English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For July 04/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Then Peter came and said to him,
‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I
forgive? As many as seven times?’Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I
tell you, seventy-seven times
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18/21-35:"Then
Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against
me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’Jesus said to him, ‘Not
seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. ‘For this reason the kingdom
of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his
slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was
brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold,
together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be
made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me,
and I will pay you everything."And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave
released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came
upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by
the throat, he said, "Pay what you owe." Then his fellow-slave fell down and
pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you." But he refused;
then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his
fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went
and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him
and said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you
pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had
mercy on you?" And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he
should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of
you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on July 03-04/2025
I Call On Joseph Aoun To recruit Randala Jabour and May Khreish To His
Advisors' Brigade/Elias Bejani/July 03, 2025
Father Khadra: A Prophetic Voice Calling for the Preservation of the Christian
Presence in Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/July 01/ 2025
Expatriates' Betrayal Crime: Basil, His Father-in-law, & Their Puppet Pharisees
and Judases Are Abject Slaves to the Evil Hezbollah /Elias Bejjani/July 01/2025
Video link to an interview with writer and director Yousef Y. El-Khoury on the
“DNA” Youtube platform
US imposes fresh sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah
Conflicting reports on Lebanese response to US paper
Will Hezbollah accept to disarm and what will Lebanon get in return?
Will Israel resume its war on Hezbollah?
Hezbollah to respond today to Lebanese amendments to US paper
Report: Over 2,000 Hezbollah fighters quit after Nasrallah's assassination
Barrack reportedly threatens Lebanese with sanctions over corruption
US Treasury sanctions Hezbollah financial officials
One person killed, 4 injured in Israeli airstrike on car in Beirut
Israeli Strike Hits Vehicle at Beirut Southern Entrance, State Media Reports
Demarcating the Lebanese–Syrian Border Tops Agenda of Trump’s Envoy in Beirut
The Second Wave of Displacement Cannot Be Permanent!/Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/July
03/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on July 03-04/2025
Iran committed to Non-Proliferation Treaty, foreign minister says
US plans nuclear talks with Iran in Oslo next week, Axios reports
Iran announces opening of its airspace after Israel war: State media
French Foreign Minister Denounces Spy Charges against Couple Imprisoned in Iran
Explosive drone intercepted near Irbil airport in northern Iraq, security
statement says
94 Palestinians Killed in Gaza, Including 45 People Waiting for Aid
Trump Says Deal for Ceasefire in Gaza Is Closer After Israel Agrees on Terms
Ground Stops Lift at Ottawa, Montreal Airports over Bomb Threats
Amnesty International Says Israel and Aid System Use Starvation to Commit Gaza
Genocide
UN Expert Asks States to Cut Trade Ties with Israel over Gaza Situation
Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for
Christian pilgrims
Violence in Southern Syria Fueled by Tribal, Sectarian Tensions
Ethiopia Says Controversial Power Dam on the Nile that's Opposed by Egypt Has
Been Completed
Trump, Putin to Talk on Thursday ahead of Possible Zelenskiy Call
Russia Focusing Airstrikes on Ukraine Draft Offices to Derail Recruitment, Kyiv
Says
Damascus Aims to Resolve its Foreign Disputes by End of 2025
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources on July 03-04/2025
No peace, just pause: Iran and Israel’s
fragile standoff/Dr. Basel Haj Jasem/Alarabiya English/July 03/2025
Qatar Must Not Be Allowed to Play Any Role in Gaza/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute./July 3, 2025
How Islam Erased Christianity from the Holy Land/Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/July
03/2025
In the Quest to Shrink NASA, Trump Forgets National Security/Bill Nelson/The New
York Times/July 03/2025
The 'Mines' on the Road to a Truce in Gaza/Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/July
03/2025
A new chapter in impactful digital cooperation/Hajar El Haddaoui/Arab News/July
03, 2025
Sudanese refugees’ plight must not be forgotten/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/July 03, 2025
Children of war: The lost generation in Palestine/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/July
03, 2025
America risks upsetting the balance of powers at its peril/Ross Anderson/Arab
News/July 03, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on July 03-04/2025
I Call On Joseph Aoun
To recruit Randala Jabour and May Khreish To His Advisors' Brigade.
Elias Bejani/July 03, 2025
The popular proverb states, "Tell me what you read, and I'll tell you who you
are." We can coin a similar adage: "Tell me who your advisors are, and I'll tell
you who you are."
Building on this principle, which connects advisors to individuals and, more
critically, to public officials, I personally urge President Joseph Aoun to
recruit May Khreish, a prominent Southern resistance and defiant lawyer still
mourning Sayyed Nasrallah's assassination. Additionally, Randala Jabour, a
Syrian nationalist journalist known for her ideological devotion to Antoine
Saad's Greater Syria, her commitment to Hezbollah's resistance, and her
unwavering hostility towards Zionists and their "usurping" state, would be a
valuable addition.
It's crucial to acknowledge that these two figures were aligned with Gebran
Bassil and his father-in-law, giving them invaluable experience in all forms of
opportunism, expediency, and political adaptability.
Adding Khreish and Jabour to the Baabda Advisors' brigade is now essential, as
the Lebanese proverb wisely states, "To complete the carried load with
hawthorn."
Historically, sound advice came at a price. However, given the culture of the
"resistance merchants" and their cronies—steeped in illusions, daydreams, and
psychological denial, justification, and projection—our counsel is freely
offered. This advice aims to support the President in his approach to
"negotiating with Hezbollah in a bid to hand over its weaponry to the state."
These negotiations, however, contradict UN resolutions, the ceasefire agreement,
and the agenda of all regional and international powers who brought both
President Aoun and Nawaf Salam into power. Their mandate is to supervise the
implementation of UN resolutions, not to negotiate with proxies of the Iranian
occupation to entrench their presence and legitimize their weapons through
cunning rhetoric and manipulative tactics.
Undoubtedly, Khreish and Jabour are the ideal advisors for the path Joseph Aoun
has pursued thus far. As for the rest of the President's advisor brigade,
there's no need to elaborate more.
Father
Khadra: A Prophetic Voice Calling for the Preservation of the Christian Presence
in Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/July 01/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/07/144813/
With a clear conscience, in testimony to the truth, and in faith in Lebanon—the
land of holiness and saints, with its identity, entity, mission, and the
foundational role of Christians, especially the Maronites, in shaping its unique
existence—we must thank the Lord for the blessing of this leavening and
apostolic monk, Father Tony Khadra. He carries in his heart, conscience, and
soul—and on his shoulders, with all the abilities, gifts, and blessings granted
to him by God—the sacred mission of safeguarding the active Christian presence
in the Land of the Cedars.
Father Khadra’s activities are a form of apostolic struggle, and his voice
stands as a steadfast and prophetic call defending the coexistence and dignity
of Christians in Lebanon—amid the blindness and numbness of conscience that
afflicts many political party leaders, politicians, tycoons, and submissive
Christian clerics, in the full and humiliating sense of the term.
Father Khadra’s perseverance and determination to continue his holy
mission is a blessed and apostolic endeavor. May God prolong his life,
strengthen his faith, and fortify his unwavering and unyielding resolve.
Expatriates'
Betrayal Crime: Basil, His Father-in-law, & Their Puppet Pharisees and Judases
Are Abject Slaves to the Evil Hezbollah
Elias Bejjani/July 01/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/07/144768/
Basil's brazen, vile, and
treacherous opposition to the right of expatriates to participate in elections,
most of whom are Christians, confirms that he, his La Civilforci Father-in-law,
and all those who support them—the merchants, the deposits, the Pharisees, the
scribes, and the tax collectors— are the sons of Judas in heart, soul, and
genes, and a demonic catastrophe with which we Maronites have been afflicted.
Video link to an interview
with writer and director Yousef Y. El-Khoury on the “DNA” Youtube platform
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/07/144841/
An in-depth discussion of Hezbollah’s weapons file, which has been
internationally mandated for dismantlement; the regime’s and ruling class’s
protection of these arms; the U.S. and Israeli conviction that Lebanon has
failed to comply with international resolutions; the meeting between Gebran
Bassil and Wafiq Safa and their conspiracy against the rights of Christian
expatriates in particular; Syria's occupation role in the six expatriate MPs
project; Netanyahu–Trump meetings and their aftermath of "beheadings"; the
idiotic Goebbels-style media; signs of the country’s militarization; the
judicial terror targeting sovereign voices; and other pressing issues concerning
Lebanon’s current state.
July 3, 2025
US imposes fresh sanctions
targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah
Reuters/July 03, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles
Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial
institution, the Treasury Department said. A network of companies run by
Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said has been buying and shipping billions of
dollars worth of Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil since at
least 2020, the department said. “Treasury will
continue to target Tehran’s revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to
disrupt the regime’s access to the financial resources that fuel its
destabilizing activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The US has
imposed waves of sanctions on Iran’s oil exports over its nuclear program and
funding of militant groups across the Middle East.
Reuters reported late last year that a fuel oil smuggling network that generates
at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has
flourished in Iraq since 2022. Thursday’s sanctions
came after the US carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites,
including its most deeply buried enrichment plant Fordow. The Pentagon said on
Wednesday the strikes had degraded Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years,
despite a far more cautious initial assessment that had leaked to the public.
The US and Iran are expected to hold talks about its nuclear program next
week in Oslo, Axios reported. The Treasury Department also issued sanctions
against several senior officials and one entity associated with the
Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan. The officials, the
department said, conducted millions of dollars in transactions that ultimately
benefited, but obscured, Hezbollah.
Conflicting reports on
Lebanese response to US paper
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
Sources from the presidential panel drafting Lebanon’s response to the U.S.
paper have said that “the atmosphere of the discussions is very positive,” in
remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper. “The viewpoints are all intersecting on what
serves Lebanon’s interest, which can be certainly secured through halting
Israeli attacks and Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement, the release
of the Lebanese captives and withdrawal from the Lebanese areas it is
occupying,” the sources added. A political leader meanwhile told the daily that
“the U.S. paper is not sacred” and is merely “the beginning of a discussion.”
“The Americans are saying that it is an opportunity for a political solution and
our stance is known to be supportive of political solutions. We are approaching
it through keenness on Lebanon’s interest, which means that Lebanon’s interest
comes first and that we reject anything that contradicts with this interest,”
the political leader added.Asked about Hezbollah’s arms, the leader said “the
president has assumed the responsibility of addressing the file of arms in a
calm manner.”Informed sources meanwhile told the al-Anbaa news portal of the
Progressive Socialist Party that “things are headed to solutions” and that
“Hezbollah has become convinced that clinging to its arms might bring it harm
and make it once again subject to U.S.-backed Israeli strikes.”“Nothing prevents
a repetition of the scenario that was followed with Hamas in the South, Dahieh
and Beirut, and accordingly Hezbollah is not willing to engage in a new
adventure with Israel,” the sources added. An-Nahar newspaper meanwhile said
that Hezbollah “has not facilitated the mission of the tripartite committee”
formed by President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam, and
that “the committee received several Hezbollah conditions through Berri’s
representative that called for rejecting submission to the U.S. and Israeli
demands, which at best reflects an intransigent stance.”
Will Hezbollah accept to disarm and what will Lebanon get
in return?
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
Ahead of a visit next week by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, Lebanon is preparing a
response to a U.S. paper concerning Hezbollah disarmament and Israel's
withdrawal and halt of hostilities. Pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said
Thursday that Hezbollah will not hand over its arms after several media reports
claimed that the group is open to discuss its disarmament but wants guarantees
that Israel will withdraw. Hezbollah will reportedly inform Speaker Nabih Berri
on Thursday of its final response to the Lebanese amendments related to
Barrack’s paper. Al-Akhbar said it learned from informed sources that Israel
wants Hezbollah to pull back north of the Awali river, which is much further
north than the Litani river. Israel would in return withdraw from one of the
five hills it is still occupying in south Lebanon. Under the November truce
deal, Hezbollah was to pull back its fighters north of the Litani, some 30
kilometers from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military
infrastructure to its south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon,
but it has kept troops in five areas that it deems "strategic". Al-Akhbar's
sources said that the next step would be handing over all heavy weapons in
Beirut and its suburbs, and Mount Lebanon. According to the sources, Hezbollah,
like other Lebanese parties, would only keep its light weapons in certain
regions of south and east Lebanon."Hezbollah would not hand over its arms even
gradually," the sources said. "Disarmament would be a suicide."
Will Israel resume its war on Hezbollah?
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
Influential diplomatic sources in Beirut have voiced concern that an Israeli
strike might target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure north of the Litani
River in the coming weeks, with a special emphasis on the Baalbek and Hermel
regions, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday. “The potential step
might be an attempt to impose a new balance of power that would weaken
Hezbollah’s influence and curb Iran’s presence in Lebanon, paving the way for
the return of negotiations with stricter conditions,” the sources added.The
daily also reported that Hezbollah is still demanding reconstruction prior to
the handover of its weapons.
Hezbollah to respond today to Lebanese amendments to US
paper
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
Hezbollah will on Thursday inform Speaker Nabih Berri of its final response to
the Lebanese amendments related to U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s paper, Al-Jadeed TV
reported. “The joint presidential committee will convene again today after
receiving the official answer, in order to discuss it and finalize the official
Lebanese response,” Al-Jadeed added. The TV network revealed that Berri had met
Tuesday with a Hezbollah envoy who relayed “half an answer” consisting of a host
of remarks. “Berri’s representative Ali Hamdan relayed them to the presidential
committee and were discussed in a meeting on Tuesday, while the official answer
will follow today,” Al-Jadeed added. It also reported that Saudi envoy Prince
Yazid bin Farhan has arrived in Beirut on a several-day visit and would also
meet with Barrack when he visits Lebanon on July 7-8.
