59 h. ago UK strongly opposes expansion of Israeli operations in Gaza, minister says

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer warned it would lead to the deaths of more innocent civilians and put hostages at ‘greater risk’.

Politics

59 h. ago Gaza should be ‘completely destroyed’ and its people moved to ‘third countries’, says Israeli minister

Israeli security minister Bezalel Smotrich said the population of Gaza will be sent to a small humanitarian zone in the south, from where they will be forced to look at relocating to third countries

Politics

64 h. ago Palestinians ‘desperate for food but getting bombs’, says UN as it criticises Israel’s Gaza aid plan – Middle East crisis live

Reports say that Israel is planning to use private American security contractors in move that OCHA says falls short of ‘humanitarian principles’China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said Beijing is “highly concerned about the current Palestine-Israel situation”.“We oppose Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, and hopes all parties continuously and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement,” Jian said.The government of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hopes that the Israel Defense Forces’ call-up of tens of thousands of reservists, the threat of the new offensive and the prospect of Israel seizing swaths of territory will force Hamas’s leaders to make concessions.If it fails to do so, then physical possession of terrain will offer useful leverage in future negotiations and allow Hamas to be squeezed further in the meantime Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Netanyahu says new offensive in Gaza focused on consolidating seizure of territory

Israeli PM says operation will lead to significant displacement of the population ‘for its own protection’Middle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has said a new “intensified” offensive in Gaza will involve Israeli troops holding on to seized territory and significant displacement of the population.Speaking after officials said Israel’s security cabinet had approved a plan for “conquering” the Gaza Strip and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Netanyahu posted a video on X in which he said Israeli soldiers would not go into Gaza, launch raids and then retreat. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Israel security cabinet approves expansion of Gaza offensive

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu given unanimous backing for what he says is ‘good plan’ to achieve war aims

Politics

3 d. ago Trump’s 100% film tariff plan ‘not in the interests of American businesses’ – US politics live

Australian and UK politicians push back against US president’s move, which is expected to send ‘shock waves’ through global industry Israel is to expand its military operations in Gaza in the coming weeks, with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Israeli officials have said.The plan, which was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Israel to expand military operations in Gaza to establish ‘sustained presence’

Plan goes beyond any aims so far outlined and is likely to prompt international concern and fierce oppositionMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael is to expand its military operations in Gaza in the coming weeks, with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Israeli officials have said.The plan, which was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Israel's cabinet ‘approves plan to capture and occupy all of Gaza’ as military offensive expanded

The move, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory

Events

3 d. ago Israel's cabinet ‘approves plan to capture all of Gaza’ as military offensive expanded

The move, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory

Events

3 d. ago Israeli cabinet approves plan to capture all of Gaza and keep its soldiers there indefinitely

Netanyahu has called up tens of thousands of reservists to free up soldiers for ‘the next stage’ of war in Gaza

Politics

3 d. ago Israeli cabinet approves expansion of Gaza offensive as Netanyahu calls upon reservists to join war

Israeli army chief says his forces will ‘operate in additional areas and destroy all of [Hamas’s] infrastructure above and below ground’

Politics

3 d. ago Israel approves plans to intensify Gaza operations, official says

An Israeli official says Cabinet ministers have approved plans to intensify military operations in the Gaza Strip

Politics

5 d. ago Donald Trump fired national security adviser Mike Waltz for 'plotting with Israel's leader to bomb Iran'

Mr Waltz, 51, was thought to have been fired because he accidentally added a journalist to a group chat about plans to attack Yemen's Houthi terrorist group.

Politics

8 d. ago Israel has no duty to allow UN aid agency into Gaza, says US state department lawyer

Joshua Simmons tells international court of justice that Israel’s concerns about Unwra are ‘credible’Israel’s urgent security needs override its obligations to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza, a US state department lawyer has told the international court of justice (ICJ).Joshua Simmons spoke as the United Nations’ top court hears a case on Israel’s ban on cooperation with Unwra, the UN’s main agency for Palestinians. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago I used to run Israel’s security agency – now I’m sounding the alarm about our extremist government | Ami Ayalon

Israel’s genuine friends abroad, from governments to Jewish communities, must mobilise to help us end this terrible war• Ami Ayalon is a former director of Shin Bet and a former commander-in-chief of Israel’s navyI spent close to 40 years working as a public servant for the state of Israel, including as commander of the navy and head of the Shin Bet, protecting Israel and defending it from external and internal threats. Several weeks ago, along with 17 other colleagues who have also dedicated their lives to Israel’s security and welfare, I made a decision that the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state is so under threat that it is not just my responsibility, but obligation, to sound the alarm.The 18 of us took out a full-page advert in two major Israeli broadsheet papers. In it, we made clear that the very fabric of the state of Israel and the values on which it was founded are being eroded. The truth is that our hostages in Gaza have been abandoned in favour of the gove...

Politics

1 week ago Mob of Orthodox Jewish men chases woman after protest at Brooklyn synagogue

Woman, who requested anonymity, says ‘a group of 100 men’ followed her, shouting threats and kicking herA Brooklyn woman said she feared for her life as she was chased, kicked, spit at and pelted with objects by a mob of Orthodox Jewish men who mistook her as a participant in a protest against Israel’s far-right security minister.The assault, recorded by a bystander, unfolded Thursday near the global headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch movement in Crown Heights, where an appearance by Itamar Ben-Gvir set off clashes between pro-Palestinian activists and members of the neighborhood’s large Orthodox Jewish community. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Mob chased Brooklyn woman after mistaking her for protester at speech by Israeli security minister

A New York City woman says she feared for her life as she was chased, kicked and pelted with objects by a mob of men who mistook her as a participant in a protest against Israel’s far-right security minister

Politics

2 w. ago Netanyahu demanded loyalty before trying to fire me, Shin Bet chief claims

Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s internal security service, says he was also asked to spy on anti-government protestersThe director of Israel’s internal intelligence agency, Shin Bet, has alleged that Benjamin Netanyahu fired him for refusing to pledge his loyalty to the prime minister over the courts and use the agency to spy on anti-government protesters.The battle between Netanyahu and Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, has pushed Israel to the brink of a constitutional crisis, after the supreme court blocked a decision by the cabinet to dismiss Bar from his post – the first Shin Bet head to be fired. Continue reading...

Events