Israeli forces conduct mass arrests in occupied West Bank
Israeli forces arrested eight young Palestinian men in Hebron and three in Jenin, according to reports from Al Araby Al Jadeed and Wafa news agency.
The arrests are part of an ongoing Israeli campaign in the occupied West Bank, including consecutive raids for the last 138 days in Jenin, according to Wafa.
Israeli forces have also refused to fully open Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque for Eid Al-Adha, Wafa reported yesterday.
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Middle East Eye
29 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
US strikes on Iran: How the world reacted
US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday following mounting pressure from Israeli officials for American intervention. President Donald Trump said US warplanes had "obliterated" the sites and called on Iran to return to the negotiating table. The strikes have sparked international concern, with several countries condemning the attack and urging all sides to halt further escalation. Here's how the world is responding: Iran New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US strikes, accusing Washington of committing a "grave violation" of the UN Charter, international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," Araghchi wrote on X. "Every member of the UN should be alarmed by this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour." He added that, under the UN Charter's self-defence provisions, Iran "reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests and people". Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for ordering the strikes, calling it a "bold decision" backed by the "awesome and righteous might of the United States". In a video address, Netanyahu said the move would "change history". "History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." Qatar Qatar voiced concern over the US strikes, warning of dangerous regional consequences. In a statement, the Qatari foreign ministry said it "regrets the deterioration of the situation" following the bombing and is "following with great concern the developments targeting the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran". The ministry warned that the current tensions could lead to "catastrophic repercussions" both regionally and internationally. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia expressed its "great concern" following the attacks, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on X. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X. The kingdom "expresses the need to exert all efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate and avoid escalation", calling on the international community to boost efforts in such "highly sensitive circumstances" to reach a political solution to end the crisis. Oman Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran, has strongly condemned the US strikes. The Gulf state "expresses deep concern, denunciation and condemnation of the escalation resulting from the direct air strikes launched by the United States on sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran," the official Oman News Agency said. Iraq Iraq has warned the US that attacks on its neighbour Iran threaten peace and stability in the Middle East. "This military escalation constitutes a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East and poses serious risks to regional stability," government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said. UK British Prime Minister dubbed Iran's nuclear programme a "grave threat to international security" but fell short of condemning Trump's actions. "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," said Starmer. "The situation in the Middle East is volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis." European Union The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations. "I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation on Monday. China A flash commentary from China's government-run media asked whether the US is "repeating its Iraq mistake in Iran". The online piece by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of the state broadcaster, said the US strikes mark a dangerous turning point. "History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilisation," it said, citing the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritises dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East. Australia An Australian government spokesperson said Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes pose a threat to international peace and security. "We note the US president's statement that now is the time for peace," the spokesperson said, acknowledging the "highly volatile" security situation in the region. "We continue to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy," they added. New Zealand New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country is deeply concerned by recent developments, including Trump's announcement of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "Ongoing military action in the Middle East is extremely worrying, and it is critical that further escalation is avoided," Peters said. He added that New Zealand "strongly supports efforts towards diplomacy" and urged all parties to return to negotiations, noting that "diplomacy will deliver a more enduring resolution than further military action". Mexico Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for urgent diplomatic dialogue amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. "In line with our constitutional principles and Mexico's long-standing commitment to peace, we reiterate our call to de-escalate tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement posted on X. "The restoration of peaceful coexistence among the states of the region remains our highest priority." Venezuela Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil strongly condemned the US air strikes, calling them a dangerous act of aggression. "The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela firmly and categorically condemns the bombing carried out by the United States military, at the request of the State of Israel, against nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan complexes," Gil said in a Telegram post. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and warned of the grave consequences of further escalation. Cuba Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel strongly condemned the US bombing, saying it constituted a "dangerous escalation" and a serious violation of the UN Charter. He added that it "plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences".
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel reinstates full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli forces on Sunday morning reinstated the full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, barring worshippers from entry except for mosque guards and Islamic Waqf staff. The closure followed an overnight raid by Israeli police, during which they stormed prayer halls, vandalised sacred spaces, and removed worshippers by force. They also arrested four mosque guards while other were interrogated on-site. The Islamic Waqf condemned the violations, warning that repeated Israeli attempts to assert security control over the mosque aim to alter the religious and political status quo. The incident comes after nine days of restricted access to the mosque amid the Israeli war on Iran. On 13 June, Israeli forces completely shut down Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing the ongoing war with Iran (Ahmad GHARABLI/AFP)
Middle East Eye
4 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
US strikes on Iran: What we know so far
The US strikes on Iran early on Sunday marked a significant escalation in the ongoing Israeli war on Iran. At midnight GMT (8pm Washington time), President Donald Trump announced that US bombers had struck three Iranian nuclear sites. He claimed all three had been "obliterated". However, the extent of the damage and the precise impact of the strikes remains unclear. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Middle East Eye takes a closer look at what we know so far. Which facilities were targeted? US forces targeted three major nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Isfahan houses a prominent nuclear research centre, while Fordow and Natanz are key uranium enrichment sites. Earlier reports suggest that Israeli warplanes had previously hit Natanz, cutting power to its centrifuge hall and potentially damaging the equipment. Fordow, considered one of Iran's most fortified facilities, is located 80–90 metres underground in a mountainous area. Israel had avoided striking Fordow earlier in the war, lacking munitions capable of penetrating to such depths. The White House has not disclosed what munitions were used, though a US official said B-2 heavy bombers took part in the operation. The scale of damage is still unknown, and no casualties have been confirmed so far. Could there be a nuclear disaster? Iranian officials have downplayed the impact of US strikes on nuclear sites, saying there is no threat to nearby residents, according to state media. The Crisis Management Headquarters in Qom province, where the Fordow facility is located, told Iran's state-run news agency IRNA: "There is no danger to the people of Qom and the surrounding area." Al Jazeera also cited an official who claimed Fordow had been "long evacuated" and had not sustained any irreversible damage. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority said no radioactive effects had been detected in Gulf countries. How has Iran responded? Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation condemned the strikes as "a barbaric act" and a violation of international law, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the attack would have "everlasting consequences" and said Iran "reserves all options" in its response. "The events this morning are outrageous," Araghchi wrote on X. "Every UN member should be alarmed by this dangerous, lawless and criminal behaviour." State media reported that Iran has formally requested an emergency UN Security Council session to prevent further escalation. How has Israel responded? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for ordering the strikes. He called it an act of "awesome and righteous might" that would "change history". In a video address, Netanyahu said the United States had "done what no other country on Earth could do". Trump, in turn, lauded Netanyahu, saying the two leaders had "worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before" and had taken a major step towards "erasing this horrible threat to Israel".
