Israel has refused to renew visas for the heads of at least three United Nations agencies in Gaza. The U.N. humanitarian chief blames it on their work trying to protect Palestinian civilians in the war-torn territory.

Lawfully present non-citizens in the United States likely have the same First Amendment rights as US citizens, a federal judge said Thursday, even in cases of speech some feel has a repugnant political message.

While some Druze leaders have urged accommodation with Damascus, others have come out strongly against Sharaa, notably Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, who urged resistance to government forces and appealed to world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during this week's violence.

Hundreds of Druze from Israel pushed across the border in solidarity with their Syrian cousins they feared were under attack. Many then met relatives never seen before.

When the executive committee of North Carolina’s Democratic Party passed a resolution in June calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel, it set off another episode in the party’s ongoing struggles with how it addresses the Israel-Hamas war.

For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.

"For me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and something we have lost," the film's director told newspaper "The Sunday Times."

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel will raise defence spending by 42 billion shekels ($12.5 billion) in 2025 and 2026, the finance and defence ministries said on Thursday, citing the country's security challenges.