The Israeli military confirmed killing three sons and grandchildren of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in an air attack on the Shati refugee camp on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Haniyeh stated that Palestinian leaders will not back down despite these killings and will not change their demands for a ceasefire. He criticized Israel's actions as brutal and emphasized a war of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza.
Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh expressed openness to continued negotiations with Israel, stating that Israel is responsible for the lack of agreement for a Ramadan truce. Hamas seeks a ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced Gazans, and increased humanitarian aid access. Israel rejects full troop withdrawal and Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to continue campaign against Hamas. Mediators attempted to secure a truce before Ramadan, but Hamas insists on Israeli commitments. The war in Gaza began after Hamas's October 7 attack, leading to about 1,160 casualties, mostly civilians.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh insists on a complete ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and lifting of the Gaza siege; Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses these demands as delusional. Israeli forces arrest suspects in Gaza's Nasser Hospital, leading to deaths of at least five patients as electricity and oxygen supplies are cut off.
Negotiators have made significant progress in securing a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent an Israeli assault on the city of Rafah where over a million people are sheltering. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Egyptian mediators to discuss a truce. The death toll from the conflict has reached 29,606 with nearly 70,000 wounded. Israel and Hamas have been in talks, with Hamas demanding the cessation of aggression, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, return of displaced persons, and a reciprocal deal for hostages. Israeli officials in Paris reported productive discussions, with a possible deal to be signed soon.
As of 29 February 2024, over 30,000 people (29,782 Palestinian and 1,410 Israeli) have been killed in the Israel–Hamas war, including 88 journalists (83 Palestinian, 2 Israeli and 3 Lebanese) and over 136 UNRWA aid workers.On 7 October 2023, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 764 civilians, were killed, and 248 persons taken hostage during the initial attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. Since then, over 29,782 Palestinians (the majority of whom were women and minors) in the Gaza Strip have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties in its reports. The IDF estimated 12,000 Hamas combatants were killed as of 19 February 2024. A further 382 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by Israel military and settlers. Casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, as well as in southern Lebanon, and Syria.
Social media users have been spreading false claims that Israel blamed Hamas for the deaths of seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen in Gaza, when in fact, Israeli officials have not made such statements. The Israeli military confirmed that the deaths were a result of an IDF strike, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledging an unintended strike in Gaza. Posts on social media featured footage of the vehicle hit by the airstrike, but there is no evidence to support the claim of a Hamas roadside bomb.
The Israeli military has pulled back all ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip except for one brigade, with uncertain plans for a potential incursion into Rafah. Talks for a ceasefire and hostage release, hosted by Egypt, are underway. The offensive, initiated in response to a Hamas attack six months ago, has taken a toll with over 33,100 Palestinians killed. Rafah is a major refuge for many Palestinians near the Egyptian border. Hamas remains resolute despite the situation, anticipating a significant role in Gaza's future.
The 2014 Gaza War, also known as Operation Protective Edge (Hebrew: מִבְצָע צוּק אֵיתָן, romanized: Miv'tza Tzuk Eitan, lit. 'Operation Strong Cliff'), and Battle of the Withered Grain (Arabic: معركة العصف المائكول, romanized: Mʿa-rakkat Al-ʿasf Al-Ma’kool) was a military operation launched by Israel on 8 July 2014 in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory that has been governed by Hamas since 2007. Following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank by Hamas-affiliated Palestinian militants, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated Operation Brother's Keeper, in which some 350 Palestinians, including nearly all of the active Hamas militants in the West Bank, were arrested. Hamas subsequently fired a greater number of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, triggering a seven-week-long conflict between the two sides. It was one of the deadliest outbreaks of open conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in decades. The combination of Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli airstrikes resulted in over two thousand deaths, the vast majority of which were Gazan Palestinians. This includes a total of six Israeli civilians who were killed as a result of the conflict.The Israeli military operation aimed to stop rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Conversely, Hamas' attacks aimed to bring international pressure onto Israel with the strategic goal of forcing the latter to lift the Israeli–Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip; among its other goals were to end Israel's military offensive, obtain a third party to monitor and guarantee compliance with a ceasefire, release Palestinian political prisoners and overcome its isolation. According to the BBC, Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation to the rocket attacks by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and other Palestinian militant groups.On 7 July, after seven Hamas militants died in a tunnel explosion in Khan Yunis that was caused either by an Israeli airstrike (per Hamas, Nathan Thrall, BBC, and a senior IDF official) or an accidental explosion of their own munitions (per the IDF), Hamas assumed responsibility for rockets fired into Israel, and subsequently launched 40 more rockets towards Israel. The Israeli aerial operation officially began the following day, and on 17 July, it was expanded to include a full-scale ground invasion of the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of destroying Gaza's tunnel system; the Israeli ground invasion ended on 5 August. On 26 August, an open-ended ceasefire was announced. By this time, the IDF reported that Hamas, PIJ, and other Palestinian militant groups had fired 4,564 rockets and mortars into Israel, with over 735 projectiles having been intercepted mid-flight and shot down by Israel's Iron Dome. Most Gazan mortar and rocket fire was inaccurate, and consequently hit open land; more than 280 projectiles had landed within the Gaza Strip, and 224 had struck residential areas. Palestinian rocketry also killed 13 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, 11 of them children. The IDF attacked 5,263 targets in the Gaza Strip; at least 34 known tunnels were destroyed and two-thirds of Hamas's 10,000-rocket arsenal was either used up or destroyed.Between 2,125 and 2,310 Gazans were killed during the conflict while between 10,626 and 10,895 were wounded (including 3,374 children, of whom over 1,000 were left permanently disabled). Gazan civilian casualty estimates range between 70 percent by the Gaza Health Ministry, 65 percent by the United Nations' (UN) Protection Cluster by OCHA (based in part on Gaza Health Ministry reports), and 36 percent by Israeli officials. The UN estimated that more than 7,000 homes for 10,000 families were razed, together with an additional 89,000 homes damaged, of which roughly 10,000 were severely affected by the bombing. Rebuilding costs were calculated to run from US$4–6 billion over the course of 20 years. 67 Israeli soldiers, 5 Israeli civilians (including one child) and one Thai civilian were killed while 469 Israeli soldiers and 261 Israeli civilians were injured. On the Israeli side, the economic impact of the operation is estimated to have had an impact of NIS 8.5 billion (approximately US$2.5 billion) and a GDP loss of 0.4 percent.
