This is Beirut

Israel Mentions ‘Progress’ Towards An Agreement On Hostages In Gaza

This is Beirut, 2024-12-24 03:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday ‘cautiously’ referred to ‘progress’ towards an agreement on the hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian Hamas attack in October 2023, one of the conditions for a ceasefire. Indirect negotiations last week in Qatar between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Doha and Egypt, ...

Despite Hopes Of a Ceasefire, Violence Continues In Gaza

This is Beirut, 2024-12-23 03:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Despite growing hopes of a ceasefire, the violence continues in the Gaza Strip, where 35 people have been killed in the last 24 hours according to the Civil Defence of the Palestinian territory, ravaged by more than a year of war between Hamas and Israel. The Islamist movement Hamas and two other Palestinian groups had suggested on Saturday that ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Strikes Kill 28

This is Beirut, 2024-12-22 14:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli strikes overnight and early Sunday killed at least 28 Palestinians, including at one family's home and at a school building the Israeli military said was used by Hamas. On the ground in Gaza, civil agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that at least 13 people were killed in an air strike on a house in ...

Khamenei Says Iran Does not Have or Need Regional Proxy Forces

This is Beirut, 2024-12-22 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's supreme leader denied Sunday that militant groups around the region functioned as Tehran's proxies, warning that if his country chose to "take action", it would not need them anyway. The remarks came after a year in which Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza suffered heavy losses in wars with Israel, and two weeks after the ...

Hamas, Two Other Palestinian Groups Declare Gaza Ceasefire Deal 'Closer Than Ever'

This is Beirut, 2024-12-21 21:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Hamas and two other Palestinian militant groups said on Saturday that a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel is "closer than ever", provided Israel does not impose new conditions. Last week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States were held in Doha, rekindling hope of an agreement. "The ...

Sweden Doubles Aid to Gaza, but Ends UNRWA Funding

This is Beirut, 2024-12-20 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Sweden announced plans Friday to stop funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in response to an Israeli ban, but pledged to increase its aid to Gaza via other groups. The government said funding earmarked for Gaza would total 800 million kronor ($72 million) in 2025, but aid to UNRWA, which totalled 451 million kronor in 2024, would ...

Yemen: the Houthis Claim Responsibility for Firing on Israel After Strikes Against Their Infrastructure

This is Beirut, 2024-12-20 01:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed responsibility for firing two missiles and a drone at Israel after Israeli raids on Yemeni ports and energy infrastructure, which left nine people dead according to their leader. The Israeli army announced that it had struck ports and energy infrastructure belonging to the Houthis, more than 1,500 ...

The UN Asks The ICJ For Its Opinion On Israel's Obligations Towards The Palestinians

This is Beirut, 2024-12-20 00:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on Israel's humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinians, at a time when the Israeli government is accused of obstructing access to aid in Gaza. The resolution, submitted by Norway, was adopted by a large ...

Palestinian Disarmament in the Context of Resolution 1701 Implementation

Bassam Abou Zeid, 2024-12-19 18:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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In the context of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of Resolution 1701, as well as previous resolutions such as 1559 and 1680, there is no mention of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon and the need to remove them, in line with international resolutions. And even though the National Dialogue held in March 2006 agreed on the need to ...

Israel Accused of 'Acts of Genocide', 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Gaza

This is Beirut, 2024-12-19 16:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Israel on Thursday faced accusations of "acts of genocide" in Gaza, while a medical charity said the devastation caused in the Palestinian territory showed "signs of ethnic cleansing". They are the latest in a series of similar accusations levelled against Israel during its 14-month war in the Gaza Strip. In a new report focused specifically on ...

Hezbollah Faces a Shrinking Support Base

Sonia Rizk, 2024-12-19 15:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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At a time when all norms in Lebanon and its surrounding regions have been overturned, with one downfall following another — from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Assad regime in Syria — huge changes continue to unfold, provoking reactions from the entire “Axis of resistance.” This axis has collapsed, dragging along those who ...

Express Cleanup Before Change of Tenant

Marc Saikali, 2024-12-19 08:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Just a few weeks ago, the defunct “Axis of Resistance” still managed to maintain its facade. From Iran — both a bystander and instigator — to Lebanon, passing through Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, the fronts were numerous. But the pretense has crumbled, revealing an empty shell. The turning point began in Lebanon. Defying ...

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