This is Beirut

Gaza Truce Takes Effect with Nearly a Three-Hour Delay

This is Beirut, 19/01 09:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine

After 15 months of war in the Gaza Strip, Israel announced on Sunday the implementation of a ceasefire with Hamas, delayed by nearly three hours due to Hamas publishing the names of hostages scheduled for release that day. The Qatari mediator also confirmed on Sunday the enforcement of the ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the names of the three ...

Netanyahu Says Israel Reserves ‘Right to Resume War if Necessary’ With US Support

This is Beirut, 18/01 20:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel reserves the right to resume fighting in Gaza with US support, as he pledged to bring home all hostages held in the Palestinian territory. "We reserve the right to resume the war if necessary, with American support," Netanyahu said in a televised statement, a day before a ...

Egypt Says Israel to Free Over 1,890 Palestinians in First Phase of Gaza Truce

This is Beirut, 18/01 18:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Donald Trump Hamas United States Egypt

Mediator Egypt said Saturday that Israel is to release more than 1,890 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages in the first phase of a Gaza truce. The foreign ministry said the prisoners would be freed during the first, 42-day phase of the ceasefire which is set to begin at 0630 GMT on Sunday. Qatar, which mediated the deal ...

Israel Intercepts Missiles Fired from Yemen

This is Beirut, 18/01 17:52 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Yemen Houthis Israel Gaza

The Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen on Saturday, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect in war-battered Gaza. The military activated air raid sirens in Jerusalem and in parts of central and southern Israel ahead of the interceptions during the day, with the first projectile shot down in the ...

Suspected Terror Attack in Tel Aviv, Assailant Shot

This is Beirut, 18/01 17:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Israel Tel Aviv Police

Israeli police said that several people were injured in a shooting in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv on Saturday, while emergency service providers reported that one person was wounded by stabbing. "There are injuries at the scene, and at this stage, large police forces are on their way to the location. The circumstances are currently unclear," ...

Saudi Arabia and the Dilemma of Recognizing Israel

This is Beirut, 18/01 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Saudi arabia Israel Gaza United States

With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader must now decide whether to recognize Israel before a Palestinian state is created. For Trump, normalization of Israeli-Saudi ties would be the deal of all deals. But Riyadh has insisted a Palestinian state must be established before such a ...

New Israeli Violations: Ground Incursions in Hula and Yaroun

This is Beirut, 18/01 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Palestine Baalbeck Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel

With one week remaining until the 60-day deadline for implementing the ceasefire, the Israeli army is increasing its violations in the border regions of southern Lebanon. As part of a ground incursion from the village of Hula (Marjayoun) toward Wadi Saluki, Israel carried out a large-scale combing operation on Saturday, using heavy and medium ...

Gaza Ceasefire to Take Effect on Sunday Morning

This is Beirut, 18/01 13:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gaza Hamas Israel Ceasefire

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will take effect at 06:30 GMT on Sunday morning, Qatar, which helped mediate the deal along with the US, said on Saturday. "As coordinated by the parties to the agreement and the mediators, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will begin at 8:30 am on Sunday, January 19, local time in Gaza," ...

UN Peacekeepers, Border Issues and Security Concerns: Guterres' Visit in Focus

Soumia Benmerzoug, 18/01 10:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Nations Lebanese Army Hezbollah Israel

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura on Friday. The visit came amid regional tensions and a fragile calm in the South. During the visit, Guterres voiced his support for UN peacekeepers and reaffirmed the terms of Resolution 1701, the cornerstone of the ...

Gaza: Israel Endorses Ceasefire Agreement With Hamas, Truce Begins On Sunday

This is Beirut, 18/01 02:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Palestine Hamas Israel Ceasefire

The Israeli government gave the final green light on Saturday to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for a truce to come into force on Sunday, with the release of the first Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Announced on Wednesday by Qatar and the United States, the agreement aims to bring ...

Ex-CIA Analyst Guilty of Leaking Documents on Israel Plans to Strike Iran

This is Beirut, 17/01 23:13 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Iran CIA US

A former CIA official pleaded guilty Friday to leaking top secret US intelligence documents about Israeli military plans for a retaliatory strike on Iran. Asif Rahman, 34, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency since 2016 and held a top secret security clearance, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia in November. Rahman faces up to 20 ...

Palestinian President Says Ready to Assume 'Full Responsibility' in Gaza

This is Beirut, 17/01 21:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Mahmoud Abbas Gaza Israel Hamas Palestinian Authority

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday the Palestinian Authority was ready to assume "full responsibility" in post-war Gaza, in his first statement since a ceasefire deal was announced. "The Palestinian government, under president Abbas' directives, has completed all preparations to assume full responsibility in Gaza," including the ...

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