Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47, held by Hamas in Gaza, appeared in a video calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to secure their release. The footage, resembling previous captive videos, features the men expressing a desire to be reunited with their families. Miran, captured during a Hamas attack in October, pleads for a deal to ensure their safe return. The video was released during Passover as Hamas reviews Israel's ceasefire proposal, with Siegel emotionally conveying his love for his family amid the distressing conditions. This video follows another recent release by Hamas showcasing captive Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Aviva Siegel, a released Israeli hostage whose husband Keith is still held by Hamas in Gaza, is calling for his freedom, emphasizing the need for international mediators' intervention. The couple was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza during a Hamas attack in October. Aviva, after enduring captivity for 51 days, expresses anguish over Keith's 193-day captivity, highlighting the dire conditions hostages face. She pleads for global assistance in freeing Keith and all hostages, detailing the inhumane treatment and uncertainty surrounding his well-being.
Hamas released a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped during the Nova music festival attacks on Israel in which 1,200 people died and over 200 were taken hostage. The video shows Goldberg-Polin with part of his left arm missing, identifying himself and criticizing the Israeli government. He has been held captive in Gaza for six months and is likely speaking under duress. Mentioning Israeli ministers' holiday dinners, he urges his family to stay strong, expressing hope of comforting them during the Jewish holiday of Passover.
This video can not be played Moran Yanai was taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October and spent 54 days in captivity. She was released in a ceasefire deal last November, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel jails. Ms Yanai spoke to the BBC's Lucy Williamson about the violence she suffered and the first time she felt safe enough to cry. 'Nobody will take my voice anymore' - hostage on her days as captive. Video, 00:03:27 'Nobody will take my voice anymore' - hostage on her days as captive Up Next.
Hamas released a hostage video showing American-Israeli man, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped in October 2023. This is the first public appearance of Goldberg-Polin since the attack. In the video, he describes the dangers he faced during the attack and criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Goldberg-Polin also alleges that other hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh has been held hostage by Hamas for 184 days, is advocating for the release of the 130 hostages, including eight American citizens, in Washington meetings with the US government. She expresses extreme desperation and seeks answers on the actions needed to bring their loved ones back home.
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.
This video can not be played Rachel Goldberg-Polin's 23-year-old son Hersh was kidnapped from the Nova festival in Israel on 7 October and is still being held hostage in Gaza. She spoke to the BBC's Orla Guerin about why the war needs to stop and how she believes her son will come back safely. 'Hope is mandatory': Hostage's mother believes her son will return. Video, 00:01:59 'Hope is mandatory': Hostage's mother believes her son will return Up Next. Watch: Iceland volcano spews lava in eruption.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against the government's handling of the Israel-Hamas war, urging a cease-fire to release hostages held by Hamas and calling for early elections. Divisions have resurfaced over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership despite initial unity after Hamas attacks. Efforts to bring home hostages following a weeklong cease-fire have stalled, with families expressing frustration and blaming Netanyahu for hindering negotiations. Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah despite pressure, but achieving goals remains challenging.
Israeli forces bombed a tent camp inside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital compound in central Gaza, killing two Palestinians in what seemed to be a targeted strike. Palestinians were seen carrying wounded individuals after the attack, with an aircraft later airdropping humanitarian aid over northern Gaza. In response, protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Senior administration officials have stated that there are new proposals for a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, but an agreement is still a few weeks away as the two sides are far apart. Over 130 hostages, including Americans, are still believed to be held in Gaza. The proposals involve releasing hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting or a cease-fire, with a maximalist proposal to get all Israeli and American hostages out in exchange for a cease-fire.
Jacob Flickinger, a 33-year-old American-Canadian aid worker, was one of seven charity workers killed by an IDF airstrike in Gaza while distributing aid. He was planning to leave the region for Egypt due to safety concerns. Jacob, described as a loving husband and new father, had been volunteering with the World Central Kitchen. His death has sparked international outrage and raised questions about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to recent attacks in the region.
