Middle East: Israel risks isolation, German FM says

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Germany has 'responsibility to prevent' isolation of Israel, German foreign minister says

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday that Israel was in danger of becoming isolated, and Berlin was trying to prevent that from happening.

"Israel must always find friends, partners and supporters in the international community," he said in Jerusalem. "And that is currently in danger in this situation. If there is one country that has a responsibility to prevent this, then in my view it is Germany."

Wadephul also called the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip "beyond imagination" and said Israel needed to show it was not enacting a policy of "expulsion" and "annexation" in the Palestinian territory.

He also said Israel had a responsibility to allow humanitarian and medical aid into Gaza "quickly, safely and sufficiently to avert mass deaths."

Wadephul's comments came after arriving in Israel as part of a two-day trip that will also see him visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

White House: Huckabee, Witkoff to visit Gaza

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff will inspect an aid distribution center in Gaza on Friday, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

"Tomorrow, special envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee will be traveling into Gaza to inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food, and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground," she told reporters in a Thursday briefing.

While international politicians often travel to Israel and the occupied West Bank, trips to Gaza are far less frequent. The visit comes after the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said 111 Palestinians had died in the territory over the past 24 hours, including 91 people who were seeking aid. 

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Israel says it has struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon

Israel said Thursday it had conducted strikes in Lebanon on key Hezbollah infrastructure, where the militant group manufactured and stored missiles.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said targets included "Hezbollah's biggest precision missile manufacturing site," and the military said it struck "infrastructure that was used for producing and storing strategic weapons" in the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country, and the south.

"Any attempt by the terrorist organization to recover, reestablish or threaten will be met with relentless intensity," Katz added.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency also reported strikes in the Bekaa Valley and the south of the country.

Both Katz and the Israeli military said Hezbollah was trying to rebuild its military infrastructure and demanded that the Lebanese army move to disarm the militant group.

Earlier on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that his country was determined to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

US, allies claim Iran trying to 'kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe, North America'

The United States and more than a dozen of its allies on Thursday said Iran has been trying to murder and kidnap dissidents, journalists and officials in Western countries.

"We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty," the governments of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US said in a statement.

The countries said such activities were being carried out in collaboration with international criminal networks.

London has said it has halted more than 20 Iranian-linked plots to kidnap or kill individuals in Britain, including UK nationals and others Iran views as threats since early 2022.

In October, the Reuters news agency reported that Iran was behind a wave of efforts to assassinate and abduct individuals across Europe and the United States.

In March, the UK government said it wanted the Iranian state to register all political influence activities, citing increasingly aggressive behavior by Iran's intelligence services.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Israel's Ben-Gvir accuses Germany of supporting Nazism

In a post on the social media platform X, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has accused the German government of supporting Nazism.

Without providing further context, the right-wing firebrand posted, "80 years after the Holocaust, and Germany is returning to support Nazism."

The post was published as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul landed in Israel for talks with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

Wadephul said his trip would focus on ensuring that more humanitarian aid reaches people in the Gaza Strip as well as to further iterate German support for a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict.

Wadephul has said recognition of a Palestinian state would be the logical end of the process. 

A key member of Netanyahu's coalition government, Ben-Gvir has said he would leave the government if Israel stops the war in Gaza and has come out in favor of the displacement of Palestinians and expanding Israeli settlements to Gaza. The UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the Netherlands have imposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising Gaza death toll of Palestinians seeking aid

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli media reported the meeting would focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israeli hostages held by militants, and relations with Iran.

The Ynet news portal reported that Witkoff may visit the Gaza Strip, saying he would like to personally look at the work being done by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

There have been reports of Palestinians being killed while lining up for food at GHF distribution sites. The GHF's role in distributing aid has been criticized by several aid organizations, with Amnesty International describing its operations as "illegitimate and inhumane."

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

US sanctions Palestinian Authority officials and PLO members

The United States is imposing sanctions on Palestinian Authority officials and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). 

The State Department said in a statement that the groups are undermining peace efforts. 

"It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace," the State Department said.

The statement did not specify who was being targeted or no longer able to receive visas to travel to the United States. 

The State Department wrote that the Palestinian Authority is "taking actions to internationalize its conflict with Israel such as through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ)," and accused them of "continuing to support terrorism."

The Palestinian Authority is the governing body that has overseen parts of Israeli-occupied West Bank since the 1990s. 

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Over 200 celebrities sign open letter to end German arms exports to Israel

An open letter signed by over 200 actors, musicians and media personalities has urged German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to take action in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

They acknowledge Merz's increased criticism of the Israeli government in recent days, but urge him to go further, writing "words alone won't save lives." 

The letter, organized by the group Avaaz, addresses children suffering in Gaza, saying: "More than 17,000 have already been killed. Hundreds of thousands are injured, traumatized, displaced and starving."

