Dec 26 PHOTOS: Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations around the world By Silvia Stellacci, Colleen Barry, Associated Press Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday urged “all people of all nations” to find courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine,… Continue reading
Dec 26 Aid groups concerned after U.S. says it pushed retraction of famine warning for northern Gaza By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. Continue reading
Dec 26 Israeli strike kills 5 Palestinian journalists in Gaza. The military says they were militants By Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. Continue reading
Dec 26 Israel targets Houthis in airstrikes on Yemen’s capital and ports By Josef Federman, Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. Continue reading
Dec 25 Why Palestinian Authority forces are cracking down on Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank By Majdi Mohammed, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press The deadly violence is some of the worst internal fighting Palestinians have seen in years. Continue reading
Dec 25 A baby froze to death overnight in Gaza as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of ceasefire delays By Sam Mednick, Tia Goldenberg, Fatma Khaled, Associated Press The deaths underscore the squalid conditions in Gaza's sprawling camps, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israel's bombardment and offensives. Continue reading
Dec 24 Palestinians in Bethlehem mark another subdued Christmas Eve during war in Gaza By Jalal Bwaitel, Associated Press The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. Continue reading
Dec 22 At least 22 people killed by Israeli airstrikes as Vatican envoy visits Gaza for pre-Christmas Mass By Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said, while Gaza's small Christian community celebrated a pre-Christmas Mass. Continue reading
Dec 21 Rocket from Yemen injures 16 in Tel Aviv, while Gazans mourn 12 children killed by Israeli strikes By Melanie Lidman, Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday, while mourners in Gaza held funerals for 19 people — 12 of them children — killed… Continue reading
Dec 18 As hopes rise for a ceasefire in Gaza, families of hostages endure uncertainty By Melanie Lidman, Associated Press A released hostage in Gaza is fighting to save her boyfriend, who remains in captivity. Ilana Gritzewsky fears time is running out for her partner, Matan Zangauker, even as talks for a ceasefire deal progress. In the deal under discussion,… Continue reading