Latest news on the war. White House: meeting with Netanyahu described as positive and productive. Pro-Palestinian protests

“I have just concluded an excellent meeting with President Trump. When I say ‘excellent’, I do not mean in a superficial sense, but rather a conversation characterised by full cooperation, mutual support and an understanding of our common goal: to ensure that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and to achieve other objectives as well’.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made these remarks in a video posted on his social media channels.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates have set up “the first bilateral task force focused on accelerating the development of military applications of artificial intelligence”. This was announced by the United States Central Command (Centcom) on X.

According to the US Armed Forces’ Unified Combatant Command, Task Force Talon Synapse will be formally launched in the coming weeks. Its Abu Dhabi-based team will comprise around 20 American and Emirati specialists in AI, data and cyber security. ““This will be a historic milestone as we work with one of our most capable regional partners to rapidly deliver the latest AI developments to our warfighters,” said Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of Centcom, on X, adding: “Together, we and our Emirati partners share a strong commitment to adopting AI applications that will drive innovation at high speed and on a large scale.”

Yemeni Houthi militants have fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi oil tanker, accusing the vessel of violating what they describe as their naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and of ignoring warnings. This was stated by the military spokesperson for the pro-Iranian group, Yahya Saree, who said that the Saudi vessel was forced to turn back.

Protests took place outside the White House during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets to demand that the United States stop supplying arms to Israel. “Stop arming Israel” was the message on one of the placards they were holding aloft. “Netanyahu is a war criminal,” read another. The protests against Netanyahu are yet another sign of American public opinion becoming increasingly sceptical of Israel and its prime minister. Recently, the mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani called on the US government to arrest him under the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Il corteo di auto che trasporta il primo ministro israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu passa davanti a una manifestazione di protesta contro di lui nei pressi della Casa Bianca, nel giorno in cui Netanyahu incontra il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump a Washington, D.C., Stati Uniti, il 28 luglio 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Tehran will consider “any action” to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, including the resumption of war. This is according to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, in a statement reported by the Iranian news agency Fars. The Strait of Hormuz “has become part of our national security and provides defensive capabilities, and we will never relinquish it”. Iran, he added, “would no longer be able to exercise its sovereignty” if it were to open a southern corridor near the coast of Oman. “For this reason, we will never recognise the southern Omani route through the Strait. If Oman does not accept our proposal for the shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Gharibabadi emphasised, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

During talks with Oman, Iran has proposed the establishment of a temporary maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, in an interview broadcast on state television. Under Tehran’s proposal, Iran would have complete control over the inbound route and part of the outbound route, whilst Oman would manage traffic in the opposite direction. Gharibabadi added that Oman had proposed a 50-50 agreement, but Tehran rejected it, deeming it insufficient to address Iran’s concerns.

Una nave nello Stretto di Hormuz, vista da Musandam, in Oman, il 16 luglio 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/Foto d'archivio

“We are fully aligned on Iran. Israel supports whatever course Trump chooses.” This was stated by the spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by Bloomberg. During the meeting at the White House with Donald Trump, there was no discussion of F-35s for Turkey, he added.

US President Donald Trump “has concluded his meetings in the Oval Office with President Zelensky and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Both meetings were positive and productive!” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt wrote this on Truth.

The Persian Gulf states today began the joint military exercises “Bahrain Shield”, as announced by the Bahrain Defence Force on social media. “On 28 July, the ‘Bahrain Shield’ joint military exercises began, with the participation of representatives from the armed forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” a statement read. According to the Defence Forces, the exercise aims to “review joint operational scenarios, improve coordination and enhance the combat capabilities of military units to address today’s threats”. The military exercises in Bahrain are taking place against the backdrop of the conflict between Iran and the United States, in which Tehran is responding to US attacks with strikes against American bases in the Persian Gulf, including those located in Bahrain.

A warning about the “rapid deterioration” of the situation in the West Bank has come from the United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who has condemned the “escalation” of violence, particularly that perpetrated by settlers against Palestinians. In recent days, “the escalation of violence in the West Bank has resulted in civilian casualties, displacement, damage to property and growing insecurity in the affected communities,” Ramiz Alakbarov told the Security Council - “Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities, homes, places of worship and civilian infrastructure have continued at an alarming rate.” “I call on Israel to take immediate and effective measures to prevent settler violence, protect Palestinian communities and ensure that the perpetrators are held to account”, he continued, whilst also condemning Palestinian attacks against Israelis and calling on Palestinians to “unequivocally reject violence”. This “rapid deterioration” of the situation in the West Bank “only serves to exacerbate an already alarming situation in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, suggesting that a wider-scale escalation is increasingly likely unless immediate measures are taken without delay”, he added.

