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The Man Who Walked Toward the "Yellow Line" in Gaza—and the Son He Carried With Him
*Drop Site is a reader-funded, independent news outlet. Without your support, we can’t operate. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a [501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation today][1].*
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Waad Al-Shafi with her son, Jawad, who was detained along with his father on March 19 by Israeli soldiers near the “yellow line.” March 20, 2026. Photo courtesy of Al-Shafi family.
*Story by Mohanad Maher*
AL-MAGHAZI REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip—At midnight, Waad al-Shafi was still awake, sitting on the floor beside her 22-month-old son, Jawad. The room was small and worn down by Israeli shelling. Long cracks run across the concrete and flakes of paint hung from the corners. The dim light cast shadows on the wall behind her.
She held a cloth dampened with cool water, which she dabbed lightly on Jawad’s feet as he slept. Every few moments, she placed her hand on his chest and felt his breathing. Jawad stirred before his eyes snapped open. He let out a low whimper before the words came out in broken pieces: “Bang. Blood. Tank.”
Waad didn’t ask him what he meant. She knew. She leaned toward him and smoothed his hair with one hand, keeping the other resting on him. When his voice fell quiet again, she stayed as she was, sitting beside him, awake, watching the rise and fall of his chest.
Jawad has been this way since March 19, when his father, Osama Al-Shafi, said he was going to take his son to the store to buy candy. He lifted Jawad onto his shoulders and headed out. The store was to the west, near their home in the eastern part of Al-Maghazi refugee camp, a few hundred meters from the “yellow line.” When he left the house, his direction suddenly changed and he began wandering eastward.
According to Waad, Al-Shafi had already begun showing signs of psychological distress, worn down by the harshest of living conditions and the horrors of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. He had earned a meager living from a horse-drawn cart but two months earlier, the horse was killed by shelling. After that, he could no longer provide for his family. The shortages of food and basic necessities grew sharply worse.
Al-Shafi’s father, Mohammad, said his mental deterioration became visible about a month and a half after the horse’s killing. Al-Shafi would break the windows of the house and smash the furniture. He began getting into altercations with the neighbors and, at times, even with his own family. The family had been trying to find treatment for him. Mohammed said he was certain Al-Shafi was not aware of what he was doing.
That particular morning in March, with Jawad on his shoulders, Al-Shafi walked east toward the “yellow line” where Israeli forces are stationed, and which lay just 500 meters from their home. As he approached, Israeli forces in the area opened fire on them. None of the bullets hit, but he did not turn back. Neighbors later said that Osama was not fazed by the gunfire, he didn’t run or seek shelter—that he seemed to not fully grasp what was happening. He just kept walking east toward the Israeli troops as if he couldn’t hear or see what was in front of him.
“I tried to reach him,” Mohammed said, “But people held me back so I would not be harmed, because the occupation kills anyone who approaches.” So Mohamed stood there, unable to move, watching horror as his son carried his grandson and calmly walked toward what seemed like their end.
Waad heard the sound of bullets, then a small quadcopter closed in. Through a loudspeaker, it ordered Al-Shafi to take off his clothes down to his underwear and to strip the clothes off Jawad, who was not yet two years old. Four soldiers then approached and surrounded them. They ordered Al-Shafi to put the child on the ground and move slowly toward them.
According to Waad, Al-Shafi was separated from his son and restrained, and Jawad was taken away alone. The family spent the entire day consumed by fear, the father and son taken from them without a word. At 10 p.m., roughly twelve hours after the incident, a call came from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)—Israeli troops had handed Jawad back. An ICRC team then arrived near the Maghazi market, close to where the family lives, and delivered the infant to his family. The ICRC told the family that Al-Shafi had been shot in the shoulder but had no further information about his detention.
Waad received Jawad wrapped in plastic sheeting. She was told he had fallen asleep from the cold. When she held him, he broke out screaming. When she took off his clothes, she found blood, burn marks, and puncture wounds covering his legs and knees.
A medical report from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah reviewed by Drop Site said the child arrived with swelling in his right knee and repeated vomiting, along with incised wounds around the knees and deep puncture wounds on the lower part of his body. His overall condition was stable, with no internal injuries. The family said Dr. Bisan Ahmad, who examined Jawad, found that the marks on his legs were “consistent with deliberate cigarette burns used as a form of physical torture.”
Doctors treated Jawad’s physical wounds but the psychological damage from the incident ran much deeper. His father had been broken by war and had carried his son towards the soldiers. Across Gaza, the war is unmaking many adults and the children they are meant to protect.
Over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, including over 1,000 killed since a so-called ceasefire went into effect in October 2025. More than 173,000 have been wounded, over 3,400 of them since the “ceasefire.” Thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained in Gaza and held in Israeli prison camps without charge or trial and subject to systematic abuse and torture.
In a report titled “Torture and Genocide,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese warned that Israeli torture of Palestinian detainees “suggests collective vengeance and destructive intent.” What happened to Jawad belongs to that wider pattern, the turning of an entire territory into a space of collective punishment.
Mohammed Al-Kurd is a Gaza-based psychosocial support adviser and a psychological specialist in protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration. For years, that work has put him in rooms with children, women, displaced families, the wounded, and people carrying trauma they can’t put down. Al-Kurd said that, to understand Al-Shafi’s case, the whole picture has to be taken in at once: the losses that came before, the daily grind of staying alive, fear that never lets up, and then a sudden blow. Often, he noted, mental breaks are the accumulation of persistent trauma—the moment when everything piled up inside a person finally shows.
Al-Shafi kept walking east, toward the danger, not hearing the gunfire around him or the voices pleading for him to turn back. When a person’s exhaustion passes the point they can bear, the mind may fall back on a psychological defense mechanism known as dissociation, as if trying to shield it from more than it can hold. In that state a person can feel cut loose from reality, from their own feelings, from any sense of time and place. The body stays present. The awareness does not.
Al-Kurd said a moment like Al-Shafi’s could not be read apart from everything that came before it. Under prolonged threat, the mind started treating life itself as an emergency without end, braced against a danger that is never lifted. Over time this wears a person down in ways that go past fear. Concentration frays. Memory slips. For some, the sense that life still holds meaning begins to give way. This was the arc Al-Shafi’s father had described. His walk that morning was not separate from that unraveling. It was its furthest point.
Jawad is now also deeply traumatized. The words come out of his mouth broken. He wakes up terrified in the night. He does not fall into the deep slumber of a child. Al-Kurd said a child this young may not have the words for what happened to him, but he keeps it in his body and in his emotional memory. Severe, repeated fear holds a child’s brain in a constant state of alert, until sleep itself, which is supposed to be a refuge, turns into another threat.
Jawad’s disrupted nights are not his alone. A study by the Gaza-based Community Training Centre for Crisis Management, carried out with support from the War Child Alliance, placed Jawad’s nightly terror in a wider frame. Among the children it examined, approximately 79% suffered from persistent nightmares.
Al-Kurd said specialists have started speaking of “continuous trauma” rather than “post-trauma,” because “post” assumes the event has ended, and in Gaza it has not ended. When Jawad screams in the night, he is not remembering what has happened to him in the past, but is instead expressing a response to an ongoing traumatic experience.
Since the night of his return, Jawad’s sleep has come in fragments. His mother sits beside him through the long hours, laying cool compresses on his forehead, working ointment into the burns on his feet, waiting for him to settle. The father who should be beside them is still in detention, his fate unknown.
Mohammed said the hardest moment came when Jawad looked at a picture in a calendar on the wall, an olive tree under open sky, and said to him, “This is where the army shot us.” The boy had tied the image to what he had lived. The calendar had become a window onto that morning. He was not reaching for a memory. He was pointing at something still inside him.
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[3]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-yellow-line-psychological-trauma-maghazi/comments
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-yellow-line-psychological-trauma-maghazi
*Drop Site is a reader-funded, independent news outlet. Without your support, we can’t operate. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a [501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation today][1].*
[Subscribe now][2]
Waad Al-Shafi with her son, Jawad, who was detained along with his father on March 19 by Israeli soldiers near the “yellow line.” March 20, 2026. Photo courtesy of Al-Shafi family.
*Story by Mohanad Maher*
AL-MAGHAZI REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip—At midnight, Waad al-Shafi was still awake, sitting on the floor beside her 22-month-old son, Jawad. The room was small and worn down by Israeli shelling. Long cracks run across the concrete and flakes of paint hung from the corners. The dim light cast shadows on the wall behind her.
She held a cloth dampened with cool water, which she dabbed lightly on Jawad’s feet as he slept. Every few moments, she placed her hand on his chest and felt his breathing. Jawad stirred before his eyes snapped open. He let out a low whimper before the words came out in broken pieces: “Bang. Blood. Tank.”
Waad didn’t ask him what he meant. She knew. She leaned toward him and smoothed his hair with one hand, keeping the other resting on him. When his voice fell quiet again, she stayed as she was, sitting beside him, awake, watching the rise and fall of his chest.
Jawad has been this way since March 19, when his father, Osama Al-Shafi, said he was going to take his son to the store to buy candy. He lifted Jawad onto his shoulders and headed out. The store was to the west, near their home in the eastern part of Al-Maghazi refugee camp, a few hundred meters from the “yellow line.” When he left the house, his direction suddenly changed and he began wandering eastward.
According to Waad, Al-Shafi had already begun showing signs of psychological distress, worn down by the harshest of living conditions and the horrors of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. He had earned a meager living from a horse-drawn cart but two months earlier, the horse was killed by shelling. After that, he could no longer provide for his family. The shortages of food and basic necessities grew sharply worse.
Al-Shafi’s father, Mohammad, said his mental deterioration became visible about a month and a half after the horse’s killing. Al-Shafi would break the windows of the house and smash the furniture. He began getting into altercations with the neighbors and, at times, even with his own family. The family had been trying to find treatment for him. Mohammed said he was certain Al-Shafi was not aware of what he was doing.
That particular morning in March, with Jawad on his shoulders, Al-Shafi walked east toward the “yellow line” where Israeli forces are stationed, and which lay just 500 meters from their home. As he approached, Israeli forces in the area opened fire on them. None of the bullets hit, but he did not turn back. Neighbors later said that Osama was not fazed by the gunfire, he didn’t run or seek shelter—that he seemed to not fully grasp what was happening. He just kept walking east toward the Israeli troops as if he couldn’t hear or see what was in front of him.
“I tried to reach him,” Mohammed said, “But people held me back so I would not be harmed, because the occupation kills anyone who approaches.” So Mohamed stood there, unable to move, watching horror as his son carried his grandson and calmly walked toward what seemed like their end.
Waad heard the sound of bullets, then a small quadcopter closed in. Through a loudspeaker, it ordered Al-Shafi to take off his clothes down to his underwear and to strip the clothes off Jawad, who was not yet two years old. Four soldiers then approached and surrounded them. They ordered Al-Shafi to put the child on the ground and move slowly toward them.
According to Waad, Al-Shafi was separated from his son and restrained, and Jawad was taken away alone. The family spent the entire day consumed by fear, the father and son taken from them without a word. At 10 p.m., roughly twelve hours after the incident, a call came from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)—Israeli troops had handed Jawad back. An ICRC team then arrived near the Maghazi market, close to where the family lives, and delivered the infant to his family. The ICRC told the family that Al-Shafi had been shot in the shoulder but had no further information about his detention.
Waad received Jawad wrapped in plastic sheeting. She was told he had fallen asleep from the cold. When she held him, he broke out screaming. When she took off his clothes, she found blood, burn marks, and puncture wounds covering his legs and knees.
A medical report from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah reviewed by Drop Site said the child arrived with swelling in his right knee and repeated vomiting, along with incised wounds around the knees and deep puncture wounds on the lower part of his body. His overall condition was stable, with no internal injuries. The family said Dr. Bisan Ahmad, who examined Jawad, found that the marks on his legs were “consistent with deliberate cigarette burns used as a form of physical torture.”
Doctors treated Jawad’s physical wounds but the psychological damage from the incident ran much deeper. His father had been broken by war and had carried his son towards the soldiers. Across Gaza, the war is unmaking many adults and the children they are meant to protect.
Over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, including over 1,000 killed since a so-called ceasefire went into effect in October 2025. More than 173,000 have been wounded, over 3,400 of them since the “ceasefire.” Thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained in Gaza and held in Israeli prison camps without charge or trial and subject to systematic abuse and torture.
In a report titled “Torture and Genocide,” the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese warned that Israeli torture of Palestinian detainees “suggests collective vengeance and destructive intent.” What happened to Jawad belongs to that wider pattern, the turning of an entire territory into a space of collective punishment.
Mohammed Al-Kurd is a Gaza-based psychosocial support adviser and a psychological specialist in protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration. For years, that work has put him in rooms with children, women, displaced families, the wounded, and people carrying trauma they can’t put down. Al-Kurd said that, to understand Al-Shafi’s case, the whole picture has to be taken in at once: the losses that came before, the daily grind of staying alive, fear that never lets up, and then a sudden blow. Often, he noted, mental breaks are the accumulation of persistent trauma—the moment when everything piled up inside a person finally shows.
Al-Shafi kept walking east, toward the danger, not hearing the gunfire around him or the voices pleading for him to turn back. When a person’s exhaustion passes the point they can bear, the mind may fall back on a psychological defense mechanism known as dissociation, as if trying to shield it from more than it can hold. In that state a person can feel cut loose from reality, from their own feelings, from any sense of time and place. The body stays present. The awareness does not.
Al-Kurd said a moment like Al-Shafi’s could not be read apart from everything that came before it. Under prolonged threat, the mind started treating life itself as an emergency without end, braced against a danger that is never lifted. Over time this wears a person down in ways that go past fear. Concentration frays. Memory slips. For some, the sense that life still holds meaning begins to give way. This was the arc Al-Shafi’s father had described. His walk that morning was not separate from that unraveling. It was its furthest point.
Jawad is now also deeply traumatized. The words come out of his mouth broken. He wakes up terrified in the night. He does not fall into the deep slumber of a child. Al-Kurd said a child this young may not have the words for what happened to him, but he keeps it in his body and in his emotional memory. Severe, repeated fear holds a child’s brain in a constant state of alert, until sleep itself, which is supposed to be a refuge, turns into another threat.
Jawad’s disrupted nights are not his alone. A study by the Gaza-based Community Training Centre for Crisis Management, carried out with support from the War Child Alliance, placed Jawad’s nightly terror in a wider frame. Among the children it examined, approximately 79% suffered from persistent nightmares.
Al-Kurd said specialists have started speaking of “continuous trauma” rather than “post-trauma,” because “post” assumes the event has ended, and in Gaza it has not ended. When Jawad screams in the night, he is not remembering what has happened to him in the past, but is instead expressing a response to an ongoing traumatic experience.
Since the night of his return, Jawad’s sleep has come in fragments. His mother sits beside him through the long hours, laying cool compresses on his forehead, working ointment into the burns on his feet, waiting for him to settle. The father who should be beside them is still in detention, his fate unknown.
Mohammed said the hardest moment came when Jawad looked at a picture in a calendar on the wall, an olive tree under open sky, and said to him, “This is where the army shot us.” The boy had tied the image to what he had lived. The calendar had become a window onto that morning. He was not reaching for a memory. He was pointing at something still inside him.
[Leave a comment][3]
[Subscribe now][4]
[1]: https://givebutter.com/dsn-substack
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-yellow-line-psychological-trauma-maghazi/comments
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/gaza-yellow-line-psychological-trauma-maghazi
In Letter, Platner Volunteer Network Warns Dems: Nominee Must Back Same Agenda to Win Our Full Support
Crowd waits for Platner to speak at anti-ICE Rally in Lewiston. Photo: Nathan Bernard
The 15,000 member volunteer network behind Graham Platner is now using its considerable leverage to push whoever replaces him as the Democratic Senate nominee to be aligned with the same policy platform that drove the largest primary turnout in Maine state history.
Drop Site has obtained a draft letter addressed “to the Maine Democratic Party and prospective candidates” notifying them of their policy demands. Platner [formally withdrew][1] from the Senate race on Friday.
Those policies include “healthcare as a right, housing affordability, an economy that works for regular people and not billionaires, strengthening workers and unions, end forever wars, oppose complicity in atrocities, an end to mass-deportation enforcement, energy and climate accountability, and human rights for all.”
“The volunteer infrastructure that this movement built - the organizers, door-knockers, the small-dollar donors, the hosts, the people who make phone calls and staff tables between now and November - does not transfer automatically to whoever the Party selects,” the letter states. “That infrastructure exists because people believe in a specific platform. It will only continue to exist and only continue to be deployed for a nominee who **publicly and explicitly adopts these core commitments** as their own.” (Emphasis in the original.)
[Subscribe now][2]
While the policies are broadly agreed upon, whether the volunteers will fully withhold support from the new nominee if they do not agree is still being debated. The most hotly contested line in the draft states, “If the Party’s selected nominee does not publicly adopt this platform, we want to be transparent now, before the convention, rather than silent until after it: this statewide volunteer network will not organize, fundraise, or mobilize on that candidate’s behalf.”
The draft makes clear “that is not a threat, but rather a statement of fact about what motivates the people who make up this movement.”
Hundreds of volunteers have already signed onto the letter, with representation from every county in Maine. Several volunteers, however, still felt the language was too strong.
“I think we need to soften this somewhat,” one volunteer noted in the comments. “How about, ‘it will be next to impossible to motivate this statewide volunteer network.” Another volunteer agreed, saying “Everyone’s choice to support the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate is their own. We can’t force anyone to continue or not continue.”
It has not been decided when this letter will be submitted. The State Convention to select a new candidate is expected to take place before the July 27 selection deadline.
## **The Replacement Process**
The Maine Democratic Party’s 100-person state committee voted to approve a process by which 600 delegates, 500 county committee elected delegates, and the 100 state committee members themselves will select the new nominee from a slate of candidates vying to replace Platner. Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, Jordan Wood, and Vallie Geiger are running for the spot. All the candidates lost their respective Democratic gubernatorial and congressional primaries in June, aside from Geiger, who serves as a state representative for the Rockland area.
[Drop Site obtained private Maine Democratic Party information][3] showing that the 500 delegates will be proportionally appointed based on 2024 election Democratic vote totals in their respective counties. How those 500 delegates will be elected is still under debate.
[
[Image]
][4]Delegate breakdown by county. Obtained by Drop Site News and
The tension between organizers and Maine Democratic party officials has grown as they determine a process to replace Platner. A former Platner staffer told Drop Site “all field and data” staff were moved onto MDP payroll before the rape allegations broke for “accounting purposes,” creating an awkward situation for the Platner organizers—who, like the volunteers, are unhappy with the MDP’s manuevers.
On July 8, Platner campaign organizing director Spencer Toth resigned from the MDP over its lack of engagement with volunteers and organizers in determining the replacement process. [Drop Site obtained his resignation letter.][5]
“Together, organizers and volunteers built something much bigger than one candidate. They built the largest grassroots operation in Maine’s history, a people powered movement rooted in working class politics and the belief that ordinary Mainers deserve a real voice in the future of the Democratic party,” Toth’s resignation letter says. “But yesterday, the Maine Democratic Party said the people who built this movement will “have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for US Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.”
[The MDP Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson][6] had accused the Platner team of “trying to tip the scales” by asking for transparency on the replacement process. “We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.”
“That work matters. It cannot be treated as disposable. The people who knocked thousands of doors, organized their communities, and built local teams across the state deserve transparency, respect, and a meaningful voice in what comes next.”
Toth concludes there is “no path forward to defeating Susan Collins without honoring and engaging the grassroots movement” the Platner campaign built across Maine. The future of the race should not be decided without the people who made the movement possible, Toth says.
“You deserve to have your voice heard and it is incumbent on each of you now to hold the Democratic Party accountable.”
Volunteers for Platner have [broadly supported][7] the nomination of Troy Jackson in place of Platner. On Friday morning, the Maine AFL-CIO also endorsed Jackson.
“We can pass Medicare for all, we can take on corporate power and the politicians in their pocket,” Jackson said in his Senate [announcement video][8]. “I’ve won in deep red Trump country and progressive cities like Portland and Bangor. His full senate policy platform is yet to be released.
[Leave a comment][9]
[Share][10]
[1]: https://x.com/polltracker2024/status/2075682027165127035?s=46
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://substack.com/redirect/5e37d86f-dfbb-4fce-9212-6f04357c1bdd?j=eyJ1IjoiMWFjMHIifQ.nkSLSJTVGr5Ai2v8Jwh2akUmADPDa8Czh9APJcvcrao
[4]:
[5]: https://x.com/nathanTbernard/status/2074946350022599123/photo/1
[6]: https://x.com/MaineDems/status/2074653501771194683
[7]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
[8]: https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2075360955060388146?s=20
[9]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates/comments
[10]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates
Crowd waits for Platner to speak at anti-ICE Rally in Lewiston. Photo: Nathan Bernard
The 15,000 member volunteer network behind Graham Platner is now using its considerable leverage to push whoever replaces him as the Democratic Senate nominee to be aligned with the same policy platform that drove the largest primary turnout in Maine state history.
Drop Site has obtained a draft letter addressed “to the Maine Democratic Party and prospective candidates” notifying them of their policy demands. Platner [formally withdrew][1] from the Senate race on Friday.
Those policies include “healthcare as a right, housing affordability, an economy that works for regular people and not billionaires, strengthening workers and unions, end forever wars, oppose complicity in atrocities, an end to mass-deportation enforcement, energy and climate accountability, and human rights for all.”
“The volunteer infrastructure that this movement built - the organizers, door-knockers, the small-dollar donors, the hosts, the people who make phone calls and staff tables between now and November - does not transfer automatically to whoever the Party selects,” the letter states. “That infrastructure exists because people believe in a specific platform. It will only continue to exist and only continue to be deployed for a nominee who **publicly and explicitly adopts these core commitments** as their own.” (Emphasis in the original.)
[Subscribe now][2]
While the policies are broadly agreed upon, whether the volunteers will fully withhold support from the new nominee if they do not agree is still being debated. The most hotly contested line in the draft states, “If the Party’s selected nominee does not publicly adopt this platform, we want to be transparent now, before the convention, rather than silent until after it: this statewide volunteer network will not organize, fundraise, or mobilize on that candidate’s behalf.”
The draft makes clear “that is not a threat, but rather a statement of fact about what motivates the people who make up this movement.”
Hundreds of volunteers have already signed onto the letter, with representation from every county in Maine. Several volunteers, however, still felt the language was too strong.
“I think we need to soften this somewhat,” one volunteer noted in the comments. “How about, ‘it will be next to impossible to motivate this statewide volunteer network.” Another volunteer agreed, saying “Everyone’s choice to support the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate is their own. We can’t force anyone to continue or not continue.”
It has not been decided when this letter will be submitted. The State Convention to select a new candidate is expected to take place before the July 27 selection deadline.
## **The Replacement Process**
The Maine Democratic Party’s 100-person state committee voted to approve a process by which 600 delegates, 500 county committee elected delegates, and the 100 state committee members themselves will select the new nominee from a slate of candidates vying to replace Platner. Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, Jordan Wood, and Vallie Geiger are running for the spot. All the candidates lost their respective Democratic gubernatorial and congressional primaries in June, aside from Geiger, who serves as a state representative for the Rockland area.
[Drop Site obtained private Maine Democratic Party information][3] showing that the 500 delegates will be proportionally appointed based on 2024 election Democratic vote totals in their respective counties. How those 500 delegates will be elected is still under debate.
[
[Image]
][4]Delegate breakdown by county. Obtained by Drop Site News and
The tension between organizers and Maine Democratic party officials has grown as they determine a process to replace Platner. A former Platner staffer told Drop Site “all field and data” staff were moved onto MDP payroll before the rape allegations broke for “accounting purposes,” creating an awkward situation for the Platner organizers—who, like the volunteers, are unhappy with the MDP’s manuevers.
On July 8, Platner campaign organizing director Spencer Toth resigned from the MDP over its lack of engagement with volunteers and organizers in determining the replacement process. [Drop Site obtained his resignation letter.][5]
“Together, organizers and volunteers built something much bigger than one candidate. They built the largest grassroots operation in Maine’s history, a people powered movement rooted in working class politics and the belief that ordinary Mainers deserve a real voice in the future of the Democratic party,” Toth’s resignation letter says. “But yesterday, the Maine Democratic Party said the people who built this movement will “have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for US Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.”
[The MDP Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson][6] had accused the Platner team of “trying to tip the scales” by asking for transparency on the replacement process. “We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.”
“That work matters. It cannot be treated as disposable. The people who knocked thousands of doors, organized their communities, and built local teams across the state deserve transparency, respect, and a meaningful voice in what comes next.”
Toth concludes there is “no path forward to defeating Susan Collins without honoring and engaging the grassroots movement” the Platner campaign built across Maine. The future of the race should not be decided without the people who made the movement possible, Toth says.
“You deserve to have your voice heard and it is incumbent on each of you now to hold the Democratic Party accountable.”
Volunteers for Platner have [broadly supported][7] the nomination of Troy Jackson in place of Platner. On Friday morning, the Maine AFL-CIO also endorsed Jackson.
“We can pass Medicare for all, we can take on corporate power and the politicians in their pocket,” Jackson said in his Senate [announcement video][8]. “I’ve won in deep red Trump country and progressive cities like Portland and Bangor. His full senate policy platform is yet to be released.
[Leave a comment][9]
[Share][10]
[1]: https://x.com/polltracker2024/status/2075682027165127035?s=46
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://substack.com/redirect/5e37d86f-dfbb-4fce-9212-6f04357c1bdd?j=eyJ1IjoiMWFjMHIifQ.nkSLSJTVGr5Ai2v8Jwh2akUmADPDa8Czh9APJcvcrao
[4]:
[5]: https://x.com/nathanTbernard/status/2074946350022599123/photo/1
[6]: https://x.com/MaineDems/status/2074653501771194683
[7]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
[8]: https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2075360955060388146?s=20
[9]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates/comments
[10]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/platner-volunteer-maine-democratic-party-replacement-nominee-delegates
Khamenei is buried; Hormuz grinds to a halt; What we know about the Platner replacement process
*Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [says][1] Iran war is “not over.” Gulf Cooperation Council [condemns][2] attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz, holds Iran responsible. Shipping [grinds][3] to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz. Assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad. Seafarers [sue][4] Thai shipping firm over Strait of Hormuz attack. Israel [feeds][5] Trump report that Iran plans to assassinate him, sources say. Israel [continues][6] to attack Lebanon, despite “ceasefire” and U.S.-backed framework. Amnesty [calls][7] for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes that killed 24 Lebanese civilians. Two hospital workers [wounded][8] after Israeli drone attack at Kamal Adwan Hospital. Israel [appears][9] to target Hamas political spokesperson amid continued attacks. Israel [bans][10] Al-Aqsa preacher from mosque. Israeli [attacks][11] in the occupied West Bank continue. Maine Democratic Party establishment [plans][12] Platner replacement process. AIPAC [targets][13]
Cori Bush’s comeback bid against Rep. Wesley Bell. ICE agents in Houston [killed][14] man who was not their target, DHS says. Germany to [buy][15] U.S. Tomahawk missiles. Anti-immigrant protests [escalate][16] in South Africa. [June][17] was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians, the UN says. Canadian PM [visits][18] Saudi Arabia, looks to reset relationship. British MP Andy Burnham [apologizes][19] for Labour’s Gaza stance. Tanzania [arrests][20] 130 in crackdown on dissent. Sudan army [accepts][21] most of US truce proposal, objects to limited RSF withdrawal. North Korea [approves][22] measures to expand nuclear forces.*
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Thousands of mourners gather for the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Reza Shrine on July 09, 2026 in Mashhad, Iran. Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images.
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Netanyahu says Iran war “not over”: **Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [said][28] Thursday the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran “is not over” and vowed to keep preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon “with or without an agreement.”
* Netanyahu pledged Israeli forces will continue to occupy parts of Lebanon “as long as the need requires.”
* Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel is prepared to strike Iran again “with even greater force” if required, including resuming operations to “regain air superiority” and striking Iran “a third time if necessary.”
* Mohammad Baqer Zalghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, [said][29] Friday that attacks on infrastructure would be met with retaliation, warning that “the rogue Zionist regime… will not be spared from the response of our fighters,” Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported.
* Qatari mediators have been meeting separately with U.S. and Iranian officials in an effort to deescalate the situation and resume negotiations, according to reports by Reuters and the New York Times.
* **Gulf Cooperation Council condemns attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz, holds Iran responsible: **The Gulf Cooperation Council [condemned][30] attacks on the Saudi tanker Wadiyan and Qatari LNG carrier Al Rekayyat “in the strongest terms” in a Thursday statement, holding Tehran fully responsible and declaring that aggression against one Gulf state threatens all six member states.
* The statement condemned Iranian strikes targeting U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait as violations of international law, but did not mention the U.S. strikes on Iran that preceded them.
* The bloc also called on the UN Security Council to guarantee freedom of navigation in the strait without “transit or service fees.” Iran has maintained its demand passing ships pay “service fees,” covering what it says are necessary maritime navigation and environmental protection fees.
* **Shipping grinds to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz:**
* Traceable vessel transits through the U.S.-coordinated Omani lane effectively [ground to a halt][31] on Thursday, according to the maritime tracking firm Lloyd’s List, with no tracked vessels with capacity exceeding 10,000 metric tons having transited the corridor since July 7. Two untracked crossings were recorded by the firm.
* On Thursday, U.S. Central Command claimed in a [post][32] on X that since early May, U.S. forces have helped facilitate the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz carrying 380 million barrels of crude oil.
* The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency [issued][33] a warning Friday morning that the security threat in the Strait of Hormuz remains at its highest level (“SEVERE”) after this week’s hostilities, advising ship owners and sailors to use “established reporting and coordination procedures” and that routes beside the approved southern route “are not protected.”
* **Assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad:**
* The Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, was buried in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday, concluding a week of mourning with ceremonies in Iran’s holy cities, its capital, and the Shia holy cities of Iraq.
* Between 41 and 43 million people participated in the six-day funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, Iranian media reported on Friday.
* At the ceremonies, IRGC commander Brigadier-General Ahmad Vahidi pledged vengeance against the U.S. and Israel for the killing of Supreme Leader, calling for a “fitting response to the criminals, especially the child-killing American army,” according to a statement carried by Iran’s Sepah news agency.
* **Seafarers sue Thai shipping firm over Strait of Hormuz attack: **Three former crew members of the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree, which was struck in a March attack in the Strait of Hormuz, [filed][34] a lawsuit Friday against the vessel’s operator alleging labor rights violations and unfair dismissal.
* The ship was hit by a projectile north of Oman on March 11, killing three of its crew; the remaining 20 members were rescued and returned to Thailand a week later.
* The lawsuit alleges the defendants endangered the crew’s lives by sailing through the Strait despite known risks.
* **Israel feeds Trump report that Iran plans to assassinate him, sources say**: Israel [shared][35] intelligence with the United States that claimed Iran had recently devised a new plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a Thursday report from the Wall Street Journal.
* One source told CNN that the warning came this week, the latest in a series of possible plans to assassinate Trump that an intelligence official characterized as “a steady drumbeat.”
* Asked to comment, the White House pointed to Trump’s Wednesday remarks that Iran wants “to take out the U.S. leader—me” adding that he is “on every single one of their lists.”
# Lebanon
* **Israel continues to attack Lebanon, despite “ceasefire” and U.S.-backed framework:**
* Israel [hit][36] a car with a “double-tap” strike in the southern Lebanon town of Kfar Reman in the Nabatieh district on Friday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. There was no immediate reports of casualties.
* Also in Nabatieh, an Israeli drone [struck][37] a pick-up truck on the outskirts of Shukin and Kfar Dajjal while the vehicle was unloading waste, wounding two people, NNA reported.
* Separately, an Israeli drone [dropped][38] a stun grenade near the town of Al-Mansouri in the southern Tyre district, according to the NNA.
* Additionally, Israeli tanks and other military vehicles reportedly advanced towards the Birket al-Hammam in Khiam, and soldiers set fire to several homes in Qantara, in the Marjayoun district.
* **Amnesty calls for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes that killed 24 Lebanese civilians: **Amnesty International [called][39] for war crimes investigations into three Israeli air attacks on homes in Lebanon’s Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh districts on March 6, 12 and 13 that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children, six women and six men, with at least 18 others wounded.
* “Within the space of just a week—the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends?” a spokesperson for the group asked.
* Amnesty also warned of the potential effects of the current “framework” agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel on its pursuit of justice; Article 13 of the framework agreement requires both sides to “cease all hostile or negative actions in international political or legal forums.” The broadly worded provision could prevent victims of Israeli war crimes committed since October 8, 2023, from seeking justice through international or national courts.
* At least 4,320 people have been killed, and 12,203 wounded, in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
* **Journalist Courtney Bonneau steps back from reporting in Lebanon, citing devastating toll of war: **Courtney Bonneau, who has reported extensively from Lebanon throughout Israeli attacks for the past three years, announced she is stepping away from the field for several days, saying years of documenting war and the loss of loved ones, colleagues, and friends have left her “heart in pieces.”
* In a [statement][40] on X, Bonneau reflected on the cumulative weight of witnessing death and destruction, describing how scenes of violence have permanently reshaped her inner life. She also recounted surviving multiple life-threatening incidents, including being chased by an Israeli Merkava tank, coming under Israeli sniper fire eight times, and being intimidated by quadcopter drones while reporting. “Not because the work has become less necessary, but because mourning, too, demands its own uncompromising attention,” she wrote.
* Her reporting—along with that of many courageous Lebanese journalists—has been an important source for Drop Site News’ coverage of developments in Lebanon.
# Palestine
* **Two hospital workers wounded after Israeli drone attack at Kamal Adwan Hospital: **Two staff members were wounded after an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped an explosive device at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Friday, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported. The facility is located within the “green zone.”
* **Israel appears to target Hamas political spokesperson amid continued attacks: **One Palestinian was [killed][41] and others wounded after an Israeli strike hit a civilian vehicle west of Gaza City, in a strike that appears to have targeted Hamas’s political spokesperson in Gaza, Hazem Qassem, killing his personal aide. According to Israel’s Channel 14, Qassem [survived][42] the attack.
* In a separate strike in Khan Younis, Israel killed two people.
* Israeli gunfire wounded several people in the Al-Salatin area of Beit Lahia.
* Israeli forces also opened fire on Khan Younis, continuing their near-daily attacks east of the “Yellow Line.”
* **Israel bans Al-Aqsa preacher from mosque: **Israeli forces on Friday detained Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories Mohammad Hussein, the preacher of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, before handing him a one-week order [banning][43] him from entering the third holiest site in Islam, according to WAFA.
* Israeli restrictions and settler incursions at Al-Aqsa are intensifying. More than 25,600 settlers entered the compound during the first half of 2026. Israeli authorities also fully closed the mosque between February 28, the first day of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, and April 9.
* **Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank continue:**
* Israeli settlers [wounded][44] seven Palestinians, including two children in the Masafer Yatta area of the South Hebron Hills. The settlers reportedly pepper sprayed and beat a Palestinian. Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene protected the settlers and also joined the assault, according to the reports.
* Israeli settlers [demolished][45] the Yanun Mixed Basic School in southern Nablus on Thursday, around eight months after residents of Khirbet Yanun were forcibly displaced, WAFA reported. The school served 15 Palestinian students from first to sixth grade.
* Three Palestinians were [shot][46] by Israeli forces and dozens suffered tear gas inhalation during a raid on the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, according to WAFA. Israeli soldiers also stormed a home and severely beat its residents, leaving several with bruises and other injuries. After residents gathered to support the family, Israeli forces opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas.
* **Smotrich claims Witkoff privately called Gaza’s population “Nazis”: **Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich [said][47] on Thursday that Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff privately told him “I will not let two million Nazis live next to your children along the border fence,” referring to Gaza’s besieged population, half of them children, according to Israel National News. “There is only one thing that hurts the enemy: land,” Smotrich reported Witkoff telling him.
* Smotrich said the exchange took place on January 30, 2025, when Witkoff met him and then-Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Jerusalem a day after touring Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor and viewing October 7 attack footage.
* The alleged remark also came days before Trump publicly unveiled his plan to take over Gaza and transfer its population.
* Witkoff has not commented on the story and the language mirrors Smotrich’s own; he frequently describes Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as “Nazis.”
* **France calls for Israel to release imprisoned Palestinian physician: **On Thursday,** **France [joined][48] international calls for Israel to release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been held without charge since December 2024.
* A statement from the country’s foreign ministry noted “extremely worrying information about his state of health.”
* The French appeal follows warnings from Physicians for Human Rights Israel that Abu Safiya’s life is in immediate danger: his lawyer, who visited him last week at the underground Rakefet facility, said he arrived shackled and so badly injured he was barely recognizable, and reported being beaten daily.
* The French foreign ministry also called for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire to commence and urged the Israeli army to withdraw from the Strip.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][49].*
* **Maine Democratic Party establishment plans Platner replacement process: **The process to replace **Graham Platner** as Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee is underway. A 100-person state committee voted to approve a process by which 600 delegates, 500 county committee elected delegates, and the 100 state committee members themselves will select the new nominee from a slate of candidates vying to replace Platner at a convention later this summer.
* **Troy Jackson**, **Shenna Bellows**, **Nirav Shah**, **Dan Kleban**, **Jordan Wood**, and **Vallie Geiger **are running for the spot. All the candidates lost their respective Democratic gubernatorial and congressional primaries in June, aside from Geiger, who serves as a state representative for the Rockland area.
* [Drop Site obtained private Maine Democratic Party information][50] showing that the 500 delegates will be proportionally appointed based on 2024 election Democratic vote totals in their respective counties. How those 500 delegates will be elected is still under debate.
* Sources close to the Maine Democratic Party (MDP) have shared two potential processes for delegate elections. The first requires delegate candidates to file with the state and obtain at least 250 voter signatures prior to the County Committee meeting where the qualifying delegates will be voted on by registered Maine Democrats. Another source says the MDP will hold caucuses at each county committee meeting to select the delegates. The MDP has not officially announced a process to select candidates.
* The Maine AFL-CIO [endorsed][51] Jackson on Friday. They represent more than 200 local labor unions that include over 42,000 working people and retirees across the state.
* **AIPAC targets Cori Bush’s comeback bid against Rep. Wesley Bell: **AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, has [spent][52] $865,000 on TV ads supporting **Rep. Wesley Bell** in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District primary rematch against former** Rep. Cori Bush**, making it the race’s biggest ad spender so far, Axios reported on Friday, with Bush’s campaign spending just $30,000 and no outside groups yet backing her ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.
* AIPAC spent more than $9 million to oust Bush in 2024, when Bell defeated her by roughly 5 percentage points.
* “People are really upset that so much money came into our district and was used to influence who became the representative this Congress,” Bush told Axios in an interview. “A lot of people have said to me, ‘Cori, I just didn’t know,’ or ‘I didn’t understand what was happening at the time, and now I know.’ And they’re upset.”
* **ICE agents in Houston killed man who was not their target, DHS says**: Federal immigration agents who [killed][53] Mexican immigrant **Lorenzo Salgado Araujo **during a Tuesday traffic stop in Houston had actually been searching for two Guatemalan immigrants, one of whom they believed was in a white van Araujo was driving to work, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said on Thursday.
* An agent shot Araujo, who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years, in the abdomen after DHS alleged he tried to use his vehicle as a weapon, though no video or other evidence has emerged to support that claim, and the agents were not wearing body cameras.
* Araujo’s son said the family believes his father fled because he was being chased by unmarked cars and has demanded an independent inquiry.
* Mexico says 14 of its citizens have died in ICE detention and three more during arrest operations, including Araujo. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will file criminal complaints with U.S. prosecutors over the deaths, arguing those responsible should face homicide or human rights investigations. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said Mexico is also planning civil lawsuits against the private companies that operate U.S. immigration detention centers.
* **Marine veteran Victor Marx wins Colorado GOP governor primary**: Marine Corps veteran and Christian minister **Victor Marx** [won][54] the Republican primary for Colorado governor Thursday, edging out state Sen. **Barbara Kirkmeyer**, who had establishment backing, in results certified after the tight June 30 race.
* Marx, who describes himself as a “high-risk humanitarian” after his Christian missions in “ISIS territory,” will face Democratic state Attorney General **Phil Weiser **in November. Colorado has not elected a Republican governor in more than two decades.
* **New Mexico AG accuses DOJ of obstructing Epstein investigation**: **Raúl Torrez** [accused][55] the Justice Department of obstructing the state’s criminal investigation into **Jeffrey Epstein’s** activities at his Zorro Ranch property by withholding unredacted records despite six requests since February, according to a letter reported by the New York Times.
* Torrez said the withheld records, which contain names of survivors, witnesses and co-conspirators, are needed for the state’s investigation, warning “every day that the U.S.D.O.J. withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes.”
* **Trump ousts remaining Election Assistance Commission members**: The White House [fired][56] all three sitting members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Thursday, four months ahead of the midterm elections, NBC News reported.
* A White House official confirmed all three commissioners are gone and said “they will be replaced,” though presidential appointments require Senate confirmation.
* The EAC, which certifies election equipment and has distributed more than $1 billion in election security grants since 2018, was already down to three members after a Republican commissioner resigned earlier this year.
* One fired commissioner called the dismissals “purely political” and warned they would “throw the country into chaos,” and Arizona’s Secretary of State said the move was “irresponsible and dangerous” and undermined “the integrity of nonpartisan election administration.”
# Other International News
* **Germany to buy U.S. Tomahawk missiles:** Germany will purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz [said][57] on Thursday.
* The agreement, reached following the NATO summit in Ankara, comes after uncertainty over U.S. deployments following President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the American military presence in Germany.
* Berlin said the acquisition will fill a critical strategic gap while Europe develops its own long-range missile systems, though the number of missiles and launchers to be purchased remains classified.
* **Anti-immigrant protests escalate in South Africa:** Anti-immigration [protesters][58] in Johannesburg went house-to-house on Thursday searching for suspected undocumented migrants and handing them over to police, Reuters reported.
* The campaign, led by the anti-immigrant group March and March, has vowed to hold weekly protests demanding mass deportations and stricter border controls.
* South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned vigilante immigration enforcement, although police have increased arrests of undocumented migrants amid the unrest.
* The violence has prompted a large-scale exodus from the country, with tens of thousands of immigrants from Malawi and Zimbabwe reportedly leaving the country in recent weeks.
* **June was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians, the UN says:** The United Nations [told][59] the Security Council that Russian strikes killed at least 265 civilians and injured 1,816 in Ukraine in June, the highest combined monthly civilian casualty toll since the early months of Russia’s 2022 invasion.
* A senior UN official told the council that the trend of elevated civilian deaths appears to be continuing into July following multiple large-scale Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other cities, which have seen depletions of missile interceptor supplies in recent months.
* The UN has verified at least 16,402 civilian deaths and 48,428 injuries in Ukraine since the start of the war, while warning the true toll is likely higher.
* **Canadian PM visits Saudi Arabia, seeks to reset relationship:** Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney [visited][60] Saudi Arabia on the first trip by a Canadian leader to the country in 25 years.
* Carney and Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman signed agreements to expand cooperation in sectors including energy, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence, with plans to finalize a business facilitation deal next year.
* Carney added that Canada would not “lecture countries from afar” on human rights. The approach marks a sharp shift from the government under Justin Trudeau, which led to a diplomatic rupture with Riyadh in 2018 over the kingdom’s human rights record.
* **Andy Burnham apologizes for Labour’s Gaza stance**: British MP Andy Burnham [apologized][61] for the party’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, telling the Guardian on Thursday that “the response has too often not been good enough” and pledging to increase pressure on the Israeli government through further sanctions and a potential ban on trade with illegal settlements.
* Burnham said there was “increasing evidence” of war crimes in Gaza but stopped short of calling it a genocide, saying accountability “must be for the international courts to determine.”
