Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a sharp attack on critics of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza, pushing back against mounting international condemnation of the campaign. The remarks come as pressure grows on Israel from foreign governments, rights groups and protesters over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in the territory.

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly contradicted Donald Trump's claims regarding Gaza, rejecting the US president's assertions about the situation there. The exchange highlights continued transatlantic friction over Middle East policy, with the French leader insisting on a different reading of facts on the ground. Commentators are watching closely for how the dispute affects Western coordination on Gaza reconstruction and ceasefire diplomacy.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he turned down a proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping waterway for global oil traffic. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, and observers are watching closely for what the rejection means for energy markets and regional security.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Sweden against Israel's military attacks on Gaza, according to a report by the Anadolu Agency. The protest is part of ongoing public displays of solidarity with Palestinians across Europe as the Gaza conflict continues to draw international attention and condemnation.

Iran has reportedly put forward seven conditions for a ceasefire as regional tensions escalate, with reports of attacks on ten Saudi cities. The developments are being discussed alongside ongoing US, Yemen, Israel and Gaza-related news. The claims are drawing wide attention, with audiences following whether Iran's terms could pave the way for de-escalation or further inflame the conflict.

The Israeli military says it has discovered a 600-meter-long tunnel in Gaza that it describes as a Hamas hideout, and footage shows the structure being destroyed. The find adds to Israel's ongoing campaign to locate and demolish the extensive underground network used by militants for movement, storage and attacks. Views differ sharply, with Israeli outlets framing it as a counterterrorism success and others highlighting the tunnel warfare's toll on civilians.

Iran's president has stated that all Iranian money held in China has been frozen, according to an emerging report circulating on prediction and news platforms. The claim, if confirmed, would have significant implications for Iran's economy, which has relied on Chinese purchases of its oil and credit lines as sanctions limit access to Western financial systems. Details about the amount involved, the reason for the freeze, and Beijing's response remain unclear.

British singer Ed Sheeran has issued an apology, saying he has 'made mistakes' and describing the situation in Gaza as 'unjustifiable'. The statement is drawing wide attention and debate online, with fans and commentators weighing in on the singer's comments and his decision to speak out on the conflict.

A Hamas leader says the Gaza roadmap the group agreed to includes the establishment of a Palestinian state. The claim will be closely watched by Israel, the United States and mediators, as any commitment to statehood touches the core dispute over Gaza's future governance after the war and the broader framework for a two-state settlement.

The Philippines has urged a ceasefire in Gaza, while arguing that maritime disputes in the South China Sea must be resolved through international law rather than force. The statement links two of the world's most watched flashpoints and positions Manila as a defender of the rules-based order, at a time when its own tensions with China over contested waters remain high.

The United States has seized around $600 million worth of Iranian crude oil, according to AFP reporting. Three Iran-linked tankers carrying roughly six million barrels are being quietly transferred to American custody. Two of the ships were seized in April and the third in June, as US authorities step up enforcement of sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

Israel is reported to have inadvertently released images showing the large-scale destruction in Gaza as well as pictures of its own military positions. The disclosure, covered by Bangladeshi broadcaster Jamuna TV, is drawing attention to both the extent of devastation in Gaza and the security implications of exposing sensitive army site locations during the ongoing conflict.

An Egyptian source said Cairo warned Israeli officials that the situation in Gaza could deteriorate and 'blow up'. The reported warning points to growing Egyptian concern over escalation in the enclave, where tensions between Israel and Palestinian factions have repeatedly threatened wider confrontation. It underscores Egypt's role as a mediator seeking to prevent another flare-up in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces say they killed a Hamas platoon commander and an additional militant in Gaza. The announcement comes as Israeli military operations against Hamas continue across the territory, with the IDF regularly reporting the elimination of commanders and fighters it says were involved in attacks against Israeli forces.

