Page 44 - Israel

Man from Kerala shot dead while trying to cross Israeli border illegally

The deceased has been identified as 47-year-old Thomas Gabriel, a resident of Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala

Israel slammed after it bars Gaza aid to pressure Hamas to accept ceasefire

Israel faced sharp criticism as it stopped the entry of all food and other supplies into Gaza and warned of additional consequences for Hamas if a fragile ceasefire isn't extended. Mediators Egypt and Qatar on Sunday accused Israel of violating humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon. The ceasefire's first phase saw a surge in humanitarian aid after months of growing hunger. Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the next phase Sunday hours after its first phase had ended and called Israel's decision to cut off aid a war crime and a blatant attack on a truce that took a year of negotiations before taking hold in January. In the second phase, Hamas could release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire. Negotiations on the second phase were meant to start a month ago but haven't begun. Israel said Sunday that a new US proposal calls for extending the ceasefire's first phase through Ramadan the Muslim holy month that

Israel stops entry of supplies into Gaza as 1st phase of ceasefire expires

Israel said that it supports a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20

Israeli military told to prepare to defend Druze community outside Damascus

Israel's defence ministry has said the military has been instructed to prepare to defend a Druze settlement in the suburbs of Damascus, asserting that the minority it has vowed to protect was under attack by Syrian forces. The Saturday's statement, citing an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, follows an Israeli warning last weekend that the forces of neighbouring Syria's new government and the insurgent group that led last year's ouster of former President Bashar Assad should not enter the area south of Damascus. Saturday's statement indicates that Israeli forces could push farther into Syria as its new authorities try to consolidate control after more than a decade of civil war. Israeli forces recently set up posts in a buffer zone and on strategic Mt Hermon nearby. There have been no major clashes between Israeli troops and Syria's new forces. We will not allow the terrorist regime of radical Islam in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regi

Hamas rejects Israel's conditions for extension as Gaza ceasefire

Israel "is trying to reset the situation to zero by mixing the cards" and hasn't given a commitment to fully withdraw from Gaza, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said

Trump administration approves nearly $3 billion arms sale to Israel

The Trump administration has approved a major nearly USD 3 billion arms sale to Israel, bypassing a normal congressional review to provide the country with more of the 2,000-pound bombs that it has used in the war against Hamas in Gaza. In a series of notifications sent to Congress late Friday, the State Department said it had signed off on the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs and 4,000 Predator warheads worth USD 2.04 billion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defence articles and defense services in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements, the department said. Deliveries are set to begin next year, it said. Using the same justification, the department also said Rubio had approved another munitions sale to Israel worth USD 675.7 million to be delivered .

Highlights: Core sectors' output grows by 4.6% in January, shows govt data

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from around the world her

'Pretty good talks going on': Donald Trump on Gaza ceasefire deal

A three-phase ceasefire in Gaza went into effect on January 19 and has led to the handover of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza and some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel

Israel-Hamas talks begin for next phase of Gaza ceasefire, says Egypt

Egypt says negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire have begun in Cairo. Officials from Israel, Qatar and the US on Thursday started intensive discussions on the second phase of the ceasefire, Egypts state information service said in a statement. The mediators are also discussing ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, as part of efforts to alleviate the suffering of the population and support stability in the region, it said. The launch of talks helps avert a collapse of the ceasefire, whose first phase is set to expire on Saturday. Under the deal, the ceasefire remains in effect while negotiations on the second phase are taking place.

India to sign MoU with Israel and Saudi Arabia for critical minerals

Minister Reddy announced the deployment of 20 nodal officers in international locations that have the potential for critical minerals

Israel army admits Oct 7 failures, probe may add pressure on Netanyahu

An investigation by the Israeli military has determined that Hamas was able to carry out the deadliest attack in Israeli history on October 7, 2023, because the much more powerful Israeli army misjudged the militant group's intentions and underestimated its capabilities. The findings, released Thursday, could pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a widely demanded broader inquiry to examine the political decision-making that preceded the attack. Many Israelis believe the failures of October 7 extend beyond the military and blame Netanyahu for a failed policy of deterrence and containment in the years leading up to the attack. That approach included allowing Qatar to send suitcases of cash into Gaza and sidelining Hamas' rival, the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority. The prime minister has not taken responsibility, saying he will answer tough questions only after the war, which has been paused for nearly six weeks by a tenuous ceasefire. Despite public

