Hamas
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Qatar says it will work with the Biden administration “until the last minute” before the US presidential election to help achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza. The Gulf state, along with the US and Egypt, has been spearheading negotiations to end the war between Israel and Hamas since the conflict erupted in October 2023. The…
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The head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says the agency is keen to step up its support to people in crisis after Israel’s decision to ban the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Director-general Amy Pope cautioned, however, said there was “no way” that it could replace the work UNRWA does in Gaza.…
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The US rejects “any effort to starve Palestinians” in Gaza, the country’s ambassador to the UN has said. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council that Israel’s words “must be matched by action on the ground”. “Right now, that is not happening. This must change, immediately,” she added. The US told its ally Israel on…
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Israel’s conflict with Lebanon-based Hezbollah has affected its own economy, according to its finance ministry. Since the fighting escalated last month, the ministry said Israel’s economy has lost about £2.9bn, while its economists estimate a growth of 0.4% in 2024 – down from a prior forecast of 1.9% in May. In a report, the ministry…
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Israel’s parliament voted yesterday to ban the UN relief and works agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from the country within 90 days. The Knesset banned the agency from conducting “any activity” or providing any service inside Israel, including the areas of East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. The legislation will take effect 60 to 90…
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The Israeli decision to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on its territory and sever diplomatic ties with it could have a devastating impact on millions of Palestinians who rely on the services provided. Unless there is an intervention, the ban will come into force in 90 days. The vote in the Knesset…
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The number of people killed in an Israeli strike on the Gazan town of Beit Lahiya has risen to 60, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. There are 17 others still missing under the rubble of the residential building that was hit, an official added. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that most of…
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Good afternoon Welcome back to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East. Israel has passed a law banning the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating in the country, a move the organisation’s chief says will “deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza”. The law passed in the Knesset yesterday banned…
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Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed Iron Beam, is expected to be operational next year. That’s according to the director-general of Israel’s foreign ministry Eyal Zamir, who signed a $535m (£411m) contract with manufacturers Rafael and Elbit yesterday. Iron Beam would supplement Israel’s other aerial defence capacities, such as the more well-known Iron Dome. These…
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Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz has called on Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a deal that would allow for the release of hostages, even if it comes at a “painful” price. A total of 97 hostages remain unaccounted for following the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel. Israel’s official figure for those held in…
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Hezbollah has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran, claiming such strikes won’t impact Tehran’s support for the militants. The Lebanon-based group, which is backed by Iran and designated as a terrorist organisation by the US and UK, described the Israeli strikes as a “dangerous escalation”. They also accused the US of being responsible for “massacres, tragedies…
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US President Joe Biden has just said he hopes Israel’s strikes on Iran overnight are “the end”. He also said it appears Israel only hit military targets in its strikes, which came in response to an Iranian attack earlier this month. As we reported in the past couple of hours, four Iranian soldiers have been…
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At least 30 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza – report At least 30 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on several houses in northern Gaza, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. The attacks were said to be in Beit Lahiya. Citing “local sources”, the news agency reports women and children are…
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Netanyahu tells Blinken killing of Hamas leader Sinwar ‘may have positive effect’ on hostage release efforts More details have emerged from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office about the Israeli leader’s meeting with US secretary of state Antony Blinken today. The two men sat down for “friendly and productive” talks which lasted for two and a half hours in…
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President Joe Biden said Thursday that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli troops is a “good day for the world,” calling it an opportunity to free hostages held by the militant group and end the yearlong war in Gaza. “Now’s the time to move on. … Move toward a cease-fire in Gaza, make sure that…
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The UK has announced sanctions against several Iranian senior military figures and organisations following Iran’s multiple rocket attack on Israel on 1 October. The sanctions target senior figures in the Iranian army, air force and organisations linked to Iran’s ballistic and cruise missile development. “Despite repeated warnings, the dangerous actions of Iran and its proxies…
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