Over 30 reported lifeless from Israeli fireplace at help centre
Israeli troops opened fireplace on Saturday towards crowds of Palestinians in search of meals from distribution hubs run by an Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing not less than 32 folks, based on witnesses and hospital officers, the Related Press (AP) experiences.
The 2 incidents occurred close to hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis. In different violence, two Palestinians had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Metropolis, well being officers mentioned.
A Palestinian boy raises a pack of blood as a person who was injured at a meals distribution level in Al-Tina space of Khan Younis within the southern Gaza Strip, receives medical remedy on the Nasser hospital on 19 July 2025. {Photograph}: AFP/Getty Photos
The GHF launched operations in late Might with backing from the US and Israel. The 2 governments are in search of to switch the normal UN-led help distribution system in Gaza, saying that Hamas militants siphon off provides. The UN denies the allegation.
Whereas the GHF says it has distributed thousands and thousands of meals to hungry Palestinians, native well being officers and witnesses say that lots of of individuals have been killed by Israeli military fireplace as they attempt to attain the distribution hubs.
The military, which isn’t on the websites however secures them from a distance, says it solely fires warning pictures if crowds get too near its forces.
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Up to date at 06.35 EDT
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Donna Ferguson
An announcement on Saturday by one of many three non secular leaders of the Syrian Druze neighborhood, sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, mentioned the ceasefire would assure protected exit for tribe members and the opening of humanitarian corridors for besieged civilians to go away.
Hours earlier, the US envoy introduced that Israel and Syria had agreed to a ceasefire, after Israel sided with the Druze factions and joined the battle, together with by bombing a authorities constructing in Damascus.
The UN had additionally referred to as for an finish to the “bloodshed” and demanded an impartial investigation of the violence, which has killed not less than 718 folks from either side since Sunday, based on the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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Israel on Saturday dismissed a renewed pledge by Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa to guard minorities after lethal sectarian clashes, saying it was “very harmful” to be a minority within the nation.
Overseas minister Gideon Sa’ar posted on X:
Backside line: In al-Shara’s Syria, it is vitally harmful to be a member of a minority – Kurd, Druze, Alawite or Christian,”
This has been confirmed again and again over the previous six months.
He added the worldwide neighborhood had “an obligation to make sure the safety and rights of the minorities in Syria and to situation Syria’s renewed acceptance into the household of countries on their safety”.
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Interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in a speech mentioned that “Arab and American” mediation had helped convey calm, and criticised Israel for airstrikes towards Syrian authorities forces within the south and Damascus throughout the week.
Sweida province has been engulfed by practically per week of violence, which started with clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, earlier than Damascus despatched in authorities safety forces.
Israel has carried out airstrikes in southern Syria and on the defence ministry in Damascus, saying it’s defending the Druze minority, of whom there are a big quantity in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
In an announcement on Saturday, the Syrian presidency introduced a right away and complete ceasefire and urged all events to finish hostilities instantly.
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Not less than 15 reported lifeless from Iran bus crash
Iran’s state media is reporting that not less than 15 folks had been killed after a bus overturned within the south of the nation, the Related Press (AP) experiences.
State-run IRNA quoted Masoud Abed, the pinnacle of Fars province’s emergency organisation, as saying that up to now 15 folks had been confirmed lifeless and 27 had been injured after the accident within the south of Shiraz metropolis, the capital of the province.
Abed additionally mentioned 11 ambulances and two ambulance buses had been dispatched to the scene.
With practically 17,000 casualties yearly, Iran is among the many high international locations for street and road accidents. The toll is attributed to the disregard of security measures, using previous automobiles and insufficient emergency providers.
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Over 30 reported lifeless from Israeli fireplace at help centre
Israeli troops opened fireplace on Saturday towards crowds of Palestinians in search of meals from distribution hubs run by an Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing not less than 32 folks, based on witnesses and hospital officers, the Related Press (AP) experiences.
The 2 incidents occurred close to hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis. In different violence, two Palestinians had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Metropolis, well being officers mentioned.
A Palestinian boy raises a pack of blood as a person who was injured at a meals distribution level in Al-Tina space of Khan Younis within the southern Gaza Strip, receives medical remedy on the Nasser hospital on 19 July 2025. {Photograph}: AFP/Getty Photos
The GHF launched operations in late Might with backing from the US and Israel. The 2 governments are in search of to switch the normal UN-led help distribution system in Gaza, saying that Hamas militants siphon off provides. The UN denies the allegation.
