TOPIC

Israel-Gaza war

On October 7, 2023, armed Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, firing thousands of rockets and breaking through the Gaza-Israel barrier. At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attacks, which included an assault on a music festival, and hundreds more civilians and soldiers were taken hostage. In response, the Israeli government declared war on Hamas. The resulting barrage of artillery on Gaza and a subsequent blockade of aid caused the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and led to an international outcry.

last updated:

4 October, 2024

Singapore

‘It’s the Singapore way’: Lawrence Wong outlines Gaza stance in first podcast

The prime minister highlighted the city state’s approach to the conflict, balancing humanitarian aid with long-term support for Palestinians.

19 Dec 2024 - 6:18PMvideocam

Middle East

Israeli strikes hit Yemen’s capital and port city after Houthi missile intercepted

19 Dec 2024 - 4:56PMvideocam

India

Priyanka Gandhi’s Palestinian bag sparks political firestorm in India

18 Dec 2024 - 6:07PMvideocam

Middle East

Israel optimistic on Gaza ceasefire, while Hamas says deal is possible

The Palestinian militant group says a long--awaited agreement to free all hostage could be reached if Israel stops adding new conditions.

18 Dec 2024 - 4:15AM

A doll lies among clothes and debris in the aftermath of an Israeli air strike at the Muwassi camp near Khan Younis in Gaza on December 5. Photo: AP

United States

Opinion | Why a Trump economic boom is much less likely this time around

Trump is once again inheriting a strong US economy but the world is more volatile, and US debt and interest rates are much higher.

17 Dec 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

Israel

Israeli team in Qatar for talks on potential Gaza ceasefire deal, official says

Israel’s defence minister says have ‘not been this close to a deal’ on hostages in Gaza.

17 Dec 2024 - 10:56AM

Ireland

Israel to close embassy in Ireland over Gaza tensions as war death toll mounts

Israel cites Dublin’s ‘extreme anti-Israeli policies’, further straining tense relations between the two nations.

16 Dec 2024 - 2:26PM

The Israeli embassy on Shelbourne Road in Dublin, Ireland in 2023. File photo: Shutterstock

China-Middle East relations

Palestinian rescuers see China’s Blue Sky amid bomb blasts of Israel-Gaza war

China’s Blue Sky Rescue has been helping train Palestinians in urban search and rescue operations in bid to help save more lives.

16 Dec 2024 - 7:59PMvideocam

Middle East

Opinion | How Syria’s new chapter changes the game for the entire region

After Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow, uncertainties remain about the agenda of Syria’s new government and the interests of foreign powers.

15 Dec 2024 - 9:20AMvideocam

Switzerland

Switzerland seeks to ban Nazi symbols amid surge in antisemitism

Use of the swastika, Hitler salute and other such signs in public would be punished with a US$224 fine under the proposed law.

14 Dec 2024 - 3:56AM

A protester at a rally against the right-wing Swiss People’s Party in September 2007 holds a card with a swastika superimposed on the party’s election poster showing a black sheep being kicked out of the country by three grinning white sheep. Photo: AFP

Israel

Israel kills at least 66 in Gaza, strikes post office used as shelter

Strikes came after the UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire in the devastated Palestinian territory.

13 Dec 2024 - 8:15AM

People make their way through rubble following an Israeli strike at a post office in Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

War and conflict

UN General Assembly overwhelmingly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire

Only the US, Israel and seven other countries voted against the resolution, while 13 countries abstained.

12 Dec 2024 - 7:06AMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Sara Netanyahu, the controversial, luxe-living wife of Israel’s PM

Sara Netanyahu – a former air hostess who’s been accused of living large on the taxpayer’s dime – has been found guilty of misappropriating state funds and abusing her employees.

11 Dec 2024 - 7:00PM

Israel

Israeli air strikes kill at least 38 Palestinians in Gaza, medics say

Israel’s military says it killed two senior, armed Hamas commanders in two separate air strikes.