Protesters gather outside the Israeli parliament demanding a ceasefire deal with Hamas and early elections following the government's security failure in the October Hamas-led attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government faces criticism over the handling of the situation. The war on Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with a truce in November leading to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Talks on a new ceasefire and captive exchange were set to begin in Cairo. Demonstrators express frustration with Netanyahu's leadership and vow to continue the protest.
Sabreen Alrouh Joudeh, a premature baby girl rescued from her mother's womb after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, died five days later after the incident that also claimed the lives of her mother, father, and 3-year-old sister. Doctors managed to revive Sabreen but she passed away due to her fragile health condition. The family buried her alongside her deceased relatives in a sand-filled cemetery in Rafah. The tragic event highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, with over 35,000 people killed in Gaza, including around 13,000 children.
Israeli citizens have been protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and government policies, demanding a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside government buildings in cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with clashes erupting between protesters and police. The US, Qatar, and Egypt have been mediating for a new ceasefire and hostage exchange. Netanyahu faces mounting local and global pressure, with calls for his resignation and early elections. Opinion polls suggest a significant portion of Israelis prefer other candidates over Netanyahu.
On 7 October 2023, 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Hebrew: הרש גולדברג-פולין) was wounded and abducted by Hamas from the Re'im music festival massacre, part of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Gazans are increasingly criticizing Hamas for the suffering and devastation caused by the ongoing war with Israel. Many feel that Hamas should have limited their attacks to military targets to avoid civilian casualties. Support for Hamas is declining in Gaza, with people holding the group responsible for their hardships. The situation in Gaza is described as catastrophic, leading to a lack of fear among the population. The State Department disputes claims of a 'same standard' for Israeli and Hamas conduct. Additionally, a significant number of people in war-torn Gaza are facing famine, according to the Global Report on Food Crises.
On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As part of the attack, 364 civilians were killed and many more wounded by Hamas at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im. At least 40 hostages were also taken. This mass killing had the largest number of casualties out of a number of massacres targeting Israeli civilians in villages adjacent to the Gaza Strip, that occurred as part of the 7 October attack, alongside those at the moshavim of Netiv HaAsara, Be'eri, Kfar Aza, Nir Oz and Holit.At 6:30 am around sunrise, rockets were noticed in the sky. Around 7:00 am, a siren warned of an incoming rocket attack, prompting festivalgoers to flee. Subsequently, armed militants, dressed in military attire and using motorcycles, trucks and powered paragliders, surrounded the festival grounds and indiscriminately fired on individuals attempting to escape. Attendees seeking refuge in nearby locations, such as bomb shelters, bushes, and orchards, were killed while in hiding. Those who reached the road and parking were trapped in a traffic jam as militants fired at vehicles. The militants executed some wounded individuals at point-blank range as they crouched on the ground.The details of the whereabouts and condition of the hostages are not publicly known. The massacre at the festival was the largest terror attack in Israel's history, and the worst Israeli civilian massacre ever.
A three-ship flotilla carrying 5,000 tons of aid from Turkey to Gaza was halted by Guinea-Bissau authorities who removed the country's flags from two ships, leading to the cancellation of the voyage. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of pressuring Guinea-Bissau, highlighting close ties between Israel and the Guinea-Bissau president. This incident echoes a similar situation in 2010 when the Mavi Marmara was intercepted by Israeli commandos, resulting in fatalities and injuries on both sides.
Israel's planned invasion of Rafah might be delayed as Hamas released a video of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polinn, pushing the Israeli Defense Forces to focus on rescuing hostages instead of the assault. The video, showing Hersh appealing for a deal between Israel and Hamas, aims to increase public pressure for a ceasefire. Despite efforts to negotiate a deal, Israel has faced rejections, leading to the decision to proceed with the invasion in Rafah to eliminate Hamas. The release of the hostage video is seen as a tactic by Hamas to divert attention from the Rafah offensive and prioritize hostage rescue.
