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Israeli army chief threatens Lebanon with ‘swift offensive’ from occupied Beaufort Castle

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Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eyal Zamir (C) conducts a field tour with senior commanders of the Israeli army. [Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Sunday threatened Lebanon with a “swift offensive” in the event of any violation of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, during a field visit to the occupied Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, the Israeli army said Zamir toured forces stationed in the Beaufort area, known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif, alongside senior military commanders.

During the visit, Zamir called for transitioning to a “swift offensive” if the ceasefire agreement is breached.

The statement quoted him as describing Beaufort Castle as a “strategic point dominating its surroundings” and claimed the area was “full of terrorist infrastructure.”

Ignoring Israel’s near-daily violations of the ceasefire, Zamir also urged the Lebanese army to fulfill its commitments and work to remove Hezbollah fighters from the area.

He further claimed that Hezbollah had built, with Iranian funding and direction, “extensive tunnel systems and underground infrastructure” over decades to threaten northern Israeli settlements.

READ: Israeli army ends Givati Brigade mission in southern Lebanon after 8 months

There was no immediate response from Lebanese authorities on Zamir’s threat or his field visit.

In late May, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces had taken control of Beaufort Castle, in the deepest push into Lebanese territory since 2,000.

Hezbollah, however, said at the time that the site had been “free of any military resistance” when Israeli forces entered it, accusing Israel of occupying the area for propaganda purposes.

Beaufort Castle is one of southern Lebanon’s most prominent strategic landmarks. Israeli forces withdrew from the site in 2000.

The latest threat comes despite a framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on June 26 under US mediation, which aims to end the conflict and address its root causes.

Since March 2, 2026, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed at least 4,303 people and injured 12,202 others, according to Lebanese authorities, while displacing more than one million.

READ: Israel’s Ben-Gvir to skip UN police summit in New York amid legal pressure: Reports

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.

Continue ReadingIsraeli army chief threatens Lebanon with ‘swift offensive’ from occupied Beaufort Castle

Israeli occupiers burn down restaurant in occupied West Bank

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The interior of a restaurant is seen heavily damaged after Israeli settlers raided and set fire to the building near An-Najah National University in Nablus, in West Bank, on July 5, 2026. [Nedal Eshtayah – Anadolu Agency]

Israeli occupiers set fire to a restaurant in the occupied West Bank on Sunday after stealing money from there, local sources told Anadolu Agency.

A group of occupiers broke into the restaurant near Al-Zaytouna University, between the towns of Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and Ammuriya, south of Nablus, the sources said.

They smashed its doors, stole money, and set it on fire, completely destroying it, the sources stated, adding that the attack occurred under the protection of the Israeli army.

The sources added that the restaurant served university students, and estimated the losses from the fire at around $300,000.

The interior of a restaurant is seen heavily damaged after Israeli settlers raided and set fire to the building near An-Najah National University in Nablus, in West Bank, on July 5, 2026. [Nedal Eshtayah - Anadolu Agency]
The interior of a restaurant is seen heavily damaged after Israeli settlers raided and set fire to the building near An-Najah National University in Nablus, in West Bank, on July 5, 2026. [Nedal Eshtayah - Anadolu Agency]
The interior of a restaurant is seen heavily damaged after Israeli settlers raided and set fire to the building near An-Najah National University in Nablus, in West Bank, on July 5, 2026. [Nedal Eshtayah - Anadolu Agency]
The interior of a restaurant is seen heavily damaged after Israeli settlers raided and set fire to the building near An-Najah National University in Nablus, in West Bank, on July 5, 2026. [Nedal Eshtayah - Anadolu Agency]

In the central West Bank, Israeli occupiers, accompanied by their livestock, attacked an area surrounding Palestinian homes in the northern part of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the sources said.

Residents confronted the attackers and forced them to retreat, according to sources.

The attack came days after Israeli authorities seized 464.4 dunams of the town’s land under the pretext of “state land” to expand illegal settlement activity in the area, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission had said.

READ: Israeli army closes charity headquarters in occupied West Bank city of Nablus

The Jerusalem Governorate also said an occupier released his sheep among the homes of residents in the Ka’abneh-Kasarat community near the town of Anata, in a “provocative attack” targeting the Bedouin community and its residents.

The occupier deliberately wandered with his sheep among the houses, obstructing the movement of residents and preventing them from entering or leaving the community, the governorate added.

In the southern West Bank, local sources said a group of occupiers stormed the area and surrounded a Palestinian home in the Sha’ab al-Batim area of ​​Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, and cut the electricity supply to the house.

The Masafer Yatta area is witnessing repeated attacks by occupiers targeting residents, their homes, and their property, coinciding with escalating measures aimed at restricting their movement and forcing them to leave their land.

Since October 2023, the West Bank has witnessed an Israeli escalation carried out by the Israeli army and occupiers, killing 1,175 Palestinians, injuring 12,919 others, and leading to the arrest of around 24,000 people, according to official Palestinian data.

READ: Israeli occupiers set fire to 2 mosques, army demolishes Palestinian home in occupied West Bank

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.

