Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for Hamas operatives to lay down their arms, saying the Palestinian group's end was near, as the war in the Gaza Strip raged more than two months after it began. "The war is still ongoing, but it is the beginning of the end of Hamas. I say to the Hamas terrorists: It's over. Don't die for (Yahya) Sinwar. Surrender now," Netanyahu said in a statement, referring to the chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But Hamas remained defiant, warning no hostages would leave Gaza alive without meeting the group's demands. Spokesman Abu Obeida said in a broadcast that neither Israel nor its backers can take prisoners without negotiations and concessions. The pronouncements come as over 17,100 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 50,000 wounded by Israeli assaults since October 7. Meanwhile, close to 1,200 Israelis have died as well over the course of the prolonged conflict. 

Israeli PM Netanyahu dismissed international appeals to stop the months-long Gaza war, arguing allies can't demand eliminating Hamas while also pressing to end military operations. Briefing his cabinet, Netanyahu said he told world leaders: "You cannot on the one hand support the elimination of Hamas and on other pressure us to end the war, which would prevent the elimination of Hamas." Fighting has raged since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7. While Israel vowed to destroy the militant group, its offensive has killed 17,700 in Gaza, mostly civilians. A 7-day truce saw hostage swaps before collapsing Dec 1. Qatar mediating talks warned "relentless" Israeli strikes were "narrowing window" for new truce. WHO proposed emergency aid passage given "catastrophic" health situation.

Hamas issued a stern warning to Israel on Sunday saying: "Neither the fascist enemy... nor its supporters can take their prisoners alive without an exchange and negotiation and meeting the resistance's demands". A spokesman for its armed wing, Abu Obeida, referred to freeing Palestinian detainees held by Israel while making the remarks in a televised address. Last week's collapsed Gaza truce saw 105 Hamas hostages freed in return for 240 prisoners. But Israel says 137 still remain captive in Gaza. Qatar trying to broker talks cautioned "narrowing window" due to relentless Israeli strikes. Vowing to continue the fight, Obeida stated: "We have no choice but to fight this barbaric occupier in every neighbourhood, street."

The teenage twins of imprisoned Iranian women's rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi accepted the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to their mother. Serving a 10-year term in Tehran, Ms Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. In a defiant speech smuggled from jail and read out, she stated: "The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism. Have no doubt, this is certain." Jailed almost continuously since 2010 with multiple arrests, she is currently serving time for "spreading propaganda". Her husband lives exiled in Paris with their children who haven't seen her in years. The 51-year-old's absence at the Oslo ceremony stood testament to her long fight for justice from behind bars.

A French warship operating in the Red Sea shot down two drones launched from the Yemen coast, the French defense ministry said Sunday. It said the multipurpose frigate Languedoc intercepted and destroyed a first drone around 9:30 pm local time Saturday and a second one around 11:30 pm, about 110 km from Yemen's Al Hudaydah coast. On Saturday, Yemen's Houthi militants had threatened to target all ships heading to Israel regardless of nationality. The Iran-backed rebels have seized and attacked several Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait, a key global oil shipping channel. France said the drones were destroyed 68 miles off Yemen, averting a potential strike on the warship.

The UK's growing rich-poor divide risks becoming a "chasm", warned a think tank report, arguing the disadvantaged saw no improvement in 15 years. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) highlighted stagnant wages, housing issues, crime, and mental health crises, saying the gap widened amid the pandemic. It warned of slipping back to Victorian-era inequality with "systemic problems facing the bottom" getting entrenched. "For too many Britain is broken and the gap between the haves and have-nots is in danger of becoming a chasm," the report adds. Lockdowns worsened matters, it added, flagging surging youth mental illness and work benefits claimants. Ministers cited cost of living support but the report dubbed Britain "broken" over the dangers of an unbridgeable gulf between haves and have-nots.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared “I will not give up” appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, despite the UN Security Council recently “failing” to pass a resolution demanding truce amid Israel’s devastating military campaign. “Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it, but that does not make it less necessary,” Guterres affirmed. The stalemate erodes UN credibility as Gaza verges on “hell on earth” per the UN Palestinian aid chief. Meanwhile, Jordan's foreign minister charged Israel is stoking “an amount of hatred” that will “haunt the region" and “define generations.” Guterres remains undeterred, insisting "I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire.”

As Israel continues its massive air and ground offensive in Gaza, its forces pushed further south on Sunday into Khan Yunis and Rafah near the Egyptian border. With few safe refuge options left, over 17,700 displaced Gaza civilians, mainly women and children, have flooded local hospitals. Gaza's health ministry reported over 130 bodies arrived at just two hospitals in one day amid intense bombardment. Aid groups warn of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, calling the situation "apocalyptic" with severe shortages of water, food and medicine. Israel has vowed to root out Hamas militants who killed over 1,200 Israelis in October border attacks. But children now endure "another death sentence" per UNICEF as Gaza verges on healthcare system collapse.

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Sunday morning, the National Center for Seismology confirmed. The quake occurred at 09:08:17 IST at a depth of 90 kilometers. This marks the latest seismic activity in Afghanistan over the past few months, following a 4.6-magnitude tremor on October 13th at 50 kilometers depth. Earlier on August 5, an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 jolted Afghanistan on Saturday, the National Center for Seismology reported. It took place at 9.31pm, at a depth of 181 Km.

Former President Donald Trump has overtaken a narrow lead over President Joe Biden in recent 2024 election polls, according to a new Wall Street Journal survey. The poll shows Trump ahead by 4 percentage points, 47% to 43%, the first time he has held an advantage over Biden. Biden's approval rating has simultaneously hit its lowest point yet during his presidency. When including potential third-party candidates, Trump's lead widens to 6 points. The poll results may raise concerns among Democrats about Biden's chances for reelection, especially given his age and his son's recent tax indictment. However, some advise not to overinterpret the data this early in the election cycle. Ultimately, much could change before November 2024.