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Today

UN Security Council calls Israel to reverse decision to occupy Gaza

A UN official on Sunday warned the Security Council that Israel's plans to control Gaza City risked "another calamity" with far-reaching consequences as Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his goal was not to occupy the territory. Analysis by Pamela Falk, FRANCE

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Netanyahu defends new Gaza military push amid growing opposition

Speaking to international media in Jerusalem on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the planned military operation to take over Gaza City, saying that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and fully defeat Hamas”. His stateme

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Israel's Netanyahu speaks to international press - our analysis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the international press first the first time since his security cabinet's decision on Friday to expand the war in Gaza and take control of Gaza City. He said Israel “has no choice but to finish the job a

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REPLAY - Netanyahu defends his planned military offensive in Gaza before world press

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference with international media in Jerusalem on Sunday. He defended his security cabinet's decision on Friday to expand the war in Gaza and said that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job a

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Gaza: families struggle to procure food as the humanitarian disaster worsens

As pressure on Israel to scrap the plan continues to grow, so does the dire humanitarian situation on the ground. Another five people in the enclave - including two children - have died from malnutrition according to the Gaza Health Ministry. With condit

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Israeli activists disrupt most watched reality TV show, shouting 'get out of Gaza'

Amid an important wave of protests in Israel against Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza, Israeli activists stormed the live broadcast of “Big Brother” on Channel 13. The protestsers were wearing “Get Out of Gaza” T-shirts and gave a speech against the gover

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As temperatures reach 50°C, Dubai runners stay indoors for "mallathon"

Early on Saturday, as temperatures soared outside, a sprawling shopping centre in Dubai echoed to the squeak of sneakers as hundreds of people joined "Mallathon" -- an indoor, air-conditioned race. Story by Peter O'Brien.

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Thousands of Israelis protest against Netanyahu's Gaza plan and demand release of hostages

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to escalate the nearly two-year Gaza war, demanding an immediate end to the campaign and for the release of the hostages. Story b

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Yesterday

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Israeli government's plan to expand Gaza war

Thousands marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday demanding an end to the war in Gaza, just a day after the Israeli government pledged to seize control of Gaza City. Protesters held signs and displayed photos of hostages still held in the Palestinian enclave, ur

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Syria withdraws from Paris talks on integrating Kurds

Syria will not take part in Paris talks on incorporating the Kurdish semi-autonomous administration into the Syrian state, a Syrian government official said Saturday. The decision comes a day after the Kurdish administration, which governs large parts of

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Friday, august 8, 2025

'Once Hamas releases the hostages the war will be over', regardless of Netanyahu government's agenda

Nations across the world have condemned Israel's plan to wrest control of Gaza City, saying it would only worsen the conflict and lead to more bloodshed. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted Israel's plan as a "dangerous escalation", while t

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'Following October 7th, many Israelis lost empathy for Gazans, seeing them as complicit with Hamas'

Israel plans to intensify its 22-month-long war against Hamas by launching a ground operation to take control of Gaza City. The move has triggered renewed international appeals for a ceasefire, and deepened fears for the safety of Palestinian civilians a

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Gaza takeover plan sparks international condemnation

Israel’s plan to take military control of Gaza City has drawn strong international condemnation. The UN called it a violation of international law and a threat to Palestinians, while Germany and others denounced the move and considered diplomatic respons

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Netanyahu's Gaza takeover plan heightens war tensions

Israel plans to seize Gaza City in its 22-month war with Hamas, raising fears for civilians and hostages. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are proposing a deal to free all hostages in exchange for ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces. Noga Tarnopo

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‘Palestinian Pelé’ shot dead by Israeli forces in Gaza, football association says

Suleiman al-Obeid, a former Palestine national football team player dubbed the "Palestinian Pelé", was shot dead Wednesday by Israeli troops who opened fire on people waiting to receive humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association said.

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Israel to 'take control' of Gaza City, igniting backlash at home and abroad

Israel’s military is set to seize control of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet – a move that sparked sharp criticism at home and abroad on Friday. With the war nearing its second year, Netanyahu f

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Protests erupt with Israelis divided over government's plan to 'control' Gaza

Families of the hostages still being held in Gaza led widespread protests on Thursday against the Israeli government's plans to "control" the territory, demanding instead an end to the war and a release of all the remaining captives. Members of governmen

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Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said early Friday that his security cabinet approved a plan to take over Gaza City in a further escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas. Israel's offensive on the devastated territory has already kille

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Thursday, august 7, 2025

Lebanese cabinet holds new meeting on Hezbollah arsenal despite group's refusal to disarm

The Lebanese cabinet met for the second time in days on Thursday as it discusses ways of disarming Hezbollah, a day after the Iran-backed militant and political group said it would treat the decision as if "it did not exist".

