Friday, July 25th's live news on Middle East conflicts. Doha talks halted. The US: Hamas doesn't want a truce. Macron: France will recognize the State of Palestine.

• This new conflict between Israel and Hamas began after October 7, 2023, in response, by Israel, to the attack of the Hamas terrorist group, which caused almost 1,300 deaths (including about 800 civilians) and the kidnapping of over 200 people
• UNICEF, since April in Gaza 80 children died of malnutrition
• The death toll from attacks launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has risen to 59,676 dead and 143,965 injured
• Rubio: US firmly rejects Macron's plan on Palestine

20:19 | July 25

Sa'ar: France's move jeopardises agreement with Hamas

In a phone call with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused Hamas of obstructing talks on a Gaza truce and the release of hostages. Diplomatic attacks on Israel during this delicate period for negotiations are encouraging Hamas to harden its position, Sa'ar told Anand, according to an Israeli statement. Sa'ar wrote in X that he told Anand that Israel has accepted the framework proposed by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Hamas has stubbornly hardened its position.

8:18 PM | July 25

Gaza: US investigation finds no evidence of Hamas stealing humanitarian aid

An internal investigation conducted by the U.S. government has found no concrete evidence proving Hamas's theft or misappropriation of U.S.-funded humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip. CNN reported this, having obtained the presentation on the audits conducted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The analysis covered a total of 156 incidents of waste, fraud, or abuse reported by partner organizations between October 2023 and May 2025. The review of the incidents found no affiliations with U.S.-sanctioned groups or terrorist organizations. There is no evidence of a systemic loss of aid due to Hamas's interference, a source said.

7:06 PM | July 25

IDF: Palestinian killed in attempted knife attack

The Israeli army announced it killed a man who allegedly attempted a stabbing near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. A knife-wielding terrorist attempted a stabbing near the Shima settlement, according to a brief IDF statement, adding that an officer present at the scene shot and neutralized the attacker, causing no further casualties. Israeli army operations and attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have resulted in the deaths of over 930 Palestinians since the start of the Gaza conflict. According to UN data, nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed in 2024, while this year, over 120 people have been killed due to the escalation of the conflict.

Trump: Does Macron recognize Palestine? What he says doesn't matter.

7:01 PM | July 25

Over 200 MPs call on UK to recognise Palestine

A joint letter signed by 221 British MPs from across the political spectrum calls on the UK government to formally recognise the Palestinian state, the BBC reports. While acknowledging that the UK lacks the power to bring about a free and independent Palestine on its own, UK recognition would have a significant impact... and we urge you to take this step, the letter states. It calls on the government to clarify when and how it intends to act on its long-standing commitment to a two-state solution at next week's United Nations conference in New York. Although the British government has long expressed support for the principle of a Palestinian state coexisting with Israel, it has yet to formally recognise it.

6:36 PM | July 25

Media, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem released

Israeli police have released Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, after arresting him inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem and holding him in custody for several hours. Anadolu Agency reports this, citing local sources and officials. The Department of Islamic Foundations in Jerusalem confirmed that the Grand Mufti was arrested in the mosque courtyard shortly after delivering his Friday sermon, during which he condemned ongoing Israeli crimes against Palestinians, from Rafah in southern Gaza to Jenin in the occupied northern West Bank. Israeli authorities have not disclosed the charges or the specific reasons for the arrest.

6:10 PM | July 25

Egypt welcomes Macron's announcement on recognizing Palestine

Egypt welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that he will officially recognize the Palestinian state in the coming months, expressing deep appreciation for this historic and fundamental step. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in a statement, emphasizing that France's decision is part of its support for international efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Egyptian ministry then urged all countries that have not yet decided to recognize the State of Palestine to do so, expressing its hope for the international community's commitment to achieving a"just and lasting" solution to the Palestinian question. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of concerted regional and international efforts to end the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people, emphasizing the moral and legal responsibility of all members of the international community and the Security Council to address violations of the occupation, including halting Israel's practices and policies of settlement and famine in the occupied Palestinian territories.

5:08 PM | July 25

Hamas, 59,676 dead and 143,965 injured since October 7, 2023

The death toll from attacks launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 59,676 and 143,965 injured. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced this, stating that since the conflict resumed on March 18, 2025—after a two-month truce—at least 8,527 people have died and another 31,924 have been injured. The death toll, which includes civilians and militants alike, cannot be independently verified.

4:56 PM | July 25

Hamas: Gaza needs an open humanitarian corridor

The Gaza Strip needs not aerial acrobatics but an open humanitarian corridor and a steady daily flow of aid trucks to save what remains of the lives of besieged and starving civilians, said Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the press office of the Hamas-run Gaza government, as reported by the Times of Israel.

4:45 PM | July 25

Guterres accuses lack of compassion for Palestinians in Gaza

I can't explain the level of indifference and inaction we see from too many people in the international community: the lack of compassion, the lack of truth, the lack of humanity. With these words, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres harshly criticized those who ignore the suffering of starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, during a video-linked address to Amnesty International's global assembly. The situation in the Strip is a moral crisis that tests the global conscience, he added.

4:39 PM | July 25

Hamas: Witkoff distorted the truth

US envoy Witkoff's negative statements completely contradict the context in which the latest round of negotiations took place, and he knows it perfectly well. They are part of a logic of support for the Israeli position. Basem Naim, a leading member of Hamas's political committee, told AFP. He accused the US envoy of distorting the truth after the diplomat declared the failure of indirect negotiations with Israel for a truce in Gaza and blamed the Palestinian Islamist movement. US envoy Steve Witkoff's negative statements are completely at odds with the context in which the latest negotiations took place, and he is perfectly aware of this, but these statements serve the Israeli position, said Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau. The comment follows the US envoy's announcement of Washington's withdrawal from the Gaza truce talks, in which Witkoff accused Hamas of obstructing the agreement.

4:05 PM | July 25

Israeli Ambassador to Paris on Recognizing the State of Palestine Is a Historic Mistake

France's recognition of the State of Palestine is a historic mistake, Israel's ambassador to Paris, Joshua Zarka, told Bfm TV. The diplomat said he sees President Emmanuel Macron's decision as a message to Hamas: keep doing what you're doing, don't make peace."I don't understand this reasoning," the ambassador added."Macron, instead of helping peace, is rejecting it," the ambassador added.

4:00 PM | July 25

Trump: What Macron says about Palestine doesn't matter, but he's a good guy.

What he says doesn't matter, it carries no weight: this is Donald Trump's comment on Emmanuel Macron's decision to recognize the State of Palestine. But he's a good guy, he added.

3:34 PM | July 25

Germany will not follow France in recognizing the State of Palestine

Germany will not follow France in recognizing the State of Palestine, according to a statement released by the Federal Government. In Berlin's view, only a negotiated solution between the two sides can bring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. This is why Berlin has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state in the short term. The German government will, however, continue to push for a truce so that the hostages still held by Hamas, which must be disarmed, can be released. Secondly, the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza must be improved; in particular, Israel must provide the civilian population with urgently needed assistance. Thirdly, a sustainable political perspective for the Strip must be defined, and finally, any further steps towards annexation of the West Bank must be avoided. On all of this, the German government agrees with France and the United Kingdom, as well as with other partners in the region, regardless of the well-known differences of opinion on the question of the right time for recognition.

3:01 PM | July 25

Trump: Hamas did not want to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza

US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the Palestinian militant group Hamas did not want to reach a ceasefire agreement and release hostages in Gaza. Trump made these remarks to reporters at the White House the day after his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced that the Trump administration had decided to recall its negotiating team home for consultations following Hamas's latest proposal.

2:58 PM | July 25

Netanyahu: We are evaluating alternative options for the hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel, together with its American allies, is currently evaluating alternative options to secure the return of the hostages held in Gaza and eliminate Hamas in the Strip. The prime minister emphasized that Hamas is an obstacle to reaching an agreement for the release of the hostages, stating that US envoy Steve Witkoff is correct.

2:39 PM | July 25

Humanitarian organizations raise alarm over child malnutrition in Gaza

Humanitarian organizations are raising the alarm about child malnutrition in Gaza, ravaged by over 21 months of war, as Paris, London, and Berlin held emergency talks following Emmanuel Macron's announcement of the imminent recognition of a Palestinian state. A quarter of children aged six months to five years and pregnant and breastfeeding women seen last week at Doctors Without Borders (MSF) facilities in the Gaza Strip are suffering from malnutrition, the NGO said in a statement."The deliberate use of hunger as a weapon of war by the Israeli authorities in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with patients and healthcare workers themselves suffering from hunger," it denounced. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA), also raised the alarm about child malnutrition"exploding" in the besieged Palestinian territory, with one in five children"suffering from malnutrition in Gaza City, and cases increasing every day." "Survival mechanisms are collapsing, access to food and healthcare is disappearing, and famine is silently beginning to creep in," he wrote on X. -"High risk of death" - "Most of the children our teams visit are emaciated, weak, and at high risk of death if they do not receive the necessary care quickly. More than 100 people, the vast majority of them children, are believed to have already died of starvation," he added.

