Israel

By Sabiu Abdullahi

At least 11 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to the territory’s ministry of health, AFP reports.

The ministry said the victims included civilians who were taking shelter in a tent in the southern part of Gaza. Munir al-Barsh, the general director of the ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, told AFP that 11 people were killed and 20 others were injured “as a result of strikes carried out by the occupation targeting civilians in a tent and an apartment”.

Barsh said those wounded were taken to hospitals in Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis in the south for medical treatment.

He also accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement. According to him, Israel “continues its serious violations of the ceasefire agreement amid a severe shortage of medical supplies, medicines and medical equipment”.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Hamas-run government press office said the strike on the tent in the south killed seven members of the same displaced family. The victims reportedly included a child and an elderly person.

A ceasefire brokered by the United States has been in place since October and entered its second phase in January. The phase is expected to involve Hamas’s disarmament, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. Despite the agreement, Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.

According to the Gaza health ministry, 509 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect on October 10.

The war has displaced almost the entire population of Gaza at least once. Many residents still live in tents or makeshift shelters across the territory.

The conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,221 people, based on an AFP tally using official Israeli figures. Israel’s military response caused widespread destruction in Gaza, a territory that had already faced repeated rounds of fighting and an Israeli blockade imposed since 2007.

The health ministry said more than 71,769 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures to be reliable.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Islamic Republic of Iran has executed a man named Hamidreza Sabet Esmaeilipour after a court found him guilty of espionage on behalf of Israel, according to Mizan, the media outlet of the Iranian judiciary.

Mizan reported on Wednesday that Esmaeilipour was hanged following his conviction for spying and intelligence cooperation with Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad.

Judicial authorities said Esmaeilipour was arrested on April 29, 2025. They accused him of transferring classified documents and sensitive materials to a “hostile intelligence service.”

The report stated that the execution took place after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence. Authorities also said all legal processes had been completed before the sentence was carried out.

Iran and Israel have remained engaged in a prolonged shadow conflict that has involved covert activities, assassinations, cyber operations and intelligence missions across the Middle East.

Tehran has repeatedly alleged that Israel has penetrated its security and military institutions, with particular focus on matters linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.

In recent years, Iranian authorities have executed several people accused of having ties to Israeli intelligence. These actions have attracted criticism from international human rights organisations, which have raised concerns about due process and Iran’s use of capital punishment.

Reports indicate that executions connected to alleged espionage for Israel have risen since last year. This followed a direct military confrontation in June, when Israeli and U.S. forces launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a development that sharply intensified hostilities between the two rivals.

Iranian officials insist that such executions are essential for protecting national security. Critics, however, argue that espionage allegations often lack clarity and that court proceedings remain largely opaque.

By Maryam Ahmad

In his Christmas address, Pope Leo appealed for an immediate end to violence and renewed efforts toward peace in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to worshippers during the traditional Christmas message, he expressed deep concern over the humanitarian suffering caused by the ongoing conflict.

The Pope called on world leaders and all parties involved to choose dialogue over confrontation, stressing the need to protect civilians, especially children and other vulnerable groups. He urged the international community to work tirelessly for a just and lasting peace in the Gaza Strip and across the broader Middle East.

He also lamented reports of continued killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, noting that violence has persisted despite announcements of a ceasefire. The Pope described the situation as deeply troubling.

He called on Israel and all parties to respect international humanitarian law, honour ceasefire commitments, and take concrete steps to end the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.

Concluding his message, Pope Leo emphasised that the spirit of Christmas is rooted in compassion, reconciliation, and hope, values he said must guide global responses to conflict and human suffering.

By Maryam Ahmad

Bundesliga club Mainz 05 have lost their appeal against the unfair dismissal ruling in favour of Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi, who has been awarded €1.7 million in compensation.

A German labour court had earlier found that the club acted unlawfully when it terminated El Ghazi’s contract in November 2023 following social-media posts he made during the Gaza–Israel crisis. The arbitration panel upheld that decision, rejecting Mainz’s argument that the posts constituted grounds for immediate dismissal.

In a statement, Mainz said it accepted the ruling but stressed its commitment to maintaining its internal code of conduct. El Ghazi welcomed the outcome, describing it as a vindication of his right to express his views.

By Maryam Ahmad

Italian journalist Gabriele Nunziati, a Brussels-based correspondent for the Italian news agency Nova, has been dismissed after posing a question about Israel during a European Commission press briefing.

According to reports from La Stampa, Nunziati asked officials about Israel’s responsibility in the ongoing Middle East conflict — a question his employer later described as “inappropriate” and “embarrassing.” Shortly after the exchange, Nova informed him that his collaboration had been terminated.

The incident has sparked debate within journalistic circles about press freedom and the limits of editorial control. Colleagues in Brussels expressed concern that the dismissal reflects growing pressure on journalists covering sensitive international issues, particularly those related to Israel.

Neither Nova nor the European Commission has issued a detailed statement on the matter. Nunziati, for his part, has defended his question as a legitimate exercise of journalistic duty.

By Maryam Ahmad

More than 100 people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday, according to health officials in the enclave. The strikes came shortly after Israel accused Hamas of violating a fragile ceasefire agreement — an allegation Hamas has denied.

