Skip next section UN grants Abbas video address after US visa denial
09/19/2025September 19, 2025UN grants Abbas video address after US visa denial
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address next week’s United Nations General Assembly debate by video after the United States denied him a visa for the gathering of world leaders in New York.
The UN General Assembly approved an exemption allowing Abbas to speak virtually, with 145 of 193 member states — including Germany — backing the decision. The waiver also lets him deliver a remote speech Monday at a conference on a two-state solution in Israel and the Palestinian territories. His General Assembly remarks are scheduled for Thursday.
Washington revoked existing visas for Abbas and dozens of other Palestinian Authority officials and said it would not issue new ones, accusing the Palestinian leadership of undermining peace efforts. The Trump administration remains firmly aligned with Israel in the Gaza war.
Under its headquarters agreement with the UN, the US is normally obliged to grant visas to representatives traveling to the UN in Manhattan, where in-person appearances are usually required for the annual debate.
What is the Palestinian Authority?
The Palestinian Authority is based in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It runs an autonomous administration in parts of the territory and has also been involved in diplomatic efforts toward international recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Many Western countries, including the US, have said they will only recognize the Palestinian territories as an independent nation within the framework of a comprehensive peace agreement with Israel.
Recently, there has been a renewed push for countries to recognize a Palestinian state, with the United Kingdom pledging to do so in September if Israel does not commit to a ceasefire in Gaza, amid other conditions.
Israeli hostage relative wants an end to war
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https://p.dw.com/p/50msz
Skip next section German government mulls €30 billion for Palestinian Authority
09/19/2025September 19, 2025German government mulls €30 billion for Palestinian Authority
Germany’s coalition government is considering an additional €30 billion ($35.2 million) for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank.
But the conservative CSU party has expressed its doubts about the move.
Click here to for more on this in our blog following developments in Germany.
https://p.dw.com/p/50mEa
Skip next section Israeli army warns of ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City
09/19/2025September 19, 2025Israeli army warns of ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City
Israel is intensifying its operations in northern GazaImage: Ammar Awad/REUTERS
The Israeli military warned it will use “unprecedented” force in Gaza City as it urged residents to flee southwards.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also announced the closure of a temporary evacuation route that was only opened 48 hours earlier.
“From this moment, Salah al-Din Road is closed for southbound travel. The Israeli Defence Forces will continue to operate with unprecedented and intense force against Hamas and other terrorist organisations,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said in a post on X addressed to the residents of Gaza City.
The spokesman added that the only possible route south was via Al-Rashid Street, urging residents to “take this opportunity” to join those “who have already moved to the humanitarian area in the south.”
https://p.dw.com/p/50kXn
Skip next section UN says Israel is destabilizing region with attacks in southern Lebanon
09/19/2025September 19, 2025UN says Israel is destabilizing region with attacks in southern Lebanon
The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has criticized Israel’s attacks in southern Lebanon on Thursday.
“Last night’s strikes by Israel in south Lebanon are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and put the fragile stability that has been built since November of last year at risk,” UNIFIL posted on X on Friday morning.
“Continued escalation puts the hard-fought progress the parties have made to restore stability at risk,” it added.
On Thursday, the Israeli military conducted strikes targeting what it said were Hezbollah sites in south Lebanon shortly after it urged residents of several villages in the region to evacuate.
https://p.dw.com/p/50jwF
Skip next section Iran hits back at European powers over moves to reimpose sanctions
09/19/2025September 19, 2025Iran hits back at European powers over moves to reimpose sanctions
Iran on Friday slammed a move by European powers to issue sanctions by the end of the month if Tehran does not meet certain conditions, including access for UN nuclear inspectors.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom — dubbed the E3 — last month indicated they wanted to trigger the “snapback mechanism,” which reimposes all UN sanctions that were in effect before the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement that stymies Iran’s nuclear program.
“What Europeans are doing is politically biased and politically motivated … They are wrong on different levels by trying to misuse the mechanism embedded in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the media in Geneva.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said later on Friday that he had presented a “fair and balanced” proposal.
Khatibzadeh said all options are on the table if diplomacy fails.
“If Europeans go on this path, they are making the level of unpredictability to the highest level possible, and they are responsible for…any possible future risks,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution Friday on whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
South Korea, which assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for September 2025, presented the resolution which requires at least nine votes to stop the sanctions from taking effect at the end of the month, as outlined by the JCPOA.
https://p.dw.com/p/50jF5
Skip next section Israel closes West Bank’s sole crossing with Jordan
09/19/2025September 19, 2025Israel closes West Bank’s sole crossing with Jordan
The alleged perpetrator of the shooting was killed in the clash, according to Israeli emergency servicesImage: Salaheddin Mohammad/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO
Israel shut the only border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan on Friday morning.
The closure comes a day after a truck driver delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza from Jordan opened fire and killed two Israeli military personnel who were manning the crossing.
The Israeli Airports Authority, which operates the Allenby Bridge crossing, announced that it would be closed until further notice.