2:32 PM | July 25

Humanitarian aid delivery by parachute will resume soon.

Israel will soon allow Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to resume airdrops of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, as they did last year. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said this, citing the Israeli newspaper Times of Israel. The Coordinator said the airdrops are being coordinated with the Israel Defense Forces. According to Israeli officials, Jordan is ready to conduct the first airdrop today. Last year, the US military, in coordination with Jordan, Egypt, and France, airdropped tens of thousands of meals into northern Gaza, but an incident in March 2024 resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians.

2:19 PM | July 25

Colombia's Petro orders its army to stop coal ships headed to Israel.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the armed forces to stop ships leaving the country carrying coal bound for Israel, accusing the vessels of defying his government, specifically the decision taken in August 2024 to halt exports to Israel in protest at events in the Gaza Strip. They have once again set sail on a ship loaded with coal bound for Israel."This is a challenge to my government (...) the army will receive a written order to stop ships bound for Israel," Petro stated. The president also urged the Minister of Labor to convene an urgent meeting with coal unions. Earlier, during the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) energy meeting, Petro assured that not a single ton of coal should leave Colombia for Israel and called for a blockade of the Swiss multinational Glencore, responsible for coal exports to the northern province of La Guajira. The president urged the people to take action to achieve this goal:"If they don't pay attention to us, if this government turns out to be a lie, if the Constitution is a lie and they want to use it only for profit, I ask the people to block Glencore. If coal continues to go to Israel, block it," Petro said. Furthermore, the president raised the possibility of unilaterally revoking the concession to the Swiss company."I want to know from the Swiss people: what will we do with Glencore, which transports Colombian coal by ship to make bombs even though the president has ordered it to stop?"

2:16 PM | July 25

Hamas: Ceasefire talks expected to resume next week after US and Israel recall negotiators

Hamas says ceasefire talks should resume next week after US and Israel recall negotiators. Ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel are expected to resume next week, as the war in Gaza approaches its 22nd month and experts warn that Palestinians are on the brink of famine. Hamas official Bassem Naim said Friday that he had been informed that an Israeli delegation would depart for consultations early next week. His comments come a day after the United States recalled its negotiating team from Qatar and after President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Hamas's latest response to negotiations showed a"lack of desire" to reach a truce. The parties have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no significant breakthroughs.

2:00 PM | July 25

The Israel Defense Forces will allow food airdrops into Gaza, but there is no famine.

The IDF says it will allow foreign countries to airlift food into Gaza, but insists there is no famine in the Strip, Haaretz reports. The Israeli coordinator of government activities in the territories, as reported in the Times of Israel, believes that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains difficult and challenging, but there is no widespread famine, contrary to Hamas's claims.

1:48 PM | July 25

Di Segni: State of Palestine cannot be a copy-and-paste of our Constitution

What state emerges from European recognition? A democratic state? A French-style"Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" republic? Or an Italian one? Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, commented to Adnkronos on French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that he will recognize the state of Palestine.

The starting point is Hamas and Abu Mazen, not the Palestinians, a priori, explains Di Segni, who adds: We must understand that, by doing so, terrorism will also find a welcoming state here. A Palestinian state is not a copy-and-paste of our constitution, but rather the ability to develop in a Middle Eastern context and with Israel at its side.

Regarding Emmanuele Macron's statement, the president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities clarified:"We expect Macron to

remember that Israel exists, and must exist, in safety. We expect him to call on Hamas not only to free the hostages, but also to seriously promote the well-being of its people without using them as a human shield."

1:36 PM | July 25

Another 161 trucks of aid entered the Strip from Egypt

Between yesterday and dawn today, 161 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt, through the Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings. Al Qahera News reported. The convoy included shipments of flour, baby formula, and food. Since October 7, 2023, more than 35,000 trucks loaded with over half a million tons of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza.

