Displaying items by tag: israel

Hamas has returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages under the Gaza ceasefire deal: Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), along with peace activist Oded Lifshitz (83). The IDF transported the bodies to Israel for identification, while mourning swept across the nation. President Isaac Herzog expressed deep sorrow and asked for forgiveness for failing to bring all hostages home alive. Negotiations on a second ceasefire phase are set to resume this week, aiming for the release of all remaining hostages. However, Israel insists it will not withdraw forces until Hamas is eliminated, while Hamas demands an end to the war before releasing further captives. Meanwhile, Hamas used the hostage handover for propaganda, displaying missiles alongside the coffins and blaming Benjamin Netanyahu for their deaths. The Hamas group stated they would have preferred them to return alive, but accused Israel of choosing war over negotiations.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in effect since 19 January, is at risk of collapsing. Efforts by Egypt and Qatar to mediate continue, as a senior Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to salvage the truce. Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that if hostages are not released by Saturday, intense military operations will resume. The situation has been further complicated by Donald Trump's recent proposal to remove Gaza’s Palestinian residents, which has emboldened Israel’s far-right leaders. Some Israeli ministers are now demanding a total military takeover of Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli security officials argue that breaking the ceasefire would endanger hostages still held in Gaza. Families of captives and displaced Gazans fear renewed conflict. Breaking news: Hamas has said it will release three hostages on 15 February as agreed, although earlier it had threatened to cancel the ceasefire, claiming that Israel had failed to fulfil key commitments.

Donald Trump has proposed permanently resettling Palestinians out of Gaza, calling it a ‘demolition site’ and suggesting US involvement in rebuilding the territory. His remarks, made during a visit to Washington by Benjamin Netanyahu, seem to signal a major shift in US policy on Israel and the Palestinians. Arab nations have strongly rejected the plan, warning that it could destabilise the region and expand the conflict. Under international law, forced population transfers are prohibited. Trump’s vision, which includes an international takeover of Gaza, aligns with far-right Israeli groups advocating for indefinite war against Hamas and the expansion of Jewish settlements. They might welcome Trump’s position, but for millions of displaced Palestinians, it represents the threat of permanent exile and collective punishment. Meanwhile, sick and wounded Palestinians have left the Gaza strip as the fragile ceasefire continues: see

A ceasefire deal has been reached, ending fifteen months of conflict in the Gaza strip. This agreement, hailed by Joe Biden, Qatar’s prime minister, and Hamas officials, aims to bring a much-needed break in violence. It will also lead to the release of dozens of hostages and prisoners from both sides. The phased plan includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the Gaza border, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home, as well as providing humanitarian aid and rebuilding Gaza's healthcare infrastructure. Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for 100 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, while Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who were not involved in the 7 October attacks. The deal follows months of intense diplomatic efforts, particularly by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar. Breaking news: the Israeli cabinet has not yet ratified the deal, with Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Hamas were reneging on some parts of the agreement. See Also, Israel has continued air strikes on Gaza, with at least 73 killed on 16 January.

After months of deadlock, there are new signs that Israel and Hamas could be moving closer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. The USA, Qatar, and Egypt are reporting greater willingness by both sides to conclude a deal. Talks are reportedly in a decisive stage. Israel’s defence minister has indicated that they are close to an agreement, though challenges remain, including far-right Israeli cabinet opposition and Hamas's conditions. A three-phase plan proposes releasing civilian and women hostages, with Israeli troop withdrawals and a mechanism for displaced Gazans to return. Subsequent stages include freeing remaining hostages and a broader troop withdrawal. Of 96 hostages in Gaza, 62 are believed to be still alive; a hundred others have been freed through negotiation or military action. The negotiations have been given a new push by Donald Trump’s election; he has warned that a ceasefire deal should be reached before he takes office, because otherwise ‘it’s not going to be pleasant’.

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes and naval operations in Syria, targeting military assets and creating a buffer zone near the Golan Heights. Defence minister Israel Katz stated the actions aim to establish a ‘sterile defence zone’ to prevent terrorist activities. Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed Syria’s naval fleet, military warehouses, air-defense facilities, and weaponry near Damascus. There were probably as many as 250 strikes, with video evidence of naval wreckage in Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed significant damage to Syria’s military infrastructure. Israel claims its operations are temporary and limited to precluding advanced weaponry from extremist groups. However, several nations have condemned the strikes as violations of international law. The UN criticised the buffer zone seizure as a breach of the 1974 disengagement agreement, despite Israel’s assurances of its defensive intent.

Yuval Green, a 26-year-old Israeli reservist and medic, answered the call to defend his country after the devastating Hamas attack in October 2023. Witnessing the aftermath in Gaza, he encountered unimaginable horrors, including civilian devastation and dehumanisation within his ranks. These experiences have led him and 165 other Israeli reservists to publicly refuse military service unless hostages held in Gaza are released and to call for a ceasefire. The refusal highlights growing dissent in Israel, where a poll shows 45% favour ending the war to recover the hostages, contrasting with 43% supporting continued conflict to eliminate Hamas. Diminished national unity and reports of burnout among troops exacerbate challenges. Yuval's decision came after orders he found morally indefensible, reflecting broader tensions within Israeli society about the war's direction and ethical concerns over military actions.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the USA, began on 27 November, with thousands of  displaced people cautiously returning to southern Lebanon. The truce calls for a sixty-day withdrawal period for Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army deploying extra troops in the region to oversee the ceasefire and reclaim control. However, Israeli officials have warned that any breaches by Hezbollah would prompt immediate military action. Hezbollah claimed ‘victory’ in its first statement since the ceasefire, vowing readiness to confront Israeli actions. The conflict, which began in October 2023 but has escalated since September, has devastated Lebanon, with over 3,800 killed and nearly 16,000 injured. Caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati has called for unity after what he said was the ‘most cruel phase in Lebanese history’. For a view on how this truce might affect the conflict in Gaza, see

The USA has stated that Israel has not violated laws regarding the blocking of aid to Gaza, even though a thirty-day deadline for increased humanitarian access has passed without full implementation. While acknowledging that Israel has made some progress, such as opening a new land crossing and resuming aid deliveries in northern Gaza, the USA says that further improvements are necessary. However, the UN reports that aid into Gaza is at its lowest level in a year, with the humanitarian situation growing increasingly dire, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine is imminent. The UN calls the ongoing Israeli blockade a violation of international law and a humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian groups report that conditions in Gaza have worsened, and aid is still being obstructed. Meanwhile, more people have died following further exchanges of airstrikes between Israel and Hezbollah: see

Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed defence minister Yoav Gallant amid Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, citing a lack of trust. Gallant’s opposition to ultra-orthodox military conscription and his differing views on hostages have long put him at odds with Netanyahu: he had also publicly dismissed Netanyahu’s oft-repeated goal of ‘total victory’ over Hamas, saying that Israel’s military success had created the conditions for a diplomatic deal. His replacement, foreign minister Israel Katz, vowed to prioritise Israel’s security, emphasising the return of hostages and a decisive stance against Israel’s enemies. Gallant, seen as a moderate influence in Netanyahu’s coalition, was considered to be a stabilising figure. His dismissal sparked major protests across Israel, with citizens decrying the decision as a threat to national security. US officials expressed concern over the timing, especially in the middle of two wars. Meanwhile, on 7 November Israel allowed the evacuation of 231 seriously ill and injured patients from Gaza, the biggest since the conflict broke out. However, WHO said there were still up to 14,000 people waiting for evacuation for medical reasons.