After mass Nepal jailbreak, some prisoners surrender, Kathmandu, Nepal -- Days after escaping alongside 13,500 others in a giant jailbreak during deadly anti-corruption protests in Nepal, Avinash Rai rubbed his belly after a meal -- and strolled back into prison.

The 46-year-old convicted smuggler stunned relatives when he turned up at their Kathmandu home during last week’s chaos, in which protesters torched the parliament and toppled the government.

The violence left at least 73 dead and saw security collapse across the capital, with inmates streaming out of fire-damaged jails countrywide.

“We were in a situation where saving our own lives was a challenge,” Rai, with two small bags slung on his shoulders, told AFP just before he surrendered himself at the gates of Kathmandu’s Nakhu prison.

“There were no cops here -— there was massive arson and vandalism. The gate was open after that.”

He emerged from prison into violent crowds and fires burning across the city.

“It was a really bad time out,” he said referring to the mayhem as he escaped. “Now I’m going in.”

Youth-led protests in the Himalayan nation began on September 8, sparked by a short-lived ban on social media, but fuelled by anger at corruption and long-standing economic woes.

At least 19 people were killed in a crackdown.

A day later, anger over the deaths escalated, triggering an outpouring of rage nationwide -- with government buildings set alight and violence erupting in multiple prisons.

Rai, jailed for smuggling contraband across the India-Nepal border, has served 20 months of a 22-month sentence and appealed for the new government to “show some leniency”.
‘Cops searching’

More than a third of the fugitives -- 5,000 out of 13,500 -- have been recaptured, police said.

Some were caught by Indian security forces as they tried to slip across the long, porous frontier.

Many still on the run include hardened criminals.

Others, like Rai, handed themselves back in -- many convicted of lesser offences or near the end of their sentences.

His friend Nagendra Shreshtha, who accompanied him back to jail, said Rai’s family had been shocked when he appeared at their door.

“It was just crazy that all these people managed to come out of jail,” Shreshtha said. “We advised him that it made sense to return on his own.”

At the prison gates, Rai was not alone.

Som Gopali, 40, jailed for five years for assault and with nine months still to serve, hugged his tearful wife as he also handed himself in.

“It was a shock when Som phoned me,” said his sister Preeti Yonjan, 42, who also came with him to the jail gate.

“I was dumbfounded and took time to process how he was out”.

Many families described anguish at their relatives’ return behind bars after a brief taste of freedom.

“He couldn’t have stayed out with cops searching for him, and when he has nearly served his time,” Yonjan said.
‘Things must change’

Nakhu prison itself still bears the scars of the unrest.

Walls are scorched black, slogans of the “Gen Z” youth protesters are scrawled across the entrance, and community volunteers have been ferrying in donated mattresses, blankets and utensils.

“There is burnt soot everywhere,” said local volunteer Savyata Bhakti, 22.

“The first night we heard about the escape was tense, and everyone was extra vigilant about safety.”

Suresh Raj Aran, 40, whose 23-year-old son Sevak surrendered, said he had fled only to escape the violence inside prison.

“My son is innocent and we want him home with his parents, but only through a proper legal process,” Aran said.

Outside the prison, families expressed hope that Nepal’s new interim government, leading the country towards elections in March 2026, would improve conditions.

The World Bank says a “staggering” 82 percent of Nepal’s workforce is in informal employment, with GDP per capita just $1,447.

“Things must change -- because if not now then when?,” said Poornima Gopali, 29, waving as her brother Som returned inside.

By Bhuvan Bagga, AFP

#Mexico City propane tanker explosion death toll reaches 15, Mexico City health officials announced on X that a 40-year-old man had died from his injuries and then hours later said in a statement that a 15th person had died who had not been identified. Thirty-nine people remained hospitalized.

Investigators determined that the tank of the overturned trailer ruptured after colliding with something. They continue investigating whether the truck was speeding and whether the driver had sufficient training.

The resulting fire last Wednesday engulfed more than two dozen vehicles and left dozens of badly burned victims.

The Associated Press

#WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military on Monday again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard the vessel, and hinted that the military targeting of cartels could be further expanded.

