Event: Israeli

Israel and Lebanon signed a 14-point framework agreement at the US State Department on Friday. More than 4,000 people have been killed and more than a million displaced since Israel launched its devastating military campaign in October 2023. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah sharply criticised the agreement, saying that Lebanese authorities would not be able to enforce it without bringing the country to "civil war". Here is a rundown of the agreement's text that the State Department released on Friday: 1)Israel and Lebanon affirm "the right of each state to exist in peace" and declare their intent to "conclusively end the conflict" and "formally conclude any state of war between them," resolving issues through direct bilateral negotiations with US mediation. 2) The two countries commit to a "reciprocal, sequenced process" in which the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) will restore sovereign authority over Lebanese territory pending the "verified disarmament of non-state armed groups," enabling the IDF to "progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory." 3) The LAF will "gradually assume full and effective security responsibility" in agreed "pilot zones". Two initial zones have been agreed upon, with more possible "by mutual consent", after which reconstruction begins and civilians can "safely return" under Lebanese state authority. 4) Lebanon reaffirms its "resolute and irreversible commitment to restoring and exercising full sovereignty," pledging to rebuild the "state's monopoly on the use of force" and achieve "complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups," while requesting support from "international and particularly Arab partners" under US leadership. 5) Israel stresses that its military actions in Lebanon are "solely a consequence of the attacks, threat posed by, and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hizballah," and that their termination "will eliminate any future need for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon." Israel declares it "has…

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 27 June 2026 02:50 BST Tom Fletcher welcomed the trilateral agreement as a ‘moment of hope and opportunity’. At the same time, he said Lebanon continues to face a “grave humanitarian crisis” following months of devastating Israeli military attacks. He said that during his visits to the war-torn country, he noticed that the “humanitarian community is mobilised, and determined to translate this momentum into real change in people’s lives, especially those displaced by the conflict”. Fletcher said the UN has "six asks", including “sustained and extended de-escalation” and “safe, voluntary and dignified returns”. Today’s announcement from Washington on the agreement between Israel and Lebanon is a moment of hope and opportunity. pic.twitter.com/IDCMrAld0s — Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) June 26, 2026

Lebanon's ambassador to the U.S., Nada Hamadeh, speaks during an event to sign a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, at the State Department in Washington on Friday. | REUTERS Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. reached an initial trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for ending the conflict between the two countries and ultimately reaching a peace settlement, a senior Israeli official said Friday.Israel will maintain a “security zone” along the boundaries of the yellow line, which marks a seized territory that stretches some 10 kilometers into Lebanon from the Israeli border. The latest conflict erupted after Iran-backed Hezbollah joined Tehran in retaliating against Israel following its joint attack with the U.S. on the Islamic Republic in late February. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted the agreement in a brief video statement, saying: “Israel’s continued presence in the security zone in southern Lebanon is a major achievement. We will maintain this presence as long as Hezbollah remains armed and continues to pose a threat to Israel.” In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Hezbollah supporters take to the streets of Beirut in protest of an agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon hours earlier. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that “Hezbollah supporters rode motorbikes through the streets of Beirut", including a central area near the parliament and along a road leading to the airport. The protesters who blocked at least one road with burning tyres also shouted slogans.  Earlier, Hezbollah MP Amin Sherri had dubbed direct negotiations with Israel a “mistake”.  “What Israel failed to achieve in two wars, it now seeks to achieve by igniting a war among the Lebanese,” Sherri told Al Jazeera.  “Israel continues to drag Lebanon into further concessions. Our agreement to the deployment of the army south of the Litani means a complete Israeli withdrawal.”  

