
UN Security Council to meet on Gaza Occupation
The United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency session on Friday to discuss Israel's decision to occupy the Gaza Strip, following requests from several member states.
The Israeli plan has drawn widespread Arab and international condemnation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the plan as a 'dangerous escalation.'
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, stated that the emergency session would be held to 'halt Israel's decision to take control of Gaza,' emphasizing that this contradicts international law, and the international community must act swiftly.'
Earlier, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish military control over Gaza City, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from opposition leaders and heightened concerns over the fate of hostages.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Hezbollah and Amal supporters rally in Beirut against disarmament
Shafaq News – Beirut Hundreds of Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters staged late-night motorcades through Beirut and its southern suburbs on Friday, protesting a cabinet decision to restrict all weapons to state institutions. Eyewitnesses told Shafq News that the participants drove cars and motorcycles adorned with party flags and slogans backing Hezbollah's armed wing. The convoys began in several streets of the southern suburbs before moving through main arteries of the capital, including routes to Rafic Hariri International Airport, and on to the city center near cafés, restaurants, and government buildings such as parliament, the Grand Serail, and several ministries. One protestor told Shafaq News that the demonstrations were not organized by the leadership of either party but would continue informally until the government reverses its decision. They also called for international pressure to secure a ceasefire, end targeted killings by Israel, and ensure Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory it occupies. Senior figures from both Hezbollah and Amal stressed that the rallies were spontaneous, not the result of official party calls. The move follows two cabinet sessions earlier this week at the presidential palace in Baabda, chaired by the president and attended by 23 of the 24 ministers. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, a member of Amal, was absent due to travel abroad.


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Why Iraq's PMF disarmament is a different battle from Lebanon's Hezbollah
Shafaq News The Lebanese government's decision to restrict all weapons to state control—including those held by Hezbollah and other non-official armed groups—has sparked strong internal and regional debate. The United States welcomed the move, but Hezbollah condemned it as a major 'sin,' warning against what it sees as an externally driven agenda. Although the mechanism for implementation remains unclear, the announcement has reignited conversation in Iraq, where similar calls persist to disarm 'non-state actors' and dissolve armed factions outside the official military framework. Yet experts caution that Lebanon's path is not easily replicated in Iraq. Hezbollah Disarmament: A Divisive Turning Point The Lebanese decision marks an unprecedented step in the country's political history, following the endorsement of provisions outlined in US envoy Tom Barrack's proposal. Supporters view it as an extension of the ceasefire agreement and UN Resolution 1701. Critics, led by Hezbollah and its allies, denounce it as 'submission to American and Israeli conditions.' Hezbollah maintains it has fulfilled its commitments under Resolution 1701 and the November 2024 ceasefire, including withdrawing from areas south of the Litani River, while accusing Israel of failing to withdraw from five border points and continuing daily assassinations of civilians and its members. The presidency and the prime minister's office prioritize disarmament, but Hezbollah and its allies insist that Israel must first vacate Lebanese territory and release prisoners before any internal dialogue on a national defense strategy can begin. This deadlock shows no sign of resolution, prompting the Lebanese Army to deploy reinforcements nationwide to contain potential unrest. Political analyst Mohammad Hamieh told Shafaq News the army itself has not agreed to disarm Hezbollah. The cabinet, he explained, discussed the US proposal without full consensus—especially after the withdrawal of a major Shiite bloc representing the resistance movement, which disrupted quorum. Instead of full ratification, the cabinet set general goals and tasked the army with preparing a plan by August 31 to consolidate weapons under state control. Despite this looming deadline, Hezbollah remain defiant. 