US professor sues university after suspension over anti-Israel comments

Ramsi Woodcock’s lawsuit, filed in federal court against the University of Kentucky, is part of a growing backlash against US universities over a clampdown on pro-Palestine speech and activities. His suit argues that his first amendment and due process rights were violated when the university placed him under investigation in July, days after he was promoted to full professorship. The decision was based on allegations that he had violated university policy on anti-discrimination rules (Read more at Arabnews).

Trump told MBS he expects Saudi-Israel deal with Gaza war over

President Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a phone call last month that, with the Gaza war ending, he expects Saudi Arabia to move toward normalization with Israel, two U.S. officials said (Read more at Axios).

US issues Iran-related missile and drone sanctions

A total of 32 individuals and entities based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany and Ukraine that operate multiple procurement networks are being targeted in Wednesday’s designations, the Treasury Department said in a statement. “These networks pose a threat to U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and to commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” the department added Source: Iran Front Page).

US knew Israeli officials discussed use of human shields in Gaza

The United States had evidence last year that Israeli officials discussed how their soldiers sent Palestinians into tunnels in Gaza that the Israelis believed were potentially lined with explosives. The information was shared with the White House and analysed by the intelligence community in the final weeks of former President Joe Biden’s administration (Read more at Aljazeera).

CENTCOM says 5 ISIS members killed, 19 captured in Syria

US Central Command said on Wednesday its forces assisted and enabled more than 22 operations against ISIS in Syria. The operations took place from October 1 to November 6. “Our success in countering the ISIS threat in Syria is a notable achievement,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander (Read more at Alarabiya).

Rubio expresses concern West Bank violence could hurt Gaza peace efforts

“I hope not,” Rubio told reporters after a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers in Canada, when asked whether the West Bank events could endanger the Gaza ceasefire. “We don’t expect it to. We’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen.” (Source: Arabnews)

Mohammed bin Salman expected to lobby Trump over UAE role in Sudan

The move, which follows a phone call last week between Mohammed bin Salman and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) commander Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, would mark a rare direct engagement between the Saudi ruler and Trump on Sudan. A Sudanese source briefed on the call between Mohammed bin Salman and Burhan said that the general told the crown prince there was no way the war in Sudan would end without US pressure on the UAE. The source told MEE that Mohammed bin Salman promised Burhan he would raise the issue with Trump (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Marco Rubio: US knows who is arming Sudan's RSF and it must end

Speaking to reporters at the end of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, Rubio said “something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and support that the RSF is getting as they continue with their advances". “Someone’s giving them the money and someone’s giving them the weapons, and it’s coming through some country,” he said (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Trump formally asks Israel’s president to pardon Netanyahu after Gaza truce

“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote (Read more at Aljazeera).

New Gaza aid system lets charities talk to US and Israel ‘in real time’

A new US-run system for Gaza aid is bringing Americans, Israelis and humanitarian workers around the same table for the first time since the start of the two-year war. Operations at the Civil Military Co-ordination Centre (CMCC) stand in contrast to the former Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which sidelined well-established organisations such as the UN that had been operating in the West Bank and Gaza for decades. The installation of four GHF sites in the south and centre of the strip earlier this year led to stampedes and massacres in which at least 1,400 people died, UN figures show (Read more at The National).

Saudis to host investment summit in D.C. during crown prince's visit

The Nov. 19 event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia and the U.S.-Saudi Business Council. The forum will "explore new investment horizons across critical sectors, including energy, technology, financial services, infrastructure, and healthcare" and will be a platform for "exclusive business matchmaking (Read more at AOL).

Sharaa confirms Syria is in direct talks with Israel, says no deal without withdrawal

“We are engaged in direct negotiations with Israel, and we have gone a good distance on the way to reach an agreement,” Sharaa said. His comments mark the first time the Syrian leader has confirmed the discussions with Israel. Syria’s official state news agency said in August that the two sides were engaging in direct discussions. US envoy and ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has been mediating between them (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US appeals court allows families to sue Saudi Arabia over naval air station massacre

The three-judge panel affirmed most of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida’s decision to throw out the case for lack of jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. The three judges identified one exception. “One group, or bundle, of the plaintiffs’ claims—those based on the theory that the kingdom had been grossly negligent in vetting, hiring and sending airman al-Shamrani to the United States. Mohammed Saeed al-Shamrani was a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force who came to the United States in 2017 to take part in a Pentagon-sponsored pilot training program for foreign nationals. In 2019, he shot 11 people at Naval Air Station Pensacola, killing three, before police shot and killed him (Read more at JNS).

Anti-Israel progressive pulls further ahead of Seattle mayor

Katie Wilson, a Council on American-Islamic Relations endorsed progressive who has accused Israel of “genocide,” pulled even further ahead of incumbent Bruce Harrell. Wilson had 137,217 votes (50.08%) to Harrell’s 135,871 (49.59%). (Read more at JNS)

US students almost 25% likelier to disapprove of Israeli gov than of Hamas

The Hamas organization has a higher overall favorability rating (19%) and lower unfavorable rating (45%) than does the Israeli government (18%, 56%) on U.S. campuses. That difference in favorability ratings is not statistically significant, because it falls in the margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points (Read more at JNS).

Trump after meeting with Sharaa: US will do everything to make Syria successful

"He comes from a very tough place, and he's a tough guy. I liked him. I get along with him, the president, the new president in Syria," the US president said in the Oval Office. Trump forecasted forthcoming announcements on Syria but did not detail them, saying only that "we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, and I think this leader can do it." (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)

US mediator Kushner and Netanyahu discuss phase two of Gaza truce

The two discussed some of the most sensitive aspects of phase two, Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told journalists. “Together the two discussed phase one, which we are currently still in, to bring our remaining hostages, and the future of phase two of this plan, which includes the disarming of Hamas, demilitarising Gaza and ensuring Hamas will have no role in the future of Gaza ever again,” Ms Bedrosian said (Read more at Straits Times).

US plans 'temporary housing' in Gaza behind Israeli lines

The US and Israeli officials working on the plan termed them as "Alternate Safe Communities". Palestinians would be screened for “anti-Hamas” sentiment before being granted entry into the compounds. The proposal was discussed in an email by US Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, who is heading the civil-military coordination centre overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, which has been marred by regular Israeli violations (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Tehran: Iran seeks 'peaceful nuclear deal' with the U.S

Iran aims to reach a "peaceful" nuclear agreement with the United States to settle a decades-long dispute, but will not compromise its national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 12th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, Khatibzadeh said Washington was delivering conflicting messages to Tehran about nuclear talks through third countries (Read more at CGTN).

Syrian president meets US lawmakers as he pushes for full repeal of Caesar sanctions

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday met with Republican Congressman Brian Mast as part of efforts to secure the full repeal of the 2019 Caesar sanctions during his historic visit to Washington. Mast, a pro-Israel lawmaker and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been an opponent of repealing the Caesar Act, which imposed sweeping penalties on Syria in 2019 following evidence of human rights violations under the rule of Bashar al-Assad. In a statement after the meeting, Mast said he and Sharaa “had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS and extremism.” (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)

Israeli minister incites New York's Jews to flee after Mamdani's victory

"The city that once stood as a symbol of global freedom has handed over its keys to a Hamas supporter," Israel's right-wing Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli wrote on X. "New York will never be the same again, especially not for its Jewish community," he added (Read more at TRT World).

UK commentator detained by ICE after Israel criticism to be released

Hamdi was detained on 26 October at San Francisco international airport. At the time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) said his detention appeared to be in retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel while touring the US, calling it a “blatant affront to free speech”, and called for his release. The family of British political commentator Sami Hamdi, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late October while on a speaking tour in the US, say he is set to be released and will be able to “return home soon” (Read more at Guardian).

NYC mayor to visit Israel on Friday

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, stated that he will travel to Israel on Friday for a four-day visit, during which he will meet with government officials, economic development leaders and technology workers (Read more at JNS).

Society of Foreign Consuls in New York ‘thrilled’ to welcome Israel

The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, which is celebrating its 100th year, stated earlier this month that it is “thrilled” to welcome Israel as a new member and offered the Jewish state “heartfelt congratulations.” The group refers to itself as the “world’s largest consular corps, comprising consulates, consulates general and honorary consulates.” It offered “special thanks” to Ofir Akunis, consul general of Israel in New York, for “his outstanding leadership.” (Read more at JNS)

World Bank, in letter to US, backs draft UN resolution on Gaza

The World Bank backs language in a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution on Gaza that would authorize a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body, according to a letter to the United States (Read more at Daily Sun).

