United News of Bangladesh

Egypt has stepped up efforts to revive negotiations between Iran and the United States as tensions continued over the Strait of Hormuz and Israel carried out fresh strikes in Syria. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the negotiating table with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday. The two ministers also discussed Iranian-Omani talks on managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said. Araghchi briefed Abdelatty on Iran’s assessment of recent developments, the progress of negotiations and the challenges facing the talks. The discussions came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran should end its war with the US because the international community had accepted Tehran’s victory. The United States, however, has taken a tougher position. President Donald Trump has threatened an unprecedented campaign of economic pressure and isolation to force Iran to end its nuclear program and fully reopen the strategic waterway, a major route for global oil and gas shipments. Iraq says some oil tankers allowed through Hormuz Iran and Iraq also said Tehran had facilitated the passage of some vessels carrying Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Iraqi President Nizar Amidi said some ships carrying Iraqi crude had been allowed to transit the waterway, although he provided no details on the number of vessels or the timing. Iran’s state-run IRNA also reported that several Iraqi oil tankers had received permission to pass through the strait. It remained unclear what arrangements were made for the vessels to transit the waterway. Israeli strike reported in Syria Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in the southwestern Syrian village of Beit Jin wounded one person, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty and said several civilians were injured. The Israeli military said it had targeted a person involved in preparing a terrorist attack but did not provide further details. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in late 2024, mainly targeting military assets. Dispute over Golan Heights US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions, remarks that drew criticism from Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Barrack’s comments contained inaccuracies and contradicted President Trump’s position. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed it in 1981. The United Nations considers the territory occupied Syrian land. Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019, reversing decades of US policy. France, Saudi Arabia to discuss alternatives to Hormuz French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz during the Saudi leader’s visit to Paris beginning Sunday. Possible plans include expanding the use of Omani ports outside the Persian Gulf, increasing pipeline capacity in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, and developing new rail links. France and Saudi Arabia have also formed a task force to strengthen energy and logistics links between the Middle East and Europe. The task force is scheduled to meet at the ministerial level Monday to identify key projects, secure financing and determine the role of French companies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has claimed that the world has accepted Iran’s victory over the United States, as tensions continued across the Middle East. Pezeshkian said the war should end because Iran had resisted US demands and emerged victorious. US President Donald Trump, however, has vowed to intensify economic pressure on Tehran to force it to abandon its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in southwestern Syria wounded one person, according to Syrian state media. Israel said it targeted a person involved in planning a terrorist attack. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack also said Israel still occupies the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions, remarks that appear to differ from Washington’s position after former President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the territory in 2019. French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz during the Saudi leader’s visit to Paris. Proposed options include expanding Saudi and Omani ports, increasing pipeline capacity and developing new rail links between the Middle East and Europe.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Wednesday that the U.S. will launch "unprecedented" economic warfare against Iran, following months without a military outcome or diplomatic progress.  Trump termed the campaign "an Economic D-Day," warning that any nation offering Iran a "lifeline" will face crushing consequences as he urged allies to "isolate, and defeat" the threat. On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told media the strategy is a "one-two punch" combining blockades with historic sanctions, noting maximum pressure makes a "kinetic restart" unlikely; he will share details Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi dismissed the plan on X as a failed policy and "economic terrorism" threatening global sovereignty, claiming it diverts from America's soaring debt and interest crises. However, Financial Times analysts suggest Tehran has a high pain threshold after enduring decades of sanctions, including Trump's first-term "maximum pressure" campaign. Sanam Vakil of London’s Chatham House stated Trump underestimates Iran, which has resisted pressure since 2011 as its sole survival path. Former Middle East envoy Dennis Ross added that Washington lacks long-term foresight, warning, "They're playing checkers. They're not playing chess."

