News

UN Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan Due to Ongoing ConflictNew York, 26 Mar (ONA) —- The United Nations expressed grave concern over the ongoing clashes across Sudan between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), warning of their serious repercussions for civilians and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted at a press conference that the escalation of attacks on populated areas in the capital, Khartoum, and the city of Omdurman. "We once again remind all parties of their obligations ...

GCC Strongly Condemns Israeli Occupations Attack on Syrian Town of KoyaRiyadh, 26 Mar (ONA) —- The GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohamed Al-Budaiwi expressed his strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli occupation forces' aggression on the town of Koya, west of Daraa in Syria, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. In a statement, Al-Budaiwi said that this aggression by the Israeli occupation forces is a continuation of their aggressive approach to destabilizing security and stability in the region. Al-Budaiwi referred to the statement of ...

South Sudan on the Brink of Renewed Civil War, UN WarnsNew York, 25 Mar (ONA) —- Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Nicholas Haysom said that the deteriorating situation in the country leads him to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the brink of renewed civil war. The indiscriminate attacks on civilians in the Nasir area of Upper Nile state caused significant human losses and horrific injuries, Haysom pointed out, further noting that at least 63,000 people have fled due to the deteriorating situation in the region. He said UNMISS is ...

17 Palestinians Martyred, Others Injured in Israeli Raids on Gaza Refugee Camps Gaza, 25 Mar (ONA) —- At least 17 Palestinians were martyred, and others were injured at dawn today after the Israeli occupying forces bombed homes and camps of displaced people in Khan Younis, Al Bureij camp, Gaza City, Az Zawayda, and Deir Al Balah in the Gaza Strip. Palestine's news agency (WAFA) reported that a family of five members (father, mother, and their three kids) were martyred as the Israeli occupying forces pounded a refugee camp west of Khan Younis. Two Palestinians, ...

Russia Begins Military Exercises with Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Moscow, 25 Mar (ONA) —- The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces have begun military exercises involving intercontinental ballistic missiles. The ministry said in a statement carried by TASS news agency that the Yars mobile ground-based nuclear missile launchers will be deployed to field sites as part of a scheduled training exercise for Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces. The statement added that formations in the Sverdlovsk and Altai regions are scheduled to conduct ...

German Coalition Talks Plough on amid Differences on Migration PolicyBerlin, 24 Mar (ONA) —- Differences remain between Germany's traditional parties as they seek to form a government in Berlin, a leading conservative lawmaker said on Monday. Following elections last month, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc - made up of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union - is in coalition talks with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). Negotiators are under pressure from business leaders at home and international partners abroad to find a ...

Israeli Occupation Launches New Limited Ground Offensive against Gaza Ramallah, 20 Mar (ONA) — The Israeli occupation army has launched a limited ground offensive in central and southern Gaza Strip under the pretext of expanding what it calls the "defensive zone" between the north and south of the enclave. The occupation army called on Palestinians to keep away from the Salaheddin Road located between northern and southern Gaza, with occupying forces deployed to the center of the Netzarim Corridor, where displaced Palestinians were allowed ...

Ministerial Committee Assigned by Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza Condemns Israeli Air RaidsDoha, 20 Mar (ONA) —- The Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit on Gaza, expresses its condemnation and denunciation of the raids launched by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip, and their direct bombardment of areas populated by unarmed civilians, resulting in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinians. These raids constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and a violation of UN ...

Palestinian Foreign Ministry Calls for Urgent International Intervention to Stop Genocide in GazaRamallah, 18 Mar (ONA) —- The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for a firm international stance to ensure an immediate cessation of the Israeli occupation's aggression against the Gaza Strip, warning against the occupation's plans to displace the Palestinian people. In a statement issued today, the Ministry affirmed that political solutions are the key to achieving calm, halting the aggression, and restoring a political space to resolve the conflict. It ...

Thousands of Palestinians Displace from Beit Hanoun to Jabalia in Northern GazaGaza, 18 Mar (ONA) —- The town of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, has witnessed a mass exodus of thousands of Palestinians toward the adjacent town of Jabalia in search of safe shelter, in the wake of the resumption of the Israeli offensive in the Strip. The occupation forces issued an order to the residents to evacuate Beit Hanoun, as well as the towns of Khuzaa, Abasan al-Kabira, and Abasan al-Jadida in the south, and head to the areas west of Gaza City and Khan Younis in the southern ...