“Hezbollah will ask for guarantees regarding Israel’s withdrawal,” Al-Jadeed
said. MTV meanwhile reported that the Lebanese response “will include
reassurances for the Lebanese as to all files and concerns.”“The ideas of Aoun,
Berri and Salam are identical as to the response paper, which represents a
historic chance to provide stability for Lebanon for the next 50 years,” MTV
added.
Report: Over 2,000 Hezbollah fighters quit after Nasrallah's assassination
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
Around 10,000 Hezbollah fighters have become completely unfit for combat since
the eruption of the Gaza war, sources told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel. “The
latest war cost Hezbollah more than 4,000 deaths, including military commanders,
politicians and members,” the sources said. “The number of Hezbollah’s fighters
is now estimated to be around 60,000,” the sources added, claiming that “around
2,000 fighters quit Hezbollah after the assassination of the group’s former
secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah.”Moreover, the sources said “Hezbollah has
closed most of its training bases in the Bekaa and the South,” adding that “over
80% of the area south of the Litani River has become under the authority of the
Lebanese Army.”The sources added that “Hezbollah’s medium- and heavy-caliber
weapons have either been confiscated by the Lebanese Army or destroyed by
Israel.|
Barrack reportedly threatens Lebanese with sanctions over
corruption
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
During his latest visit to Beirut, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack expressed Washington’s
concern that “Lebanon might again drown in the same previous policies” in the
conduct of both its government and parliament, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted an
informed source as saying.
One of those who met with Barrack said the latter tackled the era of former
Central Bank governor Riad Salameh and said “Washington does not want to revisit
past issues nor to hold accountable all those who were responsible for that
period,” the source added.
Washington has however decided to “put everyone under constant scrutiny” and
“should it sense that top officials have resumed the same policies, whether they
are officials, politicians or bankers, there will be a surprise for the
Lebanese, seeing as sanctions will be imposed on a lot of those whom the
Lebanese people hope to see punished,” the source said.
US Treasury sanctions Hezbollah financial officials
Naharnet/July 03, 2025
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
announced Thursday sanctions on seven senior officials and one entity associated
with the Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan.
The U.S. Treasury said the seven officials have served in senior management
roles for Al-Qard Al-Hassan and have facilitated the evasion of U.S. sanctions,
enabling Hezbollah’s access to the formal financial system. "Today’s action
underscores Treasury’s commitment to disrupting Hezbollah’s sanctions evasion
schemes and supporting efforts by the new Lebanese government to limit the
terrorist group’s influence, particularly as entities like AQAH continue to
undermine the already fragile Lebanese economy," the U.S. Department of the
Treasury said.
"Through their roles at AQAH, these officials sought to obfuscate Hezbollah’s
interest in seemingly legitimate transactions at Lebanese financial
institutions, exposing these banks to significant AML/CFT risk while allowing
Hezbollah to funnel money for its own benefit," said Deputy Secretary Michael
Faulkender. "As Hezbollah seeks money to rebuild its operations, Treasury
remains strongly committed to dismantling the group’s financial infrastructure
and limiting its ability to reconstitute itself."
The U.S. Treasury had previously targeted AQAH shadow bankers in 2021,
identifying AQAH’s financial director, Ahmad Mohamad Yazbeck, along with
officials Abbas Hassan Gharib, Wahid Mahmoud Sbayti, Mostafa Habib Harb, Ezzat
Youssef Akar, and Hasan Chehada Othman for acting on behalf of AQAH to evade
sanctions. The Treasury also sanctioned AQAH Executive Director Adel Mansour in
2022. Husayn al-Shami, who ran AQAH at the time of its designation in 2007, was
designated in 2006 for supporting Hezbollah.
"The AQAH officials targeted today serve in critical roles for the
organization’s activities in support of Hezbollah, and some have been associated
with AQAH for over two decades. In addition to their employment with AQAH,
several have previously held joint bank accounts at Lebanese financial
institutions in coordination with other AQAH affiliates and conducted millions
of dollars in transactions that ultimately benefitted, but obscured, Hezbollah’s
interest," the U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a statement.
"Many of the transactions in these accounts reflected the same pattern as the
previously OFAC-designated shadow bankers where AQAH officials would conduct
mirrored financial activity in AQAH accounts against proxy bank accounts within
the formal Lebanese financial system to disguise the movement of money
associated with known Hezbollah members," the statement went on to say.
Here are the seven officials, as described by the U.S. Treasury:
- Nehme Ahmad Jamil (Jamil) is a senior AQAH official and head of the auditing
and business departments of AQAH. He also manages financial services for
Hezbollah and its affiliated institutions. For almost 20 years, Jamil has
provided financial services to AQAH. In addition, Jamil jointly owns a company,
Tashilat SARL, with OFAC-designated Yazbeck and al-Shami. Tashilat SARL provided
mortgage loans after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, and served as an integral part
of the operations for AQAH and designated Hezbollah financial institutions
Yousser Company and Bayt al-Mal.
- Issa Hussein Qassir (Qassir) is a senior AQAH official who oversees the
department responsible for supplying equipment to AQAH branches and handling
procurement and logistics. In this capacity, Qassir opened bank accounts in the
formal financial system to conduct business activities for AQAH. Qassir was
documented sending nearly a million dollars to OFAC-designated AQAH shadow
bankers Yazbeck, Gharib, and Othman between 2007 and 2019, prior to OFAC’s
designation of Jammal Trust Bank SAL (JTB) in 2019. JTB was designated for
facilitating the banking activities of U.S.-designated entities openly
affiliated with Hezbollah, like AQAH and the Martyrs Foundation.
- Samer Hassan Fawwaz (Fawwaz) is the head of the AQAH management division and
is responsible for administration and liaising between AQAH and various
companies that assist the organization with logistics and procurement. He has
served in the role of administrative director for AQAH since at least 2010.
- Imad Mohamad Bezz (Bezz) is the head of AQAH’s evaluation and storage
department and is responsible for AQAH’s gold deals. Bezz transacted extensively
with AQAH officials previously involved in shadow banking activities, including
sending over $2.5 million to an account held by three other AQAH officials.
- Ali Mohamad Karnib (Karnib) is a senior AQAH employee who serves as the head
of AQAH’s purchase department. As of July 2024, Karnib oversaw the purchase of
over a thousand ounces of gold for AQAH.
- Ali Ahmad Krisht (Krisht) serves as the branch manager of AQAH in Tyre,
Lebanon. He previously held at least three bank accounts on behalf of Hezbollah
and worked in close coordination with OFAC-designated AQAH director Mansour, as
well as other AQAH officials. In addition to his ties to AQAH, Krisht was
associated with senior Hezbollah financial advisor Hassan Moukalled, who was
designated in 2023 for providing support to Hezbollah and helping Hezbollah
establish a presence in Lebanon’s financial system.
- Mohammed Suleiman Badir (Badir) served as a deputy director of AQAH under
designated AQAH official Subayti at the Nabatiyeh branch. He previously held a
joint account with Subayti opened as part of a Hezbollah plan to circumvent the
formal financial system by having members and associates open bank accounts in
their personal names.
Tashilat SARL was also designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by,
or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or
indirectly, Jamil, Yazbeck, and al-Shami. As a result of Thursday's sanctions,
all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons that
are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are
blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned,
directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by
one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or
specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally
prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United
States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or
otherwise blocked persons.
"Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal
penalties on U.S. and foreign persons," the Treasury warned. "OFAC may impose
civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s
Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding
OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial
institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in
certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons.
The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds,
goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked
person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or
services from any such person. "Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions
involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary
sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or
impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a
correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial
institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction
on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority. "The
power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to
designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked
Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from
the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to
punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior," the statement said.
One person killed, 4
injured in Israeli airstrike on car in Beirut
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/July 03, 2025
BEIRUT: An Israeli drone attack hit a car on Khaldeh Road in southern Beirut at
about 5 p.m. on Thursday. Initial reports suggested one person was killed and at
least four injured. The drone fired two guided
missiles at the vehicle, scoring direct hits. The road on which it was traveling
was described as a typically busy road. The Israeli army confirmed the attack.
In a message posted on social media platform X, military spokesperson Avichay
Adraee said: “The Israeli army targeted a terrorist in Lebanon who was involved
in arms smuggling and advancing terrorist plots against Israeli citizens and
army forces on behalf of the Iranian Quds Force.”The attack took place three
days before US envoy Thomas Barrack is due visit to Beirut to receive Lebanon’s
response to US disarmament proposals designed to restrict control of weapons in
the country to the Lebanese state, and a day after Hezbollah reiterated its
rejection of the demand. Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Naim Qassem, said on
Wednesday that the group “categorically rejects any efforts to disarm. We do not
accept being led into humiliation, nor surrendering our land or weapons to the
Israeli enemy.”The matter of weapons is “an internal Lebanese issue that must be
addressed internally, without external supervision or interference,” he added.
“The party will not submit to any external threat or pressure. No one
decides for us or imposes choices on us that we do not accept. Our weapons are
our legitimate and legal right to confront the Israeli occupation.” On Thursday
morning, Israeli army forces entered the southern town of Kfar Kila and blew up
a civilian home. Located across the border from the Israeli settlement of
Metula, Kfar Kila is the closest Lebanese town to Israel, separated only by a
border fence. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese army maintain a
permanent presence in the area.
Israeli Strike Hits Vehicle
at Beirut Southern Entrance, State Media Reports
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli strike on a vehicle
on Beirut's southern entrance, as the Israeli army said it hit a "terrorist"
working for Iran.
According to the NNA, "an enemy drone targeted a car on the Khalde highway"
south of Beirut, AFP reported. The Israeli army said it "eliminated a terrorist
responsible for smuggling weapons and advancing terror attacks against Israeli
civilians and IDF troops, on behalf of the Iranian Quds Force", the foreign
operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Demarcating the Lebanese–Syrian Border Tops Agenda of
Trump’s Envoy in Beirut
Mohamed Choucair/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to
Syria, is prioritizing the demarcation of the Lebanese–Syrian border during his
meetings in Beirut this week with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Army leadership.
The border issue is expected to feature prominently in Lebanon’s response
to proposals Barrack presented, as he considers it essential for establishing a
mechanism to implement the ceasefire agreement with Israel and asserting
Lebanese sovereignty under UN Resolution 1701. According to Lebanese ministerial
sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia recently hosted a
Lebanese–Syrian meeting that defused tensions and ended clashes across the
overlapping areas between the two countries in northern Bekaa. Riyadh’s
mediation created a favorable climate to advance border demarcation along the
roughly 375-kilometer frontier from north to east.
Saudi sponsorship of this process, along with measures by the joint
Lebanese–Syrian committee to prevent further clashes, strengthened Washington’s
interest in supporting these efforts. Much of the violence has stemmed from
rival smuggling networks once protected by the former Syrian regime and used for
trafficking Captagon into Lebanon and beyond. Calls to demarcate the border date
back to the National Dialogue Committee’s first session in 2006, convened by
Berri. At Hezbollah’s request, the term “demarcation” was replaced with
“delineation,” arguing it was more appropriate for relations between “brotherly
nations.” Nevertheless, the issue remained unresolved as Syria refused to engage
in formal negotiations, especially before the assassination of Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri, when Damascus consistently blocked references to completing the
Taif Agreement or withdrawing Syrian troops from Beirut.Later attempts during
Saad Hariri’s premiership under President Michel Sleiman also stalled when
President Bashar al-Assad declined to cooperate, citing other priorities.
Illegal crossings continued to proliferate, justified as necessary for
Hezbollah’s movement to avoid Israeli monitoring and to maintain unregulated
“military routes” for arms smuggling. Sources revealed
that in a Damascus meeting co-chaired by Hariri and Assad, Lebanon requested not
only border demarcation but also a review of bilateral agreements under the
Treaty of Brotherhood to address their pro-Syrian bias. While the status of the
occupied Shebaa Farms was briefly raised, it was withdrawn to avoid jeopardizing
talks. Though an agreement was reached to start demarcation from the northern
border, Syrian officials later backed out, citing preoccupation with the
Jordanian border.
Lebanon has since prepared a detailed file with maps and coordinates, ready to
support renewed negotiations under President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Officials believe
the time is now ripe to demarcate the border and end agreements that once
facilitated Syria’s dominance over Lebanon.
The Second Wave of
Displacement Cannot Be Permanent!
Hanna Saleh/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
There are fears that what happened in the Lebanese Parliament on Monday, June
30, could be the start of a process aimed at undercutting the constitutional
right of every Lebanese citizen, both residents and expatriates, to equality.
Blocking deliberation on a law that would have ensured non-residents' right to
vote in their electoral districts constitutes a serious infringement on the
expatriates’ rights and undermines their influence on national politics. Indeed,
it effectively stripped them of the right to vote for all 128 members of
parliament.
