The semi-annual freedoms report issued by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate on Sunday revealed that occupation forces killed 33 journalists from the beginning of this year until the end of June 2025, and recorded 739 violations against journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the same period.

During a press conference held at the union's headquarters in Ramallah, the head of the union's Freedoms Committee, Mohammed al-Lahham, emphasized that the report sheds light on the reality of journalism in light of the massacres committed against our people in the West Bank and Gaza, and the escalating crimes perpetrated by the occupation against journalists.

Al-Lahham explained that the first half of this year witnessed a significant escalation in the targeting of journalists, with 41 members of their families killed, 32 homes belonging to them demolished, and 66 journalists injured, most of them by rocket shrapnel and live ammunition.

He added that the attacks have become more brutal than last year, taking place in shelters, tents, and hospitals, confirming that the targeting of journalists is a systematic political decision.

He pointed out that the report also documented the arrest of 25 journalists and a significant increase in direct shooting at them, while injuries from tear gas decreased, while injuries from bullets increased, in a clear policy to inflict serious harm on them. He also noted that 228 cases of media crews being prevented or detained and press coverage being prevented were recorded, reflecting a systematic policy of information blockade.

Al-Lahham emphasized that freedoms are indivisible, explaining that journalists in the Gaza Strip are being killed, while their colleagues in the West Bank face the terror of settlers and occupation forces, citing the brutal beating of colleague Issam Rimawi at the hands of settlers.

Al-Lahham commended the Bar Association's role in prosecuting the occupation's crimes against journalists, through legal documentation and effective cooperation with the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Authors.

For his part, Nasser Abu Bakr, head of the Journalists Syndicate, stated that the syndicate's Freedoms Committee issues monthly, semi-annual, and annual reports documenting violations against journalists in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

He stressed that the Syndicate will remain a defender of freedoms and will continue its support for journalists, particularly in the Gaza Strip. He noted that the Syndicate issued a statement yesterday on behalf of Gaza's journalists and all our people, in the face of the famine and genocide they are being subjected to, despite their continued work under bombardment and deprivation of the most basic necessities of life.

Abu Bakr appealed to the world to save the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, living without food or water and facing slow death from bombing and starvation. At the forefront of these are the journalists who continue to cover the conflict despite the genocidal conditions.

He called for the widest possible media coverage of the genocide and starvation of more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, stressing that this tragedy is unprecedented in modern history.

He pointed out that the Freedoms Committee's reports constitute a reference for the International Federation of Journalists and international press organizations, and are submitted to relevant UN organizations with the aim of exposing the occupation's crimes, holding perpetrators accountable, and bringing them to international justice.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that the death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 58,895 dead and 140,980 injuries since October 7, 2023.

The ministry said in a statement today: "130 dead (including 2 recovered dead) and 495 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 24 hours."

It noted that a number of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, with ambulance and civil defense crews unable to reach them at this time.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed that the death toll and injuries since March 18, 2025, has reached 8,066 dead and 28,939 injuries.

Regarding the livelihood dead, it explained that the number of aid victims who arrived at hospitals during the past 24 hours was 31 dead and more than 107 injuries, bringing the total number of livelihood victims who arrived at hospitals to 922 dead and more than 5,861 injuries.

US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack called on all parties in Syria to "lay down their weapons, end hostilities, and abandon the cycle of tribal revenge."
In a post on the X platform on Sunday, Barak explained that the international community stood with the new Syrian government formed following the overthrow of the Assad regime.
He added that the international community "is watching with cautious optimism the Syrian government's efforts to transition from a painful legacy to a brighter future."
Barak pointed out that the clashes between the warring parties on the ground (in Sweida Governorate) have led to "weakening the government's authority and disrupting the regime."
He stressed that "Syria is going through a critical phase where peace and dialogue must prevail, and this must happen now."
On July 13, limited armed clashes erupted between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups in Sweida. Government forces then moved into the area to impose security, but were attacked by outlawed Druze groups, resulting in the deaths of dozens of soldiers.
As part of its efforts to contain the crisis, the Syrian government announced four ceasefire agreements in Sweida, the latest of which was announced on Saturday morning.
The first three ceasefire agreements did not hold for long, as clashes resumed on Friday after a group affiliated with Hikmat al-Hajri, a Druze sheikh in Sweida, displaced a number of Sunni Bedouin tribesmen and perpetrated abuses against them.
On Saturday, the Syrian presidency announced an "immediate and comprehensive ceasefire" in Sweida, warning in a statement that any violation of this resolution constitutes a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and will be met with the necessary legal measures in accordance with the constitution and applicable laws."

Today, Sunday, Israeli occupation forces arrested a citizen from the city of Hebron and raided the towns of Surif and Al-Shuyukh in the north.

Local sources said that the occupation forces arrested Ibrahim Abu Turki after raiding the southern area of Hebron and searching a number of citizens' homes.

The occupation forces also stormed the towns of Surif and Ash-Shuyukh, north of Hebron, and searched a number of homes.

The Syrian government confirmed a ceasefire in the city of Sweida on Sunday, after Druze groups regained control of the southern city and Syrian government forces redeployed to the area, which had witnessed sectarian violence that left nearly 1,000 dead in a single week.

Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba announced on Telegram that "the city of Sweida has been evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods have ceased."

Violence between Druze and Sunni Bedouins that erupted on July 13 in the southern Syrian province of Sweida has killed 940 people, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Earlier on Saturday, Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced a ceasefire, committing to "protecting minorities" and holding "violators" from any party accountable. He also announced the deployment of security forces to Sweida, according to Agence France-Presse.

The announcement came hours after Washington announced that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire.

The Pope affirmed that "the state, with all its political and security institutions, is continuing its efforts to restore security and stability in Sweida, and that the security forces will harness all their energies to end the attacks and infighting and restore stability to the province."

Sharaa had deployed his forces to Sweida on Tuesday, but withdrew them after Israel bombed several government targets in Damascus. Israel declared its intention to protect the Druze and expressed its sense of threat from the presence of Syrian government forces on its borders.