Palestinian health authorities said the attacks targeted several densely populated areas, leaving scores of civilians among the dead and many others injured. Rescue teams continued to search through the rubble for survivors late into the night.

In a statement, Hamas rejected Israel’s claims of ceasefire breaches and accused Israel of deliberately escalating the conflict. The group also said Israeli authorities had prevented the return of the bodies of Israeli hostages who were killed during earlier clashes.

The renewed violence has raised fears of a broader breakdown in the ceasefire, which had offered a brief respite after months of devastating fighting. International calls for restraint have grown as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to worsen.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Italy is witnessing widespread labour unrest as dockworkers, unions, and students have launched strikes and demonstrations to protest the shipment of weapons to Israel amid the Gaza conflict.

In Ravenna, Mayor Alessandro Barattoni and local authorities stopped two trucks carrying explosives meant for Haifa, citing solidarity with Palestinians and concerns over loopholes allowing arms transit through Italy.

In Genova, dockworkers participating in a strike have blocked access roads to the port and rallied under the banner of preventing Italian ports from facilitating arms transfers. Similar protests are underway in Livorno. Public transportation services have been disrupted in cities such as Rome and Milan, and several schools have been closed.

Unions are demanding that the Italian government suspend both commercial and military cooperation with Israel, close legal loopholes related to transit of arms, lift any humanitarian blockade on Gaza, and formally recognise the State of Palestine.

The protests highlight increasing internal tensions in Italy’s politics, especially under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which has traditionally aligned more with Israel diplomatically. Observers suggest the strike actions test if citizen and labour moral pressure can influence the government to curb arms exports and transit.

By Muhammad Abubakar

In a historic diplomatic shift, the governments of Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have formally recognised the State of Palestine. The announcement, made in a joint statement on Sunday, marks a significant moment in international support for Palestinian statehood.

Leaders of the three countries said the recognition was aimed at advancing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, reaffirming their commitment to a two-state solution. They urged both Israel and Palestine to return to negotiations and called for an immediate halt to violence in the region.

The move has been welcomed by Palestinian officials, who described it as a “courageous step towards justice and self-determination.” However, Israel has expressed strong opposition, warning that such recognition could undermine peace efforts.

The decision by three of the world’s most influential Western nations is expected to increase pressure on other countries to follow suit, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the global stage.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Former Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has called on football’s governing bodies, UEFA and FIFA, to impose an immediate ban on Israel over its ongoing military actions in Gaza. Cantona, known for his outspoken views, said football cannot remain silent while civilians continue to suffer.

His statement comes amid growing international pressure on Israel, with Spain reportedly considering a boycott of the upcoming World Cup should the situation persist. 

Spanish officials have hinted that participation in global tournaments could be reconsidered if FIFA does not take more decisive action.

The calls echo previous instances where sporting sanctions were used as leverage against states accused of human rights violations, most notably the bans imposed on apartheid-era South Africa and, more recently, Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Neither UEFA nor FIFA has officially responded to Cantona’s demand or Spain’s potential boycott threat, but the developments add further weight to the debate over the role of football in addressing global conflicts.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Israel’s Culture Minister, Miki Zohar, has vowed to halt government support for the country’s national film awards after a Palestinian-themed movie, The Sea, claimed the top honor at the Ophir Awards.

The film tells the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from the occupied West Bank who dreams of reaching Tel Aviv to see the Mediterranean Sea. It won Best Film at the Ophir Awards, Israel’s equivalent of the Oscars.

By winning, The Sea will now represent Israel in the Best International Feature Film category at next year’s Academy Awards.

In a post on X, Zohar lashed out at the outcome. “There is no greater slap in the face of Israeli citizens than the embarrassing and detached annual Ophir Awards ceremony.

Under my watch, Israeli citizens will not pay from their pockets for a ceremony that spits in the faces of our heroic soldiers.”

Reports in Israeli media suggest it is unclear whether the minister has the authority to pull state funding from the awards.The film also swept other top categories.

Thirteen-year-old Muhammad Gazawi, who plays Khaled, became the youngest ever to win Best Actor in the history of the Ophir Awards.

His character is stopped at an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint during a school trip and barred from entering Tel Aviv.

He later sneaks into Israel to try to reach the sea, while his father, an undocumented worker, searches frantically for him.

Producer Baher Agbariya, while accepting the award, said the movie stood for “every child’s right to live in peace, a basic right we will not give up on.”

Zohar, however, repeated his criticism, labeling the event “embarrassing and detached.”

Defending the jury’s decision, Assaf Amir, chair of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, argued that the selection carried a message of hope.

“As the never-ending war in Gaza takes a terrible toll in death and destruction, the ability to see the ‘other’… gives small hope. In the face of the Israeli government’s attacks on Israeli cinema and culture, and the calls from parts of the international film community to boycott us, the selection of The Sea is a powerful and resounding response.”

The controversy erupted against the backdrop of mounting global condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 65,000 Palestinians, nearly half of them women and children, have been killed since October 2023.

The war began after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

This week, a United Nations commission of inquiry accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the findings as “distorted and false.”

The film industry has also been caught up in the political storm. Earlier this year, thousands of Hollywood figures signed a pledge refusing to work with Israeli film institutions they accused of being “implicated in genocide.”