Houthi leader promises wider attacks on companies linked with Israel

Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi has emphasised his commitment to a “fourth phase” of attacks to oppose the war on Gaza announced earlier this week, which will include targeting the ships of any company that has dealings with the Israeli army or transports goods to Israel.

The Houthi armed forces “are capable of reaching them”, he said during a televised speech that lasted about 100 minutes, adding that widening the scale of attacks was “a necessary step” in response to the Israeli-imposed famine in Gaza.

“We direct a warning to anyone who dares to stand with the Israeli enemy, using all tools of betrayal, treachery and criminality,” al-Houthi said.

He renewed his denunciation of Arab countries in the region for not standing up to Israel and the US, and said any Arab state that continues to have economic relations and trade with Israel must follow the example of Colombia, which banned coal exports to Israel this week.

The Houthi leader described military operations against Israel as “ongoing” and said the group launched 10 missiles and drones this week, targeting Ben Gurion International Airport among other places.

Main events on July 31st

Bernie Sanders, the former Kibbutz settler in Haifa is still refusing to use the term genocide. Controlled opposition to tame anti-Israel protests.

https://x.com/AFpost/status/1950648618475815233

Yeah, he is one of the loudest voices in the US but indeed still refuses to call it as it is. And of course still has to re-iterate Israel has a right to defend itself. 

It's better than nothing and he does get a voice. But you're right, it's not all that different from the 'opposition' of Canada, UK, France, Germany etc with their condemnations, warnings, pleadings, and now talking about recognizing Palestine. Trying to ease public pressure.

And of course now beginning to place all the blame on Netanyahu while it's nearly the entire Israeli government and majority of the population that are behind the atrocities and deny starvation is happening. Ben Gvir and Smotrich are even worse, still no ICC warrants for them. Israel Katz, Dany Danon, Gideon Saar, Eli Cohen all routinely lie and make genocidal statements as well.

This whole genocide often feels like an utmost cruel experiment in how far can we go, how to control public opinion, how to deflect dissent.

Israeli military carries out deadly overnight attacks across Gaza

Earlier, we reported that the Israeli military killed at least two and injured more than 70 Palestinians waiting for aid in the early hours of Friday morning near the Morag Corridor south of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Israeli forces have carried out more deadly attacks over recent hours, our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues report, including:

Trump imposes 15% trade tariff on Israel

The While House imposed a 15-percent tariff on Israeli imports as part of US President Donald Trump’s global trade policy. The new restrictions will take effect on August 7 and involve dozens of other countries.

According to Israeli media, the country’s Finance Ministry said the levies are lower compared with other countries thanks to “the positive dialogue and discourse between Israel and the [Trump] administration”.

“Negotiations with our American counterparts continue with the goal of reaching a full and improved agreement,” it added.


New poll shows 47% of Israelis deny famine is occurring in Gaza

Nearly half of Israelis – 47 percent – surveyed in a new poll said they do not believe Gaza is suffering famine, dismissing such claims as Hamas propaganda.

In the poll, carried out by the Lazar Research Institute and published by Maariv newspaper, 41 percent of respondents agreed that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza.

Of those who agreed, 56 percent said they care about the issue of famine in Gaza, while 44 percent said they do not, according to Maariv.

So 23% of Israelis care about the issue of famine in Gaza, 47% deny it while 18% cheer the famine on...

Israeli protesters clash with police over Gaza genocide

Israeli police were filmed violently breaking up antiwar protests in Tel Aviv yesterday.

Footage shows officers grabbing and shoving some protesters onto the ground, while dragging and detaining others.

Israeli protesters holding pictures of starving Palestinian children and calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza clashed with police on Thursday in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/ZexnV1SiR4

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 1, 2025

Steve Witkoff to visit Gaza

At least 159 people have now died from hunger in Gaza in what’s being described as Israel’s campaign of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Dozens of Palestinians were also killed on Thursday at food distribution sites run by the notorious US and Israeli-backed GHF in Gaza ahead of a planned visit to the famished Palestinian territory by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff is expected to visit GHF aid distribution sites that have been described as “killing zones” for starving Palestinians.

Israeli killings of aid seekers in Gaza amount to war crimes: HRW

Human Rights Watch says that Israeli troops at the sites of the US and Israeli-backed GHF have killed Palestinian aid seekers in acts that amount to war crimes.

“The dire humanitarian situation is a direct result of Israel’s use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war – a war crime – as well as Israel’s continued intentional deprivation of aid and basic services, ongoing actions that amount to the crime against humanity of extermination, and acts of genocide,” read the report released today.

