Israa Nasrallah never imagined that the release of her husband, 35-year-old Bakr Khreiwesh, in the most recent prisoner exchange deal last October 2025 would be followed by continued harassment and his re-arrest. 

21 August brought an unpleasant surprise to Isra and her husband; their home in the city of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank was raided by the Israeli army. Once again, her husband was taken under "administrative detention", a practice that allows for indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial, repeatedly renewed.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club has warned that Israel has been re-arresting, harassing, and interrogating at least 80 former Palestinian prisoners who have been released as part of previous exchange deals between Hamas and Israel.

In a statement, the organisation noted that these security and judicial measures prevent former detainees from resuming their normal lives and exacerbate the suffering of the families of those who were deported or exiled, leaving them unable to see their loved ones.

Bakr was one of 1,968 Palestinian prisoners released in the latest deal. He was among the small number of individuals whom Israel permitted to return to their homes in the occupied West Bank, rather than being deported elsewhere.

He had been serving a nine-year prison sentence, of which he had completed six years. During his time in prison, he and his wife had twins, conceived through sperm smuggled out of the Israeli prison.

Isra described to The New Arab how her husband’s release as part of the prisoner exchange deal was the end to the family's nightmare. Throughout the seven months since being free, Bakr spent with his family, Israeli intelligence repeatedly summoned him for questioning and interrogation.

"Israeli officers would constantly call to threaten him or summon him for interrogation, during Ramadan, during the Eid holidays, and at other times. They made sure he felt he was always being watched, signaling that his release under the deal didn’t guarantee he wouldn't be arrested again," she said.

At one point, Israeli intelligence threatened the landlord of the apartment the family was renting, warning that if he didn’t evict them, the Israeli army would take the landlord instead. Consequently, the family was forced to leave and move in temporarily with a relative.

"The pressure extended even to our housing; Israeli intelligence kept a close watch on our situation and threatened anyone who might rent a home to us. We felt as though we were constantly under their gaze," Isra explained.

Bakr is currently being held in the Naqab prison. His lawyer has been able to visit him only once since his arrest; afterward, Bakr asked his family not to send the lawyer again. When Isra inquired why, she learned that any prisoner is subjected to severe beatings immediately following such visits.

She is also deeply concerned about his health. He has begun to suffer from scabies due to a lack of hygiene. Furthermore, at the time of his release under the prisoner exchange deal, he had already lost a significant amount of weight and was suffering from chronic pain in his back and knees to the point where he could barely walk, as a result of the brutal beatings he endured prior to his initial release.

The New Arab contacted several former Palestinian prisoners; none were willing to comment, citing Israeli threats that they could be re-arrested.

Violation of international law

The Palestinian Prisoners' Club has linked these pursuits to an escalation in abuses including mistreatment, starvation, denial of medical care, and solitary confinement within Israeli prisons since the onset of the aggression on Gaza.

The organisation pointed to the severe physical and psychological toll observed among those released, particularly those from the Gaza Strip.

Approximately 3,985 Palestinian prisoners, men, women, and children, have been released through three separate exchange deals. These include a November 2023 agreement (240 prisoners), a deal spanning January and February 2025 (1,777 prisoners), and an October 2025 agreement (1,968 prisoners and detainees).

Helmi Al-Araj, director of the Hurriyat Center for Civil Rights, told TNA that Israel has never adhered to the terms of these agreements even those with clear and specific provisions.

He cited the "Shalit deal" as an example; in 2014, Israel re-arrested more than 50 prisoners who had been released under that agreement. Many remained in prison for long periods, and some were only released again during the more recent exchange deals.

Al-Araj explained that Israel is employing the same tactic regarding the latest agreement, re-arresting released prisoners, both men and women, in an apparent attempt to signal that it won’t bide by any conditions, and that anyone can be taken back into custody at any time.

He added that this serves as a message to the released prisoners; they remain under surveillance, subject to pursuit and arrest and even killing or assassination, as is currently the case in the Gaza Strip.

"The Israeli occupation’s underlying message is an attempt to terrorize the released prisoners, their families, and the Palestinian people at large, by asserting that everyone is being pursued and remains subject to arrest regardless of whether or not they are currently engaged in any activity," he added.

According to Al-Araj, Israel was compelled to release these prisoners but refuses to fully accept this reality; consequently, it pursues them more aggressively than others, under the pretext that they pose a threat to its security.

"As far as is known, none of these released prisoners are engaged in any activities in the West Bank. Yet, Israel is violating the terms of the prisoner exchange deal, as well as international law and international humanitarian law. It arrests these individuals without charge, subjects many of them to administrative detention, and fails to uphold the standards required for fair trials," he concluded.

As of 5 October 2026, the number of prisoners held in Israeli jails reached approximately 9,300, according to the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.

This figure includes 3,101 individuals held under administrative detention, as well as approximately 350 children and 91 women. The organisation also documented 1,419 detainees from the Gaza Strip whom Israel classifies as "unlawful combatants", though these figures don’t necessarily account for everyone held within Israeli military camps.

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These were the key updates earlier on Thursday:

•    With over 90% of the votes counted in the Israeli elections, neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot have won a majority in the Knesset, setting the stage for fraught coalition negotiations and perhaps a new election.

•    Netanyahu and other right-wing figures have moved to delegitimise the vote by claiming that Arab parties conducted widespread fraud, without providing evidence.

•    Qatar has rejected 'absurd' accusations that it interfered in the vote, while a senior elections official said the claims of voter fraud are baseless.

•    Regional mediators are continuing to push for a deal between Iran and the US to prevent Trump from relaunching the war after next week's US midterm elections.

•    Three tankers have caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines.

•    The war in Yemen continues, with Houthi forces striking Aden airport and tightening their siege of Taiz.

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials, state media reported, as mediators press efforts to revive peace talks with the United States.

According to the IRNA state news agency, the delegation, headed by a senior adviser to Qatar's prime minister, came to discuss "bilateral relations... as well as regional developments" with senior Iranian officials.

