Arab League removes Hezbollah from ‘terrorist group’ list: Report

The Arab League’s assistant secretary-general says the organisation has ceased referring to Hezbollah as a “terrorist organisation,” Anadolu reports.

In a televised statement on the Egyptian Al-Qahera News Channel the day after he concluded a visit to Beirut, Hossam Zaki said, “The member states of the league agreed that the label of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation should no longer be employed.”

On March 11, 2016, the Arab League classified Hezbollah as a “terrorist organisation,” with reservations from Lebanon and Iraq, and called for it to “cease promoting extremism and sectarianism, refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of countries, and withhold any support for terrorism and terrorists in the region”.

The classification occurred shortly after the Gulf Cooperation Council countries designated the Lebanese Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation on March 2, 2016.

On Friday, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported that Zaki visited Beirut and held a meeting with Muhammad Raad, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc affiliated with Hezbollah. This marks the first contact between the Arab League and Hezbollah in more than a decade.

Zaki’s visit and statement coincided with heightened concerns about a potential escalation between Hezbollah and Israel over the war in Gaza.

Riyadh urges its citizens to refrain from traveling to Lebanon

Saudi Arabia has called on its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country amid rising concerns over an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.

The kingdom’s embassy has urged Saudis to leave Lebanon “immediately”, the agency reported.

Several countries, both in the region and Western, in recent days have advised their citizens against travelling to Lebanon.

Palestinians in Lebanon ready to fight if Israel starts war with Hezbollah

Palestinians in Lebanon have watched Israel’s assault on Gaza with simmering anger and are now facing the prospect of a similar fate if Israel wages an all-out war against the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

But many Palestinians in Lebanon say they’re prepared to fight.

Israeli jets break sound barrier over Lebanon’s capital

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that Israeli fighter jets have broken the sound barrier over Beirut and parts of south and east Lebanon.

The moves come as Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah continued to trade fire, with the Lebanese armed group saying it will only stop when the Israeli assault on Gaza ends.

The hostilities have largely depopulated the border zone on both sides, with tens of thousands of people fleeing their homes.

Antigovernment rallies rock Israel’s capital

וואווו
מתוך קניון עזריאלי - רחוב בגין ועד כיכר הדמוקרטיה ומעלה קפלן pic.twitter.com/eaw7oBF3XP

— לירי בורק שביט (@lirishavit) June 29, 2024

קפלן מפוצץ - צולם מתוך הקניון - המונים pic.twitter.com/iSk2GYWRUb

— לירי בורק שביט (@lirishavit) June 29, 2024

Captives’ blood on Netanyahu’s hands, Israeli protester says

A family member of a captive who was held by Hamas in Gaza says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on not stopping the war as part of the prisoner exchange deal is “what stands between us and our loved ones”.

“Continuing the war means that the captives will be killed by the government of Israel. The blood is on your hands,” Ella Metzger, the daughter-in-law of Yoram Metzger, who died in Hamas captivity aged 80, said at an antigovernment protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

“Time and time again, Netanyahu derails all deals at the last minute. Netanyahu must be prevented from blocking the deal next time.”

Clashes as Israeli police disperse antigovernment protests in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

Israeli police have clashed with antigovernment protesters in Tel Aviv and arrested several people in Jerusalem as they dispersed crowds calling for early elections and a deal to free captives held in Gaza, according to the Times of Israel.

In Tel Aviv, opposition lawmaker Naama Lazimi said police assaulted her and pulled her hair, while in Jerusalem, a policeman at the site was recorded threatening to rape one arrested protester’s mother, ToI reported.

The opposition Labour Party condemned the assault on Lazimi, saying it “crosses a red line, is frightening and resembles totalitarian regimes”.

_{People attend a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and call for the release of captives in Gaza in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 29}

Hamas says no news on truce deal as thousands of Israelis protest

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official based in Lebanon, says the Palestinian group is still ready to discuss any truce proposal that ends the nearly nine-month conflict.

“Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal,” Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut.

Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire, with both sides blaming each other for the impasse. Hamas says any deal must end the war for good and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, is “eradicated”.

Hamdan said the group had yet to receive a new ceasefire proposal from mediators. Meanwhile, an estimated 130,000 Israelis converged in Tel Aviv on Saturday night demanding an immediate truce deal to bring the captives home.

Israeli foreign minister issues threat to Iran

Israel Katz has responded to what he said was a threat by Iran to destroy Israel if it attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“My response to Iran is clear: If Hezbollah does not cease its fire and withdraw from southern Lebanon, we will act against it with full force until security is restored and residents can return to their homes,” he said in a post on X.

“A regime that threatens destruction deserves to be destroyed,” Katz added.

Look in the mirror for once... You are the regime that not only threatens destruction but is already carrying out systematic full scale destruction.

National ‘uncommitted’ movement has a message to Biden: Change course on Gaza

The “Uncommitted National Movement”, which has been critical of the US president’s handling of the war in Gaza and has urged voters to cast “uncommitted” ballots in state primaries, has called on Biden to use his leverage to bring about a ceasefire in the besieged coastal enclave.

The coalition, which grew out of a campaign in Michigan’s presidential primary, said in a statement: “If you want us to mobilise the 700,000 Democratic primary voters who cast uncommitted ballots toward your re-election, you must ensure a permanent ceasefire by imposing an arms embargo and not sending another US weapon for Israel’s war and occupation.”

“The battle for the soul of our nation demands Biden to change course – not another bomb.”

The uncommitted campaigns won 29 delegates in several states to send to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago in August.

STATEMENT on Biden’s re-election and the Democratic National Convention: “We have 29 Uncommitted delegates who are ready to back a Democratic candidate for President who supports a permanent ceasefire and ensures that no more US bombs get supplied to the Israeli government’s…

— Uncommitted National Movement 🌺 (@uncommittedmvmt) June 29, 2024

Pain and grief in Gaza as Israeli attacks kill 40 Palestinians

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 40 Palestinians across different parts of the Strip on Saturday. In the southwest, tanks targeted displaced civilians in designated safe zones. Addition-ally, ground operations in al- Mawasi neighbourhood have resulted in widespread destruction and casualties.

Rashida Tlaib Rips Into House Members For Covering Up Palestinian Genocide In Gaza

Israel's CHILD TORTURE Prisons

Woman Tries To DROWN Palestinian Children & Politicians Say NOTHING

Egypt condemns Israeli decision to legalise five more settlements

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry called the move a “clear continuation and persistence in the policy of violating international law and UN Security Council resolutions”.

It also strongly denounced “Israel’s exploitation of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip to further entrench illegal settlement expansion” as well as steps to alter the legal status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

The ministry said that the international community must intervene to stop Israel’s illegal actions and practices and intensify efforts for the immediate end of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Saudi Arabia denounces Israel’s moves to expand settlements

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement expressing the kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli decision to “expand blatant settlement activity in the West Bank”.

The ministry said Saudi Arabia “firmly rejects the continuous Israeli violations of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy”.

The Israeli action poses “severe consequences”, given the “lack of international accountability mechanisms,” the ministry said, adding that “these transgressions undercut the prospects for peace and exacerbate conflicts, destabilising regional and international security and stability”.

Israel expands powers over one-fifth of West Bank

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s plan to recognise five illegal settler outposts in the occupied West Bank has drawn condemnation from several governments as well as the EU, the Arab League and UN officials.

In addition to recognising the outposts, Smotrich’s plan removes civilian powers related to construction and zoning in one-fifth of the occupied West Bank, in what is known as “Area B”.

Under the Oslo Accords, which divided the occupied West Bank into areas A, B and C in 1995, Area B falls under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control.

According to the secretary-general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Smotrich’s plan “dismantles any semblance of Palestinian Authority, including in Area B”, and represents a “complete and final reversal of the Oslo Accords”.

