Newsletter for Sunday, June 29, 2025

News Bulletin Presented by Sawa News Agency for Sunday, June 29, 2025, Covering Key Events in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank.

Israeli Army Announces Death of Soldier in Northern Gaza Strip

The Israeli army announced on Sunday, June 29, 2025, that one of its soldiers was killed during clashes in the northern Gaza Strip.

In an official statement, the military said: “Sergeant Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, 20 years old, a combat engineering soldier in the 601st Battalion of the 401st Brigade, was killed during fighting in northern Gaza.”

This brings the total number of Israeli military fatalities officially reported since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack to 880.

Israeli Cabinet to Convene Tonight to Discuss Partial Prisoner Exchange Deal with Gaza

The Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, that the Israeli security cabinet (the “cabinet”) is scheduled to convene tonight to discuss the possibility of reaching a partial prisoner exchange deal with the Gaza Strip.

According to the report, "the cabinet will deliberate tonight on a partial deal and a temporary ceasefire in Gaza." The paper added that "some government ministers fear that a temporary ceasefire could evolve into a permanent one under U.S. political pressure."

In parallel, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is preparing to travel to Washington for discussions with White House officials regarding the future of the war on Gaza and the potential for reaching a deal.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reported that it would be difficult for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject President Trump’s request to reach a settlement that would end the war in Gaza, especially after Trump has personally rallied to support Netanyahu in his legal battles.

The newspaper added that "although Netanyahu has not yet toppled Hamas, Trump—since the end of the fighting in Iran—has been openly hinting at his intention to use his full political weight to bring the war in Gaza to a close."

It also noted growing signs in recent days that the U.S. administration and other mediating countries are pressuring both Hamas and Israel to show flexibility and reach an agreement.

The paper continued: "Prime Minister Netanyahu’s legal team has indicated a dramatic political week, requesting a postponement of his court testimony to allow him to fully focus on urgent political, national, and security issues—including the management of the war in Gaza and the handling of the prisoner issue."

It concluded that the judges granted the request for postponement, though it remains unclear whether there is a direct link between the legal delay and the ongoing negotiations or any other related security developments.

Gaza Health Ministry Releases Latest Death Toll from Israeli Offensive

The Ministry of Health in Gaza released on Sunday, June 29, 2025, the latest statistics on the casualties from the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Below is the official statement as received by Sawa:

Palestinian Ministry of Health – Gaza:

Daily Statistical Report on Martyrs and Injuries Resulting from the Israeli Aggression on the Gaza Strip

In the past 24 hours, hospitals in Gaza have received 88 martyrs (including 2 whose bodies were recovered) and 365 injuries.

The total death toll from the Israeli offensive, since October 7, 2023, has now reached 56,500 martyrs and 133,419 injuries.

Since March 18, 2025 alone, the toll stands at 6,175 martyrs and 21,378 injuries.

Within the last 24 hours, hospitals have also received 18 martyrs and over 41 injuries related to the distribution of humanitarian aid. This raises the total number of aid-related casualties received by hospitals to 583 martyrs and more than 4,186 injuries—victims who died while trying to secure basic necessities.

Israeli Army Issues New Evacuation Orders in Gaza City and Northern Gaza

On Sunday morning, June 29, 2025, the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in Gaza City and northern Gaza.

In an official statement, the army spokesperson said:

"Warning to all those present in the areas of Gaza City and Jabalia, specifically in the neighborhoods of Eastern Zeitoun, the Old City, Turkman, Ajjadeeda, Tuffah, Daraj, Sabra, Jabalia al-Balad, Jabalia al-Nazla, Jabalia Camp, Rawda, Nahda, Zahour, Noor, Salam, and Tel al-Zaatar: For your safety, evacuate immediately to the Al-Mawasi area in the south."

He added, "The army is operating with extreme force in these areas. These military operations will escalate, intensify, and extend westward into the city center in order to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations."

