JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
EITHER USA IS READY TO HIT IRAN DEATH CULTISTS OR KHEMEINI IS READY TO GO TO BOOT SCOOTIIN PUTINS RUSSIA.
JEREMEIAH 49:35-37 (IN IRAN AT THE BUSHEHR OR ARAK NUKE SITE SOME BELIEVE)
35 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,(IRAN/BUSHEHR NUCLEAR SITE) the chief of their might.(MOST DANGEROUS NUKE SITE IN IRAN)
36 And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven,(IRANIANS SCATTERED OR MASS IMIGARATION) and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.(WORLD IMMIGRATION)
37 For I will cause Elam (IRAN-BUSHEHR NUKE SITE) to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger,(ISRAELS NUKES POSSIBLY) saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:(IRAN AND ITS NUKE SITES DESTROYED)
38 I will set My throne in Elam,And will destroy from there the king and the princes,’ says the Lord.
39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter days:I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the Lord.”
Ezekiel 32:24
24 There [is] Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
JEREMEIAH 49:23-27
23 Concerning Damascus.(SYRIA) Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea;(WAR SHIPS WITH NUKES COMING ON SYRIA) it cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire (NUKES OR BOMBS) in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.(ASSADS PALACES POSSIBLY IN DAMASCUS)
I BELIEVE WHEN TRUMP ATTACKS IRAN THIS TIME.TRUMP WILL GO AFTER YEMEN AT THE SAME TIME THEIR TAKING OUT KHEMENI AND THE REST OF IRANS NUKE SITES. I THINK TRUMP TO HELP THE IRANIAN PEOPLE. WILL MAKE SURE EVERY MISSLE DRONE AND NUKE SITE IN IRAN WIILL BE DESTROYED.AND HE WILL GO TO GET RID OF THE 12ERS CULT KHEMENI WHO I BELIEVE IF HES NOT KILLED WILL SCOOT TO BOOTIN PUTIN IN RUSSIA.AND WHIILE THATS GOING ON IN IRAN. OTHER AMERICAN BOMBERS WILL BE OVER YEMEM GETTING RID OF THE DEATH CULTIST IN YEMEN. LETS GET AMERICA KILLING 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. OR 2 TERRORISTS STATES WITH ONE BOMBING MISSION.AND ALSO THERES ALL KINDS ON DRONE EYES ON THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. TRUMP IS WATCHING CLOSELY IF IRAN IS BLOCKING OFF HORMUZ SHIPPING ROOTS.
Ten US warships in Mideast as Trump threatens Iran by AFP Staff Writers.
Washington, United States (AFP) Jan 28, 2026-The recent arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East brings the number of US warships in the region to 10, putting significant firepower at President Donald Trump's disposal if he decides to strike Iran.The number of ships in the Middle East is now roughly equal to that sent to the Caribbean ahead of the stunning US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, which American forces carried out at the beginning of the year.A US official on Wednesday put the total number of US ships in the Middle East at 10. The figure includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, which boasts three destroyers and F-35C stealth warplanes.There are also six other US warships operating in the region -- three destroyers and three littoral combat ships."A massive Armada is heading to Iran," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday, saying: "Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.""Time is running out," he added, urging Tehran to "MAKE A DEAL!"Tehran's mission to the United Nations hit back, saying in a post on X that the country "stands ready for dialogue" but "IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!"The carrier and its accompanying ships were ordered to the Middle East as Iran cracked down on protests that were initially driven by economic grievances, but which turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic.The clerical leadership that took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution responded to the demonstrations with deadly force and has held onto power, with many opponents of the system looking to outside intervention as the most likely driver of change.Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it killed protesters, the United States would intervene militarily, and also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions, saying "help is on the way."He pulled back from ordering strikes earlier this month, saying Tehran had halted more than 800 executions under pressure from Washington, but has since renewed threats against Iran.
PM holds briefing on ‘classified topic’ as Trump decision on Iran strike said expected in days-Israel reportedly expects significant strike against it if Iran attacked; IDF intelligence chief in Washington for talks; Iran to hold live-fire drill in Strait of Hormuz-By Lazar Berman and Agencies 29 January 2026, 10:20 pm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding a security consultation in Jerusalem with top advisers and defense officials on a “classified topic,” the office of one of the attendees told The Times of Israel on Thursday, as speculation continued to swirl over whether the US will attack Iran.According to Channel 12, the discussion was focused on Iran and the possibility of an American strike, which US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened.The meeting comes amid a flurry of threats, discussions and diplomatic activity in Jerusalem, Washington, Moscow and Tehran surrounding the possibility, and possible fallout, of a US strike on Iran. Iran is prepared to show its naval force next week after the US moved what Trump called a “massive armada” into the region.Trump has threatened to attack over Iran’s deadly crackdown on mass anti-regime protests this month. Rights groups have verified thousands of deaths, but estimates of the total number of people killed range into the tens of thousands. Trump has also more recently threatened Iran with strikes unless it agrees to a deal halting its nuclear program.A potential directive from Trump on a strike is expected in the coming days, once all of the US military assets heading to the Middle East are in place, a senior US official told Channel 12 on Thursday. Iran has repeatedly threatened to strike US targets and Israel if the US attacks.Trump’s goal in the strike and how he hopes to achieve it remain unclear, though he is reported to want to create conditions for “regime change.” Israeli officials do not believe that a limited US strike will bring down the Iranian regime, and Trump shares their assessment, according to Channel 12. Therefore, they assessed that Trump will focus a potential attack on physical Iranian assets, especially its nuclear and missile programs.The channel reported that Israel believes even a limited US strike would spur a significant Iranian attack on Israel, to which Jerusalem would respond forcefully.On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military would be prepared to carry out whatever Trump decides on Iran to ensure Tehran does not pursue nuclear weapons capability.“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities. We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects of the War Department,” Hegseth said, referring to the Trump administration’s unofficial renaming of the Defense Department.Amid the uncertainty, senior Saudi and Israeli defense and intelligence officials are in Washington, DC, this week for talks with the Trump administration over a potential Iran strike, Axios reported, citing two US officials and two other sources with knowledge.According to the outlet, Israeli officials, among them IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, are sharing intelligence on potential targets in Iran, whereas the Saudis are trying to head off a war through diplomatic means.Binder met senior Pentagon, CIA, and White House officials on Tuesday and Wednesday, said the two US officials. A source familiar with the details said that Binder brought specific information that the US requested.Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman — younger brother of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — was due to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and Friday.The Saudi crown prince has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran, state news agency SPA reported earlier this week.According to Axios, Saudi Arabia has been passing messages between Iran and the US in an effort to defuse the situation.Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, listens to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, center, as Chief of the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri attends their meeting in Tehran, Iran, on April 17, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)In addition to the Saudi push against an attack, Israel has identified massive pressure from Turkey, Qatar, and Oman on the White House to allow them to mediate between Washington and Tehran to find a diplomatic solution, said Channel 12.Turkey will offer to mediate between Washington and Tehran when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits on Friday, officials said. Ankara is assessing additional security precautions along the border if a US strike destabilizes the country, a senior Turkish official told AFP.Much of the 500-kilometer (310-mile) frontier is secured by a wall, but “it has proven insufficient,” said the official.But recent talks between Washington and Iran failed to make inroads on a deal to end the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and that has increased Trump’s openness to major intervention, CNN reported.A US naval strike group is in the Middle East, and Trump has warned it was “ready, willing and able” to hit Iran “if necessary.”Iran’s first vice president said, meanwhile, that it must be ready for war.“Today, we must be prepared for a state of war. Our strategy is that we will never start a war, but if it is imposed, we will defend ourselves,” First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.He added that Iran is “ready” for negotiations with the United States but said “this time we want guarantees,” without giving further details.On Thursday, army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia told state television, “A decisive response will be delivered instantly” in the event of a US attack.“If such a miscalculation is made by the Americans, it will certainly not unfold the way Trump imagines — carrying out a quick operation and then, two hours later, tweeting that the operation is over,” he warned.Russia keeps a close watch-Russian President Vladimir Putin told his UAE counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in Iran and wants to discuss it with him in talks at the Kremlin.Putin made the comment at the start of talks with the UAE president, whose country has recently hosted peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the potential for talks between the US and Iran had not yet been exhausted, and that any use of force against Tehran could create “chaos” in the region and lead to dangerous consequences.Russia is ready to evacuate its staff from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant if necessary, Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation, was cited as saying on Thursday by the state news agency TASS.Putin said last year that hundreds of Russians were working at the facility, Iran’s only operating nuclear power plant, which Moscow built for Iran.More nuclear facilities are currently being built at the Bushehr site by Russia.A US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June last year did not target Bushehr. Likhachev warned at the time that an attack on the site could trigger a catastrophe comparable to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.Iran to hold live fire exerciseIn more saber-rattling, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces will carry out live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on February 1 and February 2, Press TV reported.The Strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.A notice to mariners sent Thursday by radio warned that Iran planned to conduct “naval shooting” in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday. Two Pakistani security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists, also confirmed the warning had been sent.Iran did not immediately acknowledge the drill.On Tuesday, the US said it was to hold a multi-day aerial exercise in the Middle East.
