United News of Bangladesh

Israel began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists Tuesday to expand its offensive in Gaza City, amid domestic opposition and international criticism. Ground and air operations targeted northern and central Gaza, including Zeitoun and Shijaiyah neighborhoods, repeatedly hit during the 23-month conflict with Hamas. Once a bustling area, Zeitoun has been largely emptied and reduced to rubble, now considered a “dangerous combat zone” by Israel’s military. Gaza City, Hamas’ political and military hub, still hosts extensive tunnel networks and hundreds of thousands of civilians facing both combat and famine. Israel plans to call up at least 60,000 reservists while extending the service of 20,000 already deployed. Criticism of the war is growing in Israel, with movements encouraging reservists to refuse service, though the impact of the latest call-up remains unclear. Malnutrition deaths in Gaza are rising, with 185 reported in August, the Health Ministry said. The ministry also reports 63,557 deaths and 160,660 injuries since the war began, with roughly half of the dead being women and children. The figures are widely cited by U.N. agencies as the most reliable estimates. The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Forty-eight remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed alive, according to Israel.

Belgium is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state, the country’s foreign minister announced Tuesday, joining a growing number of nations considering the move amid Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza. Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said Belgium’s recognition plans will be revealed at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 9. However, the step is conditional: all Israeli hostages held in Gaza must be released, and Hamas must be removed from political authority in the enclave. These conditions make immediate recognition unlikely. If implemented, Belgium would join over 140 countries, including more than a dozen in Europe, that already recognize Palestinian statehood. Prévot also outlined measures targeting Israel, including a ban on goods from West Bank settlements and declaring Hamas leaders, violent settlers, and two far-right Israeli ministers as persona non grata. “This is not about punishing the Israeli people but ensuring their government abides by international and humanitarian law and taking steps to change the situation on the ground,” Prévot said on social platform X. He urged the European Union to increase pressure on Israel, including suspending its trade agreement under the Association Agreement. Israel’s war in Gaza has strained relations among the EU’s 27 member states, sparked protests across Europe, and tested political coalitions in Belgium and the Netherlands. Yet Israel maintains strong ties with European military, business, and academic institutions. Belgium’s announcement drew sharp criticism from Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a potential target of the sanctions along with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “The self-righteous European countries being manipulated by Hamas will eventually face terrorism themselves,” Ben Gvir told The Associated Press. France and the United Kingdom have also announced plans to recognize Palestine, increasing diplomatic pressure on Israel. Countries like Australia, Canada, and European nations linking recognition to reforms by the Palestinian Authority face challenges, as the PA is widely viewed as corrupt and unpopular among Palestinians. Israel opposes granting it a larger role in postwar Gaza. The Palestinians aim to establish an independent state in the occupied West Bank, annexed east Jerusalem, and Gaza—territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel’s government and most political factions have historically opposed Palestinian statehood and argue that recognition now would reward militants following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

The death toll from a devastating earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan has surpassed 1,400, with over 3,000 people injured, according to Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who confirmed the figures on platform X (formerly Twitter). Rescue operations are underway in what UN officials described as a “race against time” to reach remote, mountainous areas worst hit by Sunday’s 6.0 magnitude quake. Entire villages were flattened, and many residents remain trapped under the debris of mud and wood homes that collapsed under the force of the tremor. “The people of Afghanistan are enduring multiple crises, and their resilience is at a breaking point,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Afghanistan. He urged the international community to step up urgently, stressing that the situation involves life-or-death decisions. This is the third major earthquake to hit Afghanistan since the Taliban took control in 2021. The country is already grappling with severe aid cuts, economic hardship, and a surge in returnees from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. Ratwatte noted that many of the homes, made from fragile materials, crumbled during the quake while residents were asleep—causing a high casualty rate that could rise further in the coming days. Despite international reluctance to engage directly with the Taliban government—recognized only by Russia—the regime has appealed for global assistance. Aid efforts have been hampered by limited funding, global donor fatigue, and concerns over Taliban policies, especially restrictions on Afghan women and girls, including a ban on their work with NGOs. Earlier this year, the U.S. significantly cut aid to Afghanistan, citing fears of funds benefiting the Taliban. Kate Carey, Deputy Head of the UN’s humanitarian coordination office in Afghanistan, said more than 420 health facilities have closed or suspended services due to funding shortfalls, including 80 in the eastern region affected by the quake. “As a result, the remaining health centers are overcrowded, under-resourced, and located farther from quake-hit communities—creating a dangerous gap in emergency trauma care during the critical first 24 to 72 hours,” Carey said.