An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. After clearing Hamas militants from its territory, the Israeli military embarked on an extensive aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip followed by a large-scale ground invasion beginning on 27 October. Clashes have also occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and with Hezbollah along the Israel–Lebanon border. The hostilities constitute the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008 and are part of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They are considered to be the most significant military escalation in the region since the Yom Kippur War 50 years earlier.The Hamas offensive involved 3,000 militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier and attacking Israeli communities and military bases. During this attack, 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 253 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive to the Gaza Strip. The attack was proclaimed as a response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the prospect of Arab–Israeli normalization, and the plight of Palestinian refugees and prisoners. In response, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its existing blockade of Gaza and launched one of the most severe bombing campaigns in history, before commencing the ground invasion on 27 October. Israeli forces laid siege to Gaza City on 2 November and moved south to attack Khan Yunis a month later on 3 December; both sieges remain ongoing. Israel's next objective is the capture of Rafah. An estimated 6,000-12,000 militants have been killed during the conflict, and Israel has lost over 200 soldiers during its invasion. A United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian pause passed on 15 November; the seven-day truce took effect at the end of that month.A humanitarian crisis has developed in the Gaza Strip, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and potential famine conditions. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the conflict, including over 12,300 children and 8,400 women. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. In February 2024 576,000 people were "facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation", stated The United Nations. More than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that opened fire when huge crowds raced to pull goods off an aid convoy.The war has had significant international repercussions. Popular protests that primarily call for a ceasefire have occurred across the world. Israel's actions have been denounced by the Islamic world and much of the Global South; South Africa launched an International Court of Justice case alleging that Israel committed genocide. Israel has however received significant support from its traditional Western allies, especially the United States, which vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire. In response, Iran-backed militias have attacked American military bases in the Middle East, while the Yemeni Houthi movement attacked commercial ships they alleged were linked to Israel, incurring a military response from a number of countries.
On 7 October 2023, the paramilitary wings of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, PRC, PFLP and DFLP launched a series of coordinated armed incursions into the Gaza envelope of neighboring Israel, the first invasion of Israeli home territory since the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. The attacks, on a Saturday, initiated the Israel–Hamas war, almost exactly 50 years after Operation Badr and the greater Yom Kippur War of 6 October 1973. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups named the attacks Operation Al-Aqsa Flood (or Deluge; Arabic: عملية طوفان الأقصى, romanized: ʿamaliyyat ṭūfān al-ʾAqṣā, usually romanised as "Tufan Al-Aqsa" or "Toofan Al-Aqsa"), while in Israel they are referred to as Black Saturday (Hebrew: השבת השחורה) or the Simchat Torah Massacre (הטבח בשמחת תורה), and internationally as the 7 October attack.The attacks began in the early morning with a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 rockets launched against Israel and vehicle-transported and powered paraglider incursions into Israel. Hamas fighters breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking military bases and massacring civilians in neighboring Israeli communities, including in Be'eri, Kfar Aza, and Nir Oz, and at the Nova music festival. The attacks resulted in 1,139 deaths—695 Israeli civilians (including 36 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 members of the security forces. Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip, including 30 children, with the stated goal to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. Numerous accounts of rape and sexual assault by Hamas fighters have been reported, which Hamas has denied.Hamas said its attack was in response to the continued Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, rising Israeli settler violence, and recent escalations.At least 44 countries denounced the attack as terrorism, while some Arab and Muslim countries blamed Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause of the attack. The day was labeled the bloodiest in Israel's history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust.
TEHRAN - Head of the Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh said on Tuesday that Israel's "unprecedented political isolation" was evident in the resolution adopted the day before by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian following their meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran earlier in the day. "The recent UN Security Council resolution is indicative of Israel's unprecedented political isolation and the United States also no longer has the will and ability to impose its demand on the international community. These show the unparalleled resistance of the Islamic resistance and Palestinian people," Haniyeh said. The Hamas leader stressed that despite heavy expenditures, Israel had failed to achieve its military objectives in Gaza and "is losing its political and international support".
On the evening of 27 October 2023, Israel launched a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip, with the stated goals of eliminating and destroying Hamas, a military and political movement which led an attack against Israel earlier in October, and to free hostages taken by Hamas. Following the attack, Israel declared a state of war, tightened its blockade, ordered the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip, and launched "Operation Swords of Iron".More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli operation, including over 12,500 children and 7,000 women, with another 7,000 people missing and presumed dead under the rubble of destroyed buildings. By mid-December Israel had dropped 29,000 munitions on Gaza, destroying or damaging 70 percent of homes in the Strip. Experts say that the scale and pace of destruction in Gaza is among the most severe in recent history. During the invasion, Israel destroyed at least a third of Gaza's homes and hundreds of cultural landmarks, and desecrated dozens of cemeteries in the strip.A severe humanitarian crisis has developed, with healthcare in a state of collapse, shortages of food, clean water, medicine and fuel due to the blockade, electricity and communications blackouts, and the UN warning of potential famine. It was widely reported that there is "no safe place in Gaza" as Israel struck areas it had previously told Palestinians to evacuate to. The widespread civilian deaths have led to accusations of war crimes against both Israel and Hamas. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been internally displaced and around 250,000–500,000 Israelis were internally displaced, while thousands of Palestinians have been detained by Israel, and Israel has stated it lost 225 additional soldiers in its invasion as of 4 February 2024.As a result of the invasion, South Africa instituted proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), charging that Israel was guilty of committing a genocide, and requesting that the ICJ render provisional measures of protection.
On 9 October 2023, during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the Israel Defense Forces conducted an airstrike on al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, destroying four mosques. According to Palestinian media, the attack killed people inside. The camp is Gaza's third-largest refugee camp, with a population of more than 90,000 refugees. A second strike was conducted on 12 October, killing 13 people.
Egyptian, French, and Jordanian leaders caution Israel about launching an offensive on Gaza's southern city of Rafah, stating it would lead to "dangerous consequences" and increased death and suffering, as well as risk regional escalation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms a set date for the offensive focused on releasing hostages and defeating Hamas. US opposes any assault on Rafah, emphasizing the need for a deal over hostages and ceasefire talks in Cairo involving Israeli and Hamas representatives.
The Israeli military withdrew from its devastating raid on Gaza's largest hospital, Shifa, claiming victory in its battle against Hamas militants. However, accounts from observers and the World Health Organization reported civilian casualties and dire conditions inside the hospital, with 21 patients dying and others lacking medical care and supplies. The raid triggered days of fighting in the surrounding area.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel has not communicated a specific date for a major offensive into Rafah, Gaza. The US and Israel are in contact to prevent harm to civilians. International efforts for a cease-fire are ongoing in Cairo. Gaza is in a humanitarian crisis, with over 1 million near starvation. Recent conflict has resulted in over 33,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 75,000 wounded. Israel's closest ally, the US, opposes a ground operation into Rafah, emphasizing the need to protect civilians.
