There was no revelry on Sunday, with few worshippers on the streets of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, as Israel's war on Gaza continues.

Jerusalem - Khalil Sayegh lives in the United States and for days he anxiously awaited news of his family who had taken refuge in Gaza churches to escape the Israel-Hamas war. A few days before Christmas, he learned his father had died due to a lack of medical care, Sayegh...

Jerusalem, Undefined -- Multiple rockets were intercepted over central Jerusalem on Friday, AFP journalists reported. Staff saw two explosions and heard three blasts, as sirens warning of incoming fire blared in the city for the first time since October 30, according to the Israeli military. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam...

Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, warned Wednesday that pushing Gazans across the frontier would be "extremely destabilizing for Egypt". "It's very important to insist that this evacuation of people beyond (the border) must not be promoted, must not be advanced, forced," the UNHCR chief told journalists in...

Activists had called for a strike in solidarity with the besieged territory covering businesses, public workers and education. Many Palestinians took part and rallies were staged in the West Bank, according to Essam Abu Baker who coordinates Palestinian factions in Ramallah.

Heavy urban combat raged in and around Gaza's biggest cities as the bloodiest-ever war between Israel and Hamas entered its third month since the Palestinian group's attack on October 7. The death toll in Gaza has soared to 17,177 as per the Hamas-run health ministry, and vast areas have been...

The Palestinian foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Israel was "taking advantage of international concern over the war in Gaza to approve the construction of a settlement in occupied Jerusalem". It was part of a plan to "flood Jerusalem with settlements and settlers" and "separate it from its Palestinian surroundings",...

Jerusalem -  Plans to release another group of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners suffered a setback on Saturday, the second day of a four-day truce after seven weeks of war. On Friday evening the Palestinian group freed 13 Israelis, along with an unexpected 10 Thais and one Filipino,...

The delay is a hammer blow to families desperate to see their loved ones return home, and to two million-plus Gazans praying for an end to 47 days of war and destruction. The complex and carefully choreographed deal saw Israel and Hamas militants agree a four-day truce, during which at...

Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed the deal, saying that "a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons" would be released in exchange for the hostages. "The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension," the...

Beirut, Lebanon - In a ramshackle Palestinian refugee camp here, Hayat Shehadeh wrings her hands as she watches the Israel-Hamas war. Her daughter is in Gaza, and she has not spoken to her for a week. "I can't sleep. I get up at 3:00 am... I go to watch the television,"...

Geneva, Switzerland - The UN human rights chief on Thursday decried serious allegations of international law violations in the Israel-Hamas war and suggested an international investigation was needed. Volker Turk said "extremely serious allegations of multiple and profound breaches of international humanitarian law, whoever commits them, demand rigorous investigation and full...

The Israeli army said its forces conducted "counterterrorism activities" in the city, during which "engineering vehicles uncovered explosive devices planted on routes to attack the forces". "In addition, soldiers questioned and apprehended wanted suspects, and during exchanges of fire with armed assailants, a number of the assailants were killed," the...

Falsely accusing people of faking their suffering has become "one of the most predictable" disinformation tactics in a crisis scenario, said Mike Caulfield, who researches online falsehoods at the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public. Similar "crisis actor" claims have followed US mass shootings and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In Jerusalem, hundreds came together outside Netanyahu's residence with more explicit calls for his resignation. The nine months leading up to October 7 saw mass protests over his hard-right government's divisive judicial reforms that opponents have called a threat to Israeli democracy.

Jerusalem - The Israeli military said on Saturday it had struck "two cells" and a Hizbollah post in response to attempted firing from Lebanon as cross-border shelling continued while Israel fights Hamas in Gaza. The latest skirmishes came a day after Hizbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that the war between...

Tunis, Tunisia - Tunisia's parliament on Thursday began debating a bill that would criminalize any normalization of ties with Israel as fighting rages between Israeli forces and Gaza's Hamas rulers. The draft bill defines "normalization" as "recognition of the Zionist entity or the establishment of direct or indirect ties" with it,...

"In the past, the five, six cycles of conflict in the Gaza Strip, these figures were considered as credible and no one challenged these figures," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said in Jerusalem. Lazzarini's comments came days after US President Joe Biden said he had "no confidence" in the figures provided...

Jerusalem - Hamas's armed wing said on Thursday that "almost 50" Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attacks have been killed in Israeli bombing raids on the Palestinian territory. "(Ezzedine) Al-Qassam Brigades estimates that the number of Zionist prisoners who were killed in the Gaza...

Hamas released a list of around 7,000 names of people in Gaza it said had been killed in Israeli strikes. The list was produced a day after US President Joe Biden said he had "no confidence" in the militant group's death toll figures. Israel says 1,400 people were killed in...

Israeli strikes have now killed more than 6,500 people in Gaza, a rise of over 700 since Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. One doctor said he was forced to perform emergency surgery on the wounded without anesthetic. Israel has cut off impoverished Gaza's usual water, food and other supplies,...

There have also been increasing cross-border exchanges of fire along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, between Israeli troops and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas.

Jerusalem - Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border on Saturday as the army traded fire with Iran-backed group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas. Israel already ordered the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a border town which is home to some 25,000 people, as...

Abir Bakr, a lawyer for Palestinian singer Dalal Abu Amneh who was arrested briefly four days ago, told AFP her client "went to the police station to file a complaint after she received hundreds of messages in both English and Arabic threatening her and her family with death".

