Zelensky: 92 Russian drones towards Poland, Putin is testing European capabilities. In Gaza 91 dead

Two days before the expected meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his entourage expect to have to accept "painful and significant concessions" in order to adhere to the American plan to end the war in Gaza. This was revealed by broadcaster Channel 12, pointing out that the requested measures would contradict Israel's official policy line and recent cabinet decisions, particularly on the gradual expansion of the Palestinian Authority's role in the management of the Strip after the conflict. The broadcaster also reports that Washington is reportedly exerting "strong pressure" on Qatar to push Hamas to accept the details of the proposal in the coming days, with the aim of focusing diplomatic demands mainly on Netanyahu and the Israeli government.

The phone call between the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, and the Italian spokesperson of Global Sumud Flotilla, Maria Elena Delia, is in progress. The minister is at the Telese Terme park where the second day of Fi's party ended.

Ukraine has intercepted in its airspace 92 drones heading towards Poland, 19 have reached their airspace, Volodymir Zelensky wrote in a post on X anticipating that "Italy could be next". "We see the direction so to speak, the choreography of these flights. There are signals from Sweden. There are the Romanians, the Poles, the Baltic countries. Putin is testing their ability to defend themselves and trying to influence societies so that people will start to ask, 'if we cannot protect ourselves why do we have to keep supporting Ukraine? These are operations aimed at reducing assistance to Ukraine, especially before winter,' he explained.

The procession of pro-Pal activists reached the centre of Turin. The demonstrators, after leaving the area of Caselle airport, moved towards the city chanting slogans in support of the people of Gaza. Once in piazza Castello, the pro-Pal, who were carrying Palestinian flags, lit some smoke bombs. The procession was guarded by police men and vehicles.

In the last few days, the Farnesina has received several appeals concerning some very delicate cases of Palestinian minors in Gaza who need life-saving treatment and for whom urgent requests for evacuation have already been forwarded to the Israeli authorities. Among these," the Farnesina explained in a note, "is Tuleen, a Palestinian infant suffering from a serious congenital malformation known as sacro-coccygeal teratoma.

As for the other patients, the Farnesina is working together with the Defence and Civil Defence to carry out this new medical evacuation as quickly as possible. For each patient, the transfer to the individual hospital facility that can guarantee the most suitable treatment is being assessed, thanks also to the availability of the Regions and hospitals that have already offered to provide care for the minors arriving in our country. The medical evacuation, the 15th since the beginning of the crisis, will be carried out possibly as early as the beginning of next week. Little Tuleen, in particular, should be transferred to a hospital in Piedmont.

"Antifa is not an activist group, it is a terrorist network. We have officially designated Antifa as a terrorist organisation and will draw up a national list of banned groups. Hungary will bring terrorists to justice and take the strictest measures to ensure the security of our country and our citizens." This was announced in a post on X by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

About fifty Pro-Palestine demonstrators have reached Turin-Caselle airport and are near the runway-side nets near the Caselle cemetery. It should be the group that had left independently from Borgaro Torinese more than an hour ago. The demonstrators were on their way to a Leonardo factory, which has its entrance a little further on, towards the hamlet of Malanghero di San Maurizio Canavese, but since the entrance to the factory is guarded by the police, they stopped at the edge of the runway.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Iranian state television that a preliminary agreement had been reached with Europe on the 'snapback' - i.e. the reinstatement of international sanctions on Tehran - but the US opposed it 'because it wants Iran to be weak'. Haaretz reports.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Assembly, which met in Seoul, South Korea, decided to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes with flags and anthems to the next Paralympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina 2026, scheduled for February 2026.

In Lebanon, thousands of Hezbollah supporters gatheredat the grave of the former head of the Shia paramilitary organisation Hassan Nasrallah on the first anniversary of their leader's death at the hands of Israel.

The Iranian-backed terrorist group, weakened by a war with Israel that broke out last year,' recalls the Times of Israel, 'organised a series of commemorative events to celebrate Hezbollah's historic leader.

