Thousands gathered in Beirut on Sunday for the delayed funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, who was killed in September by an Israeli airstrike following months of Hezbollah attacks on Israeli civilian targets.
The Biden administration is reallocating over $100 million in military aid originally earmarked for Israel and Egypt to Lebanon. The funding aims to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement brokered between Israel and Hezbollah. The State Department outlined the plan in notices sent to Congress on January 3.
A federal grand jury has indicted Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, a former Pittsburgh resident and dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, on charges of attempting to support Hezbollah, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and making false statements regarding international terrorism.
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard law professor emeritus, told Newsmax on Sunday that Hamas is likely to release a small number of American hostages before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Speaking on Sunday Report, Dershowitz predicted this move as a symbolic gesture toward Trump but emphasized it would not halt the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Middle East stands at a pivotal crossroads. Iran, emboldened by its nuclear advancements, poses an existential threat not just to Israel but to global stability.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump has a potential opportunity to negotiate with Iran, emphasizing that the development of a nuclear weapon by Tehran is not inevitable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his corruption trial was postponed on Monday under special circumstances, sparking speculation about critical developments regarding either a hostage deal with Hamas or a potential military strike on Iran.
Several Druze Arab villages in southwestern Syria are calling to be annexed by Israel rather than remain under rebel-controlled Syria, citing concerns over security and radical Islamist threats. The Druze, a religious minority with roots in the Levant, have historically maintained loyalty to their residing nations while prioritizing local stability.
Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders was awarded the Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty during his visit to Israel, where he affirmed his unwavering support for the Jewish state. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana presented the award, commending Wilders for his decades-long advocacy against radical Islam and support for Israel’s sovereignty. Wilders met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials during his diplomatic visit.