Negotiations between Israeli officials and a high-level Egyptian delegation over Israel's planned offensive in Gaza's Rafah have been described as "very good," with progress towards a ceasefire deal with Hamas. Israel warns against delays in a hostage deal with Hamas and has deployed reserve soldiers to Gaza. Egypt aims to prevent a conflict in Rafah through a rescue initiative, including exchanges of prisoners and a sustainable ceasefire. Israel plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah before a ground attack to eliminate Hamas battalions. Talks focus on reaching an agreement to avert the assault on Rafah, with concerns about potential border crossings by Palestinians.
Students at universities across the United States are protesting against Israel's war on the Gaza Strip, demanding action to end the deadly bombardment. Encampments have been set up on campuses like Columbia and Harvard, with debates rising on freedom of speech, Palestinian solidarity activism, and the use of force against protesters. The students emphasize the need to address the pressing issue of Israel's attacks on Gaza amid distractions. Demands include divestment from companies profiting from the conflict, support for Palestinian voices, and a pledge not to use force to disperse protests.
The Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis as a result of the Israel–Hamas war. The crisis includes both a famine and a healthcare collapse. At the start of the war, Israel implemented a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in significant shortages of fuel, food, medication, water, and essential medical supplies. This siege resulted in a 90% drop in electricity availability, impacting hospital power supplies, sewage plants, and shutting down the desalination plants that provide drinking water. Widespread disease outbreaks have spread across Gaza.Heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes caused catastrophic damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, further deepening the crisis. By mid-November, Israel had dropped the equivalent of two nuclear bombs on Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 4,000 children killed in the war's first month. UN Secretary General António Guterres stated Gaza had "become a graveyard for children."Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and a joint statement by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, and World Food Programme have warned of a dire humanitarian collapse. On November 8, UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk described the Rafah Crossing as "gates to a living nightmare."
Israel has withdrawn almost all its troops from southern Gaza, leaving only one brigade in Khan Younis. The move comes after ongoing negotiations with Hamas over Israeli hostages. The withdrawal is linked to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's desire for a ceasefire deal. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that troops were pulled out to prepare for future missions, including in the city of Rafah. Despite the official explanation of giving troops time to recuperate, some rockets were fired towards Israel from Khan Younis after the soldiers left.
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.
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.
President Biden reevaluated his approach towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza after the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers prompted a shift. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined specific steps Biden wanted Israel to take, such as opening land crossings for aid deliveries. The U.S. policy on Gaza will depend on Israel's immediate actions. Consideration is being given to placing conditions on military aid to Israel.
Pro-Palestine protests escalate at top US universities with over 200 arrests in Los Angeles, Boston, and Austin. Video shows police assaulting over 65-year-old professor Caroline Fohlin at Emory University. Students express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst the conflict with Israel, resulting in large-scale arrests and police use of chemical irritants. Israel launched the war in Gaza after a Hamas attack, with significant casualties reported on both sides.
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.
An NBC News investigation uncovered that Palestinians were killed in areas of southern Gaza, designated by the Israeli military as safe zones, during deadly airstrikes from January to April. The Israeli military bombarded Rafah, signaling a possible ground invasion. Camera crews documented the aftermath of the strikes, including hits on an evacuation zone and a humanitarian zone. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the accuracy of the map marking safe zones, despite criticisms from aid agencies and Gazans. Human Rights Watch highlighted the impact of civilians following government directives to safe areas where they still faced airstrikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has agreed to reschedule a planned meeting with US and Israeli officials to discuss a possible operation in Rafah, confirmed by the White House. The rescheduled meeting, originally canceled by Netanyahu, is considered an urgent priority, following objections to the US abstaining from a UN Security Council vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
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.
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.
Emory University economics professor Caroline Fohlin was forcefully taken to the ground by police during a Gaza solidarity protest on campus. She refused to comply with police orders and was booked into DeKalb County jail on charges of disorderly conduct and battery of a police officer. The protest, dispersed by tear gas and rubber bullets, led to confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement officers at the Georgia college. Similar pro Palestine demonstrations and arrests have occurred at other universities across the United States amid tensions related to Israel's war on Hamas.
