Saturday, July 19th's live news on conflicts in the Middle East.

• This new conflict between Israel and Hamas began after October 7, 2023, in Israel's response to the attack by the Hamas terrorist group, which caused nearly 1,300 deaths (including about 800 civilians) and the kidnapping of over 200 people.
• Since then, the Israeli army, which decimated Hamas's leadership and structures in the Strip, has killed over 58,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly civilians, almost half of them minors and children. The figures are confirmed by the UN. According to UNICEF, an average of 28 children are killed every day, considering the last 21 months of conflict
• The commander of the Daraj-Tuffah battalion of Hamas, which invaded Israel on October 7, was killed in a recent attack in the Gaza Strip

18:02 | July 19

Media: Over 100 dead in Israeli raid in Gaza today

At least 104 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip since dawn today, hospital sources told Al Jazeera. Of those, 37 were reportedly awaiting humanitarian aid.

3:26 PM | July 19

Trump: Nuclear sites have been completely destroyed

"All three nuclear sites in Iran have been completely destroyed and/or eliminated," US President Donald Trump stated on Social Truth. It will take years to bring them back online, and if Iran wanted to do so, it would be far better off starting over, in three different locations, before they are destroyed, should it choose to do so.

3:23 PM | July 19

EU welcomes ceasefire in Syria

The European Union welcomed the US-brokered ceasefire between Syria and Israel, while expressing deep concern over the wave of sectarian violence affecting the Druze-majority southern region of Syria, which triggered the recent Israeli attacks. Now is the time for dialogue and a genuine, inclusive transition, the European External Action Service stated in an official statement. The Syrian transitional authorities, along with the local authorities, have a responsibility to protect all Syrians without distinction, Brussels added, further emphasizing the need to hold those responsible for serious violations of international law accountable.

1:38 PM | July 19

Mattarella: Attacking where people pray and hunger creates a spiral of hatred.

The sound of peace and harmony of the Maria Dolens bell, a symbol of peace, is a point of reference, even more so in this historic moment in international life, when, in complete contrast to the aspirations, desires, and expectations of humanity in every part of the world and across nationalities, we are witnessing the reemergence of shadows that were thought to have no place anymore: there are those who believe they can wage wars of territorial annexation that we thought belonged to dark moments of the past, or those who think they can restore the rule of the strong over the weak, or bomb civilians in their homes. And we witness the massacre of young people celebrating while listening to music. In this situation, we no longer limit ourselves to the sad task of targeting opposing soldiers, but we also shoot and kill in places of worship, in places where water and bread are distributed, and in places where first responders assisting the wounded are targeted. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, made this statement in Rovereto, Trentino, speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Maria Dolens Bell of the Fallen, a symbol of peace. The head of state laid a wreath at the foot of the Bell, accompanied by the music of Silence.

1:33 PM | July 19

IDF fires suspects near Gaza aid center, investigation underway

Israeli troops opened fire on suspects who approached them, posing a threat, in the Rafah area of southern Gaza during the night. The army reported, adding that the incident is under investigation after casualties were reported. Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 32 Palestinians were killed near an aid distribution center north of Rafah. According to the IDF report, Israeli soldiers ordered the suspects to move away, and when they refused, the troops fired warning shots. The incident occurred about a kilometer away from the center and at night, when the site is not active.

1:25 PM | July 19

Ghf, we have already warned not to approach our sites at night

In a statement, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said there were no incidents near its aid distribution sites. It added that the reported Israeli gunfire, which reportedly killed over 30 people, occurred far from the sites and hours before they opened."We have repeatedly warned people seeking help not to come to our sites at night and in the early hours of the morning," the GHF said.

1:22 PM | July 19

New Sohr Observatory report: 940 dead in Sweida

Violence in the predominantly Druze southern province of Sweida has killed 940 people in a week, according to a new toll released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). According to the NGO, the victims are 588 Druze—326 fighters and 262 civilians—of whom 182 were summarily executed by Syrian forces, 312 members of Syrian troops, and 21 Sunni Bedouins, including three civilians summarily executed by Druze fighters. Fifteen members of government forces were also killed in Israeli attacks, according to the United Nations.

1:14 PM | July 19

NGO: Violence in Syria Nears 1,000 Deaths

The overall death toll from inter-communal clashes in southern Syria has risen to 940 since last Sunday, according to the NGO Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which this morning reported 718 victims.

12:59 PM | July 19

Media: 60 dead since dawn in Gaza, 35 were waiting for aid

Sources in Gaza hospitals told Al Jazeera that 60 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire since dawn today, including 35 who were waiting for humanitarian aid near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation centers.

12:35 PM | July 19

IDF: Dozens of Israeli Druze Forces Break Across Border

Dozens of young Israeli Druze arrived at the Syrian border in the Golan Heights overnight, clashed with Israeli soldiers, broke through the border fence, and entered Syrian territory. The IDF reported this, claiming that Israeli forces attempted to disperse a violent gathering of dozens of Druze residents of Israel on the border with Syria. After the gathering, civilians crossed the border fence into Syrian territory near Majdal Shams, behaving violently toward officers. The armed forces emphasized that crossing the border into Syria constitutes a crime and endangers the population and Israeli troops. Israeli forces continue to work to return civilians to Israel, the IDF added.

