This is Beirut

Macron Vows to Punish Antisemitic 'Hatred' After Memorial Tree Cut Down

This is Beirut, 15/08 15:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

The cutting down of an olive tree planted in memory of a young French Jewish man tortured to death in 2006 stirred outrage in France on Friday, with President Emmanuel Macron vowing punishment over an act of antisemitic "hatred". Politicians across the political spectrum condemned the act as an attack against the memory of Ilan Halimi, who was ...

Gaza Civil Defense Says 17 Killed in Israel Strikes

This is Beirut, 14/08 18:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine Gaza

Gaza's civil defense agency said at least 17 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes as the military intensified its bombardment of Gaza City. The dead included six civilians who had been waiting for humanitarian aid, said civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal. "The Israeli occupation forces are intensifying their raids in the Zeitun ...

Foreign NGOs Say New Israeli Rules Keep Them From Delivering Gaza Aid

This is Beirut, 14/08 12:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine NGO

New Israeli legislation regulating foreign aid groups has been increasingly used to deny their requests to bring supplies into Gaza, according to a joint letter signed by more than 100 groups published Thursday. Ties between foreign-backed aid groups and the Israeli government have long been beset by tensions, with officials often complaining the ...

Israel army intercepts missile, Houthis claim attack

This is Beirut, 14/08 09:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Houthi Israel Palestine Yemen

The Israeli military said Thursday it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where Houthi rebels have regularly launched attacks, they say are in response to Israel's offensive in Gaza. "A short while ago, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF," Israel's army said on Telegram, referring to the air ...

Israel Military Says Approved Plan for New Gaza Offensive

This is Beirut, 13/08 12:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Hamas United Nations

The Israeli military said Wednesday it had approved the "framework" for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, days after the security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza City. Armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir "approved the main framework for the IDF's operational plan in the Gaza Strip," a statement released by the army ...

Israel PM Netanyahu Says 'We Will Allow' Gazans to Leave

This is Beirut, 12/08 20:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Gaza Hamas Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel would let Palestinians leave the Gaza Strip as the military prepares a broader offensive in the territory. "Give them the opportunity to leave, first of all, to leave combat zones and generally to leave the territory, if they want," Netanyahu said in a televised interview. "We will allow ...

Egypt Says Working with Qatar, US to Revive 60-day Gaza Truce Plan

This is Beirut, 12/08 19:28 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Egypt Qatar Gaza Israel Hamas

Egypt said Tuesday it was working with fellow Gaza mediators Qatar and the United States to broker a 60-day ceasefire as part of a renewed push to end the Israel-Hamas war. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have played a key role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas since the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack ...

Netanyahu’s Gaza Strategy: Ambiguity, Internal Divisions and Looming Chaos

Élie-Joe Kamel, 12/08 18:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Hamas Israel United Nations

As the war in Gaza enters its 22nd month, political and on the ground uncertainties continue to grow. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statements highlight this growing strategic confusion. He says he wants to “take control of Gaza,” while specifying that Israel has “no intention of governing” the territory. This ...

Hamas Delegation Expected in Cairo to Discuss Gaza Truce Efforts

This is Beirut, 12/08 17:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Egypt Gaza Israel truce negotiations

A senior Hamas delegation was due in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on efforts by mediators to secure an elusive ceasefire in Gaza, two Palestinian sources told AFP on Tuesday. Together with Qatar and the United States, Egypt has been involved in mediation between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas that has failed to secure ...

Gazans Mourn Al Jazeera Staff Killed by Israel

This is Beirut, 11/08 16:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gaza Israel Hamas

Gazans gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike, with Israel calling one of them a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al-Shifa hospital to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera ...

France's Macron Condemns Israel's Gaza Plan as Path to 'Permanent War'

This is Beirut, 11/08 15:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Israel Palestine Hamas

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned Israel's plan to expand its operations and take control of Gaza City as a "disaster" and a path to "permanent war". "This war must end now with a permanent ceasefire," Macron said in a statement, adding Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City was "a disaster of unprecedented gravity and a ...

Gaza: UN Security Council to Hold Emergency Meeting Saturday

This is Beirut, 08/08 22:50 - Reading : less than a minute

UN Security Council Palestine United Nations Hamas Gaza Israel

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Gaza on Saturday at 19:00 GMT, following Israel’s announcement of a plan to take control of the city, several diplomatic sources told AFP on Friday. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through a spokesperson, warned Israel against “a dangerous escalation” that ...

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