Reuters: Hamas Official Says No Progress In Ceasefire Talks

“Hamas official Osama Hamdan said on Thursday there has been no progress in Gaza ceasefire talks despite the Palestinian group showing flexibility. Hamdan said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was placing obstacles hindering both parties from reaching an agreement, and that he is "not interested" in releasing Israeli hostages. "The occupation government is still evading, and negotiations are stuck in a vicious circle", Hamdan said at a press conference held in Beirut. Egyptian and Qatari efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to achieve a ceasefire. While Hamas wants any ceasefire agreement to secure an end to the Israeli military offensive, Israel prefers a prisoners-for-hostage release deal, refusing to commit to ending its military campaign. In Gaza, Israeli bombardment continued to target areas across the Palestinian enclave, killing 62 people in the past 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said. The Israeli military released 101 Palestinians who had been detained by forces during the ground offensive in the past weeks and months. The detainees, many of whom complained of ill-treatment in Israeli jails, were freed through the Israeli Kerem Shalom crossing into the southern Gaza Strip.”

The Times Of India: Pakistan Rules Out Talks With Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan

“Pakistan ruled out holding talks with militants on Thursday after the Afghan Taliban authorities asked Islamabad and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to sit together and negotiate for peace as violence, due to their fighting, was spreading to Afghanistan. Past attempts by the Afghan interim regime to facilitate talks between the two sides had ended in deadlock, prompting Islamabad to accuse Kabul of providing sanctuary to TTP and urging it to take action against the militant organisation, a charge strenuously denied by the Taliban rulers. Relations between the two countries have been strained ever since Pakistan carried out airstrikes in the Afghan provinces of Khost and Paktika in retaliation for the killing of seven of its soldiers in a suicide bombing in North Waziristan last month.”

CEP Mentions

The Guardian: Australian Neo-Nazis Must Be Monitored Better, Senate Inquiry Told

“... Some Australian extremists “have become leading voices in the decentralised online neo-Nazi sphere”, according to the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a global anti-terror group and non-profit. It has warned a parliamentary inquiry into rightwing extremism that some such groups in Australia may seek to promote combat sports and self-defence clubs as an “evasion tactic” to avoid police attention, as has been seen overseas. “Active clubs claim to simply promote political street activism, a ‘nationalist’ lifestyle, and combat sports training for white nationalists for self-defence purposes. However, it appears that active clubs in the US are not about peaceful activism and sports,” CEP said in its submission to the inquiry. “There is increasing evidence suggesting that the network’s main objective is instead the creation of shadow militias that can be activated when the need for coordinated violent action on a larger scale arises.””

Iran

The New York Times: Iran Says 17-Hour Battle With Separatists Leaves 28 Dead In 2 Cities

“Iranian security forces battled simultaneous terrorist attacks by a militant separatist group in a southeast province that raged for nearly 17 hours, with intense gunfights in the streets of two cities that resulted in the deaths of 10 security officers and 18 militants, according to the Ministry of Interior on Thursday. State television broadcast footage of gunmen running in the streets of Sistan and Baluchestan Province as loud explosions from rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire rocked the two cities, and large plumes of smoke billowed into the air. Forty-four people were injured, the ministry said. Jaish al-Adl, a separatist ethnic Baluch group designated by the United States as a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Iran’s deputy interior minister, Majid Mirahmadi, said on state television that the fighting had raged for hours, from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 3 p.m. the next day. The gunmen entered homes, taking civilians hostage to use as human shields, but security forces released them, he said. The militants wore vests with explosives, and several blew themselves up during the fighting, he added.”

Reuters: Iran Embassy Strike Shows Israel's Growing Reach As Mideast Boils

“Hounded by months of deadly Israeli attacks in Syria, Iranian military commanders thought it safe to convene a top-level meeting inside Iran's embassy compound in Damascus, believing it protected by international norms shielding diplomatic missions, according to a dozen Iranian, Syrian and regional officials. They were wrong. An airstrike on the compound killed seven Iranian officers on Monday - among them one of Iran's top soldiers, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). It was the boldest, and deadliest, in a series of attacks that have picked off Iranian officials in Syria since December. Blamed by Tehran on Israel, the attack was a rare military strike on diplomatic premises anywhere in the world and drew swift condemnation from the UN and EU. Analysts view it as a significant escalation in a wider Israeli campaign to degrade the influence carved out by Iran in Syria over the last decade.”

The New York Times: Iran’s Axis Of Resistance

“Its members refer to it as the Axis of Resistance. It is the network of Iran-backed groups across the Middle East dedicated to reducing U.S. influence in the region and ultimately eliminating the state of Israel. The network’s name is a play on former President George W. Bush’s 2002 claim that Iran, Iraq and North Korea made up an Axis of Evil. The Axis of Resistance includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other groups, and both its strategy and its tactics have long been radical. The official slogan of the Houthis — the Yemen-based group that has attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea — includes “death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews,” for example. Nonetheless, the conflict between the Axis and its enemies had remained limited for years. Even though Iran funds and supports the Axis, other countries have often treated its member groups as distinct from Iran. Attacks by Hamas or Hezbollah usually did not lead to reprisals against Iran. The events of the past few months threaten to change this dynamic. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain why.”

