israel

Israel to Reopen Only West Bank-Jordan Crossing Friday

Israel will reopen the sole crossing accessible to Palestinians between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan on Friday, the three sides said, after its closure following an attack that killed two Israelis. The Palestinian borders authority announced in a statement the resumption of operations at the Allenby crossing "starting from ...

At UN, Abbas Defends Palestinian Cause, Rejects Hamas

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday rejected any future role for Hamas and condemned antisemitism, as he appealed for full global support for a state in the face of Israeli annexation threats. Days after France led a special summit and several Western powers recognized a state of Palestine, the veteran 89-year-old leader was forced to ...

Israel Army Says 700,000 Palestinians Fled South from Gaza City

The Israeli military said Thursday that 700,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City to the south since late August, as it presses an air and ground assault on the urban center. When asked by AFP, the military said that "700,000 Palestinians have evacuated" from Gaza City to the south of the Gaza Strip. The UN's humanitarian agency, OCHA, on ...

Rebuilding to Restore Control? Hezbollah’s $3 Billion Gamble

Three billion dollars. That is the amount estimated by Hezbollah for the reconstruction of war-torn areas through its Waad project and the Jihad al-Bina association. Yet such a figure immediately raises questions. The group is widely believed to be strapped for cash—squeezed by US sanctions and by a land, air and sea blockade meant to choke off ...

The Devastating Cost of Hezbollah's Support War

As Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon against Hezbollah targets, the human and material toll grows heavier. The cost of the “war of support” for Hamas, which Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into, is staggering: more than 5,000 dead, hundreds of thousands displaced, and economic losses estimated at over $14 billion. A return to calm remains ...

Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Statehood as He Heads to UN and Trump Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced leaders who had recognized a Palestinian state, as he headed to the United States on Thursday for White House talks and an address to the UN General Assembly. His remarks came three days after France led a special summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which saw a slew of Western ...

Yemen Drone Attack Wounds 22 in Israeli Resort Town

Israel's military said a drone launched from Yemen struck the southern resort town of Eilat on Wednesday, with rescuers reporting nearly two dozen wounded. A military statement said the drone "fell in the area of Eilat" on the Red Sea coast after air defenses had failed to intercept it, in the second such incident within ...

Drone Crashes Inside UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, No Injuries Reported

UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel confirmed on Wednesday that an Israeli drone crashed inside the UN peacekeeping force's headquarters in Naqoura the previous day. No one was injured in the incident. Ardiel explained that UN peacekeepers specializing in explosive ordnance disposal immediately isolated the drone and secured the area. ...

What Pakistan’s Nuclear Pact Means for Saudi Arabia’s Defense

Pakistan has extended its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia in a surprise defense agreement that could reshape strategic alliances in both the Middle East and South Asia. Signed in Riyadh on September 17 between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the treaty commits both countries to mutual ...

Aoun to Guterres: Disarmament Plan Ready

President Joseph Aoun assured UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday that Lebanon’s disarmament plan is “ready for implementation but has been obstructed by ongoing Israeli strikes.” During their meeting in New York, Aoun expressed gratitude for Guterres’ role in renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in ...

Salam Reaffirms State Monopoly on Weapons

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored on Tuesday his government’s commitment to fully implementing its ministerial policy statement, with a particular focus on ensuring that only the Lebanese state retains the right to bear arms. Salam highlighted the government’s “determination to pursue reforms and extend state authority across all ...

EU Urges Full Respect of Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called for “full respect and implementation” of the November ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, following deadly violence in southern Lebanon. An EU spokesperson condemned Sunday’s Israeli raid in the town of Kfar Tibnit, where civilians, including three children, lost their ...