United News of Bangladesh

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and writer Shahidul Alam has claimed that he has been ‘kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel’ while travelling by sea in their flotilla heading towards Gaza. In a video message circulating on social media, Shahidul said, “I am Shahidul Alam, a photographer and writer from Bangladesh. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel, the country conducting genocide in Gaza with active collaboration and assistance of the USA and other western powers.” He went on to appeal to his ‘comrades and friends’ to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine. Shahidul Alam, known internationally for his photography and activism, has long been vocal about human rights and press freedom issues, including the situation in Palestine. Further details about his whereabouts and the status of others reportedly travelling with him remain unclear. Meanwhile, Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups that organises civilian maritime missions, has confirmed that the Israeli forces have attacked its convoy of aid boats and seized several vessels en route to Gaza. Israeli forces intercept flotilla bound for Gaza, detain over 140 activists According to the FFC, Israeli forces first targeted The Conscience -- a vessel carrying 93 journalists, doctors, and activists before intercepting three smaller boats on Wednesday. The group said the passengers were “being held in unknown conditions.” Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on X that a raid on the flotilla had taken place. “Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing. The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly,” the ministry said. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned the Israeli operation and called for the immediate release of Malaysian activists participating in the mission, reports Al Jazeera. Activists from Ireland, France, Denmark and several other countries were also part of the flotilla. Prof Yunus expresses solidarity with Shahidul Alam and Gaza The FFC said the boats were carrying ‘vital aid’ worth more than $110,000, including medicines, respiratory devices and nutritional supplies for Gaza’s hospitals. “The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” the group wrote on Instagram. “Our flotilla poses no harm.” This marks the second interception in recent days. Earlier, Israeli forces stopped about 40 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining over 450 activists who had sought to deliver aid to Gaza. Most of them, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have since been deported. Several participants from that earlier convoy have alleged physical and psychological mistreatment during detention. French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan said she was ‘beaten’ by Israeli police, while American activist David Adler described being ‘stripped’, ‘zip-tied, ‘blindfolded’, and forced to pose for photos with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

US President Donald Trump has said he is “not thrilled” about Israel’s air strike in Qatar, which killed five Hamas members and triggered widespread condemnation from across the world. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended this attack as “fully justified,” targeted senior Hamas leaders accused of masterminding the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. Hamas confirmed the deaths of five members, including the son of top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, but said Israel failed to assassinate its political bureau members. The group denounced the strike in Doha as a “heinous crime” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” Qatar, a key US ally hosting an American air base and the Hamas political bureau since 2012, strongly condemned the assault as “cowardly” and a grave breach of its sovereignty. The interior ministry said one security officer was killed and others injured. Witnesses in Doha reported up to eight explosions in the Katara district. Trump told reporters: “I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not a good situation. We want the hostages back, but we are not thrilled about the way that went down today.” The White House later said the president had assured Qatar’s emir and prime minister that “such a thing will not happen again on their soil.” According to US officials, Trump had instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to inform Qatari authorities of the impending strike. The White House stressed that bombing inside a sovereign ally “does not advance Israel or America’s goals,” though it described eliminating Hamas as a “worthy” objective. Israel said the operation was carried out independently, involving 15 fighter jets that launched 10 munitions within seconds. Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the decision followed recent deadly attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza. Reactions poured in from around the world. The UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the strike as a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable regardless of motive.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of further escalation, and Saudi Arabia denounced the “brutal aggression.” Pope Leo XIV said the situation was “very serious,” while families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza expressed deep anxiety that the strike could endanger their loved ones. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded the government clarify whether hostages’ safety had been considered. Hamas said its delegation had been discussing the latest US ceasefire proposal in Doha when the compound was hit. The plan reportedly includes a 60-day truce, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and talks on a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu later told a gathering at the US embassy in Jerusalem that the strike could “open the door to an end of the war.” He urged Gazans to “stand up for your rights and your future” and accept peace. Israel has previously killed several top Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July 2024 and Yahya Sinwar in Gaza three months later. The Gaza war erupted after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on 7 October 2023. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed at least 64,605 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to testify on Tuesday in his corruption trial, marking a critical moment in a prolonged legal battle that has overshadowed his leadership. The trial, which began in 2020, accuses Netanyahu of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery across three cases. He denies all allegations, claiming the investigations were biased. Netanyahu’s testimony coincides with his management of the ongoing Gaza war, fragile ceasefires with Hezbollah, and regional threats. This will be the first time an Israeli prime minister takes the stand as a criminal defendant. Due to security concerns, the proceedings have been relocated to an underground courtroom in Tel Aviv. Trump starts pushing his agenda, negotiating with world leaders The allegations involve claims that Netanyahu traded regulatory benefits for favorable media coverage and received extravagant gifts, including champagne and cigars, from influential figures like Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. The trial has featured testimonies from around 140 witnesses, including Netanyahu's close associates and a former prime minister. Recently, a documentary, The Bibi Files, revealed footage of Netanyahu’s police interrogations, showing a mix of defiance and unease. The prosecution concluded its case earlier this year, and Netanyahu will now present his defense, testifying three days a week for several weeks. The defense plans to argue that Netanyahu is the victim of flawed investigations. Critics claim that the judicial overhaul he proposed last year and his handling of the Gaza conflict are attempts to deflect from his legal challenges. A final verdict is not expected until 2026, with potential appeals prolonging the process.