(The Age, 11/1/2024) ( https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/wong-s-middle-east-trip-will-be-the-ultimate-test-for-australia-s-favourite-mp-20240110-p5ew7l.html ) As the Albanese government approaches 600 days in office, Penny Wong is preparing to make her first visit to the Middle East as foreign minister. In coming days, Wong will travel to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank and other key regional nations on a diplomatic… Continue reading Wong’s Middle East trip will be the ultimate test for Australia’s favourite MP

(The Australian, 10/1/024) ( https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/world/israel-at-war-antony-blinken-in-tense-meeting-with-netanyahu/live-coverage/ee2590f79b709dae56db94ff7e9691c7#131001 ) London-based media outlet The New Arab announced the release of one of its Palestinian journalists from Israeli custody, alleging he faced torture during more than a month in detention. Diaa al-Kahlout, who was among dozens of Palestinians shown detained by Israeli troops and stripped to their underwear in north… Continue reading Freed Palestinian journalist allegedly abused

(The Age, 10/1/2024) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/biden-tells-protesters-he-s-working-to-significantly-get-israel-out-of-gaza-20240109-p5evy3.html ) Washington: US President Joe Biden says he has been quietly working to pressure the Israel government to “get out of Gaza,” telling protesters who disrupted a major campaign speech that he understands their passion for a ceasefire. After months of growing dissent over his support of Israel, Biden came… Continue reading Biden tells protesters he’s working to ‘significantly’ get Israel out of Gaza

(The Age, 10/1/2024) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/israel-needs-to-stop-undercutting-palestinians-ability-to-govern-themselves-says-blinken-20240110-p5ew6d.html ) Tel Aviv, Israel: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Israel to work with moderate Palestinian leaders on plans for a post-war Gaza. Israel has so far ruled out calls to allow the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and instead talked about maintaining open-ended military control… Continue reading Israel needs to stop ‘undercutting’ Palestinians, says Blinken

The Australian / AFP | Adel Zaanoun – Joseph Boyle | 9 January 2024 Top US diplomat Antony Blinken was due in Israel on Monday night for difficult talks on the war in Gaza as fears grow that the conflict could engulf the wider region. Speaking in Qatar overnight on Sunday, Mr Blinken said Palestinians… Continue reading Gaza War Could ‘Metastasise’, Us Warns

The Guardian | 9 January 2024 Three Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli forces in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm, the Palestinian health ministry said on Monday. The West Bank had already experienced the highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months preceding the 7 October 2023 attack on southern… Continue reading Middle East crisis live: three Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces in West Bank, says health ministry

Canberra Times /AAP | Arafat Barbakh, Simon Lewis and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | 9 January 2024 Pressure has grown on Israel from its staunch ally the United States and from Middle East powers to ease up on its assault on Gaza as its forces inflicted the highest daily Palestinian death toll so far this year in… Continue reading US, Saudis call for Israeli restraint as Gaza suffers

ABC | 9 January 2024 Israel has killed a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, according to security sources, in an attack on southern Lebanon observers say risks further inflaming the conflict initially sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year. It came as US Secretary of State… Continue reading Israel-Gaza updates: Israel Defense Force kills senior Hezbollah commander, pope calls for civilians to be protected

ABC | Jesse Hyland | 8 January 2024 A Sydney man has recalled the terrifying moment he found a device suspected to be a bomb attached to his vehicle after he erected a Palestinian flag outside his home. Theo was taking his rabbits outside when he discovered an item attached to the bonnet of his… Continue reading NSW Police investigate fake bomb left on vehicle in Botany after man flies Palestinian flag

Canberra Times https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8478845/israel-strike-kills-two-palestinian-reporters-in-gaza/ An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza has killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and a journalists’ union. Hamza al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were both freelancers. Al-Dahdouh had done freelance work for al-Jazeera and was the son of the… Continue reading Israel strike ‘kills two Palestinian reporters’ in Gaza 8/1/2024