Israel's Renewed Aggression on Gaza Claims 404 LivesGaza, 18 Mar (ONA) —- The casualty figures resulting from the renewed Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip since this morning have surged, reaching 404 martyrs and 562 injured. Palestinian medical sources announced today that hospitals in Gaza had received the bodies of 404 Palestinians, mostly women and children, along with 562 others wounded in a series of airstrikes and fire belts carried out by Israeli warplanes. Moreover, the sources added that scores of casualties remain trapped under the ...

Aggression on Gaza Aims to Resume War of Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing: PNCRamallah, 18 Mar (ONA) —- The Palestinian National Council (PNC) has stated that the aggression unleashed by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip is a war crime and genocide by any standard, aimed at resuming the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people. In a statement, the Chair of the PNC, Rawhi Fattouh, stressed that the aggression is a crime added to the record of ongoing crimes against the Palestinians, pointing out that Israel murders children and women to ...

People in Gaza Endured Unimaginable Suffering: UN Official New York, 18 Mar (ONA) —- United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, said: "People in Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering." Commenting on the Israeli occupation's resumption of its aggression on the Gaza Strip early morning today, Hadi said: "This is unconscionable. A ceasefire must be reinstated immediately." The Humanitarian Coordinator added: "An end to hostilities, sustained humanitarian assistance, release of the hostages and the restoration of basic ...

South Korea, US Conduct Joint Underground Combat DrillsSeoul, 17 Mar (ONA) --- South Korea and the United States today began joint drills simulating subterranean combat, as the two countries seek to enhance their readiness to counter military threats. Korean News Agency (Yonhap) reported that the four-day drills will take place at a training ground in Paju, about 30 km north of Seoul, with the participation of approximately 370 soldiers as part of the two countries' ongoing annual Freedom Shield exercises. The drills, led by the Korean Ground Operations Command, ...

Total Casualties from Israeli Occupation Genocide in Gaza Rises to 48,572 Martyrs, 112,032 Injured Gaza, 16 Mar (ONA) --- The murder toll from the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 48,572 martyrs, since the beginning of the genocide on 7 October 2023. Palestinian medical sources added that the number of injuries has jumped to 112,032 since the beginning of the aggression, while a number of victims are still under the rubble and scattered on the roads, with ambulance and rescue crews unable to reach them. They indicated that 29 new martyrs and ...

Japan Plans to Deploy Long-Range Missiles to Acquire Counterstrike CapabilitiesTokyo, 16 Mar (ONA) --- Japan is considering deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu as part of the country's efforts to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" to hit enemy targets in the event of an emergency, Japan's news agency (Kyodo) reported, citing government sources. The deployment, expected to commence at the end of the next fiscal year in March 2026, is aimed at bolstering the security of the country's southwestern Nansei island chain. Authorities are ...

US Secretary of State, Russian Counterpart Discuss "Next Steps" to End War in UkraineWashington, 16 Mar (QNA) --- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the "next steps" in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed in a press statement that the two officials agreed to continue efforts to restore communication between the US and Russia. Bruce did not provide details on the date of the next round of US-Russian talks, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ...

Israeli Occupation Continues to Close Karem Abu Salem, Beit Hanoun Crossings for 13th DayGaza, 13 Mar (ONA) --- Israeli occupation forces continue to close Karem Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings for the 13th consecutive day. Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that after the decision to close the border crossings and halt the flow of goods, both governmental and international institutions warned of the potential return of starvation to the Gaza Strip if the closure decision remains in effect. As a result of this arbitrary decision, the ...

ICJ to Hold Hearings Next Month on Israeli Occupation's Humanitarian Obligations Toward PalestiniansThe Hague, 13 Mar (ONA) --- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold hearings next month (April 2025) regarding Israel's humanitarian obligations toward Palestinians after it blocked aid deliveries to Gaza. The United Nations General Assembly had previously passed a resolution requesting the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the matter. According to a court statement, the hearings will begin on 28 April. The resolution, proposed by Norway, was adopted by a ...

