NEW: According to the spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks with Russia.

UN Deputy Secretary-General:

Syria is facing a new cycle of violence that could derail its peaceful political transition.

NEW: Israel President Herzog visited Gaza for the first time.

A former security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo has been charged with espionage, accused of leaking sensitive info to Russian & Iranian handlers—including embassy floor plans, staff details, and photos.

He was allegedly paid in bitcoin and euros. The suspect denies all charges.

Source: Newsweek

BREAKING: Knesset votes with a majority of 71 MKs in favor of annexing the occupied West Bank (de facto annexed).

Palestine's representative:

Israel has destroyed all aspects of life in Gaza. People in Gaza are deliberately dying of hunger and thirst. The people of Gaza are being deliberately killed by Israeli soldiers' bullets.

We call for the formation of a coalition to end the genocide in Gaza and to end the occupation and conflict.

The two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace and security in the region. The two-state solution conference organized by Saudi Arabia and France is the path we must follow.

NEW: Brazil will formally join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a source says.

NEW: Iran will welcome an IAEA technical team visit in the coming weeks to discuss Tehran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said.

Lebanon Talks: During ongoing negotiations, the U.S. envoy demanded a clear timeline for the phased handover of Hezbollah’s weapons, warning Lebanese officials that “time is running out.”

NEW: Lebanese Hezbollah has dismissed claims suggesting the group is preparing for a confrontation with the Lebanese state, calling the reports “completely false.”

The Turkish delegation has arrived at Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, where the Russia-Ukraine talks will take place.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, has arrived at the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, where talks with the Russia are set to take place.

NEW: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says any talk of ending nuclear program is a mere ‘illusion’.

NEW: Putin allows Russians to run for office and vote in Belarus, Belarusians granted same rights in Russia, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

NEW: U.S. and EU Near 15% Tariff Deal

The U.S. and European Union are finalizing a deal to waive 15% tariffs on select products, including aircraft, spirits, and medical devices.

EU will continue to prepare a possible €93bn package of retaliatory tariffs, set at up to 30 percent, in case they cannot agree a deal by August 1.

Zelenskyy on Istanbul Talks:

The priority is to prepare for the leaders' meeting, and our delegation has the necessary strength for this.

EU member states are set to vote Thursday on a €93 billion package of counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, according to EU diplomats.

NEW: Iran is worried that the United States will use the nuclear talks as a pretext for new attacks, according to Axios, citing a senior Iranian official.

YPG/PKK-affiliated SDF spokesperson:

Handing over weapons is a red line for us, and we do not compromise on principles. We are negotiating with Damascus as equal parties, not as subordinates or subservient ones.

NEW: Heads of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Medinsky and Umerov, are holding a bilateral meeting in Istanbul. The meeting is taking place one-on-one, according to Russian media.