Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of raids and arrests in the West Bank at dawn on Sunday.

In Ramallah, occupation forces arrested two young men and raided several homes during raids on the town of Aroura, the Jalazone refugee camp, and the village of Kafr Malik in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate.

Local sources reported that occupation forces arrested a young man, whose identity has not yet been determined, from the town of Aroura, north of Ramallah, and the young man, Iyad Muhammad Iyad Dweik, from the Jalazone camp, north of Ramallah, after raiding their homes and ransacking their contents.

In the same context, an occupation army force stormed the village of Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, raided three homes and ransacked their contents.

In Nablus, Israeli occupation jeeps raided Balata refugee camp at dawn today, raiding a kindergarten and a home, searching them and ransacking their contents. No arrests were reported.

Meanwhile, at dawn today, a number of settlers attacked sheep pens belonging to citizen Hazem Wassef Bani Jaber in Khirbet al-Tawil in the village of Aqraba, and stole a number of sheep.

The settlers also assaulted the owner of the barns and his wife, beating them and spraying them with pepper spray. They were then taken to the hospital for treatment.

In Bethlehem, the occupation forces arrested Khaled Omar Khaled Subaih (30 years old) and Hamza Omar Muhammad Subaih (27 years old) after raiding and searching their homes in the town of Al-Khader.

A number of citizens were killed and injured in Israeli shelling and gunfire on several areas in the Gaza Strip at dawn and early Sunday morning.

Medical sources reported that five civilians, including two girls, were killed when an Israeli drone bombed a camp housing displaced people in Khan Yunis. Child Dima Abu Musa also died from wounds she sustained in a previous Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis.

In Rafah, four citizens were killed and 70 others were injured by Israeli army fire near an aid center west of the city.

In the central Gaza Strip, a citizen was killed and others were injured by Israeli gunfire near an aid distribution center at the so-called "Netzarim axis."

The occupation army also blew up citizens' homes and facilities in Jaliya, north of the Gaza Strip, and east of Gaza City.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said yesterday that "the aid distribution model in the Gaza Strip is ineffective and amounts to inviting people to their deaths."

The death toll from the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 54,772, and the number of injuries to 125,834.

The US State Department reported on Saturday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with his French counterpart, during which they discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, most notably the war in Gaza and international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

According to a statement issued by the State Department, Rubio reiterated Washington's support for what he described as "Tel Aviv's efforts" to confront Hamas during the call, affirming the United States' commitment to the release of all detainees in the Gaza Strip.

The two ministers also discussed developments in the Ukrainian crisis, with Rubio stressing the importance of continuing direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv as the only way to achieve lasting peace and end the war that has been ongoing for more than two years, according to the US State Department.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Saturday that "Eid al-Adha this year comes amid the continued suffering of our brothers in Palestine as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression" on the Gaza Strip.

During the annual reception for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' guests, heads of delegations, and Hajj affairs offices, Bin Salman emphasized the role of the international community in ending the catastrophic repercussions of this aggression.

The Saudi Crown Prince stressed the need to "protect civilians and innocents and create a new reality in which Palestine enjoys peace, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions."

Bin Salman has previously affirmed the Kingdom's rejection of targeting Palestinian civilians in any way, calling for a just solution to establish a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, which would achieve security and prosperity for all.

He also stressed the need to exert all possible efforts to de-escalate the situation and ensure that the violence does not expand, in order to avoid its serious repercussions for security and peace in the region and the world.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocidal crimes in Gaza, leaving more than 180,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, more than 11,000 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

US President Donald Trump said his relationship with his former ally Elon Musk is over, warning him against funding Democratic candidates, in the latest dramatic collapse of the close alliance between the two men.

Trump said in a phone call with NBC News on Saturday that Musk should refrain from funding Democratic candidates who oppose Republican lawmakers who support the tax cut bill, or he will face "very serious consequences."

The US president declined to disclose these consequences, but said he had not discussed the possibility of opening an investigation into Musk.

When asked if he believed his relationship with Musk was over, Trump said, "I suppose so, yes," stressing that he had no desire to mend ties with the billionaire who heads Tesla and SpaceX.

Musk funded a significant portion of Trump's presidential campaign and was later tapped to be the president's top advisor. He led a broad and controversial effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce and cut spending.

The dispute between them began a few days ago when Musk criticized Trump's tax and spending cuts bill.

ABC News reported on Friday that Trump said Musk had "lost his mind" and that he was not interested in speaking to him at this time. Fox News also reported that the US president said he was not concerned about Musk's call to form a third political party in the United States.

Earlier, Musk wrote in a post on his X website, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election."

The Families of Israeli Prisoners in Gaza Authority called on US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday to present a new proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, stressing its rejection of partial deals.

In a statement, the Prisoners' Families Committee sent a message to Witkov, stating the need to "abandon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal (requested by the International Criminal Court) and present a comprehensive proposal and impose it after reaching a dead end."

Witkoff's latest proposal, described as biased toward Israel, included a 60-day ceasefire, under which half of the living and half of the dead Israeli prisoners would be returned, and negotiations would be held to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

The authority affirmed that anyone who dares to conclude partial deals "violates the express will of the people," emphasizing that "a comprehensive agreement to return our loved ones is the only way to achieve victory and rebuild the state."

