UN Report Accuses Israel of Gender-Based Violence in Gaza, West Bank

A United Nations report accuses Israel of systematically using sexual, reproductive, and gender-based violence against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.

The report claims Israel uses sexual violence to terrorize Palestinians and enforce oppression.

It accuses Israel of destroying women’s healthcare facilities in Gaza, severely limiting reproductive healthcare access.

US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has proposed a new plan to extend the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza.

Proposal suggests 42-60 more days, covering Ramadan and Passover.

Hamas to release five living and 9-10 deceased hostages on day one; remaining hostages freed if a long-term deal is reached.

Israel to increase aid flow into Gaza. Israel is open to the deal but demands more living hostages be released.

Hamas seeks guarantees on an Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Ukraine saw Türkiye as a partner in security guarantees for his country, and added that Kyiv was ready to ratify a free trade agreement between the states.

NATO member Türkiye has balanced ties with Kyiv and Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It has maintained good ties with both, supporting Ukraine militarily and backing its territorial integrity, while refusing to join sanctions on Russia.

As Europe scrambles to bolster its own defence and security, while seeking guarantees for Kyiv under any possible ceasefire deal with Moscow urged by Washington, Türkiye has emerged as a key potential security partner.

US and Israel look to Africa for resettling Palestinians uprooted from Gaza

U.S. and Israel have reached out to officials of three East African governments to discuss using their territories as potential destinations for resettling Palestinians uprooted from the Gaza Strip under President Donald Trump’s proposed postwar plan, American and Israeli officials say.

The contacts with Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland reflect the determination by the U.S. and Israel to press ahead with a plan that has been widely condemned and raised serious legal and moral issues.

Source: AP

China, Russia, and Iran Hold Nuclear Talks in Beijing

Senior diplomats from China, Russia, and Iran met in Beijing to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, just days after Tehran rejected U.S. calls for renewed dialogue.

The talks included China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

The meeting focused on reviving stalled negotiations and seeking a diplomatic resolution.

China, Russia, and Iran jointly called for lifting U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that one million people in Myanmar will be cut off from food aid amid a funding shortfall.

Source: AFP

French Finance Minister Eric Lombard slammed Trump’s trade war as “stupid” after his threat of 200% tariffs on EU alcohol.

“It's a stupid war, but if we want to be able to negotiate, we must be on equal footing—so we’ll raise tariffs too.”

NATO vs. Russia & Ukraine: Active Military Personnel (2024)

🇷🇺 Russia: 1.5M troops
🇺🇦 Ukraine: 880K troops
🇺🇸 U.S. (NATO’s largest force): 1.3M troops
🇹🇷 Türkiye (Largest European NATO force): 355K troops

Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to Zelensky:

Ukraine will not lift martial law or hold elections in the event of a 30-day ceasefire on the front lines.

European Union may double its military aid to Ukraine in 2025, potentially reaching €40 billion ($43 billion), according to an EU diplomatic discussion paper.

The plan includes an initial commitment to provide Ukraine with 2 million rounds of large-caliber artillery ammunition this year.

Source: Reuters

Kremlin:

Late last night, President Putin met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, delivering key messages and signals for Donald Trump.

No date has been set for a direct call between Putin and Trump. It will be scheduled after Witkoff reports to Trump.

There are grounds for cautious optimism on Ukraine.

Lukashenko:

Belarus will not become part of Russia in the near future.

Why Ethiopia and Eritrea on the Brink of War?

Fresh conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is reigniting tensions with Eritrea, which backed Ethiopia’s federal forces in the 2020-2022 war but was excluded from the 2022 Pretoria Agreement.

Tigrayan dissidents seized Adigrat, accusing the Ethiopian-backed government of betrayal, while the interim administration claims they are collaborating with Eritrea.

Eritrea mobilized its military in Feb 2025, as Ethiopia moved troops toward the border. Eritrea still has troops in Ethiopia despite the peace deal calling for withdrawal.

Abiy Ahmed’s push for Red Sea access has further alarmed Eritrea.

Eritrea signed a security pact with Egypt and Somalia, seen as a counter to Ethiopia’s ambitions.

Source: Reuters, ISW

Armenia and Azerbaijan Finalize Peace Treaty After Nearly 40 Years of War

Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized a peace treaty to end decades of conflict, including wars over Karabakh.

Azerbaijan demands Armenia amend its constitution to remove implicit territorial claims before signing.

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has proposed a referendum, but no date is set.

The treaty bars third-party personnel from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, impacting the EU’s monitoring mission and Russian border guards.