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Friday, May 01, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "war" (195 articles)

Gulf Times
Region

Palestinian President welcomes announcement of ceasefire agreement in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of an agreement to cease the war on the Gaza Strip, withdraw Israeli occupation forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and facilitate a prisoner exchange. President Abbas expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution, as announced by President Trump, leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also commended President Trump and all mediators for their significant efforts in reaching the agreement, affirming the State of Palestine's readiness to work with relevant mediators and international partners to ensure its success, in order to achieve stability and a lasting and just peace in accordance with international law. President Abbas stressed the need for all parties to commit to the immediate implementation of the agreement, including the release of all hostages and prisoners, the entry of urgent humanitarian aid through United Nations organizations, the prevention of displacement or annexation, and the commencement of the reconstruction process. He reiterated that sovereignty over the Gaza Strip belongs to the State of Palestine, and that the connection between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip must be achieved through Palestinian laws and government institutions, through a unified Palestinian administrative committee and Palestinian security forces, within the framework of a single system and law, and with Arab and international support.

Gulf Times
Region

Muslim World League welcomes Hamas response to US Peace Plan on Gaza

The Muslim World League (MWL) has welcomed the response of the Hamas movement to the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to end the war on the Gaza Strip. In a statement, MWL has expressed its hope that this plan, along with its accompanying commitments and subsequent positive steps, would contribute to an immediate end to the war, halt the displacement and annexation schemes, and put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Strip, paving the way for the establishment of a lasting, comprehensive, and just peace based on the two-state solution.

Smoke rises following explosions in Gaza City after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a U.S. plan to end the war, as seen from central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. REUTERS
Region

Hamas submits official response to Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has officially submitted its response to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made through mediators and follows extensive internal consultations.According to a statement highlighted by Qatar News Agency, Hamas said it aimed to reach a "responsible position" on the U.S. initiative, expressing its desire to halt Israeli aggression on Gaza.Hamas expressed appreciation for Arab, Islamic, and international mediation efforts, including those led by President Trump. It reaffirmed key conditions for ending the conflict, including:A call for a complete ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners, and immediate humanitarian aid access.Rejection of the ongoing occupation of the Gaza Strip and displacement of its residents.Agreement to transfer Gaza’s administration to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, in line with national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic partners.Acceptance of prisoner releases—both alive and deceased—as outlined in Trump’s proposal and dependent on agreed-upon field conditions.Emphasis on future governance of Gaza being tied to national Palestinian positions and international legal frameworks.Hamas stated that all remaining issues in President Trump’s proposal must align with international law and resolutions, and reflect the unified stance of the Palestinian people.

Gulf Times
International

UN Secretary-General thanks Qatar for its invaluable joint mediation to end the war in Gaza

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres expressed his gratitude to the State of Qatar for its joint invaluable mediation work to end the tragic war in the Gaza Strip. In a press statement, the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said he is encouraged by the statement issued by Hamas announcing its readiness to release hostages and to engage in negotiations on the basis of the recent proposal presented by the President of the United States of America Donald Trump. The Secretary-General urged all parties to seize the opportunity to end the war in Gaza and reiterated his consistent call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access.

Gulf Times
International

European Commission President welcomes Trump's Gaza peace proposal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed on Tuesday US President Donald Trump's peace proposal, which aims to end the nearly two-year-old war in Gaza. "I welcome US President Donald Trump's commitment to end the war in Gaza and encourage all parties to now seize this opportunity. The EU stands ready to contribute," she said on X platform. "Hostilities should end with provision of immediate humanitarian relief to the population in Gaza and with all hostages released immediately," she added. The US President has announced a plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip through a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the unimpeded delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Strip, prevents the displacement of Palestinians, releases hostages, establishes a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all parties, in addition to a full Israeli withdrawal, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the establishment of a path to a just peace based on the two-state solution. This would see Gaza fully reunited with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law, as a key to achieving regional stability and security.

Gulf Times
Region

GCC Secretary General welcomes US President's plan to end crisis in Gaza Strip

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed the plan announced by US President Donald Trump regarding ending the war in the Gaza Strip. The Secretary General considered that any international effort aimed at ending the crisis and putting a stop to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip deserves praise, engagement, and contribution. He affirmed that a ceasefire, the direct and rapid lifting of restrictions on aid delivery, preventing the displacement of the population from the Strip and protecting them, are priorities that should be at the core of any responsible international action. He stressed that the success of any initiative is contingent on the seriousness of its implementation and on ensuring the protection of civilians and providing suitable conditions for stability. GCC Secretary General indicated that the Cooperation Council views the proposed steps positively, as they could contribute to paving a genuine and just path that guarantees the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also underscored the Cooperation Council's readiness to cooperate with regional and international partners to support every effort that leads to ending the crisis in the Gaza Strip and formulating a solution that preserves all the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, based on the two-state solution, and achieves security and stability in the region.

