United News of Bangladesh

Heavy winter rains struck Gaza’s Muwasi tent camp on Saturday, inundating makeshift shelters and worsening living conditions for displaced residents still reeling from two years of war. Families scrambled to dig trenches to divert water as tarpaulins leaked, soaking personal belongings. Strong winds toppled tents and hampered efforts to protect scarce food and supplies. Bassil Naggar, who recently bought a new tent for $712, said rainwater was still seeping through, leaving puddles inches high. Children played barefoot in the water while some residents sought shelter in partially collapsed buildings. The United Nations reported that Muwasi shelters housed up to 425,000 displaced Palestinians earlier this year, mostly in temporary tents, following Israel’s war with Hamas that displaced much of Gaza’s 2 million population. Aid agencies warned that the humanitarian response, including winter blankets and tarps, remains insufficient. The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Monday on a U.S. proposal for a stabilization force in Gaza, amid opposition from Russia, China, and some Arab countries. Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed 69,100 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The conflict continues to complicate efforts to recover the remains of hostages held by Hamas, with 330 Palestinian remains returned so far, only 97 identified due to limited DNA testing capacity.

Iran seized a Marshall Islands–flagged oil tanker while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a U.S. official said, marking the first such interception in months in one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. Iran has not yet commented on the seizure. The incident comes amid rising warnings from Tehran following its 12-day war with Israel in June and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The vessel, the Talara, was traveling from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates to Singapore when Iranian forces intercepted it, according to a U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Flight-tracking data showed a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone monitoring the area for hours as the incident unfolded. Private security firm Ambrey said three small boats approached the tanker before it was forced into Iranian waters. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center separately described the event as possible “state activity.” Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement, which manages the Talara, said it had lost contact with the tanker carrying high-sulphur gasoil and alerted maritime authorities. “The safety of the crew remains our foremost priority,” the company said. The U.S. Navy has previously accused Iran of targeting commercial vessels in the region, including limpet mine attacks in 2019 and a deadly drone strike in 2021. Tensions have intensified further since Iran-backed Houthi attacks disrupted Red Sea shipping during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which one-fifth of global oil trade passes. The U.S. 5th Fleet continues to patrol the region to keep the waterway open. Source: AP

Israel on Friday handed over the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, health officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said, marking another step in implementing the fragile U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal. The transfer came hours after Palestinian militants returned the body of an Israeli hostage — one of the last four still held since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that sparked the Gaza war. Israel identified the hostage as Meny Godard, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri. His wife, Ayelet, was killed during the assault. Armed groups linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad said his body had been found in southern Gaza. Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Israel has received the remains of 25 hostages, while three more are yet to be recovered. Hamas returned 20 Israeli hostages alive on Oct. 13. Under the agreement’s first phase, Israel releases the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each hostage returned. So far, Gaza health officials say they have received 330 bodies, but only 95 have been formally identified due to shortages of DNA testing kits. Both sides have accused each other of breaching elements of the deal. Israel alleges Hamas has returned partial remains and staged recovery scenes, while Hamas accuses Israel of firing on civilians and restricting humanitarian aid. Gaza death toll surpasses 69,000 as Israel, Hamas exchange remains again The wider agreement outlines plans for an international stabilization force, a technocratic Palestinian administration, and the disarmament of Hamas. The war began when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s military campaign since then has killed more than 69,100 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Source: AP 

