Palestinian Information Center – January 14, 2025
Al-Ansari: We have reached final stages of Gaza ceasefire talks
The official spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Ansari, said the negotiations for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip “are at the final stages,” adding “until there is an announcement, we shouldn’t be over-excited about what’s happening right now.”
Al-Ansari said on Tuesday during the weekly press briefing from Doha, “We will not go into details, but the draft has been delivered to the two parties and talks are now underway on the final details.”
He stressed that “there is no time limit for announcing the agreement, but we remain optimistic,” elaborating that “the pending details between the two parties are currently being discussed, and the largest part is related to implementation.”
He pointed out that there is “positive engagement by both parties in the negotiations, and implementation will take place shortly after the announcement of the agreement.”
Al-Ansari added, “We in Qatar have always stressed our position stipulating the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation. Talking about how to manage Gaza after the agreement is a Palestinian decision.”
He stressed that the mediators will be “guarantors of the agreement”, appreciating the efforts exerted by the US administrations of current US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, with the launch of a “final round” of talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and exchanging prisoners.”
Meanwhile, the French News Agency quoted an informed source as saying that the Doha meetings, on Tuesday, “aim to put the final touches on the remaining details of the deal,” in the presence of the head of the Israeli intelligence agency (Mossad) David Barnea, and the envoys of Biden, Brett McGurk, and Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry said, “We found support for the Qatari mediation internationally and regionally… and we are not concerned with Israeli domestic politics except in what affects the course of the negotiations.”
Aid and Rafah Crossing
In the same context, the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper quoted Egyptian sources as saying that there are preparations to operate the Rafah Crossing to bring in aid and receive Israeli and Palestinian prisoners, noting that humanitarian aid and fuel will be brought in through the Rafah Crossing from the first day of the ceasefire.
The sources indicated that the start of the travel of patients and the wounded will be a week after the agreement come into effect, affirming that mobile homes, tents, and engineering machinery to remove rubble will be brought in as well.
On Monday, Qatar sent a draft agreement for Gaza ceasefire and prisoners exchange between Israel and Hamas, in a first step aimed at ending the ongoing war of extermination on the Strip for 15 months.
Just one week before Trump took office, officials said that a breakthrough had been achieved in the talks hosted by Doha, and that an agreement might be imminent.
According to the draft agreement, which is based on three stages, 33 Israeli captives will be released in the first stage, including children, women, female soldiers, men over fifty, wounded and sick people.
If the first phase goes as planned, negotiations on a second phase will begin on the 16th day after the agreement enters into force.
During the second phase, the remaining living captives, including soldiers and men of military age, will be released, in addition to the return of the bodies of captives killed in Israeli raids.
The third and final phase will deal with long-term arrangements, including discussions on an alternative government in the Gaza Strip and plans for its reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Hamas said it has informed the leaders of the Palestinian factions about the progress of the negotiations to halt the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said in a statement on Tuesday that it had conducted a series of contacts and consultations with the leaders of the factions, updating them on the progress made in the ongoing negotiations in Doha.
The leaders of the national forces and factions expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the negotiations, stressing the need for general national readiness for the next phase and its requirements.
Hamas leaders and various forces stressed the continuation of communication and consultation until the accomplishment of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which has reached its final stages, expressing their hope that this round of negotiations will lead to a clear and comprehensive agreement.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/01/14/332221/
Al Mayadeen – January 14, 2025
Imminent Gaza ceasefire: Key details, what to expect
The deal could be finalized as early as today if discussions proceed smoothly.
Negotiators in Doha are set to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza on Tuesday, following a pivotal "breakthrough" in talks that have raised hopes of ending the ongoing Israeli war, Reuters reported.
Qatar's foreign ministry, on its part, said on Tuesday that negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal were in their "final stages".
"We do believe that we are at the final stages... certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference, adding that "until there is an announcement... we shouldn't be over-excited about what's happening right now."
