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Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday claimed responsibility for a missile strike that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and drifting in the Gulf of Aden, marking one of their most serious attacks in months. The assault on the vessel Minervagracht took place Monday, far from the Red Sea where the Iranian-backed Houthis have already sunk four ships since November 2023. The strike comes as Israel presses a new ground offensive in Gaza and ceasefire talks remain uncertain, while tensions across the region rise following renewed UN sanctions on Iran. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the group fired a cruise missile at the Amsterdam-based Spliethoff-owned ship, accusing the company of breaking an “entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.” Initially, the U.S. Navy-run Joint Maritime Information Center reported the ship had no Israeli ties, but later said it was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links.” Two crew members were wounded in the attack. The ship’s 19-member multinational crew — from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine — was forced to abandon the vessel after it sustained heavy damage. The European naval mission Operation Aspides confirmed the ship was on fire and adrift following the rescue. Houthis’ drone attack wounds 22 in southern Israel amid ongoing Gaza conflict The Houthis have carried out more than 100 missile and drone strikes on ships and also targeted Israel, claiming the actions show solidarity with Palestinians. However, many of the vessels hit have had little or no connection to Israel. The latest strike extends their campaign into the Gulf of Aden, where the last reported Houthi attack on a commercial ship occurred in August 2024. Their operations have already disrupted global trade in the Red Sea, a route that once carried around $1 trillion in goods annually. The rebels briefly paused attacks during a Gaza ceasefire but later became the target of weeks of U.S.-led airstrikes before President Donald Trump declared a truce with them. Their campaign so far has killed at least eight sailors and sunk four ships. On Wednesday, the Houthis also announced sanctions against several American oil companies, including Chevron, ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil, as well as individuals and two ships — a step they have previously used before launching new strikes. Source: AP 

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has re-emerged as a central figure in Middle East peace efforts after a new U.S. plan to end the Israel-Hamas war assigned him a key role in overseeing Gaza’s post-war administration and reconstruction. The plan, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, would place Gaza under international control. It calls for a multinational security force and a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and Blair to supervise governance and rebuilding in the territory of more than 2 million people. Hamas said Tuesday it would review the proposal internally and with other Palestinian factions before giving a response. Mixed legacyBlair’s involvement is contentious. Supporters highlight his long experience in the region, while critics point to his role in the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. As prime minister from 1997 to 2007, Blair took Britain into the war despite public opposition. A 2016 inquiry concluded the decision was based on flawed intelligence, but stopped short of declaring the war illegal. Hamas to review Trump’s Gaza peace plan as global support builds Blair has defended his stance, saying he acted in good faith, believing Saddam Hussein held weapons of mass destruction. The conflict killed 179 British troops, 4,500 U.S. personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Mideast envoy yearsAfter leaving office, Blair became Middle East envoy for the Quartet — the U.S., European Union, Russia and United Nations. Expectations were high, but progress was limited, and critics described his tenure as ineffective. He stepped down in 2015 with little movement toward Palestinian statehood. Still, Blair has been engaged in recent high-level talks on Gaza’s future. He has praised Trump’s peace plan as “bold and intelligent” and said it offers “the best chance” to end the war, though he has not publicly confirmed his own role. Reactions dividedU.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the U.S. plan but avoided comment on Blair’s involvement. Within Britain, Blair remains a polarizing figure — credited with winning three elections and helping secure the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, but discredited by Iraq. Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged doubts about Blair’s suitability but said his peacebuilding experience could still be valuable. Analyst Michael Stephens of the Royal United Services Institute said Blair’s return “has rings of 2003 about it,” but added that if it leads to a ceasefire, “it may not be the worst option.” Mass protest in Berlin demands end to Israel-Hamas war In Gaza, however, Blair is widely distrusted. “Blair is rejected by the people,” said Hussein Dhaher, displaced from Beit Hanoun. “This man has the blood of Iraqis on his hands.” Umm Mohammed, a Gaza City teacher, questioned why Palestinians were not chosen to lead. “He is hated in the region. He will not bring anything good for us,” she said. Source: AP