* **Tanzania arrests 130 in crackdown on dissent**: Tanzanian police [arrested][62] 130 people on Thursday for “inciting criminal acts” as part of efforts to contain dissent in the country, with the police noting that they are working to track down other people to arrest.
* The arrests follow a June 26 ban on political rallies, which was announced ahead of a July 7 protest commemorating the violence that accompanied last year’s elections. “Heavy security deployments” were necessary to prevent the protest, according to Reuters.
* At least 518 people were killed in last year’s violence, a government commission found, driven by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates.
* **Sudan army accepts most of U.S. truce proposal, objects to limited RSF withdrawal**: Sudan’s army-led government [accepted][63] most of a U.S. proposal for a 90-day humanitarian truce and civilian-led transition to elections, but objected to a provision calling for only limited RSF withdrawals, according to a Reuters report on Thursday.
* U.S. Senior Adviser Massad Boulos said last week he was “extremely pleased” that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan “has apparently accepted — rather than rejected” the proposal, after initially telling the UN Security Council that the Sudanese Army had rejected it.
* A senior RSF official told Reuters that the force welcomed the Boulos plan and had submitted a written response, but gave no further details.
* The proposal, which also calls for a unified national army and a political process excluding the Muslim Brotherhood and militia elements accused of atrocities, prioritizes RSF withdrawal from North Darfur and North Kordofan.
* **North Korea approves measures to expand nuclear forces:** The North Korean government [issued a directive][64] to strengthen the country’s nuclear arsenal “quantitatively and qualitatively,” state media KCNA reported.
* At a meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, Kim Jong Un also called for modernizing combat systems, military bases, naval facilities, shipyards, and intelligence capabilities, arguing that “true peace” could only be secured through overwhelming military power.
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[1]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075290984875720926
[2]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075381898969276700
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075452330833518748
[4]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/10/iran-war-live-fresh-attacks-on-iran-as-us-says-talks-still-on
[5]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/politics/trump-assassination-plot-iran-israel
[6]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551447/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-2
[7]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/07/lebanon-israeli-attacks-killing-children-wiping-out-families-must-be-investigated-as-war-crimes/
[8]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[9]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[10]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/10/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89-150148
[11]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756227
[12]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075278487909257538?s=20
[13]: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary
[14]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/witnesses-houston-ice-shooting.html
[15]: https://www.reuters.com/world/merz-says-germany-agreed-acquire-us-tomahawk-missiles-2026-07-09/
[16]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-protesters-go-door-to-door-forcing-immigrants-their-homes-2026-07-09/
[17]: https://www.reuters.com/world/un-agency-says-russian-strikes-killed-least-265-civilians-ukraine-june-2026-07-09/
[18]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/canada-wants-broader-saudi-ties-wont-lecture-afar-carney
[19]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/09/andy-burnham-labour-didnt-get-it-right-stance-gaza-war
[20]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tanzania-arrests-130-people-government-cracks-down-dissent-2026-07-09/
[21]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-army-says-us-peace-plan-must-call-full-rsf-withdrawal-cities-documents-2026-07-09/
[22]: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-decides-on-measures-to-expand-nuclear-forces-kcna-reports
[23]: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC8sIT2Jl8B4r4N202q
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[28]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075290984875720926
[29]: https://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/07/10/3643931/top-official-warns-of-retaliation-for-attacks-on-iran-s-infrastructure
[30]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075381898969276700
[31]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075452330833518748
[32]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075444293150380238
[33]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756430
[34]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/10/iran-war-live-fresh-attacks-on-iran-as-us-says-talks-still-on
[35]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/politics/trump-assassination-plot-iran-israel
[36]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551447/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-2
[37]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551373/%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%83-%D8%A3%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%B4%D9%88%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%86--%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-2
[38]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551422/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-2
[39]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/07/lebanon-israeli-attacks-killing-children-wiping-out-families-must-be-investigated-as-war-crimes/
[40]: https://x.com/cbonneauimages/status/2075164698735976460?s=46
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[42]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075280193350975717
[43]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/10/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89-150148
[44]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756227
[45]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/9/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-150132
[46]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/9/%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-150133
[47]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075404579294896252
[48]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075382873134117312
[49]: mailto:[email protected]
[50]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075278487909257538?s=20
[51]: https://x.com/nathantbernard/status/2075596794528989320?s=46
[52]: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary
[53]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/witnesses-houston-ice-shooting.html
[54]: https://apnews.com/article/election-colorado-republican-primary-marx-b570a0ebea909683fb7ae9559ea260e7
[55]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/new-mexico-todd-blanche-epstein-ranch.html
[56]: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trump-fires-election-assistance-commission-members-ahead-midterms-rcna353781
[57]: https://www.reuters.com/world/merz-says-germany-agreed-acquire-us-tomahawk-missiles-2026-07-09/
[58]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-protesters-go-door-to-door-forcing-immigrants-their-homes-2026-07-09/
[59]: https://www.reuters.com/world/un-agency-says-russian-strikes-killed-least-265-civilians-ukraine-june-2026-07-09/
[60]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/canada-wants-broader-saudi-ties-wont-lecture-afar-carney
[61]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/09/andy-burnham-labour-didnt-get-it-right-stance-gaza-war
[62]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tanzania-arrests-130-people-government-cracks-down-dissent-2026-07-09/
[63]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-army-says-us-peace-plan-must-call-full-rsf-withdrawal-cities-documents-2026-07-09/
[64]: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-decides-on-measures-to-expand-nuclear-forces-kcna-reports
[65]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/account
[66]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[67]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/khamenei-funeral-hormuz-iran-us-platner-maine/comments
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/khamenei-funeral-hormuz-iran-us-platner-maine
*Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [says][1] Iran war is “not over.” Gulf Cooperation Council [condemns][2] attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz, holds Iran responsible. Shipping [grinds][3] to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz. Assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad. Seafarers [sue][4] Thai shipping firm over Strait of Hormuz attack. Israel [feeds][5] Trump report that Iran plans to assassinate him, sources say. Israel [continues][6] to attack Lebanon, despite “ceasefire” and U.S.-backed framework. Amnesty [calls][7] for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes that killed 24 Lebanese civilians. Two hospital workers [wounded][8] after Israeli drone attack at Kamal Adwan Hospital. Israel [appears][9] to target Hamas political spokesperson amid continued attacks. Israel [bans][10] Al-Aqsa preacher from mosque. Israeli [attacks][11] in the occupied West Bank continue. Maine Democratic Party establishment [plans][12] Platner replacement process. AIPAC [targets][13]
Cori Bush’s comeback bid against Rep. Wesley Bell. ICE agents in Houston [killed][14] man who was not their target, DHS says. Germany to [buy][15] U.S. Tomahawk missiles. Anti-immigrant protests [escalate][16] in South Africa. [June][17] was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians, the UN says. Canadian PM [visits][18] Saudi Arabia, looks to reset relationship. British MP Andy Burnham [apologizes][19] for Labour’s Gaza stance. Tanzania [arrests][20] 130 in crackdown on dissent. Sudan army [accepts][21] most of US truce proposal, objects to limited RSF withdrawal. North Korea [approves][22] measures to expand nuclear forces.*
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Thousands of mourners gather for the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Reza Shrine on July 09, 2026 in Mashhad, Iran. Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images.
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Netanyahu says Iran war “not over”: **Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [said][28] Thursday the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran “is not over” and vowed to keep preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon “with or without an agreement.”
* Netanyahu pledged Israeli forces will continue to occupy parts of Lebanon “as long as the need requires.”
* Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel is prepared to strike Iran again “with even greater force” if required, including resuming operations to “regain air superiority” and striking Iran “a third time if necessary.”
* Mohammad Baqer Zalghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, [said][29] Friday that attacks on infrastructure would be met with retaliation, warning that “the rogue Zionist regime… will not be spared from the response of our fighters,” Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported.
* Qatari mediators have been meeting separately with U.S. and Iranian officials in an effort to deescalate the situation and resume negotiations, according to reports by Reuters and the New York Times.
* **Gulf Cooperation Council condemns attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz, holds Iran responsible: **The Gulf Cooperation Council [condemned][30] attacks on the Saudi tanker Wadiyan and Qatari LNG carrier Al Rekayyat “in the strongest terms” in a Thursday statement, holding Tehran fully responsible and declaring that aggression against one Gulf state threatens all six member states.
* The statement condemned Iranian strikes targeting U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait as violations of international law, but did not mention the U.S. strikes on Iran that preceded them.
* The bloc also called on the UN Security Council to guarantee freedom of navigation in the strait without “transit or service fees.” Iran has maintained its demand passing ships pay “service fees,” covering what it says are necessary maritime navigation and environmental protection fees.
* **Shipping grinds to a halt in the Strait of Hormuz:**
* Traceable vessel transits through the U.S.-coordinated Omani lane effectively [ground to a halt][31] on Thursday, according to the maritime tracking firm Lloyd’s List, with no tracked vessels with capacity exceeding 10,000 metric tons having transited the corridor since July 7. Two untracked crossings were recorded by the firm.
* On Thursday, U.S. Central Command claimed in a [post][32] on X that since early May, U.S. forces have helped facilitate the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz carrying 380 million barrels of crude oil.
* The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency [issued][33] a warning Friday morning that the security threat in the Strait of Hormuz remains at its highest level (“SEVERE”) after this week’s hostilities, advising ship owners and sailors to use “established reporting and coordination procedures” and that routes beside the approved southern route “are not protected.”
* **Assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad:**
* The Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, was buried in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday, concluding a week of mourning with ceremonies in Iran’s holy cities, its capital, and the Shia holy cities of Iraq.
* Between 41 and 43 million people participated in the six-day funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, Iranian media reported on Friday.
* At the ceremonies, IRGC commander Brigadier-General Ahmad Vahidi pledged vengeance against the U.S. and Israel for the killing of Supreme Leader, calling for a “fitting response to the criminals, especially the child-killing American army,” according to a statement carried by Iran’s Sepah news agency.
* **Seafarers sue Thai shipping firm over Strait of Hormuz attack: **Three former crew members of the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree, which was struck in a March attack in the Strait of Hormuz, [filed][34] a lawsuit Friday against the vessel’s operator alleging labor rights violations and unfair dismissal.
* The ship was hit by a projectile north of Oman on March 11, killing three of its crew; the remaining 20 members were rescued and returned to Thailand a week later.
* The lawsuit alleges the defendants endangered the crew’s lives by sailing through the Strait despite known risks.
* **Israel feeds Trump report that Iran plans to assassinate him, sources say**: Israel [shared][35] intelligence with the United States that claimed Iran had recently devised a new plan to assassinate President Donald Trump, according to a Thursday report from the Wall Street Journal.
* One source told CNN that the warning came this week, the latest in a series of possible plans to assassinate Trump that an intelligence official characterized as “a steady drumbeat.”
* Asked to comment, the White House pointed to Trump’s Wednesday remarks that Iran wants “to take out the U.S. leader—me” adding that he is “on every single one of their lists.”
# Lebanon
* **Israel continues to attack Lebanon, despite “ceasefire” and U.S.-backed framework:**
* Israel [hit][36] a car with a “double-tap” strike in the southern Lebanon town of Kfar Reman in the Nabatieh district on Friday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported. There was no immediate reports of casualties.
* Also in Nabatieh, an Israeli drone [struck][37] a pick-up truck on the outskirts of Shukin and Kfar Dajjal while the vehicle was unloading waste, wounding two people, NNA reported.
* Separately, an Israeli drone [dropped][38] a stun grenade near the town of Al-Mansouri in the southern Tyre district, according to the NNA.
* Additionally, Israeli tanks and other military vehicles reportedly advanced towards the Birket al-Hammam in Khiam, and soldiers set fire to several homes in Qantara, in the Marjayoun district.
* **Amnesty calls for war crimes probe into Israeli strikes that killed 24 Lebanese civilians: **Amnesty International [called][39] for war crimes investigations into three Israeli air attacks on homes in Lebanon’s Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh districts on March 6, 12 and 13 that killed 24 civilians, including 12 children, six women and six men, with at least 18 others wounded.
* “Within the space of just a week—the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for civilian lives. How many more families will have to pull the body parts of their children from the rubble before this devastating cycle of war crimes ends?” a spokesperson for the group asked.
* Amnesty also warned of the potential effects of the current “framework” agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel on its pursuit of justice; Article 13 of the framework agreement requires both sides to “cease all hostile or negative actions in international political or legal forums.” The broadly worded provision could prevent victims of Israeli war crimes committed since October 8, 2023, from seeking justice through international or national courts.
* At least 4,320 people have been killed, and 12,203 wounded, in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
* **Journalist Courtney Bonneau steps back from reporting in Lebanon, citing devastating toll of war: **Courtney Bonneau, who has reported extensively from Lebanon throughout Israeli attacks for the past three years, announced she is stepping away from the field for several days, saying years of documenting war and the loss of loved ones, colleagues, and friends have left her “heart in pieces.”
* In a [statement][40] on X, Bonneau reflected on the cumulative weight of witnessing death and destruction, describing how scenes of violence have permanently reshaped her inner life. She also recounted surviving multiple life-threatening incidents, including being chased by an Israeli Merkava tank, coming under Israeli sniper fire eight times, and being intimidated by quadcopter drones while reporting. “Not because the work has become less necessary, but because mourning, too, demands its own uncompromising attention,” she wrote.
* Her reporting—along with that of many courageous Lebanese journalists—has been an important source for Drop Site News’ coverage of developments in Lebanon.
# Palestine
* **Two hospital workers wounded after Israeli drone attack at Kamal Adwan Hospital: **Two staff members were wounded after an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped an explosive device at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Friday, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported. The facility is located within the “green zone.”
* **Israel appears to target Hamas political spokesperson amid continued attacks: **One Palestinian was [killed][41] and others wounded after an Israeli strike hit a civilian vehicle west of Gaza City, in a strike that appears to have targeted Hamas’s political spokesperson in Gaza, Hazem Qassem, killing his personal aide. According to Israel’s Channel 14, Qassem [survived][42] the attack.
* In a separate strike in Khan Younis, Israel killed two people.
* Israeli gunfire wounded several people in the Al-Salatin area of Beit Lahia.
* Israeli forces also opened fire on Khan Younis, continuing their near-daily attacks east of the “Yellow Line.”
* **Israel bans Al-Aqsa preacher from mosque: **Israeli forces on Friday detained Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories Mohammad Hussein, the preacher of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, before handing him a one-week order [banning][43] him from entering the third holiest site in Islam, according to WAFA.
* Israeli restrictions and settler incursions at Al-Aqsa are intensifying. More than 25,600 settlers entered the compound during the first half of 2026. Israeli authorities also fully closed the mosque between February 28, the first day of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, and April 9.
* **Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank continue:**
* Israeli settlers [wounded][44] seven Palestinians, including two children in the Masafer Yatta area of the South Hebron Hills. The settlers reportedly pepper sprayed and beat a Palestinian. Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene protected the settlers and also joined the assault, according to the reports.
* Israeli settlers [demolished][45] the Yanun Mixed Basic School in southern Nablus on Thursday, around eight months after residents of Khirbet Yanun were forcibly displaced, WAFA reported. The school served 15 Palestinian students from first to sixth grade.
* Three Palestinians were [shot][46] by Israeli forces and dozens suffered tear gas inhalation during a raid on the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, according to WAFA. Israeli soldiers also stormed a home and severely beat its residents, leaving several with bruises and other injuries. After residents gathered to support the family, Israeli forces opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas.
* **Smotrich claims Witkoff privately called Gaza’s population “Nazis”: **Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich [said][47] on Thursday that Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff privately told him “I will not let two million Nazis live next to your children along the border fence,” referring to Gaza’s besieged population, half of them children, according to Israel National News. “There is only one thing that hurts the enemy: land,” Smotrich reported Witkoff telling him.
* Smotrich said the exchange took place on January 30, 2025, when Witkoff met him and then-Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Jerusalem a day after touring Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor and viewing October 7 attack footage.
* The alleged remark also came days before Trump publicly unveiled his plan to take over Gaza and transfer its population.
* Witkoff has not commented on the story and the language mirrors Smotrich’s own; he frequently describes Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as “Nazis.”
* **France calls for Israel to release imprisoned Palestinian physician: **On Thursday,** **France [joined][48] international calls for Israel to release Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been held without charge since December 2024.
* A statement from the country’s foreign ministry noted “extremely worrying information about his state of health.”
* The French appeal follows warnings from Physicians for Human Rights Israel that Abu Safiya’s life is in immediate danger: his lawyer, who visited him last week at the underground Rakefet facility, said he arrived shackled and so badly injured he was barely recognizable, and reported being beaten daily.
* The French foreign ministry also called for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire to commence and urged the Israeli army to withdraw from the Strip.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][49].*
* **Maine Democratic Party establishment plans Platner replacement process: **The process to replace **Graham Platner** as Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee is underway. A 100-person state committee voted to approve a process by which 600 delegates, 500 county committee elected delegates, and the 100 state committee members themselves will select the new nominee from a slate of candidates vying to replace Platner at a convention later this summer.
* **Troy Jackson**, **Shenna Bellows**, **Nirav Shah**, **Dan Kleban**, **Jordan Wood**, and **Vallie Geiger **are running for the spot. All the candidates lost their respective Democratic gubernatorial and congressional primaries in June, aside from Geiger, who serves as a state representative for the Rockland area.
* [Drop Site obtained private Maine Democratic Party information][50] showing that the 500 delegates will be proportionally appointed based on 2024 election Democratic vote totals in their respective counties. How those 500 delegates will be elected is still under debate.
* Sources close to the Maine Democratic Party (MDP) have shared two potential processes for delegate elections. The first requires delegate candidates to file with the state and obtain at least 250 voter signatures prior to the County Committee meeting where the qualifying delegates will be voted on by registered Maine Democrats. Another source says the MDP will hold caucuses at each county committee meeting to select the delegates. The MDP has not officially announced a process to select candidates.
* The Maine AFL-CIO [endorsed][51] Jackson on Friday. They represent more than 200 local labor unions that include over 42,000 working people and retirees across the state.
* **AIPAC targets Cori Bush’s comeback bid against Rep. Wesley Bell: **AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, has [spent][52] $865,000 on TV ads supporting **Rep. Wesley Bell** in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District primary rematch against former** Rep. Cori Bush**, making it the race’s biggest ad spender so far, Axios reported on Friday, with Bush’s campaign spending just $30,000 and no outside groups yet backing her ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.
* AIPAC spent more than $9 million to oust Bush in 2024, when Bell defeated her by roughly 5 percentage points.
* “People are really upset that so much money came into our district and was used to influence who became the representative this Congress,” Bush told Axios in an interview. “A lot of people have said to me, ‘Cori, I just didn’t know,’ or ‘I didn’t understand what was happening at the time, and now I know.’ And they’re upset.”
* **ICE agents in Houston killed man who was not their target, DHS says**: Federal immigration agents who [killed][53] Mexican immigrant **Lorenzo Salgado Araujo **during a Tuesday traffic stop in Houston had actually been searching for two Guatemalan immigrants, one of whom they believed was in a white van Araujo was driving to work, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman said on Thursday.
* An agent shot Araujo, who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years, in the abdomen after DHS alleged he tried to use his vehicle as a weapon, though no video or other evidence has emerged to support that claim, and the agents were not wearing body cameras.
* Araujo’s son said the family believes his father fled because he was being chased by unmarked cars and has demanded an independent inquiry.
* Mexico says 14 of its citizens have died in ICE detention and three more during arrest operations, including Araujo. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will file criminal complaints with U.S. prosecutors over the deaths, arguing those responsible should face homicide or human rights investigations. Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco said Mexico is also planning civil lawsuits against the private companies that operate U.S. immigration detention centers.
* **Marine veteran Victor Marx wins Colorado GOP governor primary**: Marine Corps veteran and Christian minister **Victor Marx** [won][54] the Republican primary for Colorado governor Thursday, edging out state Sen. **Barbara Kirkmeyer**, who had establishment backing, in results certified after the tight June 30 race.
* Marx, who describes himself as a “high-risk humanitarian” after his Christian missions in “ISIS territory,” will face Democratic state Attorney General **Phil Weiser **in November. Colorado has not elected a Republican governor in more than two decades.
* **New Mexico AG accuses DOJ of obstructing Epstein investigation**: **Raúl Torrez** [accused][55] the Justice Department of obstructing the state’s criminal investigation into **Jeffrey Epstein’s** activities at his Zorro Ranch property by withholding unredacted records despite six requests since February, according to a letter reported by the New York Times.
* Torrez said the withheld records, which contain names of survivors, witnesses and co-conspirators, are needed for the state’s investigation, warning “every day that the U.S.D.O.J. withholds these records, the foundation upon which a New Mexico prosecution could be built erodes.”
* **Trump ousts remaining Election Assistance Commission members**: The White House [fired][56] all three sitting members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Thursday, four months ahead of the midterm elections, NBC News reported.
* A White House official confirmed all three commissioners are gone and said “they will be replaced,” though presidential appointments require Senate confirmation.
* The EAC, which certifies election equipment and has distributed more than $1 billion in election security grants since 2018, was already down to three members after a Republican commissioner resigned earlier this year.
* One fired commissioner called the dismissals “purely political” and warned they would “throw the country into chaos,” and Arizona’s Secretary of State said the move was “irresponsible and dangerous” and undermined “the integrity of nonpartisan election administration.”
# Other International News
* **Germany to buy U.S. Tomahawk missiles:** Germany will purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz [said][57] on Thursday.
* The agreement, reached following the NATO summit in Ankara, comes after uncertainty over U.S. deployments following President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce the American military presence in Germany.
* Berlin said the acquisition will fill a critical strategic gap while Europe develops its own long-range missile systems, though the number of missiles and launchers to be purchased remains classified.
* **Anti-immigrant protests escalate in South Africa:** Anti-immigration [protesters][58] in Johannesburg went house-to-house on Thursday searching for suspected undocumented migrants and handing them over to police, Reuters reported.
* The campaign, led by the anti-immigrant group March and March, has vowed to hold weekly protests demanding mass deportations and stricter border controls.
* South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned vigilante immigration enforcement, although police have increased arrests of undocumented migrants amid the unrest.
* The violence has prompted a large-scale exodus from the country, with tens of thousands of immigrants from Malawi and Zimbabwe reportedly leaving the country in recent weeks.
* **June was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians, the UN says:** The United Nations [told][59] the Security Council that Russian strikes killed at least 265 civilians and injured 1,816 in Ukraine in June, the highest combined monthly civilian casualty toll since the early months of Russia’s 2022 invasion.
* A senior UN official told the council that the trend of elevated civilian deaths appears to be continuing into July following multiple large-scale Russian air attacks on Kyiv and other cities, which have seen depletions of missile interceptor supplies in recent months.
* The UN has verified at least 16,402 civilian deaths and 48,428 injuries in Ukraine since the start of the war, while warning the true toll is likely higher.
* **Canadian PM visits Saudi Arabia, seeks to reset relationship:** Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney [visited][60] Saudi Arabia on the first trip by a Canadian leader to the country in 25 years.
* Carney and Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman signed agreements to expand cooperation in sectors including energy, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence, with plans to finalize a business facilitation deal next year.
* Carney added that Canada would not “lecture countries from afar” on human rights. The approach marks a sharp shift from the government under Justin Trudeau, which led to a diplomatic rupture with Riyadh in 2018 over the kingdom’s human rights record.
* **Andy Burnham apologizes for Labour’s Gaza stance**: British MP Andy Burnham [apologized][61] for the party’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, telling the Guardian on Thursday that “the response has too often not been good enough” and pledging to increase pressure on the Israeli government through further sanctions and a potential ban on trade with illegal settlements.
* Burnham said there was “increasing evidence” of war crimes in Gaza but stopped short of calling it a genocide, saying accountability “must be for the international courts to determine.”
* **Tanzania arrests 130 in crackdown on dissent**: Tanzanian police [arrested][62] 130 people on Thursday for “inciting criminal acts” as part of efforts to contain dissent in the country, with the police noting that they are working to track down other people to arrest.
* The arrests follow a June 26 ban on political rallies, which was announced ahead of a July 7 protest commemorating the violence that accompanied last year’s elections. “Heavy security deployments” were necessary to prevent the protest, according to Reuters.
* At least 518 people were killed in last year’s violence, a government commission found, driven by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates.
* **Sudan army accepts most of U.S. truce proposal, objects to limited RSF withdrawal**: Sudan’s army-led government [accepted][63] most of a U.S. proposal for a 90-day humanitarian truce and civilian-led transition to elections, but objected to a provision calling for only limited RSF withdrawals, according to a Reuters report on Thursday.
* U.S. Senior Adviser Massad Boulos said last week he was “extremely pleased” that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan “has apparently accepted — rather than rejected” the proposal, after initially telling the UN Security Council that the Sudanese Army had rejected it.
* A senior RSF official told Reuters that the force welcomed the Boulos plan and had submitted a written response, but gave no further details.
* The proposal, which also calls for a unified national army and a political process excluding the Muslim Brotherhood and militia elements accused of atrocities, prioritizes RSF withdrawal from North Darfur and North Kordofan.
* **North Korea approves measures to expand nuclear forces:** The North Korean government [issued a directive][64] to strengthen the country’s nuclear arsenal “quantitatively and qualitatively,” state media KCNA reported.
* At a meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, Kim Jong Un also called for modernizing combat systems, military bases, naval facilities, shipyards, and intelligence capabilities, arguing that “true peace” could only be secured through overwhelming military power.
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[1]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075290984875720926
[2]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075381898969276700
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075452330833518748
[4]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/10/iran-war-live-fresh-attacks-on-iran-as-us-says-talks-still-on
[5]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/politics/trump-assassination-plot-iran-israel
[6]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551447/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-2
[7]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/07/lebanon-israeli-attacks-killing-children-wiping-out-families-must-be-investigated-as-war-crimes/
[8]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[9]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[10]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/10/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89-150148
[11]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756227
[12]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075278487909257538?s=20
[13]: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary
[14]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/witnesses-houston-ice-shooting.html
[15]: https://www.reuters.com/world/merz-says-germany-agreed-acquire-us-tomahawk-missiles-2026-07-09/
[16]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-protesters-go-door-to-door-forcing-immigrants-their-homes-2026-07-09/
[17]: https://www.reuters.com/world/un-agency-says-russian-strikes-killed-least-265-civilians-ukraine-june-2026-07-09/
[18]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/canada-wants-broader-saudi-ties-wont-lecture-afar-carney
[19]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/09/andy-burnham-labour-didnt-get-it-right-stance-gaza-war
[20]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tanzania-arrests-130-people-government-cracks-down-dissent-2026-07-09/
[21]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-army-says-us-peace-plan-must-call-full-rsf-withdrawal-cities-documents-2026-07-09/
[22]: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-decides-on-measures-to-expand-nuclear-forces-kcna-reports
[23]: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC8sIT2Jl8B4r4N202q
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[28]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075290984875720926
[29]: https://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/07/10/3643931/top-official-warns-of-retaliation-for-attacks-on-iran-s-infrastructure
[30]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075381898969276700
[31]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075452330833518748
[32]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075444293150380238
[33]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756430
[34]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/7/10/iran-war-live-fresh-attacks-on-iran-as-us-says-talks-still-on
[35]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/politics/trump-assassination-plot-iran-israel
[36]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551447/%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-2
[37]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551373/%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%83-%D8%A3%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%B4%D9%88%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%86--%D9%83%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%84-2
[38]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551422/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-2
[39]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/07/lebanon-israeli-attacks-killing-children-wiping-out-families-must-be-investigated-as-war-crimes/
[40]: https://x.com/cbonneauimages/status/2075164698735976460?s=46
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075288803523100817
[42]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075280193350975717
[43]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/10/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89-150148
[44]: https://aje.news/1lpcwa?update=4756227
[45]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/9/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-150132
[46]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/9/%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-150133
[47]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075404579294896252
[48]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075382873134117312
[49]: mailto:[email protected]
[50]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075278487909257538?s=20
[51]: https://x.com/nathantbernard/status/2075596794528989320?s=46
[52]: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/aipac-missouri-israel-cori-bush-bell-primary
[53]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/witnesses-houston-ice-shooting.html
[54]: https://apnews.com/article/election-colorado-republican-primary-marx-b570a0ebea909683fb7ae9559ea260e7
[55]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/us/new-mexico-todd-blanche-epstein-ranch.html
[56]: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/trump-fires-election-assistance-commission-members-ahead-midterms-rcna353781
[57]: https://www.reuters.com/world/merz-says-germany-agreed-acquire-us-tomahawk-missiles-2026-07-09/
[58]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-protesters-go-door-to-door-forcing-immigrants-their-homes-2026-07-09/
[59]: https://www.reuters.com/world/un-agency-says-russian-strikes-killed-least-265-civilians-ukraine-june-2026-07-09/
[60]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/canada-wants-broader-saudi-ties-wont-lecture-afar-carney
[61]: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/09/andy-burnham-labour-didnt-get-it-right-stance-gaza-war
[62]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/tanzania-arrests-130-people-government-cracks-down-dissent-2026-07-09/
[63]: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-army-says-us-peace-plan-must-call-full-rsf-withdrawal-cities-documents-2026-07-09/
[64]: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-decides-on-measures-to-expand-nuclear-forces-kcna-reports
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/khamenei-funeral-hormuz-iran-us-platner-maine
1
U.S. and Iran trade strikes; Platner drops out; 600 Ebola deaths in Congo
*U.S. [continues][1] to bomb Iran. Iran [launches][2] retaliatory attacks. U.S. potentially [preparing][3] to strike Iran for weeks, Axios reports. Iran [says][4] slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral proceeding despite U.S. attacks. Israeli forces [demolish][5] homes in Hadatha, bomb Houla in south Lebanon. President Donald Trump [says][6] Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel’s defense minister says it won’t. [Hezbollah][7]: Lebanon-Israel framework “serves Israel entirely.” Israeli attacks on Gaza [continue][8] on Thursday. At least eight Palestinians [killed][9] in Israeli attacks on Wednesday. Israeli court [rejects][10] imprisoned physician’s plea. Hamas delegation [returns][11] to Cairo for negotiations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [sets][12] Nov. 28 as the date for Palestinian legislative elections. Graham Platner [drops out][13] of Maine Senate race. Joint Chiefs’ top legal counsel [to step down][14] early amid wave of Pentagon exits. Speaker
of the House Mike Johnson [weighs][15] introducing bill to end birthright citizenship. Former Wisconsin judge [fined][16] $5,000, avoids prison for helping immigrant evade ICE arrest. U.S. to [remove][17] Syria from list of “state sponsors of terror.” Democratic Republic of Congo [reports][18] 600 Ebola deaths. U.S. migrants [arrive][19] in Eswatini. Sudanese Army [takes][20] control of Kurmuk. Brazilian police [search][21] former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home for weapons. Trump [says][22] he will allow Ukraine to make Patriot interceptors. Russia [bans][23] diesel exports. Ukrainian drones [hit][24] Russian tankers. Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak [kills][25] 39 in southern China. Calls to lift Venezuela sanctions [grow][26] amid post-earthquake recovery efforts.*
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Children walk by posters warning people about Ebola on June 24, 2026 in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo by Daniel Buuma/Getty Images.
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **U.S. continues to bomb Iran: **U.S. Central Command[ announced][32] on Wednesday that it was conducting additional strikes on Iran.
* According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted sites intended to “further degrade” Iran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday morning, it reported that 90 strikes were carried out overnight.
* The U.S. struck facilities at Iranshahr airport in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, damaging the airport’s flight operations building and meteorological station and killing a firefighter, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
* U.S. strikes killed three people in Ahvaz, and shrapnel from an attack damaged a hospital in Chahbahar.
* The U.S. also [struck][33] the Bushehr province on Thursday, though the region’s governor insisted that the strikes did not hit the area’s nuclear power plant, according to Al Jazeera.
* Wednesday’s strikes follow strikes reported in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Sirik, Bushehr, Chabahar and Konarak on Tuesday. Attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday killed 14 and brought about 78 total hospitalizations, Iran’s Health Ministry reported on Thursday, with 47 of these cases requiring continued hospitalization.
* Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the newest wave of U.S. attacks on the country on Thursday, calling Washington’s justification—that it attacked in response to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz—a “false pretext”.
* **Iran launches retaliatory attacks:**
* Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) [said][34] early Thursday that it launched a joint missile and drone operation targeting U.S. bases at Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, adding that “the aggressions of the child-killing U.S. army” would not go unanswered, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
* In response to these attacks, sirens were set off in Bahrain and Kuwait’s defense ministry sent residents several alerts.
* A spokesperson for Kuwait’s defense ministry [confirmed][35] Thursday that one person was wounded during attacks by Iran across the country. The ministry reported the victim was hospitalized and in stable condition after being struck by falling debris, but did not specify where the incident occurred.
* Jordan’s armed forces also [said][36] its air defence systems intercepted eight missiles “launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory” on Thursday, Jordanian outlet Al-Mamlaka, reported. A military spokesperson said debris from the interceptions fell in several areas but caused no casualties or material damage.
* **U.S. potentially preparing to strike Iran for weeks, Axios reports: ** The White House is [preparing][37] for what could become a multi-day or even multi-week military campaign against Iran centered on the Strait of Hormuz, Axios, a frequent source of U.S. and Israeli leaks throughout the war, reported on Wednesday.
* One U.S. official reportedly threatened to “slap” Iran “a bit,” “so they understand we’re not fucking around.” The same official said the duration of the strikes will depend on Tehran’s response.
* Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Iran’s representative had “called a little while ago” and that they “want to make a deal”—a claim he made without providing evidence. Iran did not confirm any direct outreach.
* U.S. officials also told Axios that “reopening” the Strait of Hormuz and “restoring freedom of navigation” have become the administration’s primary military objectives, as Iran has insisted the waterway will only operate on its terms.
* Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Wednesday that U.S. strikes “are just going to keep on happening until they open up that lane and stop shooting at ships.”
* Regarding the Strait, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker, [said][38] in a post on X it would “only open with ‘Iranian arrangements,’ not American threats.” He also warned Washington that it “still [hadn’t] learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free.” “Let me put it plainly, he said, “if you strike, you’ll get hit.”
* Traffic through the Strait [slowed][39] to a near standstill on Thursday, Bloomberg reported. Ship-tracking data showed most vessel movements were confined to the Iran-approved route along the waterway’s northern side, while the U.S.-backed Omani shipping corridor saw little activity. Among larger vessels, only a U.S.-sanctioned supertanker departing the Persian Gulf and an Iranian-flagged container ship were visible, although some ships may have been transiting with their tracking systems switched off, the outlet noted.
* **Iran says Khamenei funeral proceeding despite U.S. attacks**: Iranian officials [said][40] Thursday that recent U.S. attacks have not disrupted the funeral procession for the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose body was flown to Mashhad to be buried after week-long processions in Tehran, Qom, and the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf, Al Jazeera reported.
* Officials said an overnight strike that knocked out the railway linking Tehran to Mashhad had not altered plans, and attributed an eight-hour postponement of the burial, originally set for 6 a.m. local time near the shrine of Imam Reza, to heavy crowds in Iraq rather than the attacks.
* In a [statement][41] issued on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of targeting the railway route to Mashhad in an attempt to overshadow the funeral ceremonies of Khamenei, adding the attack reflected its “inability to comprehend the glory of Iranian patriotism” after the Iranian public’s “magnificent and unparalleled” turnout at the funeral, IRNA reported.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli forces demolish homes in Hadatha, bomb Houla in south Lebanon: **Israeli forces [carried out][42] a demolition operation targeting several houses in the town of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, the National News Agency (NNA) reported Thursday, despite a U.S.-backed “ceasefire” signed with Lebanon.
* Israeli forces also bombed the town of Houla in the Marjayoun district, according to NNA. The Israeli army also carried out a series of demolitions overnight and at dawn in the towns of Khiam and Taybeh in Marjayoun.
* **Trump says Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel’s defense minister says it won’t: **U.S. President Donald Trump [told][43] reporters on Wednesday that he thought Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon.
* “I think they want to,” he said to reporters, despite recent statements from Netanyahu to the contrary, and citing the recent “framework” deal as the reason for the withdrawal. “Yeah, they’ll leave. And I think it’s going to work out very well,” Trump said.
* Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected these claims on Thursday, saying Israel would stay in Lebanon as long as it deemed necessary, and that it “did not ask permission to enter Lebanon” and “does not need permission to stay in Lebanon.”
* **Hezbollah: Lebanon-Israel framework “serves Israel entirely”: **Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem [said][44] Wednesday the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement “serves Israel entirely” and called for it to be scrapped, arguing it was unconstitutional, NNA reported. Speaking during a public gathering, Qassem said Israel had committed “hundreds” of ceasefire violations and urged Lebanese authorities to pursue only indirect negotiations. He also said there could be “no solution except Israeli withdrawal” in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, alongside an end to Israeli attacks, the release of detainees, reconstruction, and the return of displaced residents. He reaffirmed Hezbollah’s support for the U.S.-Iran MOU, saying the group would remain committed to resistance.
# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded: **Over the last 24 hours, eight Palestinians were killed, one due to wounds sustained in earlier attacks, and 17 were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,118 killed, with 173,615 injured. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,092 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,507, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Israeli attacks on Gaza continue on Thursday:**
* An Israeli drone strike [killed][45] two Palestinians and wounded several others west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza on Thursday, WAFA reported. Another Palestinian was also killed in a drone strike on a vehicle west of Gaza City.
* **Israeli attacks kill at least eight Palestinians on Wednesday:** Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday killed at least eight Palestinians, including multiple children, including an employee of the World Central Kitchen.
* Israeli forces [killed][46] a driver working for a World Central Kitchen partner logistics company, the charity announced on Wednesday, while he was transporting aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing to a WCK warehouse in Gaza.
* An Israeli airstrike on Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood killed two, while a strike on a vehicle west of Gaza City on Wednesday evening [killed][47] one Palestinian and wounded several others, WAFA reported.
* **Israeli court rejects imprisoned physician’s plea: **The** **Israeli government [responded][48] on Wednesday to a High Court petition over the detention of Gaza physician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, saying he has been examined several times since being transferred to the underground Rakefet detention facility, following reports of severe abuse by Israeli forces.
* The government also asked the court to dismiss, without a hearing, PHRI’s petition seeking the release of 14 Gaza doctors, including Dr. Abu Safiya, held without charge.
* Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) argued that the state failed to explain why the examinations were necessary, what they found, or to respond to allegations from his lawyer that he suffered severe injuries and repeated loss of consciousness. The group said the decision raises additional questions about Dr. Safiya’s well-being.
* Also on Wednesday, two more U.S. members of Congress called for Dr. Abu Safiya’s release. Sen. Bernie Sanders [charged][49] Israel of “kidnapping” Dr. Safiya because he refused to abandon one of Gaza’s last hospitals, “even after Israel killed his own son in a drone strike,” and unequivocally demanded his “immediate” release.
* Florida Democrat Valerie Foushee joined Sanders—and Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Democratic congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier before her—in calling for Abu Safiya’s release, saying she is “deeply disturbed” by his detention and reports of his abuse in prison.
* **Hamas delegation returns to Cairo for negotiations: **A Hamas delegation led by the group’s Gaza head, Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, [arrived][50] in Cairo on Wednesday to continue ceasefire negotiations with Egyptian and other mediators, according to a statement from senior official Taher Al-Nunu.
* Al-Nunu said that talks aim to “secure a lasting ceasefire,” advance the agreement to its second phase while completing the implementation of its first phase, increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, and accelerate the transfer of governance responsibilities to the National Committee for Administration of Gaza, operating under Trump’s “Board of Peace,” following the dissolution of the Strip’s administration earlier this week.
* **Abbas sets Nov. 28 as date for Palestinian legislative elections: **Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas [issued][51] a decree on Thursday setting Saturday, November 28, 2026, as the date for legislative elections, calling on Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate, according to WAFA.
* Abbas, who has remained in office since 2005 after repeatedly postponing elections, announced what would be the first parliamentary vote since 2006, when Hamas defeated his Fatah movement. In June, he amended the election law, requiring candidates to endorse the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas rejected the changes, saying they entrenched political monopoly and lacked national consensus.
* **Israel’s “Crimson Thread” barrier cuts off Palestinian farms in Jordan Valley**: Israeli forces are constructing a 22-kilometer separation wall and military road through the Al-Forat farm near Tubas in the northern West Bank, part of a planned 500-kilometer “Crimson Thread” barrier that would seal off the Jordan Valley from the rest of Palestine, Drop Site reports.
* Farmer Muad Abdelreziq told Drop Site that Israel had cut water access to 400 dunams of farmland for five days and destroyed irrigation pipelines, and a January petition by Tubas residents estimating $200 million in annual economic damage led to a court injunction that Israel’s military successfully rescinded days after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran on March 3.
* “I cannot irrigate the herbs, I cannot irrigate the melons,” one farmer said about the changes. “I cannot replace the water lines. All these families will have nothing. We will have to stop.”
* **Read the latest from Drop Site’s Maysa Mustafa [here][52], and watch Mustafa’s video dispatch [here][53].**
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][54].*
* **Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race: **Democratic Senate candidate **Graham Platner** [withdrew][55] from the race on Wednesday after a week in which he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a rape allegation.
* In a video posted to X, he called the accusations “all false” and told supporters that he was ending his campaign because the “political reality” was that party leaders and major donors “are going to take everything away from us,” making it impossible to continue.
* Maine Democrats now have until July 27 to choose a replacement for the November race against incumbent Republican **Sen. Susan Collins**. In his video statement, Platner urged party leaders to make the selection through an “open, transparent and democratic” process that reflects “the will and the values of the people of Maine,” not decisions made “in back rooms.”
* The Maine Democratic State Committee voted Wednesday to select a replacement nominee for Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate race through a 600-person nominating convention rather than a statewide caucus, with 500 delegates apportioned by county and the remaining 100 drawn from state committee members. The decision, reported by **David Dayen** at The American Prospect, reverses earlier sourcing that had pointed toward a caucus and threatens to alienate Platner’s supporters, who had pushed for an open process. Read TAP’s full report on the nominating process [here][56].
* Also on Wednesday, **Spencer Toth**, who helped design Platner’s grassroots campaign strategy and later became the organizing director for the state’s Democratic Party, [announced][57] his immediate resignation, alleging that the Party was excluding grassroots organizers from the selection of the next nominee and saying he could no longer serve it when its decisions were not “consistent with [his] values.” His resignation cited a Tuesday statement from the Party that said that Platner’s apparatus would “have no role in determining our next nominee for U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process would look like.”
* **Joint Chiefs’ top legal counsel to step down early amid wave of Pentagon exits: **Brig. Gen. **Eric Widmar**, senior legal counsel to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. **Dan Caine**, is [retiring][58] nearly a year ahead of schedule, telling ProPublica he is leaving for personal reasons after two years living apart from his wife.
* Widmar becomes the latest in a string of top military officials to depart the Pentagon since the start of the second Trump administration, following Gen. **Chris Donahue’s** exit last week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. **Randy George’s** ouster in April, and Adm. **Alvin Holsey’s** removal from Southern Command late last year, all reportedly pushed by War Secretary **Pete Hegseth**.
* **Johnson weighs introducing bill to end birthright citizenship: **Speaker of the House **Mike Johnson** is [considering][59] bringing legislation to the floor that would bar pregnant women from entering the United States to secure citizenship for their children, according to a report from Politico.
* The largely symbolic measure, unlikely to survive a Senate filibuster, would give Johnson a way to respond to hard-line Republicans pressing for action after the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s effort to curtail birthright citizenship.
* **Former Wisconsin judge fined $5,000, avoids prison for helping immigrant evade ICE arrest**: Former Milwaukee County Judge** Hannah Dugan** was [sentenced][60] Wednesday to a $5,000 fine rather than prison time by U.S. District Judge** Lynn Adelman**, after being convicted in December of felony obstruction for leading Mexican defendant **Eduardo Flores-Ruiz **through a private jury door in April 2025 as ICE agents sought to arrest him at her Milwaukee County courthouse. Agents ultimately caught and arrested Flores-Ruiz outside after a foot chase, and he was deported in November.