It also announced that obstacles to the deal had been overcome.
"During the past months, there were underlying issues, major issues between the two parties unresolved. These issues were resolved during the talks in the past couple of weeks, and therefore we have reached a point where the major issues that were preventing a deal from happening were addressed," al-Ansari told a news conference.
Meanwhile, Hamas issued a statement revealing that it contacted and held consultations with the leaders of the Palestinian factions and informed them of the progress reached in the ongoing negotiations in Doha.
The movement affirmed that it will pursue communications and consultations until the ceasefire-prisoner exchange agreement is concluded, knowing that it is in its final stages, as per the statement.
US President Joe Biden had indicated that a ceasefire and the release of captives could be imminent.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, a final draft of the agreement was presented to both "Israel" and Hamas on Monday, after midnight discussions attended by envoys from both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
A Palestinian source close to the talks told Reuters that the deal could be finalized as early as Tuesday if discussions proceed smoothly.
The Financial Times cited a diplomat briefed on the negotiations as saying that an agreement could be finalized as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, with implementation expected 48 to 72 hours after the announcement.
"They’ve agreed on all the main issues," the diplomat said. "It’s just logistical and minor issues still being discussed."
The draft text, which outlines the terms for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives, was reportedly presented by Qatar to both parties in Doha.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the ball was now in Hamas' court, amid expectations that he will unveil a post-war recovery plan for Gaza later on Tuesday, according to Axios.
Final phase of Gaza truce talks
Meanwhile, AFP, citing a source familiar with the negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza, reported that a "final round" of Gaza truce talks is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Qatar.
The source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed that the meetings "are aimed at finalizing the remaining details of the deal."
The talks will involve the heads of the Israeli intelligence agencies, the Middle East envoys for both the incoming and outgoing US administrations, and Qatar's prime minister.
Key details
If the deal succeeds, the gradual ceasefire could mark the end of more than a year of sporadic negotiations and result in the largest release of Israeli captives since the early stages of the war, when Hamas released roughly half of its captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees.
In further detail, an Israeli official stated that negotiations were in advanced stages for the release of 33 of the remaining 98 Israeli captives, marking the first phase of the deal. In exchange, "Israel" will release 1,000 Palestinian detainees, according to a Palestinian source close to the talks, who added that the first phase would last for 60 days.
Meanwhile, Hamas fighters allegedly involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood will not be released.
The Israeli official mentioned that the first stage of the agreement would involve the release of 33 captives, including "children, women, female soldiers, men above 50, and the wounded and sick," as well as a gradual, partial withdrawal of invading Israeli units.
Commenting on the number of detainees, The Times of Israel considered, citing a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press, that "Israel" will pay a steep price to secure the release of female soldiers being held captive.
Among the 33 would be five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners who are serving life sentences.
Security measures will be implemented along the Philadelphi border corridor with Egypt, located on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, with "Israel" set to withdraw from portions of the area following the initial days of the agreement.
"Unarmed civilians" from northern Gaza will be permitted to return, with safeguards in place to prevent the "smuggling of weapons." Israeli forces are also expected to pull back from the Netzarim Axis in central Gaza.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will begin operating gradually, facilitating the exit of patients and humanitarian cases from the Gaza Strip for medical treatment.
Furthermore, the Gaza Strip is poised to receive a substantial increase in humanitarian aid, as international organizations, including the United Nations, warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis.
While "Israel" has agreed to allow the entry of aid into Gaza, disagreements persist over the volume of aid permitted and how much will actually reach those in need.
Who will 'control Gaza' after the war? Key uncertainties unfold
One of the key uncertainties in the ongoing negotiations is who will "take control of Gaza" after the war.
The current round of talks appears to have sidelined this issue, given its complexity and the potential challenges it could pose to reaching a limited agreement.
"Israel" has made it clear that it will not end the war as long as Hamas remains in power, while also rejecting the idea of the Palestinian Authority assuming control over Gaza.