Conference of Presidents leaders say of returned remains of Hadar Goldin

Betsy Berns Korn, Chair, and William Daroff, chair and CEO respectively of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, stated on Sunday that they welcome the liberation of the remains of former Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin with “profound relief and gratitude.” “We thank President Trump and his administration for their leadership and resolve in bringing Hadar home,” the umbrella group’s leaders said (Read more at JNS).

Phoenix man, who viewed ISIS videos, gets six years for plan to attack churches

Zimnako Salah, 46, whom a jury convicted in March of placing a backpack around a toilet in a church in Roseville, Calif., to “convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there,” was sentenced to six years in prison. The Justice Department added that Salah “had consumed extremist propaganda online,” including searching “for videos of ‘infidels dying,’” and watching “videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people.” “In a cellphone video taken days before the crimes of conviction, defendant Salah declared, ‘America. We are going to destroy it,’” it said (Read more at JNS).

University of Maryland students vote: Bar former IDF soldiers from speaking

It also told the university to bar speakers who are being investigated for or found to have committed “genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or systematic human rights violations.” The resolution added that the International Court of Justice has said it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza (Read more at JNS).

Doc Reveals DSA’s List of Anti-Israel Demands for Mamdani

The document, titled AWWG Palestine Policy Meeting Meeting Agenda & Notes, lists the following demands:

1. Divest City pension funds from Israeli bonds and securities
2. Withdraw City funds from banks that lend money to Israel or do business in Israel End City contracts with companies that do business with Israel
3. Operate City-run grocery stores free from Israeli products
4. Investigate real estate agents hosting illegal sales of stolen lands in the West Bank Evict weapons manufacturers and transporters from the NYC Metro Area
5. Remove non-profit status from charities that raise funds for IDF
6. Divest CUNY endowment and reinstate wrongly fired professors
7. Dismantle Eric Adam’s NYC-Israel economic council
8. End NYPD training with IOF [Critics of Israel often refer to IDF as IOF or Israel Occupying Forces]
9. End repression of demonstrators and the SRG
10. Arrest Netanyahu and active IDF soldiers for war crimes (Read more at Legal Insurrection).

US sanctions official says time is right to cut Iran’s Hezbollah funding

John Hurley, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Iran has managed to funnel about $1 billion to Hezbollah this year despite a raft of Western sanctions that have battered its economy. Late last week Washington sanctioned two individuals accused of using money exchanges to help fund Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist group by several Western governments and Gulf states. “There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back,” Hurley said (Read more at Indian Express).

US intel shows Israeli military lawyers warned of Gaza war crimes

The United States has gathered intelligence that Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence that could support war crimes charges against Israel for its genocide in Gaza — attacks carried out with American-supplied weapons. The information circulated more widely within the US government only in the final weeks of the Biden administration, ahead of a December 2024 congressional briefing (Read more at TRT World).

Serious questions about Code Pink ties to anti-Israel terror orgs, Cotton says

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) asked Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, to investigate whether the far left, anti-Israel group Code Pink has violated U.S. law by failing to register as a foreign agent or supporting terror organizations. “Alongside Samidoun, Code Pink organized a campaign calling for the release of Ahmad Sa’adat, a PFLP secretary-general who was convicted and sentenced to 30 years for leading a terrorist organization responsible for multiple attacks against Israeli military and civilians,” the senator wrote. “These activities raise serious questions about whether Code Pink has provided material support to designated foreign terror organizations.” (Read more at JNS)

US forces working with Israel on Gaza aid, Israeli official says

The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) will replace Israel in overseeing aid into Gaza. Israel was part of the process but that CMCC would decide what aid enters Gaza and how. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said that the U.S. was "working hard, in tandem with Israel and regional partners, on the next phases of implementing" the president's "historic peace plan" (Read more at New Arab)

Trump Says Expects Int’l Stabilization Force in Gaza Very Soon

President Donald Trump said Thursday he expects a US-coordinated international stabilization force to be on the ground in Gaza “very soon,” following two years of war in the territory between Israel and Hamas. The multinational force — likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates — is part of Trump’s post-war governance plan for Gaza (Read more at Defense Post).

Damascus denies Reuters report on planned US base in Syria

A Foreign Ministry source told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Thursday that "there is no truth to what Reuters published regarding American bases in Syria". The official said the current phase "is witnessing a shift in the American position toward direct engagement with the central Syrian government, supporting efforts to unify the country, and rejecting any calls for partition" (Read more at New Arab).

Trump says Kazakhstan has agreed to join Abraham Accords

"Kazakhstan is the first Country of my Second Term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many. This is a major step forward in building bridges across the World," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Today, more Nations are lining up to embrace Peace and Prosperity through my Abraham Accords. We will soon announce a Signing Ceremony to make it official, and there are many more Countries trying to join this club of strength. So much more to come in uniting Countries for Stability and Growth — Real progress, real results," he added (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).

US says Iran has been asking if sanctions can be lifted

"Iran has been asking if the sanctions could be lifted. Iran has got very heavy US sanctions, and it makes it really hard for them to do what they'd like to be able to do. And I'm open to hearing that, and we'll see what happens, but I would be open to it," Trump said (Read more at TRT World).

Dubai hookah maker AIR to go public in US via $1.75 billion SPAC deal

The deal with the Cantor Fitzgerald-backed special purpose acquisition company comes as this unconventional route to the public markets has regained popularity in the U.S. after years of subdued activity, following poor share performance and regulatory roadblocks (Source: Reuters).

US removes Syrian president from global ‘terrorist’ sanctions list

The US Department of the Treasury removed al-Sharaa, a former fighter linked to al-Qaeda, from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list on Friday. The United Nations Security Council also removed al-Sharaa from a largely symbolic sanctions list on Thursday (Read more at Aljazeera).

U.S. to start UN negotiations on Thursday on international Gaza force mandate

The proposal would grant a two-year mandate for a transitional governing body and an international stabilisation force. The United States circulated the draft to all 15 council members on Wednesday evening, saying it already has regional backing from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (Read more at Anews).

U.S. sees Rafah tunnels crisis as potential model for disarming Hamas

The Trump administration wants to use a crisis over Hamas militants who got "stuck" in tunnels behind Israeli lines in Gaza to develop a model for disarming the group. Convincing Hamas militants to lay down their weapons is the most sensitive issue in President Trump's Gaza peace plan. Israel is highly skeptical that Hamas will agree to disarm through diplomacy (Read more at Axios).

Last American hostage's remains returned to Israel by Hamas

Israel on Tuesday received a body from Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza, the Prime Minister’s Office said, after the Palestinian group reported it had found the remains of an Israeli hostage to be handed over. The office confirmed the body was that of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, an Israeli-American, following an identification process (Read more at NBC News).

Saudi Arabia's request to buy F-35 jets clears key Pentagon hurdle, sources say

The sale would signify a significant change in policy, with the potential to alter the military balance in the Middle East while also challenging Washington’s commitment to maintaining Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge. Although Israel also has F-35 stealth fighter jets in its fleet, Saudi Arabia’s acquisition would help narrow its capability gap with Israel (Read more at India).

US asks UN to lift sanctions on Syria's president ahead of White House visit

The draft resolution would also lift sanctions on Syria's Interior Minister Anas Khattab. It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the U.S., France or Britain to be adopted (Read more at Tass).

Iraq can only disarm militias once US troops leave the country, PM says

Sudani’s comments come ahead of Iraq's highly anticipated parliamentary elections on 11 November. Sudani is balancing between Washington, which is critical for Iraq’s dollar transactions, and neighbouring Iran, which backs a constellation of mainly Shia militias called the Popular Mobilisation Forces (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Dick Cheney, architect of the US invasion of Iraq, dies aged 84

Cheney's family said in a statement that the former vice president died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Later, whilst serving as defence secretary under President George HW Bush, Cheney became an outspoken figure advocating for military force against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whose troops had invaded Kuwait (Read more at Middle East Eye).

U.S. seeks UN approval for Gaza security force with broad two-year mandate

The draft resolution would give the U.S. and other participating countries a broad mandate to govern Gaza and provide security through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extensions after that. The draft resolution will be the basis for negotiations over the coming days between UN Security Council members, with the goal of voting to establish it in the coming weeks and deploying the first troops to Gaza by January, a U.S. official said (Read more at Axios).

