BRUSSELS | Xinhua | Five more European countries announced their recognition of the State of Palestine on Monday, during the high-level session of the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Here is what you need to know about the latest developments. WHO HAS NEWLY RECOGNIZED PALESTINE? France, which co-chaired …
Read More »Why is a Gaza ceasefire deal so hard to reach?
CAIRO, EGYPT | Xinhua | Two weeks after Hamas accepted a peace proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, Israel has yet to issue a formal response. Instead, it has focused on bolstering its forces around Gaza City in preparation for an expanded offensive to seize the enclave’s largest urban center. …
Read More »The strategy of terrorism
How Hamas lured Israel into taking actions that have ruined the reputation of the Jewish state THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Will Durant, an American philosopher, after writing eleven volumes of a book titled The Story of Civilization, was asked what lessons he had drawn from such an extensive study …
Read More »Israel accepts U.S. proposal for temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, Passover holidays
JERUSALEM | Xinhua | Israel has accepted the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover holidays, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement early Sunday. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on Friday and will last until March 30, while …
Read More »Hamas says extending 1st phase of Gaza ceasefire “unacceptable”
GAZA, Israel | Xinhua | The Israeli proposal of extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is “unacceptable,” Hamas said Saturday. “The extension of the first phase as proposed by the occupation is unacceptable to us, and the mediators and guarantor countries are required to oblige the occupation …
Read More »ISRAEL: If Hamas doesn’t free hostages, it will mean resumption of war
TEL AVIV, RUSSIA | TASS | Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages that are scheduled to return home on February 15, it will mean a resumption of war. He made the statement at a meeting with EU ambassadors to Israel. “Hamas’ decision not …
Read More »Hamas blames Israel for delays in Gaza deal implementation
CAIRO, EGYPT | TASS | Hamas has placed the responsibility for any problems with the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Israel. “It is Israel that has failed to fulfil its commitments, so, responsibility for any problems and delays in the implementation of the deal rests with it,” it …
Read More »Israel releases 183 Palestinian prisoners in latest swap with Hamas
GAZA, Palestine | Xinhua | Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday in the fourth prisoner-for-hostage swap under the ongoing truce deal with Hamas, according to Palestinian sources. Abdullah Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, told Xinhua that Israeli authorities handed the released prisoners over to the International Committee of …
Read More »Arab countries reject attempt to displace Palestinians
CAIRO | Xinhua | Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the Arab League (AL) stressed in a joint statement on Saturday the rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The statement was …
Read More »Three hostages freed from Gaza enter Israel with military escort
TEL AVIV | TASS | Israeli and US citizen Keith Sigal, who was released in the Gaza Strip, was taken to the territory of the Jewish state by the Israeli military, the army press service reported. “The released hostage Keith Sigal arrived in Israeli territory accompanied by the Israel Defense …
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