Gaza

Don't Discount Kushner's Mideast Peace Push Just Yet

David Ignatius writes that the prospects for Israeli-Arab cooperation aren't so bad

(Newser) - Jared Kushner continued his long-shot quest for Mideast peace on Thursday in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but as the AP account of the sessions notes, expectations are low and skepticism high. As they probably should be, writes David Ignatius in the Washington Post . Still, he finds a kernel... More »

Pregnant Woman Killed in Israeli-Palestinian Violence

Random stabbings have Israelis on edge

(Newser) - A wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence showed no signs of abating Sunday, as three Palestinians, including a 2-year-old and a 13-year-old, were killed by Israeli forces, and four Israelis were wounded in an evening stabbing attack. The attacks have been primarily stabbings and shootings, but a Palestinian woman seriously injured herself... More »

Hamas Has Held Israeli for Almost a Year: Officials

An Arab-Israeli is also reportedly being held, though it's unclear by whom

(Newser) - Israel said today two of its citizens are being held in the Gaza Strip—and it believes Hamas has had its hands on one of them for almost a year, the AP reports. An Israeli defense unit says that "credible intelligence" shows Avraham Mangisto, said by Israeli media to... More »

UN Report: Both Sides in Gaza May Be War Criminals

Israel, Palestinians both on the hook for 'serious violations' of humanitarian law

(Newser) - Evidence of "serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law" in the Gaza Strip was noted in a UN report released today—and both Israelis and Palestinians got hammered, the AP reports. But the Human Rights Council probe into the Gaza war that started last July... More »

How Banksy Sneaked Into the Gaza Strip

Local resident reports meeting male artist in his 30s

(Newser) - The work of mysterious British graffiti artist Banksy has made an appearance in the Gaza Strip, and a publicist has confirmed to the AP that the artist reached the area through a tunnel; apparently, he sneaked in from Egypt. Local residents were skeptical about this account since Egypt has stepped... More »

New Banksy Murals Turn Up in Gaza Strip

Artist also posts satirical travel video

(Newser) - Banksy's new venue is the Gaza Strip. The artist posted a satirical travel video inviting the world to visit Gaza to see all it has to offer, using images of its destruction to make the point, reports the Daily Dot . "The locals like it so much they never... More »

War-Scarred Lions Find New Home

Israel-Hamas war killed 80 of Gaza zoo's other animals

(Newser) - A trio of scrawny lions was brought into Israel from Gaza yesterday en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. The three, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated at Al-Bisan zoo in... More »

Hamas: We Reached Open-Ended Ceasefire

Israel declines comment; Egypt to make announcement later today

(Newser) - Officials from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main groups fighting in Gaza, said today they have reached a deal with Israel to end a seven-week war that has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Ziad Nakhala, a senior official in Islamic Jihad, said the... More »

Israeli Airstrike Destroys Apartment Tower in Gaza

At least 22 are injured after 12-story collapse

(Newser) - Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a 12-story apartment tower in downtown Gaza City today, collapsing the building and wounding at least 22 people, including 11 children, witnesses and Palestinian officials said. Israel has launched some 5,000 airstrikes against Gaza in nearly seven weeks of fighting with Hamas, but... More »

Hamas Executes 18 Accused Spies

Move follows deaths of 3 commanders in Israeli airstrikes

(Newser) - Hamas has executed as many as 18 Palestinians suspected of spying for Israel after airstrikes killed three top commanders in Gaza yesterday, the BBC and the Los Angeles Times report. A Gaza radio station first reported that 11 were executed at an abandoned police station; two of those were women,... More »

Strike Kills Hamas Leader's Wife, Son

Israel suspends Cairo talks

(Newser) - An Israeli airstrike has killed the wife and young son of Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, the group says, per the Wall Street Journal . Hamas says Israel was targeting Deif himself, though it's not clear whether he was killed in the strike, the BBC notes. Deif, who has allegedly... More »

Ceasefire Over: Israel Strikes Again After Rocket Fire

Attacks come hours before ceasefire's planned end

(Newser) - The temporary Gaza ceasefire was broken today when three rockets landed in Israel, its military says, per the AP ; the reported attack prompted new Israeli airstrikes within minutes. The rockets landed in fields near Beersheba, southern Israel; no one was hurt, officials say. An Israeli official says the military's... More »

Clinton Knocks White House 'Failure' in Syria

And suggests she'll run in 2016?

(Newser) - In a new Atlantic interview, Hillary Clinton has underlined her differences with President Obama on foreign policy—particularly when it comes to Syria. Clinton pointed to the administration's limited involvement in Syria as a major factor in the Islamic State's surge to power in Iraq, Politico notes. "... More »

Israel, Palestinians OK New 72-Hour Ceasefire

Egyptian deal gets thumbs up from negotiators in Cairo

(Newser) - Palestinian negotiators in Cairo today accepted an Egyptian proposal for a new, three-day ceasefire, and Israel approved the deal hours later in a decision that aims to clear the way for renewed negotiations on a long-term truce arrangement in the Gaza Strip. Egypt brokered a similar truce last week. But... More »

Rockets Fly Again as Gaza Truce Expires

Israel resumes strikes

(Newser) - Gaza militants renewed rocket fire on Israel today after a three-day truce expired and negotiations in Cairo on a new border deal for the coastal strip hit a deadlock. The Israeli military says at least 10 rockets were fired at Israel after the temporary truce expired at 8am. One rocket... More »

Gaza Ceasefire Begins; Israel Troops Withdraw

Next step: talks on lasting truce

(Newser) - Just before an Egypt-brokered ceasefire took hold in Gaza this morning, both sides exchanged fire. Several hours into the truce, however, things have been calm, the Washington Post reports, while the Guardian sees a chance at a "definitive end" to the latest conflict. Israel says it has withdrawn all... More »

Palestinians Say Israel Quickly Violates New Truce

In Jerusalem, attacker drives construction vehicle into bus

(Newser) - It's another day of familiar violence in Gaza and Israel: After taking heavy criticism from the US and UN over another shelling of a UN school in Gaza yesterday, Israel put a seven-hour humanitarian truce into place today, reports the Guardian . Palestinians, however, accused Israel of breaking it less... More »

Israel Pulls Most Troops From Gaza

Most of tunnel network is destroyed, says Israeli spokesman

(Newser) - Israel withdrew most of its ground troops from the Gaza Strip today in an apparent winding down of the nearly month-long operation against Hamas that has left more than 1,800 Palestinians and more than 60 Israelis dead. Even as Israel said it was close to completing its mission, heavy... More »

UN Chief to Israel: School Hit a 'Criminal Act,' 'Outrage'

Israel: 'Road for Peace Goes Over Hamas'

Ban Ki-Moon blasts 'gross violation of humanitarian law'

(Newser) - Israel's US ambassador today drove a another nail in the notion of peace talks involving Hamas, Politico reports. "What’s the point?" said ambassador Ron Dermer on Meet the Press. "The road for peace goes over Hamas. It doesn’t include Hamas." His remarks came minutes... More »

UN-Run School Hit in Gaza, 10 Dead

UN official blames Israel, says it's impossible strike was a mistake

(Newser) - A United Nations school sheltering displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip was hit today by what appeared to be an Israeli airstrike, as the military struck the Hamas-ruled territory despite signaling a possible scaling back of its 27-day offensive.Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said at least 10 people... More »