The signatories urged Merz to stop arms exports to Israel, to support the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to demand an immediate ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid.

"We too condemn the horrific crimes committed by Hamas in the strongest possible terms. But no crime justifies collectively punishing millions of innocent people in the most brutal manner," the letter states.

Actors Daniel Brühl and Heike Makatsch and singers Shirin David and Zartmann are among the stars who have signed the letter. 

"These steps are deeply in line with European values and would make it unmistakably clear to the Israeli government that even its closest allies can no longer accept the suffering, and that words are not enough," the letter said.

Germany approved €326.5 million ($374 million) in arms exports to Israel in 2023, a sharp increase from previous years. In 2024, approvals fell by half amid mounting legal and political pressure.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

German foreign minister heads to Middle East, says Berlin cannot be passive

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has departed for Israel and the Palestinian territories to hold talks on the worsening situation in Gaza. 

In a statement ahead of his departure, Wadephul said the trip aims to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the ongoing threat from Hamas and growing international pressure on Israel.

"Hamas continues to hold hostages, including German citizens, and is still refusing a ceasefire," Wadephul said. "At the same time, the suffering and deaths in Gaza have reached an unimaginable scale."

The German top diplomat called for additional humanitarian aid for people in Gaza. 

"Only by land can sufficient quantities of aid reach the people," Wadephul said. "I, therefore, urge the Israeli government to allow the UN and international aid organizations safe access and, above all, safe and effective distribution."

Wadephul also pointed to increasing international isolation for Israel, citing the recent UN conference in New York and noting that more countries, including some in Europe, are considering recognizing a Palestinian state without waiting for a negotiated peace process.

He said the region is at a crossroads, and that Germany, because of its historic responsibility toward Israel, cannot remain passive.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

NGOs say Gaza airdrops smack of 'cynicism' and are 'futile'

As countries pledge to airlift food to those in need, critics warn it is expensive and dangerousImage: Hatem Khaled/REUTERS

As famine-like conditions take hold in Gaza, human rights organizations have criticized plans by Germany and other countries to drop aid in via airlifts.

They say this is symbolic politics and inefficient.

Read the full story on the criticism levelled at plans to airdrop aid into Gaza.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

German foreign minister leads delegation to Israel

A German delegation, led by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is headed to Israel and the occupied West Bank on Thursday for talks with representatives from the Israeli government and the UN.

The two-day trip is expected to focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Wadephul saying he would push for a ceasefire.

"The main goal is definitely a ceasefire," Wadephul told Politico. As for humanitarian aid, he said "the number of victims in the Gaza Strip is too high. We need to ease the suffering of the people there."

The visit comes amid increasing international pressure on Israel to end its war, with more and more Western countries pledging to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Germany, however, has said it has no short-term plans to recognize a Palestinian state, despite being committed to a two-state solution.

Siemtje Möller, the deputy parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), is also part of the delegation. The SPD governs in coalition with Wadephul's center-right CDU.

In an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Thursday morning, Möller called for "real pressure" to end the suffering in Gaza.

She also suggested that Germany could consider recognizing a Palestinian state sooner than expected.

"The recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo and doesn't necessarily have to come at the end of a [two-state] process," she said before the flight.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

US special envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Israel: reports

US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to leave for Israel as the US looks to address the worsening starvation crisis in Gaza, according to US media reports. 

The trip comes in the midst of stalled truce talks between Israel and Palestine's Hamas militant group. 

Witkoff said last week that the US had withdrawn its negotiating delegation from Qatar over what he called a lack of willingness by Hamas to reach a ceasefire. 

Israel has also pulled its team from the talks. 

The US, Qatar and Egypt are mediating between Israel and Hamas, who do not talk directly.

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Trump says 'very hard' to make trade deal with Canada after decision over Palestinian statehood

US President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with repercussions for negotiations on a trade deal after it announced its plans to recognize Palestinian statehood. 

"Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them," Trump said on Truth Social, his social media platform. 

Trump's statement is set to intensify a trade war between US and Canada, just a day ahead of the August 1 deadline to seal a tariff agreement. 

If the two countries fail to strike an agreement by the deadline, Canada faces a 35% tariff on goods which are not covered under the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact.

On Wednesday, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for September. 

The UK and France have also said over the last week that they would support statehood for Palestine. 

07/31/2025July 31, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Canada has joined Britain and France to say that it "intends" to recognize a Palestinian state in September. 

However, Canada's decision has resulted in threats from US President Donald Trump as a deadline for a trade agreement between the two countries nears.

Trump has said that Canada's support for Palestinian statehood would make it difficult for the US to zero-in on an agreement with Canada. 

Canada will be hit with a 35% tariff on its exports to the US if a deal cannot be reached, the president said.

Also, US special envoy Steve Witkoff will reportedly travel to Israel on Thursday in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. 

Stay up-to-date with this blog as we bring you the latest reports, analyses, and explainers on the situation in Gaza.