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The United Nations has initiated a significant humanitarian effort in the Gaza Strip, marking a critical step forward in addressing the region’s ongoing crisis. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), essential supplies, including cooking gas, have entered Gaza for the first time since March. This development is part of a broader aid initiative that saw the delivery of tents, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour, and medicines on Sunday. The UN and its partners have also distributed hundreds of thousands of hot meals and bread bundles across both the northern and southern regions of Gaza. OCHA confirmed that Israeli authorities have approved the movement of additional aid, bringing the total cleared pipeline to 190,000 metric tonnes of food, shelter items, medicine, and other essential supplies. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher emphasized that this is only the beginning of a 60-day plan to expand aid operations, aiming to reach 2.1 million people in need of food assistance and 500,000 requiring nutritional support. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and the United States, has facilitated these efforts, allowing for a massive scale-up in humanitarian services, including health system restoration, water and sanitation provision, shelter construction, and the reopening of temporary learning spaces for 700,000 school-aged children.

In a striking visual that has sparked widespread discussion, female journalists were prominently seated in the front row during a press conference held by Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Delhi on Sunday. This event followed significant backlash over the exclusion of women from his previous press meeting on Friday. Muttaqi addressed the controversy, stating that the initial exclusion was unintentional and due to a technical oversight in the invitation process. He emphasized that there was no deliberate intent to exclude female journalists. The press conference, held at the Afghan embassy, was part of Muttaqi’s week-long visit to India for high-level talks. India, while not formally recognizing the Taliban government, maintains diplomatic and humanitarian ties with Afghanistan. The visit is seen as a crucial step in strengthening bilateral relations. On Friday, Muttaqi met with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who announced plans to reopen India’s embassy in Kabul, which had been closed since the Taliban regained power in 2021. However, the initial press event on Friday was marred by gender discrimination, as female journalists were barred from attending, leading to widespread criticism from Indian politicians, journalists, and advocacy groups. Organizations such as the Editors Guild of India and the Network of Women in Media, India, condemned the exclusion as blatant gender discrimination and called on the Indian government to uphold democratic rights and constitutional freedoms. Amid growing outrage, Muttaqi’s team issued fresh invitations for Sunday’s press conference, which was described as an inclusive event open to all media personnel. During the conference, Muttaqi faced tough questions regarding the exclusion of women from Friday’s meeting and the broader issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan. He claimed that education for women and girls continues in Afghanistan, with over 2.8 million female students enrolled in schools and institutes. However, many journalists challenged his assertions, highlighting the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, including bans on education for girls over 12 and the removal of books authored by women from universities. While the minister’s responses may not have fully addressed concerns, the organization of the second press conference and the inclusion of female journalists were seen as a step forward in addressing gender issues.

In Lahore, Pakistan, violent confrontations broke out on Monday between police and thousands of demonstrators participating in a pro-Palestinian march, resulting in the death of at least one police officer and injuries to dozens more, according to police and eyewitness accounts. Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar reported that protesters opened fire on law enforcement, leading to the fatal shooting of an officer and multiple injuries among the police force. While Anwar did not confirm any casualties among the protesters, the political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) claimed that many of its supporters were also killed or wounded. Videos released by TLP depicted several vehicles ablaze, including a truck transporting party officials leading the ‘long march’ that commenced in eastern Pakistan on Friday, with plans to proceed from Lahore to the capital, Islamabad. The march has been marred by escalating violence, with police arresting over 100 individuals during a protest on Saturday. The latest clashes erupted when protesters attempted to dismantle shipping containers placed by police to obstruct their path. Demonstrators clashed with police in Lahore before camping in the nearby town of Muridke and resuming their march. TLP leader Saad Rizvi, who was among the injured, urged security forces to cease firing in a pre-dawn video, expressing readiness to negotiate. The protesters aimed to stage a rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, but police came under fire while attempting to disperse the crowd. The U.S. Embassy had issued a security alert last week, warning of potential disruptions and advising U.S. citizens to exercise caution. The TLP, known for its disruptive and often violent demonstrations, has faced mixed reactions online, with some accusing the Pakistani government of overreacting by blocking major roads preemptively. Pakistan Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry questioned why TLP resorted to violence instead of advocating for peace in Gaza. The TLP, which gained prominence in Pakistan’s 2018 elections by campaigning on the defense of the country’s blasphemy law, has organized pro-Palestinian rallies in recent years, with this march specifically targeting the U.S. embassy to express solidarity with Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Sunday that the nation’s military campaign remains ongoing, even as a ceasefire with Hamas takes effect and the release of hostages and detainees is underway. Speaking in a televised address, Netanyahu described the planned release of the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages as a ‘historic event,’ but cautioned that the conflict is far from resolved. ‘Wherever we fought, we won,’ he stated. ‘But the campaign is not over yet.’ Netanyahu highlighted the persistent security challenges facing Israel, warning that some adversaries are attempting to regroup. He vowed to ensure the nation’s safety and stability. Earlier in the day, Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, declared a ‘victory over Hamas,’ attributing the success to sustained military pressure and diplomatic efforts. Zamir also noted that Israel remains engaged in a ‘multi-front war’ and will continue its operations to reshape the Middle East’s security landscape. The ceasefire, which began on Friday, follows over two years of intense Israeli bombardments that have left Gaza in ruins and triggered widespread famine. While the truce has brought temporary relief, Netanyahu’s remarks underscore the fragile nature of the peace and the ongoing tensions in the region.

Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, facilitated by Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, have entered their final phase, focusing on the list of prisoners to be exchanged, according to Palestinian sources. The talks, held on Sunday, aim to finalize the details of a recently agreed ceasefire deal. Under the agreement, Hamas will release 20 living hostages and 28 deceased hostages held in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023. In return, Israel will free approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, disagreements persist over the composition of the prisoner list. Hamas is pushing for the inclusion of prominent figures such as Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Saadat, while Israel prefers to release women, minors, and prisoners serving medium-term sentences. A senior Hamas official, speaking anonymously, revealed that intensive discussions with mediators have been ongoing to expand the list and prioritize the release of long-term detainees. The official expressed confidence that mediators are working tirelessly to resolve remaining obstacles before the official announcement. Hamas reiterated its commitment to implementing the agreement on schedule, emphasizing its humanitarian framework supervised by international partners. Meanwhile, Israel anticipates the release of all 20 living hostages early Monday morning. An international task force will be established to assist in locating the remains of deceased hostages. Israeli security measures have been heightened in Gaza to ensure the smooth execution of the exchange process.

In a tragic incident near Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, three Qatari diplomats lost their lives in a car crash, prompting an outpouring of condolences from Gulf leaders. The Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He prayed for the deceased to be granted eternal peace and for their families to find strength during this difficult time. Additionally, he wished a swift recovery for the two individuals injured in the accident, who are currently receiving medical care at a local hospital. The Qatar embassy in Cairo confirmed the details of the incident, which occurred early on Sunday. The diplomats were part of Qatar’s Amiri Diwan, the royal court, and were on official duty at the time of the crash. The accident has drawn widespread attention, especially given the recent diplomatic activities in Sharm el-Sheikh, where Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt had engaged in indirect talks aimed at brokering peace in the ongoing Gaza conflict. The city is also set to host a global summit to finalize the agreement. Leaders from across the Gulf, including UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, have extended their condolences to Qatar. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also issued a formal statement expressing solidarity with Doha in this time of grief.