At the signing ceremony for the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Friday, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the deal as “the beginning of the beginning”.“There is a lot of work ahead,” Rubio said. “Today is the first step. The first step is sometimes the hardest one.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Hezbollah demands Israel leave Lebanon ‘unconditionally’ amid talks in USlist 2 of 3US announces framework agreement between Israel and Lebanonlist 3 of 3Iran slams the GCC and the US for ‘interventionist’ statement: What we knowend of listThe US had brokered the direct talks, which began in April, and it is also a signatory to what is officially a trilateral agreement.But the agreement does not force Israel to withdraw from the large area of southern Lebanon that it continues to occupy, and Israel also appears to be signalling that it will continue its attacks in the country if it deems them necessary.The country has been at war with the pro-Iranian Lebanese group Hezbollah since October 2023, with varying levels of intensity, and has killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon since March.What do we know about the contents of the agreement?Rubio said in a statement that the deal “establishes a clear and structured process to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarm [Hezbollah] and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and enable Israel to return to its borders once that threat to its citizens is removed”.“It also creates a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon … allowing the two sides to implement this Framework,” he added.Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam wrote on social media that the agreement “aims to achieve Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territories”.But he added that the deal was essentially a continuation of past agreements and United Nations resolutions that stipulate that…

Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a deal as part of a trilateral framework with the United States in Washington on Friday, following five rounds of talks hosted by US President Donald Trump's administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called it "the beginning of the beginning" in remarks to reporters moments before the signing. He later revealed in a written statement that the US would commit $100m in "humanitarian assistance in coordination with the UN" for affected communities, though he did not specify whether it was just for Lebanon or also for northern Israeli border towns. The Lebanese Armed Forces, Rubio said, would be "reimbursed" by the Trump administration to the tune of $30m. "This agreement establishes a clear and structured process to restore Lebanon's sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and enable Israel to return to its borders once that threat to its citizens is removed," Rubio said.  Read more: Lebanon and Israel sign 'framework agreement' to end war US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) applauds after the signing of a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon at the State Department in Washington DC, on 26 June 2026 (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

A federal court in New York has summoned US President Donald Trump to respond to a lawsuit brought by three sitting judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who accuse his administration of punishing them with sweeping sanctions for their work on investigations involving Israel and the United States. The summons, issued on Thursday by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, requires the government to respond within 60 days to a complaint filed a day earlier by judges Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin. The case names Trump as the lead defendant, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. It also names the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which maintains the sanctions list, and its director, Bradley Smith.  Read more: Sanctioned ICC judges sue Trump in US over 'attack on judicial independence' Canadian ICC judge Kimberly Prost is among three judges bringing the case against the Trump administration (ICC official photo)

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 26 June 2026 04:38 BST Speaking at a graduation for combat officers in southern Israel on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said that forces will maintain an indefinite presence in southern Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. "The Israeli military will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, in Syria, and in Gaza without any time limit," he said. Speaking at a graduation for combat officers in southern Israel on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said that forces will maintain an indefinite presence in southern Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/A4V3dCiclY — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 26, 2026

