Rabia Ali
05 August 2025•Update: 05 August 2025
ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including Israeli prime minister deciding to fully occupy Gaza, Israel killing 63 Palestinians in fresh attacks in Gaza, and Kremlin saying Moscow does not rule out talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
TOP STORIES
- Israeli prime minister decides to fully occupy Gaza: Local media
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to fully occupy the Gaza Strip and expand military operations in the enclave, local media said on Monday evening.
“The die is cast — we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip,” a senior official close to Netanyahu was quoted as saying by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
“There will be operations even in areas where hostages are being held. If the IDF (Israeli army) chief of staff doesn’t agree, he should resign.”
Israeli Channel 12 said the decision signals a major shift in Israel’s Gaza strategy, with operations now expected in densely populated areas, including central refugee camps.
- 63 Palestinians killed in fresh Israeli attacks in battered Gaza
At least 63 Palestinians were killed and many others injured on Monday in Israeli attacks in the war-torn Gaza Strip, according to medics and witnesses.
In northern Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid near the Israeli military post at Zikim, killing seven and injuring 90 others, a medical source said.
In nearby Beit Lahia, three more civilians were killed in an airstrike, while eight members of a group securing aid delivery were killed at Al-Twam roundabout, north of Gaza City.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry said that five people died from famine and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll from starvation since October 2023 to 180, including 93 children.
- Kremlin says Russia does not rule out talks between Putin, Witkoff this week
The Kremlin on Monday said that Moscow does not rule out a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff this week, as the latter is set to conduct a visit to the country.
“We do not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing, defining contacts with Witkoff as “important, meaningful, and very useful.”
Peskov’s remarks came as US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Witkoff may travel to Russia “Wednesday or Thursday.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The Trump administration changed course Monday amid outrage sparked by its threat to withhold at least $1.9 billion in disaster preparedness funding to states and local governments that support boycotts of Israel or Israeli firms.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday congratulated British Prime Minister Starmer for his statements on the recognition of the state of Palestine.
- Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro, local media reported Monday.
- India on Monday pushed back on criticism by the US and EU over its continued trade with Russia, asserting that New Delhi will “safeguard national interests.”
- South Korea said Tuesday that it is seeking to strengthen ties with China while maintaining its staunch alliance with the US, Yonhap News Agency reported.
- Russia's former President Dmitry Medvedev blamed NATO countries Monday for Moscow's withdrawal from a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Monday discussed regional issues, including the situation in the Gaza Strip, in a phone call.
- The Israeli army said early Tuesday that it intercepted a missile launched by the Houthi group from Yemen.
- Iran said Monday it will not place its defense capabilities on the table in any negotiations over its nuclear program.
- For the first time, Palestine will attend the ceremony in Hiroshima marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city on Wednesday, Kyodo News reported on Monday.
- An average of 28 children are being killed each day in Gaza amid Israel's restrictions on the delivery of direly needed humanitarian assistance and a collapse of vital services, the UNICEF said on Monday.
- Far-right British figure Tommy Robinson has been arrested over last week's alleged assault at a London train station, police said Monday.
- The UN high commissioner for human rights on Monday decried the ongoing starvation in the Gaza Strip, calling it an "affront to our collective humanity."
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Japan seeks swift cut to US auto tariffs following trade deal
Japan’s top tariff negotiator said Tuesday that he is heading to the US later in the day to push for a swift reduction in auto tariffs in line with a recent bilateral trade deal, according to media reports.
Ryosei Akazawa, who also serves as minister in charge of economic revitalization, told a Diet committee that the purpose of his US visit is to confirm that there are no discrepancies in the agreed tariff terms, Kyodo News Agency reported.
The Trump administration recently reduced the reciprocal tariff on Japanese goods to 15%, but it remains unclear when the new rate will be implemented.
- Tesla awards Elon Musk about $29B in shares
The US electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla announced late Sunday that the CEO Elon Musk will be given a stock bonus worth approximately $29 billion.
"On August 3, 2025, the Company approved an award of 96 million shares of restricted stock ('2025 CEO Interim Award') to Mr. Musk under the Company's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan ('2019 Plan')," the firm said in a securities filing.
The pay package would vest in two years, Tesla said, provided Musk remained CEO or in another important executive role.
