Israel violating Gaza ceasefire
Despite a ceasefire, Israel is pressing ahead with its attacks on the war-ravaged Gaza Strip with fresh strikes on Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City. UNICEF says the regime has killed an average of 2 Palestinian children every day since the beginning of the ceasefire in mid-October. The total number of Palestinians killed since then has reached 312.
Slamming US support for Israel
New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has once again called out Israel for committing genocide in Gaza and criticized the US for funding it. Mamdani made the comments in his first meeting with President Donald Trump at the Oval Office. He noted that New Yorkers were tired of seeing their tax dollars fund endless wars and human rights violations. He argued that those funds should instead be redirected to address basic needs at home. Mamdani is the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City. He maintained a strong pro-Palestinian stance in his electoral campaign.
Putin: Talks or more land loss
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow has received US peace proposals for Ukraine, adding the plan could form a basis for resolving the conflict. Putin added that Ukraine rejected the plan, and argued that neither Kiev nor European powers grasp the reality of Russian advances on the battlefield. He warned that without peace talks, Ukraine will inevitably lose more territory, like the recently-captured city of Kupiansk. The Russian leader emphasized that while military operations continue to achieve Moscow’s objectives, he remains open to negotiations. Putin said a peaceful resolution requires detailed discussions of the US proposals, and that Russia is prepared to engage in such talks. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, says the country is facing “one of the most difficult moments in its history,” warning that Kiev may be forced into a painful choice.