Israeli politicians supported Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of ‘unilateral’ recognition of a Palestinian state. The move represents yet another barrier for the historically challenging proposal of a two-state solution. Many believe that recognition of a Palestinian state would reward Hamas for the events of 7 October, experts say. Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of any “unilateral” recognition of […]
Read MoreIsraeli leaders to discuss possible Gaza truce proposal
Israeli leaders are planning to convene to hear of possible progress in mediated negotiations on a new Gaza truce to recover hostages held by Hamas while Palestinians suggested they saw little change in polarised positions almost five months into the war. Israeli delegates met on Friday in Paris with Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators who […]
Read More‘No safe places’ left in Gaza as Zyara family try to protect their children in Rafah
Nicole Johnston spent a year living in Gaza in 2011 and visited the territory more than a dozen times — covering the 2012 and 2014 wars — in more than a decade spent living and working as a correspondent in the Middle East. It’s impossible to fathom the torment of Gaza’s families as they try […]
Read MoreAussie rocker Aleksandr Uman and his band Bi-2 avoid deportation to Russia, but end up in Israel
In short: An Australian guitarist who co-founded one of the world’s most popular Russian-language bands has avoided deportation to Moscow after their anti-war stance raised the ire of the Kremlin. What’s next: The seven members of the group Bi-2 are instead in Israel, where guitarist Aleksandr Uman says they’re “free to keep moving forward”. […]
Read MoreIsrael-Gaza war updates: WHO says Gaza’s Nasser Hospital ‘not functional anymore’
In short: The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis is completely out of service, according to UN health officials. It is the second largest hospital in the Gaza Strip and fuel shortages and Israeli raids have made it unusable. What’s next? The World Health Organization has urged Israel to grant its staff […]
Read MoreUK to test fire nuke-capable missile in major escalation
The United Kingdom will test-fire a nuclear-capable missile within days as tensions in the Middle East boil over. The Royal Navy issued a warning to shipping that the nuclear sub HMS Vanguard will be launched off the US’s Port Canaveral in Florida to conduct the first test of its kind since 2016. The weapon will […]
Read MoreThe Israel-Gaza war lit the fuse on the Middle East’s tense powder keg, and the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance is stoking the flames
When Hamas-led militants streamed over the border into southern Israel on October 7, many feared the terrorist attack would explode into regional conflict. “Our brothers in the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, this is the day when your resistance unites with your people in Palestine,” Hamas’ military leader Mohammed Deif decreed, […]
Read MoreIsrael-Hamas War: US approves strikes on Iran ‘personnel and facilities’
Plans have been approved for the US military to launch a series of strikes targeting Iranian “personnel and facilities” in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the death of three American troops. US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said the weather would determine when the strikes would begin, adding the attacks “won’t be a […]
Read MoreProspects dim for truce as Israel rejects calls to spare Rafah
Israel’s army pressed on Sunday with its campaign in southern Gaza to destroy Hamas as prospects dimmed for a ceasefire in the more than four-month-old war. A total of 127 people died in 24 hours, Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry said, as the main battlefront edged closer to far-southern Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians live in […]
Read MoreWorld court hears case on legality of Israel occupation
The United Nations’ highest court is preparing to open historic hearings into the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state, plunging the 15 international judges back into the heart of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Six days of hearings are scheduled at the International Court of Justice at The Hague from […]
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