Trump wants to create conditions for ‘regime change’ in Iran — US sources-CNN reports Iran balked at demand to curb its missile program, Trump wants powerful strike to force a deal; US, Israeli officials said to warn air power alone can’t topple theocracy By Reuters and ToI Staff 29 January 2026, 11:38 am
US President Donald Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters, multiple sources told Reuters, even as Israeli and Arab officials said air power alone would not topple the clerical rulers.According to CNN, talks between Washington and Iran failed to make inroads on a deal to end the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and that has increased Trump’s openness to a major intervention.Two US sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Trump wanted to create conditions for “regime change” after a crackdown crushed a nationwide protest movement earlier this month, killing thousands of people.To do so, he was looking at options to hit commanders and institutions that Washington holds responsible for the violence, to give protesters the confidence that they could overrun government and security buildings, they said.One of the US sources said the options being discussed by Trump’s aides also included a much larger strike intended to have a lasting impact, possibly against the nuclear or ballistic missile programs.The other US source said Trump has not yet made a final decision on a course of action, including whether to take the military path.Trump urged Iran on Wednesday to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons, warning that any future US attack would be more severe than the US’s bombing campaign against three nuclear sites that ended the Israel-Iran war in June. He described the ships in the region as an “armada” sailing to Iran.A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran was “preparing itself for a military confrontation, while at the same time making use of diplomatic channels.” However, Washington was not showing openness to diplomacy, the official said.Trump wants strike to force deal, as Tehran clings to missiles-Sources told CNN that US and Iranian officials earlier this month discussed a potential in-person meeting, but it never came to fruition.The report said Washington has demanded, as preconditions, a permanent end to Iran’s uranium enrichment, new limits on its ballistic missile program, and a stop to its support for regional proxy forces.According to CNN, Iran has balked at Washington’s demand for curbs to the missile program, and has said it will only negotiate on its nuclear program. The US hasn’t responded, leaving talks at a dead end, sources told the network.An official told CNN that Trump’s preferred scenario would be that a swift, powerful strike force Iran to accept American terms for a ceasefire.The arrival of a US aircraft carrier and supporting warships in the Middle East this week expanded the US president’s options for military action.But four Arab officials, three Western diplomats and a senior Western source told Reuters they were concerned that instead of bringing people onto the streets, American strikes could weaken Iranian opposition, as the population is already in shock.Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, said that without large-scale military defections, Iran’s protests remained “heroic but outgunned.”Iran’s foreign office, the US Department of Defense, and the White House did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined to comment to the outlet.Limits of air power-A senior Israeli official with direct knowledge of planning between Israel and the United States told Reuters that Israel does not believe airstrikes alone can bring down the Islamic Republic, if that is Washington’s goal.“If you’re going to topple the regime, you have to put boots on the ground,” the official said, adding that even if the United States killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran will “have a new leader that will replace him.”Only a combination of external pressure and an organized domestic opposition could shift Iran’s political trajectory, the official said.The Israeli official said Iran’s leadership had been weakened by the unrest but remained firmly in control despite the ongoing deep economic crisis that sparked the protests.Multiple US intelligence reports reached a similar conclusion that the conditions that led to the protests were still in place, weakening the government but without major fractures, two people familiar with the matter said.The senior Western source said they believed Trump’s goal appeared to be to engineer a change in leadership, rather than “topple the regime,” an outcome that would be similar to the recent American operation in Venezuela, which captured its president but has not pursued a wholesale change in government.Khamenei maintains control, but less visibly-At 86, Iran’s supreme leader has retreated from daily governance, reduced public appearances, and is believed to be residing in secure locations after Israeli strikes last year decimated many of Iran’s senior military leaders, regional officials said.Day-to-day management has shifted to figures aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including senior adviser Ali Larijani, they said. The powerful Guards dominate Iran’s security network and large parts of the economy.However, Khamenei retains final authority over war, succession and nuclear strategy, meaning political change is very difficult until he exits the scene, they said. Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to questions about Khamenei.In Washington and Jerusalem, some officials have argued that a transition in Iran could break the nuclear deadlock and eventually open the door to more cooperative ties with the West, two of the Western diplomats said.But, they cautioned, there is no clear successor to Khamenei. In that vacuum, the Arab officials and diplomats said they believe the IRGC could take over, entrenching hardline rule and deepening the nuclear standoff and regional tensions.Any successor seen as emerging under foreign pressure would be rejected and could strengthen, not weaken, the IRGC, the official said.Across the region, from the Gulf to Turkey, officials say they favor containment over collapse — not out of sympathy for Tehran, but out of fear that turmoil inside a nation of 90 million, riven by sectarian and ethnic fault lines, could unleash instability far beyond Iran’s borders.A fractured Iran could spiral into civil war as happened after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, two of the Western diplomats warned, unleashing an influx of refugees, fueling Islamist militancy and disrupting oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint.The gravest risk, analyst Vatanka warned, is fragmentation into “early-stage Syria,” with rival units and provinces fighting for territory and resources.Regional blowback-Gulf states, which are long‑time US allies and hosts to major American bases, fear they would be the first targets for Iranian retaliation that could include Iranian missiles or drone attacks from the Tehran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Egypt have lobbied Washington against a strike on Iran. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran.“The United States may pull the trigger,” one of the Arab sources said, “but it will not live with the consequences. We will.”Mohannad Hajj-Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the US deployments suggest planning has shifted from a single strike to something more sustained, driven by a belief in Washington and Jerusalem that Iran could rebuild its missile capabilities and eventually weaponize its enriched uranium.The most likely outcome is a “grinding erosion — elite defections, economic paralysis, contested succession — that frays the system until it snaps,” analyst Vatanka said.
US bases in the Middle East - possible targets for Iran?
Washington, United States, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2026-The United States and Iran appear to be moving closer to military conflict, with President Donald Trump saying Washington is "ready, willing and able" to strike its arch-foe, and Tehran vowing a "crushing response."Retaliation by Tehran to a US attack would likely target some of the tens of thousands of American troops deployed across the Middle East, with Iran's army spokesman warning that Washington has numerous bases "within the range of our medium-range missiles."Below, AFP examines major concentrations of US forces in the Middle East, which fall under the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM).- Bahrain -The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts an installation known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based.Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircraft carriers, and the US Navy has used the base in the country since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy.Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including anti-mine vessels and logistical support ships.- Iraq -The United States has troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State group, but their mission is due to end by September under a deal between Washington and Baghdad.American forces have already completed their withdrawal from facilities in federal Iraq -- whose government is a close ally of Iran, but also a strategic partner of Washington -- under the same agreement.US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided.- Kuwait -Kuwait has several US bases, including Camp Arifjan, the location of the forward headquarters for the US Army component of CENTCOM. The US Army also has stocks of equipment and supplies in the country.Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military describes as the "primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces" in the region. Additionally, the United States has drones including MQ-9 Reapers in Kuwait.- Qatar -Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar includes the forward components of CENTCOM, as well the command's air forces and special operations forces.It also hosts rotating combat aircraft, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military says includes "airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets."Iran fired missiles at Al Udeid last June following US strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.- Syria -The United States has for years maintained troops in Syria as part of international efforts against the Islamic State group, which rose out of the country's civil war to overrun large parts of that country and neighboring Iraq.Highlighting the dangers American forces in the country face, two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria in December in an attack blamed on the Islamic State group.- United Arab Emirates -Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE hosts the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, a force that is composed of 10 squadrons of aircraft and also includes drones such as MQ-9 Reapers.Combat aircraft have rotated through Al Dhafra, which also hosts the US Air Forces' hub for "advanced air warfare training."
Iran blasts EU 'mistake' after Guards terror designation.
Paris, France, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2026-Iran reacted with fury on Thursday after the EU blacklisted the country's Revolutionary Guards as a terror group, as Tehran faced off with Washington after US President Donald Trump warned time was running out for a nuclear deal.The European Union piled on mounting pressure on Iran on Thursday by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a "terrorist organisation" over a deadly crackdown on recent mass protests"'Terrorist' is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people's protests in blood," said EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, welcoming the "overdue" decision.Though largely symbolic, the EU decision has already drawn a warning from Tehran that it would have "destructive consequences".Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called it a "another major strategic mistake" after key European powers last year triggered the return of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.Iran's military slammed "the illogical, irresponsible and spite-driven action of the European Union", alleging the bloc was acting out of "obedience" to Tehran's arch-foes the United States and Israel.Iranian officials have blamed the recent protest wave on the two countries, claiming their agents spurred "riots" and a "terrorist operation" that hijacked peaceful rallies sparked over economic grievances.Rights groups have said thousands of people were killed during the protests by security forces, including the IRGC -- the ideological arm of Tehran's military.Trump had threatened military action if protesters were killed in the anti-government demonstrations that erupted in late December and peaked on January 8 and 9.But his recent statements have turned to Iran's nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at making an atomic bomb.- Diplomatic push -On Wednesday he said "time is running out" for Tehran to make a deal, warning a US naval strike group that arrived in Middle East waters on Monday was "ready, willing and able" to hit Iran.The United States had hit Iranian nuclear targets when it briefly joined Israel's war against Iran in June.Iranian officials have also ratcheted up warnings that Tehran would respond forcefully to any US military action, while not ruling out diplomatic solutions.Iran's army chief Amir Hatami on Thursday vowed a "crushing response" to any attack, according to state television, which reported 1,000 "strategic drones" had joined the combat regiments.Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the country "must be prepared for a state of war", according to the official IRNA news agency."Our strategy is that we will never start a war, but if it is imposed, we will defend ourselves," he said, adding that Iran was "ready" for negotiations with the United States but wanted unspecified guarantees.The face-off has sent diplomatic shock waves across the region, with calls for negotiations to defuse tensions drawing in key regional actors.An official in the Gulf -- where states host US military sites -- told AFP that fears of a US strike on Iran are "very clear"."It would bring the region into chaos, it would hurt the economy not just in the region but in the US and cause oil and gas prices to skyrocket," the official added.Turkey said it would offer to mediate between Washington and Tehran during an upcoming visit by Araghchi, after Ankara's top diplomat urged Washington to start nuclear talks with Tehran.Iran ally Russia on Thursday also said "the potential for negotiations is not exhausted"."Any use of force can only create chaos in the region and lead to very dangerous consequences," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.- Region doesn't need 'new war' -Despite the EU's IRGC designation and addition of another 15 Iranian officials and six entities to its asset freeze and visa ban blacklist, the bloc's top diplomat warned the United States against starting a new Middle East conflict."When it comes to attacks, then I think the region does not need a new war," foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.However, she hit out at Iran's clerical leadership, saying on X that "any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise".The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has confirmed 6,373 people were killed in the protests, as internet restrictions imposed on January 8 continue to slow verification.But rights groups warn the toll is likely far higher, with estimates in the tens of thousands.Iranian authorities acknowledge that thousands were killed during the protests, giving a toll of more than 3,000 deaths, but say the majority were members of the security forces or bystanders killed by "rioters".Billboards and banners have gone up in the capital Tehran to bolster the authorities' messages. One massive poster appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.
Where does Iraq stand as US turns up heat on Iran?