# Other International News
* **U.S. to remove Syria from list of “state sponsors of terror”: **The U.S. [announced][61] on Wednesday that it would delist Syria as a “state sponsor of terror,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the move a “historic step” which would “give the Syrian people a chance at greatness.”
* Rubio added that the decision was made because Syria had made “formal assurances” to the U.S. that it would “not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”
* The announcement came as Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Ankara on Wednesday. Trump praised al-Sharaa for the “unbelievable job” he had done in Syria. “What a job he’s doing,” he added.
* The designation has significantly impacted the country’s economy since it was announced in 1979. It has limited investment within Syria by preventing U.S.-affiliated companies from doing business in the country and by preventing Syrian companies from banking with U.S.-based financial institutions.
* The U.S. had lifted other sanctions on the country in May, but this delisting is viewed by many as the most significant step the U.S. has taken to benefit al-Sharaa’s government.
* **DRC reports 600 Ebola deaths: **At least 600 people have [died][62] from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to data released by the country’s government on Wednesday.
* As the outbreak has grown more severe, many healthcare workers in the Ituri province, one of the hardest-hit, have gone on an unofficial strike because they have not been paid, according to the Associated Press. Some workers report not having been paid wages or bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
* Clinical trials for treatment of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus—the dominant strain in this latest outbreak—have also begun this week, according to Al Jazeera.
* **U.S. migrants arrive in Eswatini:** Eleven more migrants [arrived][63] in Eswatini on Wednesday as part of the Trump administration’s “third-country” deportation policy.
* Wednesday’s arrivals bring the total number of deportees to 29, following the country’s receipt of $5.1 million from Washington. Only two of these people have been released and repatriated.
* The “third-country” deportation policy has been challenged as illegal, with lawyers for deportees noting that their clients are being detained after having served time for crimes in the United States.
* **Sudanese Army takes control of Kurmuk: **The Sudanese Army [recaptured][64] the border town of Kurmuk in the Blue Nile region on Wednesday, Sudan Tribune reported, after battles between its forces and those of the Rapid Support Forces and its allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N).
* The Sudanese Army has set its sights on Kurmuk for several weeks, launching several operations to secure the surrounding area. The town has frequently changed hands during Sudan’s civil war, which began in 2023.
* Kurmuk is near Sudan’s border with Ethiopia, which the Sudanese government has accused of supporting the RSF by allowing its drones to launch from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport. Ethiopia’s government has rejected these allegations.
* Separately, a UN probe found on Wednesday that the RSF’s actions in its 2025 siege of El-Fasher, which included mass killings, abductions of women and girls, mass gang rapes and forced starvation, amount to genocide.
* The decision comes after survivors testified to UN human rights officials about being raped in the same room where bodies of recently killed civilians, some of whom were their family members, were still lying on the ground.
* UN officials recently warned about similar conditions in the city of El-Obeid, a city which has been under assault by the RSF’s drones, calling the “signs” of human rights abuses “clear and unmistakable.”
* **Brazilian police search former president’s home for weapons: **Brazil’s federal police [searched][65] the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro for weapons on Wednesday, according to a court ruling reported on by Reuters. Bolsonaro’s lawyers insist that nothing was found.
* Last month, a gun registered to Bolsonaro was seized from one of his security guards at a police checkpoint, even though he was required by a court order to surrender all of his weapons.
* Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison term under house arrest after attempting a coup when he lost the 2022 election to current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
* Bolsonaro’s son, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, is Lula’s principal right-wing opponent in this year’s presidential elections.
* **Trump says he will allow Ukraine to make Patriot interceptors: **At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara Wednesday, President Donald Trump [said][66] that he would give Ukraine “a license” to make Patriot missile interceptors, calling the move “pretty cool” and “defensive” and saying it would prevent the Ukrainians from “complaining” about insufficient supply.
* Trump gave no specifics about the license, answering a question about a timeline with only the qualification that “some” could be sent immediately, and that Ukraine would “quickly” be able to produce interceptors of its own.
* He also hinted that the U.S. would be willing to use its “great power” over the companies that produce the interceptors to secure them for Ukraine. Lockheed Martin is the primary manufacturer of this technology
* Trump struck a noticeably warm tone with Zelenskyy, with whom he has clashed in the past. He also said he intended to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day, though he provided no further details.
* **Russia bans diesel exports:** Russia [announced][67] on Wednesday that it would ban the export of its diesel products until the end of July in an attempt to protect its energy markets from the effects of the war in Ukraine, and following several Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
* The move, which will significantly tighten the global supply of and demand for refined petroleum products, is expected to have a particular effect on Europe’s diesel markets, pushing up costs immediately for farmers and truckers, and eventually for consumers.
* **Ukrainian drones hit Russian tankers: **Ukrainian drones hit a dozen Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov overnight, Ukraine’s military [said][68] in a statement, as Kyiv ramps up a campaign aimed at hitting energy infrastructure and disrupting fuel supplies to Russian forces while isolating Moscow-occupied Crimea.
* **Ireland moves to ban imports from Israeli settlements: **Ireland’s Dáil [passed][69] the Occupied Territories Bill on Tuesday without a vote, setting Ireland up to become the first European Union country to legislate a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
* The bill heads to the Seanad next week and is expected to be law before mid-July, making settlement imports an offense under Ireland’s Customs Act, the Irish Times reports.
* The government’s version of the bill bans only goods, however, while exempting services, which make up about 70 percent of Ireland’s trade with Israel, said a foreign affairs spokesperson for Ireland’s Labour Party.
* Taoiseach Micheál Martin has cited legal risk and potential damage to U.S. multinationals in Ireland if the bill is passed, and the Irish Times reported that Ireland’s embassy in Washington has also been warned of “consequences” by its American host.
* **Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China**: Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has [killed][70] 39 people in China’s southern Guangxi region, including 26 after a dam breach inundated parts of Nanning, officials said Thursday. About 130,000 people have been evacuated, with more than 8,000 rescuers and 5,700 boats deployed after days of heavy rainfall brought up to 90 cm of rain in the hardest-hit areas. Authorities said floodwaters are receding, but more rain is expected, while work continues to clear debris, disinfect towns, repair roads and restore power.
* **Calls to lift Venezuela sanctions grow amid post-earthquake recovery efforts:** Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez [appealed][71] to the U.K. to release 30 tons of gold held by the Bank of England, arguing these resources are vital for reconstruction. Separaely, a coalition of over 100 prominent economists, including Jeffrey Sachs and Isabella Weber, [called on][72] the U.S. to lift all broad economic sanctions, saying the “indiscriminate” measures severely obstruct the humanitarian response and essential post-disaster recovery efforts.
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[2]: https://x.com/kuwaitarmyghq/status/2075143541890670780?s=46
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075061293879370032
[4]: https://aje.news/8lr4d6?update=4752889
[5]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222991/israeli-forces-detonate-several-houses-in-hadatha-town-2
[6]: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901957
[7]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551143/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6-%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-2
[8]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172515
[9]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075083768902074404
[10]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074871163730141377
[11]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075098482143105263
[12]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172518
[13]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075020097538625568
[14]: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5960143-top-pentagon-lawyer-exits-early/
[15]: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/08/congress/johnsons-immigration-plan-00989774
[16]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-wisconsin-judge-spared-prison-for-ushering-mexican-immigrant-away-from-ice-agents
[17]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/us-moves-to-delist-syria-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism
[18]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/9/confirmed-ebola-deaths-in-dr-congo-hit-600
[19]: https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/07/08/eleven-more-trump-deportees-arrive-in-eswatini-from-the-united-states-lawyer-says
[20]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315994
[21]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilian-police-search-former-president-bolsonaros-home-weapons-estadao-reports-2026-07-08/
[22]: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-says-both-sides-ukraine-war-want-settlement-2026-07-08/
[23]: https://x.com/JavierBlas/status/2074873820482064428
[24]: https://tvpworld.com/94249968/ukraines-drones-hit-two-russian-tankers-in-sea-of-azov
[25]: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/7/9/flooding-from-tropical-storm-maysak-kills-39-in-southern-china
[26]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-3811-2026-07-08/
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[34]: https://en.irna.ir/news/86204627/IRGC-strikes-US-military-bases-in-Kuwait-and-Bahrain-after-American
[35]: https://x.com/kuwaitarmyghq/status/2075143541890670780?s=46
[36]: https://www.almamlakatv.com/news/204196-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7-8-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86
[37]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075061293879370032
[38]: https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2075030287071785174?s=46
[39]: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-09/hormuz-traffic-grinds-to-a-near-halt-as-ceasefire-under-threat?embedded-checkout=true
[40]: https://aje.news/8lr4d6?update=4752889
[41]: https://en.irna.ir/news/86204827/Foreign-Ministry-US-attacks-on-southern-and-eastern-Iran-constitute
[42]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222991/israeli-forces-detonate-several-houses-in-hadatha-town-2
[43]: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901957
[44]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551143/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6-%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-2
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[52]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land
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[56]: https://prospect.org/2026/07/08/maine-democrats-poised-to-run-lighthouse-primary-senate-platner-collins/
[57]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074953685126557852
[58]: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5960143-top-pentagon-lawyer-exits-early/
[59]: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/08/congress/johnsons-immigration-plan-00989774
[60]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-wisconsin-judge-spared-prison-for-ushering-mexican-immigrant-away-from-ice-agents
[61]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/us-moves-to-delist-syria-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism
[62]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/9/confirmed-ebola-deaths-in-dr-congo-hit-600
[63]: https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/07/08/eleven-more-trump-deportees-arrive-in-eswatini-from-the-united-states-lawyer-says
[64]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315994
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilian-police-search-former-president-bolsonaros-home-weapons-estadao-reports-2026-07-08/
[66]: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-says-both-sides-ukraine-war-want-settlement-2026-07-08/
[67]: https://x.com/JavierBlas/status/2074873820482064428
[68]: https://tvpworld.com/94249968/ukraines-drones-hit-two-russian-tankers-in-sea-of-azov
[69]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075093445991932322
[70]: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/7/9/flooding-from-tropical-storm-maysak-kills-39-in-southern-china
[71]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-3811-2026-07-08/
[72]: https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2026-07-07/over-100-economists-ask-us-to-lift-sanctions-on-venezuela-to-ease-the-impact-of-the-earthquakes.html
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/us-iran-strikes-hormuz-graham-platner-maine-congo-ebola
*U.S. [continues][1] to bomb Iran. Iran [launches][2] retaliatory attacks. U.S. potentially [preparing][3] to strike Iran for weeks, Axios reports. Iran [says][4] slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral proceeding despite U.S. attacks. Israeli forces [demolish][5] homes in Hadatha, bomb Houla in south Lebanon. President Donald Trump [says][6] Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel’s defense minister says it won’t. [Hezbollah][7]: Lebanon-Israel framework “serves Israel entirely.” Israeli attacks on Gaza [continue][8] on Thursday. At least eight Palestinians [killed][9] in Israeli attacks on Wednesday. Israeli court [rejects][10] imprisoned physician’s plea. Hamas delegation [returns][11] to Cairo for negotiations. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [sets][12] Nov. 28 as the date for Palestinian legislative elections. Graham Platner [drops out][13] of Maine Senate race. Joint Chiefs’ top legal counsel [to step down][14] early amid wave of Pentagon exits. Speaker
of the House Mike Johnson [weighs][15] introducing bill to end birthright citizenship. Former Wisconsin judge [fined][16] $5,000, avoids prison for helping immigrant evade ICE arrest. U.S. to [remove][17] Syria from list of “state sponsors of terror.” Democratic Republic of Congo [reports][18] 600 Ebola deaths. U.S. migrants [arrive][19] in Eswatini. Sudanese Army [takes][20] control of Kurmuk. Brazilian police [search][21] former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home for weapons. Trump [says][22] he will allow Ukraine to make Patriot interceptors. Russia [bans][23] diesel exports. Ukrainian drones [hit][24] Russian tankers. Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak [kills][25] 39 in southern China. Calls to lift Venezuela sanctions [grow][26] amid post-earthquake recovery efforts.*
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **U.S. continues to bomb Iran: **U.S. Central Command[ announced][32] on Wednesday that it was conducting additional strikes on Iran.
* According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted sites intended to “further degrade” Iran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday morning, it reported that 90 strikes were carried out overnight.
* The U.S. struck facilities at Iranshahr airport in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, damaging the airport’s flight operations building and meteorological station and killing a firefighter, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
* U.S. strikes killed three people in Ahvaz, and shrapnel from an attack damaged a hospital in Chahbahar.
* The U.S. also [struck][33] the Bushehr province on Thursday, though the region’s governor insisted that the strikes did not hit the area’s nuclear power plant, according to Al Jazeera.
* Wednesday’s strikes follow strikes reported in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Sirik, Bushehr, Chabahar and Konarak on Tuesday. Attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday killed 14 and brought about 78 total hospitalizations, Iran’s Health Ministry reported on Thursday, with 47 of these cases requiring continued hospitalization.
* Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the newest wave of U.S. attacks on the country on Thursday, calling Washington’s justification—that it attacked in response to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz—a “false pretext”.
* **Iran launches retaliatory attacks:**
* Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) [said][34] early Thursday that it launched a joint missile and drone operation targeting U.S. bases at Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, adding that “the aggressions of the child-killing U.S. army” would not go unanswered, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
* In response to these attacks, sirens were set off in Bahrain and Kuwait’s defense ministry sent residents several alerts.
* A spokesperson for Kuwait’s defense ministry [confirmed][35] Thursday that one person was wounded during attacks by Iran across the country. The ministry reported the victim was hospitalized and in stable condition after being struck by falling debris, but did not specify where the incident occurred.
* Jordan’s armed forces also [said][36] its air defence systems intercepted eight missiles “launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory” on Thursday, Jordanian outlet Al-Mamlaka, reported. A military spokesperson said debris from the interceptions fell in several areas but caused no casualties or material damage.
* **U.S. potentially preparing to strike Iran for weeks, Axios reports: ** The White House is [preparing][37] for what could become a multi-day or even multi-week military campaign against Iran centered on the Strait of Hormuz, Axios, a frequent source of U.S. and Israeli leaks throughout the war, reported on Wednesday.
* One U.S. official reportedly threatened to “slap” Iran “a bit,” “so they understand we’re not fucking around.” The same official said the duration of the strikes will depend on Tehran’s response.
* Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Iran’s representative had “called a little while ago” and that they “want to make a deal”—a claim he made without providing evidence. Iran did not confirm any direct outreach.
* U.S. officials also told Axios that “reopening” the Strait of Hormuz and “restoring freedom of navigation” have become the administration’s primary military objectives, as Iran has insisted the waterway will only operate on its terms.
* Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Wednesday that U.S. strikes “are just going to keep on happening until they open up that lane and stop shooting at ships.”
* Regarding the Strait, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker, [said][38] in a post on X it would “only open with ‘Iranian arrangements,’ not American threats.” He also warned Washington that it “still [hadn’t] learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free.” “Let me put it plainly, he said, “if you strike, you’ll get hit.”
* Traffic through the Strait [slowed][39] to a near standstill on Thursday, Bloomberg reported. Ship-tracking data showed most vessel movements were confined to the Iran-approved route along the waterway’s northern side, while the U.S.-backed Omani shipping corridor saw little activity. Among larger vessels, only a U.S.-sanctioned supertanker departing the Persian Gulf and an Iranian-flagged container ship were visible, although some ships may have been transiting with their tracking systems switched off, the outlet noted.
* **Iran says Khamenei funeral proceeding despite U.S. attacks**: Iranian officials [said][40] Thursday that recent U.S. attacks have not disrupted the funeral procession for the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose body was flown to Mashhad to be buried after week-long processions in Tehran, Qom, and the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf, Al Jazeera reported.
* Officials said an overnight strike that knocked out the railway linking Tehran to Mashhad had not altered plans, and attributed an eight-hour postponement of the burial, originally set for 6 a.m. local time near the shrine of Imam Reza, to heavy crowds in Iraq rather than the attacks.
* In a [statement][41] issued on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of targeting the railway route to Mashhad in an attempt to overshadow the funeral ceremonies of Khamenei, adding the attack reflected its “inability to comprehend the glory of Iranian patriotism” after the Iranian public’s “magnificent and unparalleled” turnout at the funeral, IRNA reported.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli forces demolish homes in Hadatha, bomb Houla in south Lebanon: **Israeli forces [carried out][42] a demolition operation targeting several houses in the town of Hadatha in the Bint Jbeil district, the National News Agency (NNA) reported Thursday, despite a U.S.-backed “ceasefire” signed with Lebanon.
* Israeli forces also bombed the town of Houla in the Marjayoun district, according to NNA. The Israeli army also carried out a series of demolitions overnight and at dawn in the towns of Khiam and Taybeh in Marjayoun.
* **Trump says Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon; Israel’s defense minister says it won’t: **U.S. President Donald Trump [told][43] reporters on Wednesday that he thought Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon.
* “I think they want to,” he said to reporters, despite recent statements from Netanyahu to the contrary, and citing the recent “framework” deal as the reason for the withdrawal. “Yeah, they’ll leave. And I think it’s going to work out very well,” Trump said.
* Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected these claims on Thursday, saying Israel would stay in Lebanon as long as it deemed necessary, and that it “did not ask permission to enter Lebanon” and “does not need permission to stay in Lebanon.”
* **Hezbollah: Lebanon-Israel framework “serves Israel entirely”: **Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem [said][44] Wednesday the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement “serves Israel entirely” and called for it to be scrapped, arguing it was unconstitutional, NNA reported. Speaking during a public gathering, Qassem said Israel had committed “hundreds” of ceasefire violations and urged Lebanese authorities to pursue only indirect negotiations. He also said there could be “no solution except Israeli withdrawal” in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, alongside an end to Israeli attacks, the release of detainees, reconstruction, and the return of displaced residents. He reaffirmed Hezbollah’s support for the U.S.-Iran MOU, saying the group would remain committed to resistance.
# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded: **Over the last 24 hours, eight Palestinians were killed, one due to wounds sustained in earlier attacks, and 17 were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,118 killed, with 173,615 injured. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,092 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,507, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Israeli attacks on Gaza continue on Thursday:**
* An Israeli drone strike [killed][45] two Palestinians and wounded several others west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza on Thursday, WAFA reported. Another Palestinian was also killed in a drone strike on a vehicle west of Gaza City.
* **Israeli attacks kill at least eight Palestinians on Wednesday:** Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday killed at least eight Palestinians, including multiple children, including an employee of the World Central Kitchen.
* Israeli forces [killed][46] a driver working for a World Central Kitchen partner logistics company, the charity announced on Wednesday, while he was transporting aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing to a WCK warehouse in Gaza.
* An Israeli airstrike on Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood killed two, while a strike on a vehicle west of Gaza City on Wednesday evening [killed][47] one Palestinian and wounded several others, WAFA reported.
* **Israeli court rejects imprisoned physician’s plea: **The** **Israeli government [responded][48] on Wednesday to a High Court petition over the detention of Gaza physician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, saying he has been examined several times since being transferred to the underground Rakefet detention facility, following reports of severe abuse by Israeli forces.
* The government also asked the court to dismiss, without a hearing, PHRI’s petition seeking the release of 14 Gaza doctors, including Dr. Abu Safiya, held without charge.
* Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) argued that the state failed to explain why the examinations were necessary, what they found, or to respond to allegations from his lawyer that he suffered severe injuries and repeated loss of consciousness. The group said the decision raises additional questions about Dr. Safiya’s well-being.
* Also on Wednesday, two more U.S. members of Congress called for Dr. Abu Safiya’s release. Sen. Bernie Sanders [charged][49] Israel of “kidnapping” Dr. Safiya because he refused to abandon one of Gaza’s last hospitals, “even after Israel killed his own son in a drone strike,” and unequivocally demanded his “immediate” release.
* Florida Democrat Valerie Foushee joined Sanders—and Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Democratic congressional nominee Darializa Avila Chevalier before her—in calling for Abu Safiya’s release, saying she is “deeply disturbed” by his detention and reports of his abuse in prison.
* **Hamas delegation returns to Cairo for negotiations: **A Hamas delegation led by the group’s Gaza head, Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, [arrived][50] in Cairo on Wednesday to continue ceasefire negotiations with Egyptian and other mediators, according to a statement from senior official Taher Al-Nunu.
* Al-Nunu said that talks aim to “secure a lasting ceasefire,” advance the agreement to its second phase while completing the implementation of its first phase, increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, and accelerate the transfer of governance responsibilities to the National Committee for Administration of Gaza, operating under Trump’s “Board of Peace,” following the dissolution of the Strip’s administration earlier this week.
* **Abbas sets Nov. 28 as date for Palestinian legislative elections: **Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas [issued][51] a decree on Thursday setting Saturday, November 28, 2026, as the date for legislative elections, calling on Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate, according to WAFA.
* Abbas, who has remained in office since 2005 after repeatedly postponing elections, announced what would be the first parliamentary vote since 2006, when Hamas defeated his Fatah movement. In June, he amended the election law, requiring candidates to endorse the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas rejected the changes, saying they entrenched political monopoly and lacked national consensus.
* **Israel’s “Crimson Thread” barrier cuts off Palestinian farms in Jordan Valley**: Israeli forces are constructing a 22-kilometer separation wall and military road through the Al-Forat farm near Tubas in the northern West Bank, part of a planned 500-kilometer “Crimson Thread” barrier that would seal off the Jordan Valley from the rest of Palestine, Drop Site reports.
* Farmer Muad Abdelreziq told Drop Site that Israel had cut water access to 400 dunams of farmland for five days and destroyed irrigation pipelines, and a January petition by Tubas residents estimating $200 million in annual economic damage led to a court injunction that Israel’s military successfully rescinded days after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran on March 3.
* “I cannot irrigate the herbs, I cannot irrigate the melons,” one farmer said about the changes. “I cannot replace the water lines. All these families will have nothing. We will have to stop.”
* **Read the latest from Drop Site’s Maysa Mustafa [here][52], and watch Mustafa’s video dispatch [here][53].**
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][54].*
* **Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race: **Democratic Senate candidate **Graham Platner** [withdrew][55] from the race on Wednesday after a week in which he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a rape allegation.
* In a video posted to X, he called the accusations “all false” and told supporters that he was ending his campaign because the “political reality” was that party leaders and major donors “are going to take everything away from us,” making it impossible to continue.
* Maine Democrats now have until July 27 to choose a replacement for the November race against incumbent Republican **Sen. Susan Collins**. In his video statement, Platner urged party leaders to make the selection through an “open, transparent and democratic” process that reflects “the will and the values of the people of Maine,” not decisions made “in back rooms.”
* The Maine Democratic State Committee voted Wednesday to select a replacement nominee for Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate race through a 600-person nominating convention rather than a statewide caucus, with 500 delegates apportioned by county and the remaining 100 drawn from state committee members. The decision, reported by **David Dayen** at The American Prospect, reverses earlier sourcing that had pointed toward a caucus and threatens to alienate Platner’s supporters, who had pushed for an open process. Read TAP’s full report on the nominating process [here][56].
* Also on Wednesday, **Spencer Toth**, who helped design Platner’s grassroots campaign strategy and later became the organizing director for the state’s Democratic Party, [announced][57] his immediate resignation, alleging that the Party was excluding grassroots organizers from the selection of the next nominee and saying he could no longer serve it when its decisions were not “consistent with [his] values.” His resignation cited a Tuesday statement from the Party that said that Platner’s apparatus would “have no role in determining our next nominee for U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process would look like.”
* **Joint Chiefs’ top legal counsel to step down early amid wave of Pentagon exits: **Brig. Gen. **Eric Widmar**, senior legal counsel to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. **Dan Caine**, is [retiring][58] nearly a year ahead of schedule, telling ProPublica he is leaving for personal reasons after two years living apart from his wife.
* Widmar becomes the latest in a string of top military officials to depart the Pentagon since the start of the second Trump administration, following Gen. **Chris Donahue’s** exit last week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. **Randy George’s** ouster in April, and Adm. **Alvin Holsey’s** removal from Southern Command late last year, all reportedly pushed by War Secretary **Pete Hegseth**.
* **Johnson weighs introducing bill to end birthright citizenship: **Speaker of the House **Mike Johnson** is [considering][59] bringing legislation to the floor that would bar pregnant women from entering the United States to secure citizenship for their children, according to a report from Politico.
* The largely symbolic measure, unlikely to survive a Senate filibuster, would give Johnson a way to respond to hard-line Republicans pressing for action after the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s effort to curtail birthright citizenship.
* **Former Wisconsin judge fined $5,000, avoids prison for helping immigrant evade ICE arrest**: Former Milwaukee County Judge** Hannah Dugan** was [sentenced][60] Wednesday to a $5,000 fine rather than prison time by U.S. District Judge** Lynn Adelman**, after being convicted in December of felony obstruction for leading Mexican defendant **Eduardo Flores-Ruiz **through a private jury door in April 2025 as ICE agents sought to arrest him at her Milwaukee County courthouse. Agents ultimately caught and arrested Flores-Ruiz outside after a foot chase, and he was deported in November.
# Other International News
* **U.S. to remove Syria from list of “state sponsors of terror”: **The U.S. [announced][61] on Wednesday that it would delist Syria as a “state sponsor of terror,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the move a “historic step” which would “give the Syrian people a chance at greatness.”
* Rubio added that the decision was made because Syria had made “formal assurances” to the U.S. that it would “not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”
* The announcement came as Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Ankara on Wednesday. Trump praised al-Sharaa for the “unbelievable job” he had done in Syria. “What a job he’s doing,” he added.
* The designation has significantly impacted the country’s economy since it was announced in 1979. It has limited investment within Syria by preventing U.S.-affiliated companies from doing business in the country and by preventing Syrian companies from banking with U.S.-based financial institutions.
* The U.S. had lifted other sanctions on the country in May, but this delisting is viewed by many as the most significant step the U.S. has taken to benefit al-Sharaa’s government.
* **DRC reports 600 Ebola deaths: **At least 600 people have [died][62] from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to data released by the country’s government on Wednesday.
* As the outbreak has grown more severe, many healthcare workers in the Ituri province, one of the hardest-hit, have gone on an unofficial strike because they have not been paid, according to the Associated Press. Some workers report not having been paid wages or bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
* Clinical trials for treatment of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus—the dominant strain in this latest outbreak—have also begun this week, according to Al Jazeera.
* **U.S. migrants arrive in Eswatini:** Eleven more migrants [arrived][63] in Eswatini on Wednesday as part of the Trump administration’s “third-country” deportation policy.
* Wednesday’s arrivals bring the total number of deportees to 29, following the country’s receipt of $5.1 million from Washington. Only two of these people have been released and repatriated.
* The “third-country” deportation policy has been challenged as illegal, with lawyers for deportees noting that their clients are being detained after having served time for crimes in the United States.
* **Sudanese Army takes control of Kurmuk: **The Sudanese Army [recaptured][64] the border town of Kurmuk in the Blue Nile region on Wednesday, Sudan Tribune reported, after battles between its forces and those of the Rapid Support Forces and its allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N).
* The Sudanese Army has set its sights on Kurmuk for several weeks, launching several operations to secure the surrounding area. The town has frequently changed hands during Sudan’s civil war, which began in 2023.
* Kurmuk is near Sudan’s border with Ethiopia, which the Sudanese government has accused of supporting the RSF by allowing its drones to launch from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport. Ethiopia’s government has rejected these allegations.
* Separately, a UN probe found on Wednesday that the RSF’s actions in its 2025 siege of El-Fasher, which included mass killings, abductions of women and girls, mass gang rapes and forced starvation, amount to genocide.
* The decision comes after survivors testified to UN human rights officials about being raped in the same room where bodies of recently killed civilians, some of whom were their family members, were still lying on the ground.
* UN officials recently warned about similar conditions in the city of El-Obeid, a city which has been under assault by the RSF’s drones, calling the “signs” of human rights abuses “clear and unmistakable.”
* **Brazilian police search former president’s home for weapons: **Brazil’s federal police [searched][65] the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro for weapons on Wednesday, according to a court ruling reported on by Reuters. Bolsonaro’s lawyers insist that nothing was found.
* Last month, a gun registered to Bolsonaro was seized from one of his security guards at a police checkpoint, even though he was required by a court order to surrender all of his weapons.
* Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison term under house arrest after attempting a coup when he lost the 2022 election to current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
* Bolsonaro’s son, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, is Lula’s principal right-wing opponent in this year’s presidential elections.
* **Trump says he will allow Ukraine to make Patriot interceptors: **At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara Wednesday, President Donald Trump [said][66] that he would give Ukraine “a license” to make Patriot missile interceptors, calling the move “pretty cool” and “defensive” and saying it would prevent the Ukrainians from “complaining” about insufficient supply.
* Trump gave no specifics about the license, answering a question about a timeline with only the qualification that “some” could be sent immediately, and that Ukraine would “quickly” be able to produce interceptors of its own.
* He also hinted that the U.S. would be willing to use its “great power” over the companies that produce the interceptors to secure them for Ukraine. Lockheed Martin is the primary manufacturer of this technology
* Trump struck a noticeably warm tone with Zelenskyy, with whom he has clashed in the past. He also said he intended to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day, though he provided no further details.
* **Russia bans diesel exports:** Russia [announced][67] on Wednesday that it would ban the export of its diesel products until the end of July in an attempt to protect its energy markets from the effects of the war in Ukraine, and following several Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
* The move, which will significantly tighten the global supply of and demand for refined petroleum products, is expected to have a particular effect on Europe’s diesel markets, pushing up costs immediately for farmers and truckers, and eventually for consumers.
* **Ukrainian drones hit Russian tankers: **Ukrainian drones hit a dozen Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov overnight, Ukraine’s military [said][68] in a statement, as Kyiv ramps up a campaign aimed at hitting energy infrastructure and disrupting fuel supplies to Russian forces while isolating Moscow-occupied Crimea.
* **Ireland moves to ban imports from Israeli settlements: **Ireland’s Dáil [passed][69] the Occupied Territories Bill on Tuesday without a vote, setting Ireland up to become the first European Union country to legislate a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, according to Irish broadcaster RTÉ.
* The bill heads to the Seanad next week and is expected to be law before mid-July, making settlement imports an offense under Ireland’s Customs Act, the Irish Times reports.
* The government’s version of the bill bans only goods, however, while exempting services, which make up about 70 percent of Ireland’s trade with Israel, said a foreign affairs spokesperson for Ireland’s Labour Party.
* Taoiseach Micheál Martin has cited legal risk and potential damage to U.S. multinationals in Ireland if the bill is passed, and the Irish Times reported that Ireland’s embassy in Washington has also been warned of “consequences” by its American host.
* **Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak kills 39 in southern China**: Flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak has [killed][70] 39 people in China’s southern Guangxi region, including 26 after a dam breach inundated parts of Nanning, officials said Thursday. About 130,000 people have been evacuated, with more than 8,000 rescuers and 5,700 boats deployed after days of heavy rainfall brought up to 90 cm of rain in the hardest-hit areas. Authorities said floodwaters are receding, but more rain is expected, while work continues to clear debris, disinfect towns, repair roads and restore power.
* **Calls to lift Venezuela sanctions grow amid post-earthquake recovery efforts:** Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez [appealed][71] to the U.K. to release 30 tons of gold held by the Bank of England, arguing these resources are vital for reconstruction. Separaely, a coalition of over 100 prominent economists, including Jeffrey Sachs and Isabella Weber, [called on][72] the U.S. to lift all broad economic sanctions, saying the “indiscriminate” measures severely obstruct the humanitarian response and essential post-disaster recovery efforts.
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[1]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074963189104624052
[2]: https://x.com/kuwaitarmyghq/status/2075143541890670780?s=46
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075061293879370032
[4]: https://aje.news/8lr4d6?update=4752889
[5]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222991/israeli-forces-detonate-several-houses-in-hadatha-town-2
[6]: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901957
[7]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551143/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6-%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-2
[8]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172515
[9]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075083768902074404
[10]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074871163730141377
[11]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075098482143105263
[12]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172518
[13]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075020097538625568
[14]: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5960143-top-pentagon-lawyer-exits-early/
[15]: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/08/congress/johnsons-immigration-plan-00989774
[16]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-wisconsin-judge-spared-prison-for-ushering-mexican-immigrant-away-from-ice-agents
[17]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/us-moves-to-delist-syria-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism
[18]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/9/confirmed-ebola-deaths-in-dr-congo-hit-600
[19]: https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/07/08/eleven-more-trump-deportees-arrive-in-eswatini-from-the-united-states-lawyer-says
[20]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315994
[21]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilian-police-search-former-president-bolsonaros-home-weapons-estadao-reports-2026-07-08/
[22]: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-says-both-sides-ukraine-war-want-settlement-2026-07-08/
[23]: https://x.com/JavierBlas/status/2074873820482064428
[24]: https://tvpworld.com/94249968/ukraines-drones-hit-two-russian-tankers-in-sea-of-azov
[25]: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/7/9/flooding-from-tropical-storm-maysak-kills-39-in-southern-china
[26]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-3811-2026-07-08/
[27]: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC8sIT2Jl8B4r4N202q
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[32]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074963189104624052
[33]: https://aje.news/8lr4d6?update=4753074
[34]: https://en.irna.ir/news/86204627/IRGC-strikes-US-military-bases-in-Kuwait-and-Bahrain-after-American
[35]: https://x.com/kuwaitarmyghq/status/2075143541890670780?s=46
[36]: https://www.almamlakatv.com/news/204196-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7-8-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86
[37]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075061293879370032
[38]: https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf/status/2075030287071785174?s=46
[39]: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-09/hormuz-traffic-grinds-to-a-near-halt-as-ceasefire-under-threat?embedded-checkout=true
[40]: https://aje.news/8lr4d6?update=4752889
[41]: https://en.irna.ir/news/86204827/Foreign-Ministry-US-attacks-on-southern-and-eastern-Iran-constitute
[42]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222991/israeli-forces-detonate-several-houses-in-hadatha-town-2
[43]: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901957
[44]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/551143/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6-%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%87%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-2
[45]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172515
[46]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075083768902074404
[47]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172507
[48]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074871163730141377
[49]: https://x.com/SenSanders/status/2074979340224213458
[50]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075098482143105263
[51]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172518
[52]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land
[53]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOi9df2B4J8
[54]: mailto:[email protected]
[55]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075020097538625568
[56]: https://prospect.org/2026/07/08/maine-democrats-poised-to-run-lighthouse-primary-senate-platner-collins/
[57]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074953685126557852
[58]: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5960143-top-pentagon-lawyer-exits-early/
[59]: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/08/congress/johnsons-immigration-plan-00989774
[60]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-wisconsin-judge-spared-prison-for-ushering-mexican-immigrant-away-from-ice-agents
[61]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/us-moves-to-delist-syria-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism
[62]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/9/confirmed-ebola-deaths-in-dr-congo-hit-600
[63]: https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/07/08/eleven-more-trump-deportees-arrive-in-eswatini-from-the-united-states-lawyer-says
[64]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315994
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazilian-police-search-former-president-bolsonaros-home-weapons-estadao-reports-2026-07-08/
[66]: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-says-both-sides-ukraine-war-want-settlement-2026-07-08/
[67]: https://x.com/JavierBlas/status/2074873820482064428
[68]: https://tvpworld.com/94249968/ukraines-drones-hit-two-russian-tankers-in-sea-of-azov
[69]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2075093445991932322
[70]: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/7/9/flooding-from-tropical-storm-maysak-kills-39-in-southern-china
[71]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/death-toll-venezuela-quakes-rises-3811-2026-07-08/
[72]: https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2026-07-07/over-100-economists-ask-us-to-lift-sanctions-on-venezuela-to-ease-the-impact-of-the-earthquakes.html
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/us-iran-strikes-hormuz-graham-platner-maine-congo-ebola
The Crimson Thread: The Israeli Military Barrier Cutting Off Palestine’s Breadbasket
*Drop Site is a reader-funded, independent news outlet. Without your support, we can’t operate. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a [501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation today][1].*
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TUBAS, West Bank—Muad Abdelreziq walked slowly through his land on the Al-Forat farm, meandering through rows of banana groves on foot, checking each tree for signs of life. The dead leaves crunched underfoot with each slow, defeated step. No water had reached these groves in five days. “These bananas, they are thirsty,” he said. “They are withering away on the ground.”
“Everything on the land lives day by day.”
Israel had not allowed water to reach 400 dunams (roughly 100 acres) of the farm for five days, Abdelreziq told Drop Site, and what little infrastructure remains is being destroyed. Israeli forces have been rupturing the irrigation pipelines that feed the fields. “I cannot irrigate the herbs, I cannot irrigate the melons,” he said. “I cannot replace the water lines. All these families will have nothing. We will have to stop.”
Abdelreziq gripped the wheel a little tighter as he drove away from the groves toward the office on the property, glancing at the Israeli military bulldozer just a few feet away that was carving a trench deep into his land. A black military surveillance truck, complete with cameras, antennas, and sensors mounted across its roof, patrolled the site. Stepping into the workers’ room, empty chairs lined the walls where employees would take their breaks. Abdelreziq sat and stared at a screen mounted in the corner displaying a live feed of the military construction outside. The Israeli military shot down the last camera he had set up filming the site. He replaced it the next day.
An Al-Forat employee shows footage of the Israeli military shooting a security camera pointed at the barrier construction site in the occupied West Bank on June 22, 2026. Photo by Wahaj Bani Moufleh.
The 2,000 dunam Al-Forat farm sits in the village of Khirbet Atouf, east of Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. The farm cultivates bananas, herbs, potatoes, onions, and melons and employs roughly 250 families, supplying markets across the West Bank—land that now sits in the path of a new 22-kilometer separation wall and military road that the army began constructing in March. Israeli settlers have also established a presence on the surrounding land.
The 22-kilometer separation wall and road are part of a much larger Israeli military project dubbed the “Crimson Thread”—a 500-kilometer barrier planned to run along the entire eastern edge of the occupied West Bank, from the southern edge of the occupied Golan Heights in the north to the Red Sea in the south, effectively sealing off the Jordan Valley from the rest of Palestine, according to a leaked Israeli military document signed in August 2025 and first reported by Haaretz in December. The first phase of the project is in the governorate of Tubas. The distance between the wall and an accompanying military road spans 50 meters—a wide path that is carving through some of the most fertile farmland in Palestine. An Israeli army spokesperson told +972 the project was based on “a clear security need, for shaping the terrain and controlling and monitoring vehicular movement.”
Rasheed Khudeiri, a farmer and activist with the Jordan Valley Solidarity Campaign who has spent years documenting settlement expansion in the area, pointed out the hypocrisy of Israel’s argument, citing security concerns to displace Palestinians yet allowing Israelis settlers to live in the same area. “How is a closed military firing zone dangerous when they allow settlers who came from Russia or the United States or the Middle East?” Khudeiri told Drop Site. “The owner of the land is not allowed, and the settler is allowed.”
Khudeiri says the project will cut from Ain Shibley in the central valley north to the Tayasir military checkpoint, through the communities of Hatu, Ras Al-Ahmar, Anun, and Khirbet Yarza, placing an estimated 180,000 dunams (around 44,000 acres) beyond Palestinian reach.
Tubas Governorate covers 410 square kilometers, 70% of which already falls under Area C—a zone that is under full Israeli security and civil control under the Oslo Accords. There are currently more than nine settlements in the area, seven Israeli military training camps, and more than thirty settlement outposts that have strangled and seized lands in Tubas, nearly reaching the borders of the city of Tubas, according to the mayor, Mahmoud Daraghmeh. “According to their decisions, there is no longer Area A, B, or C,” Daraghmeh told Drop Site. “It is all Area C. That is what the Israelis are working toward now.”
Khudeiri says the loss will not stay confined to the residents living along the barrier but will have ripple effects that reach into every Palestinian household across the West Bank. The Jordan Valley’s fertile soil and warm climate allow farmers to grow vegetables from November through March—winter months when the rest of the West Bank gets colder and produces little to nothing. When farms like Al-Forat stop producing, prices rise across the board. A kilo of cucumbers or tomatoes that cost one shekel to grow locally will cost five or six shekels to import. “Tubas used to be called the breadbasket of Palestine,” Daraghmeh said. “Today, it no longer is.”
In January, over 100 local residents from Tubas filed a petition to Israel’s High Court estimating the direct economic damage from the barrier at $200 million per year. In February, the court issued a temporary injunction halting construction. But on March 3, three days after the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran, the military submitted a request for the order to be rescinded—the court agreed, citing undisclosed “security needs.” Construction began the following day.
## Settler Attacks
In parallel, settler attacks on farming and Bedouin communities along the planned barrier have surged. At least 117 predominantly Bedouin and herding communities have faced full or partial displacement as a result of settler violence since 2023, [according][3] to Amnesty International, with the northern Jordan Valley bearing the heaviest toll. “Settler violence is not an aberration but an integral part of an organized state policy,” Amnesty said. Israeli authorities provided 68 settler herding outposts with 28 million shekels in equipment: ATVs, night vision devices, drones, and generators, according to Peace Now.
“There’s a direct, coordinated, organized relationship to support each other,” Khudeiri said. “The settlers have direct military support, financial support, every kind of support they want. Even when they attack our villages, the military gives direct support.”
Khalid Daraghmeh is 60 years old, and his family had lived in the village of Khirbet Yarza, located east of the city of Tubas, since the Ottoman era. About 100 people lived in the small community, raising livestock, working land they had known for generations. Now, only a handful are left. Settlers began arriving after October 2023, and eventually began staging attacks with increasing levels of violence. They came to the grazing lands first, then to the doorsteps of the community, bringing their own cattle to water from Palestinian wells and graze on Palestinian crops, blocking exits, and making it impossible for families to tend their own land. Children stopped sleeping, Khalid said, and the entire community would freeze at the sight of a tractor.
A shepherd and his son take shade under a tree with their flock in Khirbet Atouf in the occupied West Bank on June 22, 2026. Photo by Wahaj Bani Moufleh.
When the Yarza community called for help, Israeli soldiers did arrive—but not to defend them. “They supported them,” Daraghmeh said. “They considered the whole area a military training zone. When we would call because settlers were attacking us, the army would come and protect the settlers.”
“[The settlers] kept harassing us, harassing us, harassing us, until they drove us out,” Daraghmeh continued. “They started stealing the livestock, stealing everything. They drove us out, and we left.”
He and his former neighbors are now scattered across Tubas city, only a few kilometers from their homes, spending money on livestock they can no longer graze and generate little in return.
Meanwhile, Bedouin communities further north in the Jordan Valley have seen some of the worst attacks. In the village of Humsa, 30 masked settlers arrived at a family’s home in the middle of the night, beat the entire family, sexually assaulted the father, and stole over 300 sheep, according to the Palestine News Network. Two volunteers from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) were also beaten and had their passports and phones taken.
An ISM volunteer, who asked not to be named out of fear that Israeli authorities would target them, has spent months doing overnight shifts with families across the valley. Palestinian communities request the volunteers, they said, just so they can sleep with some semblance of protection. “We call it solidarity presence and not protective presence,” the volunteer told Drop Site, “because being with the families doesn’t actually change much about what happens to the situation. We just serve as witnesses to settler violence or interactions with the military and police.”
During one military raid the volunteer witnessed, soldiers conducted violent body searches on the men of a family while a woman collapsed on the floor, unable to breathe. Every time someone moved to help her, a gun was pointed at them and they were told to be silent. “Our presence here really does so little,” the volunteer said. “When 30 settlers come and you are two people, there is not very much you can do.”
## Redrawing the West Bank
In 2025, the Israeli military launched a massive assault targeting the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams in the northern West Bank. More than 30,000 Palestinians were displaced in the military operation and have been [unable to return to their homes][4]. Now, the focus has shifted to the eastern corridor. When complete, the Crimson Thread project will seal off the West Bank’s entire eastern side.