The Gaza–Israel conflict is a localized part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict beginning in 1948, when 200,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes, settling in the Gaza Strip as refugees. Since then, Israel has fought 15 wars against the Gaza Strip. The number of Gazans killed in the most recent 2023 war — 27,000 — is higher than the death toll of all other wars of the Arab-Israeli conflict.Israel fought four wars against the Egyptian-administered Gaza Strip: 1948 Palestine War, border attacks of 1949–1956, first occupation of Gaza during the Suez Crisis and the capture of Gaza in 1967. During the first occupation, 1% of Gaza Strip's population was either killed, tortured or imprisoned by Israel. Following two periods of low-level insurgencies, a major conflict between Israelis and Palestinians erupted in the First Intifada (523 Gazans killed). The 1993 Oslo Accords brought a period of calm. But, in 2000 the Second Intifada erupted. Towards the end of the Second Intifada, Israel disengaged from Gaza in 2005, Hamas won the 2006 election and seized control of Gaza in 2007.In 2007, Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, turning it into an "open-air prison". The blockade was widely condemned as a form of collective punishment, while Israel defended it as necessary to stop Palestinian rocket attacks. Hamas considered it a declaration of war. A 2008–2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza resulted in more than 1,000 deaths and widespread destruction of homes, schools and hospitals. A 2012 Israeli operation also killed more than 100 people.In 2014, Israel invaded Gaza in a major war that resulted in the deaths of 73 Israelis (mostly soldiers) and 2,251 Palestinians (mostly civilians). The invasion resulted in "unprecedented" destruction, damaging 25% of homes in Gaza city and 70% of homes in Beit Hanoun. After 2014, notable events in the conflict included the "Great March of Return" (2018-2019) and clashes in November 2018, May 2019 and November 2019. The 2021 crisis saw 256 Palestinians and 15 Israelis killed.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people (mostly civilians). Israel responded with bombing Gaza Strip and launching an invasion that has killed more than 29,000 Gazans as of February 2024.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed seven workers from World Central Kitchen, leading to the suspension of operations by three aid providers including WCK and Anera. The Israeli government is being criticized internationally for the killings and for restricting humanitarian aid. Famine is looming in Gaza with half the population on the brink of starvation. The UAE is also reportedly suspending operations in Gaza. The UN's Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) expresses concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The Israeli defence ministry is buying 40,000 tents in preparation for an assault on Rafah in Gaza to eliminate remaining Hamas battalions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at invading Rafah, the last city in Gaza not targeted. Plans include evacuating civilians to 'humanitarian islands' in central Gaza before the assault. The US has cautioned against the assault, predicting global isolation for Israel. France's foreign minister suggests pressure and sanctions on Israel for humanitarian aid access to Gaza. International journalists' exclusion from Gaza allows misinformation to spread amidst the conflict.
Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission. Rep. Ritchie Torres is absolutely right about Hamas Tuesday rejection of yet another cease-fire offer: The hyperbolic and hysterical demonization of Israel from fair-weather friends makes Hamas feel emboldened to continue rejecting ceasefires and continue holding the hostages captive, the Bronx Democrat posted on X. The terrorist thugs could have ended this war the week it began by sending the captives home.
Ismail Haniyeh (born 29 January 1962) is a Palestinian politician who is seen as the overall political leader of Hamas, the current chairman of Hamas’s political bureau; as of 2023, Haniyeh lives in Qatar.Haniyeh was born in the Al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip in 1962. He studied at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he first became involved with Hamas, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Arabic literature in 1987. Appointed to head a Hamas office in 1997, he has since grown in the ranks of the organization.Haniyeh was head of the Hamas list that won the Palestinian legislative elections of 2006, and so became Prime Minister of the State of Palestine. President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah–Hamas conflict, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continued to exercise prime ministerial authority in the Gaza Strip.Haniyeh was the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip from 2006 until February 2017, when he was replaced by Yahya Sinwar. On 6 May 2017, Haniyeh was elected chairman of Hamas's Political Bureau, replacing Khaled Mashaal; at the time, Haniyeh relocated from Gaza to Qatar.
The Gaza War, also known as Operation Cast Lead (Hebrew: מִבְצָע עוֹפֶרֶת יְצוּקָה), also known as the Gaza Massacre (Arabic: مجزرة غزة), and referred to as the Battle of al-Furqan (معركة الفرقان) by Hamas, was a three-week armed conflict between Gaza Strip Palestinian paramilitary groups and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that began on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009 with a unilateral ceasefire. The conflict resulted in 1,166–1,417 Palestinian and 13 Israeli deaths. Over 46,000 homes were destroyed in Gaza, making more than 100,000 people homeless.A six month long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas ended on 4 November, when the IDF made a raid into Deir al-Balah, central Gaza to destroy a tunnel, killing several Hamas militants. Israel said the raid was a preemptive strike and Hamas intended to abduct further Israeli soldiers, while Hamas characterized it as a ceasefire violation, and responded with rocket fire into Israel. Attempts to renew a truce between Israel and Hamas were unsuccessful. On December 27, Israel began Operation Cast Lead with the stated aim of stopping rocket fire. In the initial air assault, Israel attacked police stations, military targets including weapons caches and suspected rocket firing teams, as well as political and administrative institutions, striking in the densely populated cities of Gaza, Khan Yunis and Rafah. After hostilities broke out, Palestinian groups fired rockets in retaliation for the aerial bombardments and attacks. The international community considers indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian structures that do not discriminate between civilians and military targets as illegal under international law.An Israeli ground invasion began on 3 January. On 5 January, the IDF began operating in the densely populated urban centers of Gaza. During the last week of the offensive (from 12 January), Israel mostly hit targets it had damaged before and struck Palestinian rocket-launching units. Hamas intensified its rocket and mortar attacks against mostly civilian targets in southern Israel, reaching the major cities of Beersheba and Ashdod for the first time during the conflict. Israeli politicians ultimately decided against striking deeper within Gaza amid concerns of higher casualties on both sides and rising international criticism. The conflict ended on 18 January, when the IDF first declared a unilateral ceasefire, followed by Hamas' announcing a one-week ceasefire twelve hours later. The IDF completed its withdrawal on 21 January.In September 2009, a UN special mission, headed by the South African Justice Richard Goldstone, produced a report accusing both Palestinian militants and the Israeli army of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, and recommended bringing those responsible to justice. In 2011, Goldstone wrote that he does not believe that Israel intentionally targeted civilians in Gaza as a matter of explicit policy. The other authors of the report, Hina Jilani, Christine Chinkin, and Desmond Travers, stated that no new evidence had been gathered that disputed the report's findings. The United Nations Human Rights Council ordered Israel to conduct various repairs of the damages. On 21 September 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded that 75% of civilian homes destroyed in the attack were not rebuilt.
