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Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Removed From African Union’s Rwandan Genocide Conference After Members’ Objections
Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Avraham Neguise. Photo: Screenshot
Israel’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday slamming the decision by Djibouti’s Mahmoud Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, to eject Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Avraham Neguise from an annual event commemorating the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis in Rwanda.
At the African Union (AU) headquarters in Ethiopia, Youssouf removed Neguise following other participants’ refusal to continue if he remained present. Youssouf, 59, began leadership of the African Union in February, after working as Djibouti’s foreign minister since 2005.
“It is outrageous that at an event commemorating the victims of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, to which the Israeli ambassador in Addis Ababa was invited, [Youssouf] chose to introduce anti-Israel political elements,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated. “This unacceptable conduct first and foremost dishonors the memory of the victims and reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the histories of both the Rwandan and Jewish peoples.”
The ministry said it would “take the necessary diplomatic steps with the relevant parties to clarify the seriousness with which we view this incident.”
The Monday event at the AU’s Nelson Mandela Hall featured prayers from multiple religious traditions, the lighting of a remembrance flame, the screening of a documentary on the genocide, and a moment of silence. The African Union said that the event sought to bring together individuals “from the African Union Commission, African Union Member States, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, African Union Organs, Regional Economic Communities, Religious Institutions, Human Rights Institutions, Intergovernmental organizations, Civil Society Organizations, UN Agencies, Think Tanks, International Organizations, Schools and Academic Institutions in Ethiopia as well as the Rwandan Community in Addis Ababa.”
On Feb. 20, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) granted the AU’s request to join South Africa’s suit charging Israel with genocide in Gaza.
On social media, Youssouf has made clear his sympathies in the Gaza conflict. On Nov. 9, 2023, he wrote on X in French that he was “in Riyadh to prepare for the extraordinary summit of the Arab League on Gaza and the ongoing genocide.”
“The decision of the ICJ which demands Israel to stop its genocide against Palestinians will be tabled at the UNSC, then we will see on which moral ground member countries stands: on the side of good or evil: there is no 3rd option,” Youssouf wrote on Jan. 26, 2024.
“Displaced, expelled from their land and homes, when they resist the oppressors, they are labeled terrorist, now, victims of mass murder, organized starvation and even inpatients are not safe: guess who they are?” Youssouf asked three days later. “Today I am posting this message to express my outrage about the attempt by the Israeli occupier and their supporters to disqualify UNRWA: the last stage of their attempt to dehumanize Palestinians.”
On March 11, 2024, he lamented that “humanity is torn apart in Gaza, Humanity is starved to death in Gaza, Humanity is dehumanized in Gaza, But right is right and wrong is wrong no matter what it takes Palestine will be free.”
On May 10, 2024, Youssouf praised that “the member states at the UNGA [UN General Assembly] voted massively today in favor of the membership of the state of Palestine (Y 143 /A25/ N9). The resolution is going to be sent back the UNSC. What an achievement!!!” That day he also wrote that “the carnage underway in Gaza is not going to suppress the legitimate right of the people of Palestine to a statehood” and explained how “Djibouti has always advocated for a two states solution living in peace side by side. It is possible, but, it takes history makers to step forward: we are still waiting for them.”
On Aug. 10, 2024, Youssouf wrote on X that “the war in Gaza must stop now, hostages from both sides should be released: no one can remain indifferent to the ongoing slaughter of innocent civilians daily by hundreds.”
On Jan. 16, in response to the agreement of a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, Youssouf wrote on X: “Cease fire at last in Gaza: I hope this will be the beginning for lasting peace on the basis of a 2 states solution.” He predicted that “the release of Israeli hostages and the Palestinian militants and political prisoners will pave the way to a peaceful negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.” Youssouf wrote that “there will never be a solution based on the obliteration of one party or even erasing whole cities will not bring peace to anyone: compromise and negotiation are the only way.”
Djibouti does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. President Ismail Omar Guelleh, an ally of Youssouf, said in 2020 that “the conditions aren’t ripe” and “we take issue with the Israeli government because they’re denying Palestinians their inalienable rights.”
On Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists murdered 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 hostages during their invasion of southern Israel, Djibouti released a statement in response to the terrorist attacks which Youssouf shared.
“The Republic of Djibouti expresses deep concern over the evolving situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,” the statement read. “It holds the State of Israel responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its continued aggression and constant violations of the rights of the Palestinian people and their holy sites, including the repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police.”
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Iran Says It Has Replaced Air Defenses Damaged in Israel War
The S-300 missile system is seen during the National Army Day parade ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2024. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Iran has replaced air defenses damaged during last month’s conflict with Israel, Iran’s Defah Press news agency reported on Sunday quoting Mahmoud Mousavi, the regular army’s deputy for operations.
During the conflict in June, Israel’s air force dominated Iran’s airspace and dealt a heavy blow to the country’s air defenses while Iranian armed forces launched successive barrages of missiles and drones on Israeli territory.
“Some of our air defenses were damaged, this is not something we can hide, but our colleagues have used domestic resources and replaced them with pre-arranged systems that were stored in suitable locations in order to keep the airspace secure,” Mousavi said.