Baghdad, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2026-Faced with political deadlock, open American meddling and the threat of war across its borders, is Iraq being dragged back to darker times after achieving hard-won stability?After decades of conflict and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of normalcy, yet its politics is haunted by the struggle to balance relations with its two main allies, Iran and the United States.Washington makes no secret of its will to interfere in Iraqi domestic decision-making. While Iraqis discussed choosing their next premier, US representatives lobbied.Then President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum: the US would end its support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki, a powerful politician close to Iran, returned as prime minister.In the view of Iraqi analyst Ihsan al-Shamari, "Trump's administration does not distinguish between Iran and Iraq, instead it treats them as a single, inseparable issue."- What happened? -In November last year, Iraq held its general election.Last week, after intense talks among political leaders, the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite groups with varying ties to Iran, endorsed Maliki as Iraq's next prime minister.Maliki was Iraq's only two-term prime minister, serving between 2006 and 2014).He first enjoyed the support of the then US occupation, but later fell out with Washington over his growing ties with Iran and allegations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.Coming from Iraq's largest Shiite parliamentary bloc, this nomination would normally secure the candidate the post.But Trump's meddling has muddied the waters.Talks are still underway within the Coordination Framework to find a way out, a source close to the Shiite alliance told AFP, adding that it is a "complicated situation."Iraqi leaders are divided: some want Maliki to retreat to protect Iraq from Trump's threats.Others insist on standing their ground and rejecting American interference.An Iraqi official close to Maliki said he is not seeking confrontation. Instead, his team is working to reach an understanding with the US."The situation is difficult, but not impossible," he said. "It will take time."- What's at stake? -The US wields leverage over Iraq as its oil export revenues are largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, in an arrangement reached after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.Many US companies invest in Iraq, and the government of incumbent PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who enjoys a good relationship with Washington, has been hoping for more investment, especially in the oil sector, which provides about 90 percent of Iraq's revenue.The source, close to the framework, said there are serious concerns that Trump could impose sanctions on Iraq if Maliki returns to office.But Iraq is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US, which has already taken action against several Iraqi entities, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions.Shamari warned that if Iraq continues its current approach towards Iran, it will risk "isolation through sanctions or Trump's maximum pressure campaign, which would extend to the economy and financial systems."- War next door? -In Iraq, keeping Iran at bay is not easy.Since the US-led invasion, Iran has seen its Shiite allies installed in Baghdad's halls of power.Today, it not only backs influential politicians but also supports armed groups.US-sanctioned and Iran-aligned armed groups have long vowed to intervene to defend the Islamic Republic, although they did not fire a bullet during the last Iran-Israel war.Today, with Trump threatening a possible strike on Iran, two of these groups say they are ready for war, even opening recruitment offices for those willing to die for the cause.Shamari warned that a US war on Iran might turn Iraq into "a battleground, a base for retaliation, or a tool of military pressure."Washington's threats "to topple the regime, target the Iranian Supreme Leader, or of a military strike ... will significantly affect Iraq at all levels," he said.If the Iranian regime changes, "Iran-aligned forces in Iraq will be forced into a political and military struggle for survival."It might lead to a restructuring of Iraq's political system.
Iran vows to resist any US attack, insists ready for nuclear deal By Stuart Williams.
Paris, France (AFP) Jan 28, 2026-Iran's foreign minister warned Wednesday its forces would respond immediately and forcefully to any US military operation after President Donald Trump declared time was running out to avoid one, but did not rule out a new deal on Tehran's nuclear programme.The Islamic republic's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi warned its forces have their "fingers on the trigger" to "powerfully respond" to any US strikes, but also used language strikingly similar to Trump's to describe a possible agreement to defuse the stand-off through a new nuclear deal."Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL -- on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation -- which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS," Araghchi posted on X."Such weapons have no place in our security calculations and we have NEVER sought to acquire them," he added, restating Tehran's long-standing insistence -- dismissed by sceptical Western capitals -- that its nuclear programme is focused only on research and civilian energy development.Earlier, before Trump's latest declaration, Araghchi had said "conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful".But if some saw his shift in tone as an opening, Ali Shamkani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted more stark language warning of conflict and strikes on US ally Israel."A limited strike is an illusion," he posted on X."Any military action, from America from any origin and at any level, will be considered the start of war, and its response will be immediate, all-out and unprecedented, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and all supporters of the aggressor."- 'Massive armada' -Hours earlier, Trump had warned that a "massive armada" of US naval vessels was heading to waters off Iran and ready "to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary".But, mirroring Trump's language, Araghchi added: "Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal -- NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- one that is good for all parties."After Trump issued his latest threat, his top diplomat Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Iranian leadership was at its weakest ever point and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz predicted the Islamic republic's "days are numbered" after this month's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.Separately, Germany's ally France joined Berlin in backing a push for the European Union to declare Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a "terrorist organisation".The IRGC is seen as Iran's ideological army with the mandate to ensure the survival of the 1979 Islamic revolution.It is already designated as a terror group by Canada and the United States, but not yet by the EU or UK.Anti-government protests erupted in late December and peaked on January 8 and 9. A rights group said more than 6,200 people were killed.Washington has expressed support for the revolt, but Trump's recent statements have focused more on Iran's nuclear programme than the fate of the demonstrators.In June last year the US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war against the Islamic republic.- 'Severe damage' -Analysts say US options include strikes on military facilities or targeted hits against the leadership under Khamenei, in a full-scale bid to bring down the system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the shah.Following a call on Tuesday between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and de facto Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iran reached out to other US allies in the region.The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also foreign minister and expressed support for "efforts aimed at reducing escalation", Qatar's foreign ministry said.Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meanwhile held separate calls with both Araghchi and Witkoff, and stressed the need to "work towards de-escalation", the Egyptian foreign ministry said.- 'New dimensions of crackdown' -In an updated toll, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed that 6,221 people had been killed, including 5,856 protesters, 100 minors, 214 members of the security forces and 49 bystanders.But the group added it was still investigating another 17,091 possible fatalities. At least 42,324 people have been arrested, it said.HRANA warned that security forces were searching hospitals for wounded protesters, saying this highlighted "new dimensions of the continued security crackdown".Monitor Netblocks on Wednesday said internet connectivity was back to around 95 percent nearly three weeks after the blackout was imposed by authorities, but cautioned users still faced "heavy filtering".
Trump threatens Iran over nuclear talks, says 'time is running out'
Washington, United States (AFP) Jan 28, 2026 - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed threats to attack Iran, saying "time is running out" to make a deal on nuclear weapons, after Tehran rejected talks."Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS -- one that is good for all parties. Time is running out," the US leader said in a social media post, noting that "a massive armada is heading to Iran.""As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn't, and there was 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse!"The dialing up of threats came after Iran's top diplomat said the country would not come to the table under the shadow of military action."Conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in televised comments on Wednesday. "If they want negotiations to take shape, they must certainly set aside threats, excessive demands and raising illogical issues."Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington backed and joined Israel's 12-day war in June aimed at degrading Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programs.Earlier this month, he threatened to strike Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. But the prospect of immediate American action seemed to recede in recent days, with both sides insisting on giving diplomacy a chance.With a US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier lurking in the region, top Iranian officials also reached out to key Arab states in behind-the-scenes diplomacy to rally support.A strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln has now arrived in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said, without revealing its precise location.
Turkey urges US to start nuclear talks with Iran.
Istanbul (AFP) Jan 28, 2026 - Turkey's top diplomat urged Washington to start nuclear talks with Iran in an interview broadcast Wednesday, as US warships arrived in the region amid fears of a strike over Tehran's protest crackdown."It's wrong to attack Iran. It's wrong to start the war again. Iran is ready to negotiate on the nuclear file again," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television."My advice has always been to our American friends: close the files one by one with the Iranians. Start with the nuclear issue and close it. Then move on to the others."Fidan's comments came after a US naval force led by an aircraft carrier took up position in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said on Monday, without revealing its precise location.Washington has not ruled out a new military intervention against Tehran over its harsh response this month to protests, which according to rights groups has left thousands dead.Since Iran began its crackdown, accompanied by a nationwide internet blackout, US President Donald Trump has given mixed signals on intervention.NATO member Turkey, which shares a 530-kilometre (330-mile) border with Iran, has often expressed opposition to military operations targeting the Islamic Republic.Last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the unrest in Iran as a "new test" for Tehran, pledging Turkey would "stand against any initiative" that would drag the region into chaos.He said he hoped diplomacy and dialogue would help Iran get through this "trap-filled period".In a phone call on Wednesday, Fidan and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi evaluated "efforts to reduce tensions in light of recent developments in the region", a Turkish diplomatic source said.Speaking to Al-Jazeera, Fidan said problems with Iran should be tackled individually."Do not treat them as a package. If you put everything together as one package, it will be very difficult for our Iranian friends to digest and truly process it," he said."In some cases, it may even seem humiliating for them. It would be hard to explain not only to themselves but also to their leadership."The minister made similar comments Friday. He told Turkey's NTV he had visited Tehran late last year, urging them to "take steps" and he believed a nuclear agreement with Washington was "possible"."A friend tells the bitter truth and I said what needed to be said," he said.Fidan also urged Iran to build trust. "When I was in Iran two months ago, I was very frank with my Iranian friends. They need to build trust in the region," he told Al-Jazeera."They need to pay attention to how they are perceived by regional countries".
INVENTION OF THE ATOMIC BOMB.
2 PETER 3:10-11
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements (NUKES) shall melt with fervent heat,(BLAST) the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.(BUT ITS NO END OF THE WORLD HOGWASH)
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,(BY NUKES INCLUDING 3 BILLION PEOPLE) what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL BE USED.
JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US THAT WE CAN BE SAVED FOREVER.AND DURING WW3 PEOPLES BLOOD WILL BE SHED AS A JUDGEMENT FOR HATING HIM AND ISRAEL.GOD IS NOT MOCKED.
ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
PSALMS 97:3
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
EZEKIEL 5:15-17
15 So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the (ARAB/MUSLIM) nations that are round about thee,(ISRAEL) when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
16 When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17 So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts,(WHEN RUSSIA/MUSLIMS GET DEFEATED THIER BODIES GET EATEN BY BIRDS,ANIMALS IN ISRAEL MIGRATION SEASON) and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee;(NUKES) and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.
REVELATION 14:18-20
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city,(JERUSALEM) and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.(200 MILES) (THE SIZE OF ISRAEL)
ISAIAH 66:15-18
15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire,(NUKES) and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
ISAIAH 26:21
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:(GOD/ISRAEL HATE AND BRAKING OF HIS COMMANDMENTS) the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.(WW3,1/2 earths population die - 3 BILLION).
ISAIAH 13:6-13 KJV
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:(FROM FRIGHT)
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
ISAIAH 24:17-23 KJV
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous (DANGEROUS) times shall come.
JOEL 2:3,30
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
REVELATION 9:18
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(ATOMIC BOMBS)(RUSSIA CHINA DESTROYED BY ISRAELS ATOMIC BOMBS)
REVELATION 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Doomsday Clock' moves closer to midnight, a year into Trump term-By Shaun TANDON.
