Israel

UN Peacekeepers, Border Issues and Security Concerns: Guterres' Visit in Focus

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura on Friday. The visit came amid regional tensions and a fragile calm in the South. During the visit, Guterres voiced his support for UN peacekeepers and reaffirmed the terms of Resolution 1701, the cornerstone of the ...

Gaza: Israel Endorses Ceasefire Agreement With Hamas, Truce Begins On Sunday

The Israeli government gave the final green light on Saturday to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for a truce to come into force on Sunday, with the release of the first Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Announced on Wednesday by Qatar and the United States, the agreement aims to bring ...

Ex-CIA Analyst Guilty of Leaking Documents on Israel Plans to Strike Iran

A former CIA official pleaded guilty Friday to leaking top secret US intelligence documents about Israeli military plans for a retaliatory strike on Iran. Asif Rahman, 34, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency since 2016 and held a top secret security clearance, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia in November. Rahman faces up to 20 ...

Palestinian President Says Ready to Assume 'Full Responsibility' in Gaza

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday the Palestinian Authority was ready to assume "full responsibility" in post-war Gaza, in his first statement since a ceasefire deal was announced. "The Palestinian government, under president Abbas' directives, has completed all preparations to assume full responsibility in Gaza," including the ...

Israeli Cabinet Convenes to Vote on Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Israel's cabinet convened on Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The agreement, which was earlier approved by the security cabinet, would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza's deadliest-ever war. It would also launch on Sunday the ...

Israel Publishes List of 95 Palestinian Prisoners Eligible for Release Starting Sunday

The Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners, the majority women, who are to be freed starting Sunday as part of the first exchange for Israeli captives under a Gaza ceasefire deal. "The release of prisoners is… subject to government approval of the (ceasefire) plan and will not take place before Sunday 16:00 ...

Macron to Aoun: 'We Support Your Goal for a Sovereign Lebanon'

Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron stressed on Friday that Lebanon’s sovereignty and freedom from foreign interference are critical to maintaining the ceasefire with Israel. Following his meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Lebanon’s recovery and stability, emphasizing its ...

Syrian Forces Seize Smuggled 'Sophisticated Weapons' Bound for Hezbollah

Syrian security forces intercepted on Friday a shipment of weapons reportedly destined to be smuggled into Lebanon through illegal border crossings, according to official sources quoted by the al-Janoubia website. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) disclosed that the seized vehicle was a truck loaded with “sophisticated weapons and ...

465 Days of War in Gaza

After more than a year and three months of conflict in Gaza, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was announced on Wednesday. Here's a look back at the key moments of the war. Image credit: AFP

Gaza Agreement: Is Trump Taking Credit from Biden?

The announcement on Wednesday of a ceasefire in Gaza, scheduled to take effect on Sunday after months of deadly conflict, marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough. However, in the United States, the agreement has triggered another battle – over who deserves the credit: outgoing President Joe Biden or President-elect Donald Trump, whose ...

Qatar PM: Doha to Help Rehabilitate Syria Infrastructure

Qatar's prime minister vowed Thursday to support the rehabilitation of Syria's infrastructure, devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war, during his first visit to Damascus since Islamist-led forces seized power last month. "We will provide the necessary technical support to make the needed infrastructure operational again and provide support ...

The Text of the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

The Times of Israel has published what it claims is the text of the agreement between Israel and Hamas. It states that the agreement, labeled as Appendix I, complements the Israeli plan for an agreement with Hamas, which was officially put forward on May 27, 2024, and was publicly introduced by US President Joe Biden on May 31, 2024. This ...