“The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in International Waters transporting illegal narcotics (A DEADLY WEAPON POISONING AMERICANS!) headed to the U.S.,” Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the strike. “These extremely violent drug trafficking cartels POSE A THREAT to U.S. National Security, Foreign Policy, and vital U.S. Interests.”

The strike was carried out nearly two weeks after another military strike on what the Trump administration said was a drug-carrying speedboat from Venezuela that killed 11.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office later on Monday, Trump said he had been shown footage of the latest strike by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Asked what proof the U.S. has that the vessel was carrying drugs, Trump replied, “We have proof. All you have to do is look at the cargo that was spattered all over the ocean -- big bags of cocaine and and fentanyl all over the place.”

Trump also hinted that U.S. military strikes targeting alleged drug smugglers at sea could be expanded to land.

He said the U.S. military is seeing fewer vessels in the Caribbean since carrying out the first strike early this month. But he said the cartels are still smuggling drugs by land.

“We’re telling the cartels right now we’re going to be stopping them, too,” Trump said. “When they come by land we’re going to be stopping them the same way we stopped the boats. ... But maybe by talking about it a little bit, it won’t happen. If it doesn’t happen that’s good.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later took to X to warn cartels the U.S. would “track them, kill them, and dismantle their networks throughout our hemisphere -- at the times and places of our choosing,” echoing muscular language used by past administrations during the Global War on Terror. The White House also posted a short unclassified video clip on social media of the strike.

The Trump administration has justified the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

But several senators, Democrats and some Republicans, have indicated their dissatisfaction with the administration’s rationale and questioned the legality of the action. They view it as a potential overreach of executive authority in part because the military was used for law enforcement purposes.

The Trump administration has claimed self-defense as a legal justification for the first strike, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio arguing the drug cartels “pose an immediate threat” to the nation.

U.S. officials said the strike early this month targeted Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. And they indicated more military strikes on drug targets would be coming as the U.S. looks to “wage war” on cartels.

Trump did not specify whether Tren de Aragua was also the target of Monday’s strike.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported strike.

The Trump administration has railed specifically against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for the scourge of illegal drugs in U.S. communities.

Maduro during a press conference earlier on Monday lashed out at the U.S. government, accusing the Trump administration of using drug trafficking accusations as an excuse for a military operation whose intentions are “to intimidate and seek regime change” in the South American country.

Maduro also repudiated what he described as a weekend operation in which 18 Marines raided a Venezuelan fishing boat in the Caribbean.

“What were they looking for? Tuna? What were they looking for? A kilo of snapper? Who gave the order in Washington for a missile destroyer to send 18 armed Marines to raid a tuna fishing vessel?” he said. “They were looking for a military incident. If the tuna fishing boys had any kind of weapons and used weapons while in Venezuelan jurisdiction, it would have been the military incident that the warmongers, extremists who want a war in the Caribbean, are seeking.”

Speaking to Fox News earlier Monday, Rubio reiterated that the U.S. doesn’t see Maduro as the rightful leader of Venezuela but as head of a drug cartel. Rubio has consistently depicted Venezuela as a vestige of communist ideology in the Western Hemisphere.

“We’re not going to have a cartel, operating or masquerading as a government, operating in our own hemisphere,” Rubio said.

Following the first military strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, America’s chief diplomat said Trump was “going to use the U.S. military and all the elements of American power to target cartels who are targeting America.”

AP and others have reported that the boat had turned around and was heading back to shore when it was struck. But Rubio on Monday said he didn’t know if that’s accurate.

“What needs to start happening is some of these boats need to get blown up,” Rubio said. “We can’t live in a world where all of a sudden they do a U-turn and so we can’t touch them anymore.”

Arab, Muslim leaders urge review of Israel ties after #Qatar attack, Arab and Muslim leaders called for a review of ties with Israel after emergency talks in Doha on Monday following last week’s deadly strike on Hamas members in the Qatari capital.

The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation joint session, which brought together nearly 60 countries, sought to take firm action after Israel’s attack on Qatar-hosted Hamas officials as they discussed a Gaza ceasefire proposal.

