The Times of Israel is liveblogging Friday’s events as they unfold.
US imposes 15% tariff on goods from Israel as part of sweeping new trade policy
The White House announces that a 15 percent tariff will be imposed on goods from Israel as part of the Trump administration’s new trade policy that has seen rates raised on countries across the globe.
The decision is part of an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump imposing higher tariffs on dozens of countries in his latest bid to reshape global trade in favor of US businesses.
The order sets out tariffs on imports that ranged as high as 41% on Syria and also included 30% on South Africa. Separately, the White House announces that Canadian imports will face tariffs of 35%, not the current 25%.
New tariffs announced by Trump
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???????? Myanmar: 40%
???????? Switzerland: 39%
???????? Canada: 35%
???????? South Africa: 30%
???????? Taiwan: 20%
???????? Sri Lanka: 20%
???????? Vietnam: 20%
???????? Cambodia: 19%
???????? Indonesia: 19%
???????? Malaysia: 19%
???????? New Zealand: 15%
???????? Turkey: 15%
???????? South Korea: 15%
????????…— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 31, 2025
Soldiers plead with reporters on IDF press tour of Gaza to publicize that they’re burnt out
The Haaretz daily quotes several soldiers currently serving in Gaza who share how burnt out they are after serving several hundred days of reserve duty.
“Don’t forget to talk about the reservists and active duty soldiers and how exhausted we are,” one of them tells the paper during a press tour of the northern Gaza city of Beit Hanoun organized by the IDF.
“I’ve already [informed the army] that I’m not going back to Gaza after this tour. I’m done with Gaza. People don’t understand what burnout is. They think it’s just a matter of giving us a few more hours of sleep, but it’s much more than that. People here are exhausted,” he says.
“There are not enough forces to carry out the missions. Tell the public what we are going through and shed light of the difficult conditions,” another soldier says.
Toward the end of the tour, two officers could be heard giving an order to troops over the radio to open fire so that the videographers could have some footage of “fighting.”
Shortly thereafter, extended machine gun fire could be heard in the background. When asked whether the shooting was a show for the media, the officers leading the tour had a hard time containing their smiles.
Rubio says Qatar has played ‘very helpful’ role in hostage talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praises Qatar’s role in the currently stalled hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
“I know that Qatar is a source of controversy among some. When it comes to this negotiation, they’ve been very helpful. They’ve put a lot of time and energy into this, and frankly, they’ve expressed their own frustrations with Hamas,” Rubio says during an interview with Fox Radio.
“I think the moment of truth has to arrive, however, where there have to be consequences if Hamas continues to disagree,” he adds, without elaborating.
Rubio laments an “anti-Israel narrative building internationally” that is “emboldening Hamas.”
He briefly nods at the Arab countries that signed onto a declaration organized by France this week that called for Hamas to disarm and give up its control of the Strip — something the US and Israel have repeatedly called for.
‘It’s terrible what’s occurring there’: Trump dodges question on MTG calling Gaza war a ‘genocide’
US President Donald Trump is asked by reporters whether he agrees with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s characterization of Israel’s war in Gaza as a genocide.
“It’s terrible what’s occurring there. It’s a terrible thing. People are very hungry,” Trump responds.
He reiterates his claim that the US has given $60 million to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, when it has only given $30 million thus far.
“The United States gave $60 million for food, and it’s a shame because I don’t see the results of it. We gave it to people who in theory are watching over it fairly closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it. Part of the problem is Hamas is taking the money and they’re taking the food,” he says again.
36-year-old man shot dead in Kafr Qara, bringing year’s Arab homicide toll to 152
A 36-year-old man was shot dead in the central Arab city of Kafr Qara tonight.
Paramedics found the victim lying unconscious on the ground with several bullet wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene. His name is Ahmad Said Atamneh, according to the Arabic-language outlet Arab48.
Police are investigating the incident and have erected ad hoc checkpoints in the town in their search for suspects, law enforcement says, adding that three suspects have been arrested.
Earlier this evening, an elderly woman was shot dead in the northern city of Arraba. The assailant apparently fired at the victim, 88-year-old Latifa Naif Naamneh Shahin, by accident, and had been aiming at parked cars in the vicinity of her home, Ynet reported earlier.
Since the start of 2025, 152 Arab Israelis have been killed in violent incidents, according to a statement from the Abraham Initiatives, which tracks Arab murder victims, following tonight’s shooting.
At this time of year in 2024, the number of Arab murder victims stood at 133, marking a 13% increase in an already soaring murder rate.
The number of Arab murder victims doubled in 2023, coinciding with the beginning of Itamar Ben Gvir’s term as national security minister. Local Arab politicians have often placed much blame on police for failing to solve Arab sector murders, contributing to a lack of deterrence against violent crime.