Middle East

Netanyahu tells Biden he has not ruled out possibility of a Palestinian state

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden in a telephone conversation Friday that public comments he made on Thursday, in which he appeared to reject the idea of creating a Palestinian state, were not meant to foreclose the possibility of a Palestinian state in any form, a person familiar with the issue told CNN. It comes a day after after Netanyahu appeared to reject the idea of creating a Palestinian state, a comment that would put him at odds with Biden’s position.

British foreign secretary okayed arms sales to Israel despite legal concerns

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has recommended British weapons sales to Israel despite "serious concerns" in the Foreign Office that The Aviv has breached international law in the Gaza Strip, according to a government document filed in the High Court.

Houthis say US strikes on Yemen aimed at guarding Israel, not world

Yemen’s Houthi movement has condemned in the strongest terms the “unjustified” US air raids on the Yemeni territory, stressing they’re aimed at “guarding Israel, not the world".

‘Criminal complaints’ filed against Israeli president in Switzerland

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is the subject of criminal complaints during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Swiss prosecutors have confirmed, as Tel Aviv finds itself accused of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza detainees subject to ‘ill-treatment, humiliation’: UN

The head of the UN human rights office in the occupied Palestinian territories has urged Israel to prevent the recurrence of "ill-treatment and humiliation" of Palestinian detainees in the Gaza Strip, saying he met several released detainees who had been beaten, blindfolded and held for weeks by Israeli forces.

Palestinian foreign ministry welcomes Chile and Mexico’s calls for ICC investigation into Israel crimes in Gaza

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry announced it supports Chile and Mexico’s request for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel's crimes against civilians during the Gaza war.

20k babies born during war on Gaza, 135,000 minors at ‘severe risk’ of malnutrition: UNICEF

Nearly 20,000 babies have been born during Israel's continuing war in Gaza, while 135,000 children in the Gaza Strip under the age of two are at “severe risk” of malnutrition, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has warned.

Netanyahu rejects deal for release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza: Report

The Israeli government prepared a proposal to initiate new negotiations with the Palestinian group Hamas for the release of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the offer, according to a report.

Medicine, aid for Palestinians, hostages arrive in Gaza: Qatar

Medicine and aid for Palestinians and the Israeli hostages entered the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry.

Palestinian labour minister warns of impending societal implosion as a result of skyrocketing unemployment

Palestinian labour minister Nasri Abu Jaish has stated that he estimated unemployment in Gaza to be around 90 percent, up from approximately 47 percent before the Israeli war, with unemployment in the occupied West Bank also sitting around 25 percent, up from around 13 percent before October 7.

Report: US conducts new airstrikes on Yemen

The United States reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks against several targets across Yemen on Wednesday night, just hours after Washington designated the Houthi group as a terrorist organization.

IMF warns of “negative” impact if Red Sea disruption escalates due to Yemen’s strikes

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned about the impact of the Red Sea disruption on the global economy if the situation escalates over Yemen's attacks.

Palestinian Investment Fund says Gaza needs at least $15bn to rebuild housing units

Palestine investment fund chairman Mohammad Mustafa has estimated that rebuilding housing units in the Gaza Strip would need at least $15 billion.

US re-designates Yemen’s Houthis as specially designated global terrorists

US President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday re-designated the Yemeni movement Houthi as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) entity amid continued attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea.

“We cannot have in Lebanon another Gaza”: UN chief

A solution in Gaza will "allow for the de-escalation in other parts of the Middle East", warned United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday.

Biden to officially relist Yemen’s Houthis as terrorist group

The administration of US President Joe Biden is expected to re-designate the Yemeni Houthi group, as a global terrorist entity amid continued attacks in the Red Sea, a source familiar told CNN.

Qatar announces humanitarian deal between Hamas and Israel

Qatar has announced that it has successfully mediated an agreement between Israel and Hamas that will enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to civilians in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medicines to Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group.

Israel needs ‘years’ to break up Gaza tunnels: Report

The Israeli military has been “astonished” by the size and quality of the tunnels Hamas has built under the Gaza Strip, according to a report.

French president explains decision not to join US-led strikes on Houthis

French President Emmanuel Macron has said Paris did not join US-led airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen to avoid escalation in the region.

Majority of Germans think Israel’s war on Gaza ‘unjustified’

A new poll has found that the majority of Germans are becoming more critical of the Israeli government’s policies and the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip which has so far killed nearly 24,300.

Israel preparing for ground offensive into southern Lebanon: Report

Israel has been training its ground forces for a potential operation into southern Lebanon, according to a report, as trading of fire between Tel Aviv and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement keeps intensifying.

Hamas ‘far from being defeated’: Israeli war cabinet minister

A member of the Israeli war cabinet has confessed that Israel has not been able to defeat the Palestinian movement Hamas during its months-long war on the Gaza Strip.

Growing number of Gazans haven’t eaten in days: UN

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised the alarm  over the dire situation facing Palestinian refugees who have been displaced by the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Saudi Arabia says would ‘certainly’ recognize Israel if Palestinian issue resolved

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat indicated on Tuesday that Riyadh would recognize Israel if the Palestinian issue is resolved.

EU adds Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to terrorist list

The European Union has added Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to its “terrorist” sanctions blacklist over the October 7 attacks on Israel.

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