1:25 PM | July 25

Wafa: Israel Arrests Grand Mufti of Jerusalem

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that Israeli forces today arrested the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, inside the courtyard of the mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The Department of Islamic Endowments announced that Sheikh Mohammad Hussein was arrested after Friday prayers and taken to the Mughrabi Gate of Jerusalem's Old City.

1:14 PM | July 25

IAEA: Tehran's green light for delegation encouraged

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said he was encouraged that Iran had accepted a visit from its own delegation. The technical team's visit could pave the way for the return of UN inspectors to Iran, potentially as soon as this year."If we don't return soon, there will be a serious problem, because this is Iran's international obligation," Grossi told reporters during a visit to Singapore."I'm encouraged by what I've heard from Tehran, in that they want to re-establish relations with us," the IAEA chief said.

The date of the visit has not yet been set, but Grossi confirmed that it will take place within a few weeks, as anticipated by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who had stated at the United Nations in New York that an IAEA delegation would visit Iran within two or three weeks. The group will not have access to nuclear sites, Gharibabadi said, adding that the visit will focus on"building new relations" with the UN agency.

1:02 PM | July 25

Netanyahu holds urgent meeting over allegations of starving Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold an urgent meeting in Jerusalem regarding allegations of starving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. He said the prime minister will be joined by representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the National Security Council, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT, a unit of the Israeli Defense Ministry responsible for overseeing civilian policy in the West Bank and facilitating logistical coordination between Israel and Gaza). The allegations and the broader issue of aid to civilians in Gaza are dominating discussions in the prime minister's office, the official said.

1:00 PM | July 25

Israel: Man arrested on suspicion of donating €380,000 to Islamic Jihad

A 36-year-old man has been arrested by Israeli police on charges of transferring approximately 1.5 million shekels (380,000 euros) to the Islamist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Times of Israel reported this, citing Israeli police, who said the man pretended to donate to children in Gaza. The 36-year-old, identified as Ahmad Diab, is a resident of Tamra, a city in Israel's northern district, which is primarily Palestinian Arab. According to the indictment, Diab began transferring funds to Islamic Jihad in July 2024 after being contacted online by a member of the organization. Since 2020, he had been active in raising funds for Gaza through online campaigns, and allegedly used these donations to finance the terrorist group based in the Strip. Diab was indicted this morning on charges of security crimes: contacting a foreign agent and supporting a terrorist organization.

12:57 PM | July 25

15 dead today in Gaza, 4 were waiting for aid

Four Palestinians awaiting humanitarian aid in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since dawn today, medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic. A total of 15 Palestinians were killed in Israeli army (IDF) attacks today, Al Jazeera reports, including four killed in an airstrike on a Gaza City school housing displaced people in the western Remal neighborhood. Several people were injured.

12:32 PM | July 25

Schlein (PD): Italy must recognize the State of Palestine to contribute to peace

What happened yesterday with the Israeli minister's statements on the deportation and colonization of Gaza is unacceptable. These crimes must be stopped, said Elly Schlein, speaking at a labor conference. She returned to the Middle East crisis to express satisfaction with France's decision to finally recognize the State of Palestine."We must get Italy to recognize it too," said the Democratic Party secretary, deeming Minister Tajani's statements on the Two Peoples, Two States Solution incomprehensible: one State, she emphasized, already exists, so recognizing the other is a necessary step to contribute to the peace process.

12:25 PM | July 25

Berlin: We will not recognize the State of Palestine anytime soon.

The German federal government has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state in the short term, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated in an online press conference. Germany will not follow France in recognizing the State of Palestine, according to a statement released by the federal government. In Berlin's view, only a negotiated solution between the two sides can bring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. This is why Berlin has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state in the short term. The German government will, however, continue to push for a truce so that the hostages still held by Hamas, which must be disarmed, can be released. Secondly, the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza must be improved; in particular, Israel must provide the civilian population with urgently needed assistance. Thirdly, a sustainable political perspective for the Strip must be defined, and finally, any further steps toward annexation of the West Bank must be avoided. On all of this, the German government agrees with France and the United Kingdom, as well as with other partners in the region, regardless of the well-known differences of opinion on the question of the right time for recognition.