The Israeli military has withdrawn its ground forces from Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of fighting, with the 98th division leaving to recuperate and prepare for future operations. The Nahal brigade and the 162nd division remain in Gaza. It is unclear how many troops have withdrawn, and the IDF has not commented on the reasons for the withdrawal. The withdrawal raises questions about Israel's plans for an offensive in Rafah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows no truce until Hamas frees all hostages, amidst international pressure for a ceasefire and escalating tensions with Iran.
Israel's military announced the withdrawal of some forces in southern Gaza, reducing troop presence to one of the lowest levels since the six-month war began. Rallies in Washington and New York marked the six-month milestone since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Palestinians were seen walking through the destruction in Khan Younis after Israeli air and ground offensives.
The body of Israeli hostage Elad Katzir was discovered in Khan Younis, Gaza, after being abducted with his mother from their home in Nir Oz in October. Katzir's father was killed during the incident. His sister criticized the Israeli government for not rescuing him in time. The Israeli Defence Forces reported intelligence suggesting Katzir was murdered by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group after being seen in propaganda videos pleading for release. Katzir, an agricultural worker, was described as a man of joy and dedication by his kibbutz.
Residents in Gaza City feel let down by the international community's inaction despite facing danger from Israeli bombs, starvation, and psychological trauma. The United States, Germany, and other Western nations continue to support Israel despite evidence of war crimes. Talks in Cairo continue while Israeli bombardments and blockades persist, putting vulnerable Gazans at greater risk. Medical institutions warn of catastrophic consequences due to lack of aid and ongoing war. Palestinians criticize the lack of humanitarian assistance and call for an end to the conflict, expressing feelings of betrayal and loss.
The Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza sparked surprise globally, with only one brigade left in the enclave, coinciding with the six-month mark since the conflict sparked by Hamas. Officials downplayed the significance, emphasizing the IDF's capability for necessary actions. The timing raised speculation, perceived differently by Israeli media; with Israel Hayom linking it to ceasefire talks pressure, while Maariv suggested it as preparation for a future operation in Rafah.
During the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israeli women and girls were reportedly raped, assaulted and mutilated by Hamas militants. Hamas is accused of having committing acts of gender-based violence, war crimes and crimes against humanity in keeping with the recognition of The International Criminal Court (ICC) that sexual violence is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Hamas has denied that its fighters committed rape and assault against women.It was reported that some released hostages' testimonies indicated that both female and male hostages had been subjected to sexual violence by their captors while being held by Hamas in Gaza.UN Women condemned the acts of rape by Hamas in early December 2023 and the International Criminal Court court is scheduled to initiate a specific probe into sexual violence.
After losing her parents and two brothers in an Israeli strike back in January, Ghada Abdo, a 21-year-old university student studying English language and translation in Gaza City, mourns the absence of traditional Eid al-Fitr celebrations this year, expressing the fear of losing loved ones amidst the ongoing conflict. The war in Gaza, which started in October, has left Ghada displaced six times, with at least 33,360 Palestinians killed and 75,993 wounded according to Gaza's health ministry.
During a U.N. Security Council meeting, Israel's Ambassador to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, criticized the notion of Palestinian statehood and accused the U.N. of supporting Nazi ideology by endorsing it. Erdan highlighted the historical connection between the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Adolf Hitler, stating that the conflict is about the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews. The Palestinian Authority seeks U.N. membership, but Israel's right-wing government opposes Palestinian statehood, leading to ongoing tensions and unresolved conflicts.
The Fatah–Hamas conflict (Arabic: النزاع بين فتح وحماس, romanized: an-Nizāʿ bayna Fataḥ wa-Ḥamās) is an ongoing political and strategic conflict between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories, leading to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas and Fatah administrations remains unfinalized and the situation is deemed a frozen conflict.The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights has found that over 600 Palestinians were killed in the fighting from January 2006 to May 2007. Dozens more were killed or executed in the following years as part of the conflict.
On 7 October 2023, as part of the Hamas-led attack on Israel at the beginning of the Israel–Hamas war, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 253 people from Israel to the Gaza Strip, including children, women, and elderly people. In addition to hostages with only Israeli citizenship, almost half of the hostages are foreign nationals or have multiple citizenships. The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.As of February 14, 2024, 112 hostages were returned alive to Israel, with 105 being released in a prisoner exchange deal, 4 were released by Hamas unilaterally and 3 hostages were rescued by the IDF. 11 bodies of hostages were repatriated to Israel, with 3 of the hostages killed by friendly fire from the IDF and the bodies of 8 hostages repatriated through military operations. 32 hostages were reportedly killed in Hamas captivity according to Israel. According to unconfirmed Israeli intelligence, at least 20 additional hostages may be deceased, with their bodies being held captive in Gaza. As of February 14, 2024, 134 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip, with 130 hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 and four hostages having been captured earlier.Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners. By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release. Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages. The exchange involved hostages from the categories of women and children. As of 30 November 2023, the last day of the ceasefire, 105 civilian hostages had been released, which included 81 people from Israel, 23 Thais and one Filipino. On 12 February 2024, two Argentinian-Israeli civilians were rescued in Operation Golden Hand. As of January 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 108 hostages alive and 24 bodies.
Pope Francis met with relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas on the six-month anniversary of the attack in southern Israel. The hostages were taken on Oct 7, and the meeting included discussions and a press conference with family members in Rome. Israeli authorities reported 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages in response to a Hamas-led attack in December, which led to Israel's ground offensive in Khan Younis.
Hamas, an acronym of its official name, Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Arabic: حركة المقاومة الإسلامية, romanized: Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, lit. 'Islamic Resistance Movement'), is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military movement governing parts of the occupied Gaza Strip.Hamas was founded by Palestinian imam and activist Ahmed Yassin in 1987, after the outbreak of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation. It emerged from his 1973 Mujama al-Islamiya Islamic charity affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election by campaigning on Palestinian armed resistance against the Israeli occupation, thus securing a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Fatah, which it has governed since separately from the Palestinian National Authority. This was followed by an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip with Egyptian support, and multiple wars with Israel, including in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, and 2021. The ongoing 2023 war began after Hamas launched an attack, killing both civilians and soldiers, and taking hostages back to Gaza. The attack has been described as the biggest military setback for Israel since the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, which Israel has responded to in an ongoing ground invasion of Gaza.Hamas promotes Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context. While initially seeking a state in all of Mandatory Palestine, Hamas began acquiescing to 1967 borders in the agreements it signed with Fatah in 2005, 2006 and 2007 In 2017, Hamas released a new charter that supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without recognizing Israel. Hamas's repeated offers of a truce (for a period of 10–100 years) based on the 1967 borders are seen by many as consistent with a two-state solution, while others say that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine. The 1988 Hamas charter was widely described as antisemitic. The revised 2017 Hamas Charter stated that Hamas's struggle was with Zionists, not Jews. Hamas is widely popular in Palestinian society largely due to its anti-Israeli stance.Hamas has carried out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians, including suicide bombings and indiscriminate rocket attacks. These actions have led human rights groups to accuse it of war crimes, and Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. In 2018, a motion at the United Nations to condemn Hamas was rejected.
