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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.

Jared Kushner speaks during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. on February 19. Photo: TNS

Middle East

Kushner talks with Israel, Hamas end without breakthrough on Trump Gaza plan

Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed agreement that would see Hamas surrender its arms in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza.

17 Aug 2026 - 11:54PM

Hamas

Kushner talks with Israel, Hamas end without breakthrough on Trump Gaza plan

Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed agreement that would see Hamas surrender its arms in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza.

Far-right Ben-Gvir urges Israel to kill ‘30 to 40 every night’ in Gaza

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map

1 killed in Israel’s first Gaza strike in over a week

The attack comes days after Netanyahu publicly rejected a Trump-backed ceasefire deal.

Israel’s Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan endorsed by Hamas

Israeli leader dismisses 15-point document for the future of war-torn Gaza in the latest break with the White House.

Netanyahu says Israel didn’t agree to US-backed Gaza plan

The Israeli leader has received guarantees that the Israeli army would only need to leave its current positions in Gaza after Hamas disarms.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

US-backed panel seeks to calm Israeli pushback over framework for war-torn enclave.

Singapore battles speed of youth radicalisation as concerns mount

Observers say boosting relationships, digital literacy and emotional resilience can help young people better reject violent ideologies.

Strikes kill 18 in Gaza as Israeli minister says no deal to halt attacks

Military offensive continues despite Trump-backed plan to disarm Hamas and implement lasting ceasefire.

Trump hails ‘great breakthrough’ after Hamas disarmament deal

Agreement calls for group to surrender its weapons and Israeli troops to withdraw from Gaza under a broader peace framework.

Gazans uprooted as Israel expands ‘yellow line’ military zone

Residents and Hamas officials say Israel has moved forward the yellow block markers, triggering new waves of displacement.

Israel to allow international force into Gaza under Trump ceasefire plan

Security cabinet clears legal path for deployment from ‘friendly countries’ like Uganda and Morocco.

The former military chief aiming to unseat Netanyahu in Israel

Gadi Eisenkot and his new party mount a strong challenge to Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Malaysia’s Anwar rejects ‘totally absurd’ US military aid threat over Israel ban

Eight lawmakers have sent a letter to Marco Rubio accusing Anwar of singling out Israelis solely because of their nationality.

Malaysia won’t be intimidated over Israelis’ entry ban, Anwar tells US lawmakers

The lawmakers have criticised Anwar’s remarks to deport Israeli nationals in Malaysia holding dual citizenship.

Hamas’ lead negotiator in ceasefire talks elected as group’s new chief

Khalil al-Hayya succeeds Yahya al-Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2024.

Israelis march to Gaza border demanding re-establishment of settlements

‘We are walking today to tell the government of Israel and show all the world that this land belongs to us,’ one demonstrator said.

Israeli gunfire in Gaza refugee camp kills 6, including 9-year-old girl

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people now live on ‌a tiny strip of land along the coast, mainly in makeshift tents or damaged buildings.

Hamas dissolves Gaza governing body but disarmament still a question

The move paves the way for technocratic committee the NCAG to implement civilian rule; Israel said it was a ‘trick’ to avoid disarming.

Lebanon’s president urges US solidarity as Israeli troops occupy south

Hezbollah has rejected a US-backed framework deal, which does not set a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal.

‘No one lifts a finger’: Gaza’s fate eclipsed by Middle East war

Gaza remains mired in a severe humanitarian crisis and efforts to permanently end the war between Israel and Hamas have stalled.

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

Gadi Eisenkot’s new centrist party is surging in polls ahead of Israel’s October parliamentary elections.

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

There is evidence Palestinian ‌children were deliberately killed, showing genocidal intent, a new report says. Israel denies the claims.

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’.