New round of Israel-Hamas truce talks ends without progress – DW – 07/07/2025
The militant Islamist group recently vowed that it would not give up its weapons, yet Beirut gave a detailed seven-page report to the US in response to Washington's June 19 proposal for disarming the group.
After meeting with Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun, Barrack told reporters: "What the government gave us was something spectacular in a very short period of time. I'm unbelievably satisfied with the response."
In a warning to the impoverished Middle Eastern country, Barrack had previously said Lebanon risks being "left behind" by developments in the region.
US Envoy Barrack also called for Hezbollah to become a purely political player in the region, saying the group "needs to see that there is a future" for it in the Middle East.
Hezbollah joined attacks on Israel shortly after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli civilians, with Israel regularly returning fire into Lebanon.
Israel on Monday launched attacks at Houthi targets in Yemen hours after a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged cargo ship — the Magic Seas — was attacked near the Yemeni port of Hodeidah late Sunday.
Israeli air forces on Monday struck targets in ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as a power plant at Ras Qantib.
"These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies," read an Israeli military statement.
Israel also struck the Galaxy Leader, a vessel seized by the Houthis last November. The group had been using it to track international maritime traffic and plan further attacks.
Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are thought to be behind the attack on the Magic Seas, fired two missiles at Israel in response to the strikes. Israeli military efforts to intercept the missiles appear to have failed, though no injuries have been reported.
The attack on the Magic Seas was reportedly carried out with bomb-laden drone boats, signaling a potential escalation of Iranian involvement. The Islamic Republic is a backer of the rebel Houthis, who began attacking Israel in response to its military campaign against Hamas in retribution for Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Both the US and Israel have attacked Houthi strongholds in an effort to ensure freedom of movement for nearly $1 trillion (€930 billion) worth of goods through the Suez Canal annually. Houthis have now attacked more than 100 merchant vessels in the area and have killed four sailors.
As Gaza ceasefire talks loom and the world waits to see how Iran will react to the recent US bombing of its nuclear program, Israel issued a warning to both the Houthis and leaders in Tehran.
"What's true for Iran is true for Yemen," said Defense Minister Israel Katz: "Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions."
The Israeli army on Sunday said it will begin sending conscription notices to 54,000 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men through July, who were exempt from military service until now.
"The army will begin this week issuing summons to complete the enlistment process for ultra-Orthodox men whose status as yeshiva (religious seminary) students is no longer valid following the expiration of the previous legal arrangement," said a military statement.
"The military will continue efforts to expand enlistment among the ultra-Orthodox public, while working to ensure the best possible conditions that respect their unique way of life," it added.
This move is highly controversial and could spell trouble for Netanyahu's coalition government, which includes representatives from the ultra-Orthodox community as well.
An arrangement dating back to 1948 exempts the ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi (God-fearing) Jews who are dedicated to religious studies, from military service.
Around 66,000 men currently fall under the exemption.
Israel's Supreme Court has often challenged this status since the 2000s. Since June 2024, the ruling government has been under pressure from the judicial system to start drafting Haredi men.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left on Monday to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC.
"This is my third visit with (US President Donald Trump) since he was elected over six months ago," Netanyahu told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv before his departure.
Netanyahu also plans to meet US government officials as well as other Republican and Democratic leaders.
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On Sunday, Trump had said that a ceasefire and hostage release deal could possibly be reached this week.
"We are working to achieve the much discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to," Netanyahu said, referring to a US proposal. Hamas has requested some amendments but agreed to the proposal in principle.
Experts and analysts believe that Israel and Hamas will be able to overcome their differences to reach a deal.
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Leaders of the BRICS group of nations expressed "grave concern" about the situation in Gaza after their meeting on Monday.
"We reiterate our grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with the resumption of continuous Israeli attacks against Gaza and obstruction of the entry of humanitarian aid into the territory," they said.
The group called for adherence to international law while also encouraging an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all detainees and hostages.
They also condemned the Israeli and US military strikes on Iran.
The first round of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar, ended inconclusively, Palestinian sources close to the matter said on Monday.
"After the first session of indirect negotiations in Doha, the Israeli delegation is not sufficiently authorized ... to reach an agreement with Hamas, as it has no real powers," the sources told Reuters news agency.
The BBC reported that the talks took place in two different buildings, and lasted for about three and a half hours.
The two sides communicated through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, but to no avail. Talks are expected to resume again on Monday.
Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday about a possible ceasefire ended inconclusively, Palestinian sources close to the matter said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is flying to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who suggested on Friday that there "could be a Gaza deal" next week.
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Germany says China laser targeted aircraft during EU mission – DW – 07/08/2025
Germany's Foreign Office said a Chinese warship aimed a laser at a German aircraft on patrol in the Red Sea. China's ambassador has been summoned following the incident. The German Foreign Office on Tuesday said that it summoned China's ambassador to Germany, Deng Hongbo, following an incident in the Red Sea. In a post on X, the Foreign Office said that a German aircraft was targeted with a laser by China's military. "The Chinese military employed a laser targeting a German aircraft in the EU operation #ASPIDES," the post on X read. "Endangering German personnel & disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable," it went on to say with confirmation that China's diplomat in the country had been summoned. Germany's military is involved in Operation Aspides, which aims to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea from the Houthi militia operating out of Yemen and involves up to 700 German military personnel. The Associated Press cited a German Defense Ministry official as saying that the incident took place earlier this month and involved a Chinese warship that had been encountered on a number of occasions in the area. The spokesperson said the aircraft was targeted "without any reason or prior contact." "By using the laser, the warship accepted the risk of endangering people and material," AP quoted the spokesperson as saying. It was not immediately clear whether the laser was a weapon or a laser guidance system. As a result of the action, the mission was aborted and the plane returned safely to a base in Djibouti. The ministry said the aircraft was being operated by a civilian commercial service provider but with German military personnel on board. China has not yet commented on the incident.