Afghanistan

The Voice Of America: Taliban Sentence 3 Afghans To Lengthy Terms, Flogging For Political Activism

“Afghanistan’s Islamist Taliban rulers Thursday sentenced two people to 15 years each for engaging in political activity, while a third person was flogged 30 times and jailed for similar charges. The de facto government in Kabul, yet to be formally recognized by the international community, has banned all political parties and activities nationwide, deeming them as unIslamic. The Taliban Supreme Court said in a statement that Thursday’s judicial actions were carried out in the southern province of Kandahar. Without further details, it said a fourth individual was sentenced to eight months for “moral corruption.” The reclusive Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, lives and governs the country from Kandahar, which is known as the birthplace and political base of his fundamentalist group. "There is no Sharia basis for political parties to operate in the country. They do not serve the national interest, nor does the nation appreciate them,” Abdul Hakim Sharaee, the Taliban minister of justice, said while announcing the ban on political activities last year.”

Pakistan

Voice Of America: Exiled Afghan Journalist Shot, Injured In Pakistan

“An exiled Afghan journalist was shot in Pakistan on Wednesday, prompting calls from press freedom groups for the Pakistani government to investigate the incident. Ahmad Hanayesh was shot on Wednesday evening by two gunmen on a motorcycle when he was returning home in the capital Islamabad, according to the press freedom group the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ. The journalist was taken to a hospital for surgery on his foot and treatment for a non-life threatening head injury. It’s currently unclear who targeted the reporter and whether the motive was related to his work. Pakistani police said that they are looking into the incident, according to media reports. Hanayesh, who is also known by his birth name Abdul Aleem Saqib, owned two radio stations in norther Afghanistan before he fled to Pakistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. He also reported for the Afghan Service of VOA’s sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. CPJ called for the Pakistani government to launch an investigation into the attack.”

Lebanon

The New York Times: I.D.F. Says U.N. Observers In Lebanon Were Wounded By Buried Explosive

“A buried explosive device was the source of a blast that injured U.N. military observers in Lebanon over the weekend as they were patrolling the border with Israel, Israel’s military said Wednesday. Three observers and a Lebanese translator were wounded in the blast, on Saturday morning near the town of Rmeish. Two senior Lebanese security officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, had attributed the blast to Israel, without providing evidence. The Israeli military denied striking in the area. In a statement on social media, a spokesman for the Israeli military, Avichay Adraee, said that the blast was caused “by an explosive previously installed there by Hezbollah.” Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militia and political movement, did not immediately comment on the claim. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and other militant groups have been trading fire with Israeli forces across the border for months.”

Qatar

Reuters: Gulf Markets Join Global Rally On Fed Rate Cut Hopes; Qatar Leads

“Stock markets in the Gulf tracked global peers higher on Thursday, led by the Qatar index, as the optimism around potential U.S. interest rate cuts raised investors' risk appetite. Data on Wednesday showed lower growth in the U.S. services industry and bolstered optimism over the potential easing of monetary policy. Sentiment was aided by a reaffirmation from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that U.S. rates were still on course to be cut this year, though the timing was data-dependent. Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the dollar, and any U.S. monetary policy change is usually mimicked by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The Qatari benchmark index (.QSI), opens new tab advanced 1.3%, the highest intraday rise in three months, with most sectors posting gains, led by industry, real estate and finance. Qatar Islamic Bank (QISB.QA), opens new tab and Qatar National Bank (QNBK.QA), opens new tab, the region's largest lender, rose 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively, while Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA), opens new tab gained 2.8%.”

Bloomberg: Israel Minister Says Qatar Untrustworthy As Broker For Hamas

“Israel’s economy minister said he didn’t trust Qatar to act as a mediator with Hamas and accused the Gulf country of “funding terror all over the world.”“They’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Nir Barkat said to Bloomberg TV on Thursday. “We must wake up.” It was unclear from his comments if Barkat, who belongs to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, was espousing the government’s official stance or speaking personally. The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment. Qatar didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The Gulf state has hosted some political leaders of Hamas, which is backed by Iran and designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, for years. It’s played a key role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas since their war erupted on Oct. 7. Doha helped secure the release of some hostages held by Hamas last year and was praised by the US for its efforts. Recent talks in Qatar about a cease-fire and release of more hostages broke down, with some Israeli officials privately saying Doha wasn’t putting enough pressure on Hamas.”

