Israel & Hamas close to 2nd phase of truce: Bibi

A drone view of the lighting up of a Christmas tree in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank JERUSALEM: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the second phase of a US plan to end the war in Gaza was close, but cautioned several key issues still needed […]

‘Blood libel against IDF’: What led to Israel’s top army lawyer’s exit; links to leaked video

Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi (Image: X@/RT_com) Israel’s top military lawyer, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, resigned on Friday after admitting she had approved the leak of a video showing IDF soldiers allegedly abusing a Palestinian detainee. The footage was reportedly taken at the Sde Teiman detention facility during the Gaza war. Her resignation comes amid a criminal investigation […]

‘The war is over’: Donald Trump heads for Middle East to mark Gaza ceasefire; calls it ‘very special time’

US President Donald Trump on Sunday departed for a visit to Israel and Egypt, calling the trip a “very special” moment as he hailed a ceasefire and hostage release deal that he said had brought the Gaza war to an end.“This is going to be a very special time,” Trump told reporters before boarding air […]

‘Will know very quickly’: Marco Rubio on if Hamas will follow Trump’s plan, says Gaza war not yet over

US secretary of state Marco Rubio (Pic credit: AP) US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Sunday said that the war in Gaza has not ended yet, despite Israel and Hamas agreeing to a peace plan. “We will know very quickly whether Hamas is serious or not by how these technical talks go in terms […]

‘We will get it done’: Donald Trump hints at major announcement for Middle East; calls it ‘something special’

US President Donald Trump (Pic credit: AP) US President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested a “major development” could be imminent in the Middle East, declaring there is “something special” in the works. “We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL […]

UK defence academy to ban Israelis over Gaza war: UK media

Israelis will be barred from enrolling at a prestigious government-run defence studies institute in London over the war in Gaza, UK media reported Monday.The Royal College of Defence Studies, which is overseen by the defence ministry, will bar Israeli students from next year, according to The Times and Telegraph newspapers.The post-graduate college part of the […]

Israel-Yemen war: Houthi rebel PM Ahmed al-Rahawi killed in Sanaa; Israeli military confirms

Israeli airstrikes in Yemen’s capital Sanaa have killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government, the Iran-backed rebels said Saturday.According to the Houthis, al-Rahawi and several ministers died in a Thursday strike while attending a government workshop. The Israeli military confirmed it had “precisely struck a Houthi terrorist regime target” in Sanaa, AP reported. […]

Middle East crisis: US imposes visa sanctions on PLO, Palestinian Authority; cites ‘supporting terrorism’

The US state department announced visa sanctions against officials of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), ‘continuing to support terrorism and not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace”.In a statement released Thursday, the state department said, “The United States is imposing sanctions that deny visas to PLO […]

What triggered sanctions on Israel’s far-right ministers by UK, Canada & others — and what it means for Netanyahu’s government

Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway on Tuesday imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting extremist violence and enabling human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.The coordinated move by five Western nations traditionally supportive of Israel marked a strong condemnation of […]

‘Enough is enough’: Former Israel PM Ehud Olmert blames Netanyahu for Gaza war; urges Trump to intervene

Former Israel prime minister Ehud Olmert (left) and current PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Image credit: AP) Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel, has blamed the current PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, for failing to prevent the October 7, 2023 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which triggered a deadly war in the middle east.In an interview […]