International News
Gaza Aid Stalls As Egypt Says Israel Isn’t Cooperating
Egypt asserted on Monday that Israel’s non-cooperation was impeding the delivery of aid to Gaza and the evacuation of foreign passport holders through the sole entry point.
The Rafah crossing, crucial for supplying the besieged Palestinian enclave, was described as technically open but non-functional due to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza side, causing delays for hundreds of tons of supplies.
Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, informed reporters that there is a pressing need to ease the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that discussions with Israel had yielded no positive outcomes.
He said “there is an urgent need to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and talks with Israel had not been fruitful.”
He added “Until now the Israeli government has not taken a position on opening the Rafah crossing from the Gaza side to allow the entrance of assistance and exit of citizens of third countries,”
Over two million Gazans have faced a prolonged siege since Israel initiated a forceful bombardment and blockade in response to an attack by Hamas Islamist militants. Despite two Egyptian security sources informing Reuters about a planned ceasefire in southern Gaza to enable aid and evacuations at Rafah on Monday morning, Israel refuted such an agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement denying any ongoing truce or provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for evacuating foreigners. This was corroborated by Hamas official Izzat El-Reshiq, who shared the same information with Reuters.
According to a source on the ground at Rafah, there were no bombardments on Monday, and the Egyptian side of the crossing was prepared. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated Egypt’s goal is to enable the regular flow through the crossing, including Palestinians seeking medical treatment or engaging in regular travel.
Numerous tonnes of aid from NGOs and various countries remained on trucks in the nearby Egyptian town of Al-Arish, awaiting conditions that would permit entry into Gaza. This information was shared by two sources in the area and a witness.
In a separate development, a Reuters video depicted UN-flagged fuel trucks seemingly departing Gaza for Egypt through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under Israeli control.
Residents of Istanbul were jolted by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, which struck the Marmara Sea near the city’s western fringes, prompting widespread concern but causing no immediate casualties.
The quake, which occurred at 12:49 p.m. local time (0949 GMT), originated in Silivri, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
“An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude occurred in Silivri, Marmara Sea, Istanbul,” he confirmed on X, formerly Twitter. Yerlikaya also noted that tremors were felt in nearby provinces.
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Following the initial tremor, Turkey’s disaster management authority, AFAD, reported three more earthquakes ranging from 4.4 to 4.9 in magnitude.
The seismic activity sent people fleeing onto the streets, with many seen anxiously checking their phones or making calls.
“I just felt earthquake, I’ve got to get out,” said a decorator who dashed out of a fourth-floor apartment near Galata Tower. He declined to give his name, visibly shaken by the experience.
Despite the intensity, there were no reports of injuries or building collapses in the city of approximately 16 million people.
“Until now, we have no information about any buildings collapsing,” the governor’s office stated, urging residents to avoid entering structures that may have sustained damage.
Reassuring citizens, the Istanbul municipality also confirmed, “No serious cases have been reported so far following the earthquake in Istanbul,” in a post on X.
Tremors from the quake were reportedly felt as far as Sofia, Bulgaria, according to AFP journalists in the capital.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks persist and damage assessments are conducted across the region.
The Vatican has disclosed that Pope Francis died of a stroke, which caused a coma and irreversible heart failure, according to his official death certificate released on Monday.
The 88-year-old pontiff passed away on Monday morning, nearly a month after being discharged from hospital following treatment for double pneumonia.
In the statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the cause of death was identified as “a stroke, followed by coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.”
READ MORE: JUST IN: Vatican Mourns As Pope Francis Passes Away At 88
The certification was issued by Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State.
The medical report also detailed the Pope’s history of health challenges, including “acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.”
His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography.
“I hereby declare,” wrote Dr. Arcangeli, “that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above.”
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013 and was widely recognized for his efforts to modernize Church doctrine and promote global social justice.
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Monday.
His passing came just a day after he made an emotional appearance before thousands of faithful gathered at Saint Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday celebrations.
“It is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in an official statement shared via the Vatican’s Telegram channel.
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“This morning at 7:35 am (0535 GMT) the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.”
The pontiff’s final public appearance, marked by visible frailty, came as a surprise to many, as he had only recently been discharged from the hospital following a prolonged battle with pneumonia. Francis had endured two life-threatening health scares earlier this year and spent 38 days hospitalized before being released on March 23.
Despite his condition, the pope greeted crowds on Easter Sunday with a heartfelt “Happy Easter” and delivered his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, using the occasion to call for global peace, freedom of thought, and tolerance.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to assume the papacy.
His decade-long leadership was marked by a focus on compassion, humility, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities.
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