News updates: Select Committee of Lok Sabha to examine the Income-Tax Bill 2025 on March 6 and 7

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from around the world here

Ready to negotiate next phase of ceasefire in Gaza strip, says Hamas

Hamas said Thursday it was ready to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after a swap in which it handed over what it said were the remains of four hostages in exchange for the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. It was the final such exchange the two sides agreed to as part of a truce that's set to end this weekend. Negotiations over a second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more prisoners and a lasting ceasefire, have not yet begun. Hamas said in a statement that the only way for Israel to secure the release of the remaining hostages was through negotiations and adhering to the agreement. It warned that any attempt to pull back from the truce will only lead to more suffering for the captives and their families. Hamas confirmed that over 600 prisoners had been released overnight. Most were detainees returned to Gaza, where they had been rounded up after the October 7, 2023 attack that

Hamas urges talks on next phase of ceasefire after hostage-prisoner swap

Hamas said Thursday it was ready to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after a swap in which it handed over what it said were the remains of four hostages in exchange for the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. It was the final such exchange the two sides agreed to as part of a truce that's set to end this weekend. Negotiations over a second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more prisoners and a lasting ceasefire, have not yet begun. An Israeli group representing families of hostages said the remains of three of the four bodies have been identified. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the bodies of Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat and Shlomo Mantzur have been returned to Israel. Mantzur, 85, was killed in the October 7, 2023, attack and his body was taken into Gaza. The other two were abducted alive and the circumstances surrounding their deaths were not known. Hamas said in a

Hamas hands over 4 dead hostages from Gaza as Palestinians leave prison

Hamas handed over four dead hostages to the Red Cross early Thursday in exchange for Israel's release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, days before the first phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will end. An Israeli security official confirmed that Hamas handed the bodies to the Red Cross. The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement. At around the same time, a Red Cross convoy carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners left Israel's Ofer prison. Crowds of cheering families, friends and supporters of Palestinian prisoners were gathered in Beitunia jostling for a glimpse of the bus that was on its way. Israel had delayed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas. The militant group has called the delay a serious violation of the ceasefire and said talks on a second phase aren't possible until the Palestinians are freed. Prime Minist

News updates: Donald Trump holds first cabinet meeting in second term, Elon Musk attends

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from around the world here

Hamas to return bodies of 4 dead Israeli hostages in exchange for prisoners

Israeli and Hamas officials said Tuesday they have reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of dead hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, keeping their fragile ceasefire intact for at least a few more days. Israel has delayed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. The militant group has said the delay is a serious violation of their ceasefire and that talks on a second phase are not possible until they are freed. The deadlock had threatened to collapse the ceasefire when the current six-week first phase of the deal expires this weekend. But late Tuesday, Hamas said an agreement had been reached to resolve the dispute during a visit to Cairo by a delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya, a top political official in the group. The breakthrough appeared to clear the way for the return of the bodies of four more dead hostages and hundreds of additional ...

Israel ready to extend ceasefire for hostage release: FM to EU counterparts

'Ceasefire will not be extended without the release of hostages,' Sa'ar said in his meetings with the Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Finnish, and Slovakian foreign ministers

US backs Israel in halting Palestinians' release citing inhumane treatment

Israel postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners despite Hamas setting free six Israeli captives

Israel sends tanks into West Bank for first time as it deepens crackdown

Israeli tanks moved into the occupied West Bank on Sunday for the first time in decades in what Palestinian authorities called a "dangerous escalation", after the defence minister said troops will remain in parts of the territory for a year and tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled cannot return. Associated Press journalists saw several tanks move along unpaved tracks into Jenin, long a bastion of armed struggle against Israel. Israel is deepening its crackdown on the Palestinian territory and has said it is determined to stamp out militancy amid a rise in attacks. It launched the offensive in the northern West Bank on January 21 two days after the current ceasefire in Gaza took hold and has expanded it to nearby areas. Palestinians view such raids as part of an effort to cement Israeli control over the territory, where 3 million Palestinians live under military rule. The deadly raids have caused destruction in urban areas. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he a