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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday and met President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Iran the main focus of their talks, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported. Netanyahu traveled to the UAE on a private plane and spent the day in the country, Kan said. There was no immediate official announcement of the visit from either government. Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.

Natural springs and centuries-old pools across the occupied West Bank have traditionally offered relief from the region’s intense summer heat and served as an important source of water for Palestinian communities, supporting both tourism and agriculture. But access to many of these water sources is becoming increasingly restricted for the 2.8 million Palestinians living in the territory, as Israeli settlers, backed by a hard-line government, intensify efforts to take control of springs and archaeological and heritage sites. In one case this summer, water from a natural spring serving the Palestinian village of Fasayil was diverted to a nearby ancient pool. The people who redirected the water used it to fill the pool and promoted it as a new tourist attraction named after Herod, the Roman-appointed king of Judea. Under agreements reached in the 1990s, the pool is located in Area C, which remains under full Israeli military control. Research by Dror Etkes, head of settlement watchdog Kerem Navot, found that the land was privately owned. Palestinian farmer Saad Nemer of Fasayil said the diversion had severely affected his farmland. He said his family possesses documents showing ownership of the land. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for civilian affairs in the West Bank, acknowledged that the water had been diverted “without authorization” and said the matter would be investigated. Other swimming spots have also become flashpoints. An Israeli father of six was shot and killed last week by a Palestinian at a spring in the northern West Bank while he was swimming with his eldest son ahead of the Yom Kippur holiday. Israel backs Jewish heritage projects Israel has controlled the West Bank since capturing the territory, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, from Jordan and Egypt during the 1967 war. Since then, Israel has established settlements housing more than half a million Israelis on land Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. Earlier this month, amid increased settler violence and actions that have displaced Palestinians, the British government accused Israel of turning “a blind eye” to what it described as “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank — perpetrated by settler terrorists.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned settler violence but attributed it to a “handful of rioters” whom he said were harming the reputation of the “law-abiding settler public.” Israeli rights group B’Tselem said efforts to take control of and designate heritage sites are part of a broader campaign. In a report published this month, the group said such designations are used to strengthen claims about Israel’s and Jewish people’s historical, cultural and religious connections to the West Bank. Alon Arad, executive director of Emek Shaveh, an Israeli group opposed to the politicization of archaeology in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said naming the pool near Fasayil after Herod was an effort to associate the site with Jewish history. The site has never undergone archaeological excavation, making its exact construction date unclear. However, excavations by the archaeology unit of Israel’s Civil Administration have found other ruins in the area dating to Herod’s reign in the first century B.C.E. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu told The Associated Press that the pool would be drained after the Jewish holidays in early October so government archaeologists could conduct a full survey. Eliyahu praised those who diverted the water and said the government had allocated about $1 million to rehabilitate the site. He said this was part of at least $166 million allocated for excavations and infrastructure at more than 100 sites he described as connected to Jewish heritage in the West Bank. “We’ll turn this place into the Garden of Eden,” Eliyahu said while visiting the pool near the Petzael settlement. “There is no such thing as a Palestinian nation,” he added before entering the water. Water restrictions leave Palestinian fields dry The dispute over access to water in this fertile part of the West Bank reflects the broader struggle for control of the territory, particularly the Jordan Valley. Palestinians regard the area as an important agricultural region for a future state, while Israel considers it strategically important for its eastern border. Palestinians have faced restrictions and shortages in access to water since Israel took control of the West Bank in 1967. Interim peace agreements reached in the 1990s recognized Palestinian water rights but maintained a system under which about 