A joint statement from the summit urged “all States to take all possible legal and effective measures to prevent Israel from continuing its actions against the Palestinian people”, including “reviewing diplomatic and economic relations with it, and initiating legal proceedings against it”.

Qatar’s fellow Gulf nations the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, along with Egypt, Jordan and Morocco, were among those present that recognize Israel.

The leaders of the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, which signed the Abraham Accords recognizing Israel five years ago to the day, did not attend Monday’s talks, sending senior representatives instead.

The statement also urged member states to “co-ordinate efforts aimed at suspending Israel’s membership in the United Nations”.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Qatar on Tuesday, after pledging “unwavering support” for Israel’s goal of eradicating Hamas during a visit to the country.

The attack strained ties between Washington and key allies in the Gulf, raising concerns over U.S. security guarantees in a region housing major U.S. assets including a major military base in Qatar.

The State Department said Rubio would “reaffirm America’s full support for Qatar’s security and sovereignty” after last week’s strike.
Mounting pressure over Gaza

Qatar had called for a co-ordinated regional response after the Israeli attack, which stunned the usually peaceful, wealthy peninsula.

The summit aimed to pile pressure on Israel, which is facing mounting calls to end the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The host country’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accused Israel of trying to scupper ceasefire talks by firing on Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a key mediator.

Hamas says top officials survived last week’s air strike in Doha, which killed six people and triggered a wave of criticism.

“Whoever works diligently and systematically to assassinate the party with whom he is negotiating, intends to thwart the negotiations,” the emir told the summit.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, was among those present on Monday, as were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

“Tomorrow, it could be the turn of any Arab or Islamic capital,” said Pezeshkian, whose country fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, at one point attacking a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation for strikes on its nuclear facilities.

“The choice is clear. We must unite.”

President Abdelfattah al-Sisi of Egypt, the first Arab country to recognize Israel, warned its attack in Qatar “places obstacles in the way of any opportunities for new peace agreements and even aborts the existing peace agreements with countries in the region”.

Israel and its main backer Washington have been trying to expand the Abraham Accords, signed during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, notably courting Saudi Arabia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of adopting a “terrorist mentality”, as countries took turns slamming it over #Gaza.

The rich Gulf countries also met on the sidelines of the summit, urging the U.S. to use its “leverage and influence” to rein in Israel, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi told a press conference.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday backed Israel’s new offensive on Gaza City and its goal of eradicating Hamas, casting doubt on whether diplomacy would work to end nearly two years of war.

Rubio showed no daylight between himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a visit to Jerusalem, despite U.S. President Donald Trump gently chiding Israel a week earlier for carrying out air strikes on Hamas leaders in U.S. partner Qatar.

“The people of Gaza deserve a better future, but that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated,” Rubio told reporters at a joint press conference with Netanyahu.

“You can count on our unwavering support,” he said.

Rubio also took a dim view of the Qatari-brokered negotiations for a ceasefire, despite Trump last month predicting an end to the war within weeks.

He called Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war, “barbaric animals”.

“As much as we may wish that there be a sort of a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it, and we’ll continue to explore and be dedicated to it, we also have to be prepared for the possibility that that’s not going to happen,” Rubio said.

Rubio will travel to Doha on Tuesday, the State Department said, to “reaffirm America’s full support” for the Gulf state’s sovereignty.

Qatar is home to the largest U.S. air base in the region and has assiduously courted Trump, including with a gift of a luxury plane.

Doha hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic states Monday where the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said Israel saw negotiations as “merely part of the war”.

“Whoever works diligently and systematically to assassinate the party with whom he is negotiating intends to thwart the negotiations,” he said.

The summit called on countries to “review” ties with Israel and work to have the country stripped of UN membership.

Gulf states, key allies of the United States, urged it to use its “leverage and influence” to rein in Israel.
‘Greatest friend’ of Israel

Israel has launched a major new military campaign aimed at seizing Gaza City, the territory’s largest urban centre, where the United Nations determined last month a million people were facing famine -- a finding rejected by Israel.

Israeli strikes killed another 49 people Monday, many of them in Gaza City, the civil defence agency reported.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

Netanyahu said Rubio’s visit was a “clear message” the United States stood with Israel, and called Trump “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had”.

