Tuesday, December 30, 2025
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US to continue funding Israeli military unit accused of gross human rights abuses

The US State Department made the determination, according to several reports, after reviewing new information about the Netzah Yehuda battalion from the Israeli government.

That information showed Washington that Israel “remediated the behaviour of the battalion and addressed US concerns”, a senior US official told Axios.

Earlier this year, Axios reported that the US was planning to sanction the Israeli unit under a 1997 law named after former Senator Patrick Leahy. The law denies US aid or training to foreign military or security units found to have committed “gross violations of human rights”.

The Netzah Yehuda was first formed in 1999 and back then was only comprised of 30 Israeli soldiers. It now has around 1,000 troops and operates in the occupied West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jenin.

The all-male military unit, made up of volunteers and not conscripts, was established to accommodate the religious needs of ultra-Orthodox Haredi men who are exempt from military conscription.

The unit excludes non-Jews, has strict religious dietary regulations, and maintains strict gender segregation.

“The battalion attracts Religious Zionists, who combine Jewish religious interpretations with nationalist militarism,” Marwa Maziad, a professor of Israel studies at the University of Maryland, previously told Middle East Eye.

In January 2022, the Netzah Yehuda sparked international outrage after Palestinian-American Omar Muhammad Assad, 80, died of a heart attack following a violent detention at the hands of their troops.

Eyewitnesses said Assad was handcuffed, gagged and forced to lie on his stomach, before being left in that position by the departing Israeli soldiers. He was later found by the side of the road and pronounced dead from cardiac arrest.

But the allegations don’t stop there. The battalion already had a long history of violent abuses against Palestinians.

In 2015, a soldier from the unit shot an unarmed Palestinian near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

In 2021, four Netzah Yehuda soldiers were held over the alleged beating and sexual assault of a Palestinian detainee.

At that time, reports also began to emerge of five soldiers from the unit physically assaulting and arbitrarily detaining Shadi al-Ghobaishi, a Palestinian civilian from the Jalazone refugee camp in Ramallah.

Russia declares ‘federal emergency’ in Kursk Region

Russia Ukraine War

Kiev’s troops launched their largest attack on Russian territory since the start of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in Kursk Region’s Sudzha district on Tuesday. The Russian military claimed on Wednesday that the advance of the invading force had been halted but that Ukrainians remained in some areas in the district.

“The situation in the Kursk region was classified as a federal emergency,” an Emergencies Ministry statement said on Friday.

The decision to impose “a federal level of response” in the region was made during an extraordinary meeting of a government commission in charge of dealing with emergency situations and of ensuring fire safety, the statement read.

The ‘federal emergency’ level will allow those who had their relatives killed, were wounded themselves or had their property damaged as a result of the Ukrainian incursion to receive compensation from the Russian state, it also pointed out.

The ministry said that it continues deliveries of humanitarian aid to Kursk Region, with 35 tons of food, ten tons of drinking water and ten power stations already supplied.

A total of 25 temporary facilities have been set up in the region, currently accommodating more than 2,000 people, including 520 children, it added.

On Wednesday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin described the cross-border attack as a “massive provocation” by Kiev, blaming the Ukrainian troops of “indiscriminately firing various types of weapons, including missiles, at civilian facilities, residential buildings, and ambulances”.

IRGC naval force receives new weapons 

Major General Hossein Salami said the missiles have new capabilities such as stealth warheads with a huge explosive oomph that can destroy enemy destroyers at sea.

Genersl Salami added that other weaponry included in the shipment includes long-range and medium-range missiles, combat and reconnaissance drones, electronic warfare systems, naval radars, etc.

Iran has steadily beefed up its military might over the past years amid continued saber-rattling on part of its arch-enemies, the US and Israel.

Iran denies seeking to influence US presidential election

The Iranian diplomatic mission said that Iran itself has been the victim of numerous offensive cyber operations targeting its infrastructure, public service centers and industries.

It added that the cyber capabilities of the Islamic Republic are defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces.

The Iranian diplomatic mission further stated that Iran has no plans to launch cyber-attacks on any country, underscoring that the US presidential election is an internal issue in which Tehran will never interfere. US officials have previously said Iran particularly opposes former president Donald Trump and that Tehran does not like him to return to office.

This is while Iran has repeatedly said it does not differentiate between US presidents and that no matter who the White House tenant is, Washington’s policy on the Islamic Republic is hostile.

Iran Leader advisor: Hamas resolved to fight Israel

Aliakbar Velayati has congratulated  Sinwar on his appointment.

In a message to Sinwar, Velayati said the choice shows that Hamas leaders are more resolved than ever before to continue their fight and resistance against the murderous Israeli regime and to liberate Palestine.

He added that resistance is an unending road and when the flag falls from the hand of a commander, another commander picks it up.

Velayati also said there is no doubt that resistance is the only path to victory and resistance fighters and the brave Palestinian people proved this to the world.

Addressing Sinwar, Velayati said, “We are confident that your dignified record in fighting the murderous Zionist regime and the unity among resistance groups herald the continuation of the cause of the martyr of al-Quds Dr. Ismail Haniyeh until the liberation of the holy city and the ouster of the occupiers of Palestine”. He further wished Sinwar good luck.

Iran ascends to 21st spot on Paris Olympic ranking table

Saeed Esmaeili, Greco-Roman wrestler in the 67kg category, defeated Parviz Nasibov of Ukraine 6-5 in a breathtaking bout and won a gold medal.

The 21-year-old showed off his preparedness by routing Armenia’s Slavik Galstyan, Cuban Olympics and world gold medalist Luis Orta, and Algerian Ishak Ghaiou to reach the final.

