Katz said the strikes also eliminated Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia the paramilitary arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard marking what Israeli officials described as a significant blow to Tehran’s security leadership.

Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed Larijani’s death, and some reports say his fate remains uncertain.

Background: A Broader War That Has Raged for Weeks

The conflict began on February 28, when a powerful U.S.–Israeli air campaign struck key locations in Iran’s capital, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, according to Iranian government acknowledgments and independent reporting.

Since then, Iran has responded with waves of long‑range missile and drone strikes against Israeli territory and U.S. bases in the region, while Israel has maintained its campaign of targeted strikes against key elements of Iran’s military and security apparatus.

The violence has repeatedly spilled across borders, heightening fears of a regional conflagration.

Iranian Retaliation Strikes Gulf States

In a marked expansion of the conflict, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on neighbouring Gulf Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait according to regional reports.

These attacks have led to interceptions by Gulf air defences, civilian casualties and property damage, especially in the UAE. In one incident reported in Abu Dhabi, a missile strike on a civilian vehicle killed at least one person, prompting heightened security alerts.

Across the Gulf, authorities have scrambled to respond to Iranian launches, with air defences engaging missiles and drones approaching from the north.

Humanitarian and Economic Fallout

The intensification of the war is straining regional stability:

• Neighbouring states are preparing for a potential refugee crisis as instability persists.
• Global oil markets continue to be unsettled as disruptions to shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz worry traders and governments alike.
• Civilian populations in multiple countries are living under the threat of incoming missiles, with air‑raid sirens sounding and emergency services on high alert.

Diplomatic Pressures and International Response

World leaders are calling for restraint but so far, diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate have not halted hostilities. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged allies to assist in securing maritime channels and deterring further Iranian attacks, though several states have declined deeper involvement.

Iran has simultaneously expressed a desire to reassess ties with its Gulf neighbours, arguing that the crisis underscores the need for a “serious review” of regional relations after repeated missile attacks.

Outlook: Conflict Hard to Contain

The lack of independent confirmation about key leadership deaths including Larijani’s adds fog to an already volatile situation. Both sides appear entrenched, and military operations show no sign of abating. As the war enters its fourth week, the risk of further escalation and broader regional destabilisation remains high.

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In a recent message directed at the Iranian public, Netanyahu urged citizens to rise up against their leadership, saying the military pressure created by Israel’s strikes could provide an opportunity for political transformation within the country.

Calls for Iranians to challenge leadership

Netanyahu said Israel’s fight is not against the Iranian people but against what he described as a “tyrannical regime,” encouraging citizens to seize the moment and challenge the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

In his remarks, the Israeli leader emphasized that any fundamental change in Iran must ultimately come from its own population. Still, his comments marked one of the clearest indications that Israel’s campaign could go beyond military objectives and potentially reshape Iran’s political leadership.

Analysts say such messaging is aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran’s ruling establishment while attempting to rally domestic opposition inside Iran.

Military campaign intensifies

Israel’s military operation against Iran has targeted nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and key figures within the country’s military and security apparatus. Israeli officials say the goal is to dismantle what they describe as Iran’s growing nuclear and ballistic missile threat.

The conflict escalated rapidly after Israeli and allied strikes hit Iranian military infrastructure, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran against Israeli and U.S. targets across the region.

Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will continue the campaign “with all our force,” warning that the next phase of the operation could involve further unexpected developments.

Debate over regime change

Despite the strong rhetoric, Israeli officials have repeatedly said that regime change is not the formal objective of the military operation. Instead, the stated aim remains weakening Iran’s nuclear program and limiting its ability to threaten Israel and regional allies.

However, Netanyahu has acknowledged that the weakening of Iran’s leadership through sustained military pressure could result in political upheaval.

“The issue of regime change is first and foremost a matter for the Iranian people,” he said previously, adding that it could emerge as a consequence rather than a declared objective.

International reactions

The escalation has drawn mixed international reactions. While some governments have expressed support for efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities, others warn that calls for regime change could further destabilize the Middle East.

More than 100 Iranians living abroad recently urged Western leaders not to support the war, arguing that foreign military action could strengthen the Iranian regime rather than weaken it by rallying domestic support around the government.

Outlook

As military operations continue, analysts say the conflict could significantly reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

Whether the campaign will weaken Iran’s leadership or trigger broader instability remains uncertain, but Netanyahu’s latest comments underscore how the war’s ambitions may extend beyond military objectives to potential political change inside Iran.

