israel

New U.S. Ambassador in Israel Urges Hamas to Accept Hostage Deal

The new US ambassador to Israel on Monday called on Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept a deal that would secure the release of hostages, in exchange for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. "We call upon Hamas to sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it," Mike Huckabee said in ...

“A True Friend of Palestine”: The Arab World’s Grief After Pope Francis’s Death

Middle Eastern leaders and Arab movements praised Pope Francis, who died on Monday, for criticizing Israel's offensive on Gaza, his calls for a ceasefire and his commitment to interfaith dialogue. "We lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, according to the official ...

Pope Francis: "Providence Will Never Forsake Lebanon"

Pope Francis has always kept Lebanon close to his heart. According to those close to him and many of his visitors, the Holy Father has remained closely informed about developments in the country. While he has not visited Lebanon—due to both health concerns and the political vacuum created by the absence of a president and a fully functioning ...

Israel Security Chief Accuses PM of Demanding Personal Loyalty

Israel's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to sack, on Monday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of demanding his personal loyalty and ordering him to spy on anti-government protesters. The accusations, made in a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, are the latest twist in a legal and political saga pitting ...

Southern Lebanon: Is Israel Answering Qassem with Fire?

Sunday marked one of the most violent days since the February ceasefire. Through a series of targeted strikes on alleged Hezbollah positions, the Israeli army raised the level of confrontation. This offensive came just days after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, reaffirmed the group’s categorical rejection of disarmament, declaring ...

Pope Francis Makes Joyful Easter Appearance Despite Health Struggles

Pope Francis called for freedom of thought and tolerance in his Easter Sunday address, as the weakened pontiff delighted the crowds of Catholic faithful by making a much-anticipated holiday appearance, even circling St. Peter's Square in his popemobile. "Happy Easter," said the 88-year-old Argentine pope in a faint voice from his wheelchair on ...

Israel Army Probe Says No 'Indiscriminate Fire' in Killing of Gaza Medics

An Israeli military investigation concluded Sunday that its troops did not use "indiscriminate fire" in an incident that killed 15 Gaza emergency service personnel but acknowledged failures and announced plans to dismiss a field commander. The killings occurred in the southern Gaza Strip in the early hours of March 23, just days into a renewed ...

Israeli Airstrikes Intensify Across Southern Lebanon

Tensions in southern Lebanon escalated sharply on Sunday as Israeli warplanes launched a series of intense airstrikes across multiple areas, targeting what were described as Hezbollah military sites and rocket launch platforms. A security source told Al Hadath that the Israeli military is “currently attacking Hezbollah’s infrastructure and ...

Iranian Press Trumpet Strength in Ongoing US Talks

Iranian media portray Tehran as holding a strong position after Saturday's nuclear talks with the United States, ahead of further discussions in Oman in the coming days. "Iran's military might has forced America to negotiate," headlines the Kayhan newspaper, whose editorial line has long opposed any compromise or negotiations with the United ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Airstrikes Kill 25

Gaza's civil defense agency reported that Israeli air strikes since dawn on Sunday have killed at least 25 people across the Gaza Strip, including women and children. Israel resumed its aerial and ground assault on Gaza on March 18, reigniting fighting after a two-month ceasefire that had paused more than 15 months of war in the coastal ...

Lebanese Army Vehicle Explodes After Thwarting Attempted Attack on Israel

At least four people were killed and three wounded on Sunday, according to a provisional report by the Ministry of Public Health, following the probable detonation of unexploded Israeli munitions in a Lebanese army engineering vehicle in Briqaa, Nabatiyeh caza. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Army Intelligence Directorate said it thwarted a ...

Netanyahu Vows to Bring Hostages Home Without Yielding to Hamas' Demands

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Saturday to bring home the remaining hostages in Gaza without yielding to Hamas' demands, insisting the military campaign in the Palestinian territory had reached a "critical stage". "I believe we can bring our hostages home without surrendering to Hamas's dictates," Netanyahu said, in his first ...