In a post on the X platform, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the Syrian authorities to "hold accountable anyone guilty of committing atrocities and bring them to justice, including those within their ranks."

The outgoing Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage in the Israeli government, Meir Brosh, issued a decision to seize Palestinian properties in the Bab al-Silsila neighborhood, one of the most prominent entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a new escalation targeting the Palestinian presence in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.

The decision includes homes and shops located on Bab al-Silsila Road, which leads directly to Al-Aqsa Mosque. No specific details were provided regarding the number of properties or their owners, even though field evidence confirms that the targeted area is part of historical Palestinian property dating back to the Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods.

According to Hebrew media, the decision was issued on the eve of Brosh's resignation, which came amid disagreements between the Haredi parties and the government over exemptions for religious men from military service. This suggests the decision was politically motivated to appease the extreme religious right.

Brosh justified his decision by citing what he called "the return of the Old City to the people of Israel in 1967," claiming that all the property in the so-called "Jewish Quarter" had been seized at the time for an Israeli government company tasked with rehabilitating it. However, he acknowledged that the current decision has not yet been implemented on the ground, despite its inclusion in the Israeli seizure map.

Jerusalem Governorate: A colonial Judaization move that affects the very essence of the Palestinian existence.

The Jerusalem Governorate affirmed that the decision constitutes a new colonialist step targeting the heart of the occupied city and its historical and religious landmarks, opening the door to systematic forced displacement and theft of property and assets under a false legal cover.

The governorate said in a statement issued Sunday that targeting Bab al-Silsila Road, including its Islamic landmarks and historic buildings, comes as part of intensive efforts to resolve the issue of Jerusalem by imposing Judaization facts on the ground and emptying the passages leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque of their original inhabitants.

The statement added that this decision cannot be isolated from the accelerating Judaization policies, which include settlement expansion, infrastructure projects such as the Israeli train line that cuts through Palestinian neighborhoods, and plans to register land and convert it into so-called "state property" that serves the colonial project.

The governorate warned that implementing the seizure order would transform Bab al-Silsila Road into a closed settlement corridor used exclusively for settler incursions, threatening freedom of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and imposing a de facto siege on the Muslim and Christian presence in the Old City.

The governorate explained that the so-called "Jewish Quarter" was originally built on Palestinian lands seized in 1968. Before the Nakba, it did not exceed five dunams, but later expanded to approximately 130 dunams, most of which were confiscated from properties belonging to prominent Jerusalemite families, including the Nimri, Ghunaim, Bashiti, Jaouni, Al-Alam, Sharaf, and Burqan families.

She also considered that talk of an intention to seize approximately 20 properties at this stage constitutes a prelude to a broader phase of displacement and control, as part of an Israeli plan to connect the "Jewish Quarter" to neighboring colonial outposts, with the goal of changing the identity of the Old City and separating it from its Palestinian surroundings.

The governorate emphasized that this decision constitutes a dangerous political declaration of intent, requiring immediate Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic action. It called on the United Nations and UNESCO to assume their responsibilities to halt these policies, which violate international law and international legitimacy resolutions pertaining to the city of Jerusalem.

The governorate called on the city's residents and its national and religious institutions to unite and confront this escalation through all means of popular and legal resistance, adherence to rights and identity, and intensive diplomatic efforts to confront this attack targeting one of the most important pillars of the Palestinian presence in occupied Jerusalem.

The lawyer for the Commission of Prisoners' Affairs and Ex-Prisoners reported, after his recent visit to Gilboa Prison, that prisoner Muhammad Osama Rabie (21 years old) from the town of Beit Anan/Jerusalem, is being subjected to deliberate medical neglect aimed at slowly killing him, as is the case with many prisoners in the occupation's prisons.

He said: "Rabee had undergone surgery before his arrest in 2021 to remove air sacs from his lungs, but his health deteriorated after he was beaten by prison repression units. He now suffers from severe chest pain and difficulty breathing, in addition to constant headaches. He has been suffering from advanced scabies for more than a year, but he has recently begun to recover."

He added, "In light of the severe suffering that prisoner Rabie is experiencing, he has submitted numerous requests to the prison administration to visit the clinic and see a doctor, but he has always been refused."

It is noteworthy that the prisoner was arrested on 03/07/2024, and a 9-month prison sentence was issued against him, but he was surprised that his file was transferred to administrative detention after the end of his sentence, and he is currently in the second administrative extension.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal continue in the Qatari capital, Doha, amid what Israeli political sources describe as "increasing concessions" from Tel Aviv in recent days.

Despite these sources' reservations about Hamas's "firm" position in the negotiations conducted through mediators in the Qatari capital, they estimated that an agreement is closer than it was in the past two weeks, according to Israel's Channel 12 on Sunday.

An Israeli political source involved in the negotiations said, "Hamas continues to stall in a way that casts doubt on its seriousness in reaching an agreement." However, he added, "The talks are progressing slowly, but they are making progress," suggesting that a deal could be completed this week.

In a meeting this week with prisoners' families, an Israeli official said, "The trend is positive. We have overcome a fundamental obstacle and are moving forward with the hope of achieving a breakthrough." He added, "The negotiations are very intense, and if Hamas does not create new obstacles, (US envoy Steve) Witkoff may travel to Doha in the coming days."

The same official claimed, "Over the past two weeks, we were on the verge of signing an agreement within 24 hours four times, but Hamas backed down each time."

Other Israeli officials also noted progress, but stressed that difficulties remained. They said, "There are no plans yet to send an official delegation including Minister Ron Dermer to Doha, but that could change."

Regarding US President Donald Trump's statements about a deal being reached, Israeli officials explained that they "have not seen any real progress so far, and there are still outstanding issues, including mechanisms for prisoner releases and the distribution of humanitarian aid."

Meanwhile, Israeli cities witnessed a series of anti-government demonstrations on Saturday, demanding the completion of the prisoner exchange deal as soon as possible. Hundreds of protesters gathered in "Prisoners' Square" in Tel Aviv before marching toward the US embassy, calling for "accelerating the completion of the agreement."