12:35 PM | July 19

IDF: Nearly 90 targets hit in Gaza in the past day

Over the past day, IDF forces have struck approximately 90 targets in Gaza with air and ground strikes, continuing to eliminate terrorists and destroy their infrastructure and weapons depots, both above and below ground. The Israeli army wrote in a statement, specifying that forces in the Gaza Strip discovered and destroyed terrorist infrastructure in the Beit Hanoun area. In Gaza City, the IDF added, fighters destroyed launching posts, sniper positions, and weapons depots.

12:34 PM | July 19

Israel v. Sharaa: Syria is dangerous for minorities

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's speech expressed his support for the jihadist attackers (in his words:"The Bedouin tribes are symbols of noble values and principles"), blaming the victims (the attacked Druze minority). Al-Sharaa peppered it all with conspiracy theories and accusations against Israel. Bottom line: in al-Sharaa's Syria, it is very dangerous to belong to a minority: Kurdish, Druze, Alawite, or Christian. This has been demonstrated repeatedly over the past six months, as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X, a few hours after the US announcement of the agreement between Israel and Syria.

12:34 PM | July 19

Hamas: 32 Palestinians killed while waiting for aid

Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry says 32 Palestinians were killed today in Israeli attacks on US aid distribution centers in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera TV reports that at least 50 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since this morning.

12:15 PM | July 19

Parolin to Tg2 Post: It's legitimate to doubt that the raid on the Gaza church was a mistake.

Regarding this episode, it's a dramatic development. Let's give them time, as it is necessary, for them to tell us what actually happened, whether it was truly a mistake, which is legitimately doubtful, or whether there was a deliberate intent to attack a Christian church, knowing how much Christians are a force for moderation in the Middle East. This was stated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in an interview with Tg2 Post, which was republished by Vatican media.

11:04 AM | July 19

Medical sources say Israeli raids in Gaza have killed 41 people.

At least 41 Palestinians have been killed since this morning in Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip, according to local hospital sources, according to Al Jazeera. At least 29 of the victims were waiting for humanitarian aid near distribution centers, the broadcaster noted, adding that at least 100 people were injured.

10:43 AM | July 19

Syria: Presidency confirms immediate and complete ceasefire

The Syrian presidency has announced an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the Druze-majority province of Sweida and the beginning of the deployment of security forces in the province. This follows U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack's announcement overnight regarding an agreement between Syria and Israel. The Syrian presidency stated in a statement that security forces have begun deploying to various areas to ensure the ceasefire's implementation.

10:42 AM | July 19

Civil Defense: 26 killed near Gaza aid centers

The Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defense Agency reported that 26 Palestinians were killed and around 100 wounded in two Israeli attacks near two relief centers in the southern Strip. According to agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal, 22 people died near a site southwest of Khan Yunis and four near a center northwest of Rafah. Previously, medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 29 Palestinians had been killed and around 80 wounded by Israeli forces at an aid distribution center in Rafah.

8:45 AM | July 19

The systematic destruction of Gaza: 70% of the area is uninhabitable

(by Lorenzo Cremonesi) In the Gaza Strip, in addition to the daily killing of dozens of Palestinian civilians, the methodical destruction of all built-up areas has been underway since the beginning of April. This is a coherent and progressive policy of zeroing out urban areas, promoted by Benjamin Netanyahu's government, dominated by the Israeli messianic far right.
Gaza residents no longer have homes to return to. The world they once knew and their lives have simply disappeared forever, Adi Ben-Nun, director of the Institute for Geographic Information Systems at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, denounced to the Israeli press.

The scholar analyzed hundreds of satellite images and used an algorithm to assess the scale of the devastation. The BBC also published in an in-depth report images of what it calls controlled demolitions, which have intensified and expanded since the breaking of the ceasefire with Hamas in March, at Netanyahu's request, which had been announced on January 19.

​Read
the full article

2:46 AM | July 19

Trump: 10 more hostages to be released soon

Ten more hostages will soon be released in the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump revealed this, without providing further details. US media reported that the president spoke about it during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House, praising the efforts of his special envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli and Hamas negotiators participated in the latest round of talks in Doha starting on July 6, and discussed a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.

1:55 AM | July 19

Pizzaballa and Theophilus III, the voices amid the ruins of the Christian patriarchs: An affront to their dignity.

by Lorenzo Cremonesi 

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First, the long wait at the Israeli military checkpoints. The Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilus III, sat on plastic chairs early yesterday morning together with the secretary of the nunciature in Jerusalem waiting for permission to pass from the soldiers. Almost four hours (technical times, the Israelis say) to reach the Basilica of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in Gaza.

A difficult and dangerous visit, after two days ago the roof of the church was hit by a tank shell, causing 3 deaths and 10 injuries.

​Read the full article here