Hamas Responds to Reports of New Conditions for Prisoner Swap Deal

Senior Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Risheq responded on Sunday morning, June 29, 2025, to media reports claiming that the movement has set new conditions for accepting a prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

Below is the full statement as received by Sawa:

Izzat al-Risheq – Member of the Hamas Political Bureau:

“What Sky News Arabia reported, quoting a so-called ‘Palestinian source,’ claiming that Hamas has set new conditions for accepting a prisoner exchange and ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, is completely baseless, filled with fabricated lies, and a blatant distortion that has nothing to do with the movement’s official positions. We categorically and entirely reject it.

Hamas’s conditions for any agreement are clear and publicly stated—not disseminated through ‘anonymous sources’ that serve the occupation.

These false reports aim to divert attention from war crimes, incite against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance, and distort our principled and declared positions.

When the Zionist apparatus fails to break Gaza’s will, it resorts to coordinated media smear campaigns.”

French Foreign Minister: We Are Determined to Recognize the State of Palestine

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on Sunday, June 29, 2025, that France is "determined to recognize the State of Palestine."

In an interview with the French channel LCI, Barrot addressed the ongoing developments in the Middle East, highlighting the killing of 500 Palestinians and the injury of around 4,000 others during food distribution operations in the Gaza Strip last May.

He described the loss of Palestinian lives during food distribution as “a disgrace and an affront to human dignity,” stressing that “France and Europe are ready to contribute to ensuring the safe distribution of food in Gaza.”

Palestinian National Council: Israeli Government Leading Systematic Effort to Undermine the Palestinian Authority

Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh stated on Sunday that the current accelerated Israeli actions constitute a systematic campaign to weaken the Palestinian Authority, undermine the statehood project, and directly target its foundations.

In an official statement, Fattouh emphasized that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not acting alone in this aggressive approach, but is backed by the majority of his far-right settler-aligned ministers—including Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel Katz, and other leaders of extremist right-wing parties—who publicly claim that the Palestinian Authority does more harm than good and must be made to pay a direct price, along with its leaders and institutions.

He added that the Israeli government's measures—including the seizure of Palestinian clearance revenues, daily military raids on cities and villages, the imposition of collective punishments, support and incitement of settler and extremist Jewish groups, and the invasion of Palestinian towns, accompanied by assaults and killings of civilians—culminate in a brutal war on the Gaza Strip. This war, he said, has killed tens of thousands, razed entire cities and infrastructure, and turned the territory into a mass grave and ghost towns, in what amounts to a plan of ethnic cleansing and one of the deadliest aggressions of the 21st century.

Fattouh concluded that the core of this strategy, as viewed by Israel’s far-right, is to weaken the Palestinian Authority as the last obstacle to the full annexation of the West Bank and to eliminate its leadership from the political landscape—effectively dismantling the vision of a Palestinian state. The Israeli project, he warned, does not only target the Authority as an institution, but as a symbol of Palestinian national aspiration and a legal embodiment of the right to self-determination.

Israeli Army Acknowledges Sharp Rise in Settler Terrorism in the West Bank

The Israeli army has acknowledged a sharp increase in settler terrorism across the occupied West Bank, reporting a 30% rise in what it termed "nationalist crimes" committed by Jewish settlers during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year.

According to data published by Israeli Army Radio, 414 settler attacks have been recorded since the beginning of the year, up from 318 during the same period in 2024. In total, 679 attacks were documented throughout last year.

These assaults include acts of arson, racist graffiti, stone-throwing, physical violence, and property vandalism. A senior military officer confirmed that "the increase is not only in the number of incidents but also in their severity," noting that the attacks have become more violent and extreme.

The publication of these figures follows a series of violent settler attacks over the weekend in the Ramallah area. According to both Army Radio and Yedioth Ahronoth, the assaults involved members of extremist settler youth groups, including the so-called “Hilltop Youth,” who reportedly targeted Israeli soldiers.

Details of the incident, according to the army’s account, include attempts by settler groups to run over soldiers, physical assaults, one soldier being choked, military vehicles vandalized, a police facility set on fire, "revenge" slogans spray-painted on its walls, and police car tires slashed.