The big question now is: Can the "sectarian duo," the Aounists, and the others
who benefit from Lebanon's sectarian-quota-based spoil-sharing political system
impose this obstacle that would render the country impervious to change? Will
they succeed in blocking the votes of the diaspora? In doing so, they would be
depriving Lebanon of a rare opportunity for rejuvenation- an opportunity that
can only be possible through a parliament that is genuinely representative. The
current political era has already exposed the limits of the executive, as well
as its capacity and at times the will, to follow through on this endeavor,
preventing Lebanon from transitioning from one reality to another.
To begin with, it is essential to recognize the deep roots of the Lebanese
diaspora in the collective consciousness. It has long been a prominent feature
of curricula and a major theme of Lebanese arts and theater. For decades, people
have spoken of Lebanon’s "two wings," with the foreign wing seen as its economic
lifeline. Indeed, remittances from abroad have covered deficits in the balance
of payments and even secured annual budget surpluses. When the country was
deliberately bankrupt and impoverished, the diaspora played a crucial role in
preventing a creeping famine that had been hounding Lebanon’s plundered
population. They sent an average of $8 billion in remittances annually, the
equivalent to 40 percent of Lebanon’s current, post-collapse GDP.
Setting aside the older waves of emigration that began 160 years ago and
continued until the Civil War (and for which there are neither official records
nor reliable estimates), today’s focus is on the waves that followed the Civil
War. Migration intensified in the 1990s and early 2000s, with nearly 1.5 million
citizens estimated to have left. They were followed by a wave of youth migration
triggered by the disillusionment that followed the betrayal of the 2005
"Independence Intifada," the July 2006 war and its aftermath, and later the
financial collapse that began in 2019.
According to available data, more than 1.5 million of those who left as part of
these two emigration waves are registered on the electoral roll: roughly 35
percent of the electorate. This makes Lebanon one of the countries with the
highest emigration rates in the world. One would assume that this fact calls for
heightened concern for equality. What distinguishes the voters of these two
waves of emigration are largely well-equated middle-class elites with careers.
Why has this issue suddenly taken center stage? As the policy of deepening
Lebanon’s collapse continues, the political establishment has grown acutely
aware of the Lebanese diaspora’s influence and impact. The misleading phrase
“scattered Lebanese” is now used to describe those who had been forced to leave
due to rampant unemployment, plummeting living conditions, the deliberate crash
of the national currency, and the plunder of bank deposits- together, these
crises plunged many from relative comfort into extreme poverty.
In a calculated move to co-opt this demographic, the corrupt political class
organized charm offensives under the banner of “diaspora conferences” and
introduced an unprecedented provision in the 2017 electoral law that allocates
six parliamentary seats to the diaspora. However, this aberration proved
unworkable. Organizing elections across continents presented insurmountable
logistical challenges: oversight, campaign finance control, media regulation,
and the appointment of representatives were all unworkable.
Moreover, the role of these diaspora MPs remained vague. It was never clear how
they would participate in committees or the general assembly. As a result, the
implementation of this provision was frozen for the 2018 and 2022 elections,
allowing expatriates to vote equally alongside residents. So why the sudden push
to revive and implement this flawed formula in the 2026 elections?
In 2022, around 225,000 expatriates registered to vote, and 141,000 of them
actually cast ballots. This high turnout had a tangible impact on the result:
their broadly oppositional vote succeeded in stripping Hezbollah and its allies
of their majority and in blocking the emergence of a new majority that defends
the sectarian-quota-based spoil-sharing system.
A simple breakdown of the vote shows that around 30% went to the “October”
change lists; a notable share also went to pro-sovereignty forces. Meanwhile,
the “Shiite duo” received only 12% of the diaspora vote. The explanation is
clear: the expatriates are free of constraints of bribery, threats to
livelihood, sectarian pressure, and clientelist coercion. This autonomy has
allowed them to go against the entrenched mafia-state apparatus.
It is for this reason that we saw this brazen attempt to manipulate the
electoral process, an effort to impose the same coercive conditions that allow
the ruling mafia forces to intimidate, blackmail, and falsify the will of the
electorate. These same forces that drove the population into exile and looted
their deposits are now preventing them from voting like any other citizen.
The same political actors that dominate Lebanon’s political process are
paralyzing efforts to disarm illegal militias, obstructing reforms, and
reconfiguring power in a manner tailored to their interests, after having led
Lebanon into economic ruin, international isolation, and humiliation. Now, they
fear that diaspora votes could surpass 400,000, meaning that the 2026 Parliament
could mark a fundamental rupture.
This is the mother of all battles. The majority must wage and win the next
electoral battle if the next parliament is to be one that launches a true
national reformation- a parliament capable of building a state that protects all
its citizens, guarantees their rights, and upholds their freedoms.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on July 03-04/2025
Iran committed to Non-Proliferation
Treaty, foreign minister says
Reuters/July 03, 2025
Abbas Araqchi made the comment a day after Tehran enacted a law suspending
cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Iran has accused the IAEA of siding
with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel’s airstrikes
Iran remains committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its
safeguards agreement, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday, a day
after Tehran enacted a law suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
“Our cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) will be
channeled through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council for obvious safety
and security reasons,” Araqchi wrote in a post on X.President Masoud Pezeshkian
on Wednesday enacted the legislation passed by parliament last week to suspend
cooperation with the IAEA, a move the US called “unacceptable.”Araqchi’s comment
on X was in response to a call from Germany’s Foreign Ministry urging Tehran to
reverse its decision to shelve cooperation with the IAEA. Araqchi accused
Germany of “explicit support for Israel’s unlawful attack on Iran, including
safeguarded nuclear sites.”Iran has accused the IAEA of siding with Western
countries and providing a justification for Israel’sJune 13-24 airstrikes on
Iranian nuclear installations, which began a day after the UN agency’s board of
governors voted to declare Tehran in violation of its obligations under the NPT.
Western powers have long suspected that Iran has sought to develop the means to
build atomic bombs through its declared civilian atomic energy program. Iran has
repeatedly said it is enriching uranium only for peaceful nuclear ends. IAEA
inspectors are mandated to ensure compliance with the NPT by seeking to verify
that nuclear programs in treaty countries are not diverted for military
purposes. The law that went into effect on Wednesday mandates that any future
inspection of Iranian nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran’s
Supreme National Security Council. “We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is
awaiting further official information from Iran,” the Vienna-based global
nuclear watchdog said in a statement. US State Department spokesperson Tammy
Bruce told a regular briefing on Wednesday that Iran needed to cooperate fully
with the IAEA without further delay.
US plans nuclear talks with Iran in Oslo next week, Axios reports
Al Arabiya English/July 03/2025
The United States plans to hold talks with Iran about its nuclear program in
Oslo next week, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two unidentified sources.
Axios said that White House envoy Steve Witkoff is planning to meet Iranian
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oslo to restart nuclear talks. Axios added
that the sources said no final date has been set yet. However, if the meeting
takes place it would be the first talks held after US President Trump ordered a
military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities last month during the Iran-Israel
conflict. “In the immediate aftermath of the war, the Iranians were reluctant to
engage with the US, but that position has gradually softened,” Axios reported.
Israel’s bombing campaign, launched with a surprise attack on June 13, wiped out
the top echelon of Iran’s military leadership and killed leading nuclear
scientists. Iran responded with missiles that pierced Israel’s defenses in large
numbers for the first time.The United States and Iran were in talks over
Tehran’s nuclear program when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military
infrastructure, with the United States joining by bombing three nuclear sites —
Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — on June 21.
With agencies
Iran announces opening of its airspace after Israel war:
State media
Reuters/July 03/2025
Iran announced Thursday that it has reopened its airspace, including over
Tehran, after closing it on June 13 due to the war with Israel, according to
state media. “Tehran’s Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini international airports, as
well as those in the north, east, west and south of the country, have been
reopened and are ready to operate flights,” the official IRNA news agency
reported. Domestic and international flights from all airports across the
country -- except those in Isfahan and Tabriz -- will operate between 5:00 am
and 6:00 pm, authorities said. Flights from those cities will resume as soon as
the necessary infrastructure is in place, according to IRNA. Iran closed its
skies entirely last month after Israel launched a wave of air strikes, prompting
Iranian retaliatory missile fire. A US-brokered ceasefire between the two foes
came into effect on June 24. The country had already reopened airspace in
eastern Iran and expanded access for international overflights following the
truce.
French Foreign Minister Denounces Spy Charges against Couple Imprisoned in Iran
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
France’s foreign minister denounced spy charges reportedly being used to hold
two French nationals in Iran for more than three years, saying the allegations
are “unjustified and unfounded."French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on
Thursday said France had not been formerly notified by Iranian authorities of
the charges against French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, which
reportedly include spying for Israel. If confirmed, France would consider the
charges “totally unjustified and unfounded,” Barrot said, calling for the
couple’s ”immediate, unconditional release.”According to The AP news, Kohler,
40, and her partner Paris, 72, were arrested in May 2022 and until last month
were detained at Tehran's Evin Prison, known for holding dual nationals and
Westerners who are used by Iran as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations.
A French diplomat was able to meet the pair earlier this week as their families
demanded proof they were alive following recent Israeli strikes on the prison.
Kohler's sister, Noemie Kohler, said in an interview broadcast Thursday on BFM
TV that the couple were told they had been charged with spying for Israel,
conspiracy to overthrow the Iranian regime and “corruption on Earth.”
“Our understanding ... is that they face death penalty,” she said. “We’re really
extremely worried about their psychological state and the trauma of the
bombings.”The visit by the French diplomat took place at a prison south of
Tehran but, like some other prisoners, Kohler and Paris were transferred from
Evin following the Israeli strikes and their location is unknown, Noemie Kohler
said.
Explosive drone intercepted near Irbil airport in northern Iraq, security
statement says
Reuters/July 03, 2025
IRBIL, Iraq: An explosive drone was shot down near Irbil airport in northern
Iraq on Thursday, the Iraqi Kurdistan’s counter-terrorism service said in a
statement. There were no casualties reported, according to two security
sources.The “Flight operations at the airport continued normally and the airport
was not affected by any damage,” the Irbil airport authority said in a
statement. The incident only caused a temporary delay in the landing of one
aircraft, the statement added.
94 Palestinians Killed in Gaza, Including 45 People Waiting for Aid
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Airstrikes and shootings killed 94 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, including 45
while attempting to get much-needed humanitarian aid, hospitals and the Health
Ministry said Thursday. Israel’s military did not have immediate comment on the
strikes, The Associated Press reported. Five people were killed while outside
sites associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the newly created,
secretive American organization backed by Israel to feed the Gaza Strip’s
population, while 40 others were killed waiting for aid trucks in other
locations across the Gaza Strip. Dozens of people were killed in airstrikes that
pounded the Strip Wednesday night and Thursday morning, including 15 people
killed in strikes that hit tents in the sprawling Muwasi zone, where many
displaced Palestinians are sheltering, and a strike on a school in Gaza City
sheltering displaced people. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the number of
Palestinians killed in Gaza has passed 57,000, including 223 missing people who
have been declared dead. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians
and combatants in its death count but says that more than half of the dead are
women and children. The deaths come as Israel and Hamas inch closer to a
possible ceasefire that would end the 21-month war. Trump said Tuesday that
Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to
accept the deal before conditions worsen. But Hamas’ response, which emphasized
its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer
could materialize into an actual pause in fighting. The Israeli military blames
Hamas for the civilian casualties because it operates from populated areas. The
military said it targeted Hamas members and rocket launchers in northern Gaza
that launched rockets towards Israel on Wednesday.
The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern
Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left
the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with much of the urban landscape
flattened in the fighting. More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has
been displaced, often multiple times. And the war has sparked a humanitarian
crisis in Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of people hungry.
Trump Says Deal for Ceasefire in Gaza Is Closer After Israel Agrees on Terms
Younis, Gaza Strip/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
US President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a new 60-day
ceasefire with Hamas and that Washington would work with both sides during that
time to try to end more than 20 months of war in Gaza. Neither side has accepted
the proposal announced Tuesday by Trump, who has admonished Hamas that if the
group does not buy into the offer, its prospects will get worse. It's not clear
what conditions Israel agreed to. The efforts to reach a truce are unfolding in
the wake of powerful Israeli and American strikes on nuclear sites in Iran,
which has long supported Hamas, and just days before Trump is scheduled to meet
with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Here's a look at
the situation and the challenges it might present.
Details are murky
Details of the proposed ceasefire are just beginning to emerge. But rather than
being completely new, the potential deal seems to be a somewhat modified version
of a framework proposed earlier this year by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve
Witkoff. Trump said Tuesday in a social media post that Qatar and Egypt have
been working on the details and would deliver a final proposal to Hamas. An
Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire talks told The Associated Press that
the proposal calls for Hamas to release 10 more hostages during the two-month
period — eight on the first day and two on the final day. During that period,
Israel would withdraw troops from some parts of Gaza and allow badly needed aid
into the territory. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters
attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages.
The group is believed to still have some 50 hostages, with fewer than half of
them thought to be alive. The Egyptian official, speaking on condition of
anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, said a sticking
point over how aid would be distributed had been resolved with Israel. He said
both sides have agreed that the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent
would lead aid operations and that the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian
Fund would also continue to operate.