"In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the prime minister's office said, announcing a cabinet decision. The statement noted that aid to civilians in the southern Gaza Strip would be allowed "so long as these supplies do not...

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and left over 1,400 people dead and triggered Israeli retaliatory strikes on Gaza where around 3,000 people have been killed, according to officials on both sides. "Ayman Nofal, 'Abu Ahmad', a member of the general military council , was killed" in an Israeli strike

Jerusalem, Undefined - The Israeli military on Monday raised the figure to 199 people confirmed to have been abducted by Hamas to the Gaza Strip in the militants' cross-border attacks which sparked a devastating war. "We have updated the families of 199 hostages," military spokesman Daniel Hagari told a media briefing,...

Following an Israeli order to move to the south of the Gaza Strip, people have fled their homes in the north of the enclave to seek shelter wherever they can, including on the streets and in UN-run schools. Palestinians carrying whatever belongings they can, in bags and suitcases, or packed...

Jerusalem - International aid groups and major powers have pleaded with Israel to set up safe zones in Gaza where thousands struggled on Saturday to get out of the north of the Palestinian territory, under threat of attack. With thousands of Israeli troops massed around Gaza's borders, uncertainty over when...

Jerusalem - The Israeli military said on Saturday that Gaza City residents must not delay their departure before a military offensive starts, as people leaving the north of the territory again jammed roads south. Ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive against Hamas, which attacked southern Israel on October 7,...

At least nine Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank during rallies in solidarity with war-battered Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry said. AFP correspondents and a security official reported clashes in Ramallah, Nablus, Tulkarem, Hebron and other cities, nearly a week after Hamas attacked southern Israel.

Reports about "40 babies murdered" have been reposted massively on social media sites since Tuesday, and used to condemn Hamas's armed offensive against Israel, which began on Saturday.

Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched strikes on Gaza that...

Israel's top court debated appeals against a law restricting how a prime minister can be removed from office, as current premier Benjamin Netanyahu faces protests against the judicial overhaul. Eleven of the Supreme Court's 15 judges sat to hear three appeals against legislation passed by parliament in March.

JERUSALEM - Israel offered its congratulations to Saudi Arabia on the kingdom's national day on Saturday as the two countries move closer towards a possible normalization of ties. "We send our sincere congratulations to the king, government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the...

JERUSALEM - Israeli and Lebanese troops exchanged tear gas fire on Saturday on a disputed and highly militarised section of the demarcation line with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, the two armies said. The Israeli army said its troops used "riot dispersal means" to turn around a Lebanese earthmover that had...

Despite Israel's strong determination and increasing US mediation efforts, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv-Riyadh still face serious obstacles.

Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel's Supreme Court convened Tuesday to hear petitions to strike down a key plank of the hard-right government's controversial judicial overhaul that has triggered mass protests and divided the nation. A full 15-judge panel of the top court began hearing pleas against the amendment of the so-called "reasonableness...

Four Roman-era swords and a javelin were discovered inside a cave in the Judean desert, where they had been preserved for nearly 1,900 years.

Israel's defence ministry said its security personnel at the Hashmonaim checkpoint were informed by the army that the truck was coming their way. In a separate statement, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant offered his condolences to the family of the soldier killed and praised the security forces "for their determined...

Dubai, UAE - In a significant policy shift, the Australian government has announced its decision to reinstate the term "Occupied Palestinian Territories." The move comes alongside a renewed commitment to opposing "illegal" Israeli settlements and expressing concerns about obstacles to peace in the region. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong...

In a statement, the Israeli army cited Palestinian reports and witnesses as saying clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli civilians who were herding sheep near Burqa village. Both sides threw rocks, the Palestinians let off fireworks and "Israeli civilians shot towards the Palestinians," the army said.

So far this year, violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has killed at least 203 Palestinians, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on both sides. They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well as civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies approved the bill in a Knesset vote boycotted by opposition lawmakers, some of whom shouted "shame, shame". Critics charge the judicial revamp could open the way to more authoritarian government by removing checks and balances on the Israeli executive.

The library has continued to preserve cultural heritage in Jerusalem through their restoration and digitisation, with support from local and international organizations.

His latest health scare comes with lawmakers set to debate the reforms bill in parliament on Sunday to be followed by a vote on Monday. On Saturday, tens of thousands rallied in Tel Aviv, the country's commercial center, and near parliament in Jerusalem ahead of the final vote.

JERUSALEM- More than 1,100 Israeli air force reservists -- including fighter pilots -- threatened to suspend volunteer service as protests intensified on Saturday ahead of final votes on a bill that aims to overhaul Israel's judiciary. The judicial revamp has split the nation and sparked one of the biggest protest...

Netanyahu's office confirmed the visit, the first by an Israeli prime minister since Ehud Olmert in 2008. Turkey's diplomatic drive comes at a time when the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is at a standstill, against a backdrop of the worst violence in years in the occupied West Bank.

Parliament's law committee approved the proposal, which would limit the "reasonability" clause that allows the judiciary to strike down government decisions, in a marathon debate that ended late on Wednesday. After the panel's endorsement, "with nine Knesset members supporting and seven opposing" according to a statement from parliament, the bill...

Opponents have accused Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charge he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him. The prime minister has rejected the accusation.