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Israel ceasefire violations

Israeli forces continue to violate the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas, killing and injuring more civilians in fresh air and artillery strikes. According to Gaza’s government media office, the Israeli regime has committed at least 80 violations since the Gaza truce deal entered into force, killing nearly one-hundred civilians and injuring 230 others. It added that the regime’s violations include direct shooting at citizens, shelling of residential areas, and arbitrary arrests of civilians. The office stressed that Israeli violations were documented in all governorates of Gaza without exception, proving that the regime is not committed to ceasefire, and continues to kill and terrorize the Palestinian people. The military wing of Hamas also announced that it has handed over the body of one of the Israeli captives that was recovered a day earlier. The death toll from the Israeli genocide now tops 68,200, with more than 170,360 others been injured.

Gaza ceasefire agreement

The Hamas resistance movement has reaffirmed its commitment to the Gaza ceasefire agreement, stressing that it is Israel that is trying to undermine the truce. Hamas stressed that it is a fixed policy of the Israeli regime to continuously violate ceasefire agreements. The movement said it abides by the truce deal in Gaza, especially its first phase, and has handed over all living Israeli captives in one batch. Hamas noted that it is working hard to complete the handover of all bodies of the Israeli captives, but is facing major challenges due to the massive destruction in Gaza. The movement said one of the difficulties faced in handing over the captives' bodies is the lack of heavy equipment to remove the rubble, and it has been explained to the mediators. Hamas added that Israel is exploiting the issue of humanitarian aid to blackmail the Palestinians, and the regime has not abandoned its starvation policy against the people of Gaza. It urged all concerned parties to pressure Israel to fulfill its commitments if they want continued calm in this region.

Mahdieh Esfandiari detention

An Iranian academic illegally imprisoned in France over pro-Palestine social media posts has been put in a prisoner exchange plan. This, according to Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Vahid Jalalzadeh. The official said Tehran has come up with a political and consular package that both countries must implement to expedite the release of Mahdieh Esfandiari. He expressed hope that Esfandiari would return to Iran soon. The deputy minister noted that Esfandiari had actually been taken hostage by the French government, despite Paris' claim to be an advocate of freedom of speech. He explained that Iran has taken all legal and consular measures since Esfandiari’s arrest, in order to secure her freedom. Esfandiari has been in jail since March for denouncing Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the massacre of Palestinian women and children. Her case has sparked international outcry, with supporters slamming Esfandiar’s politically-motivated detention as a grave violation of freedom of speech.

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