Hamas has been weakened
The unraveling of Iran’s regional network of proxies, capped by the blow
inflicted on Iran during the recent 12-day war with Israel, has left Hamas
weaker and more isolated in the region. Iran was a key backer of the group, but
its influence has waned, and it's now preoccupied with its own problems. At the
same time, Trump has made it clear to Israel that he wants to see the
Israel-Hamas war end soon. While he has been supportive of Netanyahu, Trump had
tough words for Israel in the opening hours of last week's ceasefire with Iran,
when he pressured Israel to scale back its response to an Iranian missile
attack. That could help persuade Hamas to embrace a deal. A diplomat briefed on
the talks said there is now a “big opportunity” to reach an agreement. “The
indications we’re getting are people are ready.”He said Trump’s harsh talk
toward Israel has “given a bit of confidence to Hamas” that the US will
guarantee any future deal and prevent a return to fighting. The diplomat spoke
on condition of anonymity because he was discussing behind-the-scenes diplomatic
contacts.
Israeli military positions and future talks pose obstacles
The Egyptian official said Israel has not yet agreed to a proposal to withdraw
its forces to positions held in early March after a previous ceasefire
officially expired. Since then, the Israeli army has seized large swaths of Gaza
to put pressure on Hamas, and it's not clear whether Israel is ready to return
to those same positions. An Israeli official characterized the agreement as a
60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a
surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would
provide assurances about talks on ending the war, but Israel is not committing
to that as part of the latest proposal, said the official, who was not
authorized to discuss the details of the deal with the media and spoke on
condition of anonymity. The Egyptian official said Hamas will have to review the
proposal with other factions before submitting an official response. One point
that does seem to have been ironed out is the question of who will administer
Gaza. Israel has said Hamas cannot run the territory, and the Egyptian official
said the proposal would instead put Gaza under a group of Palestinians without
political affiliations known as the Community Support Committee once a ceasefire
is reached. Potentially complicating the effort, Netanyahu reiterated his
hard-line position Wednesday, vowing that “there will be no Hamas” following the
60-day ceasefire plan.
Previous ceasefire did not last
A previous ceasefire agreed to in January established three phases, but the two
sides never made it past phase one. During that time, however, there were
multiple exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for prisoners held by Israel, and
critical humanitarian aid was able to reach Gaza. When phase one expired on
March 1, Israel sought to extend it while Hamas argued that phase two should go
ahead as planned. The second phase would have compelled Hamas to release all the
remaining living hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting
ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. That was always
seen as difficult, because it would have forced Israel to choose between its two
main war goals — the safe return of the hostages and the annihilation of Hamas.
On March 18, Israel broke the ceasefire with new airstrikes and resumed
hostilities.In Gaza, residents expressed hope that this time, a ceasefire will
bring an end to the war. “We are seriously tired,” said Asmaa al-Gendy, who has
been living in a tent camp in Deir al Balah with her two children. The family
has been displaced and starved and endured "every form of torture in the world.”
Ground Stops Lift at Ottawa, Montreal Airports over Bomb Threats
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Ground stops were lifted at international airports in Ottawa and Montreal after
a bomb threat on Thursday briefly halted departing flights, a US Federal
Aviation Administration spokesperson said. The Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier
International Airport said on X that it was investigating a security incident
and warned that operations may be disrupted, urging travelers to check their
flight status, Reuters reported. Air traffic control manager NAV Canada said in
a statement that it was made aware of bomb threats affecting several of its
facilities. It said employees at affected locations were safely evacuated and
that travelers may face delays. The Ottawa Police Service also said on X that it
was investigating a security incident at the Ottawa airport.
Amnesty International Says Israel and Aid System Use Starvation to Commit Gaza
Genocide
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Amnesty International issued a report Thursday claiming a controversial Israeli-
and US-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza uses starvation tactics against
Palestinians to continue to commit genocide in the Gaza Strip during Israel's
war with Hamas.
The UK-based human rights group condemned Israel and the Gaza Humanitarian
Foundation, which the US and Israel have backed to take over aid distribution in
Gaza from a network led by the United Nations. Israel’s foreign minister
denounced the Amnesty report, saying the organization has “joined forces with
Hamas and fully adopted all of its propaganda lies.” Gaza’s Health Ministry says
more than 500 Palestinians have been killed at or near GHF distribution centers
over the past month. The centers are guarded by private security contractors and
located near Israeli military positions. Palestinian officials and witnesses
have accused Israeli forces of opening fire at crowds of people moving near the
sites. The Amnesty report said Israel has “turned aid-seeking into a booby trap
for desperate starved Palestinians” through GHF's militarized hubs. The
conditions have created "a deadly mix of hunger and disease pushing the
population past breaking point.”“This devastating daily loss of life as
desperate Palestinians try to collect aid is the consequence of their deliberate
targeting by Israeli forces and the foreseeable consequence of irresponsible and
lethal methods of distribution,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary
general.
Israel rejects claims
The Israeli army says it has fired warning shots to control crowds and only
fires at people it says are acting suspiciously. The Foreign Ministry and COGAT,
the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, said Israel has
facilitated the entry of over 3,000 aid trucks into the Gaza Strip since May 19
and GHF has delivered boxes of food with the equivalent of 56 million meals.
Humanitarian organizations say that amount is not nearly enough to meet
overwhelming need in Gaza. GHF did not immediately return requests for comment.
The World Food Program says despite the new Israel-backed initiative, food
consumption reached a critical low last month, with food diversity reaching its
worst level since the conflict began. “The continued closure of crossings,
intensified violence since March, soaring food prices, and extremely limited
humanitarian and commercial supplies have severely restricted access to even
basic food items,” the WFP said in a June report.
GHF hubs are close to Israeli military positions
Amnesty’s report follows a statement earlier this week from more than 165 major
international charities and non-governmental organizations calling for an
immediate end to the foundation. They say the new mechanism allows Israel to use
food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and is ineffective.
It’s the latest sign of trouble for the GHF, a secretive initiative headed by an
evangelical leader who is a close ally of President Donald Trump. Last month,
the US government pledged $30 million for the group to continue operation, the
first known US donation to the group, whose other funding sources remain opaque.
GHF started distributing aid May 26 following a nearly three-month Israeli
blockade that pushed Gaza’s population of more than 2 million to the brink of
famine. Palestinian witnesses have described scenes of chaos around the
distribution sites, and two contractors in the operation have told The
Associated Press that colleagues fired live ammunition and stun grenades toward
crowds of people. Palestinians often must travel long distances to reach the
sites. In a statement Tuesday, GHF rejected criticism of its operations and
claimed it has delivered more than 52 million meals to hungry Palestinians.
“Instead of bickering and throwing insults from the sidelines, we would welcome
other humanitarian groups to join us and feed the people in Gaza,” GHF said. GHF
has called for Israel’s military to investigate the allegations from Gaza’s
Health Ministry, but last month the organization said there has been no violence
in or around its centers and its personnel have not opened fire. Israel demanded
the alternative plan because it accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid. The UN and
aid groups deny there is significant diversion. Amnesty's allegations of
genocide Amnesty accused Israel last year of committing genocide in the Gaza
Strip during its war with Hamas, saying it has sought to deliberately destroy
Palestinians by mounting deadly attacks, demolishing vital infrastructure, and
preventing the delivery of food, medicine and other aid. Israel, which was
founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide
allegations against it as an antisemitic “blood libel.” It is challenging such
allegations filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice and has
rejected the International Criminal Court’s accusations that Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister committed war crimes in Gaza.
UN Expert Asks States to Cut Trade Ties with Israel over
Gaza Situation
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
A UN expert on Thursday called on states to impose an arms embargo and cut off
trade and financial ties with Israel, which she alleged is waging a "genocidal
campaign" in Gaza.In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council presenting her
latest report, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Francesca Albanese accused Israel of being responsible for "one of the cruelest
genocides in modern history".Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in
Gaza, citing its right to self-defense following the deadly October 7, 2023,
Hamas attack.
Jordanian and Vatican officials discuss promotion of Petra as destination for
Christian pilgrims
Arab News/July 03, 2025
LONDON: Officials from Jordan and the Vatican met on Thursday to discuss ways in
which they can cooperate to advance religious tourism, including the promotion
of the ancient city of Petra as a destination for Christian pilgrims. Fares
Braizat, who chairs the board of commissioners of the Petra Development and
Tourism Regional Authority, said that highlighting the significance of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Christian heritage itineraries could
enhance Jordan’s position on the global religious tourism map. The country has a
number of important Christian sites, the most significant of which is the
location on the eastern bank of the Jordan River where Jesus is said to have
been baptized by John the Baptist. Several popes have visited it, including
Francis and John Paul II.Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, the Vatican’s
ambassador to Jordan, confirmed the interest in collaborating with Jordanian
authorities, and praised the nation’s stability and its rich historical and
religious heritage.Both officials acknowledged the strategic opportunity that
exists to integrate Petra into pilgrimage routes for Christian travelers, the
Jordan News Agency reported. The Petra tourism authority recently lit up the
Colosseum in Rome with the signature colors of the historic Jordanian site to
celebrate a twinning agreement as part of a marketing strategy to attract
European visitors, and to raise Petra’s profile globally as a premier cultural
and spiritual tourism destination. The Vatican itself is also a major tourism
destination, for Christian pilgrims in particular. In 2025 it is expected to
welcome between 30 and 35 million visitors during its latest Jubilee Year, a
significant ecclesiastical event that takes place every 25 years.
Violence in Southern Syria Fueled by Tribal, Sectarian Tensions
Damascus/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Amid escalating lawlessness and revenge killings in Syria’s Daraa province, the
Internal Security Forces leadership has dismissed at least 200 personnel for
committing “behavioral violations and transgressions inconsistent with the
institution’s values and principles.”In an official statement, authorities
announced the launch of a comprehensive reform plan aimed at training staff and
improving professionalism, pledging zero tolerance for misconduct that damages
the security agency’s reputation or exceeds legal authority. These measures
follow growing unrest in Daraa and Suwayda, sparked by clashes at a checkpoint
in Al-Masmiyah, north of Daraa, along the Damascus–Suwayda highway. Checkpoint
personnel were accused of abuse, extortion, and arbitrary fees imposed on
passing vehicles. According to residents, many of the checkpoint guards are
former members of the Eighth Brigade - once overseen by Russia and Military
Intelligence - and have continued practices reminiscent of the old regime,
including intimidation and extortion. After the government’s collapse, they were
incorporated into the new security forces through tribal and family connections
to avoid accountability for past crimes. Locals say these abuses are often
driven by tribal and sectarian rivalries, further eroding trust in the security
apparatus. On Tuesday, reinforcements from Damascus attempted to take control of
the Al-Masmiyah checkpoint but were met with armed resistance, prompting
authorities to close the highway to protect civilians. In Al-Sanamayn, security
forces deployed to six locations after a surge in killings. One grieving mother
recorded a video plea to Syrian President Ahmada al-Sharaa, demanding justice
for her son, who was shot dead while praying. She revealed that two of his
brothers and their father had also been killed. The Violations Documentation
Office of the Ahrar Houran Gathering reported 17 assassinations by unknown
gunmen in Al-Sanamayn since the regime’s fall. Meanwhile, Daraa 24 Network
documented 38 killings in June alone - double the toll in May - including 23
civilians, with violence ranging from shootings to disputes and accidents
involving weapons misuse. According to Ahrar Houran, many of the killings are
carried out by armed groups exploiting tribal conflicts once fueled by the
previous regime, alongside frequent kidnappings, robberies, and sporadic abuses
by security personnel.The Internal Security leadership pledged to continue
reforms, enforce discipline, and improve training to restore public trust,
emphasizing that professionalism and respect for the law remain top priorities
in rebuilding the security institution.
Ethiopia
Says Controversial Power Dam on the Nile that's Opposed by Egypt Has Been
Completed
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Ethiopia’s prime minister said Thursday that his country’s controversial power
dam on the Nile has been completed. Egypt has long opposed the dam because of
concerns it would deplete its share of Nile River waters. Egypt has referred to
the dam, known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as an existential threat
because the Arab world’s most populous country relies almost entirely on the
Nile to supply water for agriculture and its more than 100 million people.
Ethiopia disputes that suggestion.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government is “preparing for its
official inauguration."“While there are those who believe it should be disrupted
before that moment, we reaffirm our commitment: the dam will be inaugurated,” he
said, The AP news reported. Abiy said in his address that his country “remains
committed to ensuring that our growth does not come at the expense of our
Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters.”
Trump, Putin to Talk on Thursday ahead of Possible Zelenskiy Call
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
US President Donald Trump said he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin
on Thursday, while a Ukrainian source told Reuters Trump may speak with
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. "Will be speaking to
President Putin of Russia at 10:00 A.M. Thank you!" Trump wrote on his social
media platform. He did not say what they would discuss. On Friday, Trump and
Zelenskiy are expected to discuss the abrupt halt in some key US weapons
deliveries to Kyiv, with Zelenskiy expected to raise potential future arms
sales, the Financial Times earlier reported on Thursday, Reuters reported.
