israel

The Inevitable Wars and the Future of a Deadlocked Conflict

One wonders why it was assumed that this war was unlikely to stretch out and why Israel’s reaction to October 7, 2023 was going to be muted or limited. The reason is simple: observers outside Israel have failed to understand the magnitude of this massacre, grasp its nature and come to terms with its manifold consequences on Israel’s national ...

Gantz and Smotrich Air Differences Over Gaza Truce Deal

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz called for Hamas to be destroyed, as planned by the government when it went to war after the Islamist movement's October 7 attack. "If you decide to raise a white flag and cancel the plan to occupy Rafah aimed at destroying Hamas in order to restore security to ...

Gaza War Takes Spotlight at Saudi-Hosted WEF

Saudi Arabia on Sunday denounced the international community's failure to address the war in Gaza and called for the creation of a Palestinian state, at a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that the international community has failed Gaza and reiterated its call for a Palestinian state at a ...

Gaza Truce Talks Advance as Hamas Prepares Response

Diplomatic efforts to secure a truce in Gaza and captive exchange with Israel have built up on Sunday with Hamas' upcoming visit to Egypt on Monday, where the Islamist militant group will deliver its response to Israel's latest proposal. Diplomatic efforts intensified on Sunday to reach a long-sought-after truce and hostage-release deal in Gaza, ...

Tit-for-Tat Exchanges Persist on the Lebanese Southern Front

Clashes persisted in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on Sunday, as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate violence intensified. The Israeli army conducted a strike on the town of Aita al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil district near Rmeish. Throughout the night, the Israeli army bombarded the outskirts of Tayr Harfa and Dhayra, as ...

UNIFIL Deeply Alarmed by Increasing Violence on Southern Front

The United Nations Interim Forces in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed deep concern on Sunday at the sharp increase in escalation on both sides of the Blue Line between Israel and Hezbollah. In an interview with the Voice of All Lebanon, Candice Ardell, deputy director of the UNIFIL press office, said that the exchange of fire since October 8 had ...

Gaza Set to Dominate Saudi-Hosted Global Economy Summit

The war in Gaza and broader Middle East tensions are expected to get top billing at a Saudi-hosted special meeting of the World Economic Forum that begins on Sunday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Palestinian leaders and high-ranking officials from other countries trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are on the guest list ...

Hamas’ Armed Wing Releases Video of Two Hostages Held in Gaza

Hamas released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages it kidnapped during its October 7 attack in southern Israel. The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas released a video on Saturday of two men held hostage in Gaza and seen alive in the footage. Campaign group ‘The Hostages and Missing Families Forum’ identified the two ...

War Diary: Day 204

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for April 27th, 2024.

Iran Says to Free Crew of Seized Portugal-Flagged Ship

Iran said Saturday it would release the crew members of a Portuguese-flagged ship that its forces seized this month in the Gulf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took over the MSC Aries with 25 crew members on board near the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. Tehran later said the ship belonged to its arch-foe Israel and was being investigated ...

Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinians Near Jenin

Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian men at a military post near the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, the army and Palestinian media reported. The incident occurred when several militants arrived in a vehicle and fired at soldiers stationed at the Salem military post at the entrance to Jenin, the army said in a ...

Hamas Studying New Israeli Truce Proposal

Hamas said it was studying on Saturday the latest Israeli counterproposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, a day after a delegation from mediator Egypt reportedly arrived in Israel in a bid to jump-start stalled negotiations. The signs of fresh truce talks came alongside ongoing Israeli preparations for a military push into Gaza's ...