16 h. ago Israel announces intention to seize large areas of Gaza Strip in major escalation

Defence minister Israel Katz says seized land ‘will be added to the state of Israel’s security areas’Middle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s defence minister has said the country intends to “seize large areas” of the Gaza Strip amid a major expansion of aerial and ground operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.Israel Katz said in a statement on Wednesday that “troops will move to clear areas of terrorists and infrastructure, and seize extensive territory that will be added to the state of Israel’s security areas”. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Israel says it is expanding military operation in Gaza and will ‘capture large areas’

Defence minister says seized lands will be added to 'security zones of the State of Israel’

Events

36 h. ago Palestinian doctors ‘tortured into confessions’ in harrowing claims of abuse against Israel’s soldiers

Dr Khaled Al-Serr, a surgeon at Al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, claims he was brutally beaten and other inmates told him they had been raped in Sde Teiman military detention centre, southern Israel. Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew reports

Events

40 h. ago ‘The way to hell’: Palestinian doctors accuse Israeli soldiers of abuse and torture

Dr Khaled Al-Serr, a surgeon at Al-Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, claims he was brutally beaten and other inmates told him they had been raped in Sde Teiman military detention centre, southern Israel. Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew reports

Events

43 h. ago Middle East crisis live: Israel issues evacuation order for parts of northern Gaza

IDF says residents should evacuate Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Zayed, al-Manshiya and Tal al-ZaatarThe IDF has issued a forced evacuation order to residents in parts of northern Gaza: Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Zayed, al-Manshiya and Tal al-Zaatar.Avichay Adraee, an Arabic language spokesperson for the Israeli army, said it is a “final” warning before the “raid”. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Volcano erupts on Iceland: Tourists evacuated from popular holiday spot as 'red alert' is issued

The Reykjanes Peninsula was devastated by a series of major eruptions between December 2023 and December 2024, following intense quakes (Pictured May 2024)

Events

62 h. ago Israel issues sweeping new evacuation orders for Gaza’s Rafah

The Israeli military could soon launch a fresh offensive in the southern city

Politics

63 h. ago Middle East latest: Israel prepares to move deeper into Gaza and issues new evacuation orders

The Israeli military has indicated it could soon launch another major offensive in Rafah and ordered most of the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip evacuated

Politics

63 h. ago Middle East crisis live: Israel orders Rafah evacuation; return to ceasefire between Israel and Hamas essential, says EU

Sweeping order from military covers most of city in southern Gaza; European Union says resumption of negotiations is only way forwardThe Israeli military said on Monday that an inquiry had found that on 23 March, troops opened fire on a group of vehicles that included ambulances and fire trucks when the vehicles approached a position without prior coordination and without headlights or emergency signals.It said several militants belonging to the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad were killed. Continue reading...

Events

68 h. ago Red Cross ‘heartbroken’ by suspected Israeli attack killing eight aid workers in Gaza

Red Cross says all eight medics were wearing visible emblems and travelling in clearly marked ambulances

Events

3 d. ago Environment Agency warns people on stretch of UK coastline to 'prepare to evacuate' tonight

People in the area are being advised to 'prepare to evacuate when asked by emergency services'

Events

3 d. ago Hamas says it accepts a new ceasefire proposal but Israel makes counter

The Hamas militant group says it has accepted a new Gaza ceasefire proposal

Politics

4 d. ago Inside Israel’s ‘torture’ jails where Palestinians held without charge tell of brutal treatment

A special investigation by Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew reveals allegations of brutal treatment of Palestinians in Israeli facilities including rape, torture, medical neglect and death. Israel rejects all accusations of wrong-doing

Politics

5 d. ago Israel bombs Beirut in first strike since November ceasefire

The strike was in retaliation for rockets fired at northern Israel

Events

7 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Netanyahu repeats threat to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages

Israeli PM says he will take ‘more powerful repression’ if Hamas does not release remaining hostagesFull story: Hundreds join Hamas protest in GazaHere are some of the latest images coming in via the newswires:The Gaza health ministry said on Wednesday that at least 830 people had been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel resumed large-scale strikes on 18 March, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP). Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago US academic groups sue White House over planned deportations of pro

Trump administration is accused of inciting ‘climate of repression’ and stifling free speech on campuses, including Columbia UniversityUS academic groups have sued the Trump administration in an effort to block the deportation of foreign students and scholars who have been targeted for voicing pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel.The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Middle East Studies Association (Mesa) filed a lawsuit at a US federal court in Boston on Tuesday accusing the administration of fomenting “a climate of repression” on campuses and stifling constitutionally guaranteed free speech rights. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Five killed by Israeli shelling in southern Syria, officials say; US appears to confirm fresh Yemen strikes – Middle East crisis live

Israel shells province of Darra amid warning of escalation in region; US attacks Houthis in a bid to regain control of international shipping lanesIn a statement regarding the airstrike on Syria, the Israeli military said:IDF (army) troops identified several terrorists who opened fire toward them in southern Syria. The troops returned fire in response and the IAF (air force) struck the terrorists. Hits were identified. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago US appears to confirm fresh strikes on Yemen; Israel issues fresh calls to evacuate northern Gaza – Middle East crisis live

US attacks target Houthis in a bid to regain control of international shipping lanes; IDF tells people to head towards ‘known shelters’ At least five people have been killed in Israeli shelling of the southern Syrian province of Daraa, local authorities said.In a post on Telegram, provincial authorities reported a provisional toll of “five people killed in the Israeli bombardment of the town of Kuwayya... west of Daraa”. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Israel military issues further calls to evacuate northern Gaza as airstrikes continue – Middle East crisis live

Military tells people to head towards ‘known shelters’ despite the fact there is no guarantee of safety as 57 people killed in past 24 hoursAs we mentioned in the opening summary, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a suggestion by the country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, to set up a new administration within his department tasked with enabling Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave Gaza, their homelands.In a statement a couple of days ago, Katz’s office said the new directorate would work to:Prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing their movement, establishing movement routes, checking pedestrians at designated crossings in the Gaza Strip, as well as coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries.The ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s announcement of the establ...

Events

9 d. ago Inside horror of bombed Gaza hospital after boy recovering from surgery killed in his bed

Feroze Sidhwa tells The Independent of the destruction bomb wrought on Nasser Hospital – which Israel says was targeting senior Hamas leader

Events