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Extraordinary Session Called on Iran Crisis

The special meeting was convened at the request of Russia and backed by Iran to discuss the implications of recent strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory. Russia’s request for the session underscores mounting diplomatic pressure on the IAEA to address how military actions might affect nuclear sites, safety systems and the agency’s monitoring activities.

Iran formally asked the IAEA to hold the session in response to what Tehran describes as “aggression” by U.S. and Israeli forces. The extraordinary session precedes the board’s regularly scheduled meeting for the week, which is expected to cover broader technical and policy issues related to nuclear oversight in multiple regions.

IAEA Assesses Nuclear Facilities After Strikes

In his opening remarks, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasised the agency’s commitment to monitoring nuclear safety, particularly given the heightened tensions in the Middle East. Grossi told governors that, based on initial observations, there is “no indication” that Iran’s major nuclear installations have suffered radiation damage following the recent strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces though contact with Iranian nuclear authorities remains limited.

Grossi also insisted on the need to restore full communication lines with Iranian regulators to ensure continued verification of nuclear materials and safeguards obligations under international agreements.

Despite the absence of detectable radiation increases at facilities such as the Bushehr nuclear plant, Tehran has acknowledged that its Natanz enrichment site sustained an attack, raising concerns about potential longer‑term consequences and the need for thorough inspections.

Board Members Stress Nuclear Oversight and Safety

The IAEA Board of Governors comprises 35 member states elected based on geographic and technical representation. It meets regularly usually five times per year to approve reports, assess safeguards implementation and set policy direction. Special sessions, like the one convened this week, are called when urgent global developments demand attention.

Delegates from Western nations attending the session are expected to emphasise the importance of unimpeded access for IAEA inspectors to all nuclear facilities in Iran and other concerned regions. The issue of resumed verification of enriched uranium inventories and compliance with safeguards remains top of the agenda, as it has been in previous board meetings related to Iran’s nuclear programme.

Broader Nuclear Safety and Non‑Proliferation Context

While this session focuses on developments around Iran and the impacts of recent hostilities, the Board typically also addresses a spectrum of global nuclear issues from technical cooperation on peaceful uses of atomic energy to safety concerns at nuclear power plants worldwide. Previous sessions have tackled nuclear safety risks in conflict zones, the status of inspector access and the implementation of non‑proliferation commitments by member states.

The IAEA plays a central role in enforcing the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) by reporting on compliance and facilitating verification protocols a responsibility that this week’s extraordinary session reinforced amid geopolitical tensions.

Implications for International Diplomacy

The Vienna meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors comes at a critical juncture as geopolitical fault‑lines deepen and the risk of confrontations near nuclear facilities grows. Diplomats and analysts say that how the board responds whether through resolutions, statements, or calls for increased cooperation could influence diplomatic dynamics between Iran, Western capitals and other global powers.

With uncertainty over continued communication with Iranian nuclear regulators, the agency’s findings and the board’s conclusions will be closely watched by governments, international institutions and the public worldwide. Many hope that the board’s actions reinforce nuclear safety norms without further escalating tensions in an already volatile region.

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In a statement issued overnight, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Foreign Ministry reported that Mollel’s remains were identified by forensic experts after being returned from Gaza. Officials personally informed his family of the confirmation.

The 21-year-old Tanzanian was working as an agricultural intern at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, near the Gaza border, when Hamas militants launched their deadly assault. He was taken captive and later murdered, with his body taken into Gaza.

Mollel’s repatriation marks another somber moment in Israel’s ongoing efforts to recover the remains of victims held in Gaza. Authorities say six bodies of murdered hostages are still believed to be in Hamas custody.

The return comes shortly after Israel held a government briefing following the recovery of the final U.S. hostage remains, underscoring the continuing humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions of the crisis.

“Israel’s determination in safeguarding its national security is a model from which Taiwan can learn,” Lai said. “Facing authoritarian expansion, we must bolster our self-defense and protect our freedom.”

Lai’s comments come as Taiwan continues to face military pressure and frequent Chinese incursions into its air defense identification zone. The president emphasized that, like Israel, Taiwan relies on advanced technology, strategic partnerships, and citizen resilience to maintain security.

Israel has long been a key supplier of defense technology to Taiwan, though both governments often limit public visibility of their cooperation due to diplomatic sensitivities with Beijing.

