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Monday, January 19, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "israeli" (130 articles)

Steve Witkoff
Qatar

Witkoff felt 'betrayed' by Israeli attack on Doha

US envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's chief negotiator on the Middle East, has said that he felt "betrayed" when Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar last month. In a CBS interview alongside Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law who worked with Witkoff on the brokering of a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the presidential envoy said he learned of the September 9 attack in Doha the morning after it happened. Qatar is a key US ally and acted as mediator in the push to end the Gaza war. "I think both Jared and I felt, I just feel we felt a little bit betrayed," Witkoff told the CBS news programme "60 Minutes" in excerpts released Friday. The full interview is scheduled to air on Sunday. At the time, the strike halted the indirect negotiating process to end the fighting in the devastated Gaza Strip. "It had a metastasizing effect because the Qataris were critical to the negotiation, as were the Egyptians and the Turks," Witkoff said. "We had lost the confidence of the Qataris. And so Hamas went underground, and it was very, very difficult to get to them." Trump wrote on social media at the time that the decision to conduct the Doha air raid came from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel and Hamas ultimately accepted a 20-point peace plan presented by Trump that called for hostage and prisoner releases and a ceasefire after two years of deadly conflict. Under pressure from Trump during a White House visit this month, Netanyahu called Qatar's prime minister to apologise for the Doha strike.

Gulf Times
Region

Israeli Forces carry out incursion into Syria's Quneitra countryside

Israeli occupation forces carried out an incursion today into the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). SANA reported that a unit of Israeli forces, consisting of five military vehicles, entered the vicinity of the town of Saida al-Hanout in the Quneitra countryside before withdrawing shortly afterward. The agency added that Israeli occupation forces conducted another incursion yesterday into the town of Tal al-Ahmar al-Sharqi, also in the Quneitra countryside, using four military vehicles accompanied by two tanks and a number of soldiers. The forces carried out a field deployment lasting about an hour before withdrawing toward Tal al-Ahmar al-Gharbi. The Israeli occupation continues to violate Syrian sovereignty in contravention of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, United Nations resolutions, and international law. Syria has condemned these repeated aggressions and called on the international community to take a firm stance to halt them.

Gulf Times
Region

Three Palestinians killed as thousands of displaced residents return to Northern Gaza

Three Palestinians were killed Saturday, including one elderly man who was shot by Israeli forces east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to medical sources. The sources confirmed that the elderly resident of Al Qarara succumbed to gunfire targeting civilian gatherings. Another Palestinian died from injuries sustained near an aid checkpoint southwest of Khan Younis, while medical teams recovered the body of a man who had gone missing following an Israeli airstrike on Al Qarara the previous day. Civil defense crews also retrieved the bodies of more than ten victims from the Al Mughraqa area and the Turkish hospital zone in central Gaza's Netzarim region. Local reports indicated several injuries after Israeli artillery targeted civilians on Al Ajarma Street in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza. Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians continued returning from the south to the north of the Strip for a second consecutive day, following the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that took effect Friday afternoon. QNA's correspondent observed heavy foot and vehicle traffic along Salah Al Din Street and the coastal Al Rashid Road, as families made their way back to inspect their homes, many of which were damaged or destroyed during the recent ground offensive in Gaza City. The correspondent further reported that the scale of devastation became clear as residents reached their neighborhoods, only to find entire blocks flattened. Residential buildings, infrastructure, and key landmarks were obliterated, especially in Gaza City, which bore the brunt of the incursion. The ceasefire agreement, brokered in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, came into effect Friday afternoon, ending a wide-scale Israeli assault on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023. The offensive resulted in over 67,000 deaths, approximately 170,000 injuries, mostly among women and children, and a famine that claimed the lives of 460 people, including 154 children.

