Jerusalem: European leaders have urged Iran to avoid retaliatory actions against Israel to prevent further destabilisation in the region. In a joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed to Iran to exercise restraint. The leaders also expressed support for mediation talks aimed at ending the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict, scheduled to begin tomorrow.
In response, Iranian President Masoud Pesheskyan asserted Iran’s right to retaliate following the recent assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran. Pesheskyan criticised the West’s silence on Israeli actions in Gaza, labelling it as irresponsible. Reports suggest that Iranian officials have indicated a willingness to refrain from attacking Israel if a ceasefire agreement is reached. Meanwhile, the United States has called on its allies, including Turkey, to work towards ensuring Iran’s cooperation in the upcoming negotiations.
Amid these tensions, Israel reported that a Hamas rocket struck the Tel Aviv coastline, a claim confirmed by Hamas. Additionally, two cargo ships in the Red Sea were reportedly attacked. The ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 39,929 Palestinians, with 92,240 others injured. In the last 24 hours alone, 32 Palestinians have been killed.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels have taken control of the United Nations Human Rights Office in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. The rebels seized documents, furniture, and vehicles, accusing the UN agencies of harbouring U.S. spies.
Sanaa, along with other regions in Yemen, has been under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since the civil war began in 2014. On 3rd August, the rebels took over the UN office and confiscated documents from Yemeni staff members. In June, the Houthis detained 60 individuals working with UN agencies and NGOs. The Yemeni conflict, ongoing since 2014, has claimed 150,000 lives to date.
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