Washington, United States (AFP) Jan 27, 2026-The "Doomsday Clock" representing how near humanity is to catastrophe on Tuesday moved closer than ever to midnight as concerns mount on nuclear weapons, climate change and disinformation.The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which set up the metaphorical clock at the start of the Cold War, moved its time to 85 seconds to midnight -- four seconds closer than a year ago.The announcement comes a year into President Donald Trump's second term, in which he has shattered norms -- ordering unilateral attacks abroad, deploying force at home in defiance of local authorities and withdrawing from a slew of international organizations.Russia, China, the United States and other major countries have "become increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic," said a statement announcing the clock shift, determined after consultations with a board that includes eight Nobel laureates."Hard-won global understandings are collapsing, accelerating a winner-takes-all great power competition and undermining the international cooperation critical to reducing the risks of nuclear war, climate change, the misuse of biotechnology, the potential threat of artificial intelligence and other apocalyptic dangers."The Doomsday Clock board warned of heightened risks of a nuclear arms race, with the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia set to expire next week."For the first time in over half a century, there will be nothing preventing a runaway nuclear arms race," Daniel Holz, a University of Chicago physicist who chairs the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, told a virtual news conference.Trump has threatened to resume nuclear testing and is pushing a costly "Golden Dome" missile defense system that would further militarize space.- Minnesota approach spells conflict -The board members also voiced alarm over Trump's crackdown in Minnesota, where he has deployed a phalanx of masked, armed anti-immigration agents who have aggressively repressed protesters and shot dead two people."History has shown that when governments become unaccountable to their own citizens, conflict and misery follow," Holz said.The board also noted record emission levels of carbon dioxide, the key driver of the planet's warming temperatures, as Trump sharply reverses US policy on fighting climate change and a number of other countries have backtracked in turn.Underpinning the threats, board members warned of a dangerous fracturing of global trust."We are living through an information Armageddon -- the crisis beneath all crises -- driven by extractive and predatory technology that spreads lies faster than facts and profits from our division," said Maria Ressa, the Filipina investigative journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner who faced intense pressure from iron-fisted former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, now awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court.Ressa pointed to Trump's use of force in Minnesota and threats to seize Greenland as examples of losing "the battle for information integrity" with memes turning into reality."The men who control the platforms that shape what billions believe have merged with the men who control governments and militaries," she said.The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded by Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer and other nuclear scientists at the University of Chicago, initially placed the clock at seven minutes to midnight in 1947.It was moved closer last year but by only one second, amid guarded hopes on newly reinaugurated Trump's promises to pursue peace and cooperation."The problem is that rhetoric has not matched actions at all," said Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin.
North Korea to soon unveil 'next-stage' nuclear plans, Kim says-By Kang Jin-kyu.
Seoul (AFP) Jan 28, 2026-North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will unveil plans to bolster his nuclear forces at an upcoming ruling party meeting, state media reported Wednesday, after a missile launch he said would bring "excruciating mental agony" to his enemies.The landmark congress of North Korea's ruling Workers Party is expected in the coming weeks and is its first in five years.Kim has ordered the "expansion" and modernisation of the country's missile production ahead of that meeting.Overseeing a ballistic missile test on Tuesday, Kim said the party congress "will clarify the next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country's nuclear war deterrent", the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.Kim, accompanied by senior North Korean officials as well as his young daughter, watched the test-firing of a "large-caliber" multiple rocket launcher that fired four missiles, KCNA said."The result and significance of this test will be a source of excruciating mental agony and serious threat to the forces that attempt to provoke a military confrontation with us," Kim said.While acknowledging that development of the rocket launcher system had "not been plain sailing", Kim said the test was "of great significance in improving the effectiveness of our strategic deterrent".Photos released by state media showed Kim and his daughter, who analysts believe is called Ju Ae, watching the missile launch.The rockets "hit a target" in waters 358.5 kilometres (222.7 miles) away, according to the North Korean leader.The ballistic missiles were fired toward the Sea of Japan, with two missiles landing outside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, Japanese state news agency Jiji Press had reported, citing defence ministry sources.Lee Ho-ryung, principal researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told AFP the upcoming congress would likely see Kim announce "that the goal is now to maximise nuclear operational prowess"."Kim Jong Un has used past party congresses to stress the completion of the country's nuclear capability, and this time he is expected to declare that such capability has now reached its peak," she said.- Second test in January -The test was Pyongyang's second of the month, following a volley of missiles fired hours before South Korea's leader headed to China for a summit.It followed a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon's number three official, Elbridge Colby, who hailed South Korea as a "model ally".Ties between the United States and South Korea, longstanding treaty allies, were forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War.Washington still stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against the nuclear-armed North."Pyongyang may have been signalling to Washington that it possesses response capabilities on an entirely different level from those of countries such as Venezuela," Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.Last month, Kim bashed Seoul's push to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines with the United States, calling it a "threat" that "must be countered".During his first term, US President Donald Trump met with Kim three times, in an effort to reach a denuclearisation deal.
'They poisoned us': grappling with deadly impact of nuclear testing By Nina LARSON.
Geneva (AFP) Jan 22, 2026-Nuclear weapons testing has affected every single human on the planet, causing at least four million premature deaths from cancer and other diseases over time, according to a new report delving into the deadly legacy.More than 2,400 nuclear devices were detonated in tests conducted worldwide between 1945 and 2017.Of the nine countries known to possess nuclear weapons -- Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea -- only Pyongyang has conducted nuclear tests since the 1990s.But a new report from the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) humanitarian organisation, provided exclusively to AFP, details how the effects of past tests are still being felt worldwide."They poisoned us," Hinamoeura Cross, a 37-year-old Tahitian parliamentarian who was aged seven when France detonated its last nuclear explosion near her home in French Polynesia in 1996.Seventeen years later, she was diagnosed with leukaemia, in a family where her grandmother, mother and aunt already suffered from thyroid cancer.The explosions are known to have caused enduring and widespread harm to human health, societies and ecosystems.But the NPA report details over 304 pages how an ongoing culture of secrecy, along with lacking international engagement and a dearth of data, have left many affected communities scrambling for answers."Past nuclear testing continues to kill today," said NPA chief Raymond Johansen, voicing hope the report would "strengthen the resolve to prevent nuclear weapons from ever being tested or used again".- 'Very dangerous' -The issue has gained fresh relevance after US President Donald Trump's suggestion last November that Washington could resume nuclear testing, accusing Russia and China of already doing so -- charges they rejected."This is very, very, very dangerous," warned Ivana Hughes, a Columbia University chemistry lecturer and head of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, who contributed to the NPA report."The nuclear testing period shows us that the consequences are extremely long-lasting and very serious," she told AFP.The heaviest burden of past tests has fallen on communities living near test sites, today located in 15 different countries, including many former colonies of nuclear-armed states.Survivors there continue to face elevated rates of illness, congenital anomalies and trauma.The impact is also felt globally."Every person alive today carries radioactive isotopes from atmospheric testing in their bones," report co-author and University of South Carolina anthropology professor Magdalena Stawkowski told AFP.- Millions of early deaths -Hundreds of thousands of people around the globe are known to have already died from illnesses linked to past nuclear test detonations, the report highlighted.It pointed to strong scientific evidence connecting radiation exposure to DNA damage, cancer, cardiovascular disease and genetic effects, even at low doses."The risks that radiation poses are really much greater than previously thought," report co-author Tilman Ruff told AFP.The atmospheric tests alone, which were conducted up to 1980, are expected over time to cause at least two million excess cancer deaths, he said.And "the same number of additional early deaths (are expected) from heart attacks and strokes", said Ruff, a Melbourne University public health fellow and co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.Ionising radiation, or particles that can snap DNA bonds in cells and turn them cancerous, is "intensely biologically harmful", he said."There is no level below which there are no effects".The risks are not uniform, with foetuses and young children most affected, and girls and women 52-percent more susceptible to the cancer-inducing effects of radiation than boys and men.- Culture of secrecy -The NPA report documented a persistent culture of secrecy among states that had tested nuclear weapons.In Kiribati, for instance, studies by Britain and the United States on health and environmental impacts remain classified, preventing victims from learning what was done to them.And in Algeria, the precise sites where France buried radioactive waste after its tests there remain undisclosed, the report said.None of the nuclear-armed states has ever apologised for the tests, and even in cases where they eventually acknowledged damage, the report said compensation schemes have tended to "function more to limit liability than to help victims in good faith".Local communities, meanwhile, frequently lack adequate healthcare and health screening, as well as basic risk education -- leaving people unaware of the dangers or how to protect themselves."The harm is underestimated, it's under-communicated, and it's under-addressed," Stawkowski said.- 'Guinea pigs' -When Cross was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 24, she did not immediately blame the nuclear explosions in French Polynesia decades earlier."France's propaganda was very powerful," she told AFP, adding that in school she had only learned about the tests' positive economic impact for France's South Pacific islands and atolls.She was later "shocked" to discover that rather than a handful of harmless "tests", France conducted 193 explosions in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1996.The biggest was around 200 times more powerful than the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima in 1945."These weren't just tests. They were real bombs," she said, charging that her people had been treated as "guinea pigs" for decades.- 'Trauma' -Other communities near test sites have also borne a heavy burden.Hughes pointed to the impact of the United States' 15-megaton Bravo test at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands on March 1, 1954 -- "equivalent to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs -- an absolute monstrosity".It vaporised one island and exposed thousands nearby to radioactive fallout.Rongelap, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Bikini, saw "vaporised coral atoll mixed in with radioactive isotopes falling onto the island from the sky, with the children thinking it was snow", Hughes said.The report criticised the "minimal" international response to the problem.It especially highlighted the nuclear-armed states' responsibility to scale up efforts to assess needs, assist victims and clean up contaminated environments."We want to understand what happened to us," Cross said."We want to heal from this trauma."
US lawmakers say Nvidia AI tech 'powering China's military'
Washington, United States, Jan 30 (AFP) Jan 30, 2026-A group of US lawmakers issued a warning Thursday over allowing tech giant Nvidia to sell advanced chips in China, alleging that its support to AI startup DeepSeek has helped boost Chinese military capabilities."When Nvidia technology ends up powering China's military, that's not innovation; it's a security failure," the Select Committee on China said in an X post."Nvidia's products were used by DeepSeek and ended up supporting an AI model used by the PLA," it said, referring to China's People's Liberation Army.California-based Nvidia is the world's most valuable company because its artificial intelligence chips are in such huge demand.But it has been caught in a geopolitical tussle between the United States and China as they compete in the fast-moving AI sector.An Nvidia spokesperson hit back at the claim, saying China "has more than enough domestic chips for all of its military applications, with millions to spare," and "it makes no sense for the Chinese military to depend on American technology.""The administration's critics are unintentionally promoting the interests of foreign competitors," they added.The post from the 23-member bipartisan committee included a copy of a letter addressed to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, detailing the allegations."Documents provided to the committee reveal Nvidia provided extensive technical support that enabled DeepSeek -- now integrated into People's Liberation Army (PLA) systems and a demonstrated cyber security risk -- to achieve frontier AI capabilities," it said.Last year, a low-cost generative AI model from China's DeepSeek, on par with US rivals, upended assumptions of American dominance in the fast-moving field.The committee's letter, dated Wednesday, said Nvidia had treated DeepSeek "as a legitimate commercial partner deserving of standard technical support."But DeepSeek routes Americans' data to the Chinese government "through infrastructure tied to a US-designated Chinese military company," it said.The letter also mentioned a Jamestown Foundation report from October, which cited PLA procurement documents to conclude that the Chinese military was using homegrown AI systems including DeepSeek, and planned to integrate it across its operations.The lawmakers called for "clarifying guidance" on President Donald Trump's move to allow a high-end Nvidia AI chip, the H200 model, to be sold in China, softening restrictions imposed by his predecessor Joe Biden's administration.Measures should be taken "to prevent prohibited end users from gaining the type of access the PLA gained from DeepSeek," they said.
