Qatar, Egypt declared will continue mediation efforts; Trump says 'Hamas wants to die' | LIVE

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Sirens sounded in several regions of Israel after a “projectile” was fired from Yemen, according to AFP.

The Israeli army announced that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen toward Israel, where warning sirens sounded in several regions.

“A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force,” a military statement said.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced that it had intercepted a missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen toward Israel.

West Bank: Teenager killed by Israeli army

The Palestinian Authority's Health Ministry said that a Palestinian teenager died after being shot by the Israeli army on Wednesday in the northern occupied West Bank.

“The young Mohammed Khaled Hassan Mabrouk [14 years old ] died a martyr, succumbing to his serious injuries after being hit by the [Israeli] occupation fire in the al-Ain camp, in the Nablus area, the day before yesterday, Wednesday,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Palestinian media claim that the Israeli army carried out a raid on the camp to arrest a wanted man.

When contacted by AFP, the Israeli army did not immediately respond.

Brazil 'welcomes' France's announcement of State of Palestine recognition

The Brazilian government “welcomes the announcement” of France's recognition of the State of Palestine and “urges all other nations that have not yet done so” to take the same decision, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

“The recognition of the Palestinian state by a growing number of countries ... contributes to fulfilling the aspirations for peace in the region, freedom, and self-determination for the Palestinian people,” the Ministry added in a statement.

President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday France's decision to officially recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

Brazil has recognized the State of Palestine since 2010 and advocates a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Gaza: ICRC calls for immediate cease-fire as its teams run out of food and water

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued an urgent appeal on Friday for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, denouncing the “abject” humanitarian situation. The organization says it has more than 350 staff members on the ground, “many of whom are themselves struggling to find food and drinking water.”

The ICRC warns of civilians “killed while trying to obtain food,” children dying of hunger, and families constantly on the move, “searching for safety that does not exist.”

The organization calls on states to “respect their obligations under the Geneva Conventions by ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring that the weapons they transfer do not contribute to violations of this law.”

It also urges them to do more to ensure that the parties to the conflict fulfill their obligations, by facilitating “rapid, unimpeded and impartial humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza,” and by securing the “immediate and unconditional” release of all hostages still being held.

Gaza: Civil Defense reports 26 deaths in Israeli military operations

The Civil Defense in Gaza reported 26 deaths on Friday in new Israeli military operations. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told AFP that five Palestinians were killed in a strike in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, on the al-Qahira school, which had been converted into a shelter for people displaced by the war.

Five others were killed in a strike on a tent for displaced persons in the al-Yarmouk market in central Gaza City, according to the first aid organization.

The others died in separate incidents, mainly in the northern Gaza Strip, but also in Deir al-Balah (center), Khan Younis (south), and Rafah (south), according to the Civil Defense toll.

The latter specifies that at least six people were killed while waiting for aid in different parts of the Palestinian territory.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned the ongoing food crisis in the Gaza Strip, where a third of the population goes without food for days at a time and malnutrition is on the rise, according to the World Food Program (WFP).

“We obviously condemn what is happening right now,” the president said at a press conference in response to a question about the risk of imminent and widespread famine in Gaza, as reported by the U.N. and NGOs.

Gaza: Qatar and Egypt say they are continuing their “intense efforts” at mediation, according to AFP.

(Credit: Muntasser Abdallah)

In Saida, a march in solidarity with Gaza

A popular march took place on Friday evening in Saida in solidarity with the people of Gaza, who are facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Hundreds of people marched from Martyrs' Square to Nejmeh Square.

Participants waved Palestinian, Jamaa Islamiya and Hamas flags, as well as signs reading: “We will return to our villages,” “Our hearts are with Gaza,” “Where hunger does not cry, but kills in silence” and “Gaza calls for help, save what remains.”

“The humanitarian catastrophe we are witnessing in Gaza must end immediately,” Paris, London, and Berlin urged in a joint statement on Friday.

Responding to warnings from the U.N. and NGOs denouncing the risk of imminent and widespread famine, the three European capitals called on the Israeli government to “immediately lift restrictions on the delivery of aid.”

France, Britain, and Germany also reminded Israel that it “must respect its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

“The time has come to end the war in Gaza,” they added, urging “all parties to end the conflict by immediately agreeing to a cease-fire.”

They reiterate their call for the release of Israeli hostages and the disarmament of Hamas.

They also say they “strongly oppose any attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories.”

“Threats of annexation, settlements and acts of violence committed by settlers against Palestinians undermine the prospects for a negotiated solution providing for the coexistence of two states,” they warn.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the lack of “humanity” and "compassion" for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are facing not only a humanitarian crisis but “a moral crisis that challenges the world's conscience.”

