Tag Archives: mideast

Actor Michael Douglas visits Israel in solidarity, meets president

Actor Michael Douglas on Sunday paid a solidarity visit to an Israeli kibbutz that was hit hard in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked Israel’s war against the Islamic militant group. Douglas met with members of Kibbutz Be’eri and visited burnt-out homes destroyed in the Oct. 7 attack. Be’eri was among the hardest hit communities, with roughly 100 people …

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Archaeologists surprised by 'intriguing' art drawn by Christian pilgrims 1,500 years ago

Recent archaeological excavations in Israel have revealed a rare find: early Christian art from around 1,500 years ago. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery in a Facebook post on May 23. The art was found in an ancient church in the city of Rahat, located in the northern Negev Desert. The church dates back to the Byzantine era, …

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Maldives bans Israelis from entering country during war in Gaza

The Indian Ocean tourist destination Maldives is now banning Israelis from entering its territory in an apparent retaliatory move over the war in Gaza. The government of the predominantly Muslim island nation announced that President Mohammed Muizzu enacted the ban this week following a recommendation from his cabinet. “The Cabinet decision includes amending necessary laws to prevent Israeli passport holders …

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IDF confirms deaths of 4 Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity

Four Israeli hostages have died while in Hamas captivity, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Monday after obtaining new intelligence. The kibbutz Nir Oz said earlier Monday that three of their founders who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and taken hostage were killed while in captivity. An IDF spokesperson said Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger, and Chaim Peri …

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ICC prosecutor Khan co-authored essay saying defendants can’t get fair shake at world court: report

JERUSALEM – The British chief prosecutor Karim Khan for the International Criminal Court(ICC) published an academic essay in 2013 that suggested his own current effort to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be a travesty of justice because the court cannot provide due process to defendants. The Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) located Khan’s essay, which …

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Turkish drone strikes in Syria kill 4 U.S.-backed fighters, wound 11 civilians, Kurdish group says

Turkish drone strikes in northeastern Syria on Friday evening killed four U.S.-backed fighters and wounded 11 civilians, the Kurdish-led force said. The strikes on areas held by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces came a day after Turkey’s president said his government won’t hesitate to act against Kurdish-led groups in northern Syria if they proceed with plans to hold …

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Netanyahu invited to address Congress as Biden urges Hamas to take Israel peace offer

President Biden has urged Hamas to accept a new peace deal on offer from Israel, but some remain skeptical about the details of the deal and whether it was Israel who proposed the deal in the first place. “The Israeli government is united in the desire to return our hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this …

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At China-Arab States summit, Xi Jinping pledges more Gaza aid, economic cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and promised more humanitarian aid for people in Gaza as he opened a summit with leaders of Arab states Thursday in Beijing. “Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing people into tremendous suffering,” Xi said in a speech opening the China-Arab States Cooperation …

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Ship attacked by Houthi rebels was carrying grain to Iran, the Houthis' main supporter

A Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels earlier this week had a cargo of grain bound for Iran, the group’s main benefactor, authorities said Thursday. The attack on the Laax comes as the Houthis continue their attacks on shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor, part of a campaign they say aims at pressuring …

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Iran opens registration for June presidential election

Iran opened a five-day registration period Thursday for hopefuls wanting to run in the June 28 presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier this month with seven others. The election comes as Iran grapples with the aftermath of the May 19 crash, as well as heightened tensions between Tehran and the …

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