Newsletter for Thursday, July 17, 2025

A news bulletin provided by Sawa News Agency for Thursday, July 17, 2025, covering the most important developments in the Gaza Strip, Israel, and the West Bank.

Israeli Army: Ready to Make More Flexibility and Spread to New Boundaries for Gaza Negotiations

The Israeli Army spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, July 17, 2025, that the army is prepared to offer more flexibility and expand into new boundaries for negotiations concerning Gaza.

In press statements, he said, "We are proceeding with Operation Gideon's Chariots as defined by the political level, and we continue to tighten the siege on Gaza City. We have conducted airstrikes resulting in the destruction of tunnels in northern Gaza, and we are intensifying attacks in Khan Younis."

He added, "We are paying a heavy price to implement the plans in Gaza, and each suicide among our soldiers brings us pain. We are learning lessons from it and enhancing our mental health system."

Gaza Negotiations: Deal is Close, Netanyahu Urges Israeli Negotiators to Be Flexible

Mediators continue their efforts to reach an agreement regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of detainees and prisoners between Israel and Hamas.

According to the Hebrew newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth", citing a source, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked his negotiating team to show more flexibility in order to reach a deal on Gaza.

Israeli government officials told the newspaper that Israel has agreed to withdraw from the Morag axis and other areas in Gaza as part of a potential deal, confirming that the chances of reaching an agreement are now higher.

An Israeli source stated that some points of contention remain, most notably Hamas's insistence on an Israeli withdrawal to the March 2nd lines, as well as the unresolved issues in the negotiations, such as the percentage of detainees to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, particularly those serving life sentences.

The source also mentioned that Hamas insists on canceling the aid distribution mechanism supported by Israel and the United States in Gaza, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians in aid queues.

In a related development, meetings are being held in Cairo, Egypt, between Egyptian, Qatari, and Israeli delegations to discuss the details of sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, evacuating patients, and returning stranded people.

The meetings are progressing with agreements on several humanitarian aspects related to the ceasefire deal.

These meetings come as part of Egypt's persistent efforts to remove obstacles to reaching an agreement, and its determination to ensure sufficient and appropriate aid reaches the people of Gaza.

Earlier, sources confirmed to "Cairo News" that Egypt’s intelligence chief, General Hassan Rashad, held meetings with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and delegations from both Palestinian and Israeli sides.

The meetings aim to push forward the current efforts for a ceasefire, address obstacles to reaching an agreement, and facilitate aid and the release of prisoners. The sources also noted that Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are intensifying their communications and meetings with all parties to advance efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Injury of Father Gabriel Romanelli - Martyrs in an Israeli Airstrike on the Latin Church in Gaza

Several citizens were martyred and injured this morning, Thursday, July 17, 2025, in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Latin Church building in the eastern part of Gaza City.

Medical sources at the Baptist Hospital confirmed the martyrdom of 3 citizens: Said Salama, Foumia Ayad, and Najwa Abu Dawood, along with several injuries, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Latin Church in Gaza, who was wounded in an Israeli drone strike on the church building in the old town of Gaza.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army said, "We are aware of the claim that a church was targeted in Gaza City and are investigating the circumstances of the incident."

In a statement from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed his sorrow following the killing of two people in an attack on a Catholic church in Gaza. He reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem/Gaza expressed deep sorrow and confirmed the martyrdom of two individuals due to an Israeli airstrike on the Holy Family complex this morning. The Patriarchate added, "We pray for their souls to rest in peace and call for an end to this savage war. There is no justification for targeting innocent civilians."

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the Israeli bombing of the church in Gaza, asserting that the attacks on Palestinian civilians were "unacceptable and cannot be justified." Meloni wrote on X, "The Israeli airstrikes on Gaza targeted the Holy Family Church," and confirmed that "the attacks Israel has been carrying out on civilians (in Gaza) for months are unacceptable, and no military action can justify this."

The Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine also condemned the Israeli bombing of the Holy Family Church, which is part of the Latin Patriarchate in Gaza. In a statement issued today, the committee expressed concern over the church being bombed, which led to several injuries, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, and caused significant damage to the church building.

The committee emphasized that targeting churches and religious institutions under any pretext is an unacceptable and condemned act, posing a direct threat to the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land. It called on the international community and human rights organizations to take urgent action to protect places of worship in Gaza and end the attacks on both civilians and holy sites.

The committee also stated that it will continue to follow the developments in coordination with local churches and relevant institutions until all details of the attack are fully clarified.

Gaza Health Ministry Releases Latest Statistics on Martyrs and Injuries from Israeli Aggression

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, that the toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 58,667 martyrs and 139,974 injuries since October 7, 2023.

In its daily report, the Ministry confirmed that 94 martyrs (including 1 martyr recovered) and 367 injuries were brought to Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours.

It also reported that the toll of martyrs and injuries from March 18, 2025, to today stands at 7,843 martyrs and 27,933 injuries.

Regarding martyrs from the humanitarian aid, the Ministry announced that 26 martyrs and more than 32 injuries had reached hospitals in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of martyrs from those waiting for aid to 877 martyrs and more than 5,666 injuries.

Israeli Soldier Charged with Espionage for Iran

The Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the police arrested an Israeli soldier on suspicion of communicating with Iranian entities in exchange for financial compensation, according to a joint statement released today, Thursday.

The statement added that the arrest followed a joint investigation by Shin Bet and the "Lahav 433" unit conducted by both the Israeli police and the military police.

The military prosecution filed an indictment at the end of the investigation, charging the soldier with "communicating with a foreign agent" and "transmitting information to the enemy."

The statement pointed out that the soldier had intentionally established a relationship with Iranian entities and carried out tasks for them, including filming missile interception footage and documenting places where missiles landed inside Israel.

It was noted that the information he provided "was not related to his military duties" within the Israeli army.

The statement called the incident "extremely serious" due to the "direct relationship between an Israeli soldier and an adversarial entity."

The military court decided to extend the soldier's detention until July 22, 2025.

Additionally, the statement emphasized that both the Israeli police and Shin Bet are renewing their warning to the public in Israel against establishing relationships with hostile entities.

Palestinian Government: Emergency Session Tonight to Discuss the Continued Holding of Tax Revenues

The Palestinian Cabinet will hold an emergency session tonight, Thursday, July 17, 2025, to discuss the unprecedented and serious challenges resulting from the continued withholding of tax revenues by the Israeli occupation.

The Government Communication Center stated that the session will focus on the severe consequences threatening the ability of state institutions to continue providing basic services, the delayed payment of employees' salaries, and the significant risks this poses to stability, security, and the protection of the people's resources and national institutions.

The Cabinet will issue a statement after the meeting outlining the outcomes and decisions made.

Martyrdom of Detainee Samir Al-Rifa'i from Jenin in Israeli Prisons

The Palestinian Authority for Prisoners and Released Prisoners and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club announced the martyrdom of detainee Samir Muhammad Youssef Al-Rifa'i (53 years old) from the town of Rummana in Jenin Governorate.

The Authority and the Prisoners' Club explained that detainee Al-Rifa'i, who was married and a father of five children, had been arrested by Israeli forces from his home on July 10th. His first court session was scheduled for today at the "Salem" military court. According to medical reports provided by his family, Al-Rifa'i had been suffering from heart problems prior to his arrest and needed continuous health monitoring.

With the martyrdom of detainee Al-Rifa'i, the number of martyrs among the prisoners since the beginning of the genocide rises to 74, those whose identities have been confirmed, amidst the continued crime of forced disappearance. This makes this period in the history of the Palestinian prisoners' movement the bloodiest. Since 1967, the number of martyrs whose identities are known has reached 311.

