Hezbollah slams Israel talks as ‘humiliation’

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.

US President Donald Trump claimed during an address in Las Vegas that the word ‘affordability’ was invented by the press and political opponents to criticize his administration’s economic record. Speaking at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, the president reflected on tax policies and economic performance, arguing that costs were coming down significantly compared to high inflation during his initial transition into office. Trump asserted that reporters began using affordability as a newly devised buzzword on his first day in office to framed cost-of-living concerns. The remarks build on earlier statements from late 2025 where Trump characterised affordability as a political narrative promoted by Democrats to downplay economic progress.

United Nations human rights experts have called on Canada to strengthen security measures for Sikh activist Moninder Singh, citing repeated warnings from Canadian authorities about credible threats to his life. In a letter sent to the Canadian government on June 3 and released publicly under standard UN procedures, five independent experts expressed concern over allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals targeting Singh, a Canadian citizen. The experts noted that since 2022, Canadian authorities have issued Singh four separate “duty to warn” notices, informing him of serious and imminent threats to his safety. They urged Ottawa to ensure his protection, safeguard his family, and provide security for others facing similar risks. The letter also called on Canadian authorities to speed up investigations, hold those responsible accountable, provide justice to victims, and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The appeal was signed by UN special rapporteurs responsible for issues related to counterterrorism and human rights, freedom of peaceful assembly, human rights defenders, freedom of religion, and democratic international order. A copy of the communication was also shared with the Indian government. Singh visited Geneva earlier this year to seek international attention over what he described as the targeting of Sikh activists abroad and the broader issue of transnational repression. The case comes amid longstanding tensions between Canada and India following the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near a Sikh temple in British Columbia. Canadian authorities alleged Indian involvement in the assassination, an accusation New Delhi has consistently denied. The dispute strained diplomatic relations, leading both countries to expel diplomats in 2024. Although bilateral ties have improved under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, concerns over the safety of Sikh activists continue to draw international attention. Singh, who supports the Khalistan movement advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, said the UN experts’ intervention highlights growing concerns over the safety of Sikh voices abroad.