Gulf Times
International

Italy affirms support for all efforts aimed at ending war in Gaza

The Italian government welcomed the proposal announced by US President Donald Trump to end the war in the Gaza Strip, affirming its support for all efforts aimed at ending the war. A statement from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers said that this proposal could be "a turning point, allowing for a permanent cessation of the hostilities, full and safe humanitarian access for the civilian population to be achieved." The Italian government expressed its readiness to play its role in close coordination with the United States, European partners, and regional actors, adding that ending hostilities is also crucial to addressing the dire humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in the Gaza Strip, a tragedy that is unjustifiable and completely unacceptable. According to the statement, the Italian government urged all parties to seize this opportunity and accept the proposal, stressing that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East is possible, with two states living side by side in peace and security.

Gulf Times
Region

Turkish President praises US counterpart's efforts to stop bloodshed in Gaza Strip

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised his US counterpart, Donald Trump, for his efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip. "I commend US President Donald Trump's efforts and leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza and achieving a ceasefire," Erdogan said via X platform. The Turkish president added that Turkiye would continue to support the diplomatic process, aiming to establish "a just and lasting peace acceptable to all parties."

Smoke rises over the city after Russian drone and missile strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday REUTERS
International

Russia pounds Kyiv, other regions in mass drone and missile attack

At least four killed and dozens injured in mass Russian attackUkraine says more sanctions are needed against RussiaAttack on Kyiv is one of most sustained of the war so farMoscow says it targeted military-industrial enterprisesRussia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early on Sunday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens, in one of the most sustained attacks on the capital since the full-scale war began.Neighbouring Poland closed its airspace near two southeastern cities and its air force scrambled jets in response until the danger had passed.Ukraine's military said that Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles overnight and its air defences shot down 568 drones and 43 missiles. It noted that the main target of the strike was the capital Kyiv.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attack, which lasted more than 12 hours, damaged a cardiology clinic, factories and residential buildings.Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday it had carried out a "massive" attack on Ukraine using long-range air and sea-based weapons and drones to target military infrastructure, including airfields.Moscow has denied targeting civilians in its war against Ukraine, although thousands have been killed and residential areas extensively damaged by its attacks.Zelenskiy again urged the international community to act decisively to cut off Russia's energy revenues that fund its invasion. Ukraine has so far failed to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to impose punitive sanctions on Moscow."The time for decisive action is long overdue, and we count on a strong response from the United States, Europe, the G7, and the G20," he said on the Telegram messaging app.Kyiv awoke to loud explosions, drones flying overhead and air defences booming. Smoke from one of the strike sites drifted across the morning sky as the air raid alert ended at 09:13 a.m. (0613 GMT), nearly seven hours after it began.Reuters journalists visited an area in the suburbs of Kyiv, where rows of newly built homes were almost totally destroyed, and parked cars flattened by falling debris.Residents sifted through the wreckage of an apartment block after their windows were blown in by the force of a blast.Some people hurried to metro stations underground, from where they followed events on their mobile phones.Attacks on such a scale have stretched Ukraine's limited air defences throughout 2025. Zelenskiy said on Saturday an additional Patriot missile system from Israel had been deployed and he expected two more to arrive this autumn.He and other officials have asked international partners for more to protect Ukraine's skies, but air defence systems are limited in availability and other nations are keen to bolster their defences amid perceived threats from Russia.Zelenskiy said Sunday's attack targeted several regions, including the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where authorities said at least 16 people were injured.Emergency services said at least four people were killed, while 67 people were reported wounded across the country by local authorities.Among the fatalities was a 12-year-old girl, although that has not been officially confirmed, Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on Telegram.