The Authority and the Club emphasized that the increasing number of martyrs among the prisoners has become an inevitable consequence and is taking a more dangerous turn with the passing of time as thousands of prisoners continue to be held in Israeli jails. They are subjected to systematic crimes, including torture, starvation, various forms of assault, medical neglect, sexual assault, and deliberate conditions that lead to dangerous and contagious diseases, notably scabies, as well as unprecedented policies of theft and deprivation.

The Authority and the Club stressed that the martyrdom of detainee Al-Rifa'i represents a new crime added to the record of the Israeli savage system, which perpetrates all forms of crimes aimed at killing prisoners. It is another face of the ongoing genocide and an extension of it.

They held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the martyrdom of detainee Al-Rifa'i and renewed their call for the international human rights system to take effective decisions to hold Israeli leaders accountable for the war crimes they continue to commit against our people. They also called for sanctions against the occupation to isolate it internationally, restore the fundamental role of the human rights system, and end the paralyzing failure that has crippled this system during the ongoing genocide, and to end the exceptional immunity granted by world countries to the occupation state, considering it above accountability and punishment.

International Criminal Court Rejects Israel's Appeal Regarding Netanyahu

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has rejected the Israeli government's request to cancel arrest warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Israel had filed the appeal about two months ago, claiming that the court lacked jurisdiction to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the judges dismissed this claim, affirming their authority to pursue the cases before them.

The court also rejected a separate Israeli request to suspend the investigation into allegations of war crimes in the West Bank, emphasizing that the judicial process will continue without delay or modification.

Last month, the United States imposed personal sanctions on four of the court's judges in protest of the arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials, a move that sparked widespread controversy on both legal and political fronts.

Occupation Forces Blow Up Three Homes in Qabatia, South of Jenin

Israeli occupation forces detonated three homes today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, in the town of Qabatia, south of Jenin.

Local sources reported that the homes of the families of martyrs Wael Idris Lahloh, Mohammad Nazzal, and Mohammad Zakarneh were destroyed.

It is worth noting that the occupation forces assassinated martyr Wael Idris on December 1, 2024, by bombing an agricultural room where he was located in the village of Sir, south of Jenin. Martyr Mohammad Nazzal was assassinated on January 22, 2025, after being besieged in a house in the town of Burqin, west of Jenin. He was hit with shoulder-fired missiles, and his house was later demolished by bulldozers. Martyr Mohammad Zakarneh was killed after being surrounded in an underground iron room near the village of Masliya, south of Jenin.

The occupation forces had stormed Qabatia early this morning with a large number of military vehicles and bulldozers, raiding several homes, forcing their inhabitants to leave, and turning the houses into military barracks. The soldiers also detained several young men, subjected them to abuse, and arrested two brothers after raiding and damaging their home. In addition, a young man was brutally beaten.

The occupation had notified the three families of the demolition of their homes on June 20, 2025. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee reported that, in the first half of this year, the occupation authorities demolished 588 structures, affecting 843 citizens, including 411 children.

Egyptian-Qatari Proposal and Tangible Progress in Gaza Negotiations

Israeli media reports on Thursday evening, July 17, 2025, revealed that Israel and Hamas had received an Egyptian-Qatari proposal, with Tel Aviv also submitting new withdrawal maps for Gaza.

According to Israel's public broadcasting agency (Kan 11), Israel handed over new withdrawal maps to the mediators, noting that this issue had been one of the central points of contention in the talks. Israeli sources involved in the negotiations in Doha stated that "the dynamics are positive, but it is still necessary to bridge the gaps between the two sides."

Israeli Channel 12 quoted an Israeli official saying: "We are approaching the moment of decision. There has been tangible progress, and there is a green light from the Prime Minister’s perspective to move forward on several issues."

While the same source noted that "the state of the talks is encouraging," they stressed that estimates indicate reaching an agreement "is not a matter of just a few days."

Channel 12 also reported that a senior Israeli official told the families of the hostages that there had been "significant progress in the negotiations, and the delegation was ordered to stay in Doha until an agreement is signed."

