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Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 18 Palestinians

Gaza's civil defence agency reported Sunday that overnight Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least 18 people, including four displaced individuals who had sought refuge in a tent.Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that rescuers working through the night recovered the bodies of 18 people. He said dozens more were injured in the "ongoing aggression and Israeli aerial and artillery bombardment" across Gaza.The dead included at least three children, Bassal said.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 18 Palestinians

A week after Assad's fall, UN urges justice, not revenge

A week after a lightning rebel offensive toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, the United Nations special envoy for Syria on Sunday called for justice to prevail, not revenge.Syrians are only now beginning to scratch the surface of the atrocities committed, after the former despot fled the country for Russia."We need to see of course justice and accountability for crimes," UN envoy Geir Pedersen said after arriving in Damascus."And we need to make sure that that goes through a credible justice system, and that we don't see any revenge."
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: A week after Assad's fall, UN urges justice, not revenge

Hostage hunter fears ousted Syria rulers still hiding US reporter Tice

A former prisoner spearheading a private effort to help find captive US journalist Austin Tice is concerned that deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad may be hiding him to use as leverage in securing his own future.Nizar Zakka, who was detained in Iran on spying charges between 2015 and 2019, now runs Hostage Aid Worldwide, a non-profit group working with families to free kidnapped civilians.This week he was in Syria in the immediate aftermath of the overthrow of Assad.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hostage hunter fears ousted Syria rulers still hiding US reporter Tice

Damascus students say 'finally feel free' after Assad's ouster

Hundreds of students at Damascus University trampled on a statue of one of Syria's former rulers on Sunday, expressing jubilation as they returned to class a week after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad."The atmosphere is extraordinary. Everyone is happy -- look at how joyful people are," said medical student Rinad Abdallah, 18. In front of her stood a large statue of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria after seizing power in a bloodless military coup in 1970, vandalised and brought to the ground.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Damascus students say 'finally feel free' after Assad's ouster

Back in Damascus, rebel leader confident of post-Assad unity

Syrian rebel leader Riad al-Asaad told AFP on Sunday he was confident that the myriad of factions which helped topple Bashar al-Assad after years of war will now unite as one force.Asaad, a former colonel, defected from the Syrian air force in July 2011, early in the Assad government's crackdown of democracy protests that spiralled into civil war.He went on to found the Free Syrian Army (FSA), one of the main opposition factions during the 13-year war, and lost a leg in March 2013 in a bomb attack on his car in eastern Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Back in Damascus, rebel leader confident of post-Assad unity