Senior officials from several countries have flown to Tehran in recent days as fears rise of a return to all-out fighting in the US-Israeli war, which started eight months ago.

The reported Qatari visit came a day after Iranian media said Iran had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance addressed to security chief Mohsen Rezaei.

The Wall Street Journal said the letter focused on a possible framework for negotiations rather than specific terms for a peace deal.

The New York Times reported that Vance "made the outreach in a letter sent last week via Qatari mediators and delivered Sunday to Gen. Mohsen Rezaei".

Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating efforts to revive peace talks following a ceasefire agreement in April. A Qatari delegation was also in Tehran on Sunday, according to a senior Iranian official.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed the war on the sidelines of a meeting in Moscow on Tuesday.

Also this week, senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey—which signed a defence alliance in Mecca in August—flew to Tehran for talks.

The war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders in Tehran.

Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and US assets across the region, while stopping ships using the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries around one-fifth of global oil consumption.

On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was discussing a plan with both mediators, Qatar and Pakistan, to end the war and reopen the waterway.

The US has meanwhile imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, further restricting Tehran's ability to export oil and conduct trade.

Tehran insists that Washington meet seven conditions for reopening the strait, including a ceasefire across the region, including Lebanon and Gaza, in which Israel has been attacking on a daily basis regardless of alleged agreements; unfreezing Iranian assets abroad; lifting sanctions on its oil sector and ending the US naval blockade.

As Palestinian citizens of Israel voted and their political parties secured seats in the Israeli Knesset, many Gazans saw little reason to expect a change in Israel's genocidal policies towards Palestinians.

From tents and damaged homes, residents of the Gaza Strip followed Tuesday's Israeli elections, paying particular attention to turnout among Palestinian voters and the performance of Arab electoral lists.

Preliminary results released on Friday morning, with nearly all votes counted, showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition securing 53 seats, compared with 48 for the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, while Arab parties won 19 seats, a historic record, according to Israeli media.

The results left the formation of the next government uncertain, with neither camp assured of securing a parliamentary majority, according to the Israeli media outlets.

Gazans, however, question whether Palestinian representation in the Knesset could translate into meaningful influence over Israeli policies affecting Palestinians.

Limits of Palestinian political influence

Gaza-based political analyst Tayseer Abdullah told The New Arab that the preliminary results reflected the continued dominance of hardline Zionist forces and the absence of an influential left-wing alternative offering a fundamentally different approach towards Palestinians.

"Israel's main political camps continue to prioritise military and security solutions while supporting settlement expansion, leaving little reason to expect a fundamental shift in policy," he said.

Commenting on the participation of Palestinian citizens of Israel, Abdullah said their parliamentary representation was important but remained limited in its ability to influence major political and security decisions.

He argued that the results should be assessed not simply by the number of seats won by Arab parties but by their actual capacity to influence government policies, particularly those affecting Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Even if Netanyahu lost power, Abdullah warned, a government led by other right-wing figures would not necessarily reverse the policies that have devastated Gaza or alleviate the humanitarian crisis facing its population.

He added that, in the absence of a political force committed to Palestinian rights and a genuine peace process, a change in Israeli leadership alone was unlikely to end the war or bring meaningful improvements to Palestinian living conditions.

Abdullah also pointed to the marginalisation of Arab parties despite their parliamentary representation, noting that major Israeli political forces remained reluctant to cooperate with them.

Excluding Arab citizens from political partnerships, he warned, could further weaken confidence in electoral participation as a means of influencing decision-making.

Another Gaza-based political analyst, Mustafa Ibrahim, told TNA that the preliminary results had complicated expectations of a clear opposition victory.

"Neither Netanyahu's camp nor its rivals appeared certain of securing the majority needed to form a government," he said.

The political deadlock could lead to prolonged coalition negotiations, another political figure being tasked with forming a government, or fresh elections if efforts to establish a coalition failed, he added.

However, Ibrahim cautioned that political uncertainty did not necessarily mean Netanyahu would lose power or that Israeli policies towards Palestinians would change.

Ramallah-based political analyst Esmat Mansour also said the final distribution of seats could affect the prospects of forming a government, depending on whether smaller parties crossed the electoral threshold.

"A prolonged stalemate or another election could follow if neither camp secured a majority," he said, adding that regional tensions involving Gaza, Lebanon and Iran could increase the risk of further escalation.

Fatah welcomes Arab participation, Hamas remains sceptical

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh described the Israeli elections as an internal Israeli affair but expressed hope that a political partner committed to a just peace would emerge.

In a statement on X on Thursday, he said implementing international resolutions was essential to achieving security, peace and stability in the region.

Fatah, meanwhile, views the participation of Palestinian citizens of Israel and the possible weakening of the Israeli far right as an opportunity to influence the country's political balance.

Its spokesperson, Maher al-Nammoura, told TNA that Palestinian participation reflected a desire to challenge the far-right government and its policies towards Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

He welcomed the support for Arab electoral lists, expressing hope that their stronger parliamentary representation would improve the opposition's chances of ending Netanyahu's rule.

"We hope these results will strengthen the opposition's ability to end Netanyahu's rule and weaken the far-right forces that have pushed the region towards further confrontation," he said.

Al-Nammoura added that Netanyahu's departure would be an important step towards changing the political climate.

However, he stressed that any meaningful change must be reflected on the ground, including an end to the war in Gaza, respect for Palestinian rights and a halt to measures undermining the prospects of a political settlement.

Hamas, however, remains sceptical that Netanyahu's departure would bring more moderate Israeli leadership.

A movement source, speaking anonymously, told TNA that Netanyahu was especially responsible for blocking ceasefire commitments, though other Israeli leaders also held positions harmful to Palestinians.

He said Hamas had repeatedly raised Israeli violations with mediators and Peace Council representatives, urging progress on the US president's plan and the roadmap discussed in Cairo.

Hamas remained committed to the agreements, including the roadmap presented by Nikolay Mladenov, the Peace Council's Gaza representative, and hoped election results could help advance implementation, he noted.

