Al Mayadeen – August 3, 2025
2,200+ settlers, including Ben-Gvir, storm Al-Aqsa, shatter status quo
Under Ben-Gvir’s presence and protection, settlers mark "Tisha B'Av", performing provocative acts in the sacred site to enforce "new realities"
Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by herds of Israeli settlers, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday morning, performing Talmudic rituals to mark Tisha B'Av (the destruction of the Temple), in a provocative move that drew widespread Palestinian condemnation as a dangerous escalation.
More than 2,200 settlers took part in the incursion, storming the al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards in waves under heavy Israeli police protection, performing group prayers, chanting, dancing, and shouting inside the compound. All this was done with approval from the occupation police, in a clear violation of even Israeli law. Meanwhile, Palestinians were barred from entering the mosque and the entire Old City through gates near the holy site, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
In a first, Ben-Gvir openly led a minyan, a quorum of 10 Jewish men, in prayer in the al-Aqsa, marking the first time the far-right leader has been seen engaging in overt worship at the sacred Muslim site and the first time a minister has done this provocative act.
Ben-Gvir pushes his provocative agenda
These incursions are part of an organized plan that "Temple" groups had called for in recent days, aiming to make August 3 the "day of the largest incursion" into al-Aqsa, taking advantage of full government support for their religious and political agenda.
The al-Quds governorate warned of the heightened danger posed by this year's event, describing it as "the most serious threat to the al-Aqsa Mosque in years," especially since today's incursion seeks to breach the religious and legal red lines restricting settler conduct within the sanctuary, all under official Israeli support.
Ben-Gvir recently instructed Israeli police to allow settlers to sing and dance inside the mosque, a move Palestinians see as laying the groundwork for imposing "new realities" by force after his May announcement that "prayer and prostration are now permitted on the Temple Mount."
From Karbala to Gaza: Call of Al-Aqsa IV concludes
Over 400 figures from 60 countries have gathered in Karbala for the Al-Aqsa Call Conference, urging global action to support Palestine and end the Gaza famine.
The fourth Al-Aqsa Call Conference concluded on Sunday in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, bringing together 400 participants from 60 countries. The event was aimed at consolidating international support for the Palestinian cause and promoting religious unity around al-Aqsa.
The al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds has long been a focal point of aggression under Israeli occupation. The site faces repeated incursions by extremist settlers, often under the protection of Israeli forces, who violate its sanctity and provoke confrontations with Palestinian worshippers.
The Conference was first launched in September 2022 through cooperation with several organizations, including the General Secretariat of the Imam Hussain Shrine, the Iraqi Dar al-Ifta’, and the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine.
Its core mission is to amplify support for Palestine by highlighting the shared values between the Palestinian struggle and the principles of the uprising of Imam Hussain. With the large influx of pilgrims in Karbala, the conference also aims to foster Islamic unity for al-Aqsa and extend global religious solidarity with Palestine.
Moral and spiritual obligation to resist
The final statement declared that defending the Palestinian cause is not only a political stance but “a spiritual obligation and a moral imperative.”
“We declare our commitment to the path of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), which compels us to align with justice wherever it may be and to stand firm against falsehood,” the statement read.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/from-karbala-to-gaza--call-of-al-aqsa-iv-concludes
How Pakistan downed a Rafale, exposed India's intel failures: Reuters
A major air battle between India and Pakistan on May 7, involving over 100 aircraft, exposed India's intelligence failures and showcased Pakistan's use of Chinese technology and integrated warfare systems, marking a shift in regional airpower dynamics.
A report published on Reuters by writers Saeed Shah and Shivam Patel reveals how a high-stakes aerial confrontation between India and Pakistan in early May marked one of the largest air battles in decades, reshaping military calculations and defense alliances across Asia.
The conflict erupted just after midnight on May 7, when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) detected a wave of incoming Indian fighter jets. Tensions had been escalating following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 civilians dead, a strike New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-backed militants. Although Islamabad denied involvement, Indian forces launched retaliatory air strikes, targeting locations in Pakistan.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Sidhu had been stationed near the PAF operations room in anticipation of Indian action. According to a senior PAF official, Sidhu quickly ordered the launch of Pakistan's J-10C fighter jets and directed his team to engageﾠIndian Rafales, describing the French-made aircraft as "the jewel of India's fleet." The official recalled, "He wanted Rafales."
