Month: January 2024

by Agency Writers US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to return to the Middle East today on his fourth trip since the Israel-Hamas war, expecting tough talks as he presses for immediate new aid for battered Gaza and de-escalation in the region. The top US diplomat will visit both Israel and the West Bank,… Continue reading Blinken returns for Gaza aid, de-escalation talks

Friday, 05 January 2024 Israel at war: Islamic State claims Iran twin bombings, US kills Iran-backed militia leader in Iraq The Australian | Staff Writers | 05.01.24 Islamic State says suicide bombers caused Iran blasts by Staff Writers Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for a pair of bombings that killed dozens of people a… Continue reading Palestine Israel Media Report

(The Australian, 4/1/2024) ( https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-wall-street-journal/court-ruling-shows-israel-divided-despite-show-of-wartime-unity/news-story/40086d554d1d5a8229044eef1712574d ) Israel’s Supreme Court ruling on Monday invalidating a law that was at the centre of a contentious judicial overhaul was a reminder of the deep underlying divisions in Israeli society put aside during the war in Gaza — tensions that could erupt once the conflict is over. The law… Continue reading Court ruling shows Israel divided despite show of wartime unity

(The Australian, 4/1/2024) ( https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/turkey-detains-34-suspected-israeli-spies/news-story/0687f7fa16e96e17874c9cbfd486e5a9 ) Turkey announced on Tuesday it had detained 34 people suspected of planning abductions and spying on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service. The raids came just weeks after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of “serious consequences” should Israel try to target figures from Palestinian militant group Hamas living or… Continue reading Turkey detains 34 suspected Israeli spies

(Canberra Times, 4/1/2024) ( https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8476117/israeli-hostage-killed-during-failed-rescue-bid-army/?cs=14264 ) Israeli hostage Sahar Baruch was killed last month during a rescue attempt by special forces in Gaza, the Israeli military says, without giving details. Hamas said on December 8 that a hostage it named as Sa’ar Baruch had been killed during an attempted rescue operation. “At this point, it… Continue reading Israeli hostage killed during failed rescue bid: army

(Canberra Times, 4/1/2024) ( https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8476098/israel-keeps-up-gaza-bombardment-after-arouris-killing/?cs=14329 ) Israeli forces have kept up their assault on the Gaza Strip and told civilians to leave a refugee camp in the north of the Palestinian enclave after the war reached into Lebanon with the killing in Beirut of the Hamas deputy leader. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied that… Continue reading Israel keeps up Gaza bombardment after Arouri’s killing

(SMH & The Age, 3/1/2024) ( https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/israeli-military-says-it-struck-series-of-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon-20240102-p5eum4.html ) Jerusalem: Israeli aircraft and tanks have stepped up strikes in southern Gaza, residents said, after its military announced plans to pull back some troops, a move the US said signalled a gradual shift to lower intensity operations in the north of the enclave. Israel says the war in… Continue reading Israel pulls some troops from Gaza but steps up strikes in the south

(The Age, 3/1/2024) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/senior-hamas-official-killed-in-beirut-by-israeli-drone-security-sources-20240103-p5eutk.html ) Beirut: Senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri was killed on Tuesday night in an Israeli drone strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, a stronghold of allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, three security sources told Reuters. In response to questions from Reuters, the Israeli military said it does not respond to… Continue reading Senior Hamas official killed in Beirut by Israeli drone: security sources

(The Age, 3/1/2024) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/the-war-in-gaza-is-changing-but-the-end-is-not-yet-in-sight-20240102-p5eupj.html ) Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza is not yet ending, but it is moving into a new, and probably less intense, phase. As 2024 began, the Israeli military announced it would start withdrawing thousands of soldiers from the Gaza Strip in the first significant drawdown of troops since the war began… Continue reading The war in Gaza is changing, but the end is not yet in sight

The Age / Reuters | Nidal al-Mughrabi Arafat Barbakh | 2.1.24 CAIRO/GAZA: Israeli jets have intensified attacks on central Gaza, residents and medics said, as battles raged through the rubble of towns and refugee camps in a war Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would take ‘‘many more months’’ to end. Netanyahu’s comments signal no… Continue reading Netanyahu defies Biden over enclave