Gaza/MidEast July-August 2025
Guardian: "Israel-Hamas war" — (LINK)
Al Jazeera: "Israel-Hamas war live": now "Israel War on Gaza" — (LINK)
Yemen's Houthi rebels raid UN premises in Sanaa and detain at least 11 employees (LINK) — ground.news: 257 media reports (LINK) 31 August 2025
US reportedly suspends visa approvals for nearly all Palestinian passport holders (LINK) 31 August 2025
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Aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg, Susan Sarandon and other activists, sets sail to Gaza (LINK) 31 August 2025
After three and a half months Hamas confirms death of its military leader Mohammed Sinwar (LINK) — ground.news: 35 media reports (LINK) 31 August 2025
US revokes and denies visas for PLO/PA leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, ahead of UN General Assembly (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK) 30 August 2025
— At General Assembly next month several countries including France, Canada and the U.K. are expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state. A State Department official accused the Palestinians of undermining the prospects for peace in Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, according to Israel (LINK) 30 August 2025
— The strike targeted a residential building, killing at least seven people and injuring 20, including children. Israel's Defence Minister congratulated the IDF and Shin Bet for the "flawless execution" of the operation, which was made possible by prior intelligence gathering.
Yemen's Houthi rebel movement confirm self-proclaimed prime minister killed in Israeli strike against Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on 28 August (LINK) 30 August 2025
Israel recovers body of hostage and remains of another, declares Gaza City a 'dangerous combat zone' (LINK) 29 August 2025
UN nuclear watchdog chief said to receive 24/7 security detail due to Iranian threat (LINK) 27 August 2025
Australia expels Iranian ambassador over antisemitic attacks (LINK) 26 August 2025
More than a dozen people killed in Israeli strikes on hospital in southern Gaza, including journalists (LINK) 25 August 2025
At least 64 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza (LINK) 24 August 2025
AP: Israeli forces shot dead four Palestinian aid-seekers travelling Sunday through a military zone south of Gaza City that is regularly used to reach a food distribution point, a hospital and witnesses said. Gaza City is in famine after 22 months of war, while Israel's military moves ahead with a planned offensive to seize the city, perhaps within days. Israel's defense minister has warned that the city of hundreds of thousands of people could be destroyed. (LINK) 24 August 2025
Retired IDF general temporarily removed from Israel's hostage negotiating team for 14 days amid Qatargate probe — report: questioned under caution in early July on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent and accepting bribes to fund an online campaign improving Qatar’s image in Israel (LINK) 24 August 2025
Gaza City suffering a 'human-made' famine that's likely to spread, UN-backed initiative Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) says (LINK) 22 August 2025
— CNN: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that the UN should declare itself "corrupt" and "incompetent" after the IPC declaration of famine. "The (international) media is missing the real story of 'famine' in Gaza. Hostages ARE starving, Hamas is getting fat, & the UN declares famine while 92% of THEIR food is stolen to be sold by Hamas," Huckabee posted on X. "Meanwhile UN food sits rotting in sun. The UN should declare itself corrupt & incompetent." US President Donald Trump last month said there is "real starvation" in Gaza, contradicting statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said that no one is starving in the territory. Amnesty International called the IPC's findings "a scathing indictment of the failure of states to press Israel into ending its genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip" and said the report confirmed what human rights and aid groups have long been warning of.
— Two more deaths due to starvation were recorded Thursday by the Palestinian health ministry, bringing the total number of those who died of malnutrition to 271, including 112 children. Friday's IPC report added that "malnutrition threatens the lives of 132,000 children under five through June 2026, including 41,000 severe cases, doubling May"s numbers." Formal famine determinations are rare. The IPC has previously determined famines in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and parts of Sudan's western Darfur region last year. This is the first time the IPC has confirmed famine in the Middle East. [Under IPC rules since 2019 for declaring a famine] at least 20% of all households must face an extreme food shortage, 30% or more of children must be acutely malnourished or 15% of children suffering from acute malnutrition based on body measurements, and at least 2 in every 10,000 people die every day because of outright starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.
