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Venezuela president abduction

The Venezuelan vice president has strongly slammed the kidnapping of the country’s President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, stressing that Maduro is the only president of Venezuela. Delcy Rodríguez was speaking in a televised speech from Caracas after US President Donald Trump claimed she had assumed the presidency following Maduro's abduction. Rodriguez demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. She noted that Venezuelans are ready to defend their country with all their strength, and Venezuela will not be a colony of any country. The vice president said the people of Venezuela have resisted all aggressions, and will continue on this path. She called on the Venezuelan people to remain calm and united in defending the country. Assuring the nation that there is a functioning government in place, Rodriguez stressed that Venezuela is ready to face every challenge.

Slamming abduction of Maduro

Iran’s foreign minister has vehemently condemned the United States’ military aggression against Venezuela, and the abduction of the country’s legitimate president and his wife. Abbas Araghchi was speaking in a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil Pinto. He said Washington’s move was a blatant example of state terrorism and clear aggression against Venezuela’s sovereignty and the national will of its people. Araghchi reaffirmed Iran's support for the Venezuelan people and their democratically elected government. Venezuela’s minister, for his part, said the government and people of Venezuela are determined to defend their national sovereignty and the right to self-determination in the face of the United States’ bullying and illegal policies. Earlier, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman talked to the country’s ambassador in Caracas. Esmaeil Baghaei reiterated Iran’s principled stance in condemning US military aggression and violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Israel West Bank crimes

A senior Hamas official has warned that Israel’s ongoing crimes and violations in the occupied West Bank amount to an “open war” against the Palestinian people and their land. Zaher Jabarin said the Israeli regime is carrying out a systematic campaign targeting both Palestinian communities and their territory across the West Bank. He said violent raids and arrest campaigns launched by Israeli forces and settlers are not isolated incidents. The Hamas official also pointed to forced displacement of Palestinians and widespread home demolitions, calling them part of Israel’s Judaization policies in the territory. Jabarin said the regime’s goal is to impose new realities on the ground by force, and weaken Palestinians' resilience across the West Bank. He made the remarks at a ceremony marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hamas deputy leader, Sheikh Saleh al-Aruri, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike in Beirut.

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