In Sudan’s besieged western city of El Fasher, a drone attack by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a shelter for displaced persons has killed at least 60 people. The shelter, located on a university field, continues to have victims’ bodies unrecovered. Local resistance committees have condemned the attack as a “massacre” and urged the international community to intervene swiftly. Since April 2023, the ongoing conflict between Sudanese government forces and RSF has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left nearly 25 million people facing extreme famine. El Fasher, the last state capital in Darfur outside RSF control, has emerged as a critical front in the conflict. Human rights organizations have described the city as “an open-air morgue” due to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and rising civilian casualties. Immediate relief and international attention are considered crucial.

Pakistan’s military has claimed the capture of 19 Afghan border posts following overnight clashes on October 11. Pakistani forces reportedly attacked Afghan positions, including Durran Mela, Turkmenjai, Shahidan, Kunar, and Chagai, causing several Afghan soldiers to flee, with dozens killed or injured. Pakistan said its retaliatory strikes involved artillery, tanks, drones, and aircraft, targeting Afghan posts and armed groups along the international border. Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of a previous airstrike on Kabul, prompting the recent clashes. Both sides reported fatalities, with Taliban and Afghan forces confirming fighting in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, Khost, and Helmand provinces. Islamabad denied the airstrike but warned Kabul to stop sheltering Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Neighboring countries, including Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, have urged both nations to exercise restraint amid escalating border tensions.

More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to Gaza City after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Friday, October 10. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense agency, residents are going back to their ruined homes despite massive destruction caused by weeks of heavy bombardment. The truce follows indirect talks mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aiming to end nearly two years of conflict. Former U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in initiating the peace process after proposing a 20-point peace plan during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both sides agreed to the plan’s first phase earlier this week, paving the way for the ceasefire and partial troop withdrawal. For many Palestinians, the return marks both relief and uncertainty amid the city’s shattered infrastructure and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

In the wake of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, most of the enclave’s mosques have been reduced to rubble, erasing centuries of spiritual and architectural heritage. Once-standing minarets that called the faithful to prayer now lie shattered, leaving Gaza nearly devoid of its historic skyline. The Gaza Media Office reports that out of 1,244 mosques, more than 835 have been completely destroyed and 180 partially damaged — including Ottoman- and Mamluk-era sites. Among the ruins, survivors like 62-year-old Abu Khaled al-Najjar continue to pray over the debris of their lifelong sanctuaries, refusing to abandon faith despite devastation. In the Old City, young residents like Mahmoud Kandil search the wreckage of the Great Omari Mosque for remnants of their past, while elderly worshippers such as Umm Wael cling to prayer from their homes. Gaza’s faith endures, even as its mosques vanish beneath the dust of war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to help end the ongoing war in Ukraine by applying the same diplomatic approach that recently brought about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. According to a report by Samaa TV, Zelensky made the appeal during a telephone conversation, where he congratulated Trump on his successful mediation in Gaza. The two leaders also discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense systems and long-range missile capabilities amid continued Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the United States’ continued support and confirmed that specific agreements were reached to enhance Ukraine’s defense strength. Drawing on Trump’s earlier diplomatic success in the Middle East, Zelensky urged him to use that experience to promote peace in Eastern Europe, stressing that Russia must be compelled to join meaningful negotiations through a position of strong resistance.

Hamas has announced an agreement with Israel aimed at ending more than two years of conflict in Gaza. The deal, based on a U.S. proposal, includes the cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of occupation forces, entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of prisoners. A key figure in the talks is Hamas commander Ibrahim Hamed, considered by Israel’s Shin Bet as “Second Yahya Sinwar” and serving a 54-year life sentence. Hamed, a veteran of the Second Intifada and planner of multiple military operations, has remained a symbol of Palestinian resistance despite harsh imprisonment. Under the initial phase of the agreement, Hamas will release 20 Israeli prisoners within 72 hours of the ceasefire, while Israel will free over 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including hundreds serving life sentences.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that President Donald Trump’s meetings with leaders of eight Arab and Muslim-majority nations during last month’s United Nations General Assembly played a crucial role in advancing a Gaza ceasefire. Discussions centered on ending the Israel–Hamas conflict and planning post-war reconstruction. Following these meetings, Trump consulted with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders agreeing on a proposed 20-point framework for peace. Trump’s negotiating team then intensified efforts to involve Hamas through Qatar and Egypt. Rubio highlighted that Trump also conducted extensive phone calls and meetings with global leaders as part of an intense humanitarian and diplomatic initiative. Rubio emphasized that this success would not have been possible without the direct involvement of the U.S. President. Trump thanked the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Indonesia for their assistance in facilitating the ceasefire.

