Macron told the Iranian president that 'only a few hours remain' to reach a nuclear deal | LIVE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that recent recognitions of a Palestinian state by some countries “will in no way bind Israel” and that “a Palestinian state will not be established,” according to Reuters.

The new Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, assured the U.N. General Assembly that he will bring to justice all those “involved in the bloodbath” still affecting his country.

“We have formed commissions to establish the facts and granted access to U.N. investigative missions,” he added regarding the sectarian massacres, promising to “eradicate sectarianism” in the country.

The Houthis claim responsibility for the drone attack on Eilat in Israel.

The U.N. reports that one million Syrian refugees have returned from abroad since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The agency is urging greater international support to enable more Syrians to return and to assist with their country’s reconstruction.

French President Emmanuel Macron said there's a “solid prospect” for the release of French citizens held in Iran — who Paris considers “state hostages” — though he cautioned that things “remain very uncertain.”

“We have a solid prospect, so we’re working on it. We will have clarifications in the coming weeks,” he told France 24 and Radio France Internationale.

“But I don’t want to be definitive here because, unfortunately, this does not depend only on us,” he added in New York, where he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

At the U.N., Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa warned of “new crises” triggered by Israeli actions.

French President Emmanuel Macron told the Iranian president that “an agreement (on the nuclear issue) is still possible,” but “there are only a few hours left,” AFP reports.

French President Emmanuel Macron says that closing the French consulate in Jerusalem would be a "serious mistake" by Israel.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister said Wednesday that he assured the family of Alon Ohel, a hostage still held in Gaza, that a continuous joint military and diplomatic effort is underway to defeat Hamas and bring all hostages home, Reuters reports.

US plan for Gaza expected Wednesday

Sources told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that a US plan for Gaza is set to be announced Wednesday. The plan reportedly includes ending the conflict, releasing prisoners, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory, and delivering aid through international organizations.

Macron: Israeli forces must withdraw from South Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron told Al-Hadath that “Israeli forces must withdraw from southern Lebanon” and that “the Lebanese army must regain full control of the area.”

He added that France would “continue to provide increased support to the Lebanese army,” and noted, “We are working closely with the United States on the situation in Lebanon.” Macron also said that the Lebanese Army’s plan to monopolize arms would help “restore its authority.”

'A child is killed every hour on average for nearly two years,' says UN humanitarian chief

U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed his deep sense of helplessness on Wednesday over the “horror” unfolding in Gaza, lamenting that no appeal seems to reach “those who could end this 21st-century atrocity.”

Fletcher spoke during a meeting focused on the situation of Palestinian children in the blockaded territory, organized by Belgium and Jordan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“We gather once again to share our testimony and our shame, to try to find words for the horror (…) to repeat that something must be done and, I fear, to accept that nothing will be,” he said, according to AFP.

In Gaza,“a child is killed every hour on average for nearly two years,” he stated, adding that the luckiest children “sleep in tents,” while schools have become “places of horror, depriving more than 700,000 children of their right to education.”

Israeli emergency services report that at least 20 people were injured in a drone attack launched from Yemen on Eilat, according to Reuters.

The southern resort city of Eilat was hit by a drone launched from Yemen, according to the Israeli army, AFP reports.

Fifteen people were injured, including two seriously, citing Israeli emergency services.

Gaza: UN calls for end to flotilla 'attacks' and demands investigation

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday called for an end to the "attacks" on the flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip and urged an "independent" investigation.

"An independent, impartial, and thorough investigation must be conducted into the reported attacks and harassment," said spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan, as pro-Palestinian activists aboard the flotilla claimed they had been targeted by "explosions" and "multiple drones" off the coast of Greece.

"These attacks must stop, and those responsible for these violations must be held accountable," he added, according to AFP.

U.S. President Donald Trump promised Arab leaders that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, according to Politico, which cited six sources familiar with the matter.

Iranian president tells UN: 'We do not want nuclear weapons'

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that his country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, rejecting accusations from Western countries.

“I state here once again, before this Assembly, that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build an atomic bomb. We do not want nuclear weapons,” he said firmly during the annual United Nations summit in New York, according to AFP.

West Bank: Two Palestinians killed in recent days, says Palestinian Authority

Residents of the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir gathered on Wednesday for the funeral of Saeed Mourad Naasan, 20, who was killed the previous day by gunfire from Israeli settlers, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry, cited by AFP.

