JERUSALEM -- Protesters gathered in Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square" on Saturday, urging the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire deal that would bring home the hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.
The demonstration followed the release of new videos by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad earlier this week, showing Israeli hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in visibly fragile condition. (Israel-Protest-US Envoy Visit)
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GAZA -- Hamas affirmed on Saturday its refusal to disarm until the establishment of the State of Palestine, in response to statements by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Hamas said in a statement that, "The resistance and its weapons will not be abandoned until our full national rights are restored, foremost among which is the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state." (Gaza Strip-Hamas-Disarmament)
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TEHRAN -- Iran has lifted all remaining restrictions on its airspace that were imposed at the onset of its 12-day conflict with Israel, the country's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) announced Saturday.
In a statement posted on its website, the CAO said that both domestic and international flight operations have returned to pre-war levels. It also confirmed that Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport has resumed round-the-clock operations. (Iran-Airspace-Reopening)
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ADEN, Yemen -- Yemen's rial surged to 1,800 per U.S. dollar in government-held areas Saturday, rebounding from nearly 2,900 two weeks ago, prompting authorities to launch nationwide price controls.
Banking sources in Aden confirmed the currency recovery, the strongest in months, sparking citizen hopes for lower food costs. (Yemen-Currency Rebounds-Price Control) ■