“I cannot explain the level of indifference and inaction we see in too many people in the international community. The lack of compassion. The lack of truth. The lack of humanity,” he said in a video address to the Amnesty International assembly.

Trump downplays Macron's statements

U.S. President Donald Trump has downplayed statements made by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the recognition of a Palestinian state, saying they carry little “weight,” according to AFP.

“What he says doesn't matter. He's a very nice guy, I like him, but that statement doesn't carry much weight,” he told reporters at the White House shortly before leaving for Scotland.

Hamas 'did not want agreement,' wants to 'die,' says Trump

Donald Trump said that Hamas “did not want an agreement” after negotiations for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip failed, and wanted to “die,” according to AFP.

“Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And that's very, very serious,” the U.S. president told reporters shortly before leaving for Scotland.

Talks on Gaza fail: Hamas accuses US mediator of backtracking, reports AFP

“We can no longer accept massacres and famine” in Gaza, said Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, refusing, however, to recognize the Palestinian state at this stage, as France has done.

“The recognition of a new Palestinian state must take place at the same time as their recognition of the State of Israel,” he said, drawing criticism from the opposition.

Gaza: Belgian state on trial, urged to sanction Israel

Two Belgian organizations demanding concrete action against Israel to end the war in Gaza have taken the Belgian state to court, given the European Union's inability to sanction Benjamin Netanyahu's government, their lawyer said, quoted by AFP.

A preliminary hearing took place on Friday morning before a judge in Brussels, and the closing arguments are scheduled for Sept. 15, according to Vincent Letellier, the lawyer, who told AFP.

“Unless there is a sudden change, it will not be possible for the European Union to suspend the association agreement with Israel ... so now the countries must be put under pressure by their voters and by the courts,” he said.

Gaza: Israeli official tells AFP that air deliveries of aid will resume

An Israeli official told AFP on Friday that humanitarian aid drops would resume shortly in the Gaza Strip, a territory ravaged by more than 21 months of war and threatened with famine.

“Humanitarian aid drops over the Gaza Strip will resume in the coming days, coordinated by the United Arab Emirates and Jordan,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Netanyahu: Israel and US exploring alternative options to free hostages and end Hamas rule

"Israel is currently studying, in coordination with its American allies, alternative options aimed at bringing home the hostages held by Hamas, ending the Islamist movement’s rule in the Gaza Strip, and securing lasting peace for the State of Israel," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as quoted by Reuters.

Syria, US, and France pledge swift cooperation on Syria’s transition and stability

Syria, the United States, and France said in a joint statement Friday that they have agreed to move quickly on efforts to support Syria’s transition, unity, and territorial integrity, Reuters reports.

The three parties also emphasized the need to ensure that Syria’s neighbors do not pose a threat to it — and that Syria does not pose a threat to its neighbors.

Hamas says cease-fire talks to resume next week after US and Israel recall negotiators

Cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel are expected to resume next week, according to AP.

Hamas official Bassem Naim said Friday that he was informed an Israeli delegation would return for consultations early next week.

His statement comes a day after the United States pulled its negotiating team from Qatar, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of showing a “lack of desire” to reach a truce in its latest response.

Iran held 'frank' talks with Europeans, says Iranian diplomat quoted by AFP

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said he is "encouraged" by Iran’s approval of a visit by a U.N. nuclear watchdog delegation to the country “in the coming weeks,” AFP reports.

His comments come as Iran held talks on Friday in Istanbul with France, the United Kingdom, and Germany — the first such negotiations since Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites in mid-June.

Grossi said a technical visit by the IAEA team could lead to the return of U.N. nuclear inspectors to Iran, possibly later this year. “If we don’t return soon, there will be a serious problem, because this is an international obligation for Iran,” he told reporters during a visit to Singapore.

“I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard from Tehran — that they want to re-engage in dialogue with us,” he added, noting that while a date is not yet set, the visit is expected “in the coming weeks.”

IAEA chief 'encouraged' by Iran’s decision to resume nuclear dialogue

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said he is "encouraged" by Iran’s agreement to allow a U.N. nuclear watchdog delegation to visit the country “in the coming weeks,” AFP reports.

His remarks come as Iran held talks in Istanbul on Friday with France, the UK, and Germany — marking the first such meeting since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites in mid-June.

Grossi noted that the technical visit could pave the way for the return of U.N. nuclear inspectors to Iran later this year. “If we don’t return soon, there will be a serious problem because this is an international obligation for Iran,” he told reporters during a visit to Singapore.