'Death is easier than surrendering our arms,' declared Mohamad Raad, head of the group's parliamentary bloc. Formed in 1982 after Israel's invasion, Hezbollah rose as a resistance force, achieving the withdrawal of Israeli forces in 2000 and later fighting the 2006 war—framed by party officials as a 'divine victory.' Since the Taif Agreement, successive governments have affirmed Lebanon's 'right—through its people, army, and resistance—to liberate occupied territory.' That consensus has eroded, especially after Hezbollah's recent military losses against Israel. Observers say the current political climate echoes the divisions preceding the 1982 invasion and the collapse of the US-brokered May 17, 1983 Accord. Hezbollah remains popular and influential, securing the highest number of parliamentary votes in the last election. Yet the scale of its arsenal post-war remains unclear. The group's role in the 'unity of fronts' doctrine, coordinating with Iran's allies during the conflict, keeps it central to regional strategy. Lebanon's Debate, Iraq's Question Hamieh warned against generalizing Lebanon's still-unresolved situation to the wider region. International pressure, he said, seeks to replicate the Lebanese model in Iraq and Syria despite key differences. In Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) operate under a formal government framework. 'There is a clear agreement between the government and the PMF, which played a successful role in combating terrorism,' Hamieh explained. 'Lebanon, by contrast, has no such formal agreement—just political coexistence.' Unlike Lebanon, Iraq faces no Israeli occupation, and disarmament discussions focus more on potential threats from Syria—matters that could be addressed under a state-approved defense strategy. Could it Happen in Iraq? Iraqi security and legal experts agree that Iraq's complex political environment and entrenched regional ties make a Lebanese-style disarmament move unlikely for now. Legal expert Mohammad Jumaa noted that Iraqi law, including the Weapons Law and Penal Code, criminalizes the possession or use of arms outside state authority. 'Any weapon outside the state's structure is illegal,' he told Shafaq News, 'whether licensed without official permission, or entirely unlicensed.' Penalties are harsher for military-grade arms. Strategic analyst Ahmad al-Sharifi argued that dismantling armed factions in Iraq is blocked by entrenched power-sharing and the dominance of the Shiite Coordination Framework, which backs the current government. 'The government, as a product of that framework, cannot make decisions that run counter to its interests or Iran's preferences,' he said. In Lebanon, al-Sharifi stressed it is too soon to judge the outcome, given Hezbollah's resistance and the possibility of armed confrontation with the Lebanese Army. He added that Iraqi factions—like Hezbollah—view their weapons as central to their political and ideological identity, making voluntary disarmament unrealistic. Forced dissolution, he warned, could trigger direct clashes with the state or external intervention, including targeted strikes by the United States or Israel if the government fails to impose control. Not Applicable—For Now Security expert Alaa al-Nashou concurred that Iraq's situation is fundamentally different. Iraqi factions never fought Israel and lack the robust military and economic infrastructure that Hezbollah has developed. Iraq's party system is also more fragmented, with parts of the state openly supporting armed factions and in some cases preferring them to the official army. He attributed the state's weakness to 'deep Iranian influence in its institutions and the absence of strong regional or international backing,' which limits Baghdad's ability to curb non-state arms. While Lebanon's disarmament plan is bold in its own context, analysts agree it is unworkable in Iraq for the time being. Obstacles go beyond legal prohibitions to include political realities, security dependencies, and the institutional integration of factions into the state's power structure. Without a fundamental shift in political will and regional alignments, the Lebanese precedent is unlikely to cross into Iraq.


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Syrian Energy Minister to visit Iraq for talks on Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline revival
Shafaq News – Damascus Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir will visit Iraq soon to discuss plans for rehabilitating the oil pipeline linking Kirkuk in northern Iraq to Syria's Baniyas port on the Mediterranean. In an interview with Syria's state-run al-Ikhbariya TV, al-Bashir considered the discussions as part of strengthening the relations with Baghdad. The Kirkuk–Baniyas line, once a key crude export route, was built by the Iraq Petroleum Company and began operations in 1952. It has been shut down repeatedly over the decades due to political disputes and regional conflicts. The pipeline was heavily damaged during US airstrikes in the 2003 Iraq war and has remained inactive since.