On Saturday, an informed Palestinian source revealed that Hamas received updated maps from mediators showing the areas where the Israeli army is deployed within the Gaza Strip. These maps include most of Beit Hanoun in the north, half of Rafah, the towns of Khuza'a and Abasan in the south, and large parts of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood.

He explained that the movement has begun studying the proposal within its leadership frameworks and is holding consultations with Palestinian factions, while adhering to the withdrawal limits stipulated in the January 2025 understandings.

Despite Hamas's insistence on rejecting any map that establishes a "fait accompli" for the occupation, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted Israeli sources as saying there was "cautious optimism" about the possibility of reaching an agreement within two weeks, noting that some gaps had been narrowed, particularly regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners who might be released.

In contrast, government sources, via the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11), accused Hamas of not responding, despite what they described as "Israeli flexibility."

In turn, an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries told the same channel that the gaps regarding the Israeli military deployment map had narrowed, and that what remained were "just limited obstacles." He considered the recent meeting between Trump and the Prime Minister of Qatar "important for progress," and that Washington was "satisfied with the developments."

In the heart of Hebron stands the Ibrahimi Mosque, one of the oldest Islamic landmarks in Palestine and one of the holiest religious sites for Muslims, housing the tombs of the prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. However, this landmark, which embodies a deeply rooted Islamic cultural and spiritual spirit, has not been spared the onslaught of the Israeli occupation, which has pursued a systematic policy since 1967 aimed at Judaizing the mosque and altering its religious and architectural character.

The tragedy began with the occupation of the city of Hebron, where the occupation authorities imposed a harsh military reality around the mosque, embodied by the erection of barriers and checkpoints that impeded Palestinians' access to their places of worship, transforming the area into a closed military barracks, particularly during Jewish holidays. Over the years, the violations worsened dramatically, culminating on February 25, 1994, when settler Baruch Goldstein perpetrated a horrific massacre during dawn prayers, killing 29 worshippers and wounding more than 200 others.

The massacre was not the end of the catastrophe, but rather its beginning. Instead of holding the killer accountable, the occupying government proceeded to divide the mosque temporally and spatially, setting a dangerous precedent. It allocated more than 60% of its area to Jews, barred Muslims from entering large parts of it, and tightened military measures around it. The call to prayer was also banned from it dozens of times a year, on the grounds that it "disturbs settlers," in a flagrant violation of religious rights guaranteed by international law.

The attacks did not stop there. The occupation authorities embarked on systematic architectural Judaization measures, most notably the installation of electronic gates and surveillance cameras, and modifications to the mosque's internal structure without coordination with the Islamic Waqf. The project to build an elevator through the mosque's courtyard is considered one of the most dangerous Judaization projects, as it aims to impose Jewish sovereignty over the site under the guise of "development," despite the objections of Palestinians and international institutions.

This is accompanied by the accelerating settlement expansion in the Old City of Hebron, where Palestinian homes adjacent to the mosque have been transformed into settlement outposts, in an attempt to strangle the mosque within a Jewish demographic circle. Amnesty International has described these policies as "a model of apartheid" and explicitly violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

In the face of these policies, Palestine has taken diplomatic action through international forums, successfully registering the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger in 2017. The decision represented rare international recognition, but it remained without enforcement mechanisms, given the international community's inability to impose legal obligations on the occupying authorities.

With increasing provocations, including daily raids, armed demonstrations inside the mosque, and the participation of Israeli ministers in provocative religious rituals, the Ibrahimi Mosque remains hostage to an occupation that does not recognize the sanctity of holy sites or UN resolutions. Legitimate questions arise here: What is the point of international laws if they remain unchecked? When will the world's silence be broken in the face of repeated violations without accountability?

The Ibrahimi Mosque is not only a religious landmark, but also a symbol of Palestinian identity and the Islamic presence in Hebron. Remaining silent about attempts to Judaize it is ignoring a rich history and inalienable human and religious rights. Protecting it is a collective responsibility, requiring a firm international stance and concerted Palestinian official and popular efforts to defend it.

The bodies of Gazans are collapsing one by one, some dying of hunger, others collapsing under the bombardment and direct targeting by the Israeli army, in what has become known as the war of extermination, which is now in its 653rd day.

Amid the deadly scenes of hunger emerging from the Gaza Strip, the falsity of the humanitarian slogans repeated by the civilized world is exposed.

Under the suffocating Israeli blockade and the complete closure of crossings since early March, hunger has become the norm in the Gaza Strip, with increasing deaths due to systematic starvation.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has once again issued a stern warning about the catastrophic consequences of the famine ravaging the population, confirming a significant increase in the number of deaths resulting from hunger.

The ministry added that medical staff and patients in hospitals have not had a single meal for an entire day, threatening the collapse of the healthcare system and exposing the wounded and sick to imminent death.

In the same context, the Civil Defense reported the death of 6-year-old Amir Nidal Ali, who succumbed to his wounds after the Israeli occupation bombed a tent opposite the Al-Tabi'in Mosque on Al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City.

Israeli forces also opened fire on a number of Palestinians this Sunday morning while they were waiting for humanitarian aid in the Shakoush area north of Rafah.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue their military escalation in the Gaza Strip, destroying several Palestinian homes in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City, as part of sporadic attacks targeting several areas.

In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli artillery shelling targeted the northern part of the Al-Bureij refugee camp, causing extensive property damage.

Israeli tanks also opened heavy fire in the al-Satar al-Gharbi area north of Khan Yunis, sparking panic among residents and leading to a renewed exodus from the targeted neighborhoods.

In this context, the Israeli military spokesperson issued new evacuation orders in the Deir al-Balah area, targeting areas where Israeli forces had not previously operated.

The military evacuation order instructed all residents in the southwestern area of Deir al-Balah, specifically in Blocks 130, 132-134, 136-139, and 2351, including those in tents in those areas, to immediately move south toward the Mawasi area.