In Pictures More than 60,000 Palestinians offered Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, but the atmosphere was subdued and not festive as people mourned the victims of Israels more than six-month war on the Gaza Strip. Large contingents of Israeli police officers were deployed at the entrances, surrounding areas and alleys of the city. Because police barred some people from entering the compound, they prayed instead at the mosques outer gates. While few people from the occupied West Bank were permitted to enter, the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said in a statement that more than 60,000 faithful offered prayers to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel has restricted Palestinians access to Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growing tensions across the occupied West Bank due to the Israeli armys ongoing offensive on Gaza.
As the world marks 30 years since the Rwandan genocide where major powers like the US turned their backs on the Tutsi minority, the current conflict in Gaza continues with allegations of war crimes by Israel. The US and France's inaction during the Rwandan genocide allowed the killings to spread, with political concerns outweighing the value of African lives. This history contrasts with the free pass given to Israel amid ongoing death and destruction in Gaza, raising questions about international accountability and the prioritization of political interests over humanitarian intervention.
The Second Haniyeh Government, also known as the Palestinian National Unity Government of March 2007 (Arabic: المجلس الفلسطيني لآذار 17 2007), was a Palestinian Authority unity government headed by Ismail Haniyeh, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority that was formed on 17 March 2007 and dissolved on 14 June 2007.The Unity Government was formed on 17 March 2007 following negotiations in Mecca, but due to failing international support (because it did not meet the conditions required by the Quartet on the Middle East), it was short-lived. Israel immediately rejected the Government and said it will deal with Abbas, but not with the new government unless it recognizes the Jewish state. Israeli officials said they would try to persuade the world not to deal with the government.The Government was dissolved by President Mahmoud Abbas on 14 June 2007 after the Hamas takeover of Gaza.
CAIRO -- Egypt, Jordan, and France on Monday urged an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which has been under deadly Israeli siege and bombardment over the past six months. In a joint article, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate and unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2728, which demands an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-stricken enclave. "We warn against the dangerous consequences of an Israeli offensive on Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinian civilians have sought refuge. Such an offensive will only bring more deaths and suffering, heighten the risks and consequences of mass forcible displacement of the people of Gaza and threaten regional escalation," said the leaders.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticizes Israel for its inadequate explanation regarding the deaths of seven aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, in an Israeli air strike. Australia appoints a retired air force general to review Israel's investigation and determine if further action is necessary. Foreign Minister Penny Wong expresses deep dissatisfaction with Israel's initial response and appoints former military chief Mark Binskin to oversee ongoing investigations and ensure full accountability for the deaths.
Israel sent 468 aid trucks into Gaza, but the United Nations reported lower figures and highlighted trucks were only half full. World Health Organization teams assisted at Al-Shifa hospital to identify bodies. Palestinian nurse Maha Sweylem expressed concern about her missing husband arrested by Israeli forces. The Israeli military has clashed with Palestinian militants inside hospitals. Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis with scarce resources and lack of forensic experts. WHO and OCHA are assisting in identifying the dead in the rubble.
Israel has threatened a direct attack on Iran if Iran uses its own territory to retaliate following tensions escalating from the killing of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria. Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned Israel and the West during an Eid al-Fitr speech, promising retaliation for the attack on the consulate. The threats and warnings from both sides have increased the likelihood of a direct confrontation, with Israel bolstering its defenses and Iran vowing to retaliate against Israel for the killings of its generals.
The Israeli military has dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for a mistaken attack in central Gaza that killed seven aid workers, believing they were targeting Hamas fighters. The United States-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) called for an independent investigation and CEO Erin Gore emphasized the need for Israel to assure the safety of humanitarian aid workers. The Israeli military accepted responsibility for the incident, attributing it to a serious failure in identification, decision-making errors, and deviation from Standard Operating Procedures. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed the importance of prioritizing civilian protection to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Palestinian Authority Government of March 2006, also known as the First Haniyeh Government, was a government of the Palestinian National Authority (PA), led by Ismail Haniyeh, that was sworn in on 29 March 2006 and was followed by the Palestinian unity government of 17 March 2007. On 25 January 2006, Hamas won the election for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) with 44.4% of the vote vs Fatah's 41.4%, and its leader Haniyeh formed the government, which comprised mostly Hamas members as well as four independents, after Fatah and other factions had refused to form a government with Hamas. It was the first Hamas-led PA government in the Palestinian territories.Due to the inability of Hamas and Fatah to form a single government, conflict and fighting between Fatah and Hamas followed the election, resulting in Hamas completely taking over governance in Gaza in June 2007 after the Fatah–Hamas conflict. This leads to confusion about who is the legitimate "Palestinian Authority." Fatah gained control of the West Bank in 2007, and is generally referred to as the PA or "Palestinian Authority" while Hamas is more often called the "Palestinian Authority Government."Hamas has sworn to destroy Israel and is considered by the main donor countries to the PA to be a terrorist organization. The Quartet on the Middle East — comprising the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia — had said that its members would not deal with the Hamas government unless Hamas recognized Israel's right to exist, forswears violence and accepts the validity of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements, including the Oslo Accords. Hamas rejected these conditions and a substantial part of the international community, especially Israel and the United States, refused to deal with the Hamas government, suspended aid to the Hamas-dominated PA government and imposed sanctions. On the swearing in of the Hamas government, Israel also withheld taxes collected on behalf of the PA, which would last for 12 months. In an attempt to deflect Israeli and international argument that the government was dominated by a terrorist organisation, in April 2006 Hamas ministers resigned membership in Hamas. To forestall a worsening humanitarian crisis and the collapse of the PA, the EU proposed the setting up of a "temporary international mechanism" (TIM) to channel international funds to the Palestinians through the Palestinian president, bypassing the Hamas-led government. TIM was accepted by the Quartet and the United States on 17 June 2006.Following the abduction of Gilad Shalit on 25 June 2006 by Gaza-based Palestinian militants, Israel detained nearly a third of the PLC members and ministers, all officials or supporters of Hamas.
