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Hamas

Hamas is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a militant wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas was founded in 1987, emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood. Headquartered in Gaza City, it has functioned as the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since seizing control in 2007. Its primary mission is the establishment of an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine, pursuing this through armed resistance against Israeli occupation. Hamas also provides social services in Gaza. It is widely designated as a terrorist organisation by numerous countries, including the UK, US and EU.

Hamas

Palestinians bury pregnant woman and 2 of her children killed in Gaza

The woman – who was expecting twins – and the children, aged 4 and 13, were among at least 13 to die during the latest truce air strikes.

Israeli attacks killed over 38,000 women, girls in Gaza since October 2023: UN

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war

Israel’s Netanyahu says ‘war continues’ during visit to southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s PM says he’s working to get Israeli troops out as Hezbollah militants fight back.

Gaza marks 6 months of ceasefire. Does it offer lessons for the Iran war?

A ceasefire has been in place between Israel and Hamas since October 10, but deadly attacks have continued and limited aid is entering.

1 dead after gunmen open fire outside Israeli consulate in Istanbul

The two other assailants were captured with injuries.

What Pakistan gains by playing peacemaker in Iran war

If Islamabad can successfully carry off the talks, it stands a chance of bringing in much-needed investments and weapon sales, analysts say.

Israel suspends military unit that assaulted CNN crew in West Bank

It suspended the Netzah Yehuda, a unit of ultra-Orthodox soldiers that has been linked to abuses of Palestinian civilians in the past.

European countries appeal to Israel to abandon plans to revive death penalty

Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the UK expressed concern about the bill which opponents say would target only Palestinians.

Netanyahu says Israel will widen its invasion of southern Lebanon

The PM said Israel would expand what he called the ‘existing security strip’ in Lebanon as Israeli forces continue to target Hezbollah.

Israel pounds south Beirut, says captured Hezbollah fighters

Israel expands Lebanon assault as it fights Hezbollah in a spillover of the Iran war.

Police arrest 12 as hundreds join banned pro-Palestinian march in London

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood agreed to ban the march after police said it was organised by a group ‘supportive of the Iranian regime’.

Gaza’s Rafah crossing to open on Wednesday ‘for limited movement of people’

Move comes as 13 people were killed – including children, a pregnant woman and police officers – in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday.

Israel may commit ‘new genocide’ in Lebanon with Iran as pretext, Turkey warns

Lebanon was dragged into the conflict when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Hamas calls on Iran to ‘avoid targeting neighbouring countries’

The Palestinian Islamist group also urges the international community to ‘work towards halting’ the ongoing war immediately.

Trump’s Gaza plan ‘on hold’ as Iran war halts disarmament talks

The pause threatens to stall implementation of Trump’s flagship Middle East peace initiative.

Opinion | Australia needs to make its stance on the Iran attacks known

By refusing to condemn these legally baseless strikes, the Albanese government risks choosing ‘might is right’ over the UN Charter.

Gaza’s recovery was making progress. It risks being overshadowed by another war

With crossings closed, Palestinians in Gaza are hoarding again as the war in Iran transforms the regional security situation.

Opinion | US-Israeli strike on Iran signals new phase of global escalation

This is deterrence fatigue: escalation thresholds weakened by repeated testing and retaliation. The risk is not only war but systemic strain.

Why Indonesia’s lead role in Gaza peacekeeping force carries high political risk

Jakarta has reiterated that it ‘will not conduct military operations’ after it agreed to assume the role of deputy commander of the force.

‘Plan B is war’: Gaza truce faces late April test despite Trump’s peace push

Observers say the unresolved question of Hamas’ disarmament leaves the fragile truce vulnerable to collapse.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ debuts with Gaza pledge as war threat looms elsewhere

The US president gathers global allies to fund Gaza’s reconstruction while issuing a final 10-day warning to Iran.

Can Trump’s Board of Peace succeed while Hamas still runs Gaza?

Hamas’ continuing influence over key Gaza power structures has fuelled widespread scepticism about the prospects of Trump’s peace plan.

Hamas ‘used emojis’ to signal start of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel

Citing the army, Israeli media reported that emojis were found on mobile phones belonging to members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba Forces unit.

Israel launches new West Bank land policy seen as a ‘mega land grab’

West Bank land registration will force anyone who has a claim to land to prove ownership, a move decried by Palestinians.

11 die in Israeli air strikes on Gaza, say Palestinian officials

Israel’s military says the strikes – days before Trump’s first Board of Peace meeting – were a response to ceasefire violations by Hamas.

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

Indian author Arundhati Roy pulls out of Berlinale over jury’s Gaza comments

‘History will judge’ those in the film industry who do not speak out against the Gaza war, the Booker Prize winner says.

Opinion | You’re not asking the right question about the Iran war