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Dr. Gershon Baskin: 'Hamas is ready for a deal that will release all Israeli hostages in 24 hours'

Former hostage negotiator Dr. Gershon Baskin tells FRANCE 24 that he has spoken directly with Hamas, saying the militant group is "ready for a deal that will release all the Israeli hostages in 24 hours". Now the Middle East director of the International

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Nearly 12,000 children under five face acute malnutrition in Gaza, WHO says

Nearly 12,000 children under five in Gaza were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in July, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday, warning of worsening hunger-related deaths amid ongoing conflict and aid restrictions. The organisation urged imm

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Netanyahu says Israel wants to ‘control but not govern’ Gaza as security cabinet convenes

Ahead of a security cabinet meeting on the future of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that his government plans to take full military control of Gaza but does not want to "govern" it. The statement comes amid growing domes

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Relatives of hostages protest with Gaza flotilla ahead of Israeli security meeting

Relatives of Israeli hostages sailed in a flotilla toward Gaza, waving flags and posters of their loved ones held by Hamas, calling for international support. The protest comes ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s security cabinet meeting Thursday, where

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Israel's Netanyahu says wants to take control of all of Gaza, doesn't intend to 'govern' it

Prime Minister Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel does not intend to govern Gaza permanently but 'intend to take control', remove Hamas, and hand over administration to a new authority. He said no detailed military plan exists yet, ahead of a crucial ca

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Trump calls on Middle Eastern countries to join Abraham Accords

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that expanding the Abraham Accords, which he brokered during his first presidency in 2020 to normalise ties between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries, is key to achieving Middle East peace. Efforts to ex

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Netanyahu’s far-right coalition: What’s next for the West Bank and Gaza?

Since the November 2022 elections, Israel has been led by its most right-wing government ever. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power through a coalition with far-right parties, including ultranationalists and Jewish supremacists. Facing cor

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Humanitarian situation in Gaza still very severe, EU official says

Humanitarian operations in the besieged Gaza Strip continue to be undermined by "significant obstructive factors", an EU official told Reuters Thursday following an update from the bloc's foreign policy and humanitarian arms. The official described the h

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Wednesday, august 6, 2025

Dozens of Palestinians killed seeking aid as Israel mulls full occupation of Gaza

At least 63 Palestinians were killed overnight and into Wednesday in the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, who said 38 of that number died seeking food aid from UN convoys and US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites. The surge in violenc

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Nuclear weapons states no longer respect 'legal commitment to non-proliferation treaty'

Hiroshima has marked the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. With the number of survivor

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'The memories of the horrors of nuclear war and radiation seem to be lost on today's leaders'

Hiroshima on Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with many aging survivors expressing frustration about the growing support of global leaders for nuclear weapons as a deterrence. The bombing of H

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Hezbollah rejects Lebanese government's plans to disarm the group

Hezbollah on Wednesday condemned the Lebanese government's decision to restrict weapons to official state forces by year's end, saying the plan serves Israeli and US interests. Hezbollah accused Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government of bowing to US dem

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No, these videos of restaurants do not disprove famine in Gaza

For several weeks now, the pro-Israeli account Gazawood has been claiming that the famine in Gaza is staged. To back up its claims, it has been sharing videos of cafés and restaurants that are still in operation, claiming that they show that there is no

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Netanyahu signals possible Gaza war expansion amid ongoing bombing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at wider military action in devastated Gaza on Tuesday, even as former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs called for an end to the nearly 22-month war. The war continues to divide Israel, with numerous p

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Tuesday, august 5, 2025

Netanyahu calls for 'complete' defeat of Hamas as Israel considers total Gaza occupation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that only a "complete" defeat of Hamas would secure the release of the the remaining hostages, while the UN said that Israel's reported consideration of a total occupation of Gaza risks "catastrop

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Twelve-day war: Impact of Iran’s strikes censored by Israel

A month after the end of the conflict between Iran and Israel, the damage caused by the Islamic republic remains unclear largely because of Israeli censorship. Images analysed by the FRANCE 24 Observers team show that Iran caused extensive damage and hit

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Lebanon tasks army with securing a monopoly on arms in challenge to Hezbollah

Lebanon's government on Tuesday tasked the army with drafting a plan by year’s end to restrict weapons solely to state forces, marking a significant step toward disarming Hezbollah. The plan, due by the end of August, sparked opposition from Hezbollah, w

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Hezbollah warns of resumed missile fire at Israel if it intensifies operations in Lebanon

Hezbollah has warned it will resume missile attacks on Israel if military pressure escalates amid renewed debate in Lebanon over the group’s disarmament. Deputy leader Naim Kassem said Hezbollah rejects any timetable to give up its weapons, as Lebanon’s

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War-torn Gaza resident and humanitarian worker recounts harrowing plight of civilians under siege

In the face of international pressure, Israel has allowed airdrops of food aid, but the amounts delivered are a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the humanitarian emergency. Thousands of aid trucks continue to sit outside the enclave. Bahaa Zaqo