Membri delle forze armate israeliane si trovano in una strada dopo un attacco sferrato dai coloni israeliani nel villaggio di Sarra, vicino alla città di Nablus, in Cisgiordania, venerdì 24 luglio 2026. (Foto AP/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the White House, where he is due to hold a closed-door meeting with US President Donald Trump. This is according to the Times of Israel. This is the first meeting between Trump and Netanyahu since the start of the war against Iran on 28 February, and the eighth since the tycoon began his second presidential term. According to a White House official, the two leaders will discuss the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israel’s presence in southern Lebanon and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries held a video conference to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran. “The participants emphasised the importance of strengthening coordination to ensure freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, prioritising political and diplomatic solutions that consolidate regional security and stability”, reported the Sultanate of Oman’s official news agency.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says that the Shin Bet security service has confirmed reports that Iran is attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is according to Al-Jazeera.

Any company or country that receives frozen assets from Iran as compensation for its damaged ships will not be permitted to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Joint Military Command has stated, according to state media reports.

The military command’s spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, has thus rejected US President Donald Trump’s warning that ships damaged by Iran in the Gulf will be compensated using frozen Iranian funds.

Navi da carico avvistate a un'estremità dello Stretto di Ormuz, vicino alla costa di Dibba Al Fujairah, negli Emirati Arabi Uniti, il 21 luglio 2026. EPA/STRINGER

Israel’s actions in the West Bank, including the confiscation of Palestinian land and acts of violence, are exacerbating the situation and undermining the prospects for a peaceful solution. This was stated by Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, as quoted by the Petra news agency. “Israel’s illegal and provocative actions, including settler terrorism, the expansion of settlements, the confiscation of Palestinian land and the alteration of the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, are pushing the West Bank towards an outbreak of violence”, Safadi said during a meeting in Amman with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. The minister emphasised the need to unite regional and international efforts to compel Israel, as the occupying power, to put an end to its violations of international law and international humanitarian law, which are causing a further escalation of tensions and violence. The head of Jordanian diplomacy also called for the implementation of the provisions of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip, presented by the US President, Donald Trump, in 2025, and to lift the restrictions imposed by Israel that prevent the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to the population of the Palestinian enclave.

Iran knows it will never have a nuclear weapon. Donald Trump said this in an interview with Fox, emphasising that if there is no agreement with Tehran, “we’ll finish the job. Within two hours, they’ll have no bridges left, and within 24 hours, they’ll have no power stations left. I’d like to avoid striking bridges and power stations.”

The offices of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are seeking to arrange a bilateral meeting.

According to the newspaper Times of Israel, although relations between the two leaders have been strained, their interests now coincide with regard to Iran, one of Russia’s main military supporters.

Groups of protesters opposed to Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s government stormed the Mellitah complex this morning, one of the most important energy hubs in the Mediterranean, where Eni also operates, blocking access and interrupting the flow of gas through the pipelines that supply the power stations. This has been reported on social media by the National Electricity Company, which fears a total blackout of the electricity grid, and the state-owned National Oil Corporation. “These events,” adds the NOC, “have led to a complete halt in production at the El Feel field and have affected or interrupted, even partially, production at Wafa.”

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that the United States is preventing Israel from striking Iran’s energy facilities.

“We would very much like to strike Iran’s energy targets. At present the United States does not authorise this, for fear that Iran might attack neighbouring countries, triggering a global oil crisis,” he said during an interview with the Israeli broadcaster Channel 14.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to brief US President Donald Trump today at the White House on Iran’s nuclear activities at a mysterious underground complex located in the centre of the country and nicknamed “Pickaxe Mountain” (Pickaxe Mountain) by Washington, and on alleged attempts to revive the nuclear programme, according to a report in the New York Post, which cites an Israeli source.

Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to convince the US president that Tehran is lying about its willingness to continue peace negotiations. Israel claims to have discovered that Iran transferred centrifuges to the complex shortly after signing the memorandum of understanding with Washington, as reported in recent days by the Wall Street Journal.

In Sa-Nur, history has gone back 21 years. To July 2005, just before then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon initiated his plan to withdraw all settlements in the Gaza Strip, 21 of them, and four more in the West Bank. On Sunday, the reopening ceremony took place in Sa-Nur. The Israeli flag flew again; 16 families have already moved into prefabricated houses, waiting for new ones.

The script is almost always the same: Palestinian territories are expropriated, roads are built to connect the outposts - which are illegal communities even under Israeli law - and, finally, they are legalised.

