A Mayadeen – June 29, 2025
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 88 civilians in 24 hours
Over 88 people were killed in 24 hours as Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza, forcing mass evacuations and worsening the humanitarian disaster.
The Gaza Strip has witnessed another devastating day of bloodshed as the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Saturday that 88 Palestinians were killed and 422 others were wounded within 24 hours, amid a continued Israeli onslaught that began on October 7, 2023.
Rescue teams warn that the actual number of casualties may be even higher, as many victims remain trapped beneath debris or in areas unreachable due to heavy bombing and the collapse of civil infrastructure.
According to the latest data from the Health Ministry, the total death toll since the start of the war has reached 56,500, with 133,419 wounded, most of them women and children. Since March 18, 2025, when the Israeli occupation resumed its aggression on Gaza following a short-lived ceasefire, the toll stands at 6,175 killed and 21,378 injured.
Among the victims are Palestinians killed while seeking humanitarian aid. In the past 24 hours, 18 aid-seekers were confirmed dead, and over 41 others wounded, bringing the total number of slain aid-seekers to 583, with more than 4,186 injured since the war began.
Mass evacuation threats in northern Gaza
In a new escalation, the Israeli occupation forces issued evacuation threats for 17 areas in northern Gaza, demanding that civilians move to al-Mawasi in the south, an already overcrowded and closed zone. Among the targeted areas is al-Sabra, a densely populated neighborhood in central Gaza City.
This area, previously considered a temporary safe zone near the Tel al-Hawa district, has now also been targeted by airstrikes, further narrowing what little space civilians have left to seek refuge.
An Al Mayadeen correspondent reports that these evacuation directives effectively strip away the notion of “safe zones” and underscore the growing impossibility for civilians to find safety anywhere in Gaza.
Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes launched relentless attacks on Gaza City and Khan Younis, killing at least seven Palestinians and wounding dozens. The airstrikes targeted residential zones and shelter sites in the north and south of the blockaded strip.
In Jabalia, intense aerial bombardment struck densely populated neighborhoods, while artillery barrages hit eastern areas of the town. In al-Zeitoun, two children were killed when their home was bombed near the Daloul fuel station.
Israeli strikes also pounded neighborhoods in al-Shujaiya, al-Tuffah, and parts of eastern Gaza City, as well as homes in al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza. In Khan Younis, five civilians were killed when a displacement tent near Bir Zannoun and al-Sha’er was targeted.
The occupation forces continued demolishing residential buildings in the city center and resumed artillery shelling on al-Mawasi, Rafah, disregarding their prior classification of it as a “safe zone.”
Gaza aid distribution site attacked
Al Mayadeen's correspondent further reported that four Palestinians were killed, and over 25 others injured, when occupation forces opened fire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in the al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah.
Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, stated that many critically injured individuals are dying upon arrival at hospitals due to a complete collapse of the healthcare system and the blockade on essential medical supplies.
The Director-General of al-Shifa Medical Complex sounded the alarm over a rising famine among children. “More than 66 children have died from hunger,” he said, warning of a worsening health disaster as Gaza’s youngest suffer from malnutrition, weakened immunity, and lack of clean water.
Gaza health system facing deliberate destruction
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, has warned that the health system in the Gaza Strip is facing a “systematic and deliberate assault” by the Israeli occupation, as part of a broader campaign undermining the right to life and basic human dignity.
In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Mofokeng stated that “the right to life no longer exists in Gaza” and that “the chance of survival has become non-existent” amid the continuing aggression. She emphasized that she had repeatedly issued early warnings to the Israeli occupation regarding its obligations under international law but received no response.
Describing the humanitarian and medical conditions in Gaza as catastrophic, Mofokeng said they “do not allow for a dignified life or a society capable of survival or growth.” In addition to the direct injuries caused by relentless attacks, she highlighted the severe psychological toll on Gaza’s residents, who suffer from trauma, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation—conditions that further devastate their physical and mental well-being.