Iran on Tuesday said the United States will deport hundreds of Iranians back to the country in the coming weeks, with the first 120 deportees expected to depart within a day or two. Hossein Noushabadi, director-general for parliamentary affairs at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told state television that most of those to be returned had crossed into the U.S. from Mexico illegally, while others faced various immigration issues. The first flight is expected to make a stopover in Qatar, though authorities there have not confirmed the transit. The deportations, not yet publicly confirmed by Washington, come amid heightened tensions between the two nations following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. They coincide with the recent reimposition of U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, further straining the country’s struggling economy. According to Noushabadi, the U.S. authorities made the decision unilaterally, without prior consultation with Tehran. However, The New York Times cited anonymous Iranian officials saying the deportations are the outcome of months of discussions between the two countries. The deportation plan contrasts with decades of U.S. policy that allowed Iranians fleeing religious, political, or sexual persecution since the 1979 Islamic Revolution to seek residence. In the 2024 fiscal year, only 20 Iranians were deported from the U.S., according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, attended the U.N. General Assembly last week in a last-ditch effort to prevent the reimposed sanctions. Yet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described diplomacy with Washington as a “dead end.” Araghchi said messages were exchanged directly and indirectly with the U.S., and Tehran took necessary steps in line with the Supreme Leader’s guidance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally apologised to Qatar for the killing of a Qatari citizen during an unprecedented Israeli missile strike on Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this month, which drew international condemnation. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received the apology on Monday through a joint phone call with US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu from the White House. A White House statement said, “As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel’s strike on Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman.” He further regretted that targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again, the statement included. The September 9 attack killed at least five lower-ranking Hamas members and a Qatari security official. Senior Hamas leaders involved in US-backed ceasefire negotiations survived the strike. Hamas to review Trump’s Gaza peace plan as global support builds The attack marked the first Israeli strike on Qatar, which hosts the US military’s largest base in the Middle East at Al Udeid and plays a key role as a mediator in ceasefire efforts. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the call, noting that it was part of US efforts to address the repercussions of the strike, which targeted a residential neighbourhood housing the Hamas negotiating delegation and violated Qatari sovereignty. During the call, Netanyahu apologised for the attack and the death of Qatari citizen Badr Al-Dosari, assuring that Israel would not target Qatari territory in the future. Netanyahu also acknowledged Israel’s grievances with Qatar, citing support for the Muslim Brotherhood, coverage on Al Jazeera, and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty. The attack had prompted nearly 60 Muslim countries to convene in Doha in solidarity days later. Following Netanyahu’s apology, the White House said Qatar’s prime minister welcomed the assurances and reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to continue contributing to regional security and stability. Netanyahu committed to the same. Sultan Barakat, professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, described the apology as “significant,” noting that Qatar had insisted on a public apology and a commitment from Netanyahu to avoid future attacks as a condition for continuing mediation efforts. He added that the step was crucial not only for Israel-Hamas mediation but for preserving the broader space for diplomatic mediation in regional conflicts. Source: Agency

Hamas said Tuesday it will examine U.S. President Donald Trump’s new peace proposal for Gaza internally and with other Palestinian factions before issuing a formal response. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already endorsed the plan following talks with Trump at the White House, but it remains uncertain whether Hamas will accept. The 20-point proposal would require Hamas to disarm in exchange for an immediate ceasefire, large-scale humanitarian aid, and the promise of reconstruction in Gaza, which has been devastated by months of war that Gaza’s Health Ministry says has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians. Under the plan, Gaza and its population of over two million would be placed under international administration. An international security force would oversee the territory, and a “Board of Peace” co-chaired by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would supervise reconstruction. Hamas would be excluded from governance, though members pledging nonviolence could receive amnesty. Hostage exchanges and troop withdrawalThe proposal demands that Hamas release all 48 hostages it still holds within 72 hours, while