IAEA board meets over Ukraine nuclear safety concerns.
Vienna, Jan 30 (AFP) Jan 30, 2026-The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors will meet Friday to discuss nuclear safety in Ukraine, with several countries expressing "growing concern" over volatile conditions at Ukrainian power plants.Energy supply to Ukraine's nuclear plants has repeatedly been affected as Russia has pounded its neighbour's energy sector since the start of its invasion, prompting fears of a nuclear disaster.Following a series of attacks, 13 countries led by the Netherlands asked for the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "meet with regard to the latest developments in Ukraine and their nuclear safety implications"."Our delegations share a growing concern about the severity and urgency of nuclear safety risks posed by this situation," the IAEA members said in a letter dated January 21 seen by AFP."The latest attacks have caused significant additional damage to energy infrastructure in Ukraine which is deemed essential for the safe operation of nuclear power plants," the letter added.Last week, Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power.Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia, occupied by Russian forces since March 2022, has also been repeatedly affected by fighting.Earlier this month, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a localised ceasefire to allow repairs on the last remaining backup power line supplying Zaporizhzhia.The line was damaged and disconnected as a result of military activity in early January.The Zaporizhzhia plant's six reactors have been shut down since the occupation. But the site still needs electricity to maintain its cooling and security systems.Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused the other of risking a nuclear catastrophe by attacking the site.
Greece, France working to renew defence pact.
Salamina, Greece, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2026-The defence ministers of Greece and France on Thursday said their countries were working to renew a 2021 defence cooperation agreement, under which Athens has purchased significant quantities of French-made weapons."We agreed with the minister to finalise the renewal of this agreement very quickly, within one to two months," Greece's Nikos Dendias said after talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.The discussions were held at the naval base of Salamina on board the Kimon, a French-made Belharra frigate that sailed to Greece earlier this month.Athens has agreed to purchase four Belharra defence and intervention frigates (FDI), having already ordered 24 Rafale fighter jets.It has announced plans to spend a total of 25 billion euros ($30 billion) through 2036 in what conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called the "most drastic" defence overhaul in modern Greek history.The drive, which includes a new anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone defensive dome called "Achilles's Shield", is aimed at addressing rapidly changing geopolitical challenges and fraying transatlantic ties, the government has said.Greece has traditionally invested at least two percent of gross domestic product on defence -- NATO's longstanding spending target until recently -- owing to decades of tension with regional rival Turkey.
China defence minister vows greater 'strategic coordination' with Russia-by AFP Staff Writers.
Beijing (AFP) Jan 27, 2026-China's Defence Minister Dong Jun told his Russian counterpart that the two countries should "strengthen strategic coordination" during a video call on Tuesday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.The call came days after negotiators from Russia and Ukraine met to discuss a US-brokered plan to end the war -- nearly four years after Moscow's invasion -- which Western governments accuse Beijing of enabling."China is willing to work with Russia to ... strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the substance of cooperation, improve exchange mechanisms," Dong told his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov, according to CCTV.Dong also said the two countries should "jointly enhance the ability to respond to various risks and challenges and join hands to inject positive energy into global security and stability".There was no mention of the Ukraine conflict in the readout reported by CCTV or in a statement from Russia's defence ministry."Since our last meeting in June of last year, many events have occurred that have significantly affected the international situation," Belousov was quoted as saying in the statement."The examples of Venezuela and Iran require our agencies to continuously analyse the security situation and take appropriate action," he added.Belousov also said the meeting would "further strengthen our bilateral strategic partnership".China and Russia are close partners, and while Beijing has said it takes a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, it has never condemned the invasion.Western governments accuse Beijing of providing Russia with crucial economic support for its war effort, notably by supplying military components for its defence industry.Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday to discuss a peace plan pushed by US President Donald Trump.Trump has also pointed to the threat of Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic as part of the reason for his desire to acquire Greenland.
Cuba defends military drills as deterrent against US aggression; Lebanon PM says international force needed after Unifil by AFP Staff Writers.
Havana (AFP) Jan 25, 2026-Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel defended his country's military preparedness exercises on Saturday as a deterrent against potential aggression from the United States.US President Donald Trump this month warned that Cuba "is ready to fall" and told Havana to "make a deal" or pay a price similar to Venezuela, whose ousted leader Nicolas Maduro was taken to America by US forces in a January 3 bombing raid that killed dozens of people.Venezuela was a key ally of Cuba and a critical supplier of oil and money, which Trump has vowed to cut off.Diaz-Canel on Saturday supervised military exercises that included a tank unit from Cuba's armed forces.He was accompanied by Cuban General Alvaro Lopez Miera, who is the minister of the armed forces, and other high-ranking military officials."The best way to prevent aggression is for imperialism to have to calculate the price of attacking our country," Diaz-Canel said in remarks broadcast on Cuban television."And that has a lot to do with our preparation for this type of military action... This takes on significant importance in the current circumstances," he added.Cuba's National Defense Council, which is led by Diaz-Canel, recently met "with the objective of increasing and improving the level of preparedness and cohesion" among the country's leadership, according to an official government statement.The council met to "analyze and approve the plans and measures for transitioning to a State of War," the statement added, without providing further details.These military exercises are part of the country's preparation "under the strategic concept of the War of the Entire People," a term used by authorities for the mobilization of civilians in the event of armed conflict.
Lebanon PM says international force needed after Unifil.
Paris, France (AFP) Jan 24, 2026 - Lebanon will need some sort of international force after the withdrawal of the United Nations's Unifil mission scheduled for 2027, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said during a visit to Paris Saturday.Some 10,800 UN peacekeepers have manned a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon since March 1978, but they will have one year to leave Lebanon starting 31 December, under a resolution passed last August under pressure from the United States and Israel."We will always need an international presence in the south, and preferably a UN presence, given the impartiality and neutrality that only the UN can provide," Nawaf Salam said the day after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.The force would need a mix of observers and peacekeepers, largely because of a "history of hostility" with Israel, he added.UN peacekeepers current operate in southern Lebanon in cooperation with the Lebanese army, part of a ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah in place since November 2024.While Israel was supposed to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, it has maintained them in five areas it considers strategic.It regularly conducts airstrikes in the country on what it claims are Hezbollah sites and members, whom it accuses of rearming.Questioned about Hezbollah's promised disarmament, Salam said Phase 2 of this process had begun "two weeks ago".The Lebanese army says it has completed the first phase, which calls for disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River.The second phase will involve disarmament between the Litani and the Awali River, an area further north that has significant Hezbollah influence."I can clearly see that Phase 2 has different requirements than Phase 1," said Salam, adding that Hezbollah's rhetoric had been "rather harsh"."But let me be clear, we will not back down," he added.
David Parsons: Why Christian Zionists support a strong Israel-After a patriarchs’ letter set off an interconfessional fight between churches over Israel, ICEJ Senior VP explains what is behind Christian backing and why Jews should embrace it-Lazar Berman- David Parsons. Today, 9:00 am-JAN 30,26
Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what’s behind the news that spins the globe.On January 17, a statement from heads of Jerusalem churches touched off a firestorm. It blasted Christian Zionism, leading to an online fight over religious authority, divine promises, and ecclesial divisions.Christian Zionists, including US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, fought back, releasing robust defenses of their theology and love for Israel and the Jewish people.ICEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons, who has lived in Israel for over two decades, explains why Christian Zionists back Israel, and what it has to do with the nature of God’s promises. He addresses the charge that Christian Zionists are secretly trying to get Jews back to Israel to spark the Armageddon, and answers questions about whether they take sides in partisan issues in Israel.Parsons reveals surprising details on the effectiveness of ICEJ as a diplomatic tool for Israel, and why continued US support for Israel depends on the tens of millions of Christian Zionists.Moving to a lighter topic, Parsons discusses the ICEJ’s keystone event, the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, in which thousands of Christians from dozens of countries come to march in the capital — even at the height of the war against Hamas.
Israeli settler leader lauds Jewish prayer at contested West Bank tomb.
Nablus, Palestinian Territories, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2026-Around 1,500 Israeli Jews prayed at a contested tomb in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Thursday morning, and a settler leader hailed an "important step" towards establishing Israeli sovereignty over the site.Jews believe Joseph's Tomb in the north of the Palestinian territory is the burial site of the Biblical patriarch Joseph. Muslims consider it the burial place of a local religious figure.The entry of Jewish pilgrims often sparks clashes with Palestinians, who claim the visits are a provocation.Thursday's prayer was exceptional as worshippers performed the Jewish morning service known as the Shacharit, which is celebrated after sunrise.For a quarter of a century, Israeli authorities have only allowed Jews to come and pray at the site at night."This is a significant and important step toward... ensuring the full return of the people of Israel and the State of Israel to this holy place," said Yossi Dagan, the head of the Shomron regional council which administers Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank."For the first time in 25 years, Jews prayed in broad daylight at Joseph's Tomb," the council said in a statement.The tomb lies within the built up area of Nablus in the West Bank's Area A, which under the Oslo Accords signed in the 1990s falls under the administration of the Palestinian Authority.- Dawn prayer -Since the Israeli military vacated the site in 2000, Jewish pilgrims can only visit in groups escorted by troops.AFP footage from the site on Thursday morning showed crowds of Jewish pilgrims praying, some wearing small leather boxes called tefillin, containing religious verses, on their heads.The Israeli army has long supervised the entry of ultra-Orthodox Jews for a nighttime prayer on the first day of each month of the Hebrew calendar.But Israeli media reported that, in December, Defence Minister Israel Katz had issued directives to the military to allow more visits to the tomb and not only at night.Previously, buses of visitors escorted by the army had to leave the site by 4:00 am at the latest.An AFP journalist at the scene said around 25 full buses arrived during the night carrying ultra-nationalists from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as ultra-Orthodox Jews from settlements and from inside Israel.The buses departed at 7:00 am, escorted by military vehicles, the journalist said.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and Israeli settlements there are considered illegal under international law.An Israeli military spokesperson told AFP that "all was done according to the orders of the political echelon, not an army initiative.""The political echelon decided to extend the opening hours and (the military) is subordinate to their instructions."
