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Yemen's Houthis give Israel four-day deadline to lift Gaza aid blockage
March 7, 2025
Israel tightens restrictions on West Bank Palestinians' access to Al Aqsa Mosque
SUMMARY

Trump confirms US talks with Hamas about Gaza captives

US Middle East envoy calls Arab summit's 5-year Gaza plan 'delusion'

Hamas armed wing says committed to truce after Trump threats

West Bank situation remains 'deeply alarming': UN

For our live updates from Thursday, March 6, click here

Yemen's Houthis give Israel four-day deadline to lift Gaza aid blockageThe leader of Yemen's Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said the group would resume its naval operations against Israel if Israel did not lift its blockage of aid into Gaza within four days.
Copenhagen city council approves Palestine Square after heated debateCopenhagen's city council has approved naming of a location in the Danish capital as Palestine Square, following years of debate, public broadcaster DR reported. A majority of 29 out of 55 council members voted in favour, and the name will officially take effect on April 1. The proposal, initially supported in August 2023 by a coalition of left-wing parties, had been delayed due to the Israeli war in Gaza.
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Trudeau declares himself a 'Zionist'Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly declared himself a "Zionist", saying no one in Canada should be afraid to label themselves as such.
US cancels $400M in grants, contracts to Columbia University over anti-Semitism allegationsPresident Donald Trump's administration has cancelled grants and contracts totalling $400 million to Columbia University due to "inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students", the Education Department said. Columbia was at the centre of college protests in which demonstrators demanded an end to US support for Israel due to the civilian deaths and humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's war on Gaza. There were allegations of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate in protests and counterprotests.
Tension erupts between US, Israel over Trump administration's direct talks with Hamas: reportTensions have erupted between Israel and the Trump administration over US talks with Hamas, culminating in a heated phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's top aide and a senior American official, according to a report. Ron Dermer, Netanyahu's closest confidant, voiced strong objections in a call with US hostage envoy Adam Boehler, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. In early February, Israeli officials advised Trump aides against direct engagement with Hamas, especially without preconditions, but Israel later learned the US was proceeding anyway, the news website said.
Germany welcomes Arab League's plan for Gaza reconstructionGermany has expressed strong support for the Arab League's reconstruction plan for Gaza, which stands as an alternative to US President Donald Trump's proposed US takeover of Gaza. "The German government welcomes the Arab League's plan for the reconstruction of Gaza," Chancellor Olaf Scholz's spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told a news conference in Berlin. "The plan includes many valuable elements we can build upon. Constructive discussions should begin immediately," he said.
90,000 worshipers attend first Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al Aqsa Mosque despite Israeli restrictionsDespite strict Israeli restrictions, approximately 90,000 Palestinian worshipers gathered for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem. "Around 90,000 worshipers attended Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque," Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director-general of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, told Anadolu. Israeli police forces were heavily deployed around the mosque and throughout the Old City of Jerusalem to restrict the entry of worshipers.
Hamas releases video showing Israeli male hostage aliveHamas has released a video of an Israeli male hostage seen alive and addressing his family after identifying himself.
Hamas calls on Palestinians to mobilise against 'Judaisation' of Hebron's Ibrahimi MosqueThe Palestinian resistance group Hamas has called on Palestinians to rally and mobilise against Israeli efforts to "Judaise the Ibrahimi Mosque" in the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron. In a statement, Hamas condemned Israel's refusal to open all areas of the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshipers, calling on the Palestinian people to "mobilise and protect the mosque". Hamas emphasised that the Israeli practices against the Mosque are "part of the occupation's plan to Judaise the mosque in all its details", noting that this was in response to promises made by the Israeli government to "satisfy right-wing extremists at the expense of Palestinian holy sites".
Israeli army chief to fire military spokespersonIsraeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has decided to dismiss military spokesperson Daniel Hagari, who later managed to ensure his "forced" retirement from the service, Israel's public broadcaster reported. "The Chief of Staff decided to dismiss the spokesperson of the Israeli army, Daniel Hagari, from his position," KAN reported. However, it added that "the army spokesperson agreed with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that he would step down from his position in the coming weeks and retire from the Israeli army."