A new analysis argues that New York Times opinion coverage of Gaza has changed over time, moving from largely unconditional support for Israel toward criticism, though of a limited, bounded kind. The piece examines the paper's editorial evolution during the Gaza war and suggests its commentary now acknowledges criticism while stopping short of more fundamental challenges.

A former UNRWA chief says the Gaza Board of Peace, the body established under Donald Trump's ceasefire plan, held unpublicised meetings with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The claim suggests contacts between a US-led mechanism that had sidelined UNRWA and the agency itself, touching a longstanding dispute over UNRWA's role in Gaza's future.

Palestinians in Belgium have launched a hunger strike to press the Belgian government to evacuate their family members from Gaza, where the ongoing war has left civilians with limited access to food, water and medical care. The demonstrators are calling on Brussels to extend humanitarian evacuation schemes to relatives of Palestinian residents in Belgium, similar to programs used in other European countries during the conflict.

The Guardian has published a documentary-style report following five residents of Gaza from dawn to dusk, aiming to show details of daily life that regular war coverage leaves out. The piece captures how ordinary people in the territory manage food, work, family and safety amid the ongoing conflict, offering a ground-level view rather than battlefield headlines.

A senior Hamas leader accused Israel of exploiting bloodshed in Gaza for political gain ahead of Israeli elections. At the same time, he signalled that Hamas is ready to sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, raising the prospect of renewed talks on Palestinian reconciliation and the situation in Gaza.

Ireland's footballers have voted to go ahead with their contentious fixtures against Israel, but intend to wear black armbands during the games as a gesture of protest. The decision means the matches will proceed despite pressure from some quarters for a boycott, while the armbands signal the squad's discomfort with facing Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

An RFI investigation reports that the head of Egyptian intelligence warned Benjamin Netanyahu that an attack was imminent before October 7. The claim suggests Israeli leadership may have received prior warnings about Hamas's assault, fueling debate over why the attack was not prevented and who bears responsibility for the security failure.

An Israeli director says the documentary 'NAZA', which focuses on Gaza, will be made available online free of charge. The announcement, reported by Arab News, drew attention in regional and global media. The film's subject and the decision to offer it at no cost have prompted discussion of its accessibility and the ongoing interest in coverage of Gaza.

The Palestinian Journalists' death toll in Gaza has reached 262, according to the Palestine Chronicle, as the territory marked International Solidarity Day with the Palestinian people. The figure highlights the continued toll on media workers covering the conflict, and observers marked the occasion by renewing calls for protection of journalists and international accountability.

The directors of 'NAZA', a documentary documenting the destruction in Gaza, presented the film at the New York Film Festival. Speaking at the event, they argued the devastation shown on screen is being financed 'with taxpayer money from people sitting here', referring to American audiences. The film brings images of Gaza's ruined landscape to one of the most prominent US cultural platforms, drawing attention to US funding of the war and sparking conversation about the conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he failed to force the Gaza Strip to surrender and cannot change the regime in Iran. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the two countries and continued fighting in Gaza, with observers weighing the significance of the statement for regional diplomacy.

The makers of the documentary 'Naza', including Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, spoke at the film's New York City premiere, defending their findings on Israel's killing of Palestinians. Their remarks come amid threats from Israeli officials against the film-makers, drawing attention to press freedom and the risks faced by journalists documenting the conflict.

Large numbers of delegates walked out at the start of Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the UN General Assembly in New York, a protest over Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza. Reports say Israeli staff documented which delegations left the hall, and commentary online is focused on both the scale of the walkout and claims that Israel is recording the names of countries and individuals who participated.

News roundups led by the death of a Palestinian killed in Gaza, alongside commentary describing Israel as a 'pariah and burden' and a defiant vow that 'We will not surrender'. The items reflect ongoing coverage of the Gaza war, with debate over Israel's international standing and Palestinian resistance dominating headlines across the region.