In this context, she said, "Ending the war is the only way to return the hostages and save the State of Israel," noting that "war and risking the lives of hostages and soldiers will not bring back the kidnapped."

The Prisoners' Families Committee accused Netanyahu of opposing a prisoner return agreement for political and personal gain, saying this behavior "goes against the will of the people."

She noted that most of the captives were returned through an agreement, stressing that "only an agreement brings the hostages back alive." She called on Netanyahu to end the war and return the captives all at once.

The committee called on all Israelis to participate with the prisoners' families in tonight's demonstrations to demand a prisoner exchange deal.

Earlier on Saturday, Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), issued an "urgent appeal" confirming that an Israeli prisoner named Matan Zengaucker is trapped with his companions from the Qassam Brigades' shadow unit somewhere in the Gaza Strip.

Abu Obeida held the occupation army fully responsible for the prisoner's safety if he was harmed during the attempt to retrieve him, concluding his tweet with, "He who warns is excused."

Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its willingness to release all Israeli prisoners in Gaza in one batch in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But Netanyahu insists on partial deals and evades the agreement by proposing new conditions, including the disarmament of Palestinian resistance factions. He is currently insisting on reoccupying the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli estimates, there are still 55 prisoners being held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

The aid ship "Madeleine" carrying 12 activists arrived off the Egyptian coast en route to the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, campaign organizers announced Saturday.

The Freedom Flotilla coalition ship set sail from Sicily, Italy, on Sunday, bound for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, "break the Israeli blockade," and highlight the ongoing suffering in the Palestinian enclave, where the United Nations says the entire population is threatened with famine.

"We are currently sailing off the Egyptian coast. Everything is fine," German human rights activist Yasemin Akar told AFP.

Akar explained that the ship is now near the coast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria, and is expected to reach Gaza by Monday morning.

She added, "We are approximately 288 nautical miles away, which means that by Sunday evening we will be close to Gaza's territorial waters."

However, the ship's crew reported spotting a number of drones flying in the air during the voyage.

According to a video posted by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on its social media accounts, a Greek Coast Guard drone flew over the area on Tuesday evening.

Hours later, two drones believed to be from Frontex, the European Union's border and coast guard agency, approached the ship. Another drone flew over the ship on Thursday morning.

Activists said the crew was safe, expressing their belief that the surveillance drones were intended to intimidate.

"We are fully aware of the actual consequences," Akar said.

She noted that the ship "Madeleine" is flying the flag of the United Kingdom and is close to Gaza's territorial waters, describing the Strip as "occupied by Israel."

She added: "If Israel attacks us, it will be another war crime. We would not have embarked on this mission if we did not believe we would reach Gaza."

Akar did not reveal when or where the ship might try to reach the Strip.

A brave challenge

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza said in a statement from London: "The Madeleine's approach to the shores of Gaza represents a courageous challenge to the unjust policies that besiege civilians, and a message of solidarity from the peoples of the free world with our steadfast people in Gaza."

The committee affirmed that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is in constant contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of activists on board the ship, emphasizing that "any attack on or obstruction of the ship constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."

She added that the "Madeleine" is part of a series of naval operations organized over the past few years as part of the "Freedom Flotilla," with the support and partnership of international civil society alliances, prominent figures, and humanitarian organizations around the world.

European Parliament member Rima Hassan, who was on board the ship, urged governments to "ensure safe passage (for the Freedom Flotilla)."

She also said that more than 200 European lawmakers signed an open letter to Israel demanding that it allow the ship to reach Gaza and "immediately allow its humanitarian cargo into the country."

In a statement on Friday, Amnesty International described the flight as a "significant gesture of solidarity" and said there was "no justification" for obstructing humanitarian aid in what it described as "one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters."

The Freedom Flotilla, formed in 2010, is a non-violent international movement in solidarity with the Palestinians, with a humanitarian dimension, and is active against the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

In addition to the flotilla, the Global March to Gaza, an international initiative aimed at highlighting the blockade on the Strip, is preparing for a coordinated campaign.

The two groups formed a joint committee to coordinate their efforts.

The Global March to Gaza plans to hold a rally in Cairo on June 12 and depart the following day by bus to El-Arish, near the border with Gaza.

From there, 2,700 people from more than 50 countries will march to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, set up camp there for a few days, and return to Cairo on June 19.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) denied on Saturday any coordination with any armed group, political entity, or military entity regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, responding to allegations made by an Israeli-backed "armed gang" in this regard.

The committee said in a statement that it was "aware of a circulating announcement indicating alleged coordination between it and an armed group to deliver humanitarian aid to the northern Gaza Strip."

But she stressed that "it has no connection to any such cooperation with any armed, political or military entity."

The Red Cross Committee affirmed that it works "independently, neutrally and impartially."

She called on all parties and actors to refrain from distorting its image in this context.

The committee warned civilians against "being led astray by this false information."

It also expressed its absolute rejection of "any misuse of its name, as this would have a negative impact on its humanitarian activities and directly harm the lives of civilians."

Earlier on Saturday, an armed group called the Popular Forces, which Israel has acknowledged supporting, said it was considering bringing humanitarian aid into the northern Gaza Strip "in coordination with the Red Cross and the Israeli military and under their protection."

A post on a Facebook account attributed to the gang's leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, whose authenticity was not verified by Anadolu Agency, read: "To our people in the beloved northern Gaza Strip, the entry of aid through the Kerem Shalom crossing is currently being considered, under the protection of the Popular Armed Forces, in agreement with the Red Cross, and in coordination with the Israeli army."