Saudi Crown Prince MBS to visit Trump on Nov 18: White House

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will visit Washington, DC, later this month for an official working meeting with US President Donald Trump, a White House official said, marking the Saudi Arabian leader’s second visit to the United States capital in seven years. The visit of the Saudi royal comes as Trump pushes countries to join the Abraham Accords (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump says Saudi Arabia will normalise with Israel without two-state solution

"He has said they won't join the Abraham Accords without a two-state solution. Do you believe that?" CBS correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked. "No, I think he's going to join," Trump responded. "I think we will have a solution." "I don't know if it's going to be two-state, that's going to be up to Israel -  and other people, and me - but look, the main thing is, you could have never had any kind of a deal if you had a nuclear Iran," he added, seemingly deflecting to the ceasefire deal his administration helped broker in Gaza (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Iran's Supreme Leader says cooperation with U.S. not possible while it backs Israel

Ali Khamenei speaking on Monday at a meeting with students in Tehran, the Supreme leader said that the U.S. request for cooperation would be examined at a later date. Khamenei's comments came as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to increase pressure on Iran. "The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the U.S. continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region," Khamenei said (Read more at Anews).

Microsoft’s $15.2 billion USD investment in the UAE

As Abu Dhabi and Dubai kick off a significant week hosting annual energy and technology conferences, we want to share details of our ongoing and planned investments in the United Arab Emirates. Roughly two and a half years ago, we embarked on a new AI initiative with the encouragement and support of both the United States and UAE governments. Much of this progress has involved a new partnership with G42, the UAE’s sovereign AI company, with whom we’re making critical progress (Read more at Mircrosoft).

Iraq can disarm factions only when the US withdraws, prime minister says

Iraq has pledged to bring all weapons under the control of the state, but that will not work so long as there is a US-led coalition in the country that some Iraqi factions view as an occupying force, the prime minister said on Monday. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said a plan was still in place to have the multinational anti-Daesh coalition completely leave Iraq, one of Iran’s closest Arab allies, by September 2026 because the threat from Islamist militant groups had eased considerably (Read more at Arabnews).

Turkey to host Muslim foreign ministers in İstanbul to discuss US Gaza peace plan

Fidan told reporters the meeting would “evaluate our progress and discuss what we can achieve together in the next stage.” The Turkish Foreign Ministry said ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been invited. All seven countries previously met with US President Donald Trump on September 23 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss the same proposal (Read more at Turkish Minute).

US official to travel to Middle East, Europe to discuss 'maximum pressure' on Iran

John Hurley, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will travel in the coming days to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Lebanon, according to the statement, in his first trip to the Middle East since taking office (Read more at RNZ).

US Envoy Urges Direct Lebanon-Israel Negotiations

Lebanese authorities have held indirect talks with Israel, but US envoy Tom Barrack said the key to easing tensions could be direct negotiations. “The conversation needs to be with Israel. It just needs to be with Israel. Israel is ready,” Barrack told reporters on the sidelines of the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. “March to that door, to Israel, and have a conversation, it can’t hurt,” he added (Read more at Defense Post).

On Israel trip, US Joint Chiefs chair meets with defense minister

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with Israel Katz, the Israeli defense minister, in Israel on Saturday. “We discussed the close strategic and operational cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military, a partnership that is shaping the new reality in the Middle East,” Katz stated (Read more at JNS).

CENTCOM posts footage of Hamas looting aid truck

“The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) observed suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Younis,” CENTCOM tweeted. The Command’s coordination center in the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, established in October to help monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saw the incident via a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone flying overhead, the U.S. military said (Read more at JNS).

Trump to host Syria’s al-Sharaa for talks at White House

Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, told the Axios newspaper on Saturday that al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement to join an international US-led alliance against the ISIL (ISIS) group during his visit. The trip was expected to take place within the next two weeks (Read more at Aljazeera).

US offers Hamas safe passage out of Israel-controlled Gaza areas

According to the sources, "the goal of the US proposal, which was conveyed to Hamas on Wednesday by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, was to stabilize the ceasefire and clear the roughly half of Gaza that Israel controls of Hamas militants." A source in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Axios that "there are dozens of Hamas militants still hiding in tunnels on the Israeli side of the ‘yellow line,’ which separates the zones of control, particularly in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah." (Read more at Tass).

US State Department supports repeal of Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

The Trump administration on Friday said it supports repealing the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, urging the US lawmakers to include it in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is currently under discussion in Congress. “The administration supports repealing the Caesar Act. Congress should include the repeal in the NDAA,” a State Department spokesperson said (Read more at Anadolu).

U.S. Seeks to Finalize Plan for International Security Force in Gaza

The proposed force, part of President Donald Trump’s plan and referred to as the International Stabilization Force (ISF), raises politically delicate questions for Israel, Hamas, and the countries that might contribute troops. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is leading the planning, which envisions the creation of a new Palestinian police force trained and vetted by the U.S., Egypt, and Jordan, alongside contingents from Arab and Muslim countries (Read more at This is Beirut).

Amnesty: US strike on Yemen prison may be war crime

An American airstrike in April on a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that killed over 60 detained African migrants should be investigated as a possible war crime, activists said. The call by Amnesty International renews scrutiny on the April 28 strike in Yemen’s Saada province. The attack came as part of an intense campaign of airstrikes waged under U.S. President Donald Trump targeting rebels for disrupting shipping through the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel-Hamas war (Read more at Politico).

Qatar's US ambassador rebukes Congressman after Laura Loomer interview

Qatar’s ambassador to the US sent a rare, direct rebuke to Republican Congressman Randy Fine for Islamaphobic and anti-Qatar comments he made during an interview with far-right social media personality Laura Loomer. Fine, a Jewish-American lawmaker, is a staunch defender of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been recognised as a genocide by the United Nations. Over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Throughout Israel’s onslaught, Fine, who has a history of Islamophobic rhetoric, called for Israel to “nuke” the enclave and for Palestinians in Gaza to “starve away” (Read more at Middle East Eye).

White House withdraws nominee for top Middle East post

Joel Rayburn’s nomination to lead the State Department’s Middle East bureau was withdrawn after he lacked enough support from lawmakers. Rayburn, a former US Army officer, served as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Syria from 2018 to 2021 and concurrently as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs until November 2020 (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi).

‘They decided to try to engage me directly,’ congressman says of Qatari embassy

After he was interviewed on Jewish far-right commentator Laura Loomer’s show, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) told JNS that he received a letter from the Qatari ambassador to Washington stating that his “observations about Qatar” are inaccurate. “You said that Qatar ‘funds most of the institutions that are damaging’ the United States, adding that Qatar is ‘responsible for’ protests on U.S. college campuses,” Meshal Al Thani wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 22 (Read more at JNS).

US to provide 'life-saving' aid to Sweida in southern Syria

“This assistance will support life-saving needs of approximately 60,000 people through targeted provision of food, water and hygiene items, as well as the rehabilitation of houses and water systems for when people can safely return home,” the State Department said. The assistance comes as part of efforts to restore stability to the region (Read more at The National).

Over 150 New York Times contributors to boycott paper over Gaza coverage

“Until The New York Times takes accountability for its biased coverage and commits to truthfully and ethically reporting on the US-Israeli war on Gaza, any putative 'challenge' to the newsroom or the editorial board in the form of a first-person essay is, in effect, permission to continue this malpractice,” the signatories to the letter wrote (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US says Israeli strike on Gaza didn’t violate ceasefire

Israel claimed it struck a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group on Saturday, accusing the individual of planning to attack Israeli troops. However, Islamic Jihad denied it was planning an attack. The US top diplomat added that Israel has not surrendered its right to self-defence as part of the agreement brokered by Washington, Egypt and Qatar that saw Hamas release the remaining living hostages held in Gaza this month (Read more at Dawn).

US envoy Ortagus expected in Lebanon as tensions with Israel spike

Lebanon fears the bombing shows Israel intends to ramp up its air campaign, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was intended to end a year-long war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ortagus, the White House’s deputy Middle East envoy, is expected to attend a meeting on Wednesday reviewing the Lebanese army’s efforts to clear Hezbollah arms caches in the country’s south, in line with the 2024 truce (Read more at Arabnews).

American Airlines to resume flights to Israel amid Gaza ceasefire

Many foreign carriers halted flights to Tel Aviv after October 7 and stayed away for long stretches during the past two years due to intermittent missile fire from Iran and Yemen. In the wake of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, many foreign airlines have restarted flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways, SAS, Iberia and Swiss are slated to resume flights this week (Read more at Reuters).

