Gaza

Gold prices hit a record high above $2,700 on Oct. 18 as traders piled into the safe-haven commodity at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, including in the Middle East after Israel said it killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.

Bullion hit an all-time high of $2,704.89 in early Asian trade, up from its previous record of $2,688.83 touched on Oct. 17

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has cautioned that Türkiye and the region must prepare for a potential war between Israel and Iran, citing a "high possibility" of such a conflict erupting.

"The war between Israel and Iran needs to be considered a high possibility," Fidan said during a television interview.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip was the "beginning of the end" of the year-long war in the Palestinian territory.

"I have nightmares every day; it was as if I was killed, and today I have to be reborn," Mazal Tazazo tells Kathimerini. On October 7, 2023, she was with her friends at the Nova music festival in Israel when the terrorists attacked. She pretended to be dead as Hamas men were killing anyone in their path nearby.

Yahia Shinar is finally off the list of problems for Israel, or to be more precise the “live” problems as it seems that even the dead Hamas chief raises issues for Beniamin Netanyahu.

Israel has banned qualified doctors from entering the Gaza Strip to offer their services at local hospitals, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since August, requests from eight organizations seeking to send more than 50 qualified doctors have been rejected due to the blockade imposed by Israel on the Palestinian enclave, the WHO reported on Thursday.

The leader of Hamas Yahya Sinwar is dead, according to the Israeli army.

Israeli security cabinet members have been informed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is likely dead, according to two officials familiar with the situation. Israeli broadcasters KAN and N12 News also reported that Sinwar has been confirmed dead by various Israeli officials.

Sinwar is a central figure in Hamas and is considered one of the masterminds behind the deadly attack by the terrorist organization on Israel on October 7, 2023. If confirmed, news of his death is expected to have significant implications for developments in the region.