Lai added that ensuring peace requires readiness and strength, urging the international community to support democratic nations facing intimidation.

His remarks coincide with increased global attention on Taiwan’s security posture and growing concerns that China could escalate its campaign of political and military coercion in the region.

The U.S. plan envisions an international force in Gaza to help maintain a fragile truce that began this month, ending two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. It remains uncertain whether Arab or other states will commit troops to the multinational force.

“Countries that want or are ready to send armed forces should be at least fair to Israel,”

Saar said at a news conference in Budapest.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have worsened sharply during the Gaza conflict, with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan criticising Israel’s military campaign in the small Palestinian enclave.

“Turkey, led by Erdogan, led a hostile approach against Israel,”

Saar said, speaking alongside his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto.

“So it is not reasonable for us to let their armed forces enter the Gaza Strip and we will not agree to that and we said it to our American friends,” he added.

While the U.S. has ruled out sending its own soldiers into Gaza, it has been discussing contributions to the multinational force with countries including Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Last week, Netanyahu indicated he would strongly oppose any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza. On Sunday, he said Israel would decide which foreign forces to allow in the territory.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel to support the truce, said on Friday the international force would have to be made up of “countries that Israel’s comfortable with.” He made no comment on Turkish involvement.

“Many of the countries that have expressed an interest in participating at some level — whether it be monetary or personnel or both — are going to need that because their domestic laws require it,”

Rubio told reporters traveling on his plane between Israel and Qatar en route to Asia.

“So we have a whole team working on that outline of it.”

The Trump administration is seeking contributions from Arab states, both in funding and personnel, for a multinational force aimed at maintaining stability in Gaza. Israel has expressed opposition to the participation of Turkish forces in such an operation.

The Truth on the Current Situation in Gaza

Two years after Hamas’s barbaric October 7, 2023, attack that claimed 1,139 Israeli lives and triggered the war, Gaza stands at a crossroads. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and 170,000 injuries since then, figures that underscore the war’s toll. Yet, as of October 14, 2025, the ceasefire has ushered in cautious optimism: humanitarian teams are accessing previously isolated areas, and aid distributions are scaling up rapidly. Economically, Gaza’s pre-ceasefire GDP per capita had plummeted amid widespread poverty and unemployment rates exceeding 50%, a direct fallout from Hamas’s prioritization of rockets over reconstruction. Infrastructure—hospitals, schools, and water systems—lies in ruins. While the ceasefire halts active hostilities, the real challenge remains governance: without dismantling Hamas’s stranglehold, Gaza risks perpetual stagnation.

Unmasking the Propaganda: How Myths Sustain a Terrorist Regime

Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, and others, thrives on a web of disinformation that vilifies Israel while concealing its own abuses against Palestinians. This propaganda isn’t organic; it’s a calculated campaign amplified by social media and biased outlets, peddling myths that equate self-defense with aggression and whitewash Hamas’s atrocities. Take the enduring falsehood that Israel deliberately starves Gaza: In reality, restrictions stem from security checks to prevent weapons smuggling, yet Israel has consistently allowed aid far exceeding UN minimums—debunking claims of a “genocide” engineered through blockade. Another trope: Hamas doesn’t target civilians. Fact-checkers have exposed how the group embedded fighters in population centers, using schools and hospitals as shields, resulting in tragic but avoidable casualties. Viral videos falsely depicting “caged Israeli children” as hostages? Fabricated to inflame global outrage. Worse, this narrative ignores Hamas’s internal failures: Billions in Qatari and Iranian funds diverted to tunnels and missiles, leaving Gaza’s economy in tatters with 80% youth unemployment and crumbling services. Propaganda portrays Hamas as “resistance,” but it’s a regime that executes dissenters and hoards aid, perpetuating poverty to fuel endless conflict. Supporting such lies doesn’t liberate Palestinians—it entrenches their suffering under a terrorist yoke.

Exposing Hamas’s Propaganda Machine – A Terrorist Group Betraying Its Own

Hamas, enshrined on the U.S. State Department’s terrorist list since 1997, has weaponized misinformation to shield its military agenda at the expense of Gazan civilians. The group’s propaganda apparatus, including figures like the eliminated spokesman Abu Obeida, has fabricated crises to vilify Israel, from staging hospital “bombings” to exploiting images of ill children for viral outrage.

