News headlines for “Middle East”, page 72
Israel Continues to Attack Gaza Amid Ceasefire Negotiations
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 (IPS) - After 14 months of conflict between Israel and Palestine, talks of a ceasefire agreement have headed in a promising direction. The proposed agreement entails the release of hostages in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian land, and a strategy for displaced Gazans to safely return to their homes in the northern region of the enclave. Despite both Israeli and Palestinian officials expressing optimism over this agreement, hostilities from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue to endanger the lives and infrastructures of thousands of Gazans.
Occupied Palestinian Territory: Security Council hears of ongoing violence, ‘relentless’ Israeli settlement expansion
- UN News

The United Nations continues to voice major concern over hostilities and Israeli settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), the Security Council heard on Wednesday.
Syria: UN envoy concludes talks in Damascus, citing hope for democratic future
- UN News

The UN Special Envoy for Syria concluded talks in Damascus on Wednesday, expressing optimism that the fall of the Assad regime could mark the start of a peaceful and democratic transition for the shattered country, while acknowledging challenges remain.
Winter rains and aid obstacles worsen ordeal for one million Gazans
- UN News

Nearly one million Gazans risk spending winter without adequate shelter as UN agencies struggle to provide cold weather assistance, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment, repeated evacuation orders and restrictions on aid deliveries, they warned on Wednesday.
In Times of War: Tough Ethical Questions and Inner Turmoil
- Inter Press Service

TORONTO / BEIRUT, Dec 17 (IPS) - Sixty-four days of unrelenting war machine by Israel against Lebanon put my entire beliefs and ethos to a painful test: my sincerity in promoting social justice, human rights, integrity, patriotism, spirituality and, philosophically speaking, universal human values of love, peace and non-violence.
UNCCD COP16 Spotlights Drought But Fails to Agree on a Legally Binding Protocol
- Inter Press Service

RIYADH & HYDERABAD, Dec 17 (IPS) - The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 16) concluded early hours of Saturday with a renewed focus on building drought resilience globally. However, the COP also failed to agree on bringing a legally binding drought protocol. Like the biodiversity and climate change COPs held earlier in the year, COP16 also failed to finish in time and ended by postponing several key decisions to COP17 scheduled to be held in 2026.
Syria faces uncertain future after regime’s collapse amid humanitarian crises
- UN News

At a historic crossroads, just 11 days after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria faces a fragile mix of hope and chaos, plagued by a volatile security situation and a worsening humanitarian crisis, top UN officials told the Security Council on Tuesday.
UN urges parties to re-engage on Iran nuclear deal
- UN News

The head of UN political affairs called on Tuesday for urgent re-engagement to restore an international agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Syria crisis: ‘Key priority’ is preserving evidence of crimes, say UN investigators
- UN News

The historic shift of power in Syria and the possibility of finally accessing evidence of horrific human rights violations could bring accountability closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved - a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
Middle East crisis: Live updates as Security Council meets on Syria
- UN News

Senior UN officials have been meeting representatives of the new caretaker Government in Damascus in the past few days, following the overthrow of the Assad regime. This morning in New York, the Security Council just began its first meeting on the future of Syria, where the UN Special Envoy and the UN's emergency relief chief are briefing ambassadors. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.

