Iraq's Sadr condemns renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza
Several Iraqi soldiers injured in Shingal clashes: Lawmaker
Iraqi FM deplores Israeli attacks on Gaza, confirms clear 'Zionist' threats to Iraq
Kurdish farmer released on bail after dispute with Iraqi soldier
PM Sudani, Turkish energy minister discuss Kurdish oil exports
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday condemned the renewed Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip which have killed more than 400 and injured hundreds, warning that Israel aims to eventually reach Iraq.
He added, 'Many have chosen to remain silent, merely watching as Gaza's martyrs—its children and women—fall to Zionist-American terrorist missiles or perish from hunger and thirst due to a relentless international siege, devoid of any humanitarian or legal deterrent,' Sadr said in a statement.
He voiced his concern that Israel wants to eventually advance towards Iraq.
'All of this will ultimately lead to the sale of Palestine once again, allowing Zionism to expand effortlessly into Islamic and Arab lands—with assistance from various sides—so that Israel may reach the Iraqi borders it has long sought,' he said. 'By then, regret will be of no use.'
The Palestinian health ministry reported on Tuesday that 429 Palestinians had been killed and 528 others injured since the beginning of the renewed Israeli operations, which marked a significant setback for the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants.
On Tuesday, the Iraqi foreign ministry slammed the renewed Israeli operations in Gaza and urged the international community to act swiftly against the attacks. Baghdad also reiterated its 'unwavering support' to the Palestinian people.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, announced on Tuesday that four of its government officials were killed in the latest round of violence, describing the Israeli attacks as a unilateral cancellation of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire went into effect in mid-January, following 15 months of war between the two sides which began after Hamas launched a large-scale incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,170 people, according to Israeli figures.
Israel responded with a massive offensive in Gaza, killing more than 46,000 people, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
In a statement, Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'and his extremist government' of 'making a decision to overturn the ceasefire agreement, exposing prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate,' referring to people captured in southern Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks.
Of the 251 people seized and taken into Gaza during the October 7 attacks, more than 130 hostages have been released. The Israeli military has recovered the bodies of at least 40 others. Fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are believed to be alive, according to the Israeli government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Amnesty International: Iraq must block or amend protest bill
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Friday, Amnesty International called on Iraqi lawmakers to reject or amend a proposed law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, warning that it could further restrict civic space and violate fundamental rights. The draft legislation is scheduled for a parliamentary vote on August 2. Amnesty's Iraq researcher, Razaw Salihy, cautioned that the bill—if passed in its current form—would add to the tools already used by authorities to suppress dissent and silence critical voices. She emphasized that the law threatens Iraq's obligations under both its constitution and international human rights agreements. 'Lawmakers must not allow this proposal to become another mechanism for stifling public discourse,' Salihy said. Human rights defenders, journalists, and protesters across Iraq already face harassment, intimidation, and arrest—often under vague defamation laws and penal code articles incompatible with free speech protections. Amnesty highlighted that those speaking out against corruption or poor services are frequently targeted, especially in the context of worsening living conditions and persistent shortages of water, electricity, and basic infrastructure.
Rudaw Net
8 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Amnesty urges Iraq's parliament to reject controversial free speech bill
Also in Iraq Iraqi parliament to vote on controversial protest bill Iraq arrests accused Anfal executioner Kirkuk court hands suspended sentence to Kurdish villager over disputed land Baghdad may waive oil shortfall blocking June budget transfers to Erbil: KRG source A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Amnesty International on Friday urged Iraqi lawmakers to reject a controversial freedom of expression bill that is scheduled to be put to a vote on Saturday, warning it could be used to restrict protests and limit free speech. 'Lawmakers must vote against or propose amendments to any laws that would add to the arsenal of tools that the authorities are already using to restrict civic space or betray Iraq's constitutional and international commitments to protect freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,' said Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International's Iraq researcher. The bill would criminalize hate speech and insults to religious sects, ban nighttime protests, and restrict gatherings near hospitals, schools, and government buildings. The parliament's human rights committee has called for amendments or removal of numerous sections. Salihy warned that unofficial drafts reviewed by civil society groups suggest the law could lead to violations of the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly. She also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the bill, saying it is being 'surreptitiously snuck through in a shroud of secrecy' and with 'no public debate.' The bill defines peaceful demonstration as a lawful public gathering to express opinions or demand rights, requiring prior approval from local authorities at least five days in advance. Denied requests for a demonstration can be appealed through the courts. Salihy warned that activists and journalists in Iraq face increasing repression, with arrests, harassment, and intimidation severely undermining free speech.
Memri
8 hours ago
- Memri
The Qatar Weekly Update (QWU) – Part Of The Qatar Monitor Project (QMP) – No. 30, August 1, 2025
Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) declined an invite from Qatar 1. Qatar Threatened To Cut EU LNG Supplies Over Sustainability Law, Letter Shows, Reuters, July 26, 2025. 2. Jewish Congressman Declines Qatar Invite, Calls Out Mishandling Of Gaza Hostage Crisis, Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2025. "Qatar's gross mishandling of the hostage crisis in Gaza and failure to sufficiently pressure Hamas into ending the war prevents me from allowing staff to visit your country," Landsman wrote. 3. Israel Suspects Qatar Behind Hamas 'Starvation' Propaganda Campaign, Israel National News, July 28, 2025. 4. President Barzani Praises Qatar's Stability Role, Shafaq News, July 30, 2025. 5. Former Senior Mossad Official Questioned In Qatargate Corruption Scandal, Haaretz, July 28, 2025. 6. The Go-Between: How Qatar Became The Global Capital Of Diplomacy, The Guardian, July 22, 2025. * Yigal Carmon is Founder and President of MEMRI.