On the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, atrocities, U.S.-based activists echoed Hamas’s blame-shifting, ignoring how the group’s tunnel network—spanning over 500 kilometers—diverts cement and fuel from civilian infrastructure. This isn’t mere rhetoric; it’s a pattern of self-sabotage. Hamas’s governance has siphoned aid for rocket production and elite enrichment, leaving Gazans to bear the brunt. Senator Tom Cotton aptly summarized in July 2025: “Hamas wants the world to believe that Israel has undertaken a campaign of deliberate starvation,” when evidence shows the opposite—Hamas hoarding supplies amid its own failures. This internal predation stifles growth: Gaza’s unemployment hovers at 45%, not due to external pressures, but because Hamas prioritizes jihad over jobs. The ceasefire’s hostage releases—over 100 Palestinians freed from Israeli custody—further reveal Hamas’s duplicity, as reunited families report abuse not from Israel, but from their captors.

Gaza: The Current Humanitarian Landscape – Challenges from Within

There is food in Gaza. Its just not being distributed by the UN

Contrary to alarmist headlines, Gaza is not in the throes of deliberate starvation orchestrated by Israel. As of mid-October 2025, following the ceasefire, humanitarian aid has surged into the territory, with the United Nations reporting preparations to deliver over 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine, and supplies—enough to sustain 2.1 million residents for the initial phase. Israel’s coordination has facilitated this influx, including the safe return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and the dismantling of temporary aid sites like those operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), now obsolete due to normalized deliveries. Claims of a “famine” or Israeli-imposed starvation policy are not only unsubstantiated but represent a calculated distortion. An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) investigation in August 2025 categorically rejected assertions of widespread malnutrition deaths attributable to policy, noting that isolated cases were exacerbated by Hamas’s diversion of resources rather than any blockade.

Independent analyses, including those from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, have labelled these narratives a “fraud,” pointing to inflated data from Hamas-controlled health authorities that the UN has uncritically amplified. Cam Higby was in Gaza and like many other exposed the lie. All food would pass every level of IDF inspection and cross the Karem Shalom border. It would now be the responsibility of the U.N. to distribute it, they didn’t.

According to the U.N. Only 7% of its distribution trucks inside of the strip have reached the population. More often than not, they’re raided by armed marauders or Hamas. The U.N. Has cited safety concerns as a reason for not distributing effectively but has also turned down offers to have IDF escorts. In economic terms, this propaganda has real costs: it deters investment and prolongs instability, keeping Gaza’s GDP per capita stagnant at around $1,000—levels that could double with secure aid channels and demilitarization.

The UN’s Complicity in Perpetuating the Crisis

While Israel facilitates aid, the United Nations—particularly The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East —has deliberately exacerbated Gaza’s woes through biased reporting and operational inefficiencies. UN-backed famine assessments in August 2025, which claimed over 500,000 in “catastrophic hunger,” relied on unverifiable Hamas data, later debunked as “fabricated” by watchdogs like UN Watch. The Institute for National Security Studies highlighted how these reports ignore Hamas’s aid looting, instead framing Israel as the sole villain—a narrative that delays real solutions. Financially, this dysfunction is glaring: UNRWA’s $1.6 billion annual budget yields fragmented relief, with audits revealing up to 10% lost to corruption—funds that could fund Gaza’s desalination upgrades. By amplifying propaganda, the UN discourages donor confidence, trapping aid in bureaucratic silos.

Israel’s Enduring Support in Palestinian Stability and Growth

Contrary to the one-sided portrayals, Israel has been a steadfast partner in Palestinian welfare, channelling billions in aid and infrastructure that foster long-term economic resilience. Since the war’s outset, Israel has facilitated the delivery of over 1.3 million tons of humanitarian supplies—food, medicine, fuel, and shelter materials—into Gaza, often in coordination with international allies. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) meticulously tracks these efforts, ensuring safe passage through crossings like Kerem Shalom and Erez, even under the duress of ongoing threats. Beyond immediate relief, Israel’s contributions extend to foundational services that underpin prosperity. For decades, Israel has supplied Gaza with 80-90% of its electricity, desalinated over 20 million cubic meters of water annually (meeting 10-15% of needs), and enabled tens of thousands of Palestinians to work in Israel, injecting $500 million yearly into Gaza’s economy pre-war. Medical evacuations are another hallmark: since 2000, Israel has treated over 200,000 Palestinians in its hospitals, including complex cases from Gaza, free of charge. In 2024-2025 alone, amid the conflict, Israel approved aid convoys carrying 500,000 tons of flour and 300,000 tons of rice, countering famine risks despite Hamas’s diversion of supplies for military use.

