News

Displaced Palestinians Return to Northern Gaza Gaza, 27 Jan (ONA) --- Thousands of Palestinians who were forcibly displaced to central and southern Gaza due to Israeli aggression began to return to the north this morning. Tens of thousands of displaced citizens and families journeyed on foot towards Gaza and the northern Gaza Strip through Al Rashid street.Tens of thousands of Palestinians rushed to return after the withdrawal of Israeli occupation vehicles and tanks that were blocking the road near the Netzarim Corridor.The entry of the displaced came this morning after they ...

Israeli Occupation Forces Arrest 26 Palestinians in West BankOccupied Jerusalem, 27 Jan (ONA) --- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested 26 Palestinian civilians in Al-Khalil in the West Bank today. Wafa news agency reported that the IOF stormed several neighborhoods in Beit Amer town, north of Al-Khalil, during which they raided and searched dozens of homes, destroyed owners' furniture and belongings, and arrested 19 Palestinians. The IOF also arrested seven other Palestinians, including a college student, in Beit Awa town, southwest Al-Khalil. --- Ends/AH ...

Oman Condemns Attack on Saudi Hospital in SudanMuscat, 26 Jan (ONA) —— The Sultanate of Oman has condemned and denounced the attack on the Saudi Hospital in the city of Al Fashir, the Republic of Sudan, expressing its heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Sudanese government and families of the victims.In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry today, Oman stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law and spare civilian, medical facilities and their personnel the impacts of armed conflicts.Oman called upon all parties to resort to dialogue to resolve differences, in ...

4 Palestinians Injured by Israeli Gunfire in Nuseirat CampGaza, 26 Jan (ONA) --- Four Palestinians were injured today by Israeli gunfire west of the Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.According to reports, the incident occurred when Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a gathering of civilians in the Tabbat Al-Nuwari area, while waiting to return to the northern Gaza Strip.However, their return has been significantly delayed by the Israeli occupation, with the Israeli army targeting anyone trying to reach the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which splits the Gaza Strip ...

Russia Announces Downing 15 Ukrainian Drones Last NightMoscow, 26 Jan (ONA) --- The Russian Ministry of Defence said that its air defense systems destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones over several provinces. According to a statement released today, the ministry said that over the past night, the air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones.The statement added that the 8 of the drones were shot down over the territory of the Ryazan region, 6 over the territory of the Kursk region, and one over the territory of the Belgorod region.Since the beginning of the ...

GCC Secretary-General Values Oman’s Efforts in Releasing Galaxy Leader Ship's Crew Riyadh, 23 Jan (ONA) --- Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary General has expressed appreciation for the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts of mediation that led to the release of the crew of Galaxy Leader ship. The members of the crew, which consisted of 25 people of different nationalities, were detained off the Yemeni coast since November 2023. Al Budaiwi pointed out that those efforts reflect the Sultanate of Oman’s valuable role in supporting regional stability and security, ...

Bulgaria Values Oman’s Efforts in Securing Release of its CitizensMuscat, 23 Jan (ONA) ——Georg Georgiev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria has valued the efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman to secure the release of its citizens who were among the crew of Galaxy Leader ship.In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he expressed the appreciation of the Bulgarian government, people and state institutions for the support and positive attitude during the whole process.He affirmed that this initiative is a pure sign not only as a cooperation and diplomatic efforts, but ...

Oman’s Efforts in Releasing Crew of Galaxy Leader Ship LaudedMuscat, 22 Jan (ONA) —— Some crew members of Galaxy Leader Ship expressed to Oman News Agency (ONA) their gratitude for the humanitarian efforts exerted by the Sultanate of Oman to secure their release.Marcos Gomez Jerez and Ator Zacarias from the United Mexican States expressed their thanks to the government of the Sultanate of Oman for its key role and efforts to secure the release the ship’s crew and the negotiations it led with the Ansar Allah group in this regard.On his turn, Lumir Chayvin from the Republic of Bulgaria, ...

Grundberg Thanks Oman for Easing Release of Galaxy Leader CrewNew York, 22 Jan (ONA) --- The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has expressed his gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its extensive efforts that led to the release of the crew of the Galaxy Leader ship. Grundberg deeply valued Oman’s steadfast support in this regard.“The release of the crew of Galaxy Leader is good news that constitutes a step in the right direction,” said Grundberg, who urged Ansar Allah group to keep up such positive initiatives in all outstanding issues.Grundberg stressed ...