Former top Biden spox admits Israel sabotaged ceasefire deals as US blamed Hamas (LINK) 22 August 2025
US general whose report on Iran nuclear sites angered Trump fired: Head of US Defense Intelligence Agency Jeffrey Kruse fired alongside two senior Navy officials (LINK) 22 August 2025
Israel has begun first stages of its planned assault on Gaza City, says Israeli military spokesman (LINK) — ground.news: 25 media reports (LINK) 20 August 2025
Israel approves settlement project that could divide West Bank (LINK) — ground.news: 177 media reports (LINK) 20 August 2025
Israeli military will call up 60,000 reservists as it plans new phase of war in Gaza (LINK) — ground.news: 154 media reports (LINK) 20 August 2025
Iraq signs agreement with US energy giant Chevron on oil exploration (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK) 19 August 2025
— In July Iraq signed a preliminary deal with US-based HKN Energy to develop the Hamrin oil field in Basra province./p>
Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal proposal: The news comes just hours after President Trump urged Israel to expand its attacks on Hamas (LINK) 18 August 2025
Palestine Action prosecutions should be suspended, say UK rights groups including Greenpeace and Human Rights Watch, Friends of the Earth, Global Witness and the Quakers: argue that proceeding with trials before judicial review raises legal and moral questions (LINK) 14 August 2025
— Last weekend 522 people — half of whom were over 60 — were arrested under section 13 of the Terrorism Act at a demonstration in Parliament Square for carrying placards that stated: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." The detentions took the total number of people arrested under the act in relation to the banned group since it was proscribed last month to more than 700.
Israeli gunfire kills at least 25 seeking aid in Gaza as Netanyahu says he will allow Palestinians to leave during an upcoming military offensive in some of the territory's most populated areas (LINK) 13 August 2025
World Central Kitchen confirms armed operatives were posing as its members in central Gaza (LINK) 12 August 2025
Netanyahu defends new military offensive in Gaza and says it will be wider than announced (LINK) 10 August 2025
— Netanyahu said the security Cabinet last week instructed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the "central camps" and Muwasi. The camps — sheltering well over a half-million displaced people, according to the U.N. — had not been part of Israel's announcement Friday. He declared that his government "has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas".
Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent among five journalists killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza:
Israel admits deliberate attack on the journalist, known for frontline coverage, in a strike on a tent outside al-Shifa hospital (LINK) 10 August 2025
— The Israel Defense Force claimed the reporter had "served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces".
Police arrest 474 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London: Number of arrests was highest recorded in relation to single operation in at least past decade, according to Met police (LINK) 9 August 2025
Germany halts military exports to Israel, urges ceasefire in Gaza (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK) 8 August 2025
Israel plans to retake Gaza City, escalating the war with Hamas and fueling worries for hostages (LINK) 8 August 2025
U.S. brokers meeting between UN and Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (LINK) 6 August 2025
In reversal, Finance Minister Smotrich says Israel must allocate funds for Gaza aid to win the war: plans to budget $875 million for humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population (LINK) 6 August 2025
UN: Around 88% of aid trucks collected in Gaza since mid-May did not reach destinations due to looting or theft (LINK) 5 August 2025
Hamas says it won't disarm unless independent Palestinian state established with Jerusalem as its capital (LINK) — ground.news: 113 media reports (LINK) 2 August 2025
— US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had said Hamas was prepared to disarm in order to end the war.
More than 1,000 rabbis and Jewish leaders denounce starvation in Gaza (LINK) 1 August 2025
President Trump said that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will end if Hamas releases the hostages and surrenders. Other comments he made in recent days put the onus on Israel to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza (LINK) 31 July 2025
Worst-case scenario of famine is now unfolding in Gaza, UN-backed monitor announces (LINK) — ground.news: 250 media reports (LINK) 29 July 2025
— "Conflict and displacement have intensified, and access to food and other essential items and services has plummeted to unprecedented levels," the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in an alert, adding that "mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths." More than 20,000 children were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition between April and mid-July, the IPC said, with more than 3,000 severely malnourished.
Qatar, Saudi, Egypt join call for Hamas to disarm, give up Gaza rule (LINK) — ground.news: 76 media reports (LINK) 29 July 2025
UN chief says Gaza 'on brink of famine' as crisis reaches 'epic proportions' (LINK) 29 July 2025
Prime Minister Starmer says UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel ends 'appalling situation in Gaza' (LINK) 29 July 2025
Trump acknowledges 'real starvation' in Gaza and tells Israel to let in 'every ounce of food': US president contradicted Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli prime minister claimed it was a "bold-faced lie" to say Israel was causing hunger in Gaza (LINK) 28 July 2025
Jordan and the UAE dropped more aid into Gaza on Sunday following Israel's airdrops the day prior: aid drops have been sharply criticized by some humanitarian groups as expensive, inefficient and dangerous (LINK) 27 July 2025
"No point" in continuing ceasefire talks amid Gaza's starvation crisis, says Hamas
Gaza running out of specialized food to save malnourished children, UN agencies say: supplies of ready-to-use-therapeutic food will be depleted by mid-August if nothing changes, says Unicef (LINK) 25 July 2025
UK: Palestine Action ban 'disturbing' misuse of UK counter-terrorism legislation, Türk warns (LINK) 25 July 2025
French plan to recognise Palestine: US 'strongly rejects' plan, Saudis hail 'historic decision' (LINK) 24 July 2025
— France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.