The A,B,C partition was only meant to be temporary with Israel gradually relinquishing control to the PA. However the opposite happened with Israeli Settlers gradually moving in and expanding Israeli control. Now (what remains of) Area B is practically becoming part of Area C, while daily and nightly raids continue into area A. Plus there is no freedom of movement between Area A cities, total occupation.

Israeli forces arrests 20 in latest occupied West Bank raids

The arrests took place over the weekend during incursions into Hebron, Tulkarem, Nablus and Jerusalem governorates, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. During the raids, Israeli forces severely beat detainees, threatened their families, and caused damage to Palestinian homes, the group said.

The latest arrests bring the total number of detentions in the occupied West Bank since October 7 to 9,450, it added.

Israeli air strike hits home in Nur Shams camp, one killed, wounding 5 others

Israeli forces bombed a home in the Nur Shams camp, near Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, reports Wafa.

‘Save us from Netanyahu’ – Israeli protests continue

Netanyahu says ‘no substitute for victory’

Israel’s prime minister again promised to accomplish all his war aims, including defeating Hamas, bringing home Israeli captives from Gaza, and restoring stability in northern and southern Israel.

“To all those who doubt the achievement of these goals, I reiterate: There is no substitute for victory,” Netanyahu said at a weekly government meeting, according to Israeli news site Srugim.

“Our fighters did not fall in vain. We will not end the war until we achieve all our objectives.”

Netanyahu also addressed the US-proposed ceasefire deal on the table during the meeting, saying Israel remains committed to the proposal as formulated by US President Biden. He blamed Hamas for blocking the deal.

Hamas, which responded to the ceasefire proposal earlier this month requesting some amendments, says it has yet to hear back but remains “ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire”.

According to The Associated Press, the United States has presented new language to intermediaries Egypt and Qatar in an attempt to jumpstart the stalled negotiations.

October 7 attack committee ‘should be set up immediately’: Lapid

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has denied any discussions are taking place with Prime Minister Netanyahu over the formation of an official investigation committee into the deadly Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

“For everyone who asked, there are no contacts with Netanyahu regarding the composition of a state investigative committee,” wrote Lapid on X.

“There is a law and the law is clear: only the president of the Supreme Court determines the composition of an investigative committee. I will not participate in any games. We need an investigation committee and it should be set up immediately.”

Lapid’s comments come as Israeli Army Radio reported Netanyahu “is seeking to select members of the investigation committee into the October 7 failure, in collaboration with the opposition”.

Unlike some military and political leaders in Israel, Netanyahu has not yet accepted responsibility for failing to stop the attack. He’s repeatedly stated an official investigation committee should only be formed after the war on Gaza ends.

India exports rockets, explosives to Israel amid Gaza war, documents reveal

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/6/26/india-exports-rockets-explosives-to-israel-amid-gaza-war-documents-reveal

Israel could stay in Gaza ‘for many months’: Report

The Israeli military plans to continue operating in Gaza as long as “no other international entity is found” to administer the Strip, a process it expects may take “many months”, reports Israel’s Kan broadcaster.

The news outlet cited an unnamed military source in its report.

Netanyahu has repeatedly promised to continue the Gaza war until Hamas is defeated and removed from power, but his government has yet to outline a clear vision of Gaza’s post-war governance.

‘The Israelis feel they’re off the hook now’

Tamer Qarmout, associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says he believes the latest round of ceasefire talks are “dead” after senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told reporters there’s been no movement on the negotiations.

“The Biden administration, until this point, has failed drastically to put any pressure on Israel to end this war. And it’s election time in the US. I think Netanyahu is betting on the return of Trump, and this excites him to continue with his war conduct because he’s not accountable to anyone, especially the Americans,” he said.

“The Israelis feel they’re off the hook now as Biden focuses on his re-election and internal politics over this conflict in Gaza. Sadly, it turns the situation into a deadlock and I don’t foresee any ceasefire until November,” Qarmout told Al Jazeera.

Palestinians trapped in Shujayea as ground invasion intensifies