Israel would free 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 other detainees from Gaza, including all women and children. Bodies of Palestinians would also be exchanged for the remains of Israeli hostages. Key points of Gaza peace plan endorsed by Trump and Netanyahu Israeli forces would begin withdrawing only after Hamas disarms, with international troops filling the vacuum. However, Israel would retain a “security perimeter presence” around Gaza — a vague phrase likely to draw resistance from Hamas. International responsesThe United Nations, though not directly involved in drafting the plan, said it was prepared to step up aid deliveries through its agencies, the Red Crescent and other neutral organizations. “We stand ready and capable to increase aid inside Gaza whenever conditions allow,” said Jens Laerke of the U.N. humanitarian office. China reiterated its call for a two-state solution and urged all sides to agree to a ceasefire and humanitarian relief. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Trump’s initiative as the “best chance for ending the war,” while France’s President Emmanuel Macron insisted Hamas “has no choice” but to release hostages and accept the plan. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also backed the plan, both stressing Palestinian statehood as the only viable long-term solution. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the proposal a “viable pathway” to sustainable peace and development for both Palestinians and Israelis. A joint statement from the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, and the UAE praised Trump’s “determined effort” and voiced readiness to work with Washington to rebuild Gaza and prevent displacement. Divisions within IsraelWhile Netanyahu supports the plan, some of his far-right coalition partners oppose any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza or steps toward Palestinian statehood. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned against concessions that could open the door to such outcomes. Palestinian Authority signals supportFrom Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump’s efforts and pledged reforms, including holding new elections and ending controversial payments to families of militants. It said these steps could clear the way toward a “modern, democratic and non-militarized Palestinian state.” Women in Gaza allege sexual exploitation amid aid crisis Next stepsHamas negotiators, who received the plan via mediators Egypt and Qatar, confirmed they will review it “in good faith” but gave no timeline for a response. The group has previously rejected disarmament, saying it reserves the right to resist until Israeli occupation ends. Meanwhile, Turkey said its navy is prepared to assist humanitarian missions, including a flotilla of 52 small vessels carrying aid and activists attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Whether Hamas ultimately accepts or rejects the deal will determine if Trump’s plan marks a turning point in the decades-long conflict or becomes another unrealized proposal in the troubled history of Middle East peace efforts. Source: AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed the U.S. peace plan for Gaza, leaving the focus on whether Hamas will accept it. The proposal presents a difficult choice for Hamas. It requires the group to disarm in exchange for humanitarian aid, reconstruction support, and an end to hostilities. However, Palestinian statehood is only vaguely mentioned, and Gaza’s more than 2 million residents would remain under international supervision for the foreseeable future. An international security force would oversee law enforcement, while a “Board of Peace” led by former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President Trump would manage reconstruction and governance. Israeli troops would continue to surround the territory. The plan’s key points include an immediate ceasefire, with Hamas expected to release all 48 remaining hostages within 72 hours. In return, Israel would free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the conflict began, including women and children. Israel would also return bodies of Palestinians in proportion to released hostages. Troop withdrawal would occur only after Hamas disarms and the international security force is deployed, though Israel would maintain a “security perimeter,” leaving room for potential continued presence inside Gaza. Hamas has indicated it may not release all hostages without a clear guarantee that Israel will fully withdraw. Netanyahu to meet Trump as calls grow to end Gaza war Under the plan, Hamas would have no role in Gaza’s administration. Its military infrastructure, including tunnels, would be dismantled. Members who renounce violence would receive amnesty, and those wishing to leave Gaza would be allowed to do so. Humanitarian aid would flow through neutral international bodies, such as the U.N. and Red Crescent, while the interim administration of Palestinian technocrats would manage day-to-day affairs under the supervision of the Board of Peace. The plan gives only a limited reference to Palestinian statehood. It proposes that, if the Palestinian Authority (PA) reforms sufficiently and reconstruction progresses, a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” might eventually emerge. Regional response has been mixed. Qatar and Egypt presented the 20-point plan to Hamas negotiators, who said they would review it. Hamas has rejected disarmament, maintaining its right to resist Israeli occupation. Arab countries including Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have expressed support for the outline. Netanyahu may face internal opposition from his ultra-nationalist allies. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich emphasized on social media that any deal must exclude PA involvement in Gaza and reject Palestinian statehood. While the plan allows PA involvement only after internal reforms, Netanyahu has expressed skepticism that it will ever happen. Trump’s moves to consolidate power, target foes draw comparisons to countries The peace plan marks a significant diplomatic effort to end hostilities in Gaza, though its success depends on Hamas’s response and the cooperation of regional and international actors. Source: AP  

