Middle East

Aid workers in Gaza are facing an enormous task: clearing an estimated 61 million tonnes of rubble left by the war, debris that is believed to conceal the bodies of up to 10,000 people. The recovery work is slow and delicate, complicated by unexploded ordnance and the sheer scale of destruction across the territory, as families continue searching for missing relatives.

Gaza health authorities report that the Palestinian death toll in the war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 74,000. The figure is being widely carried by international news outlets alongside a roundup of other developments across the Middle East, including diplomatic efforts and conditions on the ground in the territory. The milestone is drawing renewed attention to the human cost of the conflict and ongoing calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian access.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the United Nations, denouncing the situation in Gaza as "a spectacle that shames us all." His remarks mark one of the strongest criticisms from a Western leader of the international community's failure to stop the suffering in the territory. The speech is drawing wide attention as debates continue over humanitarian aid, ceasefire efforts and global inaction.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza war has surpassed 74,000, according to figures reported by Arab News. The milestone underscores the mounting human cost of the conflict, which has drawn continued international concern and calls for a ceasefire. Aid agencies and diplomats continue to press for humanitarian access as the war shows no sign of easing.

Israeli strikes killed more Palestinians in Gaza as the territory's death toll rose above 74,000, according to the reported figures. The continuing casualties underscore the scale of the conflict, which has drawn ongoing international concern and calls for a ceasefire, with aid agencies warning of a worsening humanitarian situation across the enclave.

The Israeli army has killed four Palestinians in what are described as new violations of the Gaza ceasefire. The incident, reported by Anadolu Agency, adds to ongoing tensions over adherence to the truce in the enclave. The report has drawn attention amid continued international concern about the fragility of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli attacks have killed at least four people across Gaza, according to a report by Middle East Eye. The strikes reportedly hit multiple locations in the territory, adding to the toll of the ongoing conflict. Details on the victims and exact strike sites remain limited, and aid groups continue to warn of deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The Israeli army has killed two Palestinians and wounded seven others in what reports describe as new violations of the Gaza truce. The incident, reported by Middle East Monitor, adds to ongoing concerns that the ceasefire is failing to hold, with repeated shootings and strikes continuing to cause casualties despite the agreement.

The Dutch government is preparing for potentially devastating United States sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court, which is headquartered in The Hague. The reported measures, linked to the Trump administration's opposition to the court's work, including its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could disrupt the tribunal's operations and shake European support for international justice.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must 'go to war' in the occupied West Bank and 'do there what we did in Gaza', calling for military action on the scale of the Gaza campaign. The remarks drew immediate attention given his senior role in the government and the humanitarian toll of the Gaza war.

A Guardian report describes UN aid workers in Gaza digging through rubble and ruins to recover dead bodies, underlining the scale of destruction and loss after two years of war. The item is being shared widely on social media with hashtags referencing Gaza, Israel and Palestine, as attention focuses on humanitarian conditions and the recovery effort on the ground.

Protesters, politicians and TV commentators in Israel have rallied in support of soldiers accused of mistreating Palestinian prisoners, with some demonstrators openly defending abuse of detainees. The demonstrations have sparked widespread condemnation and debate over the treatment of prisoners in Israeli custody and the country's political climate around the war.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for military action in the occupied West Bank, urging forces to 'do what we did in Gaza'. The remarks, reported by Palestinian media, are drawing criticism as an open call to extend the devastating Gaza war to a second Palestinian territory, intensifying concerns about escalation.

Israeli forces shot dead one Palestinian and wounded seven others in what reports describe as fresh violations of the Gaza ceasefire. The incident adds to tensions surrounding the fragile truce, with the army accused of repeatedly breaching its terms. Further details about the circumstances of the shooting and the victims' identities were not immediately available.

The reported death toll in Gaza has surpassed 74,000 as Israeli military operations continue, according to figures published by Daily Sabah, a Turkish outlet. The report characterizes the campaign as genocide, language that mirrors ongoing international legal disputes over the war. Deaths continue to mount despite ceasefire diplomacy and international pressure.

An Israeli Apache helicopter struck a commercial center near Mayfadoun in southern Lebanon, according to reports circulating on social media. The strike reportedly took place despite the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, underscoring that hostilities continue in the region. Observers are pointing to the attack as another apparent violation of the truce that has held fragile since late 2024.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for waging a full-scale war in the occupied West Bank, saying Israel should 'do there what we did in Gaza'. The remarks, reported by Middle East Eye, drew immediate criticism from Palestinians and rights advocates who warn such an operation would bring Gaza-level devastation and displacement to the West Bank. The comments deepen concerns about escalating Israeli military action beyond Gaza.

Donald Trump said the United States would win quickly in any conflict with Iran, while Tehran issued a stark warning that a war would amount to a 'doomsday' confrontation. The duelling statements come amid already high tensions between Washington and Tehran, and observers are debating whether the rhetoric signals escalation or bluffing.

