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Tel Aviv, Feb 20 (IANS) Hamas's "ugly and brutal act" of parading bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday before handing them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) team in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip has ignited gross condemnation, not just from Israel but all over the world.

Marking the first repatriation of deceased hostages under an ongoing ceasefire agreement, the handover occured near Bani Suhaila cemetery during a military parade attended by members of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas and other Palestinian factions. It featured a large crowd of masked gunmen positioned around a platform where the coffins were placed.

The bodies belonged to Shiri Bibas, her two children, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, and an elderly man Oded Lifshitz, who were killed in the Gaza Strip during the conflict with Israel.

After the ICRC team arrived, a militant of al-Qassam Brigades lifted a black curtain, revealing four black wooden coffins adorned with pictures of the deceased.

The manner in which Hamas terrorists handed over the bodies of four Israeli civilians has been severely criticised all over the world.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that the parading of bodies in Gaza was "abhorrent" and in violation of international law.

Social media was abuzz with scathing criticism of the inhuman parade.

Condemning the stunt, former Israeli ambassador to the UN and the US, Gilad Erdan wrote on X, "Even in Nazi Germany, there were Germans who saved Jews. Not a single Gazan saved a single hostage. Many, many 'innocent' Gazans took part in the kidnapping and murder and many more came out today and on October 7th to celebrate the return of Jewish babies in coffins. Hamas must be eradicated. Fully. Gaza must be denazified and demilitarized. President Donald Trump's vision must be realized. We cannot live side by side with Hamas and their collaborators."

Former UK Secretary of State and Conservative MP, Suella Braverman penned down on X, “And yet Labour MPs want to allow some of these people into the UK under the guise of 'refugee'. Today is a heart-breaking day: we mourn with the Bibas and Lifshitz families. This is what Israel is fighting day in, day out, on every front, at every border. We pledge to keep fighting for the hostages to be released, for Israel and for humanity".

Member of German Parliament, Lamya Kaddor posted on X, "The news of the death of Bibas family is unbearable. The perfidious spectacle of the hostage handover is also unbearable. My thoughts today are with father Yarden Bibas, who himself was freed from Hamas captivity only three weeks ago."

After Hamas announced the handover of the dead bodies, former US ambassador to UN, Nikki Haley posted on X, writing, "Shame on any media outlet that can’t call this what it is, murder. Two innocent babies, their mother, and others did not simply "die". They were kidnapped, murdered, and their bodies were held as bargaining chips by terrorists. Anyone who doubts the brutality of Hamas, anyone who thinks these are people who can be negotiated with, look at what they did to Ariel and Kfir. Hamas needs to be finished once and for all."

--IANS

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Jerusalem, Feb 20 (IANS) Israel has received the list of the deceased hostages who will be released from Gaza on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday.

"Israel has received the list of deceased hostages who are scheduled to be released tomorrow as part of the (Gaza truce) framework," it said in a statement, adding that it had "updated the families of the hostages through IDF (military) representatives".

Netanyahu said in a separate video statement: "Tomorrow will be a very difficult day for the state of Israel. An upsetting day, a day of grief. We bring home four of our beloved hostages, deceased. We embrace the families, and the heart of an entire nation is torn. My heart is torn."

Sharing a post on X, the Israeli PMO said, "Israel has received the list of deceased hostages that are due to be released tomorrow, pursuant to the framework. The Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch, has updated the families of the hostages via the representatives of the IDF."

The Prime Minister's Office said that the four slain Israeli hostages whose bodies are set to be returned on Thursday are Shiri Bibas, Ariel Bibas, Kfri Bibas and Oded Lifshitz.

"In this difficult time, our hearts are with the grieving families, it said in a statement.

PM Netanyahu added, "We embrace the families, and the heart of the entire nation is torn. My own heart is torn. So is yours. And all of the world's heart should be torn, because this demonstrates who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with -- with such monsters. We are grieving, we are in pain, but we are also determined to ensure that such a thing never happens again."