Fatal Miscalculation
The aerial battle involved around 110 aircraft and unfolded entirely at night, a scale not seen in air warfare for many years. One Rafale was reportedly shot down, according to US officials cited by Reuters in May, a development that raised doubts about the supremacy of Western defense systems compared to newer Chinese models like the J-10C.
Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, saw its stock dip in response to the incident. Indonesia, a key Rafale customer, is now reportedly reassessing its commitment and considering the purchase of J-10Cs instead.
According to both Indian and Pakistani officials interviewed by Reuters, the downing of the Rafale wasn't due to any shortcoming in the aircraft itself. Rather, Indian intelligence had underestimated the operational range of the PL-15 missile carried by the J-10C. Indian officials admitted that their forces had assumed the missile's range was limited to 150 km. "We ambushed them," a PAF official said, adding that Pakistan also deployed electronic warfare tactics to disrupt India's defense systems, though Indian sources contest how effective those efforts were.
Justin Bronk, an air warfare expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, observed, "The Indians were not expecting to be shot at," and added, "The PL-15 is clearly very capable at long range." The missile that brought down the Rafale was reportedly launched from around 200 kilometers away, or even farther, according to some Indian sources.
Situational Superiority
While India's government has not publicly confirmed the loss of a Rafale, several indicators suggest it occurred. France's air chief acknowledged in June that he had seen evidence confirming the destruction of one Rafale and two additional Indian aircraft, including a Russian-made Sukhoi. A Dassault executive also confirmed India had lost a Rafale, though he lacked specific operational details.
Reuters found that Pakistan's edge in the engagement stemmed from its superior situational awareness, achieved through an integrated "kill chain" that combined land, air, and space-based sensors. Pakistani officials said the network included their indigenous Data Link 17 system, which bridged Chinese hardware with a Swedish surveillance aircraft. This setup enabled the J-10s to operate with their own radars turned off, reducing the chance of detection.
In contrast, Indian officials noted that efforts to build a similar network remain complicated due to the diversity of their weapons suppliers. Retired UK Air Marshal Greg Bagwell remarked, "The winner in this was the side that had the best situational awareness."
Radar Deception
The battle began with Indian jets hitting what they described as militant infrastructure. PAF officials said India deployed 70 aircraft, more than expected, creating a crowded airspace ideal for Pakistan's PL-15s. Bagwell noted that this engagement was the first in the modern era where both sides fired weapons exclusively from beyond visual range while remaining inside their own airspaces.
Indian sources denied that their Rafales were blinded by electronic interference but admitted that Pakistani jamming had impacted their Sukhoi jets. They added that losses were partly due to political limitations. India's defense attaché in Jakarta said the country's pilots had been ordered not to strike Pakistan's military infrastructure directly, which, he claimed, limited their effectiveness: "only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack (Pakistan's) military establishments and their air defenses."
General Anil Chauhan, India's chief of defense staff, told Reuters the country "rectified tactics" quickly after the initial losses. In the days that followed, India launched precision strikes against Pakistani air defenses using its indigenous BrahMos cruise missile. On May 10, Indian forces reportedly targeted nine air bases and a surveillance aircraft, escalating the fight until a ceasefire was brokered later that day following US intervention.
India's deputy army chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh later accused Pakistan of receiving "live inputs" from China during the conflict, hinting at real-time intelligence support, an allegation Islamabad denies.
At a July press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to questions about Beijing's role by stating that defense cooperation with Pakistan is "part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and does not target any third party."
Two PAF officials told Reuters that China's air chief, Lt. Gen. Wang Gang, visited Pakistan in July to discuss how its forces utilized Chinese systems during the engagement. The Pakistani military later stated that Wang had shown "keen interest in learning from PAF's battle-proven experience in Multi Domain Operations."
Muslim world proud of Iran’s victory in Israeli-US war against country: Pakistani minister
Pakistan’s commerce minister has congratulated the Iranian nation and government on their victory in the recent war waged by Israel and the US against the country, saying the Muslim world is proud of the triumph.