The other Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler in the 87 kg division, Alireza Mohmadi failed to beat Semen Novikov from Bulgaria in the final match and grabbed a silver medal in the day.

Also on Thursday, Iranian female taekwondo athlete in the 57kg category Nahid Kiani, won an epoch -making silver medal, the first-ever Olympic silver medal for Iranian women in taekwondo.

As of Friday, Iran has two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Iran is expected to improve its standing on the table as its legendary 86kg freestyle wrestler Hassan Yazdani is tipped to win a gold on Friday evening.

Iran president lauds Olympic medalist Kiani for ‘writing new history for Iranian women’s sports’

Pezeshkian posed a message on his X social media account, reading, “My dear daughter, Nahid Kiani, your effort in the Olympics is praiseworthy. You wrote a new history for Iranian women’s sports. I congratulate you and all the people of Iran on winning the valuable Olympic silver medal.”

Immediately after Kiani won the first-ever Olympic silver medal for Iranian women in taekwondo, the president’s daughter Zahra Pezeshkian also congratulated her in a video call on Thursday evening.

Kiani faced Kim Yujin from South Korea but lost the game 5-1, 9-0.

The Iranian athlete defeated rivals from Bulgaria, Tunisia, and Lebanon to reach the final.

It was the second medal for Iran’s taekwondo at 2024 Paris Olympics and the sixth medal for the country which fired it up to the 21st first place on the ranking table.

With this silver medal, Kiani became the most decorated female athlete in Iran’s Olympic history. Prior to this, Iranian women had only managed to win two bronze medals in the Olympics.

Nuclear chief: Iran among world’s top three in radiopharmaceuticals

Mohammad Eslami

During his speech at the opening ceremony of the National Conference on the Role and Application of Nuclear Technology in the Health System, Mohammad Eslami highlighted the significant achievements and ongoing advancements in Iran’s nuclear technology sector.

Eslami stated that currently, 60 types of radiopharmaceuticals are being produced and distributed within the country, with an additional 20 radiopharmaceuticals undergoing clinical trials.

He emphasized that these accomplishments are not exaggerated, as they have been acknowledged by reputable international journals and publications.

He further noted that Iran’s heavy water production is of the highest quality worldwide, and efforts are continuously being made to expand this production.

“The radiopharmaceuticals produced in Iran have the potential for export, and we are already exporting them to other countries,” Eslami stated.

In the area of radiation therapy, he mentioned that significant steps have been taken, resulting in a 2.5-fold increase compared to last year. With the inauguration and operation of new centers, some of which are set to launch this month, substantial contributions to the healthcare sector are expected.

The National Conference on the Role and Application of Nuclear Technology in the Health System will continue in Tehran until Friday.

US urges Israel to investigate rape cases against Palestinian detainees

The Israeli N12 broadcaster published CCTV footage on Tuesday, allegedly showing troops from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) using a broomstick to sexually abuse a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman detention facility, dubbed by the media as ‘Israel’s Guantanamo Bay’. The victim, who is claimed to be a member of a Hamas special forces unit, was reportedly hospitalized in a life-threatening condition with injuries to his rectum and upper body.

Ten Israeli servicemen were detained in late July over the incident, being accused of aggravated sodomy, causing bodily harm, abuse, and conduct unbecoming of a soldier. Five of them remain in custody. Following the arrests, a mob of far-right activists and lawmakers angered by the prosecution of the IDF troops broke into the Sde Teiman facility, and later tried to storm the Beit Lid base where the suspects were being held.

During his briefing on Wednesday, Miller confirmed that officials in Washington had seen the video in question.

“Reports of sexual abuse of detainees are horrific. They ought to be investigated fully by the government of Israel, by the IDF,” he stressed. The investigation should proceed “swiftly” and if any violations are found those responsible “of course… ought to be held accountable”, the spokesman added.

The human rights of prisoners should be respected “in all cases”, Miller continued, adding, “There ought to be zero tolerance for sexual abuse, rape of any detainee, period… it is a fundamental belief of the US.”

Commenting on the protesters storming Israeli prisons and attempts by some lawmakers to justify the rape of Palestinian detainees, Miller stated that “the principle that we believe ought to apply in Israel is a principle that ought to apply anywhere in the world, and that is that the rule of law needs to hold”.

An Israeli group called ‘Guarding the Soldiers’ lashed out at the N12 channel for releasing the rape video, claiming in a statement that it was “a distorted presentation of reality is a serious injury to the soldiers, who left their homes and went out to fight for the State of Israel”.

Allegations of severe abuse at Sde Teiman – including the anal rape of prisoners, blindfolding, extreme physical restraint, and prolonged handcuffing – first surfaced in a CNN report in May.

Palestine demands ICC arrest warrant for Israel’s far-right minister

Gaza War

Smotrich suggested earlier this week that Israel should allow the starvation of two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and that it would be justified, but that the international community would not allow it.

“Smotrich’s statements are an explicit admission of adopting and bragging about the policy of genocide,” the ministry’s statement said, adding that the comments are a “direct expression of the ugliest forms of fascism”.

The ministry announced that Smotrich issued a direct challenge to international law and the International Criminal Court in his statements, and that the court should respond with an arrest warrant.

For nearly 10 months, the Israeli military has imposed a tight siege on the Gaza Strip, extremely limiting the flow of life-saving essential food and medical items.

Aid delivery is scarce, unprotected and restricted.

In June, independent UN investigators said Israel was using starvation on the Palestinian population as a weapon of war.

The hunger crisis has led to the death of dozens of people due to malnutrition, mostly children.

A high risk of famine persists across the Gaza Strip as almost the entire population faces high levels of acute food insecurity or worse, including half a million suffering starvation, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) announced in June.