Israel

Hamas Says Ready to Free Gaza Hostages Under Trump Ceasefire Proposal

Hamas Says Ready to Free Gaza Hostages Under Trump Ceasefire Proposal Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said Friday it was willing to release all hostages held in Gaza under the framework laid out in US President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal. "The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages—living and ...

UNIFIL Condemns Israeli Strikes Near Peacekeepers in Maroun al-Ras

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated on Friday that the Israeli army dropped grenades earlier in the morning, “in close proximity to peacekeeping forces working alongside the Lebanese army to protect civilian workers” in the southern border town of Maroun al-Ras. The civilians had been clearing rubble from homes ...

Are Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?

A year after Israel defanged Hezbollah, and in the wake of the annual opening of the UN General Assembly and several developments related to the Middle East, it may be a good time to take stock. In my 38-year career of diplomacy in the Middle East, anytime someone expressed optimism, I would suggest a head examination might be in order. However, ...

Lebanon under Scrutiny: Weapons and Army Moves!

Countries concerned with the Lebanese situation are awaiting the army’s first report, expected in the coming days, on the implementation of the plan to ensure weapons are exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state. The focus is both on timing: whether the report will be released before the 5th of this month or be delayed; and on content, ...

Moscow Talks: Syria and Russia Confront Sensitive Issues

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on October 15 to attend the Russia-Arab League summit, according to al-Hadath. This marks the first high-level meeting between Syria’s new leadership in Damascus and the Kremlin. The visit comes as several sensitive issues remain unresolved, including the future of Russian military bases in ...

Gaza Civil Defence Says 13 Killed in Israeli Strikes

Israeli strikes killed at least 13 people across Gaza on Thursday, the territory's civil defence agency said, including an employee of the French charity Doctors Without Borders. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal, whose rescue agency operates under Hamas authority, said 10 people were killed in several air raids in central Gaza, while two ...

Disarmament Plan: Army Report Awaits Cabinet Review

According to reports by local channel MTV on Thursday, Lebanon’s government is expected to receive a detailed report from the army in the coming days on its activities south of the Litani. The document comes a month after the cabinet approved a military plan to secure the state’s exclusive control over weapons. It will be closely watched, ...

Israeli Strike in South Lebanon Kills Two, Injures One

An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, the latest in a wave of attacks, has heightened fears of a wider escalation in the region. The strike, which targeted a vehicle on the Jarmaq-Khardali road, comes amid growing tensions fueled by remarks from US envoy Tom Barrack, who on September 22 told Sky News Arabia that “the situation in Lebanon is ...

After Gaza, Eyes Turn to Hezbollah and Iran

Donald Trump has unveiled his peace plan for Gaza. The Israelis accepted it, and the international community applauded – sometimes hesitantly, but applauded nonetheless. The question now is Hamas. The group remains undecided. We are not immune to yet another historic misstep on their part – one more in a long series – that could prolong ...

Israeli Warships Intercept Gaza Aid Flotilla With Greta Onboard

Israeli naval forces on Wednesday intercepted a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, ending its latest bid to break an Israeli blockade of the war-battered Palestinian territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla -- involving around 45 vessels carrying politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg -- left Spain last month, ...