“The Israeli strategy is to divide the towns in the north of the West Bank,” Khudeiri told Drop Site. “Tubas divided from Jenin. Nablus divided between Tubas, Nablus, and Jenin. The same with Tulkarm and Qalqilya. This is how they create what they call ‘containers.’”
He continued, “Tubas, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Silfit—all of these towns, they will be like huge refugee camps without any services, without any rights.”
Khudeiri drove through the valley’s villages, ending the day in the small village of Bardala where he lives. He was explaining the area’s native flora when he abruptly stopped the car. There was a dead bird on the road. He moved it to the side, then stood there for a moment before returning to the car and driving slowly away.
“We belong to this land,” Khudeiri said, explaining that he has started keeping some of his knowledge of the area to himself—not writing it down or sharing it publicly, because, he said, whatever Palestinians name and describe can be taken.
“They are trying to steal everything—the name of our plants, the song we use when our people harvest the wheat. We have a lot of things we don’t share anymore because they keep stealing more and more.”
[Leave a comment][5]
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[1]: https://givebutter.com/dsn-substack
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2026/06/israel-west-bank-ethnic-cleansing/
[4]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/west-bank-jenin-tulkarm-israeli-military-base-oslo-permits
[5]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land/comments
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land
*Drop Site is a reader-funded, independent news outlet. Without your support, we can’t operate. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber or making a [501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation today][1].*
[Subscribe now][2]
TUBAS, West Bank—Muad Abdelreziq walked slowly through his land on the Al-Forat farm, meandering through rows of banana groves on foot, checking each tree for signs of life. The dead leaves crunched underfoot with each slow, defeated step. No water had reached these groves in five days. “These bananas, they are thirsty,” he said. “They are withering away on the ground.”
“Everything on the land lives day by day.”
Israel had not allowed water to reach 400 dunams (roughly 100 acres) of the farm for five days, Abdelreziq told Drop Site, and what little infrastructure remains is being destroyed. Israeli forces have been rupturing the irrigation pipelines that feed the fields. “I cannot irrigate the herbs, I cannot irrigate the melons,” he said. “I cannot replace the water lines. All these families will have nothing. We will have to stop.”
Abdelreziq gripped the wheel a little tighter as he drove away from the groves toward the office on the property, glancing at the Israeli military bulldozer just a few feet away that was carving a trench deep into his land. A black military surveillance truck, complete with cameras, antennas, and sensors mounted across its roof, patrolled the site. Stepping into the workers’ room, empty chairs lined the walls where employees would take their breaks. Abdelreziq sat and stared at a screen mounted in the corner displaying a live feed of the military construction outside. The Israeli military shot down the last camera he had set up filming the site. He replaced it the next day.
An Al-Forat employee shows footage of the Israeli military shooting a security camera pointed at the barrier construction site in the occupied West Bank on June 22, 2026. Photo by Wahaj Bani Moufleh.
The 2,000 dunam Al-Forat farm sits in the village of Khirbet Atouf, east of Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. The farm cultivates bananas, herbs, potatoes, onions, and melons and employs roughly 250 families, supplying markets across the West Bank—land that now sits in the path of a new 22-kilometer separation wall and military road that the army began constructing in March. Israeli settlers have also established a presence on the surrounding land.
The 22-kilometer separation wall and road are part of a much larger Israeli military project dubbed the “Crimson Thread”—a 500-kilometer barrier planned to run along the entire eastern edge of the occupied West Bank, from the southern edge of the occupied Golan Heights in the north to the Red Sea in the south, effectively sealing off the Jordan Valley from the rest of Palestine, according to a leaked Israeli military document signed in August 2025 and first reported by Haaretz in December. The first phase of the project is in the governorate of Tubas. The distance between the wall and an accompanying military road spans 50 meters—a wide path that is carving through some of the most fertile farmland in Palestine. An Israeli army spokesperson told +972 the project was based on “a clear security need, for shaping the terrain and controlling and monitoring vehicular movement.”
Rasheed Khudeiri, a farmer and activist with the Jordan Valley Solidarity Campaign who has spent years documenting settlement expansion in the area, pointed out the hypocrisy of Israel’s argument, citing security concerns to displace Palestinians yet allowing Israelis settlers to live in the same area. “How is a closed military firing zone dangerous when they allow settlers who came from Russia or the United States or the Middle East?” Khudeiri told Drop Site. “The owner of the land is not allowed, and the settler is allowed.”
Khudeiri says the project will cut from Ain Shibley in the central valley north to the Tayasir military checkpoint, through the communities of Hatu, Ras Al-Ahmar, Anun, and Khirbet Yarza, placing an estimated 180,000 dunams (around 44,000 acres) beyond Palestinian reach.
Tubas Governorate covers 410 square kilometers, 70% of which already falls under Area C—a zone that is under full Israeli security and civil control under the Oslo Accords. There are currently more than nine settlements in the area, seven Israeli military training camps, and more than thirty settlement outposts that have strangled and seized lands in Tubas, nearly reaching the borders of the city of Tubas, according to the mayor, Mahmoud Daraghmeh. “According to their decisions, there is no longer Area A, B, or C,” Daraghmeh told Drop Site. “It is all Area C. That is what the Israelis are working toward now.”
Khudeiri says the loss will not stay confined to the residents living along the barrier but will have ripple effects that reach into every Palestinian household across the West Bank. The Jordan Valley’s fertile soil and warm climate allow farmers to grow vegetables from November through March—winter months when the rest of the West Bank gets colder and produces little to nothing. When farms like Al-Forat stop producing, prices rise across the board. A kilo of cucumbers or tomatoes that cost one shekel to grow locally will cost five or six shekels to import. “Tubas used to be called the breadbasket of Palestine,” Daraghmeh said. “Today, it no longer is.”
In January, over 100 local residents from Tubas filed a petition to Israel’s High Court estimating the direct economic damage from the barrier at $200 million per year. In February, the court issued a temporary injunction halting construction. But on March 3, three days after the U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran, the military submitted a request for the order to be rescinded—the court agreed, citing undisclosed “security needs.” Construction began the following day.
## Settler Attacks
In parallel, settler attacks on farming and Bedouin communities along the planned barrier have surged. At least 117 predominantly Bedouin and herding communities have faced full or partial displacement as a result of settler violence since 2023, [according][3] to Amnesty International, with the northern Jordan Valley bearing the heaviest toll. “Settler violence is not an aberration but an integral part of an organized state policy,” Amnesty said. Israeli authorities provided 68 settler herding outposts with 28 million shekels in equipment: ATVs, night vision devices, drones, and generators, according to Peace Now.
“There’s a direct, coordinated, organized relationship to support each other,” Khudeiri said. “The settlers have direct military support, financial support, every kind of support they want. Even when they attack our villages, the military gives direct support.”
Khalid Daraghmeh is 60 years old, and his family had lived in the village of Khirbet Yarza, located east of the city of Tubas, since the Ottoman era. About 100 people lived in the small community, raising livestock, working land they had known for generations. Now, only a handful are left. Settlers began arriving after October 2023, and eventually began staging attacks with increasing levels of violence. They came to the grazing lands first, then to the doorsteps of the community, bringing their own cattle to water from Palestinian wells and graze on Palestinian crops, blocking exits, and making it impossible for families to tend their own land. Children stopped sleeping, Khalid said, and the entire community would freeze at the sight of a tractor.
A shepherd and his son take shade under a tree with their flock in Khirbet Atouf in the occupied West Bank on June 22, 2026. Photo by Wahaj Bani Moufleh.
When the Yarza community called for help, Israeli soldiers did arrive—but not to defend them. “They supported them,” Daraghmeh said. “They considered the whole area a military training zone. When we would call because settlers were attacking us, the army would come and protect the settlers.”
“[The settlers] kept harassing us, harassing us, harassing us, until they drove us out,” Daraghmeh continued. “They started stealing the livestock, stealing everything. They drove us out, and we left.”
He and his former neighbors are now scattered across Tubas city, only a few kilometers from their homes, spending money on livestock they can no longer graze and generate little in return.
Meanwhile, Bedouin communities further north in the Jordan Valley have seen some of the worst attacks. In the village of Humsa, 30 masked settlers arrived at a family’s home in the middle of the night, beat the entire family, sexually assaulted the father, and stole over 300 sheep, according to the Palestine News Network. Two volunteers from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) were also beaten and had their passports and phones taken.
An ISM volunteer, who asked not to be named out of fear that Israeli authorities would target them, has spent months doing overnight shifts with families across the valley. Palestinian communities request the volunteers, they said, just so they can sleep with some semblance of protection. “We call it solidarity presence and not protective presence,” the volunteer told Drop Site, “because being with the families doesn’t actually change much about what happens to the situation. We just serve as witnesses to settler violence or interactions with the military and police.”
During one military raid the volunteer witnessed, soldiers conducted violent body searches on the men of a family while a woman collapsed on the floor, unable to breathe. Every time someone moved to help her, a gun was pointed at them and they were told to be silent. “Our presence here really does so little,” the volunteer said. “When 30 settlers come and you are two people, there is not very much you can do.”
## Redrawing the West Bank
In 2025, the Israeli military launched a massive assault targeting the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams in the northern West Bank. More than 30,000 Palestinians were displaced in the military operation and have been [unable to return to their homes][4]. Now, the focus has shifted to the eastern corridor. When complete, the Crimson Thread project will seal off the West Bank’s entire eastern side.
“The Israeli strategy is to divide the towns in the north of the West Bank,” Khudeiri told Drop Site. “Tubas divided from Jenin. Nablus divided between Tubas, Nablus, and Jenin. The same with Tulkarm and Qalqilya. This is how they create what they call ‘containers.’”
He continued, “Tubas, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Silfit—all of these towns, they will be like huge refugee camps without any services, without any rights.”
Khudeiri drove through the valley’s villages, ending the day in the small village of Bardala where he lives. He was explaining the area’s native flora when he abruptly stopped the car. There was a dead bird on the road. He moved it to the side, then stood there for a moment before returning to the car and driving slowly away.
“We belong to this land,” Khudeiri said, explaining that he has started keeping some of his knowledge of the area to himself—not writing it down or sharing it publicly, because, he said, whatever Palestinians name and describe can be taken.
“They are trying to steal everything—the name of our plants, the song we use when our people harvest the wheat. We have a lot of things we don’t share anymore because they keep stealing more and more.”
[Leave a comment][5]
[Subscribe now][6]
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[3]: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2026/06/israel-west-bank-ethnic-cleansing/
[4]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/west-bank-jenin-tulkarm-israeli-military-base-oslo-permits
[5]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land/comments
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/crimson-thread-israeli-military-barrier-west-bank-tubas-land
Trump says Iran deal is “over”; U.S. hits Iran over Hormuz; Drone strikes kill 15 in Sudan
**From Drop Site:**
* **[Platner Volunteers Want to Move Forward with a New Candidate][1]**
*President Donald Trump says MOU is “over,” [warns][2] U.S. will hit Iran again. Attacks [hit][3] tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. [strikes][4] Iran. Iran vows “crushing response,” [strikes][5] U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. U.S. [reimposes][6] sanctions on Iranian oil. Funeral procession for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [reaches][7] Iraq. U.S. commanders [bypassed][8] outdated intelligence warnings before deadly Iran school strike. Israeli airstrikes [hit][9] Nabatieh, southern villages overnight. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [condemns][10] Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Israel [kills][11] six Palestinians, including two children, on Wednesday. Israeli attacks on Tuesday [kill][12] five in Gaza. Israel [shoots][13], detains Palestinian man at Bethlehem checkpoint. Israeli airstrike [kills][14] Egyptian Relief Committee worker organizing World Cup match screenings. UN [warns][15] of chickenpox surge in Gaza amid overcrowding and collapsing sanitation. Committee to
Protect Journalists [reconsidering][16] its removal of killed Palestinian journalists from its database. Fallout from accusations against Graham Platner [continues][17]. ICE officer [kills][18] Mexican immigrant during Houston traffic stop. Rep. Thomas Massie [says][19] he will reintroduce NDAA amendment. Department of Justice [threatens][20] criminal prosecution over noncitizen voting in letters to all 50 states. Lawsuit [alleges][21] U.S. shared confidential asylum data with Iranian government. Trump [threatens][22] to cut off all trade with Spain. Trump [revives][23] Greenland acquisition push, threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe. United Nations [approves][24] extraordinary session on U.S. sanctions on Cuba. France’s Marine Le Pen to [run][25] in 2027 election. Drone strikes [kill][26] 15 in Sudan. Dozens of policemen and 11 soldiers [killed][27] in southwest Pakistan. Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate [asks][28] Trump for tariff relief. Russian strikes on Kyiv
[kill][29] one, wound others. U.S. [charges][30] gang leader in murder of Indian Sikh activist. Bombing suspect [found][31] shot dead in Ukraine.*
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Large crowds attend the funeral ceremony of the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Najaf, Iraq on July 8, 2026. Photo by Karar Essa/Anadolu via Getty Images.
# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Trump says MOU is “over,” warns U.S. will hit Iran again:** President Donald Trump [told][36] reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that he thought the memorandum of understanding between the the U.S. and Iran was “over,” following the trade of strikes between the two countries (see below), adding that “dealing” with the Iranians was “just a waste of time.” He warned that attacks on Iran will continue on Wednesday night and that the U.S. is going to “hit them hard tonight.”
* In the remarks that preceded this announcement, Trump said that the U.S. had “hit Iran very hard last night,” called the Iranians “evil people,” and insisted the attacks were part of the U.S. campaign to “denuclearise” Iran, which does not possess nuclear weapons.
* Trump also registered his discontent with NATO for insufficient assistance during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. He said he was “not happy” with the organization “because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state-sponsored terror, that’s Iran.”
* **Attacks hit tankers in the Strait of Hormuz: **Two tankers were [struck][37] in separate attacks while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO).
* In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile. The vessel is believed to have sustained structural damage, but no casualties or environmental impact were reported.
* At 1:05 p.m. UTC, UKMCO received a report of a second attack in which another tanker was struck by an unidentified aerial vehicle. The tanker sustained minor structural damage, with no casualties or pollution reported, and continued to its next port of call.
* Both incidents occurred in the same general area off the coast of Oman. They followed a similar attack on Monday, in which a Qatari tanker carrying liquefied natural gas was hit.
* Iran’s military did not claim responsibility for any of the attacks, though it has insisted that it manages the Strait under the MOU, vessels have to pass through the northern corridor managed by Iran, and any attempts to bypass its route or escape detection are a violation of the agreement.
* Qatar and Saudi Arabia both issued formal statements on Tuesday describing the targeting of their vessels and holding Iran accountable for the strikes.
* **U.S. strikes Iran: **In response to the vessel strikes, which it called a violation of the ceasefire, U.S. Central Command announced new strikes on Iran.
* Multiple explosions were [reported][38] overnight near the Iranian coastal cities of Sirik and Qeshm, on Kharg Island, and in other locations along the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mehr News, an Iranian state-affiliated outlet. Bandar Abbas was also reportedly hit.
* A later estimate from CENTCOM claimed that “over 80” locations had been targeted, “including air defense systems, command and control networks, and coastal radar sites,” and that they had disabled “over 60” small boats used by Iran’s navy.
* According to Iranian media, however, most of these strikes hit civilian areas, and shrapnel from one attack, near Sirik’s commercial pier, reportedly wounded several civilians. Other sites struck included fishing piers and a telecommunications tower, Iranian media reported.
* A U.S. official [characterized][39] the strikes as “punishment, not proportional” to CNN.
* **Iran vows “crushing response,” strikes U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain: **[Noting][40] the repeated violations by the U.S. of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, particularly the violations of its first clause with Israel’s continuing assault on Lebanon, and following the strikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced it would take “any action it deems necessary” to protect its interests and national security.
* Iran’s Khatam-al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of aggression,” noting that they occurred during the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February by an Israeli strike, and warning that Iran’s military would deliver a “crushing response” to the attacks.
* Air raid sirens were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain, with authorities in both countries releasing statements saying their air defenses were actively intercepting and destroying Iranian missiles and drones.
* The IRGC said in a statement that it had struck 85 military facilities in the Persian Gulf, including the U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters at Bahrain’s Salman Port and its Sheikh Isa Air Base, as well as the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.
* **U.S. reimposes sanctions on Iranian oil: **Earlier on Tuesday, and following strikes on vessels in Hormuz, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would be reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil that were lifted by the signing of the memorandum of understanding. The sanctions will go into effect on July 17, according to the statement, which announced their resumption.
* Oil prices [jumped][41] more than 5% following the announcement.
* **Khamenei funeral procession reaches Iraq: **The body of Ayatollah Khamenei [arrived][42] in Najaf, Iraq, where it was received with full state honors by Iraq’s top leadership, including Shia, Sunni, Kurdish, Christian, and other political and religious representatives, Drop Site’s Sarmad Jawad reported.
* Some Iraqi MPs were heard chanting “Death to America. Death to Israel.”
* Iraq is hosting an official state funeral for the former Iranian Supreme Leader, with millions of Iraqis expected to line the streets to pay their respects.
* **U.S. commanders bypassed outdated intelligence warnings before deadly Iran school strike**: Senior U.S. military commanders [overrode][43] database warnings that intelligence on Iranian targets was severely outdated before approving strikes on the war’s first day, including one that hit the Shajareh Tayyiba girls’ school in Minab, killing at least 168 children and 14 teachers, according to a new report from CNN.
* According to the report, analysts prioritized updating records for “upper-tier” mobile threats like missile sites before the war began, leaving fixed sites such as the school reliant on intelligence over 10 years old in the Pentagon’s MIDB and MARS targeting databases, sources said.
* The override preceding approval was reportedly driven by pressure from senior Pentagon leadership to supply targets quickly.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli airstrikes hit Nabatieh, southern villages overnight: **Israeli warplanes [struck][44] the Ali Al-Taher woodland near Nabatieh El-Fawqah around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday, following artillery shelling in the area, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
* Israeli aircraft also carried out three waves of strikes between Beit Yahoun, Kounine and Braachit overnight, while drones were reported flying intensively over Tyre and Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier in the day.
* **Aoun condemns Iran’s retaliatory attacks:** Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday [condemned][45] Iranian attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait as violations of their sovereignty and international law, per Lebanon’s National News Agency, though he made no similar condemnations of the earlier U.S. attacks on Iran.
* Earlier on Tuesday, a White House official told Reuters that Trump had invited Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit the White House on July 21.
# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded:** Over the last 24 hours, eight Palestinians were killed and 17 were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Two bodies were also recovered from under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,110 killed, with 173,599 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,084 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,491, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Israel kills six Palestinians, including two children, on Wednesday: **Six Palestinians, including two children, were [killed][46] in Israeli attacks on Khan Younis and Gaza City in Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, WAFA reported. Four people, including a 10-year-old child, were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent at Al-Saada camp south of Khan Younis. In Gaza City, one Palestinian was killed in an Israeli airstrike west of the city, while another child was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City.
* **Israeli attacks on Tuesday kill five in Gaza: **Two Israeli airstrikes on Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood south of Gaza City [killed][47] two, including a child, and injured four others Tuesday evening, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported. Another strike on a vehicle in Al-Sabra neighborhood killed four, including two children.
* **Israel shoots, detains Palestinian man at Bethlehem checkpoint**: Israeli forces [shot][48] a Palestinian man in the thigh with live ammunition at a military checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem on Wednesday before detaining him, according to WAFA.
* **Israeli airstrike kills Egyptian Relief Committee worker organizing World Cup match screenings:** Israel struck and [killed][49] Mohammed Fawaz Al-Wahidi, an employee of the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, hitting a vehicle in Gaza City about an hour before the World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina. The strike killed three others, including two children.
* The committee had been organizing public screenings of World Cup matches for displaced families across the Strip.
* A later statement from the committee, which identified Al-Wahidi and noted his role as a respected community leader, said he was on his way to a neighborhood reconciliation meeting when he was killed.
* **UN warns of chickenpox surge in Gaza amid overcrowding and collapsing sanitation: **Nearly 9,300 chickenpox infections were [reported][50] over the past two weeks in Gaza, more than half of them in the southern area of Khan Younis, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. OCHA attributed the outbreak to deteriorating environmental conditions, severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the summer season. The surge comes as around 1.7 million forcibly displaced Palestinians are living across more than 1,600 displacement sites. It added that 83% of assessed displacement sites have reported rodent and parasite infestations, while the collapsing health system continues to face critical shortages of essential medical supplies amid Israeli restrictions.
* **Palestinian rights group accuses Israeli prison staff of attempted killing of detainee**: The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said Wednesday that Israeli prison officials deliberately attempted to kill Palestinian prisoner Ghassan Ibrahim Zwahra, citing his testimony of being shot with rubber-coated bullets on multiple occasions after his June 8 transfer to Negev Prison, according to WAFA.
* Zwahra was also subjected to humiliating strip searches, brutal beatings, and was unable to walk as a result of his injuries, ultimately losing consciousness in the prison yard, which necessitated hospitalization, the group says.
* Zwahra, who has spent 17 years in Israeli prisons, was re-detained in February 2025. Only seven of these years were a result of actual sentences; the remaining 10 were spent in “administrative detention,” whereby Israel can summarily subject Palestinians to detentions of indefinite length without criminal charges or a trial.
* **U.S. politicians call for the release of Gaza physician:** Sen. Chris Van Hollen [called][51] for the immediate release of detained Gaza pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya on Tuesday, noting that Dr. Abu Safiya has spent 18 months in Israeli detention without charge or trial.
* Darializa Avila Chevalier, who recently won a high-profile race in New York’s Democratic Primary and is expected to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, joined Van Hollen in calling for Dr. Abu Safiya’s immediate release.
* Chevalier [added][52] that in Congress she would “fight tooth and nail” to cease the “endless endless flow of weapons and American taxpayer dollars” to Israel, noting its egregious violations of international humanitarian law and its multifront war against its neighbors and rivals.
* The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Abu Safiya. The commission warned in a [statement][53] on Wednesday that Abu Safiya’s deteriorating health was the direct result of “continued and severe abuse since his detention by the Israeli authorities in December 2024.” The commission added that Israel’s treatment of Abu Safiya reflected a broader pattern: “Israeli security forces deliberately killed, wounded, detained, and severely mistreated medical personnel, constituting the war crimes of wilful killing and torture and the crime against humanity of extermination.”
* **Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against Israeli in Italy: **The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation [filed][54] a criminal complaint on Tuesday, pointing Italian prosecutors towards Israeli citizen Arik Ben Asulin, who the group says is currently in Italy.
* The foundation says he participated in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide while serving in the Israeli military’s 749th Combat Engineering Battalion in Gaza.
* The complaint cites his alleged role in the destruction of the Netzarim Corridor, Al-Azhar University, and Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighborhood, relying on satellite imagery, U.N. findings, investigative reporting, and Ben Asulin’s own social media posts.
* **CPJ reconsidering its removal of killed Palestinian journalists from its database: **The Committee to Protect Journalists is reconsidering its removal of four Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza from its casualty database, the Electronic Intifada reported Wednesday, after a major controversy roiled the organization last week when it considered changing its definition of who is a journalist to exclude “state-backed propaganda outlets” or other outlets affiliated with “armed groups,” a change it ultimately did not make.
* CPJ is reportedly reviewing the cases of three journalists from Press House Palestine, all killed by Israel within the first few months of the Gaza genocide, one of whom was recognized as a journalist by UNESCO. The organization was also profiled by the Guardian, with one of these journalists, Mohammed Al-Jaja, described as having “his Press House flak jacket and press card resting on top of his body,” after he was killed.
* Read the full report from the Electronic Intifada **[here][55]**.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][56].*
* **Fallout from accusations against Graham Platner continues:**
* **New allegations: Lyndsey Fifield**, the ex-girlfriend whose allegations of physical abuse against **Graham Platner** anchored last month’s New York Times story, now tells the Washington Post he removed condoms during sex without her consent at least six times while they dated from 2013 to 2015, knowing she was not on birth control. “He would do it in a sneaky way,” she said. A close friend said Fifield told her about it when the relationship ended, according to the Post.
* Platner denied the claims and noted Fifield’s “well-documented political agenda.” Fifield is a longtime Republican operative who worked for the **Heritage Foundation** and **Nikki Haley’s** campaign, and publicly defended **Brett Kavanaugh** against sexual assault allegations.
* **Troy Jackson files paperwork indicating he might run: **Former Maine Senate President **Troy Jackson**[ became][57] the first Democrat to formally take steps to replace current nominee Graham Platner, filing paperwork on Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee, according to the Bangor Daily News. The filing allows Jackson to raise money before announcing a campaign. **Read more on Troy Jackson and his support from former Platner volunteers in this report from Drop Site contributor Nathan Bernard [here][58].**
* **Nirav Shah also announces intention to run**: **Nirav Shah**, a former gubernatorial candidate and public health official, [said][59] on Tuesday he was preparing to enter the race should Platner withdraw, calling for an “open and transparent process” to decide the new nominee, including at least one televised debate and multiple town halls across the state. Shah said he would run on Medicare for All, increasing taxes on the wealthy, reproductive rights, and challenging Trump, but did not mention Palestine. Shah’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign received more than $630,000 in support from 314 Action Fund, an AIPAC-linked Super PAC.
* **Sanders urges Platner to drop out: **Sen. **Bernie Sanders** (I-Vt.)** **posted on X Tuesday that he had “spoken with Platner” and had “recommended that he step aside.”
* **ICE officer kills Mexican immigrant during Houston traffic stop**: An ICE officer shot and [killed][60] **Lorenzo Salgado Araujo **in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood on Tuesday. The agency accused Araujo of ramming into an ICE vehicle and refusing verbal commands during an attempted arrest.
* Salgado Araujo’s family said he had lived in the U.S. for nearly 35 years and was in the process of obtaining legal status, according to his son **Ronaldo Salgado**.
* The** **League of United Latin American Citizens said Salgado Araujo was picking up employees in a work vehicle at the time of the stop, and the group’s chief executive called for a city police investigation while offering a $5,000 reward for more information about the shooting.
* **Rep. Thomas Massie says he will reintroduce NDAA amendment: **Rep. **Thomas Massie** (R-Ky.) [said][61] on Tuesday he would again offer his amendment to strip Section 219 from the NDAA when the House reconvenes July 13.
* The Section 219 provision would integrate U.S. and Israeli military technology across weapons co-production, AI, cyber, and data-sharing. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the provision his personal plan.
* The Rules Committee blocked the bipartisan Massie-Khanna amendment to this provision last week without debate, keeping it from a floor vote. But the procedural measure needed to bring the NDAA itself to the floor then unexpectedly failed, stalling the whole bill and forcing the committee to write a new rule, giving opponents of the provision another shot.
* **DOJ threatens criminal prosecution over noncitizen voting in letters to all 50 states**: The Justice Department’s civil rights division, led by **Harmeet Dhillon**, [sent][62] letters Tuesday to election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., warning that officials could face possible criminal liability if noncitizens are found on voter rolls or to have cast ballots.
* The letters are part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to tighten election restrictions, though there is no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting.
* The DOJ gave officials five days to detail their compliance efforts, though the letters carry no formal subpoena power.
* Also on Tuesday, the DOJ notified Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing that federal monitors would observe the upcoming Michigan primary, alleging issues in the 2024 election; Detroit City Clerk **Janice Winfrey** characterized these as “false assertions” used to exert special power over Detroit, a city with a heavy Black majority.
* **Lawsuit alleges U.S. shared confidential asylum data with Iranian government**: A lawsuit [filed][63] Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges that U.S. immigration agencies shared confidential asylum records of detained Iranians with the Iranian government, violating federal confidentiality regulations, according to court filings from the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and Public Citizen Litigation Group.
* The complaint claims State Department officials arranged monthly meetings with Iranian officials starting in March 2025, using the Pakistani embassy as an intermediary, to share sensitive details about detainees the U.S. sought to deport.
* The lawsuit alleges the shared information included asylum details from people who said they were persecuted in Iran for converting to Christianity, their sexuality, or participation in the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, with disclosures reportedly continuing even after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began the war in February 2026.
* About 600 Iranians were placed in immigration detention last year, according to public records obtained by the National Iranian American Council, and three deportation flights returned dozens of Iranians to Iran between September 2025 and January 2026, with some deportees reportedly including asylum seekers.
* **Democratic nominee Valdez says she would support sanctions on Israel: **Congressional candidate and current New York Rep. **Claire Valdez** [said][64] she would “absolutely” support sanctions on Israel similar to those imposed on South Africa, BreakThrough News reported. “We have a lot of tools at our disposal, including diplomatic tools,” she said, adding that “we should be looking at those tools now.”
# Other International News
* **Trump again threatens to cut off all trade with Spain: **As part of his remarks at Wednesday’s NATO summit in Ankara,** **President Donald Trump [said][65] that he had directed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off” all trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible partner” in the Atlantic alliance.
* In March, Trump also told Bessent to cut off trade with Spain, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain would not allow the U.S. to use its bases for operations against Iran, calling strikes by Israel and the U.S. on Iran “reckless and illegal.” Sánchez has also been a vocal critic of Israel during its genocide in Gaza, calling it a “genocidal state” and indicating that Spain could not “do business” with such a country.
* **Trump revives Greenland acquisition push, threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe**: President Trump on Tuesday [renewed][66] calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, saying the territory “should be controlled by the United States” and suggesting Washington could withdraw all its troops from Europe over the continent’s resistance to the idea.
* Speaking in Ankara ahead of Wednesday’s NATO summit, Trump blamed the Greenland dispute for damaging his relationship with NATO and repeated unverified claims about Chinese and Russian ships near the island.
* Finnish President Alexander Stubb responded to Trump’s comments by emphasizing NATO’s existing Arctic capabilities, noting that Finland has trained a million soldiers in Arctic conditions and that seven alliance members are Arctic nations.
* A U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic working group has been meeting on the territory’s status since Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly reached a preliminary “framework” agreement in late January, with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen saying he expects a resolution by year’s end.
* **United Nations approves extraordinary session on U.S. sanctions on Cuba**: Over U.S. objections, the UN General Assembly [voted][67] 136-9 on Tuesday to hold an extraordinary session, requested by Cuba, to address an escalation in the U.S. sanctions regime on the island and its effect on Cuba’s energy infrastructure.
* Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez told the session that the U.S. is waging a “multidimensional, unconventional war” against Cuba, now in its seventh decade and “more brutal and ruthless in the last seven months,” with an energy siege “equivalent to a naval blockade, which is an act of war.” He called U.S. policy, which caused yet another islandwide blackout on Monday, “collective punishment” enforced against Cuba’s population, and estimated it had cost the nation $8 billion from March 2025 to February 2026.
* The U.S. had lobbied other countries at the UN to join its effort to block the debate entirely; only the U.S., Israel, Argentina, and six others voted against the extraordinary session.
* The UN has passed a non-binding resolution calling for the lifting of the U.S. blockade every year since 1992, with the support of a large majority of its member states.
* **Marine Le Pen to run in 2027 election: **Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen [announced][68] that she would run in France’s 2027 presidential election on Tuesday, following a decision by a Paris appeals court upholding her embezzlement conviction that allows her to seek public office once again.
* Le Pen, who has long headed the far-right French National Rally (formerly “National Front”) party, was found guilty of embezzling €2.8 million in European Parliament funds.
* She was banned from pursuing elected office by the court, but Tuesday’s ruling reduced that ban, effectively allowing her to run in the 2027 election.
* It also mandated that Le Pen wear an ankle monitor in lieu of her suspended jail sentence, which Le Pen has said would make campaigning impossible. She is appealing the decision to France’s highest court, which automatically suspends the sentence until a final ruling is issued.
* **Drone strikes kill 15 in Sudan: **At least 15 civilians were [killed][69] in two separate strikes on vehicles on Monday and Tuesday in Sudan’s North Kordofan region, the Sudanese human rights group Emergency Lawyers reported.
* The largest of these attacks, on a vehicle in the town of Al-Shatoot, killed 13 civilians, five of them women, according to the group.
* Kordofan has seen an escalation in drone strikes in recent weeks, with schools, hospitals, and water infrastructure in the region all sustaining serious damage.
* **Dozens of policemen and 11 soldiers killed in southwest Pakistan**: Insurgents killed 18 police officers and 11 soldiers, according to the Pakistan military. The policemen had been abducted Monday, when militants attacked police in the Ziarat district in Baluchistan province, the AP [reported][70]. Nine police officers were initially killed in that attack. A Pakistani military spokesperson said security forces had killed 54 insurgents.
* **Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate asks Trump for tariff relief: **Right-wing Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on Tuesday [argued][71] against a 25% tariff on his country to the U.S. Trade Representative, asserting that its trade practices, particularly an instant payment system, were not unfair, and noting the possible effects of the tariffs on the October election.
* The tariffs were proposed to derail the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, but the younger Bolsonaro fears they could be used against him in his campaign against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who has seen his popularity boosted after diplomatic spats with Washington.
* **Russian strikes on Kyiv kill one, wound others: **Russian forces [bombarded][72] Kyiv overnight Tuesday—the third time Russia has bombed the capital in less than a week—killing a woman and wounding two others, according to city officials.
* Ukrainian defenses were able to intercept most of Russia’s drone attacks but not the ballistic missiles it launched, according to the country’s air force.
* Other attacks were reported in the southern region of Mykolaiv, the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, and the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, the first of which killed a mother and daughter. Several others were wounded in both attacks.
* The attacks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presses for additional military support during this week’s NATO summit in Ankara.
* **U.S. charges gang leader in murder of Indian Sikh activist: **The U.S. [charged][73] Lawrence Bishnoi, an imprisoned leader of an Indian gang, and a deputy, Satinderjeet Singh, with directing the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh nationalist leader killed in Vancouver, Canada, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday.
* The indictment claims that Bishnoi directed the murder from his prison cell in India, using a smuggled cellphone and providing a co-conspirator with a picture of and addresses for Nijjar.
* Nijjar’s killing caused a diplomatic rift between the Canadian and Indian governments, with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that he had “credible evidence” linking the killing to Indian government agents. The U.S. indictment makes no such connections.
* **Bombing suspect found shot dead in Ukraine: **Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national suspected of attempting to kill a prominent businessman in Monaco in a bombing attack last week, was [found dead][74] near Kyiv on Tuesday, according to Ukraine’s Security Services. Berezovska was reportedly shot in the head by a Ukrainian military intelligence officer, the Guardian reported.
* French prosecutors accuse Berezovska of receiving payments in cryptocurrency from two different men to kill Vadym Iermolaiev, a Ukrainian businessman who holds Cypriot citizenship and allegedly has close ties to Russia.
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[1]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
[2]: https://aje.news/9wgqf3?update=4748703
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074507127389847847
[4]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[5]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[6]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074574964414689474
[7]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074629214104424785
[8]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/us-commanders-intelligence-iran-school
[9]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222960/israeli-airstrikes-hit-south-lebanon-drone-activity-reported-over-tyre-and-beirut-2
[10]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222972/aoun-condemns-attacks-on-bahrain-kuwait-reaffirms-solidarity-2
[11]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/8/6-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150073
[12]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172484
[13]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172488
[14]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074564119706087644
[15]: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-3-july-2026#public-health
[16]: https://electronicintifada.net/content/exclusive-cpj-reconsidering-removal-killed-gaza-journalists-database/51505
[17]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074531225574777073
[18]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/07/ice-officer-fatally-shoots-man-houston-during-attempted-immigration-arrest/
[19]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074663129686962299
[20]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/justice-department-elections-noncitizen-voting.html
[21]: https://apnews.com/article/iran-lawsuit-asylum-seekers-information-leaked-b7481c1b5ba349f1bfe3529a44822f2d
[22]: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-cutting-off-all-trade-with-spain-2026-07-08/
[23]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-summit-greenland-us-troops-europe.html
[24]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074585396709896646
[25]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074634423731921070
[26]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315978
[27]: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-militant-attacks-balochistan-killed-soldiers-police-cd01e29b392baf5356dfb9dedb23e867
[28]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-senator-bolsonaro-argues-against-25-us-tariff-its-exports-2026-07-07/
[29]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/7/russian-missile-strikes-hit-ukraines-capital-kyiv-for-third-time-in-a-week
[30]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-charges-imprisoned-indian-gang-leader-with-ordering-2023-murder-canadian-sikh-2026-07-07/
[31]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-kyiv
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[33]: https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2054008457725096417?s=46
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[37]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074507127389847847
[38]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[39]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074623848150900919
[40]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074574964414689474
[42]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074629214104424785
[43]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/us-commanders-intelligence-iran-school
[44]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222960/israeli-airstrikes-hit-south-lebanon-drone-activity-reported-over-tyre-and-beirut-2
[45]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222972/aoun-condemns-attacks-on-bahrain-kuwait-reaffirms-solidarity-2
[46]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/8/6-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150073
[47]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172484
[48]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172488
[49]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074564119706087644
[50]: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-3-july-2026#public-health
[51]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074578659919433880
[52]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074578659919433880
[53]: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/israel-must-release-dr-hussam-abu-safiya-and-all-palestinian-medical?sub-site=HRC
[54]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074525503487115284
[55]: https://electronicintifada.net/content/exclusive-cpj-reconsidering-removal-killed-gaza-journalists-database/51505
[56]: mailto:[email protected]
[57]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074531225574777073
[58]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
[59]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074531225574777073
[60]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/07/ice-officer-fatally-shoots-man-houston-during-attempted-immigration-arrest/
[61]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074663129686962299
[62]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/justice-department-elections-noncitizen-voting.html
[63]: https://apnews.com/article/iran-lawsuit-asylum-seekers-information-leaked-b7481c1b5ba349f1bfe3529a44822f2d
[64]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074619581658730856
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-cutting-off-all-trade-with-spain-2026-07-08/
[66]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-summit-greenland-us-troops-europe.html
[67]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074585396709896646
[68]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074634423731921070
[69]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315978
[70]: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-militant-attacks-balochistan-killed-soldiers-police-cd01e29b392baf5356dfb9dedb23e867
[71]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-senator-bolsonaro-argues-against-25-us-tariff-its-exports-2026-07-07/
[72]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/7/russian-missile-strikes-hit-ukraines-capital-kyiv-for-third-time-in-a-week
[73]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-charges-imprisoned-indian-gang-leader-with-ordering-2023-murder-canadian-sikh-2026-07-07/
[74]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-kyiv
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-iran-deal-mou-hormuz-khamenei-drone-strikes-sudan
**From Drop Site:**
* **[Platner Volunteers Want to Move Forward with a New Candidate][1]**
*President Donald Trump says MOU is “over,” [warns][2] U.S. will hit Iran again. Attacks [hit][3] tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. [strikes][4] Iran. Iran vows “crushing response,” [strikes][5] U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. U.S. [reimposes][6] sanctions on Iranian oil. Funeral procession for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [reaches][7] Iraq. U.S. commanders [bypassed][8] outdated intelligence warnings before deadly Iran school strike. Israeli airstrikes [hit][9] Nabatieh, southern villages overnight. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [condemns][10] Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Israel [kills][11] six Palestinians, including two children, on Wednesday. Israeli attacks on Tuesday [kill][12] five in Gaza. Israel [shoots][13], detains Palestinian man at Bethlehem checkpoint. Israeli airstrike [kills][14] Egyptian Relief Committee worker organizing World Cup match screenings. UN [warns][15] of chickenpox surge in Gaza amid overcrowding and collapsing sanitation. Committee to
Protect Journalists [reconsidering][16] its removal of killed Palestinian journalists from its database. Fallout from accusations against Graham Platner [continues][17]. ICE officer [kills][18] Mexican immigrant during Houston traffic stop. Rep. Thomas Massie [says][19] he will reintroduce NDAA amendment. Department of Justice [threatens][20] criminal prosecution over noncitizen voting in letters to all 50 states. Lawsuit [alleges][21] U.S. shared confidential asylum data with Iranian government. Trump [threatens][22] to cut off all trade with Spain. Trump [revives][23] Greenland acquisition push, threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe. United Nations [approves][24] extraordinary session on U.S. sanctions on Cuba. France’s Marine Le Pen to [run][25] in 2027 election. Drone strikes [kill][26] 15 in Sudan. Dozens of policemen and 11 soldiers [killed][27] in southwest Pakistan. Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate [asks][28] Trump for tariff relief. Russian strikes on Kyiv
[kill][29] one, wound others. U.S. [charges][30] gang leader in murder of Indian Sikh activist. Bombing suspect [found][31] shot dead in Ukraine.*
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Large crowds attend the funeral ceremony of the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Najaf, Iraq on July 8, 2026. Photo by Karar Essa/Anadolu via Getty Images.
# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Trump says MOU is “over,” warns U.S. will hit Iran again:** President Donald Trump [told][36] reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that he thought the memorandum of understanding between the the U.S. and Iran was “over,” following the trade of strikes between the two countries (see below), adding that “dealing” with the Iranians was “just a waste of time.” He warned that attacks on Iran will continue on Wednesday night and that the U.S. is going to “hit them hard tonight.”
* In the remarks that preceded this announcement, Trump said that the U.S. had “hit Iran very hard last night,” called the Iranians “evil people,” and insisted the attacks were part of the U.S. campaign to “denuclearise” Iran, which does not possess nuclear weapons.
* Trump also registered his discontent with NATO for insufficient assistance during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. He said he was “not happy” with the organization “because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state-sponsored terror, that’s Iran.”
* **Attacks hit tankers in the Strait of Hormuz: **Two tankers were [struck][37] in separate attacks while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO).
* In the first incident, a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile. The vessel is believed to have sustained structural damage, but no casualties or environmental impact were reported.
* At 1:05 p.m. UTC, UKMCO received a report of a second attack in which another tanker was struck by an unidentified aerial vehicle. The tanker sustained minor structural damage, with no casualties or pollution reported, and continued to its next port of call.
* Both incidents occurred in the same general area off the coast of Oman. They followed a similar attack on Monday, in which a Qatari tanker carrying liquefied natural gas was hit.
* Iran’s military did not claim responsibility for any of the attacks, though it has insisted that it manages the Strait under the MOU, vessels have to pass through the northern corridor managed by Iran, and any attempts to bypass its route or escape detection are a violation of the agreement.
* Qatar and Saudi Arabia both issued formal statements on Tuesday describing the targeting of their vessels and holding Iran accountable for the strikes.
* **U.S. strikes Iran: **In response to the vessel strikes, which it called a violation of the ceasefire, U.S. Central Command announced new strikes on Iran.
* Multiple explosions were [reported][38] overnight near the Iranian coastal cities of Sirik and Qeshm, on Kharg Island, and in other locations along the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mehr News, an Iranian state-affiliated outlet. Bandar Abbas was also reportedly hit.
* A later estimate from CENTCOM claimed that “over 80” locations had been targeted, “including air defense systems, command and control networks, and coastal radar sites,” and that they had disabled “over 60” small boats used by Iran’s navy.
* According to Iranian media, however, most of these strikes hit civilian areas, and shrapnel from one attack, near Sirik’s commercial pier, reportedly wounded several civilians. Other sites struck included fishing piers and a telecommunications tower, Iranian media reported.
* A U.S. official [characterized][39] the strikes as “punishment, not proportional” to CNN.
* **Iran vows “crushing response,” strikes U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain: **[Noting][40] the repeated violations by the U.S. of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, particularly the violations of its first clause with Israel’s continuing assault on Lebanon, and following the strikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced it would take “any action it deems necessary” to protect its interests and national security.
* Iran’s Khatam-al-Anbiya Central Headquarters also condemned the strikes as a “blatant act of aggression,” noting that they occurred during the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in February by an Israeli strike, and warning that Iran’s military would deliver a “crushing response” to the attacks.
* Air raid sirens were reported in Kuwait and Bahrain, with authorities in both countries releasing statements saying their air defenses were actively intercepting and destroying Iranian missiles and drones.
* The IRGC said in a statement that it had struck 85 military facilities in the Persian Gulf, including the U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters at Bahrain’s Salman Port and its Sheikh Isa Air Base, as well as the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.
