Iran's Gharibabadi: 3 July reminder of crime in which American took 290 lives Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on X that "July 3rd is a reminder of the crime in which America took the lives of 290 innocent people, including 66 children”. “This crime will never be erased from the memory of the Iranian nation. The second crime began after the shooting down of the plane: denying responsibility, failing to issue an official apology, and awarding a medal to the commander of the criminal ship,” Gharibabadi said.
Iran envoy: US military bases in the Gulf caused ‘nothing but insecurity’ Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani said on Thursday that US military bases in the Gulf states have brought “nothing but instability” to the region, in remarks delivered during an emergency session of the Security Council. “The US has no coastal border in our region. It is not their waters.
US envoy warns Iran over Hormuz closure At an emergency United Nations Security Council session convened at Bahrain’s request following Iranian strikes, US envoy to the UN Security Council Mike Waltz warned Iran against its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. “We say to Iran that the closure of international waterways is unacceptable and is not considered self-defence,” Waltz said on Thursday.
Gaza's breast cancer patients face immediate mastectomies as doctors plead for end to blockade Physicians and health professionals in Gaza marked 1,000 days of genocide on Thursday with a plea for international pressure to lift Israel's nearly two-decade blockade, as well as its ban on critical medical supplies for Palestinians that even include chlorine bleach to disinfect hospitals. In a virtual call hosted by the global non-profit Doctors Against Genocide, a slate of experts described conditions that can barely sustain the healthiest residents of Gaza, let alone those who are elderly, disabled, or with illnesses that predate the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, and the subsequent genocide in Gaza. Israel's assault has so far killed 1,700 medical workers, wholly or partly destroyed 38 hospitals, and hit nearly 200 ambulances in the enclave, the Gaza health ministry has said.
Hind Rajab Foundation calls on top prosecutor to investigate Ben Gvir ahead of NYC visit The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), sent a letter to New York state attorney general Letitia James on Thursday, urging her to open a criminal investigation into Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir. Ben Gvir, notorious for his openly violent rhetoric against Palestinians and Muslims, is expected to be in Manhattan next week for the Chiefs of Police Summit from 7-8 July. The groups are also urging James to meet with what they say are local victims of Ben Gvir, including one Palestinian American subjected to starvation and torture in Israeli prison, as well as 10 participants in the 2025 and 2026 Global Sumud Flotillas who were subjected to abuse directly by Ben Gvir.
Lebanese security official, Unifil head meet in Lebanon A senior Lebanese security official met with the head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on Thursday to discuss the security situation on Lebanon’s southern border. Unifil’s mandate is set to finish at the end of 2026 after 48 years of peacekeeping in the region, and has been attacked by both the Israelis and Lebanese for various perceived failures.
Hind Rajab Foundation calls on top prosecutor to investigate Ben-Gvir ahead of NYC visit Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 21:05 The Israeli national security minister is expected to attend a United Nations conference next week Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks to reporters in Jerusalem, on 15 April 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters) Off The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), sent a letter to New York state attorney general Letitia James on Thursday, urging her to open a criminal investigation into Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir. Ben Gvir, notorious for his openly violent rhetoric against Palestinians and Muslims, is expected to be in Manhattan next week for the Chiefs of Police Summit from 7-8 July. The groups are also urging James to meet with what they say are local victims of Ben Gvir, including one Palestinian American subjected to starvation and torture in Israeli prison, as well as 10 participants in the 2025 and 2026 Global Sumud Flotillas who were subjected to abuse directly by Ben Gvir.
Iranian foreign minister, UN chief hold call to discuss regional developments Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres held a phone call on Thursday amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations in Qatar. The officials discussed the latest regional developments, the Strait of Hormuz, and the agreement to end the “military aggression” of the US and Israel, according to Iran’s ministry.
Jerusalem Governorate warns over Israeli approval of 13 new settlements The Jerusalem Governorate released a statement on Thursday warning against the implications of Israeli security cabinet's approval of a plan to establish 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, which would further isolate Jerusalem. The governorate said that the move reflects a wider Israeli policy of accelerating settlement expansion and land seizure, particularly during election periods, when, it said, Palestinian land and lives become part of Israeli political competition.
Gaza's breast cancer patients face immediate mastectomies as doctors plead for end to blockade Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 18:28 Revelations about the devastated health sector come as Gaza marks '1,000 days of genocide' since 7 October 2023 A man looks over the shrouded body of Palestinian child Malik Abu Shawish, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on 29 June 2026 (Mahmoud Issa/Reuters) Off Physicians and health professionals in Gaza marked 1,000 days of genocide on Thursday with a plea for international pressure to lift Israel's nearly two-decade blockade, as well as its ban on critical medical supplies for Palestinians that even include chlorine bleach to disinfect hospitals. In a virtual call hosted by the global non-profit Doctors Against Genocide , a slate of experts described conditions that can barely sustain the healthiest residents of Gaza, let alone those who are elderly, disabled, or with illnesses that predate the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, and the subsequent genocide in Gaza. Israel's assault has so far killed 1,700 medical workers, wholly or partly destroyed 38 hospitals, and hit nearly 200 ambulances in the enclave, the Gaza health ministry has said.
