Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state in September, PM Carney says

Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September during a meeting of the United Nations, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday.

"We are working ourselves, with others, to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, to not allow the facts on the ground, deaths on the ground, the settlements on the ground, the expropriations on the ground, to get to such an extent that this is not possible," Carney said.

Carney said the move was subject to the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reforms, including commitments to reform its governance and to hold general elections next year in which Hamas "can play no part."

Israel criticized Carney's position, calling it a "reward for Hamas" that hurts efforts to reach a ceasefire and free the remaining hostages still held by the terror group after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack against the Jewish State.

STARMER SAYS UK TO RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE IF ISRAEL DOESN'T AGREE TO CEASEFIRE, HAMAS MUST 'DISARM'

"Israel rejects the statement by the Prime Minister of Canada," Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages."

Carney's announcement came after France said last week it would recognize a Palestinian state and a day after Britain said it would recognize the state at the U.N. if the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza had not stopped by then.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with Carney before Canada's announcement, said the recognition of a Palestinian state will "revive a prospect of peace in the region."

The announcements by some of Israel's closest allies reflect the growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, adding more pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.

"Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza," Carney said.

The White House also opposes the decision to recognize a Palestinian state, saying President Donald Trump agrees with Israel that it would be "rewarding Hamas."

"As the president stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognizes a Palestinian state, and he doesn’t think they should be rewarded," a White House official said. "So he is not going to do that. President Trump’s focus is on getting people fed [in Gaza]."

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Israel on Thursday to discuss the situation in Gaza. Trump said this week he expected centers to be set up to feed more people in the area.

CANADA'S ANTISEMITISM ENVOY RESIGNS, CITING EXHAUSTION AMID HATE SURGE

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The Palestinian government has been a non-member observer state of the U.N. General Assembly since 2012, recognized by more than three-quarters of the assembly's 193 member states.

The war in Gaza began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were abducted, Israeli officials reported.

Israel responded with an ongoing military offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 60,000 people, according to the Hamas-run government's Gaza health ministry.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Passengers removed from plane, arrested for alleged vodka-induced drunk and disruptive behavior

Two men have been banned from flying with a British airline after police removed them from a plane for allegedly behaving inappropriately while intoxicated.

Ian Boyle, who was on the July 24 flight departing from Leeds Bradford Airport in Yeadon, England, to the Greek island of Crete, saw the disturbance. 

The flight had been delayed, at which point the two men began drinking a bottle of vodka, according to Boyle, SWNS reported.

DELTA PLANE ABORTS TAKEOFF IN MEXICO CITY AFTER PLANE NEARLY LANDS ON TOP OF AIRCRAFT

"Apparently, the two friends brought a duty-free bottle of vodka on board and thought it was OK to drink it while we were delayed," Boyle said.

One of the men became "so drunk he was uncontrollable," he said.

Police officers who responded to the incident can be seen in a video escorting the two passengers off the plane and walking with them on the tarmac.

"The airline staff were doing their best, but the drunk guy just overwhelmed them," Boyle said.

BOMB THREAT GROUNDS SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT AT DETROIT METRO AIRPORT: 'POTENTIAL SECURITY ISSUE'

West Yorkshire Police confirmed they "received a request for assistance following a report of a disturbance," according to SWNS.

The two men were arrested on suspicion of affray and later released on bail, SWNS reported.

"We can confirm that two disruptive passengers have been banned from flying with us following their appalling behavior, which led to police having to offload them," a Jet2 spokesperson said in a statement. "As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behavior."

OH, CANADA: TORONTO MAN PLEADS GUILTY AFTER WILD AIRPORT ASSAULT ON TSA AGENTS IN MIAMI WAS CAUGHT ON VIDEO

In May, a Houston, Texas-bound Southwest airplane at a terminal in New Orleans was held to allow authorities to remove a passenger who refused to disembark when asked. 

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said the passenger, Kamaryn Gibson, 25, of Olathe, Kansas, was causing a disturbance on the plane after it left the gate at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport.

Jet2 and West Yorkshire Police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Woman saves husband's life with bear spray during grizzly attack in wilderness

A husband and wife's leisurely bike ride along a Canadian trail took a terrifying turn over the weekend when they spooked two grizzly bears, causing them to attack.

Local authorities said quick thinking by the woman likely saved both their lives as she used bear spray to drive the animals away.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, while the couple was riding e-bikes near the Kootenay River. According to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (COS), the bears attacked after being surprised.

The woman told authorities she heard her husband yell before seeing a bear charge toward her. As she reached for her bear spray, she noticed another grizzly attacking her husband. She deployed the spray again, successfully driving both bears away. 

POLICE OFFICIALS HOST 'BEAR DRILLS’ FOLLOWING STRING OF BEAR ATTACKS

Officials said the man suffered serious injuries and was transported by emergency responders to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover.

"The couple was well-prepared," said COS Inspector Dave Webster in a Facebook post. "They had bear spray, kept it accessible, and knew how to use it. Their actions were commendable, and we urge anyone in bear country to take similar precautions."

Following the attack, officers interviewed the victims, inspected the scene and consulted a carnivore expert, who concluded that the bears were likely acting defensively. 

POLICE OFFICIALS HOST 'BEAR DRILLS’ FOLLOWING STRING OF BEAR ATTACKS

In a statement released two days after the encounter, the COS confirmed that the bears' behavior appeared to be a defensive response and that the couple had likely caught the animals off guard in a dense section of the trail. 

There were no indications that the bears had been tracking or hunting the pair, and no recent signs of bear aggression had been reported in the area.

ALASKA HIKER MAULED BY BEAR RESCUED WITH HELP OF ADVANCED DRONE TECHNOLOGY ON REMOTE TRAIL

Officers searched the area that day but found no sign of the bears. Authorities closed three main trails and set traps, though no animals were captured. A follow-up search the next day also resulted in no sightings.

SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWS DOG'S DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN WITH FULL-SIZED BEAR INSIDE CALIFORNIA HOME

Because the bears appeared to be acting in self-defense, wildlife officials decided not to pursue or relocate them.

Officials emphasized that bear spray is a proven, effective deterrent against bear attacks.

"Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when traveling in wildlife country," the organization shared in a resource guide on their website.

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Chilean authorities hand over $125K in watches stolen from Keanu Reeves to the FBI

Chilean authorities announced Tuesday they had handed over $125,000 in watches stolen from Keanu Reeves to the FBI.

The FBI will return the six watches — which include a Rolex worth a minimum of $9,500 — to the Canadian actor best known for his performances in "John Wick" and "The Matrix," according to The Associated Press.

The timepieces, recovered months ago during police raids, were stolen from Reeves' home in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles in December 2023 amid a string of high-profile break-ins. 

Reeves identified the recovered watches as those stolen, the AP reported, citing Chilean prosecutors.

CALIFORNIA POLICE NAB 7 FOREIGN NATIONALS IN JEWELRY STORE HEIST, 1 SUSPECT STILL LOOSE

Reeves' burglarized watches were found during police raids of homes in Chile's capital of Santiago. Law enforcement found a range of stolen items at the time, including iPhones, cars, designer purses and luxury watches, according to AP. 

