Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, affirmed that Israel continues to kill civilians in the Gaza Strip, stressing that there is no actual ceasefire, and that Israel seeks to carry out ethnic cleansing in Palestine.

This came in an interview with Foreign Policy magazine on December 6, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, and was published on Wednesday.

Albanese explained that the basic condition for ending the violence in the occupied Palestinian territories is adherence to the law, noting that the International Court of Justice has issued a ruling obligating Israel to withdraw its forces and end the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, but Israel has not complied with this ruling.

Commenting on former US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to stop the ceasefire that came into effect on October 10 and achieve what he described as peace in the Gaza Strip, Albanese stated that real peace cannot be achieved without ending the Israeli occupation.

Albanese considered the UN Security Council's approval of Trump's plan on November 17 to be a betrayal of the development of international law over 80 years, explaining that the Security Council resolution contradicts the right to self-determination.

Albanese called for a halt to arms transfers and trade with Israel, describing it as a colonial state, noting that the law of state responsibility requires not assisting a state that commits international crimes.

Commenting on the sanctions imposed on her by the United States last July for participating with the International Criminal Court in documenting Israeli crimes against Palestinians, Albanese explained that she was punished merely for doing her job of documenting violations.

She pointed out that the American sanctions she was subjected to confirm that the global system is weak and afraid of the awakening of conscience because it means changing oppression.

Albanese is considered one of the most prominent critics of Israel and its allies in the war of extermination it launched against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, which prompted the Israeli government to declare her persona non grata in 2024, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused her of anti-Semitism.

Amid the harsh conditions in the Gaza Strip, thousands of displaced Palestinian families are facing a tragic situation with the continued heavy rainfall. The tents that shelter them are turning into pools of water, exacerbating their suffering and making their lives more difficult. Every flooded tent tells a story of loss and pain, and every step in the camps becomes a test of survival and patience. Children in Gaza lack safety, as every drop of rain turns into a threat, reminding them of the loss of their homes and memories.

Rainwater easily seeps into the crowded tents, accumulating on the plastic floors, flooding the children's sleeping areas and hindering movement inside the narrow tents. The people try to use primitive tools and pieces of cloth to prevent water leakage, but they are unable to face the force of the rain and wind. Residents suffer from a lack of privacy and security, moving cautiously between tents in search of safe shelter or a place to relieve themselves, amid low temperatures that increase their daily suffering.

In the face of this humanitarian disaster, the world's silence seems like a barrier. Hearts in Gaza are calling for rescue, but this call is not heard, and the screams fade between the flooded tents and the rising water. However, the spirit of resilience remains present, clinging to hope despite all the difficulties.

Displaced people appealed to international organizations for immediate intervention, warning of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe. The spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Basal, confirmed that the situation in Gaza is very dangerous, and that the aid that has reached the Strip does not match the size of the needs, calling on the world to take urgent action to save the population.

Since the early hours of Wednesday and Thursday, the Gaza Strip has been witnessing heavy rains as a result of a polar depression, which is expected to continue its impact until Friday evening.

The Gaza Strip currently needs about three hundred thousand tents and prefabricated housing units to meet the basic shelter needs of the population. United Nations estimates indicate that the cost of reconstruction is about seventy billion dollars, as a result of the long war and the widespread destruction of infrastructure and vital services.

In light of these conditions, residents express their urgent need for durable tents that provide protection and warmth, instead of temporary solutions or caravans that have not reached everyone. Children are looking forward to better tents made of rain-resistant materials, after seeing the difference between modest tents and tents capable of resisting water and cold.

With the continued siege and the difficulty of bringing in alternative shelter materials, residents feel that reconstruction efforts are delayed and that their suffering is worsening day after day, awaiting real international aid that breaks the cycle of pain and cold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed this week that the first phase of the Trump plan in Gaza is nearing completion, noting that he is now focusing on the next task, which is disarming Hamas. He clarified that this may be done either through a peaceful agreement or through the use of force.

Netanyahu ignored that the pace of returning Israeli detainees, whether alive or dead, has exceeded expectations. Trump stated that there were fewer than 20 live Israeli detainees, but it turned out that they had all returned. Israel also questioned the possibility of recovering the bodies of Israelis from under the rubble in Gaza, expecting that this process could take a long time.

Recent developments have proven that Israeli claims that Hamas is stalling the return of detainees are incorrect. Israel justified the collective punishments imposed on the residents of Gaza by saying that Hamas was violating the agreement, while the movement adhered to it completely.

Netanyahu is setting new conditions for negotiations on the second phase in Gaza, noting that these conditions may be difficult for the Palestinians. Among these conditions is the complete disarmament of Hamas, which he considers key to achieving victory.

Other conditions set by Netanyahu include preventing the entry of weapons into Gaza, and imposing full Israeli security control over the sector. He also insists on Israel's non-complete withdrawal from Gaza, which further complicates any efforts to reach a settlement.

The United States is holding advanced discussions on the possibility of imposing terrorism-related sanctions on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This move comes amid increasing pressure on the UN agency, amid questions about its future and its role in supporting Palestinian refugees.

Specific details about the nature of the proposed sanctions or the reasons for them have not been disclosed, but this step reflects growing concern within the US administration regarding UNRWA's management and operations. These discussions come at a time when UNRWA is facing significant financial challenges and questions about its neutrality.

This decision is expected to spark widespread controversy regionally and internationally, especially given the vital role UNRWA plays in providing basic services to millions of Palestinian refugees in various regions, including education, health, and relief.

If these sanctions are imposed, they may impede UNRWA's ability to receive funding and assistance from the United States and other countries, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis suffered by Palestinian refugees. It may also affect regional stability and increase tensions in the region.

No official comment has yet been issued by UNRWA or the Palestinian Authority regarding these discussions. However, intensive diplomatic efforts are likely to be made to prevent the imposition of these sanctions or mitigate their potential effects.

A Palestinian youth was injured on Wednesday by shrapnel from a bomb launched by an Israeli drone targeting a gathering of civilians near the Bani Suhaila roundabout, located east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, in a new violation of the ceasefire in effect in the sector.

Medical sources confirmed to Anadolu Agency the arrival of the young man, Jihad Mallahi Mahmoud Abu Shab, 37 years old, to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, as a result of being hit by shrapnel from a bomb launched by a quadcopter drone on the Bani Suhaila roundabout, east of Khan Yunis.

Medical sources described the condition of the injured young man as moderate, without providing further details about the nature of the injury.

Local sources reported that the area where the young man was injured had witnessed a withdrawal of the Israeli army as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

This attack is considered a new violation of the ceasefire agreement signed between Hamas and Israel, which came into effect on October 10th, under Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediation, and under the auspices of the United States of America.

Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, having committed 738 violations, which have resulted in the martyrdom of 386 Palestinians, according to a statement issued by the Government Media Office on Tuesday.

The Israeli war on Gaza, which began on October 8, 2023, and lasted for two years, left more than 70,000 martyrs and more than 171,000 injured, most of them children and women. In addition to the human losses, Israel caused massive destruction in Gaza, and the United Nations estimated the cost of reconstruction at about $70 billion.

The annual conference of the Allies of Israel Foundation kicked off in the American capital, Washington, with wide participation from parliamentarians and government officials, in addition to religious leaders and political experts representing more than 30 countries around the world.

The conference lasts for three days, from December 9 to 11, during which participants focus on strengthening international legislative cooperation, discussing the challenges facing Israel on the global stage, in addition to discussing the issue of rising anti-Semitism and pressing regional security issues.

The participating delegations include representatives from the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America, and they will hold closed sessions and meetings with senior American officials and members of Congress to discuss the issues raised.

The participants are scheduled to go to the Capitol building later to attend a luncheon and hold a series of important meetings. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives is also expected to deliver a keynote speech, in addition to members of the Allies of Israel Committee in Congress and heads of parliamentary groups affiliated with the Allies of Israel Foundation.

During the conference, the sessions will address multiple issues, including the rise of anti-Semitism globally, increasing regional threats, in addition to exploring opportunities for diplomatic and economic cooperation with Israel in various fields.

The following day, the participating delegations will visit the White House, where they will attend a briefing organized by the Office of Religious Affairs, which will address American policy, religious freedom, and various aspects of cooperation with Israel.

The conference will conclude its activities with a special ceremony during which a prominent figure will be honored, in recognition of their contributions to strengthening Israel's security and its position on the international stage.

The Foundation confirmed that this year's conference aims primarily to highlight the size of its broad international network, which includes more than 1,600 parliamentarians representing 64 countries around the world, reflecting the global scope of its activities and influence.

The director of the Foundation's branch in the United States pointed out that holding the conference in Washington represents a valuable opportunity for legislators from various countries to communicate directly with members of Congress, build stronger alliances, and work together in a more coordinated manner to achieve common goals.

The bad weather and rainstorm that struck the Gaza Strip caused thousands of displaced persons' tents to flood, exacerbating the already difficult humanitarian situation. This disaster comes amid the continued Israeli siege of the Strip, which hinders the entry of basic relief materials.

Heavy rains have turned the tents into uninhabitable pools of water, adding to the suffering of the displaced, who already suffer from a severe shortage of basic necessities of life and lack the minimum requirements for a decent life.

Palestinian media published horrific photos and videos showing the extent of the suffering faced by the displaced, and illustrating how water flooded their tents. These scenes renew calls on the international community to pressure Israel to lift restrictions on the entry of relief materials, including tents and humanitarian aid necessary to alleviate the effects of the severe cold.

The Civil Defense in Gaza warned that the polar air depression threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced families, and called on the international community to intervene immediately to save the population suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian situation. The Civil Defense confirmed that the camps, shelters, and damaged buildings will be severely damaged due to heavy rains, which increases the risk of their collapse and endangers the lives of civilians.

The Civil Defense spokesman pointed out that the shelter camps located in low-lying areas will be completely flooded, which increases the difficulty of absorbing the increasing amounts of rainwater. He affirmed that the situation will be very difficult in the sector, which is suffering from the consequences of the systematic Israeli genocide and the collapse of infrastructure, and appealed to the international community to take urgent action to bring temporary housing to the sector to provide safe shelter for the displaced.

The Hamas movement called for the launch of an urgent relief operation to provide suitable shelters for the displaced, and the movement's spokesman confirmed that the current tents are unable to withstand the rain and winter cold, especially with the continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of fuel needed for heating.

The Hamas movement stressed the need to obligate Israel to implement the humanitarian relief protocols stipulated in the signed agreements, which guarantee facilitating the access of humanitarian aid to those in need in the Gaza Strip, and called on the international community to pressure Israel to lift the siege and allow the entry of relief materials urgently.

The Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip continues despite the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange, which was supposed to end the Israeli war that left tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded. Israel continues to violate the agreement on a daily basis, which has led to the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of Palestinians. Israel prevents the entry of sufficient quantities of food and medicine into the besieged sector, which increases the suffering of the population living in tragic living conditions.

Diplomatic missions of the European Union in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a joint statement strongly condemning the storming of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem by the occupation forces, describing it as a flagrant violation of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

The statement, in which countries such as France, Germany, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain participated, clarified that the raid included the seizure of the agency's property, the cutting of communications, and the replacement of the United Nations flag with the Israeli flag.

The European missions affirmed that these measures represent a dangerous precedent and a complete disregard for international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which grant legal protection to organizations that perform vital tasks in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The statement called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, which guarantees the inviolability of United Nations headquarters and non-violation thereof.

This statement comes days after the occupation forces stormed the main headquarters of UNRWA in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem, where they suddenly surrounded the UN building before storming the courtyards of the headquarters and its internal offices.

Eyewitnesses reported that the occupation forces, immediately upon entering, began conducting thorough and extensive searches inside the building's corridors, without respect for the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by United Nations institutions.

The British government has announced that it will host an important peace conference on March 12, 2026, aimed at supporting the establishment of an international fund for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis, in implementation of the Prime Minister's commitment to providing long-term funding for peace efforts.

The conference aims to bring together civil society leaders from across the region, with the British Foreign Office emphasizing the vital role that civil society organizations play in promoting progress towards a two-state solution, and ensuring peace and security.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the importance of the conference, noting that it comes after two years of suffering, and despite the passage of two months since the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, it remains fragile.

In a related context, a senior US State Department official reported that the White House is expected to announce a series of important decisions in the coming weeks, related to the implementation of the US President's plan regarding Gaza.

The official added that the US administration is determined to reach a model for a temporary government in Gaza, based on the formation of a non-political technocratic Palestinian committee, which would assume responsibility for the daily operation of public services and municipal activities.

The US administration is pressuring the Israeli Prime Minister to move to the second phase of the agreement, but he stipulates the recovery of the remains of the last body of an Israeli detainee in Gaza, and the dismantling of Hamas's weapons and the complete disarmament of the sector, before starting reconstruction and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from additional parts of Gaza.

The US official indicated that Hamas is committed to giving up its weapons as it pledged when accepting the Trump plan, explaining that complete disarmament means that Hamas will no longer be able to pose a threat to Israel or the residents of Gaza. Trump's announcement regarding the establishment of the Peace Council and the International Stabilization Force in Gaza is likely to be issued before Christmas.

