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Middle East conflict

Hamas wants Paris talks to bring end to Israeli aggression, get hostage deal done

Hamas is reportedly studying the Paris initiative but has not yet decided whether to accept it or not

CAIRO, February 2. /TASS/. Talks on the multilateral initiative worked out at the Paris meeting must lead to the complete cessation to Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave and the completion of the hostage swap deal, Hamas said in a statement after talks between its leader Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah.

According to the statement, the two leaders noted that "the consideration of the new ceasefire initiative is based on the assumption that any talks must lead to the complete cessation of the aggression, the withdrawal of occupational forces from the Gaza Strip, the lifting of the blockade, guarantees of the sector’s restoration, the implementation of the legal rights of the Palestinian people and the comprehensive completion of agreements on the exchange [of hostages for Palestinian prisoners]."

The AFP news agency reported on January 28 that US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns had held a meeting in Paris with representatives of Egypt, Israel and Qatar. NBC News, in turn, reported that the parties had agreed on the framework of a deal between Hamas and Israel, which provided for a phased exchange of hostages held by Hamas militants and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as well as for pauses in fighting and humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza. On Tuesday, Hamas said it had received a proposal for a deal with Israel that had been hammered out at the Paris meeting.

According to later reports, Hamas agreed on a phased release of Palestinian prisoners and said it would not insist on the release of those sentences to long prison terms at the first stage. Hamas is reportedly studying the Paris initiative but has not yet decided whether to accept it or not.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 240 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ aggressive actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

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Russian Su-34 bomber destroys Ukrainian manpower, equipment in Kursk area

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Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

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Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

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Russia, China do not need to create military alliance — Lavrov

Those relations are the best in the whole history of ties that existed between two countries, Foreign Minister added

Russia’s Akhmat special force destroys military storage facility in Kursk direction

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6-magnitude earthquake rocks Argentina

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Russia welcomes normalization of Iran’s relations with Arab countries — Lavrov

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Attempts made to provoke Hezbollah with aim of US interference in war — Lavrov

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Modi, Biden discuss cooperation between India, US

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Russian troops repulse ten Ukraine’s counterattacks near Kremennaya in LPR in one week

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Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

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Russia’s Emergencies Ministry sapper dies in Kursk Region during mine clearance

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Russian science remains open despite CERN’S unfriendly stance — science ministry

"At its 214th session, held on December 15, 2023, the CERN Council decided to discontinue CERN agreements on international cooperation with Russia upon their expiration in November 2024. We believe that this decision was taken under political pressure," the press service said

Israeli air force attacks 290 Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon in 24 hours

According to IDF, 180 targets were hit

Hollywood action star Jackie Chan says he loves Russia, thanks his fans

The actor wished that the friendship between China and Russia would last forever

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The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

Russia, China launch joint naval exercise in Vladivostok — Pacific Fleet

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The two-day event is expected to set the direction for future action in the field of sustainable development, security and human rights

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"The devastation resulting from such a confrontation would be catastrophic," the Cabinet’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said

Military record launch of 10 shells at northern Israel from Lebanon

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Israel wants to drag whole region into war, engages in terrorism, says Erdogan

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Press review: Russia moves to boost its army and Zelensky to present victory plan to Biden

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 17th

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Voronezh Region Governor Alexander Gusev said the situation didn’t warrant a drone attack alert

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At the same time, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that Russian representatives "have not participated in any meetings within the framework of the ‘Buergenstock process’ and are not going to participate in any

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Air defenses eliminated UAVs over eight regions, Defense Ministry said

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Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

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Unless de-escalation is reached through diplomacy, Israel will have no other choice except to use all means for protection of its citizens, Danny Danon said

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Mikhail Mishustin called "invaluable" the contribution made by the Spiritual Board Russia’s Muslims to improving the inter-religious dialogue

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"We have not organized such a large-scale international event in quite a long time," Yury Ushakov underlined

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Hezbollah reports rocket attack on Israeli Air Force Ramat David airbase

The Israel Defense Forces press service previously reported shelling of northern regions of the country

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According to the top Russian diplomat, for many decades, since the times of the Soviet Union, since the 1970s, Moscow has been establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in gas supplies

