This is Beirut

Israel Threatens to Resume War If Three Hostages Are Not Released by Saturday

This is Beirut, 13/02 17:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu

Hamas must release three living hostages on Saturday under the terms of the ongoing Gaza truce deal or Israel will return to war in the Palestinian territory, an Israeli government spokesman said Thursday. The ceasefire "framework makes clear that three live hostages must be released by Hamas terrorists on Saturday", spokesman David Mencer told ...

Palestinian Sources Close to Talks Report Progress in Ending Gaza Truce Crisis

This is Beirut, 13/02 11:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Israel

The Palestinian militant group Hamas said Thursday it was committed to the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, as negotiators push to overcome an impasse regarding the implementation of the agreement. "We are keen to implement it (the ceasefire) and oblige the occupation to fully abide by it. Mediators are pressuring (Israel) to complete the full ...

Gaza: The New Switzerland of the East? What About Us?

Marc Saikali, 13/02 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Middle East Palestine Donald Trump Hamas Lebanon

When Donald Trump wakes up, even his smallest remark makes global headlines—that’s just how it is. As the most powerful man on Earth, he wields arguments that are not just compelling and consequential but sometimes… explosive. For now, any statement he makes triggers shockwaves. Case in point: “Ukraine could one day become Russian.” A ...

Southern Lebanon: Will Israel Extend Its Military Presence?

This is Beirut, 12/02 11:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

South Lebanon Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Hezbollah

As the deadline approaches for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, a fragile calm persists in the region. The Ceasefire Monitoring Committee has been informed that the Israeli army has requested to remain in certain positions in southern Lebanon until February 28. The Lebanese side has firmly rejected this request. Additionally, ...

Israel Threatens to Resume Gaza Fighting If No Hostages Released

This is Beirut, 11/02 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Hamas

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel would resume "intense fighting" in Gaza if Hamas did not return hostages by Saturday noon, without specifying whether he was referring to all captives. "If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the Israeli military will resume ...

Gaza Truce Under Strain After Trump Warning

This is Beirut, 11/02 16:14 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Israël

The Gaza ceasefire appeared increasingly fragile Tuesday after Hamas said US President Donald Trump's latest warning "further complicates" the agreement with Israel, which has so far led to five hostage-prisoner swaps. Trump said that "all hell" would break out if Hamas failed to release all Israeli hostages by the ...

UN Chief Urges Hamas to Proceed with Planned Hostage Releases

This is Beirut, 11/02 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas United Nations Donald Trump Israel Palestine

The UN chief called on Hamas Tuesday to proceed with planned releases of Israeli hostages, after the Palestinian militants threatened to postpone further hostage-prisoner exchanges agreed under a fragile Gaza ceasefire. "We must avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to immense tragedy," Antonio Guterres said on X, ...

Death of Israeli Hostage Held in Gaza

This is Beirut, 11/02 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas

An elderly Israeli man taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has been declared dead, a statement from his kibbutz said on Tuesday. "With heavy hearts, we, the members of the kibbutz, received the news this morning about the murder of our dear friend, Shlomo Mansour, 86 years old, who was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Kissufim during the ...

Israel says Hamas Announcement 'Complete Violation' of Gaza Truce

This is Beirut, 10/02 22:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Hamas Israeli Hostages

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday called an announcement by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that it would postpone the release of hostages a "complete violation" of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. "Hamas' announcement to stop releasing Israeli hostages is a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the ...

Israeli Military Fires on Civilian Palestinians Amid Ceasefire, Killing Three

This is Beirut, 09/02 19:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ceasefire Hamas Israel Palestine

Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces shot dead three civilians Sunday, as the military said it fired "warning shots" and hit Palestinians who had approached troops in the territory. The incident occurred in Gaza City amid a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in effect since January 19. During the truce, five ...

Gaza: Israeli Withdrawal From the Netzarim Corridor

This is Beirut, 09/02 13:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Palestine Donald Trump Hamas Israel USA

A Hamas official said Israeli troops on Sunday completed their withdrawal from a strategic road bisecting the Gaza Strip, part of a fragile truce deal that Israel said it was implementing. "Israeli forces have dismantled their positions and military posts and completely withdrawn their tanks from the Netzarim Corridor on Salaheddin Road, ...

Israeli Army Targets a Hamas Installation Near Damascus

This is Beirut, 08/02 17:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Hamas Israel

The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike on Saturday targeting a weapons depot used by Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Syria. Israeli "fighter jets conducted an intelligence-based strike on a weapons storage facility belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation in the area of Deir Ali in southern Syria", the military ...

Hamas