Palestine

Israel PM Says Bodies of Two Hostages Retrieved From Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the bodies of two Israeli-Americans killed in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and held in Gaza had been returned to Israel. "In a special operation by the (security agency) and the (military) in the Gaza Strip, the bodies of two of our hostages held by the murderous terrorist ...

Soaring Sheep Prices Mark Eid al-Adha Preparations Across Arab World

As Eid al-Adha nears, the traditional livestock markets across the Arab world are bustling. But this year, as in previous ones, it’s the steep cost of sheep that’s drawing the most attention. A regional survey by Al Jazeera Economy highlights stark price variations that mirror broader economic disparities. In crisis-hit Lebanon, families can ...

Aoun Follows Up on Palestinian Arms Agreement

President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday met with the Head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Ambassador Ramzi Dimashkieh, who updated him on ongoing discussions regarding the enforcement of a key security agreement related to Palestinian camps in Lebanon. The talks focused on the implementation of a decision to ensure sole control over ...

US Expected to Block Gaza Ceasefire Vote at Security Council

The UN Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, a measure expected to fail due to a US veto. It is the 15-member body's first vote on the subject since November, when the United States -- a key Israeli ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. The ...

Three Paths for Lebanon: Hostility, Armistice or Peace

Lebanon today stands at a crossroads in its relationship with Israel, facing three distinct options: to maintain a state of war and hostility, to return to the 1949 armistice agreement, or to pursue peace and normalization. The Path of Hostility If Lebanon chooses to remain in a state of active hostility, the cost will be borne heavily by its ...

Rescuers say Israeli Fire Kills at Least 27 near Gaza Aid Point

Rescuers said the Israeli military killed at least 27 people on Tuesday in southern Gaza near a US-backed aid centre, with the army reporting it had fired on "suspects who advanced toward the troops". The shooting was similar to one Sunday morning in which rescuers said scores of people were killed and wounded at the same location, with ...

The Iranian Regime's Deadly Entanglements

The Middle Eastern landscape is becoming more complicated, with its issues bordering intractability. The heightening tensions are far from being incidental; they are part of the Iranian sabotaging politics. Iranians have always been duplicitous when negotiating their nuclear deals. Hezbollah’s obstructionism is hobbling normalization in ...

Qatar, Egypt Say Will Intensify Efforts to Resume Gaza Truce Talks

Qatar and Egypt announced on Sunday plans to step up efforts for Gaza truce negotiations, as the Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was prepared to "immediately" hold a fresh round of talks. "Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Fire Kills 31 Near Aid Site

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site on Sunday, with both the group in charge of the site and the military denying any such incident took place. Israel has faced growing condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where the United ...

From Jerusalem to Beirut, a Unique Journal: Proche-Orient Chrétien

“The Middle East is a powder keg that has exploded! At this moment, the damage cannot be measured, and the future seems more uncertain than ever. The excess of violence and the prevailing chaos leave us perplexed and challenge both political and religious authorities. International interference suggests a plan to reconfigure the region — but ...

Israel Threatens Hamas With ‘Annihilation' as Trump Says Gaza Ceasefire Close

Israel on Friday said Hamas must accept a hostage deal in Gaza or "be annihilated", as US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement was "very close". It came amid dire conditions on the ground, with the United Nations warning that Gaza's entire population was at risk of famine. Defense Minister Israel ...