Pro-Palestinian protests have escalated at universities across the United States, with demonstrations at Columbia University resulting in arrests, leading House Speaker Mike Johnson to suggest bringing in the National Guard if the protests are not contained quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has condemned the protests, equating them to anti-Jewish rallies in Germany. University campuses have become a focal point for protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, with calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel, while Jewish students express concerns about rising anti-Semitism.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to the Gaza conflict, stating he is an obstacle to peace and should resign. Pelosi joins other prominent Democrats in urging new leadership in Israel, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also advocating for new elections. Despite this criticism, the U.S. Senate passed a $95 billion aid package that includes $26 billion for Israel. President Biden has expressed concerns over Netanyahu's actions in Gaza, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
A ship named Jennifer loaded with 400 tons of food aid, chartered by the United Arab Emirates in partnership with ANERA, departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus to Israel's Ashdod port. The aid is set to pass through Israeli security clearance before reaching Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing. UAE aims to deliver life-saving aid to Gaza with over 31,000 tons already dispatched. Meanwhile, the UK's Royal Navy support ship sails to help build a temporary pier off Gaza for aid delivery. The US is constructing a floating jetty for pre-screened aid deliveries to Gaza.
Palestinian authorities are uncovering bodies in mass graves at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, showing signs of being shot in the head, bound hands with zip ties, stripped of clothes, or buried with tubes. Israel denies wrongdoing but admits to exhuming and reburying bodies in search of hostages. The White House and the UN call for a transparent investigation into the reported deaths, raising concerns about possible war crimes. Over 390 bodies, with at least 165 identified, have been found at three mass grave sites at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
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.
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.
An internal investigation by the U N into 12 relief workers in Gaza accused by Israel of involvement in a Hamas attack found no evidence to support the allegations. Three cases were suspended due to insufficient evidence, while 8 remain under investigation. Major donors, including the U S, suspended support for UNRWA after Israel's claims. Investigations into 7 additional UNRWA staffers accused by Israel are ongoing. Two aid workers were reported killed in Gaza fighting. The UN is deciding on administrative actions for cleared and suspended cases, with employees on leave without pay.
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.
Israelis in Jerusalem, particularly at the Machane Yehuda food market, expressed disappointment with Senator Schumer's comments on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Gaza war and his suggestion for new elections, stating that it is not Schumer's place to interfere in Israel's politics. They believe President Biden is turning on Israel for his own political interests before the U.S. national elections. Netanyahu criticized Schumer's comments as inappropriate. Israelis emphasized their ability to handle their own politics and affirmed their democratic values.
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.
Aner Elyakim Shapira (Hebrew: ענר אליקים שפירא; March 12, 2001 – October 7, 2023) was an Israeli who was killed during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. During the Re'im music festival massacre, while taking cover in a shelter, Shapira threw back at Hamas militants 7 explosive grenades they originally thrown into the shelter. Ultimately, he saved the lives of at least 7 people who survived the massacre. For his actions, he was called a "hero" by Israeli and international media.
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.
Misinformation in the Israel–Hamas war refers to the dissemination of false, misleading or unsubstantiated information during the Israel-Hamas war. Much of the content has been viral in nature, with tens of millions of posts in circulation on social media. A variety of sources, including government officials, media outlets, and social media influencers across different countries, have contributed to the spread of these inaccuracies.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia to discuss ceasefire efforts in Gaza, emphasizing Hamas's hindrance to peace. Despite mediation by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have not reached an agreement on key demands. The proposed framework includes a six-week ceasefire and hostage releases. Blinken's upcoming trip follows discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on hostage release efforts. He also mentioned the potential for normalizing Israel-Saudi relations and a two-state solution before a ceasefire.
The United States is contemplating imposing sanctions on the Israeli battalion, Netzah Yehuda, accused of human rights violations in the West Bank. Reports suggest one or more Israeli battalions could be affected, but there is uncertainty as Israeli leaders may prevent the sanctions. Pressure from the US followed Israel's recent aid approval, amidst ongoing conflict with Gaza. Instances of abuse, including the death of a Palestinian American in the unit's custody, have fueled the debate. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Benny Gantz have opposed potential sanctions on the contentious battalion.