The trial of Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro entered a decisive stage Tuesday as the verdict and sentencing phase began over accusations that he conspired to remain in power after losing the 2022 election. A Supreme Court panel has scheduled sessions through Sept. 12 to determine whether the far-right leader is guilty of trying to overturn the vote that narrowly made Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva president. Bolsonaro, who insists he is innocent, faces five charges connected to an alleged coup attempt. Currently under house arrest, he has repeatedly claimed the case is politically motivated. That claim has drawn support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who linked a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to Bolsonaro’s legal battle and described the proceedings as a “witch hunt” against his ally. The comment has sparked nationalist backlash among Brazilian politicians. The ex-president is accused of plotting a coup, joining an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently undermine democracy, and committing two acts of state property destruction. A conviction on the coup charge alone could result in up to 12 years in prison. Seven Bolsonaro allies are also on trial, including former running mate and defense minister Walter Braga Netto and ex-defense minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira. Brazil’s electoral court has already barred Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030 for abusing his presidential powers and spreading baseless claims against the country’s electronic voting system. According to a federal police probe, the spread of disinformation about the voting system was part of a wider strategy to cling to power. Prosecutors allege that plan included assassination plots against Lula and a Supreme Court justice, as well as the Jan. 8 attack on government buildings that sought to trigger military intervention against Lula’s new administration. The prosecution completed its case in July, followed by the defense in mid-August. Soon after, police accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of obstructing justice in a separate case, saying the former president once considered fleeing to Argentina for asylum. Eduardo Bolsonaro, who relocated to the U.S. earlier this year despite holding a congressional seat, has lobbied for sanctions against Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees his father’s trial. Trump’s administration imposed such sanctions in late July. Authorities consider Bolsonaro a flight risk. Ahead of the verdict phase, the Supreme Court imposed tighter security, including inspections of vehicles leaving his residence and constant monitoring of the area. Observers have described the case as ‘historic,’ noting it is the first time top officials accused of attempting a coup face trial. Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, an era Bolsonaro has openly admired. While an Amnesty Law passed in 1979 shielded officials from prosecution for human rights abuses, experts say this trial signals a break with that legacy of impunity. “History will tell whether it is 100% successful, but what we are seeing today is a movement that breaks with a tradition of military coups,” said Lucas Figueiredo, a writer on Brazil’s dictatorship era.

Rescue operations resumed Monday after a devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, leaving more than 800 people dead, according to preliminary figures from the UN’s humanitarian agency. The quake, centered in the remote and mountainous Kunar province, has flattened villages and trapped many under the rubble. Officials warned the death toll could rise sharply as rescue efforts are being hampered by blocked roads, forcing helicopters to deliver aid and reach survivors. Daniel Endres, the UN’s lead coordinator in Afghanistan, told the BBC that hot meals and blankets were being prepared for affected families. The Taliban has appealed for international assistance, while the United Kingdom announced £1 million in relief support, clarifying that the funds would not be handled by the Taliban. The quake struck at a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers (5 miles), making it particularly destructive. Tremors were felt as far away as the Afghan capital Kabul and Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday left at least 31 people dead as the military pushed forward with its offensive in the territory’s largest city, according to health officials. At the same time, leading genocide scholars accused Israel of committing genocide, charges the Israeli government strongly denies. Explosions from artillery and airstrikes shook Gaza City after Israel declared it a combat zone last week. Residents in Jabaliya refugee camp and the city’s outskirts said explosive-laden robots were being used to destroy buildings. “Another merciless night in Gaza City,” said Saeed Abu Elaish, a medic originally from Jabaliya who is sheltering in the city’s northwest. Health officials reported that at least 31 people were killed Monday, more than half of them women and children. Thirteen deaths occurred in Gaza City, which has been repeatedly targeted since Hamas-led militants launched the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Israel insists its operations are aimed at militants and says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in crowded neighborhoods. Gaza under siege: war and hungerGaza City residents, many uprooted multiple times, now face both conflict and famine. The world’s top food-crisis authority declared last month that Gaza is in the grip of famine — a crisis worsened by Israel’s blockade, mass displacement, and the collapse of local food production. Since the war began, 63,557 Palestinians have been killed and 160,660 wounded, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry does not separate civilians from fighters, it says women and children account for about half of the dead. The ministry, run by Hamas but staffed by health professionals, is considered by U.N. agencies and experts to provide the most credible figures, though Israel disputes them and has not offered its own count. On Oct. 7, Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. Forty-eight captives remain in Gaza, with Israel believing around 20 are alive. Genocide accusations escalateOn Monday, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the world’s largest body of experts in the field, declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel — founded after the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews and others were killed — strongly rejects the charge. It maintains that it seeks to minimize civilian harm and is waging a defensive war after Hamas’ attack, which Israel calls genocidal in nature. The association’s resolution stated that “Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide,” as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes. The resolution passed with support from 86% of members who voted. Voting details were not disclosed. “People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is,” said Melanie O’Brien, the association’s president and professor of international law at the University of Western Australia. Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the declaration as “an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard,” saying it was “entirely based on Hamas’ campaign of lies.” In July, the Israeli rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel also accused Israel of genocide — the first time Jewish-led organizations inside the country had used the term. International human rights organizations have made similar accusations. Grief and anger at hostage funeralThousands attended the funeral of Idan Shtivi, one of two hostages whose remains were retrieved last week. A private ceremony was held for the other, Ilan Weiss. Some mourners lashed out at the government for failing to secure a deal with Hamas to end the war and bring the hostages home. “It is very, very infuriating that no one, no one from this government stands up and says enough,” said Ami Dagan, a mourner from Rishon Letzion. “It’s a horror, it’s profound sadness and grief beyond words to describe the anger, the insult to the hostages, the insult to the fallen, the insult to the soldiers sent once again to Gaza," said Ruti Taro, another mourner. “No one knows why, except for the power-hungry ruler.” Criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown, with many Israelis accusing him of prolonging the war for political survival. Large-scale protests demanding a ceasefire and hostage release have surged in recent weeks. Flotilla departs Barcelona after storm delayMeanwhile, an activist flotilla aiming to break Israel’s blockade set sail again from Barcelona after stormy weather forced a temporary return to port. The Global Sumud Flotilla, involving about 20 boats with participants from 44 countries, includes climate activist Greta Thunberg. She had joined a previous flotilla in July that was intercepted by Israel. This is the largest attempt yet to symbolically challenge Israel’s blockade, though past efforts have all been stopped at sea. Israel says the blockade is necessary to block weapons shipments to Hamas, insisting aid can reach Gaza through other means. As the latest offensive in Gaza City continues, Israel has further restricted food deliveries to northern Gaza.