Firefighters douse the flames at the site of an overnight Israeli strike in Al-Msayleh area in southern Lebanon on October 11, 2025. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel on October 11 for carrying out overnight strikes on civilian facilities that the health ministry said killed at least one person. (AFP)
Region

One killed and seven injured in new Israeli airstrike on Southern Lebanon

One person was killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon. In a statement, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that an Israeli airstrike on the Musaylih area killed one person and injured seven others. Lebanon calls on the international community to pressure the Israeli entity to end its daily attacks, withdraw unconditionally from all occupied territories in the south, and release the detainees. On Nov. 27 of last year, a ceasefire deal came into effect in Lebanon. The agreement required Israeli forces to withdraw from border villages and towns in southern Lebanon within 60 days. Later, the Lebanese government agreed to extend the deadline until last February. However, the occupation army has maintained its positions at five points and continues its violations there.

Steve Mercier (L), one of the Swiss activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla reacts with a relative after landing at Geneva Airport from Istanbul, after Israel stopped a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people, in Geneva  on Sunday. AFP
Region

Swiss activists faced 'inhumane' treatment in Israeli detention: NGO

Swiss participants in the flotilla that tried to break through the Israeli maritime blockade on Gaza have faced "cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment" in Israeli detention, their organisation said Tuesday.The Waves of Freedom Switzerland organisation said Israel had conducted "illegal and shameful attacks on the humanitarian and peaceful flotillas", followed by "equally illegal arrests and detentions"."It subjected our citizens to cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment, as defined in the International Convention against Torture, both physically and psychologically," said the group, which goes by the acronym WOFA.Nineteen Swiss nationals took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to break an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold after two years of devastating conflict.Israel started intercepting the flotilla vessels in international waters on October 1. Israeli police said more than 470 people aboard the boats were arrested.While nine Swiss nationals have been released, 10 are still detained, WOFA said.They were expected to be released on Tuesday, it said, adding: "We remain cautious in the face of a state that has long since abandoned any respect for the rule of law."WOFA said those released had described "sleep deprivation, lack of access to water and food, lack of medical care, and verbal and psychological abuse".Some, it said, "were kept handcuffed for long hours without any justification", while others "were slapped, beaten, and locked in a cage".In addition, "all medical treatments have been denied, including essential medicines like insulin for diabetes," it charged.The accusations echoed those of flotilla participants from other countries."The first 48 hours there was no food, no water at all," German flotilla member Yasemin Acar said upon her arrival in Greece on Monday."We were beaten. We were threatened... We were kept under the sun, our hands were cuffed to the back," she said.WOFA said it was "documenting the serious abuses suffered by our compatriots, as well as those they have witnessed"."These facts will be forwarded to the competent judicial authorities with a view to initiating legal proceedings."

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
Region

Three Palestinians martyred, 13 others injured in Israeli bombings of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis

Three Palestinians were martyred, and 13 others were injured on Thursday when the Israeli occupation forces bombed tents for displaced people in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. The Palestinian news agency (WAFA), citing medical sources, said that three Palestinians were martyred, and 13 others were injured when an Israeli drone bombed tents for displaced people west of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, eight Palestinians were injured when an Israeli drone bombed a tent for displaced people inside Al-Aqsa University campus in Al-Mawasi area, west of the city. This morning, the Israeli occupation forces detonated four car bombs in Al-Sabra and Tal al-Hawa neighborhoods, south of Gaza City. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelled the eastern areas of the city and targeted the eastern part of the Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. Israeli aircraft also raided the eastern areas of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, and loud explosions were heard amid the ongoing aggression across the Gaza Strip. Medical sources announced last night that 85 Palestinians were martyred in the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation has committed genocidal crimes in the Gaza Strip, killing 66,148 Palestinians, and injuring 168,716, most of them children and women. The famine has also claimed the lives of 455 citizens, including 151 children.

