In a historic visit to the biblical heartland of Israel, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson declared his intention to remove the term “West Bank” from U.S. federal government language and replace it with the biblical names “Judea and Samaria,” reinforcing America’s growing alignment with Israel’s ancestral claims to the disputed region.
Hezbollah issued a scathing rebuke on Wednesday against the Lebanese government’s decision to move forward with a plan to disarm all resistance groups, including the Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist organization, calling the move a “grave sin” and a capitulation to American and Israeli pressure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet Thursday evening to finalize decisions on the next phase of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, with expectations mounting that the government will approve a full-scale occupation of the Strip–despite urgent warnings from top defense officials.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar delivered a forceful rebuke at the United Nations on Tuesday, accusing countries that recently moved to recognize a Palestinian state of sabotaging a ceasefire deal and giving Hamas “free gifts” that have prolonged the war in Gaza.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take concrete steps to compel Israel to accept a ceasefire in Gaza and move toward a two-state solution. According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, Erdogan pressed Starmer during a phone call to use Britain’s influence to help end the ongoing conflict and advance Palestinian statehood.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi leveled sharp accusations against Israel on Tuesday, claiming the war in Gaza has become a campaign of genocide and starvation rather than a legitimate military operation. In a fiery press conference held alongside Vietnamese President Luong Cuong in Cairo, Sisi declared that the war’s true objective was not merely to defeat Hamas but to “starve the population, commit genocide, and eliminate the Palestinian cause.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to push forward with the full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, including operations in zones where Israeli hostages are believed to be held, according to a senior source in the Prime Minister’s Office who spoke to The Jerusalem Post on Monday. The dramatic shift in policy has set the stage for a potential confrontation with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leadership, as Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly voiced objections and was told to resign if he disagrees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a decisive military victory to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to a diplomatic source quoted Sunday in Hebrew media. The remarks come amid growing public pressure and internal government debate over whether to expand military operations in Gaza, even at the potential cost of endangering the remaining captives.
Questions have been raised about footage of alleged mass starvation in Gaza after The New York Times admitted that an emaciated child displayed on its front page as evidence of famine was suffering from a grim medical condition unrelated to the conflict with Israel.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday called for the immediate start of a process leading to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, saying Berlin continues to oppose unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood–at least for now. His remarks come amid mounting international pressure on Israel following a wave of European declarations backing statehood for Palestine.
The Trump administration announced Thursday it will impose sanctions on multiple officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) over what it described as continued support for terrorism and efforts to undermine Israel through international legal channels.
Just days before the Jewish people mark the solemn day of Tisha B’Av–the Ninth of Av–a rare bronze coin dating to the final year before the destruction of the Second Temple has been discovered near the Temple Mount. The coin, bearing the stirring inscription “For the Redemption of Zion,” was minted in Jerusalem during the fourth year of the Great Revolt against Rome (69-70 C.E.). Archaeologists view the find as a powerful echo of Jewish longing for deliverance in the face of overwhelming despair.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that Canada will officially recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September, aligning with a growing number of Western nations breaking from longstanding diplomatic policy. The move drew immediate condemnation from Israel and raised concerns in Washington about rewarding the terror group Hamas amid ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Israel has delivered a stark warning to Hamas through international mediators: agree to the current ceasefire and hostage release proposal within days, or face the annexation of territory surrounding Gaza’s perimeter. The warning, reported by Channel 13, comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top advisors met to assess the stalled negotiations and evaluate next steps amid growing impatience in Jerusalem.
In a groundbreaking shift that could reshape the future of the Middle East, several Arab nations–including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt–joined Western allies Tuesday in calling for Hamas to disarm and relinquish its control over the Gaza Strip. The joint declaration, signed by 17 countries along with the European Union and the Arab League, marks a historic rebuke of the terror group by regional powers that have previously maintained more cautious stances.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that Britain would formally recognize a Palestinian state by September, if Israel does not stop its war against Hamas in Gaza in a move that was due to anger Israeli politicians.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Sunday sharply criticized the United Nations, The New York Times, and Hamas for what he called a “complete balagan”–the Hebrew word for chaos–regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. In a post on X, Huckabee accused the three of spreading propaganda that derailed ceasefire efforts, discredited legitimate aid operations, and ultimately prolonged the suffering of hostages and civilians.
The United States issued a firm rebuke Monday of a United Nations-hosted conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling the effort a “publicity stunt” that undermines serious diplomatic efforts and emboldens Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully denied allegations of starvation in the Gaza Strip, labeling the accusations as “a bold-faced lie” during a high-profile address at a Daystar TV conference in Jerusalem, hosted by Pastor Paula White, former head of the White House Faith Office.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday it will begin implementing daily “tactical pauses” in select areas of the Gaza Strip to facilitate the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, following mounting international pressure over the growing humanitarian crisis.