The Israeli military acknowledged that it struck a school in central Gaza early Thursday that reportedly killed dozens of people, but was quick to add that Hamas fighters were operating from within the school.
Despite recent diplomatic fissures over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, the United States on Tuesday officially signed off on a $3 billion deal to provide Israel with 25 additional F-35 fighter jets, bringing to 75 the total number of coveted US stealth planes provided to Israel, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Tuesday’s deal ensures Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East, and is funded by US military aid.
Amid talks to bring about the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces operating in the Gaza city of Rafah on Wednesday destroyed a major Hamas tunnel and deactivated ready-to-fire rocket launchers that were hidden in a UN post in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reports.
While still deeply entrenched in a war against Hamas in Gaza, Israel is coming closer to a full-scale war with Hezbollah in Lebanon as well, the Wall Street Journal says in a report that references the views of Israeli officials.
A picture created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) about the situation in Gaza that became extremely popular, or “viral,” on social media has blurred the lines between facts and fiction in a world that no longer embraces the truth automatically.
An alleged Israeli airstrike near the Syrian city of Aleppo early Monday reportedly killed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) General Saeed Abiyar and, according to a war monitor, resulted in the deaths of 16 members of pro-Iran groups, various media reports indicate.
Some 120,000 protestors took to the streets of Tel Aviv in Israel on Saturday calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign and for the government to strike a deal with Hamas that would secure the release of the 128 hostages still captive in Gaza. the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
A prominent Hezbollah terrorist was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Monday morning, as the group continued attacks on northern Israel. On early Tuesday, firefighters battled blazes across northern Israel, sparked the day before by Hezbollah’s rockets and drones from Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Sunday afternoon that Israel has been “steadily choking” Hamas by cutting it off from its supply routes on the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt and is working on establishing an alternative government in the Palestinian enclave.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden urged Israel to accept a three-part ceasefire and hostage deal, declaring, “It’s time for this war to end.” However, on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there would be no “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities were destroyed.
Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, has published a video featuring what is believed to be the voice of Gaza hostage Noa Argamani in captivity, Israeli sources confirmed Friday. It came as U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled an Israeli ceasefire plan in Gaza, but Hamas did not immediately react.
In a significant development, Israel has announced that it has taken control of the strategic Philadelphi Corridor, effectively cutting off the Gaza-to-Egypt terror tunnels. According to Israel, this corridor served as an “oxygen line” for Hamas. Israeli troops have now assumed “operational control” of the Philadelphi Corridor, an 8.7-mile-long border area between Gaza and Egypt, as stated by IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari on Wednesday evening. So far, Israeli forces have uncovered 20 tunnels underneath the corridor, he added.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has expressed “extreme concern” over the Israeli government’s rejection of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict, adding that Israel “doesn’t get to decide” whether the Palestinians can have a state or not, World Israel News (WIN) reports.
The temporary floating pier built by the US military to transport humanitarian aid into Gaza broke apart in heavy seas on Tuesday. Thousands of tons of aid that were due to come into the enclave via the pier remain blocked in Cyprus while repairs are made to get the maritime corridor up and running again.
Israeli tanks rolled into the middle of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah late Tuesday following deadly clashes just hours after three European nations formally recognized a Palestinian state.
Israeli tanks reached the center of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, according to witnesses, as the military continued its incursion into Gaza’s southernmost city despite growing international opposition to the operation.
A new survey shows that 64% of the Israeli public is against agreeing to a Palestinian state in exchange for peace with Saudi Arabia, the Jerusalem Post reports. Conducted by the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs (JCFA), the survey focused on the views of both Jewish and Arab Israelis, JPost reports.
Israel came under world pressure Monday to halt its offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah after dozens of people reportedly died in bombardments that Israel’s military said targeted senior Hamas operatives.
Israel attacked suspected Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, on Saturday, a day after the top United Nations court ordered it to halt military operations in the southern city.
Israel’s government faced mounting pressure Friday to strike a deal with Hamas after an Israeli group representing the families of hostages held in Gaza released a disturbing video recording of the capture of five female Israeli soldiers.