The Hebrew newspaper "Maariv" revealed the imminent start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, noting that the Israeli army has identified safe areas as an alternative to the current dividing line.

The newspaper explained that the Israeli army has identified green areas for Americans within the area surrounding the yellow line in Rafah, with the aim of establishing a primary infrastructure for the construction of temporary residential neighborhoods for Gaza residents in the southern part of the Strip.

Israeli officials confirmed that work is underway to level the area and extend water and sanitation networks, in preparation for the transfer of mobile homes (caravans) to the site, in addition to preparing for the construction of schools, clinics and kindergartens.

According to the American plan, entry to this area will be limited to families that have been examined and confirmed that their members do not carry weapons or are affiliated with Hamas. Israel insists that it will not proceed with the second phase before recovering the body of soldier Ran Gvili, with expectations of resuming the search for him in the Al-Zaytoun area south of Gaza City.

The newspaper quoted the occupation army as saying that Hamas continues its operations and seeks to enhance its military capabilities. A military source indicated that Hamas is trying to reach the yellow line, where it is conducting patrols with armed men or its members are disguised in civilian clothes to return to their homes, in addition to collecting intelligence and monitoring the deployment of Israeli army forces on the yellow line and their vigilance.

The security establishment in Tel Aviv confirmed that Israel may insist on delegating broad powers to the multinational force that will operate in the Gaza Strip. A military source explained that Hamas has received a strong blow, and that all the goals of the war have been achieved except for the recovery of the remains of officer Ran Gvili, but Hamas still possesses tunnels and may reproduce weapons in the future.

The source added that Israel does not want to repeat the experience of the UNIFIL force in Lebanon, which was operating under Article Six of the Security Council resolution, which limits the use of the multinational force to self-defense only. Israel will demand that the force operate under Article Seven, which gives it the authority to use weapons for enforcement purposes, while enabling it to actively work to disarm Hamas and prevent operations from Gaza against Israel.

According to Israeli estimates, the Chief of Staff's statement that the yellow line is a new border will be established as such for a long time, and perhaps permanently. A military source confirmed that even during the second phase of the ceasefire, the Israeli army will remain in the area adjacent to the yellow line, and will retain control over monitoring and firing inside Gaza.

The Israeli military source concluded his statement by pointing out that the army, within the framework of the military move led by the Chief of Staff, has the ability to safely control monitoring and firing throughout the Gaza Strip, without Israel being obligated to control the lives of more than two million people in Gaza and provide them with food, water and medicine, which the source considered a great success.

Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Gaza continue through daily bombing and house demolitions, a day after the Gaza government announced the recording of 738 violations by Israel in two months, resulting in the death of 386 Palestinians and the injury of 980 others. Also, the aid that entered does not exceed 38% of what was agreed upon, which increases the suffering of civilians.

Many Arab countries are affected by bad weather, including Palestine, especially the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people live in dilapidated tents that flood with every heavy rainfall. There are warnings of a polar air depression that may cause floods.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears again before the Central Court in Tel Aviv to respond to corruption charges against him, amid continuing internal division over his request for a presidential pardon to end his trials.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun concludes his visit to the Sultanate of Oman, where he discussed coordination between the two countries and regional and international developments. French Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian also concludes his visit to Beirut with the aim of assessing Lebanon's commitment to reforms and linking any international support to achieving tangible results on the ground.

Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon continue on an almost daily basis.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki continues his visit to Saudi Arabia, amid concerns about escalating conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also continues his visit to Egypt, where he meets with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Re-voting is taking place in 30 electoral districts in the first phase of the Egyptian House of Representatives elections, after the Supreme Administrative Court annulled their results due to the existence of "violations".

Israeli attacks on Syria continue, as three Syrians were wounded by Israeli forces that infiltrated the countryside of Quneitra Governorate.

Field and political developments continue in Sudan, after the US Treasury announced sanctions on entities and individuals supporting the Rapid Support Forces.

Movement is active on the King Hussein Bridge after Israel announced its reopening for the passage of goods to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, after a closure that lasted about 3 months. Israeli army raids and settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank continue.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf continues his official visit to Greece. In Yemen, an agreement was reached for de-escalation in the governorates of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, which stipulates neutralizing oil fields from armed conflict.

A press conference is being held in Tunisia on the reality of rights and freedoms, and the regular session of the African High-Level Forum on Women, Peace and Security continues.

Some Moroccan cities are witnessing demonstrations and events in support of Gaza. International Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10 of each year.

Matches are being held in the Champions League and the Club World Cup.

A sculpture of a severed head representing Benjamin Netanyahu, placed in front of the occupation's Central Court, has sparked widespread controversy and accusations of incitement, prompting the Likud party to file an official complaint with the police.

This scene comes amid a sharp internal division in Israel, where the ruling Likud party considered this act to be "direct incitement to assassinate" the Prime Minister, especially as he was testifying in the corruption cases he is accused of.

According to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, the complaint filed by lawyer Tamar Arbel focused on the statue embodying a "severed head" of Netanyahu, which was placed on a platform outside the courtroom, with the phrase "7/10" engraved on his forehead, in reference to holding him responsible for the occupation's failure to confront the "Al-Aqsa Flood" attack.

The Likud party strongly condemned this act, describing it as a "classic image of violent execution", considering that it exceeded all previous forms of protest, and that this embodiment crosses "criminal red lines", and aims to prepare public opinion to accept the idea of liquidating the Prime Minister.

The accusations were not limited to the demonstrators, but also extended to the government's judicial advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara, whom the party accused of providing a "safe space for criminals" by repeatedly refusing to open investigations into similar previous complaints, which led to the closure of incitement files without accountability.

The complaint also criticized the performance of the occupation police, expressing surprise at the officers present at the scene standing by as spectators without intervening to remove the sculpture, and demanded that the police commissioner immediately move to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The Israeli occupation forces arrested a large number of Palestinians, including released prisoners, in several cities and towns in the West Bank, coinciding with settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The occupation forces carried out a wide-ranging campaign of raids and searches targeting the homes of Palestinians in the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, where approximately 30 Palestinians were arrested, most of whom were released prisoners.

The occupation army also launched a similar campaign in the city of Salfit, in the northern West Bank, which resulted in the arrest of about 10 other Palestinians.

The Jerusalem Governorate reported that 182 settlers, in addition to 778 other people who are called "tourists," stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in two periods, morning and evening.

The Governorate explained that the settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, performed Talmudic rituals, took pictures, and carried out provocative tours in the courtyards of the mosque under heavy protection from the occupation police.

The occupation forces raided a house in the town of Al-Mughayyir and interrogated its owner, and fired sound and gas bombs before withdrawing from the town, which is witnessing continuous attacks by the occupation army and settlers on a daily basis.

