White House says Trump envoy Witkoff to travel to Gaza on Friday
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the two officials will travel into Gaza to inspect the current food distribution sites and work on a plan to deliver more food there and meet with local Gazans to 'hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground.'
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Arab News
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Over 100 journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza as pressure on Israel mounts
LONDON: More than 100 prominent journalists have called for 'immediate and unsupervised foreign press access to the Gaza Strip,' adding to mounting pressure on Israel to lift its blockade on the territory, where Tel Aviv also faces charges of war crimes and genocide. The petition has been launched under the Freedom to Report initiative which advocates for protecting journalists and upholding press independence globally. The signatories include Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford, broadcaster Mehdi Hasan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and Clarissa Ward, and legendary war photographer Don McCullin. 'This is not only about Gaza. It is about defending the universal right to independent, on-the-ground reporting in conflict zones everywhere,' read the statement published on Monday. 'Gaza is the most urgent case, but it is not the only one. It reflects the gravest pattern of silencing journalists and restricting the press. If the democratic world truly intends to push back against this erosion of freedom, it must not turn a blind eye to Gaza.' With Israel continuing to deny international media access, global coverage has relied almost exclusively on Gaza-based Palestinian journalists. They have worked for nearly 22 months under extreme conditions, facing shortages of food, water, electricity, and internet access, and daily risks to their lives. Israel has so far resisted calls from human rights groups and media organizations to allow entry to foreign reporters. But the pressure has intensified in recent weeks amid growing international concern over what UN agencies and humanitarian experts have described as a 'man-made famine' caused by the Israeli blockade on aid. Last month, major international news agencies — including AFP, The Associated Press, Reuters, and the BBC — issued a joint statement calling for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate their local teams, some of whom were struggling to find enough food to survive. Since Israel's latest war on Gaza began, nearly 200 journalists have been killed — most of them Palestinian — making this the deadliest conflict for the press ever recorded. Beyond calling for immediate access and protection of media workers, the petition adds that if 'belligerent parties' continue to ignore these demands, journalists would seek to enter Gaza without consent. They would try to gain access 'by any legitimate means, independently, collectively, or in coordination with humanitarian or civil society actors.' 'These restrictions deprive the world of an impartial account and obstruct the path to accountability,' the letter stated. 'Unrestricted, independent access for foreign journalists is urgently needed, not only to document the unfolding atrocities but to ensure that the truth of this war is not dictated by those who control the weapons and the narrative.'
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Trump's envoy Witkoff is expected in Russia on Wednesday, TASS cites sources as saying
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday, state news agency TASS said on Monday, citing Russian and US sources. Trump has set a deadline of Friday for Russia to agree to end the Ukraine war or face new sanctions. Developing
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US, Saudi Arabia hold high-level defense meeting at the Pentagon
US and Saudi officials convened at the Pentagon last week for a high-level forum to strengthen defense ties between Washington and Riyadh. The two-day meeting marked the 9th session of the Strategic Joint Planning Committee (SJPC), led by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby on the US side and Assistant Minister of Defense Dr. Khalid Biyari representing the Saudi delegation. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a critical, longstanding defense partner for the United States that seeks to grow more capable and self-reliant in its defense. We are working hard to partner with Saudi Arabia to enable it to do so,' Colby said in a post on X. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said both sides exchanged views on key defense priorities and regional security challenges. He noted that the delegations reaffirmed their support for the enduring bilateral relationship. Colby welcomed Saudi efforts to build up its self-defense capabilities and 'to make greater contributions toward achieving shared regional objectives,' Parnell added. The meeting came amid a series of recent US arms sales to the Kingdom. Earlier this year, the Trump administration approved a $3.5 billion weapons deal that included 1,000 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 50 AIM-120C-8 guidance sections. Washington also cleared the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia in March. Separately, the top US military general for the Middle East announced last month that Saudi Arabia's first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery had become fully operational. The current defense relationship builds on a broader framework established during President Donald Trump's first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia in May. That trip resulted in the signing of $142 billion in Memoranda of Intent, which included major Saudi investments in the US defense industrial base. During last week's SJPC, Colby reaffirmed the Pentagon's commitment to deepening the defense partnership and 'encouraged rapid progress' on implementing the agreements signed in May. 'Both leaders recognized US-Saudi defense cooperation as a force multiplier for regional security, and reviewed opportunities to deepen cooperation,' said Parnell, the Pentagon spokesman.