This is a transportation revolution in the city'Ambitious Jerusalem building plans may include future subway, planner says-At conference on urban planning in the capital, officials optimistic on housing and transportation issues as mayor reveals plan to save green areas threatened by development-By Zev Stub-Today, 7:03 am-JAN 30,26
New plans are underway to create a subway that would connect Jerusalem with nearby suburbs, Natan Elnatan, Chairman of the National Planning and Construction Council, revealed for the first time last week.He made the announcement at the Jerusalem Future Plans Conference, organized by the Nadlan Center in collaboration with the Jerusalem municipality.“Soon they’ll start planning the metro for Jerusalem,” Elnatan said, echoing the name for Tel Aviv’s massive subway project launched last year. “We are talking about an underground line that would run inside Jerusalem and connect it to Beit Shemesh and Mevaseret Zion. This is still on the drafting table in the early stages of planning, and we haven’t really started talking about it publicly yet.”The plans are being developed for after the completion of the capital’s light rail network and optimization of transportation options.Officials at the conference said the city continues to plan for rapid growth in the future as the rise in Jerusalem home prices exponentially outstripped the national average last year, with recent data from the Central Bureau of Statistics indicating that home prices in Jerusalem continued to soar during 2025, even as other markets stagnated.In the last 12 months for which it has data, from November 2024 to November 2025, prices have risen by 9.4% in Jerusalem while declining by some 2.9% in Tel Aviv and the center of the country. Prices rose 5.4% in the north, 1.2% in the south, and 0.5% in Haifa during that period, the CBS noted.An “unprecedented ” 8,445 permits for new housing units were issued in 2025, with about half inside buildings undergoing urban renewal projects, the city said. In addition, 142,000 square meters of offices and campuses designated for high-tech received building permits and will be built in the coming years, alongside approximately 2 million square meters of commercial and office space currently under construction throughout Jerusalem.“These apartments are intended for a [financially] strong population,” Lion commented. “I don’t know anyone who is financially weak who could buy an apartment in one of the projects here.”There is still plenty of demand in Jerusalem, and an expected influx of Jewish immigrants from Europe and the United States will ensure that housing prices in the city won’t start to fall for a long time, Elnatan added.Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion also commented on housing and transportation issues, saying he was optimistic about Jerusalem’s light rail network after testing began last week on part of the city’s new Green Line, the city’s second light rail route. That portion of the line, running between the International Convention Center and the Malcha neighborhood, will become fully operational in May, Lion said.The full route of the Green Line, which was originally meant to be completed in 2025, will eventually stretch from Mount Scopus in the north of the city to the Gilo neighborhood in the south, and is expected to carry 400,000 people a day when it opens in summer 2027, significantly easing traffic in the city, even as it clogs traffic now, Lion noted.Jerusalem’s first light rail line, known as the Red Line, is seen as highly successful, with more than 200,000 daily riders on the route from Ein Kerem to Neve Yaakov. Construction of the third line, known as the Blue Line, which will connect the Ramot neighborhood to Gilo, began this year and is expected to be completed in 2030.“This is a transportation revolution in the city,” Lion said. He has previously said that Jerusalem will be the first city in Israel to “be done with traffic jams,” as it develops the transportation infrastructure to support the city’s rapid growth. As in much of the country, Jerusalem is plagued by congestion nearly around the clock.Lion has said in the past that Jerusalem may implement a congestion charge for cars driving into the capital once the transportation network is complete.Green spaces can stay green-As the city announced that it had issued a record number of building permits for homes in 2025, Lion also revealed that he had found a solution to a controversial building plan that would harm the natural green spaces in the Reches Lavan site in the southwestern part of the city.Lion said he was coerced when he took office to commit to building approximately 5,200 housing units in Reches Lavan, a popular, pastoral site of agricultural terraces and springs near the Jerusalem Zoo and the southwest neighborhoods, despite the area’s important environmental benefits to the city.Now, however, that plan has changed. “We have enough land for building, and there is no reason to destroy such a beautiful natural place, so I’ve canceled that plan,” he said. Instead, a new plan will allow for the creation of 6,200 new apartments in the area without cutting down trees or blocking water access, he stated, without providing further details.“It’s a beautiful land with springs and open spaces,” Lion said. “Green spaces in Jerusalem are as essential as the sea for Tel Aviv.”Meanwhile, Jerusalem continues to build toward the heavens, with some 500 towers of 18 stories or more in different phases of planning or construction. While the urban congestion they create is a sensitive issue, even the city’s ultra-Orthodox communities, which traditionally prefer low-rise apartments, will eventually accept them, Elnatan said.“In Jerusalem, they are building 12-13 floors for the Haredi population with the community’s consent, unlike in Bnei Brak,” He said. “Within 20 years, everyone will have them, and rabbinic rulings allowing Shabbat elevators will be broadly accepted.”Developers will soon be able get building plans approved much more quickly with new self-licensing regulations, Elnatan said.“Today, there are 300 architects licensed to issue permits throughout the country [through recent reforms,] and I hope that this will also be the case here,” Elnatan said. “For Jerusalem, this will be a world-changing reform.”However, city engineer Yoel Even said he was “a little worried” about self-licensing.“We would like to see that the developers understand what we want, and that they understand that dialogue with us is important,” he said. “Self-licensing works well when there is a well-concluded urban development plan and when everything is clear in the permit stage.”Even said Jerusalem’s urban renewal, transportation, and employment growth are all interrelated.“Jerusalem is the only city that puts public infrastructure before housing units,” he said. “There is a direct and unambiguous connection between transportation and the rate of growth in Jerusalem. Wherever there is a light rail line, we see high demand along the route. The light rail and high-speed rail connect employment, the historic city, green areas, and educational institutions.”Providing adequate housing and transportation will strengthen Jerusalem’s strong foundations in academia, research hospitals, and cultural institutions, said Tzachi Namir, CEO of the Jerusalem Development Authority.“Now that these are present together, this is perfect ground for companies to grow here,” he said.
Text awaiting Trump okay, other countries may not have say-Board of Peace proposal appears to relegate Gaza panel with Turkey, Qatar to ‘advisory’ role-Draft resolution seems to back PM’s claim that Gaza Executive Board made up of regional players will have less pull than separate panel of White House-linked figures; ex-UN envoy Mladenov given wide power-By Jacob Magid-29 January 2026, 5:18 pm
A draft resolution laying out the powers of various bodies tasked with managing postwar Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative appears to limit the significance of a panel that had sparked worries in Israel.The document, which must still be signed by Trump, could help soften Israeli qualms about the inclusion of senior representatives from Qatar and Turkey on the Gaza Executive Board. That body was previously understood as having a leading role in managing the demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza.Instead, the draft Board of Peace resolution obtained and verified by The Times of Israel on Wednesday describes the panel as playing an advisory role to another committee called the general Executive Board — also beneath the Board of Peace, with nearly the same name, and largely made up of figures with close ties to the White House.The document both expands the Trump administration’s hold on that panel, while also granting wide powers to former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza.The resolution is the first to be proposed as part of the Board of Peace, an international body set up and led by Trump that — as of now — comprises 27 nations, including Israel, and that has been tasked by the United Nations with managing Gaza’s transition away from Hamas rule following two years of war.The draft was distributed to countries that agreed to join the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, though it is unclear if their support is required for the document to become binding.The Board of Peace charter, which senior representatives from nearly two dozen countries signed at a ceremony in Davos last week, does not appear to require a vote on resolutions, instead simply giving Trump the right as chairman to adopt them on his own, and requiring his signature to bring them into force.A US official and an Arab diplomat said Wednesday that Trump has yet to sign the draft, indicating that some of its language is still up for debate.There was no immediate reaction from Israeli officials to the draft document.Officials in Jerusalem had reacted angrily after the makeup of the Gaza Executive Board was unveiled by the White House on January 16, due to the inclusion of figures from Turkey and Qatar, both of which have ties to Hamas. The Trump administration believes both Doha and Ankara are essential for advancing its 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war.Arab diplomats familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel at the time that the Gaza Executive Board would play a more important role in Gaza-related decision-making than the general Executive Board. That understanding helped fuel private worries in Jerusalem that Hamas allies would have a major role in determining the future of the enclave.Following the White House announcement, Netanyahu, who sought to leverage Turkey’s and Qatar’s ties with Hamas in the past, came under fire from across the Israeli political spectrum for being unable to prevent the two countries from gaining a foothold in Gaza through the new panel.In response, the premier countered the criticism by characterizing the Gaza Executive Board as a mere “advisory committee.”The Board of Peace draft resolution appears to support Netanyahu’s framing, stating that the Gaza Executive Board will “serve in an advisory capacity” to the general Executive Board.The general Executive Board “shall have the same authority [and] powers” as the Board of Peace, reads the draft resolution.According to the draft, the Gaza Executive Board is meant to support Mladenov and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG — the 12-member panel of Palestinian technocrats headed by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath tasked with providing daily services for Gazans.The White House declined requests for clarification on the provisioning of powers under the document.Executive authority-The draft resolution fleshes out the structure of Board of Peace — first drawn up in Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war — in a more formal manner than the January 16 White House announcement.The Board of Peace charter signed last week made no mention of Gaza, instead focusing on presenting the Board of Peace as the preeminent international body for conflict resolution worldwide, reflecting Trump’s ambition for the body to be a major player beyond Gaza and perhaps rival the UN.Beyond setting out the power of the Board’s panels, the draft resolution largely reviews the sweeping control over the postwar management of Gaza that the UN Security Council handed in November to the Trump-led Board of Peace until the end of 2027.The five-page document begins by declaring that the mandate for the Board of Peace is to ensure “Gaza will be a deradicalized and demilitarized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors and is developed for the benefit of the people of Gaza.”