The timing of that call could change, the FT added, citing people familiar with
the planning. The US has paused some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine
due to low stockpiles, sources earlier told Reuters. That decision led to
Ukraine calling in the acting US envoy to Kyiv on Wednesday to underline the
importance of military aid from Washington continuing, and caution that the move
would weaken Ukraine's ability to defend against intensifying Russian airstrikes
and battlefield advances. The Pentagon's move led in part to a cut in deliveries
of Patriot air defense missiles that Ukraine relies on to destroy fast-moving
ballistic missiles, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Russia Focusing Airstrikes on Ukraine Draft Offices to Derail Recruitment, Kyiv
Says
Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Russia killed two people in an airstrike on the central Ukrainian city of
Poltava on Thursday and damaged a military draft office there in what Kyiv said
was a concerted campaign to disrupt recruitment for its war effort. The strike
on Poltava, which also injured 47 people and caused a fire at the city's main
draft office, followed a drone attack on Monday near a recruitment center in
Kryvyi Rih. Both cities are regional capitals. "We understand that their
(Russian) goal is to disrupt the mobilisation process," Vitaliy Sarantsev, a
spokesperson for Ukraine's ground forces, told Ukraine's public broadcaster,
Reuters reported."But I want to say that...it is too early (for Russia) to
uncork the champagne because the process is impossible to stop." Ukraine has
struggled to fend off a bigger and better-equipped Russian army, and its call-up
process has been marred by reports of draft-office corruption, poor training and
weak battlefield command. Well into the fourth year of its full-scale invasion,
Russia has gained ground in eastern Ukraine and repeatedly hit cities far behind
the front lines with drones and missiles, while also waging a sabotage campaign
there, Kyiv's domestic security agency says.
In a statement to Reuters last month, the Security Service of Ukraine said it
had arrested more than 700 people since 2024 for alleged crimes that included
arson attacks on troop vehicles and bombings at draft offices. A Ukrainian
security official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said
Russia was aiming to derail Kyiv's military call-up effort also by spreading
disinformation and hacking recruitment office computers. "The disruption of
mobilisation is closely linked to the spread of panic and intimidation of the
population," the source said, adding that bombings were part of the general
strategy.
INTENSIFYING STRIKES
Russian forces have also stepped up strikes on military training grounds in
recent weeks, prompting Kyiv's top general to order a strengthening of security
measures at bases. A missile attack on southeastern Ukraine this week killed a
brigade commander. Ukrainian forces have also staged longer-range attacks on
Russian bases in occupied territory as well as deep inside Russia. Thursday's
strike on Poltava came after the US said it had paused some weapons shipments to
Ukraine, which drew warnings in Kyiv that the move would harm Ukraine's defence
against intensifying Russian air strikes and battlefield gains.
Separately on Thursday, two people were killed in a ballistic missile strike on
port infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, said regional
governor Oleh Kiper. Dozens of people have been killed in recent drone and
missile salvoes at Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.
Damascus Aims to Resolve its Foreign Disputes by End of
2025
Damascus/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Syria said it aims to resolve all outstanding foreign policy disputes by the end
of the year, in a move that follows Washington’s decision to fully lift
sanctions on Damascus. Qutaiba Idlbi, Director of US Affairs at Syria’s Foreign
Ministry, told state television on Tuesday that Syria is “working to zero out
its external problems by the end of this year and open a new chapter with the
international community.”His comments come amid reports of a potential
Syrian-Israeli agreement before year-end. The statement follows US President
Donald Trump’s move to lift all sanctions on Syria, an unprecedented decision
welcomed by Damascus as a turning point.Idlbi said the move was a response to
“the efforts led by the Syrian government,” calling it “the start of a path
whose results Syrians will feel in their daily lives soon.”Syrian Finance
Minister Mohammad Yassar Barniyeh described the US decision as “a major and
important step” that will positively impact the country’s economy. He said the
government was determined to “seize every opportunity, strengthen financial
management and promote transparency.”Syria’s Central Bank Governor, Abdelkader
Hasriyeh, also praised the US move, calling it a “historic development and a
decisive step” toward Syria’s economic recovery. “The United States saw in
Syria’s fundamental transformation a rare and timely opportunity to reorder the
region,” said Abdul Hamid Tawfiq, a political analyst, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat.
He said Syria’s exit from the anti-American axis it had been part of for over
five decades marked the beginning of a realignment under US influence. According
to Tawfiq, Washington had long managed the Syrian crisis, before and during the
uprising, through calculated diplomacy, with a strategic view of Syria’s
importance. “The US has handled the Syrian file with considerable finesse and a
keen reading of shifting interests. Syria became a key test case for reshaping
the entire Middle East,” he said. He added that reintegrating Syria, given its
geopolitical and strategic weight, into the US sphere of influence would require
ending hostilities between Syria and Israel, as well as between Israel and
certain Arab capitals. Tawfiq said the lifting of sanctions followed “clear and
serious understandings” between Damascus and Washington, including commitments
from Syria to distance itself from Iran, reduce Russian influence, expel
Palestinian factions from the capital, and align with US-led efforts against
terrorist groups such as ISIS.
Washington’s enthusiasm over Syria’s policy shift reflects a broader US
strategic agenda in the region, one that ultimately serves Israeli interests,
according to Tawfiq. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the full lifting of US
sanctions could be “a starting point for a negotiation process aimed at
achieving long-awaited peace between Syria and Israel,” given Syria’s pivotal
role in the region’s stability. “If Syria takes a step toward Israel, whether
through formal negotiations, new security arrangements that safeguard mutual
interests, freezing the frontlines, or establishing a level of security
coordination, it will have a stabilizing effect on Syria and the wider region,”
he said. The key question, Tawfiq noted, is whether any upcoming negotiations
would be based on international resolutions that affirm the Golan Heights as
Syrian territory occupied by Israel, particularly UN Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338, or whether a new, US-brokered formula will emerge. US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier said Washington is taking additional
steps to support a stable, unified Syria that can live in peace with itself and
its neighbors, adding that sanctions “will not stand in the way of Syria’s
future.”Damascus has also announced it is moving away from the foreign policy
legacy of the previous regime, which it says turned Syria into “the region’s
biggest blackmailing power” in pursuit of narrow interests, according to Idlbi.
In remarks carried by state media, Idlbi said Syria is taking steps to dismantle
the remnants of that approach and reaffirm its commitment to more constructive
international engagement. He pointed to Syria’s cooperation on the chemical
weapons file, which he said “brought nothing but destruction and death to the
Syrian people.”Idlbi added that the coming months would see significant
breakthroughs on the sanctions front, signaling growing confidence in Damascus
that international restrictions will continue to ease.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on July 03-04/2025
No peace, just pause: Iran and
Israel’s fragile standoff
Dr. Basel Haj Jasem/Alarabiya
English/July 03/2025
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between
Iran and Israel, many questions remain about the durability of such an
arrangement after years of proxy conflict – culminating recently in a direct
12-day aerial exchange of fire. The nature of the agreement itself remains
shrouded in ambiguity. Trump has yet to disclose the terms accepted by the
Iranian and Israeli sides, and it is still unclear whether Washington and Tehran
will return to the nuclear negotiation table, talks that had previously
collapsed. At this stage, all involved parties share an interest in halting
hostilities, suggesting that the agreement may hold – at least temporarily –
until strategic calculations shift. The United States, exhausted by protracted
Middle East conflicts, has little appetite for a new drawn-out war. Iran, for
its part, appears more open to temporary deals due to its declining capabilities
and escalating internal crises. Trump himself faced a divided political base:
Between isolationists wary of foreign entanglements and pro-Israel hawks who see
American and Israeli interests as inherently aligned. From Israel’s perspective,
continuing the war may have yielded diminishing returns, especially after
achieving key strategic goals – such as depleting Iran’s missile stockpiles and
weakening the IRGC through targeted strikes – without triggering a full-scale
confrontation. Preserving unity with Washington and avoiding embarrassment for
the Trump administration were also decisive factors in accepting a truce.
Tehran, meanwhile, has little desire to provoke the US and seeks to end Israeli
strikes on its facilities. Continued escalation raises the risk of direct
confrontation with Washington – not just Tel Aviv – at a time when Iran is
facing severe domestic pressures. With each passing day of war, the risk of
regime collapse – or at least conditions that could lead to it – increases.
A ceasefire may reassure regional actors concerned about Iran’s nuclear
ambitions, though they are even more alarmed by the prospect of a devastating
war to prevent them. Still, Tehran remains cautious about offering nuclear
concessions without real guarantees that Israel will not resume its attacks –
especially given past episodes where Trump greenlit Israeli strikes despite
ongoing negotiations. Since the October 7, 2023, attack, Netanyahu’s government
has embraced a national security doctrine focused on regional dominance rather
than peace, making any long-term deal with Iran appear unlikely.
Despite suffering serious blows to its nuclear infrastructure and missile
capabilities, the Iranian regime remains intact and is seeking opportunities to
rebuild its military strength. While this task will be difficult and expensive,
it is not impossible, given the Iranian regime’s history of resilience.
The region has just witnessed one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the
long-standing tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv. Israel views its latest
strikes as a “relative success,” having neutralized much of Iran’s air defenses
and secured near-total aerial freedom over Iranian skies. Iran responded with a
barrage of missiles and drones – some of which penetrated Israeli defenses –
focusing on dense population centers like Tel Aviv and employing a staggered
timing strategy to stretch Israeli response capabilities. However, Tehran’s
retaliation failed to deter further Israeli escalation. Tel Aviv describes its
operations as “preemptive strikes,” though their scope and context suggest
objectives beyond halting Iran’s nuclear program – possibly even undermining the
regime or dismantling its high command structure. Since the Iran-Iraq war,
Tehran has demonstrated political flexibility that often surprises its
adversaries. Its leadership follows a strategy of “tactical retreats” that serve
broader long-term goals. The regime may concede when cornered but consistently
aims to regain lost ground. While Tehran may express readiness for sanctions
relief and deals with the West, it still views resistance to Western domination
as the cornerstone of its ideology. Any major retreat would be interpreted as a
defeat after decades of struggle.
Though frequently floated as a response to Israeli or American aggression, the
threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz remains largely impractical. Such a move
would not serve Iran’s interests – it could provoke a harsh international
backlash and alienate China, Iran’s largest oil customer. Alternative routes
through the UAE and Oman also limit the effectiveness of such a threat. In fact,
Iran itself would suffer most from the closure, as the bulk of its imports pass
through the strait. Furthermore, much of the strait lies in Omani waters and
spans up to 60 miles in width, making complete Iranian control virtually
impossible.
Overall, Israel has used successive airstrikes to dismantle Iranian defenses and
maintain aerial superiority, effectively forcing Iran to divert its missile
arsenal from offensive operations to defense – thus constraining Tehran’s
ability to take initiative. In response, Iran has embraced a policy of
escalation-for-escalation, calculating that showing weakness would cost it
dearly in future negotiations. Tehran also appears to be betting that such
escalation will generate internal pressure on Netanyahu’s government and
destabilize Israel’s economy through precise, intermittent strikes on populated
and strategic areas.
Ultimately, this ceasefire does not signal a strategic shift toward peace.
Rather, it reflects a moment of “mutual deterrence” within a fragile balance –
one that could shift quickly with any change in power dynamics or political
will.
Qatar Must Not
Be Allowed to Play Any Role in Gaza
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute./July 3, 2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21725/qatar-role-gaza
Allowing Qatar to be part of an Arab consortium that would replace Hamas rule in
the Gaza Strip is essentially placing the alpha-fox in charge of the henhouse.
Al-Jazeera, Qatar's flagship media network, operates around the clock as a
propaganda outlet in the service of Hamas.
After America's attack on Iran's nuclear sites on June 22, journalists and those
who shape public opinion in Qatar condemned the US and President Donald J.
Trump. Al-Jazeera presenters and columnists for Qatar's government newspapers
took to social media to slam the US and Trump, calling him a "brazen liar", "the
leader of a modern crusade", and a "war criminal"..."... Israel must be
destroyed and eliminated and must disappear. This should be a strategic Arab
doctrine. [Operation] Al-Aqsa Flood showed us that the Israelis have no
connection to the land...." — Qatari General (ret.) Mubarak Al-Khayreen, X.com,
June 22, 2025. In
2017, [Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates] severed ties
with Qatar and imposed a sea, land and air blockade on it. They accused Qatar of
supporting various terrorist groups and extremist movements, including the
Muslim Brotherhood, and demanded the closure of Al-Jazeera.
Qatar has never abandoned its goal of promoting the Muslim Brotherhood and its
affiliates, including Hamas. Anyone who watches Al-Jazeera (in Arabic) can see
that the Gulf state and its media outlets are fully mobilized in favor of
Islamist Jihadis engaged in terrorism against Israel and the West.
Qatar cannot be allowed to play any role in the administration of the Gaza
Strip.
Allowing Qatar to be part of an Arab consortium that would replace Hamas rule in
the Gaza Strip is essentially placing the alpha-fox in charge of the henhouse.
According to a recent report, the Trump administration is floating the idea of
having four Arab states administer the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire
agreement between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian terror group Hamas. On
June 26, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported:
"Gaza hostilities will conclude within two weeks, ending conditions will
encompass four Arab nations (including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates) to
administer the Gaza Strip, replacing the murderous Hamas terrorist
organization."
Although the newspaper did not name the two other Arab countries that would take
part in administering the Gaza Strip, there is speculation in the Arab world
that one of them is Qatar, which has expressed readiness to help rebuild Gaza
after the Hamas-Israel war ends.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas terrorists and
"ordinary" Palestinians launched a surprise attack on Israel, murdering more
than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and wounding thousands. On the same
day, another 251 Israelis and foreign nationals were kidnapped to the Gaza
Strip, where 50 (dead and alive) are still held hostage.
Allowing Qatar to be part of an Arab consortium that would replace Hamas rule in
the Gaza Strip is essentially placing the alpha-fox in charge of the henhouse.
