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Concerns Mount over Pandemic Outbreak in Eastern Libya

Men wear face masks at a bank in Libya, March 22. (Reuters)
Men wear face masks at a bank in Libya, March 22. (Reuters)
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Concerns Mount over Pandemic Outbreak in Eastern Libya

Men wear face masks at a bank in Libya, March 22. (Reuters)
Men wear face masks at a bank in Libya, March 22. (Reuters)

Medical agencies in eastern Libya have underlined the dangerous health situation in the country amid a growing number of novel coronavirus infections and the people’s disregard of social distancing measures.

The National Center for Disease Control, meanwhile, registered 2,669 new cases, 553 recoveries and 60 deaths.

Dr. Ahmed al-Hassi, vice president and spokesman of the Coronavirus Epidemic Advisory Medical Committee in eastern Libya, said the committee is tasked with helping people commit to preventive measures.

“We are frustrated however, because they have not realized the importance of social distancing,” he added.

During a press conference on Sunday, he stated that the pandemic is worsening and handling it is becoming impossible because of a lack of capacity at hospitals.

Despite this, the Committee has managed, since March 16, to reduce the number of virus cases through shutting down all ports and imposing a curfew, he stressed.

Further, Hassi attributed the surge in cases to people ignoring social distancing and continuing to attend social events, such as weddings and funerals.

As of July 26, 163 cases were confirmed in the Jufra-Tazirbu and Kufra-Imsaad areas. Seventy-three of these cases were reported in Benghazi, 11 in al-Bayda, 10 in al-Abyar, 14 cases Bin Jawad, 24 in Ajdabiya, 15 in Jufra and the rest in Brega, Harawa, Kufra, Derna and Tobruk. Some cases were diagnosed in Sirte, he added.

The Libyan National Center for Disease Control reported 122 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, with 19 infections in Tripoli, 32 in each of Misrata and Sabha.

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Arab World

Israeli Minister Says Army will Occupy All Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visits Nariman House to pay his respects to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, in Mumbai, India, 09 September 2025. EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visits Nariman House to pay his respects to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, in Mumbai, India, 09 September 2025. EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI
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Israeli Minister Says Army will Occupy All Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visits Nariman House to pay his respects to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, in Mumbai, India, 09 September 2025. EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visits Nariman House to pay his respects to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, in Mumbai, India, 09 September 2025. EPA/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas may soon be given a deadline to lay down its weapons.

"We estimate that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza," Smotrich said in an interview with public broadcaster Kan, AFP reported.

Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in 2023, in retaliation for Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack.

Under the first phase of a US-sponsored ceasefire in Gaza intended to halt two years of war, the Israeli army withdrew to positions behind a so-called Yellow Line, but still controls over half of the territory.

Both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of near-daily ceasefire violations, with the health ministry in Gaza reporting 615 people killed by Israeli forces since the truce started.

The Israeli military says it has lost five of its soldiers during the same period.

If Hamas does not comply with the Israeli ultimatum to disarm, the army "will have international legitimacy and American backing to do it itself, and the (military) is already preparing for this and is making plans", said the minister, who is a member of Israel's security cabinet charged with approving large-scale military operations.

The second ceasefire phase, which officially began last month, calls for a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army and the disarmament of Hamas, which the militant group has vehemently opposed.

"The (Israeli military) will definitely enter and occupy Gaza if Hamas does not disarm," Smotrich said.

Asked how the military would do this, he said "there are two or three alternatives right now that we are examining".

The peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump also calls for the establishment of a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force, called the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), to which several countries have committed troops.

Asked how the Israeli army would operate against Hamas when foreign soldiers were deployed on the ground, Smotrich said the latter would "pull out very quickly and allow the (Israeli military) to enter. This is coordinated with the Americans."

"By the way, I don't yet see them going in that fast," he added of the ISF.

A security source in Gaza, meanwhile, said on Monday that Israeli forces shelled Beit Lahia in the north.