Jam Kamal Khan made the remarks on Sunday during a meeting with the visiting Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade, Mohammad Atabak, in Islamabad.
The Pakistani minister described Iran as the crown on the head of the Islamic Ummah, saying the country’s victory over the Israeli regime in the 12-day assault is a source of pride for the entire Muslim world.
On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, triggering a war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.
The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.
In response, the Iranian Armed Forces conducted successful operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, and managed to impose a halt to the terrorist assault on June 24.
Additionally, in his remarks, Kamal Khan expressed Pakistan’s readiness to deepen its economic relations with neighboring Iran through the Joint Economic Commission, regular trade exchanges, and delegation exchanges.
Both Pakistani and Iranian governments and private sectors have a strong will and enthusiasm to enhance bilateral ties, he added.
Iran and Pakistan should use their geographical proximity and think of an economic bloc that could extend to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of West Asia, he highlighted.
Atabak, for his part, appreciated Islamabad’s role in facilitating the development of trade with Tehran.
Iranian and Pakistani businessmen and industrialists trust each other, he said, noting that both governments need to devise a transparent mechanism to facilitate bilateral cooperation.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a two-day visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/08/03/752383/Pakistan-Iran-victory-Israel-US-aggression
Palestinian Information Center – August 3, 2025
Gaza: Hospitals receive 117 martyrs, death toll climbs to 60,839
During the past 24 hours, hospitals in the Gaza Strip received the bodies of at least 117 civilians, as well as 866 people suffering from different injuries following Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s health ministry on Sunday morning.
Accordingly, a total of 9,350 people have been killed and 37,547 others have been injured since the Israeli occupation army resumed its genocidal war on Gaza on March 18, 2025.
The new fatalities increased the death toll from the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which started on October 7, 2023, to 60,839 martyrs, including 1,487 aid seekers who were killed at or near US-backed distribution points, the health ministry said.
The ministry added that the total number of the wounded also surged to 149,588 people, including 10,578 aid seekers.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to recover the bodies of more martyrs who are still missing in different areas of the Gaza Strip.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/08/03/344691/
Palestinian Information Center – August 3, 2025
Malnutrition ravages Gaza’s children: Mariam loses over half her weight
Nine-year-old Palestinian girl Mariam Dawas has lost more than half her body weight due to the war and siege conditions in the Gaza Strip, as UN organizations warn of a worsening malnutrition crisis among children.
Mariam sits beside her 33-year-old mother, Madalla, in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. The mother recounts that they live in a displacement camp in the northern part of the Strip, affirming that her daughter had no health issues before the war. Maryam previously weighed 25 kilograms, but her weight has now dropped to just 10 kilograms.
Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, said there are clear indicators that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has moved beyond the threshold of famine. He noted that one in every three people in the Strip goes days without food.
Meanwhile, the Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza confirmed that hospitals have documented seven deaths within the past 24 hours due to the Israeli starvation policy and malnutrition, including one child.
As the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory worsens, the Ministry of Health announced that the number of starvation-related deaths in Gaza has risen to 175 martyrs, including 93 children.
The Government Media Office reported that only 36 trucks of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Most of them were looted or stolen due to the state of security chaos that the Israeli occupation deliberately and systematically fosters as part of what has become known as the “policy of engineered chaos and starvation.”
On July 27, the World Health Organization warned that malnutrition rates in Gaza had reached dangerous levels amid the ongoing war and blockade, which threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents, especially children.
Away from the supervision of the United Nations and international relief organizations, Tel Aviv began implementing an aid distribution plan on May 27 through an entity called the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation, an organization supported by Israel and the US but rejected by the United Nations.
Palestinians affirm that this aid mechanism aims to gather them and force their displacement from their land in preparation for the reoccupation of Gaza.
Earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that since May 27, the number of victims killed while waiting for aid has reached 1,422 martyrs while more than 10,000 others were injured.
Since October 7, 2023, the US-backed Israeli genocide has resulted in over 209,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them women and children, along with more than 10,000 missing persons, hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, and famine that has claimed countless lives.
