Friday, December 19, 2025

Middle East

Israeli military database indicates 25% of Gaza detainees are fighters

Only one in four detainees from the Gaza Strip are identified as fighters by Israel’s military intelligence, classified data indicated, with civilians making up the vast majority of Palestinians held without charge or trial in abusive prisons.

Google involved in $45mn contract with Netanyahu’s office to amplify propaganda: Report

Google is in the middle of a six-month $45 million contract with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to promote government messages and downplay the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, according to a report Wednesday by Drop Site News.

Hamas says agrees to formation of ‘independent administration of technocrats’ to run Gaza Strip

The Palestinian group Hamas announced Wednesday that it has agreed to the formation of an independent national administration made up of technocrats to run the Gaza Strip.

Israeli drones drop grenades near peacekeepers in Lebanon: UNIFIL

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced that Israeli drones have dropped four grenades close to its peacekeepers in southern Lebanon near the border with the occupied territories.

Trump urges Hamas to free all 20 hostages in Gaza ‘immediately’

US President Donald Trump has called on Palestinian group Hamas to immediately release captives held in the Gaza Strip, warning that "things will change rapidly."

Illegal settlers’ unit paid $1,800 a day to demolish Gaza homes: Haaretz

An irregular militia of illegal settlers from the West Bank has been operating in the Gaza Strip to demolish houses in the enclave under the supervision of the Israeli army, according to a report by Haaretz newspaper.

Israel says plans to annex 82% of occupied West Bank

Israel plans to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated.

UN Committee says at least 21k Gaza children disabled during war

At least 21,000 children in the Gaza Strip have been disabled since the war began on October 7, 2023, a United Nations committee announced Wednesday.

Israeli military calls up reserves amid fears of low turnout and falling morale

Israel was set on Tuesday for its biggest call-up of reservists since the beginning of its war on the Gaza Strip as concerns mount over a lack of numbers and dwindling morale within the army.

France issues arrest warrant for Bashar Assad over 2012 journalist killings in Syria

French judicial authorities have issued arrest warrants for ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six other top former officials over the bombardment of a city in 2012 that killed two journalists, lawyers have stated.

Belgium says to recognise Palestinian statehood, put sanctions on Israel

Belgium will recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot has stated.

Over 250 media outlets protest Israel murdering Gaza journalists

More than 250 media outlets in dozens of countries have staged a front page protest highlighting the killing of more than 200 journalists in Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) media freedom group announced.

Gaza death toll from Israeli war tops 63,500

At least 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, as nine more people, including three children, died of starvation in the besieged enclave, the Health Ministry announced on Monday.

Houthis arrest UN staff in Yemen

The Houthi group has detained at least 11 staff members in Yemen after storming United Nations offices in the capital, Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah, the UN special envoy has confirmed.

Israeli military chief threatens to assassinate Hamas leaders abroad

Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has threatened to assassinate Hamas leaders abroad, as Tel Aviv continued its destructive war on the Gaza Strip.

Israel tells US of plans to annex occupied West Bank: Report

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of Tel Aviv’s intention to annex the occupied West Bank, according to a report.

Yemen’s Houthi leader condemns Israel’s ‘record of terror’ after deadly bombing

The leader of Yemen’s Houthis, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, has denounced Israel and signalled defiance, praising assassinated government leaders as “the martyrs of all Yemen”, the day after the group confirmed the death of its prime minister and other cabinet ministers.

60% of Gen Z in US support Hamas over Israel amid Gaza war: Poll

Some 60% of Generation Z in the United States favor Palestinian resistance group Hamas over Israel in Tel Aviv's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, a new survey found.

Israeli government moves meetings to ‘secret location’ after assassination of Yemeni officials

Israel moved two scheduled government meetings on Sunday to a “secret and fortified location” following Israeli strikes that killed senior Houthi ministers in Yemen, according to a report.

Israel targeted spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Tel Aviv had carried out a strike on Abu Obeida, spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas confirms death of Mohammed Sinwar

Hamas on Sunday confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, its presumed leader in Gaza, more than three months after Israel announced it had killed him in an air strike.

Yemen’s Houthis confirm prime minister killed in Israeli attack on Sanaa

A Houthi official has vowed “vengeance” against Israel after the Yemeni group confirmed that an Israeli air attack earlier this week killed the prime minister of the Houthis’ government in the capital, Sanaa.

Palestinian Authority calls on US to reinstate Abbas’s visa before UNGA

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s office urged Washington to reverse a decision to revoke the Palestinian leader’s visa, just weeks before he was set to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

EU says ‘not optimistic’ on sanctioning Israel over Gaza war

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has stated that she was "not optimistic" the bloc would take action against Israel over the war in Gaza due to splits between member states.

Israeli soldier killed, several wounded in intense fighting near Gaza City as 4 remain missing: Report

One Israeli soldier was killed and 11 wounded in intense fighting in Gaza City's Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, with four soldiers missing, according to reports.

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