Israel, the United States and Hamas have reportedly reached a tentative agreement to free dozens of women and children being held hostage in Gaza. The release would be on the basis of a five day pause in fighting in the territory, the Washington Post reported on Saturday citing people familiar with the deal. However a … Read more
Another 31 Australian citizens, permanent residents and family members have left Gaza and made it to the safety of Egypt. The evacuation took the number of Australians the federal government has helped get out of the conflict-ridden region to 62, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. “They are being supported by our consular staff in Egypt,” … Read more
When Rami Mahmoud left his family’s home in northern Gaza to buy food, his wife Elham Maged stayed behind to pray. When he made his way back through the narrow, tightly packed nearby streets of the Jabalya Refugee Camp, he returned to a scene of complete chaos. An Israeli airstrike had smashed into the centre … Read more
Israel has killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, Lebanese and Palestinian security sources say, as its forces kept pummelling parts of Gaza, vowing further “high-intensity” warfare against the Islamist militant group in the enclave. Hamas’ al-Aqsa Radio and Lebanon’s pro-Iranian Mayadeen TV confirmed word from security sources … Read more
The leader of Hamas says a truce agreement with Israel is close and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he hopes for good news soon about hostages — the most optimistic signals so far of a deal to pause fighting and free captives. It comes as the war in Gaza nears day 50, with at … Read more
Israel’s government has voted to back a deal for Palestinian Hamas militants to free 50 women and children held as hostages in Gaza in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced. Officials from Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations, as well as the US, Israel … Read more
An Australian man has been killed in Gaza after invading the territory with the Israeli army, according to reports. Reserves tank commander Captain Lior Sivan died while serving in an Israeli armoured brigade in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on December 19, ABC News has reported. His death was reported by Israeli news … Read more
US helicopters have repelled an attack by Iran-backed Houthi militants on a Maersk container vessel in the Red Sea, sinking three ships and killing 10 militants, according to accounts by American, Maersk, and Houthi officials. The naval battle occurred about 3.30am on Sunday as the attackers sought to board the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou, Maersk and … Read more
Israeli jets have intensified attacks on central Gaza, residents and medics say, as battles raged through the rubble of towns and refugee camps in a war that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would take “many more months” to end. Netanyahu’s comments signal no let-up in a campaign that has killed many thousands and levelled … Read more
No bombings, artillery strikes or rocket attacks have been reported since Israel and Hamas started a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, the first pause in a 48-day-old war that has devastated the Palestinian enclave. The truce began at 7am (3pm AEDT) on Friday, involving a comprehensive ceasefire in north and south Gaza, the release of 13 … Read more