Little hope for change

The election results offered little reason for displaced Gazans to expect improvements in Palestinian lives, whether inside Israel or in the occupied territories.

Fawzi Abu Nasser, displaced from Beit Hanoun and now living in a tent in Gaza City, told TNA that he doubted the elections would bring meaningful change.

"Palestinians inside Israel have the right to vote, but they still struggle to live safely and secure their basic rights. Crime and violence are spreading in their towns, while the authorities are failing to protect them. So what can these elections really change?" he said.

Yazan al-Sharif, another Gaza City resident, believes that the problem extends beyond Netanyahu to the broader Israeli political establishment.

"Even Palestinians inside Israel face discrimination and violence. They participate in elections, but this has not stopped policies undermining their rights or the growing crime in their communities," he told TNA.

Al-Sharif said a victory by a genuine left-wing candidate might have opened the door to a different approach towards Palestinians.

However, he feared an Eisenkot-led government would be no better, citing his right-wing background and the deaths of his son and nephew in Gaza.

He also called for an end to the division between Fatah and Hamas, saying Palestinian political fragmentation had further compounded people's suffering.

Abdullah al-Helou, another Gaza City resident, highlighted the contrast between Palestinian citizens of Israel, who can vote in parliamentary elections, and Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, who cannot elect their own national leadership.

"Palestinians inside Israel can elect representatives to parliament, but they still struggle for their rights. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank cannot even elect their own national leadership. This shows the limits of political participation," he told TNA.

For Gazans, the experience of Palestinian citizens of Israel illustrates the limits of electoral participation: the right to vote does not necessarily guarantee equality, protection or the ability to change policies that shape people's lives.

Welcome,

Here are the updates:

• As the count for the Israeli elections end, with the results remaining the same with no majority between the blocs, 53 for Netanyahu's bloc, 48 for Eisenkot, and 19 for the Arab bloc
   
• Iran insists the Strait of Hormuz remains closed as long as its demands are unmet, with IRGC saying several tankers have hit mines along the southern "unauthorised" routes
   
• 1,574 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since an alleged October 2025 ceasefire began, the total death toll since October 2023 to at least 74,570, according to the health ministry in Gaza
   
• Saudi-led coalition said it downed a Houthi drone near Mecca, while the Houthis report heavy airstrikes on its positions in Taiz
   

And so we continue our live coverage of the day...

Los huesillos extremeños forman parte de la añeja tradición española de dulces fritos o frutas de sartén, ubicuos en las fiestas tradicionales. Una masa estilo rosquilla aromatizada con anís que se modela en forma de huesito, típica en Extremadura para celebrar el día de Todos los Santos, aunque se encuentran en otras festividades y casi todo el año. Elaboraciones muy similares se conocen por el nombre de huesos de San Expedito en otras zonas como Andalucía o ambas Castillas, entre otras. Que he dicho entre otras, ¿eh?

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US President Donald Trump said that Vice President JD Vance's outreach to Iran was about helping the country get medical supplies, after US media reported Vance had written to Tehran's top security official to revive peace talks.

Iran has received a letter from Vance but it has not responded to it yet, the country's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday, while adding that Tehran wants the US to meet its conditions and "any position that contradicts this framework is unacceptable."

Also on Thursday, the US military's senior officer overseeing the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, met Trump at the White House to outline military options in Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials and other people with direct knowledge of the meeting.

Reuters could not immediately independently verify this report.

Vance sent the letter to Iranian Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei in a bid to revive peace negotiations, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance sent the letter at Trump's direction. When asked by reporters later on Wednesday if he directed Vance to reach out to Iran to restart peace negotiations, Trump said: "No."

"What that is is they need help with medical supplies and various things. He (Vance) asked me what I thought. I said, if you want to do that, that's okay. Basically, it's getting supplies in to help people that are not well," Trump told reporters.

Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter and Trump's remark. Vance's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tehran's conditions

Iran's parliament speaker said on Thursday that Tehran's conditions had been repeatedly and clearly communicated to mediators and that progress can only be achieved if Iran's seven conditions are met.

The "carrot-and-stick approach has no effect on Iran," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf added.

Conditions Iran says must be met before it will reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route include, among other demands, lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, lifting US sanctions on Iranian oil exports and ending hostilities on all regional fronts.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran at the end of February. The US has also since imposed a naval blockade on Iran to starve it of oil export revenue and escalated efforts to economically isolate Iran.

Iran has long blamed US sanctions for hindering civilian access to medical supplies.

In an August letter to the UN Security Council, Iran accused the US of intentionally depriving civilians "of access to food, medicines, medical equipment, energy and other necessities, with grave consequences for their rights to life, health, food and a decent standard of living."

Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft deal on Sunday to end the war, but a senior Iranian official said Doha had only put forward unacceptable ideas that did not amount to an offer.

The war's impact on global energy costs has also weighed on support for Republican candidates and hurt Trump's approval ratings ahead of the US midterm elections that decide control of Congress. Trump's Republican Party holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress.

(Reuters)

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Visit our previous live page to catch up on developments earlier today.

These were the top stories on Thursday:

•    Israel elections: Neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot have won a majority in the Knesset following Tuesday's election. With almost all the votes counted, Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats to Eisenkot's 48, setting the stage for fraught coalition negotiations and perhaps a new election.

•    Netanyahu and his far-right allies have moved to delegitimise the vote by claiming that Arab parties conducted widespread fraud, without providing evidence.

•    Qatar has rejected 'absurd' accusations that it interfered in the vote, while a senior elections official said the claims of voter fraud are baseless.

•    Iran war: Regional mediators are continuing to push for a deal between Iran and the US to prevent Trump from relaunching the war after next week's US midterm elections.

•    Strait of Hormuz: Three tankers have caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines.

•    Yemen war: Yemen's Houthis said 12 people were killed in Saudi strikes on residential areas in Taiz province.