U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial, sparking criticism and concerns about American interference in Israel’s internal affairs. In a letter sent Wednesday, Trump described the charges against Netanyahu as a “political, unjustified prosecution” and praised him as a “decisive wartime leader” now guiding Israel toward peace. This marks Trump’s second public call for a pardon, following a similar appeal during his Knesset speech last month while promoting his Gaza ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu, accused of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery, denies the allegations and calls the case a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Herzog confirmed receiving Trump’s letter but said any pardon request must follow formal legal procedures. More Americans disapprove of Trump’s government management, AP-NORC poll shows The move has drawn sharp reactions in Israel, with critics warning that U.S. involvement could undermine judicial independence. Opposition leader Yair Lapid noted that under Israeli law, a pardon requires an admission of guilt, making Trump’s request legally and politically complex. Analysts also cautioned that granting a pardon under such pressure could erode public trust in the rule of law. Source: AP 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation after a young man died from severe burns he suffered when he set himself on fire following the closure of his family’s food stand by city officials in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. State-run IRNA news agency said the Ahvaz mayor and the head of the city’s enforcement arm were arrested, while arrest warrants were issued for three others. The incident has reignited public concern about poverty and economic pressure in the Islamic Republic. The victim, 20-year-old Ahmad Baledi, died Tuesday after suffering burns over 70% of his body. He set himself ablaze Nov. 2 in a park in Ahvaz, located in Iran’s oil-rich but restive Khuzestan province, after municipal workers shut down his family’s only source of income — a small food stall. Authorities initially described the action as a court-ordered eviction, claiming no coercion was used. But Pezeshkian on Tuesday directed the Interior Ministry to open a special inquiry and convey his condolences to Baledi’s family. By Wednesday, IRNA reported that the mayor had resigned and four other municipal officials had been dismissed. While there have been no major demonstrations, Baledi’s death has stirred anger and sympathy online. Khuzestan, home to many ethnic Arabs, has seen periodic protests over discrimination and water shortages in recent years.

Wrapped tightly around his forearms, the former Israeli soldier feels the snakes’ cold skin against his, and for a moment he’s able to breathe. It’s been nearly 18 months since he left the army after fighting in the war in Gaza, and the flashbacks and panic attacks haven’t ceased. He was wounded in a Hamas missile attack on his military base, and said two of his friends — also soldiers in their 20s — died by suicide. This farm in central Israel dedicated to helping soldiers has been a lifeline, he said. “It doesn’t matter if a plane goes by or if the drone goes by or if someone is yelling. ... Because I’m here with the snake right now,” said the 27-year-old sergeant major, who called the experience grounding. Like other soldiers who spoke to The Associated Press, he insisted on anonymity to discuss private mental health matters. Israel’s longest war is leaving a trail of traumatized soldiers, with a growing number suffering from mental health illnesses after two years of war with Hamas. Reports of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health problems are increasing among soldiers, as are suicides. EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Helplines outside the U.S. can be found at www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts. Israel’s defense ministry says it has documented nearly 11,000 soldiers suffering from “mental health injuries” since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza. That accounts for more than a third of the total 31,000 troops with such injuries in all of Israel’s conflicts since its founding nearly 80 years ago. The ministry defines mental health injuries as PTSD, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Suicides have also spiked. In the decade preceding the war, the number of soldiers taking their own lives in the army averaged 13 per year. Since the war, the number has risen, with 21 soldiers dying by suicide last year, according to the army. The figures — which account for active duty and reserve troops — don’t include soldiers who took their own lives after leaving the military. A report published by Israel’s parliament last month said an additional 279 soldiers tried to take their own lives from January 2024 through July 2025 but survived. “There’s now a genuine understanding that psychological injuries have profound consequences and that treatment is both necessary and practical,” said Limor Luria, deputy director general and head of the defense ministry’s Rehabilitation Department. “We’re seeing a generational difference," she said. "While many wounded veterans from previous wars never sought help, today’s wounded are responding very differently.” The army is scrambling to address the crisis, mobilizing hundreds of mental health officers. It has sent experts to the front lines to help soldiers during combat, established a hotline and provided group therapy sessions to fighters once they’ve left service. Yet experts warn Israel is not yet equipped to deal with the scale — a gap the rehabilitation department acknowledged, saying it impacts the entire national health system. US envoy pushes Israel-Hamas truce as first phase nears end The length and intensity of this war on multiple fronts — with tens of thousands of active duty and reserve troops called up for repeated deployments — haven’t allowed soldiers to properly heal, which could have long-term consequences for the country, said Tuly Flint, a trauma therapy specialist who has counseled hundreds of Israeli soldiers. “Those victims of war, if not treated, lose the potential for personal and social development possible for them and may become a burden on themselves, their families and society,” he said. Half a dozen soldiers who spoke to the AP, as well as psychologists who have treated fighters, said they lacked purpose, had difficulty concentrating or having relationships, and as the war dragged on, a sense of hopelessness set in. Flint said some also suffered from what he called “moral injury.” “Soldiers come back asking themselves who are they after what they’ve seen and done, what kind of people are they?” he said. Rescue animals help soldiers heal The 27-year-old former soldier, who worked as a radio technician for about six months at the start of the war, said he came to the farm earlier this year because he felt lost. A missile struck his base on the border with Gaza, badly injuring his back. After that, he was anxious, triggered by noise, constantly on edge. “Everything got louder, like my aggressions, my yelling, my feelings, everything just went up,” he said — as though “someone broke the volume.” He’s receiving therapy from the army, but the farm has allowed him to heal in a different way, surrounded by others with similar experiences and allowing him to calm his mind by focusing on the animals, he said. Nestled in the Sdot Yam kibbutz, the Back2Life farm is among several grassroots organizations stepping in to support the growing number of soldiers needing help. It was co-founded by Assi Nave and dedicated to his friend from an elite military unit, Amir (Dani) Yardenai, who suffered severe PTSD for years after fighting in Gaza in 2014, and died by suicide last year. “Dani’s loss left me with the sense that he’s not the last one,” Nave said. The farm has become an oasis for dozens of veterans who have participated in its sessions — which in addition to traditional counseling includes therapy with dogs and other animals — to the backdrop of chirping birds and clucking chickens. Former soldiers work with rescue animals, each helping the other to heal. Psychologist Guy Fluman, who works with former soldiers and is among the mental health experts advising the farm on therapeutic approaches, said a major challenge veterans face is readjusting to civilian life and being with animals is grounding. “You need to help them resolve their memories, be able to live in peace with what has happened ... and on the other hand to reconnect them to life,” he said. Stigma persists One 31-year-old deployed in Gaza and the West Bank for a year said upon returning home everything was a struggle: His relationship ended and he had difficulty connecting with family and friends. “I felt like I was back there,” he said “My body is here, but my mind is not.” Hamas to return body of Israeli soldier held in Gaza since 2014 He was among several veterans who told the AP he suffered from mental illness for years, triggered by fighting in Israel’s previous wars, yet this was the first time he felt comfortable seeking support. “Stigma around mental health persists” among soldiers, acknowledged Luria, the rehabilitation program director. “Combating this stigma is a top priority.” “We’re addressing it on multiple fronts,” including public campaigns and media outreach, she said, as well as programs designed to engage younger veterans, like rehabilitation farms and adventure sports. A 32-year-old reservist who was assigned to collect bodies in southern Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage said his flashbacks were less connected to the sight of the decaying men and women but to the smell. “I started to smell dead bodies ... all the time,” he said. He’d get triggered changing his child’s diaper. A therapist himself, he recognized the signs and sought help for PTSD. He then started working with others to help with the army’s growing need. He said the best way for soldiers to come forward is for their commanders on the ground to let them know that it’s OK. “When the commander of the soldier says you can get help,” he said, “it works better and you have less stigma.”  

