Page 66 - Hamas

US to provide full support in recovery to 2 American hostages Hamas freed

Two American citizens held hostage by Hamas since October 7 have been released, US President Joe Biden announced Friday, assuring that his government would fully support the duo in their recovery and healing process. Biden thanked the governments of Qatar and Israel for their partnership in securing the release of the two hostages -- a mother and her teenage daughter. Soon thereafter, Biden spoke over the phone with the two released hostages and their family. Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7, the president said in a statement. Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who have been wracked with fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy at this moment, he ..

LIVE: Forex reserves increase by $1.153 bn to $585.895 bn, shows RBI data

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from around the world here

Israel-Hamas war: China, Russia plan to work together for 2-state solution

China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue and plan to try to work together to cool the situation and help establish a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, a top Chinese envoy said Friday. Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, spoke after a meeting Thursday in Qatar with Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president's special representative for the Middle East and Africa. The fundamental reason for the current situation of the Palestine-Israel conflict is that the Palestinian people's lawful national rights have not been guaranteed, Zhai said, according to a statement released on Friday by the Chinese foreign ministry. China and Russia have the same position on the Palestine question, and China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to promote de-escalation of the situation, Zhai said. The two countries want to play a positive role in resuming talks for peace between Palestine and Israel, truly implementing the

Israel clears out city near Lebanon amid concerns over two-front war

The Israel-Lebanon border has seen constant, but so far limited, clashes since a war in Gaza erupted two weeks ago

Sunak travels to Egypt for crisis talks to prevent conflict from spilling

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will travel to Egypt on Friday as part of his Middle East tour for crisis talks to prevent the Israel-Gaza conflict spilling over across the region. His talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi follow productive discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. I had an important and productive meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. We agreed on coordinated action to prevent further escalation in the region, provide vital humanitarian aid in Gaza and support stability, both now and in the long-term, tweeted Sunak after the meeting. Sunak "encouraged the Crown Prince to use Saudi's leadership in the region to support stability, both now and in the long-term", Downing Street said. His stop at Riyadh followed a visit to Israel for talks with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which he addressed a joint press conference with the latter to reiterate that the UK stands

Israel pounds Gaza, evacuates town near Lebanon ahead of ground offensive

Israel bombarded Gaza early Friday, hitting areas in the south where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town in the north near the Lebanese border, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy airstrikes in Khan Younis in the south, and ambulances carrying men, women and children streamed into the town's Nasser Hospital, Gaza's second largest, which is already overflowing with patients and people seeking shelter. On Thursday, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered ground troops to prepare to see Gaza from the inside, hinting at a ground offensive aimed at crushing Gaza's militant Hamas rulers nearly two weeks after their bloody incursion into Israel. Officials have given no timetable for such an operation. Over a million people have been displaced in Gaza, with many heeding Israel's orders to evacuate the northern part of the sealed-off coastal

Israel strikes hundreds of Hamas targets, destroys munition warehouses

It also shared that a Hamas Naval force terrorist was killed by the IDF and Shin Bet who was responsible for murderous terrorist operations in Gaza Strip

Telangana Minister KTR seeks UN intervention in Israel-Palestine crisis

Describing the loss of lives in Gaza in war-torn Palestine, Telangana Minister K T Rama Rao has urged the United Nations to intervene immediately and work towards an amicable resolution. In a message posted on 'X' on Thursday, Rama Rao said the actions of both Palestine and Israel are difficult to justify and are creating a severe humanitarian crisis. "It is crucial for all parties involved to distance themselves from indiscriminate violence. Instead, the focus should be on prioritising dialogue and diplomacy as the means to fulfill the aspirations of the Palestinian people while also addressing Israel's security concerns. "I urge the United Nations to intervene immediately and work towards an amicable resolution," he said in the message. He further said he stands in support of the call for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of essential humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Oct

President Biden calls for restraint as Israel prepares for ground assault

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Thursday, including in the south where Palestinians were told to take refuge. One blast struck a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City where families were seeking shelter, and Israel's defense minister ordered ground troops to be ready to invade, though he didn't indicate when. Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals tried to stretch out ebbing medical supplies and fuel for generators, as authorities worked out logistics for an aid delivery from Egypt. Doctors in darkened wards across Gaza performed surgeries by the light of mobile phones and used vinegar to treat infected wounds. Amid the violence, President Joe Biden pledged unwavering support for Israel's security, today and always, while adding that the world can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians" in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a national address Thursday night from the Oval Office, hours after returning to Washington from an urgent visit to Israel, Biden drew a distinction between ..