South of Hebron, the Israeli occupation forces demolished three inhabited houses in Khirbet Khallet al-Farra, west of Yatta, coinciding with an attack launched by settlers from the "Susya" settlement on the homes of citizens in the "Wadi al-Rakheem" gathering in Masafer Yatta, amid escalating attacks and a policy of restricting population gatherings in the area.

The West Bank is witnessing a noticeable and unprecedented escalation in attacks by the Israeli army and settlers, after two continuous years of the Israeli war of extermination in Gaza.

These attacks targeted Palestinians, their properties, and their sources of livelihood, which led to the martyrdom of 1,092 Palestinians, in addition to the injury of about 11,000 people and the arrest of more than 21,000 others, according to official data.

Israeli occupation forces arrested ten Palestinians at dawn on Wednesday during a wide-ranging raid and search campaign in various parts of the city of Salfit, north of the occupied West Bank.

Local sources stated that a large military force stormed the city in the late hours of the night, carried out extensive raids and searches in a number of homes, and vandalized their contents before taking the detainees to its investigation centers.

This campaign comes in the context of a continuous escalation in the West Bank governorates, where the occupation forces launch almost daily arrest campaigns targeting young men and Palestinian activists.

Former US President Donald Trump launched the National Security Document at the beginning of this month, which included a new vision for the world, where he considered the Middle East an important investment area.

Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, Trump insists that he stopped the ceasefire in Gaza, and stresses moving forward with the next phase of his plan before the end of this month, which includes the establishment of a "peace" council and an international "stability" force. Trump seems to feel pressed for time before the upcoming US midterm elections, and seeks to remain in power for a second presidential term.

Trump's plan requires achieving a constitutional coup and facing a judicial challenge that allows him to run, in addition to implementing the new National Security Document, which aims to put the Middle East on the investment path he wants.

The current situation requires Trump to expedite the arrangement of the situation of his partner Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he does not personally favor, but considers him the only figure capable of influencing Jewish businessmen in Israel and America, and pushing them to support his investment projects in the Middle East. This means the need to stop the war and keep Netanyahu in power, by convincing him to complete the procedures for obtaining a presidential pardon, including admitting guilt and withdrawing from political life, which Netanyahu refuses.

Despite this rejection, Trump and his team seem to be approaching the presentation of a new formula that Netanyahu has begun to study.

This formula depends on inviting Netanyahu to a general election in Israel, followed by the latter accepting the remaining pardon conditions, then running for election again, while changing his alliances to get rid of his hard-line allies such as Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who contradict Trump's investment orientations, and most Gulf countries refuse to deal with them if they remain in power, while Saudi Arabia insists on not normalizing relations without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

This position supports the two countries' insistence on not contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza without ensuring that a new war does not break out, which means the need to change the Israeli political map, ensure comprehensive peace in the region that excludes warmongers in Israel, stop the displacement project, and resume the Palestinian Authority's role in Gaza.

But Netanyahu does not see things so easily, and does not feel Trump's urgency, because he knows that leaving political life and then returning through direct elections will not convince his opponents, who believe that he will go out the door to return through the window, and they want to get rid of him permanently so that he does not pose a threat to them. Netanyahu's opponents will not miss the opportunity to overthrow him, especially since they believe that his joining any coalition with them is no longer a qualitative addition. However, a comprehensive formula that guarantees the exit of settlers from the scene and the overthrow of Smotrich may make the matter acceptable to some pillars of the opposition, especially if it is supported by great pressure and pledges from Trump.

In return, Netanyahu returns to maneuvering, especially with his expression of some flexibility, which Trump seems to have requested of him, by announcing his intention to dismantle 14 settlement outposts and arrest 70 settlers, and even his willingness to reach a "possible" peace with the Palestinians. This unusual language from Netanyahu has made everyone wonder about the reasons for this "change" in position. And if we reach the above scenario, will the Israeli political scene witness such developments? We'll wait and see.

The Israeli government has leveled sharp accusations against Thomas Barack, the United States Ambassador to Ankara and the US Special Envoy to Syria, claiming that he is defending Turkish interests at the expense of Israeli interests.

The Israeli website "Walla" quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Tel Aviv is very concerned about Barack's recent statements, which Israel considers biased towards Turkey.

The Israeli official stated that "Barack is acting as if he were an ambassador for Turkey, and this is negatively affecting developments in the Middle East," reflecting deep dissatisfaction in Israeli circles with the US envoy's positions.

The official added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views Barack as "an element acting hostile towards Israel," noting that he is "excessively influenced by Turkish interests in Syria and acts as an ambassador serving Ankara's interests," which is causing great concern to the Israeli government.

The report pointed to previous statements made by Barack in Doha, where he said: "Israel may claim to be a democratic country, but what actually works better in this region is a benevolent monarchy," which has increased the intensity of Israeli criticism towards him.

The report stated that Israel is working to strengthen its relations with figures it considers supportive within the circle surrounding US President Donald Trump, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the United States Representative to the United Nations, Mike Walls, in an attempt to balance what it considers bias on the part of Barack.

The southern region of Syria is witnessing an escalation in security tensions as a result of increasing Israeli interventions, with the occupation forces arresting at least 45 people in recent months. These arrests come in the context of Israeli efforts to change the balance of power in the region.

Israeli security operations are concentrated in the border areas, where individuals suspected of cooperating with parties that Israel considers hostile are targeted. These operations have sparked widespread resentment among local residents who are suffering from the repercussions of these interventions.

Local activists say that the arrests are carried out randomly, and that many of the detainees are civilians who have no connection to any military or political activities. They add that these practices aim to intimidate the population and force them to cooperate with the occupation.

On the other hand, Israel claims that these operations are necessary to maintain its national security, and that it only targets elements that threaten the stability of the region. It affirms that it respects Syria's sovereignty and that its interventions are limited to combating terrorism.

The situation in southern Syria remains complex, as the interests of many regional and international parties intersect. Israeli interventions raise questions about the future of the region and the possibility of achieving stability under these circumstances.

The Arab Republic of Egypt announced on Tuesday evening its complete and categorical rejection of any calls or proposals aimed at displacing Palestinians from their lands or making demographic changes in the besieged Gaza Strip.

This announcement came from the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdel-Aati, during his reception in Cairo of a high-level European delegation headed by Christoph Bechu, the European Union Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Minister Abdel-Aati reviewed the "constants of the Egyptian position" regarding the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, foremost of which is "full commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2803, to ensure the establishment of a permanent ceasefire and the flow of humanitarian and relief aid without any restrictions or obstacles, in addition to preparing for the deployment of an international force to achieve stability of a temporary nature in the sector".

The Minister also stressed "the utmost importance of moving forward in the steps of forming the Palestinian technocratic committee, in preparation for the return of the legitimate Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip and managing its affairs".