A screengrab from a live footage video shows crew of a Gaza-bound vessel, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, put their hands up as they are intercepted by Israeli security forces, on Wednesday. Global Sumud Flotilla/Handout via REUTERS
Region

Israeli military intercepts Gaza aid flotilla

Flotilla is latest attempt to break Israel's blockade of GazaOrganisers say unidentified vessels approached, military came on boardBoats had expected to reach Gaza on ThursdayIsraeli military personnel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver medicine and food to Gaza and boarded its boats as it approached the war-ravaged enclave.Some 20 unidentified vessels were seen approaching the flotilla earlier on Wednesday night, multiple people on board said, as passengers put on life vests and braced for a takeover."Our vessels are being illegally intercepted. Cameras are offline and vessels have been boarded by military personnel. We are actively working to confirm the safety and status of all participants on board," organisers of the flotilla said in a post on X.The Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of more than 40 civilian boats carrying about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, despite repeated warnings from Israel to turn back. It is within 90 nautical miles of the war-ravaged Strip, inside a zone that Israel is policing to stop any boats approaching.A live video feed from one of the boats in the flotilla showed passengers in life vests sitting on deck.It is not clear if all the boats had been intercepted or stopped. Some passengers said their vessels continued to advance.Organisers remained defiant. "We will not be intimidated by threats, harassment, or efforts to protect Israel's illegal siege on Gaza," they said in an earlier statement.The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment about intercepting the vessels.The Israeli foreign ministry earlier said its navy had reached out to the flotilla to warn it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade, and asked them to change course.The ministry said that it reiterated the offer to transfer any aid peacefully through safe channels to Gaza.It is the latest sea-borne attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, much of which has been turned into a wasteland by almost two years of war. The flotilla had been hoping to arrive in Gaza on Thursday morning if it was not intercepted.This was the second time the flotilla was approached on Wednesday. Before dawn, the mission's organisers said two Israeli "warships" had approached fast and encircled two of the flotilla's boats. All navigation and communication devices went down in what one organiser on board described as a "cyber attack". A video post on the flotilla's Instagram page showed the silhouette of what appeared to be a military vessel with a gun turret near the civilian boats.Reuters confirmed that the video was filmed from the flotilla, but could not confirm the identity of the other vessel in the video or when the video was taken. Last week the flotilla was attacked by drones, which dropped stun grenades and itching powder on the vessels, causing damage but no injuries. Israel did not comment on that attack, but has said it will use any means to prevent the boats from reaching Gaza, arguing that its naval blockade is legal as it battles Hamas in the coastal enclave. Italy and Spain deployed naval ships to help with any rescue or humanitarian needs but stopped following the flotilla once it got within 150 nautical miles of Gaza for safety reasons. Turkish drones have also followed the boats.Italy and Greece on Wednesday jointly called on Israel not to hurt the activists aboard and called on the flotilla to hand over its aid to the Catholic Church for indirect delivery to Gaza - a plea the flotilla has previously rejected.At the press conference held by organisers on Wednesday, Francesca Albanese, the top UN expert on Palestinian rights, said any interception of the flotilla "would be yet another violation of international law, the law of the sea" since Israel had no legal jurisdiction on waters off Gaza.Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal enclave in 2007 and there have been several previous attempts by activists to deliver aid by sea.In 2010, nine activists were killed after Israeli soldiers boarded a flotilla of six ships manned by 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries. In June this year, Israeli naval forces detained Thunberg and 11 crew members from a small ship organised by a pro-Palestinian group called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition as they approached Gaza.

Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, on Sunday. REUTERS
Region

Gaza Civil Defence warns of humanitarian crisis as Israel blocks fuel entry

The Civil Defence in the Gaza Strip has raised alarm over the ongoing Israeli blockade preventing the entry of fuel supplies necessary for operating rescue and firefighting vehicles, warning of mounting humanitarian consequences.In a statement Sunday, Director of Humanitarian Support and International Relations at the Civil Defence, Mohammed al-Mughair, said that the continued denial of fuel supplies will severely impact the agency’s capacity to respond to emergencies and could result in further loss of lives across the besieged enclave.Al-Mughair warned of a sharp decline in Civil Defence services if the fuel shortage persists, and urged all concerned parties and international actors to intervene immediately and press Israel to allow the entry of fuel destined for humanitarian institutions operating in Gaza.The Civil Defence has been appealing for months to secure fuel for its operations. On August 20, it reported receiving only 10% of its monthly fuel needs since the beginning of that month.The crisis has been further exacerbated by Israel's closure of border crossings on March 2, effectively halting the flow of humanitarian aid, relief supplies, and fuel into the territory. Only limited fuel quantities have been allowed via international organisations, falling far short of Gaza’s minimum humanitarian requirements.This continued restriction, the Civil Defence warns, is not only hindering lifesaving operations but also pushing Gaza’s fragile emergency response infrastructure to the brink of collapse.

