
Hamas ‘Gift Bags' Given to Released Hostages: What Was Inside?
During the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas on Sunday, a striking detail caught attention: each hostage was handed a paper bag bearing the logo of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The moment, captured on video, was part of the group's highly publicized handover to the Red Cross in Gaza City.
According to a representative of hostage Romi Gonen's family, the bags contained a certificate, a necklace, and photos. Israeli media reports suggest the photos depicted moments from the hostages' time in captivity. Israel's Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet) later confiscated the materials for investigation.
Hamas also presented a document labeled 'Acknowledgment of Receipt of Israeli Prisoners,' signed by a Red Cross representative. The group's display, including a militant-lined escort through Gaza City, was widely seen as an effort to project legitimacy amid ongoing conflict.

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Gulf Insider
2 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Iranian Officials Fear Israeli Sabotage
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Other recent fires in Tehran have just been written off in state sources as typical gas explosions or gas-related accidents. The city's fire department has referenced 'worn-out equipment, the use of substandard gas appliances and disregard for safety principles' – in recent instances. And for further examples which seem straight out of a Hollywood spy thriller: In Qom, one apartment building looked as if a bomb had ripped through it. Walls of a first-floor unit were brought down, their windows shattered. A yellow taxi parked on the street was crushed under rubble, according to videos of the blast published on social media and BBC Persian. The force of the blast, which injured seven people, covered the entire surrounding block in debris. The unit that exploded, two of the Iranian officials told The New York Times, appeared to have been rented by operatives who had left the building after turning on the stove and oven gas, as if to deliberately spark a blaze. Another potentially similar case was an explosion in a high-rise compound in Tehran, which offers discounted housing to employees of the judiciary. The explosion blew out walls and windows. The three Iranian officials said they believed that saboteurs might have wanted to stoke panic among judges and prosecutors that they could be targeted, similar to the way Israel previously attacked scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program. Iranian citizens who live in central Iran in the vicinity of missile bases and nuclear facilities are feeling 'scared and paranoid' as a result of both the recent war and the spate of mystery explosions. 📅 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀: 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱Five blasts and fires across Iran's four provinces in just 9 days:▪️ 14 Jul – Explosion at Qom residential complex▪️ 14 Jul – Fire on Enghelab St, Tehran▪️ 19 Jul – Abadan Oil Refinery blaze▪️ 20 Jul –… — Iran & Afghanistan Monitor (@WarMonitorlive) July 23, 2025 Some believe these are Israeli-sponsored operations aimed at dialing up the pressure on Iranian leadership, even as the ceasefire holds. It is now well-documented that many of the Iranian scientists and military officials killed last month were assassinated in operations conducted from within Iran. As Israel sent warplanes over the skies, intelligence ground ops were unleashed, involving car bombings, drone attacks, and sabotage bombings. Wednesday has seen another fire breaking out in central Iran, reportedly at Isfahan University of Technology… Footage shared on social media shows a fire on Wednesday at Isfahan University of Technology in central Iran. Some local media attributed the incident to a power fluctuation. Authorities have not confirmed the — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) July 23, 2025 This doesn't mean these operations were done directly by Israeli officers, instead it's believed that Mossad has a network of Iranian assets, particularly among the outlawed People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) – which is currently based in Europe and has long sought to topple the Islamic Republic. The MEK has also long enjoyed the political backing of powerful US officials, and is known have conducted assassinations of Iranian figures in the past. Some MEK members are Iranian citizens, which would allow them ease of getting in and out of the country – something Israelis could not do. Also read: Trump Again Threatens To Destroy New Iran Nuclear Assets As Tehran Teases Pullout From NPT


Gulf Insider
18 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Romania Strong-Armed Into Buying $2.3 Billion Israeli Anti-Aircraft Systems
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Daily Tribune
21 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
US to leave UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias
AFP | Paris The United States said yesterday i t would quit UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best k n o w n f o r establishing world heritage sites, is biased a g a i n s t Israel and promotes "divisive" causes. P r e s i d e n t Donald Trump had already ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation once before, in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. "Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," State D e p a r t m e n t spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. UNESCO called the US departure -- which it said will take effect in December 2026 -- regrettable, but unsurprising, and said its financial impact would be limited. " I d e e p l y regret President Donald Trump's de - cision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO," Director-General Audrey Azoulay said, adding the move contradicted fundamental principles of multilateralism. "However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it," she said. In recent years, Azoulay said, UNESCO had "undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources", including with private and voluntary governmental contributions. The US share of UNESCO's total budget currently stands at eight percent, she said. This compares to an estimate of nearly 20 percent a decade ago, according to a UNESCO source who asked not to be named. No staff redundancies were planned, Azoulay said. Bruce described UNESCO as working "to advance divisive social and cultural causes" and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda". 'Same as seven years ago' Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body's anti-Israeli position in admitting Palestine as a state. "UNESCO's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation," Bruce said. The administration has also objected to UNESCO's recognition of heritage sites in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem as Palestinian. Azoulay said the reasons put forward by the United States "are the same as seven years ago" although, she said, "the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism". Washington's claims "contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts", she added, "especially in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism". The source at UNESCO described the US move as "purely political, without any real factual base". The organisation had already been "forced" to do without US money for several years after their departure in 2017, the source told AFP. UNESCO adapted but new sources of funding would still need to be found, the source said. 'Always welcome' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed on X the US decision: "This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel's right for fair treatment in the UN system." "The United Nations requires fundamental reforms in order to remain relevant," he said. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called UNESCO "an organisation that has lost its way" and praised the US for demonstrating "moral clarity in the international arena". French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that UNESCO had his "unwavering support" that would not weaken after the US departure. The UN organisation describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Acropolis of Athens and Pyramids of Egypt. Twenty-six world heritage sites are located in the United States. The UNESCO source said that the United States will continue to be represented on the world heritage committee even after leaving the organisation formally, just as it had in 2017