Archive for month: July, 2025

News Update

U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Ambassador Tom Barrack, said Thursday he met with both Israeli and Syrian officials in Paris, acting as a mediator between Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Syrian Foreign Minister Hassan al‑Shibani. They agreed to continue dialog and reduce tensions.

According to the Syrian Center for Human Rights, the proposed agreement between Israel and Syria includes the following provisions:
– The issue of the predominantly Druze southern province of Sweida will be entrusted to the United States, with a U.S. monitoring commitment to oversee implementation.
– All tribal (Bedouin) and General Security forces must withdraw beyond the Druze villages.
– Druze factions will conduct sweeps of all villages to confirm absence of tribal and government forces.
– Local councils comprising Sweida residents will be formed to oversee delivery of services to citizens.
– A committee will be established to document violations and submit reports to the U.S. side.
– The Quneitra and Daraa provinces, near the Israeli border, will be disarmed; local security committees will be formed from those areas on condition they do not possess heavy weapons.
– No organization linked to the Syrian government is permitted entry into Sweida; UN agencies will be allowed.

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced Thursday that Washington is pulling its delegation from ceasefire negotiations in Doha and accused Hamas of undermining the talks. He posted: “We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.” Witkoff added that the U.S. will “now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.”

French President Macron announced last night that France would formally recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded that the U.S. “strongly rejects” the move and that, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

IDF officials accused the UN of failing to collect and distribute 800 truckloads of food that is wait inside Gaza, because of disputes with Israel. “The UN is working to prevent the supply of aid, aiming for the distribution to be in the hands of Hamas to control and dispense the aid to the population. We are aware of the disturbing images coming from the Strip, but Israel is not causing the catastrophe.” the IDF brought reporters to see the trucks that were parked on the Gaza side of the border near Kerem Shalom. The IDF announced that it will allow foreign countries to drop aid into the Gaza Strip starting on Friday.

The manhunt continues for Arkan Khaled, 27, the terrorist who rammed his vehicle into a bus stop yesterday, injuring 11 people, most of them soldiers. The Taybeh municipality, where the terrorist lives, issued a statement clarifying that Khaled is not a native of the city, but merely resides there. “He does not reflect the values of Taybeh or its residents. There is no connection between his actions and the spirit of our community.”

News Update

Hamas has rejected the current U.S. backed ceasefire proposal being negotiated in Doha. Ceasefire negotiations reportedly stalled over who distributes humanitarian aid in Gaza when the deal goes into effect. Hamas is demanding that the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent control all the aid running into Gaza. The U.S. proposal, accepted by Israel, has those groups participating in distribution, but not in control. Hamas is also demanding that the U.S.-Israeli sponsored Gaza Humanitarian Foundation be cut out entirely from aid distribution. Israel has refused to allow the U.N. to have control over aid because it’s aid distribution is run by UNRWA, which Israel claims has ties to Hamas and employees who took part in the October 7 massacre.

Other issues that remain unresolved include how wide of a buffer zone Israel would maintain in the Philadelphi corridor, along the Egyptian border. Israel is reportedly willing to pull back approximately 1,000 to 1,200 meters from the corridor, while Hamas is demanding 800 meters. Hamas is also pressing for the release of more terrorists from Israeli prisons.

According to an IDF statement yesterday, based on the daily surveillance and inspections carried out by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) within the Gaza Strip, there is no real hunger crisis in Gaza. The four designated food distribution centers in central and southern Gaza are achieving their purpose of getting aid to civilians without it falling into the hands of Hamas, although trucks carrying food into Gaza are still being looted. The statement said, “We speak directly with distribution workers on the ground and with aid organizations, and we’ve discovered that Hamas is using images of malnourished children from Yemen and AI-generated fakes.” It added, “There are illnesses in the Gaza Strip, including among children, but not due to malnutrition. There may be issues with access to food, and we need to expand aid operations to address those.”

Ground and air forces continue operations throughout Gaza, including in areas previously not touched by the IDF, where hostages are believed to be held. Israel is trying to pressure Hamas into accepting a deal.

Greek authorities have promised Israel they would work to distance protests from Israeli tourists “in order not to harm their experience,” after 1,600 passengers on an Israeli cruise ship docking at the Greek island of Syros were stranded on board without permission to disembark due to a large pro-Palestinian demonstration on the island. The decision not to allow passengers off the ship was made by the Israeli crew, not imposed by Greek authorities. The demonstration at the port was nonviolent, and local police promised to prevent any harm to passengers.