Less than a week after the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington brought the stuttering, three-month-long US-Israel war on Iran to a close – for now – the verdict of Washington’s principal ally, Israel, was in.According to a recent poll, an overwhelming 92 percent of Israelis felt the US has signed away their victory over a decades-old enemy, with almost half of those polled saying Israel should continue its attacks on Lebanon and the pro-Iran group Hezbollah, irrespective of the urgings of Washington, its principal ally and sponsor.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘You could’ve been the greatest’: Trump faces Israeli anger over Iran deallist 2 of 4UN starts evacuating 11,000 stranded sailors from Strait of Hormuzlist 3 of 4UN: Israel committed genocide by targeting Gaza childrenlist 4 of 4Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian childrenend of listIsrael has spent the years since the surprise Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in Israel, which killed 1,139 people, fighting continuous wars across the region.It has committed a genocide in Gaza, killing more than 73,000 Palestinians and razing large swaths of the territory to the ground. It has attacked Iran twice, killed thousands in Lebanon while fighting Iran ally Hezbollah, launched multiple ground incursions into Syria, and launched sporadic strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, also allies of Tehran.Within Israel’s fractious parliament, support for the country’s wars offers one of the few points of consensus, even if individual politicians disagree on how they are prosecuted.Going into the war on Iran, Israel’s former chief of staff and one of the contenders to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, did not hold back. Speaking during an interview in early March, shortly after the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran began, he described the unprovoked attacks on Tehran as “the…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces will remain in parts of southern Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for as long as the government considers necessary, reaffirming Israel's intention to maintain its military presence in those areas. Speaking at a military graduation ceremony, Netanyahu said troops would stay in what he described as "security zones", while Katz reiterated that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if requested by the Trump administration.  Their remarks come despite the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which calls for the immediate and permanent end of military operations in Lebanon and affirms the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Germany and Israel held a joint naval exercise off the coast of Haifa on Thursday, with the Israeli military describing the drill as a step toward strengthening operational cooperation between the two navies. According to the Israeli military, a German navy vessel docked at Haifa ahead of the exercise, while German commanders Volker Kubsch and Rico Geisler met with Rear Admiral Erez Ben Zion, commander of the Haifa Naval Base. The drill took place as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza. More than 75,000 Palestinians have been reported killed since Israel's genocidal war began. Independent analyses suggest the actual death toll may be significantly higher, with estimates including thousands of people missing and presumed dead beneath the rubble.

Israel's wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran since 7 October 2023 have cost nearly $205 billion, Israeli media reported.  Citing data from the Bank of Israel, a report in the Times of Israel said the cost of the wars to the government has exceeded $118 billion, including around $71.2 billion in defence spending, $9.6 billion in compensation payments, and $16.7 billion in civilian expenditures.  The report also estimated that the US has supplied around $26 billion worth of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to Israel.  Israel's economy also suffered significant production losses, estimated at $51.9 billion between October 2023 and the end of 2025, with losses projected to exceed $58.6 billion this year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an event in Jerusalem on Sunday. | REUTERS BEIRUT – The biggest casualty of the U.S.-Iran deal may not be Israel’s Iran strategy, but the political brand Benjamin Netanyahu spent decades building as the Israeli leader who could uniquely bend Washington to his will on Iran, analysts, former U.S. officials and diplomats say.Netanyahu shaped his political identity on an audacious assertion: that he alone could keep the U.S. and Israel in strategic lockstep on Iran. Cultivating Republican support, he cast himself as the only Israeli leader capable of influencing successive U.S. presidents and insisted that only sustained military pressure could contain Tehran.At the height of his power, he was described by diplomats as the “American whisperer” — the Israeli leader who could pick up the ​phone and ensure Washington’s strategic calculus aligned with that of Israel. No other Israeli prime minister, they note, addressed Congress as often or built such enduring political capital across the American political system. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 26 June 2026 02:41 BST The Trump administration has formally notified Congress of its intention to sell more than $700 million worth of jet engines to Turkey, Reuters reported, citing two sources.  The proposed sale comes despite objections from some US lawmakers over Turkey's continued possession of Russian defence systems acquired in 2019. Reuters reported the move is seen as an important gesture toward Ankara ahead of next month's Nato summit and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 26 June 2026 01:48 BST Negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations have been extended for another day, with no announcement of agreed principles expected on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported. A US State Department official said that the talks remain ongoing and that Washington continues to facilitate the negotiations. The Israeli and Lebanese delegations are expected to resume discussions on Friday in an effort to reach an agreement.  Mourners carry the casket of a slain Hezbollah fighter during his funeral in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon on 23 June 2026. (Abbas Fakih/AFP)

Skip linksSkip to Content Live Navigation menuNewsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Content Live Navigation menuUS-Israel war on IranLive updatesWhat's in the US-Iran agreement?Could Israel sabotage the deal?Bodies of EvidenceLive updates, Israeli leader says military will stay in occupied areas of southern Lebanon ‘as long as necessary’, despite US-Iran deal.A displaced Lebanese man, 76, stands at what remains of his house, destroyed in an Israeli attack, after returning to Maaroub in Lebanon's southern Tyre district on June 25, 2026 [Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]By Urooba Jamal and Yashraj SharmaPublished On 26 Jun 2026 Israel continues to attack southern Lebanon as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Israeli military is “not going to withdraw” from occupied areas. Lebanese group Hezbollah has accused Israel of targeting civilians trying to return to their homes in Lebanon’s south, killing two people and wounding a third.