Iran on Thursday dismissed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump of economic pain and isolation for the country, while six European nations condemned Israel over a settlement project. Doctors Without Borders criticized the decision by Israel's military not to investigate two fatal attacks on the medical humanitarian organization's staff, and in Gaza City, a mass funeral was held for 50 people killed in Israeli airstrikes nearly three years ago but whose remains were just recovered. Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Thursday. Full coverage can be found here. Iran denounces Trump's economic threat Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected the economic threats made against his country, saying that such “failed policies” will stir more hostility among Iranians and “bring more failures.” Araghchi's comments came a few hours after Trump threatened “crushing economic measures” against Iran. The U.S. president promised “Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” but provided few details. In a social media post, Araghchi maintained that the threats aim to divert the attention of the U.S. public from domestic financial problems, saying that U.S. “economic terrorism threatens the global economy and the national sovereignty of countries around the world.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that Iran will face the “greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world." In a CNBC interview, Bessent threatened secondary sanctions on nations and companies that conduct business with Iran, saying it's time for U.S. allies to make a decision on where they stand. China's government and India are major buyers of Iranian oil, though Bessent didn't call them out by name. Doctors Without Borders condemns Israel's military Doctors Without Borders said that the decision by Israel's military not to open a criminal investigation into two strikes that killed four people shows the country won't take responsibility for attacking civilians. The international aid group now wants an impartial investigation into the deaths, but didn't specify who should lead the effort. Doctors Without Borders asked Israel's military to investigate an attack on a Gaza City convoy in November 2023 and a strike on the organization's shelter in Khan Younis in February 2024. Israel’s announcement on Wednesday said that it wouldn't launch criminal investigations into the two cases, in which troops killed the organization's employees. The decision by Israel's military shows “there is no prospect of accountability within the Israeli legal system for the killing of our staff, just as there has been no accountability for Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians,” Doctors Without Borders said in a statement that cited 15 staff and 1,700 healthcare workers killed in Gaza since October 2023. Israel denies accusations of genocide and war crimes and says it's targeting Hamas after the militant group's attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas, because it operates in populated areas in the tiny, overcrowded Gaza Strip. UK and others rebuke planned West Bank settlement project Six European countries along with Canada condemned the latest development in a contentious Israeli settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two. Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing issued a tender for constructing several compounds with more than 1,200 homes in total in an open tract of land east of Jerusalem. It’s the latest step in a project under consideration for more than two decades, which critics say would prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state in the territory. The joint statement from the leaders of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada said international law is clear the settlement is illegal and noted “unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians.” “We urge the government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Not only will they take us further from peace, but they further undermine Israel's international standing,” the countries wrote. Egypt and Jordan also condemned Israel’s move. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded on Thursday by defending “the historic right of the Jewish people to reestablish their national home in the Land of Israel — including in the area in question.” Saar criticized the U.K. government for “blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism.” Gaza funeral for 50 killed in opening strikes of war A mass funeral Thursday in Gaza City remembered 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in the opening months of the Israel-Hamas war, but whose remains were only recently recovered from under rubble. Dozens of mourners carried the remains, draped in Palestinian flags, through debris-strewn streets before lowering them into graves. Some held portraits and posters with photos of the deceased. “We were able to recover them after three years of war, after three years of anguish, pain and torture. We were able to recover them, and dignify them in their final resting place. We were able to pray over them and bury them,” said Lina Karam, who lost her father and other members of her family. The 50 bodies were from three families who were killed in airstrikes in November and December 2023. The nearly three-year war has killed more than 73,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, which was part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and militants, but says women and children make up around half of the toll. US sanctions network supporting Hezbollah The U.S. announced new sanctions Thursday against a network of people who allegedly funneled cash into Lebanon for the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The network run by Turkish businessman Yunus Alper Yilmaz uses couriers traveling on commercial flights between Lebanon, Turkey, the UAE and Iran “to move up to hundreds of millions of dollars between jurisdictions, providing an avenue outside the formal financial system” to move funds to Hezbollah, the U.S. Department of Treasury said in a statement. The Treasury also redesignated Hezbollah — which was already sanctioned by the U.S. — as an Iranian proxy acting on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force rather than a stand-alone operation. The redesignation aims to underscore that Hezbollah “operates with little to no regard for Lebanese sovereignty, the Lebanese people or the Lebanese state,” the Treasury statement said. Turkey denies delegation had visited air base in Syria Turkey has denied that a Turkish military delegation had visited an air base in northern Syria that was hit by Israeli airstrikes, and vowed to continue supporting Syria in its efforts to rebuild its military. The Israeli strikes targeted the Abu Duhur base early on Tuesday, causing damage but no casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had attacked the base because Syria was “on the verge of breaching” an agreed-upon “status quo in security matters” by allowing Turkish troops to deploy there. Syrian officials have said that a Turkish delegation visited the base before the Israeli strike to review rehabilitation work underway there. Syria's top diplomat discusses Middle East in Pakistan Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrived in Islamabad for talks expected to focus on regional issues, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The visit comes days after Israeli airstrikes targeted an air base in northern Syria, causing damage but no casualties. Pakistan's officials say the country's political and military leadership remains in contact with both Iran and the United States over efforts to de-escalate tensions and push for the resumption of talks, after a 60-day deadline under a June memorandum of understanding expired. The agreement was brokered by Pakistan with help from regional countries. Bodies of Pakistani sailors returned after Houthi attack The bodies of two Pakistanis killed in last week’s Houthi attack on a Tanzanian-flagged commercial vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have been repatriated to Pakistan. Six Pakistani sailors who were wounded in the attack have also safely returned to the country, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X.