US military shoots down missiles, drones as it faces threats in Middle East

With tensions spiking in the Middle East, US forces in the region are facing increasing threats, as a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel Thursday and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks. The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer in the northern Red Sea, intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen. The action by the Carney potentially represented the first shots by the U.S. military in the defense of Israel in this conflict. Brig Gen Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the missiles were potentially headed toward Israel but said the U.S. hasn't finished its assessment of what they were targeting. A US official said they don't believe the missiles which were shot down over the water were aimed at the US warship. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations that had not yet been announced. But an array of other dro

As Israel-Hamas war rages, Israelis can travel to US without getting visa

As the Israel-Hamas war intensifies, the United States Thursday launched a visa waiver programme allowing Israelis wishing to visit the United States for 90 days or less to come without applying for a visa. The US announced on September 27 that it was admitting Israel into the visa waiver programme, adding the country to a select group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to the US for three months without visas. At the time, the US said Israelis could start travelling to America without visas as of November 30. In a news release, the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of Thursday. Officials gave no reason for the changed timeline in a news release Thursday. But just days after Israel's admittance to the visa waiver programme, Hamas launched attacks against numerous locations in southern Israel. Since then the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked locations in the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground ...

US issues caution for Americans travelling overseas amid Israel-Gaza war

Amid the Israel-Gaza war and increasing anti-US protests, the United States on Thursday issued a worldwide caution for Americans travelling overseas. "Due to increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests, the Department of State advises US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution, the travel advisory said. US citizens should stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, the advisory said. The advisory also urged US citizens to enrol in the 'Smart Traveler Enrollment Program' so that they can receive information and alerts and can be easily located in an emergency overseas.

300 arrested in Capitol Hill demonstration urging Israel-Hamas cease-fire

More than 300 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating and three people were charged with assaulting police after protesters descended on Capitol Hill to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of demonstrators from Jewish advocacy groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, poured into a congressional office building on Wednesday. They wore shirts that read Jews say cease fire now and they chanted let Gaza live and not in my name" before they were detained by Capitol Police. Demonstrations are not allowed inside Capitol buildings, and police said they warned the crowd gathered in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building to stop before they began making the arrests. The 305 people arrested for illegally demonstrating were subsequently released and those charged with assault were held in custody pending an appearance before a judge. A few liberal members of Congress have been pushing for a resolution in the latest Hamas-Israel war, saying

After writing an anti-Israel letter, Harvard students are doxed

The letter, posted on social media before the extent of the killings was known, did not include the names of individual students

LIVE: Hiranandani confesses helping LS MP Moitra in attacking Adani group

Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

UK and I stand with you: Sunak assures support to Israel after reaching

He also mentioned that he would meet the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hoped for a "productive" meeting

EU debates how to handle challenges as Israel-Hamas war provokes concerns

European Union interior ministers met Thursday to discuss how to manage the impact of the war between Israel and Hamas on the bloc, after a firebomb assault on a Berlin synagogue and killings in Belgium and France by suspected Islamist extremists. Sweden hosted a meeting of ministers from eight countries, among them Germany, Belgium and France, focused on how to handle incidents where people burn the Muslim holy book, the Quran. Prosecutors are trying to establish whether that was a key motive for a Tunisian man who shot three Swedes in Brussels on Monday, killing two of them, ahead of a Belgium-Sweden soccer match in the capital. While the Quran burnings are not directly linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, they are a sign of rising tensions between religious and other communities in Europe. The war that began Oct 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday that 3,478 Palestinians have been killed and m

Govt's stance on Israel-Palestine conflict is disappointing: K C Venugopal

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal has strongly criticised the Union Government's stand on the Israel-Palestine war, terming it as "highly disappointing". He said India's approach on the conflict used to be different from the very beginning. India used to extend support to the Palestinian cause and advocate for their rights, the Congress leader said in a Facebook post in Malayalam. However, when it comes to any aggression or counter-aggression, India used to strongly condemn it, he said. "Unfortunately, the current Indian stance is not sufficient to put an end to the war," the Rajya Sabha MP said. He urged the Union Government to express its views on the matter with dignity and respect, just as in the past. The senior Congress leader condemned the loss of lives of common people in the war and the attack on a hospital in Gaza that killed over 500 Palestinians. "When women and children, who are innocent and helpless, are caught in the crossfire, how can India stand by without a

I was 'very blunt' with Israel on humanitarian assistance to Gaza: Biden

US President Joe Biden said he was very blunt with Israeli leaders that they would be held accountable if they didn't allow humanitarian assistance to relieve the suffering of people in Gaza displaced by its raging conflict with Hamas. He also said Israel has been "badly victimised," but it would lose credibility worldwide if it did not explore the opportunity to relieve the suffering of these people who have nowhere to go. Israel has told 1.1 million Palestinians living in the north of Gaza to move south ahead of the possible ground operations against the Hamas militants who launched an unprecedented attack on Israel and killed more than 1,400 people on October 7. The UN agencies have warned that an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the besieged city of Gaza. As they probably told you I was very blunt with the Israelis, Biden told reporters on Air Force One while on his return from Tel Aviv where he expressed America's solidarity with Israel and held crucial .

'Stop this tragedy immediately': World reacts to blast at Gaza hospital

At least 500 people have been killed in the blast, which officials believe was caused by an Israeli air raid