A new report by the United Nations Human Rights Office accuses Israel of actions that may amount to ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Released on Thursday, the report says Israel’s military campaign and blockade have made life in Gaza “increasingly incompatible with Palestinians’ continued existence as a group.” It cites intensified attacks, destruction of neighborhoods, and denial of humanitarian aid as evidence of an apparent effort to cause a permanent demographic shift. Covering the period from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025, the report documents systematic unlawful force, arbitrary detention, and home demolitions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The report highlights widespread famine and the killing of unprecedented numbers of civilians in Gaza, noting that at least 463 Palestinians, including 157 children, starved to death during the 12-month period. It attributes these deaths to Israeli government actions that blocked food access. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue air strikes and demolitions across Gaza, violating a ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025. Violence has also surged in the West Bank, with settlers attacking Palestinian communities under military protection.

The report warns that these policies are altering the demographic composition of Palestinian territories and deepening humanitarian collapse.

The United Nations announced that the United States has paid about $160 million toward its nearly $4 billion in outstanding dues. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the payment will go to the organisation’s regular operating budget. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has questioned its commitment to the UN and cut funding for international programmes. However, during the inaugural meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, DC, Trump said he intended to help ensure the UN remains viable.

According to the UN, the US owes about $2.196 billion to its regular budget, including $767 million for the current year, and another $1.8 billion for peacekeeping operations. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned that the UN faces an “imminent financial collapse” unless member states pay their dues, noting that the regular budget could be depleted as early as July. The US, as the largest donor, accounts for roughly 95 percent of the arrears.

Trump’s creation of the Board of Peace, officially tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, has drawn criticism from those who see it as a rival to the UN Security Council. Critics argue it could undermine the UN’s authority and global operations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that no reconstruction work will begin in the war-torn Gaza Strip until the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is disarmed. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 19, during a televised address at a military event. On the same day, the first meeting of the newly formed 'Peace Board' took place in Washington, D.C.

The board was established following a ceasefire agreement signed last October, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, to end two years of conflict in Gaza. Nearly two dozen world leaders and senior officials attended the inaugural meeting. Discussions in Washington also explored the possibility of forming an 'international stabilization force' to ensure security in Gaza. The future of Hamas remains one of the most sensitive issues before the council.

U.S. officials reported positive progress in the talks, with growing pressure on Hamas to surrender its weapons. Israel has proposed strict measures, including confiscating even small personal firearms from Hamas members. However, it remains unclear how the Palestinian technical committee overseeing Gaza’s daily administration will handle the disarmament process.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran to reach an agreement with the United States within 10 to 15 days or face a potential military strike. Speaking at the inauguration of a peace board in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Trump said that last June’s joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran had paved the way for a ceasefire in Gaza. He claimed that without U.S. action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, peace in the Middle East would have been difficult to achieve.

In response, Iran issued a counter-threat through its permanent representative to the United Nations, who wrote to Secretary-General António Guterres stating that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliatory strikes on all U.S. bases and infrastructure in the Middle East. The envoy emphasized that Iran does not seek war but would respond if attacked, holding the United States responsible for any consequences.

According to a Wall Street Journal report cited on Friday, the United States is considering an initial limited strike targeting Iranian government buildings and security infrastructure to pressure Tehran into a nuclear deal. If Iran refuses, a broader campaign could aim to topple Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government.

Former German footballer Mesut Ozil and Turkish President’s son Necmettin Bilal Erdogan’s convoy was involved in a road accident on Thursday evening, February 19, 2026, in the Kutupalong area of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway while they were returning after attending an iftar with Rohingya refugees. Police reported that a motorized rickshaw collided with the VIP convoy, leaving the rickshaw driver injured, though no one in the delegation, including Ozil, was hurt.

According to Shahpari Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam, the rickshaw was seized following the accident, and the injured driver received local medical treatment. Authorities have initiated an investigation and will take necessary legal action. Earlier in the day, Ozil and an 11-member Turkish delegation visited several Rohingya camps, played football with refugees at Camp 4, and joined them for iftar in the evening.

Police confirmed that the accident caused no injuries among the visiting delegation, and the situation was brought under control promptly.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has instructed all Polish citizens currently in Iran to leave the country without delay. In a warning issued on Thursday, he said that due to the growing risk of armed conflict, it might become impossible to evacuate citizens within hours if the situation deteriorates. Tusk urged Poles not to travel to Iran under any circumstances.

The warning followed a report published Wednesday by U.S. media outlet Axios, which suggested that the likelihood of military conflict between the United States and Iran was much higher than most Americans believed. The report also indicated that a large-scale attack could begin within weeks.

Tusk’s directive reflects heightened international concern over potential instability in the region, with governments closely monitoring developments that could affect their nationals in Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Moscow will not accept the sanctions imposed against Cuba. He made the remarks during a meeting in Moscow with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. Putin emphasized that Russia’s foreign ministry has clearly and unequivocally expressed its position on the new sanctions, stressing that Russia will not tolerate such measures.

Putin described relations between Russia and Cuba as positive and special, noting that Moscow has always supported Havana in its struggle to preserve independence and sovereignty. He acknowledged the hardships faced by the Cuban people over decades in defending their right to live by their own rules and protect national interests.