Rubio Vows Return of All Hostage Bodies to Israel

“We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas,” Rubio said on X. “Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned,” he said, before wrapping up his three-day visit to Israel (Read more at Defense Post).

US Names Career Diplomat for Gaza Ceasefire Monitor

The State Department said that Steve Fagin, a career diplomat, will work alongside US Army Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, the military head already appointed to the hub set up after the October 10 ceasefire. The Civil-Military Coordination Centre was set up in southern Israel on October 17 to observe the ceasefire for any violations and handle logistics, including aid delivery into war-ravaged Gaza (Read more at Defense Post).

Rubio says we’re getting input on Gaza International Force

"Many of the countries that have expressed an interest in participating at some level -- whether it be monetary or personnel or both -- are going to need that (a UN resolution or international agreement) because their domestic laws require it," Rubio told reporters traveling on his plane between Israel and Qatar en route to Asia. "So we have a whole team working on that outline of it." (Read more at Al-Monitor)

Trump thanks Qatar for mediation efforts as talks on Gaza plan continue

"We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump said on Air Force One. "What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it, so I just want to thank you.” The comments came as several senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were in Israel this week to ensure the top US ally abides by the deal and to discuss the details of phase two of the US-led plan (Read more at Qatar-Tribune).

AIPAC part of "oligarchy" hurting the U.S., Sanders says

Sen. Bernie Sanders blasted AIPAC and Israel's right-wing government, accusing the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group of using billionaires' money to silence U.S. progressives and shield Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza (Read more at Axios).

Trump threatens to withdraw US support if Israel moves to annex West Bank

"It won't happen. It won't happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. And you can't do that now. We've had great Arab support," Trump said when asked what the consequences would be for Israel if it did so (Read more at TRT Afrika).

U.S. mulls Gaza aid plan that would replace controversial GHF aid operation

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the proposal also includes "voluntary reconciliation facilities for militants to surrender their weapons and receive amnesty", as well as forward bases "for the forces expected to assist the international stabilisation force in disarming Gaza" (Read more at New Arab).

There is no plan B for peace in Gaza, says Rubio

During a visit to Israel, Mr Rubio said the US was committed to making the plan work, as there was no alternative. “This is the best plan, it's the only plan, it's one that we think can succeed,” he said during a press conference (Read more at The National).

Gov. Pillen will lead trade trip to Israel

While in Israel, state leaders will promote Nebraska-made kosher beef, encourage agricultural technology (ag tech) partnerships, and develop relationships with civil associations. During the mission, Gov. Pillen will hold high-level diplomatic meetings and discuss the critical role played by U.S. defense technologies to secure Israel from attack. The delegation will also have an opportunity to see humanitarian work in Israel being supported by organizations in Nebraska (Read more at Ruralradio).

Erdogan says US, others must press Israel to abide by Gaza ceasefire

NATO member Turkiye, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, has joined the ceasefire negotiations as a mediator after largely indirect involvement. Its increased role followed a meeting last month between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump at the White House. “As Turkiye, we are doing our utmost for the ceasefire to be secured. The Hamas side is abiding by the ceasefire. In fact, it is openly stating its commitment to this. Israel, meanwhile, is continuing to violate the ceasefire,” Erdogan told reporters on his return flight from a regional Gulf tour (Read more at Arabnews).

Amid Venezuela tensions, Senate warns of Hezbollah ties

At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control earlier in the week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) described the ties between the Lebanese terrorist group and the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. “Hezbollah collaborates extensively with government officials in Venezuela on intelligence infrastructure, securing arms, identification documents, bank accounts and pipelines for moving operatives and equipment,” Cornyn said, citing a 2025 RAND study (Read more at JNS).

Rubio: Gaza security force to include countries Israel comfortable with

Rubio added that the future of governance in Gaza still needs to be worked out among Israel and partner nations but could not include Hamas, adding that any potential role for the Palestinian Authority has yet to be determined (Read more at Middle East Online).

Trump's pick for US ambassador to Kuwait grilled by lawmakers on Israel

The Muslim and Yemeni-American mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, was on the defensive about past social media posts and BDS views. His outspoken criticism of Israel and other comments on social media from his days as a private citizen have emerged as a major obstacle to his confirmation, particularly after being amplified by the staunchly pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and some right-wing news outlets (Read more at Middle East Eye).

After bashing UN, Trump administration says it will ask for mandate in Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was in the process of “standing up” a civil-military coordination centre to monitor the Gaza ceasefire and would then consider “going to the UN potentially and getting the international mandate, building the international defense security forces” (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US appoints diplomat to monitor Palestinian national dialogue

Palestinian factions met in Cairo on Friday to lay out the beginnings of a "national dialogue" that will address Gaza's governance and future as part of a Palestinian state, a joint statement on Friday indicated. "We agreed to continue working together to unify our visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause, including calling for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy, and to activate the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," the Palestinian factions said after the meeting (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Vance criticises Israel's parliament vote on West Bank annexation

Hard-liners in the Knesset narrowly passed a preliminary vote in support of annexing the West Bank on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while Vance was still in Israel. While many members of Israel's coalition support annexation, they have backed off those calls since US President Donald Trump said last month that he opposes the move (Read more at Euronews).

OPEC ready to raise oil output after US sanctions on Russia, Kuwaiti minister says

Global oil prices rose by 5% on Thursday following the news that also prompted India to consider cutting Russian imports. "I expect that any decision to impose sanctions will certainly have a positive impact on prices," Kuwaiti Minister Tariq Al-Roumi said in response to a Reuters question (Read more at Market Screener).

Trump mulls asking Israel to free Palestinian leader Barghouti

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about Trump’s deliberations on the matter. But the president’s acknowledgment of the internal discussions underscores the difficult task of finding credible political figures to oversee governance in Gaza as the U.S. and Israel say they are committed to preventing Hamas from continuing to rule the territory (Read more at AP).

Iran says it won't return to talks as long as US makes 'unreasonable demands'

Iran will not return to negotiations with the United States as long as Washington makes "unreasonable demands," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday, according to IRGC media site Tasnim News Agency. "Talks that were ongoing with the US, as well as New York negotiations, were suspended and did not go forward because of US excessive demands," Araghchi said (Source: Yahoo)

Most in US support Palestinian state recognition

Out of those polled, 59 percent supported the U.S. recognizing statehood, while 33 percent were opposed. The rest of the respondents were not sure or did not have an answer. Most surveyed Democrats, at 80 percent, support U.S.-backed statehood, while 41 percent of Republicans support it (Read more at The Hill).

Jane Fraser and Lubna Olayan appointed co-chairs of US-Saudi Business Council

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, has been named co-chair representing the US side, while Lubna Olayan, Chair of Olayan Group, will serve as co-chair representing Saudi Arabia. Fraser succeeds Steve Demetriou, former CEO of Jacobs Engineering Group, who held the position from 2018 to 2024 (Read more at Saudi Gazette).

UK deploys small number of military officers to Israel following US request

A US-backed stabilisation force, known as the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, or CMCC, is meant to ensure security in Gaza. Its composition, role, chain of command, legal status and other issues are yet to be agreed. A small contingent of British military planning officers has been sent to Israel to join a task force led by the United States to support stabilisation efforts in Gaza, the UK Ministry of Defence said (Read more at Daily Star).

Syria hopes for full lifting of US sanctions in coming months

President Donald Trump ordered the lifting of most US sanctions on Syria in May after meeting President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, but the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 that authorizes them remains US law. “We have to do some push and some lobbying to continue with this path that started in the right direction, and we’re hoping by the end of the year the bill (to scrap the act) will reach the president (Trump), and hopefully he’ll sign it,” Al-Shaar told Reuters during a conference in London (Read more at Arab News).

Vance says Gaza ceasefire in 'good place' as Trump threatens Hamas with brutal end

Mr Vance, though, said events since the truce took effect had given him "great optimism the ceasefire's going to hold". US envoy Steve Witkoff added: "We are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time." Donald Trump warned Hamas it would meet a "fast, furious and brutal" end if it breaches the Gaza ceasefire deal, as his Vice President visited Israel to keep the truce on track (Read more at The National).

Trump claims Middle East countries offered to fight Hamas in Gaza

“Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and ‘straighten our Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday (Read more at Aljazeera).

Vance due in Israel as US seeks to shore up Gaza ceasefire

VP JD Vance visits Israel to discuss Gaza ceasefire after weekend flare-up; Trump vows Hamas will face “eradication” if truce breaks. The ultimatum came as fighters returned the body of another dead hostage under the ceasefire deal, with the Israeli military confirming the remains were back in Israel where they would be positively identified (Read more at New Arab).

