Israel’s parliament gives initial nod to occupied West Bank annexation

October 23, 2025

A bill applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, a move tantamount to annexation of land which Palestinians want for a state, won preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament on Wednesday. The vote was the first of four needed to pass the law and it coincided with the visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance […]Continue Reading

After hostages and prisoners are freed, complex issues remain for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

October 15, 2025

Israel and Hamas moved ahead on a key first step of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement on Monday by freeing hostages and prisoners, raising hopes that the U.S.-brokered deal might lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that ravaged the Palestinian territory, AP reports. But thornier issues such as whether Hamas will disarm […]Continue Reading

Hamas releases all 20 living hostages under Gaza ceasefire deal

October 15, 2025

NEWS DESK Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages on Monday as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the Gaza Strip, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians. The releases came as President Donald Trump was in Israel to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, an […]Continue Reading

Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan

October 15, 2025

Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, a ceasefire and hostage deal that could open the way to ending a bloody two-year-old war that has upended the Middle East, Reuters reports. Just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas militants’ cross-border attack that […]Continue Reading

Gaza aid flotilla presses on despite Israeli interception

October 2, 2025

A flotilla carrying aid to Gaza said dozens of its ships were still “sailing strong” towards the war-battered Palestinian territory on Thursday despite an interception by Israeli naval forces, AFP reports. The Global Sumud Flotilla — involving around 45 vessels carrying politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg — Continue Reading

Israeli PM Netanyahu apologises to Qatar over Doha attack

September 30, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologised to Qatar for the killing of a Qatari citizen during an unprecedented Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha this month, which drew global condemnation. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received the apology on Monday in a joint call from United States […]Continue Reading

Hundreds of Iranians to be deported from US, Tehran official says

September 30, 2025

Iran on Tuesday said the United States will deport hundreds of Iranians back to the country in the coming weeks, with the first 120 deportees expected to depart within a day or two, UNB reports. Hossein Noushabadi, director-general for parliamentary affairs at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told state television that most of those to be returned […]Continue Reading

Hamas under pressure as Trump issues deadline on Gaza peace plan

September 30, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump gave Hamas three to four days on Tuesday to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza, warning of “a very sad end” if the group rejected the proposal that he said was close to ending the two-year-old conflict, Reuters reports. Mediators Qatar and Egypt shared the 20-point plan with Hamas late […]Continue Reading

Trump optimistic on Gaza peace deal; Hamas says it lost contact with two hostages in Gaza City

September 29, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to finalize a Gaza peace plan proposal in a meeting on Monday with Israel’s Prime Minister, Trump told Reuters on Sunday, as Israeli tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City and the military wing of Hamas said it had lost contact with two hostages held there. The fate of the two […]Continue Reading

World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state

September 22, 2025

NEWS DESK France and Saudi Arabia will convene dozens of world leaders on Monday to rally support for a two-state solution, with several of them expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state – a move that could draw harsh Israeli and U.S. responses, Reuters reports. Israel and the United States will boycott the summit, said […]Continue Reading