Page 128 - Israel

Israeli warplanes strike targets as US seeks more time to free hostages

Here's what's happening in the latest Israel-Hamas war: US ADVISES ISRAEL THAT DELAY IN GROUND OFFENSIVE COULD ALLOW RELEASE OF MORE HOSTAGES Washington: The US has advised Israeli officials that a delay in a possible ground offensive in Gaza would allow more time for the US to work with its regional partners to release more hostages, according to a US official familiar with Biden administration's thinking on the matter. The official, who requested anonymity to discuss the private discussions, said it was unclear how much the argument will move the needle on Israeli thinking. The official noted that Qatar's help in mediating with Hamas was able to win the release of two captives, Judith and Natalie Raanan. The process that led to their release - just two of the more than the 222 people believed taken hostage in Israel in the Oct 7 attacks - started soon after the Hamas operation. The official said arranging for the release of the Raanans took longer to come together than folks real

Investors' wealth plunges Rs 7.5 trn amid escalating global tensions

The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged 825.74 points or 1.26 per cent to settle at 64,571.88 points. During the day, the index plummeted 894.94 points or 1.36 per cent to 64,502.68 points

Israeli warplanes strike targets ahead of expected ground offensive in Gaza

Israeli warplanes are striking targets across Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive in the besieged Hamas-ruled territory. Fears of a widening war have grown as Israel struck targets in the occupied West Bank, Syria and Lebanon and traded fire with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group. Two aid convoys arrived in the Gaza Strip over the weekend through the Rafah crossing from Egypt. Israel said the trucks carried food, water and medical supplies. Israel has not allowed in fuel, which is critically needed for water and sanitation systems and hospitals. The war, in its 17th day Monday, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Sunday that at least 4,651 people have been killed and 14,254 wounded in the territory. In the occupied West Bank, 96 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids since Oct 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage .

US, UK extend support to Israel while urging it to uphold humanitarian laws

Leaders of the US, the UK, France, Canada and Italy extended support to Israel's right to defend itself against the Palestinian militant group Hamas but urged the Jewish state to uphold international humanitarian laws and protect civilians. A joint statement was issued on Sunday by the White House after US President Joe Biden initiated a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the UK. The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians, the joint statement said. The latest conflict was triggered by unprecedented attacks against Israel by Hamas militants on October 7. Israel has launched a massive counter-offensive against the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007. Welcoming

Sixth chartered flight under 'Op Ajay' brings back 143 people from Israel

India on Sunday brought back 143 people including two Nepalese nationals from Israel. India lunched 'Operation Ajay' 11 days back to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wish to come back home in view of the Hamas-Israel conflict. "6th #OperationAjay flight lands in New Delhi.143 passengers including 2 Nepalese citizens arrived onboard the flight," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on 'X'. The passengers were received at the airport by Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste. More than 1,200 people returned from Israel in the previous five chartered flights.

Indian firms cold to Tower Semiconductor's offer to set up chipmaking JV

In 2022, US chip giant Intel, which had signed a deal to buy out Tower for $5.4 billion, decided to cancel it and paid a $353 million termination fee

IDF expresses regret after Israeli tank accidentally fires at Egyptian post

Meanwhile, several Merkava tanks and troops have been positioned by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) near the Gaza border in South Israel

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Israel relaxes certain trading regulations in light of war in Gaza

The duties of identification, verification and beneficiary declaration in accordance with the order of case managers will be carried out using technology that allows remote communication

Israel-Hamas conflict puts pressure on CEOs and companies to speak up

Major global firms have been generally reluctant to wade into the fray, with only a fifth of the 100 largest firms in the S&P 500 issuing formal statements

China sends six warships, Israeli military warns of wider conflict

Israel's military has said it is striking Hamas members and installations, but does not target civilians

Operation Ajay: 143 people, including two Nepalese, fly out of Israel

A special flight carrying 143 persons, including two Nepalese citizens and four infants, wanting to leave Israel amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, left for India on Sunday as part of 'Operation Ajay'. It was the sixth flight as part of Operation Ajay launched on October 12 to facilitate the return of those Indian nationals who wish to return home following the brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7. The flight is carrying 143 persons, including two Nepalese citizens and four infants, informed sources told PTI. Eighteen Nepalese nationals were earlier accommodated on the special flight last Tuesday. The voluntary departure of Indian nationals was necessitated after armed Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented attack on Israel by land, air, and sea on October 7. So far, five chartered flights from Tel Aviv arrived in Delhi with nearly 1,200 passengers, including children. Since the start of hostilities, nearly 4,400 ...