U.S. steps up diplomacy after Gaza truce shaken

During their visit that began on Monday, the U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, were expected to try to shore up the truce then start talks on the next, more difficult, phase of the 20-step plan. Trump, keeping pressure on both Hamas and Israel as he seeks to salvage the signature foreign policy achievement of the first year of his second term, said on Monday the U.S. was taking many steps to maintain the ceasefire (Read more at Japan Times).

US congresswoman renews call for releasing American boy held by Israel

Progressive lawmaker Ayanna Pressley says Washington should do all it can to ensure the release of teenage captive Mohammed Ibrahim, a US citizen held by Israel since February. “Right now, Mohammed Ibrahim, a US citizen, is being held in an Israeli prison. His health is deteriorating. The circumstances are desperate,” Pressley wrote in a social media post (Read more at Aljazeera).

Prominent US union organiser links labour rights to Palestine struggle

“The struggles, connecting the dots with the working class, doesn’t exclude the liberation of Palestinians,” he said. “One of the motto that I stand by is a motto that’s well-known in the labour movement: an injury to one is an injury to all.” (Read more at Aljazeera)

Survey on Israel and Gaza highlights shifts in US public opinion

A Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) survey of 322 randomly selected Americans conducted after the recent ceasefire in the Israel–Gaza war reveals nuanced and complex attitudes toward the conflict and its aftermath. While sympathy for Israel remains stronger than for Hamas, there is a growing empathy for Palestinians as distinct from Hamas. Most respondents believe no side truly “won” the war, though those who did choose a winner overwhelmingly named Israel (Read more at JNS).

Israeli Times Square campaign slams Hamas execution of Gazans

“At Times Square, our message is clear: Barely days into a ceasefire, Hamas turned its weapons on Palestinians to reassert control through fear & violence,” the Foreign Ministry tweeted on Sunday afternoon. “The world watches. The ceasefire must be upheld. Hamas must go. Gaza must be demilitarized,” added the ministry in the X post (Read more at JNS).

Witkoff, Kushner in Israel to shore up shaky Trump-brokered ceasefire

Their visit comes a day after Israel launched its fiercest wave of attacks in Gaza over the weekend since a fragile ceasefire took effect. Witkoff and Kushner's travel to the region was planned before the apparent ceasefire violations had occurred, according to a Trump administration official (Read more at ABC News).

US envoy Barrack threatens Lebanon with Israel war if Hezbollah is 'not disarmed'

Barrack warned that if Beirut "fails to act now", Hezbollah's military wing will inevitably face "a major confrontation with Israel". Barrack also revealed an offer the United States made to Lebanon earlier this year, part of a plan called "One More Try", which included a framework for phased disarmament, verified compliance, and economic incentives under American and French supervision (Read more at New Arab).

Iran’s Khamenei denies US destroyed Iranian nuclear capabilities

“Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying,” Mr Khamenei said. Last week, Mr Trump told the Israeli Parliament that it would be great if Washington could negotiate a “peace deal” with Tehran , following the start of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. “The US president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!” Mr Khamenei added (Read more at Straits Times).

Hamas rejects US claim on Gaza ceasefire violation as Israeli propaganda

US State Department claims the Palestinian group is planning an attack against civilians in Gaza ‘in grave violation of the ceasefire’. Hamas called on the US to “stop repeating the [Israeli] occupation’s misleading narrative and to focus on curbing its repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement” (Read more at Aljazeera).

US court bars Israeli spyware firm from targeting WhatsApp users

The United States judge has slashed an earlier damages award of $168m to just $4m. “Part of what companies such as WhatsApp are ‘selling’ is informational privacy, and any unauthorised access is an interference with that sale,” she said (Read more at Aljazeera).

Mamdani appears arm-in-arm with unindicted ‘93 WTC bombing co-conspirator

“Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century,” Mamdani wrote on X. During trials, Wahhaj testified in support of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman — the infamous “blind sheikh” and leader of a terrorist sect out of Egypt — calling the man a “respected scholar.” (Read more at New York Post)

Ex-US Embassy Guard in Norway Convicted of Spying for Russia, Iran

A Norwegian court has sentenced a former US embassy security guard to three years and seven months in prison for spying for Russia and Iran. The 28-year-old Norwegian man was convicted of providing floor plans, personal details of embassy staff and their families, and information about activities at the US embassy between March and November 2024 (Read more at Defense Post).

US lawmaker returns AIPAC donations, disagreeing with Israel's government

US Representative Seth Moulton has said that he is returning donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and will not accept any future contributions from the lobby as he begins his bid for the Senate in Massachusetts (Read more at TRT World).

Saudi Arabia in talks with US for defence pact

The deal in discussion was similar to the recent US-Qatar pact that pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States. Last month, Pakis­tan and Saudi Arabia entered into a landmark mutual defence agreement, under which any aggression against one state will be considered an attack on both (Read more at Dawn).

Trump expects expansion of Abraham accords soon, hopes S Arabia will join

“I hope to see Saudi Arabia go in, and I hope to see others go in. I think when Saudi Arabia goes in, everybody goes in,” Trump said. The US president called the pact a “miracle” and “amazing” and hailed the United Arab Emirates’s signing of it. The “Abraham Accords” secured agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan (Read more at Aljazeera).

Socialist Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Falls for 'Chief Rabbi of Gaza' Parody Account

Omar Fateh, the state senator born to Somali parents, said he 'would love' for the fake rabbi 'to get more involved' in his campaign. "I would love to do a fundraiser for you," Rabbi Linda Goldstein wrote. "How do I get in touch? This anti-Zionist rabbi loves and supports you." Fateh replied on August 11. "Thank you for reaching out," he wrote. "Can you share with me your phone and email? I'll have my finance director reach out to you." (Read more at Washington Free Beacon)

In New York City mayoral debate, Mamdani is again pressed on Israel and Hamas

Whether the performance reviews came in from the Democratic establishment's must-read paper, The New York Times, the right-wing Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal, or the more straight-laced Politico magazine, there was a certain agreement that New York City assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is a winning communicator (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US advisers say efforts under way for international force in Gaza

“The International Stabilisation Force is starting to be constructed and once that occurs, there'll be more efforts, but there's a lot of planning and a lot of very positive conversations between the sides,” a senior US adviser said. Another adviser said the US is in contact with Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Azerbaijan and other nations on the possibility of their joining the effort (Read more at The National).

Trump says Hamas must disarm or be disarmed, perhaps violently

Trump said he had received word from Hamas “through my people” that the group would agree to disarm following recent talks at what he called “the highest level”. He also claimed that Hamas had “taken out two very evil gangs” in Gaza and “killed a number of them,” adding that “it didn’t bother me much” (Read more at Indian Express).

Biden, Clinton praise Trump for role in Gaza ceasefire

Former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton on Monday praised US President Donald Trump for helping broker a ceasefire in the Gaza war, a rare show of bipartisan approval for the Republican leader. “I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line,” Biden, who served as president until January, said on X. With support from the United States and global partners, the Middle East was now “on a path to peace,” he said (Read more at Qatar Tribune).

Nvidia CEO welcomes return of employee held in Gaza for two years

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang welcomed Mr Avinatan Or from “two unimaginable years in Hamas captivity” in Gaza, saying a number of the chip giant’s families had suffered losses during the war. An electrical engineer at Nvidia in Israel, 32-year-old Or was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on Oct 7, 2023 along with 250 others including his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, whose desperate cries on the back of a motorcycle became one of the most haunting images of the Hamas attack (Read more at Starits Times).

US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm without delay

Despite the ceasefire that took effect on Friday, Hamas has not publicly committed to ceding power. The group has gradually returned its personnel to Gaza’s streets, maintaining law-and-order measures while asserting control over the enclave. According to a Palestinian security source, Hamas has killed more than 30 members of a “gang” in Gaza City, though the group did not specify which gang (Read more at First Post).

California governor vetoes bill dubbed 'Israel tax' by critics

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, vetoed a bill on Monday that would have required social media companies to pay fines every time their algorithms promoted posts deemed violent or discriminatory (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Trump: Gaza deal might be my biggest accomplishment

Trump expressed enthusiasm about a rally held in Tel Aviv on Saturday in support of the captives, which featured his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff as speakers. "It was an incredible rally. It was a great thing," he said (Read more at Royanews).