BRAD PITT'S LOS ANGELES HOME RANSACKED BY THREE SUSPECTS WHO BROKE IN THROUGH FRONT WINDOW

The raids also coincided with a separate investigation into a string of robberies by South American crime groups targeting American luxury homes, including the home of pro football player Travis Kelce, the AP reported.

Police in Chile announced in April that 23 citizens linked to the string of burglaries had been arrested, according to the AP.

7 MEMBERS OF SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT GROUP ARRESTED FOR PHOENIX BURGLARIES

Whether there is a link between Reeves' watches and the other burglaries remains under investigation, the AP reported, citing a Chilean police officer.

The announcement comes as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visits the South American country for meetings with officials about issues like transnational crime.

In April, Noem experienced a similar incident, when her purse was stolen at a Washington restaurant by a Chilean national who was in the U.S. illegally, according to the AP.

A spokesperson for Keanu Reeves did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

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Trump says Ukrainians can likely stay in US following months of uncertainty

President Donald Trump has said he will likely allow Ukrainians who have fled the war with Russia to remain in the U.S., ending months of uncertainty over whether they would be forced to leave. 

"I think we will, yeah, I do, I think we will," Trump said Tuesday evening from the White House in response to a question by reporters regarding whether he will allow Ukrainians to remain in the U.S. until the war ends.

"We have a lot of people that came in from Ukraine, and we're working with them," he added. 

TRUMP ISSUES FIRM 10-DAY DEADLINE TO PUTIN TO END WAR

Concern over the temporary protected status (TPS) afforded to roughly 240,000 Ukrainians who fled the war to the U.S. under the government program known as Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), first implemented in April 2022, has been heightened since the first day that Trump entered office in January when he issued the executive order titled "Securing our Borders."

Eight days later, on Jan. 28, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the order had paused the government program, barring additional Ukrainians from entering the U.S. under those protections. 

However, even as TPS remained in place for Ukrainians already stateside, concern remained high amid reports in March that the president was considering the removal of this protection status.

MEDVEDEV WARNS TRUMP’S NEW DEADLINE TO END RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT IS A ‘STEP TOWARDS WAR’

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the reporting by Reuters and called it "fake news" before adding "no decision has been made at this time."

However, when asked about the reporting later that day, Trump said, "We’re certainly not looking to hurt them.

"And I’m looking at that, and there were some people that think that’s appropriate, and some people don’t, and I’ll be making a decision pretty soon," he added.

Confusion remained after DHS in April reportedly distributed an email to some Ukrainians under the TPS program notifying them that their status had been revoked, and they would need to leave the country within seven days.

DHS later confirmed this was sent in error, but the mistake highlighted the uncertainty that persisted for months.

The latest assurances by Trump come as he has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin's continued attacks on civilian populations in Ukraine despite U.S. attempts to forge a ceasefire. 

Trump on Tuesday also announced that Putin has 10 days to enter into some sort of peace deal with Ukraine or face secondary sanctions on its chief commodity – oil.

Neither the White House nor DHS immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s questions regarding the president’s recent announcement, and it remains unclear if the U4U program could also be reopened to other Ukrainian citizens as the war continues. 

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From Gaza to Greenland, Macron breaks with Trump on global flashpoints

From Gaza to Greenland, French President Emmanuel Macron appears to be taking increasingly bolder diplomatic stabs at President Donald Trump’s foreign policy even though such gestures don’t "carry weight" as Trump pointed out last week after the French leader declared his intention to recognize a Palestinian state.

"French Presidents from Charles de Gaulle onwards have reveled in the idea that they are a natural counterweight to U.S. foreign policy on the international stage," Alan Mendoza, executive director of the U.K.-based Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital Monday.

Charles de Gaulle was France’s long-serving leader in the 1950s and 1960s and was famously resistant to U.S. global dominance, withdrawing his country from NATO’s military command structure in a bid to increase its military independence and criticizing U.S. policies in Eastern Europe and Vietnam.

TRUMP REJECTS MACRON MOVE AS US SKIPS UN SUMMIT ON PALESTINIAN STATE

Such contrarian actions, Mendoza said, "have in many ways defined the French Fifth Republic, with larger-than-life characters thrusting their views onto the world stage.

"The difference now is that France matters far less globally than it did 60 years ago," he said, adding that a weakening of the European country’s economy and its military might "means that where once de Gaulle could roar, now Macron whimpers." 

"What was once a sign of French strength and confidence now therefore looks more like a desperate attempt to escape irrelevance," said Mendoza.

In a dramatic announcement last week, Macron said that at the United Nations General Assembly in September France intends to declare its recognition of a Palestinian state, even as Palestinian terror groups continue to battle Israel in the Gaza Strip. 

The statement drew condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said such a move "rewards terror." 

It was also criticized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the decision "reckless" and "a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th." He said the U.S. strongly rejected such a plan. 

Trump merely dismissed Macron’s Gaza move, telling reporters at the White House Friday "what he says doesn’t matter." 

"He’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight," the president said.

MACRON CHIDES TRUMP, CHINA OVER TRADE, UKRAINE, GAZA: POLICIES ‘WILL KILL GLOBAL ORDER’

This is not the first time the president has discounted Macron as inconsequential.

Last month, after the French president speculated about Trump’s reasons for leaving the G7 summit in Canada early and returning to Washington, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform, "Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!" 

In the same post, Trump said Macron was "publicity seeking." 

The disparaging comments came after Macron directly contradicted Trump’s foreign policy by stopping on his way to the summit in the semi-autonomous Arctic territory of Greenland, which Trump has said he wishes to acquire. 

"Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken," Macron declared in a diplomatic stab at Trump’s foreign policy and seemingly an attempt to rally support from other European countries to stand up to the U.S. 

Asked about Trump’s ambitions for Greenland, Macron, according to Reuters, said, "I don’t think that’s what allies do. …  It’s important that Denmark and the Europeans commit themselves to this territory, which has very high strategic stakes and whose territorial integrity must be respected."

In February, the French president paid his first visit to the White House since Trump’s return to power, and while the meeting appeared to be warm, it also came amid tension over the U.S. approach to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Hours before the meeting, the U.S. voted against a United Nations resolution drafted by Ukraine and the European Union condemning Russia for its invasion.

Tensions between Macron and Trump are not personal, said Mendoza, but they are also not totally ideological. 

They stem from Macron’s "desire to be relevant and to stand for something," he said. "The French are famous contrarians, but they do it for the sake of being contrarian."

Reuel Marc Gerecht, a resident scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the Washington, D.C., think tank, said Macron was no "different from most European leaders. … Trump just isn’t their cup of tea."

"Most view Trump as a convulsive, hostile force who views America’s historic relationship with Europe as transactional," he said.  

"Macron, like most French leaders, defines himself in part against the U.S.," Gerecht added, explaining that, traditionally, France and America "had a ‘mission civilisatrice’ or a competitive enlightenment mission." 

"The American way has been enormously appealing in Europe since World War II, but it has come in part at the expense of the French, who have culturally lost a lot of ground to the Anglophones, especially the Americans," he said. "Consequently, many Frenchmen have a love-hate relationship with the U.S."   

On Macron, Gerecht added, "He is part of the French elite. They are a bright lot who punch way above their weight, but, educationally, temperamentally, they are nearly the opposite of Trump." 