Rubio’s visit comes a week before France will lead a UN summit in which a number of U.S. allies, angered by what they see as Israeli intransigence, plan to recognize a Palestinian state.

Rubio called statehood recognition, which is fervently opposed by Netanyahu’s right-wing government, “largely symbolic” and alleged that it “emboldened” Hamas to take a hard line.

“It’s actually hurting the cause they think they’re furthering,” Rubio said.

Netanyahu warned that Israel may take unspecified unilateral action in response to recognition of a Palestinian state.

Far-right members of Netanyahu’s cabinet have called for annexation of the West Bank to preclude a state, triggering protests by the United Arab Emirates, which took the landmark step of recognizing Israel five years ago Monday.

The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 64,900 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

Of the 251 people taken hostage by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Rubio met with the families of hostages in Jerusalem on Monday evening, according to a State Department official.
Controversial tunnel

Rubio opened the visit on Sunday with a highly symbolic show of support as he joined Netanyahu at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray.

Rubio, a devout Catholic, later posted that his visit showed his belief that Jerusalem is the “eternal capital” of Israel.

Until Trump’s first term, U.S. leaders had shied away from such overt statements backing Israeli sovereignty over contested Jerusalem, which is also holy to Muslims and Christians.

Rubio late Monday attended the inauguration of a tunnel for religious tourists that goes underneath the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan to the holy sites.

Fakhri Abu Diab, 63, a community spokesman in Silwan, said Rubio should instead come to see homes, such as his own, that have been demolished by Israel in what Palestinians charge is a targeted campaign to erase them.

“Instead of siding with international law, the United States is going the way of extremists and the far right and ignoring our history,” he said.

Massive Russian attack on Ukraine’s #Zaporizhzhia kills one, injures . Russian forces staged a massive attack early on Tuesday on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing one person, injuring seven and triggering a large number of fires, the regional governor said.

Ivan Fedorov said one child was among the injured. Pictures posted by the governor online showed firefighters battling blazes in private homes and other buildings.

Public broadcaster Suspilne said there had been at least 10 strikes on the city.seven

#Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, calling it a ‘replica’ of his crackdown on Washington

Christopher Liew: How to avoid falling into a credit card debt spiral,

Credit cards can be convenient, and many swipe them every day without ever stopping to think about the consequences. However, if they’re not carefully managed, they can quickly evolve into a financial trap.

With current credit interest rates often hovering around 20 per cent or more, carrying a balance from month to month can make it difficult to catch up. This is how many consumers fall into a debt spiral; using credit for everyday expenses, only making minimum payments, and watching their card balances grow by the month.

By recognizing the warning signs early and building healthy credit habits, you can avoid falling into the cycle and keep your finances under control. Here’s what to watch for and the strategies to stay ahead.
Credit card debt is a growing problem

Canadians’ credit card debt is growing. According to TransUnion, the average credit card balance is $4,681 — a number that’s steadily grown over the past few years. The report also revealed that consumer delinquency rates are continuing to rise, as evidenced by the 1.4 million Canadians who missed a credit card payment in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Most credit cards have variable interest rates ranging between 19 and 24 per cent. At that rate, even a small balance can grow substantially if you’re only making your minimum payment. A $2,000 balance could take years to pay off, with hundreds of dollars going to interest instead of reducing the principal.

Consistently carrying balances can also harm your credit score, making it harder to qualify for loans, mortgages, or even rental applications. Additionally, high debt limits your financial flexibility, leaving you with fewer financing options when real emergencies arise.
How to avoid the credit card debt trap

Credit card companies make very little money from people who use their cards responsibly. They make the majority of their money from late fees and interest charged to consumers who frequently carry their card balances, which is one of the reasons why they try so hard to target university students and young adults who may be struggling to stay afloat.

When you’re barely treading water, sometimes it’s easier to take the short-term help that’s offered and worry about the long-term consequences later.

Here are some tips to help you avoid falling into a debt trap in the first place.
1. Always pay more than the minimum

The minimum payment is designed to keep you trapped in a debt cycle. Credit card companies offer low minimum payments to tempt consumers into overspending with the promise of a small, seemingly affordable payment.