“All transitional legislative and executive authority, emergency powers and the administration of justice are vested in the Board of Peace,” the resolution states, adding that the Trump-led panel may do whatever it deems necessary to advance Washington’s 20-point plan.The Board of Peace is currently made up of 27 members, including Trump.Argentina, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam have all agreed to appoint senior officials to sit on the panel.Much of Europe has refused to join, concerned that the initiative is trying to usurp the UN, unhappy with the Palestinian Authority not being included, and uncomfortable with the initiative’s massive powers granted to Trump.After the US came under fire for the charter’s stipulation that permanent membership requires a $1 billion donation, the draft resolution states that membership is free and contributions are voluntary.Given that the panel, which largely consists of world leaders, is only likely to meet a handful of times per year, the draft resolution states that the Board of Peace can “delegate any of its authorities” to subsidiary entities such as the “Executive Board, the High Representative for Gaza, and the International Stabilization Force Commander.”The resolution adds two names to the Executive Board not included in the January 16 White House announcement: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Martin Edelman, a New York City real estate lawyer who also advises the United Arab Emirates government. Edelman did not respond to requests for comment.The inclusion of Wiles will give the Trump administration even more control over the Executive Board, which already includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner and former deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel. They are joined by Republican donor and businessman Marc Rowan, World Bank president Ajay Banga and former UK prime minister Tony Blair.Neither Israel nor the Palestinians have a seat on the Executive Board.The closest thing to an Israeli representative on the Gaza Executive Board is Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay, who is a close ally of Kushner. Also on that 12-person panel are Wiles, Witkoff, Kushner, Rowan, Blair and Mladenov, as well as Qatari Strategic Affairs Minister Ali Al-Thawadi, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Egyptian spy chief Hassan Rashad, Emirati minister of state for international cooperation Reem Al Hashimy and former UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag.Empowering Mladenov-The resolution makes the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza the “operational arm for the implementation” of Trump’s 20-point plan, naming Mladenov as the nominee for the role.The text gives Mladenov powers to establish the Office of the High Representative, to issue orders and directives to implement the 20-point plan and to form the NCAG to oversee daily life for Gazans.Unlike the members of the Executive Board who have day jobs, Mladenov is effectively the Board of Peace’s most senior full-time employee.Mladenov — along with the Board of Peace and the Executive Board — is authorized to issue “resolutions, directives or orders” as necessary in addition to enacting new laws for Gaza or modifying old ones in order to implement Trump’s 20-point plan, the draft resolution says.The 53-year-old former Bulgarian defense and foreign minister served as the UN Mideast peace envoy in 2015-2020, a role that made him a frequent interlocutor between Israel and Hamas. His most recent position has been as director general of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, where he is currently based.Together with Edelman, his inclusion appears to reflect an expansion of the UAE’s interest in the Trump-led initiative, which Washington hopes will also be significantly bankrolled by the Gulf country.Abu Dhabi has yet to publicly agree to do so, with sources familiar with the matter telling The Times of Israel that the UAE is still conditioning its support on Hamas disarming, the Palestinian Authority reforming under a new prime minister and Israel agreeing to a pathway to a two-state solution.‘Appropriate eligibility standards’The draft resolution explicitly bars the NCAG from hiring anyone affiliated with Hamas.“Persons or entities such as foreign terrorist organizations (as designated by the Board of Peace Member States or the Board of Peace), and nongovernmental organizations that have supported or have a demonstrated history of collaboration, infiltration or influence with or by Hamas or other terror groups are barred from participation,” the draft resolution states.However, official have conceded that completely de-Hamasifying the Strip’s governance may be unrealistic and the text tasks Mladenov with crafting “appropriate eligibility standards.”Even Netanyahu suggested on Tuesday that Israel doesn’t view bureaucrats employed by Hamas in the same light as members of the terror group’s military wing.US officials have also said that those who agree to give up their weapons will have access to an amnesty program.US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Wednesday that Hamas will also be urged to cede its weapons via an international buy-back program, providing new details regarding the program Washington plans to advance to disarm the terror group.The remarks confirmed The Times of Israel’s reporting from recent months about plans to institute a “buy-back” program where participants would be given funds or jobs if they agree to hand over their weapons.It is part of a broader decommissioning initiative that the Gaza ceasefire mediators are pushing that would see Hamas gradually hand over its arms, starting with its heavy weaponry. Israel is unlikely to accept this gradual process that prioritizes heavy weaponry over light weaponry, given that the latter category has also been used by Hamas to maintain its grip on Gaza.Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk told al Jazeera on Wednesday that group had never agreed to give up its weapons and indicated the group was uninterested in dialogue aimed disarmament.“Not for a single moment did we talk about the surrender of weapons, or any formula about destroying, surrendering, or disarmament,” he said.Israel and Hamas agreed to end some two years of war in October sparked by the terror group’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The Israel Defense Force’s continues to hold around 53 percent of the Strip, with the rest, including much of the Strip’s population, under the de facto control of Hamas.The establishment of the Board of Peace and various boards tasked with managing Gaza are meant to mark the start of the second stage of Trump’s 20-point plan, with the body of the final hostage kidnapped on October 7 recovered this week.While Trump’s plan envisions Israel withdrawing from the Strip, Israel says its forces will remain so long as Hamas is not disarmed. The resolution appears to take the continued division of Gaza into account, calling for the establishment of “humanitarian zones and controlled civilian-protection corridors so that humanitarian assistance may freely reach all the needy people of Gaza.”“Access to these zones will be limited to persons approved by the Executive Board and the High Representative; they will be patrolled by the ISF and free of unauthorized weapons or armed activity,” the document continues. “Boundaries and procedures for said zones and corridors shall be set by [ISF Commander US Army Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers] in consultation with the Executive Board and the High Representative, and in light of operational and security requirements.”These clauses appear to enshrine the division of Gaza into “green” and “red” zones, based on where Hamas is active.In a slideshow presentation to the Davos conference last week on plans for Gaza’s future, Kushner acknowledged that he had initially planned to only try to plan for rebuilding in the green areas where Hamas is not in control, but that the new goal was “catastrophic success,” under the assumption that the terror group will ultimately agree to disarm and all of Gaza can be redeveloped.The draft resolution also appears to try and address concerns — possibly elevated by the glitzy nature of Kushner’s slideshow showcasing “New Gaza” — that the reconstruction projects being envisioned are aimed at turning the coastal enclave into a beachfront tourist haven.“The reconstruction and rehabilitation activities of the Board shall be dedicated solely to those who regard Gaza as their home and place of residence,” the document states.
Senior Hamas official: We never agreed to disarm, no one’s raised it with us directly-Moussa Abu Marzouk says, despite White House claims, that the group didn’t talk ‘for a single moment’ about giving up its weapons, stresses Hamas regime still in control in Gaza By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff 29 January 2026, 4:23 pm
Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said Wednesday that Hamas never agreed to disarm, casting doubt on whether the terror group will fulfil a key US and Israeli demand included in the American-backed plan for postwar Gaza.Abu Marzouk’s statement runs contrary to the insistence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump that the terror group give up its weapons in the near future as part of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Hamas “promised” to lay down its arms, and has threatened the group over the issue.Abu Marzouk also suggested Hamas has a de facto veto on any appointment to the new technocratic committee set up to run the Gaza Strip, and stressed that Hamas still rules over the part of the enclave that, in accordance with the ceasefire, is not under IDF control.The comments came during an interview with Al Jazeera amid efforts to execute phase two of the US’s plan for the Strip, which envisions seeing Hamas disarmed and replaced as a governing force. The terror group has previously rejected disarmament.“We haven’t discussed the weapons yet; no one has spoken to us directly about it. We haven’t spoken with the American side or the mediators on this issue, so we can’t talk about what it means or what the goal is,” Abu Marzouk told the Qatari outlet.The senior official said a Hamas agreement to hand over its weapons “never happened, not for a single moment did we talk about the surrender of weapons, or any formula about destroying, surrendering, or disarmament.”If Hamas was not disarmed in two years of war, “how can they obtain it through negotiations?” he asked.Abu Marzouk indicated some disarmament was open for discussion, however, saying that at the negotiating table, “we will discuss which weapons will be removed, what will be removed, how they will be removed.”His account contradicted that of Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, who said that senior Hamas officials told him and fellow Trump aide Jared Kushner, hours before the ceasefire was inked in October, that the terror group wanted to disarm.Hamas has never publicly agreed to disarm-At least publicly, however, Hamas has never agreed to lay down its arms.Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza explicitly says that Hamas must give up its weapons, but the Hamas statement endorsing the plan contained significant conditions and did not directly mention disarmament.Rather, the group said at the time that “other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal” — an apparent euphemism for disarming — would “be discussed within a comprehensive Palestinian national framework.”Hamas, Israel and the mediating countries also signed a separate, one-page document in Sharm el-Sheikh the day before the ceasefire began. But that text focused specifically on the first phase of the Trump program, primarily the hostage-for-prisoners swap, while the terror group’s disarmament is envisioned as part of phase two.Phase two — which has officially started, after the recovery this week of the body of Ran Gvili, the last slain Israeli held hostage in the Strip — calls for the day-to-day governance of Gaza to be handed from Hamas to the newly formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, or NCAG.The 12-member, technocratic committee is headed by former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath. Several other bodies will oversee Gaza under the umbrella of the Board of Peace, a group of world leaders inaugurated by Trump last week.Abu Marzouk stresses: Hamas still the governing force in Gaza-Israel’s defense establishment believes that Hamas — which currently controls just under half of the Strip — will soon formally relinquish authority to the NGAC. But an Israeli security official said Thursday that, de facto, the terror group will remain in control of that part of the enclave, at least for the short term.In his interview with Al Jazeera, Abu Marzouk stressed that Hamas is currently running Gaza, presumably referring to that part of the Strip.“The movement (Hamas) has restored order to the Gaza Strip to serve the Palestinian people and preserve their security,” he told the Qatari network.Abu Marzouk hinted that Hamas has a veto over the NGAC, emphasizing that no one can enter Gaza without Hamas’s consent. At the same time, he said Hamas will facilitate the committee’s work and “provide security.”The comments came after Netanyahu said in a press conference on Tuesday that the mission to disarm Hamas must come before the reconstruction of the devastated Strip.“As I agreed with President Trump… there are only two possibilities: either this will be done the easy way, or it will be done the hard way, but in any case, it will happen,” Netanyahu said of disarmament, using a formulation he has employed previously, and specifying Gaza must be demilitarized before reconstruction begins.Trump said Monday, after Israeli forces returned Gvili’s remains: “Now we have to disarm Hamas like they promised.”A US official, briefing reporters this week, reiterated the Trump administration’s stance that Gazan operatives who agree to give up their weapons will be granted amnesty.The official added: “They signed an agreement… If they decide to play games, then obviously President Trump will take other actions.”The war in Gaza started on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. On October 10, 2025, a ceasefire agreement took effect that mostly stopped fighting and set into action a hostage-prisoner exchange.The hostage crisis ended on January 26, 2026, with the recovery of the body of Gvili. His return marked the first time since July 20, 2014, that no Israelis, living or dead, were held hostage in the Gaza Strip.Emanuel Fabian and Jacob Magid contributed to this report.