The Minister also addressed "the issue of training elements of the Palestinian police in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the importance of joint work to increase the volume of humanitarian aid that enters the sector on a daily and regular basis".

It is worth mentioning that the UN Security Council adopted on the seventeenth of last November a resolution submitted by the United States of America allowing the establishment of a "temporary international force to achieve stability in the Gaza Strip", with the support of thirteen members and the abstention of Russia and China.

The resolution also welcomed the plan of US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza, which was issued on the twenty-ninth of September of the year 2025.

After two full years of war and aggression, the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" entered into force on the tenth of last October.

This agreement was supposed to end a genocide committed by the Israeli occupation forces over two full years, starting on the eighth of October 2023, which left behind more than seventy thousand martyrs and more than one hundred and seventy-one thousand wounded Palestinians, the vast majority of whom were children and women, in addition to massive destruction of infrastructure, with a reconstruction cost estimated by the United Nations at about seventy billion US dollars.

Israel also continues its blatant violation of the humanitarian protocol of the agreement, by allowing the entry of quantities of humanitarian and relief aid far less than the agreed quantities, according to previous data issued by the government media office in the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian citizen was martyred in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli occupation army expanded the scope of its military operations on the besieged Strip. The operations included the destruction and bombing of a number of residential and commercial buildings, which led to a worsening of the already deteriorating humanitarian situation.

These developments come amid the continued state of tension and instability in the region, and the escalating fears of a deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The residents of the Strip live in extremely difficult living conditions, as a result of the ongoing siege for years, and the restrictions imposed on the movement of people and goods.

Eyewitnesses reported that the occupation forces bombed a number of buildings in various areas of the Strip, which led to the displacement of more Palestinian families. The military operations also hampered relief and ambulance efforts, and made it difficult to reach the injured and wounded.

Palestinian political and popular figures condemned the Israeli military operations, and considered them a dangerous escalation aimed at terrorizing civilians and destabilizing the Strip. They called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli aggression and protect Palestinian civilians.

The figures also called for lifting the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, allowing freedom of movement for people and goods, and providing the necessary humanitarian assistance to the population. They stressed the need to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.

A report issued by an international organization concerned with the protection of journalists revealed the killing of 67 journalists in various parts of the world during 2025. The report indicated that the Israeli army is considered the most dangerous entity for the lives of journalists, as it was involved in killing many of them while covering events in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The report explained that journalists face increasing challenges in conflict zones, where they are subjected to direct targeting by the parties to the conflict, in addition to other risks such as indiscriminate bombing and arbitrary arrests.

The report strongly condemned the targeting of journalists, and called for the necessity of holding those responsible for these crimes accountable, and ensuring the protection of journalists and enabling them to do their work freely and safely.

The report also urged the international community to make more efforts to protect journalists in conflict zones, and to provide them with the necessary support to enable them to continue their work in conveying the truth and exposing violations.

The report stressed the importance of the role of the press in revealing facts and monitoring power, stressing that targeting journalists represents a threat to democracy and freedom of expression.

In an analysis published by an Israeli newspaper, journalist Tzvi Barel reviewed the statements of Tom Barak, the US Special Envoy to Syria and Ambassador to Turkey, which were characterized by clarity and candor during the Milken Institute Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Barak did not hesitate to describe the situation in Lebanon as difficult, considering the disarmament of Hezbollah to be impossible. He pointed out that if he were an advisor to Netanyahu, he would advise him on an important matter, but he ruled out its occurrence due to a lack of trust.

This important matter is Netanyahu's agreement to Turkey's participation in an international force to achieve stability in Gaza and its reconstruction. Barak believes that this participation may be a turning point in Turkish-Israeli relations, stressing the possibility of reaching an agreement between them.

However, this American optimism was not fully reciprocated by Ankara. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan affirmed that his country continues its efforts to implement the second phase of the Trump plan for Gaza, pointing to Washington's pressure on Israel to accept Turkey's participation in the international force. However, Tel Aviv is showing strong reservations about this matter, while Cairo is not showing enthusiasm for deploying Turkish forces in the sector.

In light of these complexities, there is a growing realization in Washington of the need for a foreign force capable of encouraging hesitant countries to send their forces to Gaza. An official in the Turkish Justice and Development Party reveals that Turkey's participation may open the door for the participation of Azerbaijan and Indonesia, which have strong relations with Ankara, but prefer not to start, while Turkey does not mind doing so.

Barak points to the importance of the strong relationship between the Turkish and American presidents, stressing that Turkey and Qatar intervened in the final stages of negotiations to release the hostages, which contributed to reaching a decision point.

The rapprochement between Erdogan and Trump is not limited to the Gaza file, but also includes Ankara's efforts to resolve the Russian S400 defense system crisis, which led to Turkey's exclusion from the F35 fighter development project. Trump seems inclined to return Turkey to the project, despite Israel's concerns.

Barel recalls Trump's praise of Turkey's policy in Syria, in contrast to Israel's view, which sees Turkish influence as a threat. Erdogan and Trump agree on the future of Syria as a unified state, and seek to integrate the Syrian Kurdish forces into the new Syrian army. Trump also rebuked Netanyahu for the recent military operation in the Golan.

Erdogan, along with Sisi and the Emir of Qatar, signed the "Trump Declaration for Lasting Peace and Prosperity," making Turkey a "guarantor" in the American plan for Gaza. Washington has become responsible for Israel's behavior, while Doha and Ankara bear responsibility for Hamas's behavior.

With the disarmament of Hamas becoming the biggest obstacle, Qatar and Turkey have been tasked with finding an innovative solution. Turkish and Palestinian sources say that the proposal includes the formation of a "Peace Council" headed by Trump, the appointment of a Palestinian civilian board of directors, and the entry of Palestinian police officers into Gaza with the support of UN forces. But this requires an agreement with Hamas that includes not using weapons, without actually disarming them.

The Turkish Foreign Minister believes that disarming Hamas early is unrealistic, because it is conditional on a Palestinian administration of the sector and a permanent ceasefire. Ankara is betting that its participation in the international force may be a guarantee for the safety of Palestinian and international crews, on the grounds that Hamas does not want to confront Turkish forces.

In contrast, an Israeli newspaper offers a different reading, where an expert on Turkish affairs believes that Turkey considers itself a "pivotal state" that played a central role in completing the "Trump deal" to return the abductees.

He adds that Ankara believes in a historical right to play a central role in the region, so it insists on being present in every political or security equation.