Iraqis went to the polls Tuesday for a parliamentary election marked by heavy security and a boycott by the influential Sadrist Movement. A total of 8,703 polling stations were open nationwide, following early voting on Sunday for security personnel and displaced residents in camps. Turnout was low in the initial hours, with first results expected on Wednesday. Only 21.4 million of the country’s 32 million eligible voters registered this year, down from around 24 million in the 2021 election. The election takes place amid major regional upheavals, including wars in Gaza and Lebanon since the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, the Israel-Iran conflict in June, and last year’s fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad. U.S. officials are pressing Iraq to limit the influence of Iran-backed armed groups, some of whose members are contesting Tuesday’s vote. Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, seeking a second term, cast his vote in Baghdad alongside his mother, emphasizing that the election “asserts the principle of peaceful transfer of power” and reflects citizens’ commitment to democracy. The Sadrist Movement, led by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, boycotted the election. Al-Sadr’s bloc, which won the most seats in 2021, withdrew from politics after failed government negotiations. In Sadr City, his stronghold, security was tight, shops remained closed, and polling stations were nearly empty. “The Sadrist boycott has had a major impact,” said station director Ahmed al-Mousawi. In Kirkuk, northern Iraq, violence erupted overnight, killing two police officers and injuring two civilians. Authorities said clashes between rival groups led to the shooting, though calm returned by polling hours. Many voters expressed apathy, expecting little change beyond new parliamentary faces. Ahead of the vote, 46 people were arrested for illegally buying and selling voter cards, and 1,841 cards were seized. Legal challenges are also anticipated, with Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council noting that Tuesday’s election date was unconstitutional, as the vote was initially scheduled for Nov. 24. Despite security concerns, political tension, and low expectations, Iraqis turned out to participate in the parliamentary election, underscoring the nation’s continued engagement with democratic processes amid instability.  