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Tsunami waves arrive on Japan's coast after earthquake in Russia, triggering tsunami alerts for US West Coast

Tsunami waves arrived on the eastern coast of Japan following a powerful earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake triggered fears of a tsunami across much of the Pacific Ocean basin, including the shores of Hawaii, southern Alaska, the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia.

Tsunami Warnings are in effect for Hawaii and parts of Alaska, while the entire U.S. West Coast and British Columbia are under a Tsunami Advisory after the earthquake struck just east of Petropavlovsk, Russia, according to FOX Weather.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

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Monkeys 'running a scam' at sacred temple, frustrated tourists say after phone thefts

Monkeys have been stealing tourists' valuables — including their phones and wallets — in exchange for food rewards at a popular, cliff-side temple in Bali, Indonesia.

The mischievous, long-tailed macaques have been stealing visitors' belongings for decades, holding them ransom to trade with humans for food, according to primate researchers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Around 600 monkeys live at Bali's Uluwatu Temple, a Hindu temple that overlooks the Indian Ocean. Many locals consider the primates to be sacred guardians of the spiritual site, which dates back to around the 10th or 11th century, according to the WSJ.

MYSTERIOUS 'TIRE TRAPS' PLAGUE CITY STREETS AS LOCALS TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

Some of the thieving monkeys can even differentiate between objects of high value to humans — like phones and glasses — and items humans do not value as much, such as hair clips and hats, the WSJ reported.

The primates have "unprecedented economic decision-making processes," according to a University of Lethbridge team that filmed and analyzed hundreds of hours of footage of the macaques.

BEARS ESCAPE WILDLIFE PARK ENCLOSURE AND FEAST ON WEEK'S WORTH OF HONEY

Many of Uluwatu's theft incidents require the assistance of "pawang," monkey handlers who offer fruits to the animals in exchange for the stolen goods. The monkeys steal dozens of items from tourists each week, including five to 10 smartphones every day, according to the WSJ, citing monkey handler Ketut Ariana. 

"The monkeys have taken over the temple," Jonathan Hammé, a London tourist whose sunglasses were stolen by a macaque, told the WSJ. "They’re running a scam."

EXPERTS SOLVE MYSTERY OF ANCIENT 'MUMMIFIED DRAGON' DISCOVERED BY JAPANESE SHOGUN

Taylor Utley, a 36-year-old tourist from Kentucky, said a monkey stole her phone out of her hand while she was visiting Uluwatu Temple last year. To help get it back, a monkey handler had to repeatedly give the primate bags of fruit until it dropped Utley's phone, the WSJ reported.

"I was taken aback," Utley said. "It’s like a criminal enterprise of monkeys."

In an attempt to stop the thefts, Uluwatu Temple has implemented different feeding schedules for the monkeys and has offered them different food. However, it has not helped, according to the WSJ, citing Kadek Ari Astawa, who coordinates the monkey handlers. 

Atsawa said he heard that when the temple first opened to visitors, tourists would sometimes feed the macaques. But once temple management restricted tourists from feeding them, the primates began stealing their belongings, the WSJ reported.

In November, residents in a South Carolina town were advised to close their windows and doors after 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped a testing facility.

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Farage torches UK minister over 'disgusting' predator jab in free speech clash

Leader of right-wing Reform UK Nigel Farage demanded an apology on Tuesday after the head of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tech branch accused the conservative Member of Parliament (MP) of "siding" with sexual predators amid clashes over a new online safety law.

In remarks from Reform UK’s headquarters, Farage said accusations levied at him earlier in the day by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle were "disgusting" and "below the belt," and he called on the labor secretary to retract his comments.  

Farage’s demands came after Kyle said the right-wing party’s insistence that they will repeal the law if they gain a majority and sweep No 10 in the next general election, was akin to "turning the clock back to the time when strange adults…[could] get in touch via messaging apps with children."

BRACE FOR A 'POLITICAL REVOLUTION' IN EUROPE, UK'S NIGEL FARAGE SAYS AFTER VANCE'S SPEECH IN MUNICH

"We have people out there who are extreme pornographers, peddling hate, peddling violence. Nigel Farage is on their side," Kyle claimed in a Sky News interview earlier on Tuesday.

"Make no mistake about it, if people like Jimmy Savile were alive today, he’ll be perpetrating his crimes online," Kyle added, in reference to a British media personality who was found to have preyed on "hundreds" of victims and sexually abused children.

"And Nigel Farage is saying that he’s on their side."

Farage questioned "Just how low can the Labor government sink" amid their flagging poll numbers.

Kyle took to social media to refuse to back off his statements and said, "If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that."

The clash over the internet-based laws, which Farage has described as "borderline dystopian," is just the latest spat unfolding in the U.K. over freedom of speech concerns — a fight that has been ongoing for decades after a 2003 law made it illegal to intentionally "cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another" with online posts, reported The Times.

The report found that nearly 3,400 people were arrested for violating the law in 2016, and criminalizing online posts remains a point of concern for many in the U.K. 

One such example is the case of Lee Joseph Dunn, who posted three images and comments on his Facebook page in July 2024 which were deemed to be "grossly offensive" and which "risked worsening community tensions."

The images reportedly depicted Asian men with knives, and Dunn’s comments apparently suggested they could illegally immigrate to the U.K. and move into British communities. 

Dunn, who took down the posts and apologized, was sentenced to eight weeks for the posts.

In response to the sentence, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West Janet Potter said, "This conviction should be a stark reminder to so-called keyboard warriors: online actions have consequences."

UK MAN ARRESTED FOR PRAYING OUTSIDE ABORTION CLINIC PRAISES VP VANCE FOR BRINGING ATTENTION TO CASE

Concerns over non-internet-based freedom of speech restrictions have also arisen in recent years, as in the 2022 case involving Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested for quietly praying for his aborted son within a buffer zone of an abortion clinic and forced to pay roughly $12,000 in fines.

Divisions over the Online Safety Act have escalated in recent months after the law, which was first introduced in 2023, put the legal onus on social media companies and online platforms to protect users, particularly children, from criminal and harmful material through algorithm-based policies and age restrictions in March.

However, some have argued the law oversteps and now risks violating freedom of speech by forcing social media companies to "censor" anti-government content.

When President Donald Trump was asked on Monday while sitting next to Starmer whether he was concerned about his own social media platform, Truth Social, Trump jokingly responded, "I only say good things about him and his country."

Starmer replied to the question and said, "We’re not censoring anyone."

Failure to comply with the new legal rules could mean any platform or social media company is hit with a fine of up to 10% of a firm's global turnover or nearly $24 million, whichever is greater.

The U.K.-based fight was renewed this month after new restrictions under the law came into effect that require online platforms to take action to prevent children from accessing content relating to self-harm, dangerous pranks or challenges, suicide, eating disorders, pornography, and violent or bullying-related content. 

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Gaza Humanitarian Foundation: What to know about the US-backed aid group

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza on Monday in Scotland, where he addressed the urgency of getting food into the enclave immediately, while doing it safely and securely. 

"The United States recently, just a couple of weeks ago, we gave $60 million … No other nation gave money," as he urged other nations "to step up." 

