A team of United Nations experts tasked with gathering information on sexual violence linked to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel found “reasonable grounds to believe” that some victims were sexually assaulted, including rape and gang rape, according to a U.N. report released Monday. “In most of these incidents, victims first subjected to rape were … Read more
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. envoy focusing on sexual violence in conflict said in a new report Monday that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas committed rape, “sexualized torture,” and other cruel and inhumane treatment of women during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. There are also “reasonable grounds to believe … Read more
President Biden told reporters Friday that he’s still hoping a cease-fire deal will be reached between Israel and Hamas by the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which starts around March 10, but “we’re not there yet.” Asked what needs to happen in the negotiations, he said there has to be agreement on the timing, and … Read more
JERUSALEM — President Biden says Israel has agreed to pause fighting in Gaza during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which begins in two weeks, but Israel and Hamas both sought Tuesday to downplay any progress toward a deal. Biden, who in recent weeks has dispatched top officials to the Middle East and Europe to … Read more
The Israeli military is confident that Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar, the alleged architect of the Oct. 7 attacks, is hiding inside a labyrinthine network of tunnels beneath southern Gaza. But he is surrounded by a human shield of hostages intended to deter an operation to capture or kill him, frustrating Israel’s efforts to dismantle the … Read more
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL — Israel’s defense minister vowed Sunday to step up attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group even if a cease-fire is reached with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with Israel throughout the war in Gaza, has said it will halt its nearly daily attacks on Israel if … Read more
Hamas says its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has left Egypt after holding talks with Egyptian officials about a possible cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and an exchange of hostages held by the militants for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. During Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, militants killed about 1,200 people and took some 250 … Read more
By Samia Nakhoul, Jonathan Saul and Humeyra Pamuk DOHA (Reuters) – Israel expects to continue full-scale military operations in Gaza for another six to eight weeks as it prepares to mount a ground invasion of the enclave’s southernmost city of Rafah, four officials familiar with the strategy said. Military chiefs believe they can significantly damage … Read more
TEL AVIV — Family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas braved winter thunderstorms Saturday for a second night of protests since cease-fire negotiations stalled this week, a development that families blame on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thousands gathered outside Israeli military headquarters here chanting “Now! Now! Now!” Demonstrators Thursday shut down a major road … Read more
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israel has not presented specific evidence that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid and its recent targeted killings of Gaza police commanders safeguarding truck convoys have made it “virtually impossible” to distribute the goods safely, a top U.S. envoy said in rare public criticism of Israel. With the departure of police escorts … Read more