More than 14,000 mostly Venezuelan migrants who had set their sights on reaching the United States have reversed direction and headed south since U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown took effect, according to a report released Friday by the governments of Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica. The trend, described as “reverse flow” migration, is primarily made up of Venezuelans who fled years of economic, social, and political turmoil at home, only to find that U.S. policies now bar asylum-seekers. Migration through the dangerous Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama peaked in 2023 with over half a million crossings. While the pace slowed in 2024, it has nearly halted this year. The joint report, backed by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said northbound migration has dropped 97% in 2025. Interviews with migrants heading back south in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia showed that 97% were Venezuelans, and nearly half said they planned to return to their home country. Most said they had no choice but to turn back because they could no longer enter the U.S. legally. Since 2017, around 8 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis. Many initially sought refuge in South American nations such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile, before a large wave shifted toward the U.S. starting in 2021, braving the perilous Darien route. During the Biden administration, a U.S. government mobile app was the main pathway for asylum-seekers. But Trump scrapped the app on his first day in office, leaving thousands stranded in Mexico. Those who had continued their journey north when the new restrictions began are now heading back. A quarter of those interviewed plan to settle in Colombia, while others were unsure of their destination. Colombia and other South American nations have long appealed for international assistance to manage the Venezuelan migrant influx, even before many began moving toward the U.S. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s political and economic crisis continues unabated. Migrants retracing their steps face even greater risks, the report noted. Many lack money or jobs, and are dropped into areas dominated by criminal groups that increasingly prey on them. “Most of these people are already victims of human rights abuses," said Scott Campbell, a U.N. human rights representative in Colombia. “We urge authorities to aid people in this reverse migration to prevent them from being exploited or falling into trafficking networks run by illegal armed groups.” The development marks a dramatic reversal in one of the world’s largest migration movements. Migrants heading south typically take buses through Mexico and Central America to reach Panama, then pay between $260 and $280 for overcrowded boat rides back to Colombia. Two routes are used: one across the Caribbean Sea, where they land in Necocli, Colombia — the same town where many first entered the Darien Gap; the other along the Pacific coast of Panama and Colombia, ending in remote towns or Buenaventura. Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office estimates about 450 migrants have taken the latter, more hazardous path, while the U.N. has recorded cases of people being scammed, stranded, or suffering boat accidents, arriving exhausted and vulnerable. The Pacific region remains one of Colombia’s most violent zones, where armed groups fill the void left by weak state presence.

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced GPS jamming over Bulgaria in what officials suspect was Russian interference, the EU said Monday. The aircraft landed safely in Plovdiv, and von der Leyen continued her four-day tour of EU states bordering Russia and Belarus. Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà confirmed the disruption, citing Bulgarian authorities’ suspicion of “blatant interference by Russia.” Podestà said the incident highlighted the urgency of von der Leyen’s mission, stressing EU commitments to boost defense spending and readiness. Bulgaria also confirmed the aircraft lost GPS navigation signals on approach to Plovdiv Airport. Von der Leyen was scheduled to hold a press conference later in Romania.