His body, draped in a Palestinian flag, was carried by relatives through a crowd of hundreds.

The Health Ministry said Naasan was shot dead by settlers in al-Mughayyir, located in the northern West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967. The Israeli army said that an off-duty soldier opened fire after Palestinians threw stones.

Also on Wednesday, funerals were held in Anza, near Jenin, for Ahmad Jihad Barahmeh, a man in his twenties, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Barahmeh was killed by the Israeli army that morning. The army claimed that a “terrorist” threw an explosive device at soldiers operating in Anza, and they “responded with gunfire” and “eliminated” him.

At least 64 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes

At least 64 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since dawn, including 42 in the besieged city of Gaza, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.

In the afternoon, al-Shifa Hospital and al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City reported 17 and 25 deaths, respectively. Nasser Hospital, in the southern Gaza Strip, stated that the Israeli army had killed 16 more people.

These new casualties come a day after U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres stated that "the scale of death and destruction" in Israel's war on Gaza surpasses any other conflict he has witnessed during his tenure.

Iranian diplomats barred from shopping at US wholesale stores

Iranian diplomats visiting New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly will be prohibited from shopping at U.S. wholesale stores, according to a decree published yesterday in the U.S. Federal Register.

The decree, published in the Federal Register, states that the diplomats will not be allowed to make any purchases at wholesale chains such as Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's Wholesale Club, adding that the list of prohibited stores is not exhaustive, according to AFP. This is "an unusual act of pressure on diplomats," commented the Washington Post.

The decree also states that Iranian diplomats must obtain permission from the State Department's Office of Foreign Missions if they wish to purchase luxury goods during their stay in the United States. "We will not allow the Iranian regime to allow its religious elites to go shopping in the United States while they force their own people in Iran to endure poverty and severe shortages of basic necessities," stated State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott on his X account.

For the second day in a row, an Israeli military drone dropped an "unidentified object" in a valley in the Nabatieh district, between the villages of Houmin Fawqa and Deir al-Zahrani, according to residents contacted by our correspondent in the South.

Rome asks Israel to ensure safety of Gaza-bound flotilla

The Italian Foreign Ministry has asked Israel to ensure the safety of the pro-Palestinian flotilla en route to Gaza, whose participants claimed they were targeted by an attack at sea, AFP reported.

"Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was informed of the attack on the flotilla's vessels off the coast of Crete," according to a statement from the Italian foreign ministry, which emphasized that the flotilla is in international waters and noted that several Italians, including members of parliament, are on board.

Tajani, currently in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, reiterated through the Italian embassy in Israel "the request to the Israeli government to guarantee the absolute protection" of the flotilla's participants, the statement said. Any operation aimed at preventing the flotilla from reaching Gaza must be conducted "in accordance with international law," the statement stressed.

Gaza flotilla: Italy sends military frigate for 'potential rescue operations'

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the dispatch of a military frigate for "potential rescue operations" to the pro-Palestinian flotilla bound for Gaza, which claimed it was attacked off the coast of Greece overnight.

"To ensure assistance to Italian citizens on board the flotilla, I have authorized the immediate deployment of the naval frigate Fasan, which was already operating north of Crete, and which is now heading to the area," Crosetto said in a statement released to AFP.

Southern Lebanon: UNIFIL announces Israeli drone crashed previous day at its headquarters in Naqoura

On Tuesday afternoon, "an Israeli drone crashed inside the headquarters" of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon [UNIFIL] in Naqoura," confirmed UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel in a statement, adding that "no one was injured."

The drone was neutralized by the peacekeepers, and it was confirmed that the drone was "unarmed, but equipped with a camera." The Israeli army confirmed that the drone belonged to them.

Like all overflights, whether by drones or other means, over southern Lebanon, "this constitutes a violation of Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty," stated Ardiel, who added that UNIFIL "takes very seriously any interference or threat to its personnel, its facilities or its operations and will officially protest this act."

A man identified by Hezbollah as one of its fighters, Ali Hussein Kaddouh, who was wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Tibnin on Sept. 19, has succumbed to his injuries, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli army had bombed a car at the entrance to the hospital in that village, resulting in one death and eleven injuries.

The Israeli army announced that one of its soldiers was seriously wounded in the "fighting" in the northern Gaza Strip.