Thanks to Oman’s Efforts, Crew of Galaxy Leader Ship ReleasedMuscat, 22 Jan (ONA) —— As part of the Sultanate of Oman's ongoing humanitarian efforts regarding the situation of the Galaxy Leader ship crew in Yemen, the crew, consisting of 25 individuals of Filipino, Bulgarian, Mexican, Ukrainian and Romanian nationalities, were released today and transported from Sanaa to Muscat aboard a Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft, in preparation for their repatriation.The Sultanate of Oman values the cooperation extended by the parties concerned in facilitating and completing this process.—— ...

Foreign Minister Receives Yemeni Counterpart Muscat, 22 Jan (ONA) --- Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister today received Dr. Shaya Mohsin Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Republic of Yemen. During the meeting, the two sides underscored the depth of fraternal relations between Oman and Yemen. They also underlined the two countries’ keenness to enhance cooperation in various fields that serve joint interests. The two ministers exchanged views on several regional and international issues of mutual concern, namely developments related to ...

IOF Opens Fire at Gaza City Beach, Rafah, Continues to Violate Ceasefire AgreementGaza, 22 Jan (ONA) --- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at Gaza City beach and Salah Al-Din axis this morning, south of the Gaza Strip. Wafa news agency reported that the Israeli occupation naval boats fired three shells off the beach of Gaza City, adding that the IOF also opened fire in the vicinity of Al-Firdaws area on the Salah Al-Din axis, south of Rafah Governorate. The Israeli occupation continues to violate the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which entered into force last ...

Israeli Entity May Commit Genocide in West Bank Similar to Gaza: UN Rapporteur Warns New York, 22 Jan (ONA) --- The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, warned of the possibility of Israel entity committing genocide in the West Bank similar to the one it committed in the Gaza Strip.This came in a post on X platform, in which she commented on the aggression launched by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on the city of Jenin and its camp."If it is not forced to stop, Israel's genocide of Palestinians will not be confined to ...

Oman, Philippines Hold Talks Session Manila, 22 Jan (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of the Philippines today held the 5th session of political talks in Manila. The session was headed by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs and Maria-Theresa Lazaro, Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economy, trade, investment, education and information technology. They ...

UNRWA: Gaza's Reconstruction Requires Global SupportNew York, 21 Jan (ONA) --- Rebuilding Gaza is far beyond the capacity of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) due to the massive devastation caused by 470 days of Israeli aggression, the agency revealed.Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA spokesperson, stated that while the agency is working to rehabilitate camp infrastructure and restore essential services, the sheer scale of destruction demands extensive global efforts.He noted that UNRWA staff have been working at full capacity, distributing aid after over 1,000 trucks entered ...

Remains of 137 Martyrs Recovered in Rafah since CeasefireGaza, 21 Jan (ONA) --- The Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip announced that the number of martyrs whose remains were recovered from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip has risen to 137 since the ceasefire began.A statement by the Civil Defense in Gaza said that rescue teams and citizens were able to retrieve the bodies of 58 martyrs from different areas of Rafah, bringing the number of martyrs recovered from the city to 137 since the ceasefire agreement began.The Ministry of Health had announced that the death toll from ...

IOF Arrests 38 Palestinians in West BankOccupied Jerusalem, 21 Jan (ONA) --- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at least 38 Palestinians during their raids on several areas in the West Bank, including West Al-Khalil, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, East Nablus, and Bethlehem. According to the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa), the arrests were carried out by raiding and searching homes, as the main entrances to several areas were closed. The arrests included 13 people from East Nablus, 12 from West Al-Khalil, six from Tulkarm, five from Qalqilya, in addition to two young men from ...

Oman, Singapore Boost Bilateral Relations and Cooperation Muscat, 20 Jan (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore continue pressing ahead in boosting bilateral relations through numerous strategic initiatives that reflect the two countries’ commitment for partnership and cooperation. Dr. Mohamed Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Second Minister for Education of the Republic of Singapore underscored the depth of historic relations between Oman and Singapore. He told Oman News Agency (ONA) ...

Oman-Singapore Hold 2nd Round of strategic DialogueMuscat, 19 Jan (ONA) --- The second round of strategic dialogue between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Singapore kicked off in Muscat today.The Omani side was headed by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, and Maj. Gen. Idris Abdulrahman Al Kindi, Secretary-General of the National Security Council. The Singaporean side was headed by K. Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, and Dr. Mohamad Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.The two sides commended the achievements made over the ...

