GENEVA, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – The World Health Organization chief on Sunday urged Hamas to release all civilian hostages, as he warned that the war between Israel and the Islamist group would only bring destruction and horror. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was gravely concerned by Israeli attacks in which innocent Palestinian civilians and children were “paying the price”. The conflict “is an awful reminder of how quickly the health of millions […]
Middle East
Identifying Hamas victims is a new ordeal for Israel
RAMLA, Israel, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – When Rabbi Israel Weiss opens the doors of the refrigerated containers holding the bodies of hundreds of victims of the Hamas attacks the smell is overwhelming, but he said that most of all, he feels the suffering. The former military chief rabbi came out of retirement to become one of the leaders of an Israeli operation to identify the more than 1,400 dead from the raids by Hamas […]
Israel resumes water supply to southern Gaza: minister
JERUSALEM, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – Israel resumed the water supply to southern Gaza, Energy Minister Israel Katz said Sunday, as one million people have evacuated the north of the Strip to escape a massive air assault. “This will push the civilian population to the southern (part of the) Strip,” Katz said in a statement, a week after Israel had stopped supplying water to the entire territory as part of a “complete siege” on the […]
Fears mount that Israel-Hamas war could spark wider conflict
By Robin LEGRAND WASHINGTON, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – Fears that the Israel-Hamas conflict might spread were growing Sunday, with Israeli troops poised to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, Tehran saying that if it does so “no one can guarantee control of the situation,” and Washington expressing fears of possible Iranian involvement. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian issued the Iranian warning during an official visit Sunday to Qatar, adding that unless what he called the […]
Israel confirms Hamas holding 155 hostages: army
JERUSALEM, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – The Israeli military said Sunday it had confirmed 155 people were being held hostage by Hamas since the Palestinian militant group staged its deadly attack last week. Families of “155 hostages” have been contacted by the authorities, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, updating an earlier figure confirming 126 hostages.
One million Gazans displaced as Israel preps ground attack
By Mai YAGHI with Jay DESMUKH in Jerusalem GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 15, 2023 (AFP) – More than one million people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip in the last week, the UN said Sunday, after sustained Israeli bombardment and warnings about a ground attack targeting Hamas commanders. Israel declared war on the Islamist group last Sunday, a day after waves of fighters broke through the heavily fortified border and shot, stabbed and […]
One week into war, thousands on the run in Gaza fearing Israel ground offensive
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Oct 14, 2023 (AFP) – Palestinians sought refuge Saturday after Israel warned them to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip before an expected ground offensive against Hamas, one week after the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. Israeli ground forces massed near Gaza have made “localised” raids into the enclave “to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry” and try to find “missing persons”, the army said. Hamas militants in their October 7 […]
Saudi Arabia halts normalization talks with Israel amid escalating conflict
RIYADH, Oct 14, 2023 (AFP) – Saudi Arabia has suspended talks on potentially normalising ties with Israel, a source told AFP on Saturday, amid the war raging between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7 which killed 1,300 people, sparking a retaliatory bombing campaign that has killed at least 1,900 in the Gaza Strip ahead of a potential Israeli ground invasion of the territory. “Saudi […]
Interview: Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Ilan Fluss, discusses the bold Hamas attack on Israel, Israeli response, citizen resilience, and hostage rescue efforts
Thousands flee north Gaza after Israel evacuation warning
By Adel Zaanoun, with Amit Meyer in Jerusalem GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Oct 14, 2023 (AFP) – Thousands of Palestinians fled Saturday to southern Gaza seeking refuge after Israel warned them to evacuate before an expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that nearly a week of fierce bombardment was “just the beginning” as Israel seeks to retaliate against Hamas after their fighters […]
Israel calls for northern Gaza to be emptied within 24 hours
By Adel Zaanoun with Amelie Bottollier-Depois at the United Nations GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Oct 13, 2023 (AFP) – Israel has called for the immediate relocation of 1.1 million people in Gaza amid its massive bombardment in retaliation for Hamas’s attacks, with the United Nations warning of “devastating” consequences. The UN said the mass relocation of the entire population in northern Gaza to the south of the enclave was “impossible” and urgently appealed for the […]
A ‘new front’ in Hamas war depends on Israel’s actions, says Iran
BAGHDAD, Oct 12, 2023 (AFP) – Iran’s foreign minister, whose government supports Hamas and other Middle East militant groups, said on Thursday opening a “new front” against Israel would depend on Israel’s actions in Gaza. Although Tehran has been a long-term backer of Hamas, Iranian officials have been adamant that the country had no involvement in the militants’ attack against its arch enemy Israel on Saturday. Nevertheless, the United States fears the opening of a […]