Articles in this Cluster
07-06-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of authorizing the arming of a criminal gang in Gaza, known as the Popular Forces of Palestine, to fight against Hamas. Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman criticized the decision, likening the group to ISIS and warning that the weapons could eventually be turned against Israel. Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had "activated clans in Gaza that oppose Hamas," claiming it would save the lives of Israeli soldiers. The group's leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, denied receiving Israeli arms, while Hamas threatened to deal with the group "with full force." Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that the decision could lead to disaster, drawing parallels with Israel's past support for Hamas, which ultimately led to the current conflict.
07-06-2025
Israel carried out air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs on the eve of Eid Al Adha, a major Islamic holiday, targeting Hezbollah's alleged drone production. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was targeting a Hezbollah unit producing "thousands" of drones underground. The strikes followed evacuation warnings and caused thousands to flee, resulting in a traffic gridlock and plumes of smoke. Lebanese leaders, including the prime minister and president, strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a "systematic and deliberate attack" and a "flagrant violation of an international accord". The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon emphasized the need for diplomacy to prevent escalation. Israel's Defence Minister praised the military's actions, holding the Lebanese government responsible for preventing ceasefire violations. Hezbollah has not publicly commented on the strikes. The attack occurred despite a ceasefire in effect between Israel and Lebanon for six months, which has been repeatedly violated by Israel in recent months.
07-06-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel is arming clans in Gaza opposed to Hamas, saying it "saves the lives of Israeli soldiers." The move has sparked criticism from several Israeli politicians, who accuse Netanyahu of endangering Israeli security by arming a clan led by Yasser Abu Shabab, seen by some as a militia or criminal gang. The clan operates in Rafah, an area under Israeli military control, and has been supplied with Kalashnikov rifles seized from Hamas. Netanyahu's office said Israel is working to defeat Hamas through various means, but critics argue the initiative is a "ticking time-bomb" and a threat to national security.
07-06-2025
Israel is defending the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israeli-backed aid group, as the United Nations pushes to control aid distribution in Gaza. Israeli officials claim Hamas is trying to sabotage the GHF's efforts, which they believe could cause the terror group to lose its grip on the population. The GHF has faced backlash and reported violent incidents near its distribution sites, prompting the Israeli military to intervene. The U.N. has criticized the GHF, with Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher urging the world to let the U.N. handle the situation, but Israeli officials argue that the GHF is distributing aid without letting Hamas benefit. The U.S. has vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing concerns that Hamas would enrich itself at the expense of Palestinians.
07-06-2025
Israel is facing a deepening political crisis that could bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition due to tensions over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. The ultra-Orthodox party Agudat Yisrael has been instructed to submit a bill to dissolve parliament, potentially leading to early elections. The crisis stems from the ongoing war in Gaza and the issue of draft exemptions, which is increasingly seen as untenable. Netanyahu's coalition relies heavily on the ultra-Orthodox parties, but they threaten to quit if their demands for new legislation enshrining exemptions in law are not met. Recent polls indicate that Netanyahu's coalition would likely lose power if elections were held today, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's new party potentially winning more seats than Netanyahu's Likud.
07-06-2025
Israel recovered the bodies of two hostages, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai, who were abducted during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The couple, in their early 70s, were killed during the attack and their bodies were held hostage by Hamas. The recovery operation was carried out by Israeli forces in coordination with the Shin Bet internal security agency. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the recovery, stating it brings "healing to our uncertainty" and called for the return of the remaining 56 hostages, either alive for rehabilitation or deceased for burial.
07-06-2025
Palestinians in Gaza marked the start of Eid al-Adha with outdoor prayers amidst the ruins of the war-torn territory, while Israel warned of intensive new military operations in northern Gaza. Much of Gaza lies in ruins, with dwindling food supplies and hundreds of thousands facing catastrophic food insecurity. The conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, has killed over 54,000 Palestinians and displaced around 90% of Gaza's population of two million.
