Israeli Defence Ministry buying new refuelling aircraft from US

Israel’s Ministry of Defence has announced plans to sign a contract with Washington to purchase the Israeli Air Force’s fifth and sixth refuelling aircraft, worth an estimated $500m.

“This is a follow-on contract with the US Government for procuring two advanced refueling aircraft in addition to four previously purchased KC-46 aircraft,” the ministry said in a statement.

Amir Baram, the ministry’s director general, said the additional aircraft will allow the Air Force “to reach distant theaters with greater force and scope”.

The US government faces sustained calls to suspend transfers of weapons and military equipment to Israel as it wages war on the Gaza Strip and carries out attacks across the region.

Washington has provided its ally with billions of dollars in arms since the Gaza war began.


Israeli PM says ‘timetables shortened’ to defeat Hamas

Netanyahu says he has directed Israel’s timetable to be shortened “for seizing control of the last terrorist strongholds and the defeat of Hamas” in Gaza, without offering an exact estimate for the intensified military offensive.

“The Prime Minister expresses his great appreciation for the reservist fighters who have been mobilised and their families, and all [Israeli] soldiers. Together we will win,” the Israeli prime minister said in a statement.

As we’ve been reporting, Israel has said it plans to call up 60,000 army reservists in the coming weeks as it forcibly displaces Palestinians from Gaza City and other areas of the enclave.

US announces new Israel-related sanctions on ICC officials

The Trump administration has sanctioned four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials it says are involved in efforts “to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of either nation”.

Washington has been hitting out against the ICC after it announced plans to investigate, then issued arrest warrants for, Israeli leaders accused of committing war crimes in Gaza.

Earlier this year, the US government announced sanctions against ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who brought the arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. It also sanctioned four ICC judges.

The new US sanctions target Kimberly Prost of Canada, Nicolas Guillou of France, Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji, and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal, the US State Department said in a statement.

“The United States has been clear and steadfast in our opposition to the ICC’s politicization, abuse of power, disregard for our national sovereignty, and illegitimate judicial overreach,” it said. “The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel.”

Fenerbahce reveal banner that reads ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza! Free Palestine!’

Supporters of Turkish football side Fenerbahce have unfurled a banner reading “Stop the genocide in Gaza! Free Palestine!” in the stands during their UEFA Champions League playoff round match against Portuguese side Benfica.

In 2023, Scottish football club Celtic were fined $19,000 because its fans waved Palestinian flags during a Champions League game.


_{Fenerbahce vs Benfica, at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye, August 20, 2025}

Main events on August 20th

Kneecap rapper, author Sally Rooney pose headache to UK govt, BBC over Gaza

Kneecap rappers and best-selling author Sally Rooney have become the symbol of Irish solidarity for Palestinians as they fight back attempts to silence them in their criticism of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Rifat Jawaid looks at the phenomenon and warns that this doesn’t augur well for the current Labour government of the UK and the publicly-funded broadcaster, the BBC.

We confronted top Israel lobbyist about Labour donations

David Lammy held an off the record meeting with Sir Trevor Chinn, an influential businessman and one of Britain’s leading pro-Israel lobbyists, Declassified can reveal. The meeting took place on 11 February 2025 but was not recorded in official transparency data published by the Foreign Office. Lammy’s sole public appointment on that day was a meeting with the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator to discuss “humanitarian crises around the globe” including the situation in Gaza. The Foreign Office only released details about Lammy’s meeting with Chinn in response to a Freedom of Information request issued by Declassified. It said this was a “political meeting” and no minutes from the discussion were taken.

The Foreign Office also disclosed that Middle East minister Hamish Falconer met with Chinn on 18 March 2025 in another rendezvous that was not recorded in transparency data. Lammy, Falconer and Chinn did not respond to questions about whether the meetings focussed on Israel. Chinn said in 2013: “I’ve spent my entire life working for Israel”. Since the 1980s, he has funded Labour Friends of Israel and Conservative Friends of Israel. He has played a leading role in Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), previously described by the Guardian as “Britain’s most active pro-Israel lobbying organisation”.