* **U.S. reimposes sanctions on Iranian oil: **Earlier on Tuesday, and following strikes on vessels in Hormuz, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would be reimposing sanctions on Iranian oil that were lifted by the signing of the memorandum of understanding. The sanctions will go into effect on July 17, according to the statement, which announced their resumption.
* Oil prices [jumped][41] more than 5% following the announcement.
* **Khamenei funeral procession reaches Iraq: **The body of Ayatollah Khamenei [arrived][42] in Najaf, Iraq, where it was received with full state honors by Iraq’s top leadership, including Shia, Sunni, Kurdish, Christian, and other political and religious representatives, Drop Site’s Sarmad Jawad reported.
* Some Iraqi MPs were heard chanting “Death to America. Death to Israel.”
* Iraq is hosting an official state funeral for the former Iranian Supreme Leader, with millions of Iraqis expected to line the streets to pay their respects.
* **U.S. commanders bypassed outdated intelligence warnings before deadly Iran school strike**: Senior U.S. military commanders [overrode][43] database warnings that intelligence on Iranian targets was severely outdated before approving strikes on the war’s first day, including one that hit the Shajareh Tayyiba girls’ school in Minab, killing at least 168 children and 14 teachers, according to a new report from CNN.
* According to the report, analysts prioritized updating records for “upper-tier” mobile threats like missile sites before the war began, leaving fixed sites such as the school reliant on intelligence over 10 years old in the Pentagon’s MIDB and MARS targeting databases, sources said.
* The override preceding approval was reportedly driven by pressure from senior Pentagon leadership to supply targets quickly.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli airstrikes hit Nabatieh, southern villages overnight: **Israeli warplanes [struck][44] the Ali Al-Taher woodland near Nabatieh El-Fawqah around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday, following artillery shelling in the area, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
* Israeli aircraft also carried out three waves of strikes between Beit Yahoun, Kounine and Braachit overnight, while drones were reported flying intensively over Tyre and Beirut’s southern suburbs earlier in the day.
* **Aoun condemns Iran’s retaliatory attacks:** Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday [condemned][45] Iranian attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait as violations of their sovereignty and international law, per Lebanon’s National News Agency, though he made no similar condemnations of the earlier U.S. attacks on Iran.
* Earlier on Tuesday, a White House official told Reuters that Trump had invited Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to visit the White House on July 21.
# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded:** Over the last 24 hours, eight Palestinians were killed and 17 were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Two bodies were also recovered from under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,110 killed, with 173,599 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,084 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,491, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Israel kills six Palestinians, including two children, on Wednesday: **Six Palestinians, including two children, were [killed][46] in Israeli attacks on Khan Younis and Gaza City in Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, WAFA reported. Four people, including a 10-year-old child, were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent at Al-Saada camp south of Khan Younis. In Gaza City, one Palestinian was killed in an Israeli airstrike west of the city, while another child was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Zeitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City.
* **Israeli attacks on Tuesday kill five in Gaza: **Two Israeli airstrikes on Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood south of Gaza City [killed][47] two, including a child, and injured four others Tuesday evening, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported. Another strike on a vehicle in Al-Sabra neighborhood killed four, including two children.
* **Israel shoots, detains Palestinian man at Bethlehem checkpoint**: Israeli forces [shot][48] a Palestinian man in the thigh with live ammunition at a military checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem on Wednesday before detaining him, according to WAFA.
* **Israeli airstrike kills Egyptian Relief Committee worker organizing World Cup match screenings:** Israel struck and [killed][49] Mohammed Fawaz Al-Wahidi, an employee of the Egyptian Relief Committee in Gaza, hitting a vehicle in Gaza City about an hour before the World Cup match between Egypt and Argentina. The strike killed three others, including two children.
* The committee had been organizing public screenings of World Cup matches for displaced families across the Strip.
* A later statement from the committee, which identified Al-Wahidi and noted his role as a respected community leader, said he was on his way to a neighborhood reconciliation meeting when he was killed.
* **UN warns of chickenpox surge in Gaza amid overcrowding and collapsing sanitation: **Nearly 9,300 chickenpox infections were [reported][50] over the past two weeks in Gaza, more than half of them in the southern area of Khan Younis, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. OCHA attributed the outbreak to deteriorating environmental conditions, severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the summer season. The surge comes as around 1.7 million forcibly displaced Palestinians are living across more than 1,600 displacement sites. It added that 83% of assessed displacement sites have reported rodent and parasite infestations, while the collapsing health system continues to face critical shortages of essential medical supplies amid Israeli restrictions.
* **Palestinian rights group accuses Israeli prison staff of attempted killing of detainee**: The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said Wednesday that Israeli prison officials deliberately attempted to kill Palestinian prisoner Ghassan Ibrahim Zwahra, citing his testimony of being shot with rubber-coated bullets on multiple occasions after his June 8 transfer to Negev Prison, according to WAFA.
* Zwahra was also subjected to humiliating strip searches, brutal beatings, and was unable to walk as a result of his injuries, ultimately losing consciousness in the prison yard, which necessitated hospitalization, the group says.
* Zwahra, who has spent 17 years in Israeli prisons, was re-detained in February 2025. Only seven of these years were a result of actual sentences; the remaining 10 were spent in “administrative detention,” whereby Israel can summarily subject Palestinians to detentions of indefinite length without criminal charges or a trial.
* **U.S. politicians call for the release of Gaza physician:** Sen. Chris Van Hollen [called][51] for the immediate release of detained Gaza pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya on Tuesday, noting that Dr. Abu Safiya has spent 18 months in Israeli detention without charge or trial.
* Darializa Avila Chevalier, who recently won a high-profile race in New York’s Democratic Primary and is expected to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, joined Van Hollen in calling for Dr. Abu Safiya’s immediate release.
* Chevalier [added][52] that in Congress she would “fight tooth and nail” to cease the “endless endless flow of weapons and American taxpayer dollars” to Israel, noting its egregious violations of international humanitarian law and its multifront war against its neighbors and rivals.
* The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Abu Safiya. The commission warned in a [statement][53] on Wednesday that Abu Safiya’s deteriorating health was the direct result of “continued and severe abuse since his detention by the Israeli authorities in December 2024.” The commission added that Israel’s treatment of Abu Safiya reflected a broader pattern: “Israeli security forces deliberately killed, wounded, detained, and severely mistreated medical personnel, constituting the war crimes of wilful killing and torture and the crime against humanity of extermination.”
* **Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against Israeli in Italy: **The Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation [filed][54] a criminal complaint on Tuesday, pointing Italian prosecutors towards Israeli citizen Arik Ben Asulin, who the group says is currently in Italy.
* The foundation says he participated in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide while serving in the Israeli military’s 749th Combat Engineering Battalion in Gaza.
* The complaint cites his alleged role in the destruction of the Netzarim Corridor, Al-Azhar University, and Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighborhood, relying on satellite imagery, U.N. findings, investigative reporting, and Ben Asulin’s own social media posts.
* **CPJ reconsidering its removal of killed Palestinian journalists from its database: **The Committee to Protect Journalists is reconsidering its removal of four Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza from its casualty database, the Electronic Intifada reported Wednesday, after a major controversy roiled the organization last week when it considered changing its definition of who is a journalist to exclude “state-backed propaganda outlets” or other outlets affiliated with “armed groups,” a change it ultimately did not make.
* CPJ is reportedly reviewing the cases of three journalists from Press House Palestine, all killed by Israel within the first few months of the Gaza genocide, one of whom was recognized as a journalist by UNESCO. The organization was also profiled by the Guardian, with one of these journalists, Mohammed Al-Jaja, described as having “his Press House flak jacket and press card resting on top of his body,” after he was killed.
* Read the full report from the Electronic Intifada **[here][55]**.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][56].*
* **Fallout from accusations against Graham Platner continues:**
* **New allegations: Lyndsey Fifield**, the ex-girlfriend whose allegations of physical abuse against **Graham Platner** anchored last month’s New York Times story, now tells the Washington Post he removed condoms during sex without her consent at least six times while they dated from 2013 to 2015, knowing she was not on birth control. “He would do it in a sneaky way,” she said. A close friend said Fifield told her about it when the relationship ended, according to the Post.
* Platner denied the claims and noted Fifield’s “well-documented political agenda.” Fifield is a longtime Republican operative who worked for the **Heritage Foundation** and **Nikki Haley’s** campaign, and publicly defended **Brett Kavanaugh** against sexual assault allegations.
* **Troy Jackson files paperwork indicating he might run: **Former Maine Senate President **Troy Jackson**[ became][57] the first Democrat to formally take steps to replace current nominee Graham Platner, filing paperwork on Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee, according to the Bangor Daily News. The filing allows Jackson to raise money before announcing a campaign. **Read more on Troy Jackson and his support from former Platner volunteers in this report from Drop Site contributor Nathan Bernard [here][58].**
* **Nirav Shah also announces intention to run**: **Nirav Shah**, a former gubernatorial candidate and public health official, [said][59] on Tuesday he was preparing to enter the race should Platner withdraw, calling for an “open and transparent process” to decide the new nominee, including at least one televised debate and multiple town halls across the state. Shah said he would run on Medicare for All, increasing taxes on the wealthy, reproductive rights, and challenging Trump, but did not mention Palestine. Shah’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign received more than $630,000 in support from 314 Action Fund, an AIPAC-linked Super PAC.
* **Sanders urges Platner to drop out: **Sen. **Bernie Sanders** (I-Vt.)** **posted on X Tuesday that he had “spoken with Platner” and had “recommended that he step aside.”
* **ICE officer kills Mexican immigrant during Houston traffic stop**: An ICE officer shot and [killed][60] **Lorenzo Salgado Araujo **in Houston’s Magnolia Park neighborhood on Tuesday. The agency accused Araujo of ramming into an ICE vehicle and refusing verbal commands during an attempted arrest.
* Salgado Araujo’s family said he had lived in the U.S. for nearly 35 years and was in the process of obtaining legal status, according to his son **Ronaldo Salgado**.
* The** **League of United Latin American Citizens said Salgado Araujo was picking up employees in a work vehicle at the time of the stop, and the group’s chief executive called for a city police investigation while offering a $5,000 reward for more information about the shooting.
* **Rep. Thomas Massie says he will reintroduce NDAA amendment: **Rep. **Thomas Massie** (R-Ky.) [said][61] on Tuesday he would again offer his amendment to strip Section 219 from the NDAA when the House reconvenes July 13.
* The Section 219 provision would integrate U.S. and Israeli military technology across weapons co-production, AI, cyber, and data-sharing. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the provision his personal plan.
* The Rules Committee blocked the bipartisan Massie-Khanna amendment to this provision last week without debate, keeping it from a floor vote. But the procedural measure needed to bring the NDAA itself to the floor then unexpectedly failed, stalling the whole bill and forcing the committee to write a new rule, giving opponents of the provision another shot.
* **DOJ threatens criminal prosecution over noncitizen voting in letters to all 50 states**: The Justice Department’s civil rights division, led by **Harmeet Dhillon**, [sent][62] letters Tuesday to election officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., warning that officials could face possible criminal liability if noncitizens are found on voter rolls or to have cast ballots.
* The letters are part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to tighten election restrictions, though there is no evidence of widespread noncitizen voting.
* The DOJ gave officials five days to detail their compliance efforts, though the letters carry no formal subpoena power.
* Also on Tuesday, the DOJ notified Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing that federal monitors would observe the upcoming Michigan primary, alleging issues in the 2024 election; Detroit City Clerk **Janice Winfrey** characterized these as “false assertions” used to exert special power over Detroit, a city with a heavy Black majority.
* **Lawsuit alleges U.S. shared confidential asylum data with Iranian government**: A lawsuit [filed][63] Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges that U.S. immigration agencies shared confidential asylum records of detained Iranians with the Iranian government, violating federal confidentiality regulations, according to court filings from the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and Public Citizen Litigation Group.
* The complaint claims State Department officials arranged monthly meetings with Iranian officials starting in March 2025, using the Pakistani embassy as an intermediary, to share sensitive details about detainees the U.S. sought to deport.
* The lawsuit alleges the shared information included asylum details from people who said they were persecuted in Iran for converting to Christianity, their sexuality, or participation in the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests, with disclosures reportedly continuing even after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began the war in February 2026.
* About 600 Iranians were placed in immigration detention last year, according to public records obtained by the National Iranian American Council, and three deportation flights returned dozens of Iranians to Iran between September 2025 and January 2026, with some deportees reportedly including asylum seekers.
* **Democratic nominee Valdez says she would support sanctions on Israel: **Congressional candidate and current New York Rep. **Claire Valdez** [said][64] she would “absolutely” support sanctions on Israel similar to those imposed on South Africa, BreakThrough News reported. “We have a lot of tools at our disposal, including diplomatic tools,” she said, adding that “we should be looking at those tools now.”
# Other International News
* **Trump again threatens to cut off all trade with Spain: **As part of his remarks at Wednesday’s NATO summit in Ankara,** **President Donald Trump [said][65] that he had directed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off” all trade with Spain, calling it a “terrible partner” in the Atlantic alliance.
* In March, Trump also told Bessent to cut off trade with Spain, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain would not allow the U.S. to use its bases for operations against Iran, calling strikes by Israel and the U.S. on Iran “reckless and illegal.” Sánchez has also been a vocal critic of Israel during its genocide in Gaza, calling it a “genocidal state” and indicating that Spain could not “do business” with such a country.
* **Trump revives Greenland acquisition push, threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe**: President Trump on Tuesday [renewed][66] calls for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, saying the territory “should be controlled by the United States” and suggesting Washington could withdraw all its troops from Europe over the continent’s resistance to the idea.
* Speaking in Ankara ahead of Wednesday’s NATO summit, Trump blamed the Greenland dispute for damaging his relationship with NATO and repeated unverified claims about Chinese and Russian ships near the island.
* Finnish President Alexander Stubb responded to Trump’s comments by emphasizing NATO’s existing Arctic capabilities, noting that Finland has trained a million soldiers in Arctic conditions and that seven alliance members are Arctic nations.
* A U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic working group has been meeting on the territory’s status since Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly reached a preliminary “framework” agreement in late January, with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen saying he expects a resolution by year’s end.
* **United Nations approves extraordinary session on U.S. sanctions on Cuba**: Over U.S. objections, the UN General Assembly [voted][67] 136-9 on Tuesday to hold an extraordinary session, requested by Cuba, to address an escalation in the U.S. sanctions regime on the island and its effect on Cuba’s energy infrastructure.
* Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez told the session that the U.S. is waging a “multidimensional, unconventional war” against Cuba, now in its seventh decade and “more brutal and ruthless in the last seven months,” with an energy siege “equivalent to a naval blockade, which is an act of war.” He called U.S. policy, which caused yet another islandwide blackout on Monday, “collective punishment” enforced against Cuba’s population, and estimated it had cost the nation $8 billion from March 2025 to February 2026.
* The U.S. had lobbied other countries at the UN to join its effort to block the debate entirely; only the U.S., Israel, Argentina, and six others voted against the extraordinary session.
* The UN has passed a non-binding resolution calling for the lifting of the U.S. blockade every year since 1992, with the support of a large majority of its member states.
* **Marine Le Pen to run in 2027 election: **Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen [announced][68] that she would run in France’s 2027 presidential election on Tuesday, following a decision by a Paris appeals court upholding her embezzlement conviction that allows her to seek public office once again.
* Le Pen, who has long headed the far-right French National Rally (formerly “National Front”) party, was found guilty of embezzling €2.8 million in European Parliament funds.
* She was banned from pursuing elected office by the court, but Tuesday’s ruling reduced that ban, effectively allowing her to run in the 2027 election.
* It also mandated that Le Pen wear an ankle monitor in lieu of her suspended jail sentence, which Le Pen has said would make campaigning impossible. She is appealing the decision to France’s highest court, which automatically suspends the sentence until a final ruling is issued.
* **Drone strikes kill 15 in Sudan: **At least 15 civilians were [killed][69] in two separate strikes on vehicles on Monday and Tuesday in Sudan’s North Kordofan region, the Sudanese human rights group Emergency Lawyers reported.
* The largest of these attacks, on a vehicle in the town of Al-Shatoot, killed 13 civilians, five of them women, according to the group.
* Kordofan has seen an escalation in drone strikes in recent weeks, with schools, hospitals, and water infrastructure in the region all sustaining serious damage.
* **Dozens of policemen and 11 soldiers killed in southwest Pakistan**: Insurgents killed 18 police officers and 11 soldiers, according to the Pakistan military. The policemen had been abducted Monday, when militants attacked police in the Ziarat district in Baluchistan province, the AP [reported][70]. Nine police officers were initially killed in that attack. A Pakistani military spokesperson said security forces had killed 54 insurgents.
* **Right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate asks Trump for tariff relief: **Right-wing Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro on Tuesday [argued][71] against a 25% tariff on his country to the U.S. Trade Representative, asserting that its trade practices, particularly an instant payment system, were not unfair, and noting the possible effects of the tariffs on the October election.
* The tariffs were proposed to derail the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, but the younger Bolsonaro fears they could be used against him in his campaign against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who has seen his popularity boosted after diplomatic spats with Washington.
* **Russian strikes on Kyiv kill one, wound others: **Russian forces [bombarded][72] Kyiv overnight Tuesday—the third time Russia has bombed the capital in less than a week—killing a woman and wounding two others, according to city officials.
* Ukrainian defenses were able to intercept most of Russia’s drone attacks but not the ballistic missiles it launched, according to the country’s air force.
* Other attacks were reported in the southern region of Mykolaiv, the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, and the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, the first of which killed a mother and daughter. Several others were wounded in both attacks.
* The attacks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presses for additional military support during this week’s NATO summit in Ankara.
* **U.S. charges gang leader in murder of Indian Sikh activist: **The U.S. [charged][73] Lawrence Bishnoi, an imprisoned leader of an Indian gang, and a deputy, Satinderjeet Singh, with directing the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh nationalist leader killed in Vancouver, Canada, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday.
* The indictment claims that Bishnoi directed the murder from his prison cell in India, using a smuggled cellphone and providing a co-conspirator with a picture of and addresses for Nijjar.
* Nijjar’s killing caused a diplomatic rift between the Canadian and Indian governments, with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that he had “credible evidence” linking the killing to Indian government agents. The U.S. indictment makes no such connections.
* **Bombing suspect found shot dead in Ukraine: **Anastasiia Berezovska, a 39-year-old Ukrainian national suspected of attempting to kill a prominent businessman in Monaco in a bombing attack last week, was [found dead][74] near Kyiv on Tuesday, according to Ukraine’s Security Services. Berezovska was reportedly shot in the head by a Ukrainian military intelligence officer, the Guardian reported.
* French prosecutors accuse Berezovska of receiving payments in cryptocurrency from two different men to kill Vadym Iermolaiev, a Ukrainian businessman who holds Cypriot citizenship and allegedly has close ties to Russia.
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[1]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
[2]: https://aje.news/9wgqf3?update=4748703
[3]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074507127389847847
[4]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[5]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[6]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074574964414689474
[7]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074629214104424785
[8]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/us-commanders-intelligence-iran-school
[9]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222960/israeli-airstrikes-hit-south-lebanon-drone-activity-reported-over-tyre-and-beirut-2
[10]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222972/aoun-condemns-attacks-on-bahrain-kuwait-reaffirms-solidarity-2
[11]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/8/6-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150073
[12]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172484
[13]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172488
[14]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074564119706087644
[15]: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-3-july-2026#public-health
[16]: https://electronicintifada.net/content/exclusive-cpj-reconsidering-removal-killed-gaza-journalists-database/51505
[17]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074531225574777073
[18]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/07/ice-officer-fatally-shoots-man-houston-during-attempted-immigration-arrest/
[19]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074663129686962299
[20]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/justice-department-elections-noncitizen-voting.html
[21]: https://apnews.com/article/iran-lawsuit-asylum-seekers-information-leaked-b7481c1b5ba349f1bfe3529a44822f2d
[22]: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-cutting-off-all-trade-with-spain-2026-07-08/
[23]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-summit-greenland-us-troops-europe.html
[24]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074585396709896646
[25]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074634423731921070
[26]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315978
[27]: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-militant-attacks-balochistan-killed-soldiers-police-cd01e29b392baf5356dfb9dedb23e867
[28]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-senator-bolsonaro-argues-against-25-us-tariff-its-exports-2026-07-07/
[29]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/7/russian-missile-strikes-hit-ukraines-capital-kyiv-for-third-time-in-a-week
[30]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-charges-imprisoned-indian-gang-leader-with-ordering-2023-murder-canadian-sikh-2026-07-07/
[31]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-kyiv
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[37]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074507127389847847
[38]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[39]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074623848150900919
[40]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074622677499703586
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074574964414689474
[42]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074629214104424785
[43]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/politics/us-commanders-intelligence-iran-school
[44]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222960/israeli-airstrikes-hit-south-lebanon-drone-activity-reported-over-tyre-and-beirut-2
[45]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222972/aoun-condemns-attacks-on-bahrain-kuwait-reaffirms-solidarity-2
[46]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/8/6-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B7%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A5%D8%AB%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-%D9%88%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150073
[47]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172484
[48]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172488
[49]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074564119706087644
[50]: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-3-july-2026#public-health
[51]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074578659919433880
[52]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074578659919433880
[53]: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/07/israel-must-release-dr-hussam-abu-safiya-and-all-palestinian-medical?sub-site=HRC
[54]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074525503487115284
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[59]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074531225574777073
[60]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/07/07/ice-officer-fatally-shoots-man-houston-during-attempted-immigration-arrest/
[61]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074663129686962299
[62]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/justice-department-elections-noncitizen-voting.html
[63]: https://apnews.com/article/iran-lawsuit-asylum-seekers-information-leaked-b7481c1b5ba349f1bfe3529a44822f2d
[64]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074619581658730856
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-cutting-off-all-trade-with-spain-2026-07-08/
[66]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/07/trump-nato-summit-greenland-us-troops-europe.html
[67]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074585396709896646
[68]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074634423731921070
[69]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315978
[70]: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-militant-attacks-balochistan-killed-soldiers-police-cd01e29b392baf5356dfb9dedb23e867
[71]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-senator-bolsonaro-argues-against-25-us-tariff-its-exports-2026-07-07/
[72]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/7/russian-missile-strikes-hit-ukraines-capital-kyiv-for-third-time-in-a-week
[73]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-charges-imprisoned-indian-gang-leader-with-ordering-2023-murder-canadian-sikh-2026-07-07/
[74]: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/woman-suspected-monaco-bombing-shot-dead-kyiv
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-iran-deal-mou-hormuz-khamenei-drone-strikes-sudan
Platner Volunteers Want to Move Forward with a New Candidate
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images.
Since announcing his run almost a year ago, Graham Platner’s source of strength was his ability to organize people passionately committed to building a populist movement centered on the needs of working people. The energy behind this politics of change is genuinely real and organic. Thousands of people have volunteered their time to Platner’s cause across every county in Maine.
But after [allegations of rape][3] against Platner broke yesterday, many of those volunteer workers no longer believe he is the right standard bearer for the movement they’ve been working so hard to build. The victim, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner broke into her home in 2021 while drunk and began forcing himself on her. Racicot said she tried to separate herself from Platner but that he followed her to her bedroom and raped her.
Drop Site spoke with numerous Platner volunteers to determine where Maine’s rapidly growing populist base might be headed. Overwhelmingly, supporters are ready to move on from Platner while remaining emboldened to continue their work building the grassroots movement that he jump-started.
Volunteers on Platner’s statewide organizing Discord server, with nearly 1,400 members, [called][4] for him to withdraw from the race Monday after the allegations were reported. The volunteer Discord server is dedicated to the door knockers, canvassers, digital organisers, and tablers who’ve been propelling his campaign.
“I don’t necessarily want Graham to win. I want our political ideas to win. He is not coming back from this and we should find someone to carry on the ideals now,” Dante Cusolito, a Platner volunteer and recent college graduate from York county, told Drop Site. “People can be flawed and become better, but hanging your movement on the coattails of somebody credibly accused of sexual assault is the exact thing we are trying to be better than.”
The initial volunteer-powered response for a progressive replacement for Platner has centered on former state senator Troy Jackson, a Bernie Sanders-backed logger from Northern Maine who was endorsed by the Maine DSA. Jackson served as president of the Maine Senate from 2018–2024 and recently ran for governor in the state’s Democratic primary, finishing a close third.
An online petition is now circulating to “[Draft Troy for Senate][5]” and has been endorsed by the Jackson team in their own Discord server.
Troy Jackson campaign spokeswoman Christine Kirby told Drop Site that since the Politico story dropped they have been flooded with calls, texts, and emails asking Jackson to step in.
“He is clearly the strongest option to replace Graham Platner and take on Susan Collins in the general election,” Kirby told Drop Site. “This movement is greater than any one person, it’s about a coalition of Maine people fighting for a future that doesn’t have to belong only to the wealthy and powerful. And Troy is up for the fight.”
Jackson [filed paperwork][6] Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee. He is the first Democrat to do so. A [recent poll][7] of 405 likely voters found Jackson with a 5-point lead over Collins.
The process for selecting a new nominee is still being decided. As of Tuesday morning, the Maine Democratic Party has said it will not be choosing the replacement by committee. Sources close to the situation have said a state convention in which delegates elect a new candidate is under serious consideration. In order to begin the replacement process, Platner would need to withdraw by July 13.
The Maine Democratic Party released a [joint statement][8] calling on Platner to withdraw. “This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people. It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle,” the statement said.
Corey Butler, a mid-thirties volunteer and part-time media staffer from the Platner Discord told Drop Site the new allegations were “pretty much a red line for everyone involved.” He has been working with the campaign at almost every event and town hall since its beginning. If Platner does drop out, he would “really like to see Troy Jackson get the nod” as replacement.
Patrick Reis, 29, a volunteer from Portland, described himself to Drop Site as a “hardcore Platner supporter” who has been working with the campaign since the first town hall. Reis said he believes the allegations against Platner, noting the “woman in question hasn’t been a far-right operative for over a decade and had corroborating evidence,” differentiating these claims from the previous reporting in the New York Times.
Reis said Platner “has to drop out immediately,” adding that his “personal pick” for a replacement would also be Troy Jackson, “as he is very similar politically to Platner, which has shown to be very popular.” Regardless of the nominee, he will “absolutely” continue volunteering.
“Platner often said he was building a movement to outlast him or carry on in his absence. I bet he thought that time would come years from now, but it’s upon us,” Reis said. “I hope and pray it is another progressive, but if it isn’t we should still rally behind them and use our power base to push for progressive policies wherever we can.”
Kamran Darnall-Hirani, a 19-year-old volunteer, told Drop Site the campaign was never about a “cult of Graham,” and has always been about building a populist movement focused on the needs of everyday people. They believe any replacement must be “another working class candidate who comes out of the movement,” and would “wholeheartedly” throw their support behind Troy Jackson.
“This has been about working Mainers rejecting a politics that doesn’t serve them,” Darnall-Hirani added.
In county-level Platner Signal groups, volunteers driving the door knocking, canvassing, and tabling efforts in their respective regions repeatedly expressed how they were “struggling” and “incredibly upset.” Multiple volunteers said the story was “painful” to read. One volunteer leader noted that no volunteer “staff members had been involved in conversations nor did anyone receive advanced notice” about the story before it broke.
“Whatever happens, I would like to keep our group chat alive. The name may change, but that won’t change that we have all become advocates for ourselves and our communities,” Kyla Mihalovits, a late-thirties female field organizer who leads a Platner Central Maine County volunteer cohort for the campaign, told her Signal chat of nearly 50 active volunteers.
“I’m here for it. Absolutely not giving up on the progressive project, and the community that has come together over it,” Allison Anger, a female volunteer in Kennebec County replied.
Anger told Drop Site she has been involved in Platner’s campaign for the policies, not the candidate. She considers it a tragedy that electoral politics require that we marry our policy demands to a single human being.
“The important thing is we are all still here. What we are demanding of our government has not and will not change. We just have to persist and fight for policies we support, regardless of what person we elect to carry out or will in office,” Anger added.
“For the moment, group leaders and volunteers are focusing on being there for each other and keeping our contacts and the friends we’ve made supporting this campaign together. We’re focused on advancing progressive policy,” Mihalovits said. “This was never about a single candidate, but about all of us working together for a better vision than Susan Collins ever offered Maine.”
Morgan, a male volunteer in the Central Maine Signal group, told Drop Site that compelling sexual assault allegations must always be a red line, regardless of how they surface and from whom. He has been with the campaign “since day one,” canvassing, phonebanking, and volunteering at town halls.
He said Platner “needs to do the right thing and step down, and actively encourage his volunteers to channel their incredible energy and organization into the next leader who will carry our platform forward.”
“This campaign represents an unprecedented investment of my time and energy. I didn’t do it for a single candidate,” Morgan said. “I believe our policy platform is bigger than Graham Platner. It is a vision that transcends any one man, and I have faith that we can nominate a leader who will carry that vision forward, and wield the power that comes with it.”
[Leave a comment][9]
[Share][10]
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[3]: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737
[4]: https://x.com/nathanTbernard/status/2074228941162766541?s=20
[5]: https://drafttroy.com/
[6]: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/07/politics/elections/troy-jackson-exploring-graham-platner-replacement/
[7]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7onbq7aV59X8lq2-YatdLNakqqCYTnB/view
[8]: https://mainedems.org/statement-from-maine-democratic-party-leadership-on-allegations-against-graham-platner/
[9]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson/comments
[10]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
As a reader-funded independent news outlet, we operate free from the influence of governments, advertisers, and corporate backers. This is essential to our mission: to report on what matters most, beholden only to the truth. In that spirit, we made a commitment to ensure that our journalism is free for everyone, not locked behind a paywall. But that means we rely on the voluntary support of our community of readers. Please consider making a[ tax-deductible donation to support our work today][1].
[Subscribe now][2]
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images.
Since announcing his run almost a year ago, Graham Platner’s source of strength was his ability to organize people passionately committed to building a populist movement centered on the needs of working people. The energy behind this politics of change is genuinely real and organic. Thousands of people have volunteered their time to Platner’s cause across every county in Maine.
But after [allegations of rape][3] against Platner broke yesterday, many of those volunteer workers no longer believe he is the right standard bearer for the movement they’ve been working so hard to build. The victim, Jenny Racicot, told Politico that Platner broke into her home in 2021 while drunk and began forcing himself on her. Racicot said she tried to separate herself from Platner but that he followed her to her bedroom and raped her.
Drop Site spoke with numerous Platner volunteers to determine where Maine’s rapidly growing populist base might be headed. Overwhelmingly, supporters are ready to move on from Platner while remaining emboldened to continue their work building the grassroots movement that he jump-started.
Volunteers on Platner’s statewide organizing Discord server, with nearly 1,400 members, [called][4] for him to withdraw from the race Monday after the allegations were reported. The volunteer Discord server is dedicated to the door knockers, canvassers, digital organisers, and tablers who’ve been propelling his campaign.
“I don’t necessarily want Graham to win. I want our political ideas to win. He is not coming back from this and we should find someone to carry on the ideals now,” Dante Cusolito, a Platner volunteer and recent college graduate from York county, told Drop Site. “People can be flawed and become better, but hanging your movement on the coattails of somebody credibly accused of sexual assault is the exact thing we are trying to be better than.”
The initial volunteer-powered response for a progressive replacement for Platner has centered on former state senator Troy Jackson, a Bernie Sanders-backed logger from Northern Maine who was endorsed by the Maine DSA. Jackson served as president of the Maine Senate from 2018–2024 and recently ran for governor in the state’s Democratic primary, finishing a close third.
An online petition is now circulating to “[Draft Troy for Senate][5]” and has been endorsed by the Jackson team in their own Discord server.
Troy Jackson campaign spokeswoman Christine Kirby told Drop Site that since the Politico story dropped they have been flooded with calls, texts, and emails asking Jackson to step in.
“He is clearly the strongest option to replace Graham Platner and take on Susan Collins in the general election,” Kirby told Drop Site. “This movement is greater than any one person, it’s about a coalition of Maine people fighting for a future that doesn’t have to belong only to the wealthy and powerful. And Troy is up for the fight.”
Jackson [filed paperwork][6] Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee. He is the first Democrat to do so. A [recent poll][7] of 405 likely voters found Jackson with a 5-point lead over Collins.
The process for selecting a new nominee is still being decided. As of Tuesday morning, the Maine Democratic Party has said it will not be choosing the replacement by committee. Sources close to the situation have said a state convention in which delegates elect a new candidate is under serious consideration. In order to begin the replacement process, Platner would need to withdraw by July 13.
The Maine Democratic Party released a [joint statement][8] calling on Platner to withdraw. “This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people. It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle,” the statement said.
Corey Butler, a mid-thirties volunteer and part-time media staffer from the Platner Discord told Drop Site the new allegations were “pretty much a red line for everyone involved.” He has been working with the campaign at almost every event and town hall since its beginning. If Platner does drop out, he would “really like to see Troy Jackson get the nod” as replacement.
Patrick Reis, 29, a volunteer from Portland, described himself to Drop Site as a “hardcore Platner supporter” who has been working with the campaign since the first town hall. Reis said he believes the allegations against Platner, noting the “woman in question hasn’t been a far-right operative for over a decade and had corroborating evidence,” differentiating these claims from the previous reporting in the New York Times.
Reis said Platner “has to drop out immediately,” adding that his “personal pick” for a replacement would also be Troy Jackson, “as he is very similar politically to Platner, which has shown to be very popular.” Regardless of the nominee, he will “absolutely” continue volunteering.
“Platner often said he was building a movement to outlast him or carry on in his absence. I bet he thought that time would come years from now, but it’s upon us,” Reis said. “I hope and pray it is another progressive, but if it isn’t we should still rally behind them and use our power base to push for progressive policies wherever we can.”
Kamran Darnall-Hirani, a 19-year-old volunteer, told Drop Site the campaign was never about a “cult of Graham,” and has always been about building a populist movement focused on the needs of everyday people. They believe any replacement must be “another working class candidate who comes out of the movement,” and would “wholeheartedly” throw their support behind Troy Jackson.
“This has been about working Mainers rejecting a politics that doesn’t serve them,” Darnall-Hirani added.
In county-level Platner Signal groups, volunteers driving the door knocking, canvassing, and tabling efforts in their respective regions repeatedly expressed how they were “struggling” and “incredibly upset.” Multiple volunteers said the story was “painful” to read. One volunteer leader noted that no volunteer “staff members had been involved in conversations nor did anyone receive advanced notice” about the story before it broke.
“Whatever happens, I would like to keep our group chat alive. The name may change, but that won’t change that we have all become advocates for ourselves and our communities,” Kyla Mihalovits, a late-thirties female field organizer who leads a Platner Central Maine County volunteer cohort for the campaign, told her Signal chat of nearly 50 active volunteers.
“I’m here for it. Absolutely not giving up on the progressive project, and the community that has come together over it,” Allison Anger, a female volunteer in Kennebec County replied.
Anger told Drop Site she has been involved in Platner’s campaign for the policies, not the candidate. She considers it a tragedy that electoral politics require that we marry our policy demands to a single human being.
“The important thing is we are all still here. What we are demanding of our government has not and will not change. We just have to persist and fight for policies we support, regardless of what person we elect to carry out or will in office,” Anger added.
“For the moment, group leaders and volunteers are focusing on being there for each other and keeping our contacts and the friends we’ve made supporting this campaign together. We’re focused on advancing progressive policy,” Mihalovits said. “This was never about a single candidate, but about all of us working together for a better vision than Susan Collins ever offered Maine.”
Morgan, a male volunteer in the Central Maine Signal group, told Drop Site that compelling sexual assault allegations must always be a red line, regardless of how they surface and from whom. He has been with the campaign “since day one,” canvassing, phonebanking, and volunteering at town halls.
He said Platner “needs to do the right thing and step down, and actively encourage his volunteers to channel their incredible energy and organization into the next leader who will carry our platform forward.”
“This campaign represents an unprecedented investment of my time and energy. I didn’t do it for a single candidate,” Morgan said. “I believe our policy platform is bigger than Graham Platner. It is a vision that transcends any one man, and I have faith that we can nominate a leader who will carry that vision forward, and wield the power that comes with it.”
[Leave a comment][9]
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[1]: https://givebutter.com/dsn-substack
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[3]: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737
[4]: https://x.com/nathanTbernard/status/2074228941162766541?s=20
[5]: https://drafttroy.com/
[6]: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/07/politics/elections/troy-jackson-exploring-graham-platner-replacement/
[7]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7onbq7aV59X8lq2-YatdLNakqqCYTnB/view
[8]: https://mainedems.org/statement-from-maine-democratic-party-leadership-on-allegations-against-graham-platner/
[9]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson/comments
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/maine-graham-platner-sexual-assault-senate-troy-jackson
Beyond the Battlefield: What Comes Next for the Iran and Gaza Wars
Since October 7, 2023 and the launch of the genocidal war on Gaza, the U.S. and Israel have manufactured a reality in the Middle East—a new reality in which ceasefires have been redefined as a diplomatic cudgel to incapacitate any resistance to Israel’s wars and force surrender. Israel can continue its attacks, claiming self defense, while local, indigenous forces or resistance groups must adhere to not only the terms of the so-called agreements, but also to submit to new and evolving demands.
Nowhere has this dynamic this been more pronounced than in the case of the Gaza ceasefire signed in October 2025. On the Drop Site News livestream, **Diana Buttu**, Palestinian human rights lawyer and a former legal advisor and negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization, speaks to **Jeremy Scahill** about the state of negotiations with Trump’s Board of “Peace.” Buttu and Scahill analyze the latest developments, including Israeli media predictions that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—currently campaigning for re-election—may launch another massive military operation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, as millions of people gather in Iran for the multi-day funeral procession for the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the future of the fragile Memorandum of Understanding between Tehran and the Trump administration hangs in the balance. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the size of the crowds in Iran, saying he thought people hated Khamenei. For Iran’s leaders, the funeral has served as both an act of defiance and a warning to the U.S. and Israel.
**Vali Nasr**, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins, joins Scahill and **Murtaza Hussain** for a wide-ranging discussion on Khamenei’s life and legacy. Nasr, whose latest book is “Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History,” also discusses the state of the Iran MOU, the prospects for a broader agreement and how Iran’s government would navigate attempts by the White House to strip Iran of its negotiating leverage.
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/iran-gaza-wars-israel-trump-ceasefire-khamenei-funeral
Since October 7, 2023 and the launch of the genocidal war on Gaza, the U.S. and Israel have manufactured a reality in the Middle East—a new reality in which ceasefires have been redefined as a diplomatic cudgel to incapacitate any resistance to Israel’s wars and force surrender. Israel can continue its attacks, claiming self defense, while local, indigenous forces or resistance groups must adhere to not only the terms of the so-called agreements, but also to submit to new and evolving demands.
Nowhere has this dynamic this been more pronounced than in the case of the Gaza ceasefire signed in October 2025. On the Drop Site News livestream, **Diana Buttu**, Palestinian human rights lawyer and a former legal advisor and negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization, speaks to **Jeremy Scahill** about the state of negotiations with Trump’s Board of “Peace.” Buttu and Scahill analyze the latest developments, including Israeli media predictions that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—currently campaigning for re-election—may launch another massive military operation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, as millions of people gather in Iran for the multi-day funeral procession for the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the future of the fragile Memorandum of Understanding between Tehran and the Trump administration hangs in the balance. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the size of the crowds in Iran, saying he thought people hated Khamenei. For Iran’s leaders, the funeral has served as both an act of defiance and a warning to the U.S. and Israel.
**Vali Nasr**, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins, joins Scahill and **Murtaza Hussain** for a wide-ranging discussion on Khamenei’s life and legacy. Nasr, whose latest book is “Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History,” also discusses the state of the Iran MOU, the prospects for a broader agreement and how Iran’s government would navigate attempts by the White House to strip Iran of its negotiating leverage.
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/iran-gaza-wars-israel-trump-ceasefire-khamenei-funeral
Supporters call on Platner to drop out after rape story; Three cancer patients die every day in Gaza; Goodbye, DOGE
*Commercial tanker [struck][1] off coast of Oman; Qatar [says][2] Iran “fully… responsible.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's coffin arrives in Qom as funeral procession continues. Iran [warns][3] final talks “will not commence” if threats continue, as President Donald Trump says U.S. would either reach a deal with Tehran or “finish the job.” Israeli forces continue to [violate][4] ceasefire in southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [says][5] he will visit the White House in July; Israeli ambassador [states][6] next round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations will begin on July 15. Christian mayors [threatened][7] by Israel, reject Netanyahu’s claim that they seek annexation. Israeli strikes [kill][8] two Palestinians in Gaza; seven fishermen [detained][9] off coast. Three cancer patients [die][10] daily in Gaza amid healthcare system collapse, doctor says. Israeli Foreign Minister [says][11] Gaza government dissolution is a “trick” as Hamas charges Israel is obstructing
agreement. Woman says Graham Platner entered her home and raped her; Platner considering withdrawal from Maine Senate race. AIPAC-backed super PAC runs deceptive ad in support of Wesley Bell. DOGE formally shuts down on July 4. Louisiana nurses [hold][12] longest strike yet in ongoing UMC contract fight. UN: At least 330 children killed in Sudan in 2026. Explosions [strike][13] Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria. Islandwide blackout [hits][14] Cuba. China [sentences][15] corrupt former official to death.*
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Palestinian patients and wounded people gather outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza on July 5, 2026, to demand medical treatment abroad amid Israeli restrictions. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images.
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Commercial tanker struck off coast of Oman; Qatar says Iran “fully… responsible”: **The Al Rekayyat, a commercial tanker [owned][21] by the Qatari government and carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), was struck by an unknown projectile about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, while sailing southbound, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on Monday.
* The impact caused a fire, but no casualties or environmental damage were initially reported. The ship had loaded LNG at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal earlier this month and was reportedly sailing with its transponder switched off when it was hit.
* Qatar held Iran “fully legally responsible” for the attack, with Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari condemning the incident as “an aggression against the security and safety of international navigation,” in a statement [posted][22] Tuesday on X.
* Iran has not taken responsibility for the attack.
* **Khamenei’s coffin arrives in Qom as funeral procession continues: **The coffin of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the city of Qom south of Tehran on Monday, state television reported, following a funeral procession in Tehran attended by large crowds. Khamenei’s coffin will next be taken to Iraq before it is returned to the Iranian city of Mashhad for burial on Thursday.
* **Iran warns final talks “will not commence” if threats continue: **After President Donald Trump said the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations on a final agreement with the United States “will not commence” if threats continue. In a [post][23] on X Tuesday, Araghchi said “millions of proud Iranians” were gathering for the funerals of the slain Supreme Leader and added that “neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats.”
* Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said, “We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply, all of those big plants that they built.”
* **Convoy carrying 12 million barrels of crude oil begins to exit Hormuz: **A fleet of 10 Japan-linked commercial vessels [began][24] transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday through the Iranian-approved shipping corridor, marking the largest coordinated movement of ships trapped since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began on February 28, according to shipping data monitored by LSEG and Bloomberg.
* The convoy includes six crude tankers carrying roughly 12 million barrels of oil. The crude was loaded in late February and early March from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, but the ships remained stranded for around 100 days after the Strait was effectively closed.
* **U.S. crude stocks dip again:** U.S. crude stocks in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [fell][25] by another 6.2 million barrels in the week ending July 3, dropping to 319.5 million barrels, the lowest level since April 1983, according to Department of Energy data reported by Reuters.
* The reserve has been drained steadily since Trump ordered the release of 172 million barrels in March to plug gaps in global supply and hold down fuel prices after launching the war on Iran.