Thousands of Palestinians displaced by the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas have started returning to their homes, many of which have been reduced to rubble. The ceasefire officially came into effect on Friday, with Israeli forces pulling back from key areas in Gaza. The agreement includes the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Residents of Gaza expressed mixed emotions—relief at returning home but grief at the destruction left behind. Crowds gathered along coastal and city streets, marking their return after years of displacement. The humanitarian situation remains fragile, with thousands needing urgent assistance.

Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for Hamas, has accused Israel of attempting to manipulate specific clauses of the recently announced peace agreement, particularly those concerning prisoner lists and Gaza withdrawals. According to Qassem, Israel is seeking to exploit these clauses while avoiding meaningful discussions. He emphasized that the key priority is to create suitable conditions on the ground for the exchange of prisoners, asserting that a genuine peace agreement should end the brutal conflict against the Palestinian people.

Hamas also announced that a peace agreement was reached through talks in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Indirect discussions with Israel began on Monday with the objective of reconsidering U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace proposal. Arab and Israeli media reported that the first phase of the agreement has started taking effect, and the Israeli cabinet has approved the deal.

An Israeli reservist, Sergeant First Class Michael Mordechai Nachmani, 26, was killed by gunfire from a Hamas sniper in Gaza City on October 9. Nachmani, a resident of Dimona, served in the 614th Combat Engineering Battalion of the Technology and Maintenance Corps. The attack coincided with Israeli and Hamas representatives signing an agreement in Egypt to release all prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza. Israel’s cabinet has approved a ceasefire, which will come into effect within 24 hours, while hostages are expected to be freed within 72 hours. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as both a diplomatic achievement and a moral victory for Israel, signaling a hopeful, yet tense moment in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Over a thousand Iranians were killed during Israel’s 12-day war in June, with reports claiming German soldiers actively participated in the conflict. According to Tehran Times, Germany, a key Western supporter of Israel, not only provided political backing but also assisted militarily by deploying troops and aiding operations in occupied areas. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly endorsed Israel’s attacks, asserting prior knowledge and framing the actions as self-defense. Despite Israel’s justification that the strikes aimed to prevent Iran’s nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no supporting evidence. The deployments were reportedly carried out under secret agreements between German and Israeli commanders, with parliamentary approval unclear. Iranian authorities now possess the names of German soldiers, details of their cooperation, and related documents, complicating Israel’s security and intelligence situation further.

Israel has continued air and artillery strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis despite a ceasefire agreement meant to end two years of war with Hamas. Local officials report at least nine Palestinians killed since Thursday morning. Witnesses say Israeli drones and tanks have targeted civilian areas, blocking displaced residents from returning home. The ceasefire, brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, includes prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid entry, and phased Israeli withdrawal. In the first phase, Hamas will release 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Around 400 aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza soon. The war, sparked in October 2023, has killed over 67,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure, prompting the UN to call it a humanitarian catastrophe.

Bangladeshi photojournalist and activist Dr. Shahidul Alam has been detained by Israeli authorities and transferred to Ketziot prison in the Negev Desert, along with other members of the Gaza-bound “Global Sumud Flotilla.” According to Drik, Shahidul’s organization, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel – confirmed that all journalists, healthcare workers, human rights defenders, and crew members aboard the flotilla were taken to Ashdod port before being sent to prison. Activists reported facing violence during the seizure of their ship by Israeli forces. Drik’s statement condemned the arrests, noting that around 10,000 Palestinians are already imprisoned in Ketziot under Israeli occupation. The organization demanded the immediate release of all flotilla activists and Palestinian detainees, reaffirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom.

Hamas has confirmed that it reached an indirect ceasefire agreement with Israel this week in Egypt, aiming to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian organization stated the deal allows for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the exchange of prisoners. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier announced that both Hamas and Israel had agreed to implement the first phase of his 20-point plan for a ceasefire and hostage release. Hamas submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli authorities, pending final approval, which will be publicly released once authorized. The group called on President Trump to ensure Israel fully implements the agreement without delay, emphasizing the importance of compliance to secure lasting peace in the region.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has estimated that rebuilding Gaza will require $52 billion, equivalent to 634,000 crore Bangladeshi taka, following two years of relentless Israeli attacks that left most of the enclave in ruins. UNOPS Director Jorge Moreira da Silva told Al Jazeera that 80 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed, adding that debris removal will be the first priority once the conflict ends. In a parallel development, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to implement the first phase of a peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza war. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the deal includes the release of hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also confirmed progress on four key negotiation points: prisoner exchange, troop withdrawal boundaries, humanitarian aid, and ceasefire conditions.