He added that this is "the first time that aid will be brought into the northern Gaza Strip under the protection of these forces," he said.

In the same vein, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth published a report on Friday describing the Popular Forces gang as a "local militia that engages in smuggling and extortion and is unconcerned with the Palestinian cause," according to an unnamed Israeli official quoted in the report.

She added that its leader, Abu Shabab, a 32-year-old Bedouin from Rafah, "rose to notoriety after being accused of looting UN trucks last year and reselling humanitarian aid," accusations he has denied.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged for the first time that his government provides weapons to the group, justifying this by using them against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas asserted that "these gangs, which have made a profession of treason and theft, operate under direct Zionist security supervision," asserting that they are "cheap tools in the hands of the enemy and a true enemy of our Palestinian people."

She stated that "these gangs will be pursued and held accountable firmly by our people's forces and the relevant authorities."

On more than one occasion, the government media office in Gaza has confirmed that "armed gangs" backed by Israel are plundering the scarce humanitarian aid entering Gaza amid a stifling Israeli blockade.

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

The genocide left more than 180,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including children.

Before the genocide, Israel had besieged Gaza for 18 years. Today, approximately 1.5 million Palestinians out of a population of 2.4 million are homeless after their homes were destroyed by the war.

A young man was injured by Israeli occupation forces' bullets this Saturday evening, after they stormed the village of Ezbet Shofa, southeast of Tulkarm.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its crews responded to a young man injured by live ammunition in the thigh in Ezbet Shofa, and he was transferred to the hospital.

US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack affirmed that President Donald Trump's vision for Syria is "optimistic," while the US Senate approved removing Syria from the list of "rogue states" with which the United States is prohibited from cooperating or assisting in the field of civil nuclear energy, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

"I met with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House. We discussed the Middle East, primarily Syria and Turkey. I can confirm that the president's vision is not only optimistic, but achievable," Barrack tweeted.

On the other hand, SANA reported that the White House stated, via its official Arabic-language page on the X platform, that Syria's name was on the list alongside Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, and other countries, and that it is no longer on the list.

The list of "rogue states" is a political designation that the United States has used as a tool in diplomatic and media discourse for nearly 30 years to refer to countries that are hostile to American interests, or are accused of supporting terrorism, seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction, or committing gross human rights violations.

The British Foreign Office welcomed the Syrian government's commitment to cooperate with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The British Foreign Office said in a post on its X account: "The United Kingdom welcomes the Syrian government's strong commitment to turning the page on history and its determination to ensure the complete destruction of its chemical weapons program, which dates back to the Assad era."

The ministry welcomed what it called the operational and logistical support Syria provided to the visits of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and its commitment to engaging with the international community.

During her briefing to the UN Security Council, during its session held on June 5, regarding the implementation of Resolution 2118 (issued in 2013) regarding the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons program, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said that the new political reality in Syria provides an important opportunity to resolve long-standing issues regarding Syria's chemical weapons program.

She added that a team of technical experts from the Technical Directorate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) visited Damascus last March.

According to the UN official, this visit aims to begin work on establishing a permanent OPCW presence in Syria and begin joint planning for dispatching teams to chemical weapons sites.

The team met with representatives of the interim authorities, including Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, in addition to holding technical meetings with two Syrian experts and gathering information not previously disclosed by the previous authorities, according to the UN official.

Nakamitsu commended the new Syrian authorities' commitment to full and transparent cooperation with the organization and its technical secretariat.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that "the aid distribution model in the Gaza Strip is ineffective."

"The aid distribution model is tantamount to inviting people to their deaths," said UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma, stressing that "the only way to safely and widely distribute aid to the people of Gaza is through the United Nations, including UNRWA."

In statements reported by the agency's website on the "X" platform on Saturday, Touma considered the agency's work during the ceasefire "successful and tangible."

Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Qablan, south of Nablus, on Saturday evening.

According to local sources, occupation forces stormed the town in several military vehicles and fired sound bombs and tear gas at residents and their homes.

Near Asira al-Qibliya, south of Nablus, settlers attacked citizens' vehicles, shattering the windows of several of them.

On the day Hamas handed over the American captive, a move that at first appeared to be a small opening in the dead end of the war, the event coincided with Israeli security leaks indicating the death of Mohammed Sinwar, the younger brother of the movement's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and one of the most prominent figures in its military wing. The movement neither confirmed nor denied the release, opting instead for silence. This silence is hardly innocent in a region accustomed to loud voices and fiery statements. Rather, it may be the prelude to a new phase being drawn up away from the spotlight, at a time when the Gaza Strip is experiencing a near-total collapse on both the humanitarian and political levels.

In this vacuum created by the leaks, the name of Izz al-Din Haddad emerged as one of the most prominent names being considered to lead the next phase within the Qassam Brigades, amid cautious circulation of information without any official announcement. Izz al-Din Haddad, the military commander known only to the public through the margins of intelligence reports and behind closed doors, has for years operated quietly, far from the forefront of political discourse. He is said to be a member of the second generation within the Qassam Brigades, having received his training inside Gaza and slowly and steadily ascending within the movement, particularly in the fields of manufacturing and tunneling. He was close to a small group of organizational minds who viewed patience and steadfastness as tools for survival, rather than loud slogans. What is said about him in private circles is that he is a cautious and calm man, not prone to excessive enthusiasm, and possesses a technical rather than ideological vision, which distinguishes him from many who fought battles from purely ideological perspectives.