* Since the war began at the end of February, total U.S. inventories have fallen by nearly 121 million barrels to 734 million.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli forces continue violations in southern Lebanon: **Israeli forces continued military activity in southern Lebanon on Tuesday despite the “ceasefire,” with an Israeli drone [dropping][26] four stun grenades over the border town of Hadatha—which Israel declared it had occupied as part of the “security zone” the previous day—Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. Meanwhile, the town of Beit Yahoun came under Israeli artillery shelling as Israeli forces carried out a controlled demolition in the nearby town of Kounine in the Bint Jbeil District. Separately, Israeli troops [raided][27] villages in the western sector of southern Lebanon, accompanied by heavy gunfire.
* On Monday, Israeli forces shelled the border town of Houla. The Israeli military also [carried out][28] a large explosion in the town of Hadatha and demolished several homes in Hadatha and Beit Yahoun, both in the Bint Jbeil District.
* **Aoun says he will visit the White House in July:** Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [told][29] the Egyptian television network Al-Nahar that he is preparing to visit the White House before the end of July to meet Trump and reinforce a U.S.-backed framework agreement with Israel.
* He called the framework “not ideal,” but said that Lebanon accepted it because “the balance of power in the south…is in Israel’s favor,” while insisting Lebanon will continue seeking the return of its occupied territory.
* Aoun said in the interview that he would not meet Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and that he would leave any room into which he entered.
* **Israeli ambassador to U.S. says next round of negotiations will begin on July 15: **Yechiel Leiter, the** **Israeli ambassador to the U.S., [said][30] on Monday the next round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations would be held in Rome on July 15-16, the Israeli outlet Ynet reported.
* Leiter said Israeli forces would continue to occupy areas in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese Armed Forces begin disarming Hezbollah. He [added][31] that a separate deconfliction mechanism involving the Israeli military, the Lebanese army, and the U.S. military’s Central Command is operating “very closely” and directly together, adding that he was unaware whether the U.S.-Iran channel announced last month was functioning.
* **Christian mayors threatened by Israel, reject Netanyahu’s claim that they seek annexation: **Mayors in several predominantly Christian towns in Lebanon’s Marjayoun district [said][32] on Monday that they received text messages from the Israeli military warning them not to allow displaced residents to return home, according to L’Orient Today.
* The mayor of Qlayaa said the messages have left residents in a “constant state of anxiety and tension.”
* Separately, on Monday, the mayors, mukhtars, and local leaders of 15 predominantly Christian villages in southern Lebanon rejected Netanyahu’s claim on Fox News that they sought annexation by Israel, [calling][33] the allegation “completely fabricated.” They remain committed to Lebanon’s sovereignty, they said, and are “proud of their national identity.”
# Palestine
* **Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza; seven fishermen detained off coast: **A Palestinian was [killed][34] and several others, including critically wounded victims, were injured on Tuesday after an Israeli drone strike on the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to WAFA. Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli attack on a tent west of Gaza City.
* Israeli forces also [detained][35] seven Palestinian fishermen while they were working off the coast of Al-Zawaida in central Gaza and took them to an unknown location. Israel has continued to target Palestinian fishermen through arrests, live fire, and restrictions, depriving thousands of families of their livelihoods and further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
* **Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank:**
* Israeli forces [opened fire][36] at a civilian vehicle near Hebron on Monday and, in a separate attack near Al-Ram, shot and wounded a Palestinian man near a separation wall. Israeli raids were also reported in Tubas, Salfit, Tammun, and in an area housing displaced families from the Jenin refugee camp near the Arab American University.
* Israeli settlers [assaulted][37] a Palestinian man in Aqraba and left him injured and raided the municipalities of Khallet al-Natsh and Khirbet Sha’ab al-Butm. In Masafer Yatta, settlers were filmed deliberately driving over sheep belonging to Palestinian farmers in the area.
* Also in Masafer Yatta, eight Palestinians, including children, were [wounded][38] after Israeli settlers attacked residents on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
* Israeli forces [detained][39] four sanitation workers on Monday in Beit Anan, near Jerusalem, WAFA reported. The area governorate accused the Israelis of targeting these men as part of an effort to disrupt the region’s essential services and called for their immediate release.
* A report from the Palestine Information Center [published][40] on Monday tallied 540 documented violations by Israeli forces and settlers in occupied East Jerusalem in June, and noted that there had been 11 deaths, 191 wounded, and 866 arrests in the Jerusalem Governorate in the first half of this year.
* **Three cancer patients die daily in Gaza amid healthcare system collapse, doctor says: **Three cancer patients are [dying][41] every day in Gaza, where around 11,000 people are living with cancer and about 4,000 urgently require medical evacuation, according to Dr. Saleh Sheikh Al-Eid, head of the Oncology and Blood Department at Nasser Medical Complex. Al-Eid said cancer patients are “waiting for death” as the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system due to Israeli attacks and severe shortages of medicines leave doctors unable to provide lifesaving treatment.
* **Israeli FM says Gaza government dissolution is a “trick”; Hamas charges Israel is obstructing agreement: **Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed Hamas’s announcement that Gaza’s governing administration had been dissolved as a “trick,” accusing the group of trying to avoid disarmament while leaving a technocratic body to handle municipal services in a [post][42] on X Monday.
* Disarmament was not part of the first phase of the agreement which Israel continues to violate on a daily basis. Hamas said in a statement it remains committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement and transferring authority in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Hamas accused Israel of trying to obstruct the agreement and create an “administrative vacuum.”
* Hamas has for months sought to transfer governance in Gaza to the NCAG, but Israel has prevented the committee from entering Gaza and has made its entry contingent on Palestinian disarmament.
* **The Guardian: Israeli program identified 850,000 “real-time targets” in Lebanon and Gaza: **A presentation at a London military conference from Israel’s largest arms supplier, Elbit Systems, [claimed][43] that the Tzayad “digital army” system, designed by the company, flagged 850,000 real-time targets across Gaza and Lebanon between October 7, 2023, and the end of 2025, according to reporting from the Guardian on Monday.
* One official noted that the figure could imply that the IDF had at one point marked up to half of Gaza’s 2.2 million people and 300,000 buildings for attacks, while another said that properly vetting 1,000 targets a day for civilian harm—the number touted by the company—would be impossible. “Even characterizing 50 a day is hard enough,” the official said.
* Contacted afterward, Elbit denied the number meant targets, calling it “system activity” despite the slide’s wording.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][44].*
* **Woman says Graham Platner entered her home and raped her; Platner considering withdrawal from Maine Senate race:** Maine Democratic Senate nominee **Graham Platner** is weighing “the best path forward” after Politico and CNN reported on Monday that he entered the home of a former partner uninvited in 2021 and sexually assaulted her.
* “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice,’” Jenny Racicot told Politico. According to messages reviewed by Politico, the woman warned one other woman about Platner in 2023, and another friend corroborated her account, telling CNN that Platner’s accuser told her about the assault in August 2025.
* Platner [called][45] the allegation “categorically untrue,” though he strongly suggested that he is considering dropping out, saying in a video released on Monday that he was “mindful of the political reality” that the report had created, and that he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
* Platner reportedly remained undecided as of Monday evening as to whether or not he would drop out, with a source telling the New York Times that he would step down “only with a guarantee of being replaced by a candidate who he believes is true to the values and vision and policy agenda of the campaign that Maine voted for.”
* Several Democrats withdrew their endorsements of Platner, including **Sens. Elizabeth Warren** and **Ruben Gallego**, and **Rep. Ro Khanna. **Senate** **Minority Leader **Chuck Schumer** and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee vowed not to invest in the race until Platner withdrew, and the Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to drop out, with Drop Site contributor Nathan Bernard [reporting][46] that Maine Democrats are planning for a rapid convention process to select a potential replacement.
* **Troy Jackson**, a logger and former state senator who finished third in the state’s gubernatorial primary, is being floated as an alternative, as is Rep. **Chellie Pingree**. Jackson, a progressive who started his career organizing loggers against low wages, unsafe conditions, and the illegal hiring of Canadian loggers over their Maine counterparts, received endorsements from Sanders and Khanna in his gubernatorial campaign.
* **AIPAC-backed super PAC runs deceptive ad in support of Wesley Bell: **United Democracy Project, AIPAC’s super PAC, is currently running ads in support of Missouri Rep. **Wesley Bell** that claim Bell “is leading the fight to abolish ICE” and “is fighting against Trump.”
* Bell, however, joined 74 other Democrats and voted for a June 2025 resolution that expressed “gratitude” to ICE in a resolution tied to an attack on a synagogue in Boulder, as [pointed out][47] by political commentator **Hasan Piker**. The resolution came in the midst of ICE incursions into downtown Los Angeles, during which Trump activated 700 Marines to deploy to the city and in which over 550 people were arrested.
* Former Rep. **Cori Bush**, whom Bell unseated in 2024, is challenging Bell for her old seat in the 2026 primaries.
* **DOGE formally shuts down on July 4: **The Department of Government Efficiency ceased operations on Saturday, July 4, with the department saying its mission to “eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse” would continue despite the formal shutdown.
* The agency, overseen early on by **Elon Musk** before **Amy Gleason** took over as acting administrator. It was plagued by privacy concerns, as when its employees sought individual and business tax returns from the IRS, and many of its promised “cuts” were immediately reversed: the federal government has since rehired hundreds of employees who were laid off under its aegis.
* Its cuts to foreign aid programs, however, largely remain in place. Multiple estimates have indicated that these cuts, conservatively, have [cost][48] hundreds of thousands of lives.
* **Trump promotes Dell stock during White House market ceremony: **President Donald Trump [urged][49] people to buy Dell computers during a joint White House ceremony with the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, marking the launch of his “Trump Accounts” investment program, to which Dell CEO **Michael Dell** and his wife have pledged over $6 billion.
* Dell shares rose more than 7% following his remarks, according to CNBC. Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure showed 24 Dell trades between January and November.
* **ICE internal watchdog office pursues civilians over online criticism, WIRED investigation finds: **ICE agents visited a Syracuse, New York polling site in June to warn poll worker **Paigelynne Gonyea** about a social media post the agency said doxxed an agent, and made her sign a warning notice saying she was aware it was unlawful to “threaten to assault, kidnap and/or murder” federal officials or their immediate family members and which requested her to remove her post “and/or discontinue” her behavior. Read more about ICE’s attacks on free speech in this new investigation from Wired, available [here][50].
* **Louisiana nurses hold longest strike yet in ongoing UMC contract fight: **Nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans held their sixth strike since 2023 on May 1 in an attempt to get their first contract, as part of negotiations that have lasted over 765 days. If successful, this will be the first unionized hospital in Louisiana.
* The nurses, represented by **National Nurses United**, are seeking a set wage scale, evenly enforced discipline, and increased full-time staffing, while accusing LCMC Health, which operates the hospital, of canceling bargaining sessions and switching law firms to delay a contract.
* Read more about the strike from our friends at Labor Notes, **[here][51]**.
# Other International News
* **Israeli settlers illegally cross into Syria: **Dozens of Israeli settlers [attempted][52] an illegal crossing into Syria on Sunday, the New Arab reports, as part of an attempt to establish a settlement near Mount Hermon.
* The settlers, who belong to an extremist group called the Pioneers of Bashan, were intercepted before reaching the border crossing at Jabal al-Shaykh, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
* The Israeli military has shelled agricultural land in Syria’s Quneitra province, part of an ongoing project to permanently displace Syrians in the buffer zone and border regions between the two countries. **Read more about Israel’s assault on Syria from Drop Site contributor C.P. Ward [here][53].**
* **At least 330 children killed in Sudan in 2026, UN says: **UNICEF said on Monday that at least 330 children have been killed or wounded in Sudan during the first six months of 2026, with the Darfur and Kordofan regions of the country being the hardest hit and noting the danger posed to children by recent drone strikes in El-Obeid.
* “For many children, there is no safe place left,” the UNICEF Representative for Sudan said. “They are being killed and injured in their homes, on the roads, in markets, and while attempting to access essential services.”
* The UK-based charity Save the Children also [reported][54] on Monday that more than 5,500 children had been displaced by recent fighting in El-Obeid, and that thousands remain at risk.
* Separately, the UN Human Rights Council [passed][55] a motion on Monday condemning escalating violence around El-Obeid and ordering the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an urgent inquiry into abuses in the besieged North Kordofan city. The United Kingdom, which brought the motion, warned of large-scale atrocities similar to those that occurred when the Rapid Support Forces took over El-Fasher last year.
* Read more about the siege of El-Obeid from Drop Site contributor Eisa Dafalla **[here][56]**.
* **Saudi-backed Yemeni government denounces Iranian flight to Sana’a:** The Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, which is the country’s internationally recognized government, [accused][57] Iran on Monday of violating Yemeni sovereignty by operating a flight to the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.
* The government alleged, without presenting evidence, that the aircraft carried IRGC personnel, including missile experts, who were sent to assist Ansarallah, which has resisted the Saudis since the Yemeni civil war broke out in 2014 and opposed the government since its formation in 2022.
* Ansarallah said the flight in question was carrying a delegation returning from Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral in Tehran, as well as ill Yemenis returning from treatment in Iran.
* **Prison riot in Sri Lanka kills 26: **Inmates from rival groups began [fighting][58] on Sunday at a prison near the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. The clashes, which continued Monday, led to 26 deaths and over 100 injuries, including six prison officers, Al Jazeera reported.
* **Explosions strike Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria: **Two explosions near Damascus’s Four Seasons Hotel wounded at least 18 people on Tuesday, Syria’s Interior Ministry said.
* The blasts, caused by devices placed in a garbage bin and a parked car, come days after a cafe bombing near Damascus’s Justice Palace killed at least 10 people, and no group has claimed responsibility for either attack.
* The bombs [follow][59] the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron in the city on Monday evening. Macron planned to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaaa, becoming the first Western European leader to visit the country after al-Sharaa ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.
* Macron reportedly traveled to Syria with a business delegation to discuss regional security issues as well as “investment opportunities,” according to Syrian state news.
* Al-Sharaa is slated to meet with Trump at this week’s NATO summit.
* **Israeli and Greek militaries participate in joint exercises as Turkey seeks U.S. aircraft: **The Greek military posted an image of Greek and Israeli planes flying side by side over the Aegean in advance of the NATO summit, publicizing joint military exercises over the island of Crete.
* Al-Monitor [reported][60] that exercises featured refueling of Greek jets by an Israeli tanker aircraft, and followed a December 2025 agreement between the governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel to increase “trilateral military cooperation” in 2026.
* President Trump claimed in late June he would arrive in Ankara with a “big gift bag” for his Turkish counterpart, which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to denounce the Turkish government as “infected by the Muslim Brotherhood” and to sternly warn the U.S. against a sale of F-35s to Turkey. It would, he argued, “upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority.”
* **Islandwide blackout hits Cuba: **An islandwide blackout [hit][61] Cuba on Monday as the country, suffocated by U.S. sanctions, continues to exhaust its oil and fuel reserves. The island’s Energy Minister also reported that “vital services” remained intact.
* Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of trying to “incite social unrest by strangling Cuba’s fuel supply” and called the Trump administration’s campaign against the Cuban government, which escalated in February when the U.S. prevented Cuba from buying Mexican oil, “genocidal.”
* Separately, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson and bodyguard of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, [told][62] USA Today that he was “open” to negotiating with President Trump, though he holds no formal position within Cuba’s government.
* The remarks follow earlier statements from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who said he was “not interested” in anything the Trump administration had to say.
* **Morocco says it foiled ISIS attack: **The Moroccan government agency responsible for counterterrorism operations [announced][63] on Monday that it had arrested a cell of 10 people linked to an Islamic State affiliate in the Sahel and suspected of planning a terrorist attack in the country, according to Reuters.
* The authorities claimed that they seized instructions for making a bomb, a car modified for use in a bombing or ramming attack, chemicals, and other paramilitary paraphernalia. They also reported finding butane gas cylinders and pressure cookers filled with nails.
* The last attack by an Islamic State affiliate in the country occurred in 2023, when three militants killed a policeman in Casablanca.
* **China sentences corrupt former official to death: **A Chinese court [sentenced][64] Yang Youlin, an official from the eastern city of Nanjing convicted of accepting bribes totaling more than 2.2 billion yuan ($324 million), to death on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. Youlin held several different civil service jobs over the course of two decades, the court said, during which he accepted money and property to help facilitate “projects, business operations, land grants.”
* His death sentence is part of President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. Lai Xiaomin, a party secretary of a state-owned company, was sentenced in 2021 and later executed for embezzling funds; Li Jianping was executed in 2024 for similar crimes.
* **Mexican navy reports 10 dead in security operation: **A group of assailants reportedly detonated a bomb when Mexican naval personnel were performing flood-monitoring work in anticipation of the rainy season, the navy said. The explosion killed one sailor and wounded three others.** **Mexican forces responded to the attack in the Sinaloa state over the weekend, [killing][65] 10, Reuters reported. Three other suspects in the attacks were arrested.
* **Pakistan reportedly mediating in Libya: **The Pakistani government has quietly begun [mediating][66] between the groups in charge of eastern and western Libya, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two Pakistani sources who said that the U.S. was “fully aware” of Pakistan’s role.
* The U.S. has been leading a push to reach a diplomatic resolution in Libya, which has been cleaved into two states since a NATO operation in the country toppled the government of Muammar Gaddafi.
* Saudi Arabia also supports Pakistan’s efforts in the country, a source said, and Reuters reports that it was also encouraged to lead these efforts by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Saudi Arabia has backed the eastern faction, led by Khalifa Haftar, whereas Qatar and Turkey have supported the western “Government of National Unity.”
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[3]: https://x.com/araghchi/status/2074357446718456178?s=46
[4]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/550816/%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7-%D9%88%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%AA-%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-2
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[9]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/7/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150012
[10]: https://x.com/dropsitenews/status/2074419506357616653?s=46
[11]: https://x.com/gidonsaar/status/2074154631152742813?s=46
[12]: https://www.labornotes.org/2026/07/strike-six-new-orleans-nurses-fight-first-contract
[13]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/macron-arrives-in-syria-for-talks-ahead-of-nato-summit-in-turkiye
[14]: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-blackout-fuel-shortage-economic-crisis-a169e410e90e5cea6f9dd1dc859d6dd5
[15]: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/7/7/china-sentences-former-local-official-to-death-in-324m-corruption-case
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[28]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/news/550722/%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B0-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB%D8%A7-2
[29]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074304592234369194
[30]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074213893128200318
[31]: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-envoy-to-washington-says-next-israel-lebanon-talks-set-for-next-week/
[32]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074222429665182031
[33]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074226891809001578
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[35]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/7/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B7-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-150012
[36]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074340833759809586
[37]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074340833759809586
[38]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074402613307593026
[39]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172412
[40]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074253628072738855
[41]: https://x.com/dropsitenews/status/2074419506357616653?s=46
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[46]: https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2074281316372111569
[47]: https://x.com/hasanthehun/status/2073956573307916289
[48]: https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-shutdown-has-led-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths/
[49]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/06/trump-opening-bell-ceo-nyse-nasdaq-stocks-accounts.html
[50]: https://www.wired.com/story/ices-internal-watchdog-is-now-investigating-online-critics/
[51]: https://www.labornotes.org/2026/07/strike-six-new-orleans-nurses-fight-first-contract
[52]: https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-settlers-attempt-cross-syria-set-settlement
[53]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/syria-israel-occupation-golan-quneitra-displacement
[54]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/over-5500-children-displaced-by-fighting-in-sudans-el-obeid-charity-says
[55]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074198200668549173
[56]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
[57]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074206726400930240
[58]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/at-least-19-people-killed-in-sri-lanka-prison-clashes
[59]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/macron-arrives-in-syria-for-talks-ahead-of-nato-summit-in-turkiye
[60]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/israel-greece-conduct-military-drills-ahead-nato-summit-turkey
[61]: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-blackout-fuel-shortage-economic-crisis-a169e410e90e5cea6f9dd1dc859d6dd5
[62]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/raul-castros-grandson-open-negotiations-with-us-he-tells-usa-today-2026-07-06/
[63]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/morocco-says-it-has-dismantled-isil-linked-cell-planning-attack
[64]: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/7/7/china-sentences-former-local-official-to-death-in-324m-corruption-case
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-navy-says-10-assailants-killed-after-attack-flood-monitoring-patrol-2026-07-07/
[66]: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-mediating-libya-unity-push-rival-camps-seek-deal-pakistani-sources-say-2026-07-06/
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/graham-platner-maine-rape-gaza-cancer-israel-doge-shutdown
*Commercial tanker [struck][1] off coast of Oman; Qatar [says][2] Iran “fully… responsible.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's coffin arrives in Qom as funeral procession continues. Iran [warns][3] final talks “will not commence” if threats continue, as President Donald Trump says U.S. would either reach a deal with Tehran or “finish the job.” Israeli forces continue to [violate][4] ceasefire in southern Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [says][5] he will visit the White House in July; Israeli ambassador [states][6] next round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations will begin on July 15. Christian mayors [threatened][7] by Israel, reject Netanyahu’s claim that they seek annexation. Israeli strikes [kill][8] two Palestinians in Gaza; seven fishermen [detained][9] off coast. Three cancer patients [die][10] daily in Gaza amid healthcare system collapse, doctor says. Israeli Foreign Minister [says][11] Gaza government dissolution is a “trick” as Hamas charges Israel is obstructing
agreement. Woman says Graham Platner entered her home and raped her; Platner considering withdrawal from Maine Senate race. AIPAC-backed super PAC runs deceptive ad in support of Wesley Bell. DOGE formally shuts down on July 4. Louisiana nurses [hold][12] longest strike yet in ongoing UMC contract fight. UN: At least 330 children killed in Sudan in 2026. Explosions [strike][13] Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria. Islandwide blackout [hits][14] Cuba. China [sentences][15] corrupt former official to death.*
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# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Commercial tanker struck off coast of Oman; Qatar says Iran “fully… responsible”: **The Al Rekayyat, a commercial tanker [owned][21] by the Qatari government and carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), was struck by an unknown projectile about 8 nautical miles east of Limah, Oman, while sailing southbound, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on Monday.
* The impact caused a fire, but no casualties or environmental damage were initially reported. The ship had loaded LNG at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal earlier this month and was reportedly sailing with its transponder switched off when it was hit.
* Qatar held Iran “fully legally responsible” for the attack, with Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari condemning the incident as “an aggression against the security and safety of international navigation,” in a statement [posted][22] Tuesday on X.
* Iran has not taken responsibility for the attack.
* **Khamenei’s coffin arrives in Qom as funeral procession continues: **The coffin of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the city of Qom south of Tehran on Monday, state television reported, following a funeral procession in Tehran attended by large crowds. Khamenei’s coffin will next be taken to Iraq before it is returned to the Iranian city of Mashhad for burial on Thursday.
* **Iran warns final talks “will not commence” if threats continue: **After President Donald Trump said the United States would either reach a deal with Iran or “finish the job,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations on a final agreement with the United States “will not commence” if threats continue. In a [post][23] on X Tuesday, Araghchi said “millions of proud Iranians” were gathering for the funerals of the slain Supreme Leader and added that “neither them nor our Brave Armed Forces are moved by any threats.”
* Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said, “We can knock down their bridges in one hour. We can knock out their energy supply, all of those big plants that they built.”
* **Convoy carrying 12 million barrels of crude oil begins to exit Hormuz: **A fleet of 10 Japan-linked commercial vessels [began][24] transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday through the Iranian-approved shipping corridor, marking the largest coordinated movement of ships trapped since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began on February 28, according to shipping data monitored by LSEG and Bloomberg.
* The convoy includes six crude tankers carrying roughly 12 million barrels of oil. The crude was loaded in late February and early March from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, but the ships remained stranded for around 100 days after the Strait was effectively closed.
* **U.S. crude stocks dip again:** U.S. crude stocks in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [fell][25] by another 6.2 million barrels in the week ending July 3, dropping to 319.5 million barrels, the lowest level since April 1983, according to Department of Energy data reported by Reuters.
* The reserve has been drained steadily since Trump ordered the release of 172 million barrels in March to plug gaps in global supply and hold down fuel prices after launching the war on Iran.
* Since the war began at the end of February, total U.S. inventories have fallen by nearly 121 million barrels to 734 million.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli forces continue violations in southern Lebanon: **Israeli forces continued military activity in southern Lebanon on Tuesday despite the “ceasefire,” with an Israeli drone [dropping][26] four stun grenades over the border town of Hadatha—which Israel declared it had occupied as part of the “security zone” the previous day—Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. Meanwhile, the town of Beit Yahoun came under Israeli artillery shelling as Israeli forces carried out a controlled demolition in the nearby town of Kounine in the Bint Jbeil District. Separately, Israeli troops [raided][27] villages in the western sector of southern Lebanon, accompanied by heavy gunfire.
* On Monday, Israeli forces shelled the border town of Houla. The Israeli military also [carried out][28] a large explosion in the town of Hadatha and demolished several homes in Hadatha and Beit Yahoun, both in the Bint Jbeil District.
* **Aoun says he will visit the White House in July:** Lebanese President Joseph Aoun [told][29] the Egyptian television network Al-Nahar that he is preparing to visit the White House before the end of July to meet Trump and reinforce a U.S.-backed framework agreement with Israel.
* He called the framework “not ideal,” but said that Lebanon accepted it because “the balance of power in the south…is in Israel’s favor,” while insisting Lebanon will continue seeking the return of its occupied territory.
* Aoun said in the interview that he would not meet Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and that he would leave any room into which he entered.
* **Israeli ambassador to U.S. says next round of negotiations will begin on July 15: **Yechiel Leiter, the** **Israeli ambassador to the U.S., [said][30] on Monday the next round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations would be held in Rome on July 15-16, the Israeli outlet Ynet reported.
* Leiter said Israeli forces would continue to occupy areas in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese Armed Forces begin disarming Hezbollah. He [added][31] that a separate deconfliction mechanism involving the Israeli military, the Lebanese army, and the U.S. military’s Central Command is operating “very closely” and directly together, adding that he was unaware whether the U.S.-Iran channel announced last month was functioning.
* **Christian mayors threatened by Israel, reject Netanyahu’s claim that they seek annexation: **Mayors in several predominantly Christian towns in Lebanon’s Marjayoun district [said][32] on Monday that they received text messages from the Israeli military warning them not to allow displaced residents to return home, according to L’Orient Today.
* The mayor of Qlayaa said the messages have left residents in a “constant state of anxiety and tension.”
* Separately, on Monday, the mayors, mukhtars, and local leaders of 15 predominantly Christian villages in southern Lebanon rejected Netanyahu’s claim on Fox News that they sought annexation by Israel, [calling][33] the allegation “completely fabricated.” They remain committed to Lebanon’s sovereignty, they said, and are “proud of their national identity.”
# Palestine
* **Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza; seven fishermen detained off coast: **A Palestinian was [killed][34] and several others, including critically wounded victims, were injured on Tuesday after an Israeli drone strike on the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to WAFA. Another Palestinian was killed in an Israeli attack on a tent west of Gaza City.
* Israeli forces also [detained][35] seven Palestinian fishermen while they were working off the coast of Al-Zawaida in central Gaza and took them to an unknown location. Israel has continued to target Palestinian fishermen through arrests, live fire, and restrictions, depriving thousands of families of their livelihoods and further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
* **Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank:**
* Israeli forces [opened fire][36] at a civilian vehicle near Hebron on Monday and, in a separate attack near Al-Ram, shot and wounded a Palestinian man near a separation wall. Israeli raids were also reported in Tubas, Salfit, Tammun, and in an area housing displaced families from the Jenin refugee camp near the Arab American University.
* Israeli settlers [assaulted][37] a Palestinian man in Aqraba and left him injured and raided the municipalities of Khallet al-Natsh and Khirbet Sha’ab al-Butm. In Masafer Yatta, settlers were filmed deliberately driving over sheep belonging to Palestinian farmers in the area.
* Also in Masafer Yatta, eight Palestinians, including children, were [wounded][38] after Israeli settlers attacked residents on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
* Israeli forces [detained][39] four sanitation workers on Monday in Beit Anan, near Jerusalem, WAFA reported. The area governorate accused the Israelis of targeting these men as part of an effort to disrupt the region’s essential services and called for their immediate release.
* A report from the Palestine Information Center [published][40] on Monday tallied 540 documented violations by Israeli forces and settlers in occupied East Jerusalem in June, and noted that there had been 11 deaths, 191 wounded, and 866 arrests in the Jerusalem Governorate in the first half of this year.
* **Three cancer patients die daily in Gaza amid healthcare system collapse, doctor says: **Three cancer patients are [dying][41] every day in Gaza, where around 11,000 people are living with cancer and about 4,000 urgently require medical evacuation, according to Dr. Saleh Sheikh Al-Eid, head of the Oncology and Blood Department at Nasser Medical Complex. Al-Eid said cancer patients are “waiting for death” as the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system due to Israeli attacks and severe shortages of medicines leave doctors unable to provide lifesaving treatment.
* **Israeli FM says Gaza government dissolution is a “trick”; Hamas charges Israel is obstructing agreement: **Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed Hamas’s announcement that Gaza’s governing administration had been dissolved as a “trick,” accusing the group of trying to avoid disarmament while leaving a technocratic body to handle municipal services in a [post][42] on X Monday.
* Disarmament was not part of the first phase of the agreement which Israel continues to violate on a daily basis. Hamas said in a statement it remains committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement and transferring authority in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Hamas accused Israel of trying to obstruct the agreement and create an “administrative vacuum.”
* Hamas has for months sought to transfer governance in Gaza to the NCAG, but Israel has prevented the committee from entering Gaza and has made its entry contingent on Palestinian disarmament.
* **The Guardian: Israeli program identified 850,000 “real-time targets” in Lebanon and Gaza: **A presentation at a London military conference from Israel’s largest arms supplier, Elbit Systems, [claimed][43] that the Tzayad “digital army” system, designed by the company, flagged 850,000 real-time targets across Gaza and Lebanon between October 7, 2023, and the end of 2025, according to reporting from the Guardian on Monday.
* One official noted that the figure could imply that the IDF had at one point marked up to half of Gaza’s 2.2 million people and 300,000 buildings for attacks, while another said that properly vetting 1,000 targets a day for civilian harm—the number touted by the company—would be impossible. “Even characterizing 50 a day is hard enough,” the official said.
* Contacted afterward, Elbit denied the number meant targets, calling it “system activity” despite the slide’s wording.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][44].*
* **Woman says Graham Platner entered her home and raped her; Platner considering withdrawal from Maine Senate race:** Maine Democratic Senate nominee **Graham Platner** is weighing “the best path forward” after Politico and CNN reported on Monday that he entered the home of a former partner uninvited in 2021 and sexually assaulted her.
* “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice,’” Jenny Racicot told Politico. According to messages reviewed by Politico, the woman warned one other woman about Platner in 2023, and another friend corroborated her account, telling CNN that Platner’s accuser told her about the assault in August 2025.
* Platner [called][45] the allegation “categorically untrue,” though he strongly suggested that he is considering dropping out, saying in a video released on Monday that he was “mindful of the political reality” that the report had created, and that he was “taking the time to reflect on the best path forward.”
* Platner reportedly remained undecided as of Monday evening as to whether or not he would drop out, with a source telling the New York Times that he would step down “only with a guarantee of being replaced by a candidate who he believes is true to the values and vision and policy agenda of the campaign that Maine voted for.”
* Several Democrats withdrew their endorsements of Platner, including **Sens. Elizabeth Warren** and **Ruben Gallego**, and **Rep. Ro Khanna. **Senate** **Minority Leader **Chuck Schumer** and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee vowed not to invest in the race until Platner withdrew, and the Maine Democratic Party also called on Platner to drop out, with Drop Site contributor Nathan Bernard [reporting][46] that Maine Democrats are planning for a rapid convention process to select a potential replacement.
* **Troy Jackson**, a logger and former state senator who finished third in the state’s gubernatorial primary, is being floated as an alternative, as is Rep. **Chellie Pingree**. Jackson, a progressive who started his career organizing loggers against low wages, unsafe conditions, and the illegal hiring of Canadian loggers over their Maine counterparts, received endorsements from Sanders and Khanna in his gubernatorial campaign.
* **AIPAC-backed super PAC runs deceptive ad in support of Wesley Bell: **United Democracy Project, AIPAC’s super PAC, is currently running ads in support of Missouri Rep. **Wesley Bell** that claim Bell “is leading the fight to abolish ICE” and “is fighting against Trump.”
* Bell, however, joined 74 other Democrats and voted for a June 2025 resolution that expressed “gratitude” to ICE in a resolution tied to an attack on a synagogue in Boulder, as [pointed out][47] by political commentator **Hasan Piker**. The resolution came in the midst of ICE incursions into downtown Los Angeles, during which Trump activated 700 Marines to deploy to the city and in which over 550 people were arrested.
* Former Rep. **Cori Bush**, whom Bell unseated in 2024, is challenging Bell for her old seat in the 2026 primaries.
* **DOGE formally shuts down on July 4: **The Department of Government Efficiency ceased operations on Saturday, July 4, with the department saying its mission to “eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse” would continue despite the formal shutdown.
* The agency, overseen early on by **Elon Musk** before **Amy Gleason** took over as acting administrator. It was plagued by privacy concerns, as when its employees sought individual and business tax returns from the IRS, and many of its promised “cuts” were immediately reversed: the federal government has since rehired hundreds of employees who were laid off under its aegis.
* Its cuts to foreign aid programs, however, largely remain in place. Multiple estimates have indicated that these cuts, conservatively, have [cost][48] hundreds of thousands of lives.
* **Trump promotes Dell stock during White House market ceremony: **President Donald Trump [urged][49] people to buy Dell computers during a joint White House ceremony with the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, marking the launch of his “Trump Accounts” investment program, to which Dell CEO **Michael Dell** and his wife have pledged over $6 billion.
* Dell shares rose more than 7% following his remarks, according to CNBC. Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure showed 24 Dell trades between January and November.
* **ICE internal watchdog office pursues civilians over online criticism, WIRED investigation finds: **ICE agents visited a Syracuse, New York polling site in June to warn poll worker **Paigelynne Gonyea** about a social media post the agency said doxxed an agent, and made her sign a warning notice saying she was aware it was unlawful to “threaten to assault, kidnap and/or murder” federal officials or their immediate family members and which requested her to remove her post “and/or discontinue” her behavior. Read more about ICE’s attacks on free speech in this new investigation from Wired, available [here][50].
* **Louisiana nurses hold longest strike yet in ongoing UMC contract fight: **Nurses at University Medical Center in New Orleans held their sixth strike since 2023 on May 1 in an attempt to get their first contract, as part of negotiations that have lasted over 765 days. If successful, this will be the first unionized hospital in Louisiana.
* The nurses, represented by **National Nurses United**, are seeking a set wage scale, evenly enforced discipline, and increased full-time staffing, while accusing LCMC Health, which operates the hospital, of canceling bargaining sessions and switching law firms to delay a contract.
* Read more about the strike from our friends at Labor Notes, **[here][51]**.
# Other International News
* **Israeli settlers illegally cross into Syria: **Dozens of Israeli settlers [attempted][52] an illegal crossing into Syria on Sunday, the New Arab reports, as part of an attempt to establish a settlement near Mount Hermon.
* The settlers, who belong to an extremist group called the Pioneers of Bashan, were intercepted before reaching the border crossing at Jabal al-Shaykh, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
* The Israeli military has shelled agricultural land in Syria’s Quneitra province, part of an ongoing project to permanently displace Syrians in the buffer zone and border regions between the two countries. **Read more about Israel’s assault on Syria from Drop Site contributor C.P. Ward [here][53].**
* **At least 330 children killed in Sudan in 2026, UN says: **UNICEF said on Monday that at least 330 children have been killed or wounded in Sudan during the first six months of 2026, with the Darfur and Kordofan regions of the country being the hardest hit and noting the danger posed to children by recent drone strikes in El-Obeid.
* “For many children, there is no safe place left,” the UNICEF Representative for Sudan said. “They are being killed and injured in their homes, on the roads, in markets, and while attempting to access essential services.”
* The UK-based charity Save the Children also [reported][54] on Monday that more than 5,500 children had been displaced by recent fighting in El-Obeid, and that thousands remain at risk.
* Separately, the UN Human Rights Council [passed][55] a motion on Monday condemning escalating violence around El-Obeid and ordering the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an urgent inquiry into abuses in the besieged North Kordofan city. The United Kingdom, which brought the motion, warned of large-scale atrocities similar to those that occurred when the Rapid Support Forces took over El-Fasher last year.
* Read more about the siege of El-Obeid from Drop Site contributor Eisa Dafalla **[here][56]**.
* **Saudi-backed Yemeni government denounces Iranian flight to Sana’a:** The Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, which is the country’s internationally recognized government, [accused][57] Iran on Monday of violating Yemeni sovereignty by operating a flight to the Yemeni capital, Sana’a.
* The government alleged, without presenting evidence, that the aircraft carried IRGC personnel, including missile experts, who were sent to assist Ansarallah, which has resisted the Saudis since the Yemeni civil war broke out in 2014 and opposed the government since its formation in 2022.
* Ansarallah said the flight in question was carrying a delegation returning from Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral in Tehran, as well as ill Yemenis returning from treatment in Iran.
* **Prison riot in Sri Lanka kills 26: **Inmates from rival groups began [fighting][58] on Sunday at a prison near the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. The clashes, which continued Monday, led to 26 deaths and over 100 injuries, including six prison officers, Al Jazeera reported.
* **Explosions strike Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria: **Two explosions near Damascus’s Four Seasons Hotel wounded at least 18 people on Tuesday, Syria’s Interior Ministry said.
* The blasts, caused by devices placed in a garbage bin and a parked car, come days after a cafe bombing near Damascus’s Justice Palace killed at least 10 people, and no group has claimed responsibility for either attack.
* The bombs [follow][59] the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron in the city on Monday evening. Macron planned to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaaa, becoming the first Western European leader to visit the country after al-Sharaa ousted former President Bashar al-Assad.
* Macron reportedly traveled to Syria with a business delegation to discuss regional security issues as well as “investment opportunities,” according to Syrian state news.
* Al-Sharaa is slated to meet with Trump at this week’s NATO summit.
* **Israeli and Greek militaries participate in joint exercises as Turkey seeks U.S. aircraft: **The Greek military posted an image of Greek and Israeli planes flying side by side over the Aegean in advance of the NATO summit, publicizing joint military exercises over the island of Crete.
* Al-Monitor [reported][60] that exercises featured refueling of Greek jets by an Israeli tanker aircraft, and followed a December 2025 agreement between the governments of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel to increase “trilateral military cooperation” in 2026.
* President Trump claimed in late June he would arrive in Ankara with a “big gift bag” for his Turkish counterpart, which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to denounce the Turkish government as “infected by the Muslim Brotherhood” and to sternly warn the U.S. against a sale of F-35s to Turkey. It would, he argued, “upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority.”
* **Islandwide blackout hits Cuba: **An islandwide blackout [hit][61] Cuba on Monday as the country, suffocated by U.S. sanctions, continues to exhaust its oil and fuel reserves. The island’s Energy Minister also reported that “vital services” remained intact.
* Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of trying to “incite social unrest by strangling Cuba’s fuel supply” and called the Trump administration’s campaign against the Cuban government, which escalated in February when the U.S. prevented Cuba from buying Mexican oil, “genocidal.”
* Separately, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson and bodyguard of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, [told][62] USA Today that he was “open” to negotiating with President Trump, though he holds no formal position within Cuba’s government.
* The remarks follow earlier statements from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who said he was “not interested” in anything the Trump administration had to say.
* **Morocco says it foiled ISIS attack: **The Moroccan government agency responsible for counterterrorism operations [announced][63] on Monday that it had arrested a cell of 10 people linked to an Islamic State affiliate in the Sahel and suspected of planning a terrorist attack in the country, according to Reuters.
* The authorities claimed that they seized instructions for making a bomb, a car modified for use in a bombing or ramming attack, chemicals, and other paramilitary paraphernalia. They also reported finding butane gas cylinders and pressure cookers filled with nails.
* The last attack by an Islamic State affiliate in the country occurred in 2023, when three militants killed a policeman in Casablanca.
* **China sentences corrupt former official to death: **A Chinese court [sentenced][64] Yang Youlin, an official from the eastern city of Nanjing convicted of accepting bribes totaling more than 2.2 billion yuan ($324 million), to death on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. Youlin held several different civil service jobs over the course of two decades, the court said, during which he accepted money and property to help facilitate “projects, business operations, land grants.”
* His death sentence is part of President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. Lai Xiaomin, a party secretary of a state-owned company, was sentenced in 2021 and later executed for embezzling funds; Li Jianping was executed in 2024 for similar crimes.
* **Mexican navy reports 10 dead in security operation: **A group of assailants reportedly detonated a bomb when Mexican naval personnel were performing flood-monitoring work in anticipation of the rainy season, the navy said. The explosion killed one sailor and wounded three others.** **Mexican forces responded to the attack in the Sinaloa state over the weekend, [killing][65] 10, Reuters reported. Three other suspects in the attacks were arrested.
* **Pakistan reportedly mediating in Libya: **The Pakistani government has quietly begun [mediating][66] between the groups in charge of eastern and western Libya, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two Pakistani sources who said that the U.S. was “fully aware” of Pakistan’s role.
* The U.S. has been leading a push to reach a diplomatic resolution in Libya, which has been cleaved into two states since a NATO operation in the country toppled the government of Muammar Gaddafi.
* Saudi Arabia also supports Pakistan’s efforts in the country, a source said, and Reuters reports that it was also encouraged to lead these efforts by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Saudi Arabia has backed the eastern faction, led by Khalifa Haftar, whereas Qatar and Turkey have supported the western “Government of National Unity.”
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[14]: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-blackout-fuel-shortage-economic-crisis-a169e410e90e5cea6f9dd1dc859d6dd5
[15]: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/7/7/china-sentences-former-local-official-to-death-in-324m-corruption-case
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[31]: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-envoy-to-washington-says-next-israel-lebanon-talks-set-for-next-week/
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[48]: https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-shutdown-has-led-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths/
[49]: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/06/trump-opening-bell-ceo-nyse-nasdaq-stocks-accounts.html
[50]: https://www.wired.com/story/ices-internal-watchdog-is-now-investigating-online-critics/
[51]: https://www.labornotes.org/2026/07/strike-six-new-orleans-nurses-fight-first-contract
[52]: https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-settlers-attempt-cross-syria-set-settlement
[53]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/syria-israel-occupation-golan-quneitra-displacement
[54]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/over-5500-children-displaced-by-fighting-in-sudans-el-obeid-charity-says
[55]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074198200668549173
[56]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
[57]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2074206726400930240
[58]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/at-least-19-people-killed-in-sri-lanka-prison-clashes
[59]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/macron-arrives-in-syria-for-talks-ahead-of-nato-summit-in-turkiye
[60]: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/israel-greece-conduct-military-drills-ahead-nato-summit-turkey
[61]: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-blackout-fuel-shortage-economic-crisis-a169e410e90e5cea6f9dd1dc859d6dd5
[62]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/raul-castros-grandson-open-negotiations-with-us-he-tells-usa-today-2026-07-06/
[63]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/6/morocco-says-it-has-dismantled-isil-linked-cell-planning-attack
[64]: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/7/7/china-sentences-former-local-official-to-death-in-324m-corruption-case
[65]: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-navy-says-10-assailants-killed-after-attack-flood-monitoring-patrol-2026-07-07/
[66]: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-mediating-libya-unity-push-rival-camps-seek-deal-pakistani-sources-say-2026-07-06/
[67]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/account
[68]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[69]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/graham-platner-maine-rape-gaza-cancer-israel-doge-shutdown/comments
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/graham-platner-maine-rape-gaza-cancer-israel-doge-shutdown
1
Hamas Gaza government dissolves; Dr. Abu Safiya beaten, expects to be killed; 40,000 still missing in Venezuela
**From Drop Site:**
* **[Sudan’s El-Obeid Under Siege: “Civilians Should Not Have to Wait for Death”][1]**
* **[A Third Party Breached The Intercept’s Signal Tip Line and Has Been Soliciting Whistleblowers][2]**
*Six killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Monday. Hamas’s Gaza government announces dissolution; President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace [says][3] “all weapons” must be consolidated under the control of Administrative Committee. Palestinian doctor detained by Israel, Hussam Abu Safiya: [“They brought me here to kill me. I don’t see myself surviving.”][4] Israeli attacks kill at least five Palestinians in Gaza over the weekend. Israeli forces, settlers [carried out][5] over 11,000 attacks in occupied West Bank in the first half of 2026. Iranians gather to [mourn][6] late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials meet with Yemeni, Lebanese, and Palestinian counterparts. U.S. Navy [suspends][7] search for missing sailor. Iran [says][8] “security of Hormuz” lies with Tehran and Oman alone following joint UK-French statement. [Report][9]: U.S. special operations task force remained on standby for possible Iran uranium recovery mission. Israel [kills][10] four in Lebanon,
[demolishes][11] homes despite “ceasefire.” Netanyahu [claims][12] Lebanese Christians have asked Israel to annex their villages. Drop Site Exclusive: Internal poll finds Mallory McMorrow supporters lean toward Addul El-Sayed, giving potential boost after McMorrow [quits][13] race for U.S. Senate seat. AOC [meets][14] with NYC primary winners. Rep. Jim McGovern [promises][15] votes on Israel, Gaza, and Humanitarian Aid, if Democrats retake the House. Trump [pressures][16] FIFA to remove red card on U.S. star. Drone strike kills 18 civilians in DRC. Ansarallah attack [kills][17] 16 soldiers of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production. Death toll from Venezuelan earthquakes rises to 3,342, more than 40,000 still missing.*
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Workers prepare graves for unidentified victims of the June 24 earthquake at La Esperanza Cemetery, northeast of Caracas, Venezuela on July 5, 2026. Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP via Getty Images.