The expert points out that Turkish influence is real, citing Hamas's residence in Qatar and Turkey, and the decisive role of Turkish-Qatari pressure that pushed the movement to cooperate with the Trump administration. He confirms that Turkish ambition goes beyond Gaza, as Ankara intervenes in most of the world's wars, plays the role of mediator in Africa, and works to consolidate its image as a rising superpower.

However, the expert believes that the Turkish leadership's position towards Israel is hostile, as the Turkish president and foreign minister accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire and trying to sabotage the second phase of the agreement. He says that this approach makes the chances of Israel accepting Turkey's participation in the administration of Gaza very slim.

Israeli occupation forces stormed two Palestinian universities in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and carried out an arrest campaign that affected dozens of citizens, while settlers continued their attacks on Palestinian property, setting fire to vehicles and homes in several towns.

Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Quds University in the town of Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem, and carried out extensive searches inside the university campus.

Occupation forces also stormed Birzeit University north of Ramallah at dawn on Tuesday from three different entrances, and detained the university guards.

The occupation army detained five Birzeit University security personnel and confiscated their personal phones.

In the context of raids and arrests, the Israeli occupation forces arrested a young man from the Bedouin Al-Hathroura community southeast of occupied Jerusalem, following an attack by settlers on shepherds in the vicinity of the community.

Crews from the occupation municipality, accompanied by Israeli forces, also stormed a house in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan in preparation for its demolition.

Inside the territories occupied in 1948, the Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian to demolish two houses he owns in the village of Arara, on the pretext that they did not obtain the necessary building permits.

In Ramallah, settlers attacked the vehicles of Palestinian citizens with stones on the bridge of the town of Atara, north of the city, preventing cars from passing and closing the road that connects the town to the city of Ramallah.

Occupation forces arrested a Palestinian young man after raiding his house in Beitunia, while other forces stormed various neighborhoods in the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh.

Occupation forces also set up a military checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Ein Sinya, and intensified their measures at the Atara checkpoint and the Rawabi roundabout, which led to obstructing the movement of Palestinian citizens.

In Hebron, south of the West Bank, settlers attacked the homes of Palestinian citizens in Masafer Yatta, south of the city, and set fire to a vehicle and an agricultural tractor in the Wadi al-Rakheem community, west of the Susya settlement, and wrote racist slogans on the walls of a number of homes.

An armed settler also attacked Palestinian farmers in the Huwara area of Masafer Yatta, and tried to attack them and expel them from their lands and prevent them from plowing and cultivating them.

Occupation forces arrested ten Palestinian citizens from the towns of Al-Murraq, Al-Koum, Al-Dhahiriya and Idhna, including a 17-year-old child from the town of Beit Ummar.

In Bethlehem, occupation forces arrested eight Palestinian citizens from the towns of Al-Khader, Kisan and Al-Marah, and detained 24 others for several hours after interrogating them in the field.

At dawn, settlers stormed the village of Al-Marah and burned a house and two vehicles in its vicinity.

In Salfit, occupation forces arrested four Palestinian citizens at dawn on Tuesday, after raiding their homes in the town of Al-Zawiya and the village of Masha, west of the governorate.

In Jericho, the "Al-Baydar" human rights organization reported that occupation forces demolished a residential site belonging to the Daoud Al-Baaran family, west of the city, and attacked lands in the village of Al-Minya, near Kisan, east of Bethlehem.

In Qalqilya, north of the occupied West Bank, occupation forces stormed Izbat Al-Tabib, east of the city, raided the homes of Palestinian citizens, and subjected some of them to a field investigation that lasted for several hours.

In Nablus, occupation forces raided the village of Burqa, northwest of the city, and arrested six Palestinian citizens after turning one of the houses into a military barracks and conducting field investigations. They also arrested two brothers from the Old Askar camp after raiding their house.

In Jenin, occupation forces stormed several towns at dawn on Tuesday, including Ya'bad, where they raided a house and deployed infantry teams in the streets of the town, while the soldiers continued to use some of the houses as military barracks for the army for nearly a month.

The mayor of Ya'bad, Amjad Atatra, confirmed that occupation forces stormed the town and deployed infantry teams in its center, and raided and searched a number of homes.

In Al-Seela Al-Harithiya, west of Jenin, the forces raided several homes and searched them without arrests, while occupation vehicles stormed the town of Qabatiya, and deployed snipers on the roofs of a number of homes without recording arrests or confrontations.

Since the start of the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Israeli attacks have escalated in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 1,092 Palestinians, the injury of about 11,000, and the arrest of more than 18,000 people.

The Gaza government announced on Tuesday that Israeli forces had committed 738 violations of the ceasefire agreement in just two months, resulting in the martyrdom of 386 Palestinians and the injury of 980 others. In addition, only 38% of the agreed-upon aid was delivered, exacerbating the suffering of civilians.

The ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10, ending a devastating war launched by Israel on October 8, 2023, which left more than 70,000 martyrs and more than 171,000 wounded.

The Government Media Office explained in a statement that "the occupation committed serious and systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement that entered into force on October 10, 2025, until the evening of Monday, December 8, 2025".

The statement stressed that these violations represent "a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and a deliberate undermining of the essence of the provisions of the attached humanitarian protocol".

It pointed out that the competent government authorities monitored during the mentioned period "738 violations of the agreement, including 205 direct shooting crimes against civilians, and 37 crimes of military vehicles penetrating residential areas".

Also, "358 crimes of bombing and targeting unarmed citizens and their homes, and 138 crimes of blowing up and destroying homes, institutions and civilian buildings" were recorded.

The office mentioned that these violations led to "the martyrdom of 386 citizens, and the injury of 980 others, in addition to 43 cases of illegal arrest carried out by the Israeli occupation forces".

The statement added that Israel did not abide by its humanitarian commitments, as it "allowed the entry of only 13,511 trucks out of 25,000 trucks that were supposed to be brought in during that period, with a daily average of only 226 trucks out of 600 trucks scheduled daily, with a commitment rate not exceeding 38 percent".

It stressed that "this serious shortcoming led to the continued shortage of food, medicine, water and fuel, and exacerbated the level of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip".

The statement continued: "Also, fuel shipments arriving in the Gaza Strip during the same period amounted to only 315 trucks out of 3,000 fuel trucks that were supposed to enter, with an average of 5 trucks per day out of 50 trucks allocated according to the agreement".

It stressed that this "means that the occupation has committed to only 10 percent of the agreed quantities regarding fuel, which keeps hospitals, bakeries, water and sanitation stations in a near-shutdown situation, and exacerbates the daily suffering of civilian residents".

A video has widely circulated showing the moments when Israeli officer Roman Goffman, recently appointed head of the Mossad, fled a battlefield with Palestinian resistance fighters during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

The video shows Goffman exchanging fire during clashes near the Sderot settlement, before being forced to flee the site under a hail of bullets.