Earlier on February 15, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the return of three hostages-- Alexandre, Sagui, and Iair-- after 498 days in captivity.

The IDF confirmed that the hostages are being accompanied by IDF and Israel Security Agency forces as they make their way back to Israeli territory. Upon arrival, they will undergo an initial medical assessment.

Sharing a post on X, IDF wrote, "After 498 days, Alexandre, Sagui and Iair are finally home."

In another post, it wrote, "The three returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA forces on their return to Israeli territory, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment. The IDF salutes and embraces the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel."

It added, "According to information communicated by the Red Cross, three hostages were transferred to them and are on their way toward IDF and ISA forces in Gaza."

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 19 (IANS) The violent clashes at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) in Bangladesh since Tuesday has left more than 100 students injured, local media reported on Wednesday.

The student outfits backing different political ideologies and affiliations had clashed over the issue of banning student politics on the university campus.

Leaders of Jatiyotabadi Chatro Dol (JCD), the student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), addressed media on Wednesday evening, accusing the Student Against Discrimination (SAD) and Bangladesh Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, of initiating the recent attack at the KUET campus.

The unrest in the campus aggravated with protestors halting the functioning of the institute and all academic activities. The students are also demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor Mohammad Mashud.

During the protest, students locked up Mashud and other senior officials in KUET campus on Tuesday night. The protesting students also engaged in a physical altercation with the VC and reportedly hurled shoes at him, local media reported.

Cadres of JCD and SAD have been involved in several clashes at KUET. SAD is the student outfit that was behind the nationwide protest and violence in Bangladesh in July and August 2024 that led to the coup against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

It is alleged that JCD activists distributed leaflets at the campus on Monday supporting resumption of student politics on campus. SAD, on the other hand, responded with a parade in the university with various slogans for keeping the ban on student politics. They chanted slogans like "No place for student politics at KUET" and "We want a politics-free campus". This led to a clash between both the groups which left several injured.

--IANS

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Tehran, Feb 19 (IANS) Iran unveiled new domestically-developed missiles, drones, artillery and air defence systems on Wednesday, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The equipment was displayed during the second phase of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force's "Great Prophet 19" exercise in southwestern Iran, attended by the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Baqeri, IRNA said.

Among the unveiled systems were the BM-450 ballistic missile (200 km range), the Fat'h-360 short-range satellite-guided tactical ballistic missile, the Fajr-5 long-range missile, smart precision-guided 122 mm rockets, and the short-range Majid air defence system, IRNA reported.

New drones included the Mohajer-10 and Mohajer-6 strategic drones with enhanced engines, and various kamikaze UAVs, including Golaleh, Dalahoo and Shahoo destroyer drones.

Separately, IRNA reported that the IRGC had dismantled several "infiltration" networks linked to the United States and Israel in the northern province of Mazandaran.

The dismantling of the networks helped "eliminate security threats and prevent the occurrence of certain potential crises," IRNA quoted Siavash Moslemi, commander of the IRGC in Mazandaran province, as saying.

He did not specify the number of networks or individuals involved, nor the dates of the operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier this month, Iran had unveiled three new domestically developed satellites in the Iranian capital Tehran to mark its National Space Technology Day.

Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh had said the country plans to conduct two space launches in the coming weeks, before the end of the current Iranian calendar year on March 20.

On September 27, 2024, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force successfully launched the homegrown imaging satellite Nour-3 into orbit.

--IANS

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Moscow, Feb 19 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was informed an hour ago that Russian forces had crossed the border with Ukraine from the Kursk region, the TASS news agency reported Wednesday.

"The most recent information that I was reported just an hour ago is that tonight the fighters of the 810th brigade crossed the border of the Russian Federation and Ukraine and entered the territory of the enemy," Putin said, while answering journalists' questions during a visit to a drone plant in St. Petersburg.

Russia's army has been pushing back Ukrainian forces in Kursk region following their surprise cross-border attack in August 2024.

"The 810th Separate Guards Orders of Zhukov and Ushakov Marine Brigade fought in the most difficult sections of the front during the special military operation. In particular, the brigade's fighters participated in the liberation of Mariupol, repelling the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhya region and worked in the island zone of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region.

