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.

Israeli naval forces have detained Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam, along with more than 150 international volunteers, after intercepting a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters on Wednesday. The nine-ship convoy, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying over $110,000 worth of medical supplies and humanitarian aid for hospitals in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that the detainees, now taken to Ashdod Port, are in good health and will be repatriated soon. Organizers alleged that Israeli commandos raided the vessels from helicopters and unlawfully seized their boats. Turkey condemned the operation as an act of piracy and a serious breach of international law, saying Turkish citizens and MPs were also on board. The incident adds to growing global criticism of Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has intensified famine and humanitarian suffering since October 2023.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to implement the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan, aimed at ending the prolonged war in the region. Trump announced the development on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the deal will lead to the release of all hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the beginning of a sustainable peace process. The negotiations took place in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh, with participation from key mediators including Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. According to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed on all terms for the first phase of the ceasefire. The agreement is expected to end hostilities, free hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, signaling a major breakthrough in one of the world’s deadliest ongoing conflicts.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that since October 7, 2023, Israel’s attacks have killed 67,173 Palestinians, including 20,179 children, while 169,780 people have been injured. Continuous bombardment has also severely impacted healthcare workers, with 1,701 killed and 362 detained, many missing and denied basic rights. The ministry highlighted deaths from famine caused by Israel’s blockade, with 460 fatalities, including 154 children, and over 51,000 children under five suffering severe malnutrition. According to the United Nations, only 18% of Gaza is free from military control or evacuation orders, and many Palestinians have faced repeated displacement. Since mid-August, 417,000 people fled north to south, but southern areas remain overcrowded with families in makeshift shelters. Aid agencies are struggling amid limited resources, and the UN warns that forced relocation of civilians could constitute ethnic cleansing.

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam has been detained by Israeli forces from the ship Conscience, which was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s mission to Gaza. In a video posted on Facebook Wednesday morning, Shahidul said that their vessel was intercepted at sea and he had been “kidnapped” by Israeli occupation forces. He urged global solidarity with the Palestinian struggle against genocide and oppression. The Times of Israel reported that the flotilla, consisting of nine vessels carrying over 100 activists, attempted to break through the Gaza naval blockade but was intercepted by the Israeli navy. Israeli authorities confirmed that all ships and passengers were safely taken to an Israeli port and would soon be deported. The flotilla had departed from Italy about two weeks ago, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and draw attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

A new humanitarian flotilla organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) is sailing toward Gaza, carrying vital food, medicine, and supplies for residents suffering under Israel’s 18-year blockade. According to a statement posted on Telegram on October 7, the fleet is currently about 300 kilometers (150 nautical miles) from the Gaza coast in the Mediterranean Sea. The flotilla comprises nine vessels and more than 100 volunteers from various international organizations. This new mission follows the “Global Sumud Flotilla,” launched in August, whose 43 vessels were intercepted by Israeli naval forces near Gaza. Among those participants were Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and South African politician Mandla Mandela. Despite the earlier interception and detentions, the FFC remains determined to break the siege and deliver aid directly to Gaza — a mission that, if successful, would mark the first international fleet to reach Gaza’s coast in 18 years.

At least 40 people, including several children, were killed and around 80 injured when Myanmar’s military carried out an airstrike on a Buddhist festival that coincided with an anti-junta protest in Chaung-U, central Myanmar, on Monday evening. Witnesses told AFP that hundreds had gathered for the Thadingyut Full Moon Festival when participants began chanting slogans against the ruling junta. Moments later, a motorized paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd, causing devastating explosions. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror, with bodies torn apart and rescuers collecting human remains into the next morning. The Myanmar military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has been battling nationwide resistance from pro-democracy forces allied with ethnic armed groups. Local media confirmed the death toll, though the junta has yet to comment. The attack comes ahead of a controversial national election scheduled for December 28, which critics call a sham to legitimize military rule.