One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, UNRWA says, and it has thousands of truckloads of supplies near Gaza which it wants to deliver (LINK) 24 July 2025
Tether freezes $1.6m in USDT linked to Gaza-based terror financing as Bitcoin holds near $118,700 support (LINK) 24 July 2025
At least 72 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in previous 24 hours as Unwra chief brands Gaza 'hell on earth': Head of UN Palestinian Refugee Agency says aid distribution points are a 'sadistic death trap' (LINK) 22 July 2025
— Unrwa commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said snipers opened fire randomly on crowds at aid sites as if they are given a "licence to kill". The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation responded by claiming the UN was "refusing" to deliver aid in Gaza that could help end the desperation in the region.
Over a dozen children in Gaza dead of malnutrition over the past 3 days, Hamas-run ministry says (LINK) — ground.news: 42 media reports (LINK) 22 July 2025
— Gaza's health ministry said 33 people in total have died from malnutrition in last 48 hours. It brings the total number of these deaths to 101, including 80 children, according to the Hamas-run ministry.
Update: NPR: Nearly 100 people killed seeking aid in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian officials say (LINK) 20 July 2025
Israel orders evacuations in central Gaza as ceasefire talks stall and military offensive widens: expands ground operation to Deir al-Balah for the first time (LINK) — ground.news: 158 media reports (LINK) 20 July 2025
Israel confirms it not to extend visa of the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jonathan Whittall, who resides in Jerusalem and divides his time between there and Gaza (LINK) 20 July 2025
— “Following a biased and hostile conduct against Israel — which distorted reality, presented falsified reports, slandered Israel, and even violated the UN's own rules of neutrality — and in accordance with the recommendation of professional bodies, I instructed not to extend the visa of the head of OCHA's office in Israel, Jonathan Whittall,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said.
— Whittall had said that the conditions near aid distribution sites in Gaza are "created to kill", and that "what we are seeing [in Gaza] is carnage. It is weaponized hunger. It is forced displacement. And it's a death sentence for people just trying to survive."
Two peaceful UK pro-Palestine organisations have bank accounts frozen by Virgin Money and Unity Trust bank: "Virgin Money refused to say why the account had been frozen" (LINK) 20 July 2025
— Mick Napier, from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign's finance committee, said Scottish PSC was told the reason for its account being frozen last month was that it had a button on its website to donate to Palestine Action before the group was banned on 5 July. But the button was removed when Palestine Action was proscribed and yet the account had not been restored.
Syria's armed Bedouins say they have withdrawn from Druze-majority city after weeklong fighting: more than 1,000 killed (LINK) — ground.news: 158 media reports (LINK) 20 July 2025
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says attack on West Bank Palestinian church was 'act of terror' (LINK) — ground.news: 28 media reports (LINK) 19 July 2025
Israeli Harvard grad sues university, alleging assault cover-up and systemic antisemitism (LINK) — ground.news: 10 media reports (LINK) 19 July 2025
— Videos documented the assault, showing students grabbing and surrounding him, while Harvard reportedly obstructed investigations and refused disciplinary action against the assailants. Two individuals who faced criminal charges were met with minimal repercussions; one was awarded a substantial fellowship associated with the Harvard Law Review, while the other was honored with a role as a graduation marshal.
Israel repeatedly denying visas for several heads of agencies working in Gaza, UN says (LINK) 18 July 2025
Clashes erupt again in Syria's Suwayda between Bedouin and Druze fighters (LINK) 18 July 2025
Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed at least 29 people, including at least three people in a strike on the only Catholic church (LINK) 17 July 2025
U.S-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says 20 people killed in crush (LINK) — ground.news: 285 media reports (LINK) 16 July 2025
— The group accused Hamas of spreading misinformation and causing panic that led to violence, though it provided no evidence.
Syrian defense ministry says soldiers have started withdrawing from Druze-majority Sweida (LINK) 16 July 2025
Israeli military says it attacked Syrian military headquarters in Damascus "to protect Druze" in south (LINK) — ground.news: 129 media reports (LINK) 16 July 2025
UN rapporteur calls for global action to stop 'genocide' in Gaza (LINK) — ground.news: 25 media reports (LINK) 15 July 2025
— Her report criticizes the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Fund as a façade that perpetuates suffering, enabling the forced displacement of a bombed and besieged population.