The Israeli military engaged in a fierce battle with Palestinian Hamas operatives at the Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, leading to patients being trapped inside and chaos ensuing. Maha Sweylem, a Palestinian nurse, shared her ordeal of not knowing the fate of her husband, a doctor at the hospital, who was arrested during the assault. The situation at the hospital was described as dire, with bodies littering the ruins and a lack of food and drink for those trapped inside. WHO teams were called to assist in identifying the deceased as Gaza lacked forensic experts.
Israel's Foreign Minister has warned that Israel would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory. Tensions have risen following the killings of Iranian generals in a blast at the Iranian consulate in Syria, with Iran blaming Israel for the attack and vowing retaliation. Iran supports anti-Israeli militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the West, especially the U.S. and Britain, of supporting Israel. Iran's Foreign Minister accused the U.S. of giving Israel the "green light" for the consulate strike.
There is a catastrophic-level food crisis with increasing risk of famine in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israel–Hamas war. The crisis derives from Israeli airstrikes that have destroyed food infrastructure, such as bakeries and flour mills, and a widespread scarcity of essential supplies. This has left over half a million Gazans on the brink of starvation and is part of a broader humanitarian crisis in the Strip.Human rights groups have accused Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare. The limited entry of aid trucks has exacerbated the crisis, prompting experts to label it as one of the worst instances of man-made starvation in nearly a century. According to Michael Fakhri, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, "famine may very well be already occurring".The entire population in the Gaza Strip is classified in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 - Crisis, or above. 50% of the population is in IPC Phase 4 - Emergency, and 25% is in IPC Phase 5 - Catastrophe. According to the IPC, the risk of famine is increasing every day.
Hamas is unable to locate and release 40 Israeli hostages as required for the initial phase of a ceasefire deal. The proposal includes the release of women, sick, and elderly men in exchange for freeing Palestinian prisoners. Hamas claims it does not have 40 hostages that meet the criteria, leading to difficulties in negotiations. Israel has requested a list of hostages repeatedly, but Hamas cites the need for a break in fighting to locate them. The hostages are primarily believed to be male Israeli Defense Forces soldiers or military reserve-age men, with potential future negotiations for concessions.
Gaza ( GAH-zə; Arabic: غَزَّة, romanized: Ġazzah, IPA: [ˈɣazza] ), also called Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Before the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, it was the most populous city in the State of Palestine, with 590,481 in 2017.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BCE, Gaza has been dominated by different peoples and empires throughout its history. The Philistines made it a part of their pentapolis after the ancient Egyptians had ruled it for nearly 350 years. Under the Roman Empire, Gaza experienced relative peace and its Mediterranean port flourished. In 635 CE, it became the first city in the Palestine region to be conquered by the Rashidun army and quickly developed into a centre of Islamic law. However, by the time the Crusader states were established in 1099, Gaza was in ruins. In later centuries, Gaza experienced several hardships—from Mongol raids to severe flooding and locust swarms, reducing it to a village by the 16th century, when it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. During the first half of Ottoman rule, the Ridwan dynasty controlled Gaza and the city went through an age of great commerce and peace. The municipality of Gaza was established in 1893.Gaza fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of Mandatory Palestine. As a result of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip territory and several improvements were undertaken in the city. Gaza was occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967, and in 1993, the city was transferred to the newly created Palestinian National Authority. In the months following the 2006 election, an armed conflict broke out between the Palestinian political factions of Fatah and Hamas, resulting in the latter taking power in Gaza. The Gaza Strip was then subject to an Israeli-led, Egyptian-supported blockade. Israel eased the blockade allowing consumer goods in June 2010, and Egypt reopened the Rafah Border Crossing in 2011 to pedestrians.The primary economic activities of Gaza are small-scale industries and agriculture. However, the blockade and recurring conflicts have put the economy under severe pressure. The majority of Gaza's Palestinian inhabitants are Muslim, although there is also a Christian minority. Gaza has a very young population, with roughly 75% under the age of 25. The city is currently administered by a 14-member municipal council.As of March 2024, as part of the Israel–Hamas war, the Israeli army has bombed large portions of the city and surrounding areas of the Northern Gaza Strip, destroying many buildings and infrastructure. Almost all residents have fled or been evacuated to Southern Gaza, or killed as a result. Therefore, previous recorded or estimated population numbers have become outdated.
The Israeli parliament passed a bill allowing top ministers to ban Al Jazeera broadcasts, enabling the closure of their offices in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to take immediate action to shut down Al Jazeera after the law's approval. Accusations of Al Jazeera employees being linked to Hamas have escalated tensions. The bill aims to stop foreign media perceived as threatening national security. Netanyahu aims to pass legislation to shut foreign news networks, branding Al Jazeera as a 'terror channel' that will no longer broadcast in Israel.
The Gaza Strip ( ; Arabic: قِطَاعُ غَزَّةَ Qiṭāʿ Ġazzah [qɪˈtˤɑːʕ ˈɣaz.za]), or simply Gaza, is a polity and the smaller of the two Palestinian territories (the other being the West Bank). On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north.The territory came into being when it was controlled by Egypt during the 1948 Arab–Israeli war, and became a refuge for Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the 1948 Palestine war. Later, during the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured and occupied the Gaza Strip, initiating its decades-long military occupation of the Palestinian territories. The mid-1990s Oslo Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a limited governing authority, initially led by the secular party Fatah until that party's electoral defeat in 2006 to the Sunni Islamic Hamas. Hamas would then take over the governance of Gaza in a battle the next year, subsequently warring with Israel.In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its military forces from Gaza, dismantled its settlements, and implemented a temporary blockade of Gaza. The blockade became indefinite after the 2007 Hamas takeover, supported by Egypt through restrictions on its land border with Gaza. Despite the Israeli disengagement, the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross, and many human-rights organizations continue to consider Gaza to be held under Israeli military occupation, due to what they consider Israel's effective military control over the territory; Israel disputes that it occupies the territory. The land, sea, and air blockade prevents people and goods from freely entering or leaving the territory, leading to Gaza often being called an "open-air prison." The UN, as well as at least 19 human-rights organizations, have urged Israel to lift the blockade. Israel has justified its blockade on the strip with wanting to stop flow of arms, but Palestinians and rights groups say it amounts to collective punishment and exacerbates dire living conditions.The Gaza Strip is 41 kilometres (25 miles) long, from 6 to 12 km (3.7 to 7.5 mi) wide, and has a total area of 365 km2 (141 sq mi). With around 2 million Palestinians on approximately 365 km2 (141 sq mi) of land, Gaza has one of the world's highest population densities. More than 70% of Gaza's population are refugees or descendents of refugees, half of whom are under the age of 18. Sunni Muslims make up most of Gaza's population, with a Palestinian Christian minority. Gaza has an annual population growth rate of 1.99% (2023 est.), the 39th-highest in the world. Gaza's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, with an overall unemployment rate of 46% and a youth unemployment rate of 70%. The population has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Gaza has throughout the years been seen as a source of Palestinian nationalism and resistance.
