All articles tagged with #gaza strip
A 3-year-old boy, Rayan al-Ajeen, was fatally shot near Gaza’s yellow-line boundary after Israeli soldiers fired warning shots; the incident coincides with a United Nations commission of inquiry alleging deliberate Israeli targeting of Palestinian children, a claim Israel rejects, as Gaza and West Bank casualties continue to mount (tens of thousands killed in Gaza, including thousands of children).
An Arab attacker opened fire in central Israel, killing one and wounding five, in a flare-up tied to the Gaza war that has spilled over into the West Bank; the wider conflict also includes an Israeli airstrike in Gaza that killed four, and a later correction notes the Israeli casualty occurred on the Israeli side near the West Bank boundary.
In war-devastated Gaza, extreme poverty is driving some mothers to marry off their underage daughters to secure safety and basic needs, a grim consequence of the conflict highlighted in AP reporting on child marriage amid humanitarian strain.
Israeli forces said they killed Ihab Khrizim, a senior Hamas money man who allegedly coordinated multi‑million‑dollar transfers to Hamas’ military wing, in Khan Yunis, Gaza, describing the strike as a major blow to Hamas’s financing and rehabilitation efforts; the report notes the broader campaign and mentions the killing of Hamas figure Mohammed Odeh in Gaza in related operations.
Israel’s prime minister said he will push to extend control to 70% of Gaza (up from 53%), a move critics say would violate the October US-brokered ceasefire and escalate a worsening humanitarian crisis as residents near the yellow line are forced to evacuate and militias expand their reach. The plan, tied to broader expulsions and displacement concerns, comes amid international scrutiny of ceasefire terms and past peace proposals.
Four months after its launch, the Gaza reconstruction fund of Trump’s Board of Peace has received no donor money despite pledges totaling billions; officials say funds haven’t been deposited because the reconstruction phase has not begun, with some donations reportedly landed in a JPMorgan account that lacks independent transparency. The board, led by Trump, faces limited European participation as the conflict continues and a UN/EU estimate suggests roughly $71 billion is needed over the next decade.
France banned Israel's far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering its territory, citing his taunting of Gaza flotilla activists as the reason; the move, announced by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, drew condemnation from Israel and the United States and prompted calls for EU sanctions.
Palestinian surfers in Gaza continue to ride the waves off a coastal area scarred by war, finding rare moments of joy amid ongoing violence, blockade, and security risks—an illustration of resilience and everyday life persisting beyond the headlines.
Israel detained Thiago Ávila—an associate of Greta Thunberg—and Palestinian Saif Abu Keshek on suspicion of illegal activity after their Global Sumud flotilla vessels entered Israeli waters; about 175 other flotilla members were redirected to Crete. The detainees will be questioned with consular visits; Brazil and Spain condemned the move as potentially violating international law. Ávila faces sexual misconduct allegations he denies, while Thunberg has accused authorities of mistreatment in Greece. Israel insists the blockade of Gaza will be enforced and the flotilla’s actions were provocative.
Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza, with at least four Palestinians killed in the last 24 hours and more than 25 killed in the past week, pushing fatalities since the ceasefire to over 800. Analysts say the strikes on police, expansion of the eastern 'yellow line' to about 60% of Gaza, and the sidelining of the US-backed NCAG reflect a strategy to sustain a wartime state and thwart political life, while aid remains far below agreements and the new governance framework falters.
Residents in Gaza allege Hamas members target desperate widows and young mothers, offering food and relief in exchange for sex; five women claim coercive encounters, with some reporting coverups and calls for scrutiny of aid groups amid the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
AP reports that Hamas is weighing a plan to disarm armed groups in Gaza, a move seen by mediators as potentially unlocking international aid and a path to reconstruction, though the proposal faces political and security hurdles as talks continue.
Gazans saw a brief lull in shortages and Ramadan aid, but ongoing strikes against Iran by the U.S. and Israel have halted any slow recovery and risk strengthening Hamas amid a widening regional confrontation.
Jordan’s parliament unanimously voted to strike mentions of Israel from the minutes of a debate on US Ambassador Mike Huckabee’s comments about West Bank reforms, with MP Hail Ayash saying the Jewish state’s name represents an enemy to Jordanians; Speaker Mazen al-Qadi said Huckabee’s statements violated international law and the UN charter. Other MPs called for summoning the US ambassador and some urged referring to Israel as the “usurping entity,” reflecting a hardline stance on Palestinian issues even though Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel 31 years ago.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaking in Rome, says a short-term peace between Israelis and Palestinians is unlikely after Gaza and warns slogans won’t rebuild trust; he urges concrete actions, opportunities for encounter, and leadership on both sides, questions the Board of Peace as serving major powers, notes the worsening plight of Christians in the Holy Land including emigration and permit hurdles, backs working toward a two-state solution, and calls pilgrims to return to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to show presence.