Hamas rejects Egypt's pro-Israel truce offer

July 15, 2014

Gaza City, Jul 15: Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected a pro-Israel proposal by Egypt for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, unless the Zionist regime meets a few demands including an end to the Gaza blockade.

The military wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Tuesday dismissed the proposal as “surrender” and vowed to “intensify” its battle against Israel.

On the same day, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said, “A ceasefire without reaching an agreement is rejected. In times of war, you don't cease fire and then negotiate.”

The resistance movement has said it will not hold its fire without Israel agreeing to a list of demands, including an end to its eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, along with the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry presented a three-step plan over the Gaza conflict, which starts with a 12-hour ceasefire that would take effect on Tuesday.

“0600 GMT has been set for the beginning of the implementation of truce arrangements between the two sides,” a statement said. The ministry added that the truce would be followed by the opening of border crossings, and talks in Egypt's capital, Cairo, between the sides.

Tel Aviv has ignored the UN's call for a truce and is continuing its intensive aerial bombing campaign against Gaza, which started on July 8. The overall death toll from the Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave has risen to nearly 190.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Tel Aviv will not stop its attacks on Gaza.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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