A closer look at the minimum payment, however, will reveal that only a portion of that payment goes to your principal balance. The rest goes toward the monthly interest fees, which is essentially money you’re flushing down the drain every month by carrying a balance.

If you end up in a situation where you have to carry a balance, always try to pay more than the minimum payment. This will help you pay down your principal balance quicker, resulting in less interest fees over time.
2. Track your spending and create a budget

Ultimately, you shouldn’t be using your credit to pay for things that you wouldn’t be able to afford with your debit card, as this will put you over budget. To know how much you can actually afford to spend, though, you first need to have a budget broken down into needs, wants, and allow some money left over for saving and investments.
3. Set up automated payments on your cards

In addition to the ding on your credit score, most cards impose late fees if you miss your scheduled payment date. You can easily avoid this by setting up auto-draft payments through your card’s app.
4. Build an emergency fund

Emergencies happen. If you’re living paycheque to paycheque, using a credit card may be the only way to cover unexpected expenses. This is why it’s important to work emergency savings into your monthly budget, so that you don’t have to resort to a credit card.

An easy way to accomplish this without having to think about it is to set up a savings account alongside your chequing account. Use your bank app to set up an autodraft (either a dollar amount or a percentage) to be transferred from your chequing to your savings every time your paycheque hits your account. Don’t touch this money unless it’s an absolute emergency.
5. Look into lower-interest options

If you’re in over your head in debt, you have a couple of options to help you lower interest payments:

Transfer your card balance to a lower-interest credit card
Apply for a debt consolidation loan

Additionally, some credit card companies may offer a temporary break on interest. If you call your card company and explain that you’re going through financial hardship, they may offer to temporarily reduce your interest to give you time to catch up on paying down your principal balance.
Warning signs that you’re falling into a debt spiral

Credit cards can be a great tool to help you build your credit profile, earn cashback rewards, and receive points that can later be used to help fund vacations, purchase holiday gifts, or even cover groceries.

More opinion and expert analysis on CTVNews.ca

But if you’re not paying your balance off before the end of each billing cycle, you can end up on a slippery slope. Once the monthly interest fees hit, these will offset the value of any cashback rewards you may have earned, and may even end up costing you more money than you spent.

Some warning signs that you may be falling into a debt cycle:

You’re only able to make the minimum payment on your card (much of which goes purely to interest fees)
You find yourself relying solely on credit to afford everyday living expenses
You’re living above your means and using your card to afford expenses you wouldn’t be able to cover with your bank account balance
You’re frequently opening new cards to transfer your card balance to a lower-interest card

Know when to seek help

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, credit card debt becomes too difficult to manage alone. Recognizing when to reach out for support can prevent the problem from spiralling further. If you’re missing payments, relying on cash advances, or using one credit card to pay another, these are strong indicators that outside assistance may be needed.

Speaking with a financial or debt advisor can help you come up with a realistic solution to getting out of your debt spiral that fits into your budget. The sooner you take action, the more options you’ll have to regain control of your finances before it’s too late.

More from Christopher Liew:

How to deal with financial stress if you’re deep in debt
Smart moves for single seniors who are about to retire
Why so many young Canadians can’t find jobs
Are you responsible for your parent’s credit card debt when they die?

#Qatar hosting summit over the Israeli attack on Hamas in Doha, seeking to restrain such assaults.

The attack on Hamas leaders came as Qatar serves as a key mediator in an effort to reach a ceasefire in the war, something Doha insisted it will continue to do even after the assault.

Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Israel has retaliated against the militant group and others in Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance.” Israel has launched strikes in Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Qatar and Yemen. That’s led to a wider anger by Mideast nations already enraged by the over 64,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza — and a growing concern that the U.S. security umbrella in the Gulf Arab states may not be enough to protect them.

“It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, told a meeting Sunday.

However, it remains unclear just what the summit will be able to achieve, given some nations already have diplomatic recognition deals with #Israel and may be reluctant to sever ties.