Defence Minister Israel Katz, during a meeting with senior IDF commanders, gave instructions to ‘step up offensive operations against Palestinian terrorism and prepare for the occupation of another refugee camp, following the model adopted for the refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur a-Shams’. The three refugee camps have been the target of devastating IDF operations since early 2025, according to Israeli media reports.

“Italia is a key player in the peace process. We will play an important role in Lebanon,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview with Rai News.

«“We are still with UNIFIL, we are ready to take part in a new international mission once UNIFIL’s mandate ends, that is, on 31 December this year, and we are also ready to continue training the Lebanese armed forces, just as we have been doing for years through a bilateral mission,” Tajani explained.

The United States walked out of a UN Security Council meeting in protest whilst the French ambassador was speaking. The French diplomat had compared the United States to North Korea and Russia during a vote on human rights.

‘One member of this Council feigns moral indignation and seeks to lecture everyone on every subject, whether it be the conflict we are still discussing today’ – Ukraine – or ‘matters unrelated to peace and security, such as human rights. That is why we walked out of the chamber during France’s statement,” said Dan Negrea, the US Deputy Ambassador.

Edison has announced that it has received a new communication from QatarEnergy which ‘confirms the continuation of the force majeure situation preventing the seller from fulfilling its contractual obligations regarding gas deliveries to Italia’. QatarEnergy has informed Edison that it ‘will not be able to make the deliveries relating to a further three LNG cargoes’, scheduled for the Adriatic LNG receiving terminal in Italia. This extends the overall period of force majeure from the beginning of April to the end of September 2026.

Consequently, to date there have been a total of 24 LNG shipments affected by force majeure during the period, representing a total volume of approximately 3 billion cubic metres of natural gas .

The hearing at the High Court of Justice on the law prohibiting the arrest of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredi) who evade military conscription ended after just an hour and a half, with the nine-judge panel barely challenging the appellants’ arguments that the law is discriminatory and should be struck down.

Representatives of the Knesset’s legal adviser and the Attorney General both maintain that the law should be repealed.

Hamas has confirmed that it is sending a delegation to Cairo for ‘negotiations on the implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement’ with Israel regarding the Gaza Strip. This was reported by the satellite TV channel Al Jazeera, which stated that – according to a statement from the Palestinian movement – the delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, as well as with Palestinian factions.

“We are monitoring the situation every hour at Bab el-Mandeb (between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, editor’s note) whilst maintaining contact with everyone, including the Houthis to see how the situation is developing, and with our allies to see what counter-measures might lead to a possible solution. We are still there today because, should a merchant ship be attacked, we are there to defend it – which is our primary objective.” This was stated by the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, during the follow-up hearing on the outcomes of the NATO summit in Ankara before the joint Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, alongside Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Operation Aspides, Crosetto emphasised, “was not conceived for the purpose of war but to protect shipping, and therefore to protect ships. If war were to break out, we would have to reassess the whole situation, because it is one thing to have military vessels protecting the passage against possible attacks on civilian ships, and quite another for military vessels to be attacked themselves and have to defend themselves in a wartime scenario. Everything changes completely, but we will see how this develops.”

Israel’s expansion, in its various forms, has accelerated sharply since 2023. According to calculations by the US-based Associated Press, over the past two and a half years the Netanyahu government has taken control of numerous tracts of land in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, seizing more territory from neighbouring countries than it has done in decades.

According to the agency, this is a militarily occupied area, larger than many major cities, covering around 1,000 square kilometres (386 square miles), over which Israel has stated it intends to maintain control indefinitely. Tel Aviv regards these as buffer zones necessary to protect the country from attack by enemy militias.

‘I am convinced that an agreement can be reached’ in Lebanon ‘and we will continue to support the legitimate authority led by President Aoun in order to restore full control of Lebanese territory by the legitimate authorities; this must lead to the disarmament of Hezbollah and the withdrawal of Israeli troops’. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a hearing on the outcomes of the NATO summit held in Ankara on 7–8 July before the joint Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Senate.

Tajani pointed out that Italy is capable of acting as a mediator, “as demonstrated by the decision to organise the dialogue between the Lebanese and Israelis in Rome, in response to our proposal”.

‘Israeli settlers are in the wrong; they are violent and often attack churches, mosques and even Christian villages – in fact, the EU has imposed sanctions on them. The Israeli government must, after the election campaign, have the courage to say ‘enough is enough’ and put a stop to these people. It is difficult for Netanyahu to make a decision now, but after the election campaign, we must normalise the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.” So said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview with Rainews following the escalation in the West Bank on the eve of the meeting in Rome of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution.

Tajani argues that settler violence “does not help the two-state process, but we must never give up; it is certainly a mistake not to respect the territorial integrity of the area governed by the PNA, which is not Hamas”. On the possibility of trade sanctions on products from territories occupied by Israeli settlers, the minister states that Italy will examine the European Commission’s proposal but “believes that unanimity is required because it is a political rather than a commercial decision”.

