INTERNATIONAL

Renowned Kashmir-based novelist Mirza Waheed has distanced himself from the screening of the film adaptation of his critically acclaimed novel The Collaborator at the Tamuz Shomron Film Festival (TSFF) in the Israeli settlement of Ariel, located in the occupied West Bank. This decision comes after Waheed signed a global cultural boycott pledge, joining over 5,000 writers and publishers in opposing Israeli cultural institutions that, according to him, contribute to the “overwhelming oppression of Palestinians.” Mirza has compared this cultural boycott to the historic movement against apartheid South Africa, emphasizing that it aims to condemn Israeli cultural organisations for their complicity in the ongoing injustices faced by Palestinians. He expressed his disapproval of the film...

Over 10,000 Israelis have migrated to Canada this year, as rising instability and ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon drive significant changes in the region. According to a recent Haaretz report, 7,850 Israelis were granted work visas in Canada between December 2023 and September 2024, marking a fivefold increase compared to 2023. The emigration surge comes as Israel grapples with escalating violence, governance challenges, and mounting social unrest. Data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics indicates that this trend of relocation began even before the current Gaza conflict erupted in October 2023. The conflict has caused widespread devastation, with over 43,000 fatalities reported in Gaza and more than 3,300 in Lebanon. Additionally, over 70,000 Israeli settlers ha...

The Israeli military has withdrawn several brigades from southern Lebanon in anticipation of a potential ceasefire, according to Israeli media reports on Tuesday. The move follows assessments by officials involved in ceasefire negotiations, who believe a deal could be reached within one to two weeks, Anadolu Agency reported. The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth stated that the brigades were pulled back for refresher training, but did not specify the number of brigades involved. The newspaper noted that while ground operations are expected to continue for a few more weeks, the Israeli army is waiting for a decision from the country's political leadership regarding the future of the operation. The report also indicated progress on a supplementary document to the ceasefire agreement...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a breakdown in trust between the two during the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu announced Gallant’s firing in a brief video statement, explaining that while their collaboration was initially productive, disagreements over the war’s management and actions taken by Gallant that contradicted cabinet decisions had led to a crisis of faith. Netanyahu also accused Gallant’s actions of indirectly benefiting Israel’s enemies. Gallant’s replacement will be Foreign Minister Israel Katz, with Minister without Portfolio Gideon Sa’ar stepping into Katz’s role as Foreign Minister. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Gallant was informed of his termination in a meeting at 8 p.m. and given 48 hours...

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly ordered a retaliatory strike against Israel in response to Israel's October 26 airstrikes on Iran. The Iranian military’s cryptic tweet, stating "See you very soon" in Hebrew, intensified concerns of a wider conflict. Khamenei’s directive came after reviewing damage assessments, which Iranian officials described as minimal. He stressed that any lack of retaliation would signal weakness, a stance Iran is unwilling to accept. Targeted Israeli sites could include oil and gas fields in the Mediterranean, such as Noa-1, Mari-B, Tamar, Leviathan, Karish, Tapin, and Dolphin, all of which are critical to Israel’s energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of Israel’s expanded operatio...

Suffering massive losses in southern Lebanon, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are mulling to withdraw from southern Lebanon within a week under the supervision of the U.S. and international bodies. The draft of the agreement, reportedly prepared by Amos Hochstein, was shared by Israeli state broadcaster KAN on Wednesday evening. The proposed agreement would bring United Nations Resolution 1701 fully into effect, prohibiting Hezbollah and other armed groups in southern Lebanon from taking action against Israel. According to the draft, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) would be the only authorized military presence in the region, with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) providing additional oversight. The document also specifies that Israel would refrain from launching of...

India has dismissed claims regarding Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged involvement in targeting Sikh separatists in Canada as “weak” and “flimsy,” according to two Indian government sources on Wednesday. The allegations are not expected to create any significant issues for Shah or New Delhi. The Canadian government had reportedly informed India about Shah’s alleged role in October of last year, one source told Reuters. On Tuesday, Canada alleged that Shah, a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was involved in plots to target Sikh separatists residing in Canada. While the Indian government has not yet issued an official response, it has consistently rejected similar accusations from Canada, labeling them as baseless. According to a report by The Washington Post, Canadi...

The Indian government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the people of Palestine with a recent shipment of 30 tonnes of medical supplies amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This consignment includes essential medicines and anti-cancer drugs. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhitr Jaiswal shared a post on X and stated, "India's support to the people of Palestine continues. Extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine sends 30 tonnes of medical supplies comprising essential life-saving and anti-cancer drugs to Palestine." Last week, India sent its first tranche of assistance for the people of Palestine through UNRWA, which includes 30 tonnes of medicine and food items. "India sends humanitarian assistance for the people of Palestine thro...

Five Israeli soldiers, including three religious Zionist educators, were killed in a confrontation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on October 26, 2024. As per Times of Israel, the deceased troopers were identified as  Captain (Res.) Rabbi Avraham Yosef Goldberg, a rabbi at a Jerusalem high school, and teacher to the son of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Goldberg, who had been serving in the reserves for nearly a year, was laid to rest at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. Also killed were Master Sgt. (Res.) Gilad Elmaliach, 30, from Jerusalem; Captain (Res.) Amit Chayut, 29, from Haifa; Major (Res.) Eliav Amram Abitbol, 36, from Eitan; and Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Shaul Moyal, 47, from the Karnei Shomron area. These deaths, along with others over the past week, have le...

The Iranian Army has confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in an Israeli airstrikes in Iran. The Army identified the two soldiers as Major Hamzeh Jahandideh and Sergeant Mohammad-Mehdi Shahrokhifar, stating they were killed while defending against missile strikes from Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning. In an official statement, the Army described the soldiers' actions as a sacrifice to protect the nation's security and prevent harm to Iran's interests. The strikes reportedly targetted military sites in Tehran, as well as the provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan, causing minimal damage. Iranian air defense forces responded to the attack, claiming to have successfully intercepted and neutralized the incoming missiles. Media outlets downplayed the scope of the damage, wit...