Doorstepping Chinn Declassified recently revealed that Chinn – now 90 – met with a top British diplomat to discuss arms exports to Israel despite the government initially claiming the purpose of the meeting was “to discuss geopolitics”. Chinn did not respond to Declassified’s request for comment on that story. So when we saw him disembarking a taxi outside the Chatham House think-tank in London last month, we quickly asked him for an interview. Chinn, gripping a copy of the Financial Times, declined our request. “You’re a very generous benefactor to the Labour Party,” we said as he was ushered inside. “What do you think about the situation in Gaza at the moment? Why do you donate so much money to the Labour Party?” He ignored our questions, which related to his £50,000 donation towards Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership campaign in 2020. Chinn’s donation was not disclosed until after the election had taken place. He has also donated to key members of Starmer’s cabinet including chancellor Rachel Reeves, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, health secretary Wes Streeting, education secretary Bridget Phillipson, culture secretary Lisa Nandy, and Lammy.

Chinn entered the building on the heels of Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan, who was in the capital for meetings with politicians, including Falconer, and local Zionist organisations. Golan said in October 2023 that Israel’s starvation of Gaza was “completely legitimate”, before later criticising Israeli forces for killing “children as a hobby”. As a Brigadier General in the IDF, Golan was disciplined in 2007 for using Palestinian civilians as human shields.

https://www.declassifieduk.org/david-lammy-held-off-the-books-meeting-with-pro-israel-lobbyist/

Also Starvation Doesn’t Move the World to Action | W./ Dr. Assal Rad

Israeli drone attack hits southern Lebanon, injuring one: Report

Israel’s military has fired a drone into southern Lebanon’s Deir Siryan area, report our colleagues on the ground. Lebanon’s National News Agency, also reporting a “hostile drone” in the area, said the attack hit a motorcycle, injuring at least one person.

One killed in Israeli raid on southern Lebanon

A person has been confirmed killed in the Israeli drone attack on a motorcycle in southern Lebanon’s Deir Siryan area, Lebanon’s National News Agency cites the Health Ministry as saying.

Israel’s military claims Hezbollah member killed in Lebanon’s Deir Siryan area

Israel’s military has now taken responsibility for the attack, claiming it killed a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.

Despite a ceasefire that went into effect in November 2024, Israel has since waged hundreds of air raids on Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah. On Monday, US Syria envoy Tom Barrack urged Israel to respect the agreement.

‘Security incident’ reported near illegal Israeli outpost in West Bank: Army

The Israeli military says it has received reports of a “security incident” near the illegal outpost of Malachei HaShalom in the occupied West Bank, established in 2015 near Ramallah.

“Details are being investigated,” it added.

Manhunt under way near Ramallah after shooting near illegal Israeli outpost: Army

We reported earlier, based on an Israeli army report, that there was a “security incident” near the illegal Israeli outpost of Malachei HaShalom in the occupied West Bank, near Ramallah.

The army now reports that “a terrorist” – referring to a Palestinian person – fired at Israeli settlers on the edge of the illegal Israeli outpost of Adei Ad, about 5km (3.1 miles) from Malachei HaShalom, prompting “a violent confrontation” between the alleged attacker and Israeli settlers.

“An Israeli citizen was lightly injured during the incident, and was evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment,” the statement published on Telegram said in English.

It added that the Israeli soldiers have encircled the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir, located 5.5km (3.4 miles) from Adei Ad, “along with additional areas and are currently conducting searches to locate the terrorist”.

At least six Palestinians arrested by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank: Report

Israeli forces have carried out a wave of raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank this morning, the Wafa news agency reports.

While raiding the Am’ari refugee camp, near Ramallah, they arrested two people. During an operation in the nearby town of Deir Ibzi, they arrested four more people, including a 52-year-old man, according to the agency.

‘Targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable,’ say US senators

A group of 17 US senators has appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pressure Israel to let journalists access Gaza and ensure they are protected.

