Egypt and Qatar among others warn against Israeli one-way Gaza exit plan | LIVE

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Egypt and Qatar among others warn against Israeli one-way Gaza exit plan

Eight Muslim-majority countries — including key Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar — voiced concern on Friday after Israel said it intended to open a one-way crossing for Palestinians to leave Gaza.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE said they were “deeply concerned” by Israeli statements about opening the Rafah crossing in one direction with the aim of transferring Gaza residents into Egyptian territory.

The countries stressed that such a move would be unacceptable and warned against any action that could force Palestinians out of Gaza.

US ambassador visiting Jordan and Israel to promote aid to Gaza and regional security

The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, announced an official visit on Saturday to Jordan and Israel to advance humanitarian aid, regional security, the U.N. Security Council resolution, and President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, according to a statement from his office cited by Haaretz.

In Jordan, Waltz will meet with King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss bilateral cooperation and Jordan’s role in facilitating aid to Gaza.

He will also meet with humanitarian organizations to assess ongoing relief efforts and explore collaboration on regional security and the Syrian refugee crisis.

In Israel, Waltz will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, visit the country’s northern and southern borders, go to the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Coordination and Liaison Mechanism center in Kiryat Gat, and meet with representatives of the U.N. Middle East peace process as well as humanitarian groups to review the assistance being delivered to Gaza.

CENTCOM praises Syria for intercepting weapons allegedly bound for Hezbollah

U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper in a statement on X congratulated Syrian security services for stopping several weapons shipments allegedly headed to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Cooper said: “Congratulations to Syria’s security force for recently interdicting multiple weapons shipments. These shipments were intended for Lebanese Hezbollah. The U.S. and our regional partners have a shared interest in ensuring stability across the Middle East.”

UNICEF urges immediate protection for children in Gaza

More than 70 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since last month’s truce, UNICEF reports, amid ongoing Israeli attacks.

The U.N. agency called for the cease-fire to provide real safety for children, emphasizing that “every child has the right to live” and warning that “the killing of children must stop immediately.”

Israeli army kills Palestinian man in West Bank clash

A 38-year-old Palestinian man, Bahaa Abdel-Rahman Rashid, was shot and killed by Israeli forces during clashes in Odala near Nablus, according to Palestinian officials.

The Israeli military says it is reviewing the incident. Violence in the West Bank has continued to rise, with more than 1,000 Palestinians and 44 Israelis killed since October 2023.

Disarming Hezbollah 'is like piercing the hull of a ship'

The Hezbollah leader again compared Lebanon to a ship, arguing that responding to Israel's demands, particularly regarding the party's disarmament, would be like "piercing the hull of the ship, which would cause everyone to sink."

'You are granting Israel concessions that produce no results.'

Regarding the appointment of a civilian, Ambassador Simon Karam, to the cease-fire monitoring Mechanism, Naim Qassem denounced an "initiative that clearly contradicts all official statements, which asserted that any involvement of civilians" in discussions with Israel would be linked to "a cessation of attacks."

"You are granting Israel concessions that produce no results."

Qassem: The 'free concession' made by the state to Israel has only increased the pressure

"Allowing the state to implement the agreement and participate, with a civilian representative, in the cease-fire commission is a mistake.

"You have made a free concession, and this concession will not change the enemy's position, its aggression, or its occupation. The civilian delegate attended the meeting, which only increased the pressure," added the secretary general of Hezbollah.

"We consider this measure to be an additional mistake on top of the mistake of Aug. 5," the date on which the decision to regain the monopoly on weapons was made official.

Qassem on the upcoming elections

Qassem: "It is normal for there to be political disagreements within the country; the legislative elections [scheduled for next May, editor's note] will show the popularity" of each party.

Naim Qassem: 'We are prepared to make the greatest sacrifices and we will not surrender!'

In his speech, Naim Qassem stated that his party is "ready to make the greatest sacrifices and we will not surrender."

