Saturday, December 20, 2025

Middle East

Reconstruction should rely on investment, not aid: Syria’s president

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has stated that his country’s reconstruction should be driven by investment rather than foreign aid, emphasizing Syria’s strategic role in regional stability and its growing economic ties with Saudi Arabia.

Overwhelming majority of Palestinians oppose Hamas disarmament: Survey

An overwhelming majority of Palestinians are opposed to Hamas's disarmament and are deeply sceptical that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan will lead to a permanent end to Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

Israel kills more Palestinians in new Gaza attack despite ‘resuming’ ceasefire

Israel’s army has carried out another deadly attack in northern Gaza despite claiming to resume the fragile ceasefire, which was already teetering from a wave of deadly bombardment it waged the night before.

Report: Almost 280 Israeli soldiers attempted suicide since onset of 2024

A new report shows that 279 Israeli soldiers attempted suicide between January 2024 and July 2025, amid Tel Aviv’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Trump supports renewed Israeli attacks in Gaza

US President Donald Trump has defended Israel’s renewed air attacks in the Gaza Strip nearly three weeks into a ceasefire he helped broker.

Israeli lawmakers call for release of convicted killers of Palestinians

Fifty-five Israeli ministers and members of parliament have urged President Isaac Herzog to pardon Jewish Israeli prisoners convicted of murdering Palestinians.

Israel kills dozens in Gaza attacks, Hamas delays handover of captive’s remains

The Israeli military has killed tens of Palestinians in attacks across the Gaza Strip after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “powerful” strikes following an exchange of gunfire in southern Rafah, during which one Israeli soldier was wounded.

Israel kills three Palestinians in West Bank raid involving air strike

Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians on Tuesday during a raid on an occupied West Bank village that involved air strikes.

UN slams Israel for attack on peacekeeping troops in Lebanon

The United Nations and France have condemned an Israeli attack that hit UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon.

Pope Leo to visit several cities in Turkey, Lebanon on first trip abroad as pontiff

Pope Leo will visit eight cities and towns in Turkey and Lebanon in 2025, the Vatican announced on Monday. It will be his first trip outside Italy as pontiff, during which he is expected to make appeals for peace across the region.

US Colonel says Washington watered down report on Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing

A former United States colonel who worked on a team that compiled a report on the Israeli military’s killing of Al Jazeera journalist and US citizen Shireen Abu Akleh has accused the administration of former US President Joe Biden of softening its findings in favour of Tel Aviv.

Hamas hands over remains of captive to Israel

Hamas has handed over the remains of another dead captive to Tel Aviv, hours after an Israeli drone attack in southern Gaza killed two Palestinians amid a fragile ceasefire.

Israel allows Hamas to enter army-controlled areas in Gaza to search for captive remains: Report

Tel Aviv has allowed the Palestinian group Hamas to enter areas under the military’s control in the Gaza Strip to search for hostage remains, Israeli media reported on Monday.

ICE arrests British journalist after criticism of Israel on US tour

British journalist Sami Hamdi was reportedly detained on Sunday morning by federal immigration authorities at San Francisco international airport, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) announced that action is apparent retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel while touring the US.

Israel continues to bar journalists from Gaza

The Israeli government plans to reexamine a policy barring journalists from entering the war-torn Gaza Strip, local media has reported.

Israel allows Red Cross, Egyptian teams into Gaza to search for captive bodies

Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed beyond the “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip to help in the search for hostage remains, a government spokesperson has stated.

Israeli military dumps waste, debris from border settlements into Gaza: Report

The Israeli army has allowed the transfer of large quantities of waste and construction debris from settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip into the Palestinian enclave, according to a report.

Israel says to determine which international forces are unacceptable for Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tel Aviv would determine its security policy and which foreign troops to work with.

Saudi Arabia says its Vision 2030 goals 85% completed

Saudi Arabia's investment minister has stated that 85% of the kingdom's Vision 2030 targets were complete or on track as of the end of 2024.

Iraqi officials say 2 workers killed in pipeline fire at Zubair oilfield

At least two workers were killed in an oil pipeline fire in Iraq's Zubair oilfield on Sunday, oilfield officials have confirmed.

PKK announces it is withdrawing fighters from Turkiye to Iraq

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has announced it is withdrawing all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq as part of a peace process with Ankara, bringing an end to a months-long disarming process following a four-decade armed conflict that killed tens of thousands of people.

US says getting input on Gaza international force, will discuss in Qatar

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that U.S. officials are getting input on a possible United Nations resolution or international agreement to authorize a multinational force in Gaza and will discuss the issue in Qatar.

Trump says measures to be taken against Hamas if bodies of captives not returned

Measures will be taken against Hamas in case bodies of hostages will not be returned as soon as possible, US President Donald Trump has warned.

Egypt to send special team to Gaza to search for bodies of Israeli captives: Report

Egypt will send a special team to the Gaza Strip to assist in the search for the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages, the Egyptian television has reported.

Demining Gaza could take up to 3 decades: Report

The demining of Gaza and the disposal of unexploded mines and shells left in the Palestinian enclave after two years of Israeli military operations could take about 30 years, a representative of an international non-governmental organization operating under the UN auspices has announced.

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