Claudio Cordone, deputy special envoy of the UN secretary-general for Syria, has condemned an Israeli air strike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase, calling it a “deplorable escalation” of Israel’s attacks on Syria. In a brief statement on social media, Cordone called for diplomacy and respect for Syria’s territorial integrity. The Israeli strike on Tuesday hit the airbase in Syria’s eastern province of Idlib, damaging its runway and other facilities. No casualties were reported. Israel said it launched the attack after believing that Syria was preparing to violate the status quo between the two countries by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office. Syria, Turkiye, the United States and several other Middle Eastern countries condemned the Israeli attack. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The smuggling of goods restricted or prohibited by Israel into Gaza has expanded significantly, driving up prices, supplying hospitals with scarce medicines and equipment, and generating millions of dollars for smugglers and intermediaries, according to an Associated Press investigation. The investigation, based on Israeli court records and interviews with traders, merchants, truck drivers, Palestinian officials and residents, found that a wide range of products are entering Gaza through illicit channels. Cigarettes and tobacco are among the most profitable, while other smuggled items include fuel, medicines, solar panels, iPhones and medical equipment. Israel limits the entry of some products and completely prohibits others, including items it classifies as “dual use.” The category includes materials such as concrete, vehicle parts and X-ray equipment, which Israeli authorities say could potentially be used for military purposes by Hamas. AP spoke with several people involved in the trade who requested anonymity because of the risks associated with illegal smuggling. The investigation found that smuggling networks have become an important part of Gaza’s wartime economy, with payments allegedly reaching Israeli soldiers, drivers, warehouse workers and other intermediaries on both sides of the border. “The occupation has left no other option before us. Smuggling has become routine,” one trader told AP, saying some Israeli military personnel are prepared to assist in exchange for money. The Israeli military said it takes allegations of smuggling seriously and investigates suspected involvement by its personnel in accordance with the law. However, it did not respond to detailed questions about the alleged role of soldiers or Gaza authorities in the trade. Gaza’s Hamas-led administration also receives a share of the proceeds from some smuggled goods, according to merchants and Palestinian officials. Mohammad Barbakh of Gaza’s Economy Ministry said authorities can collect up to 20% of the value of goods when merchants declare them, while the amount can rise to 80% if authorities discover undeclared shipments. How the smuggling networks operateSince the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Israel has maintained strict controls over the movement of commercial goods, humanitarian supplies and food into Gaza. A total blockade last year halted deliveries for nearly three months, contributing to severe shortages and famine conditions in parts of the territory. Although the flow of goods has increased since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, it remains far below prewar levels. Israel has authorized 12 senior Gaza traders to bring in commercial shipments, but Israeli authorities must approve the contents. Traders and aid workers say the approval process can be unpredictable, with some shipments rejected because they contain items considered dual use. According to documents from COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing the movement of goods into Gaza, about 150 broad categories are classified as dual use. These include concrete, steel pipes, asphalt and wooden planks. COGAT said some such goods, including generators and X-ray machines, have been permitted in specific cases under strict supervision. When legal imports cannot meet demand, some traders turn to established smuggling networks. Merchants then sell the products inside Gaza. People interviewed by AP said Gaza government agencies, hospitals and tribal communities sometimes rely on smugglers to obtain essential supplies, including fuel, spare parts, medicines and medical equipment. Major traders said they send orders to intermediaries operating in Israel and the West Bank, who arrange the purchase and movement of the goods. Trucks entering through the Kerem Shalom crossing are inspected, but smugglers allegedly use both commercial routes and Israeli military vehicles to move contraband, sometimes paying soldiers to facilitate passage. Humanitarian vehicles have also occasionally been used, according to merchants and Israeli government statements. Smuggling becomes a