5️⃣0️⃣ HOSTAGES 🎗️ – Day 655 still held captive in Gaza, with no interventions from the Red Cross or the Palestinian Red Crescent /

• White House: Trump prioritizing hostage release in Gaza (video) https://lnk.sk/nyfw9
• Hamas’s negotiators in Doha have been unable to reach the terror group’s leaders in Gaza since late last week, preventing talks on hostage release deal from moving forward https://lnk.sk/huiw0 
• US shows impatience with Hamas as Israel sees stalling tactic: ‚We’re stuck in the same place‘ https://lnk.sk/gkuz7 
• A coalition of 25 Western nations (without Slovakia and Czechia) in joint statement urge an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemn Israel’s aid restrictions and displacement plans
• Israel has responded by blaming Hamas for the hostage deal delay: ‚Israel has repeatedly said yes to this proposal, while Hamas stubbornly refuses to accept it‘ https://lnk.sk/obhmy 
• „All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it.“
• „…At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid,“ Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Israel said.

GAZA /

• Hamas‘ Internal Security forces detained and abused Palestinians who had approached aid centers operated by the US-affiliated GHF. After returning from the centers, they were stripped, beaten, and accused of theft and „collaboration with Israel.“ (video) https://lnk.sk/ev126
• IDF Offensive in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah Intended to Create Corridor Separating City From Muwasi https://lnk.sk/bedgy 
• The World Health Organization says that its staff residence and main warehouse in Gazan city of Deir al-Balah were attacked three times on Monday. https://lnk.sk/aejs8 

SYRIA 🇸🇾 /

• Syria to deploy troops to south; Druze say Sweida hospital has become a mass grave https://lnk.sk/ryat7 
• Record number of Golan Druze apply for Israeli citizenship. As of mid-2025, 6,006 Druze in the Golan, roughly 20% of the 29,000-strong community, hold Israeli citizenship https://lnk.sk/bfi59  

ISRAEL 🇮🇱 /

• Israeli sprinter Blessing Afrifah wins gold for Israel: ‘I fought to represent this country’ https://lnk.sk/bzhl6 

IRAN 🇮🇷 /

• Iran’s Foreign Minister says his country refuses to abandon uranium enrichment, calling it a matter of „national pride.“ https://lnk.sk/axdky Iran threatens Gulf security if Europe moves on sanctions https://lnk.sk/fuxy3 
• President Trump calls on CNN to apologize after Iran’s foreign minister admitted US airstrikes caused “very severe” damage to its nuclear sites – contradicting CNN’s report that strikes had minimal impact. https://lnk.sk/bekr6 

HOUTHIS in YEMEN 🇾🇪 /

• Missile from Yemen triggers sirens across central Israel. IDF says incoming threat shot down by air defenses https://sdu.sk/yJN 

JUDEA A SAMÁRIA /

• US Ambassador Huckabee clarifies: I never blamed anyone for Taybeh church fire. Israel Police annonced, that an investigation into reports of arson by alleged Jewish extremists at the Church of Saint George in the village of Taybeh, found that the reports were false. https://lnk.sk/rwcjo 

IRELAND 🇮🇪 /

• Dublin police release without charge man who assaulted Jew over Gaza war claims https://lnk.sk/dfh39 

BELGIUM 🇧🇪 / 

• Two Israeli soldiers vacationing in Belgium were arrested and questioned over allegations of “war crimes” brought forward by Palestinian activists https://lnk.sk/agdgz 

Sources: YnetNews, Israel Hayom, Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Fox News, All Israel news, Times of Israel and Haaretz
©️ ICEJ Slovakia / ICEJ Institute; peter.svec@icej.sk