12:24 PM | July 25

Fontana: I am not against recognizing Palestine, but it would solve the conflict

The question I was asking myself was whether this could help resolve the situation or aggravate it. On the one hand, it could weaken Hamas. On the other, the risk is that Israel, feeling surrounded, could exacerbate its reaction. I'm not particularly opposed to it. If tomorrow they told me this would resolve the conflict, I would do it immediately. Unfortunately, I don't know if it does. This was the statement from the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, on France's recognition of the State of Palestine. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies spoke about the situation in the Middle East, and the Gaza Strip in particular, during the ceremony for the awarding of the Fan by the Parliamentary Press Association."Clearly," he said,"I hope the hostages are freed as soon as possible, because what happened on October 7th was a horrible act. I have to tell the truth, the reaction was completely disproportionate, and I truly hope it ends as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I know the negotiations aren't going very well; yesterday they walked out of the table."

11:51 AM | July 25

Israeli forces eliminate Hamas counterintelligence chief

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of Amjad Muhammad Hassan Shaer, head of counterintelligence for the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, in the northern Gaza Strip. The IDF reported this in a statement on Telegram, stating that Hamas's counterintelligence directorate is responsible for the security of senior officials and resources of the terrorist organization inside and outside Gaza and for supporting its decision-making apparatus in carrying out attacks against the State of Israel. Over the past 24 hours, the IDF claims to have dismantled a missile site in the Gaza City area, in the northern Gaza Strip, while the Israeli Air Force, with the support of ground forces, has struck dozens of targets in Gaza, including terrorist cells, military facilities, tunnels, anti-tank missile launchers, weapons depots, and other infrastructure sites. The IDF announced that its ground forces continued their operations in the northern Gaza Strip in the areas of Beit Hanoun, Jabaliya and Daraj Tuffah.

11:37 AM | July 25

Gaza's parish priest Romanelli: We won't be able to be in Rome with the young people; pray for the end of the war.

The parish priest of Gaza, slightly wounded in the leg during the Israeli army attack, wanted to be in Rome with the young people for their Jubilee. For security reasons, he will not be able to be there."We would have liked to be there, or at least organize meetings with our young people, but for security reasons we cannot," explains Father Gabriel Romanelli in a video message released by SIR."We Christians must be a light, not because we are better, but because we continue to bear witness to the Lord Jesus, to pray for conversion, for the forgiveness of sins, and for peace. Even the children here say it: we must be at peace with Jesus to live in peace with others. Pray for the end of this war, that the Lord may grant peace to the entire Holy Land, between Israel and Palestine."

11:34 AM | July 25

Chamber, Lorenzo Fontana: Israel's reaction to October 7th was disproportionate.

The reaction to October 7th was disproportionate, negotiations are not going well, the situation is dire. It's true that Israel has achieved a weakening, but from a public opinion perspective, it is suffering a backlash. However, Hamas has a huge responsibility: return the hostages. This is what the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, stated.

11:31 AM | July 25

China: A two-state solution is the only realistic path. Beijing supports convening a high-level meeting to pursue it.

The only realistic way to resolve the Palestinian issue is to implement the two-state solution. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said this today at his daily press conference in Beijing, commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement of recognition of the State of Palestine. The Palestinian issue is at the heart of the Middle East, and the two-state solution remains the only realistic way to resolve the Palestinian issue, Guo said. The Chinese spokesperson added that China supports the convening of a high-level meeting in New York to implement the two-state solution and will continue to work with the international community to promote the ceasefire in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and achieve the two-state solution, with the goal of a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue.

11:22 AM | July 25

French Foreign Minister: Recognizing Palestine is a disservice to Hamas

By recognizing the State of Palestine, France is disproving the terrorist movement Hamas. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote this on X after President Emmanuel Macron's announcement. France is favoring the peace camp over the war camp, Barrot wrote.

The Hamas toujours refused the solution à two États. En reconnaissant la Palestine, la France donne tort à ce movement terroriste. Elle donne raison au camp de la paix contre celui de la guerre.

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) July 25, 2025" style="min-height:200px">

11:17 AM | July 25

Tajani: Recognition of the new State of Palestine only if it occurs together with the recognition of the State of Israel

Italy supports the two-people, two-state solution, but recognition of the new Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with Italy's recognition of the State of Israel. This was stated by Forza Italia Secretary Antonio Tajani, opening the proceedings of the Forza Italia National Council."We are interested in peace, not the victory of one over the other," he added."We are the country in the world that has welcomed the largest number of refugees from Gaza, along with Qatar and Egypt," he was keen to point out.

