Jordan, Norway push for Gaza ceasefire, two-state solution amid rising tensions
Amman: Jordan and Norway have jointly called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, alongside unrestricted humanitarian access and renewed commitment to the two-state solution as the path to lasting peace in the region.
Speaking after talks in Amman on Monday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi lauded Norway’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine, calling it a significant step towards upholding international law and justice.
Safadi emphasized that lasting peace and regional stability require the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli extremist ministers, warning that such actions risk further escalation.
He praised Norway's leadership as chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which coordinates international donor support for Palestinians, and welcomed its efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and push for revived peace negotiations.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and underscored that conflict will persist unless the core issue — the absence of a Palestinian state — is resolved. Eide reaffirmed Norway’s support for Palestinian statehood and welcomed the upcoming UN conference on the two-state solution, scheduled for June in New York and co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.
Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly rejected a new ceasefire proposal brokered by the United States. According to Israel’s state-owned Kan TV, the plan called for a 70-day ceasefire, the release of 10 hostages (five living and five deceased), expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the initiation of negotiations for a permanent truce.
A senior Israeli official involved in the talks dismissed the proposal, describing it as a “surrender to Hamas.”
The conflict in Gaza has now entered its 19th month, with international efforts intensifying to halt the violence and address the underlying political impasse.
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Man chased, brutally stabbed inside public toilet in northwest Delhi; one arrested; juvenile held
New Delhi (PTI): An alleged road rage incident took a fatal turn when a 27-year-old factory worker was chased down by assailants and stabbed multiple times inside a public toilet in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area, police said on Thursday.
According to police, the incident took place on Wednesday night, when witnesses saw the victim, Santosh Kumar, running into a public toilet in a desperate bid to save his life, with his attackers hot on his heels.
"A PCR call was received at 6:23 pm on April 8 regarding a man being stabbed inside the compound of a Sulabh Sauchalaya located at the fish market in Wazirpur Industrial Area," a senior police officer said.
A police team rushed to the spot and found the victim lying in a pool of blood inside the toilet premises. The victim, originally from Nepal, was residing in Macchi Market area, the official said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the incident stemmed from an altercation between the victim and a motorcycle rider. The verbal spat soon escalated into a physical scuffle, during which the accused, along with an associate, allegedly attacked Santosh with a knife.
Police sources said in a desperate attempt to save himself, the injured victim ran towards the nearby public toilet and tried to latch the door from inside. Eyewitness accounts suggest he tried to take refuge inside the public toilet and shut the door to prevent his attackers from entering. However, he was chased down, overpowered, and stabbed multiple times.
Santosh collapsed on the spot, where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said.
A case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intentions) was registered at Ashok Vihar police station and an investigation was taken up.
During the probe, police arrested one accused identified as Tanish (19), a resident of CSA Colony in Macchi Market area, and apprehended a juvenile allegedly involved in the incident.
Police said the motorcycle used by the accused, which they had abandoned while fleeing after the attack, was recovered near the crime scene.
Family members and acquaintances of the deceased expressed shock over the killing. Santosh's uncle, who reached the spot after being informed, recounted the scene.
"When I came here, I saw him lying on the floor, dead. I noticed that he had been stabbed twice. I am not aware of what exactly happened. He was just 27 years old and used to work in a steel company with me. I don't know how many people were involved in the attack. We are from Nepal, and I have been working here for 15 years. I think he was stabbed outside and later came inside the toilet to save himself. There was a bike outside which I think belonged to the attackers," he said.
Police said the motive behind the crime appears to be road rage -- a sudden and heated altercation on the road that spiralled into a violent assault resulting in the victim's death.
Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any other persons involved in the attack. Police teams are analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and examining local witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.
