Arab ethnonational group native to the Levant
George Clooney has publicly defended Mark Ruffalo’s right to criticise the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros merger and Oracle’s ties to Israel, while expressing private doubts about the deal’s financial logic. Ruffalo has linked the Ellison family’s media bid to Oracle’s work with the Israeli military; Paramount has accused him of invoking antisemitic tropes and several Hollywood figures have taken sides.
The UK has announced a "comprehensive reset" of its Israel policy and has said it will set out measures in coming weeks to stop British companies financing, building or advertising settlements after Israel opened tenders for 1,234 homes in the contested E1 area. Israel has warned it will respond to any sanctions.
The latest exchanges have intensified as US forces have attacked Iranian launchers on Larak Island to prevent mine placement in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes against US bases in Jordan and the UAE, prompting calls for de-escalation amid six months of conflict. Oil prices have risen as global markets react to the renewed tensions.
Palestinian paediatrician Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, remains detained by Israel without charge. Rights groups including MSF and PHRI report severe health deterioration and alleged torture, calling for urgent independent medical review and his release. UN and other bodies have highlighted his case, as international pressure grows.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he believes Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs before the International Criminal Court and has told the city's law department to review whether existing New York law allows detaining Netanyahu if he visits for the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump has posted that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the United States.
Multiple fires have torn through the Havat Gilad settlement and nearby areas in the West Bank, destroying homes and forcing evacuations. Police say an initial probe points to a lit cigarette butt discarded from a vehicle as the likely cause, with arson not ruled out but not yet established. Dozens of structures have been damaged and residents face a humanitarian crisis as firefighting efforts continue.
Satellite images show a growing barrier along the Yellow Line in Gaza, with berms and concrete blocks extending through Palestinian communities and cutting off land and water access. Israel says the barrier aims to prevent infiltration and protect troops, while Palestinians fear it signals a de facto border and intensified displacement.
UNESCO has placed several Lebanese cultural sites on its danger list amid ongoing Israel-Hezbollah clashes. Tyre and Beaufort Castle face threats to their conservation, with the Lebanese government requesting the designation. The move follows direct damage from recent hostilities and concerns over access, with UNESCO urging protection of the sites’ universal value.
Benjamin Netanyahu has met President Donald Trump in a closed-door Oval Office meeting during a Washington visit for Senator Lindsey Graham's memorial. The leaders have discussed Iran, coordination on regional security and the Abraham Accords; White House officials have declined to release a readout while both sides have stressed continued cooperation despite recent tensions.
Several sources report that more than 4,000 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa compound on Tisha B’Av, with far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entering under heavy police protection. Palestinian officials say restrictions barred many worshippers; officials warn the move could threaten the status quo and spur regional tensions.
UNESCO has placed Sebastia in the West Bank and five Mount Amel castles in southern Lebanon on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing ongoing conflicts. Israel opposes the move, calling it politicisation, while Palestinian and Lebanese officials celebrate protections amid tensions.
A Texas suit has been filed to block a state law requiring framed Ten Commandments posters in every public school classroom. Plaintiffs argue the mandate burdens religious freedom under state law and Prop. 15. The case seeks a temporary restraining order before the new school year. The action follows earlier federal rulings on the same law.
Multiple mosques in the northern West Bank have been set ablaze in what authorities describe as a wave of settler violence. Officials say two Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers have died in the broader clashes surrounding Tal and surrounding villages.
Violence in the West Bank has intensified as Israeli forces raid towns and settlers attack Palestinians. Reports confirm deaths on both sides and a push by the government to accelerate settlement construction amid ongoing clashes and raids.
Five Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage at a Barclays branch in Burnley in August 2024 face possible terrorist sentencing after the judge considers a “terrorist connection” to the offence. The development follows Woolwich and Bristol cases where such a connection was recognised.
Netanyahu has met with Trump in Washington to review three approaches to Iran: a diplomatic deal, sustained economic pressure with a blockade, or a renewed military campaign. The discussions, conducted without public detail, aim to determine the path that best prevents a nuclear Iran while considering global energy impacts.
Boy George has released a new track, We Will Dance Again, referencing 7 October attacks and defending Israel's actions in Gaza. The song has sparked backlash from supporters of Palestine and drawn commentary from media and figures worldwide. Reports note the track’s Hebrew chorus and questions over its use of AI in production.