“I’m encouraged by what I’ve heard from Tehran — that they want to re-engage with us,” he added, though no date for the visit has yet been set.

US envoy in Israel mocks Macron’s Palestine recognition with 'Côte d’Azur' jab

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee mocked French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France will recognize the State of Palestine in September at the U.N.

Huckabee posted on X: “Macron’s unilateral declaration for a Palestinian state didn’t say where it would be. I can now exclusively reveal France will offer the Côte d’Azur, and the new nation will be called ‘Franc-en-Stine.’”

The comment comes amid strong criticism from Israeli and American officials over France’s diplomatic move.

Nuclear talks: European delegates leave Iranian consulate in Istanbul, AFP reports.

Israeli army says it killed Hamas intelligence chief

The Israeli military says it carried out an airstrike in northern Gaza on Wednesday that killed Amjad Muhammad Hassan Shaer, identified as the head of Hamas’ counterintelligence directorate in its general security apparatus, Al Jazeera reports.

According to the army, this directorate is responsible for “suppressing opposition to Hamas’ rule, thwarting espionage against the terrorist organization, and securing senior officials and assets within Gaza and abroad.”

Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed that the Israeli drone strike on Braasheet, in the Bint Jbeil district, resulted in one fatality.

According to our correspondent in the south, the victim was identified as Ali Qawsan, a resident of Aitaroun, also located in the same region.

UN urges UK to reverse 'disproportionate' ban on Palestine Action

The United Nations has called on the United Kingdom to cancel what it described as a “disproportionate” ban on the activist group Palestine Action, AFP reports.

Germany: No recognition of Palestinian State 'in the short term'

Germany said Friday it does not plan to recognize a Palestinian state in the near future, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would do so in September at the U.N.

Berlin reiterated its position that recognition should come “at the end of a process toward a two-state solution,” adding that Israel’s security remains of “paramount importance” to Germany.

Abbas hails France’s recognition move as 'victory for the Palestinian cause'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised France’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state as “a victory for the Palestinian cause.”

“This reflects France’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to their land and homeland,” Abbas said in a statement issued by the Palestinian presidency and cited by AFP.

Aid groups warn of surging child malnutrition in Gaza

Following a warning from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) that one in four children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, suffer from malnutrition in Gaza, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini also sounded the alarm.

“One in five children in Gaza City is suffering from malnutrition, and the numbers are rising daily,” he wrote on X. “Survival mechanisms are collapsing, access to food and healthcare is disappearing, and famine is beginning to take hold silently.”

Israeli drone strike kills one, injures another in Braasheet, South Lebanon

One person was killed and another seriously wounded in an Israeli drone strike on Baraashit in southern Lebanon, according to our correspondent.

Israeli drone targets vehicle in South Lebanon

An Israeli drone fired two missiles at a pickup truck on the outskirts of Braasheet, in the Bint Jbeil district, our correspondent reports. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, but no immediate casualty toll was available.

Gaza cease-fire talks may resume next week after Israel reviews Hamas response

Cease-fire negotiations could resume next week, pending Israel’s review of Hamas’s latest response, according to Egypt's state-run Al Qahera News.

The report comes after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu recalled his negotiating team for consultations. Al Qahera said the Israeli delegation left the talks shortly after.

US Review finds no evidence Hamas stole American-funded aid, Reuters reports.

An internal U.S. government review found no evidence that Hamas systematically stole American-funded humanitarian aid, Reuters reports. The previously undisclosed analysis, conducted by a USAID office and completed in late June, reviewed 156 incidents of aid loss or theft reported by U.S. aid partners between October 2023 and May 2024.

The report stated that “no reports allege that Hamas” benefited from the aid. These findings challenge the main rationale cited by Israel and some U.S. officials for supporting private armed aid delivery efforts. A State Department spokesperson disputed the findings, citing alleged videos of Hamas looting aid — though no footage was provided.

Oxfam warns of surge in waterborne diseases in Gaza amid aid blockade

Oxfam has reported a sharp rise in waterborne diseases across Gaza, warning of a looming health catastrophe if urgent aid is not allowed in.

The organisation blamed the spike on Israel’s near-total blockade, which has severely restricted the entry of humanitarian aid since March 2. “There are no longer any humanitarian reserves held by agencies inside Gaza,” Oxfam said.

Over 420,000 pallets of aid — enough to fill 101 football fields — remain stuck in warehouses outside the territory. With most health services non-functional, Oxfam warned the real scale of the crisis is likely underreported.

The Emergency Operations Center of Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed that a man was injured in gunfire in Dhayra (Sour district).

Israel 'deliberately starving the population of Gaza,' says Iran

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqei accused Israel of deliberately causing famine in Gaza, according to the state news agency IRNA.

