Monday, December 22, 2025

Middle East

Trump, Netanyahu expected to announce progress on Saudi-Israeli normalization: Report

A potential normalization agreement between Tel Aviv and the Kingdom of Saudi Arania is moving forward, US President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to announce after their meeting in Washington, DC.

Longtime Hezbollah leader to be buried in Lebanon within weeks

The funeral of longtime Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah will be held on February 23, the Lebanese group has announced, months after he was killed in an Israeli air attack in Beirut.

Syria’s new President meets Saudi crown prince in first foreign trip

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Riyadh on his first foreign trip since being named president of the transitional government earlier this week.

Netanyahu delays sending negotiation team to Qatar ahead of meeting with Trump: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to send a negotiation team to Doha for talks on the second phase of a ceasefire accord until after he met with US President Donald Trump, according to a report by the Walla news outlet.

Palestinians freed by Israel show signs of ‘torture, starvation’

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails show signs of torture and starvation, the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society announced following the latest batch that was released on Saturday.

At least five Palestinians killed in Jenin by Israel

A teenager was among five people killed in Israeli strikes in Jenin as the Israeli army’s deadly raids continued across the occupied West Bank.

Arab countries reject Trump’s Gaza displacement plan

A six-nation Arab ministerial meeting in Egypt's Cairo firmly refuted the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and reiterated a demand for the implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.​​​​​​​

Hamas releases three Israeli captives in exchange for over 180 Palestinians

The Palestinian movement Hamas has freed three Israeli captives in two separate handovers in exchange for the release of more than 180 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. This is the latest stage of a gradual prisoner exchange under a ceasefire accord reached after 15 months of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Nearly half a million people return to north Gaza following truce: UN

The United Nations has reported that "nearly half a million people have returned to northern areas of the Gaza Strip" since the ceasefire took effect.

US pressuring Lebanese leadership to isolate Hezbollah: Reuters

The United States has been blocking bids aimed at the formation of a new government in Lebanon by “pressuring” the country’s top echelons to restrict the influence of Hezbollah and its allies in the upcoming cabinet, according to a report by Reuters.

WhatsApp confirms Israeli spyware company targeted dozens of its users

An official at Meta’s popular WhatsApp chat service has confirmed that Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions targeted 90 of its users, including journalists and members of civil society.

Only 4% of Israelis believe objectives of Gaza war met: Poll

A survey released Friday showed that only 4% of Israelis believe the goals of the war in the Gaza Strip have been fully achieved, despite the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to the northern part of the besieged enclave.

Gaza ceasefire ‘at risk’ if UNRWA forced to stop aid operations

Israel’s forcible shutdown of the UN’s humanitarian work in the Palestinian territory would put the ongoing ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Hamas at risk, the United Nations Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) at the head of the ban has warned.

Rebuilding Gaza could take 10-15 years: Trump’s Middle East envoy

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has estimated that rebuilding the war-torn Gaza Strip could take 10 - 15 years, highlighting the vast destruction caused by Israel's relentless bombardment over the last 15 months.

Israeli war on Gaza costs nearly $42bn: Report

The cost of Israel’s war on Gaza has reached $42 billion, averaging $83.8 million per day, according to a report.

At least two killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

At least two people were killed after Israel launched a wave of attacks on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in its latest breach of a fragile ceasefire accord with Hezbollah.

Netanyahu to visit White House Tuesday, first foreign leader since Trump assumed office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a foreign leader since US President Donald Trump assumed office.

Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammed Deif

Hamas has confirmed the death of its military chief Mohammed Deif – believed to be one of the key architects of the October 7 attacks against Israel.

Eight Gaza captives, including five foreigners, released by Hamas as part of ceasefire deal

The Israeli army has announced eight captives, including three Israelis and five foreign nationals, held in the Gaza Strip have been released in the third phase of a ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hamas.

Trump vows to deport foreign Hamas sympathisers on college campuses in crackdown on ‘anti-Semitism’

US President Donald Trump has pledged to deport foreign university students involved in pro-Palestinian rallies, prompting an outcry from free speech and Muslim advocacy organisations.

Israeli air raid kills 10 Palestinians in West Bank

At least 10 Palestinians were killed, and many others were seriously injured on Wednesday evening in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Tammun in the northern occupied West Bank.

Rebel group leader declared Syria’s transitional president

Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani and a former al-Qaeda member, has been appointed as Syria's president for a transitional period.

US says Israel “model ally”, fully supports right to defend itself

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held an introductory call Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz to discuss bilateral ties, according to a spokesman.

Israel says military to stay in Jenin after ongoing West Bank operation

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that the army will maintain a presence in Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank after its ongoing military operation there.

Officials say over 500k displaced Palestinians return north Gaza

More than 500,000 displaced Palestinians are returning to the Gaza Strip's north after Israel agreed to allow their travel, Palestinian government in the besieged enclave has announced.

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