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# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded:** Over the last 24 hours, three Palestinians were killed and seven were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Two bodies were also recovered from under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,098 killed, with 173,571 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,072 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,463, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Hamas’s Gaza government announces dissolution: **Gaza’s Government Media Office announced Monday that its Emergency Committee has been dissolved, saying the move is intended to facilitate the transfer of administrative authority to the Palestinian-led National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) under Trump’s Board of “Peace.” The office said it had received “full assurance” that preparations for the handover had been completed and formally presented to Palestinian factions, clan leaders, and a United Nations observer. It added that only technical and professional staff would remain in their posts to prevent “an administrative and technical vacuum,” while stressing that all public employees are “fully prepared to work” under the NCAG. The statement concluded by urging all relevant parties to “expedite the immediate entry” of the committee so it can assume its responsibilities.
* **Hamas’s statement:** Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that “a new positive step today to remove the occupation’s pretexts” was taken today, following the announcement. Hamas has repeatedly stated its willingness to hand over governance to the NCAG since signing the October 2025 agreement.
* **BoP’s response:** The “Board of Peace” said it has “taken note” of the announcement, stressing that its assessment “will be guided by actions, not promises.” In a [post][23] on X, the Board said any transition must be “comprehensive” and comply with the Roadmap’s requirements for governance, security, and political transition. It reiterated that the guiding principle remains “one authority, one law and one weapon,” adding that “all weapons” must be consolidated under the control of the NCAG.
* Israel and Trump’s Board have made the entry of the NCAG contingent on Palestinian acceptance of a 15-point “roadmap” that appears aimed at disarming the Palestinian resistance and the abandoning of the struggle for Palestinian national liberation. Read Drop’s Site report on negotiations between the Board and Palestinians **[here][24]**.
* **Six killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza: **At least six Palestinians were [killed][25] in Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis on Monday morning, according to WAFA. Two people were killed after an Israeli warplane struck an apartment in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City. In a separate attack, an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, killing two and wounding at least 15 others. Two people were also killed in an Israeli strike on a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern Gaza Strip.
* Civil Defense teams also recovered the remains of eight Palestinians from beneath the rubble of a home in the Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City, which had been destroyed in an earlier Israeli air strike. At least 9,500 bodies remain buried under the rubble in Gaza, according to Palestinian estimates.
* **Life of imprisoned Palestinian physician is in danger, report says: **Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s life is in immediate danger, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and his lawyer [warned][26] Saturday, after a prison visit. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital had fresh, severe injuries to his head, eyes, ears, and neck, they said, leaving him so disfigured his own attorney initially struggled to recognize him.
* Attorney Nasser Odeh, who saw Abu Safiya Thursday at the underground Rakefet interrogation facility in Nitzan Prison, said he arrived shackled hand and foot, escorted by masked guards, struggling to breathe and speak, unable to sit upright, and repeatedly on the verge of losing consciousness.
* Abu Safiya told him that after his Supreme Court appeal was heard June 10, four or five guards entered his solitary cell at Ganot Prison and beat him with a hammer and batons, and that since his June 24 transfer to Rakefet he has been beaten daily, losing consciousness several times and receiving no medical treatment.
* “This is the last time you will see me,” he told his lawyer. “They brought me here to kill me. I don’t see myself surviving. This is the end.” He has been held without charge since December 27, 2024. Dr. Abu Safiya’s son described the visit in an Instagram post, available [here][27].
* Following an April petition [filed][28] by PHRI and Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the state to respond by Tuesday, July 7, to a petition seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors detained without charge, and to specifically address the charges made about Dr. Abu Safiya’s condition.
* **Israeli attacks kill at least five Palestinians in Gaza over the weekend:**
* An Israeli strike on a group of civilians at a water desalination plant east of Gaza City [killed][29] two on Sunday, according to WAFA. Another man died on Sunday, following an Israeli artillery attack east of al-Masdar.
* Israeli forces also [fired][30] at the tents of displaced people on the outskirts of Rafah, demolished residential buildings in northwestern Gaza, and fired upon fisherman’s boats off the coasts of Rafah and Khan Younis.
* An Israeli drone strike [killed][31] a Palestinian man in Gaza City on Saturday evening, and wounded several others, Palestine Online reported. Also on Saturday, an Israeli strike near the Jabalia refugee camp [killed][32] another Palestinian man and wounded four others, in an attack that caused severe injuries to several, including a very young child.
* **Israeli restrictions on crossings continue to suffocate Gaza: **Five trucks of cooking gas entered the Strip, the Gaza Petroleum Authority reported on Sunday, reaching about 11,829 gas suppliers across Gaza.
* Under the terms of the ceasefire, at least 50 trucks of fuel are supposed to enter the Strip every day. Only 14.9% of the agreed-upon fuel has been allowed to enter Gaza, according to Palestinian figures obtained by Drop Site.
* On Sunday, it was [reported][33] that Israeli authorities would be moving the inspection center for Palestinians returning to Gaza from the area near the Rafah crossing to the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster. The change—justified by Israel by pointing to increased “smuggling” operations—will further limit evacuations, which have already been heavily curtailed by Israel since October of 2023. Israel has only allowed about a third of agreed crossings since it re-opened Rafah.
* **Israeli attacks on West Bank escalate:**
* On Sunday evening, Israeli forces shot and [killed][34] a 16-year-old in the Qalandia refugee camp, near Jerusalem, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.
* A four-month-old Palestinian infant [died][35] on Sunday after Israeli soldiers blocked his urgent medical transfer at the military checkpoint around his village of Deir Ammar, west of Ramallah, according to Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam. Ghannam called his death “a stain on the conscience of humanity.”
* More than 100 Israeli settlers reportedly [stormed][36] and burned a café opposite Al-Zaytouna University in the Wadi al-Sha’ir area of Lubban ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus.
* Additional settler attacks were reported in Khirbet al-Kharaba south of Hebron, where homes came under attack; in the al-Ka’abneh community east of Jerusalem, where livestock were released among Palestinian homes; and in Masafer Yatta, where settlers reportedly stormed a home and tampered with its electricity.
* In an Instagram post on Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich [announced][37] his plan for a “revolution in settlement,” which would not only include the West Bank, but would extend into the Negev and the Galilee. His announcement follows last week’s approvals of 13 new settlements by the Knesset.
* **Israeli forces, settlers carried out over 11,000 attacks in occupied West Bank in the first half of 2026: **Israeli forces and settlers [carried out][38] 11,074 attacks against Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank during the first half of 2026, according to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements. Commission head Moayad Shaaban said the attacks included land seizures, settlement expansion, forced displacement, extrajudicial killings, land bulldozing, tree uprooting, property destruction, and movement restrictions through road closures and military checkpoints. He said 3,488 of the attacks were carried out by Israeli settlers, who killed a total of 17 Palestinians. Israeli authorities also approved the construction of 7,963 settlement units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first half of the year.
# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Iranians gather to mourn late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: **Hundreds of thousands of Iranians [attended][39] a funeral procession in Tehran for Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran murdered by a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on the first day of the war, February 28.
* The six-day funeral ceremony will travel from Tehran, to the Iranian holy city of Qom, the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, and Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad, where he will be buried on Thursday.
* Khamenei will be interred alongside several family members killed in the February strike, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, eldest daughter, son-in-law, and the wife of his son Mojtaba, Iran’s new Supreme Leader.
* Mojtaba, the Supreme Leader’s successor, is not expected to appear publicly; three of Khamenei’s other sons attended the funeral prayers, according to the Associated Press.
* Mourners [demanded][40] revenge for Khamenei’s killing, carrying placards with images of U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Al Jazeera.
* President Trump [told][41] Axios on Saturday that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran would be paused until the funeral ceremonies conclude on Thursday, saying both sides agreed to “take a week off” and that “neither side will shoot at the other” during that time. Nonetheless, he appeared to threaten mourners by saying, about the Iranian leadership structure, “They are all there.” “One shot [and we can take them all out],” he said, before saying that he had decided against such a course of action “because then we would have nobody to negotiate with.”
* **Israel’s Defense Minister: “Any Iranian leader” threatening Israel will “also be thwarted”: **Israel Katz [said][42] on Monday that any future Iranian leader who seeks to destroy Israel “will also be thwarted,” claiming that Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “assassinated by Israel because he set in motion and led the plan to destroy Israel,” the Times of Israel reported.
* **Netanyahu could visit White House as early as this week:** Trump [told][43] Axios on Saturday that Netanyahu could visit the White House as early as this week, though Trump is expected to be in Turkey for the NATO summit on July 7-8.
* **Iranian officials meet with Yemeni, Lebanese, and Palestinian counterparts: **Amid the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf held meetings with representatives for Hamas, Yemen’s Ansarallah, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
* Describing his Sunday meeting with Hamas political chair Mohammed Darwish, Ghalibaf said that Iran was “not at peace with the United States,” nor with Israel, and that, following the Supreme Leader, the government would continue to support “Muslims and the Resistance Front.” “That support may take the form of missiles when necessary,” he said, “and if political pressure is needed, then pressure will be applied through negotiations.”
* Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, also [commemorated][44] Khamenei by noting that the group had maintained a close relationship with the Supreme Leader for 34 years, and commended him for his “principled commitment” in support of the Palestinian cause. In an interview with al Alam during the funeral procession on Sunday, Hamdan said Khamenei had provided support for resistance groups while allowing them to make their own military and political decisions.
* **Ship attacked off the coast of Yemen: **A cargo vessel [triggered][45] a distress alert after coming under attack about 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the UKMTO reported on Sunday.
* The vessel was reportedly approached by a small, unknown skiff carrying armed men, who opened fire. The ship’s armed security team returned fire, and the attackers withdrew to a larger “mother ship” about 2 nautical miles away with its tracking system switched off. No injuries were reported and the vessel continued safely.
* No group claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident took place near Ansarallah-controlled territory, but the group did not immediately publicly issue a statement on the incident.
* **U.S. Navy suspends search for missing sailor: **The U.S. Navy [announced][46] on Sunday that it had suspended its search for a sailor who went missing in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea last week. Three of the MH-60 Sea Hawk’s crew members were rescued and in stable condition.
* The Navy also indicated that there was no evidence that suggested the helicopter crash was a result of hostile action. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
* **Strait of Hormuz updates:**
* The number of traceable daily transits through the Strait has more than [quadrupled][47], the Financial Times reported this weekend, rising from 1-2 per day for most of the war, to 8 per day on July 1. Roughly 125-140 transited per day before the war.
* Crude oil shipments have recovered to about 7 million barrels per day, up from near-zero levels during the height of the conflict, according to Citibank analysts [cited][48] by the Financial Times. Before the war, the strait carried roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil daily.
* Citibank said the 7 million barrels/day estimate likely understates actual traffic because many commercial tankers have switched off their public transponders for security reasons.
* At least 8 ships attempting to exit the Gulf along the Omani coast [turned back][49] between Friday and Saturday, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, with some completing transit only after diverting to Iran’s designated northern route.
* Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran’s ambassador to China, [reiterated][50] on Sunday that Tehran plans to introduce new service fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz once the current 60-day fee-free period expires, but would offer “special treatment” to countries it considers friendly.
* **Iran responds to joint UK-French statement: **After France and the United Kingdom intimated that they would use military force to work with Oman to secure Omani territorial waters in the vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister Kareem Gharibabadi [responded][51] with a “serious warning,” saying that the “security of Hormuz” lies with Iran and Oman alone and that “the crisis-makers” would be held responsible for “the consequences of their adventurism.”
* **Report: U.S. special operations task force remained on standby for possible Iran uranium recovery mission: **A U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) task force has reportedly [spent][52] more than three months deployed in the Middle East preparing for a potential mission to recover highly enriched uranium from underground facilities in Iran, according to The High Side. The report said the operation would have involved transporting the recovered uranium to a laboratory in Hanford, Washington.
* Planning reportedly relied in part on Israeli intelligence to identify the locations of the uranium. According to the report, some officials believed the mission could cost an entire JSOC squadron of 60 to 90 operators. By late June, however, the mission was viewed as increasingly unlikely, with one former defense contractor saying the deployment had become more of “a deterrent to force a diplomatic solution” than a practical military option. Although most of the task force reportedly remains in the Persian Gulf region, a special operations official said that personnel are gradually returning to the United States.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli military continues its attacks in Lebanon on Monday, despite “ceasefire”:**
* An Israeli airstrike on a Jeep in Nabatieh Al-Fawqah [killed][53] four people on Monday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, including one elementary school principal, her mother, and two foreign workers.
* Israeli forces [demolished][54] several homes in Aitaroun on Monday morning, after demolishing other structures in Houla overnight, the NNA reported.
* Israel’s operations in the country continue despite a U.S.-backed framework deal, which was signed by the Israeli and Lebanese governments last week, and despite the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, whose first clause calls for an end to hostilities “on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
* **Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued throughout the weekend:**
* Israeli attacks killed one person and wounded another from Saturday to Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported, bringing the toll since March 2 to 4,304 killed and 12,203 wounded.
* An Israeli Apache Helicopter fired [repeatedly][55] on Majdal Zoun on Saturday evening, killing a man who it claimed was armed, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
* Local journalists reported Israeli shelling in the municipalities of Deir Serian, Qantara, and Braasheet, and [near][56] Mount Basil in Bint Jbeil, machine gun fire and explosions in Beit Yahoun, and a stun grenade dropped near Aita Al-Shaab.
* Israeli forces also [carried out][57] large-scale demolitions in the Bint Jbeil district towns of Beit Yahoun and Kounin on Sunday, according to the NNA.
* Eyal Zamir, the IDF’s chief of staff, visited the occupied Beaufort (Shiqif) Fortress on Sunday, saying the Lebanese Army must remove Hezbollah fighters from the area under the ceasefire framework. Israeli forces would continue operating from Lebanese territory, he said, prepared to launch new military operations if the ceasefire is violated.
* **Netanyahu claims Lebanese Christians have asked Israel to annex their villages, dismisses rumors of Trump split: **In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu discussed his country’s ongoing attacks.
* Netanyahu [claimed][58] that Israel “take[s] care of its friends, especially the Christians in the Middle East,” and alleged that village leaders had asked to be “annexed to Israel.”
* **Netanyahu considers limited withdrawal in Sunday meeting:** Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [convened][59] a high-level security meeting on Sunday to approve a pilot withdrawal from two villages in southern Lebanon under the U.S.-mediated framework, according to Israel’s Channel 13.
* The withdrawal would reportedly be phased, with an initial “gradual” reduction of the Israeli military’s presence, and Israeli officials have reiterated that redeployment depends on the Lebanese Army taking control of the areas.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][60].*
* **Drop Site Exclusive: Internal poll finds Mallory McMorrow supporters lean toward Addul El-Sayed, giving potential boost after McMorrow quits race for U.S. Senate seat: **Democratic** **Michigan state senator** McMorrow **[suspended][61] her campaign to represent the state in the U.S. Senate on Sunday. Her exit clears the way for a head-to-head matchup in the August 4 Democratic primary between progressive **Abdul El-Sayed**, a physician and former Wayne County Health Director, and **Rep.** **Haley Stevens**, who has received millions of dollars from pro-Israel groups and has run to the right of both of her primary opponents.
* McMorrow had secured endorsements from **Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)** and **Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)**. With her exit, attention now turns to whether either senator will endorse El-Sayed or Stevens in the final month of the primary.
* An internal poll from Tulchin Research, conducted in late June for a pro-Abdul organization, Fighting for Michigan PAC, found 47% of McMorrow’s supporters picked El-Sayed as their second choice, with 42% moving toward Stevens. That finding cuts against the conventional wisdom that Stevens would be the beneficiary of McMorrow’s departure. The poll’s overall finding—putting El-Sayed in front by 19 points—was a generous outlier toward El-Sayed, so caution is warranted, but the survey does complicate the picture.
* **AOC meets with NYC primary winners: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez **met with **Claire Valdez** and **Darializa Avila Chevalier, **two of three Mamdani-endorsed candidates who won major victories in last month’s New York primaries for dinner at a Himalayan restaurant in Jackson Heights on Sunday.
* Ocasio-Cortez did not [endorse][62] either of the two DSA members, though she has defended both forcefully since, telling party colleagues attacking Avila Chevalier’s old social media posts: “If you are already panicking and sending little messages in your group chats about how these people need to be reined in and tamped down and shown their place, you are creating the antagonistic dynamic that we do not need.”
* **McGovern promises votes on Israel, Gaza, and Humanitarian Aid: Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.)** [told][63] Al Jazeera that if Democrats retake the House, he will become chair of the Rules Committee and would ensure votes and debates take place on Israel, Gaza, and humanitarian aid.
* Describing the Committee as the “traffic cop of Congress,” McGovern blamed Republicans for “routinely” blocking amendments on humanitarian aid, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank from being considered.
* “I can at least guarantee that we’re going to have votes on these matters,” he said, telling Al Jazeera that he did not “come to Congress to just be window dressing.”
* McGovern [criticized][64] the Trump administration and his congressional colleagues for failing to ensure the entry of vital aid into Gaza, including minimum levels of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment, describing the administration’s “indifference toward the suffering” of Palestinians in Gaza as “stunning,” and characterizing this failure as “war crimes.”
* **Democratic Socialist of America has more than 120,000 members: **The DSA [announced][65] on Saturday that their membership passed 120,000.
* With this, the group became the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, surpassing the 19th century Socialist Party of America, which was led by **Eugene Debs**. (One caveat: The U.S. population is three times bigger today than it was in the 1920s.)
* **Internal Poll finds populist Will Lawrence the only Dem beating Republican Rep. Tom Barrett: **A new poll sponsored by the Lawrence campaign, and conducted by Data For Progress, finds Sunrise co-founder **Will Lawrence** ahead of Barrett 48-46%, with his two corporate Democratic opponents behind by 1 point. The poll finds Lawrence with a commanding 19-point lead among independents, as he has leaned into his opposition to data center construction and condemned U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran. Lawrence appeared on Breaking Points Friday. The survey was first reported by Semafor.
* **Trump pressures FIFA to remove red card on U.S. star: **FIFA [reversed][66] the suspension of **Folarin Balogun**, the U.S. team’s top scorer, after President Trump reportedly called FIFA president **Gianni Infantino** after the U.S. match on Wednesday to ask him to review the ruling, the NYT reported on Sunday, making Balogun eligible to play against Belgium on Monday.
* The move is extremely rare; according to the Times, it is the first reversal of a disqualifying decision in the World Cup since 1962. Belgium has appealed the decision.
* The Times also reported that commerce secretary **Howard Lutnick**, and White House task force head **Andrew Giuliani** put together a team of elite lawyers—from outside the government and against FIFA rules—to challenge the Balogun red card.
* **House speaker plans reconciliation push for voter ID bill after floor revolt**: House Speaker Mike Johnson [said][67] he intends to move the SAVE America Act through budget reconciliation once the House returns from its July Fourth recess, after a group of conservative Republicans led by** Rep. Anna Paulina** **Luna** blocked a procedural vote last week to protest the bill’s stalled progress.
* Trump renewed his push for the legislation in a Saturday night speech on the National Mall, and Johnson said he plans to tie the bill to the defense authorization package to pressure the Senate, despite **Senate Majority Leader** **John Thune’s** warnings that doing so could jeopardize that must-pass legislation.
* **Rubio tells U.S. embassies to lobby against Cuba resolution at the UN: **Secretary of State **Marco Rubio** reportedly [directed][68] U.S. embassies to lobby countries to oppose a July 7 U.N. General Assembly debate on the humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, according to The Nation, citing a leaked State Department cable obtained by reporter Ken Klippenstein.
* The cable reportedly directed embassies to pressure their host nations, if they are strong U.S. allies, to criticize Cuba, to encourage nonaligned states to stay silent, and to warn countries supporting the debate that Washington “will be listening very closely” to their remarks.
# Other International News
* **Drone strike kills 18 civilians in DRC: **A drone strike allegedly conducted by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group killed at least 18 civilians in the Congolese village of Mulima on Friday, local officials said.
* A regional administrator said health facilities, schools, and livestock were destroyed in several villages, driving a new wave of displacement. Officials blamed M23 and its allies and condemned repeated Rwandan violations of Congolese airspace.
* The killings come more than a year after Trump brokered a U.S. peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, one that also handed American firms preferential access to the region’s cobalt, lithium, and coltan.
* **Ansarallah attack kills 16 Yemeni soldiers:** An Ansarallah assault on Saturday [killed][69] 16 soldiers of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and wounded 23 near the Red Sea city of Hodeidah, a government military official told AFP, in one of the deadliest clashes between the two sides in years.
* An officer said Ansarallah fighters briefly seized government positions using snipers, drones, and mortars before a counterattack retook them.
* On Sunday, a representative from the Ansarallah Foreign Ministry [promised][70] that the group would continue to try to break the Saudi-led blockade of the territory under the group’s control, and to this effect would reopen the Sana’a International airport, “without asking for anyone’s permission.” Days earlier, Ansarallah repelled Saudi warplanes trying to prevent an Iranian civilian flight from landing in Sana’a.
* Though a de facto ceasefire has largely held since 2022, the Saudi-American blockade has never been lifted, creating a humanitarian catastrophe the UN has called one of the world’s worst.
* **Armed groups strike five locations across Mali as army claims control restored:** Armed fighters [attacked][71] five locations across Mali on Saturday, including the northern towns of Aguelhok, Anefis, and Gao, the central town of Sevare, and Kenieroba in the south, according to the AFP.
* The army reported that 20 fighters were killed in Sevare and six in Gao, and said the situation was “totally under control.”
* The Azawad Liberation Front confirmed it had attacked Anefis in the Kidal region, where government and Russian forces are based following the ALF’s earlier seizure of the town of Kidal in April.
* **OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production:** OPEC+, an alliance of the 12-member OPEC oil group and 10 partner producers led by Russia, agreed on Sunday to increase oil production by another 188,000 barrels per day starting in August.
* The move continues its gradual rollback of voluntary output cuts and marks the fifth straight monthly production increase.
* The decision comes partly in response to continued uncertainty over the status of the Strait of Hormuz and efforts by OPEC+ to calm global oil markets by increasing total supply.
* **RSF attacks displace thousands in North Darfur villages near Tine**: The Rapid Support Forces [launched][72] ethnically motivated attacks on six villages near Tine in North Darfur state starting last Wednesday, killing several civilians, injuring dozens, and forcing thousands to flee into neighboring Chad, according to Sudan Tribune.
* The attacks on the villages in the region which are home to the Zaghawa ethnic group follow recent gains by the Joint Force, an alliance backing the Sudanese army, which seized land in the area from the RSF.
* Separately, the cholera outbreak in Sudan’s Kordofan region has reportedly [worsened][73], with hundreds of new infections registered. “The health system is unable to limit the spread of the disease due to deteriorated sanitation, contaminated water sources, damaged sewage networks, and a severe scarcity of safe drinking water,” a doctor told the Sudan Tribune.
* **More on life in El-Obeid, which has been under siege for months, is available in the latest from Drop Site contributor Eisa Dafalla, available [here][74].**
* **Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 18:** Russia [launched][75] waves of missiles and drones at Ukraine early Monday, killing at least 18 people and wounding at least 60 in Kyiv and the surrounding region, according to Ukrainian officials.
* Ukraine’s air force said all 29 ballistic missiles launched by Russia overnight struck their targets, a fact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said highlighted the country’s need for Patriot missile interceptors amid a global shortage of the technology, calling on the United States and European allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week.
* Separately on Monday, the mayor of the Russian city of Yaroslav reported that an Ukrainian drone attack on his city wounded two people.
* A wave of Ukrainian drones also struck the Omsk oil refinery—Russia’s largest refinery accounting for 10% of its total output—amid an escalating Ukrainian campaign targeting oil and gas infrastructure.
* **Death toll from Venezuelan earthquakes rises to 3,342, more than 40,000 still missing: **Venezuela’s official death toll from the June 24 twin earthquakes has [risen][76] to 3,342, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on Saturday.
* The UN estimates between 41,000 and 50,000 people remain unaccounted for, and Venezuelan authorities say more than 16,740 have been injured, and another 16,000 have been displaced from their homes.
* With the 72-hour survival window long past, AFP reports that international rescue teams from the U.S. and across South America are beginning to wind down search-and-rescue operations in the country.
* **Syria delays first session of new transitional parliament:** Syrian authorities [postponed][77] the inaugural session of the country’s new transitional parliament, which had been scheduled for Monday, The New Arab Reported, though it did not specify a reason for the delay.
* President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 members of the 210-seat body this week, while the Druze-Majority Suweida province has yet to select its members following last year’s sectarian violence there.
* **China conducts first ballistic missile test in Pacific since 2024**: China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific on Monday, sending a dummy warhead into what Beijing called a “designated area” in the first such test in two years.
* The test drew criticism from New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, with officials calling it destabilizing and part of China’s accelerating military buildup in the region.
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[1]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack
[3]: https://x.com/boardofpeace/status/2074091353042997318?s=46
[4]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073460867300028815
[5]: https://www.cwrc.ps/page-4719-ar.html
[6]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073869710404596140
[7]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073792043294376038
[8]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073305655553687689
[9]: https://open.substack.com/pub/thehighside/p/iran-wmd-raid-inside-jsocs-most-challenging?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
[10]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222894/four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-vehicle-in-nabatieh-el-faouqa-2
[11]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222885/israeli-forces-demolish-homes-in-aitaroun-drones-fly-over-beirut-suburbs-2
[12]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073807916931457206
[13]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073829921911099894
[14]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073467736429351413
[15]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073900389502525522
[16]: https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2073851719297945674
[17]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073865754169000184
[18]: https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC8sIT2Jl8B4r4N202q
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[24]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/internal-proposals-palestine-hamas-gaza-trump-mladenov-israel-board-peace
[25]: https://www.wafa.ps/news/2026/7/6/4-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3-149939
[26]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073460867300028815
[27]: https://x.com/translatingpal/status/2073501897151955307
[28]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073852863487291861
[29]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073823947242479912
[30]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073910004801769741
[31]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073473979172434160
[32]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073528661366419894
[33]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073973571592790123
[34]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172364
[35]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073835108281241939
[36]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073856170935136754
[37]: https://aje.news/1k4m4y?update=4739606
[38]: https://www.cwrc.ps/page-4719-ar.html
[39]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073869710404596140
[40]: https://aje.news/1k4m4y?update=4739089
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073504877376893052
[42]: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/katz-any-future-iranian-leader-who-tries-to-harm-israel-will-meet-same-fate-as-khamenei/?__cf_chl_f_tk=_3sIatn7pb0FvcVsnOVbg._sn9jD0eP9glz899ZMtKA-1783341449-1.0.1.1-ycNMAQ.aZGmmmfUqsKxB9Vgo69XsnM5I42MFsZjlre4
[43]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073505962925907979
[44]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073921592371957880
[45]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073797035468218809
[46]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073792043294376038
[47]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073623406654755088
[48]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073610677466366030
[49]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073454397476987278
[50]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073982893257371843
[51]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073305655553687689
[52]: https://open.substack.com/pub/thehighside/p/iran-wmd-raid-inside-jsocs-most-challenging?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
[53]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222894/four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-vehicle-in-nabatieh-el-faouqa-2
[54]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222885/israeli-forces-demolish-homes-in-aitaroun-drones-fly-over-beirut-suburbs-2
[55]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222850/apache-helicopter-fires-five-missiles-at-majdel-zoun-2
[56]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222840/enemy-targets-ramia-beit-lif-2
[57]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222868/large-scale-demolition-operations-in-beit-yahoun-and-kounin-2
[58]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073807916931457206
[59]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073996451483361409
[60]: mailto:[email protected]
[61]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073829921911099894
[62]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073467736429351413
[63]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073900389502525522
[64]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073897469662933468
[65]: https://x.com/DemSocialists/status/2073858007017164832
[66]: https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2073851719297945674
[67]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/05/politics/johnson-house-voter-id-bill
[68]: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/trump-cuba-united-nations-state-department-leaked-cable-sanctions-humanitarian-crisis/
[69]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073865754169000184
[70]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073949009027477938
[71]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/4/armed-fighters-attack-multiple-towns-across-mali
[72]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315896
[73]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315858
[74]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
[75]: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-july-6-2026-0280e3d86022720fd5fa0236122ad90e
[76]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073630435662315556
[77]: https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-postpones-first-session-new-parliament
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/hamas-gaza-government-abu-safiya-israel-venezuela-earthquake
**From Drop Site:**
* **[Sudan’s El-Obeid Under Siege: “Civilians Should Not Have to Wait for Death”][1]**
* **[A Third Party Breached The Intercept’s Signal Tip Line and Has Been Soliciting Whistleblowers][2]**
*Six killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Monday. Hamas’s Gaza government announces dissolution; President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace [says][3] “all weapons” must be consolidated under the control of Administrative Committee. Palestinian doctor detained by Israel, Hussam Abu Safiya: [“They brought me here to kill me. I don’t see myself surviving.”][4] Israeli attacks kill at least five Palestinians in Gaza over the weekend. Israeli forces, settlers [carried out][5] over 11,000 attacks in occupied West Bank in the first half of 2026. Iranians gather to [mourn][6] late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iranian officials meet with Yemeni, Lebanese, and Palestinian counterparts. U.S. Navy [suspends][7] search for missing sailor. Iran [says][8] “security of Hormuz” lies with Tehran and Oman alone following joint UK-French statement. [Report][9]: U.S. special operations task force remained on standby for possible Iran uranium recovery mission. Israel [kills][10] four in Lebanon,
[demolishes][11] homes despite “ceasefire.” Netanyahu [claims][12] Lebanese Christians have asked Israel to annex their villages. Drop Site Exclusive: Internal poll finds Mallory McMorrow supporters lean toward Addul El-Sayed, giving potential boost after McMorrow [quits][13] race for U.S. Senate seat. AOC [meets][14] with NYC primary winners. Rep. Jim McGovern [promises][15] votes on Israel, Gaza, and Humanitarian Aid, if Democrats retake the House. Trump [pressures][16] FIFA to remove red card on U.S. star. Drone strike kills 18 civilians in DRC. Ansarallah attack [kills][17] 16 soldiers of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production. Death toll from Venezuelan earthquakes rises to 3,342, more than 40,000 still missing.*
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Workers prepare graves for unidentified victims of the June 24 earthquake at La Esperanza Cemetery, northeast of Caracas, Venezuela on July 5, 2026. Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP via Getty Images.
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# Palestine
* **Killed and wounded:** Over the last 24 hours, three Palestinians were killed and seven were injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza. Two bodies were also recovered from under the rubble, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
* The total recorded death toll since October 7, 2023 has risen to 73,098 killed, with 173,571 injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Since October 11, the first full day of the so-called ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 1,072 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded 3,463, while 799 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.
* **Hamas’s Gaza government announces dissolution: **Gaza’s Government Media Office announced Monday that its Emergency Committee has been dissolved, saying the move is intended to facilitate the transfer of administrative authority to the Palestinian-led National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) under Trump’s Board of “Peace.” The office said it had received “full assurance” that preparations for the handover had been completed and formally presented to Palestinian factions, clan leaders, and a United Nations observer. It added that only technical and professional staff would remain in their posts to prevent “an administrative and technical vacuum,” while stressing that all public employees are “fully prepared to work” under the NCAG. The statement concluded by urging all relevant parties to “expedite the immediate entry” of the committee so it can assume its responsibilities.
* **Hamas’s statement:** Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that “a new positive step today to remove the occupation’s pretexts” was taken today, following the announcement. Hamas has repeatedly stated its willingness to hand over governance to the NCAG since signing the October 2025 agreement.
* **BoP’s response:** The “Board of Peace” said it has “taken note” of the announcement, stressing that its assessment “will be guided by actions, not promises.” In a [post][23] on X, the Board said any transition must be “comprehensive” and comply with the Roadmap’s requirements for governance, security, and political transition. It reiterated that the guiding principle remains “one authority, one law and one weapon,” adding that “all weapons” must be consolidated under the control of the NCAG.
* Israel and Trump’s Board have made the entry of the NCAG contingent on Palestinian acceptance of a 15-point “roadmap” that appears aimed at disarming the Palestinian resistance and the abandoning of the struggle for Palestinian national liberation. Read Drop’s Site report on negotiations between the Board and Palestinians **[here][24]**.
* **Six killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza: **At least six Palestinians were [killed][25] in Israeli air strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis on Monday morning, according to WAFA. Two people were killed after an Israeli warplane struck an apartment in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood, southwest of Gaza City. In a separate attack, an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, killing two and wounding at least 15 others. Two people were also killed in an Israeli strike on a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern Gaza Strip.
* Civil Defense teams also recovered the remains of eight Palestinians from beneath the rubble of a home in the Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City, which had been destroyed in an earlier Israeli air strike. At least 9,500 bodies remain buried under the rubble in Gaza, according to Palestinian estimates.
* **Life of imprisoned Palestinian physician is in danger, report says: **Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s life is in immediate danger, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and his lawyer [warned][26] Saturday, after a prison visit. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital had fresh, severe injuries to his head, eyes, ears, and neck, they said, leaving him so disfigured his own attorney initially struggled to recognize him.
* Attorney Nasser Odeh, who saw Abu Safiya Thursday at the underground Rakefet interrogation facility in Nitzan Prison, said he arrived shackled hand and foot, escorted by masked guards, struggling to breathe and speak, unable to sit upright, and repeatedly on the verge of losing consciousness.
* Abu Safiya told him that after his Supreme Court appeal was heard June 10, four or five guards entered his solitary cell at Ganot Prison and beat him with a hammer and batons, and that since his June 24 transfer to Rakefet he has been beaten daily, losing consciousness several times and receiving no medical treatment.
* “This is the last time you will see me,” he told his lawyer. “They brought me here to kill me. I don’t see myself surviving. This is the end.” He has been held without charge since December 27, 2024. Dr. Abu Safiya’s son described the visit in an Instagram post, available [here][27].
* Following an April petition [filed][28] by PHRI and Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer, Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the state to respond by Tuesday, July 7, to a petition seeking the release of 14 Palestinian doctors detained without charge, and to specifically address the charges made about Dr. Abu Safiya’s condition.
* **Israeli attacks kill at least five Palestinians in Gaza over the weekend:**
* An Israeli strike on a group of civilians at a water desalination plant east of Gaza City [killed][29] two on Sunday, according to WAFA. Another man died on Sunday, following an Israeli artillery attack east of al-Masdar.
* Israeli forces also [fired][30] at the tents of displaced people on the outskirts of Rafah, demolished residential buildings in northwestern Gaza, and fired upon fisherman’s boats off the coasts of Rafah and Khan Younis.
* An Israeli drone strike [killed][31] a Palestinian man in Gaza City on Saturday evening, and wounded several others, Palestine Online reported. Also on Saturday, an Israeli strike near the Jabalia refugee camp [killed][32] another Palestinian man and wounded four others, in an attack that caused severe injuries to several, including a very young child.
* **Israeli restrictions on crossings continue to suffocate Gaza: **Five trucks of cooking gas entered the Strip, the Gaza Petroleum Authority reported on Sunday, reaching about 11,829 gas suppliers across Gaza.
* Under the terms of the ceasefire, at least 50 trucks of fuel are supposed to enter the Strip every day. Only 14.9% of the agreed-upon fuel has been allowed to enter Gaza, according to Palestinian figures obtained by Drop Site.
* On Sunday, it was [reported][33] that Israeli authorities would be moving the inspection center for Palestinians returning to Gaza from the area near the Rafah crossing to the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster. The change—justified by Israel by pointing to increased “smuggling” operations—will further limit evacuations, which have already been heavily curtailed by Israel since October of 2023. Israel has only allowed about a third of agreed crossings since it re-opened Rafah.
* **Israeli attacks on West Bank escalate:**
* On Sunday evening, Israeli forces shot and [killed][34] a 16-year-old in the Qalandia refugee camp, near Jerusalem, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.
* A four-month-old Palestinian infant [died][35] on Sunday after Israeli soldiers blocked his urgent medical transfer at the military checkpoint around his village of Deir Ammar, west of Ramallah, according to Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam. Ghannam called his death “a stain on the conscience of humanity.”
* More than 100 Israeli settlers reportedly [stormed][36] and burned a café opposite Al-Zaytouna University in the Wadi al-Sha’ir area of Lubban ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus.
* Additional settler attacks were reported in Khirbet al-Kharaba south of Hebron, where homes came under attack; in the al-Ka’abneh community east of Jerusalem, where livestock were released among Palestinian homes; and in Masafer Yatta, where settlers reportedly stormed a home and tampered with its electricity.
* In an Instagram post on Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich [announced][37] his plan for a “revolution in settlement,” which would not only include the West Bank, but would extend into the Negev and the Galilee. His announcement follows last week’s approvals of 13 new settlements by the Knesset.
* **Israeli forces, settlers carried out over 11,000 attacks in occupied West Bank in the first half of 2026: **Israeli forces and settlers [carried out][38] 11,074 attacks against Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank during the first half of 2026, according to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements. Commission head Moayad Shaaban said the attacks included land seizures, settlement expansion, forced displacement, extrajudicial killings, land bulldozing, tree uprooting, property destruction, and movement restrictions through road closures and military checkpoints. He said 3,488 of the attacks were carried out by Israeli settlers, who killed a total of 17 Palestinians. Israeli authorities also approved the construction of 7,963 settlement units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first half of the year.
# Iran and Ceasefire
* **Iranians gather to mourn late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: **Hundreds of thousands of Iranians [attended][39] a funeral procession in Tehran for Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran murdered by a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on the first day of the war, February 28.
* The six-day funeral ceremony will travel from Tehran, to the Iranian holy city of Qom, the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, and Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad, where he will be buried on Thursday.
* Khamenei will be interred alongside several family members killed in the February strike, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, eldest daughter, son-in-law, and the wife of his son Mojtaba, Iran’s new Supreme Leader.
* Mojtaba, the Supreme Leader’s successor, is not expected to appear publicly; three of Khamenei’s other sons attended the funeral prayers, according to the Associated Press.
* Mourners [demanded][40] revenge for Khamenei’s killing, carrying placards with images of U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Al Jazeera.
* President Trump [told][41] Axios on Saturday that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran would be paused until the funeral ceremonies conclude on Thursday, saying both sides agreed to “take a week off” and that “neither side will shoot at the other” during that time. Nonetheless, he appeared to threaten mourners by saying, about the Iranian leadership structure, “They are all there.” “One shot [and we can take them all out],” he said, before saying that he had decided against such a course of action “because then we would have nobody to negotiate with.”
* **Israel’s Defense Minister: “Any Iranian leader” threatening Israel will “also be thwarted”: **Israel Katz [said][42] on Monday that any future Iranian leader who seeks to destroy Israel “will also be thwarted,” claiming that Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was “assassinated by Israel because he set in motion and led the plan to destroy Israel,” the Times of Israel reported.
* **Netanyahu could visit White House as early as this week:** Trump [told][43] Axios on Saturday that Netanyahu could visit the White House as early as this week, though Trump is expected to be in Turkey for the NATO summit on July 7-8.
* **Iranian officials meet with Yemeni, Lebanese, and Palestinian counterparts: **Amid the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf held meetings with representatives for Hamas, Yemen’s Ansarallah, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
* Describing his Sunday meeting with Hamas political chair Mohammed Darwish, Ghalibaf said that Iran was “not at peace with the United States,” nor with Israel, and that, following the Supreme Leader, the government would continue to support “Muslims and the Resistance Front.” “That support may take the form of missiles when necessary,” he said, “and if political pressure is needed, then pressure will be applied through negotiations.”
* Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, also [commemorated][44] Khamenei by noting that the group had maintained a close relationship with the Supreme Leader for 34 years, and commended him for his “principled commitment” in support of the Palestinian cause. In an interview with al Alam during the funeral procession on Sunday, Hamdan said Khamenei had provided support for resistance groups while allowing them to make their own military and political decisions.
* **Ship attacked off the coast of Yemen: **A cargo vessel [triggered][45] a distress alert after coming under attack about 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, the UKMTO reported on Sunday.
* The vessel was reportedly approached by a small, unknown skiff carrying armed men, who opened fire. The ship’s armed security team returned fire, and the attackers withdrew to a larger “mother ship” about 2 nautical miles away with its tracking system switched off. No injuries were reported and the vessel continued safely.
* No group claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident took place near Ansarallah-controlled territory, but the group did not immediately publicly issue a statement on the incident.
* **U.S. Navy suspends search for missing sailor: **The U.S. Navy [announced][46] on Sunday that it had suspended its search for a sailor who went missing in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea last week. Three of the MH-60 Sea Hawk’s crew members were rescued and in stable condition.
* The Navy also indicated that there was no evidence that suggested the helicopter crash was a result of hostile action. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
* **Strait of Hormuz updates:**
* The number of traceable daily transits through the Strait has more than [quadrupled][47], the Financial Times reported this weekend, rising from 1-2 per day for most of the war, to 8 per day on July 1. Roughly 125-140 transited per day before the war.
* Crude oil shipments have recovered to about 7 million barrels per day, up from near-zero levels during the height of the conflict, according to Citibank analysts [cited][48] by the Financial Times. Before the war, the strait carried roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil daily.
* Citibank said the 7 million barrels/day estimate likely understates actual traffic because many commercial tankers have switched off their public transponders for security reasons.
* At least 8 ships attempting to exit the Gulf along the Omani coast [turned back][49] between Friday and Saturday, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, with some completing transit only after diverting to Iran’s designated northern route.
* Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran’s ambassador to China, [reiterated][50] on Sunday that Tehran plans to introduce new service fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz once the current 60-day fee-free period expires, but would offer “special treatment” to countries it considers friendly.
* **Iran responds to joint UK-French statement: **After France and the United Kingdom intimated that they would use military force to work with Oman to secure Omani territorial waters in the vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister Kareem Gharibabadi [responded][51] with a “serious warning,” saying that the “security of Hormuz” lies with Iran and Oman alone and that “the crisis-makers” would be held responsible for “the consequences of their adventurism.”
* **Report: U.S. special operations task force remained on standby for possible Iran uranium recovery mission: **A U.S. Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) task force has reportedly [spent][52] more than three months deployed in the Middle East preparing for a potential mission to recover highly enriched uranium from underground facilities in Iran, according to The High Side. The report said the operation would have involved transporting the recovered uranium to a laboratory in Hanford, Washington.