The statement comes as the United States has strengthened energy sanctions on Cuba, leading to severe fuel shortages after supplies from Mexico and Venezuela were halted. In response, the Russian embassy in Havana announced that Russia will soon send oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid, a move expected to deepen bilateral ties and influence international politics.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any US attack on Iran would have dangerous consequences, describing such an action as 'playing with fire'. He made the remarks in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions. His comments came a day after indirect talks between Iranian and US negotiators in Geneva aimed at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Lavrov said that attacks had been carried out on Iranian nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, posing a serious risk of a nuclear accident. He noted that he had closely observed the stance of Arab and Gulf governments regarding a possible strike on Iran and found that none were willing to escalate tensions, recognizing the grave risks involved.

According to Lavrov, further escalation could reverse recent positive developments, including the restoration of friendly relations between Iran and neighboring countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.

Israel is reportedly preparing to launch an attack on Iran’s ballistic missile system, pending a possible green light from the United States. The report, citing Israel’s state broadcaster Kan and Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, emerged on Wednesday night amid heightened discussions over whether U.S. President Donald Trump will authorize a strike on Iran.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, security assessments over the past 24 hours suggest that the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran has increased following recent talks between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, President Trump has held a meeting with U.S. security officials to discuss preparations for a potential strike, which could take place by Saturday.

The developments indicate growing military tension in the region as both Israel and the United States evaluate their next steps regarding Iran’s missile capabilities.

A high-level Turkish delegation led by Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday for a one-day visit to observe the current situation of Rohingya refugees who fled from Myanmar. The 11-member team includes former German World Cup-winning footballer Mesut Ozil. They were received at Cox’s Bazar airport by local officials before visiting the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner’s office and meeting with government representatives and Turkish aid organizations working in the camps.

During a brief press briefing, Bilal Erdogan emphasized the need for continued international efforts to ensure the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya people to their homeland. He noted that Turkey has been actively involved in humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the 2017 Rohingya crisis and expressed gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh for their support.

The delegation later visited the Balukhali Camp No. 9 in Ukhiya, inspected Turkish-run facilities, and planned to join a charity football match and iftar with Rohingya refugees before returning to Dhaka at night.

A new study published in The Lancet Global Health has confirmed that more than 75,000 people were killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks. The report, titled “Gaza Mortality Survey,” found that between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025, a total of 75,200 violent deaths occurred, representing about 3.4 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population of 2.2 million. The findings indicate that the death toll has exceeded earlier official statistics.

The study also supports the Gaza Health Ministry’s data, suggesting that its figures were not exaggerated. As of February 16, the ministry reported at least 72,063 deaths since the war began, including 603 deaths after a ceasefire was declared on October 10, 2025. Israel has repeatedly questioned the ministry’s numbers, but an Israeli military officer reportedly acknowledged in January that around 70,000 people had been killed during the conflict.

The Lancet’s confirmation of the scale of casualties underscores the devastating human cost of the prolonged conflict and may influence future assessments of humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Gaza.

Israel has announced that 10,000 Palestinian worshippers will be permitted to attend Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. The announcement came on Wednesday, February 18, following the start of Ramadan, according to Arab News. The approval applies specifically to weekly Friday prayers at the site.

The Israeli defense ministry’s agency for civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, COGAT, stated that entry will be allowed only under certain restrictions. Men aged 55 and above, women aged 50 and above, and children up to 12 years old accompanied by a first-degree relative will be eligible. Each worshipper must also obtain a separate permit for every Friday throughout Ramadan.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, is located in East Jerusalem, a territory occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, a move not recognized internationally. Normally, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians attend prayers there during Ramadan.

At least eight skiers were killed in a massive avalanche in California’s Lake Tahoe backcountry, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The avalanche struck the Castle Peak area, northwest of Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Six people were rescued alive, while one person remains missing and is presumed dead. The avalanche was described by witnesses as roughly the size of a football field.

Following a 911 call received at 11:30 a.m., the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office launched a search and rescue operation. The sheriff’s department, its search and rescue team, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection jointly conducted the operation in the affected area. Officials said the search continued in the Castle Peak zone immediately after the avalanche.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or the cause of the avalanche. Search efforts are ongoing for the missing skier.

Jesse Louis Jackson, a prominent leader of the United States civil rights movement, has died at the age of 84. He passed away on Tuesday in the presence of his family, according to a family statement. Jackson had been hospitalized for several months due to a neurological illness. He was a close disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. and played a major role in advancing civil rights and social justice causes across the country.

More than 40 years ago, Jackson urged the Democratic Party to broaden its moral outlook to include minorities, Arab Americans, and Palestinians who had long faced marginalization. Throughout his career, he consistently spoke for the oppressed, notably highlighting the plight of Palestinians and advocating for the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States. In 2024, his organization, the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, convened an emergency summit calling for an end to Israel’s assault on Gaza and a ceasefire.

Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, said Jackson paved the way for Arab American political empowerment and remained steadfast in supporting Palestinians despite pressure to sever ties with Arab Americans.

Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace to Indian-registered aircraft for another month, according to a new notice issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). The restriction, which has been in place for nearly ten months, will now remain effective until March 23, 2026. During this period, all Indian military and civilian aircraft are prohibited from flying through Pakistani airspace.

The airspace ban was first imposed on April 23, 2025, following escalating tensions between the two countries after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. In response to the incident, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to retaliate by closing its airspace to Indian airlines.

Subsequent military confrontations in early May saw both nations launch strikes against each other, culminating in a ceasefire agreement on May 10 after 87 hours of conflict. The extension of the airspace closure underscores the continuing strain in India-Pakistan relations despite the earlier ceasefire.