12 Dec 2024 - 8:46AM

A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Australia

Vandals spray ‘Kill Israiel’ graffiti in Australia’s largest Jewish community

The incident in Sydney’s suburb of Woollahra came after federal police established a task force to investigate increasing antisemitic crimes.

11 Dec 2024 - 1:59PM

A torched car is removed in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra on Wednesday in front of anti-Israel graffiti written on a wall. Photo: Australian Broadcasting Corporation/AFP

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Hong Kong’s civil servants shouldn’t be target of misplaced frustrations

Readers discuss a suggestion to cut or freeze civil servants’ pay, a challenge in telling good Hong Kong stories, our addiction to smartphones, and holding Israel to account for the Gaza war.

11 Dec 2024 - 11:30AM

Israel

Israel PM Netanyahu rejects corruption charges as ‘ridiculous’

The leader is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust, becoming the country’s first sitting premier to face criminal trial.

11 Dec 2024 - 4:02AMvideocam

Middle East

‘Not a pretty day’: Trump’s envoy issues warning if Gaza hostages not free soon

Steve Witkoff said he hoped and prayed there would be a ceasefire in Gaza before Trump takes office on January 20, or it could lead to severe consequences.

9 Dec 2024 - 8:25PM

People shout slogans during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and a call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on November 16. Photo: AP

Asean

Opinion | Why Russia is finding favour in Southeast Asia once again

As Russia seeks Global South partners and the war in Ukraine drags on, Southeast Asian states are rekindling ties with the Kremlin.

9 Dec 2024 - 5:49AM

Joe Biden

Biden says Assad’s fall a ‘fundamental act of justice’, but ‘a moment of risk’

The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East.

9 Dec 2024 - 3:07PMvideocam

Syria

Syria’s Assad in Moscow after deal on military bases: Russian state media

Bashar al-Assad and family granted asylum in Russia after his regime was toppled in a lightning rebel advance.

9 Dec 2024 - 2:48PM

The Syrian presidential palace in Damascus after Islamist-led rebels took the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Israel calls Syria its fourth front after rushing troops to the Golan

Israel’s Netanyahu says ‘central link in Iran’s axis of evil’ has fallen in Syria.

9 Dec 2024 - 7:06PMvideocam

Israeli soldiers near armoured vehicles parked along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria. Photo: AP

Yemen

Video | Violence at sea: how armed attacks on the high seas affect mariners

Attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea as well as tensions in international waters are increasingly affecting global shipping.

8 Dec 2024 - 11:30AMvideocam

War and conflict

Opinion | Is the world on the brink of total war?

The political centre is no longer holding as governments misjudge their capabilities on the battlefield and their level of public support.

7 Dec 2024 - 5:48AMvideocam

Middle East

Hezbollah to pay US$77 million plus rent to families affected by war

Iran-backed group seeks to shore up its support base after a devastating conflict with Israel.

6 Dec 2024 - 10:00AM

A man and a woman look out from a damaged building in the Chiyah district of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Photo: Reuters

Syria

Syrian rebels capture city of Hama in fresh blow to President Assad

Hama is critical to the control of major towns as Syrian rebels stage rapid advances.

6 Dec 2024 - 11:59AM

A multi-barrel rocket launcher fires against regime forces, in the northern outskirts of Syria’s west-central city of Hama. Photo: AFP

Fame and celebrity

Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of Moana, calls sequel ‘a source of Polynesian pride’

The voice behind Disney’s titular Polynesian princess is thrilled about indigenous representation in this year’s Moana 2, adding that reprising the role felt like ‘coming home’.

5 Dec 2024 - 5:00AM

Indonesia

Indonesian cleric urges Prabowo to send fighters to Gaza, ‘liberate’ Al-Aqsa

Rizieq Shihab wants Indonesian youth to pick up arms against Israel in Gaza and East Jerusalem, where the holy Al-Aqsa mosque is located.

3 Dec 2024 - 5:54PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW