
More Israeli strikes amid Gaza truce talks
A day after US President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals.
But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Monday to residents in large districts in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing a new wave of displacement.
"Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions."
Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said.
At least 58 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, health authorities said, including 10 people killed in Zeitoun and at least 13 killed southwest of Gaza City.
Twenty people, including women, children and a local journalist were killed in an Israeli air strike on a beachfront cafe in Gaza City, medics said. The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said more than 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
The Israeli military said it struck militant targets in northern Gaza, including command and control centres, after taking steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.
There was no immediate word from Israel on the reported casualties southwest of the Gaza Strip and the beachfront cafe.
The bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated before and left behind wide-scale destruction. The military ordered people there to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas fighters operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.

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Muscat Daily
2 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman, Egypt reiterate stance on Gaza reconstruction
Cairo, Egypt – Oman and Egypt reaffirmed their united stance on regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza, during the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee held in Cairo on Tuesday. H E Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, met his Egyptian counterpart Dr Badr Abdel-Aty on the sidelines of the session. Both firmly rejected any effort to displace the Palestinian people and called for stepped-up efforts to support the Arab plan for Gaza's reconstruction. They also reiterated their support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Speaking after the meeting, H E Sayyid Badr said, 'This meeting comes at a critical time with growing challenges in the region, most notably the continued Israeli aggression in Gaza. We value Egypt's role in achieving ceasefires and easing humanitarian suffering. We fully support the Arab and Islamic initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza.' He also highlighted the importance of resuming talks between the US and Iran on the nuclear issue, stating that dialogue and trust-building are essential for regional stability. Abdel-Aty underlined the need to restart the ceasefire, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid. He added that Egypt is continuing preparations to host the International Conference for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza once a comprehensive truce is in place. The two ministers also discussed developments in Yemen, Syria, Sudan and the Horn of Africa, emphasising the need to respect national sovereignty and reject foreign interference. The session also focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties. Seven memoranda of understanding and executive programmes were signed in key sectors including labour, mineral resources, investment promotion, media, food safety and religious affairs. Both sides agreed to reactivate the Egyptian-Omani Business Council to support investment partnerships. Abdel-Aty said Egypt looks forward to 'a qualitative leap' in economic ties with Oman, citing opportunities in renewable energy, particularly green hydrogen and ammonia, as well as in agriculture, transport, education and technology. He also noted the importance of linking the Suez Canal Economic Zone with Special Economic Zone at Duqm, including direct maritime routes between Duqm Port and Egyptian ports, to enhance trade. He thanked Oman for supporting Egypt, including backing Dr Khaled el Enany's nomination for the post of Unesco Director-General. At the end of the session, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued coordination and cooperation in support of regional stability and development. Separately, Egypt's Minister of Labour, Mohamed Gebran, praised the support given to Egyptian nationals in Oman and said Cairo is keen to enhance cooperation in workforce training and expand collaboration between the two countries' labour ministries. Trump to discuss Gaza, Iran with Netanyahu next week Washington – US President Donald Trump has said he will discuss the situations in Gaza and Iran when he meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. Trump said the US is pushing for a truce in Gaza by 'sometime next week' when asked by reporters if a ceasefire could be in place before a visit by Netanyahu to the White House, set for July 7. 'We hope it's going to happen, and we're looking for it to happen sometime next week,' Trump responded as he departed Washington for Florida on Tuesday. He has previously urged Israel to 'make the deal in Gaza,' but on the ground, Israel has continued to pursue its offensive.