At least four people, two of them children, have been killed after sustained heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in six provinces across Syria, local media and authorities reported on Thursday.

Heavy rain on Wednesday left at least three bridges out of service in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, while key roads have also been damaged.

The flooding has disrupted water supplies, while authorities shuttered schools in Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakeh on Thursday amid the storms.

Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes and the displacement camps where they reside in recent days.

Emergency teams have evacuated at least 375 families from three displacement camps in Raqqa province and have rescued 15 people who were trapped in their vehicles, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

Hospitals, schools, and bakeries have been affected by the flooding while disaster management teams have warned people about the risk of drowning.

Rescue teams were sent to the village of Kasrat Surour after a drainage crossing collapsed and left over 100 families surrounded by floodwater.

The flooding has caused major disruptions to traffic, including on the Aleppo-Raqqa highway.

Syrian army helicopters have been deployed across the country to help those who have been stranded.

The flooding has had far-reaching impacts, with telecommunications disrupted in Deir ez-Zor due to damage caused to fibre optic cables on the Homs-Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo- Deir ez-Zor routes.

The minister of emergencies and disaster management, Raed al-Saleh, has urged residents in eastern governorates to remain in their homes unless absolutely necessary, and to steer away from low-lying areas.

He has also called on people to refrain from trying to cross flooded roads, which comes as rescue teams grapple to deal with the situation.

Syria has been battling thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds in recent weeks, with the meteorological directorate warning that the storms and lightning are set to continue.

Syria was last hit with flooding in May, affecting scores of farmers during harvest season and destroying important wheat, barley, cotton, and vegetable crops.

The flooding in Aleppo and Idlib affected over 19,000 people and damaged over 3,400 shelters.

Palestinian rights groups have filed an urgent petition with Israel's Supreme Court demanding the return of hundreds of families forcibly displaced from their homes in Hebron, as Israeli forces continue their military siege of the occupied West Bank city for a seventh consecutive day.

The petition calls for Palestinians expelled from the Al-Jalda, Ein Deir Bahha and Khallat Al-Maghariba neighbourhoods to be allowed to return to their homes, many of which have been seized by Israeli forces and converted into military barracks.

Lawyer Bassam Al-Qawasmi, founder of the All-Palestinian Gathering, said the court was awaiting responses from the Israeli military prosecution and army before proceeding with the case.

He explained that the legal action was launched after obtaining authorisation from Hebron Municipality and families affected by the forced displacement, with support from the city's newly established Relief and Support Committee.

The petition seeks to end the forced displacement, alleviate residents' suffering and secure their return to their homes.

Israeli forces have expelled thousands of Palestinians from neighbourhoods across Hebron since launching a major military operation last Friday after two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack, imposing severe restrictions on movement and blocking access to residential areas.

More than 4,000 Palestinians have been displaced, while dozens of homes have been seized and converted into military outposts. The Israeli army has also demolished dozens of Palestinian buildings across the city.

Siege enters seventh day

Israeli forces continued raids and closures around Hebron's Old City on Thursday, continuing to occupy Palestinian homes in Al-Jalda and Ein Deir Bahha.

Troops also closed several iron gates surrounding the Old City, further restricting movement across the area.

The military operation has severely disrupted education, with dozens of schools suspending in-person classes and thousands of pupils forced to rely on remote learning and educational assignments.

According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces injured two Palestinians and detained seven others on Thursday, while settlers attacked Palestinian residents and vehicles in the Ras Al-Joura area near the city's northern entrance.

The Palestinian Prisoner's Society said on Wednesday that at least 110 Palestinians had been detained across the Hebron governorate since the operation began, including three women and seven children.

Israeli forces have also isolated 12 villages and communities in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, preventing residents from accessing markets, hospitals and essential services.

The offensive began after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting near the illegal Israeli settlement of Telem last week. The Palestinian gunmen involved were subsequently killed by Israeli forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of Hebron and instructed security forces to prepare for a wider lockdown across the occupied West Bank.

Extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich subsequently called for a military campaign in the territory similar to Israel's assault on Gaza.

UN warns of collective punishment

The United Nations and human rights organisations have condemned the operation, warning that mass displacement and sweeping restrictions on civilians could constitute serious violations of international law.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said collective punishment was a grave violation of international law, warning that threats to empty entire neighbourhoods raised serious concerns about ethnic cleansing.

Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem described the operation as an act of collective punishment rather than a security measure.

Palestinian rights group Al-Haq also accused Israel of violating international law through its military siege.

Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA Affairs in the occupied West Bank, warned that the displacement echoed Israeli operations in the northern West Bank in early 2025, where more than 34,000 Palestinian refugees remain forcibly displaced.

Many Syrians have expressed anger at their government following its response to deadly Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria, criticising it for its lack of action and appearing to accept Amman’s justification for an operation that killed civilians, including children.

Jordan’s military said Monday that its air force had struck what it described as terrorist sites in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, targeting groups it said were linked to a deadly shooting at a church in southern Jordan which killed nine people on 23 October, a rare incident in the kingdom. Jordanian authorities said they arrested three suspects behind the shooting.

The Islamic State (IS) group later claimed responsibility for the shooting. Jordanian officials subsequently claimed that the attack in southern Syria had killed more than 20 IS members and targeted a major weapons depot, while acknowledging unintended civilian casualties.

While Jordan has carried out repeated airstrikes in southern Syria in recent years, primarily against drug-smuggling networks operating near its border, Monday's operation has fuelled particular outrage because of the civilian toll and questions over whether Damascus had agreed to the strikes.

Amman said the operation was coordinated with the Syrian government, a claim Damascus rejected, saying the strikes were carried out without prior notification or coordination.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks as a violation of the country’s sovereignty, said an investigation had been launched and called for coordination over security operations along the shared border.

However, criticism intensified after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman al-Safadi, issued a joint statement on Wednesday following a telephone call to discuss the consequences of the strikes.