major source of incomeWith much of Gaza’s economy devastated by the war and millions displaced, smuggling has become an important source of revenue. Several major traders told AP that illicit goods now account for more than half of their business and can generate over 70% of their profits. The costs of bribes and payments at different stages are ultimately passed on to consumers. Residents reported extraordinary price increases. A vehicle battery that once sold for about $140 can now cost more than $2,300, while solar panels have risen from around 16 cents per watt to $3.25. Smuggled food has also become common, including chicken, meat, baby formula and pet food. Cigarettes and tobacco command particularly high prices. Residents said a pack can cost as much as $140, while prices climbed above $1,000 during the complete blockade. According to traders, court records and Israeli statements, cigarette shipments have been concealed in military vehicles, commercial trucks, aid deliveries and even hollowed-out pineapples. Hamas administration accused of collecting revenueMerchants said Gaza’s authorities do not directly operate smuggling businesses but collect money from goods brought in illegally. Two major traders told AP they were summoned by Hamas authorities over shipments they had brought into Gaza. One said he eventually paid $3.5 million, while another reported paying about $3.75 million. Two senior officials in the Hamas administration estimated that as much as $100 million had been collected from smuggled goods since the ceasefire. They said the money helps pay public-sector workers and support social services. Barbakh said authorities do not have precise figures because smuggling operations are conducted secretly. Ismail al-Thawabta, a government media official, said none of the money collected is transferred to Hamas’ military wing and that the funds are used to maintain public services and facilities. However, several merchants and officials alleged that confiscated cigarettes are sometimes resold by the authorities. Al-Thawabta did not respond to AP questions about that claim. Smuggling coordinators wield influenceThe investigation also identified powerful intermediaries who allegedly coordinate large-scale smuggling operations. Israeli court records refer to a figure known as Abu Bassel, whom prosecutors described as having extensive contacts within the Israel Police. Traders and officials interviewed by AP described him as one of the most influential coordinators in the trade, although his identity remains unknown. Court records describe an incident in which Israeli police raided a warehouse in a West Bank settlement where cellphones and cigarettes were being prepared for shipment to Gaza. One alleged smuggler contacted Abu Bassel, after which police abandoned the raid without making arrests or confiscating the goods. A senior Gaza Chamber of Commerce official described Abu Bassel as a key figure whose approval is needed for many shipments to enter Gaza. Israeli court documents allege that he used a Palestinian aid organization as a cover, though the organization denied any involvement in smuggling. Israeli cases reveal scale of illegal tradeIsraeli authorities have dismantled several alleged smuggling networks since late 2025 and charged more than a dozen suspects, including reserve soldiers serving in Gaza. One major case involves Israeli brothers Eliran and Avi Algarabli, business associate Yaron Peretz and another Israeli. Prosecutors accuse them of paying reserve soldiers to transport contraband into Gaza. According to indictments, the group allegedly paid reserve soldier Bezalel Zini about $120,000 to move three shipments containing roughly 6,000 cigarette packs in his vehicle. Other reservists allegedly made four trips into Gaza in a single day, transporting about 20,000 cigarette packs, hundreds of iPhones and medical equipment. Court records indicate that millions of dollars can be made from such operations. The Algarabli brothers allegedly earned around $2.2 million from smuggling trips between October and December, when they were arrested. Other suspects have been accused of making between $1 million and $3 million. Gaza residents struggle with shortages and high pricesFor ordinary Palestinians, the consequences are reflected in shortages and soaring costs. Residents said products such as electric fans, which previously cost around $100, can now sell for $500. Some merchants say Israeli authorities block the import of fans because they are classified as dual-use items. Mohamed Abu Olwan, a Gaza resident, questioned why such basic products should be restricted. Mohamed Abuel-Enein, a displaced resident of Rafah, said residents living in tents desperately need fans and other basic goods amid the intense summer heat. “I don't understand the harm in allowing fans through the crossings,” he said, describing how families struggle to cope with the heat and limited access to basic necessities.