Israel’s Enduring Positive Contributions to Palestinian Prosperity

Israel’s track record of goodwill toward Palestinians is a testament to its democratic ethos and strategic foresight—actions that foster long-term economic interdependence. Even amid conflict, Israel has enabled over 20,000 Gazans to access medical treatment in Israeli hospitals annually, a lifeline that saved thousands of lives pre-2023 escalation. Post-ceasefire, Israel has greenlit reconstruction phases under the Arab League’s March 2025 plan, committing to six months of unfettered aid and infrastructure rebuilding in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. Economically, Israel’s innovations have indirectly benefited Gaza: desalination plants supply 20% of the Strip’s water, while joint agricultural tech transfers have boosted Palestinian yields by 30% in the West Bank—initiatives ripe for Gaza replication. The January 2025 ceasefire phase allowed “sufficient” humanitarian flows, paving the way for private sector revival, including tech hubs that could employ 50,000 youth. These aren’t concessions; they’re investments in stability, aligning with values of self-reliance and mutual benefit. As President Trump’s involvement in the October deal demonstrates, strong U.S.-Israel ties yield dividends for all parties.

Written By tatenda Belle Panashe

]]> https://ln24international.com/2025/10/15/navigating-the-gaza-narrative-facts-aid-and-the-cost-of-misinformation/feed/ 0 https://ln24international.com/2025/09/10/israel-strikes-hamas-leadership-in-qatar-during-ceasefire-talks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=israel-strikes-hamas-leadership-in-qatar-during-ceasefire-talks https://ln24international.com/2025/09/10/israel-strikes-hamas-leadership-in-qatar-during-ceasefire-talks/#respond Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:57:16 +0000 https://ln24international.com/?p=27297 On September 9, 2025, Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas political leaders amid ongoing discussions over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The strike unfolded at a residential compound in the Leqtaifiya district, destroying a heavily guarded Hamas political bureau location as top officials met to weigh the deal. While key leaders survived, six people died including Hamas members and a Qatari security officer.

Reaction and Impact
Qatar swiftly condemned the incident as a flagrant violation of international norms. The strike severely jeopardized mediation efforts and prompted emergency diplomatic responses.

Global Outcry : Israel’s Strike Called “Terrorism on State Level”

Political Fallout
The attack drew near universal condemnation. Turkey’s President Erdogan decried it as a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and accused Israel of adopting terrorism as state policy.

United States Response
U.S. President Donald Trump slammed the strike, stating it “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.” He emphasized that bombing a sovereign U.S. ally involved in peace facilitation was counterproductive. Trump expressed being “not thrilled” with how the situation unfolded and suggested he was not adequately informed ahead of time.

UK Joins Criticism, Strike Escalates Regional Crisis

British Reaction and Diplomatic Ripple Effects
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strike as a violation of Qatari sovereignty and warned of the risk of broader regional instability. He stressed an urgent need for ceasefire, hostage releases, and expanded humanitarian aid. Downing Street declined to confirm prior knowledge of the attack, while the White House acknowledged being informed before it occurred.

Diplomatic Risks
The operation threatens to derail fragile ceasefire efforts and undermine international mediation. With the ICC reviewing conduct by Israel’s leadership, the attack adds to diplomatic pressure and controversy around Israel’s wartime strategy.

Quick Overview Table

The missile, believed to have been fired by Houthi forces, was detected and neutralized before it could reach Israeli territory, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). No injuries or damage were reported.

The incident marks the latest in a series of long-range missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023. The Iran-backed Houthis, who control large portions of northern and western Yemen, have declared solidarity with Hamas and have increasingly targeted Israel and Red Sea maritime traffic.

“A missile launched from the area of Yemen was detected and successfully intercepted by air defense systems,” the IDF said in a brief statement.

Houthi Threats Disrupt Regional Stability

The Houthi attacks have expanded the scope of the conflict far beyond Gaza, creating new security concerns for Israel and disrupting international trade. The Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, has seen repeated disruptions due to missile and drone strikes on commercial vessels, prompting some shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa.

The U.S. and its allies have increased naval patrols in the region and have previously carried out strikes against Houthi missile sites in Yemen in an effort to deter further attacks.

Wednesday’s missile launch is another reminder of the broader regional risks surrounding the Israel-Gaza war, which has increasingly drawn in actors from across the Middle East.