11:09 AM | July 25

Barrot: Recognition of Palestine goes against Hamas's position

France's formal recognition of the Palestinian state is not a reward for terrorism but rather a stark contrast to Hamas's position, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on his X profile."Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France opposes this terrorist organization and supports the peace party against the war party," he concluded.

10:37 AM | July 25

Israeli attacks in Gaza kill 2

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that two Palestinians were killed today, and several others were wounded, in two Israeli air strikes that targeted shelters of displaced people in Gaza City (north) and Khan Younis (south).

10:31 AM | July 25

UNICEF: 80 children have died from malnutrition in Gaza since April.

Children in the Gaza Strip are dying of hunger. Severe malnutrition is spreading among children faster than aid can reach them, and the world is watching. Since April of this year, the number of children dying from malnutrition has risen from 52 to 80—a staggering 54 percent increase in less than three months, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. In just 48 hours, at least four more children have died of starvation. In total, more than 100 people have died from malnutrition during this war, 80 percent of them children, according to Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. These deaths, Beigbeder continues, are unacceptable and could have been avoided. The UN-led humanitarian response must be able to function fully through unfettered access to children in need. Without this, we will see a further increase in acute malnutrition. In June, the number of children accessing treatment for malnutrition reached its highest level since the conflict began, with 6,500 children. July has already seen an increase, with 5,000 children accessing treatment in just two weeks. In Gaza City alone, among children screened, the percentage of those identified as acutely malnourished has increased fourfold compared to February. UNICEF and its partners remain in the Gaza Strip to screen and treat children suffering from malnutrition, but to reverse the catastrophic situation we face, a sustained and predictable flow of humanitarian and commercial aid is urgently needed. Fuel must arrive in sufficient quantities to allow life-saving services to function. Children must be protected, not killed or starved. We need a ceasefire and the release of hostages. And we need it now.

10:29 AM | July 25

Recognition of Palestine, London is holding off for now but pressure is mounting on Starmer.

The British Labour government, led by moderate Keir Starmer, remains cautious for now about formally recognizing Palestinian statehood following Emmanuel Macron's decision by France—awaited today by a three-way call with Starmer and German Chancellor Merz on the Gaza emergency—to break the deadlock and announce this step at the UN General Assembly in September. Asked about the matter today, a senior cabinet member, Science Minister Peter Kyle, assured that London remains committed to recognizing Palestine. However, he did not commit to a specific timeframe, postponing it until the conditions for statehood are met.

9:28 AM | July 25

Doctors Without Borders: A Quarter of Children and Mothers in Gaza Are Malnourished

Twenty-five percent of children between the ages of six months and five years, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, are malnourished, according to Doctors Without Borders. In the MSF clinic in Gaza City, the number of people suffering from malnutrition has quadrupled since May, with 25 new patients admitted every day. Rates of severe malnutrition in children under five have tripled in the last two weeks. MSF reports that not only patients, but also healthcare staff are beginning to suffer from food shortages. This isn't just hunger, but deliberate hunger, caused by the Israeli authorities.

Marine Le Pen: Recognizing Palestine means recognizing a terrorist state

Recognizing a Palestinian state today means recognizing a Hamas state and therefore a terrorist state. Marine Le Pen wrote this in a post on social media X. This gesture has nothing to do with fidelity to France's history; on the contrary, it is exactly the opposite, and much less is it a guarantee of peace for Israel, Le Pen added. While hope has always driven us toward a two-state solution, this decision legitimizes the massacres of October 7 and their attendant suffering, while some hostages are still being held. It is therefore a political and moral error, even towards the Palestinians who suffer under the yoke of Hamas.

Herzog: Recognizing Palestine Will Not Promote Peace

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned France's decision to recognize the Palestinian state, announced yesterday by Emmanuel Macron. The French president's statement will not promote peace in the Middle East. It will not help defeat the threat of terrorism. And, more importantly, it certainly will not help bring them home sooner, Herzog said in a message to which he attached a photograph of the hostages still held by Hamas.

8:39 AM | July 25

Rubio: Macron on Palestine? A reckless decision.

The United States firmly rejects French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, says Marco Rubio. This reckless decision only fuels Hamas propaganda and hinders peace. It's a slap in the face to the victims of October 7, adds the US Secretary of State on X.