Jewish groups grateful, pensive after living hostages freed from Gaza

"As we welcome this moment of light after so much darkness, we remain deeply concerned about Hamas's commitment to abide by the full terms of a peace agreement," the leaders of B'nai B'rith said (Read more at JNS).

Congressmen, governors laud liberation of hostages, many thank Trump

At 4:59 a.m. on Monday on the East Coast, Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) posted about the hostages returning to Israel from Gaza and reached across the aisle to credit U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, stated that, “for the first time in 738 days, there are no living Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) used a biblical Hebrew expression that refers to praising God and stated, “to President Trump and his team, thank you so much. Well done.” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Mike Lawler, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, stated that “this is a day of celebration for families across Israel, the United States and around the world.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) stated that “today is the result of great American leadership, led by President Trump and his team, and also the tireless efforts of the Biden administration.” Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) praised Trump for “unwavering leadership and tireless efforts to bring the hostages home” and “strength made this historic moment possible.” Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) said that “no other president could have done this.” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was one of the Democrats who posted about the freed hostages on Monday morning. “May the hostages have a full recovery and may we never forget those who didn’t make it out alive,” he said. “Credit to President Trump for a breakthrough ceasefire of this awful war.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, didn’t mention the U.S. president or Israeli prime minister in a statement on social media. “For more than two years, we’ve prayed for the return of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated that “today is a day of great relief, as after 738 days, the last 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas have finally come home to their families.” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, stated that “this day brings deep relief, but our thoughts remain with the families still grieving those who did not return.” (Read more at JNS)

Trump unsure whether Tony Blair would be accepted on Gaza peace board

“I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody,” Trump said, without naming specific leaders who could be weighing in on his choice of Blair (Read more at Dawn).

Trump implies Hamas given approval to act as police force for period of time

"Well, they [Hamas] are standing because they do want to stop the problems, and they've been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time," Trump said. "We want it to be safe. I think it's going to be fine. Who knows? Who knows for sure?" he said. "But I think it's going to be fine." (Read more at Yahoo News)

Russia’s Lavrov says Trump’s plan is ‘too vague’ on Palestinian statehood

"We have noted that Donald Trump's peace plan only addresses the Gaza Strip. It mentions statehood, but in rather general terms," Lavrov told reporters from Arab countries. "It's imperative to flesh out these approaches, including defining what will happen in the West Bank." (Read more at Yahoo News)

Cerebras to expand AI infrastructure to the UAE

California-based artificial intelligence chip designer Cerebras Systems plans to deploy its AI infrastructure to the United Arab Emirates to support the Stargate UAE project (Read more at DC Pulse).

Trump urges pardon for Netanyahu over 'cigars and champagne

Netanyahu and his wife Sara are accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours. "Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?" Trump joked, declaring his ally Netanyahu's one of Israel's greatest wartime leaders. "Hey, I have an idea, Mr President," Trump said, addressing his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, "Why don't you give him a pardon?" (Read more at France 24)

US is ready for deal with Iran when Tehran is, Trump says

Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks, prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites. The talks faced major stumbling blocks such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which Western powers want to bring down to zero to minimise any risk of weaponisation, a plan that Tehran has rejected (Read more at Straits Times).

Trump salutes mega donor Miriam Adelson for help shaping US decisions on Israel

President Donald Trump, in a speech to Israel’s parliament, spotlighted mega-donor Miriam Adelson’s outsized influence on U.S. policy toward Israel, recalling her frequent White House visits with her late husband, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Sheldon Adelson, who died in 2021, assembled the world's largest casino empire as head of Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N), opens new tab and put much of his fortune into nurturing conservative politicians and policies in the United States and Israel (Read more at Reuters).

Egypt, Qatar, Turkey sign Gaza ceasefire document with Trump

US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners. “The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things”, Trump said (Read more at Arabnews).

Palestinian Authority ready to help Trump’s Gaza effort succeed

The Palestinian Authority is ready to work with US President Donald Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on their effort to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and start rebuilding, a senior Palestinian official told Mr Blair on Oct 12. Mr Trump’s plan for ending the Gaza war holds out the prospect of the Palestinian Authority, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and led by President Mahmoud Abbas, eventually taking control of Gaza, but only after it completes reforms. Mr Abbas lost control of Gaza to the Hamas militant group in 2007 (Read more at Straits Times).

Vance: 'We are on the cusp of true peace in the Middle East'

Vice President JD Vance on Sunday characterized the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas as “a remarkable achievement” by the Trump administration. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Vance said, “We have to remember this is a remarkable achievement from an administration that really chose a non-conventional path to diplomacy. And I think that’s the major takeaway. The President of the United States instructed Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, he said, get a deal done, talk to the Gulf Arab states, talk to Israel, find where there’s common ground here, and actually, let’s go and find a way to get it done.” (Read more at Politico)

Iran says open to 'balanced, fair' nuclear proposal from US

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said that Tehran is exchanging messages with the United States through some mediators. He made it clear that Iran will not stop enriching uranium but will consider measures to build trust that its nuclear program is peaceful (Read more at Hindustan Times).

US announces it will allow Qatar to build an Air Force facility in Idaho

“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase the lethality, interoperability,” Hegseth said during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon. “It’s just another example of our partnership. And I hope you know, Your Excellency, that you can count on us.” (Read more at CNN)

Iran dismisses Trump's suggestion of normalising ties with Israel as 'wishful thinking'

"Iran will never recognize an occupied regime that has committed genocide and killed children," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state television (Read more at AOL).

US sanctions network supporting elite Iranian forces, Tehran-backed Iraqi groups

The U.S. State Department announced sanctions on Thursday against a support network for Iranian armed forces and Tehran-backed militias in Iraq. The designation falls on eight people and entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its elite Quds Force, along with the Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq militias in Iran (Read more at JNS).

Europeans, Arabs flesh out Gaza transition ideas to weigh on Trump plan

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but questions will quickly turn to whether that can now be made into a lasting peace. The Paris meeting, which brought together key European and Arab foreign ministers, was seen as an opportunity to add details on core issues such as an international stabilisation force, post-war governance in Gaza and reconstruction (Read more at Reuters).

Trump says hostages will be released Monday or Tuesday

The White House said it expects hostages to be released Monday. Forty-eight hostages remain to be returned, 20 of whom Israel says it believes are still alive. Trump said he plans to travel to Egypt for an official signing of the ceasefire deal in opening remarks at his White House Cabinet meeting (Read more at NBC News).

US Iran-Related Sanctions on Chinese Terminal Hit Sinopec Crude Supplies

The US Treasury included Rizhao Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Co Ltd among several entities sanctioned for facilitating Iranian oil shipments. The company, based in the port city of Lanshan in Shandong province, was designated to receive Iranian crude delivered by already sanctioned vessels (Read more at Industry Insider).

US and Israeli Firms Collaborate on Secure AI for Military Use

American defense tech firm VisionWave Holdings has entered a strategic collaboration with PVML, an Israeli company that focuses on keeping sensitive data safe while using artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership links VisionWave’s radar and AI-powered computer vision tools with PVML’s secure data infrastructure (Read more at Defense Post).

Largest US labor union ‘erases Israel completely’ in email to members

An email sent by the National Education Association—the largest labor union in the United States—to its approximately 3 million members with resources for “teaching about indigenous peoples” included a map that “erases Israel completely.” (Read more at JNS)

Hamas Says It Received Guarantees From Mediators, US Confirming War Ended

Exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said on Thursday the group has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators, and Turkey that the war in Gaza has permanently ended. Under the deal, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will free all remaining 48 hostages it captured in the attack that precipitated the war, in exchange for prisoners held by Israel. At the White House, Trump said he believed it would lead to "lasting peace." (Read more at NDTV)

Obama is criticised for 'bothsides-ing' genocide

"After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered," Obama posted on X on Thursday. Many users criticised the choice to reference "Israeli families" while referring to Palestinians as "the people of Gaza" (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Rubio to attend Paris meeting on Gaza transition

The meeting will follow up a conference on a “two-state solution” at the United Nations. The note had said Washington's participation would depend on advances in the negotiations (Read more at Arabnews).

Iraq, Exxon sign agreement to help develop oilfield

Exxon Mobil signed an agreement with Iraq on Wednesday to help it develop its large Majnoon oilfield and expand its oil export infrastructure, marking a return to the country two years after leaving (Read more at Yahoo Finance).

