Hamas signals willingness to release Israeli hostages

GAZA- The Palestinian group Hamas has announced that it is ready to release all Israeli hostages and begin talks, through mediators, to finalize the details of the exchange. The group also expressed willingness to transfer control of Gaza to an independent Palestinian body.

Hamas said on Friday that the decision followed a “thorough study” of the 20-point peace plan presented by US President Donald Trump earlier this week. The plan includes an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a hostages-for-prisoners swap, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the establishment of a temporary international administration.

In a statement, Hamas confirmed its agreement to release both living and deceased Israeli captives “according to the exchange formula” set out in Trump’s proposal. It added that it is prepared to enter immediate negotiations, through mediators, to work out the implementation.

The group also stated it is ready to hand over Gaza’s administration to “a Palestinian body of independents,” describing it as a technocratic authority formed through Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic states.

Hamas, however, did not clearly accept or reject other elements of the plan, such as its complete disarmament. It said those “other issues” should be addressed within a broader Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas would also take part.

Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital Kills 21, Including Six Journalists

GAZA- Israel launched a deadly strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Monday, killing at least 21 people, among them six journalists, as well as medics and rescue workers. The attack further devastated the already crippled health system in the besieged enclave and drew global outrage.

The assault followed the “double-tap” pattern, where one strike is followed quickly by another. The first blast hit the hospital’s top floor. Minutes later, as journalists and rescuers rushed to help, a second strike struck the building, according to Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, head of the paediatrics department.

Journalists killed included Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Salama, Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, freelance journalist Mariam Abu Daqqa, as well as Ahmed Abu Aziz, Moaz Abu Taha, and Palestinian correspondent Hassan Douhan. The attack also injured others and caused widespread panic among patients and civilians.

Press freedom groups condemned the strike, calling it part of a systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate described it as “an open war against free media,” while the Committee to Protect Journalists urged international accountability.

Israel’s government called the incident a “tragic mishap” and said an investigation was underway. Similar statements have been issued after previous strikes that killed journalists and civilians, but rights groups note that accountability has been absent.

The attack adds to a growing list of Israeli strikes on hospitals and media workers during nearly two years of war. Nasser Hospital, like al-Shifa Medical Complex and other facilities, has faced repeated bombardments and severe shortages of supplies and staff under Israel’s blockade.

The attack raises the death toll of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 to at least 273.

Gaza: A Failure of Humanity and the Silence of Democracies

Kathmandu – The unfolding tragedy in Gaza City has reached an alarming stage, with famine now described as a “failure of humanity.” The worsening crisis reflects not only the relentless assault on the besieged population but also the shameful silence and complicity of the international community, particularly nations that claim to uphold democracy and human rights.

For months, Gaza has endured constant bombardment, blockade, and the collapse of its basic infrastructure. Food, medicine, and clean water have become scarce, leaving millions on the brink of starvation. Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly warned of “massive death and destruction,” yet the appeals have gone largely unanswered.

Instead of restraining the ruling administration in Tel Aviv, often described as the occupying authority, many powerful nations have extended political, military, and financial backing. This support, whether through weapons, diplomatic cover, or vetoes at the UN, has enabled the continuation of mass killings, forced displacement, and the targeting of civilian areas. Critics argue that this not only undermines international law but actively fuels what many observers and human rights groups are calling genocide.

The response from so-called democratic countries has been particularly disheartening. These governments, which often lecture the world on human rights and freedoms, have chosen strategic alliances over moral responsibility. Their inaction and selective outrage have left Gaza’s people isolated, stripped of protection, and abandoned to relentless suffering.

As famine spreads and the death toll climbs, the world is confronted with a painful truth: justice and humanity have been overshadowed by politics and power. Unless global leaders act decisively to halt the assault and ensure safe humanitarian access, history will remember this chapter as one of the darkest betrayals of modern times.