51 h. ago ‘They don’t want them to know anything’: Gaza civilians held in Israel not told families had been killed

A nurse, a civil servant and a teacher, among thousands of Palestinians detained without charges, were not informed their relatives had died in Israeli attacks• ‘He insisted we take him to the graves’: the Palestinian hostages coming home to catastropheFor six months after it became impossible, Ahmed Wael Dababish still dreamed of a simple reunion: the day he could once again hug his wife, Asma, his two daughters and his young son.A nurse from Gaza, Dababish last saw his family in the early hours of one night in December 2023, when Israeli troops attacked a school where they had sought shelter. Continue reading...

Events

51 h. ago ‘He insisted we take him to the graves’: the Palestinian hostages coming home to catastrophe

Alaa Abu Zeid only discovered his wife and children had been killed after his release from an Israeli prison. His is a story repeated across Gaza• ‘They don’t want them to know anything’: Gaza civilians held in Israel not told families had been killedMore than a year after his abduction by Israeli soldiers, the first thing Alaa Abu Zeid wanted to do on his return to Gaza was hold his wife and children. He didn’t know that Ali, his brother, would be the only person waiting when he arrived in Khan Younis earlier this month: Alaa’s wife, Hala, and all five of the couple’s children had been killed in an Israeli airstrike last summer.Abu Zeid, 48, the headteacher of a primary school funded by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) in Bureij in central Gaza, was arrested along with dozens of other men when Israeli troops raided the school turned shelter in December 2023. He would never see his family again. Continue reading...

Events

3 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

7 d. ago Families say they have been told Loughgall legacy inquest will be restored

Families of those killed in the SAS attack met with NI Secretary Hilary Benn on Monday.

Politics

1 week ago Civilian death toll mounts in Gaza as Israel warns air strikes are 'just the beginning'

Benjamin Netanyahu warns ‘this is only the beginning’ after Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapses

Events

1 week ago Civilian deaths from strikes on Gaza ‘appalling’, says Foreign Office minister

Lord Collins of Highbury said the UK Government is focused on trying to return to the ceasefire agreement.

Politics

1 week ago World leaders express outrage at Israel’s renewed bombing of Gaza civilians

Strikes said to target Hamas killed hundreds within hours including women and children, undermining ceasefireMiddle East crisis – live updatesWorld governments and UN officials have expressed horror and dismay at Israel’s resumption of strikes on Gaza that killed hundreds within a few hours on Monday, warning the assault could shatter a ceasefire that was intended to be permanent.Jordan, a US ally that has a peace agreement with Israel, called the strikes “aggressive and barbaric”. Egypt, which also has a diplomatic relationship with Israel and helped mediate the truce, called the bombing a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire that took effect in mid-January. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago White House directs officials to draft proposal to lift US sanctions on Russia

Sources say work on so-called ‘options paper’ comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine warThe United States is drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and stop the war in Ukraine, a US official and another person familiar with the matter told Reuters.The White House has asked the state and treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be eased for US officials to discuss with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of the administration’s broad talks with Moscow on improving diplomatic and economic relations, the sources said. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago ‘The price was huge’: Hezbollah reeling as Lebanese ponder sacrifices of its war

The fighting with Israel has weakened the group and brought heavy losses to residents in its southern heartland Crowds of people gathered last week in the ruined town square of Aitaroun, south Lebanon, to attend the mass burial of 95 people, one of the largest funerals held in Lebanon since the start of the Hezbollah-Israel war.Hundreds of people waving Hezbollah flags watched as rows of coffins were brought in by four lorries, the vehicles’ procession lined with flattened buildings destroyed in Israeli bombardment months earlier. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago British hostage freed by Hamas vows scars represent 'freedom and hope' after new surgery

Emily Damari, 28, was taken from her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza as Hamas attacked Israel and held captive for 15 months before being freed as part of an exchange with Israel

Events