8:10 AM | July 25

Gaza Health Ministry: At least 115 people have died from starvation since the war began.

At least 115 Palestinians have died of starvation in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, according to Al Jazeera. Most of the victims, including many children, have occurred in recent weeks.

8:08 AM | July 25

Witkoff in Sardinia and the announcement of his retirement, but the parties still believe they can make it.

(by Viviana Mazza, correspondent from New York) The announcement of the American withdrawal from the Doha negotiations because Hamas has shown a clear unwillingness to reach a ceasefire leaves attempts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza uncertain. It is unclear how Washington intends to seek alternative solutions to bring the hostages home —as Witkoff wrote on social media—and try to create a more stable environment for the population of Gaza.

Israeli sources have described the withdrawal of the American and Israeli delegations as an attempt to put pressure on Hamas, writes the daily Haaretz: a move coordinated with Qatar. It could be a negotiating tactic to try to push the group to change its position on certain points. The Israelis had earlier told the Financial Times that Hamas's latest proposal was something they could work on, before announcing their return to Israel for further consultations, but insisting that the negotiations had not failed but would take time and that the aim was to shake them up and change Hamas's position.

​

​Read the full article here.

Gaza, negotiations stall again. The US says Hamas isn't serious.

by Andrea Nicastro, correspondent in Jerusalem) No ceasefire. No prisoner exchange. There's not even talk of opening humanitarian corridors. The agreement on the truce in Gaza isn't there and the negotiations have broken down for the umpteenth time. Israel and the United States withdraw their negotiators from the Doha table and accuse Hamas of the failure.

This time, however, the continued massacre of civilians doesn't seem to sit well with part of Europe. French President Emmanuel Macro n, as soon as he learned of the failure of the negotiations, announced the recognition of the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is only a little more cautious. He plans an emergency consultation with the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy for tomorrow. We will discuss what measures to take to stop the massacres and provide the population with the food they desperately need. The lack of a ceasefire—the Downing Street statement concludes—puts us on the path to recognizing a Palestinian state. London and Paris, former colonial powers in the Middle East, are thus on a collision course with Washington, their successor in the region. ​

​Continue reading the article
here
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3:51 AM | July 25

Canada condemns Israel for humanitarian disaster in Gaza, two-state solution

Canada condemned the Israeli government for failing to prevent what Prime Minister Mark Carney called a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Carney also accused Israel of violating international law by blocking the delivery of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave."Canada calls on all parties to negotiate an immediate and good faith ceasefire. We reiterate our call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages and on the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza," Carney said on X.

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3:36 AM | July 25

Carney: Canada condemns Israel for humanitarian disaster

Canada condemns the Israeli government's failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Israeli control over aid distribution must be replaced by comprehensive humanitarian assistance led by international organizations. Many of these organizations hold significant Canadian-funded supplies that cannot be delivered to starving civilians. This refusal to provide humanitarian aid constitutes a violation of international law. This was stated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a message posted on X, where he called the deteriorating situation in the Strip a disaster that Tel Aviv has failed to stop. Canada, the Prime Minister added, calls on all parties to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith. We reiterate our call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages and on the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza. Canada reiterates its support for a two-state solution that ensures peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians and will work intensively in all forums to advance this goal, including through the Foreign Minister's participation in the United Nations High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York next week.

Hamas: Surprised by US Statements, Says Yes to Ceasefire

We are surprised by the negative statements made by US envoy Steve Witkoff regarding the movement's position, at a time when mediators have welcomed and expressed satisfaction with our constructive and positive stance, which opens the door to reaching a comprehensive agreement. Hamas made this statement in a statement reiterated by Israeli media and released after Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced his decision to suspend negotiations because the other side is not acting in good faith. In addition to expressing surprise at Witkoff's remarks, Hamas also stated—according to the Times of Israel—that it wants to continue ceasefire talks:"The movement affirms its willingness to continue negotiations and engage in ways that help overcome obstacles and reach a permanent ceasefire agreement," Hamas added. Hours earlier, President Donald Trump's special envoy had stated that the United States had decided to withdraw its negotiating team from Doha due to Hamas's response, which clearly demonstrates a lack of will to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. A source involved in the mediation effort, contacted by the Times of Israel after Witkoff's remarks, also clarified that, although Hamas's response included a number of reservations regarding the latest proposed hostage deal, the gaps could still be filled.