Whereas the GHF says it has distributed thousands and thousands of meals to hungry Palestinians, native well being officers and witnesses say that lots of of individuals have been killed by Israeli military fireplace as they attempt to attain the distribution hubs.
The military, which isn’t on the websites however secures them from a distance, says it solely fires warning pictures if crowds get too near its forces.
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Up to date at 06.35 EDT
Listed here are among the newest photographs of the Center East coming to us by the wires:
A Palestinian man who was injured at an help distribution centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis, a US-backed organisation authorised by Israel, receives remedy on the ground of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, 19 July 2025. {Photograph}: Mariam Dagga/APBedouin fighters stroll close to a broken automobile, following the Syrian presidency’s announcement of a ceasefire after days of violence in Sweida province triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and Druze factions, in Sweida, Syria, on Saturday. {Photograph}: Karam Al-Masri/ReutersKinfolk of Palestinians killed at an help distribution centre mourn over their our bodies throughout their funeral at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday. {Photograph}: Mariam Dagga/APAn aerial view of Sweida, as smoke rises as clashes between the alliance of Bedouin Arabs and tribal forces and a few Druze teams proceed on the western and northern strains of the town in Syria on Saturday. {Photograph}: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShare
An unidentified drone assault killed a member of the Kurdistan Staff’ occasion (PKK) and injured one other close to Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah on Saturday, safety sources and native officers mentioned, Reuters experiences.
The assault represents the primary of its variety in months.
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My colleague William Christou has written the next article on the unrest in Syria:
Seven months on from Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syria is descending into yet one more wave of bloody sectarian violence.
An area dispute between a Bedouin tribesman and a member of the Druze minority sparked clashes that drew in Syrian authorities forces and triggered Israeli airstrikes – leaving a path of our bodies of their wake.
The scenes had been paying homage to the coastal massacres of March, when 1,500 largely Alawite civilians had been slaughtered in revenge for a failed assault by fighters loyal to Assad, who got here from the sect.
The killings have halted the passion that abounds over the brand new Syrian state and are a grim reminder of the momentous challenges it faces in unifying the nation after practically 14 years of brutal civil struggle.
The Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa – whose Sunni Islamist group led the offensive that ousted Assad – has gained the hearts of many of the western world, his success in worldwide diplomacy rivalled solely by his beautiful battlefield victories. Donald Trump has referred to as him an “enticing, robust man”, whereas the EU was swift to convey Sharaa’s Syria out of worldwide isolation.
At dwelling nonetheless, progress has been halting. Syria continues to be deeply divided, and negotiations to combine the one-third of the nation managed by Kurdish forces has stalled. Talks to totally combine the Druze-majority province of Sweida, the place the present violence is unfolding, have been gradual transferring.
You’ll be able to learn extra of William Christou’s piece right here: Escalating unrest in Syria lays naked new regime’s momentous challenges
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Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday renewed his pledge to guard minorities, after sectarian clashes left greater than 700 folks lifeless within the Druze-majority province of Sweida, Agence France-Presse (AFP) experiences.
Sharaa mentioned in a televised speech:
The Syrian state is dedicated to defending all minorities and communities within the nation… We condemn all crimes dedicated.
The message got here shortly after the president’s workplace introduced an “quick ceasefire” within the southern province.
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The Israeli navy mentioned on Saturday that dozens of Israeli residents crossed the border with Syria into Majdal Shams, a Druze village within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Reuters experiences.
It mentioned the Israeli residents used violence towards Israeli forces attempting to disperse a gathering within the space in a single day.
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Syrian president proclaims ceasefire
Syria’s Islamist-led authorities mentioned its inside safety forces started deploying in Sweida on Saturday because the presidency referred to as on all events to respect a ceasefire following bloodshed within the predominantly Druze space that has left lots of lifeless, Reuters experiences.
In an announcement, the Syrian presidency introduced a right away and complete ceasefire and urged all events to decide to it and finish hostilities in all areas instantly.
The nation’s inside ministry spokesperson mentioned earlier on Saturday that inside safety forces had begun deploying in Sweida, in southern Syria.
Syrian authorities safety forces man a checkpoint, to forestall Beduin tribal fighters from reaching the town of Sweida, alongside a street in southern Syria’s Sweida province on 19 July 2025. {Photograph}: Sam Hariri/AFP/Getty Photos
US envoy Tom Barrack introduced on Friday that Syria and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire. Israel intervened within the battle earlier this week, hitting authorities forces and the defence ministry constructing in Damascus because it declared assist for the Druze minority.