The statement said Safadi had explained that the operation was based on field intelligence and aimed at "neutralising confirmed threats and imminent terrorist operations targeting Jordan's security." He also expressed regret over civilian deaths.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint security committee to examine the circumstances and repercussions of the strikes and strengthen coordination along the border.

Although Damascus had separately condemned the operation and summoned Jordan’s ambassador to deliver a formal protest, many Syrians have viewed the joint statement as accepting Jordan’s account.

Comments online, including under the Syrian Foreign Ministry’s statement on X, have reflected widespread anger over what users described as the government’s failure to defend Syrian sovereignty and adequately respond to the civilian deaths.

"Are these the ISIS members, Minister? And are these ISIS weapons depots, Your Excellency?" one user wrote, questioning Jordan’s account while referring to images showing the aftermath of the strikes and child victims.

Others argued that accepting Jordan’s justification for the operation could provide Israel with further excuses to widen its occupation in southern Syria under the pretext of fighting extremist groups.

After Assad’s fall, Israel invaded Syria’s Quneitra and Mount Hermon regions, claiming its military presence there was needed to prevent extremist militants from reaching its border.

"You are completely unfit for this position. How can you allow the Jordanian king to use you to push this narrative, while you repeat it so blindly?" one user wrote, addressing Syrian officials.

"Do not complain when Israeli forces invade Daraa under the pretext of rooting out ISIS. You are officially acknowledging that ISIS is present there, and you have now given Israel the green light," the user added.

Another comment accused the government of accepting Jordan’s account at the expense of the victims.

"A statement full of humiliation, submission and acceptance of the Jordanian narrative. It also betrays the blood of those killed by describing the massacre as a strike against terrorists. Were the children terrorists?" the user wrote.

The criticism reflects wider sensitivities and concerns in southern Syria, where residents have faced years of conflict, repeated Israeli incursions and security operations. Many remain under threat of foreign military action in Syria, which often kills civilians.

IS controlled large swathes of Syria before its territorial defeat in 2019, but the group continues to operate clandestine cells, particularly in desert areas, and has claimed attacks against security forces and civilians.

The group's continued activity has raised concerns about the future of counterterrorism operations as the US reduces its military presence in Syria.

Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank faced renewed threats of forced displacement on Thursday, as armed Israeli settlers raided homes in the Jordan Valley and allegedly assaulted journalists and activists in Masafer Yatta, days after Israel's parliamentary election.

UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said masked, armed settlers entered the Palestinian community of Al-Shuneh, near Jiftlik, at around 2am, surrounding three homes and threatening to expel residents unless they left "voluntarily".

The settlers allegedly damaged a resident's car and stole a 1.5-cubic-metre water tank before returning to a nearby hill, where they appeared to have established an illegal outpost the previous day.

Aseel Baidoun, MAP's deputy director of advocacy and campaigns, told The New Arab that the outpost posed an immediate threat to the community's survival.

"For Palestinians in communities like Al-Shuneh, an outpost can spell the end of their community and displacement from their homes. What starts as a few caravans, tents or a settler farm can become a permanent settlement with full backing from the Israeli state," she said.

"Outposts can spread onto more land, link settlements and cut off Palestinian communities from basic services and healthcare. For families already facing attacks and threats, and unable to reach their grazing land for two years, every new development makes it harder to stay."

"That's why the speed of work on the hill overlooking Al-Shuneh is so alarming."

Around 80 families face uncertainty over whether they can remain in their homes, with residents already struggling to access basic services, according to MAP.

Settlers have reportedly spent several days clearing land and carrying out construction on the hill overlooking the community. More than three settler families have arrived at the site and begun installing what appear to be water pipes and electricity cables.

MAP also documented earlier threats against Al-Shuneh residents, including an August incident in which armed settlers allegedly assaulted a family and threatened to burn their homes and seize their livestock unless they left.

Baidoun warned that the outcome of Tuesday's Israeli election was unlikely to improve conditions for Palestinians.

"Whatever the outcome of Israel's election, there is little reason to expect a change in the policies driving settlement expansion and settler violence," she told The New Arab.

"All of Israel's major political parties support the settlement project, and Palestinian communities cannot rely on a new government to protect them from the violence and displacement it actively encourages and enables."

Journalists and activists assaulted in Masafer Yatta

In a separate incident, Russian activist Adele Shoko reported that Israeli settlers attacked her and two colleagues, US journalist Jasper Nathaniel and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X, in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, in Masafer Yatta.

Shoko said armed settlers beat the group, threatened them and stole equipment and personal belongings.

"Jasper and I were also beaten. Jasper was then pepper-sprayed and arrested," she wrote on social media, adding that Israeli forces had taken Nathaniel into custody.

"Andrey was severely beaten and lost consciousness several times in front of police. Despite this, he was denied hospital treatment. He was put in an ambulance – but instead of being taken to hospital, he was taken to a police station. He is still there, arrested and being denied medical care," she added.

Footage circulated online appeared to show several men, some armed, beating Nathaniel and Andrey X. Other footage showed Israeli authorities leading Nathaniel away as he shouted that he had been assaulted.

In later updates, Shoko said both men were "physically okay" and were "having their court hearing" following their detention.

Activists subsequently reported that Andrey X had been released after Thursday's court hearing. Nathaniel's status had not been publicly confirmed.

The attacks follow a warning on Monday from UN-mandated investigators, who accused Israel of committing "extermination" in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinians across the territory have faced escalating violence by Israeli settlers and soldiers, particularly since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

Palestinian families and independent journalists in the occupied West Bank reported attacks by Israeli settlers on Thursday, as Israel’s high-stakes election unfolds. 

UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Russian activist Adele Shoko reported separate incidents of violence as Israelis awaited the final election results. 

MAP said masked, armed settlers raided the Palestinian community of Al-Shuneh, near Jiftlik in the Jordan Valley, at around 2am on Thursday.  

The attackers surrounded three homes and threatened to force families out unless they left “voluntarily”. 

During the raid, settlers reportedly damaged one resident’s car and stole another resident’s 1.5-cubic-metre water tank.  