Middle East

Associated Press: After Six Months Of War, Israel’s Isolation Grows With No End In Sight

“When Israel declared war against Hamas last October, it stood unified at home and enjoyed broad backing from around the world following an unprecedented attack by the Islamic militant group. Six months later, Israel finds itself in a far different place: bogged down in Gaza, divided domestically, isolated internationally and increasingly at odds with its closest ally. The risk of a broader regional war remains real. Despite Israel’s fierce military onslaught, Hamas is still standing, if significantly weakened. The offensive has pushed Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 80% of the population and leaving over 1 million people on the brink of starvation. Yet Israel hasn’t presented a postwar vision acceptable to its partners, and cease-fire talks remain at a standstill. Here are six takeaways from the first six months of war. Israel declared war in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack, in which the militant group killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and kidnapped about 250 others.”

The New York Times: Israel’s Military Cancels Leave For Combat Units And Jams GPS Signals

“Israel’s military said on Thursday that it was canceling leave for combat units, calling up more reservists and blocking GPS signals. The Israeli military did not explicitly cite the reason behind the moves. Israeli newspapers said they came amid fears of an increased threat from Iran, a prospect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alluded to in remarks to his Security Cabinet on Thursday night. “For years, Iran has been acting against us both directly and via its proxies; therefore, Israel is acting against Iran and its proxies, defensively and offensively,” he said, without directly referring to the military’s moves. “We will know how to defend ourselves, and we will act according to the simple principle of whoever harms us or plans to harm us, we will harm them.” President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran has vowed to punish Israel for killing top Iranian commanders this week in an airstrike in Syria. The attack was one of the deadliest in a decades-long shadow war between the two enemies, and American officials have voiced concerns that it could prompt retaliatory strikes against Israel or its ally, the United States.”

Somalia

Reuters: Somalia Expels Ethiopian Envoy Amid Naval Base Dispute

“Somalia said on Thursday it was expelling Ethiopia's ambassador, closing two Ethiopian consulates and recalling its own ambassador to Addis Ababa amid a dispute over Ethiopia's plan to build a naval base in the breakaway region of Somaliland. Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesperson Nebiyu Tedla said Ethiopia did not have any information on the matter, which was first officially announced by Somalia's prime minister's office. "This follows ... the actions of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia which infringe upon Somalia's sovereignty and internal affairs," Somalia's foreign ministry said in a statement. Somalia has given Ethiopia's ambassador 72 hours to leave the country and ordered the closure of the Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, the foreign ministry said. Senior officials from Somaliland and Puntland, which is engaged in another constitutional dispute with Mogadishu, said the edicts would not apply in their territories.”

Voice Of America: Turkish Aid Worker Killed In Attack In Somalia

“A Turkish aid worker was killed Thursday in Somalia in an attack claimed by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab militant group. The attack took place on the outskirts of Mogadishu as vehicles carrying Turkish and Somali aid workers and their security guards were heading toward a displaced persons camp to deliver food aid. Witnesses and police said a roadside explosion hit one of the vehicles, killing two people – a Turkish worker and a Somali colleague. In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Verenel Association, the Turkish aid agency delivering the food, confirmed that its Somalia representative, Abdurrahim Yörük, was killed in the attack. "Brother [Abdurrahim Yörük] was martyred in the bomb attack carried out at 11:30 on 4.04.2024, targeting the team of our Verenel Association, which carries out its work in Somalia within the scope of Humanitarian Aid Activities," the post said. A spokesperson for Somali police, Major Abdifatah Aden Hassan, condemned the attack and said the aid workers targeted were delivering food to needy people fasting during Ramadan.”

Southeast Asia

Reuters: Myanmar Military TV Says 13 'Terrorist' Drones Shot Down Over Capital, No Damage Or Casualties

“Thirteen fixed-wing drones were shot down over the capital of military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday, in a foiled attack by "terrorists" seeking to destroy important locations in the city, military-run Myawaddy TV reported. Of the 13 drones, four carried explosives but no damage or casualties were inflicted, the report said. Myawaddy did not mention what the targets were but carried an image showing nine small drones, several of which were damaged. Myanmar's shadow government and an anti-junta militia group earlier claimed responsibility for what they said was a synchronised, coordinated attack on the military headquarters and an air force base. The Myawaddy report mentioned the same locations, but did not say they were military facilities.”

Bloomberg: Petrol Bomb Attacks Sparked By Socks Row Pressure Anwar

“Attacks on a Malaysian convenience store chain over an insult to Islam have the potential to rock Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s fragile coalition in the Muslim-majority nation. Three KK Super Mart stores were hit with molotov cocktail explosives after calls for boycotting the chain over the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah” turned violent in recent days. That prompted the secular Democratic Action Party, a key partner of Anwar’s alliance, to issue calls for harmony in the Southeast Asian nation. Police said they have stepped up patrols around all KK Super Mart outlets after the attacks. But the events underscored the delicate balance that Anwar must maintain between not wanting to upset the country’s majority Muslims and retaining support of key political allies who help prop us his administration. “This is a slippery slope down lawlessness which none of us want to see,” said Helen Ting Mu Hung, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Malaysia. “Inappropriate handling of such highly publicized and sensitive incidents could have long term political ramifications.””