An Israeli airstrike on Monday killed a Hezbollah commander on the Sarafand–Baysarieh highway in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese security and official sources. A Lebanese army intelligence official identified the victim as Samir Ali Faqih, a Hezbollah commander, without providing further details. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Faqih was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car. According to security sources, Israeli warplanes conducted around 20 air raids on Hezbollah positions in eastern and southern Lebanon on Monday, firing about 40 air-to-ground missiles. The wave of strikes came amid mounting Israeli threats and renewed demands for Hezbollah to disarm — a call the group has repeatedly rejected. Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s Political Council, reaffirmed on Monday that the group would not lay down its arms, describing its weapons as “a guarantee of Lebanon’s existence and strength” and a deterrent against “Israeli aggression.” A U.S.- and French-mediated ceasefire has been in place between Hezbollah and Israel since November 27, 2024, bringing an end to most cross-border hostilities that flared after the Gaza war. Despite the truce, Israeli forces have continued to launch intermittent strikes inside Lebanon, claiming they are aimed at neutralizing threats from Hezbollah while maintaining troops across five key border positions.   With inputs from Xinhua

Two decades after being detained by U.S. forces in Iraq for fighting alongside al-Qaida, Ahmad al-Sharaa is poised to make history as the first Syrian president to visit Washington since the country’s independence in 1946. Following his forces’ ouster of Bashar Assad last December, al-Sharaa has sought to rebrand himself and Syria, rebuilding ties with nations that once isolated Damascus. His meeting Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to formalize Syria’s entry into the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group and push for a full repeal of remaining sanctions, including the Caesar Act. Trump has praised al-Sharaa’s leadership, saying he deserves “a fighting shot.” The U.N. Security Council and the U.S. Treasury recently lifted sanctions against him and Syria’s interior minister. However, some Republicans in Congress want to attach conditions to a broader repeal, citing sectarian violence and minority rights concerns. Human rights and religious groups have urged Washington to ensure protection for Alawite and Druze minorities, calling for a humanitarian corridor from Israel’s Golan Heights into southern Syria. Despite concerns, supporters argue the Caesar Act now hinders Syria’s reconstruction and foreign investment. Advocates like Mouaz Moustafa say the law is “a sledgehammer instead of a scalpel,” warning it punishes civilians more than officials. Al-Sharaa is also expected to sign an agreement bringing Syria into closer coordination with U.S. forces against IS militants. U.S. officials say the move marks a “milestone” in regional security cooperation, even as remnants of the extremist group continue to stage attacks across Syria and Iraq. Al-Sharaa’s journey—from insurgent commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to Washington guest—underscores one of the most surprising political transformations in the modern Middle East.

Hamas said Sunday it would hand over the body of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, killed during the 2014 Gaza war and held in the enclave for 11 years — the only remains kept in Gaza before the current conflict. The move marks a major development in the U.S.-brokered truce and could bring closure to Goldin’s family, who have long campaigned for his return. Hamas claimed it discovered the body in a tunnel in Rafah on Saturday. Goldin was killed on Aug. 1, 2014, just two hours after a ceasefire began. Israeli media reported that Hamas had delayed the release in hopes of negotiating safe passage for over 100 militants trapped in Rafah, though Israeli officials dismissed any “deal within a deal.” Goldin is one of five Israeli hostages’ bodies still held in Gaza. Under the truce, Hamas is expected to return all remains of hostages, while Israel has released the bodies of Palestinians in exchange — 15 for each Israeli hostage. President Isaac Herzog confirmed Israel expected Goldin’s body to be returned later Sunday. The announcement came as he attended the funeral of another soldier, Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, whose remains were released last week. Since the ceasefire began last month, militants have returned 23 Israeli bodies, while Gaza’s Nasser Hospital says it has received the remains of 300 Palestinians, with 89 identified. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 69,000 Palestinians have since been killed. Goldin’s death was confirmed by the Israeli military in 2014 based on evidence from the tunnel where his body was taken.