"With the beginning of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region, the brigade's units were transferred to the border areas, where they are still performing combat missions," reported the state-owned Russian news agency.

"Thus, in early February it was reported that servicemen from the 11th separate airborne assault brigade, the 810th separate marine brigade, the Veterans and Arbat volunteer formations, as well as UAV operators from the Rubicon centre, the 40th separate marine brigade and the 177th separate marine regiment took part in repelling eight waves of attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The head of state has repeatedly said that the fighters fighting in the Kursk direction are working coolly, competently, boldly," the report added.

--IANS

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Gaza, Feb 19 (IANS) Hamas said on Wednesday that it had submitted a proposal to Israel, through mediators, for a comprehensive prisoner-for-hostage swap based on the principle of "all for all" as part of ongoing negotiations.

A senior Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal calls for "the immediate release of all Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners in its custody."

The official did not specify whether the proposal is part of the first phase of the agreement or linked to the upcoming second phase of negotiations.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem affirmed the movement's readiness for "a one-time prisoner swap in the second phase."

However, he stressed that such a deal must be "part of an agreement leading to a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip", Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel has not yet issued an official response to the proposal, while international efforts continue to push negotiations forward.

On Saturday, Hamas and Israel completed the sixth prisoner-for-hostage exchange following days of tense negotiations that threatened to undo the precarious ceasefire.

In the exchange, Hamas released three more Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Israeli authorities freed 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, effective since January 19 and spanning six weeks, 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians.

So far, 19 Israeli hostages, along with five Thais, have been released from Gaza, while Israeli authorities have released over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and Hamas were supposed to begin talks on the second phase in early February. Hamas said in a statement on February 4 that it had started discussions with international mediators, whereas a spokesman for Netanyahu said on social media platform X that Israel had not yet begun negotiations on the second phase.

The second phase of the agreement is supposed to focus on the release of the remaining hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, and the implementation of a permanent ceasefire.

--IANS

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New York, Feb 18 (IANS) The Central American country of Costa Rica has agreed to accept illegal Indian migrants deported from the US, creating a bridge for working out their eventual fate.

The deportations will start on Wednesday under a US-funded programme and the migrants will be detained in a temporary centre near the border with Panama, the office of President Rodrigo Chaves Robles has announced.

Neither Costa Rica nor the US has said what would happen to the migrants after their detention in Costa Rica.

The deal helps the US avoid setting up massive detention facilities within the country for migrants waiting to be deported and avoid the negative optics,

"The Government of Costa Rica agreed to collaborate with the United States in the repatriation of 200 illegal immigrants to their country," the President's office said, adding that the deportees would include those from India and Central Asia.

India has agreed to take back at least 18,000 illegal migrants in the US and Washington began deporting them directly to India.

The third plane carrying 112 illegal migrants landed in Amritsar on Monday.

During his visit to Washington last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India will take back any verified Indian illegal migrant in the US and will also crack down on human traffickers exploiting the vulnerable.

The arrangement with Costa Rica followed a visit there by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to get the country to cooperate with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal migration.

Under similar deals, El Salvador, Panama, and Guatemala are also receiving deported migrants.

Illegal migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China were sent to Panama last week.

The Trump administration also set up a detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, where terrorists involved in the 9/11 al-Qaeda attack on the US are housed.

Guantanamo Bay is technically in Cuba, but the area had been leased to the US for a naval base, limiting the application of some aspects of US laws as an external territory.

Costa Rica is on the path of illegal migrants coming through from elsewhere in South America, travelling through the notorious Darien Gap jungles in Panama, to head onwards to the US.

Some videos on social media promoting illegal migration from India, show the "Donkey Route" taking this path.

At his news conference in Washington on Thursday with Trump at his side, PM Modi said, India and the US "have always been of the same opinion, and that any verified Indian who is in the US illegally, we are fully prepared to take them back to India".