Hezbollah says Israel targeted civilians on the Zouat al-Sharqiyah-Mifdoun road earlier today, killing two people and wounding a third. The Lebanese group said the two people killed had been travelling to inspect their homes following the ceasefire announcement. "The Israeli enemy army has once again deliberately targeted Lebanese citizens who were on their way to inspect their homes on the Zouat al-Sharqiyah-Mifdoun road, under the pretext that they posed a threat to its occupying forces," Hezbollah said in a statement posted on Telegram.

Israeli forces on Sunday arrested a prominent 71-year-old Palestinian physician known as the “doctor of the poor” in a pre-dawn raid on his home in the occupied West Bank, prompting widespread condemnation.Dr Mazen Al-Rantisi, a physician widely known for providing care to low-income Palestinians, was arrested in the al-Tira neighbourhood of Ramallah.He was later taken to the police station in the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, where he is believed to be under interrogation by the Special Investigations Unit. Israeli authorities have not said why he was detained or where he is currently being held.According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the arrest is believed to be connected to Al-Rantisi’s position as chair of the Union of Health Work Committees, a Palestinian non-profit founded in 1985 that operates clinics serving thousands of patients each year, particularly in rural communities with limited access to healthcare.The organisation was declared an “unlawful association” by the Israeli military in 2020 under emergency regulations dating back to the British Mandate for Palestine. Two years later, Israeli forces shut its headquarters in Al-Bireh. Despite those measures, the group remains legally registered with the Palestinian Authority’s interior ministry.News of Al-Rantisi’s detention spread rapidly across the occupied West Bank, with an outpouring of support on social media. Former patients, activists and local leaders described him as a figure whose work reached far beyond the consulting room.Many recalled that he frequently waived consultation fees, supplied medicines to families unable to afford them and distributed donated prescriptions to vulnerable patients. For years, they said, his clinic served not only as a medical practice but also as a place of refuge for some of the poorest members of Palestinian society.The arrest prompted an online solidarity campaign, with supporters demanding his immediate release and information about his whereabouts.“The arrest of Dr Al-Rantisi is…

The archbishop of Canterbury has called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine after a pilgrimage in which she met Palestinians attacked by settlers and others detained without trial.Sarah Mullally, the head of the Church of England, and Hosam Naoum, the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, issued a joint letter on Thursday urging Anglicans around the world to press politicians “to take all necessary measures to establish a credible path towards ending the occupation”.“This must lead to a viable two-state solution enabling Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, dignity and security. Jerusalem’s status should be determined through negotiation as a shared capital,” the letter read.The pair said they feared for “the long-term future of the indigenous Christian Palestinian presence in the Holy Land that stretches back to the time when our Lord walked this land”. They also said Gaza’s health system was in a state of “catastrophic collapse”.The letter was published after a five-day pastoral visit in which Mullally spoke of the “immense hardships” and “web of checkpoints” Palestinians faced in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and preached that Jesus had lived under foreign occupation.She also planted an olive tree with the family of Daoud Nassar, Palestinian Christians who have been fighting Israeli attempts to seize their land in the West Bank since 1991 and have faced repeated settler attacks.Mullally said that “when many Palestinian Christians are leaving, olive trees are a symbol of their deep roots in this land” and that the Nassars were an example of “Christian resistance to injustice”.Daoud Nassar walks on his land, which overlooks illegal Israeli settlements. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The GuardianLambeth Palace said the visit had been intended to encourage Palestinian Christians at a time when “communities are being violently forced from their land, and illegal settlements are rapidly expanding across…