Barrack, who’s the US ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s Syria envoy, mentioned that Israel and Syria agreed to the ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and neighbours.
Druze non secular chief sheikh Yousef Jarbou mentioned in a video broadcast by state media on Wednesday that Syria’s Druze had reached a ceasefire settlement with the Syrian authorities in Sweida that may take quick impact, but clashes continued to erupt within the ensuing days.
An earlier ceasefire introduced on Tuesday night time collapsed after only some hours.
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My colleagues Malak A Tantesh and Emma Graham-Harrison have written the next piece on Gaza:
In Gaza, being a useful, loving youngster is usually a demise sentence. Heba al-Ghussain’s nine-year-old son, Karam, was killed by an Israeli airstrike as a result of he went to fetch water for the household, and her 10-year-old daughter, Lulu, was killed as a result of she went to offer Karam a hand.
The siblings had been ready beside a water distribution station, holding jerry cans and buckets, when it was bombed final Sunday, killing six kids and 4 adults and injuring 19 others, largely kids.
Each Lulu and Karam died immediately, torn aside by the drive of the blast and so disfigured that their father prevented Heba from seeing their our bodies.
“They didn’t enable me to say goodbye and even take a look at them one final time,” she mentioned. “One in all my brothers hugged me, attempting to dam the scene from me as he cried and tried to consolation me. After that, I don’t bear in mind something. I misplaced contact with actuality.”
You’ll be able to learn extra of the report right here: Killing of younger siblings at Gaza water level exhibits in search of life’s necessities now a lethal peril
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26 reported lifeless and over 100 wounded from Israeli strikes close to Gaza help centres
Gaza’s civil defence company on Saturday mentioned Israeli assaults killed 26 folks and wounded greater than 100 close to two help centres within the south of the Palestinian territory, Agence France-Presse (AFP) experiences.
Company spokesperson Mahmud Basal instructed AFP that 22 had been killed close to a website southwest of Khan Younis and 4 close to one other centre northwest of Rafah, blaming “Israeli gunfire” for each.
One witness mentioned he headed to the Al-Tina space of Khan Younis earlier than daybreak with 5 of his kin to attempt to get meals when “Israeli troopers” began capturing.
Abdul Aziz Abed, 37, instructed AFP:
My kin and I had been unable to get something.
Daily I am going there and all we get is bullets and exhaustion as a substitute of meals.
The Israeli navy mentioned it was “trying into” the claims when contacted by AFP.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas imply AFP is unable to independently confirm tolls and particulars offered by the company and different events.
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Up to date at 04.23 EDT
Opening abstract
Good day and welcome again to the Guardian’s protection of the Center East.
Gaza’s civil defence company on Saturday mentioned Israeli assaults killed 26 Palestinians and wounded greater than 100 close to two help centres within the south of the Palestinian territory.
Company spokesperson Mahmud Basal instructed Agence France-Presse (AFP) that 22 had been killed close to a website southwest of Khan Younis and 4 close to a centre northwest of Rafah, blaming “Israeli gunfire” for each.
US president Donald Trump mentioned on Friday that one other 10 hostages can be launched from Gaza shortly, with out offering further particulars.
Trump made the remark throughout a dinner with lawmakers on the White Home, lauding the efforts of his particular envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been participating within the newest spherical of ceasefire talks in Doha since 6 July, discussing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.
“We received many of the hostages again. We’re going to have one other 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that completed shortly,” Trump mentioned.
Trump has been predicting for weeks {that a} ceasefire and hostage-release deal was imminent, however settlement has confirmed elusive.
The truce proposal requires 10 hostages held in Gaza to be returned together with the our bodies of 18 others, unfold out over 60 days. In trade, Israel would launch a variety of detained Palestinians.
The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday accused Israel of blocking a deal in talks for a short lived ceasefire and the discharge of hostages in Gaza.
Negotiators from either side have been in oblique talks in Qatar since July 6 to attempt to agree on a 60-day truce within the battle, which might see 10 captives freed.
In different developments:
Gaza’s civil defence company mentioned that Israeli fireplace killed 10 help seekers on Friday, as a hospital director within the south warned of an inflow of sufferers with acute malnutrition. Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal mentioned that Israeli fireplace killed 9 folks “close to the US help centre within the Al-Shakoush space, northwest of Rafah metropolis in southern Gaza” on Friday.
