Feb 23 Amid growing crackdown, Israel deploys tanks to occupied West Bank for first time since 2002 By Majdi Mohammed, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Israeli tanks have moved into the occupied West Bank for the first time since 2002, shortly after the defense minister said troops will remain “for the coming year” in parts of the territory and indicated that Palestinians who have fled… Continue reading
Feb 20 Watch 5:37 Bodies of youngest kidnapped Israelis returned by Hamas as ceasefire holds By Geoff Bennett, Zeba Warsi Near Tel Aviv, three buses exploded in a parking lot in a suspected attack that further rattled Israel after the return of the remains of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. A U.N. official called the taunting display during the… Continue watching
Feb 20 Returned bodies of 4 Israeli hostages believed to include mother with her infant and toddler By Mohammad Jahjouh, Wafaa Shurafa, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press The handover on Thursday was a grim reminder of those who died in captivity as the talks leading up to the truce dragged on for over a year. Continue reading
Feb 19 Thousands of Palestinians flee West Bank homes as Israel confronts militants By Isabel DeBre, Associated Press Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled home following recent Israeli military operations across the northern West Bank. Continue reading
Feb 18 Villagers begin to return to southern Lebanon as Israeli army withdraws under ceasefire deal By Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Israeli forces have withdrawn from border villages in southern Lebanon under a deadline spelled out in a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Continue reading
Feb 18 Egypt developing Gaza rebuilding plan, a counter to Trump's call for depopulating the territory By Samy Magdy, Associated Press Egypt is developing a plan to rebuild Gaza without forcing Palestinians out of the strip in a counter to President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate the territory so the U.S. can take it over. Continue reading
Feb 18 Hamas says it will free 6 living hostages and hand over 4 bodies, accelerating Gaza releases By Samy Magdy, Natalie Melzer, Associated Press The six are the last living hostages set to be freed under the ceasefire's first phase. Continue reading
Feb 17 Israeli forces will remain in 5 locations in Lebanon after Tuesday's pullout deadline, official says By Melanie Lidman, Sally Abou AlJoud, Associated Press Lebanon’s government has opposed any further delay in the Israeli pullout under the ceasefire agreement that ended fighting with the Hezbollah militant group. Continue reading
Feb 16 Watch 5:40 On the ground with U.N. forces in Lebanon as Israeli withdrawal deadline looms By Simona Foltyn After Israel missed a previous deadline at the end of January, this Tuesday is the new deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israel has indicated that its troops will remain in some strategic areas along the border,… Continue watching
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