Hamas

Blinken Slams Israel’s Rafah Offensive, Hamas Blames Biden

A full-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah would cause "chaos" without eliminating Hamas, warned US diplomatic chief Antony Blinken on Sunday. For its part, Hamas described US President Joe Biden's statements on the hostages the previous day as "a setback" for truce negotiations. An all-out Israeli offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah would provoke ...

Israeli Assault Continues as Rafah Civilians Evacuate

Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in Gaza on Saturday, including Rafah, where Israel broadened their evacuation directive. The UN cautioned about a potential "epic" catastrophe if a full-scale invasion of the densely populated city proceeds. Israeli strikes on Saturday hit parts of Gaza, including Rafah, where Israel expanded an evacuation order, ...

Israeli Army Reports More Rockets at Kerem Shalom Crossing

The Israeli Army said that rockets were launched on Saturday from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the Kerem Shalom crossing, which was temporarily shut earlier this week after deadly fire. "Four launches were identified that crossed from the Rafah area," the military said in a statement, adding that one rocket was intercepted by Israeli air ...

Israel Orders Further Gaza Evacuations Amid Rafah Offensive

The Israeli military on Saturday ordered Palestinians to leave more areas of eastern Rafah and the northern Gaza Strip as it pressed ahead with its fight against Hamas militants. The latest evacuation order, which some residents told AFP they had received via text and audio messages to their phones, comes days after Israeli tanks and troops ...

International Criticism of Israel Piles Up

The United Nations Security Council on Friday called for an investigation into mass graves allegedly containing hundreds of bodies near Gaza hospitals, while the organization's chief warned of the risk of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe" at Rafah. On Friday, the UN Security Council called for an "independent" and "immediate" investigation ...

War Diary: Day: 217

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for May 10th, 2024.

UN Experts Denounce ‘Distressing’ Attacks Against ICC

Several independent UN experts denounced on Friday attacks made against the International Criminal Court (ICC), particularly from Israel and the United States, which "promote a culture of impunity." "It is distressing to see State officials threatening to retaliate against a Court for pursuing international justice," a statement by the experts ...

Israel Ends Gaza Talks and Proceeds to Bomb Rafah

Israel has submitted its reservations about a proposal for a hostage release deal to Gaza truce mediators, and considers this round of negotiations in Cairo to have ended, a senior Israeli official said to Reuters. The Israeli delegation is returning from the Egyptian capital and Israel will proceed with its operation in Rafah and other parts of ...

War Diary: Day: 216

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for May 9th, 2024.

War Diary: Day 215

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for May 8th, 2024.

Netanyahu and CIA Chief Discuss 'Pausing' Rafah Assault

An Israeli official said visiting CIA Director Bill Burns and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Wednesday "the possibility" of suspending military operations in Gaza's Rafah in exchange for Hamas freeing hostages. Netanyahu and the US spy chief, who has been involved in mediation efforts in the Israel-Hamas war, met in Jerusalem as part ...

The Agreement Approved by Hamas: A Diplomatic Trap?

Could there possibly be two versions of a ceasefire proposal for Gaza? Could there have been a modified version unbeknownst to Israeli authorities? According to Israeli statements, the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire in the enclave, approved by Hamas on Monday, differs from the one previously endorsed by Tel Aviv. However, there appears ...