The History of Hamas is an account of the Palestinian Islamist fundamentalist socio-political organization with an associated paramilitary force, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas (حماس) Ḥamās is an acronym of حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamat al-Islāmiyyah, meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement".Hamas was established in 1987, and has its origins in Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. In the 1980s the Brotherhood emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the PLO, and in 1987 adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel.In the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament, defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve. In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes, and since that time Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories, while at the same time they were ousted from government positions in the West Bank. Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory.After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing the other of responsibility. In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza, withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a high-profile Jewish officeholder, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using claims of antisemitism to deflect criticism of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Sanders urged the U.S. to end financial and military support for Israel, calling Israel's response to the conflict with Hamas grossly disproportionate. Sanders responded to Netanyahu's video criticizing campus protests as antisemitic with a video of his own, refuting the prime minister's statement.
Pro-Palestinian student activists at universities like Columbia are demanding divestment from companies profiting from Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian lands. The protesters aim to pressure universities to sell holdings in businesses like Google and Airbnb. However, researchers suggest the impact of divestment would be minimal and could even be counterproductive. Israeli defenders argue against divestment, labeling it unfair and antisemitic. Pro-Palestinian activists view divestment as a meaningful way to push for action and raise awareness on Palestinian concerns.
As much of the Arab world marks Mothers Day, one Palestinian mother reflects on what she left in Gaza. Finding enough diapers has become an almost impossible task in Gaza, nearly six months since Israels war began. As much of the Arab world celebrates Mothers Day, we learn what raising a family in a war zone is really like. In this episode: Episode credits: This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Miranda Lin with our host Malika Bilal.
Pro-Palestinian students took over Columbia University's South Lawn last week, drawing comparisons to the 1968 protest that saw police intervention. In 1968, students protested against the Vietnam War, changes to the military draft, Columbia's ties to defense research, and plans to take over part of a public park in Harlem. The recent protests centered around calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A U.S. intelligence assessment raises concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership, citing a lack of confidence exacerbated by recent events. The report suggests a possible shift to a more moderate government in Israel and predicts increased international pressure due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Critics view the report as an attempt to influence Israeli voters, with accusations of foreign interference in Israeli democracy.
The US military is constructing a large floating pier off Gaza's coast to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, with ships delivering aid from Cyprus to the pier for transport across Gaza via trucks. President Joe Biden announced the plan to combat hunger exacerbated by aid delivery challenges amid Israel's military actions against Hamas. The UN warns of an impending famine in Gaza. Over 1,000 US troops will be involved in the project, set to be operational by early May, with a British naval vessel serving as accommodation offshore.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, advocating for new elections on the Senate floor. Schumer, a lifelong supporter of Israel, expressed concerns that the current government no longer meets the needs of Israel, citing a shift in the global landscape. He highlighted the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a reevaluation of Israel's direction. Schumer's stance has put pressure on Democratic party officials, including President Joe Biden, to reassess their support for Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's popularity has surged in the polls following criticism from the Biden administration and Democrats, including remarks from New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer calling for new elections. Polls suggest Netanyahu could gain additional parliamentary seats, potentially forming a new government. Mideast expert Caroline Glick notes that criticism from Schumer and the White House may inadvertently strengthen Netanyahu politically.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacking the Israeli ship MSC Darwin in the Gulf of Aden with naval missiles and drones, as well as launching missiles toward the Israeli city of Eilat. This attack comes amidst Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The rebels have targeted ships in the region, with the latest attack being near Aden. The U.S. military and European Union forces have intercepted Houthi missiles, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the area.