But the biggest question floating in the Gazan street today revolves not so much around names as it relates to the path forward. A population exhausted by years of siege and war is not waiting for a new leader as much as it is searching for a way out of the hellish reality—a real possibility of an end to the bombing, the delivery of food, the return of electricity, and a life resembling life. In light of this scenario, expectations of any new leadership seem greater than its actual ability to effect change, as the conflict in Gaza is not being managed solely from within Gaza, but rather from regional and international decision-making centers where calculations and interests are intertwined.

The timing of the discussion about a successor to Sinwar also coincides with mounting pressure on Hamas, both externally and internally, and with the growing calls for a comprehensive review of the movement's trajectory and political behavior. This is particularly true in light of the massive civilian casualties, the deteriorating health and food conditions, and the ongoing migration crisis, which has begun to quietly manifest itself through death boats, asylum applications, or even the silent dreams of escape that haunt the minds of young people. Accordingly, any future leader will face not only military and security challenges, but also an existential responsibility before a people being consumed by fire and who do not have the luxury of waiting.

If Ezzedine Haddad is the one to take the lead, the challenge lies not only in managing the battle, but in emerging from it—not as a defeat, but as a way to save the soul of a city that can no longer bear further destruction. He may be the right man to change the tone, adjust the course, and open a breach toward an agreement that stops the bloodshed—if he has the vision, the courage, and the cover. But Gaza no longer puts its trust in names as much as it longs for concrete actions to pull it back from the abyss.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the deaths of 95 Palestinians and the injury of 304 others over the past 48 hours, as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip.

This brings the death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, to 54,772 martyrs and 125,834 wounded, while the death toll since March 18, 2025 alone has reached 4,497 martyrs and 13,793 wounded.

The ministry reported that a number of victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, with ambulance and civil defense teams unable to reach them due to the ongoing shelling and difficult conditions on the ground.

In a related development, the ministry explained that attacks targeting humanitarian aid distribution areas over the past two days alone have resulted in the deaths of 10 Palestinians and the injury of more than 110 others, bringing the death toll from attacks on these areas to 110 and more than 1,000 injuries to date.

Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, issued an urgent warning to the Israeli occupation forces.

Abu Obeida said in a tweet a short while ago on his Telegram channel: "The occupation forces are besieging a place where the Zionist prisoner Matan Zangauker is being held, and we affirm categorically that the enemy will not be able to recover him alive."

He added, "If this prisoner is killed during an attempt to free him, the occupation army will be the one responsible for his death, after we preserved his life for a year and eight months. He who has been warned is excused."

In a related context, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement this morning, Saturday, that "a joint operation between the army and the Shin Bet" succeeded in finding (yesterday, Friday) the body of a Thai detainee, (Nitpong Pinta), in the Gaza Strip.

The statement indicated that the body was transferred from the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip to Israel.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in Gaza, said that the Israeli army recovered the body of a Thai citizen in a "special operation" in the city of Rafah (southern Gaza Strip), claiming he was "killed in captivity."

Netanyahu's office added that the Thai citizen was identified as Ntabonga Pinta, and that he was allegedly killed in captivity by fighters from the "Mujahideen Brigades," and that his body was recovered in a "special operation" in the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Benta's body was recovered "in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet (internal security service) in the Rafah area," adding that he was captured from the Nir Oz settlement adjacent to the Gaza Strip during the October 7, 2023, attack.

Katz explained that the captive was a farmer of Thai origin who came to Israel "in search of a better life," as he put it, repeating the phrase, "We will not rest until all the living kidnapped and the bodies of the dead are returned to the country."

For their part, the families of the Israeli prisoners in Gaza stated that "the war will not end with an Israeli victory without the return of all the kidnapped individuals," and called on decision-makers to reach an agreement that would return all the remaining detainees in the Strip.

Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the bodies of two prisoners held in Gaza had been recovered in an operation carried out by the army and Shin Bet security service on the evening of June 4 in Khan Yunis, south of the Strip. He said the two men were captured from the settlement of Nir Oz, claiming they were killed in the attack on October 7, 2023.

Last January, the Israeli army announced that it had found the body of prisoner Youssef al-Zayadneh in a tunnel in Rafah. The prisoner was also captured on October 7, 2023, and was claimed to have been killed while in captivity.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has repeatedly affirmed its willingness to release Israeli prisoners in one batch in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But Netanyahu insists on partial deals and evades by proposing new conditions, including the disarmament of Palestinian factions. He is currently insisting on reoccupying Gaza.

The Israeli opposition and prisoners' families assert that Netanyahu is continuing the war in deference to the more extreme right-wing faction within his government, in order to advance his personal political interests, particularly his continued rule.

On the 82nd day of the resumption of the "war of extermination" against the Gaza Strip, the tension between the conflicting parties has escalated. The official spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, confirmed the continuation of qualitative resistance operations against the occupation forces, while Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich renewed his threat to annex additional areas of the West Bank.

