War in the Middle East

Gaza: the Three Hostages Freed on Saturday
Gaza: the Three Hostages Freed on Saturday

Hamas militants on Saturday released Israeli hostages Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon and Kieth Siegel after they spent nearly 16 months of captivity in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. They are the fourth batch of hostages to be freed under a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas that went ...

Israel to Release 183 Prisoners on Saturday, Doubling Previous Figure
Israel to Release 183 Prisoners on Saturday, Doubling Previous Figure

Israel is set to release 183 prisoners on Saturday in the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal, a Palestinian advocacy group said, more than doubling the previous reported figure. "The updated number of prisoners to be released tomorrow is 183," said Palestinian Prisoners' Club spokeswoman Amani Sarahneh on Friday, after ...

Gaza: Rafah Crossing to Reopen on Saturday
Gaza: Rafah Crossing to Reopen on Saturday

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt is to reopen Saturday following a fourth exchange of hostages and prisoners under a truce agreement, a Hamas official and a source with knowledge of discussions told AFP. The Rafah crossing was a vital entry point for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza before the Israeli military seized the Palestinian side of ...

UNRWA to Pursue Operations in Palestinian Territories Despite New Israeli Legislation
UNRWA to Pursue Operations in Palestinian Territories Despite New Israeli Legislation

The United Nations said Thursday its humanitarian relief agency UNRWA would continue working in all Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem, despite Israeli legislation coming into force that cuts ties with the organization. Israel decided to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees following accusations some of its staff belong to ...

Eight Hostages Freed in Gaza as Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners
Eight Hostages Freed in Gaza as Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners

Three Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals were released on Thursday in Gaza in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a process marked by scenes of chaos during the release of captives in the Palestinian territory. This exchange is the third under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered by international ...

Ten Palestinians Killed in Israeli Raid on West Bank
Ten Palestinians Killed in Israeli Raid on West Bank

Israel's military confirmed Thursday that it had killed 10 Palestinians in a strike on a village in the occupied West Bank the day before, saying it had targeted militants. During a joint "counterterrorism" operation by the military and domestic security agency, an air force "aircraft struck a gathering of armed terrorists in the area of Tamun" ...

The Messiah Wars: How Israel and Iran's Visions Shape Middle Eastern Politics
ChronicleThe Messiah Wars: How Israel and Iran's Visions Shape Middle Eastern Politics

In the high-stakes chess game of Middle Eastern politics, a hidden force drives both Israel and Iran toward an eerily similar endgame, an unshakable belief that history is hurtling toward a divinely orchestrated climax. On one side, Israel’s religious circles whisper about the long-awaited Messiah, a figure destined to restore their ancient ...

Third Exchange Of Hostages For Prisoners As Part Of The Truce In Gaza
Third Exchange Of Hostages For Prisoners As Part Of The Truce In Gaza

Israel and Hamas are due to carry out their third exchange of hostages for prisoners on Thursday, with the release of eight hostages, three Israelis and five Thais, held in the Gaza Strip, as part of the fragile ceasefire intended to put an end to 15 months of war. A fourth exchange is scheduled for Saturday, with the release of three hostages, ...

Israel: 11 Gaza Hostages to Be Released This Week
Israel: 11 Gaza Hostages to Be Released This Week

Israel said on Wednesday that 11 more hostages held in Gaza, including five Thais, would be freed over two days this week as part of a fragile Gaza ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it had received a list from Hamas of eight hostages to be freed on Thursday, including the Thais, and another three, all men, to be released ...

Hamas: Israel's Delaying of Aid Delivery to Gaza May Affect Hostage Release
Hamas: Israel's Delaying of Aid Delivery to Gaza May Affect Hostage Release

Two Hamas officials on Wednesday accused Israel of delaying the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, as agreed in the ceasefire deal, and warned that it could impact the release of hostages. "We warn that continued delays and failure to address these points (delivery of key aid) will affect the natural progression of the agreement, ...

Israel Ends All Relations with UNRWA, Citing Security Concerns
Israel Ends All Relations with UNRWA, Citing Security Concerns

Israel will cease all contact with the UN's Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and any other body acting on its behalf, its UN envoy said Tuesday, after repeatedly accusing the organization of undermining its security. UNRWA's offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of healthcare and education to Palestinians, but ...

Jordan Establishes a Humanitarian Air Bridge to the Gaza Strip
Jordan Establishes a Humanitarian Air Bridge to the Gaza Strip

Jordan began air deliveries of 20 tonnes of aid to Gaza on Tuesday, a government spokesman said, as masses of displaced Palestinians returned to the north of the war-wrecked territory. Fourteen Jordanian air force helicopters and two provided by the Italian military took off from King Abdullah II air base in the country's north to fly ...