The source also said that Israeli tanks opened fire in the south Gaza city of Khan Younis, where at least two air strikes were also conducted.

Israel's military said Monday that Israeli troops "eliminated" a fighter who had crossed the Yellow Line into Israeli-held territory the previous day.

Arab World

Four Syrian Security Personnel Killed in ISIS Attack

FILE PHOTO: A member loyal to the Islamic State waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/Files
FILE PHOTO: A member loyal to the Islamic State waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/Files
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Four Syrian Security Personnel Killed in ISIS Attack

FILE PHOTO: A member loyal to the Islamic State waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/Files
FILE PHOTO: A member loyal to the Islamic State waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/Files

Four Syrian security personnel were killed in ISIS terrorist group attack in the northern city of Raqa, which was recently taken by Damascus from Kurdish forces, state media reported on Monday.

Syria's interior ministry said in a statement that the "terrorist attack" targeted a checkpoint in the area, adding that one of the assailants was killed, AFP reported.

In its spokesperson's first audio message in two years, ISIS had called on its militants Saturday to fight Syrian authorities.

Arab World

Israeli Settlers Torch and Deface a West Bank Mosque during Ramadan

People check a fire-damaged area in the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque following, according to Palestinian authorities, an attack by Israeli settlers on the West Bank village of Tell, near Nablus, Monday, February 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
People check a fire-damaged area in the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque following, according to Palestinian authorities, an attack by Israeli settlers on the West Bank village of Tell, near Nablus, Monday, February 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
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Israeli Settlers Torch and Deface a West Bank Mosque during Ramadan

People check a fire-damaged area in the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque following, according to Palestinian authorities, an attack by Israeli settlers on the West Bank village of Tell, near Nablus, Monday, February 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
People check a fire-damaged area in the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque following, according to Palestinian authorities, an attack by Israeli settlers on the West Bank village of Tell, near Nablus, Monday, February 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli settlers vandalized a mosque in the Israeli-occupied West Bank early Monday, spray-painting offensive phrases and setting a fire, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Worshippers arriving for the day's first prayers found the damage and a smoldering fire that spewed black smoke across the entrance of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, near Nablus, and stained the ornate doorway.

“I was shocked when I opened the door," said Munir Ramdan, who lives nearby. "The fire had been burning here in the area, the glass was broken here and the door was broken.”

Security camera footage showed two people walking toward the mosque carrying gasoline and a can of spray paint, and running away a few minutes later, Ramdan said, The AP news reported.

The attackers spray-painted graffiti denigrating the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the words “revenge” and “price tag.” In “price tag” attacks, hard-line Israeli nationalists attack Palestinians and vandalize their property in response to Palestinian militant attacks or perceived efforts by Israeli authorities to limit settlement activity.

The ministry said settlers vandalized or attacked 45 mosques in the West Bank last year.

The latest incident occurred as Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan.

“The provocation is directed especially at the person who is fasting, because you are fasting and entering a month of mercy and forgiveness from God,” said Salem Ishtayeh, a resident of Tell. “So they like to provoke you with words. It’s not that they are attacking you personally, they are attacking your religion, the Islamic faith.”

The Israeli military and police said they responded to the incident and were searching for suspects. The military said it “strongly condemns” harm done to religious institutions.

Palestinians and rights groups say Israeli authorities routinely fail to prosecute settlers or hold them accountable for violence.

There has been a recent surge in violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Last week, settlers killed a Palestinian-American man, Nasrallah Abu Siyam.

According to information released by Israel's military last month, there were 867 attacks by settlers against Palestinians and security forces in 2025, an increase of 27% over 2024.

The number of serious settler attacks including shootings, arson and other violent crimes has increased sharply each year since far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spent his law career defending Jews who attacked Palestinians, became national security minister. The number of serious attacks increased from 54 in 2023 to 83 in 2024 and 128 in 2025.