Cleric held over Haniyeh sermon at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque: lawyer

Israeli gunfire killed at least 22 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site in Rafah, Gaza, as international criticism mounts over Israel's humanitarian actions amid a severe blockade. A newly established organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has begun distributing aid but has faced chaos and casualties from Israeli fire. While negotiations for a ceasefire continue, the US has deemed Hamas's response to a ceasefire proposal unacceptable, with significant casualties reported on both sides since the...

On Sunday, Gaza rescuers reported that Israeli gunfire killed at least 10 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site, coinciding with Washington's rejection of a Hamas ceasefire proposal. Amid escalating humanitarian crises, the UN has warned of impending famine in Gaza, where aid is limited despite a partial blockade lift. Hamas condemned the situation as a "massacre" and called for a permanent ceasefire, while US negotiators criticized Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal as "totally...

Israeli forces conducted multiple raids in the occupied West Bank, arresting two Palestinians and damaging a bus carrying Hajj pilgrims in Jenin, where a military vehicle reportedly rammed into the bus. The bus was transporting elderly Palestinians to Saudi Arabia via Jordan, prompting condemnation from Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi due to the distress caused to vulnerable passengers. Additional arrests occurred in Silat al-Harithiya and Tulkarem, while military actions in Nablus involved gunfire and sound...

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, symbolizing Syria's renewed connection with the Sunni Arab states and its Islamic heritage. This rapprochement has led to economic cooperation, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledging joint financial support for Syrian state employees, while contrasting with the ongoing violence in Gaza. As international engagement grows in Syria, it may isolate Israel further, highlighting a shift in...

The Palestinian group Hamas has submitted its response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff, calling for a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and guarantees for ongoing humanitarian aid. While Hamas suggested a prisoner exchange involving the release of 10 Israeli captives and the return of 18 bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, it did not explicitly approve the proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the outline, which...

Summary Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria called for an immediate end to the escalation in Libya and urged for simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections during a trilateral meeting in Cairo. The foreign ministers emphasized the need for restraint among Libyan parties amid renewed clashes in Tripoli, highlighting the importance of advancing Libya’s political process and unifying institutions. This meeting aims to reactivate a previously suspended tripartite coordination mechanism to support peace and stability in Libya, with...