Qatar's longtime financial and political support for Hamas is one of the reasons
the terror group managed to stay in power and carry out countless terrorist
attacks against Israel over the past two decades.
Qatar's support continued after the October 7 atrocities, as noted by the Middle
East Media Research Institute (MEMRI):
"Since Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023, and throughout the war that
broke out in its aftermath, the state of Qatar, its media, and institutions
affiliated with it have consistently expressed unreserved support for Hamas and
for terror and armed violence against Israel. This support finds expression on
all levels, in statements by officials and religious clerics, in the media and
in the education system. Despite its ostensible role as a mediator between Hamas
and Israel, Qatar, which has for years sheltered Hamas leaders within its
borders and funded this organization with billions of dollars, has taken a
blatantly pro-Hamas and anti-Israel line. Qatari Shura Council member Essa Al-Nassr
said that October 7 was the beginning of the end of the Zionist state,
presenting this as a divine promise mentioned in the Quran. He added that there
can be no peace with the Jews, because their faith condones 'depletion, the
violation of agreements and lies' and they are 'slayers of the prophets.'"
Qatar's foreign ministry released a statement on October 7, 2023, holding
"Israel alone responsible" for Hamas's massacres. The ministry ignored Hamas's
war crimes and accused Israel of violating international law.
The MEMRI report pointed out that Al-Jazeera, Qatar's flagship media network,
operates around the clock as a propaganda outlet in the service of Hamas:
"It [Al-Jazeera] expresses unreserved support for Hamas, justifying its October
7 attack, showing footage it obtained from the [Hamas] terrorists' body cams,
and celebrating it as a victory that has brought pride and honor to the Islamic
nation. The network has provided an unlimited platform for messages and threats
by Hamas's leaders and spokespersons, and for their calls on Muslims worldwide
to join the jihad (holy war) against Israel. In fact, Hamas's leader in the Gaza
Strip, Yahya Sinwar, described Al-Jazeera as "the best pulpit that accurately
gives voice to our positions."
On June 8, the Qatari state-owned newspaper Al-Raya published an article by
senior writer Babiker Issa, who praised Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar, one of
the planners of the October 7 atrocities. Under the headline "Sinwar Icon of the
Palestinian Resistance," Issa called Mohammed Sinwar "a daring fighter" and "an
honorable and great warrior." He went on to describe him as "icon of the
national struggle on the land of Palestine and in Gaza," and as "the planer and
the mastermind -with his comrades the fighters -of the Al-Aqsa Flood Operation
on October 7, 2023... which restored to the Palestinian issue its brilliance and
its glory."
Qatar claims that the money it delivered to Hamas in the Gaza Strip over many
years was humanitarian aid, and intended for the civilian population, but
evidence suggests that much of the funding has directly benefited Hamas's
political and military structures, already on record as stealing aid (for
instance here, here, here, here, here, here and here). For the past two decades,
Qatar has transferred more than $1.8 billion to Hamas, making it a primary
financial lifeline for the terror group.
Between 2018 and 2023 alone, Qatar delivered funds, in cash, to Hamas in the
Gaza Strip, amounting to $30 million each month. Didier Billion, deputy director
of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs, said that
Qatar's financial support of $30 million per month is "proven and public."
"These payments are [purported] to pay civil servants in Gaza, and we know
perfectly well that these are members of Hamas. Doha's money is therefore the
equivalent of direct support for this organisation which has held the
Palestinian enclave with an iron fist for many years."
Documents recently found by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip indicate
that Hamas leaders describe Qatar as the group's "main artery," and Qatari money
as crucial for Hamas's operations, including its military wing.
The Qatari funds were "the main lifeline of the [Hamas] movement," Hamas's then
politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh told then-Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman Al-Thani (today prime minister) in a face-to-face meeting in 2019,
according to the documents.
Haniyeh, according to the documents, revealed in 2021 that the emir of Qatar had
agreed to covertly fund Hamas's armed "resistance" efforts. "So far, $11 million
has been raised by the emir for the [Hamas] leadership." Haniyeh wrote in a
letter to Yahya Sinwar.
"In a private meeting between us, we reassured [the emir] regarding the
resistance. We agreed on discreet financial support [from Qatar to Hamas]. I
would ask that you write a letter focusing on the military campaign [against
Israel] and your urgent needs."
Reports suggest that Qatari intelligence officials discussed with Hamas
representatives the possibility of establishing training camps for Hamas
fighters in Qatar and Turkey. Qatar, in addition, supported the integration of
Palestinian refugees from Syria into Hamas battalions in Lebanon.
After America's attack on Iran's nuclear sites on June 22, journalists and those
who shape public opinion in Qatar condemned the US and President Donald J.
Trump. Al-Jazeera presenters and columnists for Qatar's government newspapers
took to social media to slam the US and Trump, calling him a "brazen liar", "the
leader of a modern crusade", and a "war criminal" who has "revealed his ugly
face" and is "looking for false personal glory." They also described the
Americans as "infidels" and "plotters" seeking to "ignite wars and destroy
peoples."
Retired Qatari general Mubarak Al-Khayreen wrote on his X account:
"There is [some] benefit in the US being strong alongside Russia and China, in
order to maintain the global balance [of power], but Israel must be destroyed
and eliminated and must disappear. This should be a strategic Arab doctrine.
[Operation] Al-Aqsa Flood showed us that the Israelis have no connection to the
land and that they admit they are occupying the land of others and that they are
transient."
Qatar's support for Hamas aligns with its broader foreign policy of leveraging
the Muslim Brotherhood organization to enhance its regional influence. Qatar's
support for the Muslim Brotherhood dates back to the 1950s and '60s, when the
Gulf state offered refuge to members of the organization fleeing political
repression in other Arab countries. In recent years, Qatar has hosted Hamas's
political leaders, including Khaled Mashaal, Ismail Haniyeh, Musa Abu Marzouk,
and Khalil al-Hayya.
Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood has often created tensions with other
Arab countries. The Muslim Brotherhood has been designated as a terrorist
organization by several countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and
the United Arab Emirates. In 2017, the four Arab states severed ties with Qatar
and imposed a sea, land and air blockade on it. They accused Qatar of supporting
various terrorist groups and extremist movements, including the Muslim
Brotherhood, and demanded the closure of Al-Jazeera.
The crisis ended in 2021 after mediation by Kuwait and Oman, and pressure from
the United States.
Qatar has never abandoned its goal of promoting the Muslim Brotherhood and its
affiliates, including Hamas. Anyone who watches Al-Jazeera (in Arabic) can see
that the Gulf state and its media outlets are fully mobilized in favor of
Islamist Jihadis engaged in terrorism against Israel and the West. Qatar will
doubtless once again use humanitarian aid as a tool to ensure Hamas's continued
rule over the Gaza Strip. This patronage will pave the way for more October
7-style massacres.
Qatar cannot be allowed to play any role in the administration of the Gaza
Strip.
Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
How Islam Erased Christianity from the Holy Land
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/July 03/2025
In a recent article, we cited the strong reaction that Ieronymos, Archbishop of
Athens and All Greece, had to Egypt’s now-rescinded court decision to turn St.
Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai — a UNESCO World Heritage site—into a museum. At
one point, he warned:
The Egyptian government has effectively chosen to dismantle every notion of
justice and, with a single stroke, attempt to erase the very existence of the
Monastery — abolishing its religious, spiritual, and cultural function.
Erase. That is the key word.
Erasure has long defined the Islamic approach to pre-Islamic civilizations.
Historically — and as we’re witnessing now — Islam has not simply appropriated
the lands of others; it has actively sought to erase the memory of those who
came before.
What’s Going On
At this very moment, for instance, Muslim-majority Azerbaijan is systematically
erasing the Christian heritage of Artsakh and other Armenian lands it recently
seized through war. Churches are being demolished, crosses removed, cemeteries
desecrated, and propaganda spread to claim these lands which have been Christian
for nearly two millennia were always Turkic or even proto-Muslim. (I’ve
discussed this is several Stream articles, see here, here, here, and here.)
This method of conquest and subsequent historical erasure is not incidental;
it’s strategic. By rewriting the past, Islam legitimizes its place in the
present. Thus, the idea that the Muslim world has always been Muslim persists
widely.
Consider a revealing example: A 2023 report quotes a young Palestinian Christian
lamenting:
In view of the economic hardships and political instability, the occupation and
rising fundamentalism where we Christians face extreme difficulties and feel
unwelcome, why not pack our bags and return to Europe?
Return to Europe? Does he not realize he already lives in Christianity’s
birthplace? That his ancestors were Christian centuries before Islam existed?
How can such foundational facts be lost on someone like him?
Joseph Hazboun, quoted in the same report, offers an explanation:
This is due to misinformation in the Palestinian curriculum, which cites that
Palestinian history begins with the Arab conquest of Palestine, without any
indication of the first seven centuries of Christianity in the Holy Land.
Religious instruction in Christian schools and parishes focuses on
faith-building rather than historical awareness, resulting in widespread
ignorance of early Christian history in the region.
Canceling Christians
This erasure is not unique to Palestine. Across the Middle East, public
education routinely downplays — or outright erases — Christian heritage while
whitewashing Islam’s role. During a 2016 conference in Amman, Dr. Hena al-Kaldani
said:
“There is a complete cancelation of Arab Christian history in the pre-Islamic
era … many historical mistakes, and unjustifiable historic leaps in our
Jordanian curriculum. Tenth-grade textbooks omit any mention of church history
in the region.”
Where Christianity is mentioned, it’s often mischaracterized as a Western
imposition or colonial relic. The goal is clear: make indigenous Christians feel
alien, and make Muslims view them as intruders.
Kamal Mougheet, a retired Egyptian teacher, echoes this:
It sounds absurd, but Muslims more or less know nothing about Christians, even
though they make up a large part of the population and are the original
Egyptians … Egypt was Christian for six or seven centuries before the Muslim
conquest around 640. The sad thing is that history books skip from Cleopatra [30
BC] to the Muslim conquest of Egypt [640 AD]. The Christian era was gone.
Disappeared. An enormous black hole.
A 2023 report affirms this:
The [Egyptian] education program is devoid of any mention of other faiths or
religions — no lessons on Egyptian Christian or Jewish historical figures, no
mention of non-Muslim holidays, and nothing about Coptic history, despite the
prominent role of the Coptic Church.
Even in the relatively tolerant 1940s and ’50s, my own parents, who are Coptic
Christians from Egypt, recalled that schools ignored Hellenism, Christianity,
and the Coptic Church. A thousand years of pre-Islamic history vanished from the
curriculum. History began with the pharaohs and jumped straight to the
seventh-century Arab “opening” of Egypt — never a “conquest,” always a
euphemistic fath (opening).
Widespread Deception
This pattern holds across the region. Sharara Yousif Zara, a former official in
Iraq’s Ministry of Education, said:
It’s the same situation in Iraq. There’s almost nothing about us [Christians] in
our history books — and what little there is is completely inaccurate. Nothing
about us predating Islam. The only Christians mentioned are Westerners. Many
Iraqis believe we migrated here — that we’re guests.
This revisionism has had profound effects not just on Muslims, but on Christians
themselves. I’m frequently asked, even in the West, why Christians would
“choose” to live in the Middle East among Muslims who persecute them —
completely overlooking the fact that these Christians are not recent arrivals,
but the land’s original inhabitants.
The result: Indigenous Christians come to see themselves as foreigners and
Muslims see them as alien interlopers.
The bitter irony? Many Muslims persecuting Christians today descended from
Christians who converted centuries ago to escape persecution. Now, they
persecute their Christian cousins — convinced by a fraudulent history that these
Christians are colonial remnants.
And in this, the Muslim world is not alone. The West engages in the same
distortion. While Islam rewrites history to elevate itself, the modern West
rewrites history to weaken and undermine its own foundations. Both Islam and the
secular progressive Left — strange bedfellows — demonize Christianity and
distort its legacy.
One does so to dominate – and the other, oddly, to self-destruct.
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the
Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith
Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
In the Quest to Shrink NASA, Trump Forgets National
Security
Bill Nelson/The New York Times/July 03/2025
On a crisp evening in December 2023, I received an urgent alert: a swarm of
unidentified drones had been detected above Langley Air Force Base in Virginia,
inside highly restricted airspace. As NASA administrator at the time, I was
immediately concerned. Langley is one of the most sensitive sites in the United
States — home to F-22 Raptors, supersonic stealth fighters with highly
classified capabilities and NORAD operations. It also happens to neighbor NASA’s
Langley Research Center, where our experimental technology had spotted the
drones.
Isolated drone sightings around military bases weren’t unheard-of, but nothing
like this swarm had ever happened before. I called senior Pentagon officials
twice and raised the issue with staff at the National Security Council. I noted
it was NASA technology that was able to see the drones, and based on our
observations, this activity wasn’t random: It’s plausible the drones launched
from a ship or submarine lurking as little as three miles offshore in
international waters, or perhaps from trucks or trailers concealed in nearby
woodlands.
The incursion by the drones lasted 17 days. To my knowledge, we still do not
know their origin or purpose, or how much of a threat they posed. But it was
thanks to NASA technology that they were even picked up in the first place. The
Air Force base did not have that capability.
If a drone incursion could do something like this at Langley, what would stop a
determined adversary from launching a flock of spacecraft-downing drones at the
Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station? Or Vandenberg Space
Force Base in California? Or Wallops Island off Virginia? These aren’t just
sites for launching rockets into space and delivering NASA payloads into orbit —
they’re strategic targets vital to the defense of our homeland.
