Monday, December 22, 2025

Middle East

UN temporarily halts operations in Yemen after staff detentions by Houthis

The United Nations has announced a temporarily pause to all its operations in Yemen’s Sa'ada governorate after the recent detention of the body's personnel by Houthis.

PA announces ending programme of allowances to families of slain Palestinians

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced ending a programme to provide payments to families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned by Israel, a longstanding demand by Washington and Tel Aviv.

Trump suggests cancelling Gaza ceasefire accord on Saturday if all hostages not freed

US President Donald Trump has proposed the cancelation of the Gaza ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas if all the hostages in the Strip are not released by Saturday at noon.

Trump says no right of return for Gazans under his proposal

United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that his proposal for mass displacement in the Gaza Strip does not include a right of return for Palestinians in the blockaded enclave.

Israeli military expands shooting orders for soldiers to kill Palestinians in West Bank: Report

The Israeli military has expanded shooting orders for its soldiers in the occupied West Bank, leading to a high Palestinian death toll amid military operations in the occupied territories, according to a report.

Palestine says Israel’s renaming of West Bank a step toward annexation

Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced a move by Israel’s parliament on Sunday to approve a bill to replace the term "West Bank" with “Judea and Samaria,” calling it a serious escalation aimed at annexing the occupied territory.

US committed to ‘buying and owning’ Gaza: Trump

Despite international outcry, United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his controversial proposal to take control of the besieged Gaza Strip, stressing he is committed to “buying and owning” the war-ravaged enclave.

Israel kills two, including pregnant woman, in West Bank attack

The Israeli army has expanded its military operation in the occupied West Bank, killing two women – one of whom was eight months pregnant, during a raid in the Palestinian territory’s Nur Shams refugee camp.

Arab League, PGCC condemn Netanyahu’s comments on Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

The Arab League and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council have condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia.

Majority of Americans think US takeover of Gaza ‘bad idea’: Survey

A poll conducted by CBS has found that most people in the United States think Washington's control of the Gaza Strip, a proposal made by President Donald Trump last week, is a “bad idea”.

At least 110 Palestinians killed by Israeli military in Gaza since ceasefire: Report

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has documented the killing of at least 110 Palestinians by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire agreement was implemented last month.

Israeli soldiers complete withdrawal from Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor

Israeli soldiers have withdrawn from the militarised zone that cut Gaza in half, known as the Netzarim Corridor, to the buffer zone it created on the besieged Strip’s eastern border.

Riyadh condemns Netanyahu’s remarks on Palestinian relocation to Saudi Arabia

Riyadh has strongly condemned the recent statements of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who had called for the displacement of Palestinians to Saudi Arabia.

Israeli air attack kills six in Lebanon amid fragile ceasefire

An Israeli air attack has killed six people and wounded two in eastern Lebanon amid a fragile ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah.

Lebanon forms new government, first in over two years

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has announced the formation of a new government after more than two years of an interim cabinet amid political wrangling and a major economic crisis.

Lebanese presidency dismisses US envoy’s remarks on Hezbollah

Lebanon’s presidency has distanced itself from comments made by US deputy special envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who stressed after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun, that Hezbollah’s participation in the next government was a “red line”.

Hamas, Israel launch fifth prisoner swap under Gaza ceasefire accord

Tel Aviv released dozens of Palestinian prisoners after the armed group Hamas freed three Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip.

US approves nearly $7.5bn arms sale to Israel

The US State Department approved a potential $7.41 billion foreign military sales to Israel, the Pentagon has announced.

“No rush to do anything” in Gaza: Trump

President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he saw “no rush to do anything” in the Gaza Strip and insisted there would be no US “boots on the ground.”

Israel torturing Palestinian workers to death: Report

Palestinian workers arrested during the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 were abused by Israeli prison guards, with some of them tortured to death or disappeared, according to testimonies collected by a Palestinian trade union.

British MPs slam ‘barbaric’ Netanyahu call for Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia

MPs from the UK Labour Party have condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for suggesting that Palestinians should establish a state in Saudi Arabia rather than their homeland.

Hezbollah should be omitted from Lebanon government: US

The United States has demanded that the armed group Hezbollah must not be part of Lebanon’s government.

Dozens of parties To ICC condemn US sanctions against global tribunal

US President Donald Trump's decision to sanction the International Criminal Court increases the "risk of impunity" for serious crimes, 79 parties to the global tribunal have announced in a joint statement.

Israel’s West Bank aggression displaces 26k from Jenin and Tulkarm camps

The Israeli army has displaced 26,000 Palestinians from their homes in Jenin and Tulkarm since launching its major assault on the occupied West Bank last month.

Kurdish militias: Not yet notified of US plan for Syria withdrawal

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced that they have not been informed of plans reportedly being drawn up by the US military to withdraw its troops from Syria.

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