The Israeli military justified these orders by stating that it would continue to carry out intensive operations aimed at destroying the capabilities of armed groups, while expanding its activities in these new areas as part of its efforts to confront security threats.

The Israeli navy arrested five Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza City on Saturday evening as they were trying to catch a livelihood amid a worsening famine caused by the tightened Israeli blockade on the enclave.

A Gaza Fishermen's Syndicate official said the five fishermen went out to sea in search of a living, amid a shortage of food supplies in the markets. However, Israeli boats pursued them, arrested them, and took them to an unknown location.

Today, Palestinians are no longer able to provide the bare minimum for survival. The majority of them have lost the flour needed to make bread, while the prices of the limited quantities available on the black market are soaring, they are unaffordable for starving Palestinians.

Since March 2, 2025, Israel has closed all crossings with the Gaza Strip and prevented the entry of food and medical aid, causing famine to spread within the Strip.

The Israeli military prohibits fishing in Gaza's waters and targets those attempting to go to sea with gunfire or arrest, even though fishing has become virtually the only means of obtaining food amid the widespread humanitarian collapse.

Despite the warnings and dangers, some fishermen continue to venture out to sea, even short distances of just a few meters, in attempts fraught with danger and death, to secure the minimum amount of food for their families.

Throughout the months of genocide, the sea was the only outlet for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where they sought refuge, especially during times of high temperatures.

Last Saturday, the Israeli military vowed to deal with any violation of the restrictions imposed on the maritime area adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

"We remind you that strict security restrictions have been imposed in the maritime area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, where entry into the sea is prohibited. IDF forces will deal with any violation of these restrictions," IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement.

On Friday, the Government Media Office in Gaza said that the number of children who died from malnutrition had risen to 69 since October 7, 2023.

He added that the number of Palestinian deaths due to food and medicine shortages has also risen to 620 since October 7, 2023.

He pointed out that 650,000 children are at risk of death due to malnutrition, hunger, and food shortages, while about 60,000 pregnant women face a real danger due to the lack of food and necessary health care.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a war of genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.

The Israeli occupation army announced on Saturday that two soldiers, including an officer, were injured in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Israeli army said that "an officer from the 710th Engineering Battalion, affiliated with the "Ram" Division (179), was seriously wounded in one of the battles in the southern Gaza Strip," without further details.

He added: "A reserve soldier from the 749th Engineering Battalion, affiliated with the 828th Brigade, was also seriously wounded earlier today during clashes that also took place in the southern Gaza Strip."

The statement continued: "The two injured were transferred to the hospital for treatment, and their families have been informed."

This comes as Israel has been waging an ongoing war of extermination on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, involving killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.

For days, Palestinian factions have been escalating their attacks against Israeli forces invading Gaza, committing genocide. This coincides with indirect negotiations in Qatar to conclude a prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement.

Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, 893 Israeli officers and soldiers have been killed, including 449 since the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip on October 27.

Meanwhile, 6,108 officers and soldiers have been injured since the beginning of the war, including 2,803 since the invasion of the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli military data, which faces accusations of concealing its true losses.

With full American support, Israel has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 199,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, more than 10,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Dozens of Palestine Action supporters were arrested in Britain on Saturday during a demonstration in support of the pro-Palestinian movement, which has been banned since early July after being designated a "terrorist organization," according to police and protest organizers.

London police reported in a post on Twitter that 55 people were arrested in Parliament Square in London's Westminster Borough for raising "banners in support of Palestine Action, a banned group."

The Palestine Action movement claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that it came as part of its protest against Britain's support for Israel (Palestine Action website)

The Palestine Action movement claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that it came as part of its protest against Britain's support for Israel (Palestine Action website)

According to Defend Our Jurisdictions, which organized similar demonstrations in Edinburgh, Bristol, and Manchester, "around 100 people were arrested in Britain" on Saturday, bringing the total number of arrests to "around 200" since Palestine Action was banned.

In London, dozens of protesters wrote on white banners: "I am against genocide, and I am with Palestine Action."

"Freedom of expression has disappeared in this country. Shame on the London police," a man said during his arrest.

"The British government is complicit in Israel's genocide against Palestinians. It is trying to silence voices that denounce this complicity," the Defend Our Jurisdictions group wrote on Twitter.

In early July, the British Parliament approved the banning of the Palestine Action group and its designation as a "terrorist organization" under the Terrorism Act 2000, days after activists affiliated with the group stormed a military airbase in southern England.

They sprayed red paint on two aircraft at the base, causing £7 million ($9.55 million) in damage.

Activists from the Palestine Action group approach a warplane at RAF Brize Norton in southern England (Reuters)

Four activists in the group were placed in pretrial detention after appearing before the judiciary in connection with the incident.

In light of the group's ban, membership in or support for it becomes a criminal act punishable by imprisonment for a period of up to 14 years.

The London High Court refused to suspend the ban.

UN experts criticized the British authorities' decision, arguing that "minor material damage that did not endanger anyone's life is not serious enough to qualify as terrorism."

The office of Arab Israeli Knesset member Ayman Odeh reported that settlers, described as "herds of fascists," surrounded the member's car on Saturday evening, smashing its front and rear windows while he was inside, and chanting racist slogans, including "Death to Arabs."

Odeh's office explained that this occurred prior to the start of the weekly demonstration in Ness Ziona, to which the MK was invited to deliver a speech calling for an end to the war on Gaza.

In the same context, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality condemned the attempted physical assault on MKs Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif on Saturday evening in Ness Ziona.

The group Writers Against the War on Gaza (Wawog) has accused The New York Times, the most influential newspaper in the United States, of complicity in Israel's genocidal war on the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip for nearly two years.

“The New York Times is complicit in the genocide in Gaza,” the group said in its statement Wednesday. “It serves as a mouthpiece for American imperialism and shapes the elite consensus on foreign policy. Times editors advised reporters to avoid “inflammatory terms” like “genocide,” “ethnic cleansing,” and “occupied territories”—and even avoid mentioning the word “Palestine.” Headline writers manipulated the English language and used linguistic tricks to obscure the US and Israeli perpetration of atrocities and blame Palestinians for their own oppression. Reporters also spread the lies of the Israeli military.”