Targeting of aid agencies a 'deliberate policy'
Mofokeng condemned the Israeli occupation’s blockade and repeated attacks on UN and relief agencies, calling it part of a “broader plan to dismantle the human rights system and evade accountability.” The destruction of humanitarian infrastructure and the forced shutdown of aid agencies were not incidental, she stressed, but intentional, and facilitated by the political protection the Israeli regime receives from powerful countries, even within the UN system.
Commenting on the new US-"Israel"-backed distribution mechanism known as “Gaza Humanitarian,” Mofokeng dismissed it as “a new method of killing and part of a plan for genocide.” She explained that warnings were issued early on about the deprivation of food, water, and medicine, but they were ignored.
“People today are standing in random queues, under constant threat from snipers and assaults,” she added.
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Iran denies rumors about talks with US, says no date set
Iran’s deputy foreign minister says no indirect talks with the US are scheduled, calling recent reports "unfounded" as Tehran weighs its national interests.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, affirmed on Sunday that no date has been set for indirect talks with the United States, dismissing media reports on the matter as "baseless speculation."
Takht-Ravanchi’s comments come in response to growing rumors suggesting that Tehran and Washington could soon resume dialogue, especially in light of recent US statements following the cessation of the Israeli aggression on Iran.
Just days earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a return to talks with the US is under review and would be determined based on Iran’s national interests.
He emphasized that talks, in principle, are neither sacred nor taboo. “Talks do not necessarily mean reaching an agreement; they are a process evaluated through a cost-benefit analysis and aligned with higher national interests,” Araghchi said. He added that any potential return to the negotiating table would require clarity about the format and framework of the talks, noting that “the circumstances have completely changed.”
Meanwhile, following the declared ceasefire between the Israeli regime and Iran, the US State Department had claimed the environment was now favorable for reviving nuclear discussions with Tehran.
Araghchi outlines post-war nuclear diplomacy
In a televised interview with Iranian broadcaster SNN TV, Araghchi asserted that both the United States and "Israel" had mobilized their nuclear capabilities and coercive strategies to force Iran into submission, but ultimately failed.
Araghchi praised the Iranian people’s steadfastness, describing it as a “historic symbol of resistance” during a critical national moment, emphasizing that despite years of sanctions, threats, and failed negotiations, the Iranian nation remained united in defense of its nuclear rights.
“Neither pressure nor diplomacy deprived us of our legitimate rights,” Araghchi declared.
The minister criticized US President Donald Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign, describing it as marked by mixed messages, threats coupled with calls for dialogue.
While Iran rejected direct talks with Washington, Araghchi noted that Tehran was considering indirect negotiations under new conditions. After diplomatic efforts failed to impose US terms, Araghchi accused Washington of unleashing "the Zionist enemy to commit hostile acts," which he described as a betrayal of diplomacy.
Iran’s response to military strikes and diplomatic breakdown
In his interview, Araghchi stressed that diplomacy following the recent war would differ sharply from previous efforts, warning that "Future international relations will reflect how each country behaved during the crisis."
He noted that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is currently conducting technical assessments of damage caused by the strikes, describing them as “serious and extensive.” Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry has tasked its international affairs division with identifying the aggressors and seeking compensation through the United Nations.
“Reparations are now a key component of Iranian diplomacy,” he added.
The minister urged European countries, particularly Germany and France, to uphold their stated commitment to international law, issuing a stark warning to France and the UK, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, against triggering the snapback mechanism that would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran.
Iran arrests Mossad agent in Tehran for drone espionage plot
Iranian security forces arrested a Mossad agent in Tehran who was involved in assembling drones and transmitting sensitive air defense and infrastructure data to "Israel."