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, women say they have been exploited by men — some linked to aid groups — who promised food, medicine, supplies or work in exchange for sexual interactions. The Associated Press interviewed six women who described such incidents, speaking anonymously due to fear of retribution and cultural taboos around sexual violence. Their accounts reflect a grim pattern seen in other conflict zones, where desperation and reliance on humanitarian assistance expose women to abuse. One 38-year-old mother of six recounted how, weeks into the war, she was told of a man who could help her with aid and employment. Believing she was signing a job contract, she was instead taken to an empty apartment. There, the man pressured her into a sexual encounter, later giving her money and food but never delivering on his promise of work until months later. “I had to play along because I was scared. I wanted out of this place,” she said. Other women reported late-night calls from men identifying themselves as aid workers, including one wearing a UNRWA uniform. They said the men solicited sex under the guise of marriage proposals or offers of assistance. Some women refused; others, under pressure, complied. Psychologists in Gaza told AP they have treated dozens of women describing similar exploitation, including cases resulting in pregnancy. Human Rights Watch’s Heather Barr said such abuse is a “horrible reality” in crises, noting that women and girls are especially vulnerable in Gaza’s current conditions. Nearly 90 percent of the population has been displaced by the war, while food and water shortages continue. Local groups, including the Women’s Affairs Center and the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) network, confirmed they were aware of exploitation cases linked to aid distribution. UNRWA, which employs many local contractors, said it has a zero-tolerance policy and investigates all allegations, though survivors say reporting remains fraught with stigma and lack of evidence. Aid experts warn that the known cases may only be “the tip of the iceberg” due to underreporting, displacement and limited communication. The PSEA network documented 18 allegations of aid-linked sexual exploitation in Gaza last year. Amal Syam, director of the Women’s Affairs Center, said the crisis has worsened the problem but noted that many groups hesitate to publicize the issue, fearing it could overshadow the violence of Israel’s ongoing offensive. For many women, the exploitation adds another layer of humiliation to the struggle for survival. “I felt completely degraded,” said a 29-year-old mother of four, who described being harassed with repeated marriage proposals in exchange for food supplements. “I had to ask for help for my children. If I didn’t, who would?”

Iran said Monday it executed a man accused of spying for Israel, marking the latest case in what rights groups describe as the country’s largest wave of executions in decades. Authorities identified the man as Bahman Choobiasl, though his case had not been previously reported in Iranian media or by rights monitors tracking death penalty cases. The execution came after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program this past weekend, with the European Union following with similar measures on Monday. Iran’s judiciary-run Mizan news agency alleged that Choobiasl had contacts with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, describing him as one of its “most trusted” operatives. It said he was involved in “sensitive telecommunications projects” and reported on “paths of importing electronic devices.” Since the June war with Israel — which left some 1,100 people dead, including senior Iranian commanders — Tehran has executed at least nine people on espionage charges. Iran responded to Israeli airstrikes with missile barrages targeting Israeli cities. Earlier this month, Iran executed Babak Shahbazi, also accused of spying for Israel. Activists said he had been tortured into confessing after writing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering to fight for Kyiv. Rights groups note that espionage trials in Iran are typically held behind closed doors, with little access to evidence for the accused. Iran Human Rights, based in Oslo, and the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center say over 1,000 people have been executed in Iran so far in 2025, though the real figure is likely higher as many cases go unreported. UN human rights experts condemned the scale of executions, calling it “a grave violation of the right to life.” They said Iran has averaged more than nine hangings per day in recent weeks, describing it as “an industrial scale of executions that defies all accepted human rights standards.”