The 1951 Refugee Convention has shaped protections for millions, but fragmentation is rising amid record displacement. EU dialogue, U.S. policy shifts, and new consultations aim to reform protection by 2027.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, with talks of charging fees for traffic through Bab el-Mandeb. Chinese ships would be exempt. International navies face stretched capacity as Gulf trade risks grow.
Boy George has withdrawn from the London Palladium production of Jesus Christ Superstar after releasing a controversial anti-Gaza song supporting Israel. His manager says the move is in the artist’s best interests, while George maintains his stance for peace. The drama follows backlash, with the production continuing as cast members and crew navigate the fallout.
Since Thursday, tens of thousands have crossed into Ceuta, triggering a cross-border crisis. Spain reports dozens of deaths and ongoing efforts to account for victims as migrants return to Morocco. The political fallout involves Spain, Morocco, and wider EU concerns about migration policy and regional stability.
A Jordan-hosted emergency meeting convenes to address escalating tensions around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa and Christian holy sites. Arab ministers warn of potential regional instability as Israeli actions provoke protests and international scrutiny ahead of October elections.
Migrant crowds surged into Ceuta last week, with Spain reporting thousands crossing into the enclave. Authorities say most have returned, but around 1,000 unaccompanied minors remain in Ceuta as rescue operations and border control continue. The events have drawn international attention and raised questions about border policy and migrant protection.
Phoebe Bridgers’s Lost Weekend chronicles personal loss and public life, blending Americana with electronic textures. The album addresses her father’s death, a high-profile breakup, and a year of upheaval, while underscoring her status as a leading songwriter.
Miliband has furthered UK-US discussions in Washington, stressing the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to ease living costs while reaffirming support for Ukraine and calling for humanitarian relief in Gaza; Rubio shares a more measured public account of their talks.
The Board of Peace has issued its first construction contract for a 150-person outpost in Gaza to house Moroccan troops. Arkel International is named as contractor, but the legal framework remains unsettled and key questions persist about timelines, deployment, and legality.
Israel has green‑lit a UAE-backed pilot project in eastern Rafah near the Yellow Line to establish temporary housing and repair civilian infrastructure, with Gaza still under Israeli security control. Palestinian observers warn the plan risks creating isolated enclaves and prolonging occupation while a limited international stabilization force is discussed.
The Gaza ceasefire framework is facing renewed pressure as Netanyahu rejects the 15-point plan, insisting Hamas must fully disarm before any withdrawal. U.S.-led mediators say the roadmap remains operative, while Hamas calls on Washington to pressure Israel. Violence persists, with casualties mounting in Gaza and settlements in the West Bank intensifying.
Ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have stalled as Israeli air strikes resume, killing civilians and police officials. Mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are pressing for a second phase of the ceasefire, including Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal. Health authorities report multiple casualties from coastal Gaza strikes, underscoring fragile hopes for a durable halt to hostilities.
Tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July. Spanish and local officials have said roughly 70,000 returned but Ceuta’s leader estimates 3,000–11,000 remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. The influx has provoked EU diplomatic rows and temporary border checks.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Settlers have besieged three Palestinian homes in Qusra near Nablus, cutting off water and power. US Ambassador Huckabee has publicly condemned the violence as "disgusting" and warned of accountability, while Israel weighs moving civilian policing into the occupied West Bank. The UN and Palestinian authorities condemn the siege as a tactic of displacement.
Kushner and Board of Peace envoys are engaging Hamas in Egypt to press for the 15-point Gaza plan. Netanyahu maintains disarmament conditions, while international mediators call for progress on the roadmap amid unfolding battlefield events.
Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has told a podcast host that targeted killings should extend to 30-40 Palestinians per night in Gaza, while urging emigration and settlement expansion. The remarks come as Israel scales back some strikes in Gaza and amid a broader election cycle. Multiple outlets corroborate his comments from interviews on the podcast The 8 October.
In a Channel 12 interview tied to a new book, former prime minister Naftali Bennett accuses a pro-Netanyahu campaign machine of distorting his image and reveals tense moments from his 2021 handover discussions, underscoring the fragility of Netanyahu’s governing coalition as elections approach.