News Update

The IDF launched a second wave of aerial strikes on the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah today after warning civilians to move away from the area to the safety of humanitarian zones to the south. Tanks and heavy armored vehicles were seen entering the city from the north-east under the cover of artillery fire and airstrikes. This area has previously not been touched by ground operations.

Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock said that the IDF should launch a “decisive battle” in areas of the Gaza Strip that the military has largely avoided due to the presence of hostages. She said, “There is an entire area — around 25% of the territory, as the chief of staff defined it — that has been designated ‘do not touch’ because of the hostages. But you can’t win a war that way. It’s not logical and not acceptable.” When asked if she was not concerned that hostages may be killed, she said the military should try hard to avoid harming the captives, “but it could happen. Yes, it could happen.” This outraged hostage families.

IDF troops shot and killed a number of civilians who they deemed posed a threat to them at a humanitarian aid hub in southern Gaza. The number of civilians is disputed, with the IDF claiming a much lower number than the 77 claimed by Hamas.

The Air Force struck Houthi targets at the central port of Hodeidah in retaliation for recent ballistic missile attacks against Israel.

Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, said that the U.S. is committed to supported the new Syrian government and that the recent intervention by Israel against government forces is poorly timed and complicates efforts to stabilize the region. For more, click here.

Jordan’s Bedouin tribal council issued a sharp statement on Sunday, warning Israel of severe consequences if the IDF violates the ceasefire and re-enters southern Syria to support Druze communities. The Jordanian government expressed “full solidarity” with Bedouin tribes attacking Druze communities.

News Update

The IDF struck the entrance gate of the Syrian regime’s General Staff headquarters in the Damascus area today, after the ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed. An IDF statement said, “The IDF continues to monitor developments and activity against Druze civilians in southern Syria and, in accordance with the directives of the political echelon, is attacking the area and is prepared for various scenarios.” Around 250 people have been killed amid unrest in Syria’s Sweida province, home to 700,000 Druze.

Defense Minister Katz said in a statement that the IDF “will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area — and will also soon raise the bar of responses against the regime if the message is not understood.” Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel has “a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarized area on Israel’s border” and has “an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals.”

Israel’s Druze community has called for general strikes, while around 1,000 protestors reportedly crossed the border into Syria near the village of Majdel Shams. Dozens of Druze tried to enter Israel from Syria. The IDF and Border Police and trying to control the situation. PM Netanyahu addressed the Druze saying, “My Druze brothers, citizens of Israel — the situation in Sweida, in southwestern Syria, is extremely grave. The IDF is operating, the Air Force is operating, and other forces are operating. We are acting to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime’s militias. And now I have one request of you: You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border. You are endangering your lives — you could be killed, you could be kidnapped, and you are undermining the IDF’s efforts. Therefore, I ask you — return to your homes and let the IDF carry out its mission.”

Ceasefire talks in Doha appear to be stalled, as Hamas clings to its demands for an Israeli withdrawal from the area along Gaza’s border with Egypt while Israel is refusing to do so, although it is making smaller withdrawal concessions. President Trump is scheduled to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister tonight to try and push talks forward. They are also expected to discuss efforts to resume negotiations with Iran over a new nuclear agreement.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said Tuesday that 20 people were killed in what it described as a “tragic incident” near a food distribution site in Khan Younis. According to the organization, 19 of the victims were trampled to death and one was fatally stabbed amid what it called “a chaotic and dangerous surge, driven by agitators in the crowd.” Hamas terrorists reportedly caused the chaos.

Egypt is reportedly opposed to Israel’s proposed “humanitarian city” plan in Gaza’s Rafah, estimated to cost between $10 billion and $15 billion, warning that it violates the peace treaty’s security arrangements along the border. Egyptian security officials highlight a dual threat posed by the proposed humanitarian city. Its location near the border increases the risk of a mass exodus toward Egypt, while also creating a volatile security situation in the Sinai Peninsula that could lead to potential infiltrations or sustained tensions that would be difficult to manage.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a surprise appearance today at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption trial, saying he came to observe and express support. However, moments after he took his seat, the session was moved behind closed doors, and the ambassador was asked to leave.

Eilat Port will close on Sunday after Eilat Municipality seized its bank accounts following non-payment of municipal taxes, which are estimated at NIS 600,000-700,000 per month. The port has not been operating fully since the outbreak of the war and the threat of Houthi attacks on shipping using the Red Sea. The closure of the port will be a blow to the Israel Navy, which has used its facilities since the start of the war and will also adversely affect the Europe Asia Pipeline Co. (EAPC), and exports of potash from ICL’s Dead Sea Works. The port is leased and operated by a private company. For more, click here.