They later returned to a hill overlooking the community, where MAP said they appeared to have established an outpost the previous day. 

Aseel Baidoun, MAP’s Deputy Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, told The New Arab that the attack illustrates the grave risks facing Palestinian residents of Al-Shuneh if settlers continue to occupy the area overlooking the community, amid months of escalating intimidation and wider Israeli settler and military violence across the occupied West Bank.

"For Palestinians in communities like Al-Shuneh, an outpost can spell the end of their community and displacement from their homes. What starts as a few caravans, tents or a settler farm can become a permanent settlement with full backing from the Israeli state," she said.

Baidoun added: "Outposts can spread onto more land, link settlements and cut off Palestinian communities from basic services and healthcare. For families already facing attacks and threats, and unable to reach their grazing land for two years, every new development makes it harder to stay."

"That’s why the speed of work on the hill overlooking Al-Shuneh is so alarming."

MAP cited previous incidents, including reports earlier this month that settlers had repeatedly entered the community and threatened residents with expulsion following Israel’s election.  

The organisation also highlighted an attack in August, when armed settlers reportedly assaulted a family and threatened to burn their homes and seize their livestock if they refused to leave.

Around 80 families now face uncertainty over whether they will be able to remain in their homes, while residents have described difficulties accessing basic services, according to MAP. 

Settlers have reportedly spent days clearing land and carrying out construction on the hill overlooking the community.  

MAP said more than three settler families had arrived at the site and begun installing what appeared to be water pipes and electricity cables. 

Baidoun has since called for the urgent protection of Palestinian communities such as Al-Shuneh, arguing that a potential change in Israel’s leadership following Tuesday’s election will likely not change conditions for Palestinians on the ground.

“Whatever the outcome of Israel’s election, there is little reason to expect a change in the policies driving settlement expansion and settler violence," Baidoun told TNA.

"All of Israel’s major political parties support the settlement project, and Palestinian communities cannot rely on a new government to protect them from the violence and displacement it actively encourages and enables."

Activists and journalists report settler assault 

The latest reports of violence came as Russian activist Adele Shoko said she and two colleagues- US journalist Jasper Nathaniel and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X - were attacked by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank. 

In posts on social media, Shoko said the group had been beaten and threatened by armed settlers, who stole equipment and personal belongings. 

“Jasper and I were also beaten. Jasper was then pepper-sprayed and arrested,” Shoko wrote, adding that Nathaniel was taken away by Israeli forces. 

“Andrey was severely beaten and lost consciousness several times in front of police. Despite this, he was denied hospital treatment. He was put in an ambulance – but instead of being taken to hospital, he was taken to a police station. He is still there, arrested and being denied medical care,” she added. 

Video footage shared online showed several men, some of them armed, beating Nathaniel and Andrey X. Other footage appeared to show Israeli authorities leading Nathaniel away as he shouted that he had been beaten. 

In subsequent updates, Shoko said Nathaniel and Andrey X were “physically okay” and were “having their court hearing” following their detention. 

Activists have since reported that Andrey X was released from Israeli custody following Thursday’s court hearing, while Nathaniel’s status has yet to be publicly confirmed.

On Monday, United Nations-mandated investigators said Israel was committing “extermination” in the West Bank.  

Before the election, Palestinians in the West Bank were already facing record levels of violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers, which have intensified since the outbreak of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc on Thursday piled pressure on Arab-Israeli leaders over unproven accusations of foreign funding, in a push to neuter parties that could hold the key to forming a government after an inconclusive election.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, called for an investigation into allegations but cautioned against stigmatising the entire Arab-Israeli community, who voted at unprecedented rates.

Israel was nearing the completion of ballot counting from Tuesday's election, the first since Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks, with neither Netanyahu nor the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot appearing able to secure a majority.

The Netanyahu camp's accusations, denied by both Arab-majority lists, could bring new uncertainty into the electoral process at a time when the threat of a new Israeli and US attack on Iran looms over the region.

The election saw soaring participation by Arab-Israelis, descendants of Palestinians who stayed after the country's creation in 1948, as outrage boiled at calls by officials such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to treat their community much as Israel has dealt with Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Following Netanyahu's accusations, Ben-Gvir went so far as to encourage Israel to "immediately" order the arrests of Arab party leaders.

The Arab parties together have enough votes to take the opposition bloc over the finish line, but Eisenkot has baulked after relentless attacks by Netanyahu, who warned his right-wing Jewish base that voting for the opposition would put Arabs in power.

'Political earthquake'

Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, a conservative who heads the Central Elections Committee, requested an investigation by the Shin Bet security service into allegations that the Arab grouping Ra'am received money from Qatar, the energy-rich Gulf powerbroker that has channels to Hamas.

"The Ra'amgate scandal is a political earthquake. Israel's elections have been stolen!" Netanyahu's Likud party said.

Ra'am chief Mansour Abbas said his party had "no connection whatsoever to the affair", and welcomed an investigation.

The Joint List, which unites three Arab-majority parties, accused Netanyahu and his allies of a "campaign of incitement" that "exposes their fear" of Arab citizens' political strength.

Government officials did not offer evidence to back the allegations, and left-wing candidate Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of attempting to stir controversy after failing to get a majority.

"He is trying to challenge the election results," Golan said.

Netanyahu himself has long been under the cloud of allegations related to Qatar after the arrests last year of two of his aides for allegedly receiving payments from the Gulf state.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari called the latest accusations "ridiculous and dangerous".

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, for years tacitly supported Qatar funding for Hamas-ruled Gaza, hoping to preserve stability.

That paradigm collapsed on 7 October 2023.

Kingmakers under pressure

With nearly 93% of the vote counted, Netanyahu's bloc was at 53 seats and the opposition forces led by Eisenkot on 48 - both under the 61 needed to form a government.

The two Arab formations were on track for an unprecedented 19 seats between them.

Yousef Jabareen, head of the Joint List, had told AFP that he was willing to cooperate with the opposition to bring down Netanyahu but without joining it in a government.