The two border crossings between Israel and Jordan were also affected: the Jordan River in the north was shut down, while the Rabin crossing in the south remained open only to workers.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack at the Allenby Bridge, which is a key trade route between Jordan and Israel.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iXH
Skip next section Welcome back to our coverage
09/19/2025September 19, 2025Welcome back to our coverage
Welcome back as DW resumes our live coverage of developments in Israel and the Middle East.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest on the deadly shooting of Israeli personnel at a West Bank border crossing, as well as the proposed sanctions facing Iran over its nuclear program.
https://p.dw.com/p/50jI8
Skip next section We’ve paused our coverage for now
09/19/2025September 19, 2025We’ve paused our coverage for now
We’ve paused our coverage for now and will be back with the latest developments in the Middle East tomorrow.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iVY
Skip next section Leaders of Germany and Spain admit ‘divergent views’ on Gaza
09/19/2025September 19, 2025Leaders of Germany and Spain admit ‘divergent views’ on Gaza
Merz’s first visit to Madrid has been overshadowed by tensions over IsraelImage: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu/picture alliance
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Spain and Germany have acknowledged “divergent views” and draw “different conclusions” on the conflict in Gaza.
Merz met on Thursday with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, with the visit in Madrid coming as the EU discusses potential sanctions on Israel over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
With several EU member states expressing support for sanctions, Germany remains a notable holdout.
Conservative Merz said Germany stands “firmly” with Israel but described its military response in Gaza as “disproportionate.”
Sanchez’s left-wing government has been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s military campaign in Gaza.
“Criticism of the Israeli government must be possible, but we must never allow it to be used to incite hatred against Jews,” Merz said, adding that he and Sanchez agreed on this.
However, Merz made it clear the Germany has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state, which Spain did in 2024. Sanchez has also referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” and has called for a ban on Israeli athletes at international sporting events.
EU proposes sanctions against Israel over Gaza war
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https://p.dw.com/p/50iWz
Skip next section Italian port blocks ‘explosives’ shipment to Israel
09/18/2025September 18, 2025Italian port blocks ‘explosives’ shipment to Israel
Officials in the northern Italian city of Ravenna said they have blocked a shipment of “explosives” that had been on its way to Israel.
The city, located in the Emilia-Romagna region, is governed by the center-left opposition Democratic Party.
“Thanks to courageous dockers, we were informed last night of the scheduled arrival today of two containers to the Ravenna port,” Ravenna Mayor Alessandro Barattoni said in a video statement posted to social media.
There was no immediate comment from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
Last month, Meloni expressed her “deep concern” over Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City, adding they could aggravate the already difficult humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iKt
Skip next section US vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Gaza
09/18/2025September 18, 2025US vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Gaza
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“The United States rejects this unacceptable resolution. It is beyond time that Hamas release every single hostage now and surrender immediately. The United States will continue to work with its partners to bring an end to this horrific conflict,” US envoy to the UN, Morgan Ortagus, said.
The text received 10 votes in favor.
It was the sixth time the US vetoed a text in the Security Council on the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iKs
Skip next section Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
09/18/2025September 18, 2025Israel launches strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
Israel has kept up its strikes on southern Lebanon, despite a truce signed in November that ended more than a year of hostilities and two months of open war with HezbollahImage: Rabih Daher/AFP
Israel‘s military said it had launched a number of air strikes against what it described as targets belonging to the Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon.
Thick smoke was seen in Debbin, where the heaviest strikes were reported.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued warnings advising residents to stay away from buildings ahead of airstrikes.
“The IDF will attack military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah throughout southern Lebanon in response to its prohibited attempts to rebuild its activities in the area,” said spokesman Avichay Adraee on X.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes and accused Israel of disregarding the ceasefire mechanism established under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, aimed at ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iCq
Skip next section 4 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza explosion
09/18/2025September 18, 20254 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza explosion
Israel‘s military reported the deaths of four soldiers in southern Gaza, the first deaths reported since the launch of an offensive to seize Gaza City.
Israeli media reported that the four were killed in the early hours of the morning in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
The deaths come as Israeli warplanes pounded targets in parts of the city.
The AFP news agency cited journalists and witnesses as saying they saw a steady stream of Palestinians heading south on foot, in vehicles and on donkey carts with piles of their belongings.
The UN estimated at the end of August that around 1 million people were living in Gaza City and its surroundings. Israel says 350,000 of them have fled.
More deaths in Gaza as Israel pushes on with offensive
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Skip next section Aid driver kills 2 Israeli soldiers before being killed by security forces
09/18/2025September 18, 2025Aid driver kills 2 Israeli soldiers before being killed by security forces
Israel‘s military said that two Israeli soldiers have been killed by a driver from Jordan, bringing in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service said the two Israelis, who initially were not identified, succumbed to their wounds while the attacker was shot dead by security forces.
The attack took place at the King Hussein Bridge, also known as the Allenby Bridge, at the border crossing from Jordan into the occupied West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it recommended the government halt humanitarian aid arriving from Jordan pending an investigation into “the inspection procedures for the Jordanian drivers.”
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack in a statement and said an investigation would be launched, saying the shootings were a threat to its humanitarian role in Gaza.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iBd
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage09/18/2025September 18, 2025Welcome to our coverage
Israel‘s army says a Jordanian aid driver has killed two Israeli soldiers in an attack at a crossing into the ocupied West Bank.
The army is now urging the Israeli government to halt humanitarian aid for Gaza entering from Jordan.
Separately, the military said four Israeli soldiers were killed in a blast in southern Gaza, as the offensive to capture Gaza City continues.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have also said they have struck targets in Lebanon.
Stay with DW for developments.
https://p.dw.com/p/50iBO