A senior officer told Army Radio, "These incidents have crossed every red line," warning that they "could spark a long-term wave of violence in the West Bank."

While the army claims that its forces exercised restraint and only used crowd-dispersal methods, including warning shots in the air, this official narrative has faced skepticism from right-wing Israeli leaders.

Palestinian Presidency: Israeli Actions Aim to Derail Ceasefire Efforts

Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned on Sunday of the grave dangers posed by the Israeli army’s threats to carry out the largest displacement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip in preparation for a new, devastating military operation.

He called on the U.S. administration to pressure the Israeli occupation authorities to halt these threats and to work seriously toward achieving a ceasefire, if it truly seeks stability in the region.

Abu Rudeineh stated, "We also warn against any policy that may lead to the annexation of land in the West Bank under any pretext, as that would only lead to more wars and regional instability."

He added that Israel's current actions clearly indicate its intent to undermine all efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire and ending the war.

He stressed that any initiatives that fail to uphold the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people—as defined by international law and resolutions, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders—are doomed to fail. Such efforts, he said, "will not bring security, peace, or stability to anyone, but will instead plunge the entire region into a prolonged period of chaos and instability."

Israel and U.S. Seek to Block UN Security Council Decision to Halt Work of "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation"

Israel and the United States are working to prevent the United Nations Security Council from passing a resolution to halt the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), whose aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip have been described as "death traps" for starving civilians—victims of a famine widely attributed to Israeli policies.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday that the U.S.-backed aid delivery mechanism in Gaza is “inherently unsafe”, offering a blunt assessment: “It is killing people.”

The UN has rejected Israeli and American efforts to channel its agencies’ work through GHF, questioning the foundation’s neutrality and accusing its distribution model of militarizing humanitarian aid and forcibly displacing civilians.

Guterres told reporters: “Any operation designed to move desperate civilians into military zones is inherently unsafe. It is killing people.”

He added that the UN-led humanitarian efforts in Gaza are “being strangled”, with aid workers themselves starving. He emphasized that as the occupying power, Israel is obligated to facilitate humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip.

“People are being killed just for trying to feed themselves and their families. Searching for food should never be a death sentence,” Guterres said, calling for the “political courage to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.”

The UN Security Council has already passed a resolution directing all UN agencies to cease cooperation with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

According to Israel's Walla News (Wynet) on Sunday, Israel and the United States are now preparing to block a new Security Council resolution expected at a meeting tomorrow, which would call for the suspension and dismantling of the GHF.

Trump Calls for a "Deal in Gaza"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel and Hamas to strike a deal in the Gaza Strip aimed at securing the release of hostages and implementing a ceasefire.

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social: "Make a deal in Gaza. Bring back the hostages!" His message appeared to be an attempt to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement, according to The Times of Israel.

On Friday, the U.S. president said that a ceasefire in Gaza is “imminent.”

He added, while hosting the foreign ministers of Rwanda and Congo at the White House to mark their signing of a peace agreement, "We will reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza within the next week."

Hebrew Media: Washington to Instruct Israel to End Gaza War and Delay Hamas Dismantling

A Hebrew-language newspaper has reported that a U.S. official stated that Washington will inform Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, during his upcoming visit to the United States, that it is necessary to end the war on Gaza and postpone the mission to dismantle Hamas.

According to Haaretz, Dermer will visit Washington on Monday and meet with senior White House officials.

Citing an unnamed U.S. official, the report indicated that the U.S. administration will tell Dermer that it is crucial to “end the war in Gaza, save the living hostages, and delay the dismantling of Hamas.”

The newspaper further reported that among the issues on Dermer’s agenda are “U.S. negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program and the possibility of expanding the Abraham Accords,” aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.

It highlighted that the primary focus of the agenda is “achieving U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision of ending the war in Gaza.”

The report also noted that the White House expressed interest this week in hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, but the timing of the visit will largely depend on the progress of talks between the U.S. and Dermer regarding the end of the Gaza conflict.

