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Abbas Says Willing to Resume Talks Based on Arab Peace Initiative

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
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Abbas Says Willing to Resume Talks Based on Arab Peace Initiative

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. File photo

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that if Israel implements its annexation plan in the occupied West Bank, it has to assume all its responsibilities in the territories as an occupying power.

In an address via video link to the Arab Parliament, Abbas stressed the Palestinian leadership's decision to absolve from all agreements and understandings with Israel does not mean ending peace, but that the Palestinians are ready to work for peace under a multilateral international mechanism.

Abbas urged the Arab Parliament to exert all efforts to convey to the US administration that the Palestinians extend their hands for peace as well as its rejection of any plans that allow the annexation of the Palestinian territories.

“We have received confirmations from all Arab countries that they are fully committed to the Arab peace initiative,” he said.

A joint meeting of the PLO Executive Committee, the Fatah Central Council and the Palestinian cabinet has been held in the Jordan Valley village of Fasayil as part of Palestinian steps against the Israeli annexation plan.

Fatah central committee official Jibril Rajoub said that their mission is to provide the people of the Jordan Valley all means of survival in their land.

A public opinion poll carried out by Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed that two-thirds of the public expect Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and the settlement areas in the West Bank.

The poll was carried out in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between June 17-20.

A sample of 1,200 adults were interviewed face to face in 120 randomly selected locations. The margin of error is +/-3 percent.

Results showed that 52 percent support and 42 percent oppose a return to armed conflict. Moreover, 65 percent are worried that armed clashes would erupt with Israel. Another 65 percent have concerns that the PA would collapse or fail to deliver services.

In addition, 63 percent are worried that security chaos would return to Palestinian daily life, while 62 percent said they are concerned that they would not be able to travel abroad via Jordan.

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Arab World

Israel Threatens to Strike Ambulances in Lebanon in Hezbollah Fighting

Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
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Israel Threatens to Strike Ambulances in Lebanon in Hezbollah Fighting

Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)

The Israeli military warned on Saturday that it may strike ambulances and medical facilities which it said were being used unlawfully by Hezbollah in Lebanon, though it did not provide evidence for the claim.

"As part of its terrorist activities, Hezbollah is using ambulances extensively for military purposes," the Israeli military's Arabic spokesman Avichai Adraee said on X, adding that such use must immediately stop, AFP reported.

"If this practice does not stop, Israel will act in accordance with international law against any military activity carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah using these facilities and ambulances," Adraee said.

A Hezbollah official said that the group was not using ambulances and medical facilities for military purposes.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request to provide evidence that Hezbollah was using medical facilities or ambulances unlawfully.

At least 26 medics and first responders have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2 according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military says it takes precautions to try to reduce any harm to civilians.

On Friday, Israeli aircraft dropped flyers over Beirut threatening to inflict damage on Lebanon similar to the devastation wrought on Gaza during Israel's two-year war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and its population largely displaced.

On Friday Israel bombed a bridge in southern Lebanon which it said was being used by Hezbollah and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to strike national infrastructure exploited by Hezbollah.

Israel has deployed more troops to its northern border with Lebanon, and has signalled it is planning for a long campaign.

An Israeli official told Reuters on Friday that the campaign against Hezbollah would likely be intensified and continue even after strikes on Iran die down.

The official said that attacks on civilian infrastructure were being debated by the decision-makers.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Friday that his group was prepared for a long confrontation.

Arab World

UN Chief Says 'Diplomatic Avenues' Available to Stop War in Lebanon

Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
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UN Chief Says 'Diplomatic Avenues' Available to Stop War in Lebanon

Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /

UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic channels remained open to end the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah and urged the international community to support Lebanon.

"There is no military solution, only diplomacy, dialogue and full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. The diplomatic avenues are available, including through my special coordinator for Lebanon... and through key member states," he said.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war last week when militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

"We are doing everything we can now to bring about an immediate de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities," Guterres told reporters.

"My special coordinator is engaging with all actors around the clock to bring the parties to the table and UNIFIL peacekeepers... remain in position," he said, referring to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

He said attacks against peacekeepers and positions were "completely unacceptable and they must stop. They are in breach of international law and may constitute war crimes".

Three peacekeepers serving with the Ghanaian contingent were wounded earlier this month in south Lebanon.

Guterres arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he called a "solidarity" visit, and launched a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the displacement crisis.

On Saturday, he urged support for the Lebanese government, which last year committed to disarming Hezbollah.

"My message to the international community is simply step up your engagement, empower the Lebanese state and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need. Respond generously to the humanitarian appeal," he said.

The Israeli army has issued sweeping evacuation orders to residents of south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, with the Norwegian Refugee Council saying they cover 14 percent of Lebanese territory.

"Evacuation orders in a situation where so many vulnerable populations exist in the areas that are asked to be evacuated does not create enough security for civilians, and whatever does not create enough security for civilians inevitably becomes in violation of international humanitarian law," Guterres said.

Arab World

Palestinians Say Five Injured in Israeli Settler West Bank Attack

TOPSHOT - Israeli soldiers patrol a street during a military operation in the Askar refugee camp in eastern Nablus, Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
TOPSHOT - Israeli soldiers patrol a street during a military operation in the Askar refugee camp in eastern Nablus, Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Palestinians Say Five Injured in Israeli Settler West Bank Attack

TOPSHOT - Israeli soldiers patrol a street during a military operation in the Askar refugee camp in eastern Nablus, Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
TOPSHOT - Israeli soldiers patrol a street during a military operation in the Askar refugee camp in eastern Nablus, Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 2, 2026. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Israeli settlers injured five Palestinians, including two with gunshot wounds, in a fresh attack against a village in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian official said Saturday, while the military reported a 'violent confrontation' in the area.

Palestinian news agency WAFA said a group of settlers attacked in the area of Rashayda, near the village of Kisan, "firing live ammunition".

Musa Abayat, the mayor of the area east of Bethlehem, told AFP that two people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds and three others beaten with sharp objects or hit by stones.

"The settlers also stole 100 sheep," Abayat said, decrying "daily attacks" by settlers in this part of the West Bank.

The Israeli military said there was a "violent confrontation" involving Israeli civilians who fired toward Palestinians.

"As a result of the incident, an Israeli civilian was injured and evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment," it said in a statement to AFP.

"Two additional Palestinians were evacuated by the Red Crescent for medical treatment."

Israeli police had detained two Israeli civilians who fired their weapons, while three Palestinians were also apprehended, the military added.

There has been a spike in deadly settler attacks in the West Bank in recent days, with at least five Palestinians killed since the start of March, according to Palestinian authorities and the United Nations.

Violence more broadly in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has also risen sharply since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war. It has continued despite a ceasefire since October 10.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,045 Palestinians, many of them militants, but also scores of civilians, in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures.

At least 45 Israelis, including both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli figures.