Observer
4 hours ago
- Observer
Iran's resilience, Israel's disarray: Who won?
It is far too early to determine a victor in the 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel. Though both sides declared success, the conflict is likely still in its early stages. Supporters on either side tend to view the events emotionally, seeing victory through the lens of allegiance rather than facts. The real measure of success lies in whether either side achieved its stated goals. Israel entered this confrontation with the intention of toppling the Iranian regime in a single night - eliminating top leaders, including the Supreme Leader and the President, and paving the way for exiled figure Reza Pahlavi to assume power. Backed and publicised by the West, Pahlavi himself admitted that these ambitions failed, blaming US President Donald Trump for abandoning the plan. Israel also aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear programme and provoke internal uprising. Yet Tehran stood firm, its leadership intact, its nuclear capability preserved, and its people — regardless of their political stance — unified in opposition to what they saw as foreign aggression. However, one cannot ignore the painful blows dealt by Israel. It exposed significant weaknesses in Iran's air defence, destroyed drone launch sites and carried out deep infiltration operations. That Mossad managed to establish a three-storey drone factory in the heart of Tehran is a staggering indicator of internal vulnerability. And yet, despite this, Iran managed to strike back with unexpected resilience, shaking Israel's confidence in its famed defence systems and targeting strategic facilities. Disappointingly, several Arab countries acted as a shield for Israel's defence - serving as a real 'Iron Dome.' This episode reinforced a long-standing truth: the world only respects strength. Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to accept a ceasefire before fulfilling his grand vision of neutralising Iran's nuclear ambitions is an implicit admission of failure. The cost of continuing outweighed the potential gains. Israel, for the first time, found itself forced to retreat from a direct military confrontation without achieving its objectives. The war exposed vulnerabilities in its internal cohesion and confirmed that Israel's deterrence narrative is far from invincible. The idea that it can easily subdue Iran has been severely undermined. While the current round may have ended, the tension is far from over. Israel will remain uneasy as long as Iran holds on to its sovereign decision-making power and nuclear capability. The failure to dismantle the Iranian regime or nuclear facilities, and the rallying of the Iranian people around their leadership, are outcomes that Tel Aviv did not anticipate. Nonetheless, the confrontation revealed alarming security gaps in Iran. The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in what was claimed to be an Iranian safe zone, the mysterious crash of President Raisi's aircraft, the killings of nuclear scientists, and the exposure of internal drone factories all point to a deeply compromised intelligence environment. More worrying still is the wider regional context. The silence - or worse, complicity of many Arab states has become strikingly apparent. Israel has not only penetrated these governments politically, but also garnered their open or covert support. Once forced to conceal their collaboration, some Arab regimes now show it openly, even proudly, though they lack the legitimacy to justify such alignment. It is telling that the ceasefire was reportedly requested by Israel itself, realising that prolonging the battle could lead to collapse from within. With an estimated two million Israelis having emigrated since the beginning of Al Aqsa operation, and rising dissent within the Knesset and public, internal pressures are mounting. The damage in Tel Aviv, despite tight media restrictions, has not been witnessed since 1948. Iran's strikes successfully targeted key Israeli intelligence and military centres, including the Mossad HQ in Herzliya, military intelligence units and Haifa Port — effectively dismantling Israel's 20-year deterrence narrative. Had Israel succeeded in its plan to dismantle Iran's regime and nuclear programme, Netanyahu would have emerged as the architect of a new Middle East, having eliminated the resistance axis and reshaped the region. For now, Iran has managed to halt that trajectory. Above all, the Iranian people deserve recognition. The same nation that once resisted the Shah's tanks has again closed ranks, temporarily setting aside internal disputes to defend national sovereignty. It is a reminder that legitimacy ultimately stems from the people. So, who won? While Iran's performance may inspire admiration, one cannot claim it has achieved total victory. Likewise, Israel has suffered a strategic setback. What is clear, however, is that the war is not over. This is but an uneasy pause. As long as Iran remains strong, scientifically advanced, and nuclear-capable, this fragile truce could collapse at any moment. Translated by Badr al Dhafri The original version of this article was published in Arabic in the print edition of the Oman daily newspaper on June 30.


Observer
6 hours ago
- Observer
More Israeli strikes amid Gaza truce talks
CAIRO/GAZA: Israeli strikes killed at least 58 people across Gaza on Monday as residents in the enclave's north reported one of the heaviest bombardments in weeks, while Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration. A day after US President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals. But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Monday to residents in large districts in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing a new wave of displacement. "Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions." Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said. At least 58 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, health authorities said, including 10 people killed in Zeitoun and at least 13 killed southwest of Gaza City. Twenty people, including women, children and a local journalist were killed in an Israeli air strike on a beachfront cafe in Gaza City, medics said. The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said more than 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. The Israeli military said it struck militant targets in northern Gaza, including command and control centres, after taking steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians. There was no immediate word from Israel on the reported casualties southwest of the Gaza Strip and the beachfront cafe. The bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated before and left behind wide-scale destruction. The military ordered people there to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas fighters operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.