Tajani called Trump’s remarks “serious and offensive” toward both Meloni and Italy, while announcing the cancellation of his scheduled visit to Washington this weekend.

The dispute erupted after an interview with Trump aired on Italy’s La7 television network on Friday. According to the broadcaster, Trump said Meloni had requested a photo opportunity with him during the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains and claimed she had “begged” for it. La7 published a dubbed version of the exchange online.

Responding in a video statement, Meloni described Trump’s account as “completely fabricated” and expressed surprise at the comments.

“Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned,” Meloni said. “I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies.”

She added: “Italy and I do not beg.”

The unusually direct public rebuttal marked one of Meloni’s sharpest responses to Trump since the start of his second term. The Italian leader had initially sought to preserve close transatlantic ties and position herself as a bridge between Washington and the European Union, including by attending Trump’s inauguration as the only European Union head of government present.

Relations between Rome and Washington, however, have become increasingly strained over several foreign policy issues. Meloni has criticized the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran as illegal, while Italy remains a firm supporter of Ukraine, an issue that has also generated friction with Trump.

Differences over U.S. tariffs and Washington’s support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza have further complicated bilateral relations.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also rejected Trump’s characterization, saying he could not imagine Meloni asking anyone for a photograph.

“I can, however, imagine how much it cost her to set aside what Trump had said weeks ago, to serve the interests of Italy, of Europe, and of the West,” Crosetto wrote on X.

He added that such remarks did not benefit either country or the broader Western alliance.

The controversy follows earlier criticism directed at Meloni by Trump in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper in April, when he faulted her opposition to the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. Meloni did not publicly respond at the time.

The latest exchange has brought those tensions into the open, underscoring the challenges facing one of Washington’s traditionally closest partners in Europe as disagreements widen over key geopolitical issues.

The Bar Standards Board said on Friday that Khan’s suspension took immediate effect and would be reviewed by an independent panel within four weeks. The move follows a separate decision by the ICC’s governing body on June 8 to suspend Khan from his duties while proceedings related to the allegations continue.

Khan, 56, has denied all accusations and said he would challenge the measures taken against him. His supporters have argued that he has become a target of political pressure following his pursuit of arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials over Israel’s conduct in the Gaza conflict.

The ICC’s 125 member states are scheduled to consider Khan’s future at a special session of the court’s governing body on July 24.

The case stems from allegations first raised in 2024 by a female aide who accused Khan of engaging in a non-consensual sexual relationship with a younger staff member. Following the emergence of the allegations, the court commissioned an external United Nations-led investigation.

A summary of the confidential 18-month inquiry reviewed by Reuters found a “factual basis” for the allegations. Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing.

In May 2025, Khan took voluntary leave from his position, with his two deputy prosecutors assuming responsibility for the office’s day-to-day operations.

The developments come at a particularly sensitive moment for the ICC, which has faced mounting political pressure over investigations involving major powers and their allies.

The United States, which is not a member of the court, has imposed sanctions on 11 ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan, in response to arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as the court’s earlier investigation into alleged crimes involving U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Washington has also warned that additional sanctions against the court remain possible.

Founded in 2002 and based in The Hague, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of member states or by their nationals.

Osama Abdullah, head of the village council in Jiljiliya, north of Ramallah, said settlers targeted the village’s main mosque during the early hours of the morning, causing damage to an ablution facility and leaving hostile graffiti on the structure.

“Settlers set fire to the ablution room, caused damage to the village’s main mosque, and scrawled hostile slogans on the outer walls,” Abdullah told AFP.

Journalists who visited the site observed extensive smoke and fire damage inside the mosque. The ceiling, walls and flooring were blackened, while Hebrew-language graffiti was visible on exterior surfaces.

Among the inscriptions were slogans reading “vengeance” and “hi from the Hilltop Youth,” a reference to a loosely organized group of Israeli settlers frequently accused by Palestinians and rights organizations of carrying out attacks against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

According to Abdullah, the attackers arrived between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and were unable to enter the mosque because its doors were locked. He said they subsequently set fire to a lower-level room used for ablutions before leaving the area.

The blaze was extinguished by Palestinian civil defense teams with assistance from residents of Jiljiliya and neighboring villages, he added.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The attack comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions and increasing reports of settler violence in the West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. Palestinian officials and international organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks targeting homes, agricultural land, vehicles and religious sites.

The United Nations has recently warned that violence involving Israeli settlers has reached record levels, reporting an average of six incidents per day resulting in casualties, property damage or both.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. The territory is home to approximately three million Palestinians as well as more than 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements outside East Jerusalem.

Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, a position rejected by successive Israeli governments.

Settlement expansion and settler-related violence have become increasingly contentious issues under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which includes several ministers who openly support settlement growth.

