Middle East

Middle East

‘That’s not our war’

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire entered a third day yesterday, while US President Donald Trump said he doubted the fragile deal would hold.

10h ago

Fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire holding

A fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war was holding yesterday, following the dramatic exchange of three hostages for 90 Palestinian prisoners in an agreement aimed at ending more than 15 months of offensive in Gaza.

1d ago

‘Should we grieve, rejoice, or cry?’

Thousands of displaced, war-weary Gazans set off across the devastated Palestinian territory to return to their home areas yesterday after a long-awaited truce between Israel and Hamas took effect following an initial delay.

2d ago

Saudi Arabia’s dilemma: Recognise Israel before a Palestinian state?

With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader must now decide whether to recognise Israel before a Palestinian state is created.

3d ago

Two judges shot dead at Iran’s SC

Two judges were killed in a shooting attack yesterday at the Supreme Court building in Tehran, state media reported.

3d ago

Ruined, Gaza hopes for respite

A ceasefire in the Gaza war will begin today morning, mediator Qatar said after Israel’s cabinet voted to approve the truce and hostage-prisoner release deal.

3d ago

Two judges killed outside Iran's supreme court: media

Two judges were killed in a shooting attack on Saturday outside the Supreme Court building in Tehran, state media reported

3d ago

Israeli security cabinet okays Gaza truce deal

The Israeli security cabinet has ratified the Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal, ahead of a full cabinet meeting expected later yesterday, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.

4d ago

Release of Gaza hostages expected to begin Sunday: Israel PM office

The release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel is expected to begin on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday

4d ago

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 77 after truce accord

Israel airstrikes killed 77 people in Gaza yesterday, residents and authorities in the enclave said, hours after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was announced to bring an end to 15 months of offensive.

5d ago

Gaza ceasefire deal agreed

Qatar’s prime minister announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed yesterday to a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, adding he hoped the deal would pave the way for a permanent end to the fighting.

6d ago

Gaza ceasefire deal ‘very close’

Negotiators were meeting in Qatar yesterday hoping to finalise details of a plan to end the offensive in Gaza, after US President Joe Biden indicated a ceasefire and hostage release deal was imminent.

1w ago

Gaza ceasefire deal: Qatar hands Israel, Hamas final draft

Mediators yesterday gave Israel and Hamas a final draft of a deal to end the Israeli offensive in Gaza, an official briefed on the negotiations said, after a midnight “breakthrough” in talks attended by envoys of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

1w ago

32 killed in 48 hours in Gaza

 The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza yesterday said that 32 people were killed in the Palestinian territory over the past 48 hours, taking the overall death toll to 46,537.

1w ago

Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen

The Israeli military said yesterday that its air force had struck Houthi targets in Yemen, including a power station and ports on the western coast.

1w ago

Gaza death toll 40% higher than recorded

Research published in The Lancet medical journal yesterday estimates that the death toll in Gaza during the first nine months of Israeli offensive was around 40 percent higher than recorded by the Palestinian territory’s health ministry.

1w ago

Mediators make some progress in Gaza truce talks

US and Arab mediators have made some progress in their efforts to reach a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but not enough to seal a deal, Palestinian sources close to the talks said yesterday.

1w ago

Israeli strikes kill 27 across Gaza

Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least 27 people yesterday, Palestinian medics said, as international mediators stepped up efforts to seal a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

1w ago