4,000 Trucks Loaded with Humanitarian Aid Ready to Enter Gaza: UNRWA New York, 19 Jan (ONA) --- Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, stated that the agency has 4,000 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid, half of which are laden with food and flour, ready to enter the Gaza Strip. In a post on X platform, Lazzarini said that UNRWA remains committed to continuing its operations in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, despite the Israeli-imposed ban on its activities set to take effect on 30 ...

Gaza Ceasefire Deal Enters into EffectGaza, 19 Jan (ONA) --- The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip came into effect this morning, bringing an end to the bloody war waged by the Israeli occupation since 7 October 2023, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction throughout the Strip. Immediately after the ceasefire took effect, people of Gaza took the streets in marches across various parts of the Strip to celebrate the end of the war. Meanwhile, many families began to return to their neighborhoods and homes in ...

Oman Participates in Meeting on Two-State Solution for Establishing Palestinian State Oslo, 16 Jan (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman took part in a meeting in Oslo held by the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the "Two-State Solution". The meeting, hosted by the Kingdom of Norway, was aimed at finalizing discussions on practical steps towards the establishment of the Palestinian state. Oman's delegation was represented at the meeting by Sheikh Faisal bin Omar Al Marhoon, Head of the Arab Department at the Foreign Ministry. Oslo meeting was the third conference of ...

OIC Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza StripJeddah, 16 Jan (ONA) --- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) today welcomed the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. OIC Secretary General Hissein Taha expressed his hope that this would lead to a permanent and comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression, the return of the displaced to their homes, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, and the provision of adequate and unhindered humanitarian aid to all parts of the Strip. He called on the international community to implement the relevant UN ...

Muslim World League Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza StripMakkah, 16 Jan (ONA) --- The Muslim World League welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, lauding the efforts made by the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to reach this agreement. In a statement, the Secretariat General of the League expressed hope that this agreement will put a final end to this horrific humanitarian tragedy the Strip is suffering from. The statement stressed the need for full commitment to the agreement, the halt of the ...

Oman Welcomes Reaching Ceasefire Agreement in GazaMuscat, 16 Jan (ONA) —- The Sultanate of Oman welcomed the announcement of reaching an agreement to exchange detainees and hostages and restore sustainable calm, a deal that would pave the way for a permanent ceasefire between the parties of the conflict.In a statement issued today by the Foreign Ministry, Oman valued the leading role of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America, as well as the support provided by Arab and foreign countries in reaching this agreement, which will contribute to ...

UNRWA Vows to Continue Aid to Palestinians Despite Israeli BanOslo, 15 Jan (ONA) --- Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini today emphasized in Oslo that the agency will continue to provide aid to people in the Palestinian territories despite the Israeli ban due to be implemented by the end of January. "We will stay and deliver," Lazzarini said during an international meeting dedicated to the Middle East, stressing that UNRWA's local staff will remain and continue to provide ...

S. Korea, US, Japan Stage Joint Air Drills Involving B-1B BomberSeoul, 15 Jan (ONA) --- South Korea, the United States and Japan today held combined air drills, involving at least one B-1B bomber, the South's defense ministry said, following North Korea's recent launches of hypersonic and short-range ballistic missiles. The trilateral drills, the first such exercise held this year (2025), also involved South Korean F-15K and Japanese F-2 fighter jets, Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Korean Defense Ministry. The latest exercise was held to enhance their ...

Oman, Cuba hold Political Consultations SessionMuscat, 13 Jan (ONA) —— The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Cuba held in Muscat today the first round of the political consultations session.During the session, the Omani side was chaired by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, whileGerardo Peñalver, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba chaired his country’s side.The session explored means of promoting the joint cooperation and the existing relations. It underlined the two countries’ keenness to boost cooperation in all areas. The two sides also discussed a set of regional and ...

Murder Toll from Israeli Occupation Genocide in Gaza Strip Rises to 46,584Gaza, 13 Jan (ONA) --- At least 19 more civilians were slaughtered in two Israeli occupation massacres in the Gaza Strip, taking the overall murder toll from the unabated genocide since October 2023 to 46,584. A statement from the Ministry of Health in Gaza said 71 others were injured in the slaughters against families over the past 24 hours, bringing the total civilian injuries to 109,731. The statement added that many victims were still under the rubble and scattered on the roads, with ambulance and ...

Consular Patent Handed to Honorary Consul of South Africa in Muscat Muscat, 13 Jan (ONA) --- Najeeb Yahya Al Balushi, Head of the Protocols Department at the Foreign Ministry handed over the consular patent to Lujaina Mohsen Haider Darwish, appointing her as an honorary consul of the Republic of South Africa in Muscat. --- Ends/AH ...