Israel is revoking the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials based in the occupied West Bank, the Foreign Ministry said. The move follows the Netherlands beginning to enforce its ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements. The dispute marks an escalation between Israel and a European partner over settlement trade policy, with the credentials revoked after Dutch enforcement started.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a war in the occupied West Bank and for Israel to annex Gaza and Lebanon, drawing sharp criticism at a time when regional tensions are already high. His remarks, reported by Middle East outlets, are likely to fuel accusations that he is advocating policies that would massively expand Israel's military and territorial reach beyond internationally recognised borders.

Gaza's civil defense agency says it has recovered the remains of 28 Palestinians from a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in 2023. Recovery teams continue working through rubble across the territory, where thousands of bodies are believed to remain under destroyed buildings, and the announcement is drawing renewed attention to the war's continuing human toll.

Israeli military operations are continuing across the Gaza Strip, with Palestinian casualty figures rising as strikes hit multiple areas of the territory. The ongoing campaign has drawn renewed international concern over the humanitarian situation, with aid agencies warning of worsening conditions for civilians caught in the fighting.

A new report concludes that the Board of Peace, mandated by the UN Security Council, has "functioned to further entrench Israel's unlawful presence" in Gaza. It questions why the mandate is being used, in the report's words, to violate the most fundamental rights of Palestinians. The finding challenges the legitimacy of the international body's role in Gaza and is drawing attention from critics of its operations.

A report by Al Jazeera alleges that Israel is using artificial intelligence systems to identify and prioritise homes and structures for demolition in the occupied West Bank. The claim suggests automated targeting tools are accelerating demolitions and displacement of Palestinians. Critics describe the practice as 'weaponising' AI, raising concerns about accountability and due process under occupation.

Police in the UK detained a group of peaceful sign-holding protesters, many of them pensioners, in a kettle for 13 hours into midnight before arresting them under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The arrests were reportedly triggered by signs reading 'I oppose genocide - I support...' and the treatment of the mostly elderly demonstrators has drawn criticism.

An Israeli government minister has publicly called for Israel to take over Lebanon and Gaza, arguing such a move would 'deter the enemy from war'. The remarks, reported by NDTV, come amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and cross-border tensions with Lebanon and Hezbollah. The statement is likely to draw international criticism and adds to debate over Israel's long-term military and political strategy in the region.

Donald Trump has rejected a ceasefire proposal from Iran concerning the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that carries a large share of the world's oil shipments. The refusal signals continued escalation between Washington and Tehran, with observers warning that tensions around the Gulf could disrupt global energy markets and draw regional powers further into the confrontation.

Pubs in Ireland are refusing to screen an Israel football match, citing protest against what they describe as genocide in Gaza. The venues say they will not broadcast the fixture as part of a wider show of solidarity with Palestinians. The move has drawn attention to how the Israel-Gaza conflict is spilling into sport and everyday public life, with many people voicing support for the pubs' stance.

Social media users are mockingly repeating the phrase 'only democracy in the Middle East', a long-standing description of Israel, to challenge it. The post attaches hashtags accusing Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and settler colonialism, and calls for a halt to Israeli actions and support for BDS and a free Palestine. No independent facts or new events are given beyond the rhetorical claim itself.

Extremist Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian home near the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The incident adds to a pattern of settler violence against Palestinian residents in the area. Activists and observers are sharing reports of the attack and calling attention to rising tensions across the occupied West Bank.

British police arrested a 94-year-old Jewish lawyer as she protested against the war in Gaza. The arrest was carried out under anti-terrorism legislation that covers any mention of Palestine Action, an organisation that has been banned in the UK. The incident is drawing criticism of how far police are applying counter-terrorism powers to peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with many expressing outrage that such an elderly demonstrator was detained.

Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, in the occupied West Bank, are surviving without water after Israeli settlers cut off their supply line, according to a report in Mondoweiss. The item is being shared alongside sharply critical language, with users condemning Israeli settler activity in the area and invoking accusations of apartheid and calls for accountability at the International Criminal Court.

Israeli authorities have released footage showing a Palestinian detainee painting his prison cell while his hands remain handcuffed. The clip has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian observers, who describe it as further evidence of degrading treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, amid ongoing scrutiny of detention conditions during the Gaza war.

Israel has expelled Dutch diplomats from Ramallah, reportedly in response to the Netherlands' boycott of Israeli products. The move has drawn reactions on Dutch social media, where some users are calling on the Netherlands to retaliate in kind by expelling Israeli diplomats, describing it as an eye for an eye. The expulsion marks a new low in already strained relations between the two countries over the occupied territories and trade policy.

A Dutch social media discussion is circling the claim that the Netherlands is standing 'internationally for the paal' — that it is once again tolerating what the author calls Israel's genocidal crimes in Gaza. The post sharply condemns Benjamin Netanyahu, branding him a mass slaugherer and 'the world's biggest child murderer', and expresses anger that his actions are being met with acceptance rather than condemnation, resonating with others sharing the criticism.