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Is the US 'complicit in the war crimes being carried out by Israel in Gaza'?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working on a complete military takeover of Gaza for the first time in two decades. Mediation between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas has collapsed despite intense international pressure for a cease

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Israel reopens Gaza private goods trade

Israel will gradually reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce its reliance on humanitarian aid, the defense ministry civil affairs agency for the Palestinian territories said on Tuesday. It comes as foreign countries continue to drop aid into the

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Many Israelis emigrate over Gaza, discontent with Netanyahu

Israel is grappling with a profound social crisis, increasingly reflected in a growing wave of emigration. This surge is primarily driven by escalating political and security tensions, as well as widespread discontent with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stan

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'Sinwar killed peace': Grandson of Israeli hostages urges 'to work back towards path' to peace

As it grinds on well into its twenty-second month, Israel's war in Gaza has set friends and families against one another and sharpened existing political and cultural divides. Hostage families and peace activists want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's

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Israeli PM Netanyahu seeks to expand Gaza operations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to update the country's Gaza war strategy amid intensifying pressure to secure the release of remaining hostages and growing international concern over humanitarian crisis in the enclave after nea

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Israel to partially reopen Gaza private sector trade as Netanyahu prepares updated war plan

Israel announced plans Tuesday to reopen some private sector trade with Gaza, approving a limited number of merchants under strict security checks. The move came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to present an updated war strategy that could

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Amid desperation in war-torn Gaza, 'environment of fear, intimidation and worry in West Bank'

Israel's blockade and military offensive have made it nearly impossible to safely deliver aid, contributing to the territory's slide toward famine nearly 22 months into the war with Hamas. Aid groups say Israel's week-old measures to allow more aid are f

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Israeli cabinet to meet on Thursday as Israel mulls full Gaza takeover

The Israeli cabinet is set to convene on Thursday as Israel considers a full Gaza takeover, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said that Israel "must complete" the defeat of Hamas to free all hostages. Read our l

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More Gazans die seeking aid and from hunger

Israel announced plans Tuesday to reopen some private sector trade with Gaza, approving a limited number of merchants under strict security checks. The move came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to present an updated war strategy that could

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Monday, august 4, 2025

'Expulsion: There's no such thing as the emigration of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip'

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led prayers on Sunday at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site, drawing international condemnation and escalating tensions as Israel faces strong criticism over the war in Gaza. It was the late

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Videos of Israeli hostages in Gaza increase pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu for a ceasefire

New images of emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war.

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Israel wants world attention on hostages held in Gaza

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Monday (August 4) said he wants the issue of hostages held in Gaza at the "front and centre" of the world stage, and that he will discuss it at a special UN Security Council session. Videos of emaciated Israeli hos

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Saudi Arabia executes 17 people in three days, approaching new record

Saudi Arabia has executed 17 people in just three days, marking the fastest pace of capital punishment since 2022 and raising the total number of executions this year to 239. The surge has drawn concern from rights groups, casting a shadow over the kingd

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More Gazans die as aid fails to reach most needy

At least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes on Gaza on Monday (August 4) including 10 seeking aid, health authorities said, adding another five had died of starvation in what humanitarian agencies warn may be an unfolding famin

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Netanyahu to brief Israeli military on plan to ‘achieve war objectives’ in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to update the country's Gaza war strategy amid intensifying pressure to secure the release of remaining hostages and growing international concern over humanitarian crisis in the enclave after nea

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Hamas says it will allow aid for hostages if Israel opens humanitarian corridors, halts airstrikes

Hamas said on Sunday (August 3) it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western pow

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Lebanon awaits justice 5 years after Beirut port blast

The blast on August 4, 2020 was one of the world's largest non-nuclear explosions, devastating swathes of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring over 6,500.

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FRANCE 24 report: France carries out airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza

Hospitals in Gaza said 33 more Palestinians seeking food aid were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday. The report came as efforts continued to get more aid into Gaza, with France pledging to parachute 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid in, despite criticism that

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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asks Red Cross to help hostages in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday (August 3) to aid hostages in Gaza. In response, Hamas said that it would allow the agency access to the hostages but only if "humanita

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Migrant boat sinks off Yemen, killing at least 68

A shipwreck off Yemen has killed at least 68 people, the UN's migration agency said Monday (August 3), with dozens still missing after the boat carrying mostly Ethiopians sank.

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President Aoun vows 'justice is coming' as Lebanon marks five years since Beirut port blast

Five years after the massive Beirut port explosion that killed more than 220 people and injured thousands, victims' families gathered Monday to demand justice as Lebanon's president vowed accountability for one of the world's deadliest non-nuclear blasts

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Hundreds of Israeli ex-security officials call on Trump to end Gaza war

Hundreds of retired Israeli security officials urged US President Donald Trump on Monday to pressure the Israeli government into ending the war in Gaza, saying Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat and calling on the US leader to help "steer" their co

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