Several explosions were heard this morning in the area around the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, as part of “Israeli bombing and demolition operations”. This was reported by the Lebanese National News Agency, as cited by Al Jazeera. The operations affected the southern Lebanese towns of Majdal Zoun, al-Mansouri and Bint Jbeil.

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone talks regarding the Strait of Hormuz with his Omani and Saudi counterparts, Badr Al-Busaidi and Faisal bin Farhan, according to reports by state television in Tehran.

During the telephone calls, “they emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation and promote joint diplomatic efforts to ensure stability in the region and eliminate the insecurity imposed in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the United States’ aggressive actions”, adds the Iranian state broadcaster.

Oman has put forward a proposal to Iran for a joint regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz, based on voluntary fees. This has been reported by the Israeli media, citing a Gulf source who spoke to Reuters and who added that the Omani proposal enjoys regional support.

First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron have been targeted by Iranian propaganda. A new video circulating on social media – which has been shared by the New York Post – incites supporters of the Ayatollahs’ regime to assassinate President Trump’s wife.

Entitled ‘How to Kill Melania Trump’, the video shows footage of the First Lady in the presidential motorcade and in various parts of New York.

Talks with Iran are continuing during the pause in military attacks. This was stated by the President of the United States Donald Trump, who added that he believed there were ‘good chances’ of a breakthrough, but warned that military action could resume if the negotiations failed.

A group of 600 former senior Israeli security officials has issued a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump, urging him to use his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for a decisive action against the escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. According to the signatories, the escalation risks turning into a regional crisis with consequences not only for Israel’s security, but also for the United States’ strategic interests in the Middle East.

The letter was initiated by Commanders for Israel’s Security, an organisation comprising former officers of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the Shin Bet, the Mossad, the police and the diplomatic corps. The document, signed by former Deputy Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai, was sent to the White House on the eve of the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu.

The Israeli army has stated that its air force ‘intercepted a drone in the area near the border with Jordan’. This has been reported by several media outlets in the country, including the Times of Israel. ‘The drone did not cross into Israeli territory. The origin of the launch is under investigation,” the IDF said. Jordan has been the target of repeated drone attacks by Iran since the United States resumed strikes against the country earlier this month, Al Jazeera reports.

The reaction of oil and gas prices to the conflict in Iran triggered by the US and Israel has been ‘surprisingly and significantly more subdued’ compared with the price surges caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and by historical standards.

In fact, oil and gas prices are influenced not only by the extent of the supply disruption but also by other factors: initial market conditions, stock levels, the elasticity of demand and measures to mitigate the shock. This is highlighted in a post published yesterday on the ECB’s blog.

“We warn the United States regarding its illegal naval blockade and the threats directed at our merchant ships and oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz over the past three days. This malicious act by the US terrorist army will not go unpunished”. This was stated by the Central Command of the Iranian Armed Forces, Khatamolanbia, in a statement. “This action is regarded as an extension of the war in the region,” it added, according to the IRNA news agency.

There is “significant momentum” in the Israeli-Lebanese talks following the successful launch of the first pilot zone in southern Lebanon and last week’s meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Donald Trump at the White House. A State Department official told Axios ahead of the talks between Lebanon and Israel scheduled to take place in Rome from 4 to 6 August.

“In Rome, the technical working groups will focus on advancing the full implementation of the framework agreement. This includes expanding the pilot zone process, resolving all outstanding border issues and working towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the State Department official explained to Axios. The framework agreement represents the only path to lasting peace between Israel and Lebanon, and its “full implementation is clearly in the interests of both countries, and the Trump administration is committed to ensuring its success”, he emphasised.

The next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the United States, will take place in Rome from 4 to 6 August, the US State Department has confirmed, stating that technical teams from both sides will work on implementing the framework agreement signed last month, which is seen as the first step towards a future peace agreement. The meeting in early August had already been announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

According to Washington, the negotiations will focus on the extension of the ‘pilot zones’ system in southern Lebanon, on resolving outstanding issues along the border, and on drawing up a broader peace and security agreement between the two countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington during the night between Monday and Tuesday, where he is due to meet US President Donald Trump before attending the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. This is according to Israeli media reports.

According to a White House official who spoke to the American press, Trump will discuss the war in Iran, progress in negotiations with Lebanon and initiatives to expand the Abraham Accords with the Israeli Prime Minister.

Further reading

Former senior Israeli officials to Trump: ‘The US President should express concern over the escalation in the West Bank’. Netanyahu is on his way to Washington

27 July 2026