$30 million in U.S. contributions to Gaza have been channeled through the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. 

Since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began its operations on May 27, the organization has partnered with local Palestinian aid workers and non-governmental organizations to deliver 97 million meals to date to Gazans.

ISRAEL ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF GAZA AID AIRDROPS AMID GROWING HUNGER CRISIS

GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay told Fox News Digital that GHF "has one exclusive mission: to feed the people of Gaza in a way that prevents Hamas from being able to steal or loot or divert the aid." In addition to having "zero diversion," Fay said GHF has "put [aid] directly into the hands of the people who need it the most." 

At its four distribution sites in Gaza, it provides boxes of aid sufficient to provide 2,400 daily calories for 5.5 people over a total of 3.5 days. GHF’s sites are able to distribute, on average, 2 million total meals per day.

Fay said GHF has also started a potato pilot program which has seen "hundreds of tons of potatoes" delivered into Gaza.

Another new pilot program in association with local Gazan NGO Al-Amal has allowed GHF to deliver 2,000 boxes of food to families in Gaza. Fay said that GHF is in the process of scaling up the operation, vetting hundreds of inquiries received since the program’s announcement and working on establishing additional local NGO partnerships.

The U.N. has lambasted GHF’s distributions, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini calling the organization an "abomination" that "provides nothing but starvation and gunfire to the people of Gaza."  

TRUMP HITS EU FOR LACK OF GAZA AID, SAYS ISRAEL NEEDS TO ‘MAKE A DECISION’ WITH HAMAS NOT RELEASING HOSTAGES

Though media headlines are thick with accusations of violence at GHF sites, Fay said that the reality of GHF distributions "is almost the opposite of what you read about, what you see on TV." 

Though he admitted that "there’s some chaos when thousands of desperate, hungry people are trying to get aid," he claims that only two violent incidents have transpired at GHF distributions. A stampede and a grenade attack that harmed two American veteran employees were "Hamas-fomented terrorist attacks," he said.

The U.N. and many NGOs have also opposed GHF’s use of armed security to protect aid-seekers. However, U.N. data shows that only 8% of U.N. aid had reached its destination without being looted in the last 10 weeks, according to a Reuters report.

Fay says that GHF is ready and willing to provide security support for U.N. aid. "We need to stop pretending that there’s only one way to get aid into Gaza," he explained. 

As GHF continues to assist Gazans, Fay says the organization has "adapt[ed] in a dynamic environment, and our distributions seem to be going more smoothly every day." 

New adaptations include a red-light, green-light system to indicate whether distribution sites are open and a suggestion from aid-seekers. GHF has also added more shelf-stable onions to its aid boxes.

Fay said that workers are also holding back some aid to ensure that women and children receive needed assistance. Because of this change, Fay says he recently "saw women leaving and smiling at our personnel with their onions on their way home."

GHF is set to deliver its 100 millionth meal to Gazans later this week. 

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Ex-Israeli official offers bold 2-pronged strategy as 'the only way' to free hostages from Hamas

A former Israeli official has offered a two-pronged strategy as "the only way" to free the remaining hostages captured by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

"Today, in my estimation, Israel must declare that it is no longer willing to negotiate as it has been. Then, it must do two things simultaneously," Yossi Amrusi, a former senior Shin Bet official, told Israeli outlet Maariv, a sister publication to The Jerusalem Post. 

"First, push as much as it can for separating Gazans from Hamas through designated humanitarian zones," he said. "That will also lead to control over humanitarian aid, so that it doesn’t reach Hamas. And second, since it is estimated that hostage locations are known – we must conduct local negotiations with those holding the hostages. Offer money and their lives in exchange for the hostages."

Amrusi argued that Hamas benefits from the prolonged negotiations and questioned whether anyone remaining in Gaza has the authority to make decisions. 

ISRAEL ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OF GAZA AID AIRDROPS AMID GROWING HUNGER CRISIS

"A clever Persian trader once told me in the market: ‘You’ll win the deal when you're willing to lose it.’ And why? For several reasons," he reportedly said. "One, Hamas benefits from dragging things out. It continues to hold the key to its survival, and in the meantime, who knows what could happen? European pressure, a false starvation campaign, Trump might flip on Israel, internal pressure on the government. All of these, and each on its own, are good for them."

He also voiced skepticism about Qatar's effectiveness as a negotiating party.  

"I’m not sure that Qatar, the mediator, even has the ability to decide anything. And it’s not even certain they have communication with Hamas’s internal leadership for consultations and decision-making," Amrusi said. "It’s important to ask: is there anyone in Hamas' Gaza who can make decisions? Who has control over those holding the hostages? Do they even know where they are, and what condition they’re in? After all, some of the hostages aren’t even in their hands."

"I’ve always said Hamas will release the hostages when we force them to release them," he continued, "but we don’t know how to do that. Military pressure isn’t being applied to its full extent, and our soldiers’ hands are pretty tied. We’re bringing in humanitarian aid that gives Hamas life – oxygen, fuel, and money."

"Government constraints and fears are holding back the opening of immigration offices and the establishment of humanitarian zones. We simply don’t know how to win," Amrusi added. 

The U.S. and Israel pulled their negotiating teams from Doha, Qatar, on Thursday. 

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday that the decision came after Hamas' latest response "clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."

HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEED

"While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith," Witkoff wrote on X. "We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza. It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza." 

In a statement released by his office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Witkoff, saying, "Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal."

"Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region," he said. 

Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the United States, said the pause was only temporary and that talks would resume, though they did not say when.

Meeting with President Donald Trump at his golf course in Scotland on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer came determined to press the U.S. to take a larger role in helping quell what he called a "desperate situation" amid increasing reports of starvation in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war rages. 

Trump at first lamented that the U.S. had not gotten enough credit for previously providing food aid. He shifted his tone when reporters questioned him about images of emaciated children from Gaza.

When asked if he agreed with Netanyahu’s recent remarks about concerns of mass starvation in Gaza being overstated, he replied, "I don’t know. I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry."

Starmer added, "I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they are seeing on their screens."

Trump said Israel "has a lot of responsibility" for what’s happening but is hampered by what its actions might mean for the prospects of Israeli hostages Hamas has been holding since it attacked Israel in 2023.

"I think Israel can do a lot," Trump said, adding of Netanyahu, "I want him to make sure they get the food." 

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Israel, meanwhile, has maintained that it is doing what it can to get humanitarian aid to Gazans. The country's foreign ministry shared a video on Tuesday of what it says is Hamas "violently looting" aid, keeping it from civilians. 

The foreign ministry also called out major media outlets for sharing an image of an emaciated Palestinian child, implying that the boy's condition is the result of starvation. Israel identified the boy as Osama al-Raqab, who suffers from cystic fibrosis. The ministry said Israel enabled him to go to Italy for treatment, while the media used his appearance to demonize the Jewish state.

"This is what a modern blood libel looks like," the ministry said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Unprecedented violence rocks tropical paradise as brutal nightclub attack leaves multiple dead

Three people are dead, and 10 others wounded after a mass shooting erupted at a popular nightclub in the Turks and Caicos Islands early Sunday morning, an attack officials are calling the first of its kind in the British territory.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said the shooting occurred just before 3 a.m. on July 27 at the Hookah and Cigar Lounge in Providenciales. According to investigators, at least four suspects were involved in the attack, though no arrests have been made as of Tuesday.

Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey described the incident as "deeply disturbing" in a statement to the Associated Press.

At a press briefing, Premier Charles Washington Misick linked the shooting to gang-related violence and noted that much of the activity appears concentrated in Haitian communities. He urged members of those communities to cooperate with law enforcement and help identify how illegal firearms are entering the country.

CARIBBEAN POLICE WORK TO ID BODY FOUND DURING SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICAN AS NEARBY SECURITY GUARD WAS KILLED

"What we’re witnessing is unprecedented," Misick said. "This level of violence is not something we can allow to become normal. This is not a situation we should accept. It is not a generic situation, and we will do everything possible to stamp it out."

Authorities confirmed that 10 people were transported to the hospital following the attack. Seven remain hospitalized with varying degrees of injury, and one person is in serious condition. Two victims were airlifted overseas for advanced treatment, and the local hospital was placed on lockdown to secure the scene and protect the injured.

In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force condemned the shooting and urged the public to assist with the investigation.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SHOOTING LEAVES 11 INJURED AT NORTH MYRTLE BEACH MARINA AS POLICE HUNT SUSPECTS

"This incident underlines the capacity and willingness of criminals to commit serious acts of violence against our citizens, residents, and visitors," the statement read. "The police force is urging anyone with information to continue to partner with us to bring these criminals to justice."

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Authorities have not yet identified a clear motive.

Premier Misick reassured the public that the government is fully backing law enforcement and emphasized the importance of unity and resolve in the face of such violence.

US EMBASSY WARNS AMERICANS IN CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY OF MASS SHOOTING THREAT

"My government is 100% behind the police. It is important that we do everything we can to stem the violence," he said. "At the same time, I want to appeal to the general public not to panic. We must not, as the commissioner said, retreat or cower in the face of those who want to despoil the good reputation of our islands."

The tragedy comes amid renewed efforts by the Turks and Caicos government to combat illegal immigration.

"Let me just cut to the chase," Misick added. "We are now seeing gangland-type slayings. A lot of this gang violence seems to be concentrated in our Haitian communities."

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According to the United Nations humanitarian office, an estimated 10,900 Haitians live in the Turks and Caicos Islands, accounting for roughly one-third of the total population. Approximately 80% live on Providenciales, the territory’s most populous island, but only 20% have permanent residency status.

"Let this be a warning to everyone—those who know something and say nothing, those who are aiding and abetting criminals, and those committing crimes," Misick warned. "This government is committed to ensuring that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a safe place to live and raise families."

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Russia's Aeroflot hit with 'hacker attack' by pro-Ukrainian group, cancels dozens of flights

Russia’s national airline Aeroflot was forced to cancel more than 40 flights Monday after being hit with a cyberattack carried out by a pro-Ukrainian group, reports said. 

The Prosecutor General's Office of Russia said it launched a criminal investigation and "supervisory measures have been organized in connection with the delay and cancellation of flights at [Moscow’s] Sheremetyevo Airport. "

"The cause was a failure in the operation of the Aeroflot information system as a result of a hacker attack," the office added on Telegram. 

A message purportedly from a group called Silent Crow said, "Glory to Ukraine! Long live Belarus!" and noted that it carried out the cyberattack with a Belarusian group called Cyberpartisans BY, according to Reuters. 

BATTLE OVER THE BLACK SEA: RUSSIA, UKRAINE STRIKE TOP RESORT CITIES 

The statement reportedly added that the cyberattack was a result of a year-long operation into Aeroflot’s IT network, with the hackers claiming 7,000 servers were destroyed. They also said they gained control of computers belonging to senior managers at Aeroflot, yet no evidence was provided to back up the claims, Reuters reported. 

"The information that we are reading in the public domain is quite alarming. The hacker threat is a threat that remains for all large companies providing services to the population," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the news agency as saying. 

NATO JETS SCRAMBLED AMID RUSSIA'S LARGEST DRONE ATTACK ON UKRAINE 

"There was a failure in the airline's information systems. Service interruptions are possible," Aeroflot said in its own statement on Telegram. 

"In this regard, a forced adjustment to the flight schedule is expected, including by postponing and canceling," the airline added. "Currently, a team of specialists is working to minimize the risks of fulfilling the production flight plan and quickly restoring the normal operation of services. The airline apologizes for the inconvenience caused." 

Russian lawmaker Anton Gorelkin said Monday, "We must not forget that the war against our country is being waged on all fronts, including the digital one," according to Reuters. 

"And I do not rule out that the ‘hacktivists’ who claimed responsibility for the incident are in the service of unfriendly states," Gorelkin added. 

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Trump rejects Macron move as US skips UN summit on Palestinian state

The Trump administration is set to boycott a high-level summit on Palestinian statehood, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place at United Nations headquarters in New York City on Monday.

The event was originally planned for June with French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance but was postponed due to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. Representatives from more than 50 nations are expected to speak at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, with dozens of additional countries listed as participants.

Reuters reported last month that a U.S. diplomatic cable had urged governments to skip the "counterproductive" U.N. event, which Washington described as an obstacle to efforts to end the war in Gaza.

"The fact that the French and the Saudis could not be dissuaded from manufacturing this latest stumbling block to peace is a finger in the eye to President Trump," Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices and director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, told Fox News Digital. 

TRUMP SHRUGS OFF FRANCE’S RECOGNITION OF PALESTINE AS RUBIO, PROMINENT REPUBLICANS BLAST MOVE

"American taxpayers are paying a quarter of the costs of this U.N. monstrosity, warmongers dressed up as peaceniks. Why are we still footing U.N. bills?"

Bayefsky added, "This latest U.N. confab embodies the rejectionist culture: shove a Palestinian state down Israel's throat, without negotiations, and without Palestinian acceptance of the Jewish state. It arrogantly appropriates the right to decide land ownership and who, what, where is legal and illegal.

"After October 7, and the reality that the Palestinian Authority serves as Hamas's wingman on the international stage, it is painfully clear that an armed Palestinian state means more war, not peace," she said.

In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche on Sunday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that "the prospect of a Palestinian state has never been so threatened—nor so necessary."

"[It is] threatened by the destruction of the Gaza Strip, rampant Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank that undermines the very idea of territorial continuity, and the resignation of the international community," he said.

"[It is] necessary, because expecting to achieve a lasting ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and its surrender without first outlining a political horizon is an illusion," he added.

Monday's event comes on the backdrop of Macron's decision to recognize a Palestinian state. The formal declaration would be made at the U.N. General Assembly in September. 

President Donald Trump immediately dismissed the move, arguing that Macron's statement "doesn't matter."

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee mocked Paris' decision in a series of social media posts. "How clever! If Macron can just ‘declare’ the existence of a state perhaps the U.K. can ‘declare’ France a British colony!" Huckabee wrote.

TRUMP SLAMS EUROPE OVER IMMIGRATION, SAYS ‘HORRIBLE INVASION’ IS KILLING THE CONTINENT

In May, Huckabee told Fox News Digital, "If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I have a suggestion for them—carve out a piece of the French Riviera."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement condemning Paris' move "to recognize a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre."