Yemen is in the middle of a humanitarian disaster after nearly a decade of civil war between the Saudi and Western-backed government, and the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. As Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford has found, war in Gaza is making the situation even worse for Yemenis already facing violence, starvation and disease. On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by Alex and Yemen-born producer Ahmed Baider to explore how Houthi attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea, ostensibly in support of Gaza, are preventing aid from getting into Yemen. Listen above then tap here to follow the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts Senior Producer: Annie Joyce Assistant Producer : Iona Brunker Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Paul Stanworth.
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is an ongoing military and political conflict in the Levant. Beginning in the mid-20th century, it is one of the world's longest-continuing conflicts. Key areas of the conflict include the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, borders, security, water rights, Palestinian freedom of movement, and the Palestinian right of return.The conflict has its origins in the arrival of Jewish immigrants and settlers to Palestine in the late 19th and 20th centuries and the advent of the Zionist movement. The local Arab population opposed Zionism, primarily out of fear of territorial displacement and dispossession. The Zionist movement garnered the support of an imperial power in the 1917 Balfour Declaration issued by Britain, which promised to support the creation of a "Jewish homeland in Palestine". Following World War I, Mandatory Palestine was established, and tensions grew into open sectarian conflict between Jews and Arabs. In 1936, an Arab revolt erupted demanding independence, which the British suppressed.The 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine triggered the 1948 Palestine war, which saw the expulsion and flight of most Palestinian Arabs, the establishment of Israel on most of the Mandate's territory, and the control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by Egypt and Jordan, respectively. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which became known as the Palestinian territories), which is now considered to be the longest military occupation in modern history, and has drawn international condemnation for violating the human rights of the Palestinians.The conflict has claimed many civilian casualties, mostly Palestinian, since its inception. Various attempts have been made to resolve the conflict as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, alongside efforts to resolve the broader Arab–Israeli conflict. Progress towards a negotiated solution between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was made with the Oslo Accords of 1993–1995. The majority of recent peace efforts have been centred around the two-state solution, which involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Public support for a two-state solution, which formerly enjoyed support from both Israeli Jews and Palestinians, has dwindled in recent years. Official negotiations are mediated by the Quartet on the Middle East, which consists of the United Nations, the United States, Russia, and the European Union. The Arab League, which has proposed the Arab Peace Initiative, is another important actor, along with Egypt and Jordan. Since 2006, the Palestinian side has been split between Fatah dominating the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas that gained control of the Gaza Strip. Attempts to remedy this have been repeated and continuing. Since 2019, the Israeli side has also been experiencing political crisis. The latest round of peace negotiations began in July 2013 but were suspended in 2014. Since 2006, Hamas and Israel have fought five wars, the most recent of which began in 2023 and is ongoing as of March 2024.
In May 2017 Palestinian political and military organization Hamas unveiled A Document of General Principles and Policies (وثيقة المبادئ والسياسات العامة لحركة حماس), often referred to as the new or revised Hamas charter. It advocated for a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders, describing this as a "formula of national consensus", but did not explicitly recognize Israel. The new charter holds that armed resistance against an occupying power is justified under international law.While the 1988 Hamas Charter had been widely criticized for its antisemitism, the 2017 document stated that Hamas' fight was not with Jews as such because of their religion but with the Zionist project. However, Hamas fell short of repudiating the original, 1988 charter, saying it was a document of its time and the new document represented Hamas's position for now.Views on the 2017 document varied. While some welcomed it as a sign of pragmatism and increased political maturity, and a potential step on the way to peace, many others dismissed it as a merely cosmetic effort designed to make Hamas sound more palatable while changing nothing about Hamas' underlying aims and methods.
Hamas claims five civilians, including two young boys, were killed by a failed parachute during a multi-nation airdrop in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza. The US, Jordan, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium sent aid packages, with the US conducting the first drop of 38,000 meals. The UN has not verified the report, and the State Department is yet to comment. The airdrops aim to provide emergency humanitarian assistance in Gaza amidst the ongoing war with Israel, although concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of airdrops in addressing the dire situation.
Around 50 protesters organized were arrested after the shut down a cafeteria in the Senate in protest of the U.S.'s policy on Israel. 'Senate can't eat until Gaza eats!' the activists shouted as they blocked entrances to the Dirksen cafeteria. They were apprehended by Capitol Police.
President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. policy could change if the humanitarian situation in Gaza doesn't improve, criticizing Netanyahu for prioritizing political survival over national interest. Democrats have called for arms withholding from Israel to reduce civilian casualties, with progressive base in Michigan warning of losing support for Biden over his stance on Israel. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, including an incident where World Central Kitchen workers died, have sparked criticism. Biden's call for a ceasefire and Schumer's push for new elections in Israel highlight tensions within the Democratic party.
On 18 May 2017, an attack was launched by militia men of the town of Misrata and Benghazi Defense Brigades against the Brak al-Shati Airbase controlled by LNA forces. LNA sources claimed 141 people, including 103 soldiers and numerous civilians were killed as a result of the raid. The base was completely overrun and partially destroyed along with numerous aircraft in the base. Accusations of executions of surrendering forces lead to international condemnation of GNA forces.Shortly after, the LNA launched air strikes on militant sites near the area in retaliation.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed her belief that international courts could interpret Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, citing the use of starvation and bombing in civilian areas. Despite stating she values labeling Israel's actions as wrong over the legal case for genocide, she acknowledged ample evidence and the ongoing legal process at the International Court of Justice. Warren has criticized the Biden administration's policies on Israel, called for a ceasefire, and demanded conditions on future aid. She also mentioned blocking the sale of US fighter jets to Israel and emphasized the need for humanitarian relief in the region.