Closed Session with Security Agencies – Court Approves Netanyahu’s Request to Delay Testimony

The Jerusalem District Court approved on Sunday, June 29, 2025, the request made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone his testimony by two weeks in his ongoing corruption trial. The decision followed private deliberations held during a closed session.

Netanyahu attended the session in person and presented to the judges, in secret discussions, the reasons why he was unable to appear on the originally scheduled dates. He claimed that "crucial matters" required his full involvement at this time.

The session was attended by the head of the Israeli military intelligence division ("Aman"), Shlomi Binder, and the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, at Netanyahu’s request, according to Israeli media reports.

This marks the second time that Binder has attended a closed session concerning a request to delay Netanyahu’s trial. In the previous session, Binder had briefed the judges about preparations for a potential attack on Iran, which served as the basis for a previous delay in Netanyahu’s testimony.

In his remarks regarding the session, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana called on the court to approve the delay request, stating that "justice is not an end in itself but a means to serve the public interest." He described the trial as a “farce that should be concluded.”

Ohana added that the judges now had an opportunity to “make history,” either through a settlement that ends the trial or by dismissing the charges due to “fundamental flaws in the procedures,” amid growing calls in Israel for Netanyahu’s trial to be canceled.

Egypt: Recognition of Palestine as a State is the Only Path to Achieve Peace and Security in the Region

Egyptian Foreign Minister and Minister of Immigration, Badr Abdel-Aty, emphasized the necessity of expanding international recognition of Palestine and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as the only path to achieving lasting peace, security, and stability in the region.

During his meeting today, Sunday, with the European Union's Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Christophe Bigot, Abdel-Aty expressed his hope for the convening of an international conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of a two-state solution.

The meeting also addressed the serious developments taking place in the West Bank and the ongoing efforts, in cooperation with Qatar and the United States, to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitate the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region.

Israel Denies Progress in Gaza Negotiations Despite Trump’s Statements

Israeli political sources denied on Sunday, June 29, 2025, any "substantive progress" in indirect talks with Hamas regarding a prisoner exchange deal, despite statements from U.S. President Donald Trump that raised cautious optimism, according to Israeli Channel 12.

Following his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial and his call for "granting a pardon to a great hero who has done much for Israel," Trump called on Sunday for an agreement to end the war in Gaza. In a post on Truth Social, he stated: "Make the deal, bring back the hostages."

Earlier today, Netanyahu attended a closed session at the Jerusalem District Court, in another attempt to delay his testimony in his corruption trial. The court had previously rejected his request for a two-week delay, which he had justified by citing "regional and international developments" following the war on Iran, as part of Trump’s push for normalization deals. During the session, Netanyahu presented his reasons for further delay in the presence of representatives from the public prosecution.

Later on Sunday, Netanyahu held a meeting with the Israeli security and political cabinet to discuss the status of the negotiations over the prisoner exchange and the situation in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is preparing to travel to Washington for talks with White House officials on the future of the Gaza conflict and the possibility of reaching a deal.

Israeli sources said that the negotiations are still at the stage of indirect communications, with ongoing talks between Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, in addition to efforts by U.S. envoy Steve Wittekov.

The sources added that "Hamas has not yet provided an official response to Israel’s modified proposal based on Wittekov’s initiative," noting that mediators are trying to bring both sides together, possibly in Doha or Cairo, within "the same hotel," where "the negotiations would take place from room to room."

Israel, according to the report, stated that it would "not send a negotiating team unless it receives a clear signal from Hamas that it is serious," to "avoid raising false hopes among the families of the prisoners."

Hamas: 66 Children Have Died in Gaza Due to Israeli Starvation

Hamas stated on Sunday, June 29, 2025, that 66 Palestinian children have lost their lives in Gaza due to complications from malnutrition and famine caused by the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, as part of the ongoing genocide since October 2023.

In a statement, the movement added that "The war criminal Netanyahu's government has imposed a complete siege and systematic starvation on Gaza since March 2025."

The statement further pointed out that "The brutal crimes against children, through starvation, bombings, and massacres, represent a horrific violation of human and international laws and values."

It continued: "The occupation commits these crimes knowing that it is protected from accountability."