Key European nations have not yet backed Macron’s initiative, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stating on Saturday that recognizing a Palestinian state was premature.

"I am very much in favor of the State of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognizing it prior to establishing it," Meloni said. "If something that doesn’t exist is recognized on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t."

A German government spokesperson said on Friday, "Israel’s security is of paramount importance," and therefore Berlin "has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term."

In a video statement on Friday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is "working on a pathway to peace in the region focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those who are suffering in this war."

By contrast, NATO member and U.S. ally Turkey welcomed the French move, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulating Macron during a phone call between the two leaders.

Avi Pazner, former Israeli ambassador to France and Italy, told Fox News Digital that there is "no rational explanation" for Macron's decision, as everyone understands that it is "not feasible."

Pazner suggested that Macron may be attempting to gain credibility with France's significant Muslim and Arab minorities, which some estimate to be between 8%- 10% of the country.

Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former negotiator at the State Department under both Democratic and Republican administrations, told Fox News Digital that Trump has his own set of objectives and sensibilities regarding the issue of Palestinian statehood.

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"It was the view of successive administrations that unilateral statehood would prejudge and undermine the conditions necessary for negotiations," he added. "If France is recognizing a Palestinian state, within what borders? What happens to Jerusalem? What about the Jordan Valley? Would land swaps compensate for territory deemed essential by Israel for security? Declaring statehood prematurely prejudges the outcome of negotiations, and that was the position taken by these administrations."

The French and Saudi-sponsored conference is expected to run through Tuesday.

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Multiple people killed in mass shooting incident at Bangkok market: police

Multiple people were shot and killed at a market in the Thai capital of Bangkok on Monday afternoon, police said. 

A post on the official Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police says there were at least six fatalities, including the gunman who took his own life.

TRUMP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE BETWEEN CAMBODIA AND THAILAND AMID ESCALATING VIOLENCE

Photos show police on scene at the Or Tor Kor market in Bangkok, which sells agricultural produce and local food. 

The victims included four security guards and one woman, according to the Erawan Emergency Medical Center that monitors Bangkok hospitals. 

THAILAND, CAMBODIA TROOPS OPEN FIRE ON EACH OTHER, KILLING AT LEAST 12

Monday’s violence came against the backdrop of five days of violent border clashes between Thailand and its neighbor, Cambodia. 

Leaders on either side were meeting in Malaysia on Monday in an urgent effort to resolve the fighting. 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said State Department officials were on the ground in Malaysia to assist in the peace talks. 

"Both President Trump and I remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely," Rubio said in a statement. "We want this conflict to end as soon as possible." 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

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1,700 evacuated, firefighter dead as Turkey wildfires tear through major city

Wildfires that have harassed Turkey for weeks are now threatening the country's fourth-largest city on Sunday, forcing 1,700 evacuations and leaving another firefighter dead.

Fires surround the city of Bursa in Turkey's northwest, with the government saying it has evacuated 1,765 people and deployed roughly 1,900 firefighters to combat the blaze. The conflagration has so far scorched over 7,000 acres and claimed the life of at least one firefighter, who had a heart attack on the scene.

Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said fire crews across the country confronted 84 separate blazes Saturday. The country’s northwest was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday, he said.

The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 122.9 degrees Fahrenheit in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. 

FOX CORPORATION RELIEF CAMPAIGN RAISES $6.5 MILLION TO AID TEXAS COMMUNITIES HIT BY DEVASTATING FLOODS

Fourteen people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkey.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, and that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.

LOS ANGELES POLICE HOPE TO REUNITE FIREARM OWNERS WITH GUNS AFTER DEVASTATING PALISADES FIRE

The blazes have threatened to cross borders into Turkey's neighboring countries of Greece and Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's National Fire Service chief Alexander Djartov said they have enlisted the help of European Union partners to combat the fires. He said aircraft were expected from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Hungary and Sweden later Sunday.

Turkey says it has used the military to reinforce beleaguered firefighters in many areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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From talk to tactics: Trump pivots on Russia strategy to end war

President Donald Trump’s approach with Russian President Vladimir Putin pivoted drastically this month when, for the first time since returning to the White House, he not only confirmed his support for Ukraine in a NATO arms agreement but issued an ultimatum to the Kremlin chief.

The warning came in a clear message: Enter into a peace deal with Ukraine or face stiff international sanctions on its top commodity, oil sales.

While the move has been championed by some, it has been questioned by others who debate whether it will be enough to deter Putin’s war ambitions in Ukraine. One security expert is arguing the plan will work, but it might take years to be effective.

NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP'S WEAPONS SALES TO ALLIES AS 'SIGNIFICANT' MOVE THAT COULD FORCE PUTIN TO NEGOTIATE

"I think it will be effective, and he's going to stick to that strategy. He's going to continue to push Putin to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith, not come to the bargaining table, make promises that the Russians don't plan on keeping," Fred Fleitz, who served as a deputy assistant to Trump and chief of staff of the National Security Council during the president’s first term, told Fox News Digital.

"That's something Trump's not going to tolerate," Fleitz added. "We will see this is just the first six months of the Trump presidency. This may take a couple of years to solve."

But Trump campaigned on ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which has proven to be more complicated than he suggested from the campaign trail. And not everyone in the Republican Party has backed his approach when it comes to Europe, including a staunch Trump supporter, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

"We do not want to give or sell weapons to Ukraine or be involved in any foreign wars or continue the never-ending flow of foreign aid," Greene said on X. "We want to solve our own problems plaguing our own people." 

Fleitz pointed to Trump’s decision to directly strike Iran and argued it reflected Trump’s ability to be nimble as a leader. 

"He looked at the intelligence and realized it was getting too close, and he decided to adjust his policy, which was first diplomacy," Fleitz said.

"But Trump also specified something very important. He said to his supporters, 'I came up with a concept of the America-first approach to U.S. national security, and I decide what's in it," Fleitz added. "He has ownership of this approach, and he will adjust if necessary."

TRUMP SAYS US WILL SEND PATRIOT MISSILES TO UKRAINE, ADDS THAT PUTIN 'TALKS NICE AND THEN HE BOMBS EVERYBODY'

Though Trump had made clear from the campaign trail that he wanted to see Europe take a leading role in the war in Ukraine, last week he countered a major talking point from some within his party, including Vice President JD Vance.

Vance has argued against arming Ukraine and said in an op-ed last year, "[It] is not just a matter of dollars. Fundamentally, we lack the capacity to manufacture the amount of weapons Ukraine needs us to supply to win the war."

Trump agreed to sell NATO nations top U.S. arms that will then be supplied to Ukraine.

"We want to defend our country. But, ultimately, having a strong Europe is a very good thing," Trump said, sitting alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Security experts have largely argued that the future of Ukraine’s negotiating ability and, ultimately, the end of the war, will play out on the battlefield. 

On Thursday, John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program, told U.S. lawmakers on the Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, in a defense briefing that Ukraine needs to be supplied with long-range strike capabilities that can hit key Russian missile and drone plants.