80% of water extracted from the main aquifer was allocated for Israeli use. Settler attacks have further intensified the problem. According to a July report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, settlers damaged, destroyed or seized about 160 water and sanitation facilities, including pipelines and cisterns, in Palestinian communities in 2026. The report said attacks increasingly targeted shared water infrastructure and disrupted supplies to entire communities or large parts of them. In Al Auja in the Jordan Valley, the seizure of local natural springs by settlers has forced some Palestinian farmers to stop cultivating their land. Murad al-Juba, 53, once produced large quantities of fruits and vegetables, including cantaloupes, eggplants, bananas and tomatoes. But he said he has been unable to plant crops since settlers moved into the area, harassed residents and diverted the spring water. “All these farms depend on the spring, but today, the spring is gone, because the settlers took it,” Juba said. More recently, settlers have “completely taken over” the spring’s waterfall and transformed the surrounding area into a “quasi-military zone,” said Hani al-Njoum, the local mayor. He said the situation has seriously harmed both tourism and agriculture. “This land was bountiful,” Juba said. “Today, it is a desert.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday night that the commander of Hamas' Rafah Brigade was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza. Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency said they had conducted a strike targeting a “senior” Hamas figure in the southern Gaza Strip. In a joint statement issued later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz said the operation came after Hamas' Khan Younis Brigade commander and other senior figures were killed earlier this week. They also said no militant was “immune” and that Hamas would not remain in Gaza. Palestinian medical sources, however, reported that at least two Palestinians, including a child, were killed and several others injured in the strike Tuesday evening. The sources told Xinhua that the bodies of two people, including a child, along with several injured Palestinians were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Women and children were among those reportedly in critical condition. Local residents and eyewitnesses said an Israeli aircraft fired three missiles at tents housing displaced Palestinians at al-Sumoud camp in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, setting the tents ablaze. Israeli strikes in Gaza have continued despite a ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025.

Senior Syrian and Israeli delegations met in Jordan on Sunday for US-mediated discussions aimed at easing tensions and reviving negotiations on a possible security agreement, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing a diplomatic source. The Syrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Chief Asaad al-Shaibani and included the heads of the country’s general and military intelligence services. Israel also sent a senior delegation to the meeting, according to the source. The talks in Jordan came amid heightened tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and growing instability in southern Syria. The meeting was intended to promote stability in Syria and the broader region. According to the diplomatic source, the discussions centered on practical measures to stop Israeli attacks, arrests and other targeting operations, while exploring ways to resume negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually pave the way for a broader deal. The Syrian delegation emphasized that Syria is a sovereign country with the right to rebuild and strengthen its national military and choose its alliances and partnerships based on its national interests. Damascus made clear that it would reject any agreement or mechanism that limits those sovereign rights, the source said. The Syrian side also reiterated its position that the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is Syrian territory. However, it said discussions on the territory’s final status and a broader settlement of the issue would be premature at this stage. For now, Damascus identified the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the positions they held before Dec. 8, 2024, and the complete restoration and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement as its immediate priorities. The talks also included efforts to reduce differences between Türkiye and Israel and prevent tensions between the two regional powers from affecting Syrian territory, according to the source. The Syrian delegation stressed that any future security arrangements must respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereign rights, while both sides explored practical measures to ease tensions and resume negotiations. Israel carried out a strike on the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, claiming that Damascus was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy there. Syria and Türkiye rejected the Israeli allegation.