In an audio recording, Abu Obeida praised what he described as the “heroic actions of the mujahideen” during the military operations carried out by the Brigades yesterday in several areas of the Gaza Strip. He noted that the resistance fighters “continue to emulate the prophets in inflicting defeats on the enemy,” and threatened Israel with “continuing to carry out more qualitative operations in all areas where the occupation forces are present.” He warned of “more surprises” that will be governed by new strategies based on shocking the enemy and dismantling its operational capabilities.

For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to annex "strategic areas" in the West Bank to Israeli sovereignty, in a message he said aimed to "deter resistance and support facts on the ground." This comes in the context of an escalating settlement policy in the West Bank for months, amid international warnings that any move in this regard would lead to further tension and violence.

On the ground in Gaza, the Strip has witnessed, over the past few hours, a wave of intensive Israeli airstrikes targeting the cities of Deir al-Balah, the western Jabalia camp, and areas east of Khan Yunis. These airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 34 Palestinians since dawn today, according to medical sources in Gaza hospitals, in addition to dozens of injuries with varying degrees of severity. Nasser Medical Complex in Rafah also reported the deaths of six citizens and the injury of others near an American aid center. Meanwhile, the occupation launched shelling on the tents of displaced people and the vicinity of Al-Shifa and Al-Amal hospitals, hindering the access of patients and the wounded to health facilities.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization warned of the "collapse of the health system in Gaza," noting that the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital are on the brink of complete collapse due to the systematic targeting of infrastructure and the destruction of field hospitals. The Ministry of Health in Gaza appealed to international bodies and humanitarian organizations to "provide a safe route to enable patients and the injured to reach Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis," after Israel designated its surroundings as a dangerous combat zone.

On the humanitarian front, both the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) affirmed their readiness to provide life-saving assistance, calling for "Israel's cooperation and provision of evidence of the allegations against the agency," and for "the reopening of safe humanitarian corridors" to alleviate the suffering of besieged civilians.

In the West Bank, occupation forces imposed a curfew on the Jaber and Salaymeh neighborhoods and Wadi al-Hussein, south of Hebron. They also raided several homes in Wadi Burqin, west of Jenin, and stormed neighborhoods in Ramallah, amid repeated settler attacks on Palestinian shepherds near Tel Ma'in. These measures coincide with Smotrich's statements, which have heightened residents' fears of continued settlement expansion and the displacement of Palestinian villages.

International calls for an immediate ceasefire and urgent opening of humanitarian crossings into Gaza are growing. UN and international envoys are meeting today to discuss ways to end the suffering and avert a deeper humanitarian catastrophe if the conflict continues at this pace.

Thirty-one people were killed and dozens wounded, most of them children and women, in the massacre perpetrated by "humanitarian killers" outside an aid distribution center in Rafah yesterday.
Among the martyrs was a mother of four children who ventured into the deadly area after being horrified by the suffering of her four children, the eldest of whom, 13-year-old Tahrir, had been suffering from hunger for more than a week. She returned to them covered in blood.
The children's hearts almost fell from grief for the compassionate and tender mother, whose heart was burdened by her children's hunger, so she risked her life to provide them with food, after they had been bitten by the fangs of famine. What a famine!
Zain, Tahrir, Razan, Ahmed, and Mohammed gathered around their martyred mother with eyes filled with tears and hearts nearly cracking from the enormity of the pain, as they took a last look at their mother, who had helped them live in circumstances the world had never seen before.
Yesterday, a mother sent me a photo of her beloved son, starving to death inside a shabby tent. The family of four had lost their father, and the mother had been caring for them, unable to provide them with enough milk or food to sustain them.
Like them, dozens of children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition, lacking food, medicine, and all the necessities of life.
Our souls ascend to our hands, as we raise them in supplication, asking God to grant our people in Gaza an end to their suffering, to stop their bloodshed, and to restore hope to their hearts burdened with sorrow.

The Israeli occupation army continues to forcibly displace thousands of citizens in several areas of the Gaza Strip to other areas, this time from areas in the northern Gaza Strip, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, amid massacres, home demolitions, hunger, and starvation of approximately two million people.

In a post on social media on Friday, the occupation called on "those living in Blocks 608, 609, 615, and 616 in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate and head west."

As the first day of Eid al-Adha approaches, Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp for the 131st consecutive day, and on the 118th day in the Nur Shams camp, amid a widespread field escalation that began this morning with the demolition of dozens of residential buildings.

Local sources reported that Israeli bulldozers began a large-scale demolition operation in Tulkarm camp this morning, targeting dozens of residential buildings. This is part of an Israeli plan to demolish 106 buildings in both Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarm camp alone, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments concentrated in the Balawneh and Akasha neighborhoods, with a large deployment of infantry units inside and around the camp.

Ten days ago, the occupation forces notified camp residents of the immediate demolition order, giving them only three hours to enter their homes and evacuate their belongings. They were subjected to arbitrary measures of persecution, harassment, detention, and live ammunition, despite having obtained prior coordination for entry.

In a related development, the sound of massive explosions was heard in the Nour Shams camp, east of the city, and columns of smoke were seen rising from the blast site. It was not possible to determine the details of what was happening there due to the siege imposed on the camp by the occupation forces, accompanied by heavy gunfire.

