News Archives - Page 158 of 429

Trump Slams Door on Netanyahu

CrossFireArabia
May 8, 2025

Israeli Army Radio has reported that personalities close to US President Donald Trump informed the Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, that the US president had decided to cut off contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Army Radio explained that these acquaintances close to Trump informed Dermer that Netanyahu was manipulating the US president, stressing that what Trump hates most is being perceived as being manipulated.

The radio quoted an Israeli official as saying that Minister Dermer’s conversation with senior Republican officials, did not work because of his displayed arrogance.

This came hours after a report in the Israel Hayom newspaper asserting that the US president is “disappointed” with Netanyahu and intends to take “steps” in the Middle East “without waiting for him.”

Since the start of his new presidential term on January 20, 2025, Trump has offered diverse and unlimited support to the Netanyahu government, which has been waging a genocidal war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu-Trump conflict escalates

The Israel Hayom newspaper quoted sources close to Trump as saying: "We can clearly say that the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has reached its lowest point." pic.twitter.com/QckvxxcBQu
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexkennedyIran) May 8, 2025

However, the Israel Hayom daily quoted an unnamed sources as saying that “there is a decline in the personal relations and mutual disappointment between Netanyahu and Trump.”

The newspaper added that two senior sources close to Trump said, in closed conversations in recent days, that he has decided not to wait for Israel any longer and is moving forward with steps in the Middle East without “waiting for Netanyahu.”

The sources did not elaborate on the nature of the steps Trump intends to take unilaterally, but there is a complaint in Tel Aviv that Trump sometimes acts without coordination with Israel.

The most recent example is the ceasefire agreement reached by the United States and the Yemeni Houthi group, which does not include Israel and which Israel was unaware of before its announcement according to Al Jazeera.

News

Hamas Welcomes New Pope in Rome

CrossFireArabia
May 8, 2025

Hamas congratulated Cardinal Robert Prevost on Thursday for being elected the new pope, urging him to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who was a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the new pope by the Cardinals in a two-day conclave and will be the first American pontiff in history.

Hamas said in a statement it “extends its sincere congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his election as Head of the Catholic Church.”

Dear MAGA:

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting migrants, particularly Venezuelan refugees fleeing economic hardship. He was noted for his special concern for these individuals, emphasizing assistance and integration into… pic.twitter.com/SEbIHdDXT0
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) May 8, 2025

“We wish him success in fulfilling his spiritual and humanitarian mission at a time when the world faces profound crises and tragedies—chief among them, the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”

“We highly value the principled and courageous humanitarian positions taken by the late Pope Francis, including his repeated expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people and his firm stance against the occupation and its repressive policies.”

“We look forward to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV continuing this ethical and moral path—standing with the oppressed, advocating for justice, and engaging actively within international forums to help end the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against children, women, and unarmed civilians in Gaza.”

“We also call for action to halt the ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites throughout Palestine, and reaffirm the importance of upholding human dignity and religious sanctity everywhere.”

Pope Francis was a staunch advocate for Palestinians and kept in regular contact with Catholics in Gaza amid Israel’s assault. That included daily calls with the priest at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave.

Upon his death, Francis also donated his so-called “popemobile” to Gaza to serve as a mobile children’s clinic.
Pope Leo XIV has not said much publicly about Gaza, making it unclear if he will emulate his predecessor according to the Quds News Network.

Israel Drops 100,000 Tons of Explosives on Gaza

CrossFireArabia
May 8, 2025

Israel dropped 100,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since launching its genocide 19 months ago, killing or leaving missing over 62,000 Palestinians and committing more than 12,000 massacres, the Gaza government media office stated on Thursday.

The statement detailed key statistics of the war that began Oct. 7, 2023. It stated that Israel’s bombardment led to over 62,000 Palestinian deaths or disappearances, including more than 10,000 still trapped under rubble with unknown fates, the office said.

Israel carried out over 12,000 massacres, including 11,926 against Palestinian household members, completely erasing 2,200 families and 6,350 people from civil registries.

The campaign also targeted cemeteries, with Israeli forces stealing 2,300 bodies from Gaza graves and establishing seven mass graves inside hospitals, 529 of whom have been recovered so far.

Regarding the health crisis, the office reported over 2.1 million cases of infectious diseases caused by forced displacement and the collapse of Gaza’s health infrastructure, including 71,338 cases of hepatitis.

The destruction extended to religious and humanitarian infrastructure, with Israeli forces demolishing 828 mosques completely and 167 partially, targeting three churches, and destroying 19 of 60 cemeteries either fully or partially.

As part of a starvation policy, Israel struck 66 relief facilities, including 29 food charity kitchens and 37 aid centers, while blocking 37,400 aid and fuel trucks since fully closing border crossings over two months ago according to Anadolu.

The Israeli army has launched a brutal military onslaught on Gaza, killing nearly 52,800 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

News

What Does Trump Want to do About Gaza?

CrossFireArabia
May 7, 2025

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there will likely be an announcement concerning the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip within the next 24 hours.

“We’re going to see what’s happening. A lot of talk going on about Gaza right now. You know that, right? So you’ll be knowing probably in the next 24 hours,” Trump said, one day after teasing a “very big announcement.”

Trump declined to specify what the announcement would concern when asked Tuesday, but said it would be “as big as it gets.”

He maintained, however, that it would be “very positive,” and could happen as soon as Thursday, the same time frame as the Gaza announcement he previewed.

It is not clear if Trump was addressing the same matter when he vaguely referred to the Gaza announcement, but his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly slated to brief members of the UN Security Council on a US and Israeli proposal to facilitate aid deliveries in Gaza.

Earlier reports stated Israel’s Security Cabinet recently approved an aid delivery plan for Palestinians in the enclave via private US security contractors based on handing over aid boxes to individuals.

The UN and all aid groups working in Gaza, however, have rejected the plan, arguing it violates international humanitarian principles.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month opposed the plan.

The Trump administration is reportedly seeking support from other countries while urging the UN to cooperate according to Anadolu.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is an unofficial briefing done in the US mission,” Greece’s UN mission told Anadolu, as it holds the Council presidency for May.

The closed-door meeting comes days before Trump’s Middle East tour, which includes a summit with Gulf leaders on Iran and Gaza.

News

Oman Mediates US-Houthi Ceasefire

CrossFireArabia
May 6, 2025

Oman on Tuesday announced that its mediatory efforts led to a ceasefire between the US and Houthis in Yemen, after President Donald Trump said the group will not be carrying out attacks on commercial ships.

“Following recent discussions and contacts conducted by the Sultanate of Oman with the United States and the relevant authorities in Sana’a, in the Republic of Yemen, with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides,” Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said in a statement on X.

“In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” he added.

Breaking | Oman announces a ceasefire agreement between the Houthis and the US.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Dhaifallah Al-Shami, a member of the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah, stated that if there is a halt, it will apply only to the targeting of American ships, while the… pic.twitter.com/ZXRknHYjpw
— Daniella Modos – Cutter -SEN (@DmodosCutter) May 6, 2025

Expressing appreciation for both parties’ cooperation, Albusaidi said: “The Sultanate of Oman expresses its gratitude to both parties for their constructive approach that led to this welcome outcome, and hopes that it will lead to further progress on many regional issues towards achieving justice, peace, and prosperity for all.”

Houthis started attacking shipping lanes in the Red and Arabian seas after Israel’s war in Gaza, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

In March, Trump launched a military operation against the Yemeni group.

Earlier, during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House, Trump said Houthis informed them they will not be carrying out additional attacks on commercial ships, and the US will reciprocate by halting attacks on Yemen, according to Anadolu.