Military officials from Uganda and Burundi visited Israel last week for talks on deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international security force proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, officials said. A Board of Peace official told The media that Ugandan officials accompanied a Burundian military delegation during the visit. Uganda is now working to finalize details of its participation after its parliament approved the deployment of troops earlier this month. No agreement has been reached with Burundi, but the official said discussions with the country were expected to move forward. The official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss negotiations with potential troop-contributing countries, said the talks involved an exchange of significant information and that Burundian representatives showed interest in the mission. A senior Burundian military official said three other high-ranking officers accompanied the delegation to Israel and indicated that Burundi appeared interested in joining the force. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. It remains unclear how many troops Uganda or Burundi could provide or what incentives they might receive. Military spokespersons in both countries did not respond to requests for comment. International force faces delaysIf Burundi joins, it would become the latest country to commit personnel to the proposed Gaza force. Morocco, Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have already pledged troops. Uganda has committed about 1,200 personnel, while Morocco has offered up to 500. Kosovo, Kazakhstan and Albania have collectively pledged about 80 troops. Indonesia had earlier announced plans to send 8,000 troops, the largest proposed contribution, but suspended the deployment after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The proposed force is expected to comprise about 20,000 personnel and be commanded by U.S. Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers. Current commitments remain well below that target. Trump announced last month an agreement calling for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Under the plan, the International Stabilization Force would operate in parts of Gaza administered by an incoming technocratic committee, while Israeli troops would pull back. The force would be tasked with monitoring the ceasefire, training Palestinian police and helping ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Gaza ceasefire, which took effect last October, has faced repeated obstacles over disagreements about an Israeli withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament. Earlier this month, a U.S. delegation held lengthy talks with Hamas’ leadership before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to advance the agreement. Hamas has accepted the latest U.S. proposal, while Netanyahu has rejected it, saying Israel will not withdraw from the roughly 60% of Gaza currently under its control until Hamas is fully disarmed. Even after Netanyahu met with the U.S. delegation, which included negotiator Jared Kushner, Israeli officials made no firm commitment to a withdrawal. Uganda, Burundi bring Somalia experiencePaul D. Williams, director of the security policy studies program at George Washington University, said Uganda and Burundi have extensive peacekeeping experience from years of deployments in Somalia as part of an African Union mission fighting the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group. Their governments have demonstrated a willingness to sustain significant casualties without pulling their forces out, Williams said. He also noted that as the Somalia mission winds down, both countries may seek additional financial and logistical support for their militaries. “Deploying to Gaza with U.S. support is one way to do that,” Williams said. A Ugandan military officer familiar with preparations for the mission said troops were being selected for possible deployment to Gaza. The officer spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

 The Israeli military said Wednesday it would launch criminal investigations into the deaths of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her family, as well as 15 Palestinian paramedics killed in separate incidents during the Gaza war. The decision followed a review of 150 cases involving the conduct of Israeli troops during the conflict. However, the military said it would not open criminal investigations into three other incidents involving the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders. Rajab was killed in February 2024 when Israeli forces fired on a vehicle carrying her, her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they attempted to escape Gaza City during an Israeli military operation. The incident drew widespread international condemnation. In another case, 15 Palestinian paramedics were killed in March 2025 after Israeli troops opened fire on their emergency vehicles in Rafah. The bodies were later bulldozed into a mass grave. Phone footage and testimony from the lone survivor indicated that troops first fired on an ambulance sent to evacuate casualties and later attacked other emergency vehicles searching for it. Australia criticizes decision over aid workers Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed strong anger Thursday over Israel's decision not to pursue criminal charges in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers, including Australian national Zomi Frankcom. Wong said Australian officials were notified of the decision only shortly before it was made public, leaving them unable to inform Frankcom's family in advance. She said several questions remained unanswered, including why the aid convoy was struck three times despite operating in a designated humanitarian area and why a senior brigade officer involved in the operation had signed a letter calling for restrictions on aid entering Gaza. Australia also had not received drone footage from the incident despite repeatedly requesting it, Wong said. She argued that removing two officers from their posts and reprimanding three others did not amount to adequate accountability for the deaths. Wong had earlier summoned Israel's ambassador to Canberra, Hillel Newman, but said Australia would not expel him because diplomatic engagement remained important. Newman expressed sympathy for Frankcom's family but stopped short of apologizing for her death. He defended the military's findings, saying the decision followed two years of independent investigation. Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza At least 10 Palestinians were killed Wednesday in two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The strikes raised further concerns over efforts by the United States to revive a fragile ceasefire. Two days after U.S. negotiators reportedly urged Israel to reduce attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops allegedly crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel, according to witnesses and a Hamas official. Iranian parliament speaker visits Iraq Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit, where he is expected to meet senior Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political alliance. Qalibaf praised Iran-aligned Iraqi militias, calling them an important part of Iraq's national strength. His remarks came as Baghdad continues efforts to bring the militias under greater state control. Iraq has also asked Iran to provide special arrangements for its oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been heavily disrupted by the Iran-U.S. war. Iraq depends on oil revenues for about 90% of its government budget and has been forced to use more costly alternative export routes. France, Iran expel diplomats France said it would expel two employees of Iran's embassy in Paris in retaliation for Tehran's expulsion of two French diplomats earlier this week. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accused Iranian authorities of failing to investigate what he described as a deliberate attack on French diplomatic personnel last month. He rejected Iranian allegations that the two French diplomats had attended a secret meeting involving people suspected of foreign interference, calling the claims fabricated. The two Iranian diplomats are expected to leave France in the coming days.