This comes as a continuation of the ongoing demolition of residential buildings in the Nour Shams camp over the past few days, resulting in the demolition of more than 20 buildings as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 48 buildings in Nour Shams, under the pretext of opening roads and changing the geographical features of the two camps.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces continue to impose a tight siege on the two camps and their surroundings, deploying in alleys, neighborhoods, and entrances, preventing residents from reaching their homes to check on them or retrieve their belongings, and firing directly at anyone who attempts to approach.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces continue to seize a number of residential buildings on Nablus Street and the northern neighborhood of the city, specifically those facing Tulkarm refugee camp. The forces forcibly evacuated their residents and converted them into military barracks, some of which have been under Israeli control for more than three months. Heavy machinery and bulldozers have been deployed in the vicinity.

In a related context, the city and its suburbs are witnessing intensive, 24-hour activity by occupation forces' vehicles and infantry squads, patrolling the main streets and neighborhoods, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles, provocatively honking their horns and driving against traffic. They also set up surprise checkpoints, subjecting citizens to arrest, inspection, interrogation, and abuse.

Nablus Road, which connects the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, has also suffered extensive damage due to earth mounds placed by the occupation forces several months ago, obstructing vehicle movement and exacerbating the suffering of residents.

This aggression has so far resulted in the deaths of 13 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.

According to the latest data, the escalation has displaced more than 5,000 families from the two camps, representing over 25,000 citizens. At least 400 homes have been completely destroyed, and 2,573 others have been partially damaged. The entrances to the two camps remain blocked with barriers, transforming them into almost lifeless areas.

The Haifa District Court on Friday extended Sanaa Salama Daqqa's detention until next Sunday, after accepting the Israeli police's appeal against the Hadera Magistrate's Court's decision to transfer her to house arrest with restrictive conditions.

The hearing to consider the Israeli police's appeal against the decision to release Daqqa began this morning, following a decision taken yesterday by the Hadera Magistrate's Court to transfer her to house arrest with restrictive conditions.

Yesterday, Israeli police requested a seven-day extension of her detention, but the Magistrate's Court rejected the request and ordered her transferred to house arrest under restrictive conditions.

This session will be Daqqa's fourth since her arrest, having undergone several interrogations in several interrogation centers and prisons, including Jalameh Prison and Damoun Prison.

Israeli police accuse Sanaa of "incitement," based on her social media posts. Both lawyers Alaa Talawi and Fadi Baransi are defending Daqah.

Israeli police arrested Daqqa on May 29th from the Damascus Gate area of Jerusalem, where she was accompanied by her daughter, Milad. The arrest was made by order of Israeli Police Commissioner Danny Levy and extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Salama is the wife of martyred prisoner Walid Daqqa, a resident of Baqa al-Gharbiya, who was martyred in Israeli occupation prisons in early April 2024, after spending 38 years in detention. His body is still being held.

A new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that a growing number of adults in the United States and many European countries hold negative views of Israel. Tel Aviv's image in the United States has deteriorated during the 20-month Israeli aggression on Gaza.

In the United States, 53% of Americans have a very or somewhat negative view of Israel, compared to 45% who have a positive view. In Western countries, such as the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden, nearly four out of five adults have a negative opinion of the Jewish state.

Of the 24 countries surveyed, only Indians, Kenyans, and Nigerians had a favorable view of Israel. Overall, two out of three respondents had a negative opinion of Tel Aviv.

In the United States, the largest divide was between adults who identified themselves as right-wing or left-wing. Only 30% of right-wing Americans said they had a negative view of Israel, compared to 77% of liberal and left-wing respondents. This was the widest margin among all the countries surveyed.

A Pew Center poll conducted in April showed a slightly narrower margin, finding that 69% of Democrats viewed Israel unfavorably, while only 37% of Republicans said the same. This poll also found a wide split within the Republican Party, with 50% of right-leaning American adults under the age of 50 expressing an unfavorable opinion of Tel Aviv.

The Pew Center found that Israelis perceive themselves to be viewed negatively on the world stage. A majority of Israelis, 58%, said Tel Aviv is not respected worldwide, compared to only 39% who viewed Israel as respected.

Tel Aviv's public image has deteriorated in the United States and around the world as the Israeli military wages a brutal war of annihilation on Gaza. Several senior Israeli officials have called for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, indicating that this is the goal of the current operations, according to the poll.

Four people were killed in Kyiv in Russian drone strikes overnight Thursday-Friday, according to local Ukrainian authorities, while several other regions reported widespread shelling.

"Four people have been confirmed dead in the capital. Search and rescue operations are still underway in several locations," Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, said on Telegram on Friday.

Earlier, emergency services said Kyiv was under "a drone and ballistic missile attack" targeting several neighborhoods in the city.

Civilian and military authorities in the capital reported damage to metro lines as a result of Russian bombing.

The national railway company reported damage in the area, affecting train traffic to the southern suburbs of Kyiv.

Outside the capital, extensive Russian bombing has hit several areas.

In Lutsk, in the west of the country, near the border with Poland, a "large-scale drone and missile attack" partially destroyed a residential building, wounding five people, the commander of the region's military administration, Ivan Rudnitsky, reported via Telegram.

Also in the west, the Ternopil region was subjected to "the largest air attack to date," with "several strikes," said the commander of the region's military administration, Vyacheslav Negoda.

In Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was attacked by ten Ukrainian drones overnight.

Three airports in the city were temporarily closed, according to the aviation agency, which subsequently lifted restrictions on air traffic.

These attacks came as US President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday, at the conclusion of a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that Moscow intends to respond to a major Ukrainian attack on Russian bombers.