0:56|July 25

Netanyahu: Minister who wants"all-Jewish Gaza" doesn't represent us

Breaking his silence on Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu's statement that Israel is pushing ahead with the destruction of Gaza to make the Strip entirely Jewish, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the far-right minister does not speak on behalf of the government I lead. He is not a member of the security cabinet that determines the conduct of the war, Netanyahu said in a statement. The prime minister has not announced any disciplinary action against Eliyahu.

0:46|July 25

Sánchez: I celebrate France joining the recognition of Palestine.

I celebrate France's recognition of the State of Palestine by joining Spain and other European countries. With this message on X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will recognize the State of Palestine in September, as he communicated in a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas."We must all protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy," Sánchez wrote in the message."The two-state solution is the only solution," he concluded, sharing Macron's letter to the Palestinian president.

0:38|July 25

Netanyahu: We condemn Macron's decision, it rewards terror

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated his strong condemnation of President Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state following the October 7 massacre. In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said it rewards terror and risks creating another proxy for Iran, just as happened in Gaza. A Palestinian state under these conditions would be a springboard to the annihilation of Israel, not to living peacefully alongside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians are not seeking a state alongside Israel; they are seeking a state in Israel's place, the prime minister added.

0:31|July 25

British Minister: We must work to recognize the State of Palestine.

A member of the UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to recognising a Palestinian state, stressing the need for a significant step towards a two-state solution. Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds told LBC radio that recognition must be part of a genuine move towards a two-state solution and a long-term peace agreement with Israel."We are deeply committed to the recognition of Palestine as a state, which was part of our manifesto, but of course we want it to be meaningful," Reynolds said. The minister also highlighted recent measures taken by the UK in response to the intolerable situation in Gaza, including sanctions against Israeli ministers. This comes as the UK government comes under increasing pressure to recognise Palestine, after London Mayor Sadiq Khan earlier this week called on the Prime Minister to immediately recognise a Palestinian state.

0:25|July 25

Hamas: Macron's step is positive and important

The Palestinian group welcomed France's intention to recognize a Palestinian state as a positive step in the right direction toward achieving justice for our oppressed Palestinian people."We in Hamas view this important French position as a political development that reflects growing international conviction in the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the occupation to distort facts or thwart the will of free peoples," Hamas said in a statement shared on Telegram."We call on all countries of the world, particularly European countries and those that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine, to follow France's example and fully recognize the national rights of our people. These include the right of return of Palestinian refugees, the right to self-determination, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," Hamas said.

0:22|July 25

Macron: France will recognize the State of Palestine

France will recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. Faithful to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will solemnly announce this at the United Nations General Assembly next September, the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram. Macron wrote: The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be helped. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. We must also guarantee the demilitarization of Hamas, and protect and rebuild Gaza. Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and allow it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative. The French want peace in the Middle East. It is up to us French, together with the Israelis, the Palestinians, and our European and international partners, to demonstrate that it is possible. In light of the commitments the President of the Palestinian Authority has made to me, I have written to him expressing my determination to move forward. Trust, clarity, and commitment. We will win peace.

0:17|July 25

Israeli Minister: We will wipe out Gaza, it will be all Jewish

All of Gaza will be Jewish... the government is pushing for Gaza to be obliterated. Thank God, we are eradicating this evil. We are pushing the population, educated on Mein Kampf, to do so. This was stated by the far-right, ultranationalist Israeli minister Amihai Ben-Eliyahu, quoted in X by Axios journalist Barak Ravid.

0:14|July 25

Witkoff interrupts talks: Hamas not acting in good faith

White House Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced the suspension of ceasefire talks in Qatar in Gaza because Hamas is not acting in good faith. Witkoff said Hamas's latest response shows a lack of will to reach a ceasefire. Donald Trump's envoy also stated that the United States will consider alternative options for bringing the Israeli hostages home.

0:10|July 25

Netanyahu: If Hamas thinks we're weak, they're very wrong.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this evening that Hamas must not interpret Israel's intention to reach a truce in Gaza as weakness."We are seeking a new agreement to free our hostages. But if Hamas views our intention as weakness, as an opportunity to impose surrender conditions on us that would endanger the State of Israel, they are gravely mistaken," Netanyahu said at a ceremony in Jerusalem.