A Palestinian family divided between Israel and Gaza has reunited after nearly two years of war, displacement and personal tragedy. Mais al-Gharam, 23, had not seen her seven younger siblings since leaving Gaza for Israel shortly before the war began. During the conflict, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the family's home in central Gaza, killing her parents and one of her brothers. Earlier this month, Mais waited outside Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, searching the crowd for her surviving siblings as they emerged from Gaza. "We never stopped being a family," she said. "But every day I wondered whether I would see them again." After years of legal efforts, Mais was finally able to bring her brothers and sisters, aged 8 to 22, to Israel. The siblings reunited at the border crossing and then travelled together to Nazareth, where relatives welcomed them with hugs and home-cooked meals. The reunion brought both relief and grief. Although the family was together again, they were also mourning the loss of their parents and younger brother. Their grandfather, Faraj al-Gharam, described the moment as "coming back from the grave." The family's story began in 2002 when Murad al-Gharam, a resident of Gaza, met Amal Karim, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Nazareth, while working in Israel on a temporary permit. After marrying, the couple moved permanently to Gaza, where they raised eight children in Nuseirat refugee camp. Life changed dramatically after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Mais had already returned to Nazareth, where she married and found work. Her seven siblings, who were born in Gaza, were eligible to apply for Israeli citizenship through their mother, but their father was not. The family initially decided to remain together in Gaza rather than leave without him. As fighting intensified, they were displaced multiple times before returning to their home in Nuseirat. On July 10, 2024, an airstrike struck the house, killing Murad, Amal and their 11-year-old son, Maisara. The surviving children were injured but managed to reach Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where doctors confirmed the deaths of their parents and brother. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike. After the attack, the older siblings took responsibility for caring for the younger children. They cooked, cleaned, collected firewood for heat and water, and even opened a small bakery to earn money while receiving support from relatives in Nazareth. Meanwhile, Mais worked with Israeli rights group HaMoked to secure permits, legal guardianship papers and citizenship applications for her siblings. According to HaMoked, the Israeli Interior Ministry initially rejected the request because the children's mother had died. The family was later required to undergo DNA testing to prove their relationship to Mais before the applications were approved. Nearly two years after the airstrike, the siblings crossed into Israel on July 8 and travelled to Nazareth. After arriving, they spoke not about politics but about ordinary plans for the future, including going back to school, seeing doctors and spending time with relatives. "Family is the most important thing," said Jwaher, one of the siblings.

Israel has been rapidly constructing a large earthen barrier inside the Gaza Strip, according to satellite images, reinforcing its control over more than half of the territory and raising concerns that the temporary military line could become a more permanent boundary. Satellite imagery reviewed by The Associated Press shows that more than 23 kilometres of the barrier have been built in recent months through areas where Palestinian communities were demolished. The structure stretches across much of Gaza, which is about 40 kilometres long and home to more than two million people. The Israeli military confirmed it has built a physical barrier along the so-called "yellow line" — the area where its forces withdrew under the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas in October. The line was intended to be a temporary military boundary until a broader Israeli withdrawal could take place. However, with the ceasefire process stalled, many Palestinians fear the barrier could eventually become a permanent border dividing the enclave. The Israeli military said it has also established a security zone along the line equipped with surveillance and other technology. It said the barrier is intended to prevent infiltration and protect Israeli troops and nearby Israeli communities but declined to say how far the construction will extend. Construction progressing rapidlySatellite images indicate the barrier is expanding quickly. In southern Gaza, one section of the earthworks grew from about 500 metres to roughly 2.4 kilometres between July 1 and July 15, cutting across the area between the Israeli-controlled ruins of Rafah and the Muwasi area, where many displaced Palestinians are living in tent camps. The longest continuous section of the barrier now stretches nearly 17 kilometres from Khan Younis toward Gaza City. Construction on that section began in February and has continued steadily, with more than one kilometre added between late June and early July. Smaller, disconnected sections have also been built near the heavily damaged town of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Large areas under Israeli controlMost of Gaza's population is now concentrated west of the yellow line, where many people are living in overcrowded tent camps and relying on humanitarian aid. Satellite images show that on the Israeli-controlled side of the line, many towns, including much of Rafah, have been flattened by bulldozers and explosives. Roads, military bases and other infrastructure have been built in their place. Israel says it is destroying Hamas infrastructure as part of its military operations. The exact route of the yellow line has never been clearly defined. The Israeli military said it is working to mark the boundary more clearly to reduce accidental crossings. Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians approaching or crossing the area. The military says it targets people suspected of posing a threat, although reports indicate that civilians, including children, have also been killed near the line. Ceasefire remains stalledAccording to Palestinian health officials, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military operations since the ceasefire began, most in airstrikes and drone attacks. During the same period, militant attacks have killed five Israeli soldiers. On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed a couple and their four children, aged between 6 and 13, according to Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas militants operating in the area. The ceasefire agreement calls for Israel to eventually withdraw its forces to the edges of Gaza, where an international security force would take over. However, implementation has stalled amid continued disagreements between Israel and Hamas. Israel says Hamas has failed to disarm, while Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says women and children account for about half of the fatalities.

A team of independent experts commissioned by the United Nations has accused Israel of deliberately targeting children in Gaza and reiterated its allegation that Israel has committed genocide in the Palestinian territory. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which operates under the UN Human Rights Council, said in a report released Tuesday that about 30 percent of Palestinians killed between October 2023 and October 2025 were children, amounting to more than 20,000 deaths. The commission said many more children are believed to be missing or buried in unmarked graves. The report alleged that the impact of the conflict on children in Gaza constituted war crimes and genocide, reinforcing accusations the commission first made against Israel in September. "Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, children continue to be killed and seriously injured, with continued disregard by Israel for the ceasefire and for the protection owed to Palestinian children under international law," said Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the commission. The report identified specific Israeli military divisions operating in areas where children, including infants, were killed and detailed the types of munitions used. It also highlighted incidents in which children were allegedly killed by quadcopter drones and sniper fire, often by a single gunshot. Doctors interviewed by the commission said autopsies in such cases indicated "a high degree of precision in the use of force," suggesting the shots were deliberately aimed rather than accidental or indiscriminate. The commission also documented cases of children being killed after the October 2025 ceasefire, including some reportedly collecting firewood near areas under Israeli military control. According to the report, Israeli authorities have sought to deflect responsibility by describing the slain children as "suspects" or "terrorists" rather than civilian casualties. Israel has strongly rejected the allegations, including the accusation of genocide. The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the report as a "libelous sham" and said its claims were unverified. It also criticized the commission as "a fundamentally flawed mechanism" aimed at singling out and vilifying Israel rather than establishing the truth. Israel maintains that it does not deliberately target civilians and says it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties, including harm to children. The war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 others. Israel's subsequent military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is run by Hamas and staffed by medical professionals, does not differentiate between civilians and militants but says women and children account for around half of all fatalities. Its figures are generally regarded as reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect last October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry said on Wednesday that 1,005 people have been killed in Israeli military operations since the truce began, amid continued airstrikes, shelling and gunfire in various parts of the enclave. The latest casualties followed a series of Israeli drone strikes over recent days targeting towns, refugee camps in central Gaza and areas of Gaza City. In the latest incident, an Israeli strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed two Palestinians and injured six others, according to health officials at Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, saying it targeted a “terrorist,” but provided no further details. Relatives of the victims told hospital authorities that the attack hit a group of people near the beach in the Mawasi tent camp, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Israel has maintained that it continues to conduct operations against Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza and has expanded the territory under its control inside the enclave. In a separate statement, the Israeli military said it had killed two militants belonging to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in strikes carried out over the weekend. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that the overall death toll from the Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023, has surpassed 73,000. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties, though its records are generally regarded by international organizations as credible and are maintained by medical professionals.