Middle East

Israel demolishes West Bank home of Hamas deputy leader

ARURA, Palestinian Territories, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – The Israeli army demolished the West Bank home of exiled Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri with explosives on Tuesday as war raged with the Islamist group in Gaza. The Israeli military said forces entered the village of Arura, near Ramallah, and shot at people who were “hurling” rocks towards them during the demolition. Aruri is accused by Israel of masterminding numerous attacks. He was elected deputy to […]

US says Israel must protect Gaza civilians as calls for aid grow

By Michael Mathes Israel must protect innocent Gaza residents by distinguishing between Hamas militants and civilians, the White House warned Sunday, as world leaders stepped up calls for desperately needed humanitarian aid to reach the war-torn Palestinian territory. Israel has intensified its air and ground operations against Hamas in Gaza following a bloody attack by the Palestinian militant group more than three weeks ago that Israeli authorities say killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians. […]

Gaza ‘civil order starting to break down’ as food stores ransacked: UN

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 29, 2023 (AFP) – The United Nations warned Sunday that “civil order” was starting to collapse in Gaza after thousands of people ransacked its food warehouses in the war-torn Palestinian territory. The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said wheat, flour and other supplies had been pillaged at several warehouses. “This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and […]

Netanyahu sorry for deleted security chiefs post on Hamas failures

JERUSALEM, Oct 29, 2023 (AFP) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly apologised Sunday for accusing security and intelligence officials of failing to see signs of the devastating Hamas attack that set off the Gaza war. Netanyahu, who has faced strong opposition criticism over security lapses before the October 7 Hamas attack, had made his accusations in an overnight posting on X, formerly Twitter, which he later deleted, replacing it with an apology. “Never, under […]

Israel pounds Gaza after night raids targeting Hamas tunnels

By Adel Zaaanoun with David Stout in Ashkelon GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP) – Israel pounded the Hamas-run Gaza Strip with air and artillery strikes on Saturday after an intense night of attacks when it said 150 “underground targets” were hit. No official toll was immediately given, but a Gaza civil defence official told AFP a “large number” of dead was feared from one of the most intense nights of attacks in […]

Ground battles rage in Gaza as communications cut off

By Adel Zaanoun GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP) – Battles were raging in Gaza early on Saturday, as Israel expanded its ground operations and cut communications to the Palestinian territory, three weeks after the deadliest attack in the country’s history. The United Nations warned of a looming “unprecedented avalanche of human suffering” inside the Gaza Strip, following weeks of relentless bombing by Israel, while the General Assembly pushed for an “immediate humanitarian […]

Foreign victims of deadly Hamas attack

PARIS, France, Oct 27, 2023 (AFP) – Numerous foreigners were killed, taken hostage or listed as missing after the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7. More than 1,400 people, mainly civilians, were killed by Hamas militants during the attack launched from Gaza, many of them shot dead, burned alive or mutilated, Israeli authorities say. The militants have also taken nearly 230 people hostage, including Israelis, foreigners and dual […]

Israel ‘ground forces’ conduct night raid in Gaza: army

JERUSALEM, Oct 27, 2023 (AFP) – The Israeli military said Friday its ground forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a “targeted raid” in Gaza as it prepares for a land invasion. Israel has been carrying out blistering air and artillery strikes against Gaza in response to an October 7 attack by Hamas militants that was the deadliest in the country’s history. “During the last day, IDF (Israeli military) ground forces, accompanied by […]

EU urges ‘corridors and pauses’ as UN warns ‘nowhere’ safe in Gaza

By Adel ZAANOUN KHAN YUNIS, Palestinian Territories, Oct 27, 2023 (AFP) – EU leaders have demanded “humanitarian corridors and pauses” in Israel’s war against Hamas, urging aid access for civilians trapped in besieged Gaza, where the United Nations says “nowhere is safe.” Concern is growing about the regional fallout from the conflict, with Washington warning Iran against escalation while striking facilities in Syria it says were used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and others. […]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel ‘preparing’ Gaza ground war

By Rosie Scammell in Jerusalem with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza JERUSALEM, Oct 26, 2023 (AFP) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is readying a ground war in Gaza, pressing ahead with plans that have troubled allies and threaten to worsen an already cascading humanitarian crisis. Facing ever-louder international calls to temper Israel’s ferocious 19-day bombing campaign in the Hamas-controlled territory, Netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address. He told fellow Israelis still grieving […]

EU leaders eye call for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza

By Max DELANY BRUSSELS, Oct 26, 2023 (AFP) – EU leaders will on Thursday debate calling for a “humanitarian pause” in Israel’s war with Hamas, as the bloc grapples with another conflict on its fringes alongside Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has struggled for both unity and influence in the face of the crisis that has engulfed the Middle East since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel on October 7. The surge […]

UN Security Council votes down both US and Russia’s resolutions on Gaza war

UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct 25, 2023 (AFP) – The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed again to take action on the Israel-Hamas war, with Russia and China vetoing a US-led draft resolution and a text led by Moscow drawing insufficient support. The rival powers went ahead and put forward texts doomed to defeat despite what diplomats said was a last-ditch effort led by France to delay a vote and work toward consensus. The United […]