Israeli drone attack wounds people in southern Gaza A number of people have been wounded in an Israeli drone attack in Khan Younis, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday, citing Gaza's ambulance emergency services. No further information regarding casualties has been released.
Likely next UK PM Andy Burnham set to ban Palantir from NHS The Telegraph has reported on Thursday that Andy Burnham, who is set to become the next British prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation, will allegedly ditch Palantir's contracts from the National Health Service (NHS). Burnham is reportedly reviewing the government’s overall artificial intelligence strategy, and an aide told the paper he believed “unfettered tech boosterism” was turning off voters. Andy Burnham is set to ditch Palantir from the NHS, The Telegraph can reveal.
Iranian foreign minister hits back at US-led military talks in Bahrain In a social media post on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the US Army-led meeting of 12 nations in Bahrain to discuss regional security , in response to the US Central Command (Centcom). “Has Centcom brought security or insecurity to our region? The answer is clear,” he wrote.
Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemns Israel discrediting Gaza journalists’s profession The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has hit back against Israeli allegations questioning the professions of Palestinian journalists killed by Israel in Gaza. In a statement, the syndicate said the claims were part of broader campaign targeting the truth and those who report it, accusing Israel of attempting to discredit Palestinian journalists and media institutions targeted by Israel. In January 2026, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that 260 journalists were killed by the Israeli army since October 2023, which the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called a “deliberate assassinations”.
Exclusive: ICC bureau changes rules to lower threshold for Khan's removal The executive body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has changed the voting process on the potential removal of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from a two-stage vote to a single vote in an apparent break with its own rules, Middle East Eye can reveal. Under the new process, which was approved by a majority of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) at a meeting on Monday, member states will be asked to vote just once on a single motion approving both the bureau's finding of serious misconduct against Khan and the prosecutor's dismissal, according to multiple diplomatic sources. Previously, the procedure was expected to consist of a two-stage vote in which members would first vote on whether misconduct had occurred and its gravity, with a second vote on removal triggered only if they found "serious misconduct.
Israeli protestors hold rally in Tel Aviv to mark 1,000 days since October 7 attack Israeli protestors gathered in “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv for a rally against the government on Thursday to mark 1,000 days since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Demonstrators blocked a road outside the Knesset and clashed with police forces. This comes as the death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has risen to 73,074 Palestinians, with another 173,537 people wounded, according to Wafa news agency, citing medical sources in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian goalkeeper killed by Israel in Gaza as Fifa faces fresh calls to act Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 17:31 Tributes poured in after the Palestinian Football Association said Saleem al-Ashqar was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem al-Ashqar (Facebook/@kadmatkh) Off Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem al-Ashqar was killed earlier this week by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said in a statement on Monday, prompting tributes from football supporters, journalists, fans, and the public on social media. The PFA said the 32-year-old was killed by Israeli army fire. With Ashqar's death, the association said the number of Palestinian sports figures killed since the start of Israel's war on Gaza has risen to 1,009, including 567 members of the Palestinian football community.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia call to discuss US-Iran mediation in Doha Pakistan’s foreign minister held a phone call on Thursday with his Saudi Arabian counterpart to discuss the ongoing mediation efforts in Qatar between Iran and the US. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X that the leaders “expressed satisfaction on the positive progress made during this negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in [the] near future. ” The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephonic conversation today with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud @FaisalbinFarhan , Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Iran warns ‘forceful response’ to ships failing to comply with approved Hormuz routes Iran’s joint military command has warned ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz to use its approved routes or face a “forceful response”. “Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces”, it said in a statement carried by Iranian state TV on Thursday.
Campaigners and scholars demand answers from British Museum following disclosures Campaigners and scholars say that recent revelations that the British Museum made false claims about its removal of "Palestine" from its displays raise serious questions regarding the integrity and transparency of its policy and practice. A Middle East Eye investigation published on Wednesday revealed that the museum’s decision to remove the terms “Palestine”, “Palestinian” and “Israelite occupation” from its displays came in direct response to months of lobbying in 2024. While the museum previously claimed that the changes were motivated by “audience testing”, the disclosures to MEE show that no such testing took place, and that amendments were made following a series of private and public complaints by pro-Israel activists.
