Trump to launch second phase of ceasefire next week

Author: Published: January 8, 2026

The US president will announce the establishment of a “Peace Council” as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The council’s envoy will be Nikolay Mladenov.

Israel National News

Published: 
Donald Trump

Donald TrumpWhite House Photo by Daniel Torok

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce next week the establishment of “Peace Council” that will oversee the rehabilitation process in Gaza as part of launching the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, Channel 12 reported.

The council will be composed of some 15 countries from key states around the world and will oversee the Palestinian technocratic government to be established in Gaza and the reconstruction of the Strip.

According to the report, in addition to the US the council will include Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

Trump is expected to head the council, and the council’s envoy to the region will be Nikolay Mladenov, who previously served as the UN envoy to the Middle East.

Mladenov is expected to visit Israel in the coming days and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.

The White House declined to confirm the reports.

The expected announcement on the council follows a meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, in which Netanyahu agreed to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The council is expected to convene for the first time during the World Economic Forum in Davos at the end of the month.

Iranian protestors ‘claiming entire cities,’ US House Foreign Affairs Committee says

Author: Published: January 7, 2026

In a video, protestors can be heard shouting “Marg bar Khamenei,” which translates to “Death to Khamenei.”

Iranian protestors in Abdanan. January 6, 2026.
Iranian protestors in Abdanan. January 6, 2026.
(photo credit: screenshot/section 27a copyright act)
BySAM HALPERN
Amid the ongoing demonstrations in Iran, protestors are “claiming entire cities,” the US House Foreign Affairs Committee stated in a post to X/Twitter early Wednesday morning.

“Anti-regime protestors are rising up and claiming entire cities. Iranians have had enough of the tyrannical Ayatollah and his murderous mullahs,” the Republican-run committee wrote. “The Iranian regime’s grip is unraveling.”

otage chant ‘death to Khamenei’ Abdanan

In a post a couple of hours earlier, the account stated that “For too long, the Islamic regime in Tehran has denied its people the right to choose who governs them. Now, they are taking to the streets to reclaim that right.”

The posts on the social media platform were accompanied by videos showing thousands of people marching in the Western Iranian city of Abdanan.

In one video, protestors can be heard shouting “Marg bar Khamenei,” which translates to “Death to Khamenei.”

According to Iran International, Abdanan, located in the Kurdish-majority Ilam province, was a flashpoint for protests as funerals for killed protestors became large anti-government demonstrations on Tuesday.

Further, unconfirmed rumors spread the claim that police had joined the protests and the city was in the hands of the protesters.

According to HRANA, the nationwide protests, now in their eleventh day, have led to the deaths of at least 34 protestors.

At least 2,076 additional people have been arrested.

Alex Winston contributed to this report.

US, Israel & Syria: Shared commitment to work toward security and stability

Author: Published: January 7, 2026

Senior Israeli and Syrian officials met in Paris under US auspices, reaching understandings on security coordination, de-escalation, and stability, with the US pledging continued support.

Israel National News

Published: 

 

PM Netanyahu and Syrian President al-Sharaa

PM Netanyahu and Syrian President al-SharaaChaim Goldberg/Flash90

The Governments of the United States of America, the State of Israel, and the Syrian Arab Republic issued the following report regarding recent diplomatic engagements conducted under US auspices.

“Senior officials from Israel and Syria met in Paris under US leadership. The discussions were enabled by President Donald J. Trump’s leadership in the Middle East and focused on respect for Syria’s sovereignty and stability, Israel’s security requirements, and the promotion of prosperity for both nations.”

“During the meetings,” the report stated, “the State of Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic reaffirmed their shared commitment to work toward lasting security and stability arrangements that serve the interests of both countries.”

The two sides announced that they “agreed to establish a joint fusion mechanism, defined as a dedicated communication cell, to enable immediate and continuous coordination. This mechanism will address intelligence sharing, military de-escalation, diplomatic engagement, and commercial opportunities, operating under the supervision of the United States.”

They continued to say that the “joint mechanism is intended to provide a structured platform for the prompt resolution of disputes and to prevent misunderstandings through direct and ongoing communication.”

The US announced that it “welcomed these developments and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the implementation of the agreed understandings, as part of broader efforts to advance enduring peace in the Middle East, noting that respectful and constructive cooperation between sovereign nations creates conditions for stability and economic growth.”

The report concludes by stating that “this joint understanding reflects the spirit of the Paris meeting and the determination of the parties to open a new chapter in their relations, with an emphasis on long-term benefits for future generations.”

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