The State of Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons. Estimates of Israel's stockpile range between 90 and 400 nuclear warheads, and the country is believed to possess the ability to deliver them in several methods, including by aircraft, as submarine-launched cruise missiles, and via the Jericho series of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles. Its first deliverable nuclear weapon is thought to have been completed in late 1966 or early 1967; which would make it the sixth country in the world to have developed them.Israel maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity, never officially denying nor admitting to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that "Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East". However, in November 2023, amid the Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli minister of Heritage, who was a member of the war cabinet, publicly stated that dropping a nuclear bomb over Gaza was an option. Israel declines to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), despite international pressure to do so, saying that would be contrary to its national security interests.Additionally, Israel developed the Begin Doctrine of counter-proliferation and preventive strikes, denying other regional actors the ability to acquire their own nuclear weapons. The Israeli Air Force conducted Operation Opera and Operation Orchard, destroying the Iraqi and Syrian nuclear reactors in 1981 and 2007, respectively, and the Stuxnet malware that severely damaged Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010 is thought to have been developed jointly by the United States and Israel. As of 2019, Israel remains the only country in the Middle East believed to possess nuclear weapons. The Samson Option refers to Israel's deterrence strategy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons as a "last resort" against a country whose military has invaded and/or destroyed much of Israel.Israel began to investigate the nuclear field soon after it declared independence in 1948 and, with French co-operation, secretly began building the Negev Nuclear Research Center, a facility near Dimona housing a nuclear reactor and reprocessing plant in the late 1950s. The first extensive details of the weapons program came on October 5, 1986, with media coverage of revelations from Mordechai Vanunu, a technician formerly employed at the center. Vanunu was soon kidnapped by the Mossad and brought back to Israel, where he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for treason and espionage.
Israeli far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's security minister, was slightly injured and taken to hospital after a car accident near Tel Aviv. The incident occurred as he was visiting the site of a suspected stabbing attack. Two others were also injured, including a security guard and a driver. Ben-Gvir has a history of controversial views and convictions related to terrorism and anti-Arab rhetoric.
A man has been found guilty of wearing a headband in support of Hamas at a pro-Palestine rally in central London. Khaled Hajsaad, 24, wore the clothing at a pro-Palestine rally in Trafalgar Square on 25 November 2023. The green headband had the "Shahada" written on it in white - the basic statement of the Islamic faith, the court was told. Hajsaad told police the headband was "an item of Saudi Arabia" and the Shahada was a "statement of my faith". He was found guilty, at the City of London Magistrates' Court, of wearing the item "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion" he was supporting Hamas - an illegal act in the UK where it is designated a terrorist group.
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war Cabinet, has called for early elections in September to renew trust in the government and bolster international credibility, opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance. Gantz's National Union party is forecast to become the strongest parliamentary group if elections were held today. The pressure for early elections has grown, with protests demanding release of hostages and a change in leadership. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also pushed for elections to replace Netanyahu, citing concerns about his leadership aligning with far-right extremists.
The trial of Benjamin Netanyahu began following investigations into allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust by him and close political allies within his inner circle during his fourth and fifth terms as Israel's Prime Minister. The Israel Police began investigating Netanyahu in December 2016 and subsequently recommended indictments against him. On 21 November 2019, Netanyahu was officially indicted for breach of trust, accepting bribes, and fraud, leading him to legally relinquish his ministry portfolios other than prime minister. Netanyahu's trial in the Jerusalem District Court began on 24 May 2020, with witness testimony starting on 5 April 2021. The prosecution listed 333 witnesses. As of December 2023, the trial is still ongoing.
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.
British troops are aiding in the construction of an offshore pier to increase aid delivery to Gaza, but there is no approval for their direct involvement on the ground. The Israeli offensive has led to significant casualties and displacement in Gaza. The UK is collaborating with the US and international allies to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. US President Biden has stated that no US troops will be deployed on the ground in Gaza.
Students in Paris, inspired by Gaza solidarity encampments in the United States, blocked access to a building at Sciences Po university, leading to classes moving online. The protest at the prestigious French university followed a previous police breakup of a demonstration at one of the university's amphitheaters.
It would take 100 lorries about 14 years to remove the 300 kilograms of scrap metal per square meter covering the heavily destroyed Gaza Strip, due to unexploded ordnances. Israel's war in Gaza has created 37 million tonnes of debris, with an average of 300kg of rubble per square metre. Nearly 65% of the destroyed buildings were residential. An Egyptian delegation is attempting to revive ceasefire talks amid concerns of a potential Israeli offensive in Rafah, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
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