Mass-casualty incidents have taken place on a near-daily basis at or near GHF sites in Gaza. According to the UN, more than 850 Palestinians have been killed while trying to get food there since late May, most by the Israeli army.

“Israeli forces are not only deliberately starving Palestinian civilians, but they are now gunning them down almost every day as they desperately seek food for their families,” said Belkis Wille, associate crisis and conflict director at HRW.

“US-backed Israeli forces and private contractors have put in place a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.”

Death toll near Khan Younis aid site rises to seven

At least seven aid seekers have now been confirmed killed near a distribution point south of Khan Younis, report our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic, citing Nasser Hospital.

Israeli forces kill five, injure 20 in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting mass casualties from an attack in Gaza City’s northern Shujayea neighbourhood.

Israeli gunfire in the area killed at least five people and injured 20, they report, citing Gaza’s Civil Defence.

The casualties add to at least 24 people killed by Israeli attacks in the enclave today, they report.

US’s Witkoff, Huckabee visit GHF aid site: Report

US envoy Steve Witkoff and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee have now visited a GHF-run aid distribution point in Gaza, reports Israel’s Ynet News site.

The two officials will report on the site’s conditions to US President Trump, who recently expressed concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave.

Bloodshed at GHF-run aid sites ‘a great sin’: Ex-UN official

Martin Griffiths, director of Mediation Group International and the former Under Secretary General of the UN Humanitarian Affairs Office, says the US and Israel-backed GHF’s aid distribution system has turned into a “catastrophe”, as the number of aid seekers killed continues to climb beyond 1,000.

“I think when many of us saw the first plans of the GHF to launch this operation in Gaza, we were immediately appalled by the way they were proposing to manage it,” Griffiths told Al Jazeera.

“It was clearly militarised. They’d have their own security contractors. They’d have [Israeli military] camps placed right beside them. We know now that they are, in fact, under instructions by [the Israeli military]. All of this is a crime. All of this is a deep betrayal of humanitarian values.”

“But what I at least did not sufficiently anticipate was the killing and was the absolutely critical result of this operation, this sole humanitarian operation allowed by Israel in Gaza,” Griffiths added.

“The 1,000 killed are an incredible statistic. I had no idea it would go that high and it’s going on daily. It’s not stopping.”

“I think it’s a catastrophe more than a disappointment,” he said. “I think it’s a great sin. I think it’s a great crime.”

US envoy’s planned aid site visit likely to be ‘choreographed’

As we reported earlier, US envoy Steve Witkoff and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are planning to visit GHF-run aid distribution sites in Gaza today.

Martin Griffiths, the UN’s former under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, says while the visit is “likely to be choreographed”, it’s still an “important form of witness”.

“I’m glad that they’re going,” Griffiths, now the director of Mediation Group International, told Al Jazeera. “Maybe they will see things that are unexpected. I can’t imagine because we’ve seen so much. But I don’t see it leading to a major change.”

“If I was one of the two million Gazans starving to death, this is a day I would like to go to an aid distribution point,” Griffiths added. “There’s slightly less risk probably than any other day.”

Palestinian mother describes violent struggle at GHF aid site

A Palestinian woman has spoken to Al Jazeera about her struggle trying to get aid from a GHF-run distribution point in Gaza – a process she described as a “death journey”.

“I need to provide for my girls,” the woman – a mother of two – told Al Jazeera. “I don’t have anyone to support me.”

She described the aid retrieval process as a violent scramble where only those who dare to push deep into the crowd come back with anything. “There are children who worked hard to get [aid] and men come to take it from them,” she said.

After putting herself at risk, the woman left the aid site with only rice, cooking oil and a can of tomatoes, she said.

Still, “it’s a blessing from God”, she said, despite having hurt her arm after being hit in the crowd.

‘Shooting, killing, death’: Palestinian man describes GHF aid site turmoil

Al Jazeera has spoken with another Palestinian who described violent scenes at a GHF-run aid site.

Ibrahim Mekki, from the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, said he waited at least six hours and risked being shot by Israeli forces just to end up with a few bags of pasta.

“Shooting, killing, death, destruction and martyrs,” Mekki said of the scene. “And for what? Just to get a little food.

“It’s a trap, a game … Letting you move a little, then opening fire,” he added.

Mekki said an “enormous” number of people had congregated at the aid site he went to, but estimated just 5 percent succeeded in retrieving anything of value.

“Look at me, what did I get? Nothing,” he said, revealing a bag with just two small bags of pasta and a bag of bulgur. “It’s not enough to feed the kids for a single day.

“I’m forced to go back every single day to try again,” he added.

_{The bodies of Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid trucks in northern Gaza are brought to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, July 20}