Gulf Times
International

Ukraine: 1,105,490 Russian personnel killed or wounded since start of war

The Ukrainian Army said that the total combat losses of Russian forces since the start of the war on Ukrainian territory—from Feb. 24, 2022, to Sep. 25, 2025—amount to approximately 1,105,490 personnel, including 940 killed or wounded in the past 24 hours.The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement that the Russian army has lost 11,201 tanks, 23,287 armored combat vehicles, 33,133 artillery systems, 1,501 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 1,222 air defense systems, 426 aircraft, 345 helicopters, 63,235 operational-tactical UAVs, 3,747 cruise missiles, 28 warships/boats, 1 submarine, 62,736 vehicles and fuel tanks, and 3,975 units of special equipment, according to Ukraine news agency (Ukrinform).Russia and Ukraine have been exchanging reports almost daily since the beginning of the war without independent verification of these claims due to the conditions of the war and ongoing battles since Feb. 24, 2022.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on a screen in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with his lawyer Salvador Medialdea seated left, in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 14, 2025.
International

ICC prosecutors charge Duterte with 3 counts of crimes against humanity

International Criminal Court prosecutors have charged former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders as part of his "war on drugs."A heavily redacted charge sheet dated July 4 but only made public on Monday lays out the accusations against the 80-year-old former leader, currently sitting in ICC detention in The Hague.The first count concerns his alleged involvement as a co-perpetrator in 19 murders carried out between 2013 and 2016 while Duterte was mayor of Davao City.The second count relates to 14 murders of so-called "High Value Targets" in 2016 and 2017 when Duterte was president.And the third charge is about 43 murders committed during "clearance" operations of lower-level alleged drug users or pushers.These took place across the Philippines between 2016 and 2018, the prosecution alleged."The actual scale of victimisation during the charged period was significantly greater, as reflected in the widespread nature of the attack," said the ICC prosecutors."The attack included thousands of killings, which were perpetrated consistently throughout the charged period," they alleged.The charges against Duterte stem from his years-long campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups said killed thousands.The arrest warrant issued for Duterte on March 7 contained one charge of crimes against humanity relating to 43 alleged murders.The prosecutors' charges came on the eve of what was scheduled to be Duterte's appearance at the ICC to hear the accusations against him.However that sitting was postponed as the court weighs whether Duterte is fit to hear the charges.His lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has said his client is not able to stand trial "as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains".Kaufman has urged the ICC to postpone proceedings against Duterte indefinitely.Duterte was arrested in Manila on March 11, flown to the Netherlands that same night and has been held at the ICC's detention unit at Scheveningen Prison since.At his initial hearing, he followed by video link, appearing dazed and frail, barely speaking.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas receiving a written communique from Britain's Consul-General to Jerusalem Helen Winterton at his headquarters in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Sunday. AFP/HO/PPO
International

UK, Australia, Canada, Portugal recognise Palestinian state

Britain, Australia, Canada and Portugal on Sunday recognised a Palestinian state in a coordinated, historic shift in decades of Western foreign policy, triggering swift anger from Israel.Other countries, including France, are due to follow Monday at the annual UN General Assembly opening in New York.Israel has come under huge international pressure over its war against Hamas in Gaza, which has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the statehood moves, later vowing to expand Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.Netanyahu spoke after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain was formally recognising the State of Palestine "to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution".The UK and Canada became the first members of the Group of Seven advanced economies to take the step, with Australia following suit.Portugal said Sunday it recognises a Palestinian state, making it the latest Western nation to make the symbolic move as the war in Gaza shows no sign of ending."Recognizing the State of Palestine is therefore the fulfilment of a fundamental, consistent, and widely agreed policy," Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel told reporters in New York."Portugal advocates the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace, one that promotes coexistence and peaceful relations between Israel and Palestine," he added.Three-quarters of UN members now recognise Palestinian statehood, with at least 144 of the 193 member countries having taken the step.Canada "offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future", Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X.Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move "recognises the legitimate and long held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own".Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas hailed the recognitions as "an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace".French President Emmanuel Macron insisted in an interview with a US television network that releasing the hostages captured in 2023 would be "a requirement very clearly before opening, for instance, an embassy in Palestine".It is a watershed moment for Palestinians and their ambitions for statehood, with the most powerful Western nations having long argued it should only come as part of a negotiated peace deal with Israel.Although a largely symbolic move, it puts those countries at odds with the US and Israel.US President Donald Trump said last week after talks with Starmer during a state visit to the UK that "one of our few disagreements" was over Palestinian statehood.A growing number of longtime Israeli allies have shifted their long-held positions as Israel has intensified its Gaza offensive.The Gaza Strip has suffered vast destruction, with a growing international outcry over the besieged coastal territory's spiralling death toll and a UN-declared famine.The UK government has come under increasing public pressure to act, with thousands of people rallying every month on the streets. A poll released by YouGov on Friday showed two-thirds of British people aged 18-25 supported Palestinian statehood.