The Palestinian National Authority (PA or PNA; Arabic: السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية as-Sulṭa al-Waṭanīya al-Filasṭīnīya), commonly known as the Palestinian Authority and officially the State of Palestine, is the Fatah-controlled government body that exercises partial civil control over West Bank areas "A" and "B" as a consequence of the 1993–1995 Oslo Accords. The Palestinian Authority controlled the Gaza Strip prior to the Palestinian elections of 2006 and the subsequent Gaza conflict between the Fatah and Hamas parties, when it lost control to Hamas; the PA continues to claim the Gaza Strip, although Hamas exercises de facto control. Since January 2013, the Palestinian Authority has used the name "State of Palestine" on official documents, although the United Nations continues to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the "representative of the Palestinian people".The Palestinian Authority was formed in 1994, pursuant to the Gaza–Jericho Agreement between the PLO and the government of Israel, and was intended to be a five-year interim body. Further negotiations were then meant to take place between the two parties regarding its final status. According to the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority was designated to have exclusive control over both security-related and civilian issues in Palestinian urban areas (referred to as "Area A") and only civilian control over Palestinian rural areas ("Area B"). The remainder of the territories, including Israeli settlements, the Jordan Valley region and bypass roads between Palestinian communities, were to remain under Israeli control ("Area C"). East Jerusalem was excluded from the Accords. Negotiations with several Israeli governments had resulted in the Authority gaining further control of some areas, but control was then lost in some areas when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) retook several strategic positions during the Second ("Al-Aqsa") Intifada. In 2005, after the Second Intifada, Israel withdrew unilaterally from its settlements in the Gaza Strip, thereby expanding Palestinian Authority control to the entire strip while Israel continued to control the crossing points, airspace, and the waters of the Gaza Strip's coast.In the Palestinian legislative elections on 25 January 2006, Hamas emerged victorious and nominated Ismail Haniyeh as the Authority's Prime Minister. However, the national unity Palestinian government effectively collapsed, when a violent conflict between Hamas and Fatah erupted, mainly in the Gaza Strip. After the Gaza Strip was taken over by Hamas on 14 June 2007, the Authority's Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led unity government and appointed Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister, dismissing Haniyeh. The move wasn't recognized by Hamas, thus resulting in two separate administrations – the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and a rival Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. The reconciliation process to unite the Palestinian governments achieved some progress over the years, but had failed to produce a re-unification.The Palestinian Authority received financial assistance from the European Union and the United States (approximately US$1 billion combined in 2005). All direct aid was suspended on 7 April 2006, as a result of the Hamas victory in parliamentary elections. Shortly thereafter, aid payments resumed, but were channeled directly to the offices of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Since 9 January 2009, when Mahmoud Abbas' term as president was supposed to have ended and elections were to have been called, Hamas supporters and many in the Gaza Strip have withdrawn recognition for his presidency and instead consider Aziz Dweik, the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, to be the acting president until new elections can be held.The State of Palestine has become recognized by 138 nations and since November 2012, the United Nations voted to recognize the State of Palestine as a non-member UN observer state. The Palestinian Authority is an authoritarian regime that has not held elections in over 15 years; it has been criticized for human rights abuses, including cracking down on journalists, human rights activists, and dissent against its rule.
The Israeli military is using an AI-assisted system named Lavender to identify potential bombing targets in Gaza, drawing up kill lists of as many as 37,000 targets with a reported 10% error rate, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths according to Israeli media outlets. Experts express concerns over the use of untested AI systems for life-and-death decisions, with one professor calling it an 'AI-assisted genocide' and advocating for a moratorium on AI use in warfare. Gazas Ministry of Health reports at least 33,037 Palestinians killed and 75,668 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; Hebrew: צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , lit. 'The Army for the Defense of Israel'), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym Tzahal (צה״ל), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security apparatus. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister.On the orders of David Ben-Gurion, the IDF was formed on 26 May 1948 and began to operate as a conscript military, drawing its initial recruits from the already-existing paramilitaries of the Yishuv—namely Haganah, the Irgun, and Lehi. It was formed shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel. In the wake of the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty, the IDF underwent a significant strategic realignment. Previously spread across various fronts—Lebanon and Syria in the north, Jordan and Iraq in the east, and Egypt in the south—the IDF redirected its focus towards southern Lebanon and its occupation of the Palestinian territories, the Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In 2000, the IDF withdrew from Southern Lebanon and in 2005 from Gaza. Conflict between Israel and Islamist groups based in Gaza, notably Hamas, has continued since then. Moreover, notable Israeli–Syrian border incidents have occurred frequently since 2011, due to regional instability caused by the Syrian civil war.Since 1967, the IDF maintains a close security relationship with the United States, including in research and development cooperation, with joint efforts on the F-15I, the Tactical High-Energy Laser, and the Arrow defense systen, among others. The IDF is believed to have maintained an operational nuclear weapons capability since 1967, possibly possessing between 80 and 400 nuclear warheads.
Former President Trump stated in an interview that any Jewish person voting for President Biden does not love Israel, claiming Democrats avoid discussing Hamas attacks due to Biden's stance on Israel. Trump suggested Jewish and Black people habitually vote Democrat, accused liberal Jews of hating Israel, and insinuated dual loyalties. The Biden campaign criticized Trump's remarks. Trump touted his pro-Israel actions in office, including moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. This perpetuates antisemitic tropes and echoes previous comments accusing Jews voting for Democrats of disloyalty.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that Spain is ready to recognize the Palestinian state in support of the social majority and Europe's geopolitical interests, strongly criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza as disproportionate and harmful to the Middle East. Additionally, Australia's foreign minister and UK Foreign Secretary hinted at recognizing Palestinian statehood, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution without Hamas involvement. The international community, including the United Nations, is considering granting full membership to Palestine amidst escalating conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On 6 December 2023, in response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas War, the Hurmat-e-Masjid al-Aqsa Conference was held at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad. The conference was attended by various Pakistani Islamic scholars and leaders like Taqi Usmani, Muneeb-ur-Rehman, Fazal-ur-Rehman, Siraj-ul-Haq, Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed, Ijaz-ul-Haq, Professor Senator Sajid Mir and other scholars participated.
Al-Shati (Arabic: مخيم الشاطئ), also known as Shati or Beach camp, is a Palestinian refugee camp located in the northern Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean Sea coastline in the Gaza Governorate, and more specifically Gaza City. Al-Shati was established in 1948 for about 23,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from the cities of Jaffa, Lod and Beersheba as well as surrounding villages during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The camp's total land area consists of 520 dunums.According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), al-Shati had a population of 40,734 inhabitants in 2017. As of July 2023, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reports a population of 90,173 registered refugees. The camp is the third largest refugee camp in the Palestinian Territories.The camp is currently under the control of the IDF.
Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have condemned abuse and harassment of artists amid calls for Israel's participation to be banned over the war in Gaza. Israel's Eden Golan received death threats, prompting increased security measures for her. The European Broadcasting Union emphasized support for freedom of speech but denounced online abuse towards artists, stating that the decision on Israel's participation is the responsibility of the EBU, not the artists. Israel was required to change the lyrics of Eden Golan's song to comply with Eurovision rules. Several contestants rejected calls to boycott the show.
https://www.facebook.com/TheSunWorldNews/
CBS News
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/bethan-mckernan
NY Post
ABC News
ABC News
ABC News
The Huffington Post
Taryn Pedler
NDTV
NDTV
贺霞婷
NBC
Fox News
Fox News
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
Al Jazeera Staff
Al Jazeera
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
PANORA