The events at Langley underscore how although NASA is a civilian agency for
space exploration, its role stretches beyond that. Its study of the environment
of space makes it possible for the United States to launch and operate
satellites vital for spotting unusual things that NASA calls “anomalies” and
allowing communications across the globe. Its technological advancements have
made it possible to develop state-of-the-art rockets and aircraft that few other
countries can match.
Winning the race to the moon bolstered national prestige and geopolitical
dominance that helped the United States win the Cold War. NASA’s fleet of Earth
observation satellites gives vulnerable communities the information they need to
plan for an uncertain future under climate change. And its scientific research
into the furthest reaches of the solar system and beyond opens our eyes to the
awesome nature of the universe, reminding us of our shared humanity.
The Trump administration’s proposal to cut NASA to the bone — including a nearly
50 percent reduction in science funding — jeopardizes the country’s pursuit of
discovery and undermines capabilities that are essential in an era when rivals
are advancing in terrestrial and extraterrestrial arenas.
The contest to return to the moon and become the first country to land boots on
Mars and beyond is a perfect example. It is in the world’s interest to keep
extraterrestrial worlds peaceful, and the best way to do so is to ensure America
and its allies get there first and establish a permanent foothold before our
adversaries do.This requires supporting the kind of research on the
International Space Station that helps us understand how to protect human health
during long periods in low gravity. Ice reserves on the moon can be harvested to
provide oxygen, water and rocket fuel to people living on the moon, but we need
to send probes and landers that map out these deposits and tell us the best
location to build an outpost.
If China wins the new space race by getting humans back to the moon before us,
establishing the first footholds on Mars and dominating the strategic high
ground of space, then the technologies that shape our daily lives, the networks
that power our economies and the satellites that safeguard our troops and
monitor our climate will no longer be anchored in an open and democratic
framework. They’ll be used as leverage in a century-defining competition,
perhaps even involving nuclear weapons in space.
But this isn’t just about the race to shape humanity’s future as a
multiplanetary species. It’s about threats that are already here, as we
witnessed over a year ago at Langley. In places like Ukraine and the Middle
East, we’re witnessing the dawn of autonomous drone strikes as a new paradigm of
war — launched from hidden compartments, capable of punching through even the
most sophisticated air defenses. Against this backdrop are reports of
Chinese-owned companies purchasing farmland near US military bases — at least
350,000 acres in 27 states — raising urgent questions about espionage and
threats not just to military installations, but also critical systems like
energy grids. A strong civilian space program doesn’t just advance technologies
needed to detect these threats, but also helps ensure supremacy over the skies
and in orbit.
The 'Mines' on the Road to a Truce in Gaza
Osman Mirghani/Asharq Al Awsat/July 03/2025
Despite US President Donald Trump’s claims that a ceasefire in Gaza is imminent,
we have not seen anything that inspires hope for a breakthrough that ends
suffering in Gaza. Israel is proceeding with its genocide as the entire world
watches on. Relentless airstrikes, starvation, and the destruction of what
remains of the infrastructure have turned the Strip into an open-air mass grave.
The pursuit of mass displacement is not even obscured by diplomatic language any
longer. It is an explicit policy being implemented on the ground, with extreme
violence and brutality.
Images of children, some with emaciated bodies as a result of malnutrition and
the famine imposed on the Strip, and scenes of victims being shot by Israeli
forces as they try to obtain aid have failed to stir the global conscience. No
serious pressure to end the tragedy has been applied to Israel. An immediate
truce is needed to save civilians; ideally, it would be followed by agreements
on the administration of the Strip in the future, and ultimately, by the only
viable political solution to the Palestinian tragedy: a durable political
settlement that gives rise to a Palestinian state.
Over 1.7 million people have been forcibly displaced, fleeing to makeshift camps
where basic needs are unavailable: no clean water, insufficient quantities of
food, and virtually no medical services. As the summer began, health
organizations warned of meningitis, cholera, and typhoid outbreaks amid the
contamination of the water in Gaza, poor sanitation, a heatwave, and a severe
shortage of essential medications and medical services.
To make matters worse, the ongoing Israeli blockade and the destruction of
Gaza’s roads and crossings have paralyzed the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war and a tool for displacement- an
egregious violation of international humanitarian law. It is becoming
increasingly clear that the food distribution centers operated by the so-called
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (funded by the US and Israel) are nothing more than
death traps. 130 international organizations called for shutting it down and
allowing credible international organizations to distribute aid after more than
500 Palestinians were killed around the Foundation’s aid centers. Israeli
soldiers routinely open fire on unarmed Palestinians near aid centers
gratuitously. They are merely following orders as Haaretz recently reported.
Amid these tragic circumstances, Trump and Netanyahu’s Monday meeting is being
promoted as a potential turning point that breaks the deadlock in negotiations.
Seeking a Nobel Peace Prize, the US president has raised expectations, saying
that he will firmly insist that Netanyahu facilitate a ceasefire agreement in
Gaza. He added that Israel has agreed to the terms needed for a ceasefire.
However, the details of this “agreement” remain obscure, and the leaks do not
inspire optimism. According to these leaks, the ceasefire would last 60 days,
during which hostages and prisoners would be exchanged between Israel and Hamas.
Israel would then be allowed to resume military operations, with US approval, if
Hamas does not disarm within these two months.
Moreover, Hamas has not responded to the proposal thus far, but it has
repeatedly reiterated that disarmament is a red line. The mechanism by which
they would be disarmed also remains unclear, and there is no word on who would
carry it out. Hamas maintains that it cannot accept dismantling its military
infrastructure in exchange for a temporary truce. It insists that any ceasefire
must lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the lifting of the blockade,
guarantees that humanitarian aid will be delivered to Gaza and reconstruction.
It is clear that there are many obstacles and “mines” on the road to a truce-
let alone a deal to end the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
driven by his own personal political calculations amid the looming threat of
prosecution- and by the extreme rhetoric of his fanatical allies- insists on
terms that Hamas would struggle to accept. In addition to the release of all
Israeli hostages, Netanyahu wants the dismantlement of Hamas’s military
infrastructure and international guarantees that prevent the group from rearming
in the future, through an international-Arab monitoring force.
On the political front, Netanyahu’s government wants the Gaza Strip to be
governed by local Palestinian families and clans- preventing both the
Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and Hamas from playing any role in running
Gaza.
A chasm between the two sides of the negotiation remains. Without a
comprehensive initiative that demands concessions from both sides, the
negotiations will remain caught in a vicious circle. The Palestinian people in
Gaza will suffer as a result. Every day that a ceasefire is delayed adds more
corpses, more orphans, more rubble, and more suffering.
No single party has the keys to the solution. However, the world does have the
power, if it chooses, to end this tragedy. It will only make this decision if it
begins to see Gaza not as a security issue but as a humanitarian catastrophe.
A new chapter in impactful digital cooperation
Hajar El Haddaoui/Arab News/July 03, 2025
When the Digital Cooperation Organization was established in 2020 on the
sidelines of the G20, with its headquarters in Riyadh, it marked a significant
milestone for the region. It was a bold step by Saudi Arabia, alongside four
additional founding members, to anchor a global multilateral platform focusing
on the digital economy to enable digital prosperity for all. Today, the DCO
unites 16 member states across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe,
collectively representing over 800 million people and a gross domestic product
of $3.5 trillion. The organization was created with a clear purpose — to ensure
that no country is left behind in the digital economy. It exists to help
governments design and implement forward-looking digital policies, build
foundational infrastructure and align on responsible innovation. It is
action-oriented, member-led and impact-focused. The DCO is already making a
difference. Over the past four years we have launched key tools, including the
Digital Economy Navigator, which helps member states assess their digital
readiness and align policy frameworks. We have built strategic partnerships with
the UN, the International Telecommunication Union and other global institutions.
And we have supported digital upskilling, cross-border regulatory collaboration
and startup ecosystem development, all tailored to the needs of our members.
Now, we are entering a phase of intensified execution, guided by the Four-Year
Agenda, a roadmap co-developed with member states that sets out strategic
priorities and measurable goals. Our focus will be on accelerating inclusion,
promoting digital trust and enabling investment in infrastructure, people and
innovation. The DCO Four-Year Agenda is aimed at enhancing cooperation among
member states to boost digital economic resilience and foster social prosperity.
It is focused on building a modern, integrated digital economy. Central to this
effort is the digital enablers pillar, which aims to establish a unified policy
framework, accelerate regulatory harmonization and enhance resilience through
resource sharing. The organization was created with a clear purpose — to ensure
that no country is left behind in the digital economy. The agenda also
emphasizes digital corridors, integrating the digital economies of member states
by strengthening cross-border digital trade and mobility. This includes
promoting secure data exchange and cultivating a skilled, mobile workforce. To
support innovation, the digital business and innovation pillar empowers startups
and small and medium-sized enterprises by fostering innovation ecosystems and
expanding access to capital, driving growth in digital enterprises. Finally, the
digital society pillar champions digital inclusion, accessibility and
environmental sustainability, ensuring equitable digital access and minimizing
environmental impact.
This comprehensive strategy focuses on advancing digital maturity across the
region, recognizing the critical role that digital technologies play in today’s
economy. At a time when digital regulation, artificial intelligence and data
governance are reshaping the global landscape, the DCO continues to help member
states lead, not just adapt. Whether it is helping a government harmonize its
data policies, supporting the rollout of artificial intelligence frameworks or
enabling small enterprises to connect to global markets, we are committed to
practical, inclusive solutions. The reappointment of Secretary-General Deemah
Al-Yahya to a second four-year term, announced during a visit to Kuwait — the
member state currently holding presidency of the organization — reflects a clear
vote of confidence in her leadership.Over the past four years, the DCO has moved
from concept to implementation. Under the secretary-general’s stewardship, we
are already delivering real value to member states. The next chapter will be
about delivering more, scaling our work, deepening our impact and turning vision
into long-term outcomes that benefit people and economies. This is also a moment
of pride. While Saudi Arabia submitted the nomination for her reappointment, it
was endorsed by the DCO council — a powerful reflection of the Kingdom’s growing
leadership in multilateral diplomacy and digital policy.Our member states may
span diverse geographies, cultures and economies, but they are united by a
shared belief in the power of cooperation. The power of partnership. That belief
is the foundation of everything we do. As director general of DCO, I am honored
to work alongside our secretary-general, member states, observers and partners
to realize the organization’s full potential. The next four years will be
defined by action, alignment and achievement.
Together, we are building a future where the digital economy works for all.
• Hajar El Haddaoui is director general of the Digital Cooperation Organization
Sudanese refugees’ plight must not be forgotten
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/July 03, 2025
While the world reels from a series of concurrent global emergencies — wars in
Ukraine and Gaza, rising geopolitical tensions in Asia and record-breaking
climate catastrophes — the devastating humanitarian crisis emanating from Sudan
risks slipping through the cracks of international attention. This brutal
internal conflict has already cost more than 20,000 lives and displaced some 13
million people. Of these, more than 3 million have fled the country, seeking
refuge in already-vulnerable neighboring nations like Chad, South Sudan,
Ethiopia, Libya and Uganda. Chad alone, one of the poorest and least-resourced
countries in the world, has absorbed more than 1.2 million Sudanese civilians
and returning Chadians since the onset of the conflict. The scope of the
suffering is staggering, yet the silence from global powers and international
organizations is deafening.
The pressure on host countries has reached intolerable levels. Chad, which has
historically struggled with internal displacement, food insecurity and weak
public infrastructure, now finds its overstretched systems buckling under the
weight of more than a million new arrivals. Entire towns have been overwhelmed.
Local hospitals are at capacity and lack critical medicine and equipment. Water
sources — already scarce due to desertification and poor infrastructure — are
drying up or becoming polluted. Schools that once served a few hundred children
now have to accommodate thousands, often without adequate classrooms, teachers
or supplies.
The result is a mounting crisis in health, education and basic public services
that not only threatens the well-being of the refugees but also risks sparking
instability in host communities already suffering from chronic poverty and
underdevelopment.
The scope of the suffering is staggering, yet the silence from global powers and
international organizations is deafening. Egypt, which has long been a
destination for Sudanese fleeing earlier waves of conflict, is now experiencing
the most intense pressure in recent history. More than 1.5 million Sudanese
refugees are currently in Egypt, many of them having arrived in recent months.
The country’s schools and hospitals — especially in border areas and poorer
regions — are incapable of absorbing such numbers.
More than half of Sudanese refugee children are out of school and many face
discrimination and legal ambiguity that bars them from enrolling in public
education. Access to healthcare is likewise limited: refugees often rely on
expensive private clinics or overstretched nongovernmental organizations for
care.
Though the Egyptian government has kept its borders open, its economic
situation, rising inflation and political constraints limit its capacity to
absorb and care for so many vulnerable people. Meanwhile, Ethiopia, which is
grappling with its own internal conflicts and political instability, has taken
in more than 70,000 Sudanese refugees. The situation for the refugees themselves
is increasingly desperate. In every host country, they are experiencing
unbearable conditions. Most arrived with nothing but the clothes they were
wearing. Shelter is often little more than plastic sheets stretched over sticks.
Clean water is in short supply and cholera, typhoid and malaria outbreaks are
common. Food rations are insufficient and many go entire days without eating. In
Chad, some families have been forced to eat leaves or wild roots just to
survive. Malnutrition rates among children are spiking.