UN Warns Aid Stocks Running out in GazaNew York, 13 Mar (QNA) --- The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that supplies of aid are at risk of running out in Gaza as Israeli entity blocks deliveries to the enclave. "In those six weeks, we made massive progress in feeding many of those millions who needed the food, getting medicine in, starting to get those hospitals back up and running. We opened several new wells while I was there. So all of that was making a massive difference," Fletcher said in a press ...

UN Investigation Confirms Israel Committed Genocidal Acts in GazaGeneva, 13 Mar (ONA) --- A UN investigation into the Gaza Strip has confirmed that the Israeli occupation army committed acts of "genocide" through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities. The UN Commission of Inquiry, in accordance with the UN Genocide Convention, found that Israeli occupation authorities have destroyed in part the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza as a group through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare, amounting to ...

Oman Welcomes Saudi Arabia's Hosting of Talks between US, UkraineMuscat, 12 Mar (ONA) —— The Sultanate of Oman has welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's hosting of the talks between the United States of America and the Republic of Ukraine.In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry today, Oman valued the Saudi efforts to resolve disputes and address differences of viewpoints. It also underlined its appreciation for all initiatives seeking to resolve all wars and conflicts.—- Ends/AH ...

EU Official: Two-State Solution Only Avenue to Bring Sustainable Peace, Security to Middle EastNew York, 12 Mar (ONA) --- EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that the two-state solution remains the only avenue that will bring sustainable peace and security to the Middle East. "For that reason, the EU supports diplomatic efforts through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the two-state solution," Kallas said in her speech at the annual UN Security Council session on EU-UN cooperation. "While the EU Rafah border mission is ...

China Announces Hosting Russia, Iran to Hold Nuclear Talks This WeekBeijing, 12 Mar (ONA) --- China is set to host Russia and Iran as part of trilateral talks to discuss Tehran nuclear program on 14 March 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported. Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will chair the meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi attending the meeting in Beijing. The three parties will share perspectives on the Iranian nuclear ...

UNRWA Committed to Mandate Amid Challenges in Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesGeneva, 12 Mar (ONA) --- Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini affirmed the agency's commitment to implementing its mandate despite challenges in the occupied Palestinian territories, in light of increasing political pressures and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In his remarks before the official missions of countries to the UN in Geneva, Lazzarini ...

Murder Toll of Israeli Genocide in Gaza Reaches 48,503 Fatalities, 111,927 InjuriesGaza, 11 Mar (ONA) --- The toll of fatalities from the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip has reached 48,503 martyrs, with 111,927 individuals injured since 7 October 2023. According to the daily statistical report issued by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 36 martyrs were received at Gaza's hospitals during the latest 24-hour reporting period, including 32 recovered from under the rubble and 4 who were shot dead by the Israeli forces, with 14 individuals being hospitalized. ...

South Korea, US Hold Joint Air Assault Drills Seoul, 11 Mar (ONA) --- South Korean and US forces conducted joint air assault drills at a training facility in the border city of Paju today, as part of efforts to enhance their joint operational capabilities. According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, around 400 soldiers from the South Korean Army's 1st Infantry Division and the US 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-US Combined Division's Stryker Brigade participated in the joint drills, led by the South Korean forces in Paju, located about 30 kilometers northwest of Seoul. It added ...

UNICEF: 90% of Gaza's Population Unable to Access WaterNew York, 11 Mar (ONA) --- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that the severe water shortage in the Gaza Strip has reached critical levels, with only one in 10 people currently able to access safe drinking water, or 90% of the population unable to access water. UNICEF official in Gaza, Rosalia Poulin, reported that 600,000 people regained access to drinking water in November 2024, but it was cut off again. UN agencies estimate that 1.8 million people, more than half of whom are children, ...

MWL Condemns Israeli Occupation's Decision to Cut off Electricity to Gaza StripMecca, 11 Mar (ONA) --- The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the Israeli occupation's decision to cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip. In a statement, MWL General Secretariat denounced the ongoing Israeli violations of all international and humanitarian laws and norms. It called on the international community to take immediate and firm actions in response to these serious violations against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the restoration of electricity and ...

UN Official Calls for Humanitarian Intervention to Address Sudan, DRC Refugee Crises Geneva, 10 Mar (ONA) --- The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) stressed the need for an urgent increase in life-saving support to refugees and displaced persons in Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). UNHCR Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region, Mamadou Dian Balde told the media that the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023 led to a refugee crisis that spread to neighboring countries. He added that in less than ...