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Rustem Umerov did not specify for what period exactly the specified amount was spent

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In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

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The enemy fled from near Andreyevka where it has long been holding positions, it has retreated, law enforcement officers said

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Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian losses have amounted to over 300 troops and nine units of armored hardware, including an infantry fighting vehicle, two APCs, six armored combat vehicles, as well as six artillery guns

Hezbollah handing out pagers hours before their detonation — agency

The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

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At least 30 people died in Gaza in 24 hours due to Israeli strikes — Al Jazeera

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Poll reveals what Russians think about office love, polyamory

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US mistaken if it thinks nuclear conflict would affect Russia, Europe only — diplomat

Anatoly Antonov reiterated that there must never be a nuclear war and that there can be no winners in any nuclear conflict

Russia keeps balance in relations with Muslim countries — Muslim Board

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin added that Russia was originally formed in the bosom of three monotheistic religions and for more than 1,000 years has continued and consolidated the tradition of communion, good-neighborliness and brotherhood of religions

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The legislators are asking whether German weapons are used by the Ukrainian forces in their incursion into the Kursk Region

Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

US’ new military aid package for Ukraine to be worth $375 mln — agency

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US carries out mock electronic launch of Minuteman III ICBM

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UN General Assembly adopts resolution on Golan Heights — results of vote

Evacuation starts in Kuban settlement due to explosion after drone fragments fall

Two unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed near Tikhoretsk

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"The enemy views our space capabilities, both civilian and military, as targets," Michael Traut, the head of Germany's Military Space Command, noted

Second rocket attack launched on Israeli territory from Lebanon — TV

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Russia, Belarus remain faithful allies and partners, Russian deputy defense chief says

I would like to note that we and our Belarusian counterparts have been and remain faithful allies and reliable partners

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops in extremely difficult situation in two DPR areas

The situation on the frontline remains extremely difficult, Ukrainian President said

Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

"Russian territory and Russian regions cannot be the subject of any discussion or transfer to anyone," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

EU will grant loan to Kiev that will be paid from frozen Russian assets — EC president

Ursula von der Leyen stressed that 35 billion euros is the part which the European countries will contribute to the 45 billion euro loan approved by the G7 in Italy in the summer

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QUAD leaders oppose unilateral actions that hinder peace in the Middle East

"We underscore the need to prevent the conflict from escalating and spilling over in the region," said a joint statement by the leaders

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained

Press review: BRICS challenges existing security concepts and Europe's economy in trouble

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 13th

5.1 magnitude earthquake registered off the coast of El Salvador

There were no reports of casualties, and no tsunami threat was declared.

Senior Russian lawmaker warns that calls for long-range strikes open way to nuclear war

Vyacheslav Volodin commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament to allow strikes inside Russia with Western weapons

Explosions in Lebanon pose interest for Russian intelligence — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow has not discussed the events in Lebanon with regional actors

Russia ready to help Brazil with hosting BRICS Games — head of Duma’s sports committee

Oleg Matytsin hopes that the BRICS Games will be held in an open format

Russia’s air defenses repel massive attack on Bryansk region, taking down over 50 drones

Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense forces intercepted or destroyed 53 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles

Kerimov transfers his stake in Polyus to Foundation for Support of Islamic Organizations

Polyus ranks first among the world's gold mining companies in terms of gold reserves and fourth in terms of production

US missile deployment in Asia poses biggest danger to region — general

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IAEA inspectors briefed on consequences of Ukraine’s attack on Zarya substation — ZNPP

The Zaporozhye NPP reported that the nearby city of Energodar had come under a repeated drone attack

Putin highlights importance of efforts to develop relations between Russia, Armenia

The Russian President congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Armenia’s Independence Day

Report on alternative payment systems will be prepared by BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also drew attention to the growth of trade in national currencies between Russia and other countries

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

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Putin has no plans to attend Mexican president's inauguration — Kremlin

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Scholz says Germany not to send Kiev missiles ‘capable of reaching as far as Moscow’

German Chancellor emphasized the need to explore ways in order to peacefully resolve the Ukraine conflict

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states