Monday, December 22, 2025

Middle East

Trump’s idea to ‘clean out’ Gaza slammed by Palestinians

Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have condemned a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to "clean out" Gaza, as a fragile truce aimed at ending the war entered its second week.

Israel kills 15, wounds dozens in south Lebanon despite ceasefire

Israel has killed at least 15 and injured dozens more in south Lebanon on the day Israeli soldiers were due to withdraw under a ceasefire accord.

Trump proposes relocating Gazans to Egypt, Jordan

US President Donald Trump has proposed relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan -- an unusual proposal that was opposed by the former administration of Joe Biden.

Trump lifts hold on heavy bombs to Israel: Axios

US President Donald Trump has approved the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Tel Aviv, overturning a suspension imposed by the administration of former President Joe Biden last year, Axios has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Israeli soldiers fire toward Gazans attempting to return to their homes in north

Hundreds of displaced people hoping to return to their homes in northern Gaza Strip fled in panic after the Israeli army opened fire on Saturday to prevent them from crossing into the area, CNN footage shows.

Yemen’s Houthis free 153 prisoners of war

The Houthis in Yemen have released 153 prisoners of war to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the non-governmental organisation and the group have confirmed.

Hamas releases four female Israeli soldiers, 200 Palestinian prisoners freed

Hamas released four Israeli female soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday, while Tel Aviv followed with the release 200 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire accord.

President Rashid: Iraq’s relations with Iran ‘normal, friendly’

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid has described Iran as a significant and important neighbor to Iraq, emphasizing that the relations between Baghdad and Tehran are normal and friendly.

Rights groups raising alarm over Trump ‘Muslim ban’

Civil rights advocates in the United States have raised the alarm over a directive signed by American President Donald Trump that they say lays the groundwork for another travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.

Israel says will stay in Lebanon beyond ceasefire deadline

Israel will not completely leave Lebanese territory by the end of the 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced.

More than 60% of Israelis say Netanyahu should resign over Hamas attack failures: Poll

A recent survey revealed that more than 60% of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign because he is responsible for the failures that led to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Israeli drone attack kills two in West Bank

An Israeli drone attack on a vehicle near the occupied West Bank town of Qabatiya has killed two people, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on the fourth day of a large-scale Israeli military operation in and around the nearby city of Jenin.

UN warns 1mn children in Gaza need mental health support for depression, anxiety

At least one million children in the Gaza Strip urgently need mental health and psycho-social support for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, the United Nations relief chief has announced.

Trump requests trillion dollar Saudi investment after $600bn offer from MbS

In remarks via video conference to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, US President Donald Trump said he read reports “in the papers” that Saudi Arabia plans to invest $600bn in the US economy - but stated it wouldn’t be enough.

Syria new rulers say Israel’s advances unacceptable

Syria's interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has described Israel's advances on Syrian territory as unacceptable, though he denied there would be any conflict.

President Pezeshkian Emphasizes Ikran-Russia Security Interactions

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that based on the comprehensive cooperation agreement between Tehran and Moscow, in the event of an attack by another country on Iran or Russia, both sides are committed to not cooperating in any way with the aggressor country.

Israeli military continues Jenin raid, two more killed in West Bank

Israel’s army’s deadly raid in Jenin has entered its third day, with Israeli soldiers issuing a forced evacuation threat to residents of the city’s refugee camp.

Two Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza despite ceasefire

At least two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli tank fire west of Rafah in southern Gaza, the enclave’s Civil Defence officials have told Al Jazeera.

Gaza death toll climbs as ceasefire allows rescuers to search rubble

As people in the Gaza Strip scour the remnants of their homes and land following the ceasefire that took effect on Sunday, victims of Israel's heavy bombardment campaign since early October 2023 are being recovered from beneath the rubble.

Trump redesignates Yemen’s Houthis as foreign terrorist organization

US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to relist the Houthis in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in an effort to crack down on the group.

Israeli military, Palestinian Authority besiege, raid Jenin hospitals in West Bank

Israeli troops have continued besieging and attacking two Jenin hospitals in the occupied West Bank city, as Palestinian Authority (PA) forces stormed a third hospital.

Trump’s Middle East envoy says will visit Gaza as part of ‘inspection team’

United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has announced he will visit Gaza in the coming days as part of what he called an “inspection team” to monitor the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas last week.

Yemen says freed crew of UK-owned ship after Gaza ceasefire

Yemen announced it has released the crew of the British-owned cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was seized in support of Palestinians shortly after Israel launched its military campaign in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Google facilitated AI tools for Israeli army during Gaza war: Washington Post

Google has provided the Israeli military with access to its latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology from the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip; the Washington Post has reported.

Nine detained in Turkey amid anger over deadly hotel fire

Turkey has arrested nine people in connection with Tuesday’s fire at a ski resort hotel that killed 76 people.

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