 The Israeli military said Wednesday it would launch criminal investigations into the deaths of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian paramedics killed in separate incidents during the Gaza war. The decision followed a review of 150 cases involving the conduct of Israeli troops during the conflict. However, the military said it would not open criminal investigations into three other incidents involving the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. Rajab was killed in February 2024 when Israeli forces fired on a vehicle carrying her, her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they attempted to escape Gaza City during an Israeli military operation. The incident drew widespread international condemnation. In another case, 15 Palestinian paramedics were killed in March 2025 after Israeli troops opened fire on their emergency vehicles in Rafah. The bodies were later bulldozed into a mass grave. Phone footage and testimony from the lone survivor indicated that troops first fired on an ambulance sent to evacuate casualties and later attacked other emergency vehicles searching for it. Australia criticizes decision over aid workers Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong anger Thursday over Israel's decision not to pursue criminal charges in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers, including Australian national Zomi Frankcom. Wong said Australian officials were notified of the decision only shortly before it was made public, leaving them unable to inform Frankcom's family in advance. She said several questions remained unanswered, including why the aid convoy was struck three times despite operating in a designated humanitarian area and why a senior brigade officer involved in the operation had signed a letter calling for restrictions on aid entering Gaza. Australia also had not received drone footage from the incident despite repeatedly requesting it, Wong said. She argued that removing two officers from their posts and reprimanding three others did not amount to adequate accountability for the deaths. Wong had earlier summoned Israel's ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman, but said Australia would not expel him because diplomatic engagement remained important. Newman expressed sympathy for Frankcom's family but stopped short of apologizing for her death. He defended the military's findings, saying the decision followed two years of independent investigation. Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza At least 10 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The strikes raised further concerns over efforts by the United States to revive a fragile ceasefire. Two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly urged Israel to reduce attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops allegedly crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel, according to witnesses and a Hamas official. Iranian parliament speaker visits Iraq Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit, where he is expected to meet senior Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political alliance. Qalibaf praised Iran-aligned Iraqi militias, calling them an important part of Iraq's national strength. His remarks came as Baghdad continues efforts to bring the militias under greater state control. Iraq has also asked Iran to provide special arrangements for its oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been heavily disrupted by the Iran-U.S. war. Iraq depends on oil revenues for about 90% of its government budget and has been forced to use more costly alternative export routes. France, Iran expel diplomats France said it would expel two employees of Iran's embassy in Paris in retaliation for Tehran's expulsion of two French diplomats earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused Iranian authorities of failing to investigate what he described as a deliberate attack on French diplomatic personnel last month. He rejected Iranian allegations that the two French diplomats had attended a secret meeting involving people suspected of foreign interference, calling the claims fabricated. The two Iranian diplomats are expected to leave France in the coming days.

Deadly Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday cast fresh doubt on whether renewed US diplomatic efforts can advance a fragile ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. Just two days after US negotiators reportedly urged Israel to scale back attacks in Gaza, at least 10 people were killed in two strikes on Wednesday, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israeli troops also crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel early Wednesday, according to two witnesses and a Hamas official. The Israeli military said one of Wednesday's strikes in the Nuseirat refugee camp area targeted a Hamas commander who participated in the group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 others abducted. A second strike in Gaza City's Tuffah area targeted four Hamas militants gathered at a police station, the military said, claiming they were planning attacks against Israeli troops. The military also said a strike the previous day targeted a meeting of four Hamas commanders and other militants. It identified those killed as Muhammad Hamdi Ahmad Al-Masri, Muhammad Attar and Muhammad Fathi Hussein Nasser, whom it accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli troops, and Samed Samir Harb Abu Habal, who it said infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7 attack. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Wednesday's strike on the police station in Gaza City killed eight police officers and a 13-year-old girl. Two of the officers were women. Another person was killed in Nuseirat. On Tuesday evening, an Israeli strike on a crowded seaside cafe killed seven Palestinians, including a child, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Jared Kushner, a US negotiator and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, held a lengthy meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and asked him to reduce attacks on Gaza, according to a person familiar with the meeting. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists. The Israeli military also said Wednesday it had completed reviews of 150 incidents involving the conduct of its troops during the Gaza war. It said criminal investigations would be launched into the 2024 deaths of a 5-year-old girl and her family, as well as the 2025 killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics. At least 17 killed in Israeli strikes The latest casualties from Israeli strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday came despite a ceasefire that has been in place since October and has significantly reduced fighting in the densely populated territory, where more than 2 million Palestinians live. Since the ceasefire began, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,273 people, according to Gaza health officials. The nearly three-year Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 73,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which was part of the recently dissolved Hamas-run government, maintains detailed records generally considered reliable by UN agencies and international organizations. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children account for about half of the deaths. Early Wednesday, at least 15 Israeli troops entered the Muwasi coastal area west of Khan Younis, according to two residents and a Hamas official. The troops, accompanied by armed men, raided the tent of Sabri Abdel-All, a colonel with the Hamas-led Blue Police in Khan Younis. They also detained another resident, identified as Nashat Ezzat Zaarab, the sources said. The residents and the Hamas official spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety. Latest ceasefire talks offer few concrete commitments Diplomatic efforts to strengthen the ceasefire also appear to have stalled. Trump's initial ceasefire proposal outlined a broad vision for ending Hamas' rule in Gaza and rebuilding the territory, much of which has been devastated by the war. But major disagreements have emerged since last fall over Hamas' disarmament and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, including which step should come first. Earlier this month, Trump said Hamas had agreed to disarm. Hamas, however, said it would begin disarming only if Israel stops its strikes and withdraws from Gaza. It said giving up heavy weapons would come later and depend on the establishment of a Palestinian state, a condition rejected by Israel's government. Netanyahu has also rejected the arrangement, saying Israel will not withdraw from its current positions in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. Following Wednesday's strikes, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem criticized the Board of Peace, the body established by Trump to oversee the ceasefire. He accused it of providing a “cover” for Israel to escalate attacks in Gaza instead of pressuring Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States has no talks planned with Iran but insisted that the Strait of Hormuz remains “open and operating,” despite limited traffic and a reported strike on a ship leaving the strategic waterway. Earlier this week, Trump also threatened to bomb Oman as the country sought an agreement with Iran to manage shipping traffic through the strait, two regional officials said Tuesday. The officials said Trump had reportedly issued the threat a day earlier if Oman “gets in the way.” Iran has said the waterway will not be reopened until the U.S. meets its conditions. As negotiations between Iran and Oman continued, a projectile struck a ship in the strait, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they had launched drones at an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia. Here is a look at the latest developments Tuesday in the Iran war and the wider Middle East: Trump looms over negotiations to reopen Strait of Hormuz As Oman and Iran said they were nearing an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said Tuesday on social media that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained “in full force and effect.” He also said all naval mines had been removed and that other maritime traffic was free to pass. Trump posted a map depicting the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi appeared to respond to Trump’s post. “Just as Trump correctly wrote the name of the eternal Persian Gulf, soon his delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will either be corrected or we will correct the delusions of this deluded man,” he wrote on X. The Trump administration has told Oman that it opposes parts of the yet-to-be-announced agreement, according to officials briefed on the U.S. position. These include joint Iranian and Omani management of the passage’s exit route and the collection of voluntary fees from vessels, even if the funds are used for maritime security and environmental protection. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists. The White House on Tuesday referred to Trump’s remarks in the Oval Office and declined to comment further on Oman. — By Samy Magdy in Cairo Egypt says Iran-Oman agreement could pave way for Iran-US deal Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that an agreement between Iran and Oman could create an opportunity for Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations toward a “comprehensive and permanent deal” addressing all concerns and strengthening regional security and stability. The statement came after a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi. It did not address Trump’s latest threat against Oman. The 60-day negotiating period between the United States and Iran ended this week without a clear end to the war in sight. Ship traffic drops significantly in Strait of Hormuz Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell significantly last week, with confirmed crossings declining 19.5% to 95 transits, according to shipping data platform Kpler. Only three vessels passed through the waterway on Sunday. The ships used the Iranian-designated route, while no crossings were recorded through the Omani routes. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait increased 6.7% to 254 transits, while so-called dark transits, in which vessels switch off transponders that broadcast their locations, fell from 40 to 16, Kpler said. Projectile damages ship in strait, causing casualty An unidentified projectile damaged the engine room of a ship in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman and “resulted in a crew casualty,” according to the British military’s UK Maritime Trade Operations center. The maritime monitoring agency did not provide details about the ship or its cargo. It was also unclear whether the crew member was killed or wounded. No environmental damage was reported. The agency said the Omani Coast Guard was assisting other crew members while authorities investigated the incident. Iran-backed Houthis claim attack on Saudi oil refinery Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they launched drones at an oil refinery in neighboring Saudi Arabia, in the latest attack that could threaten to reignite Yemen’s civil war and open another front in the wider Middle East conflict. The attack targeted a facility operated by Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, according to a report by the Houthi-run SABA news agency. There were no immediate reports of damage, and Saudi authorities did not immediately comment. The Houthis have intensified attacks against government forces in Yemen, oil facilities in Saudi Arabia — which supports the Yemeni government — and Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, an important alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli strike on Gaza City kills 6 An Israeli strike hit Gaza City on Tuesday, killing six people, including a child, and wounding 14 others, according to Shifa Hospital, where the casualties were taken. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas commanders in the Shati area who were planning attacks against Israeli forces. The heaviest fighting has eased since a ceasefire took effect in October after more than two years of war. Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes since then, killing at least 1,266 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are generally considered reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. However, the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its figures. Missiles fired toward United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry said Tuesday that two ballistic missiles were launched from Iran toward the UAE. One missile landed outside the country’s waters, while the other fell within them, the ministry said. It was unclear whether the missiles were intercepted by air defenses or fell on their own. No damage or injuries were reported. Iran early Wednesday rejected the UAE’s claim that it had launched missiles toward the country. In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Dubai’s accusations were “detrimental to ongoing efforts to strengthen trust among the countries of the region and prevent a further deterioration of security.” He urged countries in the region to refrain from making “baseless accusations” against Iran. In the weeks after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, the UAE was frequently targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Tuesday’s reported attack was the first such incident in weeks.