Prior to the war, Iran had its own domestically-made long-range air defense system Bavar-373 in addition to the Russian-made S-300 system. The report by Defah Press did not mention any import of foreign-made air defense systems to Iran in past weeks.
Following limited Israeli strikes against Iranian missile factories last October, Iran later displayed Russian-made air defenses in a military exercise to show it recovered from the attack.
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Calm Reported in Syria’s Sweida, Damascus Says Truce Holding
Members of Internal Security Forces stand guard at an Internal Security Forces’ checkpoint working to prevent Bedouin fighters from advancing towards Sweida, following renewed fighting between Bedouin fighters and Druze gunmen, despite an announced truce, in Walgha, Sweida province, Syria, July 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Karam al-Masri
Residents reported calm in Syria’s Sweida on Sunday after the Islamist-led government announced that Bedouin fighters had withdrawn from the predominantly Druze city and a US envoy signaled that a deal to end days of fighting was being implemented.
With hundreds reported killed, the Sweida bloodshed is a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes against government forces last week as it declared support for the Druze. Fighting continued on Saturday despite a ceasefire call.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on Sunday that internal security forces had managed to calm the situation and enforce the ceasefire, “paving the way for a prisoner exchange and the gradual return of stability throughout the governorate.”
Reuters images showed interior ministry forces near the city, blocking the road in front of members of tribes congregated there. The Interior Ministry said late on Saturday that Bedouin fighters had left the city.
US envoy Tom Barrack said the sides had “navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities”. “The next foundation stone on a path to inclusion, and lasting de-escalation, is a complete exchange of hostages and detainees, the logistics of which are in process,” he wrote on X.
Kenan Azzam, a dentist, said there was an uneasy calm but the city’s residents were struggling with a lack of water and electricity. “The hospitals are a disaster and out of service, and there are still so many dead and wounded,” he said by phone.
Another resident, Raed Khazaal, said aid was urgently needed. “Houses are destroyed … The smell of corpses is spread throughout the national hospital,” he said in a voice message to Reuters from Sweida.
The Syrian state news agency said an aid convoy sent to the city by the government was refused entry while aid organized by the Syrian Red Crescent was let in. A source familiar with the situation said local factions in Sweida had turned back the government convoy.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Sunday that Israel sent urgent medical aid to the Druze in Sweida and the step was coordinated with Washington and Syria. Spokespeople for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Foreign Ministry and the military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Druze are a small but influential minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon who follow a religion that is an offshoot of a branch of Shi’ite Islam. Some hardline Sunnis deem their beliefs heretical.
The fighting began a week ago with clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze.
Residents of the predominantly Druze city said friends and neighbours were shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and insignia.
Sharaa on Thursday promised to protect the rights of Druze and to hold to account those who committed violations against “our Druze people.”
He has blamed the violence on “outlaw groups.”
While Sharaa has won US backing since meeting President Donald Trump in May, the violence has underscored the challenge he faces stitching back together a country shattered by 14 years of conflict, and added to pressures on its mosaic of sectarian and ethnic groups.
COASTAL VIOLENCE
After Israel bombed Syrian government forces in Sweida and hit the defense ministry in Damascus last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had established a policy demanding the demilitarization of territory near the border, stretching from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain, east of Sweida.
He also said Israel would protect the Druze.
The United States however said it did not support the Israeli strikes. On Friday, an Israeli official said Israel agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Sweida area for two days.
A Syrian security source told Reuters that internal security forces had taken up positions near Sweida, establishing checkpoints in western and eastern parts of the province where retreating tribal fighters had gathered.
On Sunday, Sharaa received the report of an inquiry into violence in Syria’s coastal region in March, where Reuters reported in June that Syrian forces killed 1,500 members of the Alawite minority following attacks on security forces.
The presidency said it would review the inquiry’s conclusions and ensure steps to “bring about justice” and prevent the recurrence of “such violations.” It called on the inquiry to hold a news conference on its findings – if appropriate – as soon as possible.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights said on July 18 it had documented the deaths of at least 321 people in Sweida province since July 13. The preliminary toll included civilians, women, children, Bedouin fighters, members of local groups and members of the security forces, it said, and the dead included people killed in field executions by both sides.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another monitoring group, has reported a death toll of at least 940 people.
Reuters could not independently verify the tolls.
The post Calm Reported in Syria’s Sweida, Damascus Says Truce Holding first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Pope Leo Calls for End to ‘Barbarity of War’ After Strike on Gaza Church
Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 20, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Yara Nardi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Pope Leo called for an end to the “barbarity of war” on Sunday as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza.
Three people died and several were injured, including the parish priest, in the strike on the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza City on Thursday. Photos show its roof has been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and shattering windows.
Speaking after his Angelus prayer, Leo read out the names of those killed in the incident.
“I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and respect the obligation to protect civilians as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, of indiscriminate use of force and forced displacement of the population,” he said.
The post Pope Leo Calls for End to ‘Barbarity of War’ After Strike on Gaza Church first appeared on Algemeiner.com.