From the outset of its genocide, "Israel" has insisted it will retain security control over Gaza once the fighting ceases.
On its part, the international community has emphasized that Gaza should be governed by Palestinians. Nevertheless, there have been ongoing discussions between "Israel", the United Arab Emirates, and the United States regarding the establishment of a "temporary administration to oversee Gaza until a restructured Palestinian Authority can assume control."
Israeli extremists' reactions to Gaza deal
In a post on X, Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed strong opposition to the ongoing Gaza ceasefire deal, which includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons and the "return of thousands of Gaza residents to northern Gaza and the withdrawal of the [IOF] from the Netzarim Axis."
Ben-Gvir argued that the agreement "effectively erases the achievements of the war that were paid for with the heavy bloodshed of our fighters in Gaza," a war that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israeli occupation soldiers.
He also criticized the deal for not securing the release of all Israeli hostages, urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to oppose it with him, and threatened to resign from the government if it proceeds.
Ben-Gvir called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "come to his senses and take steps that will lead to Hamas' defeat and the release of our hostages without compromising Israel's security: to completely cease the transfer of humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity, and water to Gaza, alongside continued military strikes on Hamas until its absolute defeat."
Smotrich calls Gaza deal 'catastrophe'
Yesterday, relatives of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip angrily criticized Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for opposing the ceasefire-prisoner exchange agreement being negotiated in Qatar.
Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionism party, issued a statement warning that his party “will not be part of” the proposed agreement, which he described as "a catastrophe for Israelﾒs national security."
"We will not be part of a surrender deal that would include releasing terrorists, stopping the war and dissolving the achievements that were paid for with much blood, and abandoning many hostages," he asserted.
He argued that "now is the time to continue with all our might, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the hostages are returned."
Angered by his statement, dozens of family members of the captives stormed into a meeting room in the Knesset, where the Finance Committee was convening to discuss the 2025 budget.
A verbal altercation ensued with him, lasting over an hour, during which they accused him of "abandoning the captives."
Netanyahu 'wasted time, lives' in pursuit of political goals: Maariv
On its part, the Israeli newspaper Maariv acknowledged that those who called for advancing the Israeli election date to end the war and secure the release of captives made a critical error by focusing on elections in "Israel," rather than advocating for earlier elections in the United States.
The report argued that the timeline for captives' release, which "Israel" and Hamas are expected to finalize, is largely shaped by the explicit threats of incoming US President Donald Trump, coupled with growing indications that the current phase of the war is nearing its conclusion.
Maariv admitted that "Trump strikes more fear than Ben-Gvir and Smotrich." The paper noted that Netanyahu worked tirelessly to explain this dynamic to his allies, finding a receptive audience in Smotrich, who is banking on Trump's support for occupying the West Bank in 2025. The newspaper suggested that "Gaza can be sacrificed" in pursuit of this goal.
The editorial criticized Netanyahu's decision to pursue a deal, citing it as a move driven by "incorrect reasons". It stated that while the deal may offer some immediate benefits, the true costs—such as the loss of time and lives—are stark.
"All that remains is to mourn the wasted time, the hostages who were killed or died in captivity, who could have returned home, and the soldiers who perished without clear objectives or a plan to replace Hamas' rule," it stressed.
The paper concluded by noting the dire situation of the captives: "Some are no longer alive. Their condition is worsening... Let us pray that no unexpected events delay the final approval of what should have been decided long ago."
It is important to highlight that, despite ongoing negotiations, the Gaza Strip continues to endure relentless Israeli bombardment, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The ongoing Israeli genocide killed more than 46,000 Palestinians—predominantly women and children—while over 110,000 have been injured. Meanwhile, Gaza lies in ruins, as the Israeli carnage relentlessly devastates the region.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/imminent-gaza-ceasefire--key-details--what-to-expect
Israeli radio: Emerging Gaza ceasefire deal ‘complete failure’ for regime
The chairman of the Gevurah Forum, which represents some families of Israeli soldiers killed during the Tel Aviv regime’s genocidal war on Gaza, has told the Hebrew-language 103FM radio station that a potential Gaza ceasefire deal is “a complete failure” for the Zionist entity.
