A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists was bombed by drones in international waters off Malta early Friday, its organisers said, alleging that Israel was to blame.The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the allegation by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group. The Maltese … Read more
The US hostage envoy who held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas said Sunday he was confident a deal could be reached “within weeks” to free all civilians still held by the Palestinian militants. Speaking to CNN, Adam Boehler — a Jewish American — acknowledged it had been “odd” sitting face-to-face with leaders of a group … Read more
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Israeli leaders sent mixed signals on the possibility of a ceasefire with Lebanon on Monday (November 11, 2024), with Defence Minister Israel Katz seeming to contradict comments by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Mr. Saar, who replaced Mr. Katz at the foreign ministry this week, told … Read more
On top of the grievous toll in human life and misery, Israel’s war against the Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups has been expensive, and the painfully high financial costs are raising concerns about the long-term effect of the fighting on the country’s economy. Military spending has ballooned, and growth has stalled, especially in dangerous border … Read more
Vientiane [Laos]: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has offered support to Israel’s actions against Hezbollah, stressing that Tel Aviv has a “clear and very legitimate” interest. Blinken said on Friday that Hezbollah tried to create another war front when the Hamas attack on Israel took place on October 7, 2023. Speaking to reporters after … Read more
Since the start of Israel’s invasion of Lebanon last month, debate has swirled about the wisdom of Israel’s two-front strategy amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, the threat that the fight against Hezbollah poses to civilians and the risk it could ignite a regional war with Iran. But perhaps even more fundamental is … Read more
Tel Aviv: At a busy Tel Aviv entertainment district, diners spill into outdoor seating and clink glasses as music fills the air. There’s laughter, there’s life. But all around the patrons, staring down from lampposts and shop windows, are pictures of hostages held in Gaza, stark reminders that Israel is at war and forever scarred … Read more
Beirut: The simultaneous explosion of hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members has massively hindered the group’s communications and could undermine its operations against Israel in Lebanon’s south, analysts said. The wireless devices used by Hezbollah combatants, health workers and administrative staff exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday killing 12 people and wounding around 2,800, according … Read more
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting international and domestic pressure after the killing in Gaza of six captives, with US President Joe Biden saying he is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages. Britain said Monday it would suspend some arms exports to Israel, citing a “clear risk” they could be … Read more
Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack in Israel and Israel’s continuing war on Gaza have brought the Palestine question back to the fore of West Asia’s geopolitics. As the war has destroyed much of Gaza and killed 37,000 of its people, the world has also seen more and more countries voicing strong support for a future … Read more