IDF strikes Gaza, Syria, West Bank as war threatens to ignite other fronts

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Sunday said that IDF and Israel Securities Authorities carried out an aerial strike at the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist compound in the Al-Ansar Mosque in Jenin.Taking to X, the Israel Defence Forces said that the recent IDF intel revealed that the Mosque was used as a command centre to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against civilians.In a post shared on X, the IDF stated, "The IDF & ISA just conducted an aerial strike on a Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist compound in the Al-Ansar Mosque in Jenin. Recent IDF intel revealed that the Mosque was used as a command center to plan and execute terrorist attacks against civilians."In another post on X, the IDF stated that its soldiers hit a terrorist cell trying to launch anti-tank missiles towards northern Israel. The IDF in a post shared on X stated, "Hamas wants the world to believe that they are a humanitarian organization. Don't fall for their trap."In the video posted by IDF on X, the

Hamas attacked Israel in part to stop historic agreement with Saudi: Biden

President Joe Biden said Friday he thought Hamas was motivated to attack Israel in part by a desire to stop that country from normalising relations with Saudi Arabia. One of the reasons ... why Hamas moved on Israel, is because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis, Biden said at a campaign fundraiser. The US president indicated that he thinks Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Oct 7 because, Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognise Israel and were near being able to formally do so. Jerusalem and Riyadh had been steadily inching closer to normalisation, with Biden working to help bring the two countries together, announcing plans in September at the Group of 20 summit in India to partner on a shipping corridor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September and told him, I think that under your leadership, Mr President, we can forge a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis

French intel points to Palestine rocket, not Israeli strike, for Gaza blast

An assessment by French military intelligence indicates the most likely cause of the deadly explosion at Gaza City's al-Ahli hospital was a Palestinian rocket that carried an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and possibly misfired, a senior French military official said Friday. Several rockets in the arsenal of the Palestinian militant group Hamas carry explosive charges of about that weight, including an Iranian-made rocket and another that is Palestinian-made, the intelligence official said. None of their intelligence pointed to an Israeli strike, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, but was cleared to discuss the assessment by President Emmanuel Macron in what was described as an attempt to be transparent about the French intelligence findings. The assessment was based on classified information, satellite imagery, intelligence shared by other countries and open-source information, the official said. The size of the blast crater in a ..

India sends humanitarian aid to people of Palestine amid Israel-Hamas war

India on Sunday sent nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine. The consignments were sent in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The plane is transporting the aid to El-Arish airport in Egypt. "India sends Humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. An IAF C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine departs for El-Arish airport in Egypt," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on 'X'. "The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items," he said. India sent the aid three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences to President of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas over the deaths of civilians at a hospital in Gaza and reiterated India's long-standing "principled

US sending additional air defence systems to Middle East: Lloyd Austin

The US has decided to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system as well as additional Patriot battalions to the Middle East to increase its force posture there following recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the region, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for US forces in the region, and assist in the defence of Israel, he said. Following detailed discussions with President Joe Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the Department of Defence posture in the region, Austin said. The US is on alert for activity by Iran-backed groups amidst escalating tension in the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war. First, I redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in

India has never seen conflicts on which Israel, Hamas fighting: Bhagwat

Hinduism respects all sects and India has never seen strifes on issues like the one that has led to the ongoing Hamas-Israel war, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said. He was speaking at a programme organised at a school here on Saturday to mark 350 years of the coronation of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "In this country, there is a religion, culture that respects all sects and faiths. That religion in Hinduism. This is a country of Hindus. That does not mean we reject all other (religions). Once you say Hindu, it is not needed to be told that Muslims too were protected. Only Hindus do this. Only India does this. Others have not done this," Bhagwat said. "Everywhere else, strifes are underway. You must have heard of the war in Ukraine, Hamas-Israel war. In our country, there were never wars on such issues. The invasion during Shivaji Maharaj's time was of that kind. But we never fought of battles on this issue with anybody. That is why we are .

Israel to step up strikes on Gaza before ground offensive, says IDF

With an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza looming large, Israel has said it will step up its aerial strikes in the besieged Palestinian territory to create the best conditions for troops to move in. Indicating Israel's preparations for the second stage of its declared three-phase operation to change the security regime in Gaza, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, We have to enter the next phase of the war in the best conditions, not according to what anyone tells us. From today, we are increasing the strikes and minimizing the danger, Hagari told reporters on Saturday, in a clear signal towards an imminent ground incursion. In another clear indicator that Israel was preparing for the second stage of its three-phase operation to change the security regime in Gaza, IDF's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told commanders of the elite Golani infantry brigade earlier on Saturday that they should expect surprises prepared by terror groups when they enter the Gaza Strip.

550 failed Palestinian rocket launches detected in Gaza, says Israel

The military also released footage of rocket barrages being launched from Gaza, in which several rockets could be seen crashing into the Strip