Key facts
- Over 70 British lawmakers called for sanctions on Benjamin Netanyahu and Yariv Levin.
- The lawmakers cited alleged systematic torture of Palestinian civilians.
- Israeli strikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza.
- The strikes targeted a residential area and a water station in Gaza.
- Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Christian villages in southern Lebanon requested annexation by Israel.
- The mayor of Rmeish, Lebanon, rejected Netanyahu's annexation claim as false.
- A Malaysian parliamentary committee will hold a hearing on July 16.
- The hearing concerns a $96 million rare earths deal between Lynas and the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Concerns exist over the use of rare earths from the deal in weapons.
Over 70 British lawmakers have called on the UK government to impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The lawmakers cited alleged systematic torture of Palestinian civilians and expressed concern over escalating abuses that occur with near total impunity. These calls come amid broader international scrutiny of Israel's actions.
In Gaza, Israeli strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least four Palestinians. The strikes targeted a residential area and a water station. These incidents are part of an escalating pattern of Israeli fire on civilians, even in areas that had been designated as safe zones.
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had requested annexation by Israel for protection against Hezbollah. However, the mayor of Rmeish, a town with a majority Christian population, has vehemently rejected this assertion, calling it 'completely false' and reaffirming the residents' Lebanese identity.
In a distinct matter, a Malaysian parliamentary committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on July 16. The hearing will address a $96 million rare earths supply deal between Australia's Lynas Rare Earths and the U.S. Department of Defense. The probe is prompted by concerns regarding the potential use of these rare earths in weapons.