Arab, Islamic foreign ministers condemn Netanyahu's ‘Greater Israel' remark
In a joint statement, the ministers said the pronouncements by Netanyahu and his ministers were "a blatant and dangerous violation" of international law.
"They also constitute a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security," said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA.
(Developing story)
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Al Arabiya
21 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Protests held across Israel calling for end to Gaza war, hostage deal
Demonstrators took to the streets across Israel Sunday calling for an end to the war in Gaza and a deal to release hostages still held by militants, as the military prepares a new offensive. The protests come more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory. For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page. The war was triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, during which 251 were taken hostage. Forty-nine captives remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. A huge Israeli flag covered with portraits of the remaining captives was unfurled in Tel Aviv's so-called Hostage Square -- which has long been a focal point for protests throughout the war. Demonstrators also blocked several roads in the city, including the highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where demonstrators set tires on fire and caused traffic jams, according to local media footage. Protest organizers and the main campaign group representing the families of hostages also called for a general strike on Sunday. 'I think it's time to end the war. It's time to release all of the hostages. And it's time to help Israel recover and move towards a more stable Middle East,' said Doron Wilfand, a 54-year-old tour guide, at a rally in Jerusalem. However, some government members who oppose any deal with Hamas slammed the demonstrations. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich decried 'a perverse and harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas.' He argued that public pressure to secure a deal effectively 'buries the hostages in tunnels and seeks to push the State of Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.' APTFV footage showed protesters at a rally in Beeri, a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was one of the hardest-hit communities in the Hamas attack, and Israeli media reported protests in numerous locations across the country. Israeli plans to expand the war into Gaza City and nearby refugee camps have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. According to Gaza's civil defense agency, Israeli troops shot dead at least 13 Palestinians on Saturday as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,897 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Forces in Baghdad Adjust to ‘Potential War'
The US military in Iraq is shifting its posture amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, even as Tehran grows frustrated with Baghdad's reluctance to take sides. Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani recently left the Iraqi capital without what he described as 'reassuring answers' to Tehran's request for help in tightening border security in the event of conflict. According to well-informed sources, the adjustments underway do not represent a departure from the US–Iraq agreement reached last September, which stipulates the withdrawal of several hundred American troops by September 2025, with the remainder scheduled to depart by the end of 2026. What is more likely, they added, is that Washington's advisory role will ensure a continued, even if reduced, US presence in Iraq even after the drawdown. Realignment of Forces A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that Washington is not implementing fundamental changes to its presence in Iraq. He said that any expected incidents over the coming months would remain within the framework of the 2024 security agreement with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government. Still, the official confirmed that US forces are being repositioned across bases in Iraq and the broader region. 'It's not a large-scale operation,' he said, 'but it responds carefully to a new security risk map in Iraq and its surroundings.' He declined to elaborate on the nature of those risks or their geographic location. Political sources in Baghdad, however, suggested that Tehran has privately signaled Iraqi factions about the possibility of a new confrontation with Israel and the United States. Yet many in Iraq's political class appear hesitant to align with Iran's more confrontational posture. Earlier this month, Asharq al-Awsat reported that Iranian envoys had urged Iraqi militias to resist disarmament and prepare for renewed hostilities. American officials believe that their troop movements are partly a response to Tehran's recent maneuvers - both political and military - including attempts to 'rebuild military capabilities.' A leaked internal document dated July 27 revealed that Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful Iraqi militias, has been preparing for possible escalation inside Iraq or beyond its borders. Activity at Ain al-Asad In recent weeks, the Ain al-Asad airbase west of Baghdad has seen a flurry of activity. Sources reported that heavy logistical equipment was packed and stored there, while sensitive assets such as early-warning systems and radar units were transferred to undisclosed locations, believed to be other US bases in the region. Though the exact destinations remain unclear, officials suggest the redeployment is part of the broader repositioning strategy. The movement of critical air-defense systems underscores Washington's concern about the possibility of sudden flare-ups. An Iraqi official confirmed to Asharq al-Awsat that the US withdrawal timetable remains unchanged and that no acceleration has been discussed despite regional turmoil. 'Even the 12-day war did not alter the terms or schedule,' the official noted, referring to the brief but intense confrontation earlier this summer. A senior political adviser in Baghdad argued that Washington is unlikely to embrace a full departure under current conditions. 'Iraq may no longer offer the Americans a lucrative strategic opportunity, but it remains a zone of geopolitical leverage in their contest with Iran,' he said. Iran Frustrated in Baghdad While Washington pressures Baghdad to resist legislation that would further entrench the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Tehran has struggled to rally Iraq's official institutions. This imbalance of influence was evident during Larijani's recent visit. Iran's security chief proposed Iraqi assistance in securing the shared border, citing evidence that fighters, equipment, and technology had crossed into Iran during and before the 12-day conflict with Israel. But Baghdad pushed back, telling him bluntly that Iraq lacks the capacity to succeed where even Tehran's formidable intelligence and military structures had fallen short. Sources said Larijani 'was not pleased' by the response. On August 11, Larijani and Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at tightening border control and curbing smuggling. The agreement drew objections from Washington. Araji later defended it in a meeting with US chargé d'affaires Steven Fagin, insisting that Iraq acts 'on the basis of its supreme national interests' and as a fully sovereign state.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Protests held across Israel calling for end to Gaza war, hostage deal
TEL AVIV: Demonstrators took to the streets across Israel Sunday calling for an end to the war in Gaza and a deal to release hostages still held by militants, as the military prepares a new offensive. The protests come more than a week after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory. The war was triggered by Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, during which 251 were taken hostage. Forty-nine captives remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. A huge Israeli flag covered with portraits of the remaining captives was unfurled in Tel Aviv's so-called Hostage Square — which has long been a focal point for protests throughout the war. Demonstrators also blocked several roads in the city, including the highway connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where demonstrators set tires on fire and caused traffic jams, according to local media footage. Protest organizers and the main campaign group representing the families of hostages also called for a general strike on Sunday. 'I think it's time to end the war. It's time to release all of the hostages. And it's time to help Israel recover and move toward a more stable Middle East,' said Doron Wilfand, a 54-year-old tour guide, at a rally in Jerusalem. However, some government members who oppose any deal with Hamas slammed the demonstrations. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich decried 'a perverse and harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas.' He argued that public pressure to secure a deal effectively 'buries the hostages in tunnels and seeks to push the State of Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.' APTFV footage showed protesters at a rally in Beeri, a kibbutz near the Gaza border that was one of the hardest-hit communities in the Hamas attack, and Israeli media reported protests in numerous locations across the country. Israeli plans to expand the war into Gaza City and nearby refugee camps have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in. According to Gaza's civil defense agency, Israeli troops shot dead at least 13 Palestinians on Saturday as they were waiting to collect food aid near distribution sites. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,897 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.
