International

A reputed surgeon from Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital dies in an Israeli prison

Adnan al Barash, a reputed 50-year-old surgeon from the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, has died this Thursday in an Israeli prison, bringing the deaths of the enclave’s health sector to 496 since October 7, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health in a statement.

“The murder of Dr. al Barash will not be the last crime to come to light and also the way they treat prisoners in prisons, especially those arrested in the Gaza Strip,” they denounce in the press release.

This Palestinian doctor, who was head of the Orthopedics department of the Al Shifa medical complex, now inoperative after the siege of Israeli troops, was arrested last December, while treating patients in another hospital in northern Gaza.

Hamas, in a statement, also wanted to denounce the death of this doctor who was “punished simply for fulfilling his humanitarian obligations” and adds that his loss confirms “the continuous war crimes perpetrated against the Palestinian people” by the Israeli Army.

“I am extremely alarmed by the information of Dr. Adnan’s death. How many more lives will have to be eliminated before UN member states, especially those that demonstrate genuine concern for human rights worldwide, act to protect the Palestinians?” The UN rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, lamented in her X account.

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Precisely on Thursday, the Israeli authorities refused to return the body of another prisoner, Palestinian intellectual Walid Daqqa, who died of cancer on April 7 after 38 years in prison, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported today.

The Gazaz Ministry also asked the international community and health agencies to protect prisoners from the mistreatment they suffer in Israeli prisons. And especially, the Palestinians who are being arrested in Gaza.

It is estimated that there are at least 9,300 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, including 3,600 in “administrative detention” without charges or trial, according to data from the human rights group Adalah.

Hamas hopes to send a delegation to Cairo “as soon as possible” to resume negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Palestinian Islamist group.

The head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, held a call on Thursday with the head of Egyptian Intelligence, Abás Kamel, in which he thanked him for the role of the North African country as a mediator between the Palestinian group and Israel.

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“The head of the movement thanked Egypt for the role and emphasized the positive spirit of the movement to study the ceasefire proposal,” the statement reads.

Haniyeh confirmed that a negotiating delegation will soon travel to the Egyptian capital to “complete the current discussions with the aim of maturing an agreement that meets the demands of our people and that stops the aggression.”

The political leader of Hamas then held a similar call with the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in which he thanked him for the mediating role of the Arab country, and pledged to reach an agreement under the auspices of Qatar and Egypt.

More than a dozen Palestinians died this morning in Israeli artillery and air strikes in northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, with intense bombings in the Nuseirat refugee camp, 209 days of war.

At least six Gazats died last night in an Israeli bombing of the city of Al Zahraa, north of the Nuseirat camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, while rescue teams found three other lifeless bodies after bombings in the northwest of the camp, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Thursday.

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In the southern area of Jan Yunis, a Gazan died and an undetermined number of injuries were recorded in an Israeli bombing in the area of Qaa al Qurain, southeast of this devastated city after four months of Israeli land attacks.

“The areas of Bani Suhaila, Abasan and Khuzaa, to the east of the city, also suffered intense bombing by Israeli fighter planes,” Wafa said, without specifying victims.

The latest attacks increased the death toll to 34,596 after 209 days of war.

“The Israeli occupation committed 3 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, causing 28 martyrs and 51 injured during the last 24 hours,” the Gaza Ministry of Health of the Government of Hamas reported on Thursday, referring to the victims recorded in hospitals.

The Ministry also said that the total number of injured reached 77,816 people, and that “several victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, (but that) the ambulance and civil defense teams cannot reach them.”

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On Thursday, the Israeli Army recovered the remains of another of the missiles from Iran’s attack on April 13, which was intercepted in the area of Nahal Ye’elim, near the southern city of Arad, according to a military statement.

“The debris was cleaned of hazardous materials and evacuated by means of a crane by the troops, along with the firefighters and rescue teams,” the Army explained.

Israel has only been able to recover so far some of the almost 120 ballistic missiles that Tehran launched on the night of Saturday, April 13. Most of these projectiles were intercepted in their neighboring countries, such as Jordan.

International

Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions

Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.

“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.

Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.

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Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.

International

Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight

The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.

Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.

Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.

In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.

While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.

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The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.

Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.

International

Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo

Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.

The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.

According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.

The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”

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However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”

These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.