Trump admin to incinerate 550 tons of emergency food meant for children: enough to feed every child in Gaza for a week (LINK) 15 July 2025
— Part of its ongoing purge of USAID. The "high-energy biscuits", intended for children under five living in war and disaster zones, are currently being stored in a warehouse in Dubai and were meant to be shipped out this year, but will instead go to waste due to cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effectively halting nearly all forms of foreign aid. Despite repeated assurances from the administration not to eliminate food aid, U.S. warehouses around the world currently house 60,000 tonnes of food, including peas and cereal originally bound for famine-stricken Sudan, which the administration is now unable to deliver even if it wanted to after gutting USAID and firing logistical experts.
Yemeni army launches drone toward Red Sea Eilat port in fresh anti-Israeli operation (LINK) — ground.news: ?? media reports (LINK) 15 July 2025
875 Palestinians killed near aid sites over past 6 weeks,most at US-Israeli backed sites, says UN human rights office (LINK) — ground.news: 44 media reports (LINK) 13 July 2025
All Palestinians in Gaza are eligible for asylum in France, court rules (LINK) — ground.news: 33 media reports (LINK) 13 July 2025
— Until now, Palestinian nationals from Gaza arriving in France were generally granted subsidiary protection, a temporary status lasting up to four years, typically reserved for individuals fleeing armed conflict.
UN agencies warn fuel shortage in Gaza reaches critical levels (LINK) 12 July 2025
— "Fuel is the backbone of survival in Gaza. It powers hospitals, water systems, sanitation networks, ambulances, and every aspect of humanitarian operations. Fuel supplies are needed to move the fleet used for transporting essential goods across the Strip and to operate a network of bakeries producing fresh bread for the affected population. Without fuel, these lifelines will vanish for 2.1 million people. For the first time in 130 days, a small amount of fuel entered Gaza this week. This is a welcome development, but it is a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running."
Israeli officials signal they want UN to remain key Gaza aid channel, says senior WFP official (LINK) — ground.news: 9 media reports (LINK) 11 July 2025
US 'will sanction' UN official over political 'warfare' against Israel (LINK) — ground.news: 167 media reports (LINK) 9 July 2025
US revokes foreign terrorist designation for Syria's Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (LINK) 7 July 2025
IDF says it killed Hamas commander in cafe strike that killed dozens of civilians on 30 June (LINK) 7 July 2025
— Meanwhile, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas began in Qatar on Sunday to discuss the latest proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Al Jazeera: Israel has announced plans to send a negotiating team to Qatar for talks on a Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israeli forces continued to bombard the Palestinian enclave, killing at least 78 people in the past 24 hours (LINK) 5 July 2025
Israeli airstrikes kill 14 Palestinians in Gaza and another 10 die seeking food (LINK) — ground.news: 26 media reports (LINK) 5 July 2025
Trump says ceasefire deal is at critical stage as Israeli strikes kill 138 Palestinians in Gaza (LINK) 4 July 2025
— "We'll see what happens — we are going to know over the next 24 hours," he told reporters early Friday morning, saying that it was up to Hamas to agree to the framework of the deal because Israel already had. Israeli officials have not said publicly whether or not they've agreed.
IAEA pulls inspectors from Iran as standoff over access drags on (LINK) — ground.news: 51 media reports (LINK) 4 July 2025
Report: Unilever cutting off millions in funding to the Ben & Jerry's Foundation due to its refusal to provide audit documents regarding donations to pro-Palestinian groups (LINK) — ground.news: 12 media reports (LINK) 4 July 2025
At least 82 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 38 people waiting for aid, Hamas authorities say (LINK) — ground.news: 116 media reports (LINK) 3 July 2025
— United Nations rapporteur called for countries to cut off trade with Israel and impose an arms embargo, saying 'Israel is responsible for one of the cruellest genocides in modern history.'
Switzerland to close inactive Geneva branch of US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation because it has neither a Swiss address nor a representative in the country (LINK) 3 July 2025
— An officially private effort with opaque funding, the GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel halted supplies into Gaza for more than two months. Its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of mass casualty incidents. The GHF is based in the US state of Delaware, with a subsidiary registered in Geneva.
'Lucrative' business deals help sustain Israel's campaign in Gaza, UN report says (LINK) — ground.news: 40 media reports (LINK) 1 July 2025
— The report, based on over 200 submissions, expands a June 2023 UN database, highlighting Gaza's destruction and corporate involvement in supporting Israeli actions: names over 60 companies across tech, arms, energy, and finance sectors, alleging their involvement in supporting Israel’s military and occupation activities. Scheduled for presentation to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, NGOs call for sanctions, divestments, and re-evaluation of ties, likely increasing pressure on governments and companies.Scheduled for presentation to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday, NGOs call for sanctions, divestments, and re-evaluation of ties, likely increasing pressure on governments and companies.
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