Residents of Jiljiliya said the attack has heightened fears within the community, while local leaders called for accountability and protection of religious sites from further violence.

No arrests were immediately reported.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had adopted a policy under which the Israel Defense Forces would stay in the areas to protect Israeli borders and communities.Katz said the deployment was intended to counter threats from armed groups and warned Iran that Israel would respond with full force if attacked in connection with the conflict in Lebanon.

The statement came after Washington and Tehran announced a deal calling for an end to military operations, including fighting linked to Lebanon.Lebanon has urged displaced residents not to return immediately, saying details of the agreement remain unclear and security conditions are still uncertain.

The Israeli government has maintained that its forces must continue operating in strategic areas, while regional actors continue diplomatic efforts following months of escalating conflict.

The developments come as the Middle East faces ongoing security tensions involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

Imad Rajeh Sarhan died at Gilboa prison after a medical emergency on Saturday, according to the Palestinian rights groups. Sarhan, from Haifa in northern Israel, had been detained since Oct. 15, 2001.
The groups said Sarhan suffered from vascular diseases and high blood pressure and had used a wheelchair in recent years due to deteriorating health. They accused Israeli authorities of medical neglect and mistreatment of prisoners, citing the Palestinian News Agency.

According to figures cited by Palestinian authorities, there were 9,361 Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails as of May 2023. Palestinian groups said at least 98 prisoners had died due to prison conditions since October 2023.

The death comes amid continued tensions over the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. Israeli lawmakers passed legislation in May allowing the death penalty for Palestinian convicts involved in deadly attacks against Israelis.

Last week, Israeli lawmakers also proposed a bill that would prevent representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross from entering prisons and visiting Palestinian detainees.

The issue of prisoner conditions remains a major point of dispute between Israeli authorities and Palestinian rights groups.

The statement came after Israel said it had carried out strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, further complicating efforts to end the wider Middle East conflict.

Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strikes showed that the United States either lacked the willingness or ability to implement its commitments.

“If you do not have the will or the ability to fulfil your commitments, then there is no point in talking about continuing down this path,” Ghalibaf said in a statement on social media.

Trump had previously said an agreement with Iran was expected to be signed soon and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately after the deal. Iran, however, has given a less certain timeline.

Iran has insisted that any agreement must also address the conflict in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has been involved in fighting with Israel. Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohammad Jafar Asadi said Israeli strikes “will not go unanswered.”

A US official said the proposed agreement included Lebanon, which became involved in the wider conflict after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel.
Pakistan and Qatar have acted as mediators in the negotiations. A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday to help facilitate the finalisation of a possible agreement, according to a diplomat familiar with the matter.

The parties have given different accounts of the proposed deal, including disagreements over the future of Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has said it will maintain authority over the strategic waterway, while Washington has rejected that position. The US has imposed a blockade affecting Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted movement through the strait.

Another major issue remains Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, while Israel, the United States and other Western governments have expressed concerns over potential military use.

On Sunday, Israel issued evacuation warnings for 29 villages in southern Lebanon. Israel said its strikes in Beirut were carried out in response to Hezbollah fire toward Israeli territory.

Lebanon’s civil defence agency said at least three people were killed and six wounded in the strike. Israel’s military also said three suspected Hezbollah drones struck northern Israel but caused no casualties.

Under the initiative, each government will contribute £1 million to establish the fund, which will provide financial support to new and existing projects designed to encourage dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to details released by the British government, the fund will prioritize programs involving youth groups, civil society organizations and women’s initiatives, reflecting a focus on community-level engagement rather than formal diplomatic negotiations.

The governments said the mechanism is intended to complement broader international efforts to advance a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and strengthen constituencies that support peaceful coexistence.

Officials indicated the fund is expected to expand beyond its initial capitalization by attracting additional international donors once operations are underway.
The announcement was made ahead of a meeting in Britain involving UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, where discussions were expected to include developments in the Middle East and support for a two-state framework.

The initiative comes as international actors continue to explore diplomatic and civil-society-based approaches to reducing tensions and fostering dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian communities amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and broader regional uncertainty.

While relatively modest in financial terms, the fund represents a coordinated effort by three Western allies to support locally driven peacebuilding projects that seek to build trust, strengthen civic engagement and create channels for long-term cooperation between communities affected by decades of conflict.

The participating governments said the program would focus on practical, grassroots initiatives capable of generating sustained engagement and laying foundations for future peace efforts.

Abu Safiya, 53, the former director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, appeared before the court through a video connection as judges considered whether to extend his detention. No ruling had been issued by Thursday afternoon, according to Physicians for Human Rights–Israel (PHRI).

The pediatrician became widely known during the war in Gaza for documenting conditions inside Kamal Adwan Hospital during an 85-day Israeli military siege. Through videos released during the conflict, he appealed for international assistance as medical staff struggled to treat patients amid severe shortages and ongoing hostilities.