Nadia Sawalha has given an exclusive interview to presenter Sangita Myska in which she discusses Gaza and her removal from ITV. In the conversation, Sawalha addresses the circumstances surrounding her departure from the network and speaks about the situation in Gaza. The interview is drawing significant attention online, with viewers debating her ITV exit and her comments on the conflict.

A Portland coffee shop said it would open a free cafe in Gaza but reversed the announcement just one week later, according to JNS.org. The rapid turnaround has drawn attention to the feasibility of such humanitarian projects in the territory and to how businesses engage with Gaza relief efforts, with observers questioning what prompted the abrupt change of plans.

Ireland's national team has voted to go ahead with its match against Israel, but players will wear black armbands as a gesture of mourning and protest. The decision allows the fixture to proceed while still making a visible political statement about the conflict in the Middle East. The move has drawn attention for balancing sporting obligations with expressions of solidarity, and it is likely to fuel debate over whether teams should compete against Israel during the war.

Saudi Arabia defeated Oman in a Gulf Cup football match, with first-half goals proving decisive as Saleh Al-Brikan returned to scoring form. The fixture drew attention across the Gulf, with coverage of both teams' lineups and preparations in the days before the game, including Oman's squad meetings and Saudi tactical reshuffles.

Actor Adam Brody, star of the Netflix comedy series 'Nobody Wants This', has publicly stated that he believes Israel's war in Gaza amounts to genocide, saying 'Put me down as thinking it's a genocide'. His comments are notable because the actor is Jewish and has often spoken publicly about his Jewish identity, making his stance on the conflict particularly newsworthy as debate over the war continues.

A member of the British trip-hop group Massive Attack has been arrested in connection with a protest against the war in Gaza and alleged genocide. The New Arab reported the arrest. Details about the individual's identity, the circumstances of the arrest, and any charges have not yet been made clear.

Tagesspiegel commentator Malte Lehming recalls prominent cases of antisemitism and hostility toward Israel in German politics, citing figures from the CDU such as Theodor Oberländer and Hans Globke, the CSU's Hermann Fellner, the Greens' Hans-Christian Ströbele and the FDP's Jürgen Möllemann. The piece argues such incidents span the political spectrum rather than belonging to a single party, prompting debate about how German parties confront this history.

Israeli forces fired flares over Al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon, according to reports circulating online. The incident fits a pattern of near-daily Israeli fire across the border area amid ongoing tensions tied to the Gaza war and exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Flares are typically used to illuminate terrain during night patrols or operations near the boundary.

A new piece under the title 'NAZA' examines revelations by Israeli whistleblowers about civilian deaths in Gaza, framing them within a longer history of Palestinian isolation. The account argues that the testimonies are not an isolated development but part of an entrenched pattern of separation and marginalisation of Palestinians, prompting renewed debate over accountability for civilian casualties.

El presidente francés Emmanuel Macron respondió al presidente estadounidense Donald Trump cuestionando su propuesta para Gaza, afirmando que 'esa paz no existe'. Macron puso en duda la viabilidad del plan propuesto por Trump para el conflicto en Gaza, en medio de la persistente crisis humanitaria y las negociaciones internacionales sobre el futuro del territorio palestino.

In an interview, scholar Norman Finkelstein disputed a Harvard antisemitism inquiry finding that Israeli Jewish students do not feel wanted at the university. Commenting on calls for Harvard to be inclusive of Jewish students, Finkelstein said he supports inclusivity for everyone while rejecting the framing of the inquiry, which he suggested misapplies the charge of antisemitism amid ongoing debates over campus protest and Israel.

Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are reported to have pledged support for securing the Strait of Hormuz, reversing their earlier refusals following pressure from the United States. The move would mark a major shift in international engagement over the strategic shipping route, which carries a large share of the world's oil, though details of the pledges and any deployments have not yet been confirmed.

Adam Brody, the American actor who stars in the Netflix comedy 'Nobody Wants This', has described the war in Gaza as a 'genocide'. The comment stands out given Brody's Jewish background, and it has drawn attention amid ongoing celebrity statements over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.