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now controls approximately 20% of its territory, including Crimea, which it had previously annexed in 2014.

The fighting has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians on both sides, while millions have been forced to flee their homes. Cities and towns in eastern and southern Ukraine have been completely destroyed.

Vladimir Putin has repeatedly rejected calls from Kyiv and its Western allies for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The United States has imposed sanctions on four individuals who currently serve as judges at the International Criminal Court, according to a statement from the office of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to the statement, a copy of which was received by Al-Quds, the United States "does not take this step lightly. It reflects the seriousness of the threat we face from the politicization of the International Criminal Court and its abuse of power."

The statement said: "These designations were issued by the Department of State pursuant to Executive Order 14203, which authorizes sanctions against foreign persons involved in certain ICC efforts and aims to impose tangible and significant consequences on those directly implicated in ICC abuses against the United States and Israel."

The statement adds: “The Department is designating the following individuals pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 14203, for their direct participation in any effort by the International Criminal Court to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a protected person without the consent of his or her country of nationality: Solomi Balungi Bossa (of Uganda), Judge, Appeals Division, International Criminal Court; Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (of Peru), Judge, Appeals Division, International Criminal Court; Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini Gansou (of Benin), Judge, Pre-Trial Division, International Criminal Court; and Betty Hohler (of Slovenia), Judge, Pre-Trial Division, International Criminal Court.”

The statement said: "Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza issued a decision authorizing the International Criminal Court to investigate US personnel in Afghanistan. Alabini Ganso and Hoehler also issued a decision authorizing the ICC to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC is politically motivated and falsely claims it has absolute authority to investigate, indict, and prosecute citizens of the United States and our allies."

The statement explains: “As a result of today’s sanctions actions, all property and interests in property of the above-mentioned sanctioned persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. All individuals or entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, by 50% or more of one or more of the blocked persons are also blocked.”

Also: “All transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (or transiting through the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by, or exempt from, OFAC. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person, and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”

The International Criminal Court criticized the move, saying it was an attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution that provides hope and justice to millions of victims who have been subjected to "unimaginable atrocities."

Judges Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza have been on the bench since 2018. In 2020, they participated in the Appeals Chamber's decision authorizing the ICC Prosecutor to open a formal investigation into allegations of war crimes against US forces in Afghanistan.

In 2021, the court deprioritized the investigation into the actions of US forces in Afghanistan and focused on alleged crimes against the Afghan government and the Taliban.

On November 21, the court's judges issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, known as Mohammed Deif, the commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza war. Hamas confirmed Deif's death in January.

It's worth noting that these measures also come in the wake of the US House of Representatives' vote last January to sanction the International Criminal Court in protest of the arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gatlan. This move underscored the strong support among Republicans for the Israeli government.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Israel's operations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have reached "unacceptable proportions," calling for an immediate halt and the protection of civilians.

Meloni affirmed in a press statement Thursday evening that Italy believes that "Israel's response has reached unacceptable levels, and it must stop immediately and protect civilians."

She pointed out that Italy is among the countries that provide the largest amount of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of arrests and raids early Friday morning, during which a boy was shot. They also refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque.

The Israeli occupation authorities refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque, including its facilities, courtyards, and gates, on the first day of Eid al-Adha.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque and again refused to open its eastern gate for the seventh time this year. This followed previous refusals to hand it over on Fridays and the Laylat al-Qadr holiday of the holy month, as well as on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

At dawn today, the occupation forces raided the Al-Batin area east of Beit Ummar with their military vehicles, stormed several homes, searched them, ransacked their contents, and arrested the freed prisoner M. Hamad Yusef Muhammad Bahr (31 years old).

The occupation forces also stormed the town of Al-Shuyukh, northeast of Hebron, and searched the home of citizen Muhammad Hamid Rashid Ayyadah, wreaking havoc on its contents.

In Jenin, occupation forces arrested four brothers after besieging their home in Siris.

The mother of the four young men said that the occupation forces surrounded the house and fired live bullets at her son, Ahmed Naim Qatit, wounding him in the waist and hand. They also wounded her other son, Qusay, in the foot, and arrested them, along with her two sons, Uday and Muhammad.

An Israeli special force infiltrated the village of Sirin on Thursday evening, surrounded the Qatit family's home, fired live ammunition at it, and prevented ambulance crews from reaching it.

The occupation forces also sent large military reinforcements to the village from the Dotan checkpoint, amidst overflights by warplanes. This continued for several hours before the four brothers were arrested.

In occupied Jerusalem, occupation forces arrested Naim Hamouda after raiding his family's home in the town of Al-Ram.

In Ramallah, a large military force stormed the village of Kafr Malik, raiding several homes, all belonging to released prisoners. The raids included extensive damage to the homes, smashing furniture, stealing cash and gold jewelry, and seizing vehicles.

In Qalqilya, occupation forces stormed the city from its northern entrance and opened fire, wounding a boy in the thigh.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces raided several homes and arrested two young men: Amir Nasoura and Ahmed Ibtali.

Occupation forces also raided a commercial store and a residential building near the Al-Khilafa Mosque, and deployed in the Kafr Saba neighborhood and Street 22.

In Nablus, occupation forces stormed the village of Beit Iba and arrested Mariam Sama'neh Shtewi and her daughter, Bisan, after raiding and searching the family's home.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation jeeps stormed the village of Zawata to the west, raided and arrested citizen Amer Sanobar and his wife, after searching the house and ransacking its contents.