“The Times’s commitment to Zionism is systemic and generational,” the statement, seen by Al-Quds, says. “For decades, critics of U.S. foreign policy have offered critical analyses of the newspaper’s bias. This dossier draws on that body of criticism and adds to it by exposing the material and ideological ties that bind many of the Times’s top editors, journalists, and executives to the occupation and apartheid. The employees covered in this dossier are individually and structurally motivated to cover up war crimes. Enabling these individuals to frame the discourse around Israeli genocide is an indictment of the entire New York Times organization.”

It's worth noting that, like many major media outlets, The New York Times has come under intense scrutiny for its coverage of the war on Gaza, with many human rights activists and analysts accusing it of providing cover for Israeli war crimes.

The dossier, published Wednesday, argues that the New York Times' coverage can be explained by the extensive material, financial, and ideological ties between a number of current and former employees of the newspaper and the Israeli state or military.

The dossier also revealed other levels of ideological and material ties, including ties to pro-Israel lobby groups and think tanks. The dossier alleged that New York Times news editors instructed reporters to avoid what it called "inflammatory terms"—including "genocide," "ethnic cleansing," and "occupied territories," and even to avoid mentioning "Palestine."

While the "Writers Against the War on Gaza (Wawog)" file so far mostly covers the physical links to the occupation and apartheid, it also includes and discusses the ideological links of the New York Times, its reporters, and writers.

The organization added that its findings, drawn from the Mondoweiss and Electronic Intifada archives, as well as interviews with Palestinian journalists, demonstrate "how the Times's much-vaunted code of conduct constitutes a racist double standard."

The Wowg collective, comprised of writers and creatives, emerged in the weeks following the Israeli bombardment of Gaza following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The group routinely held protests outside the New York Times building in Manhattan, and sometimes in its lobby.

The group has been referring to the newspaper as the "New York Times War Crimes" as a way of expressing its complicity in the war crimes committed in Gaza.

As of Friday, July 18, Israel had killed 58,765 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, most of them women and children. More than 140,000 civilians were injured, most of them women and children. Research centers, such as the British Lancet Center, believe that the death toll is double the figure reported by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as a result of Israel's war on Gaza, which several countries, in addition to numerous international human rights organizations and experts, now classify as genocide.

In Wednesday's filing, Waugh described the New York Times' deep entanglements with Israel as fueling the paper's biased coverage.

Wawog said that omitting journalists' ties to Israel—whether personal or immediate family—in their profiles on the New York Times website contradicts basic principles of journalistic ethics. He added that "The New York Times will provide a megaphone to those who clearly pledge allegiance to the Zionist project, demonstrating its commitment to and support for Israel's genocidal fantasy." Media analysts and human rights groups have repeatedly accused mainstream media outlets of contributing to the whitewashing and distortion of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Many observers have argued that media coverage of Israel's war on Gaza, as well as the Student Movement for Palestine in the United States, has not only been inaccurate but has bordered on journalistic malpractice. Western media outlets, in particular, have been sharply criticized for opaque headlines and their overt use of the passive voice in recounting the killing of Palestinians. The statements have also supported human rights advocates' concerns about the use of language and terminology.

The Intercept, a research center, concluded in a January 2024 study that the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times' coverage of Israel's war on Gaza showed persistent bias against Palestinians, disproportionately covered anti-Semitism in the United States, and downplayed racism against Palestinians and Muslims after the events of October 7, 2023.

Similarly, in October 2024, several BBC and CNN journalists told Al Jazeera English's "Listening Post" that their newsrooms routinely failed to hold Israeli officials accountable. The journalists, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused senior editors of attempting to downplay Israeli abuses in news coverage.

While the WAWOG dossier details several editorial staff members who served in the Israeli military or have children who do, it also includes those who consistently produce what WAWOG describes as lies and justifications for war crimes. The dossier states, "Palestinians and their allies have suffered from silence and marginalization in the media for decades, as these institutions have chosen silence over accountability. Only by challenging this reality can we hope to forge a path toward a more just and equitable world."

According to the file, the newspaper's most sympathetic journalists and columnists, who justify what Israel is currently doing in its war against the Palestinians, are:

Meredith Kopit Levien, Joe Kahn, Thomas Friedman, Isabel Kershner, Patrick Kingsley, Ronen Bergman, Natan Odenheimer, Adam Rasgon, Jodi Rudoren, David Leonhardt, Bret Stephens, David Brooks, Myra Noveck, David Halbfinger.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the Iranian nuclear sites targeted by US airstrikes were destroyed, and that it "will take years to restore them to service."

Trump explained in a post on the Truth Social platform: "All three of Iran's nuclear sites have been completely destroyed. It will take years to bring them back online."

He continued, "If Iran wants to do this, it would be better to start over, in three different locations, before those sites are obliterated. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

At dawn on June 13, Israel launched a surprise attack targeting military and nuclear sites in Iran, including assassinations of military leaders and nuclear scientists. Israel declared its intention to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear bomb, while Tehran denies seeking to possess a nuclear weapon and affirms its right to civilian nuclear energy.

On the night of June 21-22, the United States launched strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites. After 12 days of war, US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel on June 24. He later threatened that the United States would resume strikes against Iran if it enriched uranium for military use.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Saturday that the death toll from the genocide perpetrated by Israel since October 7, 2023, has risen to 58.765 dead and 140,485 wounded.

The ministry said in a statistical statement: "98 dead (including 3 recovered) and 511 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals in the past 48 hours."

It explained that a number of victims are still under the rubble of destroyed buildings and on the roads, where ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.

The ministry stated that hospitals in the Gaza Strip had received "14 dead and more than 94 wounded" among those waiting for the alleged US-Israeli "aid" within 48 hours.

