Pakistan has completed preparations to send its first batch of 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza and Palestine. This brings the total relief sent from Pakistan to 1,815 tons. The aid—comprising food and essential medicines—will be flown from Islamabad to Amman, Jordan, and then delivered to Gaza through partner organizations.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik are scheduled to attend the departure ceremony.

Four Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on President Donald Trump to help bring all sides back to the negotiating table to end the war in Gaza.

In a letter, Representatives Gregory Meeks, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jamie Raskin warned that the conflict has become a humanitarian disaster and poses a serious geopolitical threat. “We urge you to use the full force of American diplomacy to achieve a swift, fair, and lasting resolution,” they wrote. “Now is the time to bring all parties—Israel, Palestinian leaders, regional partners, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff—back to the table without delay.”

The German government has called on Israel to fulfill its responsibility in ensuring large-scale humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, in coordination with the UN and other relief organizations.

Government spokesperson Stephan Kornelius acknowledged limited progress but said it was “clearly insufficient to address the acute emergency.” He also expressed concern over reports that Hamas and other groups have seized aid supplies. Recently, German Foreign Minister Wadewulf met with Israeli PM Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Canada has reaffirmed its ban on arms exports to Israel to prevent potential misuse in Gaza. Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Saturday that no new export licenses have been approved since January 2024 for items that could be used in Gaza.

Addressing recent reports alleging continued arms transfers, Anand said many claims were “misleading and distorted.” She clarified that some items described as "ammunition" were actually paintball-like materials or components designed to disable firearms—unsuitable for battlefield use.

“No Canadian company has exported mortars to Israel since the license freeze,” she added. Anand warned that any firm exporting military goods without a valid license will face legal action. “We will not allow Canadian-made weapons to be used in this conflict under any circumstances.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep honor in welcoming Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his official visit to Islamabad.

In a statement, Sharif said the visit marks a vital step toward strengthening bilateral relations. “It is an honor to welcome my brother, the President of Iran, to Pakistan,” he wrote. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif echoed the sentiment on her official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, “Pakistan and Iran are two bodies, one soul.”

Former Lebanese minister Adnan Hussein has declared that Hezbollah will never surrender its weapons, despite mounting pressure from the U.S. and Israel. He warned that American interference in Lebanon is increasing and accused Washington of conspiring against the region. Hussein highlighted the ongoing Israeli drone surveillance over Tripoli and the Bekaa region, and said the U.S. never holds Israel accountable, as evidenced by its handling of the Gaza crisis. He dismissed American mediation as unreliable and emphasized that the best response to foreign pressure is national unity.

A wave of Russian missile and drone attacks struck Kyiv from Thursday night into early Friday, killing at least 31 people, including women and children, and injuring more than 150. In response, Ukraine declared Saturday a national day of mourning. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over 100 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including residential apartments, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and university facilities. A significant portion of a nine-story residential building was completely reduced to rubble. Rescue operations are ongoing, with many feared trapped under the debris.

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, the temporary Friday prayer leader in Tehran, warned that if Israel breaks the ceasefire, Tel Aviv would be turned into a "ghost city." He claimed that global protests reflect growing hatred toward Israel, while Iran has demonstrated its power by targeting American bases. He described Israel as a “cancerous tumor” that must be removed and warned that if left unchecked, Israel would treat all Muslim nations as it has Syria. He also condemned the U.S., accusing it of launching military interventions in at least 25 countries over recent decades, calling its history a “dark dossier of crimes.”

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he has heard that India may stop importing oil from Russia, calling it a “positive step.” Previously, Trump criticized India for engaging in what he called unfair trade practices and maintaining deep energy and defense ties with Russia. On Wednesday, Trump wrote, “India will now pay a 25% tariff, along with penalties starting in early August, for their previous actions.” He added, “India is our friend, but for years we’ve had minimal trade because their tariffs are extremely high—some of the highest in the world.”

Following a UN statement urging Hamas to disarm and surrender authority in Gaza, the group responded firmly, declaring it would not cease resistance until a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established.

Seventeen nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, Egypt, and institutions like the EU and Arab League, backed the UN call. However, Hamas maintained that its fight will continue until the occupation ends and Palestinian independence is realized.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed recent European initiatives to recognize the State of Palestine. "We highly value the humanitarian gestures coming from Europe, particularly from France and the UK," Erdoğan stated. He added, "No one can remain silent amid the atrocities in Gaza, where children are dying of hunger and civilians searching for food are being deliberately shot." He also praised Portugal's plan to recognize Palestine, calling it a vital step.

Portugal has announced plans to consult its president and parliament in September regarding official recognition of Palestine at the United Nations.

This move follows similar announcements from France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as momentum builds among Western nations to support Palestinian statehood. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s office made the statement on Thursday, indicating that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified the urgency of international action.

Earlier this week, Canada expressed intent to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly session, citing worsening conditions in Gaza. France and the UK have also indicated they are prepared to take similar steps if certain conditions are not met by Israel.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Gaza on Friday to inspect food distribution efforts. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Witkoff will be accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. They will meet with local Palestinians to hear directly about the humanitarian crisis and evaluate plans to increase aid. Witkoff also met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for what was described as a “productive” meeting.

Reacting to former U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of India's economy, Rahul Gandhi said, "I'm glad President Trump told the truth—something everyone knows except Modi and his Finance Minister." Trump recently said, “India and Russia can sink their dying economies together for all I care,” and pointed out India's high tariff rates and limited trade relations with the U.S. Rahul accused Prime Minister Modi of destroying India's economy. However, his comments have drawn strong criticism, even from within his own party.

Bangladesh Police and the Royal Malaysia Police have agreed to strengthen cooperation in tackling transnational crimes, including terrorism, human trafficking, and money laundering. The agreement came during a bilateral meeting held in Dhaka, where IGP Baharul Alam led the Bangladeshi delegation, and Azman bin Abd Razak, head of Malaysia’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, led the Malaysian side. Both parties emphasized timely intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts to combat cross-border threats.