Tag Archives: Middle East

NBC News reports: A senior Arab official with “direct knowledge of negotiations” confirms to NBC News that there will be a truce extension. Details were still being finalized and the deal could still collapse, the source added. Yesterday, Hamas released 17 hostages, including a 4-year-old American, Abigail Edan. In exchange, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom are minors, …

The New York Times reports: Twenty-five hostages held in Gaza, including 12 Thai nationals and 13 other women and children, were released from captivity on Friday, the Egyptian government said, the first people to be freed under a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that took effect hours earlier. The hostages were transferred to Egypt as part of a prisoner exchange …

Reuters reports: Combat between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters halted on Friday for the first time in seven weeks in a temporary truce ahead of the planned release of Israeli hostages held by the militants in exchange for jailed Palestinians. No big bombings, artillery strikes or rocket attacks were reported, although Hamas and Israel both accused each other of sporadic …

Reuters reports: Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas will start a four-day truce on Friday morning with a first group of 13 Israeli women and child hostages released later that day, mediators in Qatar said. The agreement – the first in a brutal, near seven-week-old war – would begin at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and involve a comprehensive …

The Associated Press reports: Israel’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a temporary cease-fire with the Hamas militant group that is expected to bring the first halt in fighting in a devastating six-week war and win freedom for dozens of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip. The deal calls for a four-day cease-fire, during which Israel will halt its military offensive …

The Hill reports: CNN anchor Dana Bash pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond to Israeli concerns on whether he would accept some responsibility for failing to anticipate the Oct. 7 massacre in an interview on Sunday. In response, Netanyahu repeatedly dodged the issue, saying on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he would discuss those concerns after the …

Reuters reports: Israeli air and ground forces are stepping up operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s chief military spokesperson said on Friday, amid reports of heavy bombing of the besieged enclave. Internet and mobile phone services were cut off in the Palestinian territory, a local telecoms firm and the Red Crescent said. “In the last hours, we intensified the attacks …

CBS News reports: As it continues to conduct relentless airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the wake of the surprise Hamas attacks, the Israeli military informed the United Nations late Thursday night that the entire population in northern Gaza should evacuate south almost immediately. Stephane Dujarric, a U.N. spokesperson, told CBS News that liaison officers with the Israel Defense Forces …

The Messenger reports: The Gaza strip, cut off from Israel’s power grid, lost electrical service on Wednesday when the territory’s sole power plant ran out of fuel, reports said. The Al Jazeera Mubasher, news channel, citing the head of the Gaza Energy Authority, said the lights went out at 2 p.m. local time. Israel cut off its supply of electricity …

The Associated Press reports: The ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on a major holiday. Several hours after the invasion began, Hamas …

The Jerusalem Post reports: In a totally unexpected move, the Jordanian government has been forced to act quickly against what it called two parties who spread false information, causing chaos among children and parents. The prosecutor general is looking into possible cybercrimes committed to dissuade the public from the acceptance of the new measles (MR) vaccine that will be rolled …

Reuters reports: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in hospital after being fitted with a pacemaker on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people converged on Jerusalem to protest a planned overhaul of the Supreme Court being debated in parliament. With Israel embroiled in its most serious domestic political crisis in decades, the 73-year-old leader was rushed to Sheba Medical …

CNN reports: Israel has been brought to a standstill by a “historic” general strike, as anger and unrest at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to weaken the judiciary. The action was called by Histadrut, Israel’s largest trade union federation, and has been joined or supported by workers in multiple sectors. “Stop this judicial process before it is too late,” the …

The Times of Israel reports: As the final thousands of votes were being tallied Thursday evening, Prime Minister Yair Lapid called opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu to concede the race and congratulate him on his election victory. “The State of Israel is above any political considerations,” Lapid said. “I wish Netanyahu good luck for the people of Israel and the State …

The Associated Press reports: Israeli election officials were tallying the final votes from national elections on Thursday, with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looking likely to reclaim the premiership with a comfortable majority backed by far-right allies. Netanyahu’s top partner in the government is expected to be the far-right Religious Zionism party. Religious Zionism has promised to enact changes to …

Reuters reports: Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared well placed to return to power after exit polls following Tuesday’s election showed his right-wing bloc heading for a narrow majority lifted by a strong showing from his far-right allies. Israel’s longest-serving premier, on trial over corruption charges which he denies, was poised to take 61-62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, …

The Associated Press reports: For the fifth time since 2019, Israelis were voting in national elections on Tuesday, hoping to break the political deadlock that has paralyzed the country for the past three and a half years. Although the cost of living is surging, Israeli-Palestinian tensions are boiling over and Iran remains a central threat, the foremost issue in the …

The Associated Press reports: Tens of thousands of people attended this year’s Pride Parade in Tel Aviv on Friday, celebrating the LGBTQ community and calling for equality in the largest annual gathering of its kind in the Middle East. The sprawling event in Israel’s seaside metropolis, which resembles a festive block party, returned last year after pandemic restrictions were mostly …

The Associated Press reports: Saudi authorities have conducted their biggest-ever crackdown on camel beauty contestants that received Botox injections and other artificial touch-ups, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday, with over 40 camels disqualified from the annual pageant. Saudi Arabia’s popular King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which kicked off earlier this month, invites the breeders of the most beautiful camels …

Axios reports: China will “respect the wishes and choices of the Afghan people” after the Taliban seized Kabul and toppled Afghanistan’s U.S.-backed government, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said Monday, according to the Financial Times. Beijing’s first official comments since the Taliban installed themselves in the presidential palace in Kabul signifies a willingness to work with a Taliban-led government …