The pro-Palestine demonstrators marching towards the Turin airport at Caselle, who found their way blocked by the police line-up just before leaving the city, tried to move forward. "Please let us pass, we ask for your humanity" they said shortly before they started throwing objects, glass bottles, stones, a few torches, smoke bombs and large firecrackers towards the officers, also hitting them with the poles of the Palestinian flags they were marching with. The police responded by continuing to bar their way, using a water cannon and tear gas. The procession then announced that it would turn back and try to reach Caselle from other roads

"We have said what the risks and dangers are. The President of the Republic said it, the words of the President of the Republic are unequivocal. Absolutely'. This is how Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani commented on the news that the Italian delegation on board the Flotilla will go ahead with the mission. "I agree word for word with President of the Republic Mattarella," Tajani added, speaking on the sidelines of 'Libertà', the FI party in Telese Terme (Benevento). "This is what we have been telling him since day one. Then, as long as we can do something to avert risks for Italian citizens, we do it. If they then go inside, we will assist them there. The military ship will not escort them, that is the only thing that is certain."

"Despite the sabotage, the mission continues. The focus must be on Gaza, where 44 more people were killed at dawn today alone". Thus the Italian delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla, stressing that the Italian component is still present on the boats. "The Italian delegation on board is composed of about 50 people", it is stressed, "of whom about 40 have remained on board and the remaining have legitimately decided to return to Italy to continue the activity together with the shore crew. Among them is the spokesperson Maria Elena Delia, as has already been announced'.

Further reading

Crosetto sees Flotilla: 'Risk of dramatic effects'

27 September 2025

Israel Premier Tech will not be at the start of the Giro dell'Emilia, scheduled to take place in Bologna on 4 October. After the announcement of protests by social centres and after the Bologna City Council appealed to exclude it, the Israeli team, already harshly contested at the Vuelta of Spain, has not confirmed its participation in the Bologna classic. The Gs Emilia, organiser of the race, published the definitive starlist of the teams at the start, among which the Israeli team does not appear.

"We are witnessing all kinds of Russian actions, from disinformation to acts of sabotage to the use of illegal immigration as a weapon, so we are already in a hybrid war with Russia". EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told France24. "We know that Russia's imperialist and expansionist ambitions extend beyond Ukraine," Moscow "openly talks about invading other countries, including the EU and NATO," he explained, highlighting the importance also for the Baltics of the plan launched by Brussels on the construction of a wall of drones to "deal with incursions" and Russian "provocations."

The death toll from Israeli attacks in the Strip today rises to at least 58 Palestinians killed. This was reported by al Jazeera citing medical sources. Among the dead was also the journalist Mohammed al-Dayah, writes the Wafa agency, who was shot while he was in a tent in the centre of Gaza.

"America stands by Ukraine and we feel it. We thank the people of the United States, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for caring about Ukrainians, our children, our people. We are united and this means that life will be protected and peace and security will be closer." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky writes this on X, posting a photo showing the two presidential couples together.

"The declared objective of the Flotilla is to help the people of Gaza, but it is essential that this commitment does not translate into acts that would not lead to any concrete results, but which, on the contrary, would risk having dramatic effects with high and irrational risks". Thus the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, who met a delegation of the movement this afternoon. For Crosetto, 'if the Sumud Flotilla decided to take action to force a naval blockade it would expose itself to very high and unmanageable dangers, given that we are talking about civilian boats that set themselves the objective of forcing a military device'.

"Foreign Minister Tajani's willingness to continue the dialogue with the Italian delegation of the Global Movement to Gaza is appreciable". The Italian spokesperson for the Global Sumud Flotilla, Maria Elena Delia, said. "We hope, however, that a solution can be found quickly that takes into account both the very serious humanitarian emergency and the need to restore international legality".

Hamas sources told the Qatar-based al Araby media that they "have not yet received the Trump plan". Israeli media write this.

NATO strengthens its presence in the far north with an unprecedented operation: for the first time, a British Royal Air Force A400 transport aircraft landed on the volcanic island of Jan Mayen in Norway, delivering a US Marines tactical vehicle from a pre-positioned base. The operation saw Norwegian Armed Forces, Royal Marines and US Marines deployed together, symbolising the increasingly integrated cooperation between allies. Jan Mayen Island, a remote outpost in the Norwegian Sea, is home to a station that supports Norway's cyber defence and meteorological institute year-round and is a focal point for the security of transatlantic routes and the defence of the Alliance's northern flank. Its location between Europe and North America makes it a test bed for rapid deployment and the ability to operate in extreme conditions.

"The Israeli Air Force has hit about 120 targets in the Gaza Strip in recent days, including buildings used by terrorist groups, terrorist agents and other infrastructure." This was announced by the Israeli army, as troops continue to advance into Gaza City. In Gaza City, the IDF states that the 98th Division killed several gunmen and found numerous weapons, including rocket launchers and rockets. The division also directed drone strikes against a Hamas surveillance post and a support point for Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives.

