MAALE ADUMIM: Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut if off from East Jerusalem, a move his office declared would “bury” the idea of a Palestinian state. Standing at the site in Maale Adumim, Smotrich said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu […]
Read MoreIsraeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Thursday a non-Israeli, peaceful civilian administration for Gaza was among the Israeli government’s five key principles for ending the war. The other principles include the release of hostages still held in Gaza, the surrender of weapons by Hamas, the full demilitarization of Gaza, and Israel retaining overriding […]
Read MoreRIYADH: Arab states and regional organizations joined Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over comments expressing support for a so-called “Greater Israel.” In an interview with i24 News on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he is “very attached” to the vision of a “Greater Israel.” The term is understood to refer to […]
Read MoreDUBAI: Turkey’s foreign minister and his Syrian counterpart on Wednesday warned Israel not to stir up chaos in Syria and demanded an end to all external interventions aimed at destabilising the war-torn country. Speaking from Ankara, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani said foreign actors were exacerbating the unrest within Syria. “We are also confronting […]
Read MoreBEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iran’s visiting security chief on Wednesday that he rejected any interference in the country’s internal affairs, branding as “unconstructive” Iran’s statements on plans to disarm Hezbollah. “We reject any interference in our internal affairs,” Aoun said, adding that “it is forbidden for anyone… to bear arms and to use […]
Read MoreCAIRO/JERUSALEM: Israel’s military pounded Gaza City on Wednesday prior to a planned takeover, with another 123 people killed in the last day according to the Gaza health ministry, while militant group Hamas held further talks with Egyptian mediators. The 24-hour death toll was the worst in a week and added to the massive fatalities from […]
Read MoreUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israel and Russia on Tuesday that he has significant concerns about patterns of certain forms of sexual violence by their armed and security forces, according to a report seen by Reuters. The alleged crimes included incidents of genital violence, prolonged forced nudity of captives, and abusive and degrading strip […]
Read MorePalestinians reported the heaviest bombardments in weeks on Monday in areas east of Gaza City, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected to complete a new expanded offensive against Hamas “fairly quickly”. An airstrike also killed six journalists including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al Sharif in a tent at Gaza […]
Read MoreBy Maria Siow As the devastation in Gaza intensifies and international pressure mounts, Australia and New Zealand are edging closer to recognising a Palestinian state, but critics warn that symbolic gestures and “window-dressing” alone will do little to alter the grim realities on the ground. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Canberra […]
Read MorePARIS: Three-quarters of UN members have already or soon plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, with Australia on Monday becoming the latest to promise it will at the UN General Assembly in September. The Israel-Hamas war, raging in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group’s attack on October 7, 2023, has revived a global push for Palestinians […]
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