Category: 2. Middle East

The US ambassador to Israel on Tuesday demanded an aggressive investigation and consequences after settlers beat to death a Palestinian-American, in rare public pressure against the ally by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee, an outspoken supporter for years of Jewish settlement in the Palestinian territories, spoke out after an initial muted US official reaction to the death of Saif al-Din Abdul Karim Musalat.

“I have asked Israel to aggressively investigate the…

The mainly Druze residents of the Syrian city of Sweida had hoped the arrival of government forces on Tuesday would spell an end to deadly sectarian clashes with local Bedouin tribes.

Instead they spoke of executions, looting and arson as government troops and their allies rampaged through Druze neighbourhoods, prompting thousands from the religious minority to flee.

“Government forces entered the city on the pretext of restoring order… but unfortunately they indulged in savage practices,”…

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced Tuesday that electricity and water had been cut off to the offices of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), in a move intended to halt the agency’s operations inside Israel, Anadolu reports.

Under the slogan “Turning off the lights at UNRWA!” Cohen wrote on X that “the law to disconnect electricity and water from UNRWA offices, which will lead to the cessation of the organization’s activities in…

Saudi Arabia condemned on Tuesday Israel’s “blatant and ongoing aggression” on Syria as a “flagrant violation of international law,” Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Riyadh has been closely following developments in Syria and expressed support for the Syrian government’s efforts to restore stability and safeguard national unity.

“Saudi Arabia expresses its satisfaction with the measures taken by the Syrian government…

Germany and Slovenia called on Israel to improve the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza amid a mass starvation and mounting civilian death toll in the enclave, Anadolu reports.

“I heard that an agreement was reached between the (European) Commission and Israel, and this is necessary. I consider it very important for the future.

“It should ensure that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip improves quickly and effectively. This has the full support…

A growing child hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip is “engineered,” according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who issued a stark warning Tuesday about the catastrophic levels of malnutrition affecting children in the besieged territory, Anadolu reports.

“One in 10 children screened in UNRWA medical facilities is malnourished,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “Malnutrition among children in Gaza has increased…

A US defense official on Tuesday denied claims in Israeli media that recent Israeli airstrikes against Syria were conducted in coordination with the US, Anadolu reports.

“The US did not participate in the strikes,” the official told Anadolu, when asked about the reports, which said Israeli airstrikes on Syria were being conducted “in coordination” with the US.

“For additional information we refer you to the IDF,” the official said, referring to the…