Middle East live: 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA,' Trump posts - as 11 killed in Israeli strikes

Netanyahu thanks Trump for support amid corruption trial

Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked Donald Trump for his support during his ongoing corruption trial.

The US leader lashed out at prosecutors Saturday, saying that Washington, having given billions of dollars of aid to Israel, was not going to "stand for this".

"It is INSANITY doing what the out-of-control prosecutors are doing to Bibi Netanyahu," Trump said in one of his many Truth Social posts, claiming that the judicial process was going to interfere with Netanyahu's ability to conduct talks with Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Iran.

In response, Netanyahu, who has relied heavily on Trump's support and US arms, said: 

This marked the second time in a few days Trump waded in to defend Netanyahu.

An embattled Netanyahu holds on and fights back

In 2019, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust - all of which he denies.

The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases.

On Friday, the court rejected a request by Netanyahu's lawyers to delay his testimony for the next two weeks because of diplomatic and security matters following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. 

He is due to take the stand on Monday for cross-examination. 

Netanyahu has come under growing criticism during the war for his failure to return the hostages.

Politically, he has become increasingly reliant on the far-right as well.

Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war.

Israel has said the war can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled.

Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

In short, the two remain, and long have been, at loggerheads with neither willing to bend or change their position.

Palestinians weep as they mourn the dead after Israeli strikes

Here are some of the latest images from the Middle East.

In Gaza, mourners sobbed during the funeral for Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Khan Younis.

Such attacks are a near daily occurrence.

At least 11 Palestinians killed in latest Israeli strikes

At least 11 Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks on the enclave, medics have told the Reuters news agency.

Emergency personnel and residents said that Israel's bombardment of the Jabalia area escalated in the early hours of this morning.

It destroyed several houses and was said to have killed at least six people.

In Khan Younis, in the south, five people were killed in an airstrike on a tent encampment, medics added.

We reported earlier on an Israeli evacuation order covering the Gaza City and Jabalia area.

Thousands call for release of hostages late Saturday

Here are some of the latest pictures from this weekend.

Thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv, late Saturday, to call for the release of hostages.

Such protests have regularly taken place in Israel as the public has turned more against the government's wider handling of the war in Gaza.

Wes Streeting: 'Israel needs to get its own house in order'

Wes Streeting is on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips and has been speaking about some of the latest news from the Middle East.

When asked about the IDF chants at Glastonbury, see our 8.11 post, he branded it as a "shameless publicity stunt".

The health secretary added that the BBC and Glastonbury had questions to answer.

But, he also brought up the ongoing issue of settler violence, and said Israel needed to "get its own house in order" when asked about parts of the Glastonbury crowd joining in the IDF chant.

He said: "I'd also say to the Israeli embassy, get your own house in order, in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank. 

"So, you know, I, I think there's a serious point in there by the Israeli embassy, I take seriously. 

"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more, more seriously."

He made the comments in relation to settler violence against Palestinians this week.

'Nothing can move forward as long as Hamas exists,' US spokesperson says

Gaza will be not able to move forward "as long as Hamas exists," a US state department spokesperson has said.

"Nothing can move forward and Gaza will not be safe and there will not be peace as long as Hamas exists," US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

She made the comments speaking to Fox News.

It comes as Trump continues social media posts calling for a peace deal in the enclave.

Bruce also described Hamas as a "kind of a cancer" and added: "It is time for a new age for everyone in that region."

She also singled out Qatar for praise in its role facilitating talks, hoping to bring about an end to fighting.

Watch: Israeli embassy 'deeply disturbed' after IDF chant at Glastonbury

The Israeli embassy has said it is "deeply disturbed" after chants of "death, death to the IDF" were heard on stage at Glastonbury yesterday.

Video shows one of the members of Bob Vylan shouting the slogan into the mic yesterday as they performed, and some of the crowd joining in.

The festival had already made headlines with the performance of Irish trio Kneecap.

One member of the group was charged with a terror offence in May after being accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror group Hezbollah at a gig.

Israel issues evacuation warning to Palestinians

Israel has issued an evacuation warning to Palestinians in Gaza City and Jabalia.

The warning was shared on social media by Avichay Adraee, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) spokesperson for Arab media.

People were told to leave the named areas and move south.

Adraee said that the IDF was "operating with extreme force" and warned "these military operations will escalate, intensify and extend westward to the city centre to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organisations."

The areas listed as needing to be evacuated were: The Gaza City and Jabalia areas, and the neighbourhoods of al Zaytoun East, Old Town, Turkmen, Ajdida, al Tuffah, al Daraj, al Sabra, Jabalia Town, Jabalia Nazla, Jabalia Camp, al Rawda, al Nahda, al Zuhur, al Nur, al Salam, and Tal al Zaatar.

The majority of the population in Gaza has been displaced since the 7 October attacks.

Israel has often issued such warnings, and tends to follow them up with strikes it says are aimed at Hamas fighters.

At least 71 killed in Israeli strike on notorious Iran prison during 12-day war

At least 71 people were killed in an Israeli strike on an Iran prison, a spokesperson has said.

The attack on the Evin prison in Tehran took place on 23 June, during the 12-day war,Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said. 

It came about at the end of nearly two weeks of fighting.

Evin is notorious for holding some of Tehran's political prisoners.

The attack was a demonstration that Israel was striking at symbols of Iran's ruling system, and not just military and nuclear targets.

"In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison’s vicinity," Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. 

Jahangir had previously said part of the administrative building had been damaged in the attack, and people had been killed.

The remaining prisoners have been transferred to other facilities.

Evin also holds a number of foreign nationals, including two French citizens.

"The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran, put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris in danger. It is unacceptable," France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on social media X after the attack.

Trump: 'MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA'

Donald Trump has once again called for a peace deal on fighting in Gaza, but it remains unclear how close diplomatic efforts really are.

The US president posted on his social media site within the last hour - marking the second time this weekend he has called for peace in the enclave.

But it came as at least 72 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, raising further questions.

For context: Peace talks were interrupted in March after Israel attacked Gaza, when the previously agreed ceasefire stalled over disagreements on how to proceed.

Since then, on-and-off talks have been held largely without success.

-SKY NEWS