Gottheimer unveils three bills related to Oct. 7

Marking the second anniversary of the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, federal lawmakers announced legislation to honor those whom Hamas took hostage or killed on Oct. 7, condemn the terror group and develop a curriculum for schools to teach about the attack and about Jew-hatred. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), lead sponsor of the three bills, unveiled the bipartisan legislation as he stood outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, alongside a former hostage and a relative of one murdered by Hamas (Read more at JNS).

Senator says Israel-Hamas deal ‘welcome news,’ but decries Netanyahu’s ‘unspeakable harm’

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) praised the signing of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas on Thursday while criticizing the actions of the Israeli government over the past two years. The legislator said the agreement “is long overdue but welcome news.” “While not every issue has been resolved, Israel and Hamas have taken the first and needed step towards peace,” she wrote (Read more at JNS).

Possible that ‘some’ US troops will be in Israel to monitor peace deal

The United States will deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to support the ceasefire agreement, two senior White House officials said. The officials said that the troops, under U.S. Central Command’s Adm. Brad Cooper, would not enter Gaza. “He’ll initially have 200 people on the ground. His role will be to oversee, observe, make sure there are no violations-incursions. Everybody’s worried about the other side,” one of the senior officials said (Read more at JNS).

Trump Team Approves Nvidia Chip Sales for US Projects in UAE

The approved shipments are for American companies operating facilities in the UAE, but permits were not issued for Nvidia shipments to local customers such as Abu Dhabi AI company G42 (Read more at Bloomberg).

France's Macron: Paris conference on Gaza aims to complement U.S. initiative

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the coming hours will be decisive for cementing peace in Gaza and that the current conference on the matter held in Paris aimed to work in parallel with the U.S. initiative. France is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from Western and Arab countries in Paris on Thursday to discuss an international peacekeeping force and reconstruction assistance for Gaza once the fighting stops (Read more at Global Banking and Finance).

US, Saudi chips agreement could be finalised soon

The US and Saudi Arabia are advancing on an agreement that would allow US chip companies to export semiconductors to Saudi Arabia and a deal could be finalized soon, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter (Read more at Economic Times).

US targets Chinese companies over drone components used by Hamas, Houthis

10 China companies in sanctions list for facilitating the purchase of components allegedly found in weaponized Houthi drones. 5 more companies also sanctioned after components were found in weaponized drones operated by Hamas (Read more at Arabnews).

Erdogan says Trump asked Turkey to convince Hamas to back Gaza plan

Turkey, which has voiced support for the plan and joined the negotiations in Egypt, has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel's offensive, which it calls a genocide. It has halted all trade with Israel, called for international measures against its government, and demanded a two-state solution (Read more at Global Banking and Finance).

Trump says he may go to Egypt soon for Gaza deal

Trump said at the White House that a deal is “very close,” and that he may depart Saturday for the region. He spoke after talking to his team about the talks. Negotiators have been meeting in Egypt to try to complete an agreement (Read more at CNBC).

Russia's top diplomat calls Trump’s Gaza plan ‘best option on the table’

“US President Donald Trump proposed his ‘20 points,’ which mention the word ‘statehood,’ but in rather general terms,” Lavrov said. “It only concerns what remains of the Gaza Strip. The West Bank isn’t mentioned, but we are realists. We understand that this is the best thing on the table right now.” (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)

Hamas seeks 'real guarantees' from US that Israel's war will permanently end

“We affirm our full readiness to reach (a deal to) end the war, withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, and release all Israeli captives – both alive and dead – in exchange for Palestinian prisoners specified under (US President Donald) Trump’s plan,” Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya (Read more at Anadolu Agensi)

Turkey floated $100 million Halkbank settlement idea at White House last month

Under the proposal that was discussed, which included additional conditions, the bank would not admit guilt in the case - a key priority for Ankara. Halkbank (HALKB.IS), opens new tab is facing fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges in the United States for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions related to its nuclear program. The bank has pleaded not guilty (Read more at Reuters).

Israel slams Mamdani for serving as ‘Hamas mouthpiece’

The Israeli Foreign Ministry blasted New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday for “acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda” over his statement on the second anniversary of the October 7 massacre accusing the Jewish state of genocide and war crimes (Read more at JNS).

Trump’s changes in strategy put lasting Gaza ceasefire within reach

Trump has laid the groundwork for the moment by squeezing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and showing new deference to Arab allies who are expected to coax Hamas to halt the fighting. Many of the same sticking points for Hamas remain, such as where the Israel Defense Forces will withdraw to in Gaza, whether Hamas can deliver all of the remaining hostages including those not held by the group, when prisoners will be released from Israel and the channels through which humanitarian assistance will be delivered (Read more at Politico).

Zohran Mamdani under fire from all sides following 7 October statement

He then pivoted to denounce Israel’s military response: "In the aftermath… Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government launched a genocidal war… A death toll that now far exceeds 67,000; with the Israeli military bombing homes, hospitals, and schools into rubble… Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language… Our government has been complicit through it all. The occupation and apartheid must end." Pro-Palestine social media users were quick to respond to his statement, with many pointing out that neither "Palestinians" or "Palestine" was used once (Read more at Middle East Eye).

US bankrolled Israel’s Gaza genocide with $33 bn in military aid

A new report released yesterday by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the Costs of War Project at Brown University has found that the US has provided at least $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel since October 7, 2023. The damning findings directly implicate US support in what many human rights groups and UN officials have labelled a genocide (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Jordan’s king, Trump discuss US Gaza peace plan

Jordan’s King Abdullah discussed the latest developments related to US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the fighting in Gaza in a phone call hours ago with the American president (Source: Dawn).

Trump to host American who spent 584 days in Hamas captivity

Alexander, an Israeli-American citizen from New Jersey, was freed by the Palestinian terror group in May and was believed to be the last surviving US hostage. The president will meet with Alexander, 21, in the Oval Office at around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, according to the White House (Read more at NY Post).

Many details to be worked out on Trump Gaza plan, Qatari official says

“At this stage, it is not appropriate to discuss what the obstacles are, we will wait for the results of the talks in the coming days,” Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said. “Last night there was a detailed negotiation that lasted more than four hours, focusing mainly on identifying the obstacles to implementing the agreement. Many details still need consensus regarding the agreement’s implementation — including the international force, the release of hostages, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Meetings will continue today, and there is no doubt that in this round of talks, all parties are pushing toward an agreement — but there is still a lot of work to do.” (Read more at Yahoo News)

Trump says Gaza talks advancing rapidly, first phase should be completed this week

"These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly. The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details. I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST," Trump said in a social media post (Read more at Business Standard).

Rubio says Gaza war has hurt Israel's global support

"Whether you believe it was justified or not, right or not, you cannot ignore the impact that this has had on Israel's global standing," Rubio told CBS News' Face the Nation. The United States has for decades diplomatically shielded its ally Israel at the U.N. Here's how that has played out during the Gaza war (Read more at Reuters)

Rubio says Gaza war is not yet over

US Secretary of State describes the release of the hostages held by Hamas as the first phase, while details on what happens after that still need to be worked out. “No one can tell you it’s a 100 percent guarantee," he said. Rubio told NBC the US would know "very quickly" whether Hamas was serious or not during the current technical talks to coordinate the release of the hostages (Read more at Middle East Online).

Netanyahu faces far-right backlash as Trump presses to end Gaza war

Under pressure from Donald Trump to end the two-year-old war, Netanyahu is facing a backlash from ultra-nationalist allies whose opposition to the U.S. president's Gaza proposal could force the Israeli leader into early elections (Read more at Reuters).

OpenAI's Altman seeks funds for infrastructure expansion on Asia, Middle East tour

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has embarked on a global fundraising initiative spanning East Asia and the Middle East, seeking financing and manufacturing partners to meet the company’s demand for its computing capacity. Altman has planned to visit investors in the United Arab Emirates to raise money to help fund OpenAI’s infrastructure expansion and research (Read more at Hindu Business Line)

Trump says Israel agreed to withdrawal line

Trump said "when Hamas confirms," a ceasefire will be effective "immediately" and a prisoner exchange will begin, setting the stage for the next phase of Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave (Read more at Yahoo News).

Trump links Türkiye sanctions relief to ending Russian oil purchases

Türkiye was hit with two categories of sanctions after the S-400 purchase. U.S. officials communicated to Türkiye that lifting sanctions imposed by Congress under the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, would be more difficult than lifting the other penalties placed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or also known as CAATSA. Multiple sources familiar with U.S.-Türkiye discussions said Trump privately linked Türkiye's Russian oil imports to the sanctions imposed in 2020 after Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system (Read more at Turkiye Today).