Denmark spotted drones over the country's largest military base.

Further reading

New drones spotted in European skies: so hybrid warfare takes a leap forward

26 September 2025

With the end of the war, no one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who choose to leave will be able to return. Moreover, Gazans will be encouraged to stay in the Strip and will be offered the opportunity to build a better future there. This is what US President Donald Trump's 21-point plan for Gaza, obtained by the Times of Israel and authenticated by two sources with knowledge of the matter, envisages.

"Frontex is a European border control agency, a civil organisation, not a military one: we do not have the capacity to provide protection or escort" to the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. This was explained by a spokesperson for Frontex itself, clarifying the limits of its mandate after requests from politicians for the deployment of its vessels. In all, 58 Left, Green, Socialist and non-attached MEPs wrote to Ursula von der Leyen calling for Frontex to intervene. No such request has come from Brussels, she points out: 'The Commission knows that this is not part of our tasks.

Among the points of the Trump plan for Gaza that Hamas would be ready to accept would be the establishment of a transitional government in Gaza pending the reform of the NPA.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that no agreement has been reached on Iran's nuclear programme, during his visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. "The US is demanding that Iran hand over all enriched uranium material to them, but this is unacceptable," he stressed, before departing for Tehran.

Moscow's Defence Minister states that the Russian Army today captured three villages in eastern Ukraine.

"If you ask, I am willing to listen to everyone, to talk to everyone. My phone is always on, I am ready to listen to anyone who wants to talk, we have always done so with all our fellow citizens'. This was said by Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, on the sidelines of 'Libertà', the Forza Italia party in Telese Terme (Benevento), replying to those who asked him if the Farnesina is planning a discussion with Maria Elena Delia, spokesperson for the Italian delegation of Global Movement to Gaza, which left the Flotilla yesterday to return to Italy "in order to conduct a direct dialogue with the institutions to ensure the safety of the Italian crew members and the achievement of the mission's objectives in accordance with international law".

The toll of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli air raids since dawn today rises to 44, including 25 in Gaza City and three while waiting for humanitarian aid. This was reported by al-Jazeera, citing sources in Gaza hospitals.

Among the 21 points of the Trump plan for Gaza is the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Strip, preceded by the release of all hostages within 48 hours of the signing of the agreement. Cnn reports this, citing informed sources. The plan would also include the release of thousands of Palestinian detainees including over 100 with life sentences.

Hamas has accepted in principle US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, which includes the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. This was reported by sources familiar with the matter to Haaretz. Qatar appears to have been involved in trying to convince Hamas to accept the scaffolding of the agreement, and Trump hopes to finalise it with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when they meet on Monday. As part of the deal to secure the release of all hostages, dead and alive, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and gradually withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip.

At least 38 Palestinians have been killed since dawn in the Gaza Strip, 25 of them in Gaza City. This was reported by the satellite TV al-Jazeera that cites medical sources from hospitals in the Palestinian enclave that ended up in the hands of Hamas in 2007, as Israeli military operations continued in response to the 7 October attack on Israel.

Yesterday evening, the Seasalvia ship, which is supposed to embark 30 thousand tons of crude oil destined for the Israeli Air Force, docked at the port of Taranto. Once they heard the news, citizens and activists - including Usb, Cobas, the Taranto per la Palestina movement, Justice for Taranto, the Comitato Cittadini e Lavoratori Liberi e Pensanti (Committee of Free and Thinking Citizens and Workers), and other local organisations - gathered at the east gate, just as they had done two days earlier when mobilisation had actually prevented the operations from taking place. But the ship had remained in the Gulf of Taranto and in the last few hours the landing was authorised. The activists announced further initiatives to try to 'avert the refuelling of crude oil', such as possible sit-ins in front of the refinery to prevent the tankers from passing. Meanwhile, it has been learned that once the tanker leaves Taranto, it will go to Port Said and no longer to Israel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that reconnaissance drones, probably belonging to Hungary, had violated Ukrainian airspace along the border. This is the first such incident reported. In a statement published in X, Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces had recorded drone incursions into the border areas and that preliminary assessments suggest that the unmanned aircraft were 'carrying out reconnaissance on the industrial potential of Ukraine's border areas. I made arrangements for all available information to be verified and for urgent reports to be made on any recorded incidents,' Zelensky said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto rejected Zelensky's statements, writing on X that 'President Zelensky is losing his mind because of his anti-Hungarian obsession. Now he is starting to see things that are not there'. For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded: 'We are starting to see many things, Peter, including the hypocrisy and moral degradation of your government, its open and secret work against Ukraine and the rest of Europe, its role as a Kremlin lackey'.