Iranian security forces have arrested a suspected Mossad operative in Tehran, in what authorities say is part of a far-reaching Zionist plot to undermine the Islamic Republic from within. The arrest took place at Imam Khomeini metro station, according to police spokesman Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, who confirmed the man was apprehended while attempting to coordinate drone-related espionage.
The suspect was reportedly "assembling drones in the western province of Tehran and sending [to Israel] messages about the work of the country's air defense," Montazer al-Mahdi told state broadcaster IRIB. He also revealed that the individual had shared strategic coordinates of vital Iranian infrastructure with the Israeli regime, a serious breach of national security.
This arrest comes amid a wider intelligence operation during which Iranian security agencies detained over 700 individuals linked to Mossad throughout the recent 12-day war. The crackdown represents one of the most extensive domestic counterintelligence campaigns in the country's history.
Authorities have reported the seizure of over 10,000 small drones in Tehran alone, along with evidence linking the arrestees to efforts to deploy suicide drones, manufacture hand grenades, film military sites, and transmit critical data to the Israeli occupation army. Intelligence sources say the sabotage network was deeply embedded across multiple provinces, including Kermanshah, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Fars, and Lorestan.
Read more: Iran arrests 26 Israeli Mossad agents in Khuzestan
The Zionist regime's drone and espionage campaign unfolded alongside a military assault launched on June 13, when Israeli forces initiated unprovoked attacks on Iranian soil under the pretext of targeting a so-called secret nuclear weapons program.
In response, Iran launched precise retaliatory strikes, targeting Israeli military infrastructure and, later, US assets after Washington joined the aggression with a one-time strike on June 22. Iran's measured response, including a missile attack on the US Al Udeid base in Qatar, was accompanied by a firm statement that Tehran seeks no further escalation, only the protection of its sovereignty.
Following the exchange, US President Donald Trump stated that Iran had "let off steam" and confirmed that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Tehran and Tel Aviv, ending what Iranian media described as another failed campaign of Zionist military adventurism.
The gamble backfires:
How Israel misread Iran and exposed its existential fault lines?
By Zakariyah Zainab
For over a century, Iran’s vast energy resources and strategic location made it a prime target for Western domination.
The British Empire birthed the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later BP) in 1908, extracting colossal profits while leaving Iran impoverished.
In 1953, the CIA orchestrated a coup to overthrow Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, who had dared to nationalize Iran’s oil, reinstalling the brutal Shah to safeguard Western interests.
The plan was clear: Iran would serve as a compliant pillar of control over West Asia, ensuring Israel’s security and expanding Western hegemony.
Then came 1979.
The Islamic Revolution shattered decades of imperial designs, not just in the region but across the globe. The US and its allies responded with an eight-year imposed war, backing the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in a brutal campaign to crush Iran’s newfound sovereignty.
When that too failed, the West turned to economic strangulation, disinformation, and covert operations, all aimed at preventing Iran from becoming a model of defiance for other nations.
This is the backdrop against which the recent Israeli-American war of aggression must be understood.
The Al-Aqsa Storm and unraveling of old plans
The October 7 operation was an earthquake, upending the calculations of regional and global powers. For Israel, it was an opportunity to eliminate its most formidable adversary once and for all. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a man clinging to power amid corruption charges and an extremist coalition, saw perpetual war as his salvation.
First, Gaza. Then the occupied West Bank. Then Lebanon, where Israel assassinated Hezbollah’s top leadership and carried out one of the largest terrorist attacks known as the pager incident and sought to reshape the political landscape to a more compliant one.
Syria, already fractured by decades of West-engineered war, became the next battleground. Turkey unleashed its own proxies, the Syrian Army deserted their posts, Assad fled, Iran was forced to withdraw and Syria fell.
With US forces in Iraq, Israeli bases in Azerbaijan, and NATO’s presence in Turkey, Iran found itself encircled. The battle was no longer at its borders; it was at its doorstep.
Iran understood it was next.
