Tag: Palestinian

Two Israeli tourists, local guide shot dead by Egypt policeman

CAIRO, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – An Egyptian policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide Sunday, local media and Israeli authorities said, as war raged for a second day between Israel and Palestinian militants. Israel’s National Security Council later said its citizens should consider not travelling abroad particularly in the Middle East “on the backdrop of the attack in Egypt.” It said visitors already in Egypt should leave “as soon as possible.” […]

World in shock after attacks on Israel

Countries around the world have reacted to a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israel says has claimed more than 600 lives. The statements by world leaders ranged from outright condemnation of the Palestinian attacks and strong support for Israel from Western nations, to support from some Middle Eastern countries. Many have called for a de-escalation of the conflict, after Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that […]

Saudi envoy seeks to reassure Palestinians amid Israel talks

By Hossam EZZEDINE with Rosie SCAMMELL in Jerusalem RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories, Sept 26, 2023 (AFP) – Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sent its first delegation in three decades to the occupied West Bank to reassure Palestinians that it will defend their cause even as it forges closer ties with Israel. In a sign of the thaw, Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz visited Riyadh on the same day, for the first such high-level public mission to the […]

Israeli forces begin pullout from Jenin camp: army spokesman

JENIN, Palestinian Territories, July 4, 2023 (AFP) – Israeli forces began withdrawing from a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, an army spokesman said, after nearly two days of a large-scale military operation in the area that killed 12 Palestinians. The raid on Jenin refugee camp, launched early Monday under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government, employed hundreds of troops as well as drone strikes and army bulldozers that ripped up streets. […]

US president welcomes Gaza truce: statement

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden on Sunday welcomed a truce between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants aimed at ending days of deadly conflict in Gaza, urging all parties to implement it fully. The president said in a statement that Washington had worked with officials from the Jewish state, the Palestinian Authority and various countries in the region to “encourage a swift resolution to the conflict” over the previous three days. […]

‘Fragile’ Gaza truce between Israel and Islamic Jihad holds

  by Mai Yaghi with Peter Martell in Jerusalem Agence France Presse GAZA CITY (AFP) — A “fragile” Egypt-brokered truce between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza appeared to be holding early Monday, raising hopes that the recent intense conflict that has left at least 44 Palestinians dead, including 15 children, has ended. The truce, which officially started at 11:30 pm (2030 GMT) Sunday night, aims to stem the worst fighting in Gaza since […]

Rare snowfall carpets Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — Snow carpeted Jerusalem on Thursday as a rare wintry storm swept across Israel and the Palestinian territories as well as the wider Middle East. The cold snap, which has already caused major disruption in Athens and Istanbul, saw heavy snowfall in areas better known for their summer heat. In the alleyways of Jerusalem’s walled Old City, children pelted each other with slushy snowballs after the first flakes fell. By morning, snow […]

Mideast ceasefire ‘good’ but conflict causes must be addressed: Germany

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Friday welcomed a ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip, after 11 days of deadly fighting. “Good that there is now a ceasefire,” Maas tweeted, a day after he visited Israel and Ramallah for talks. “Now we have to deal with the causes, rebuild trust and find a solution to the Middle East conflict,” he said. © […]

Israel, Hamas ceasefire comes into force

by Sakher Abou El Oun with Ben Simon in Jerusalem JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip, came into force early Friday after 11 days of deadly fighting that pounded the Palestinian enclave and forced countless Israelis to seek shelter from rockets. Celebrations were heard on Gaza streets in the minutes after the truce began as cars honked their horns and some guns were […]

Eight new dead in Gaza, Israel strikes toll rises to 227: ministry

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — Israeli strikes killed seven people including a disabled man, his pregnant wife, and their three-year-old child in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Wednesday, the health ministry said. Another person died of wounds sustained the day before, the ministry in Gaza told AFP, bringing to 227 the number of people killed in Israeli bombardment in the coastal strip since May 10. © Agence France-Presse

Biden calls for ‘de-escalation’ as Israel and Gaza trade fire

by Sakher Abou El Oun with Sebastian Smith in Washington GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — US President Joe Biden called for a “significant de-escalation” in Israel’s conflict with Gaza’s armed groups ahead of a diplomatic push Thursday to stem the violence, as the sides traded further fire. Israeli fighter jets hit the residences of at least six Hamas leaders, according to an army statement, which said “military infrastructure” was stored at each site. As […]

Israeli-Palestinian conflict rages on amid ceasefire push

by Sakher Abou El Oun with Jonah Mandel in Jerusalem GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP) — Deafening air strikes and rocket fire once more shook Gaza overnight and early Wednesday amid an international diplomatic push to broker a ceasefire after more than a week of bloodshed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s bombing of Gaza had set its Hamas Islamist rulers back “many years” since it began on May 10 in response to Hamas rocket […]