Saturday, December 20, 2025

Middle East

Over 700 Palestinians killed by Israeli military fire while collecting water in Gaza: Report

More than 700 Palestinians, mostly children, have been killed by Israeli army fire while collecting water since October 2023, local authorities announced on Monday.

Former Israeli PMs slam Netanyahu’s plans for ‘concentration camps’ in Gaza

Two prominent Israeli politicians have criticised plans by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set up what it calls a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza Strip, stressing the proposal would amount to interning Palestinians in a “concentration camp”.

Palestinian groups say Gaza talks must lead to ending war

The Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have stressed that any indirect negotiations with Israel must lead to a complete end to the war in the Gaza Strip, a full Israeli withdrawal, the reopening of border crossings, and the reconstruction of the war-torn enclave.

Over 30 killed in sectarian clashes in Syria

More than 30 people were killed and 100 injured in armed clashes in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, the Syrian interior ministry announced early on Monday, in the latest bout of sectarian clashes in the war-ravaged country.

Gaza death toll surges past 58,000 amid relentless Israeli attacks

At least 58,026 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip since October 2023, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

UN warns of sharp rise in malnutrition cases in Gaza

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned Sunday of a sharp rise in malnutrition cases across the Gaza Strip following Israel’s tightened blockade and continued prevention of humanitarian aid deliveries.

Sand, dust storms affect about 330 million people in 150 countries due to climate change: UN

A new report by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has showed that sand and dust storms are leading to “premature deaths” due to climate change, with more than 330 million people in 150 countries affected.

Family of American citizen killed by Israeli settlers in West Bank demands US probe

The family of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old United States citizen from Florida who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, urged Washington to launch its own probe into the incident and to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Syrian, Israeli officials meet in Azerbaijan’s Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus

A Syrian and an Israeli official met face to face in Baku Saturday on the sidelines of a visit to Azerbaijan by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a diplomatic source in Damascus has confirmed.

Thousands of Israelis protest in Tel Aviv to demand prisoner swap agreement

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in central Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinians.

Syrian president arrives in Baku for official visit to Republic of Azerbaijan

Syrian President Abu Mohammad al-Jolani has arrived in Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for an official visit, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

67 children starved to death in Gaza since start of war

At least 67 children have died of hunger in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 as Israel’s total blockade of the territory enters its 103rd consecutive day, the Government Media Office in the besieged enclave announced in a statement Saturday.

PKK disarmament opens ‘new page in history’ after group lays down arms: Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated a “new page in history” has turned, after the Kurdish PKK militant group that has waged a decades-long insurgency in the country began laying down their weapons.

Dozens of Labour MPs call for UK to immediately recognise Palestinian state

Nearly 60 Labour MPs have demanded London immediately recognise Palestine as a state, after Israel’s defence minister announced plans to force all residents of the Gaza Strip into a camp on the ruins of Rafah.

Israel turning Gaza into ‘graveyard of children and starving’: UNRWA

Israel is engineering a “cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill” in the Gaza Strip, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has warned, as the world body reports that since May, some 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.

Israeli settlers beat American citizen to death in West Bank

Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have beaten to death a United States citizen in his early 20s, the victim’s family members and rights groups have confirmed.

Nearly 800 killed at Gaza food hubs and aid convoy routes since end of May: UN

At least 798 people have been killed while seeking food at distribution points operated by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and other humanitarian convoys since the end of May, the UN human rights office announced on Friday.

Iran reveals Israeli assassination attempt on President Pezeshkian during war 

A senior Iranian official has confirmed that Israel  attempted to assassinate President Massoud Pezeshkian during a high-level military meeting amidst the conflict between the two sides in June. 

Iran parl’t speaker: Over 500 Israelis killed in recent war with Iran 

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf revealed new details about the recent war between the Israeli regime and Iran, stating that Israel suffered over 500 fatalities during the conflict. 

Saudi Arabia executed more than 100 foreigners in 2025 so far: AFP

Riyadh executed two Ethiopians on drug charges, the Saudi interior ministry announced Thursday, bringing the number of foreigners put to death since the beginning of the year to at least 101, according to an AFP tally.

British parliamentary committee seeks answers over US firm BCG’s role in Gaza

A parliamentary committee in the United Kingdom is demanding that a US consulting giant explain its activities in the Gaza Strip, including its role in establishing a controversial aid group under scrutiny over the killings of hundreds of Palestinians.

Over 100 premature babies in Gaza at risk as hospitals run out of fuel

Two of Gaza’s largest hospitals have issued desperate pleas for help, warning that fuel shortages caused by the Zionist regime’s siege could soon turn the medical centres into “silent graveyards”.

Hamas agrees to release 10 Israeli hostages

Hamas announced it has agreed to release 10 Israeli captives as part of continuing efforts to reach a ceasefire in the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip, but warned that ongoing negotiations for a truce were “tough” due to Israel’s “intransigence”.

US imposes sanction on UN rapporteur following ‘economy of genocide’ report

The United States imposed sanctions on Wednesday on the United Nations special rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese.

Saudi Arabia to allow foreign property ownership in two cities

Saudi Arabia has approved a new law allowing foreigners to own real estate as part of the kingdom’s plan to diversify its economy and open it to foreign investment.

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