It noted that the death toll from such "aid" has risen since May 27 to "891 dead and more than 5,754 wounded."

Since then, and outside the purview of the United Nations, Israel has begun implementing a scheme to distribute "aid" through the so-called "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation," which is supported by the United States and Israel.

This plan has become a trap for starving Palestinians, with Israeli soldiers admitting in media reports that they received orders to fire on crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid under the pretext of dispersing them.

On a daily basis, the Israeli army fires on starving people lined up near food distribution centers, leaving them between starvation and being shot, according to the government media office in Gaza.

In the same context, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced in a statement today that the death toll from Palestinian casualties since Israel resumed its genocide in the Gaza Strip on March 18, 2025, has risen to "7,938 dead and 28,444 wounded."

Thus, the ministry stated that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 7, 2023, has risen to "58,765 dead and 140,485 wounded."

Since October 7, 2023, Israel—with American support—has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.

In addition to the martyrs and wounded, most of whom were children and women, the US-backed genocide left more than 9,000 people missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that 10 prisoners in the Gaza Strip would be released "soon."

"We have recovered most of the prisoners (in Gaza), and ten more will be released very soon, and we hope that will happen soon," he told reporters at the White House.

Trump praised the efforts of his special representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, saying, "He was fantastic. He did a fantastic job on this. He's a good guy and a good deal maker."

Trump, whose country provides unwavering support to Israel in its war of extermination in Gaza, did not provide further details on the matter.

Over the course of more than 21 months, several rounds of indirect negotiations were held between Israel and Hamas to stop the war and exchange prisoners.

During this period, two partial agreements were reached, the first in November 2023, and the second in January 2025.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, evaded completing the latest agreement and resumed the war of extermination in Gaza on March 18.

Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its willingness to release Israeli prisoners "in one batch" in exchange for an end to the genocide and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza.

The Israeli opposition asserts that Netanyahu is seeking partial deals that would allow the war to continue, thus ensuring his continued rule by accommodating the most extreme right-wing faction in his government.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, leaving more than 198,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 9,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and a famine that has claimed the lives of many.

The Israeli occupation forces continued their aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp for the 174th consecutive day, and on the Nour Shams camp for the 161st day, amid an unprecedented escalation in demolitions and bulldozing operations that have affected dozens of homes and facilities.

According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers continued their demolition work in Tulkarm camp, which began last week, at a rapid pace, targeting more residential buildings. An explosion was heard that shook the camp and its surroundings.

This escalation comes as part of the occupation's new plan to demolish 104 buildings, comprising approximately 400 homes. This is the latest in a series of demolitions that have affected several neighborhoods in the camp over the past few weeks, specifically: Al-Murabba'a, Abu Al-Foul, Al-Shuhada', and Al-Hamam, resulting in thousands of families losing their homes.

The Nour Shams camp also witnessed a military escalation, amidst the aggression and tight siege imposed by the occupation forces, accompanied by the burning of homes by occupation soldiers, especially in Jabal al-Nasr.

Eyewitnesses reported that occupation forces seized a building under construction in Nour Shams camp today, climbed onto its roof, and threw bricks at neighboring homes.

In recent weeks, Nur Shams camp has been subjected to extensive demolition operations, including dozens of residential buildings, as part of an Israeli plan to demolish 106 buildings in Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps. 48 of these buildings were demolished in Nur Shams alone, causing widespread destruction and opening wide streets that separated the neighborhoods.

The ongoing escalation has led to the forced displacement of more than 5,000 families from the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, representing over 25,000 residents. The total destruction of more than 600 buildings and the partial damage of 2,573 homes have also occurred. The entrances to the camps remain closed with barriers, transforming them into lifeless areas. Residents are prevented from reaching their homes or checking on their property, amid direct gunfire targeting anyone who approaches the area.

In a related context, the occupation forces sent more military reinforcements to the city, which is witnessing intensive movements of occupation vehicles and infantry units around the clock, specifically in the neighborhoods, the market center, the street of the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, Gamal Abdel Nasser Square, and Nablus Street. They obstructed the movement of citizens and vehicles, while sounding their horns in a provocative manner, and driving against the traffic, endangering the lives of citizens.

Today, the occupation forces stormed the outskirts of Shuweika, north of the city, Artah, south of it, and Iktaba, east of it, and patrolled the streets and neighborhoods, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles.

Israeli occupation forces continue to seize a number of homes on Nablus Street, turning them into military barracks. They also seize parts of the city's northern neighborhood, specifically those facing Tulkarm refugee camp, after forcibly evacuating their residents. Some of these homes have been under Israeli occupation control for more than four months.

This street, which serves as a link between the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, also suffered significant damage due to earth mounds placed by the occupation forces several months ago, impeding vehicle movement and exacerbating the suffering of residents.

The ongoing aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its two camps has so far resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens of injuries and arrests have also been reported, as well as widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said in a post on its X platform that it has enough food stocks for all residents of the Gaza Strip for more than three months, but they are still in warehouses awaiting entry.

The agency explained that these supplies, some of which are stored in a warehouse in the Egyptian city of Arish, are ready for distribution, noting that logistical systems are in place.

UNRWA called for the opening of the crossings and the lifting of the blockade, stressing its readiness to fulfill its humanitarian duty and assist the population, including one million children.

The Gaza Strip has been under a devastating Israeli military offensive since October 2023. Israel has faced increasing criticism from the United Nations over its war on Gaza, which has displaced the entire population of the Strip internally and caused a famine threatening the lives of thousands of Palestinians.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned on Friday that unprecedented numbers of starving citizens of all ages were arriving at emergency rooms in extreme fatigue and exhaustion.

She warned that hundreds of those whose bodies had emaciated would be at risk of certain death, due to starvation and their bodies' inability to withstand the heat.

For its part, the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network stated that the Gaza Strip is currently experiencing the worst phase of a humanitarian catastrophe, as a result of Israel's starvation policy.