Images from Wednesday’s hearing showed Abu Safiya wearing white prison clothing and handcuffs. Observers said he appeared visibly thinner and pale, with marks visible on his arms.

PHRI said Abu Safiya was recently transferred to solitary confinement. His son, Elias Abu Safiya, said the move occurred shortly after the doctor challenged his detention through legal channels.

Israeli authorities have not formally charged Abu Safiya with a crime. The Israeli military has said he is being investigated on suspicion of cooperating with or working for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza. Medical colleagues and international aid organizations that worked with him have rejected those allegations.

Following the hearing, defense lawyer Nasser Odeh conveyed a statement he said came from Abu Safiya, in which the doctor maintained that his work had been solely humanitarian and medical in nature.

Israel’s Justice Ministry did not immediately comment on the case. The Israeli Prison Service rejected allegations of mistreatment, stating that all detainees receive professional medical care and that complaints submitted through official channels are examined.

According to PHRI, 14 physicians from Gaza remain in Israeli detention. Rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the detention of medical personnel during the conflict and have called for greater transparency regarding their legal status and conditions of confinement.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are widely cited by international organizations though they do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Abu Safiya’s detention remains pending.

The findings were released by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 to investigate alleged violations of international law in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In its latest report, the commission said civilians in Gaza are caught between what it described as the structural violence and mass atrocities committed by Israeli forces and the coercive rule exercised by Hamas. The investigators said Palestinian residents have faced severe hardships from both the ongoing conflict and governance practices within the territory.

The report also focused extensively on the occupied West Bank, where violence has intensified since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Commission chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said violence carried out by Israeli settlers was enabled by policies that support and protect settlement expansion. He also accused Hamas-affiliated forces of exploiting conditions created by prolonged conflict and destruction in Gaza.

The commission stated that, despite differing motivations and actors, Palestinian civilians have experienced a deliberate infliction of suffering in both Gaza and the West Bank.

According to the report, at least 26 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,570 injured in settler-related attacks between January 2023 and December 2025. Investigators said such incidents have continued on a near-daily basis in 2026.

The inquiry further concluded that Israeli authorities bear responsibility for facilitating conditions that allow settler violence to persist. It argued that settlement activity and related violence contribute to the expansion of Israeli control over Palestinian territory and the displacement of Palestinian communities.

The report called on Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion, end new settlement activities and remove existing settlers and settlements from occupied Palestinian territory. It also urged Israel to end what it described as the unlawful occupation of Palestinian land.

The commission examined abuses attributed to Hamas-affiliated forces and found evidence of serious violations, including alleged war crimes involving murder and torture. Investigators documented 249 incidents involving executions or severe physical violence during 2024 and 2025, resulting in at least 108 deaths and 384 injuries.

According to the report, Hamas-linked forces were involved in at least 60 of those incidents. Investigators also alleged that Palestinian civilians were tortured inside the Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza.

The commission emphasized that such actions do not negate the protected status of medical facilities under international humanitarian law.

The report recommended that Gaza’s de facto authorities immediately cease all extrajudicial punishments, including executions, torture and other forms of physical, psychological and sexual violence. It also called on authorities to refrain from using civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, for purposes incompatible with their humanitarian functions.

The findings are scheduled to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council next week. Israel has previously rejected the commission’s conclusions and accused it of systematic bias against the country.

The decision was taken by the 21-member bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the court’s management and oversight body, which voted by qualified majority to suspend Khan while referring the matter to the full assembly representing all ICC member countries.

“The bureau decided by qualified majority to suspend the Prosecutor from duty with immediate effect pending the final decision of the Assembly of States Parties as the competent decision-maker,” the bureau said in a statement.The bureau stressed that the measure should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt or responsibility.

“The bureau emphasizes that this suspension is not an indication of the final outcome,” the statement added.The move is expected to have limited immediate impact on the court’s operations because Khan, 55, has been on leave since May 2025 while contesting the allegations. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.

A special session of the Assembly of States Parties will be convened as soon as possible to consider the matter and determine the next steps, according to the bureau.Khan, a British lawyer who became ICC prosecutor in 2021, has overseen several high-profile investigations and prosecutions.

He drew international attention after seeking arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations linked to the Gaza conflict.

Those applications triggered strong criticism from Israel and its ally, the United States, which opposed the court’s actions. Khan subsequently became one of the first ICC officials to face sanctions from Washington in connection with the court’s investigations.

Prior to stepping aside, Khan had also led investigations involving conflicts and alleged war crimes across multiple jurisdictions, making him one of the most prominent figures in international criminal justice.

The ICC has not indicated a timetable for the Assembly of States Parties to reach a final decision on Khan’s status. Until then, court operations are expected to continue under existing institutional arrangements.