Continue ReadingIsraeli occupiers burn down restaurant in occupied West Bank

Egypt rules out ‘popular normalization’ with Israel without just peace, Palestinian state

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Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi deliver a statement during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on October 13, 2025. [Photo by Yoan VALAT / POOL / AFP via Getty Images]

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said there will be “no popular normalization” with Israel unless a just peace is achieved that ends the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Sisi’s remarks came during a Saturday speech at the inauguration ceremony for the State Strategic Command headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital east of Cairo, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

“There will be no lasting peace, no true stability, and no popular normalization except with a just peace that ends the occupation, puts an end to injustice and aggression, restores rights to their rightful owners, and provides security for all,” the president said.

A just peace would provide the peoples of the region with “an opportunity to live in stability and prosperity,” he added.

READ: Egypt: Full Israeli withdrawal is key to stability in Lebanon

Sisi also called for support for the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect in October 2025, as well as for a recent framework deal between Iran and the US to end their conflict.

He also urged preventing any attempts to undermine them.

Strategic command

Speaking about the newly inaugurated State Strategic Command, Sisi described it as a major advancement in Egypt’s command-and-control and operational management capabilities.

He said the facility incorporates advanced technological infrastructure, secure communications systems, intelligence-gathering and analysis capabilities, and an integrated framework linking political and military leadership.

“The command is not only responsible for managing military situations but also serves as a cornerstone of the state’s ability to confront challenges and exceptional circumstances,” he added.

READ: 1,022 infants among more than 21,500 children killed during Gaza’s 1,000-day war

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.

Continue ReadingEgypt rules out ‘popular normalization’ with Israel without just peace, Palestinian state

Israel’s Ben-Gvir to skip UN police summit in New York amid legal pressure: Reports

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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in West Jerusalem on January 24, 2023 [Saeed Qaq/Anadolu Agency]

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is planning to skip a UN police chiefs conference in New York this week amid legal pressure over his prison policies and “involvement in war crimes,” Israeli media reported.

Ben-Gvir’s office has yet to confirm the cancellation of the visit, the Jerusalem Post reported Saturday.

The report came a day after the Israeli daily Haaretz, citing ministry officials, said the decision was made amid planned demonstrations against Ben-Gvir’s visit and growing calls by human rights groups for his investigation and arrest.

Earlier in the week, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgium-based group known for filing legal cases against Israeli soldiers and officials around the world, urged US authorities to detain and prosecute Ben-Gvir over his prison policies. His office has not yet confirmed whether the reported cancellation was linked to legal pressure.

Ben-Gvir was scheduled to attend the UN Chiefs of Police Summit in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Hind Rajab Foundation said it and the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights filed a complaint with the US Justice Department and urged New York Attorney General Letitia James to launch an investigation.

The foundation said Ben-Gvir has “used his authority to enact a policy of systematic torture, murder, abuse and forced displacement,” particularly within the Israel Prisons Service, which falls under his oversight.

The groups argued that James has the authority to investigate Ben-Gvir because “a number of New York residents have been harmed by Ben-Gvir’s criminal conduct and because Ben-Gvir may also be engaging in criminal conduct while in New York.”

They cited 11 alleged cases involving New York residents, including 10 people on aid flotillas bound for Gaza in the last two years who were “subjected to torture and abuse” after being detained by Israel.

READ: Trump says Netanyahu asked for meeting at White House

The Israeli war on Gaza, launched on Oct. 8, 2023, with US backing, has devastated nearly 90% of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure and killed more than 73,000 Palestinians.

The letter also referred to a Palestinian American who was “subjected to starvation and other torture methods while detained in an Israeli prison.”

“The #HindRajabFoundation welcomes reports that Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir has canceled his NY visit following legal action by HRF and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

“Israeli political and military leaders have traveled the world expecting impunity. That expectation is beginning to erode,” the organization said on US social media company X on Saturday.

This marks the second US trip Ben-Gvir has canceled within a month. Haaretz said he also scrapped a planned private visit last month after reportedly facing visa-related difficulties.

The newspaper added that, unlike the private trip, Ben-Gvir was not expected to face entry issues for the UN conference, as he was due to lead an official Israeli delegation.

READ: Israel’s Ben-Gvir faces US complaint over alleged war crimes: Rights group

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.

Continue ReadingIsrael’s Ben-Gvir to skip UN police summit in New York amid legal pressure: Reports

Iran, Qatar resume maritime trade after 5-month hiatus

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

Large commercial vessels and a small boat navigate the waters off the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Iran on June 21, 2026. [Hassan Ghaedi – Anadolu Agency]

Iran and Qatar have resumed their maritime trade following roughly five months of suspension, Iran’s commercial attaché in Doha said on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

Maritime shipping between Iran’s Dayyer Port and Qatar’s Al Ruwais Port resumed following coordination between the Iranian Embassy in Doha and Qatari authorities, Abbas Abdolkhani added in statements carried by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets, including Qatar.

The fighting stopped on April 8 when Pakistan secured a ceasefire, and an initial memorandum was signed in June. Mediators, including Qatar, continue talks for a final deal.

READ: Qatar says frozen Iranian funds remain withheld as US-Iran Talks Continue

Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpA

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says he wishes someone would lock him up, small Orca speaks bluntly.

Continue ReadingIran, Qatar resume maritime trade after 5-month hiatus