A 60-day deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for ending the war with Iran and reaching an agreement on its nuclear program expired Monday, with the two sides appearing farther apart than when the agreement was signed. The deal, signed by Trump at Versailles in June, was intended to halt the conflict and pave the way for a permanent settlement. But negotiations have made little progress, focusing largely on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting a U.S. blockade on Iran, both of which were supposed to happen under the interim agreement. There has been no indication of a compromise over the strait or that substantive talks on Iran’s nuclear program have even begun. The United States also faces difficult choices over how to end the war it launched alongside Israel. Accepting Iran’s latest demands would effectively give Tehran control over a vital international waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passed before the war. Such a move could be viewed as an admission of defeat. Escalating the already unpopular conflict, meanwhile, could further deplete U.S. supplies of advanced missile interceptors, disrupt the global economy and push up fuel prices ahead of U.S. congressional elections. As a result, both sides have hardened their positions, apparently hoping the other will make the first concession. So far, neither has. Interim deal collapsed weeks later The June agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, called for an end to all military operations and established a 60-day deadline for reaching a permanent agreement to end the war and settle the longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities. It also called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while giving Iran a vaguely defined role in facilitating maritime traffic, leaving open the possibility that Tehran could impose fees after the 60-day period. Iran has cited that provision in asserting control over the waterway. A week after the agreement was signed, Iran began firing on vessels using a route along Oman’s coast on the opposite side of the strait. The route is monitored by the U.S. military and was intended to bypass Iranian control. The United States responded with strikes on Iran, which retaliated by attacking Arab countries hosting American forces, including Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Washington also canceled waivers under the agreement that had allowed Iran to sell oil internationally, while Trump reinstated a blockade of Iranian ports. Both sides accused each other of violating the June agreement, much of which has since fallen apart. The fighting eventually subsided. A related ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has largely held, although Israeli forces continue to occupy large parts of southern Lebanon. The June agreement had called for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty to be protected. Iranian officials say they stopped direct negotiations with the United States in June, although they acknowledge that messages have continued to be exchanged through intermediaries. Trump, however, says talks have continued and has occasionally claimed progress after backing away from threats of major strikes. Pakistan, which played a key role in brokering the June agreement, pointed to Monday’s deadline last week while expressing hope that it could be extended. “We are not closing the chapter,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said. “Pakistan is making all-out efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiating table.” Iran seeks to force Trump to concede on strait Earlier this month, Iran issued demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the U.S. blockade, the withdrawal of American forces from around Iran and compensation for damage caused during the war launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28. Iran has also said it would retain control of the strait, and potentially impose fees, through an agreement it is negotiating with Oman. Tehran says the waterway will not return to the open, toll-free route it was before the war. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have begun attacking Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening another important trade route that had helped ease pressure caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has rejected Iran’s demands, saying Tehran should instead pay war reparations and claiming that the United States controls the strait. He appears to be relying on economic pressure, including the blockade and long-standing sanctions, to force Iran’s leadership to back down. Iran’s economy has been severely affected by the war and international isolation, while inflation has surged. The worsening crisis could fuel renewed anti-government protests similar to those that were violently suppressed in January. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased immediately after the interim agreement but has since fallen to a small fraction of prewar levels. Fuel and other commodity prices are expected to rise further the longer the disruption continues, with consequences extending well beyond the Middle East. The pressure remains on both sides as the diplomatic clock continues to run.