“The United States must make it clear to Israel that banning and censoring media organisations and targeting or threatening members of the press is unacceptable and must stop,” the Democratic senators said in a statement. “We urge you to press the Israeli government to protect journalists in Gaza and allow international media to access the territory.”

Last week, an Israeli strike killed four Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, as well as two freelance journalists, sparking international outcry.

The letter condemned the attack, writing: “Absent a compelling explanation of the military objective for this attack, it appears Israel is publicly admitting to targeting and killing journalists who have shown the world the scale of suffering in Gaza, which would be a violation of international law.”

Among the signatories were Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and 13 other Democratic senators, as well as independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Media Freedom Coalition demands Israel ‘allow immediate foreign media access’ into Gaza

The Media Freedom Coalition, a group of more than 50 countries partnered to defend press freedom and the safety of journalists, has issued a statement on the situation in Gaza.

The statement calls on Israel “to allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza”.

“Journalists and media workers play an essential role in putting the spotlight on the devastating reality of war,” said the statement, signed by numerous partner members, including Australia, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK. “Access to conflict zones is vital to carrying out this role effectively.”

It said the signatories also “strongly condemn all violence directed against journalists and media workers, especially the extremely high number of fatalities, arrests and detentions”.

Since the war in Gaza began, Israel has barred foreign reporters from accessing the Strip, unless while being escorted by the military.

Groundhog day

UN chief repeats call for ceasefire

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has again pressed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel’s military ramps up attacks on Gaza City in preparation to seize it.

“It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, and to avoid the massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause,” Guterres wrote in a post on X.

He also criticised Israel’s so-called E1 settlement expansion project in the occupied West Bank, calling it an “illegal” plan that would “divide the West Bank”.

It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, and to avoid the massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause.

Simultaneously, the decision by the Israeli authorities to expand… pic.twitter.com/oqf6q6vo5N

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 21, 2025

‘Ceasefire now’: UNRWA warns against loss of third school year in Gaza

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has once again called for a ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting that children in the coastal enclave face a third year without school.

“Instead of learning, children spend their time searching for water and food,” it said in a post on X. “Children urgently need a Ceasefire Now so they can go back to learning and reconnect with whatever is left of their childhood.”

According to UNRWA, nearly 88 percent of all school buildings have been directly hit since the war on Gaza began in October 2023.

Children in #Gaza have already lost two school years.
They are about to lose a third year.

Instead of learning, children spend their time searching for water and food.

Children urgently need a #CeasefireNow so they can go back to learning and reconnect with whatever is left… pic.twitter.com/wzzzdKAvFP

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 21, 2025

Israeli protesters in Tel Aviv demand action to bring back captives


_{Protesters hold signs and cutout pictures of captives as they protest, demanding the immediate release of the captives held in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 21}

Trump is making history alright...

Gaza City being constantly bombarded as residents struggle to find refuge

Life in Gaza City has essentially collapsed into a struggle for sheer survival as Israel is still pressing ahead with its military operation to take control of the entire city.

As we understand, entire neighbourhoods have come under constant Israeli bombardment. Residents on the ground report that the sound of drones and jets never leaves the sky, while people continue to move through streets filled with debris, searching for food and shelter, finding nothing.

Israel is still intensifying its attacks on these areas, and what is officially described as a military operation has effectively translated, on the ground, into a systematic destruction of daily life. Simply surviving has become an ever-harder challenge for families there.

Recently, we’ve seen some families moving from Gaza City to the south, hoping to find some sense of safety or refuge. However, the question remains: where can people actually find safety?

Just a few minutes ago, before I came on air, there was a huge attack only metres away from where we are, behind Al-Aqsa Hospital. A makeshift camp in that area was struck by three missiles.

One killed near aid centre in southern Gaza: Emergency services

The Gaza Emergency and Ambulance Service says that one Palestinian was killed and at least 15 others were injured near an aid centre north of Rafah, as a result of Israeli fire.

Earlier, we reported, citing medical sources in Gaza, that Israeli forces killed at least five people in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.