Global Conflicts Escalate: Gaza, Iran, Ukraine Tensions

The Israeli military has expanded its operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, which reported 116 killed in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 56,647. Residents of Gaza described intense airstrikes, shelling, and clashes between Israeli forces and militants, with many forced to flee their homes. The escalation comes as President Trump expressed hope for a ceasefire "sometime next week" ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to visit Washington next week. Hamas has stated it is "ready to agree to any proposal" that leads to an end to the war and a permanent ceasefire, but there has been no breakthrough.

The director of Gaza's Indonesian Hospital, Dr. Marwan Sultan, was killed in an Israeli air strike on his home in Gaza City, along with several family members. The Hamas-run health ministry condemned the strike as a "heinous crime against our medical cadres." The Israeli military said it had struck a "key terrorist" from Hamas and was reviewing claims that civilians were harmed. At least 139 people were killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza in 24 hours, and other attacks were reported, including a strike on a tent housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi "safe zone", killing at least five people. The UN says 80% of Gaza is either an Israeli military zone or under an evacuation order, and there are now no functioning hospitals in the north Gaza governate.

President Trump's push for a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has yet to gain firm backing from either side. Israeli sources say the government has voiced support for a proposed framework, but is not committed to a final agreement, while Hamas is conducting national consultations on the proposals. Meanwhile, at least 640 civilians have been killed trying to access humanitarian supplies in Gaza, with many criticizing the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has faced allegations of aid not reaching civilians safely. The foundation's director, American evangelical reverend Johnnie Moore, defended the organization's operations, calling on the United Nations to join their efforts. Trump's ceasefire push faces potential hurdles, including opposition from far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet.

Hamas is "ready to accept" a ceasefire agreement with Israel, but did not endorse a 60-day pause put forward by President Donald Trump. A Hamas official said the organization is willing to accept any initiative that leads to a complete end to the war, but demands Israel fully withdraw from Gaza. The proposal, which is being mediated by Egypt and Qatar, calls for a partial Israeli withdrawal, a surge in humanitarian aid, and the release of around 10 hostages. Israel, however, has said Hamas must surrender, disarm, and exile itself from Gaza.

A 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal has been agreed to by Israel, but many details remain unclear, including what Hamas must accept in return and the specifics of Israel's proposals. Israel's agreement is largely driven by domestic politics, as a permanent ceasefire could collapse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government due to opposition from extreme right-wingers in his coalition. The US president, Donald Trump, may play a crucial role in breaking the deadlock between Israel and Hamas, with Hamas wanting a ceasefire to last until a permanent agreement is reached, while Israel is opposed to this.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has enacted a law passed by the country's parliament to suspend Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing the agency's alleged bias towards the US and Israel. The law requires approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council for any future IAEA inspections of the country's nuclear facilities. The move comes after the US carried out airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, which Iran claims were facilitated by an IAEA resolution in early June. The suspension has no specified timetable or details, and the IAEA is awaiting confirmation from Iran.

The US and Israel's recent military strikes on Iran's nuclear program may have caused significant damage, but it's unclear if they went far enough. John Bolton argues that the strikes were terminated too early and that the job needs to be finished to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear capabilities. He believes that diplomacy, including a potential new nuclear deal, is unlikely to succeed and that Iran's regime will not voluntarily abandon its nuclear ambitions. Bolton suggests that the US and Israel should continue to surveil Iran's nuclear facilities and be prepared to strike again if necessary to prevent the regime from reconstituting its nuclear program. He also argues that the existence of Iran's scientific and technological know-how to rebuild its nuclear capacity is a compelling reason to ensure that its nuclear infrastructure is fully dismantled.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman stated that US and Israeli bombing campaigns set back Iran's nuclear program by one to two years. This assessment is the latest in a series of conflicting evaluations of the damage inflicted on Iranian nuclear facilities. The comments come as the international community continues to assess the impact of the bombing, with the UN's nuclear inspector suggesting Iran could resume uranium enrichment in months, while President Trump claimed the bombing had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program. Iran's president has since enacted a law suspending cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, halting international inspections of its nuclear program.

Ukraine fears that a recent halt in US weapons shipments will embolden Russia to prolong the war, now in its fourth year. The White House cited a defence department review as the reason for the decision, stating it was taken "to put America's interests first". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the two countries were clarifying details on supplies, while the foreign ministry warned that delays would encourage Russia to continue the war. The US has sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The Kremlin welcomed the reduction, saying it would help end the conflict faster. Ukrainian officials expressed concern, stating that they are "seriously dependent on American arms supplies".

The United States has halted some weapons shipments to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, according to the White House. The decision was made following a Defense Department review of U.S. military support to other countries, with concerns that U.S. military stockpiles were falling too low. The move is part of a broader review of U.S. weapons shipments to countries around the world, aimed at prioritizing America's needs. The pause in shipments to Ukraine is not expected to be permanent, but the duration is unclear. The U.S. has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

The Pentagon's decision to halt shipments of air defense systems to Ukraine has raised concerns among security experts, who warn it will embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and escalate his war ambitions. The move comes as Russia has intensified its aerial assault on Ukraine, launching over 5,300 drones in June, a record number. Ukrainian officials and US security experts argue that the delay in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage Putin to continue the war, rather than seek peace. The withheld shipments include missile interceptors and 155 mm ammunition shells, defensive equipment crucial to Ukraine's defense as Russia has amassed 50,000 troops along Ukraine's northern border.