The network warned of deaths, particularly among children and the elderly, due to the starvation policy, and called for the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, given the complete lack of flour in the Strip.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said, "We have enough food for the people of Gaza for more than three months in warehouses, one of which is in El Arish, waiting to enter the Strip."

In a brief statement on Saturday, UNRWA called for the gates to be opened and the siege on Gaza to be lifted.

"Allow us to do our job and help those in need, including one million children," she added.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced that the death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 58,765 martyrs and 140,485 injuries since October 7, 2023.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in its daily statement that 98 martyrs (including 3 recovered martyrs) and 511 injuries had arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 48 hours.

She noted that a number of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, with ambulance and civil defense crews unable to reach them at this time.

She pointed out that the death toll and injuries since March 18, 2025, has reached 7,938 martyrs and 28,444 injuries.

She confirmed that the number of aid victims who arrived at hospitals over the past 48 hours was 14, along with more than 94 injuries, bringing the total number of livelihood victims who arrived at hospitals to 891, with more than 5,754 injuries.

According to the latest developments: 70 citizens, including 36 forcibly starved, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since dawn on Saturday.

Meanwhile, 11 citizens were killed and others injured on Saturday when the occupation forces bombed a residential apartment south of the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Local sources reported that an Israeli drone bombed an apartment building south of the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing nine civilians, including a child and an infant, and wounding others. The injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat.

Meanwhile, Nasser Medical Complex reported the recovery of the bodies of four martyrs as a result of the bombing that targeted the town of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, a medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the deaths of three aid seekers after they were targeted near the Netzarim axis, south of Gaza City.

A number of civilians were injured when the occupation forces bombed an apartment building near the Al-Sha'biya intersection in Gaza City, coinciding with air and artillery shelling in central Khan Yunis.

Three civilians were killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting civilian gatherings around Kashko Street in the Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa met today, Saturday, in his office in Ramallah, with the new Special Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Palestine, Jacco Cilliers, in the presence of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Stephan Salameh, and Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad.

The Prime Minister welcomed the new UN representative, stressing the pivotal and important role of the United Nations Development Programme in assisting the Palestinian people, supporting development in Palestine, and developing the capacities of state institutions and institutional development.

Mustafa also stressed the need to intensify international pressure to open all Gaza Strip crossings to allow the entry of aid to meet urgent needs and halt the escalating famine plaguing the people of the Strip.

He stressed the importance of strengthening joint action with various international relief organizations operating in the Gaza Strip and the efforts exerted through the government operations room to coordinate relief efforts, in addition to coordinating urgent and emergency interventions for families affected by attacks by the occupation and its settlers in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, especially the ongoing attacks, demolition of camps, and destruction of infrastructure in the northern West Bank.

The Prime Minister pointed to the ongoing efforts and coordination with the Arab Republic of Egypt and all relevant parties regarding the holding of the reconstruction conference.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decision to hold elections for a new National Council before the end of this year.

The text of the decision stated that after reviewing the basic law of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Council elections system, and in the public interest, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization decided in its meeting held in the city of Ramallah on 7/17/2025:

First: Holding elections for a new National Council before the end of 2025, in accordance with the Palestinian National Council Election System, and the date for this shall be determined by a decision of the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Second: The Palestinian National Council shall consist of (350 members), two-thirds of whom shall represent the homeland, and the other third shall represent those abroad and the diaspora.

Third: The membership conditions must include the member’s commitment to the Palestine Liberation Organization’s program, its international obligations, and international legitimacy resolutions.

Fourth: The Executive Committee shall issue a decision to form a preparatory committee to undertake the necessary arrangements for holding the elections. It shall be chaired by the President of the Palestinian National Council, with the participation of the Council Presidency Office, members of the Executive Committee, representatives of the Palestinian national factions, a number of popular organizations, civil society, and Palestinian communities abroad. Its tasks shall be determined in the decision to form it, provided that it is presented to the President of the Executive Committee within a maximum period of two weeks from the date of issuance of this decision for approval.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa described the recent events in Sweida province as a "dangerous turning point," noting that "the violent clashes between these groups could have spiraled out of control had it not been for the Syrian state's intervention to calm the situation."

This came in a televised address on Saturday, following the Syrian presidency's announcement of a "comprehensive and immediate ceasefire" across all areas of the country, including Sweida.

SANA quoted al-Sharaa as saying, "The Syrian state was able to calm the situation despite its difficulty, but the Israeli intervention pushed the country into a dangerous phase that threatens its stability as a result of the blatant bombing of the south and government institutions in Damascus. Following these events, American and Arab mediations intervened in an attempt to calm the situation."

He added, "With the state's withdrawal from some areas, armed groups from Sweida began launching revenge attacks against Bedouins and their families. These revenge attacks, accompanied by human rights violations, prompted other tribes to flock to lift the siege on the Bedouins inside Sweida."

He pointed out that "the state stood by Sweida after Syria's liberation and was keen to support it, but some have abused the city and its role in national stability," stressing that "seeking external support and some internal parties using Sweida as a tool in international conflicts is not in the interest of Syrians, but rather exacerbates the crisis."

Al-Sharaa stated that "the Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and sects in the country and will continue to hold all violators accountable."

He said, "We disavow all crimes and violations that occurred, whether inside or outside Sweida, and we stress the importance of achieving justice and enforcing the law."

He pointed out that "in these sensitive circumstances, there is an urgent need to give precedence to the voice of reason and wisdom and to open the way for rational and wise people," noting that "the facts confirm that Syria is not a testing ground for projects of partition, separation, or sectarian incitement."

Al-Sharaa stressed that "the strength of the Syrian state stems from the cohesion of its people, the strength of its regional and international relations, and the interconnectedness of its interests within the nation."

The Syrian president described the tribes in Sweida as having always been a "bulwark against internal and external threats," and that the Druze community is "an essential component of the Syrian community, and their exclusion is a direct threat to Syria's stability."

The Government Media Office in Gaza called on Saturday for immediate action to open humanitarian corridors into Gaza, end the deliberate politicization of aid, and lift the blockade to halt the catastrophe of mass starvation.