Two of essentially the most senior Christian leaders in Jerusalem made a uncommon go to to war-torn Gaza on Friday, a day after Israeli fireplace killed three on the Palestinian territory’s solely Catholic church, frightening worldwide condemnation. The Roman Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, greeted native Christians and toured the Holy Household Church in Gaza Metropolis.
Not less than 718 folks have been killed in Syria’s Sweida province, a struggle monitor mentioned Saturday in an up to date toll for practically per week of violence within the heartland of the Druze minority. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights counted 146 Druze fighters and 245 civilians among the many lifeless since Sunday, 165 of whom “had been summarily executed by personnel of the defence and inside ministries”.
Armed tribes supported by Syria’s Islamist-led authorities clashed with Druze fighters locally’s Sweida heartland on Friday, a day after the military withdrew beneath Israeli bombardment and diplomatic strain. The UN referred to as for an finish to the “bloodshed” and demanded an “impartial” investigation of the violence.
The US mentioned early on Saturday that it had negotiated a ceasefire between Israel and Syria’s authorities as new clashes erupted in Syria’s Druze heartland following violence that prompted large Israeli strikes. Tom Barrack, the US pointman on Syria, mentioned within the early hours of Saturday within the Center East that Sharaa and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “have agreed to a ceasefire” negotiated by the US.
Dr Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria’s Order of Physicians, mentioned Sweida’s solely authorities hospital has acquired “greater than 400 our bodies since Monday morning”, together with ladies, kids and the aged. He mentioned: “It’s not a hospital any extra, it’s a mass grave,”
Syria’s authorities misinterpret how Israel would reply to its troops deploying to the nation’s south this week, inspired by US messaging that Syria ought to be ruled as a centralized state, eight sources accustomed to the matter instructed Reuters. Israel carried out strikes on Syrian troops and on Damascus on Wednesday in an escalation that took the Islamist-led management unexpectedly, the sources mentioned, after authorities forces had been accused of killing scores of individuals within the Druze metropolis of Sweida.
Syria’s presidency on Friday pledged to ship forces to halt the clashes between Bedouin tribal factions and Druze fighters in Sweida, within the south of the nation, and urged “restraint”. In an announcement, the presidency urged “all events to train restraint and prioritise motive”, including: “The related authorities are engaged on dispatching a specialised drive to interrupt up the clashes and resolve the battle on the bottom.”
Almost 80,000 folks have been displaced by sectarian violence in southern Syria that started final week, the UN’s migration company mentioned on Friday. In an announcement, the Worldwide Group for Migration mentioned “79,339 folks have been displaced since 13 July, together with 20,019 on 17 July”, including that water, electrical energy and telecomms providers in Sweida had “collapsed” and gasoline shortages had crippled transportation and emergency logistics.
Israel has agreed to permit restricted entry by Syrian forces into the Sweida space of southern Syria for the subsequent two days, an Israeli official mentioned on Friday, after days of bloodshed within the predominantly Druze space that has killed over 300 folks. The Syrian presidency mentioned late on Friday that authorities would deploy a drive within the south devoted to ending the clashes, in coordination with political and safety measures to revive stability and forestall the return of violence.
Israel has declined to resume the visa for Jonathan Whittall, the senior U.N. help official for the occupied Palestinian territories, a U.N. spokesperson mentioned on Friday, including there have been intensifying threats of lowered entry to struggling civilians. Eri Kaneko, spokesperson for the U.N. Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, mentioned visas for U.N. employees had been just lately renewed for shorter durations than normal and entry requests to Gaza had been denied for a number of businesses. Kaneko mentioned permits for Palestinian employees to enter East Jerusalem had been additionally withheld.
Yemen’s Houthi militant group mentioned late on Friday it had attacked Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile, whereas the Israeli navy mentioned the projectile was intercepted after air raid sirens had been triggered in a number of elements of the nation. A lot of the dozens of missiles and drones the Houthis have launched at Israel have been intercepted or fallen quick. Israel has carried out a sequence of retaliatory strikes.
Iraq mentioned on Friday that drones which hit a number of navy radar techniques final month had been launched from throughout the nation however manufactured overseas, with out figuring out the perpetrators. On June 24, the Iraqi authorities mentioned that a number of small suicide drones focused a number of Iraqi navy websites and bases, together with the radar techniques at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar Province in southern Iraq.
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