He added that "even though there has been progress regarding the 'Morag' axis, there are still other disagreements. Therefore, it is estimated that the deal will not happen in the coming days and will require more time, possibly several weeks."

Ben-Gvir Calls for Halting Negotiations and Forced Relocation

On the other hand, National Security Minister and leader of the Otzma Yehudit Party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called for halting the negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange with Hamas, stressing the danger of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to withdraw from the "Morag" axis.

Ben-Gvir stated: "The Prime Minister’s decision, apparently, to agree to withdraw from the 'Morag' axis as part of a surrender deal with Hamas is a dangerous decision and represents another setback."

He added, "The 'Morag' axis is a strategic area that was secured with the blood of our forces, and withdrawing from it would be like spitting in their faces; this, in addition to the catastrophic costs of the deal being prepared."

Ben-Gvir continued: "I call on the Prime Minister, it’s not too late to return to his senses. Stop the negotiations, and issue the necessary instructions to achieve the objectives of the war: full occupation, encourage forced relocation, and settlement."

This came as Israeli Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, announced on Wednesday evening that the objectives of the "Gideon’s Chariots" operation in Gaza, which included forced relocation, the killing, and injuring of thousands of civilians, had been achieved. He pointed out that the army now controls 75% of Gaza.

Kochavi emphasized: "We are close to a critical crossroads," adding, "In the coming days, we will know whether we have an agreement or not."

He noted that "if an agreement is reached, we will stop and prepare as the political level determines, and if no agreement is reached, my directive to the Southern Command is to intensify and expand the fighting as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing," adding, "We are entering additional areas, and we will continue operations as we have done so far."

An Israeli official, in a briefing to the media on Wednesday, estimated that "it is possible to reach a deal for the release of prisoners with Hamas," stating: "Reaching a deal is more likely than not, but the negotiations with Hamas are neither easy, simple, nor short."

Ben-Gvir had held talks last Sunday with several Likud ministers in an attempt to persuade them to oppose the prisoner exchange deal, which also includes a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to estimates, around 10 ministers are expected to oppose the deal and may contribute to its failure, as reported by Israeli Channel 12 on Sunday, citing "informed sources," with speculation that Ben-Gvir might resign from the government if the deal goes through.

Hamas: Famine in Gaza Has Reached Dangerous Levels

On Thursday, Hamas stated that the famine in Gaza has reached "dangerous levels," calling for urgent international action to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its genocidal war for the 22nd consecutive month.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Hamas considered the silence of the international community to be complicity, which reinforces what it described as "the logic of lawlessness and flagrant violations of international and humanitarian law."

Hamas added that "famine in the Gaza Strip has reached dangerous levels, and Arab and Islamic countries must take urgent action to break the siege and deliver aid."

It emphasized that the Israeli government's use of hunger and deprivation of basic life necessities in Gaza as a tool for ongoing genocide "represents an intensification of the worst crimes in modern history, committed against children and innocent civilians."

Hamas also stated that the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council, ignoring the humanitarian tragedy and the horrific crimes being committed daily by the occupation army, which are documented with sound and image, is a dangerous precedent that institutionalizes the logic of lawlessness and violations of international and humanitarian law.

Hamas called on Arab and Islamic countries, as well as the United Nations, to urgently act and apply pressure to break the siege, deliver food and humanitarian aid, and "end this brutal cycle of killing, genocide, and starvation in the Gaza Strip."

 

 

المصدر : وكالة سوا اشترك في القائمة البريدية ليصلك آخر الأخبار وكل ما هو جديد المزيد من Palestine Now - English Newsletter for Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Newsletter for Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Newsletter for Monday, July 14, 2025 الأكثر قراءة إعلام إسرائيلي: 44 عسكريا قتلوا منذ استئناف الحرب بغزة فرنسا: خطر المجاعة في غزة نتيجة للحصار الإسرائيلي بحبح: الوسطاء ينتظرون رد حماس منذ أيام ولا سبب مقنع للتأخير الكنيست يصادق على مقترح يدعو لضم الضفة الغربية عاجل

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