking U.S. President Trump. It boasted about Iran's attack on the CENTCOM base and said that it had significantly damaged an American strategic weapon – referring apparently to a geodesic dome used for secure communications that was reported destroyed.[2] The cartoon depicted a blinded Trump with geodesic domes for eyes titled "Did you see what happened?"[3] Tasnim magazine cover page ( July 12, 2025)