Women and girls face an additional burden. Sexual and gender-based violence is
rampant, both during flight and in camps. In some areas, women report being
forced to exchange sex for food, water or protection. Girls are being pulled
from school to help their families survive or to avoid the risk of assault while
walking long distances to crowded and under-resourced schools.
The psychological toll is immense. Most refugees have witnessed killings,
torture or the destruction of their homes. They now face the daily trauma of
insecurity, hunger and hopelessness in exile. Mental health support is
practically nonexistent in most camps, even though the need is overwhelming.
The cost of inaction is too high. Ignoring the Sudanese refugee crisis will fuel
greater instability in an already volatile region
This crisis demands an immediate and scaled-up response from the international
community. Global agencies and governments cannot afford to turn their backs.
The priority must be delivering emergency humanitarian aid — shelter, food,
clean water, medical care and mental health services. These are not luxuries,
they are the bare minimum for survival and dignity. Refugees must be granted
full legal status under the UN Refugee Convention, ensuring their protection and
their right to access services. Without legal status, they live in limbo, unable
to work, study or move freely.
Beyond immediate relief, the world must implement longer-term solutions.
Resettlement corridors must be expanded, offering safe pathways to countries
outside the region that can provide permanent sanctuary. Wealthier nations,
especially those in the West, have a moral obligation to share responsibility
for resettlement and not simply outsource the crisis to Africa’s poorest states.
Integrated refugee-host community programs must be funded and supported —
programs that allow for shared schools, joint agricultural projects and mutual
economic development. These not only reduce tensions between refugees and host
communities but also foster social cohesion and resilience. Mental health and
psychosocial support must be elevated in humanitarian planning. Trauma is not
invisible — it cripples individuals and communities. Investments in
community-based counseling, support groups and trauma-informed education can
help rebuild lives shattered by war. The cost of inaction is too high. Ignoring
the Sudanese refugee crisis will fuel greater instability in an already volatile
region. Host countries may face unrest or economic collapse under the weight of
population pressures.
Refugees, denied dignity and opportunity, may be pushed onto dangerous migration
routes, fall prey to traffickers or be recruited by armed groups. Public health
emergencies — from cholera outbreaks to mental health epidemics — may spread
across borders. And an entire generation of Sudanese children may grow up
without education, nutrition or hope, sowing the seeds for long-term regional
instability and global security risks. In conclusion, we must not allow the
suffering of Sudanese refugees to be forgotten. This crisis is not just a
regional concern — it is a global test of conscience, solidarity and
responsibility. As we confront multiple global challenges, we must not abandon
the millions of men, women and children from Sudan who, through no fault of
their own, have lost everything. The international community still has the power
to change the trajectory of this crisis. But that power means nothing if it is
not used.
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political
scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Children of war: The lost generation in Palestine
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/July 03, 2025
For decades, the world has watched the Palestinian-Israeli conflict unfold via
headlines, footage and diplomatic statements. But beneath the geopolitics and
shifting battle lines lies a quieter, more devastating tragedy: a generation of
Palestinian children growing up amid violence, trauma and deprivation. These are
the children of war — a lost generation whose education, mental health and
dreams for the future are being systematically shattered.
In Gaza, where Israeli military operations have left entire neighborhoods in
ruins, children have been disproportionately affected. According to UNICEF and
Save the Children, more than half of Gaza’s population is under the age of 18.
That means every airstrike, every siege and every blockade hits them the hardest
— physically, emotionally and mentally. Thousands of children have been killed,
maimed or left orphaned by Israeli operations since Oct. 7, 2023. Many more have
witnessed the death of siblings, parents or friends. These are not just
statistics — they are young lives permanently scarred.
Education, one of the most fundamental rights of every child, is among the first
casualties in such a conflict. Schools in Gaza and the West Bank are often
closed for long stretches due to bombardment or military operations. Some are
turned into shelters. Others are directly targeted. Since October 2023, hundreds
of schools have been damaged or destroyed, and thousands of children have been
deprived of safe and consistent access to education. The result is a generation
that is increasingly falling behind — not for lack of intelligence or will, but
because their environment denies them the tools they need to grow.
Even when the fighting stops — temporarily — the trauma continues. Mental health
professionals working in Palestine report staggering levels of post-traumatic
stress disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors among children. These are
not isolated cases. They are symptoms of a deeply broken context, where
childhood has been replaced by fear and resilience is forced, not nurtured.
Children draw pictures of tanks and funerals. They play games that mimic escape
from drone attacks. Their worldview is shaped by checkpoints, rubble and the
haunting sound of air raids.
There are staggering levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety,
depression and night terrors among children
The long-term consequences of such sustained trauma are difficult to fully
comprehend, but early signs are already emerging. Studies have shown that
war-affected children are more likely to suffer from behavioral and
developmental issues, poor academic performance and emotional withdrawal. The
trauma does not just vanish when the guns fall silent — it lingers, passed on
silently from one generation to the next. Yet perhaps the most damning aspect of
this tragedy is how invisible these children have become to the international
community. The war in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories is often
discussed in terms of ceasefires, security and statehood — rarely in terms of
its human toll, particularly on the young. The language of diplomacy too often
sanitizes the brutal reality on the ground.
In global forums, the deaths of children are described as “collateral damage,”
and the destruction of schools is brushed aside as “unfortunate consequences.”
But behind these euphemisms are real human stories — of 10-year-olds who no
longer speak, of toddlers who flinch at the sound of thunder, of teenagers who
have never known a single day without the threat of war. Perhaps the most
damning aspect is how invisible these children have become to the international
community
There is, of course, no simple solution to the broader conflict. But there is a
moral imperative — urgent and universal — to protect children. That means
demanding accountability for attacks on schools and civilian infrastructure. It
means providing funding for trauma counseling and mental health services in war
zones. It means supporting organizations that rebuild classrooms, train teachers
and offer safe spaces for learning. It means treating the right to a childhood
not as a luxury, but as a cornerstone of any sustainable peace.
We must stop thinking of Palestinian children merely as victims of a political
conflict. They are not footnotes to be skimmed over. They are the heart of the
story — and if we allow their suffering to continue, we are complicit in the
creation of a generation that has known only violence and despair.
In every war, there are casualties we can count and others we cannot. The lost
innocence of children falls in the latter. Let us not wait for another headline,
another outrage, another round of violence. The children of Palestine need more
than sympathy. They need solidarity. They need protection. And, above all, they
need hope — something far too many of them have been forced to live without.
*Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh
America risks upsetting the balance of powers at its peril
Ross Anderson/Arab News/July 03, 2025
Picture the scene: it is January 2029 and the 48th US president, a Democrat, is
in the Oval Office, having achieved a comfortable win over Republican candidate
J.D. Vance in the November 2028 election.
As is the custom for newly elected presidents, the fiery former New York
congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (for it is she) is ensconced behind the
Resolute Desk signing a slew of executive orders. Her first one restricts the
possession of firearms to police officers, the armed forces and the National
Guard, and requires all armed American civilians to hand over their weapons or
have them forcibly confiscated. Inevitably, there is uproar: it is a brave
president who would deny every freeborn American their inalienable right to go
shopping for a rotisserie chicken and a quart of milk in Walmart while strapped
up with a Smith & Wesson M&P15 assault rifle. The National Rifle Association
files a lawsuit in the state of New York, where it is incorporated, demanding
that the order be overturned because it breaches the Second Amendment to the US
Constitution, whereby “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not
be infringed.” It is an open and shut case, the order is overturned, but the
plaintiffs’ victory is limited. Previously, a ruling by a federal judge would
have applied nationwide (“federal” is a clue). In this case, however, the
judgment applies only in the state of New York and only to members of the NRA.
The reason we know this would happen is that it just did.
Executive orders are increasingly being used to avoid the tricky business of
actually passing legislation
The first executive order signed by Donald Trump in his second term in office
denied automatic citizenship to children born in the US to a parent or parents
deemed to be in America illegally. Like our imaginary Ocasio-Cortez weapons ban,
on the face of it the order breaches the constitution — in this case, the 14th
Amendment, which explicitly confers citizenship on almost any US-born child,
regardless of parentage. Lawsuits against Trump’s executive order followed and
federal judges in Maryland and New Hampshire issued nationwide injunctions
preventing the birthright ban from taking effect.
The administration appealed to the Supreme Court and deployed a masterstroke.
Trump’s lawyers were not born yesterday: their basis for appeal was not that the
birthright ban was in accordance with the constitution — they knew perfectly
well that it almost certainly was not. Instead, they argued that there was no
constitutional imperative for a federal judge’s ruling in one court to apply
nationwide and that injunctions overturning the executive order should apply
only in the jurisdictions where they were issued and only to the plaintiffs in
each case. Last week, by six votes to three, the Supreme Court agreed.
Now, to anyone other than a legal scholar, this may all seem like angels dancing
on the head of a pin, but in fact it has profound implications for how the US is
governed.
Supporters of Trump’s executive order welcomed the judgment as a triumph and
opponents view it as a defeat. They are both wrong: it is neither. The court was
not asked to, and did not, make any determination on the constitutionality of
the executive order. This case was not about birthright, it was about the law.
There are striking parallels with another controversial Supreme Court ruling:
the decision in 2022 to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 judgment that women had
a constitutional right to abortion. As with the “birthright case,” anti-abortion
activists viewed the 2022 ruling as a victory and supporters of women’s right to
choose viewed it as a defeat. They were both wrong: it was neither. The case was
not about abortion, it was about the law.
The Supreme Court ruled, correctly, that the Roe vs. Wade judgment was flawed
because, in 1973, the court had given itself a power to which it was not
entitled — to make the law. It ruled, correctly, that the justification for the
1973 verdict — the 14th Amendment “right to privacy” — was wholly spurious. And
it ruled, correctly, that in the absence of a federal law regulating the
provision of abortion, such regulation was a matter for individual states and
not the Supreme Court.
No such law exists, nor is it ever likely to. Any US president who even
contemplated one would look at the experience of Barack Obama and shudder.
Obama, you may recall, tried to repair a US healthcare system that, by common
consent, is terminally dysfunctional, ruinously expensive, delivers medical
outcomes that are among the worst in the developed world, and is ripe for
reform.
Obama spent eight tortuous and combative years wrangling with Congress, herding
cats in the House and Senate, expending political capital he could barely
afford, dividing the country — and ended up with a truncated Affordable Care Act
that delivered a level of universal healthcare viewed in Europe and elsewhere as
not even close to what they take for granted. Opponents complain that executive
orders are in fact ‘royal decrees’ — an emotive phrase for a US audience
And this was healthcare, which you would think most people might agree on: can
you imagine the mayhem that would ensue if a president tried to legislate on
abortion? It would be irrelevant whether the proposed legislation expanded or
restricted access to pregnancy termination services — an already polarized
country would explode. No president will even try, the political risks are too
great.
Which brings us back to executive orders, a device increasingly used by US
presidents of all political stripes to avoid the tricky and inconvenient
business of actually passing legislation. Until recently, you could count on
your fingers the number issued by presidents in their early days in office and
most averaged about 12 a year. That changed with Obama, who signed 19 in his
first 100 days in 2009. Trump beat that in 2017 with 33, but Joe Biden smashed
it out of the park in 2021 with 42. The incumbent president is, however, now a
class apart: in the first 100 days of his second term in office, he issued a
frankly astonishing 143.Supporters of executive orders advance two arguments.
First, legal: Article II of the US Constitution vests executive power in the
hands of the president. Second, moral: a president, especially a newly elected
one, has obtained the support of a majority of Americans and should be permitted
to give effect to campaign promises. Opponents complain that executive orders
are in fact “royal decrees” — an emotive phrase for a US audience. Here in the
Gulf, we are accustomed to laws enacted by royal decree and no one bats an
eyelid: but Americans fought an eight-year war of independence to rid themselves
of a king as head of state and view aspirations toward royal privilege with deep
suspicion.
For this reason, the Constitution, although 250 years old, imposes a system of
checks and balances that is sophisticated even by 21st-century standards.
Presidential power is countered by the Congress, and vice versa, and the power
of each is constrained by a Supreme Court independent of both.
It is a balance that has stood the test of time, but it is a delicate one. With
presidential executive orders, Americans risk upsetting that balance at their
peril.
**Ross Anderson is associate editor of Arab News.
Selected Twitters For Today on July 03/2025
Youssef Raggi
I welcomed a delegation of Maronite bishops from dioceses across the diaspora,
accompanied by members of the Lebanese communities in Brazil and Australia, as
well as representatives from the Maronite Foundation for the Diaspora.
I commended the pivotal role played by the diaspora bishops in maintaining the
strong ties between Lebanese expatriates and their homeland, and in preserving
their connection to their roots. I also expressed gratitude to the diaspora for
their unwavering support for Lebanon.
The bishops conveyed the diaspora’s clear demand for the permanent abolition of
Article 112 of the current electoral law, reaffirming their commitment to the
right to vote in their original electoral districts. They voiced concern over
what they fear may be an orchestrated effort to strip expatriate Lebanese of
their right to vote nationwide. The delegation also raised the issue of the Law
on the Restoration of Lebanese Nationality, urging an extension of this vital
legislation, which is set to expire in November 2025.
Israeli Channel 11
Israel is seeking an agreement with the US to implement the 'Lebanon model' in
Iran securing freedom of aerial operations over Iran similar to the current
arrangement in Lebanon.