Eisenkot called allegations of Qatari interference "profoundly serious" and backed an investigation, but warned that Netanyahu may be trying to delay election results.

Netanyahu had tried during the voting to raise allegations of fraud, saying that Arab parties were caught with envelopes of cash, and his Likud party peddled the accusations throughout Thursday.

Police said they arrested three suspects but the election commission called it an isolated local case.

Dean Livne, acting director-general of the central elections committee, rejected a call from a right-wing lawmaker to convene a meeting on fraud, saying that any suggestion of widespread issues was "entirely groundless".

Another factor that could play into the formation of a government is an attack on Iran.

Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to strike Iran, with President Donald Trump signalling he was ready to attack after next Tuesday's US midterm elections.

Eisenkot has warned the military that Netanyahu has no mandate and that officers must put Israel's security over the premier's "political needs".

An attack could raise pressure on Eisenkot to join an emergency unity government or keep the clock running until Israel can call new elections.

(AFP and TNA staff)

Qatar categorically denied allegations that it interfered in Israel's parliamentary elections or financed efforts to influence the results, saying Israeli politicians were attempting to drag Doha into their domestic political disputes following Tuesday's inconclusive vote.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari on Thursday rejected accusations circulated by Israeli politicians and media outlets linked to them, saying the claims were part of a new disinformation campaign targeting Qatar.

The allegations emerged after Palestinian parties secured a record 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, prompting far-right Israeli ministers to demand investigations into alleged "foreign funding" of Arab political parties.

In a statement, Al-Ansari highlighted contradictions in the accusations, which ranged from claims that Qatar had bought Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's loyalty to allegations that it had financed the Israeli left and influenced Palestinian voters.

He said the allegations appeared to suggest that Qatar controlled the entire Israeli political landscape, describing them as both absurd and dangerous.

Al-Ansari accused sections of Israel's political and media establishment of displaying an excessive obsession with Qatar that went beyond reason.

"Qatar is not a scapegoat for the political failures of some Israeli politicians," he said, adding that they should instead respond to voters' aspirations and address the consequences of their policies in the region.

He stressed that Qatar had no interest in Israel's domestic political or electoral competition and would not accept being drawn into disputes between rival parties.

Far-right ministers demand arrests

The Qatari response follows growing accusations from Israeli officials after the Joint List and the United Arab List (Ra'am) secured a combined 19 parliamentary seats, according to near-final election results.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Israel's domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, to arrest the leaders of Palestinian political parties over suspected links to Qatari funding.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also demanded that the party leaders be questioned, claiming that suspicions of electoral manipulation involving foreign Islamic funding represented a test for Israel.

Netanyahu's Likud party described the alleged scandal, which it dubbed "Ra'am-gate", as an earthquake, claiming that the elections had been stolen through foreign interference and financial incentives offered to voters in support of Palestinian parties.

Likud further alleged that the supposed interference amounted to an attack on Israeli democracy aimed at "Islamising Israel" and bringing down the government.

However, Israeli police said they had no investigative or intelligence information supporting the allegations.

Central Elections Committee chairman Judge Noam Sohlberg also said he had no evidence establishing the nature of the suspicions.

The accusations come as Netanyahu's coalition faces an uncertain political future after winning just 53 seats, eight short of the parliamentary majority required to form a government.

Opposition parties secured 48 seats, while the record gains made by Palestinian parties have placed them in a potentially decisive position in coalition negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could remain in power for another two years before receiving a presidential pardon under a proposed unity government arrangement, according to Israeli media reports, as political deadlock following Tuesday's election threatens to prolong his rule.

Israel's Channel 14, which is close to Netanyahu, reported on Wednesday that President Isaac Herzog was considering promoting a rotation agreement under which Netanyahu would serve as prime minister for two more years before retiring from politics, with a pardon forming part of the arrangement.

However, Herzog's office strongly denied the report, describing it as "completely fake" and insisting that no such initiative existed.

The proposal is one of several arrangements being discussed in Israeli political circles after neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor the opposition secured the 61 seats needed to form a government.

According to the Channel 14 report, Netanyahu would lead the first half of a coalition government's term before handing power to another leader, potentially allowing him to avoid further political and legal uncertainty.

The proposed pardon would address Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, in which he faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, allegations he denies.

Netanyahu is also wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. An Israeli presidential pardon would not affect the ICC proceedings.

Trump-backed unity government

The reported initiative follows growing efforts among Netanyahu's allies to persuade opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to join a unity government despite his repeated refusal to serve under the Israeli prime minister.

The Washington Post reported that Netanyahu's camp has been actively promoting such an arrangement, with sympathetic figures in US President Donald Trump's administration discussing the possibility before the election.

According to the report, Netanyahu privately told American and European officials that a partnership with Eisenkot could allow him to abandon far-right coalition partners, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Netanyahu has also presented himself to US officials as the preferred Israeli leader for renewed military operations against Iran.

Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the election and has repeatedly pressured Herzog to pardon the prime minister.

Israeli reports on Thursday said that figures close to Netanyahu were considering several coalition arrangements, including a rotation agreement under which Eisenkot would become prime minister after approximately two years.

Another proposal would instead offer Eisenkot a senior ministerial position without requiring Netanyahu to relinquish power.

Likud officials believe Eisenkot could face pressure to accept a deal rather than risk another election, although there is no indication that he has agreed to negotiations.

Three leaders and a presidential pardon?

A separate proposal published by Israeli news outlet Ynet envisages a three-way rotation involving Netanyahu, Eisenkot and former prime minister Naftali Bennett.

In an opinion article, researcher Kobby Barda suggested Trump could broker an agreement allowing Netanyahu to remain prime minister until July 2028, when Herzog's presidential term ends.

Under the proposed arrangement, Netanyahu would then become president and receive a pardon, with Eisenkot assuming the premiership until January 2030 and Bennett taking over afterwards.