“The deal that is emerging will not be a complete victory, but a complete failure,” Yehoshua Shani, the father of slain Lieutenant Uri Mordechai Shani, a platoon commander in the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade killed during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 surprise operation, said in an interview on Tuesday.
Shani, whose forum opposes truce talks between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas resistance group, expressed his disappointment with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and asserted that he could not confront incoming US President Donald Trump.
“He (Netanyahu) probably gave in to Trump's pressure,” Shani claimed, noting that the 75-year-old chairman of the Likud political party “is unable to stand up to Trump, who is leading to the problematic deal.”
According to him, they had already heard the details of the Gaza ceasefire deal for many months during meetings with the Israeli prime minister.
“We were convinced by him that he also strongly opposes it, exactly the same deal that we are now hearing that the final details are being finalized,” the chairman of the Gevurah Forum said.
“This deal leaves close to 70 hostages who could be Ron Aradim,” Shani alleged, referring to an Israeli Air Force navigator captured in 1986 by Hezbollah and believed to have died in captivity in 1988. He added that the military pressure, especially in recent months, has been faltering.
“We are losing soldiers' blood because of the way the campaign is being conducted," he said, adding that the prime minister and the new minister of military affairs are "letting these things go on and not replacing the military leadership.”
This comes as Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Minister spokesman, said on Tuesday that the Biden administration and incoming Trump administration have been fully involved in recent talks and are working "in tandem" to ensure a deal happens.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden said a Gaza ceasefire deal could be struck as early as this week, though the Israeli military continues to hammer the Palestinian coastal sliver to deadly effect.
“In the war between Israel and Hamas, we’re on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition,” the outgoing US president said in a foreign policy address.
“I have learned in many years of public service, to never, never, never ever give up,” he added. “We’re pressing hard to close this.”
Meanwhile, far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is calling on the regime’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich to resign alongside him if a ceasefire deal in Gaza is realized soon, according to his statement on Telegram.
“The deal that is taking shape is a surrender deal for Hamas … Therefore, I call on my friend Bezalel Smotrich to join me and cooperate in working against the deal,” Ben-Gvir said.
“My Jewish Power Party does not have the power alone to prevent the deal, but together it is possible. We can go to the prime minister and tell him that if he passes the deal, we will resign” from the administration.
Backed by the United States and its Western allies, Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression against Palestinians.
The regime’s bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 46,584 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 109,731 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.
On November 21 last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its deadly war on the blockaded coastal sliver.
Al Mayadeen – January 14, 2025
By day 466 of Israeli genocide in Gaza: 46,645 killed, 110,012 injured
Israeli occupation forces continue their genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip, conducting numerous airstrikes and artillery bombardments that have resulted in further civilian casualties.
The Israeli occupation military committed four massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, of whom 61 martyrs and 281 injuries arrived at hospitals in 24 hours, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Tuesday.
This brings the total number of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, to 46,645 in addition to 110,012 injuries, the ministry confirmed in its daily report on the 466th day of the aggression.
It noted that a number of victims remain under the rubble and on the roads, as ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them.
Israeli genocide ongoing
The Israeli assault on Gaza has killed 32 Palestinians since the early hours, with 19 fatalities reported in the central and southern regions of the Strip, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
Our correspondent reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a civilian vehicle in the town of al-Zawaida, central Gaza Strip, resulting in four fatalities and multiple injuries.
In a separate incident, Israeli warships shelled the shore of Deir Al-Balah, also in central Gaza, killing one Palestinian.
