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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

Gaza marks 1,000 days of war. Palestinians there face an uncertain future

Over 2 million Palestinians remain displaced amid ruins as the region grapples with the immense, gridlocked task of reconstruction.

Ex-general seen as main Netanyahu rival ahead of Israel elections

‘Intentional’: Israel purposely targeted Gaza children, says UN inquiry

Israeli ‘smear campaign’ targets journalists, threatens safety, Al Jazeera says

Al Jazeera rejected Israeli accusations that one of its journalists, cameraman Ahmed Wishah, killed in Gaza a day earlier, was a Hamas operative.

After US-Iran deal, Netanyahu says he will run in coming Israeli elections

‘I am going to run … and intend to win,’ said the Israeli PM, who has come under fire from the opposition over his wartime leadership.

Palestinian death toll tops 73,000 despite ongoing Gaza truce

Nearly 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire in October, the health ministry says.

Israeli strikes on Beirut foil US peace plans, Iran says ‘no point’ in talks

Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, an attack US President Donald Trump said ‘should not have happened’.

UN report exposes brutal reality for Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank

An inquiry found that civilians were being ‘systematically’ subjected to severe rights violations by Israeli forces, settlers and Hamas.

Gunman opens fire in central Israel, killing 1 and wounding 5

Palestinian attacker shot dead by police after targeting several locations close to the boundary with the occupied West Bank.

‘It’s humiliating’: inside Gaza’s tent cities without a single proper toilet

Displaced families forced to dig their own latrines, resulting in a hygienic nightmare as foul smells drift among the packed tents.

Israeli forces capture historic castle in deepest push into Lebanon in decades

Troops take over the medieval fortress of Beaufort, returning to the strategic peak occupied by Israel from 1982 to 2000.

Israel, Russia hit back after being added to UN blacklist for sexual violence in conflicts

UN documentation of alleged abuses sparks furious denials from both nations.

Netanyahu orders Israeli military to seize 70% of Gaza, expanding control

Israel effectively controls an estimated 64 per cent of the tiny coastal strip, bombarded to ruins by war.

Israel says it killed Hamas’ new armed wing chief in Gaza strike

Mohammad Odeh eliminated after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack this month.

Israeli far-right ministers want ‘return to war in Lebanon’ despite peace talks

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich advocated for strikes on Beirut and cutting off electricity to Lebanon.

Israel deports hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists as arrivals recount abuse

Detainees land in Turkey as their treatment in Israeli custody draws an international outcry.

‘Welcome to Israel’: videos of bound Gaza flotilla activists trigger furore

Netanyahu scolds Israel’s security minister for releasing footage taunting hundreds of detained civilians as international backlash grows.

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla, denies using live ammunition

Israeli forces halt vessels in Mediterranean operation, detaining hundreds of international activists.

Israel says close to killing all architects of October 7 attack

Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration follows Israel’s killing of the commander of Hamas’ armed wing in a Gaza strike.

Gaza: Israel kills Hamas leader as deaths mount despite ceasefire

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, born 1970, was killed in the attack by Israel. A joint funeral was held on Saturday for Haddad, his wife and their 19-year-old daughter.

Israel pushes ahead with Eichmann-style tribunal for October 7 attackers

Israeli lawmakers set up a special tribunal and allow for the death penalty for Hamas-led 2023 attackers.

Spanish, Brazilian flotilla activists released after detention in Israel

Israel deported two activists it detained near Greece for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel face ‘extreme brutality’

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted near Greece were brought to Israel for interrogation, and appeared in court on Sunday.

UK raises terror threat level to ‘severe’ after Jewish-targeted stabbings

UK declares an ‘antisemitism emergency’ and police probe potential Iranian proxy links to Golders Green attack.

Israel intercepts Gaza aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining dozens

Organisers accuse Israel of ‘abduction’ after boats are seized nearly 1,000km from the Palestinian enclave.

Lebanese minister backs Hezbollah disarmament, but warns it will take time

Haneen Sayed in Washington says the process must be gradual as a ceasefire continues to be marred by deadly violations.

Netanyahu’s biggest rivals join forces for Israel’s coming election

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers of Israel, announce the merging of their parties.

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.