IDF believes 70,000 Gazans killed in war, as claimed by Hamas; civilian-combatant ratio unclear-Figure, acknowledged by senior military official, doesn’t include those under rubble, who Hamas says make up 10K more; Israel largely rejected Hamas tolls during war By Emanuel Fabian-29 January 2026, 7:58 pm
The Israel Defense Forces believes that the Hamas-run health ministry’s death toll from the war in the Gaza Strip has been largely accurate, a senior Israeli military official acknowledged on Thursday.Briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, the official said that the IDF believes the Gaza death count from the two-plus-year war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, is around 70,000. The Gaza health ministry’s current death toll is 71,667, including over 450 killed since the October 2025 ceasefire.The senior military official said the actual breakdown of the Gaza death toll is still under review, and it is unknown exactly how many of the dead are members of terror groups and how many people died directly as a result of the fighting.Israel largely rejected death tolls claimed by Hamas’s health ministry during the war, especially following specific incidents in which the terror group announced what Israeli officials called “exaggerated tolls.”According to the military official, the toll does not include bodies believed to be buried under the rubble in Gaza, which Hamas estimates at around 10,000.The Gaza ministry also claims that at least 440 Palestinians died of malnutrition and starvation in the Strip during the war. Israel denies this, with the military official claiming that these statistics are manipulated by Hamas to include individuals with underlying severe health issues.The Gaza health ministry’s records include the names and IDs of over 90 percent of the bodies found. They do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.Israel never refuted the Hamas health ministry’s data with its own exact figures, instead periodically offering rough ratios of civilians to combatants killed, insisting that the ratio was far lower than in other urban warfare conflicts.During previous wars, however, Israeli security agencies found the Hamas-run health ministry’s total death counts to be reliable.Before the October 2025 ceasefire, the IDF said it had killed at least 22,000 combatants, as well as another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 onslaught.IDF officials also previously said that the combatant-to-civilian death ratio remained relatively the same throughout the war, with two to three civilians killed for every dead terror operative.Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas, including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
Trump claims ‘it looks like’ Hamas will disarm; Witkoff: They’ll give up their AK-47s-Assessment comes hours after senior member of terror group insisted otherwise; 15 Palestinian bodies held by Israel transferred to Gaza after IDF returned last hostage’s Ran Gvili’s remains By Jacob Magid and Lazar Berman-Today, 6:48 am-JAN 29,26
US President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that “it looks like” Hamas is “going to disarm,” despite a senior Hamas official insisting otherwise hours earlier.Trump did not provide any proof for the claim, which he made during a cabinet meeting.Chiming in, his special envoy Steve Witkoff also insisted that Hamas will demilitarize. “They will because they have no choice. They’re going to give up their AK-47s.”US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Wednesday that Hamas will also be urged to cede its weapons via an international buy-back program, providing new details regarding the program Washington plans to advance to disarm the terror group.Waltz’s remarks confirmed The Times of Israel’s reporting from recent months about plans to institute a “buy-back” program where participants would be given funds or jobs and amnesty if they agree to hand over their weapons.It is part of a broader decommissioning initiative that the Gaza ceasefire mediators are pushing that would see Hamas gradually hand over its arms, starting with its heavy weaponry, Arab diplomats have told The Times of Israel. Israel is unlikely to accept this gradual process that prioritizes heavy weaponry over light weaponry, given that the latter category has also been used by Hamas to maintain its grip on Gaza.Trump, during the cabinet meeting, touted the assistance Hamas provided in locating the bodies of the last deceased hostages still held in Gaza — help that Israel has yet to confirm. Israel recovered the body of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, earlier this week.“Hamas was a big factor in getting all of the hostages back. They found the dead hostages,” Trump said. “Between Israel and Hamas working together, they got them back.”With Gvili’s return, the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinians held by Israel to the Gaza health ministry.The handover took place at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, The Times of Israel learned.The ratio of Palestinian bodies handed over for every hostage body returned during the Gaza ceasefire has been 15:1.“This marked the completion of a months-long operation that led to family reunifications and supported the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” said the ICRC in a statement. “The operation began in October, with the release and return of 20 living hostages and 1,808 Palestinian detainees.”The ICRC noted that it continued to facilitate the return of bodies, including 27 of the 28 slain hostages and 360 dead Palestinians.“Since October 2023, the ICRC has helped facilitate the return of 195 hostages, including 35 who were deceased, and 3,472 Palestinian detainees,” added the ICRC.“We feel relieved to have helped reunite families with their loved ones. For families whose loved ones did not return alive, we hope they can now grieve fully,” said Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the Palestinian territories.“The opening of the Rafah Crossing plays a significant role in addressing the urgent needs of the population,” Lerisson continued. “The ability to bring in larger quantities of specialized equipment — essential for reconstruction work and for locating and identifying remains in a dignified manner — is crucial in this regard.”Rafah is expected to be reopened next week for pedestrians, after Israel confirmed earlier this week that it had agreed to do so.Strike in central Gaza-Also Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed carrying out an airstrike in the Maghazi camp area of central Gaza, saying it targeted a Hamas operative who planned to attack troops stationed in the Strip’s south.The strike took place on the Hamas side of the ceasefire line, and according to Palestinian media, it killed at least two people.According to the military, the operative was planning an imminent attack against troops in southern Gaza.“The terrorist posed an immediate threat to IDF troops and was therefore targeted in a precise strike to remove the threat,” the army said.The IDF said it took steps to mitigate civilian harm in the strike, including by using a precision munition, aerial surveillance and other intelligence.Emanuel Fabian and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Analysis-The missing Palestinian question: Facing pivotal election, few talking about West Bank’s future-As first national vote since Oct. 7 nears, neither leading candidate for PM is offering an overarching vision for Israeli-Palestinian relations or pledging big moves in West Ban-By Ben Sales-29 January 2026, 11:42 pm
As has been the case in recent decades, Israelis will probably not get a chance to see a debate between the top two candidates for prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, ahead of this year’s election.If they were to go head-to-head, though, it would be illuminating to hear each man answer this question: What do you propose for the future of the West Bank, and for Israeli-Palestinian relations more broadly?How would they respond? Surprisingly, and in contrast to previous votes, it’s hard to say. Israel is approaching what many believe to be one of its most pivotal elections ever. But one issue that has occupied and bedeviled the country’s politics for decades barely seems to register.It’s clear that this election will be about October 7, 2023. It’s the first election since the Hamas-led onslaught that devastated Israel and precipitated a change in the country and across the Middle East. The massacre and its legacy will be at the center of the campaign.Bennett and others in the anti-Netanyahu camp — Yair Lapid, Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Golan — will continue trying to indelibly link the premier with the catastrophe and blame him for it. Netanyahu will continue trying to deflect blame and highlight Israel’s subsequent achievements in Gaza and in fighting other regional adversaries like Hezbollah and Iran.Those issues are important — and they are also backward-looking. Other questions that are more squarely focused on the future will also take up airtime, such as whether and how to draft Haredi men into the military, and the ongoing debate over the Netanyahu government’s effort to weaken the judiciary.There’s another half-dozen burning topics that are sure to dominate political messaging in the coming months — including Qatargate and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into October 7 — many of which come down to a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.The so-called “Palestinian question” isn’t one of them.The future of Gaza will continue to be at the heart of Israeli politics for some time and, obviously, what happens there will determine the fates of a large share of Palestinians. But US President Donald Trump’s administration has indicated that he’s the one calling the shots in Gaza, not the occupant of the prime minister’s residence.And either way, neither candidate for prime minister has purported to present an overarching vision for how to relate to the Palestinians.The reasons for this are clear, but before laying them out, it’s worth noting how unusual this is.Two previous cataclysms in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — the First and Second Intifadas — were each followed by elections in which the winner pursued a game-changing approach to solving the conflict. While the ideas ended up being unsuccessful, voters at least were given a choice on the matter.The Oslo process kicked off after Yitzhak Rabin’s 1992 victory, leading to years of peace negotiations. After Ehud Olmert’s 2006 win, and on the heels of the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, he pursued an abortive attempt at unilateral withdrawal from swaths of the West Bank, then followed that up with Oslo-style talks with the PA. Neither approach succeeded.October 7 and its aftermath have been, for everyone involved, far bloodier and costlier. They have transformed this part of the world. But unlike in 1992 or 2006, they haven’t led to a transformative proposal for how Israel is to live alongside, or with, or without its millions of Palestinian neighbors. Those ideas exist at the ends of the political map but not in its mainstream.Why is that? The answer is that it’s a mix of ideological uncertainty and political realities. In other words, no one really knows what to do, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to do it.It’s a political axiom in Israel that the Oslo process failed, with successive rounds of direct, final-status negotiations bearing little fruit and Palestinian leaders walking away from two Israeli conflict-ending offers. Since 2015, Netanyahu has been openly against full Palestinian statehood.Today, Jewish Israeli support for Palestinian statehood has cratered, and anyway, the “center-left” camp most likely to pursue this kind of plan is led by Bennett, who is himself a resolute opponent of Palestinian statehood. One of his would-be junior partners, Golan, leads the remnants of Israel’s left wing, but almost certainly won’t be able to achieve a left-wing vision for solving the conflict if he’s in Bennett’s cabinet.More recently, with the right in power, senior lawmakers and ministers have pushed for annexing parts of the West Bank, and in a previous campaign, Netanyahu made a promise to that effect. But even with a staunchly right-wing government in place for three years, annexation hasn’t happened, though Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich trumpets the idea and has taken a series of steps he has touted as “de facto sovereignty.”In large part, that’s because Trump explicitly vowed that annexation wouldn’t occur. The UAE also issued a stark warning against annexation. And if annexation can’t happen under Trump, seen as a robustly pro-Israel president with Mike Huckabee, a historically pro-settlement ambassador, in Jerusalem, it’s hard to see it happening at all in the coming years.Absent those choices, no one is putting forward a grand idea for what to do, which has itself created a kind of strange consensus across Israel’s fractious society.“Among the Israelis who identify with the center-left, there prevails a position that it’s impossible to withdraw from the territories and establish a Palestinian state,” Israeli thinker Micah Goodman wrote in Ynet in June. “Israelis who identify with the right say it’s improper and undesirable to withdraw from the territories and establish a Palestinian state.”He continued, “What’s the practical difference between ‘impossible’ and ‘improper?’… Since the practical implications of this debate have shifted from the present to the remote future, it has lost its ability to divide Israel.”A recent poll by the Israel Democracy Institute gives some shape to this ideological stalemate. Taken in October 2025 regarding the future of the West Bank, it found that 32.7% of Israelis overall prefer reaching a diplomatic accord with the Palestinians, and 35% support annexing the territories. Among Jewish Israelis, the split is 27% for a diplomatic deal and 41.1% for annexation. Neither received a majority, let alone enough of a supermajority to justify a major policy change.The future of the West Bank is sure to show up in other ways during the campaign. Settler violence has been at a high tide for months, including multiple attacks this week that reportedly injured Palestinians, torched property and damaged olive trees. Politicians have been speaking out about it and it’s penetrating the broader Israeli discourse.On the diplomatic front, any move toward normalization in the region will necessarily include some reference to the Palestinian issue, as Saudi Arabia and other countries have pushed for progress toward statehood. But there are signs, for the time being, that Israel may have reached its limit when it comes to normalization, now that Saudi Arabia is signaling a move away from it.This will indeed be a pivotal election. It may determine the future of the state’s social contract, its mandatory draft, its governmental balance of power and the legacy of the bloodiest day in Israeli history.But whether Netanyahu stays or goes, the “Palestinian question” will probably remain unanswered.