Two civilians were injured by gunfire from Israeli occupation forces at Qarara Port, northwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, an airstrike on a home belonging to the Abu al-Sha’ar family resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries, reported Gaza’s Civil Defense.
Our correspondent added that Israeli artillery targeted the area surrounding Mu’adh bin Jabal Mosque, supported by gunfire from drones. In a tragic escalation, five Palestinians were killed and others were injured when Israeli forces struck a tent sheltering displaced families and a home in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Concurrently, artillery fire targeted the northern regions of Gaza City, causing significant damage and injuries. Three Palestinians were killed in an airstrike that hit a house in the al-Manara neighborhood. Another strike on a residential home claimed multiple lives and left several wounded.
'Israel' killed 204 journalists in Gaza since October 7
In its latest statement, Gaza's Government Media Office revealed that the number of Palestinian journalists killed by "Israel" since October 7, 2023, has risen to 204, with journalist Mohammad Basheer al-Talmas being the latest victim.
According to the office, al-Talmas succumbed to severe injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.
The office strongly condemned the Israeli occupation's deliberate targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists. It urged the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and global press organizations to denounce these ongoing crimes against media professionals in Gaza.
"We hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and the countries complicit in this crime of genocide, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, fully responsible for committing this heinous, brutal crime," the statement declared.
Amid relentless Israeli aggression and widespread destruction, the residents of Gaza are holding their breath in anticipation of a ceasefire announcement, which would bring an end to 15 months of devastating violence and bloodshed.
Israel kills 204th journalist in Gaza since October 2023
Israel has killed another Palestinian journalist in the besieged Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll to at least 204 since October 2023.
Gaza's Government Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday that Mohammed al-Talmas succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli bombardment of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City.
It said Talmas was an employee of the Safa news agency.
“We call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies in all countries of the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.
The office called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union, and media organizations worldwide to denounce the regime for its crimes against journalists and the press in Gaza.
The statement highlighted the urgent need for global attention to the systematic suppression of freedom of the press by Israeli forces in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The statement also held the US and other Western countries involved in the Israeli campaign of genocide fully responsible for the deliberate targeting of journalists.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/01/14/740903/talmas-gaza-journalist
Al Mayadeen – January 14, 2025
Blinken to present post-war plan for Gaza on Tuesday: Axios
Blinken's plan reportedly aims to provide a roadmap for "post-Hamas governance in Gaza."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to reveal a detailed plan for Gaza's governance and reconstruction after the Israeli war in a speech at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday, according to Axios citing three US officials.
Blinken's plan aims to provide a roadmap for "post-Hamas governance in Gaza," which is essential for implementing the second phase of a broader Gaza agreement that seeks a permanent ceasefire and the war's conclusion, according to the report.
President-elect Donald Trump expressed optimism about ongoing "Israel"-Gaza negotiations, telling Newsmax that a deal is "very close", potentially finalized by the end of the week.
It is worth noting that Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is involved in the talks in Doha.
"If they don't get it done, there's going to be a lot of trouble out there," Trump said. "A lot of trouble like they've never seen before."
"This would have never happened if I was president," Trump further claimed. "Iran didn't have the money to give them [Hamas]. Iran didn't have the money to give them. Iran was broke, essentially."
Meanwhile, i24, citing a source familiar with the details, indicated that Trump promised Netanyahu and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who is close to the Republican Party, that if they agreed to a ceasefire and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, he would support "Israel" after later on if it decided to resume the war.
The Israeli website pointed out that "Trump's offer may solve one problem for Netanyahu, but it does not solve it completely, because this is not enough to reassure members of his ruling coalition, from the extreme right, nationalists, and settlers, who may see this as an unacceptable concession to Hamas.
On his part, Blinken said at a Paris press conference, "We are ready to hand that over to the Trump administration so it can work on it and run with it when the opportunity arises."
The US Secretary of State's proposal has sparked significant debate within the State Department. Concerns have arisen about the plan’s alignment with Israeli interests and its perceived sidelining of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and President Mahmoud Abbas.