According to Israeli media sources, Goffman was injured during these confrontations and was transferred to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon for treatment. He was then the commander of the Tze'elim base with the rank of Brigadier General, before later becoming the military secretary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Goffman's name returned to the forefront after Netanyahu announced his appointment as head of the foreign intelligence service (Mossad), succeeding David Barnea, whose term will end in June 2026.

Netanyahu's office confirmed in the appointment statement that Goffman was "seriously injured" during his clash with fighters from the Hamas movement in the vicinity of Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The video sparked widespread reactions, with activists describing it as "exciting footage" and "historic" because it shows the escape of someone who today leads the most important Israeli security agency in front of a fighter from the Al-Qassam Brigades.

The circulating accounts state that the fighters did not notice Goffman's presence at first, but as soon as they discovered his location, they initiated firing at him, which led to him being injured in his foot and withdrawing from the place. These accounts suggested that the fighters did not realize that he was a senior officer who had reached the field point himself.

Others described the scenes as reflecting the inability of the Israeli forces to confront the fighters in an open field, considering that the soldiers and officers "resort to fleeing when they face the fighters face to face", while they use force against civilians.

Activists believe that the re-dissemination of the video at this time carries important connotations, especially days after Goffman's appointment as head of the Mossad, considering that the clip "embarrasses the Israeli leadership" because it shows a sensitive field moment for an officer who today holds a high sovereign position.

Some pointed out that the circulation of the footage coincides with an internal discussion in Israel about the army's performance during the first hours of the October 7 attack, and the confusion and chaos that accompanied it in the ranks of the military units.

Others pointed out that the scenes provide a "visual narrative" of the chaos that the Gaza envelope witnessed at the beginning of the attack, especially since Israeli sources admitted that Goffman was among the highest-ranking officers who were injured on that day.

In contrast, tweeters praised the performance of the Al-Qassam Brigades fighters in the video, especially the fighter who appeared steadfast in his position and pointing his weapon in preparation for a new clash, while Goffman continues to withdraw for a long distance. These considered that the fighter's steadfastness reflects "high discipline and readiness" in facing a senior officer.

Activists pointed out that the fighter's failure to pursue Goffman may be related to operational plans that require the fighters to adhere to the points of engagement and not chase individuals away from the path of progress, considering that the scene documents a "turning point" in the battle of October 7, where a senior officer appears withdrawing under pressure in exchange for a single fighter who maintains his position and continues fighting.

Journalist Ben Samuels mentioned in a report published by the “Haaretz” newspaper that American conservative media personality Tucker Carlson exploited his participation in the annual Doha Forum in Qatar to attack Israel and its supporters in Washington, in a move that deepened the dispute within the Republican Party regarding the relationship with Israel and the extent of its influence in American politics.

During a dialogue with the Qatari Prime Minister, Carlson denied accusations that he was being paid by Qatar, and affirmed that he plans to buy a house in Doha because it is a beautiful city, adding that he is a free American and will be wherever he wants.

The Qatari Prime Minister pointed out during the conversation that there are parties seeking to destabilize the relationship between Qatar and the United States and distort the image of everyone who visits Doha.

He described the relationship between the two countries as beneficial to both parties, stressing that Qatar does not receive aid from the United States, but rather cooperates and invests with it, in an implicit reference to the nature of the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv.

Ben Samuels quoted Carlson as saying that former US President Donald Trump personally intervened after the Israeli strike that targeted a site in Doha in September.

Carlson explained that Trump asked the Israelis to apologize to Qatar, and sided with an Arab country against Israel in this matter, which is a rare occurrence.

The Qatari Prime Minister mentioned that Qatar cooperated with Israeli governments and intelligence agencies in some files at the request of the United States, especially with regard to financial support arrangements for Hamas.

On the sidelines of the forum, Carlson was asked about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and he replied that some are seeking to force the American people to submit.

The report indicates that Carlson repeated his criticisms of the pro-Israel lobby, within the framework of his political vision consistent with the "America First" direction supported by Trump.

A number of right-wing politicians and commentators accused him of being a paid Qatari agent, considering that his appearance at the forum and alignment with Qatar is a promotional service for it and against Israel.

The co-founder of the Carlson media network responded by publishing pictures of Carlson pointing his middle finger at critics, and other pictures of him with Donald Trump Jr., in a political message about the Trump family's position towards Qatar.

The Haaretz report indicated that Trump repeatedly praised Qatar, describing it as a key ally and an effective mediator who helped end the Gaza war, despite Israel's accusations that Qatar facilitates Hamas's influence and finances it.

The Qatari Prime Minister clarified that his country will not bear the cost of rebuilding Gaza, saying that it is not the one who will pay the price for what others have destroyed.

Ben Samuels quoted Republican sources as saying that some supporters of Israel accuse prominent figures in the Trump administration of being motivated by financial ties with Qatar.

Haaretz concluded its report by referring to a tripartite meeting between the United States, Israel and Qatar in New York, aimed at rebuilding relations after the Israeli strike on Doha.

The year 2025 witnessed a tragic increase in the number of journalists who lost their lives, with the death toll reaching 67 journalists. The largest percentage of these journalists were martyred in the Gaza Strip by fire from the Israeli occupation forces.

A report issued by an international organization concerned with the protection of journalists showed that approximately 79% of the victims fell as a result of direct actions by regular armies or armed groups, as the number of journalists killed by these forces reached 37 journalists, in addition to 16 journalists assassinated by organized crime gangs.

The organization confirmed that the targeting of journalists was not merely accidental incidents, but rather a direct result of their professional work in covering events and conveying facts.

The Director-General of the organization pointed out that the main reason behind the escalation of the targeting of journalists is the continued impunity, which encourages the commission of more crimes against journalists.

He added that the failure of international organizations to implement laws related to the protection of journalists in conflict zones reflects a decline in the political will of governments.

He explained that journalists have turned from witnesses to events into direct targets, who are targeted and liquidated.

The Gaza Strip topped the list of the most dangerous areas for journalists, where about 43% of the total number of journalists killed worldwide during 2025 were martyred. These journalists fell by fire from the Israeli occupation forces, which have killed more than 220 journalists since October 2023, including 65 who were practicing their work.

The former President of the International Federation of Journalists confirmed that Israel's systematic targeting of journalists in the Gaza Strip constitutes a double crime against humanity and freedom of expression, noting that journalists are protected under international law as civilians, and that they play a vital role in documenting events in the sector in light of the restrictions imposed by Israel on their work.

In addition to Gaza, the Russian army continued to target local and international journalists in Ukraine. In Sudan, 4 journalists were killed during the year, two of them after being kidnapped by the Rapid Support Forces.