* Planning reportedly relied in part on Israeli intelligence to identify the locations of the uranium. According to the report, some officials believed the mission could cost an entire JSOC squadron of 60 to 90 operators. By late June, however, the mission was viewed as increasingly unlikely, with one former defense contractor saying the deployment had become more of “a deterrent to force a diplomatic solution” than a practical military option. Although most of the task force reportedly remains in the Persian Gulf region, a special operations official said that personnel are gradually returning to the United States.
# Lebanon
* **Israeli military continues its attacks in Lebanon on Monday, despite “ceasefire”:**
* An Israeli airstrike on a Jeep in Nabatieh Al-Fawqah [killed][53] four people on Monday, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, including one elementary school principal, her mother, and two foreign workers.
* Israeli forces [demolished][54] several homes in Aitaroun on Monday morning, after demolishing other structures in Houla overnight, the NNA reported.
* Israel’s operations in the country continue despite a U.S.-backed framework deal, which was signed by the Israeli and Lebanese governments last week, and despite the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, whose first clause calls for an end to hostilities “on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”
* **Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued throughout the weekend:**
* Israeli attacks killed one person and wounded another from Saturday to Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported, bringing the toll since March 2 to 4,304 killed and 12,203 wounded.
* An Israeli Apache Helicopter fired [repeatedly][55] on Majdal Zoun on Saturday evening, killing a man who it claimed was armed, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
* Local journalists reported Israeli shelling in the municipalities of Deir Serian, Qantara, and Braasheet, and [near][56] Mount Basil in Bint Jbeil, machine gun fire and explosions in Beit Yahoun, and a stun grenade dropped near Aita Al-Shaab.
* Israeli forces also [carried out][57] large-scale demolitions in the Bint Jbeil district towns of Beit Yahoun and Kounin on Sunday, according to the NNA.
* Eyal Zamir, the IDF’s chief of staff, visited the occupied Beaufort (Shiqif) Fortress on Sunday, saying the Lebanese Army must remove Hezbollah fighters from the area under the ceasefire framework. Israeli forces would continue operating from Lebanese territory, he said, prepared to launch new military operations if the ceasefire is violated.
* **Netanyahu claims Lebanese Christians have asked Israel to annex their villages, dismisses rumors of Trump split: **In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu discussed his country’s ongoing attacks.
* Netanyahu [claimed][58] that Israel “take[s] care of its friends, especially the Christians in the Middle East,” and alleged that village leaders had asked to be “annexed to Israel.”
* **Netanyahu considers limited withdrawal in Sunday meeting:** Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [convened][59] a high-level security meeting on Sunday to approve a pilot withdrawal from two villages in southern Lebanon under the U.S.-mediated framework, according to Israel’s Channel 13.
* The withdrawal would reportedly be phased, with an initial “gradual” reduction of the Israeli military’s presence, and Israeli officials have reiterated that redeployment depends on the Lebanese Army taking control of the areas.
# U.S. News
*By Julian Andreone, with Ryan Grim. Have a tip on Capitol Hill? Email Andreone at [[email protected]][60].*
* **Drop Site Exclusive: Internal poll finds Mallory McMorrow supporters lean toward Addul El-Sayed, giving potential boost after McMorrow quits race for U.S. Senate seat: **Democratic** **Michigan state senator** McMorrow **[suspended][61] her campaign to represent the state in the U.S. Senate on Sunday. Her exit clears the way for a head-to-head matchup in the August 4 Democratic primary between progressive **Abdul El-Sayed**, a physician and former Wayne County Health Director, and **Rep.** **Haley Stevens**, who has received millions of dollars from pro-Israel groups and has run to the right of both of her primary opponents.
* McMorrow had secured endorsements from **Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)** and **Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)**. With her exit, attention now turns to whether either senator will endorse El-Sayed or Stevens in the final month of the primary.
* An internal poll from Tulchin Research, conducted in late June for a pro-Abdul organization, Fighting for Michigan PAC, found 47% of McMorrow’s supporters picked El-Sayed as their second choice, with 42% moving toward Stevens. That finding cuts against the conventional wisdom that Stevens would be the beneficiary of McMorrow’s departure. The poll’s overall finding—putting El-Sayed in front by 19 points—was a generous outlier toward El-Sayed, so caution is warranted, but the survey does complicate the picture.
* **AOC meets with NYC primary winners: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez **met with **Claire Valdez** and **Darializa Avila Chevalier, **two of three Mamdani-endorsed candidates who won major victories in last month’s New York primaries for dinner at a Himalayan restaurant in Jackson Heights on Sunday.
* Ocasio-Cortez did not [endorse][62] either of the two DSA members, though she has defended both forcefully since, telling party colleagues attacking Avila Chevalier’s old social media posts: “If you are already panicking and sending little messages in your group chats about how these people need to be reined in and tamped down and shown their place, you are creating the antagonistic dynamic that we do not need.”
* **McGovern promises votes on Israel, Gaza, and Humanitarian Aid: Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.)** [told][63] Al Jazeera that if Democrats retake the House, he will become chair of the Rules Committee and would ensure votes and debates take place on Israel, Gaza, and humanitarian aid.
* Describing the Committee as the “traffic cop of Congress,” McGovern blamed Republicans for “routinely” blocking amendments on humanitarian aid, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank from being considered.
* “I can at least guarantee that we’re going to have votes on these matters,” he said, telling Al Jazeera that he did not “come to Congress to just be window dressing.”
* McGovern [criticized][64] the Trump administration and his congressional colleagues for failing to ensure the entry of vital aid into Gaza, including minimum levels of food, water, medicine, and medical equipment, describing the administration’s “indifference toward the suffering” of Palestinians in Gaza as “stunning,” and characterizing this failure as “war crimes.”
* **Democratic Socialist of America has more than 120,000 members: **The DSA [announced][65] on Saturday that their membership passed 120,000.
* With this, the group became the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, surpassing the 19th century Socialist Party of America, which was led by **Eugene Debs**. (One caveat: The U.S. population is three times bigger today than it was in the 1920s.)
* **Internal Poll finds populist Will Lawrence the only Dem beating Republican Rep. Tom Barrett: **A new poll sponsored by the Lawrence campaign, and conducted by Data For Progress, finds Sunrise co-founder **Will Lawrence** ahead of Barrett 48-46%, with his two corporate Democratic opponents behind by 1 point. The poll finds Lawrence with a commanding 19-point lead among independents, as he has leaned into his opposition to data center construction and condemned U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran. Lawrence appeared on Breaking Points Friday. The survey was first reported by Semafor.
* **Trump pressures FIFA to remove red card on U.S. star: **FIFA [reversed][66] the suspension of **Folarin Balogun**, the U.S. team’s top scorer, after President Trump reportedly called FIFA president **Gianni Infantino** after the U.S. match on Wednesday to ask him to review the ruling, the NYT reported on Sunday, making Balogun eligible to play against Belgium on Monday.
* The move is extremely rare; according to the Times, it is the first reversal of a disqualifying decision in the World Cup since 1962. Belgium has appealed the decision.
* The Times also reported that commerce secretary **Howard Lutnick**, and White House task force head **Andrew Giuliani** put together a team of elite lawyers—from outside the government and against FIFA rules—to challenge the Balogun red card.
* **House speaker plans reconciliation push for voter ID bill after floor revolt**: House Speaker Mike Johnson [said][67] he intends to move the SAVE America Act through budget reconciliation once the House returns from its July Fourth recess, after a group of conservative Republicans led by** Rep. Anna Paulina** **Luna** blocked a procedural vote last week to protest the bill’s stalled progress.
* Trump renewed his push for the legislation in a Saturday night speech on the National Mall, and Johnson said he plans to tie the bill to the defense authorization package to pressure the Senate, despite **Senate Majority Leader** **John Thune’s** warnings that doing so could jeopardize that must-pass legislation.
* **Rubio tells U.S. embassies to lobby against Cuba resolution at the UN: **Secretary of State **Marco Rubio** reportedly [directed][68] U.S. embassies to lobby countries to oppose a July 7 U.N. General Assembly debate on the humanitarian impact of U.S. sanctions on Cuba, according to The Nation, citing a leaked State Department cable obtained by reporter Ken Klippenstein.
* The cable reportedly directed embassies to pressure their host nations, if they are strong U.S. allies, to criticize Cuba, to encourage nonaligned states to stay silent, and to warn countries supporting the debate that Washington “will be listening very closely” to their remarks.
# Other International News
* **Drone strike kills 18 civilians in DRC: **A drone strike allegedly conducted by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group killed at least 18 civilians in the Congolese village of Mulima on Friday, local officials said.
* A regional administrator said health facilities, schools, and livestock were destroyed in several villages, driving a new wave of displacement. Officials blamed M23 and its allies and condemned repeated Rwandan violations of Congolese airspace.
* The killings come more than a year after Trump brokered a U.S. peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, one that also handed American firms preferential access to the region’s cobalt, lithium, and coltan.
* **Ansarallah attack kills 16 Yemeni soldiers:** An Ansarallah assault on Saturday [killed][69] 16 soldiers of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and wounded 23 near the Red Sea city of Hodeidah, a government military official told AFP, in one of the deadliest clashes between the two sides in years.
* An officer said Ansarallah fighters briefly seized government positions using snipers, drones, and mortars before a counterattack retook them.
* On Sunday, a representative from the Ansarallah Foreign Ministry [promised][70] that the group would continue to try to break the Saudi-led blockade of the territory under the group’s control, and to this effect would reopen the Sana’a International airport, “without asking for anyone’s permission.” Days earlier, Ansarallah repelled Saudi warplanes trying to prevent an Iranian civilian flight from landing in Sana’a.
* Though a de facto ceasefire has largely held since 2022, the Saudi-American blockade has never been lifted, creating a humanitarian catastrophe the UN has called one of the world’s worst.
* **Armed groups strike five locations across Mali as army claims control restored:** Armed fighters [attacked][71] five locations across Mali on Saturday, including the northern towns of Aguelhok, Anefis, and Gao, the central town of Sevare, and Kenieroba in the south, according to the AFP.
* The army reported that 20 fighters were killed in Sevare and six in Gao, and said the situation was “totally under control.”
* The Azawad Liberation Front confirmed it had attacked Anefis in the Kidal region, where government and Russian forces are based following the ALF’s earlier seizure of the town of Kidal in April.
* **OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production:** OPEC+, an alliance of the 12-member OPEC oil group and 10 partner producers led by Russia, agreed on Sunday to increase oil production by another 188,000 barrels per day starting in August.
* The move continues its gradual rollback of voluntary output cuts and marks the fifth straight monthly production increase.
* The decision comes partly in response to continued uncertainty over the status of the Strait of Hormuz and efforts by OPEC+ to calm global oil markets by increasing total supply.
* **RSF attacks displace thousands in North Darfur villages near Tine**: The Rapid Support Forces [launched][72] ethnically motivated attacks on six villages near Tine in North Darfur state starting last Wednesday, killing several civilians, injuring dozens, and forcing thousands to flee into neighboring Chad, according to Sudan Tribune.
* The attacks on the villages in the region which are home to the Zaghawa ethnic group follow recent gains by the Joint Force, an alliance backing the Sudanese army, which seized land in the area from the RSF.
* Separately, the cholera outbreak in Sudan’s Kordofan region has reportedly [worsened][73], with hundreds of new infections registered. “The health system is unable to limit the spread of the disease due to deteriorated sanitation, contaminated water sources, damaged sewage networks, and a severe scarcity of safe drinking water,” a doctor told the Sudan Tribune.
* **More on life in El-Obeid, which has been under siege for months, is available in the latest from Drop Site contributor Eisa Dafalla, available [here][74].**
* **Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 18:** Russia [launched][75] waves of missiles and drones at Ukraine early Monday, killing at least 18 people and wounding at least 60 in Kyiv and the surrounding region, according to Ukrainian officials.
* Ukraine’s air force said all 29 ballistic missiles launched by Russia overnight struck their targets, a fact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said highlighted the country’s need for Patriot missile interceptors amid a global shortage of the technology, calling on the United States and European allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week.
* Separately on Monday, the mayor of the Russian city of Yaroslav reported that an Ukrainian drone attack on his city wounded two people.
* A wave of Ukrainian drones also struck the Omsk oil refinery—Russia’s largest refinery accounting for 10% of its total output—amid an escalating Ukrainian campaign targeting oil and gas infrastructure.
* **Death toll from Venezuelan earthquakes rises to 3,342, more than 40,000 still missing: **Venezuela’s official death toll from the June 24 twin earthquakes has [risen][76] to 3,342, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on Saturday.
* The UN estimates between 41,000 and 50,000 people remain unaccounted for, and Venezuelan authorities say more than 16,740 have been injured, and another 16,000 have been displaced from their homes.
* With the 72-hour survival window long past, AFP reports that international rescue teams from the U.S. and across South America are beginning to wind down search-and-rescue operations in the country.
* **Syria delays first session of new transitional parliament:** Syrian authorities [postponed][77] the inaugural session of the country’s new transitional parliament, which had been scheduled for Monday, The New Arab Reported, though it did not specify a reason for the delay.
* President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 members of the 210-seat body this week, while the Druze-Majority Suweida province has yet to select its members following last year’s sectarian violence there.
* **China conducts first ballistic missile test in Pacific since 2024**: China test-fired a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific on Monday, sending a dummy warhead into what Beijing called a “designated area” in the first such test in two years.
* The test drew criticism from New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, with officials calling it destabilizing and part of China’s accelerating military buildup in the region.
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[3]: https://x.com/boardofpeace/status/2074091353042997318?s=46
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[5]: https://www.cwrc.ps/page-4719-ar.html
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[9]: https://open.substack.com/pub/thehighside/p/iran-wmd-raid-inside-jsocs-most-challenging?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
[10]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222894/four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-vehicle-in-nabatieh-el-faouqa-2
[11]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222885/israeli-forces-demolish-homes-in-aitaroun-drones-fly-over-beirut-suburbs-2
[12]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073807916931457206
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[26]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073460867300028815
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[34]: https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/172364
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[37]: https://aje.news/1k4m4y?update=4739606
[38]: https://www.cwrc.ps/page-4719-ar.html
[39]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073869710404596140
[40]: https://aje.news/1k4m4y?update=4739089
[41]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073504877376893052
[42]: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/katz-any-future-iranian-leader-who-tries-to-harm-israel-will-meet-same-fate-as-khamenei/?__cf_chl_f_tk=_3sIatn7pb0FvcVsnOVbg._sn9jD0eP9glz899ZMtKA-1783341449-1.0.1.1-ycNMAQ.aZGmmmfUqsKxB9Vgo69XsnM5I42MFsZjlre4
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[50]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073982893257371843
[51]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073305655553687689
[52]: https://open.substack.com/pub/thehighside/p/iran-wmd-raid-inside-jsocs-most-challenging?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
[53]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222894/four-killed-in-israeli-drone-strike-on-vehicle-in-nabatieh-el-faouqa-2
[54]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222885/israeli-forces-demolish-homes-in-aitaroun-drones-fly-over-beirut-suburbs-2
[55]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222850/apache-helicopter-fires-five-missiles-at-majdel-zoun-2
[56]: https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/news/222840/enemy-targets-ramia-beit-lif-2
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[67]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/05/politics/johnson-house-voter-id-bill
[68]: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/trump-cuba-united-nations-state-department-leaked-cable-sanctions-humanitarian-crisis/
[69]: https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/2073865754169000184
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[71]: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/4/armed-fighters-attack-multiple-towns-across-mali
[72]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315896
[73]: https://sudantribune.com/article/315858
[74]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
[75]: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-july-6-2026-0280e3d86022720fd5fa0236122ad90e
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https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/hamas-gaza-government-abu-safiya-israel-venezuela-earthquake
Sudan’s El-Obeid Under Siege: “Civilians Should Not Have to Wait for Death”
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Women and children queue to receive food being distributed in al-Mohayra camp for displaced people, near the Sudanese city of El-Obeid. Photo by AFP via Getty Images.
El-OBEID, SUDAN—Masjid Maki had already been displaced once. The 53-year-old schoolteacher fled the city of An-Nuhud with her husband, Hussein Abd al-Baqi, 66, and their three children at the end of May 2025.
When they reached El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, roughly 220 kilometers from An-Nuhud, they rented a house in the Qubba neighborhood, mistakenly believing they had found safety.
Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, collapsed into an open conflict that has since devastated the country and killed and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Since June 9, drone strikes attributed to the RSF have hit El-Obeid repeatedly, killing more than 40 people and wounding dozens, according to the local emergency response team. Most of the city’s fuel stations have been destroyed. The electricity generation plant has been struck.
Water pumps, which depend on electricity to function and have no solar backup, have fallen silent. Bread ovens have gone dark. Markets shutter at the sound of any drone overhead, as traders no longer dare to bring goods into the city, driving up prices on everything from food to medication for chronic illnesses.
By the end of June, Masjid was packing her bags again.
“Civilians should not have to wait for death and war to start inside a besieged city that is on the verge of collapse,” she told Drop Site News.
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Members of the UN Security Council issued a[ statement][4] on June 20 warning of the imminent risk of mass atrocities and demanding that the RSF immediately halt its assault on the city. Five days later, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan[ voiced][5] alarm over escalating violence in and around the city of El-Obeid, warning that further military escalation could put thousands of civilians at risk and deepen Sudan’s already devastating humanitarian crisis.
The envoy drew parallels with previous crises in Sudan, where violence against civilians triggered large-scale humanitarian disasters. “Unfortunately, the situation reminds us a little bit of the earlier developments in Darfur and around El-Fasher and reminds us that there are immediate risks for the civilian population,” he said.
El-Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces following a prolonged siege in late 2025. As the last major army stronghold in Darfur, it endured months of encirclement before its fall unleashed mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure including hospitals.** **
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias that committed genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s. Today the RSF is armed and supported by the United Arab Emirates, which, despite international outcry, has backed the group in its war against Sudan’s central government.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission[ described][6] the violence in El-Fasher as “a planned and organized operation that bears the defining characteristics of genocide.” Before it ended, civilians inside the city were reduced to surviving on animal feed and peanut shells.
El-Obeid is now following a strikingly [similar][7] trajectory, after a long[ siege][8] that caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis between 2023-2025, according to locals and observers. Located in North Kordofan and serving as a vital artery connecting the capital Khartoum to the Darfur region, the city is surrounded, bombarded, and being pushed toward humanitarian collapse—with the RSF deploying the same encirclement tactics it used against El-Fasher.
Drone strikes have torn through fuel depots, water stations, and civilian infrastructure. Aid access has been severely restricted, and warnings of famine and mass civilian casualties are mounting as the threat of a full ground offensive grows.
## **A City Running Dry**
The water crisis has become the most acute immediate threat to daily survival, according to residents. Most of the water available in El-Obeid is now extracted from manual pumps, and because it is salty and unfit for drinking has contributed to the spread of stomach and kidney diseases among residents and displaced people alike, according to local residents and aid groups.
Obtaining water requires standing in long lines for limited quantities. A barrel of water now costs up to 30,000 Sudanese pounds—approximately $10—a sum beyond the reach of most families, and far beyond the reach of the displaced population, who arrived with little or nothing after leaving everything behind.
“Disruptions to water, electricity, and fuel in El-Obeid are significantly affecting both displaced and host communities. Limited access to water increases basic survival risks and public health concerns, particularly in congested [displaced person] sites during the rainy season. Power outages affect communication and access to information, while fuel shortages further restrict the ability of people to move to safer areas if they choose to do so,” Assadullah Nasrullah, a UNHCR communications officer in Sudan, told Drop Site in an emailed statement.
Mohammed Abd al-Baqi, 32, a member of El-Obeid’s emergency response team, puts it plainly: “There is a water crisis, a power crisis, a bread crisis—and lives being lost every day. That is the greatest catastrophe. The humanitarian situation is extremely difficult and needs urgent intervention, even if only to ease the water crisis.”
## **Darkness, Thirst, and Hunger**
The[ drone attack][9] on El-Obeid’s main electricity substation last month shut down the entire city’s power supply. With the pumps silent and the fuel stations destroyed or abandoned, the generators that bakeries depend on cannot be refueled.
“The price of a single loaf has reached around 350 Sudanese pounds,” according to Ismail Ibrahim, 36, a community activist in the city, who calculated what this means for a family: “Roughly 30,000 pounds a day for water, another 20,000 for bread, before any other need is accounted for.”
Khalid Daw al-Bayt, 46, an electronics merchant in El-Obeid’s market, described the rhythm of fear that has reshaped commerce.
“Drones appear in the skies at irregular hours, day and night, sometimes in swarms, three or more sorties in a single day. Each sighting is enough to close the market. Traders will not bring their stock into a city where it might be incinerated. What remains on shelves becomes scarcer and more expensive by the day,” he said.
“The electricity has partially returned to the market area over the past three days,” Khalid added, “but the residential neighborhoods are still without power.”
Transport has effectively collapsed. With fuel scarce, residents move on foot or by tuk-tuk at doubled fares. Government institutions are functioning only partially.
Ismail Ibrahim said that “around 95 percent of El-Obeid’s residents depend on government employment, making them among the most economically exposed to a crisis that has simultaneously eroded their salaries through inflation and destroyed the markets in which they spent them.”
Armed groups moving through the city have brought additional dangers, including armed robbery targeting civilians, and random gunfire in markets, alleyways, and residential areas, resulting in civilian casualties, particularly in neighborhoods near military sites.
“The citizen of El-Obeid today has no recourse,” Ismail said. “He is living under pressure from every direction.”
“The RSF,” he said, “has been laying siege to the city with artillery and heavy weapons, before evolving toward the direct targeting of civilian infrastructure: hospitals, schools, water sources, electricity facilities, fuel stations—including fuel tankers trying to reach the city. At least six fuel stations have been struck by drones, some while civilians were queued in their vehicles to refuel. Cars have burned. People have died.”
Camps are not safe either. A displacement camp north of the city was struck when a drone targeted a nearby military vehicle carrying a Katyusha rocket launcher. The munitions scattered, and displaced people were among the dead and wounded.
Ahmed Tom noted that drones are now reportedly targeting drinking water tankers, one of the few remaining means by which residents can obtain clean water.
## **The Burden on Women and Children **
Masjid described the particular burden falling on women, especially those displaced from South and West Kordofan, in the struggle to secure food and drinking water. She spoke of the collapse of mobile clinics that humanitarian organizations had previously operated, leaving pregnant women and nursing mothers without access to basic healthcare.
“Most of the malnourished children in El-Obeid’s displacement centers are under five years old,” Masjid said. “They need clean water, medical care, and therapeutic nutrition. Most children are now out of school, living in a state of sustained fear—the sound of a drone overhead is enough to send them into panic—and the psychological toll is visible. Safe spaces to play have disappeared.”
Masjid lost everything in An-Nuhud, including her savings, when RSF forces took the city and her home was looted. Now, facing a second displacement, she described families in El-Obeid who cannot afford to leave at all. Those with money have already gone to Khartoum or other cities.
“Most families are now eating one meal a day, if that,” she said. “Most of the humanitarian organizations that had been operating in the area have [suspended][10] or severely reduced their assistance. Displaced people who arrived recently from the areas surrounding El-Obeid have received virtually no support.”
“Humanitarian assistance alone cannot keep pace with escalating conflict,” UNICEF representative in Sudan Sheldon Yett told Drop Site. “Children need protection. Civilian infrastructure must be spared. Humanitarian access must be facilitated. Above all, Sudan’s children need an end to the violence that continues to rob them of their safety, their education and their future.”
Ahmed Tom described what he called “a degree of irresponsibility” in the official response to the crisis.
“The state governor has issued statements claiming the situation is normal, that authorities have things under control, and that services will soon be restored,” he said
“These statements do not reflect reality,” Tom said, “and residents do not trust them.” Many have decided to leave the state entirely.
He also flagged a troubling development: videos circulating on social media showing a mobilization official addressing a group of women and urging them to take up arms, while they were shown holding weapons. The push to arm civilians, Tom warned, would only increase the danger they face.
Ismail Ibrahim echoed the demand for transparency, calling on authorities to tell people the truth, about the scale of the danger, about the real state of services, about what is actually happening to the civilians in their care.
Ismail Ibrahim noted that “El-Obeid is a strategic hub connecting several states and cities in western Sudan, and that its fall to the RSF would represent a major military gain and could extend the war considerably, not least because the city contains an international airport that would serve as a critical supply point.”
Masjid knows what happened to El-Fasher. She knows the pattern.
“I hope El-Obeid does not meet the same fate,” she said.
[Leave a comment][11]
[Share][12]
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[3]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[4]: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16392.doc.htm?_gl=1*1bqq4aq*_gcl_au*OTA2MzIxNjkxLjE3ODA5Mjk1MDg.*_ga*MjM3NTIxNzc4LjE3MDIxMTQ1NjQ.*_ga_S5EKZKSB78*czE3ODI4MTI2NTYkbzMwJGcxJHQxNzgyODE0MzkwJGo0MSRsMCRoMA..
[5]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167810
[6]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166997
[7]: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16399.doc.htm
[8]: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8ve60r53yo
[9]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167781
[10]: https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/d358/d3580376
[11]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur/comments
[12]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
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Women and children queue to receive food being distributed in al-Mohayra camp for displaced people, near the Sudanese city of El-Obeid. Photo by AFP via Getty Images.
El-OBEID, SUDAN—Masjid Maki had already been displaced once. The 53-year-old schoolteacher fled the city of An-Nuhud with her husband, Hussein Abd al-Baqi, 66, and their three children at the end of May 2025.
When they reached El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, roughly 220 kilometers from An-Nuhud, they rented a house in the Qubba neighborhood, mistakenly believing they had found safety.
Sudan has been at war since April 2023, when a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, collapsed into an open conflict that has since devastated the country and killed and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Since June 9, drone strikes attributed to the RSF have hit El-Obeid repeatedly, killing more than 40 people and wounding dozens, according to the local emergency response team. Most of the city’s fuel stations have been destroyed. The electricity generation plant has been struck.
Water pumps, which depend on electricity to function and have no solar backup, have fallen silent. Bread ovens have gone dark. Markets shutter at the sound of any drone overhead, as traders no longer dare to bring goods into the city, driving up prices on everything from food to medication for chronic illnesses.
By the end of June, Masjid was packing her bags again.
“Civilians should not have to wait for death and war to start inside a besieged city that is on the verge of collapse,” she told Drop Site News.
[Subscribe now][3]
Members of the UN Security Council issued a[ statement][4] on June 20 warning of the imminent risk of mass atrocities and demanding that the RSF immediately halt its assault on the city. Five days later, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan[ voiced][5] alarm over escalating violence in and around the city of El-Obeid, warning that further military escalation could put thousands of civilians at risk and deepen Sudan’s already devastating humanitarian crisis.
The envoy drew parallels with previous crises in Sudan, where violence against civilians triggered large-scale humanitarian disasters. “Unfortunately, the situation reminds us a little bit of the earlier developments in Darfur and around El-Fasher and reminds us that there are immediate risks for the civilian population,” he said.
El-Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces following a prolonged siege in late 2025. As the last major army stronghold in Darfur, it endured months of encirclement before its fall unleashed mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure including hospitals.** **
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias that committed genocide in Darfur in the early 2000s. Today the RSF is armed and supported by the United Arab Emirates, which, despite international outcry, has backed the group in its war against Sudan’s central government.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission[ described][6] the violence in El-Fasher as “a planned and organized operation that bears the defining characteristics of genocide.” Before it ended, civilians inside the city were reduced to surviving on animal feed and peanut shells.
El-Obeid is now following a strikingly [similar][7] trajectory, after a long[ siege][8] that caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis between 2023-2025, according to locals and observers. Located in North Kordofan and serving as a vital artery connecting the capital Khartoum to the Darfur region, the city is surrounded, bombarded, and being pushed toward humanitarian collapse—with the RSF deploying the same encirclement tactics it used against El-Fasher.
Drone strikes have torn through fuel depots, water stations, and civilian infrastructure. Aid access has been severely restricted, and warnings of famine and mass civilian casualties are mounting as the threat of a full ground offensive grows.
## **A City Running Dry**
The water crisis has become the most acute immediate threat to daily survival, according to residents. Most of the water available in El-Obeid is now extracted from manual pumps, and because it is salty and unfit for drinking has contributed to the spread of stomach and kidney diseases among residents and displaced people alike, according to local residents and aid groups.
Obtaining water requires standing in long lines for limited quantities. A barrel of water now costs up to 30,000 Sudanese pounds—approximately $10—a sum beyond the reach of most families, and far beyond the reach of the displaced population, who arrived with little or nothing after leaving everything behind.
“Disruptions to water, electricity, and fuel in El-Obeid are significantly affecting both displaced and host communities. Limited access to water increases basic survival risks and public health concerns, particularly in congested [displaced person] sites during the rainy season. Power outages affect communication and access to information, while fuel shortages further restrict the ability of people to move to safer areas if they choose to do so,” Assadullah Nasrullah, a UNHCR communications officer in Sudan, told Drop Site in an emailed statement.
Mohammed Abd al-Baqi, 32, a member of El-Obeid’s emergency response team, puts it plainly: “There is a water crisis, a power crisis, a bread crisis—and lives being lost every day. That is the greatest catastrophe. The humanitarian situation is extremely difficult and needs urgent intervention, even if only to ease the water crisis.”
## **Darkness, Thirst, and Hunger**
The[ drone attack][9] on El-Obeid’s main electricity substation last month shut down the entire city’s power supply. With the pumps silent and the fuel stations destroyed or abandoned, the generators that bakeries depend on cannot be refueled.
“The price of a single loaf has reached around 350 Sudanese pounds,” according to Ismail Ibrahim, 36, a community activist in the city, who calculated what this means for a family: “Roughly 30,000 pounds a day for water, another 20,000 for bread, before any other need is accounted for.”
Khalid Daw al-Bayt, 46, an electronics merchant in El-Obeid’s market, described the rhythm of fear that has reshaped commerce.
“Drones appear in the skies at irregular hours, day and night, sometimes in swarms, three or more sorties in a single day. Each sighting is enough to close the market. Traders will not bring their stock into a city where it might be incinerated. What remains on shelves becomes scarcer and more expensive by the day,” he said.
“The electricity has partially returned to the market area over the past three days,” Khalid added, “but the residential neighborhoods are still without power.”
Transport has effectively collapsed. With fuel scarce, residents move on foot or by tuk-tuk at doubled fares. Government institutions are functioning only partially.
Ismail Ibrahim said that “around 95 percent of El-Obeid’s residents depend on government employment, making them among the most economically exposed to a crisis that has simultaneously eroded their salaries through inflation and destroyed the markets in which they spent them.”
Armed groups moving through the city have brought additional dangers, including armed robbery targeting civilians, and random gunfire in markets, alleyways, and residential areas, resulting in civilian casualties, particularly in neighborhoods near military sites.
“The citizen of El-Obeid today has no recourse,” Ismail said. “He is living under pressure from every direction.”
“The RSF,” he said, “has been laying siege to the city with artillery and heavy weapons, before evolving toward the direct targeting of civilian infrastructure: hospitals, schools, water sources, electricity facilities, fuel stations—including fuel tankers trying to reach the city. At least six fuel stations have been struck by drones, some while civilians were queued in their vehicles to refuel. Cars have burned. People have died.”
Camps are not safe either. A displacement camp north of the city was struck when a drone targeted a nearby military vehicle carrying a Katyusha rocket launcher. The munitions scattered, and displaced people were among the dead and wounded.
Ahmed Tom noted that drones are now reportedly targeting drinking water tankers, one of the few remaining means by which residents can obtain clean water.
## **The Burden on Women and Children **
Masjid described the particular burden falling on women, especially those displaced from South and West Kordofan, in the struggle to secure food and drinking water. She spoke of the collapse of mobile clinics that humanitarian organizations had previously operated, leaving pregnant women and nursing mothers without access to basic healthcare.
“Most of the malnourished children in El-Obeid’s displacement centers are under five years old,” Masjid said. “They need clean water, medical care, and therapeutic nutrition. Most children are now out of school, living in a state of sustained fear—the sound of a drone overhead is enough to send them into panic—and the psychological toll is visible. Safe spaces to play have disappeared.”
Masjid lost everything in An-Nuhud, including her savings, when RSF forces took the city and her home was looted. Now, facing a second displacement, she described families in El-Obeid who cannot afford to leave at all. Those with money have already gone to Khartoum or other cities.
“Most families are now eating one meal a day, if that,” she said. “Most of the humanitarian organizations that had been operating in the area have [suspended][10] or severely reduced their assistance. Displaced people who arrived recently from the areas surrounding El-Obeid have received virtually no support.”
“Humanitarian assistance alone cannot keep pace with escalating conflict,” UNICEF representative in Sudan Sheldon Yett told Drop Site. “Children need protection. Civilian infrastructure must be spared. Humanitarian access must be facilitated. Above all, Sudan’s children need an end to the violence that continues to rob them of their safety, their education and their future.”
Ahmed Tom described what he called “a degree of irresponsibility” in the official response to the crisis.
“The state governor has issued statements claiming the situation is normal, that authorities have things under control, and that services will soon be restored,” he said
“These statements do not reflect reality,” Tom said, “and residents do not trust them.” Many have decided to leave the state entirely.
He also flagged a troubling development: videos circulating on social media showing a mobilization official addressing a group of women and urging them to take up arms, while they were shown holding weapons. The push to arm civilians, Tom warned, would only increase the danger they face.
Ismail Ibrahim echoed the demand for transparency, calling on authorities to tell people the truth, about the scale of the danger, about the real state of services, about what is actually happening to the civilians in their care.
Ismail Ibrahim noted that “El-Obeid is a strategic hub connecting several states and cities in western Sudan, and that its fall to the RSF would represent a major military gain and could extend the war considerably, not least because the city contains an international airport that would serve as a critical supply point.”
Masjid knows what happened to El-Fasher. She knows the pattern.
“I hope El-Obeid does not meet the same fate,” she said.
[Leave a comment][11]
[Share][12]
[1]: https://givebutter.com/dsn-substack
[2]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/subscribe?
[4]: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16392.doc.htm?_gl=1*1bqq4aq*_gcl_au*OTA2MzIxNjkxLjE3ODA5Mjk1MDg.*_ga*MjM3NTIxNzc4LjE3MDIxMTQ1NjQ.*_ga_S5EKZKSB78*czE3ODI4MTI2NTYkbzMwJGcxJHQxNzgyODE0MzkwJGo0MSRsMCRoMA..
[5]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167810
[6]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166997
[7]: https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16399.doc.htm
[8]: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8ve60r53yo
[9]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167781
[10]: https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/d358/d3580376
[11]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur/comments
[12]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/sudan-war-genocide-obeid-north-kordofan-darfur
A Third Party Breached The Intercept’s Signal Tip Line and Has Been Soliciting Whistleblowers
The Signal app. Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
The tip line for the news outlet The Intercept was taken over by an unknown actor purporting to work for the publication—an extraordinary breach of operational security that put prospective whistleblowers at significant risk. The third party with control of the tip line on the encrypted messaging app Signal has been communicating with prospective sources; at least one fraudulent social media account has been soliciting tips since February.
After becoming aware of the breach, The Intercept switched to a new Signal account, according to a June 30 social media [post][1]. “In keeping with security best practices, we have updated our Signal tip line,” The Intercept posted across platforms. “If you want to contact The Intercept, please get in touch with our reporters individually or use the Signal account Theintercept_tips.01.”
The post concluded, “Please do not use the username TheIntercept.01.” No further information, beyond the suggestion that the update was related to routine “security best practices,” was included.
That account had until recently been listed on the website as an official and secure Signal tip line. The same message is now listed on the company’s page providing instructions to whistleblowers, but there is no indication for prospective sources that their information may have been compromised if they communicated with the previous Signal account.
*Screenshot from The Intercept’s “Become a Source” page.*
David Bralow, The Intercept’s chief legal officer, responded to a request for comment but did not directly address questions about how the tip line was seized, how long the situation persisted, how it was discovered, or whether any steps had been taken to inform prospective sources that their information and identity may have been compromised.
“After learning about an effort to impersonate The Intercept on social media and claiming our Signal tips account, The Intercept set up a new Signal username,” Bralow said in a statement. “We directed people to use only this newly established Signal account. We broadly disseminated that message both on our website, on social media, and in our newsletter. We have taken action to try to get the social media account removed.”
It is not clear exactly when The Intercept lost control of its Signal tip line, which is intended to protect anonymous sources seeking to leak information to the outlet confidentially. But since at least February of this year an X account describing itself as “Investigative Intake” for the publication has been active online soliciting tips and responding to posts from U.S. lawmakers and administration officials, making roughly 100 such posts between February and May.
A Drop Site reporter reached out to the X account, whose bio still points people to the breached tip line, on July 1 and received a reply soliciting information. A message sent to the breached Signal account was delivered, indicating it remains active, but did not receive a response.
*The X account still posing as “investigative intake” for The Intercept on July 2, 2026.*
“We have received no information that any source was compromised,” The Intercept’s counsel told Drop Site. The X account was still posing as The Intercept on July 2, and responding to potential sources. Drop Site reviewed information demonstrating that the seized Signal account was used by the third party.
Signal user IDs associated with accounts that are left dormant are eventually recycled and made available to new users. The individual or organization who took control of the Signal tips line for confidential sources may have been able to take over after the ID went dormant, despite still being listed on the organization website, and began soliciting tips posing as The Intercept.
The X account is still active and responding to direct messages. A person using the account claimed they worked on the “investigative intake side” of The Intercept and would be “happy to take tips directly.”
The X account was opened in February 2026, indicating a location of Hong Kong, and connection to the platform via the Japan App Store, though location data is easily manipulated using VPNs.
Drop Site is never paywalled.
Drop Site News was founded by veterans of The Intercept and received a limited, one-time start-up grant from the organization. No editorial relationship exists between the two. In February 2024, [as Semafor has previously reported,][2] The Intercept fired its editor in chief, Roger Hodge, laid off several staff, and moved its editorial operations under the supervision of the organization’s business side. The deputy editor, Nausicaa Renner, resigned in protest, and The Intercept brought in a new EIC, Ben Muessig, who was made to report to CEO Annie Chabel. [Intercept co-founder Jeremy Scahill and DC Bureau Chief Ryan Grim][3] urged The Intercept’s board to resign and restore editorial independence; the proposal was rejected, and Scahill, Grim, and Renner subsequently founded Drop Site News, soon joined by Murtaza Hussain, Casey Quirke, and, later, by Hodge.
The Intercept offers regular security and information privacy trainings for journalists—including[ hosting][4] a live event Thursday on securing personal data for journalists: “Participants will learn how to find and remove personal information, strengthen their digital security,” and, the event description notes, “respond effectively before, during, and after an online attack.”
Thursday’s invitation for The Intercept’s virtual training on protecting personal data.
[Leave a comment][5]
[Share][6]
*If you communicated with The Intercept’s Signal tip line and suspect you may have sent information to the third party, please get in touch with Murtaza Hussain on Signal at mmkh.56.*
[1]: https://x.com/theintercept/status/2071983940332597449
[2]: https://www.semafor.com/article/04/14/2024/the-intercept-is-running-out-of-cash
[3]: https://www.semafor.com/article/04/14/2024/the-intercept-is-running-out-of-cash
[4]: https://x.com/theintercept/status/2072680474820919411
[5]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack/comments
[6]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack
The Signal app. Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
The tip line for the news outlet The Intercept was taken over by an unknown actor purporting to work for the publication—an extraordinary breach of operational security that put prospective whistleblowers at significant risk. The third party with control of the tip line on the encrypted messaging app Signal has been communicating with prospective sources; at least one fraudulent social media account has been soliciting tips since February.
After becoming aware of the breach, The Intercept switched to a new Signal account, according to a June 30 social media [post][1]. “In keeping with security best practices, we have updated our Signal tip line,” The Intercept posted across platforms. “If you want to contact The Intercept, please get in touch with our reporters individually or use the Signal account Theintercept_tips.01.”
The post concluded, “Please do not use the username TheIntercept.01.” No further information, beyond the suggestion that the update was related to routine “security best practices,” was included.
That account had until recently been listed on the website as an official and secure Signal tip line. The same message is now listed on the company’s page providing instructions to whistleblowers, but there is no indication for prospective sources that their information may have been compromised if they communicated with the previous Signal account.
*Screenshot from The Intercept’s “Become a Source” page.*
David Bralow, The Intercept’s chief legal officer, responded to a request for comment but did not directly address questions about how the tip line was seized, how long the situation persisted, how it was discovered, or whether any steps had been taken to inform prospective sources that their information and identity may have been compromised.
“After learning about an effort to impersonate The Intercept on social media and claiming our Signal tips account, The Intercept set up a new Signal username,” Bralow said in a statement. “We directed people to use only this newly established Signal account. We broadly disseminated that message both on our website, on social media, and in our newsletter. We have taken action to try to get the social media account removed.”
It is not clear exactly when The Intercept lost control of its Signal tip line, which is intended to protect anonymous sources seeking to leak information to the outlet confidentially. But since at least February of this year an X account describing itself as “Investigative Intake” for the publication has been active online soliciting tips and responding to posts from U.S. lawmakers and administration officials, making roughly 100 such posts between February and May.
A Drop Site reporter reached out to the X account, whose bio still points people to the breached tip line, on July 1 and received a reply soliciting information. A message sent to the breached Signal account was delivered, indicating it remains active, but did not receive a response.
*The X account still posing as “investigative intake” for The Intercept on July 2, 2026.*
“We have received no information that any source was compromised,” The Intercept’s counsel told Drop Site. The X account was still posing as The Intercept on July 2, and responding to potential sources. Drop Site reviewed information demonstrating that the seized Signal account was used by the third party.
Signal user IDs associated with accounts that are left dormant are eventually recycled and made available to new users. The individual or organization who took control of the Signal tips line for confidential sources may have been able to take over after the ID went dormant, despite still being listed on the organization website, and began soliciting tips posing as The Intercept.
The X account is still active and responding to direct messages. A person using the account claimed they worked on the “investigative intake side” of The Intercept and would be “happy to take tips directly.”
The X account was opened in February 2026, indicating a location of Hong Kong, and connection to the platform via the Japan App Store, though location data is easily manipulated using VPNs.
Drop Site is never paywalled.
Drop Site News was founded by veterans of The Intercept and received a limited, one-time start-up grant from the organization. No editorial relationship exists between the two. In February 2024, [as Semafor has previously reported,][2] The Intercept fired its editor in chief, Roger Hodge, laid off several staff, and moved its editorial operations under the supervision of the organization’s business side. The deputy editor, Nausicaa Renner, resigned in protest, and The Intercept brought in a new EIC, Ben Muessig, who was made to report to CEO Annie Chabel. [Intercept co-founder Jeremy Scahill and DC Bureau Chief Ryan Grim][3] urged The Intercept’s board to resign and restore editorial independence; the proposal was rejected, and Scahill, Grim, and Renner subsequently founded Drop Site News, soon joined by Murtaza Hussain, Casey Quirke, and, later, by Hodge.
The Intercept offers regular security and information privacy trainings for journalists—including[ hosting][4] a live event Thursday on securing personal data for journalists: “Participants will learn how to find and remove personal information, strengthen their digital security,” and, the event description notes, “respond effectively before, during, and after an online attack.”
Thursday’s invitation for The Intercept’s virtual training on protecting personal data.
[Leave a comment][5]
[Share][6]
*If you communicated with The Intercept’s Signal tip line and suspect you may have sent information to the third party, please get in touch with Murtaza Hussain on Signal at mmkh.56.*
[1]: https://x.com/theintercept/status/2071983940332597449
[2]: https://www.semafor.com/article/04/14/2024/the-intercept-is-running-out-of-cash
[3]: https://www.semafor.com/article/04/14/2024/the-intercept-is-running-out-of-cash
[4]: https://x.com/theintercept/status/2072680474820919411
[5]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack/comments
[6]: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/intercept-signal-tip-line-breach-hack