US 'sends $230m to Lebanon' as it moves to disarm Hezbollah

The funding includes $190 million for the Lebanese Armed Forces and $40 million for the Internal Security Forces. The funding was released at a time when the Republican president’s administration has been slashing many foreign assistance programs, saying that its priority in spending taxpayer dollars is America First (Read more at Arabnews).

Trump’s Gaza plan not in line with Muslim countries’ proposal

The countries had proposed a full Israeli withdrawal from the besieged Palestinian territory during a September 22 meeting with Trump. However, Trump’s plan calls for a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces to pave the way for Palestinian militant group Hamas to release the remaining hostages it holds (Read more at Scroll).

Dozens killed in Gaza despite Trump's call for Israel to halt bombing

At least 36 people were killed in bombardments and airstrikes in the devastated Palestinian enclave since Trump demanded Israel halt its attacks late on Friday (Read more at Yahoo News).

Gazans hope Trump will force end to two-year-old war

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: "We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive. "Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough," he said (Read more at RTE).

Reaction after Trump calls for end to bombing in Gaza

Donald Trump has called for Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza after Hamas said it was ready to release hostages and agreed to some aspects of the U.S. president's plan to end the war, although Israeli strikes still killed several people on Saturday. Here are some reactions from around the world to Hamas' comments and Trump's reaction (Read more at Reuters).

World reacts to Hamas’s response to Trump’s Gaza plan

Hope-filled reactions follow Hamas’s response, which marks a potential turning point in Israel’s two-year war on Gaza. Global reactions, including from key mediators, to Hamas’s partial acceptance of United States President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza, have been tinged with hope as the prospect of halting the two-year genocidal assault appears within reach (Read more at Aljazeera).

Trump issues Sunday ultimatum for Hamas to accept Gaza plan

He warned that an agreement must be reached by 6pm US Eastern time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday, or else Gaza would face further violence. “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,” Trump wrote (Read more at Aljazeera).

The 15 reasons why UN legal experts say Trump’s Gaza plan breaches international law

Special rapporteurs warn the 20-point plan for Gaza risks entrenching human rights violations against Palestinians. The experts identified a wide range of concerns, raising questions about the plan’s compatibility with international law and with the International Court of Justice’s 2024 Advisory Opinion, which affirmed that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and must end unconditionally (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Egypt urges Hamas to accept Trump Gaza plan

Badr Abdelatty said the time had come for Hamas to disarm, and that Israel should be given no excuse to continue its offensive in Gaza. He added that while there were “a lot of holes” in the Trump proposal, there was full agreement that “Hamas has no role in the day after” (Read more at Guardian).

Türkiye says may work jointly with US, S. Korea for 2nd nuclear plant

Türkiye last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on civilian nuclear cooperation as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House (Read more at Daily Sabah).

Delays to Trump's UAE chips deal frustrate Nvidia

The delays are a setback to Huang and White House AI Czar David Sacks, who hoped to see the deal advance quickly to highlight a new U.S. tech strategy focused on exports, according to people familiar with the matter. They see agreements like the U.A.E. deal as key to the U.S. staying ahead of China in the AI race (Read more at MSN).

Erdogan tells Trump Israel must stop attacks for peace plan to succeed

President Tayyip Erdogan told US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call on Friday that Turkiye welcomed efforts to reach peace in the region, but that Israel must stop its attacks for efforts to be successful, the Turkish presidency said (Read more at Arabnews).

US judge dismisses lawsuit against UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Judge Analisa Torres of the Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the UN agency is protected by immunity as part of the United Nations. According to the report, the suit, filed on behalf of roughly 100 Israeli plaintiffs, including survivors of the attack, the estates of those killed, and at least one hostage, alleged that the UNRWA allowed Palestinian resistance group Hamas to divert funds for its own use (Read more at Middle East Monitor).

Majority of US Democratic voters favour punitive measures against Israel

Eighty percent of all respondents said the US should reduce its support for Israel, and 72 percent agreed that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Sixty-five percent of respondents said they want some form of sanctions to be imposed as a result. All those figures increased among respondents aged 18-29, at times by 10 percentage points or more (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Israel paying US influencers to reverse negative public opinion: Report

Foreign Agents Registration Act (Fara) records filed with the US Department of Justice show that Israel’s government has set aside $900,000 to pay influencers from mid-June until the end of November this year. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays a company called Bridges Partners LLC to manage the influencers. Israel transfers the money to Bridge Partners LLC’s via Havas Media Group in Germany, who then transfer the money across to Bridge Partners LLC (Read more at Middle East Eye).

Trump orders Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas partially accepts his peace plan

“Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out,” Trump wrote on social media (Read more at Arabnews).

Qatar Emir discusses with Trump the plan to end Gaza war

Sheikh Tamim reiterated Qatar's support for peace efforts and expressed confidence the countries backing the plan could reach a just settlement that guarantees regional security and stability and protects Palestinian rights, it added (Read more at MSN).

Pentagon says Iraq mission being scaled back

The Pentagon recommitted itself in a statement on Tuesday to scaling back its military mission in Iraq, a process that a U.S. official said will see Baghdad command efforts to combat remnants of Islamic State inside its own country. Under the plan, the U.S. and its coalition allies would instead focus on combating Islamic State remnants in Syria and shift most of their personnel to Iraq’s Kurdistan region to carry out that mission (Read more at DD News).

Yemen's Houthis say they will target US oil firms with sanctions

The Sanaa-based Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), a body set up last year to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators, sanctioned 13 U.S. companies, nine executives and two vessels, HOCC said. The sanctions are in retaliation for U.S. sanctions imposed on the Houthis this year despite a truce agreement with the Trump administration in which the Yemeni group agreed to stop attacking U.S.-linked ships in the Red Sea and the wider Gulf of Aden, HOCC said (Read more at Straits Times).

Jewish House Democrat endorses Trump Middle East peace plan

Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) crossed party lines on Tuesday and endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. “I welcome the president’s proposal to finally bring this war to an end,” Rep. Lois Frankel said (Read more at JNS).

Trump: any attack on Qatar be treated as a threat to U.S. security

President Trump has signed an executive order saying that any armed attack against Qatar would be considered "a threat to the peace and security of the United States." "In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability," reads the executive order, which was dated Monday, Sept. 29 (Read more at CBS).

First group of Iranians deported from U.S

The United States is planning to deport some 400 Iranians, most of whom entered the country illegally, as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on immigration (Source: MSN).

US deportation drive against pro-Palestine students is illegal

In a blistering opinion on Tuesday, Federal District Judge William Young, an appointee of former President Ronald Reagan, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem misused their powers in the deportation campaign (Read more at Aljazeera).

Reissue temporary visas for Gazans who need medical care, 42 senators tell Rubio

Most of the Senate Democratic caucus sought an explanation from Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, on Monday over his recent decision to stop issuing temporary visas for Gazans who need medical care. The visas allowed Palestinians in Gaza to come to the United States for medical treatment once vetted to ensure that they did not pose security threats. “These civilians include severely wounded children, who are especially vulnerable and, through no fault of their own, have been caught in the crossfire and forced to endure horrible impacts from the war in Gaza,” the senators wrote (Read more at JNS).

‘Never would have imagined,’ freed hostage says of NJ street named in his honor

Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage who was freed in May after 584 days in Hamas captivity, was honored Monday with a street named for him in the borough in which he grew up. “Every time I see this road, I will remember not just the struggle but the love and unity that brought me back home,” Edan Alexander said (Read more at JNS).

Gottheimer bill seeks to speed up transfer confiscated Iranian weapons to US partners

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) introduced a bipartisan bill on Tuesday to speed up the process by which confiscated Iranian weapons are transferred to U.S. partners and allies. “Iran, the world’s largest state-sponsor of terror, continues to arm terror proxies that threaten American troops, our bases and our allies,” the legislator stated (Read more at JNS).

Charlie Kirk to Netanyahu: ‘Communications intervention’ needed for Israel

“A paradigm shift is needed in how Israel presents itself to the world,” the late conservative activist wrote in a May letter to the Israeli prime minister. Recommendations included creating a rapid response team to combat misinformation, sending former hostages on press tours to discuss their experiences and providing ways for everyday Israelis to showcase their country “in their own words.” (Read more at JNS)

Trump promises ‘something special’ on Gaza

US President Donald Trump has promised “something special” is coming for Gaza as Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reservations about the White House’s 21-point ceasefire and post-war governance plan (Read more at CNN).

Arab mediators suggest changes to Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan

Suggested amendments include full Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and release of hostages over two stages (Read more at The National).