On the eve of his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel is working with the White House on a new ceasefire plan, though details remain under discussion. Netanyahu has faced mounting international pressure to halt the war, particularly amid Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza City. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday that the death toll in the Israel-Hamas conflict has climbed to 66,005, with more than 168,000 others wounded. Trump is expected to unveil a 21-point ceasefire proposal during Monday’s White House meeting. According to Arab officials briefed on the plan, it calls for an immediate halt to fighting, the release of all hostages within 48 hours, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed the plan has not yet been finalized. Netanyahu has pledged to continue military operations until Hamas is destroyed but indicated readiness to allow Hamas operatives to leave Gaza under a deal that ends the conflict. “If they finish the war, release all the hostages, we let them out,” he told Fox News. Trump has largely backed Israel but has shown signs of impatience, especially after Israel struck Hamas’ political headquarters in Doha earlier this month. Ceasefire negotiations have since stalled despite rising global protests, European moves toward sanctions, and fresh calls for a sports and cultural boycott of Israel. At the UN General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu told world leaders Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas, which is still holding 48 hostages—about 20 of them believed to be alive. Meanwhile, Hamas said it has been briefed on Trump’s proposal but has yet to receive an official offer via Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group reiterated its willingness to study any proposals “positively and responsibly.” On the ground, Israeli airstrikes continued across Gaza. Local hospitals reported at least 10 deaths in Nuseirat refugee camp after strikes hit residential homes. Residents said explosions echoed nonstop through the night. The Israeli military said it targeted 140 Hamas positions in the past 24 hours. On Sunday, it struck and leveled the 16-story Macca Tower in Gaza City after warning residents to evacuate, claiming the building housed Hamas infrastructure. No casualties were reported. Israel’s offensive has displaced about 90% of Gaza’s population and left vast areas in ruins, with UN experts warning of famine conditions. Violence also flared in the West Bank, where the army said a 20-year-old Israeli soldier died of wounds from an earlier attack near Nablus. Security forces shot dead the alleged attacker, an incident praised by Hamas. The conflict, now in its twelfth month, has brought unprecedented devastation to Gaza while deepening unrest across the occupied territories.

Iran is weighing its response to reimposed United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program, with some lawmakers indicating that parliament could consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The sanctions, triggered through the “snapback” mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal, freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals, and penalize ballistic missile development. The sanctions come as Iran’s economy faces severe strain, with the rial hitting record lows, driving up food prices and making daily life increasingly difficult. Concerns are also rising over a possible resumption of conflict with Israel or even the U.S., as missile sites damaged during the June war are being rebuilt. Lawmaker Ismail Kowsari told Iranian state-affiliated media that parliament will discuss withdrawing from the nuclear treaty. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that any country enforcing the U.N. sanctions would face “serious reciprocal action” from Iran, including the three European nations—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—that initiated the snapback. The European countries said they had tried to avoid triggering snapback, but Iran had restricted access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors and failed to provide a full report on its high-enriched uranium stockpile. Iran maintains that the sanctions are unjust and points to the U.S.’s 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal as a precedent. Iran currently holds uranium enriched to 60%, just short of weapons-grade levels. While Kowsari said a potential withdrawal from the treaty does not necessarily mean Iran will pursue nuclear weapons, experts warn that restricting inspections increases the risk of miscalculation and potential further strikes by Israel or the U.S. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi downplayed the sanctions’ impact, saying their effect has been exaggerated in international media to pressure the Iranian government. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the European countries for decisive action but emphasized that diplomacy remains possible if Iran agrees to direct talks. How Tehran will act remains uncertain, with analysts noting that the combination of sanctions, military tensions, and a lack of international monitoring makes the situation increasingly volatile.