Mexico ranked second globally in the list of the most dangerous countries for journalistic work, where 9 journalists were killed in 2025, the bloodiest year in the country in 3 years. This is attributed to the increasing influence of organized crime gangs in Latin America, which witnessed 24% of journalist killings worldwide.

In addition to murder, 503 journalists are languishing in prisons around the world as of December 1, 2025, with China topping the list with 121 detainees, followed by Russia (48) and Burma (47). Moscow holds the largest number of foreign journalists (26 Ukrainians).

In Israeli prisons, 20 Palestinian journalists are still behind bars. The report stated that Israel ranks second after Russia in the list of countries detaining foreign journalists, as 20 Palestinian journalists remain in Israeli prisons, including 16 who were arrested during the past two years in Gaza and the West Bank.

The report added that 135 journalists are still missing in 37 countries, and that 72% of disappearances are concentrated in the Middle East and Latin America.

The organization warned that impunity and the decline in governments' will to protect journalists have turned them from witnesses to events into targets for liquidation, stressing that journalists do not die, but are killed.

Informed sources reported that Iran withdrew its diplomatic mission and its forces present in Syria two days before the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime, according to Agence France-Presse.

The agency quoted a former Syrian officer, who worked in one of the security headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard in Damascus, that the Iranian leadership summoned him on December 5, 2024, three days before the fall of the Assad regime, to the operations headquarters in the al-Mazza neighborhood in the capital because of an important order.

The officer added that the Iranian commander in charge of the group, who was known as "Hajj Abu Ibrahim," informed the Syrian officers and soldiers working under the command of the Iranians, who numbered about 20 people, that "as of today, there will be no presence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Syria."

The Iranian official also asked the elements to burn and destroy sensitive documents before his eyes, and to remove all hard drives from computers, then they were informed that "everything is over, that they are no longer responsible for them, and that their civil identities will reach them after days."

The officer added: "It seemed like it was prepared in advance, but it was surprising to us. We knew that things were not going well, but not to this extent."

The officer and his colleagues received a month's salary in advance, before dispersing and returning to their homes in a state of shock. Two days later, the regime collapsed at dawn on December 8, and Assad fled.

Two former Syrian employees in the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus said that the consulate was completely evacuated on the evening of December 5, and left for Beirut, while the Syrian employees were informed to stay in their homes, and they were paid three months' salaries in advance.

One of the employees, who asked not to be identified, said that a number of his Syrian colleagues who hold Iranian citizenship left with them at night, accompanied by senior officers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

He confirmed that the embassy offices, the consular section, and all Iranian security centers were completely empty the next day.

Testimonies from drivers and employees on the Syrian-Lebanese border during that period also indicated an unprecedented congestion witnessed at the Jdeidet Yabous-al-Masnaa crossing on Thursday and Friday, where the crossing took eight hours.

In another testimony, Syrian Colonel Muhammad Dibo said from inside a base that was used as a main operations room for Iranian forces south of the city of Aleppo: "After the fall of Aleppo, Iran did not fight anywhere else."

He added: "Iran was forced to withdraw suddenly after the rapid collapse, as three suicide bombers from the factions led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham carried out an attack that resulted in the killing of Iranians at the beginning of the operation on Aleppo."

Reports published by Iranian media at the end of October/November 2024 confirmed the killing of elements of the Iranian forces in Aleppo, including a prominent military advisor, Sardar Pour Hashemi, who was buried in Tehran in the presence of a large number of officials.

Dibo explained: "When we entered their headquarters in Aleppo, we found personal documents from passports and identities belonging to Iranian officers, they did not have time to withdraw them."

Dibo, who accompanied the opposition fighting factions from Idlib to Damascus, confirmed that after the control of Aleppo, "about 4,000 Iranian fighters were evacuated via the Russian Hmeimim base to which they resorted, while others fled towards Lebanon and Iraq."

This coincides with what the Syrian officer, who refused to reveal his identity, says, who says that "an Iranian commander known as Hajj Jawad, was evacuated on December 5, 2024, accompanied by a number of Iranian fighters and officers via the Hmeimim base to Tehran."

Correspondents and eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes and artillery shelling on various areas south and east of the Gaza Strip.

In the west of Rafah city, south of the Gaza Strip, the army carried out violent airstrikes, while artillery targeted areas east of the city with shells, according to eyewitnesses.

In Khan Yunis city, Israeli warships opened fire in the open sea, causing panic among the displaced people in the area.

Eyewitnesses also reported that Israeli army forces carried out demolition operations inside the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, amid intensive flights of drones in the area's sky.

These developments come amid the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel, but the latter continues to violate the agreement by targeting Palestinians outside the areas to which it withdrew under the agreement, resulting in deaths and injuries.

The agreement was supposed to end a genocide that Tel Aviv began on October 8, 2023.

This genocide resulted in the martyrdom of more than 70,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 171,000, most of whom are children and women, in addition to massive destruction that the United Nations estimates will cost about $70 billion to rebuild.

A Hebrew report revealed a tragic increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners who have died inside Israeli occupation prisons, with the number reaching 110 prisoners since the extremist minister Itamar Ben Gvir took office as Minister of National Security in late 2022.

A statistical comparison published by the Hebrew website "Walla" showed a large gap in mortality rates. While prisons recorded the death of 178 prisoners during 40 years (1967-2007), the number rose to 110 martyrs during the last three years under Ben Gvir's administration, indicating a serious deterioration in the conditions of prisoners.

The vast majority of the martyrs are from the Gaza Strip, and they were martyred during the Israeli war on the Strip, where they were arrested and placed in extremely harsh conditions, according to the report.

The year 2023 witnessed the martyrdom of 32 prisoners, and the number rose in 2024 to reach 47 martyrs, while the year 2025 has so far recorded the martyrdom of 31 prisoners. This increase in numbers reflects a policy of medical neglect and systematic restrictions on prisoners.

This increase coincides with repeated statements by Ben Gvir calling for tightening the noose on Palestinian prisoners, which increases concerns about their fate under these harsh conditions.

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, at a time when Israeli media indicates that there are significant gaps between Tel Aviv and Washington, especially regarding the second phase of the ceasefire plan in Gaza.

According to Maariv newspaper, the meeting was held in Netanyahu's office in the presence of the occupation's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, and Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in addition to a number of security officials.

The meeting, which was described as urgent, led to the postponement of Netanyahu's trial session, which was scheduled earlier in the day and approved by the court.

Netanyahu (76 years old) faces corruption charges that could lead to his imprisonment if convicted, and he submitted a request for pardon to the Israeli President last Sunday.

The two sides discussed the latest developments on the international scene and the continued coordination between Israel and the United States, where significant gaps appear in the transition to the second phase of the Trump peace plan in Gaza.