Driving the news
Blinken has been working on this plan since October, with input from "Israel", the United Arab Emirates, and other partners, the report added.
Jamie Rubin, a close advisor, was tasked with this initiative's lead and has engaged with Israeli and Palestinian officials. While the PA voiced strong reservations, citing a lack of support for the proposal, Blinken’s team briefed the Israeli government, Arab nations, and other international stakeholders.
The big picture
Blinken's plan reportedly focuses on establishing "a governing mechanism" for Gaza, supported by the international community and Arab countries, which may deploy troops to "stabilize security and deliver humanitarian aid."
It also includes proposed reforms within the Palestinian Authority to ensure its role in any future governance structure for Gaza, while opposing any permanent Israeli occupation, territorial reduction, or forced transfer of Gaza residents.
As one US official said as quoted by Axios, "Blinken wants to try and shape the outcome of the war and he will make clear in his speech how he thinks Israel can turn its tactical wins against Hamas into strategic gains."
This is happening as the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, affirmed it is keen on reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal.
In a statement, the Palestinian group confirmed that indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, regarding reaching a deal that would end the Israeli war on Gaza and complete a prisoner exchange with "Israel", are progressing well.
Hamas has consistently maintained that any deal must result in a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, while "Israel" has firmly stated it will not cease its war until the Palestinian group is dismantled.
Palestinian Information Center – January 14, 2025
Hamas urges Muslims to intensify their presence at Aqsa Mosque
The Hamas Movement has called on Muslim worshipers to intensify their presence at the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against Judaization and desecration
.
In a statement on Tuesday, senior Hamas official Haroun Nasiruddin stressed the need for intensive Muslim presence at the Aqsa Mosque as the Israeli occupation regime and its settlers persist in their violations against the holy site and Jerusalem.
Nasiruddin warned that the Israeli occupation takes advantage of every opportunity to impose new faits accomplis on the ground at the Aqsa Mosque and in Jerusalem.
The Hamas official also pointed to Israel’s systematic demolition campaign in the holy city and its towns, calling it “part of its displacement and ethnic cleansing policy that targets the Palestinian people everywhere.”
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/01/14/332214/
Iran Navy to receive ‘unique’ indigenous Zagros combat destroyer
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says Zagros, a “unique” domestically-developed destroyer, is set to join the force and start sailing.
“This week, a unique military vessel called Zagros, [which is developed] with Iranian knowledge and capabilities and [enjoys] distinctive features, will be launched into the water to start operating in the region,” Irani said on Monday.
The Zagros destroyer is the newest and the most state-of-the-art destroyer in the Navy and is designed for both combat and intelligence missions.
Irani also said that the country’s largest military hub will be opened in the strategic area of Jask this week, adding that it encompasses specialized dock posts featuring the most advanced equipment.
Praising the quality of vessel manufacturing industry in Iran as very high, he said that “the 86th fleet of Iran’s Navy, by overcoming various obstacles, managed to show the world powers the maritime capability of the Islamic Republic, and provide a platform for exploiting blue economy.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani appreciated the efforts of the knowledge-based companies and scientists in the field of vessel manufacturing and the development of maritime industries, saying, “With your capability, you defeated the so-called American exceptionalism in the seas and oceans and showed that those areas belong to all nations.”
Referring to the presence of Iran’s naval forces in international waters, he noted, “Today, the power of Iran’s Navy has reached such a level that other countries seek to use our capacity and capability.”
Iran’s Navy has in recent years achieved self-sufficiency in manufacturing surface and sub-surface vessels. It has also increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.
The Iranian naval forces have also staged several military drills with different countries, including Russia, China and Pakistan, over the past years to promote combat readiness.
They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience to enhance the security and stability of international maritime trade.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/01/14/740878/Iran-navy-unveil-Zagros-destroyer-