Gulf Times
Region

Palestinian youth shot by Israeli Occupation in Jerusalem

A Palestinian youth was shot by Israeli occupation forces on Sunday in the town of Al Ram in northern occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank. The Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing the Palestine Red Crescent Society, reported that its medics treated the youth for a gunshot wound to the thigh near the separation wall in Al Ram. Israeli occupation forces are firing live ammunition deliberately and directly at Palestinians who are near the separation wall. Daily raids and incursions into villages and towns across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem are a regular occurrence, with Israeli forces clashing with residents, making arrests, and using live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas against Palestinian youth. This has escalated amid the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which began on Oct. 7, 2023.

The session discussed the serious humanitarian and human rights consequences of the unlawful Israeli attack on Qatar on September 9.
Qatar

Israeli attack on Qatar blatant violation of UN Charter, international law: IPHRC of OIC

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an emergency session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to examine the grave implications of the Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar.The session discussed the serious humanitarian and human rights consequences of the unlawful Israeli attack on Qatar on September 9, describing it as a blatant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and international humanitarian law, and a threat to regional peace, safety, and stability.In a statement delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General of the OIC Hissein Brahim Taha, by Ambassador Samir Bakr Diab, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al Quds Affairs, the organisation strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against Qatar, calling it a flagrant breach of international law, including the UN Charter and the fundamental principles governing peaceful relations between states.**media[361808]**He added that targeting a member state of the OIC that actively contributes to mediation and peace efforts sets a dangerous precedent and poses a serious threat to international peace and security. Israel bears full responsibility for this unlawful and unjustified attack and must be held accountable.The OIC also denounced ongoing Israeli violations and crimes in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, including collective punishment, starvation, forced displacement, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.The aggression against Qatar, he noted, marks a dangerous escalation in the regional context, not only an assault on Qatar's sovereignty but also on the collective international efforts to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages and detainees.**media[361810]**He expressed the OIC's deep solidarity with Qatar and pledged unwavering support for any measures the country may take to safeguard its security, sovereignty, stability, and the safety of its citizens and residents.HE the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and member of the IPHRC Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah stated that the Israeli aggression against Qatar has left deep wounds and humanitarian tragedies, most notably the martyrdom of six individuals, numerous injuries, and the terrorising of civilians.As a member of the IPHRC, HE Al Attiyah strongly condemned this attack, which targeted a civilian area and posed a serious threat to residents and diplomatic missions, adding that it resulted in severe violations, including worsening health conditions for people with chronic illnesses and the temporary deprivation of education for at least 1,000 students due to damage to schools and kindergartens, in addition to acute psychological trauma suffered by children and their families.HE Al Attiyah emphasised that the meeting represents a vital step toward justice for victims and their families, and toward bringing perpetrators of the most serious violations to international accountability.She stressed that the recurrence and expansion of grave violations reflect a deeply troubled international landscape, driven by complicity with aggressors and the failure of protection mechanisms to fulfill their roles. This, she said, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the global system to fulfill the objectives of the UN Charter, translate justice and equality into lived realities, end impunity, and restore hope to millions yearning for a world governed by the values of truth, justice, and peace.She reaffirmed the Commission's role in confronting the grave violations committed by Israeli occupation authorities and expressed confidence that the emergency session would yield conclusions and recommendations capable of shaping a unified and unequivocal international stance against the crimes of aggression, condemning all resulting violations, and ensuring accountability and non-repetition.HE Al Attiyah also highlighted the importance of supporting national human rights institutions and civil society organisations in documenting violations and encouraging their coordination and participation in all actions undertaken by the Commission.For his part, the Chairperson of the OIC's IPHRC Dr. Haci Ali Acikgul condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar, saying it is an unjustified and illegitimate aggression against a sovereign state, and constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the fundamental principles of international law, and international humanitarian law.He emphasised that the attack on the State of Qatar was not an isolated incident but rather part of a systematic pattern pursued by the Israeli occupation to target civilians, especially women and children in the Gaza Strip, through a policy of collective punishment, forced displacement, the use of starvation as a weapon, and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure.He added that the Committee reaffirms its full solidarity with the State of Qatar, both government and people, adding that the attack on a state that acts as a mediator to end the conflict is, in essence, an attack on the principle of negotiation itself. The Committee also supports the unanimous condemnation issued by the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Doha on September 15, and supports the roadmap laid out by the Summit for coordinated diplomatic, political, and legal action, he said.He pointed to the importance of demanding that the United Nations Security Council, the Human Rights Council, and other relevant bodies take urgent and decisive action to condemn the Israeli aggression, prevent any future violations, and enforce binding obligations under international law. He called for the opening of independent and impartial investigations into the attack, holding Israel accountable at the international level, and supporting the referral of violations committed by Israel against the State of Qatar and in the occupied Palestinian territories to international judicial mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.Executive Director of the OIC's IPHRC Dr. Hadi bin Ali Alyami said that this emergency session reflects their deep awareness of the gravity of the situation and their shared commitment to their responsibilities as the OIC's IPHRC, which comes in response to the serious human rights repercussions resulting from the unlawful Israeli aggression against the State of Qatar.Alyami added that this aggression was not a passing incident but rather represents a flagrant violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and a blatant breach of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which constitute the fundamental pillar of international peace and security. The world was shocked by the targeting of a country known for its active role in humanitarian and diplomatic mediation, its tireless efforts to achieve a ceasefire and to facilitate the release of detainees in Gaza.He pointed out that the IPHRC took the initiative from the outset to condemn the attack on the State of Qatar, calling on everyone to raise their voices in international forums to end impunity, protect civilians, and preserve human dignity in accordance with the principles of international peace and security.For her part, the President of the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Hala bint Mazyad Al Tuwaijri said this session comes amid a grave incident, namely the attack launched by the Israeli occupation authorities against the State of Qatar, which carries serious repercussions for human rights and international humanitarian law, and poses a direct threat to regional and international peace and security.Al Tuwaijri pointed out that the attack constitutes a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law, violating the right to life and the right to security. It resulted in the killing and wounding of many people, as well as terrorising innocent civilians, especially women and children in the targeted civilian area.She added that they are fully aware that the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar at this time, while sponsoring mediation efforts to stop the war in Gaza and end the humanitarian crisis there, poses an obstacle to efforts to establish peace in the region through diplomatic means.She stressed that such actions cannot be justified under any pretext, but rather reflect a disregard for international standards and a determination to violate the rules agreed upon by the international community to protect humanity.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gestures as he addresses the 80th UN General Assembly in New York Friday.
Qatar

Pakistani PM reiterates condemnation of Israeli attack on Qatar

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Friday his country's condemnation of the treacherous Israeli attack that targeted Qatar on Sept 9.In his address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Sharif affirmed Pakistan's condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli violation of Qatar's sovereignty, in the attack that targeted residential buildings in Doha, and its violation of the sovereignty of other countries in the region.Separately, the Pakistani prime minister said that the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the genocide against innocent Palestinian civilians represent a stain on the global conscience and a collective moral failure, reiterating the demand to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.He also welcomed the official recognition of the State of Palestine by a number of countries, calling on other countries to do the same. He recalled Pakistan's supportive position for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.Sharif also addressed the Ukraine-Russia crisis in his speech, affirming his country's support for all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two countries in accordance with the UN Charter.He also spoke, in separate contexts, about climate change, world peace, and Islamophobia.