Barda argued that Trump could use his influence to secure the arrangement as part of efforts to advance normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

A photo of an Israeli soldier smiling in front of the damaged Saint Joseph Church in the southern Lebanese village of Qaouzah has sparked widespread anger and calls to protect the 120-year-old religious site.

The image, circulated on social media on Wednesday, shows the soldier standing in front of the partially damaged church, surrounded by rubble and debris.

Much of the visible damage is to the church's roof and exterior, although the structure remains standing.

Qaouzah's mayor, Charbel Rizk, told local media that protecting the historic church would require safe access to the village, which has been cut off by Israeli military operations.

He also appealed to Pope Leo XIV and Lebanese authorities to "preserve this 120-year-old church".

"Our ancestors built the church through their hard work. The dome was already damaged during the conflict, and there is damage inside," he said, stressing the mainly Christian village's deep connection to the church.

Israel's occupation of parts of southern Lebanon has displaced civilians, while attacks on and the desecration of places of worship by Israeli soldiers have been documented across the region.

"We want to return to the village, even if we have to sleep under an olive tree or next to the church. We have had no access to the village since the beginning of the war in early March," Rizk said.

He added that the village's strategic location had left it repeatedly exposed to attacks during previous conflicts.

Vincent Gelot, director of a French Catholic organisation that has been providing supplies to isolated Christian villages in southern Lebanon, condemned attacks on religious sites following the circulation of the image.

"It is unacceptable to attack religious sanctuaries," he said, as concerns grew over the destruction of religious and cultural heritage.

However, Gelot stressed that the circumstances surrounding the damage to Saint Joseph Church remained unclear.

"We do not know when this destruction occurred or who committed it," he said, calling for an investigation to establish the facts.

He added that efforts to investigate the damage and identify those responsible had been hampered by Israeli forces preventing teams from entering the area.

Residents have also appealed to international officials to help protect their community following the circulation of the photograph.

Locals contacted Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paolo Borgia and US Ambassador Michael Issa, urging them to intervene to protect religious sites.

According to local media reports, around 54 families lived in Qaouzah before the latest displacement, with most forced to abandon their homes and belongings.

Parish priest Father Antonios Hanna told local media that the church held particular significance because generations of villagers had cut and carried stones to build it.

He said the building was central to the community's religious and cultural heritage.

This is not the first time photographs of Israeli soldiers at Christian religious sites in Lebanon have sparked outrage.

In May, the Israeli military launched an investigation after a photograph showing a soldier desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon triggered international condemnation.

The image, taken in the village of Debel, showed the soldier placing a cigarette in the statue's mouth while smoking another himself.

Earlier this year, another Israeli soldier was photographed damaging a statue of Jesus in the same village. The incident followed reports that Israeli troops had bulldozed solar panels supplying electricity to the area.

​Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has donated $10 million from his personal funds to two of Damascus' most prominent religious sites, the Umayyad Mosque and the Sayyida Zainab shrine, in a symbolic gesture highlighting shared religious and historical ties as Baghdad and Damascus seek to strengthen relations.

Zaidi allocated $5 million to each site during his visit to the Syrian capital on Wednesday, according to a statement from his media office.

The visit marked the first by an Iraqi prime minister to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Zaidi, a Shia Muslim, was accompanied by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and other senior officials during visits to both sites.

The choice of destinations was largely symbolic. The Umayyad Mosque is one of the most important historic Sunni Muslim sites in the region, while the Sayyida Zainab shrine is among Syria’s most prominent Shia pilgrimage destinations.

Together, the visits offered a public display of religious coexistence and Arab solidarity at a time when the two countries are seeking to move beyond years of political tension.

Zaidi prayed at both the Umayyad Mosque and later did the same at Sayyida Zainab.

Beyond its religious importance, the Umayyad Mosque, which was built in the eighth century, is associated with the political power of the Umayyad Dynasty, which had its capital in Damascus and is often associated with Sunni Islam.

The mosque itself, however, is also part of a shared Islamic heritage and has significance for Muslims from different backgrounds. Its complex includes a site traditionally associated with the head of Hussein.

The Sayyida Zainab shrine, meanwhile, is widely believed by Shia Muslims to be the burial place of Zainab bint Ali, the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad and sister of Hussein. It has become one of the region's most important destinations for Shia pilgrims.

The shrine also became a focal point of sectarian mobilisation during Syria’s civil war. Iran-backed Shia militias that fought alongside Assad’s forces justified their intervention in the conflict by saying it was necessary to protect it from extremist Sunni groups.

The two sites' historical and religious associations make Zaidi's visits notable amid efforts to ease sectarian tensions and strengthen ties between the neighbouring countries.

'One people in two countries'

The visits came after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that Iraqi visitors would be welcome at the Sayyida Zainab shrine, provided appropriate security arrangements were in place.

In a recent interview with Iraqi broadcaster Dijlah TV, Sharaa said authorities had arrested people who attempted to exploit the issue to stir sectarian tensions.

He also stressed that Damascus did not view its relationship with Baghdad through a sectarian or ethnic lens, but instead sought to build on shared history, economic interests and longstanding social connections between the two populations.

Alongside the religious visits, Zaidi and Sharaa discussed economic cooperation, security coordination and regional developments.

A key issue was the proposed revival of the Iraq-Syria oil export corridor, which would allow Iraqi crude oil to reach Mediterranean markets through Syria’s port of Baniyas.

According to a statement from Zaidi’s office, the two sides discussed exporting Iraqi oil through the pipeline at a capacity of up to two million barrels per day.

Relations between the two countries have faced difficulties since Assad’s removal, particularly given the role of Iran-backed Iraqi and regional militias in supporting his government during the Syrian war.

Some Iran-aligned factions in Iraq have been wary of Syria’s new leadership. However, the government has sought to take a more pragmatic approach towards Damascus, focusing on border security, trade and regional cooperation.

During his meeting with Sharaa, al-Zaidi described Iraqis and Syrians as “one people in two countries,” stressing the need to deepen their partnership and expand bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders had previously met in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.