Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi meets Red Cross official

Gaza: Israeli airstrikes struck multiple areas across the Gaza Strip for the second consecutive day on Sunday, leaving at least 18 Palestinians dead and several others injured, according to Palestinian health officials. The renewed violence came despite recent diplomatic efforts led by the United States aimed at advancing last year’s ceasefire agreement and reducing tensions in the region. Medical officials reported that Israeli fighter jets carried out strikes in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and Khan Younis in the south. The attacks marked one of the deadliest days in recent weeks, with residential buildings, tents sheltering displaced families, and civilian vehicles among the locations hit. The escalation occurred only days after US President Donald Trump announced what he described as a significant breakthrough in efforts to revive the ceasefire agreement. His statement suggested that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups had agreed in principle to disarm, raising hopes of progress toward ending the prolonged conflict. However, Israeli officials quickly expressed skepticism over the proposed disarmament plan. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said Israel was prepared to give Hamas an opportunity to surrender its weapons but doubted the group would follow through. Speaking to Israel’s Army Radio, Cohen stated that no agreement had been reached to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza. He added that if Hamas refused to disarm, Israel could seek full control of the territory, where Israeli forces already maintain control over roughly 70 percent of the enclave. He emphasized that dismantling Hamas remained Israel’s primary objective under its understanding with the United States, describing it as a prerequisite for any lasting political arrangement. Later in the day, Doron Spielman, spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed that Israel had conveyed its concerns to US officials regarding the proposed roadmap. According to Spielman, Israel insists that Hamas must completely and verifiably disarm before any further steps toward implementing the ceasefire can move forward. Civilian Areas Among Targets Palestinian emergency services reported widespread destruction following Sunday’s airstrikes. In Deir al-Balah, at least four people were killed after an apartment building was struck. Another Israeli attack in the Mawasi area near Khan Younis injured five people and ignited fires in tents housing displaced families. A Palestinian couple and their nine-year-old son were killed when their home in Mawasi was hit. In Gaza City, another couple and their child lost their lives after an apartment was targeted. Medical teams also reported that two people were killed in a strike on a tent located near the Egyptian representative mission in Gaza City. Later in the day, two more fatalities were reported in the eastern Zeitoun neighborhood following another airstrike. In northern Gaza, one person was killed near Jabalia, while a separate strike targeting a vehicle near Saraya Square in Gaza City claimed at least three additional lives. Israeli Military Defends Operations The Israeli military said one of its operations in Deir al-Balah targeted two commanders belonging to Hamas’ elite “Nukhba” force. It also stated that strikes carried out in Gaza City and Jabalia were aimed at what it described as Hamas military operatives, although officials said assessments were still underway regarding the outcomes of those attacks. US-Led Peace Initiative Continues Despite the renewed violence, diplomatic efforts to preserve the ceasefire remain ongoing. The US-led Board of Peace, responsible for overseeing implementation of the ceasefire agreement, released a 15-point roadmap outlining the final stages required to fully enforce the deal. Nickolay Mladenov, the board’s chief envoy for Gaza, expressed concern over the latest escalation, saying the attacks came while mediators were actively working with Palestinian factions to secure agreement on the proposed roadmap. In a statement posted on social media, Mladenov said discussions with regional partners and international mediators were continuing to reduce tensions and create conditions necessary for implementing President Trump’s peace initiative. He stressed that achieving a lasting peace would require sustained commitment from all parties involved. Hamas Accuses Israel of Undermining Talks Hamas maintained that it remained open to negotiations but insisted Israel must first end its military campaign and withdraw forces from Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire agreement before any discussion on surrendering weapons could proceed. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the movement had demonstrated “considerable flexibility” during negotiations but accused Israel of escalating attacks in an attempt to weaken diplomatic efforts and impose new realities on the ground through military force. Meanwhile, former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, who is based in the United Arab Emirates, claimed that Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and a senior adviser involved in the US initiative, had informed him that discussions were underway with Israeli officials to halt the attacks. According to Dahlan, contacts between US officials and regional mediators continue, but the success of the agreement now depends largely on Israel ending its ongoing military operations in Gaza. The US State Department has not immediately commented on Dahlan’s remarks, while Israeli authorities have yet to issue a formal response. Casualties Continue to Rise According to Gaza health authorities, at least 1,230 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire agreement reached in October. Hamas has not released figures regarding the number of its fighters killed during the same period. Israeli officials, meanwhile, report that four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect.

Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to US President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the country’s attorney general after a closely contested Senate vote. Blanche secured confirmation by 50 votes to 49, with Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposing his nomination. Senator Bill Cassidy provided the crucial Republican vote in Blanche’s favour after saying he believed Blanche was the strongest candidate Trump was likely to nominate. The vote ended a prolonged dispute between the Trump administration and Senate Republicans over Blanche’s appointment. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April, after Pam Bondi was removed from the position. All Senate Democrats voted against Blanche’s confirmation. Several Republican lawmakers had questioned Blanche’s record and raised concerns about his involvement in a number of controversial matters. Among them was his handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his role in developing Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The proposed fund was intended to compensate people who claimed they had been politically targeted or persecuted by the government. However, critics, including Murkowski, warned that the scheme could potentially benefit people prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. During his confirmation process, Blanche promised to abandon the proposed fund following opposition from Republican senators. Questions remain over whether that commitment would prevent the administration from introducing a similar programme under a different structure in the future. Murkowski said she opposed Blanche because she lacked confidence that he would be willing to challenge what she described as the administration’s worst impulses. She also expressed concern about the increasing politicisation of the Justice Department. Collins raised separate concerns over Blanche’s involvement in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Despite those reservations, she ultimately did not support his confirmation. Cassidy, meanwhile, said he trusted Blanche to provide Trump with independent and candid legal advice. He acknowledged that the president ultimately determines the direction of the Justice Department but argued that Senate confirmation would give Blanche greater authority to advise the administration and push back when necessary. Cassidy also said he did not want political disagreements to prevent the Justice Department from carrying out its responsibilities, particularly in combating violent crime. Blanche’s confirmation marks a significant development for the Trump administration, given his previous role as Trump’s personal lawyer. He was serving as deputy attorney general when he assumed the department’s temporary leadership in April.