The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with at least 47 people killed since this morning, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera. Of these, 34 Palestinians were killed in Gaza City.

According to witnesses, Israeli drones have been flying over Beirut and its suburbs since early this morning.

Nuclear issue: Macron announces he will meet with Iranian president today

Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that he would meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, to discuss the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program.

"The coming hours will be crucial. Either Iran takes a positive step and commits to a path of peace and responsibility ... or sanctions will have to be imposed," the French president warned.

For Japan, recognizing Palestine is just a matter of time

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated yesterday at the U.N. that Tokyo's recognition of the Palestinian state was merely a matter of time, expressing his "indignation" at recent statements by Israeli officials, AFP reported. "I am deeply outraged by the statements of senior Israeli government officials who seem to categorically reject the very idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state," Ishiba said.

"For our country, the question is not whether to recognize a Palestinian state, but when. The persistent unilateral actions of the Israeli government are unacceptable," he added. "I want to make it clear that if further actions hinder the realization of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to take further measures in response," the Japanese Prime Minister added.

"The terrorism perpetrated by Hamas and the devastation we are witnessing in Gaza today have deeply saddened many people," Ishiba also said during his address in New York.

For him, "what matters most is that Palestine can exist sustainably, living peacefully alongside Israel." "We urge Palestine to assume its role as a responsible member of the international community. The Palestinian side must establish a governance system that guarantees accountability," he added.

Meeting on Gaza sidelines UNGA: Trump meets with Arab, Muslim leaders

A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders of Muslim countries, focusing on ending the ongoing war in Gaza, took place in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, the Emirati news agency WAM reported. The U.S. president left the meeting without making a statement.

According to the agency, the release of all hostages and measures to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged enclave were also among the priorities discussed at the meeting.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, brought together leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, WAM added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the meeting as "very fruitful."

Syrian president reiterates that agreement with Israel is essential for region

For his part, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa warned of further turmoil in the Middle East if Israel and the transitional government he represents fail to reach a security agreement.

"We are not the ones who create problems for Israel. We are afraid of Israel, not the other way around," he stated at an event organized in New York by the Middle East Institute, a U.S. think tank.

"There are numerous risks associated with Israel delaying negotiations and continuing to violate our airspace and intrude into our territory," he said.

He rejected any discussion about the partition of his country, while Israel continues its incursions and claims to be defending the interests of the Druze minority.

Activists on Global Sumud Flotilla denounce Israeli attacks targeting their ships

Organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aims to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave, said they were "attacked" by Israel in recent hours, including with flares, explosive projectiles, and "suspicious chemicals," while they were off the coast of Crete.

The activists reported "at least 11 attacks" against the flotilla, which is located "600 nautical miles" from the Gaza coast, according to the organization CODEPINK on social media.

In a video released early Wednesday, footage shows what the activists describe as "sonic bombs." "We are experiencing these psychological operations live, right now, but we will not be intimidated," the flotilla stated in a message on Telegram.

Damascus, Tel Aviv close to 'de-escalation' agreement, says Barrack

Syria and Israel are close to concluding a "de-escalation" agreement in which Israel would cease its attacks on the country, while Syria would agree not to move heavy machinery or equipment near the Israeli border, U.S. envoy for Syria and Lebanon, Tom Barrack, stated last night, according to Haaretz.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York, Barrack indicated that this agreement would constitute a first step toward a broader security arrangement that the two countries are currently negotiating.

U.S. President Donald Trump had sought to secure an agreement between the two parties, which was supposed to be announced this week, but the progress made so far has been insufficient, and the Jewish New Year holiday of Rosh Hashanah, celebrated this week, has slowed the process, the envoy explained.

Syria and Israel are in talks to reach an agreement that Damascus hopes will lead to the cessation of Israeli airstrikes and the withdrawal of Israeli troops that have entered southern Syria.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 29 Palestinians since dawn.

The Israeli army has killed at least 29 Palestinians in Gaza since the early hours of the morning in airstrikes, including one near a market in Gaza City, according to a source at the al-Ahli hospital in the city, quoted by Al Jazeera. That strike alone killed at least 17 people.

Good morning! We are now launching our live coverage of the latest news from the Middle East.

We will be following developments in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and other countries in the region affected by the conflicts that have been raging since Oct. 7, 2023.