Middle East

Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers and a command center in southern Lebanon after rockets were fired into Israel for the first time since the November ceasefire. Escalation at the Border Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to act "forcefully against dozens of terror targets." Lebanon’s state media reported one person killed in the strikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said three rockets were intercepted over Metula, a northern Israeli town. No group has claimed responsibility, but Lebanon’s prime minister warned against being "dragged into a new war." The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed concern over escalating violence and urged both sides to uphold their commitments. Lebanese reports confirmed Israeli arti...

Hamas freed five of the six Israeli hostages expected to be released from captivity in Gaza on Saturday, as a fragile ceasefire strained by mutual accusations approaches the conclusion of its first phase. Avera Mengistu, a 39-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli man described by his family as mentally ill and held since 2014, and Tal Shoham, 40, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in a highly orchestrated ceremony in Rafah, southern Gaza. Shortly afterward, Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, were released in Nuseirat, central Gaza. Though they appeared pale and thin, their condition seemed better than some of the other hostages freed this month. The men were paraded onstage by armed Hamas fighters, seemingly under pressure to wave and smil...

Ceasefire Takes Effect Between Israel and Hamas: A Brief Respite A ceasefire takes effect between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, signaling a temporary halt to the intense and brutal conflict in the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing for 15 months. The ceasefire, which officially began at 11:15 a.m. local time (09:15 GMT), came after a brief delay of three hours due to logistical issues. Despite the delay, the truce was a crucial step toward reducing the heavy toll the war has had on both sides, particularly the people of Gaza. The agreement is the result of tireless mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, who worked in concert to bring both parties to the negotiating table. The discussions culminated in an agreement that was celebrated by many, but the delay ...

An Israeli airstrike targeting multiple houses and a multi-storey residential building in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, caused dozens of casualties, according to doctors and officials. The Hamas media office reported that at least 73 people were killed in the Saturday strike. Although official figures from the health ministry were not immediately available, Medway Abbas, a senior ministry official, confirmed the accuracy of the figures. The Israeli military responded that they were investigating the incident but claimed the death toll provided by Hamas was exaggerated. They stated that their data, the munitions used, and the accuracy of the strike, which targeted a Hamas position, did not align with the reported figures. Palestinian health officials said rescue efforts were hindered...

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been confirmed dead by the Palestinian group following combat with the Israeli military in Gaza. In a televised address on Friday, Khalil Hayya, Hamas' head in Gaza, praised the 62-year-old leader, calling him "steadfast, brave, and intrepid," and stating that Sinwar "sacrificed his life for our liberation." Hayya said Sinwar died fighting, holding his weapon until his last breath, and emphasized that his death would only strengthen the movement's resolve. Sinwar, considered the architect of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, was reportedly killed in a surprise firefight in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Israeli forces discovered Sinwar with a gun and a sum of money after tracking him with drone footage, which sh...

The Journalistic Desk: In a landmark move towards gender inclusion, the UAE has introduced a new mandate that requires all private joint-stock companies to have at least one woman on their boards of directors. This reform, set to take effect in January 2025, is part of the UAE's broader efforts to empower women in leadership roles across the business sector. The move extends a similar policy that was implemented for public companies in 2021, which has already seen positive outcomes in terms of institutional performance and governance. Gender Equality in Leadership The UAE's government has been a strong advocate for gender equality, continuously promoting women in leadership. The country established the Emirati Gender Equality Council in 2015 to further its agenda of reducing th...