"Lebanon is facing a serious expansionist Israeli aggression and we must confront it by all means." "Some continue to say that Israel has only a few demands. But what are you talking about? Are you Israel's lawyer? Why are you justifying it? [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu says he wants Greater Israel, which is why I am telling you to be careful! Israel is expansionist!" "The United States and Israel have no say in Lebanon's decisions!"

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem begins televized his speech

Naim Qassem has begun his speech, broadcast live, at a ceremony honoring Hezbollah's "martyred clerics." He announced that he would speak about "the political situation in general" during his address.

Shortly before the speech began, an Israeli military drone dropped a stun grenade on Odaisseh (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Iraq: Presidency denies approving decision to classify Houthis and Hezbollah as "terrorist organizations"

The Presidency of the Republic of Iraq has denied approving a decision to classify the Houthis and Hezbollah as "terrorist organizations," in a statement relayed by the Iraqi News Agency.

The presidency states that it "denies having any knowledge of or having approved a decision to designate the Ansar Allah movement [the Houthis, editor's note] and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations, or to freeze their assets and funds," and that it only learned of this "through social media."

It specifies that "such decisions are not forwarded to the Presidency of the Republic," explaining that "what is sent to it for verification, approval and publication is limited to laws passed by Parliament and presidential decrees."

Late Thursday morning, the Iraqi Committee for the Freezing of Terrorist Assets reversed its statement No. 61, which on Nov. 17 had placed Hezbollah and the Houthis of Yemen — along with 24 other entities — on the list of terrorist organizations, ordering the freezing of their financial assets in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations Security Council.

Iran: Second day of Iranian naval maneuvers in the Gulf

Iran launched a large number of missiles into the Sea of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz during a second day of naval maneuvers, state television reported, as quoted by the AP.

According to the official media, the Revolutionary Guards, the regime's paramilitary force, fired the missiles from deep within Iranian territory, hitting targets in the Sea of Oman and the area near the Strait of Hormuz, as part of an exercise that began the day before.

The television station specified that the missiles were Qadr-110, Qadr-380, and Ghadir cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. It also reported that the Guard had fired a ballistic missile identified as 303, without providing further details, according to the AP.

These maneuvers are the second military exercise since the Israel-Iran war last June, following the one in August. Since the end of the conflict, which left nearly 1,100 dead in Iran, the country has repeatedly stated that it stands ready to counter any future Israeli attack.

Israel: Israeli army seizes small shipment of weapons at Jordanian border

The Israeli army announced that it had intercepted an "attempt to smuggle nine pistols and a large quantity of ammunition across the Jordanian border," reports Haaretz. The image published by the army of the seized items shows nineteen rounds of ammunition.

According to the statement, "a drone that crossed the border into Israeli territory" was spotted during the night. "Soldiers dispatched to the scene located and seized the drone and the weapons it was carrying," according to Haaretz.

Nearly 400,000 Syrians returned from Lebanon in 2025, according to the UNHCR

Nearly 400,000 Syrian refugees returned from Lebanon in 2025, announced the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a message posted on its X account.

Thursday marked the 12th organized voluntary repatriation from Lebanon to Syria. According to a message posted by the UNHCR, families have returned "to Homs, Hama, Idlib, the Damascus countryside and Damascus, ready to rebuild their lives."

"More than 378,000 Syrians have already returned from Lebanon since the beginning of 2025," the U.N. agency wrote. "Support must continue to ensure that these returns are sustainable," it said.

The number of Syrians, refugees and migrants, residing in Lebanon was estimated at 1.4 million before the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Returning to their country at the invitation of its new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, many are faced with widespread destruction and a precarious economic situation.

UNIFIL warns Lebanon of risk of a 'deterioration' in the situation in the south

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has warned Lebanon and Lebanese "actors" of the risk of a "deterioration" in the situation in the south of the country, which is already tense due to regular Israeli strikes despite the cease-fire, after shots were fired at one of its vehicles near Bint Jbeil.