Israel announced Sunday that it had killed Abu Obeida, the longtime spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, as its security cabinet convened to discuss expanding military operations in densely populated areas of Gaza. An anonymous official said ceasefire talks were not on the cabinet’s agenda. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Abu Obeida, a key figure in Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, was killed over the weekend. Hamas has not confirmed his death. According to the Israeli military, Abu Obeida — whose real name was Hudahaifa Kahlout — was responsible for publicizing hostage videos and footage from the October 7 attacks. The military reiterated that Hamas leaders abroad remain targets. The offensive comes amid Israel’s broader campaign to dismantle Hamas following the October 2023 assault in which 251 people were taken hostage and around 1,200 — mostly civilians — were killed in southern Israel. Currently, fewer than 50 hostages are still held in Gaza, with only around 20 believed to be alive. Outside the cabinet meeting, families of hostages protested the government’s unwillingness to prioritize a ceasefire. Einav Zangauker, whose son is a hostage, criticized the government for refusing to reach a deal that could save lives. Deadly Attacks Amid Aid Efforts Since Saturday, at least 43 Palestinians have been killed, most in Gaza City. Shifa Hospital reported 29 bodies, including 10 civilians who died while attempting to access aid. One grieving woman questioned the rationale behind the airstrikes, asking whether rubble was being mistaken for resistance fighters. Al-Awda Hospital reported another seven civilians were shot while trying to reach humanitarian aid. Witnesses said Israeli troops opened fire on crowds in the Netzarim Corridor — a military zone that cuts across Gaza. “We just wanted food,” said Ragheb Abu Lebda, who saw multiple people wounded. “It’s a death trap.” Civilians continue to die amid chaos surrounding humanitarian convoys. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-funded aid organization, denied any incident near its facilities that day. Israel’s military has not commented on the civilian casualties reported Sunday. City in Ruins, Civilians Too Weary to Flee Israeli forces have been targeting areas around Gaza City for weeks, preparing for a larger offensive. Airstrikes have intensified in neighborhoods like Rimal, where smoke filled the sky Sunday. Residents, exhausted and displaced multiple times, picked through the rubble for basic supplies. Many say they are too tired to evacuate again or doubt any part of Gaza is truly safe. The U.N. reports that over 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced at least once, often multiple times. Israel has hinted that it will limit aid to Gaza City while planning new infrastructure in the south — steps that Palestinians see as forced displacement. Rising Deaths from Starvation Gaza’s Health Ministry reported seven more adult deaths due to malnutrition in the past day. Since June, 215 adults and 124 children have died from hunger-related causes, the ministry says. Meanwhile, a humanitarian flotilla departed from Barcelona in the largest effort yet to breach Israel’s naval blockade. Previous attempts have been unsuccessful. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 63,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. About half of the dead are believed to be women and children. While Israel disputes these figures, it has not released its own casualty estimates. The U.N. and independent organizations regard the ministry’s numbers as generally credible.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 800 people and injuring more than 2,500, according to the Taliban government. Survivors spent the night digging through rubble with their bare hands, searching for family members trapped beneath collapsed homes. The 6.0-magnitude quake hit around 11:47 p.m. and was centered 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers — increasing its destructive impact. Several aftershocks followed. The hardest-hit areas were in Kunar province, where entire villages were leveled. Footage from the scene showed chaotic rescue efforts, with injured victims being carried from the debris and airlifted to hospitals. At a press briefing Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the rising toll and said most fatalities were in Kunar. He vowed that all available resources would be used for rescue operations. Many of the buildings in the affected areas were poorly constructed, especially in rural villages where mud bricks and wood are commonly used. One resident of Nurgal district said his entire village had collapsed. “Children, the elderly, young people — all are under the rubble,” he said, pleading for urgent help. In mountainous eastern Afghanistan, where communication is limited and roads are rough, rescue efforts have been complicated. Dozens of emergency flights have operated out of Nangarhar Airport to transport the wounded. One survivor, Sadiqullah from Maza Dara, described being trapped under debris after saving three of his children. His wife and two sons died, and his father was injured. “It felt like the entire mountain was shaking,” he said from a hospital bed in Nangarhar. Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman said casualty figures may rise as reports continue to come in from remote areas. Medical teams from Kunar, Nangarhar, and Kabul have been deployed. Jalalabad, near the epicenter and close to the Pakistan border, is a major trade hub with a large metropolitan population and significant agricultural activity. It remained on high alert following the quake. The tremor was also felt in parts of Pakistan, including Islamabad, though no casualties were reported there. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and said his country was ready to assist. The latest disaster comes less than two years after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan in October 2023, killing thousands. That quake was the deadliest in recent Afghan history, with the Taliban estimating 4,000 dead, while the UN put the toll closer to 1,500.