Mar 06 Brushing off Trump’s threat, Hamas says it will only free hostages for a lasting truce By Samy Magdy, Associated Press The militant group accused President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to back out of the ceasefire agreement they reached in January. Continue reading
Feb 16 Israel’s Netanyahu signals he’s moving ahead with Trump’s plan to move Palestinians from Gaza By Matthew Lee, Natalie Melzer, Associated Press Netanyahu discussed the plan with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who kicked off a Middle East visit by endorsing Israel's war aims in Gaza, saying Hamas “must be eradicated.” That created further doubt around the shaky ceasefire as talks on its… Continue reading
Feb 11 Israel’s Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages aren’t released Saturday By Josef Federman, Associated Press Hamas said Monday — and reiterated Tuesday — that it planned to delay the release of three more hostages after accusing Israel of failing to meet the terms of the ceasefire, including by not allowing enough tents and other aid… Continue reading
Feb 08 State Department announces plans for $7 billion-plus arms sale to Israel By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The State Department has formally told Congress that it plans to sell more than $7 billion in weapons to Israel, including thousands of bombs and missiles, just two days after President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White… Continue reading
Feb 07 Watch 3:32 Displaced Gazans return to face shattered homeland and uncertain future By Stephanie Sy, Sonia Kopelev President Trump said he is in “no rush to do anything” in Gaza. Earlier this week, he talked about the need for Palestinians to leave Gaza and for the United States to take over the area and develop it. Also… Continue watching
Feb 07 Trump orders sanctions on International Criminal Court for investigating Israel By Darlene Superville, Joshua Goodman, Associated Press The order says the U.S. will impose “tangible and significant consequences” on those responsible for the ICC's “transgressions.” Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees and relatives to enter the United States… Continue reading
Feb 05 Watch 10:42 Middle East leaders condemn Trump’s idea to remove Palestinians and take control of Gaza By William Brangham, Dan Sagalyn, Zeba Warsi Shockwaves continue to reverberate around the world following President Trump’s remarks about seizing control of Gaza and turning the war-ravaged area into a "Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump repeated his idea that two million Palestinians from Gaza should relocate… Continue watching
Feb 04 Trump’s Middle East envoy says Gaza rebuilding timeline in Israel-Hamas truce ‘preposterous’ By Aamer Madhani, Tia Goldenberg, Zeke Miller, Associated Press President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff says that a three to five year timeline for reconstruction of Gaza, as set out in a temporary truce agreement, is not viable. Continue reading
Feb 04 WATCH: Trump suggests permanent resettling Palestinians outside of Gaza, sees U.S. ‘ownership’ of area By Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Trump's audacious proposal appears certain to roil the next stage of talks meant to extend the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Continue reading
Feb 02 Watch 3:09 News Wrap: Israel’s Netanyahu heads to U.S. to meet with Trump In our news wrap Sunday, Netanyahu and Trump are preparing to meet at the White House, new preliminary data shows conflicting altitude readings for the aircraft that collided in D.C. on Wednesday, and top USAID security officials were put on… Continue watching