Israeli justice and security officials have announced the death-penalty framework is advancing. Ben-Gvir has publicly shown a site with foundations for a hang facility and viewing booths for victims’ families, as protests and international condemnation mount. The plan applies to Palestinians tried in military courts and has sparked debate over discriminatory application and safeguards.
Palestinian and Israeli sources report a sharp rise in West Bank violence. Dozens of settler attacks have targeted towns including Masafer Yatta, Jenin, Qusra and Hebron, with Palestinians injured, property damaged and several homes besieged. The violence coincides with increased Israeli military operations and ongoing clashes.
The Times of Israel, BBC Business, France 24 and Bloomberg report that Israel has opened tenders for about 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 corridor, east of Jerusalem. The move draws international condemnation and raises concerns about a two-state solution. France, Germany, Italy and the UK join in urging reconsideration, while the EU and UN caution on the broader implications for regional stability.
Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, have warned that renewed Israeli strikes threaten the Gaza ceasefire process at a critical stage. Palestinian casualties have risen amid ongoing Israeli operations as international efforts push for a phased disarmament and Israeli withdrawal, with Trump’s peace framework pressing for disarmament in stages while Israel demands full Hamas disarmament before withdrawal.
Settlers have returned to Kadim, north of Jenin, with around 30 pioneer families arriving under military escort. The reopening follows the 2005 disengagement and signals a broader push to revive four northern West Bank settlements, amid a wider surge in settlement activity under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Palestinian residents fear displacement as tensions rise alongside new outposts and tenders in nearby areas.
The UK, Canada and Australia have said Israel has acted shamefully by declining criminal probes into the April 2024 drone strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in central Gaza. The three governments have said they have spent more than two years pressing Israel for accountability and have summoned Israeli envoys.
A series of Israeli strikes targets Hezbollah in south Lebanon and Hamas in Jenin, with ongoing operations and international discussions about Lebanese security forces and UNIFIL. Drones and airstrikes are used to degrade militant infrastructure; clashes persist near Ali Taher Ridge and Jenin camp, while EU talks to bolster Lebanon’s army continue.
Israel has warned it will intensify strikes and treat kites, balloons and drones the same after several unarmed kites crossed into southern Israeli communities from Gaza. Hamas has denied responsibility; Gaza authorities have urged parents to stop children flying kites. The UN rights office has called threats of expulsions "outrageous."
Venice Film Festival names NAZA, by Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, as the festival’s only documentary in competition. The film, shot at night from Tel Aviv rooftops, examines what the filmmakers describe as Israel’s calculated mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. It builds on reporting by +972, Local Call and The Guardian, with production by The Guardian and JW Films and executive producing by Jonathan Glazer. The festival runs 2–12 September.
The Altalena, the Irgun’s wartime cargo ship sunk in 1948 after a clash with Ben-Gurion’s government, has been located off Tel Aviv. Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir are using the find to sharpen right‑wing messages ahead of the October 27 vote, while historians caution the episode remains a symbol of internal nationalist tension.
A far-right Israeli lawmaker and aides have destroyed a Palestinian monument in Madama under Israeli escort. The move draws widespread condemnation from international observers, Palestinian leaders, and Israeli officials, who say it undermines security and current attempts to defuse tensions.
UNRWA’s Qalandiya Training Centre, which trains about 340 Palestinian refugees each year, has been raided and closed by Israeli forces. Staff have been expelled, and materials are being removed as the site is eyed for a new educational complex by Jerusalem authorities. UNRWA says the move deprives students of vital vocational training and worsens a broader funding and legal fight surrounding the agency.
The West Bank sees escalating settler violence with multiple incidents this week. Israeli forces have reinforced areas amid ongoing clashes, while Palestinian communities report property theft, displacement, and arrests. U.S. lawmakers have urged Netanyahu to curb violence and halt new settlements as international scrutiny grows.
Iran’s supreme leader has called for unity among Islamic nations and warned against actions that sow division, labeling the U.S. and Israel as common enemies. The message, published during Islamic Unity Week, arrives amid ongoing regional conflict and a Mecca defense pact discussions.
Finn Joughin, a London-based activist, has been detained by Israeli settlers in Umm al-Kheir while protecting Palestinians from attacks. He has been moved for questioning and is slated for deportation; authorities say the investigation is ongoing as violence by settlers surges in the West Bank.