According to a statement, peacekeepers were "approached by six men on three motorcycles near Bint Jbeil, one of whom fired approximately three shots at the rear of the vehicle. "

While no peacekeepers were injured, these attacks "are unacceptable and constitute serious violations of Resolution 1701," the U.N. force stressed.

In this context, it reminded the Lebanese authorities of "their obligations to ensure the safety of peacekeepers" and called for an investigation into the incident.

UN Security Council delegation to arrive in Beirut today for two days of talks

A delegation from the UN Security Council, representing its 15 member states, is expected in Beirut on Friday for a two-day visit.

Meetings are planned with Lebanese officials, as well as a field visit to the headquarters of the U.N .Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura and to U.N. agencies, which will take place on Saturday.

Lebanon's permanent representative to the UN, Ahmad Arafa, told L'Orient-Le Jour a week ago that this was a mission "crucial for the future of peacekeeping in Lebanon."

On Thursday, the delegation traveled to Syria, where it promised the support of the international community to the country ravaged by years of war.

Naim Qassem speech scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem is scheduled to speak at 2:30 p.m. today at a commemoration for the party's "martyred scholars."

This speech is eagerly awaited, as Hezbollah has not yet officially commented on the authorities' decision to appoint a civilian to the "Mechanism," the committee overseeing the implementation of the ceasefire terms.

President Joseph Aoun announced on Tuesday the appointment of diplomat Simon Karam to the committee, which met shortly thereafter in Naqoura, southern Lebanon.

Houthis release sailors detained since July in Yemen

Yemeni Houthi rebels released 11 sailors yesterday who had been detained since the July attack on the Eternity C ship in the Red Sea, an attack that killed four people on board and caused the ship to sink. The Houthis announced via their al-Massirah channel, quoted by AP, that the Sultanate of Oman had taken charge of the sailors, who were on their way to the country.

Oman, for its part, said that the 11 sailors — from India and the Philippines — had arrived in the sultanate "with a view to returning to their countries of origin." However, the Houthis only released images of 10 sailors.

The Houthis have targeted dozens of ships in the Red Sea since 2023, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and targeting ships with links to Israel.

These attacks have killed at least nine people and have been suspended since the current truce in the Palestinian enclave.

Foreign press opposes further delay in access to Gaza

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Jerusalem on Thursday said it "firmly opposed" another delay to the Israeli supreme court's decision on its petition demanding independent access to the Gaza Strip.

Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli authorities have prevented foreign journalists from independently entering the devastated territory.

Israel has instead allowed, on a case-by-case basis, a handful of reporters to accompany its troops into the Palestinian territory under full Israeli blockade.

On Nov. 24, the supreme court granted the state a further 10 days to respond to the appeal, but on Thursday extended the deadline again to Dec. 21, giving Israel time to present a plan on foreign media access to Gaza.

Read more here.

South Lebanon: Israeli artillery and machine gun fire from west to east of the Blue Line

Following Thursday afternoon's strikes on villages in southern Lebanon Jbaa (Nabatieh), Majda (Sour) and Braasheet (Bint Jbeil), Israeli artillery fired seven shells shortly after 10 p.m. on an area between Dhaira and Yarin (Sour) in the western sector of the southern border.

An hour later, heavy machine gun fire targeted the areas around Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) and Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya) in the eastern sector, according to sources reported by our correspondent in the south.

Israeli tanks were also observed moving around the Israeli position in Malkiya, opposite Aitaroun, with machine gun fire targeting the village and the neighboring town of Blida (Marjayoun).

Good morning and welcome to our live blog

We will be covering live news from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and beyond, with a particular focus on continued Israeli cease-fire violations in southern Lebanon and Gaza, as well as ongoing mechanism talks with Israel and UN Security Council delegation members.