Israeli troops withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor on Sunday, Feb. 9, removing a military zone that had split northern and southern Gaza. Following their exit, hundreds of Palestinians traveled back to northern Gaza with belongings loaded onto cars and carts. This withdrawal follows the Jan. 19 ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. So far, 21 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners have been freed, with totals expected to reach 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners. Initially, 700,000 people fled northern Gaza after Israeli evacuation orders. For months, the Netzarim Corridor blocked their return, stretching from the Gaza-Israel border to the sea.
KIM JONG UN CONDEMNS US-JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA ALLIANCE, PLEDGES RETALIATORY ACTIONS
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un condemned military cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, accusing them of escalating regional tensions. He vowed countermeasures, including strengthening North Korea’s nuclear forces. According to state media KCNA on Sunday, Kim criticized U.S. deployments of nuclear strategic assets, joint military exercises, and trilateral cooperation for disrupting the regional balance and posing security threats. During a visit to the defense ministry on Saturday, marking the Army’s founding day, he stated that while North Korea seeks stability, it will continue taking measures to maintain military balance in the region.
TRUMP REVEALS PUTIN’S CALL TO HALT DEATHS IN THE UKRAINE CONFLICT: REPORT
Donald Trump reportedly spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone and discussed the Ukraine war, as per media reports. The report didn’t mention when the interview exactly took place. Trump said he believes that the Russian leader “does care” about people dying on the battlefield. He added that he’d better not say how many times he spoke with Putin. “He wants to see people stop dying,” said Trump. “All those dead people. Young, young, beautiful people. They’re like your kids, two million of them – and for no reason.”
RARE DIPLOMATIC RIFT HIGHLIGHTS RISING US-CHINA TENSIONS IN THE PACIFIC
A rare public dispute between New Zealand and Kiribati has drawn attention to the small, isolated island nation. The tension began last week when New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, placed millions in aid to Kiribati under review after President Taneti Maamau withdrew from a scheduled meeting. Peters had planned to visit Kiribati last month to deliver a $14 million New Zealand-funded hospital upgrade. However, a week before the trip, Kiribati informed the delegation that Maamau was unavailable. Peters’ office stated that without political engagement, aligning development priorities and ensuring effective aid use is challenging.
REGIONAL LEADERS CONVENE HISTORIC SUMMIT TO ADDRESS CONGO CONFLICT
Leaders from Eastern and Southern African regional blocs held an unprecedented joint summit on Saturday to address the conflict in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have been advancing rapidly since January, raising fears of a broader war.
Last week, the rebels captured Goma, the region’s largest city, marking the worst escalation in over a decade. Despite declaring a ceasefire, they continue moving south toward Bukavu.
Presidents, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, attended in Dar es Salaam, while Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi joined via video. Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned, “History will judge us harshly if we remain still.”
