Occupied Palestinian Territories — AFP The United Nations has said that the post-war reconstruction of Gaza would require an international effort unseen since the aftermath of World War II, estimating it could cost up to $40 billion. Much of Gaza has been reduced to a grey landscape of rubble. The United Nations estimated the cost [&hell...
Tehran, Iran — AFP Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that efforts are underway to forge a normalization of ties between Israel and Arab countries, but that this will not resolve the crisis in the Middle East. “Some people think that by forcing neighbouring countries to normalize their ties (with Israel) th...
Jerusalem – AFP Top US diplomat Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept a truce in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to send troops into its far southern city of Rafah. Washington has heightened pressure on all sides to reach a ceasefire — a message pushed by Blinken, who […]
Nearly 60 journalism professors have urged the New York Times to conduct an independent review of its report alleging Hamas fighters’ involvement in rape and brutality against women. The story titled ‘Screams Without Words’ was published last Dec. 28. The professors from leading US universities have expressed concerns over the i...
Geneva, Switzerland — AFP The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said that $267 million in its funding was still suspended over unfounded allegations of some UNRWA staff participating in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The accusations in January led to many donors freezing some $450 million in funding at […]
Jerusalem – AFP Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Israeli military will launch a ground offensive in Rafah “with or without” a deal with Hamas. “The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate […]
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 34 Palestinians and injured 68 others within a 24-hour period, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The strikes targeted residential areas causing multiple fatalities, including children. The first strike targeted a house belonging to the Al-Khatib family in the Jneina neighborhood, killing...
Jerusalem, Occupied Palestinian Territories– AFP Hamas has said that it is studying Israel’s latest counterproposal for a Gaza cease-fire, a day after media reports said a delegation from mediator Egypt was in Israel trying to jump-start stalled negotiations. The armed wing of Hamas also released video footage of two men held hosta...
Palestinian Territories — AFP Hamas’s armed wing has released a video of two men detained in Gaza who are seen alive and urging Israeli authorities to strike a deal for the release of all the remaining captives. Campaign group ‘Hostages and Missing Families’ Forum identified the two as Keith Siegel and Omri Miran who we...
Israel is planning to present a new proposal for a prisoner exchange with Hamas and a cease-fire in Gaza. According to Israeli media, Israeli negotiators have presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the cabinet with a fresh plan that will be sent to Hamas by mediators. The new initiative, which has not been officially announced, [&hel...