“The Zionist regime continues its massacres with Western-made weapons; it is deliberately starving the population of Gaza, and thanks to American vetoes and Western political protection, it faces no accountability,” Baqei wrote on X.

He added: “It is our collective responsibility to act immediately to prevent the annihilation of the oppressed people of Gaza through hunger and thirst.”

Brazil to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ

Brazil’s foreign ministry announced it is in the final stages of formally joining South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

In a statement released Friday, Brazil said it "expresses deep indignation at the recurring episodes of violence against the civilian population in the State of Palestine, not limited to the Gaza Strip but extending to the West Bank."

The government also accused the Israeli military of committing “atrocities” in Gaza and confirmed it will intervene under the Genocide Convention.

Nuclear talks between Iran and European powers begin in Turkey, according to Iranian state television cited by AFP.

France’s recognition of Palestine 'contradicts' Hamas, says french foreign minister

France’s upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state is not a reward for Hamas, as critics claim, but rather a rejection of the group, according to the French Foreign Minister.

"Hamas has always rejected the two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France is opposing this terrorist movement. It is siding with the camp of peace over the camp of war," Jean-Noël Barrot posted on X.

Nuclear: Iran sees talks as chance for Europeans to “correct” their stance

Tehran stated that today’s meeting with the three European countries in Istanbul is an opportunity for Europe to “correct” its position on Iran’s nuclear program.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the talks "a test of realism for the Europeans and a valuable opportunity to adjust their views on Iran’s nuclear issue," according to the official IRNA news agency.

Gaza: One in four children malnourished, declares Doctors Without Borders

One in four children aged six months to five years, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women examined last week in Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders) facilities in Gaza, are suffering from malnutrition, the NGO reported, according to AFP.

“The deliberate use of hunger as a weapon of war by Israeli authorities in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with both patients and healthcare workers themselves going hungry,” MSF warned in a statement.

Southern Lebanon: One injured by Israeli machine gun fire in Dhayra

A man, identified as a member of the Dhayra municipal council, was injured Friday morning by Israeli machine gun fire in the village, according to our correspondent in South Lebanon. He has been hospitalized.

Overnight, Israeli artillery fired illumination grenades over Kouroum al-Mrah, near Mais al-Jabal. On Thursday, Israeli bombardments targeted several areas in South Lebanon, including a drone strike in Aita al-Shaab that killed a man identified by Hezbollah as one of its fighters.

France to recognize Palestinian state, Israel outraged

President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize the State of Palestine at the U.N. in September, aiming to build collective momentum. Israel condemned the move as a “reward for terrorism,” and the United States firmly rejected it.

Israeli bombardment continues in Gaza

Israeli strikes on Gaza continued, killing at least 40 people yesterday, according to local civil defense.

Since March, Israel has imposed a full blockade on Gaza, partially eased in late May, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a "large proportion" of Gaza’s population is “starving to death.”

Iran and Europeans to discuss nuclear program in Turkey

An Iranian delegation will meet Friday in Istanbul with envoys from France, the UK, and Germany for new nuclear talks. The meeting follows Israel’s mid-June strikes on key Iranian nuclear and military sites, triggering a 12-day conflict.

European powers have warned they may reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

Netanyahu: Hamas should not mistake our willingness for weakness

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is seeking a new deal to free hostages but warned Hamas not to see this as weakness or an opening to impose surrender terms that endanger Israel.

Hamas 'surprised' by Witkoff's remarks, says it wants talks to continue

Hamas expressed surprise at U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's claim that cease-fire talks had failed. The group said it approached the negotiations with “great flexibility” and that mediators were satisfied with its position.

Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to continuing talks to reach a permanent cease-fire. According to a Palestinian source, Hamas’s latest proposal includes amendments on aid delivery, Israeli withdrawal zones in Gaza, and guarantees for ending the war — terms Israel has so far rejected.

Hello and welcome to our live blog stay tuned for developments across the Middle East:

• In Gaza, where deadly Israeli strikes continue across the enclave, including on aid seekers.
• In Lebanon, where Israel bombed the south Thursday night despite a declared truce.
• And in Iran and Syria, amid escalating regional tensions.

Catch up on what you missed yesterday and what to look out for today by reading our 👉 Morning Brief.

Gaza truce talks collapse: US and Israel pull negotiators

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the failure of cease-fire talks in Doha, blaming Hamas for lacking genuine intent. Israel had already recalled its negotiating team.

Despite this, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s goal of securing a new hostage deal. Witkoff said the U.S. and partners would now consider “other options” to recover hostages and stabilize Gaza.