'TRUMP HAS CHANGED THE GAME': NATO ENTERS BRAVE NEW ERA UNDER PRESSURE FROM US, RUSSIA

"Ukraine shouldn’t be restricted merely to shooting down ‘arrows’," Hardie said. "An optimal approach will combine both offense and defense. Ukraine needs to be able to hit the ‘archer’ and the factories that make the ‘arrows.'

"Putin will continue his unprovoked war so long as he believes it’s sustainable and offers a pathway to achieving his goals," Hardie argued. "By shoring up Ukraine’s defense of its skies and enabling Ukraine to inflict growing costs on Russia’s war machine, as well as pressuring the Russian economy and exhausting Russia’s offensive potential on the ground, we may be able to change that calculus."

But Fleitz, who serves as vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security, said he believes this war will only be brought to an end when an armistice agreement is secured. 

"I think there's probably going to be an armistice where both sides will agree to suspend the fighting," Fleitz said. "Someday, we will find a line where both nations will agree to stop fighting."

Ultimately, he believes this will happen by Ukraine agreeing not to join NATO for a certain period of time, though with Moscow’s understanding that Kyiv will be heavily armed by Western allies. 

"I think there's a way to do this where Russia wouldn't be concerned about growing Western European influence in Ukraine, and Ukraine would not be worried that Russia will invade once a ceasefire or armistice is declared," he added. "Maybe this is a pipe dream, but I think that's the most realistic way to stop the fighting.

"We know from history conflicts like this take time; peacemaking takes time," Fleitz said. "I think that over time, Trump is going to have an effect on Putin."

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Iran's Supreme Leader spends his days sleeping and getting high, Mossad-linked account says

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spends all day sleeping and using drugs while most of the country lacks access to clean water and electricity, according to a social media account linked to Israel's national intelligence agency.

"How can a leader lead when they sleep half the day and spend the other half high on substances?" the Mossad's Farsi account wrote Friday on X. "Water, electricity, life!"

"Consuming drugs and conversing with spirits are not desirable traits for someone leading a country," the account wrote on July 9.

The post came from a new X account with a premium subscription created last month, claiming to be the official Mossad spokesperson in Farsi — the official language of Iran — though the Israeli intelligence agency has not officially confirmed the account's affiliation.

EUROPEANS MEET WITH IRANIAN OFFICIALS FACE-TO-FACE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ISRAEL, US BOMBINGS BEGAN

The account has made several posts over the last month about Khamenei's health and the state of Iran, including its lack of clean water, electricity and education.

"To everyone contacting us through private messages, for your own security, please ensure you are using a VPN," the account's bio reads.

A post on the account addressed the designation of the newly appointed, but officially unnamed, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which is the command headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces.

After the Tasnim News Agency, Iran’s semi-official news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that Iran would not reveal the commander’s identity for his protection, the Mossad-linked account said it already knew the name and urged Iranians to send in their guesses.

27 INMATES FROM NOTORIOUS IRANIAN PRISON STILL AT LARGE AFTER ISRAELI STRIKE: TEHRAN

The account responded to the "lucky winner" who guessed the name Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi and told him to "contact us privately to receive your prize."

The satirical jabs and provocative claims coming from the account are unlike the way the Mossad usually communicates with the public, but two intelligence experts told JFeed, an Israeli news outlet, that the unusual Mossad-linked account appears to be authentic.

"Some of the information it has shared could only have come from Mossad," Beny Sabti, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and a former IDF Persian-language officer, told the outlet.

Khamenei's alleged drug use has been suggested in the past, with an Iranian academic saying in 2022 that the Iranian Supreme Leader often uses drugs.

"Many viewers do not know this, but Khamenei himself uses drugs," Nour Mohamed Omara said on Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated TV in Turkey at the time.

"He has a special village in Balochistan, where the drugs used by the leader are produced," the academic added. "This village is run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and no one is allowed in."

The Ayatollah publicly declared drug use as "un-Islamic" after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Penalties for drug-related offenses can include death.

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Israel announces immediate resumption of Gaza aid airdrops amid growing hunger crisis

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it will resume airdrops of aid to Gaza Saturday night while disputing claims of deliberate starvation as the hunger crisis escalates amid its ongoing campaign against Hamas. 

The IDF said in a statement Saturday the airdrop operation will be conducted in coordination with international aid organizations, Israel’s Coordination for Government Activities in the Territories and the Israeli Air Force. 

"The airdrops will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food to be provided by international organizations," the IDF said in a statement. 

Designated humanitarian corridors will also be established "to enable the safe movement of U.N. convoys delivering food and medicine to the population," according to the IDF. 

HAMAS LOSING IRON GRIP ON GAZA AS US-BACKED GROUP GETS AID TO PALESTINIANS IN NEED

"The IDF is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas and will continue to operate to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate terrorists in the areas of activity," the IDF said. "This week alone, over 250 aid trucks were unloaded, joining hundreds of trucks waiting at the crossings to be collected by the U.N. and international organizations."

Approximately 600 trucks of aid have also been distributed by the U.N. and other international organizations, Israel said.    

Israel has also connected its power line to Gaza’s desalination plant. 

"This is expected to supply approximately 20,000 cubic meters of water per day, up from the 2,000 cubic meters supplied until now, to serve about 900,000 residents in the area," according to the IDF. 

NEWS OUTLETS ‘DESPERATELY CONCERNED’ FOR THEIR JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, URGE ISRAELI AUTHORITIES TO HELP

The IDF said the reports about starvation in Gaza were a false campaign promoted by Hamas, but hunger is spreading across the region after the United Nations and the IDF previously failed to reach an agreement about aid distribution, Fox News’ Trey Yingst reported. 

Price gouging and disagreements about how to get aid to citizens are making the crisis worse.

The U.N. is warning of increased malnutrition and starvation in the area. 

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in Gaza a "horror show" this week "with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times." 

"Responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza lies with the U.N. and international aid organizations," the IDF said. "Therefore, the U.N. and international organizations are expected to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas."

The U.S. State Department this week addressed expanding Israeli strikes in Gaza, saying the Trump administration is focused on negotiating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 

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"Our focus has been to stop that war, to stop the fighting, to have a ceasefire," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said this week. "It is at the top of our mind as we work still to stop this carnage." 

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Trump slams Europe over immigration, says ‘horrible invasion’ is killing the continent

President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday and wasted little time lashing out at European leaders over mass immigration, warning that the crisis is "killing" the continent and calling it a "horrible invasion."

Trump fulfilled a key campaign promise by effectively closing the southern border with Mexico while Europe and the U.K., in particular, are still struggling to get to grips with the crisis as dozens of boats packed with illegal migrants continue to pour into the country every day from France.

"On immigration, you better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore," Trump said to reporters after landing at Prestwick airport on Friday evening.

TRUMP HEADS TO SCOTLAND TO TALK GOLF, POLITICS AND TRADE

"You got to get your act together and last month we had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with Biden."

Biden repeatedly had single days when apprehensions ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 migrants, with his highest single month being December 2023, when 249,785 Border Patrol apprehensions were recorded. 

"Biden was a total stiff. And what he allowed to happen," Trump continued, chiding his predecessor.

"But you're allowing it to happen to your countries and you got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe."