“Considering the deep tensions between the Gulf states and other regional actors, assembling the summit in less than a week, especially given its scale, is a notable achievement that underscores a shared sense of urgency in the region,” the New York-based Soufan Center said. “The key question is whether ... (the summit will) signal a shift toward more consequential measures against Israel, including diplomatic downgrades, targeted economic actions and restrictions on airspace and access.”
Iran, which attacked Qatar in June, attending summit

Iran, which struck Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after America bombed its nuclear sites in June during its war with Israel, sent President Masoud Pezeshkian to attend the meeting. Before leaving Tehran, Pezeshkian noted the wide breadth of nations Israel has attacked since Oct. 7.

“This regime has attacked many Islamic countries, including Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Yemen,” he said. ”It does whatever it wants, and unfortunately, the United States and European countries also support these actions.”

Writing on the social platform X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added: “Iran stands with Qatar and indeed all Muslim brothers and sisters, particularly against the scourge that is terrorizing the region.” Araghchi and Pezeshkian did not mention Iran’s attack on Qatar.
Qatar has been key in Israel-Hamas war talks

Qatar, an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that hosted the 2022 World Cup, long has served as an intermediary in conflicts. For years, it has hosted Hamas’ political leadership at the request of the U.S., providing a channel for Israel to negotiate with the militant group that has controlled Gaza for years.

But as the Israel-Hamas war has raged on, Qatar increasingly has been criticized by hard-liners within Netanyahu’s government. Netanyahu himself has vowed to strike all those who organized the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, and in the time since the attack in Qatar, he has doubled down on saying Qatar remains a possible target if Hamas leaders are there.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump offered renewed support for Qatar.

“We’re with them. You know, they’ve been a great ally,” Trump said. “A lot of people don’t understand about Qatar. Qatar has been a great ally, and they also lead a very difficult life because they’re right in the middle of everything.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Israel on Monday for meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials to express America’s concern over the attack on Qatar and talk about Israel’s planned new offensive on Gaza City.

Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from the Israeli public over the fate of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. There are still 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed by Israel to still be alive. Israel’s offensives in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says around half of those killed were women and children.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press

#Qatar hosts top diplomats before major summit on Israel’s attack in Doha targeting Hamas leaders.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as Qatar’s foreign minister, made the comments before a meeting Monday of leaders from those nations.

Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar remained committed to working with Egypt and the United States to reach a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the Gaza Strip after Hamas’ attack on Israel nearly two years ago. However, he said that the Israeli strike that killed six people -- five members of Hamas and a local Qatari security force member -- represented “an attack on the principle of mediation itself.”

“This attack can only be described as state terrorism, an approach pursued by the current extremist Israeli government, which flouts international law,” the minister said. “The reckless and treacherous Israeli aggression was committed while the state of Qatar was hosting official and public negotiations, with the knowledge of the Israeli side itself, and with the aim of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.”

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the moment had come for consequences to Israel’s attacks in the wider Middle East.

“It is time for the international community to stop applying double standards and punish Israel for all the crimes it has committed,” Sheikh Mohammed said in footage later released by Qatar’s government from the closed-door meeting.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit separately criticized Israel and warned that “silence in the face of a crime ... paves the way for more crimes.”

There was no immediate response from Israel, which is hosting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this weekend.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night again defended the strike.

“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza,” he posted on X. “They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war. Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”

Hamas official Bassem Naim said in a statement that the organization hopes that the summit on Monday will produce “a unified and decisive Arab--Islamic stance” on the war.

Qatar, an energy-rich nation on the Arabian Peninsula that hosted the 2022 World Cup, long has served as an intermediary in conflicts. For years, it has hosted Hamas’ political leadership at the request of the U.S., providing a channel for Israel to negotiate with the militant group that has controlled Gaza for years.

But as the Israel-Hamas war has raged on, Qatar increasingly has been criticized by hard-liners within Netanyahu’s government. Netanyahu himself has vowed to strike all those who organized the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, and in the time since the attack in Qatar, he has doubled down on saying Qatar remains a possible target if Hamas leaders are there.

Netanyahu faces increasing pressure from the Israeli public over the fate of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. There are still 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed by Israel to still be alive. Israel’s offensives in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says around half of those killed were women and children.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press