Hamas called on the world to take immediate and urgent action to stop the ongoing crime of starvation.

Netanyahu: Many Opportunities Have Opened Up for Prisoner Release and Winning the Fight Against Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, that many opportunities have opened up for releasing prisoners, winning the battle against Hamas, and expanding regional horizons.

Netanyahu made these remarks during his visit to the headquarters of Israel's Shin Bet (Security Service).

He added, "We faced an immediate existential threat, two lethal threats to our survival. You have done an excellent job in dismantling their capabilities, achieving objectives, and in very effective disruption."

He continued, "On both offensive and defensive levels, you are achieving unprecedented successes. I have seen, and was genuinely moved by the technology."

Netanyahu said, "I would like to reassure you that, as you certainly know, many opportunities have now opened up as a result of this victory. There are many opportunities, first and foremost, to rescue the prisoners, and of course, we will also need to resolve the Gaza issue and decisively end the battle with Hamas. I believe we will accomplish both tasks together."

He concluded, "In addition, regional opportunities are now open to us, and you are partners in most of them—if not all."

Channel 13: The Coming Days Will Be Dramatic

Israeli Channel 13 reported on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, quoting sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that the coming days will be dramatic, with multiple regional issues being brought to the table.

The channel also quoted a senior Israeli official saying that there is an opportunity window in the coming days, with discussions focusing on a broad-scale move, including the expansion of normalization agreements, with the potential for Syria to join them.

The report clarified that Netanyahu is convening a security cabinet meeting to discuss the future of the war in Gaza, as the military believes the operations there have reached a saturation point.

In the same context, Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army prefers moving toward a prisoner exchange deal after the completion of Operation Gideon’s Vehicles.

The channel quoted Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi as saying that the army now controls 70% of the Gaza Strip's territory and urged the political leadership to decide on the army's next steps.

18 Killed from One Family in Jabalia, Northern Gaza Strip

Eighteen Palestinians, including women and children, were killed on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the home of the "Al-Sadiq" family in Jabalia, northern Gaza.

Local residents told Sawa News Agency that an Israeli warplane fired a missile at the Al-Sadiq family’s home in Jabalia, resulting in the death of 18 people and injuring dozens. Rescue teams are working to recover the missing from beneath the collapsed residential building.

The residents added that the Israeli bombing that targeted the Al-Sadiq family home also led to the destruction of nearby residential homes.

Health Official: Diseases are Spreading Rapidly in Gaza

A medical official stated on Sunday evening, June 29, 2025, that diseases are spreading rapidly in the Gaza Strip, especially among children, noting that more than 400 cases of meningitis have been recorded since the beginning of this year.

Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, told Qatari Al-Jazeera that malnutrition is widespread across all governorates of the Gaza Strip, and that the living conditions in shelters and refugee centers are extremely difficult, with no aid being provided.

He added that more than 580 people have been martyred and 4,000 injured among those waiting for aid. He explained that the increasing number of casualties is putting immense pressure on the healthcare system in the area, which is nearly collapsing due to the surge in injured individuals.

Al-Daqran noted that the new aid distribution system has created a significant crisis for the healthcare system, emphasizing that Israeli forces are targeting food distribution centers that serve the population.

He called on international organizations to take responsibility in supporting healthcare institutions in Gaza.

المصدر : وكالة سوا اشترك في القائمة البريدية ليصلك آخر الأخبار وكل ما هو جديد المزيد من Palestine Now - English Within 24 Hours: 10 Deaths from Famine and Malnutrition in Gaza Fatah Central Committee Warns of Grave Consequences of the Ongoing Gaza War Gaza Today – 77 Palestinians Killed, Including 25 Waiting for Aid الأكثر قراءة معاريف: الجيش الإسرائيلي يواجه حاليا نقصاً بالضباط إيران: اعتقال عميلين للموساد فى محافظة خراسان رئيس أركان إسرائيلي أسبق: إخلاء غزة وهدمها وتجويعها جرائم حرب لابيد يدعو لانتخابات مبكرة لتغيير حكومة نتنياهو "المروعة" عاجل

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