Hezbollah
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8.30am has come and gone. The ceasefire that so many millions in Gaza and Israel had been desperately hoping for, has not happened. Seconds later, black smoke started rising above northern Gaza in what must have been a message from the IDF to Hamas: this is what is at stake; abide by terms of the deal, release…
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Israel has lifted restrictions on public gatherings in areas near Lebanon in the northern Golan Heights, two weeks on from a ceasefire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. From “partial activity”, the army said it was changing its public safety guidelines to “full activity”. Israel had tightened restrictions on 25 November, two days before the ceasefire…
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday (Nov 5) citing a “crisis of trust” and replaced him with Israel Katz, previously the foreign minister. Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces issued new evacuation orders in the north of the Gaza Strip and carried out military strikes which Palestinian medics and media…
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Israel’s defence minister has warned Hezbollah that the clock is ticking for Naim Kassem after his appointment as the group’s new leader. Writing on X alongside an image of Mr Kassem, Yoav Gallant said: “The appointment is temporary. The countdown has begun.” Mr Kassem was today named as Hezbollah’s successor to former chief Hassan Nasrallah,…
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Hamas has hailed Naim Kassem’s appointment as Hezbollah’s new leader as proof of the group’s recovery. In reality, though, it’s a reflection of their lack of options. Kassem is pretty much the only senior figure left. Having helped establish Hezbollah in the early 1980s, the 71-year-old rose to the role of deputy chief in 1991,…
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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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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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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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Nearly 100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry has said. According to its latest figures, 43,020 people have now been killed by Israel since 7 October 2023, 96 more than yesterday’s number. A further 101,110 have been injured during that time, it…
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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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The Israeli military has named six Palestinian Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza that it says are also members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups. The Israel Defence Forces published documents that it said it had found in Gaza that proved the men had a military affiliation to the groups. It said the papers included…
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The US has “not seen evidence” that there is a Hezbollah bunker underneath the Al Sahel Hospital in Beirut, as Israel has alleged, the defence secretary has said. Israel has claimed Hezbollah is storing gold and cash in an underground bunker, an allegation the hospital denies. Asked about the Israeli claims, Lloyd Austin said: “We’ve not…
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