"The boat Family has suffered a serious engine problem and cannot continue. The Family has already suffered several attacks with drones loaded with incendiary material. Our boats need constant maintenance and occasionally have mechanical problems. Our mission is clear, we will go ahead with our goals'. Activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla write this on their Telegram channel. The majority of the boats are now in a bay south of the Greek island of Koufonissia, south of Crete.

Further reading

Gaza Flotilla and the Israeli blockade: what international law says

26 September 2025

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has assured that his country will not abandon the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, even if UN sanctions come back into force as planned this weekend. "We do not intend to abandon the NPT," Pezeshkian told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, warning that "foreign powers are looking for a superficial pretext to inflame the region". Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed him: 'The counterpart we are facing (the US, ed.) does not keep its promises in any sphere. They lie, they make military threats. We cannot negotiate and make agreements with such a counterpart,' Iran's supreme leader wrote on X, adding that 'the US could still bomb Iranian nuclear sites or assassinate Iranian military officers if it had the chance'. In the very same hours, the UN's nuclear watchdog body, the IAEA, said it had resumed inspections in Iran this week, after a pause following the US and Israeli attacks on Tehran's atomic facilities. "The inspections are confidential and we cannot confirm the location, but we can confirm that inspections took place this week," it said in a note.

The death toll of the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Friday 26 September was 47, including 28 in Gaza City. Among the victims was an Oxfam aid worker.

Médecins Sans Frontières is forced to suspend medical activities in Gaza City due to the incessant Israeli offensive and the rapidly deteriorating security situation, including continuous air strikes and the advance of tanks less than a kilometre from Msf's health facilities. The escalating attacks by Israeli forces have created an unacceptable level of risk for the staff.

"We had no choice but to stop our activities as our clinics are surrounded by Israeli forces. This is the last thing we would have wanted, as the needs in Gaza City are enormous and the most vulnerable people - the infants in intensive care, the seriously injured and the terminally ill - cannot move and are in grave danger," says Jacob Granger, Msf's emergency coordinator in Gaza.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the UN Assembly Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he was willing to lift restrictions on Kiev's use of US long-range weapons to strike inside Russia. A senior US official told the Wall Street Journal. It was the leader of Kiev who asked Trump for more long-range missiles and approval to use them to strike targets on Russian territory. The tycoon replied that he was not against the idea, but did not commit to it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's show at the UN amid whistles, protests and applause. Dozens of delegations leave the hall before the speech that between quizzes, maps and Qr code pinned on his jacket to recall "the atrocities of 7 October" announces that Israel will not stop in Gaza. "We want to finish the job as quickly as possible," Netanyahu says, calling the accusations of genocide and starving the population "baseless". "Many countries have given in to Hamas, a disgrace to recognise Palestine," the Israeli leader's accusation. The speech was broadcast throughout the Strip through loudspeakers installed for the purpose while the IDF infiltrated Gaza's phones to relay the premier's words. "We are having very stimulating and productive discussions with the Middle East community about Gaza," said US President Donald Trump who will receive Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

Further reading

Video of Netanyahu's speech at the UN: several delegations leave the hall

26 September 2025

Appeal by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to the Global Sumud Flotilla to "accept the willingness offered by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to carry out the task of safely delivering" aid to Gaza without "putting people's safety at risk". The President of the Republic had telephone contact with Prime Minister Meloni before launching the appeal. The activists, however, rejected the invitation but left a glimmer open: 'We are ready to consider mediations, but not changing course, we want to break the naval blockade'. Spokeswoman Delia returns to Italy to 'conduct a direct dialogue with the institutions'. Majority and part of the opposition invite the Flotilla to listen to the head of state. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanks Mattarella: 'Fundamental to guarantee safety'. The Usb meanwhile announces a mobilisation of 100 squares for Gaza in view of the national demonstration on 4 October in Rome, but there is a clash with Salvini and the Guarantor. The CGIL is ready for a general strike in case of new attacks. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warns: 'Beware of the squares'. Msf leaves Gaza City because 'the level of risk has become unacceptable'.

Further reading

Mattarella's appeal: the Flotilla accepts Patriarch Pizzaballa's offer

27 September 2025