On the first day of Eid al-Adha, the Israeli occupation continues its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, with a gradual escalation of military operations across the Strip amid a systematic blockade and starvation of 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza.

On Friday morning, Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes, along with intense artillery shelling, targeting the center and north of Khan Yunis.

The northern and eastern areas of the city were also targeted, amid low-flying warplanes and heavy gunfire directed at residential neighborhoods.

While artillery continues to target the northeast of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Photojournalist Ahmed Qaljah died Friday morning from wounds he sustained in a previous Israeli airstrike.

Yesterday, Israeli warplanes bombed a journalists' tent in the Baptist Hospital in Gaza, killing three journalists: Ismail Badah, Suleiman Hajjaj, and Samir Al-Rifai. Four others were injured, with injuries ranging from critical to moderate: Ahmed Qaljah, Imad Daloul, Imam Badr, and Mahmoud Al-Ghazi.

With Qaljah's martyrdom, the death toll among journalists since the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, has risen to 226 journalists and media workers, including 30 female journalists to date, including one colleague in the West Bank governorates, Ibrahim Mahameed, who was martyred in February 2024.

Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip, said that the movement has not rejected the latest proposal presented by US mediator Steve Witkoff, stressing that they have made amendments to it to ensure a permanent ceasefire and prevent renewed Israeli aggression against the Strip.

Al-Hayya added, in a televised address Thursday evening, that Hamas is ready to immediately hand over the government in Gaza to any agreed-upon, professional, national Palestinian authority. He stressed that the time has come to end the division and unify national efforts to confront the occupation and its schemes.

Al-Hayya accused the Israeli government of rejecting all proposals presented since last March, including a partial exchange offer and a comprehensive deal to release all prisoners in exchange for ending the war. He attributed this rejection to the personal and ideological motives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He explained that the latest proposal put forward by Witkov stipulated the release of 10 living prisoners and 18 bodies within a week, without guarantees of a permanent ceasefire. He noted that Netanyahu's repeated statements regarding resuming fighting after the prisoners' release reflect a lack of genuine intention to halt the aggression.

Al-Hayya pointed out that Hamas had agreed to another American proposal two weeks ago, but the occupation rejected it and the mediator backed down from his position. According to Al-Hayya, this reflects that the enemy is the one obstructing efforts to reach a permanent and effective agreement.

He pointed out that the occupation insists on maintaining complete control over humanitarian aid and imposing a mechanism he described as "military," which is rejected by all international institutions because it violates international humanitarian law and obstructs the safe and dignified delivery of relief.

Ready to negotiate

Al-Hayya said the movement is ready for a new round of negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that guarantees the occupation's withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, the lifting of the blockade, the flow of aid, and the implementation of a fair exchange deal that ends the suffering of prisoners.

He emphasized that the people of Gaza are waging the battle on behalf of the nation, amid shameful international silence, saying, "The world has let our people down, leaving them to face daily massacres, while countries are content with issuing statements of condemnation that neither stop the bloodshed nor deter the occupation."

Al-Hayya strongly criticized the United States' use of its veto power in the Security Council against a draft resolution calling for an end to the war in Gaza, saying that continued political and military support for the occupation is what encourages it to commit further massacres, as happened recently in Rafah.

He paid tribute to those participating in solidarity events around the world, the major marches in capitals, and those he described as "free men of the sea and land" who risk their lives to break the siege imposed on Gaza, emphasizing that such actions represent a ray of hope amid the darkness of international complicity.

Speaking on the ground, Al-Hayya said the resistance will continue to fulfill its duty to repel the aggression, and that the movement's leaders are no more precious than the people. He emphasized that Hamas bears full responsibility in all areas, from relief to media to politics.

Battle for existence

Al-Hayya sent messages of support to Palestinians in the West Bank and the occupied territories, calling for an escalation of popular resistance against settlements and Judaization projects, emphasizing that the battle is an existential one, not merely a political or border dispute.

He stressed that what is happening in Gaza today is the beginning of a broader ethnic cleansing scheme encompassing the West Bank and the territories occupied in 1948, extending to the refugee camps. This calls for a unified national and Arab stance to thwart this scheme.

At the end of his speech, Al-Hayya saluted the "brothers of truth" in Yemen who continue to launch rockets against the occupation despite the suffering they face, considering this evidence of the expansion of actual solidarity with Gaza and its resistance.

Al-Hayya congratulated the Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, emphasizing that Gaza had sacrificed itself for the nation and its holy sites. He called for political, popular, and military support commensurate with the sacrifices made by the people of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Thursday that he was arming militias in the Gaza Strip, allegedly using force against Hamas.

This came in a video clip broadcast by the official broadcasting authority, in which Netanyahu said: "At the recommendation of the security authorities, we have armed clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas," he said.

"What's the problem with that? It's a good thing and it saves the lives of our soldiers," he claimed.

This statement comes hours after former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman revealed that "the Israeli government transferred weapons to Palestinian gangs inside Gaza, under direct orders from Netanyahu."

He pointed out that this step did not pass through the security cabinet, but rather took place with the knowledge of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

In response, Netanyahu accused Lieberman, leader of the right-wing opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu, in the video clip of "publishing security information for political purposes."