He called for cooperation between the US and India to root out traffickers exploiting "the young, vulnerable, poor people of India" who "are fooled into coming over as illegal immigrants".

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Monday that he is confident that talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani will deepen the close friendship between India and Qatar.

“Honoured to call on H.H. @TamimBinHamad, Amir of Qatar on his arrival in New Delhi for a State Visit. Value his guidance on advancing our cooperation in many domains. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi tomorrow will deepen our close bonds of friendship,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X.

Earlier, PM Modi received the Qatar Amir at the Air Force Station in Palam. The two leaders met with a warm embrace, signifying the special relationship between both countries.

"A special gesture for a special friend! PM Narendra Modi welcomed HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, at the airport, as he arrived in New Delhi on his second State visit to India. The visit will further strengthen the bonds of India-Qatar partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani is paying a two-day State Visit to India - his second to the country after March 2015 - at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.

The Amir of the State of Qatar is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and a business delegation.

Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday before holding talks with PM Modi on various aspects of the bilateral relations at the Hyderabad House.

During the visit, he will hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu who will also host a banquet in his honour.

"​India and Qatar have deep-rooted historical ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two countries including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people ties have continued to strengthen," read a statement issued by the MEA before Amir's India arrival.

"The Indian community residing in Qatar forms the largest expatriate community of Qatar, and is appreciated for its positive contribution in the progress and development of Qatar. The visit of His Highness the Amir will provide further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership," it added.

--IANS

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Kyiv, Feb 17 (IANS) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Kyiv would not participate in the upcoming US-Russia negotiations set to take place in Saudi Arabia this week, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

"Ukraine will not take part. Ukraine knew nothing about this," Zelensky was quoted as saying, emphasising that Kyiv will not accept the results of the negotiations that do not involve Ukraine.

"We cannot recognise anything or any agreements about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements," he emphasised.

Zelensky added that his official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday "has no connection with the things that are happening in Saudi Arabia at the level of representatives of the United States and Russia," Xinhua news agency reported.

The US and Russian delegations are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a possible solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to local media reports.

Russian and US envoys will prepare possible talks on Ukrainian settlement and organise a meeting of their Presidents during the Tuesday meeting, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Peskov said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Aide to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov on Monday were flying to Riyadh on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that they will meet with US representatives on Tuesday.

Lavrov and Ushakov will report to Putin on the results of the talks there, he said.

The representatives from the US side will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, NBC News reported.

Putin and US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on February 12, during which the two leaders agreed to keep personal contacts, including arranging a meeting in the future.

--IANS

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Beirut, Feb 17 (IANS) Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday voiced concerns over whether Israel would completely withdraw from southern Lebanon on Tuesday.

"We fear that the complete withdrawal may not be achieved tomorrow, and Lebanon's response will come through a unified national stance," he said.

"War is not a viable option," Aoun affirmed in a statement released by Lebanon's Presidency, adding that diplomatic channels will be prioritised since Lebanon cannot endure another conflict. He also confirmed that the Lebanese army is ready to deploy in villages and towns vacated by Israeli forces.

Also on Monday, the Lebanese President met with the five-member committee overseeing the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire agreement, Xinhua news agency reported. The committee confirmed its ongoing diplomatic efforts to finalize the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as soon as possible.

Israeli forces are scheduled to pull out from southern Lebanon by February 18 after an already extended deadline but expressed intention to maintain positions at five key strategic locations in the area, which was roundly rejected by the Lebanese government.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of the Palestinian Authority (PA) governing post-war Gaza.

In a response to media reports that Hamas had expressed willingness to relinquish control of the enclave to the PA, Netanyahu said in a statement: "As I promised -- the day after the war in Gaza, there will be no Hamas and no Palestinian Authority."

He reiterated his support for US President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, which includes the transfer of the enclave's Palestinian population to neighbouring countries. Arab leaders have rejected the proposal.

"I am committed to President Trump's plan for creating a different Gaza," Netanyahu said.

Israel objects to Palestinian sovereignty in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem, territories it seized in the 1967 Middle East war.

--IANS

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