RAMALLAH -- Palestine's foreign ministry and officials on Monday condemned U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson's visit to a Jewish settlement on Palestinian land in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, condemning Johnson's visit as an encouragement to "the crimes of settlements, settlers, and the confiscation of Palestinian lands." (Palestine-US-Visit)
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JERUSALEM/AMMAN -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he will direct the Israeli army later this week on achieving three war objectives "without exception" in Gaza, where more deaths of starvation and malnutrition are recorded despite days of aid deliveries.
During his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said he will convene the Security Cabinet later this week to "direct the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) how to achieve the three war objectives -- all of them, without exception," listing the goals as "defeating the enemy, releasing our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never again threaten Israel."
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli official told Xinhua that Netanyahu is expected to convene a security discussion on Tuesday to deliberate "a total reoccupation" of Gaza. (Israel-Netanyahu-Gaza War)
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BEIRUT -- Hundreds of people, including families of the victims and wounded from the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, gathered here on Monday in Martyrs' Square and marched toward the port to commemorate the tragedy.
The protesters, joined by activists and government officials, carried photos of the victims and banners demanding truth and accountability for the incident on Aug. 4 that claimed over 200 lives, injured some 7,000 others, and severely disrupted operations for years. (Lebanon-Beirut Port Explosion-Anniversary)
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GAZA -- A total of 35 Palestinians were killed on Monday in Israeli shelling and gunfire across Gaza, at least 12 of those while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to the Gaza Civil Defense.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, said 11 Palestinians were killed in Israeli shelling targeting their homes in the Shuja'iyya area, east of Gaza City, five killed in Israeli shelling targeting a group of citizens in the Al-Tawam area, northwest of the city, and two more killed in the Beit Lahia area, north of the city. (Gaza-Israel-Death Toll) ■
