This is Beirut

France Backs Arab Plan for Gaza Reconstruction, Rejects Hamas Governance

This is Beirut, 06/03 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

France welcomed an Arab plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority, adding Islamist militant group Hamas should be "entirely" excluded from running the territory. The proposal from Arab leaders "constitutes a serious and credible basis to respond to reconstruction, governance, and security needs ...

US Confirms Direct Talks with Hamas as Israel Renews Threats to Gaza

This is Beirut, 05/03 22:19 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas United States Israel

The United States on Wednesday confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas on hostages, as Israel threatened to renew its military campaign in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire. The White House said that President Donald Trump's envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, held the talks which focused on Americans among the remaining hostages ...

S.Africa Accuses Israel of Using 'Starvation' in Gaza

This is Beirut, 05/03 15:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Hamas

South Africa on Wednesday denounced Israel's restriction of aid into war-ravaged Gaza since the weekend, saying it amounted to using starvation as a weapon of war. A fragile ceasefire since January saw an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, before Israel on Sunday announced it was blocking deliveries until Hamas accepted its terms for an ...

Israel's Mission Against Hamas 'Not Accomplished': New Military Chief

This is Beirut, 05/03 14:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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New armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said during his inauguration Wednesday that Israel's mission to defeat Palestinian militant group Hamas was "not accomplished". "I accept command of the (Israeli military) with modesty and humility... Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not ...

Israel PM Warns Hamas of Consequences It 'Cannot Imagine' if Gaza Hostages Not Released

This is Beirut, 03/03 19:28 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Gaza Hamas

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas on Monday of consequences it "cannot imagine" if the Palestinian Islamist movement does not release the hostages held in Gaza. "I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine," Netanyahu said during a speech at the ...

Netanyahu Thanks Trump for Weapons to 'Finish the Job' Against Iran Axis

This is Beirut, 03/03 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday thanked US President Donald Trump for sending munitions held up by the previous administration, which would help "finish the job against Iran's terror axis". Netanyahu has long expressed his opposition to Iran, its nuclear programme and its proxies, which include Palestinian ...

Gaza Mediator Egypt Says Israel blocking Aid 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce Deal

This is Beirut, 02/03 21:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Egypt Israel Gaza Hamas

Egypt condemned on Sunday Israel's decision to stop humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip as a "flagrant violation" of the truce agreement in its war with Hamas, which Cairo had helped broker. A foreign ministry statement said that "Egypt condemns the decision issued by the Israeli government to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the ...

UN Urges Israel to Restore Gaza Aid as Hamas Sees 'Coup' Against Truce

This is Beirut, 02/03 20:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Antonio Guterres Gaza Hamas Israel

The United Nations on Sunday called on Israel to immediately allow aid into Gaza, hours after it suspended humanitarian deliveries into the war-battered territory as talks on a truce extension appeared to hit an impasse. With uncertainty looming over the truce, both Israeli and Palestinian sources reported Israeli military strikes in the Gaza ...

Israel Says 'Will Not Be Deterred' after Hamas Issues Hostage Video

This is Beirut, 01/03 19:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Gaza Israeli Hostages

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed on Saturday as "Hamas propaganda" new footage released by the Palestinian militant group, showing what appeared to be Israeli hostages in Gaza alongside a ceasefire message. "The Hamas terrorist organisation released another cruel propaganda video this evening, in which our ...

Hamas Declares Readiness to Complete 'Remaining Stages' of Gaza Truce Deal

This is Beirut, 01/03 18:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Hamas reiterated on Saturday its readiness to go ahead with the "remaining stages" of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as the first phase drew to a close with uncertainty over the next steps. "We affirm our keenness to complete the remaining stages of the ceasefire agreement, leading to a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, full ...

Investigation Conclusion: Israeli Army Acknowledges its "Complete Failure" on October 7

This is Beirut, 27/02 22:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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An internal Israeli army investigation into Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack released on Thursday acknowledged the military's "complete failure" to prevent the deadly assault, saying that for years it had underestimated the group's capabilities. The attack, which left hundreds of Israelis dead, sparked a devastating war in Gaza, which killed tens ...

Israel Frees Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners after Body Handover

This is Beirut, 27/02 09:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hamas Gaza Palestine Israel

Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Thursday, shortly after saying Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over coffins believed to contain the bodies of four hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel had received the coffins of "four fallen hostages", and a process to formally identify them had ...

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