The US gambit and Iran’s lightning response
After President Ebrahim Raeisi’s shocking death, a new administration took office in Tehran and indirect negotiations resumed in Oman, offering a glimmer of détente. But on June 13, just days before the sixth round of talks, Israel launched a US-backed blitz: assassinating top-ranking generals, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. They tested Iran’s resolve.
The plan was simple: decapitate Iran’s military leadership, cripple its response, and buy time for a full-scale assault. The US and Western alliance defended Israel and praised the attack as a successful preemptive strike. But it wasn't. It failed.
Within 12 hours, every assassinated Iranian general was replaced. Tehran’s retaliation was swift and devastating. Missiles rained down on sensitive and strategic Israeli positions, and despite the heavy Israeli censorship, we all witnessed how the Iranian missiles turned the occupied territories into scenes reminiscent of Gaza.
The world watched in awe as the Islamic Republic of Iran, standing alone but united and resilient, with its homegrown weapons, struck back with amazing might and precision.
When the US intervened by deploying stealth bombers to strike nuclear facilities, it was not a surprise to anyone. It was a US war in the first place; Israel was only a proxy arm.
When the decision-makers in Washington realized their client regime was about to be obliterated, they stepped in directly. This direct intervention showed only one thing: desperation on the part of both Israel and the United States.
But even then, Iran proved resilient. The Fordo facility remains intact, as confirmed by the US intelligence assessment. Nuclear materials had already been relocated to a safer location. And Tehran severed ties with the IAEA, denying the West any visibility into its program.
The illusion of regime change
The plot of overthrowing the system (nizaam) in Iran has been in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and this proved to be Israel’s second miscalculation. Israel not only believed in creating internal chaos, but it banked on it.
For years, Tel Aviv had invested in Farsi-language propaganda networks, fomenting anti-government sentiment to fracture Iran’s unity. Instead, the opposite happened.
The Iranian people, despite minor political differences, rallied behind their armed forces and the country’s flag. Citizens reported Mossad sleeper cells, leading to thousands of arrests.
The dream of regime change evaporated in the face of national solidarity.
As the dust of war drums settles, and the halt in Zionist aggression holds for now, the question is who had more to gain in this round. What did Iran gain?
The end of Israeli invincibility:
The myth of Israel’s invincibility has been shattered. Iranian missiles proved they can reach any target, sending a clear message: the settler-colonial entity is no longer untouchable or safe.
A unified nation:
Iran demonstrated that when sovereignty is threatened, internal divisions fade. The people stood with their military, their leadership, and their revolution.
Global realignment:
Russia and China, recognizing that Iran’s fall would make them next, are now more likely to deliver advanced weaponry – air defenses, fighter jets, and more.
Resistance Axis continues to grow:
From Gaza to Lebanon, Yemen to Iraq, the Axis of Resistance is stronger than ever. The lies that Hezbollah is finished or that it didn't do enough must now be put in the waste bin. The axis is united and operating as one towards a shared objective.
Iran’s devastating retaliatory strike on a US military base in Qatar was not theatrics. It was a clear warning: any nation hosting or facilitating American aggression will pay a price.
What is Iran's aim now? Based on the strategy Iran has employed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it would seem Iran is playing the long game.
The acceptance of a ceasefire, unilaterally declared by the embattled Israeli regime, is a strategy. Iran emerged unbroken. The US and Israel, despite their firepower, failed to achieve their objectives: no regime change, no dismantled nuclear program, no broken resistance.
Instead, they revealed their weaknesses. The US had to step in directly, a sign of desperation, not strength. Israel, once seen as the region’s unbeatable power, now faces an existential question: What happens when deterrence fails?
Iran, meanwhile, is engaged in a long game. It knows legacy isn’t forged in a single battle but through endurance. The region is being remade. Where we go next is still unwritten. But one thing is certain: the rules have changed.
Zakariyah Zainab is a journalist and geopolitical analyst focusing on West Asian and African affairs.
