Israel troops push into central Rafah
In central Gaza, the Israeli army said it was "intensifying operations" and had carried out air strikes that "eliminated several...Geostrategy
Palestinian fighters release video of Israeli hostage alive in Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified him as Alexander (Sasha) Trupanov, and called on the Israeli authorities...Geostrategy
Xi says China to work with Egypt to help stabilize Middle East
Xi met Egypt's Mostafa Madbouli in Beijing on Thursday, repeating China's support for a "two-state solution... to realise the peaceful...China has repeatedly backed a vague two-state proposal on the decades-long deadlock that preceded the war
Relations between China and Egypt have warmed in recent months, with Cairo set to become an official member of the recently expanded BRICS group
Egypt to open Gaza crossing for up to 20 aid trucks: Joe Biden
US president said the aid convoy would be allowed to go into Gaza from the Rafah crossing in a first...Biden said the first 20 trucks will be a test of a system for distributing aid without allowing Hamas to benefit
The president said that the 20 trucks represented a "first tranche," and "150 or something" trucks are waiting in total.
Biden backs Israel account of Gaza hospital strike, denounces Hamas
In announcing Biden's visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel had agreed to work with the United States...Biden said he was encouraging Netanyahu to ensure "life-saving capacity to help the Palestinians who are innocent and caught in the middle of this".
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed US President Joe Biden for paying "the first visit of an American president in Israel in a time of war".
Israel to allow food, water and medicine only in Gaza via Egypt
"In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the...Israel said it would allow for aid to pass through Egypt, it maintained supplies would not come from its own territory until Hamas releases all the hostages.
Water, fuel and food supplies are running low in the Palestinian enclave, under a crippling Israeli-led blockade since Hamas took power in 2007.
US vetoes UN resolution seeking ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza conflict
"The United States is disappointed this resolution made no mention of Israel's rights of self-defense," US Ambassador to the UN...Twelve out of 15 Council members voted in favor of the resolution put forward by Brazil and negotiated over several days.
The United States was the only vote against, but as one of the body's five permanent members its vote counts as a veto.
French left alliance on verge of collapse over Gaza conflict row
The Socialist Party (PS) -- a heavyweight party of government just a few years ago but now a rump of...Its board accused LFI of "constantly stoking conflict" within the alliance, after former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon refused to call Hamas's Israel assault terrorism.
Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure "is breaking up NUPES" over "a personal issue with me about Israel (and) Palestine," Melenchon wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
US authorizes non-essential embassy staff to leave Lebanon
Following Hezbollah's call, hundreds of demonstrators scuffled Tuesday night with Lebanese security forces outside the US embassy in the Beirut...US State Department raised its travel advisory for Lebanon from level three, issued in July, to the highest available level four
Britain's foreign office has told its nationals in Lebanon to "consider whether you need to remain and, if not, leave by commercial means
China’s Xi announces over $100 billion in new Belt and Road funding
Beijing has been forced to hand out billions of dollars in bailout loans to BRI countries in recent years to...The Belt and Road is a central pillar of Xi's bid to expand China's clout overseas, with Beijing saying it has now inked over two trillion dollars in contracts around the world
Xi announced on Wednesday that key Belt and Road lenders the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank will now offer an additional $100 billion in loans
US orders 2,000 more troops to be ready to deploy to Middle East: report
Washington, United States - The US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered the preparation of approximately 2,000 additional...These troops, currently stationed in the United States and Europe, may not serve in combat roles but would offer advice and medical support to Israeli forces
While the final decision on deployment has not been made, increasing the troops' readiness enhances the Pentagon’s ability to respond swiftly to the evolving security situation
UN chief slams ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians
Antonio Guterres, speaking at an economic forum in China, condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed more...Guterres appealed for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza
He called on Hamas for the "immediate and unconditional release of hostages" taken during Hamas's assault