TRUMP HEADS TO SCOTLAND, CONTINUES IRONING OUT TRADE DEALS AFTER NOTCHING SIX MONTHS BACK IN OFFICE

"Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders have not let it happen. And they're not getting the proper credit. They should. I could name them to you right now, but I'm not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop this. Immigration is killing Europe."

The U.K. saw a major surge in 2022 and 2023 when small boat crossings reached over 44,000 per year, according to government figures.

Nearly 22,500 people have arrived in the U.K. so far this year after crossing the English Channel, up 57% on the same point last year.

Net migration to the UK was 431,000 last year, down almost 50% from 2023.

Hungary and Poland are two of the most prominent European countries to take hardline stances against immigration, particularly irregular migration and asylum seekers. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a Trump ally.

Trump is in the U.K. for a five-day trip where he will check in with his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, as well as with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and head of the Scottish government, First Minister John Swinney.

The president is expected to discuss the latest U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, a deal dubbed the "Economic Prosperity Deal" last month, which agreed to slash tariffs. The U.K. is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has advanced its trade agreements under relatively amicable terms.

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"I like your prime minister. He’s slightly more liberal than I am, as you’ve probably heard. But he’s a good man, he got a trade deal done," Trump told reporters. "And they’ve been working on this deal for 12 years. He got it done. It’s a good deal. It’s a good deal for the U.K."

Trump added that he would be meeting Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission about securing a trade deal with Europe.

"We're meeting with the European Union. And that would be actually the biggest deal of them all if we make it," Trump said. 

Fox News' Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.

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Hamas pushes back on Trump and Witkoff's criticisms, demands US pressure Israel

Hamas rejected criticism from top U.S. officials after ceasefire talks with Israel broke down earlier in the week.

"We are appalled by the statements of U.S. President Trump and earlier by U.S. special envoy Witkoff, which contradict the mediators' assessment of Hamas' position and are inconsistent with the actual progress of negotiations that had been acknowledged by mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, as they expressed satisfaction and appreciation for our serious and constructive stance," Izzat Al-Rishq, member of Hamas Movement’s Political Bureau, said in a statement.

Al-Rishq went on to claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was "the real obstructionist to all agreements," accusing Israeli officials of continuing to "put up obstacles, deceive, and evade commitments." He then demanded that the U.S. put more pressure on Israel "to seriously engage in ending the aggression and achieving a prisoner exchange deal," presumably referring to the remaining hostages in Gaza and Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

US PULLS TEAM FROM CEASEFIRE TALKS IN QATAR AFTER ISRAEL DOES THE SAME, CLAIMING HAMAS IS ACTING IN BAD FAITH

The Trump administration has spent months trying to end the war between Israel and Hamas, with no resolution in sight.

Hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza dimmed further after the U.S. pulled its delegation out of Qatar. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said in a statement that this was because Hamas’ response to negotiations showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."

"While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza," Witkoff said in a statement Thursday.

Witkoff added that it was a "shame" Hamas has acted in such a "selfish way" and that the U.S. stands resolute in its efforts to bring permanent peace to the region.

HAMAS 'HARDENS' STANCE IN CEASEFIRE TALKS AS NETANYAHU RECALLS NEGOTIATION TEAM

On the same day the U.S. announced its negotiators would leave Qatar, Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli team would also withdraw, citing Hamas’ response.

President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment in Hamas’ handling of the negotiations while speaking with press outside the White House on Friday. He speculated that Hamas did not want to make a deal because "they know what happens after you get the final hostages" out of Gaza.

"Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad," Trump said. "It got to be to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job." 

Qatar and Egypt, which have acted as mediators in the talks, issued a joint statement on Friday in which the countries confirmed they would continue to work on securing a ceasefire.

"The two countries, in partnership with the United States of America, reaffirm their commitment to continuing efforts toward reaching a comprehensive agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," Qatar and Egypt’s joint statement read.

While the breakdown of negotiations is a clear setback, talks are expected to resume next week, according to Reuters, which cited Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.

Fox News Digital’s Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

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Europeans meet with Iranian officials face-to-face for first time since Israel, US bombings as sanctions loom

European diplomats met with Iranians on Friday face-to-face for the first time since Israel and the U.S. bombed the country last month. 

The "serious, frank and detailed" meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, lasted for around four hours and the officials all agreed to meet again for continued negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. 

Sanctions that were lifted on Iran in 2015 after it agreed to restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program could be reimposed if Iran doesn’t comply with requirements. 

One of Europe’s E3 nations – Britain, France and Germany, who held the talks with Iran – could bring back sanctions under the "snapback" mechanism, which allows one of the European countries to bring back U.N. sanctions if Iran violates the conditions. 

IRAN SEEKS CHINA, RUSSIA HELP TO STALL UN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NUCLEAR TALKS WITH EUROPEANS

European leaders have also said that sanctions will start being reinstated by the end of August if there is no progress on reining in Iran’s nuclear program. 

"A possible delay in triggering snapback has been floated to the Iranians on the condition that there is credible diplomatic engagement by Iran, that they resume full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and that they address concerns about their highly-enriched uranium stockpile," a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity before the talks on Friday. 

The diplomat added that the snapback mechanism "remains on the table." 

IRAN VOWS RETALIATION IF UN SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUES SNAPBACK SANCTIONS ON ANNIVERSARY OF NUCLEAR DEAL

Iran said that the U.S. needs to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal – after President Trump pulled America out of it in 2018 – saying Iran has "absolutely no trust in the United States."

The U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear sites on June 22, a little over a week after Israel had bombed the country over national security concerns about its nuclear program. 

Iran responded by attacking Israel and a U.S. Army base in Qatar. 

Isreal and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on June 24. 

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The IAEA issued a concerning report in May that said that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium had grown by nearly 50% in three months. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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US, Israel announce targeted killings of terror leaders in Syria and Lebanon

The U.S. and Israel announced on Friday that their respective forces had killed terror leaders from ISIS and Hezbollah in separate counterterrorism operations.

CENTCOM troops carried out a raid in al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria, and killed senior ISIS leader Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani and his two adult sons, who also have ties to the terror organization, according to a statement from CENTCOM. 

It added that three women and three children who "were also on the target" were unharmed in the raid.

"These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government," CENTCOM said in a statement.

CENTCOM ELIMINATES ISIS PLOTTER RESPONSIBLE FOR THREATENING US CITIZENS, PARTNERS AND CIVILIANS

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based organization, said the raid was the first of its kind. The group also stated that ground troops of SDF-backed special units and Damascus special forces participated in the operation, though Fox News Digital was unable to confirm their involvement.

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, vowed U.S. forces would "relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists."

"ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate and where they hide," Kurilla said in a statement. "Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies and our homeland." 

IDF KILLS KEY HAMAS FOUNDER AND MASTERMIND OF OCT 7 TERROR ATTACK IN ISRAEL

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced its troops had killed Ali Mohammad Hassan Qoutan, who served as the personnel officer for Hezbollah’s Bint Jbeil sector. According to the IDF, Qoutan was involved in efforts to rebuild the organization, which was dealt a blow when Israel killed its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024.

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"The terrorist's activities constitute a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF wrote in a statement.

Israel recently concluded a 12-day war with Iran while simultaneously fighting Hamas in Gaza in a war that has been ongoing since the brutal attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

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