He said in a statement: "This is an urgent international appeal, directed to the international community and to all countries of the world without exception, to all UN, international, human rights and legal organizations, and to all political entities, in light of the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, which has been raging for 651 days, through genocide and starvation."

He added, "Imposing safe and permanent humanitarian corridors under direct and effective international supervision to ensure the delivery of food and medicine to all areas without obstruction from the occupation."

He called for removing the politicization of relief aid and halting any manipulation or control of it by the occupation or complicit parties.

The government office in Gaza stressed that the blockade on the Gaza Strip must be lifted immediately, considering it a collective crime against the civilian population.

He called for international pressure to compel the Israeli occupation to halt the genocide and stop its policies of starvation and displacement.

He also called for an urgent international investigation into the starvation crime and for those responsible to be brought to justice.

A peace agreement is being signed in Doha today, Saturday, between a delegation from the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and representatives of the March 23 rebel movement. This follows a round of negotiations between the two parties, held in the Qatari capital and continuing since early July under Qatari sponsorship.

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi is scheduled to hold a press conference to announce the agreement, the signing of which was postponed to Saturday at the last minute instead of Friday.

The Al-Araby Al-Jadeed report noted that "this is not the first time Doha has hosted a round of negotiations between the Congolese government and the March 23 Movement. It has previously hosted several rounds of negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire and ending the armed conflict in eastern Congo. Qatar has not officially announced this round of negotiations, reflecting its approach of conducting negotiations behind closed doors."

The Doha round of negotiations witnessed a debate on security, political, and economic issues between the Congolese government and the March 23 Movement.

While Kinshasa demanded that the movement's fighters withdraw from the areas it controlled and hand them over to the authorities, M23 demanded clear guarantees for the disarmament or demobilization of its fighters, a general amnesty for the movement's members by the Congolese government to avoid prosecution, their reintegration into the Congolese army or their absorption into state institutions, and their political participation. The movement also demanded a national dialogue on local governance that would guarantee its representation and contribution to the development of the regions in which it operates, as well as the equitable distribution of national resources.

Qatar's mediation continues

It's worth noting that Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington in late June, under US sponsorship and with Qatari participation. The agreement stipulated the establishment of a joint security coordination body to monitor progress. Both sides pledged to cease support for rebels in both countries. It also included a commitment by both sides to "cease hostilities and reject hate speech."

Doha hosted negotiations between the two countries several months ago as part of Qatari mediation efforts to de-escalate the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The conflict followed the March 23 Movement, which is backed by Rwanda according to Congo's accusations, seizing control of major cities such as Goma and Bukavu since last January, killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands.

The first direct talks between the two sides since the March 23 Movement (M23) took control of cities in eastern Congo were held in Doha last April. This followed the movement's withdrawal from the strategic town of Walikale as a gesture of goodwill. This was preceded by a summit held in Doha last March between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, mediated by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The summit paved the way for the peace agreement signed in Washington late last month.

The roots of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo date back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when thousands of Hutus accused of involvement fled to Congo and founded the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). From this conflict, the March 23 Movement, which primarily comprises Tutsi elements, later emerged.

Today, Saturday, approximately 1,500 male and female students from the Gaza Strip took the third (supplementary) round of the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi), which is intended for students who have not completed more than two subjects in the 2023 academic year exams.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education launched this course online, as part of an exceptional arrangement adopted due to the emergency conditions facing the Gaza Strip as a result of the ongoing Israeli war of extermination.

Minister of Education and Higher Education Amjad Barham said in a press conference held at the ministry's headquarters in Ramallah that the exams began this morning electronically via a special software, after all necessary technical arrangements were completed. He explained that this session is for students born in 2005 who were unable to apply for the third session, which was scheduled for December 12, 2023, and was postponed due to the aggression on Gaza.

For his part, Ministry spokesman Sadiq Al-Khudur told WAFA that the exam will be held in two stages: the first will start at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until 11:00 a.m., and the second will start at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m. He noted that some students will take one subject, while others will take two.

Al-Khudour explained that the ministry had conducted a pilot test last Thursday to verify technical readiness before the official exams began.

He added that the ministry will later announce arrangements for holding high school exams for students born in 2006 and 2007. The session for those born in 2006 (2024 high school) will be held after this stage is completed, followed by the session for those born in 2007 (2025 high school), according to the same electronic mechanisms.

He pointed out that the number of high school students in the Gaza Strip over the past two years has reached approximately 78,000, 4,000 of whom were martyred as a result of the aggression, while another 4,000 sat for the exams abroad. Approximately 70,000 students, born between 2006 and 2007, remain and will sit for the exams in the next phase.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said on Saturday that the Strip is experiencing a state of actual famine, manifested in a severe shortage of basic foodstuffs and widespread malnutrition, amid a complete lack of medical resources to treat the consequences of this catastrophe.

The Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement that medical teams have observed a significant increase in death rates resulting from hunger and malnutrition.

She warned of an unprecedented health and humanitarian catastrophe if international silence continues, calling on the international community, UN agencies, and human rights organizations to take urgent and effective action to halt these massacres and open humanitarian corridors for the safe and regular supply of food, medicine, and fuel.

This morning, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested four citizens from Jenin and Tubas.

The director of the Prisoners Club in Tubas, Kamal Bani Odeh, reported that the occupation forces arrested the child Muhammad Wael Faris Daraghmeh (17 years old) from Tubas, after detaining him for several hours at the Hamra military checkpoint while passing through it.

The occupation forces have established the Hamra military checkpoint at a crossroads linking West Bank cities to the central, southern, and northern Jordan Valley.

In Jenin, occupation forces arrested Maher Darwish to pressure his brother to turn himself in. They also arrested Fawzi Hanaysheh and Hatem Asous after raiding and searching their homes in the village of Muthalath al-Shuhada.

The occupation forces also raided a number of citizens' homes, searched them, and destroyed their contents. Among the owners were the freed prisoner Islam Washahi and Faisal Nazzal.