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Israel-Gaza war

China’s special envoy for Middle East affairs Zhai Jun (right) meets Iranian ambassador to China Mohsen Bakhtiyar (left) on Monday in Beijing. Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

China-Middle East relations

China urges Iran to avoid military moves as Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire nears

Chinese envoy expresses concern over escalating Middle East conflicts as Israel and Iran-backed militant group mull truce.

1 minute agovideocam

Middle East

Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at Israel in heaviest barrage in weeks

25 Nov 2024 - 9:09AM

Middle East

UAE arrests 3 suspects in killing of Israeli rabbi

25 Nov 2024 - 10:13AM

Israel

Hamas says Israeli woman hostage killed in north Gaza

She is said to have been held with a second female captive whose life is in danger.

24 Nov 2024 - 1:51PMvideocam

Israel

Powerful Israeli air strike in Lebanon’s Beirut kills at least 20

An eight-storey building was struck with four missiles, including bunker-penetrating types designed to hit underground targets.

24 Nov 2024 - 5:28AM

Lebanon

226 health workers killed in Lebanon since October 7, says WHO

The high percentage of fatal attacks on healthcare might be due to the fact that ‘more ambulances have been targeted’.

22 Nov 2024 - 9:56PMvideocam

My Take

My Take | China speaks for conscience of the world at UN over horror in Gaza

Disgraceful veto of draft ceasefire resolution by US coincides with arrest warrants by International Criminal Court for Israeli pair on war crimes.

22 Nov 2024 - 9:45PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a discussion called on by the opposition on the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, November 18, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

Outside In | It’s goodbye to ‘peace dividend’, hello to wars and defence binges

Global spending on defence is rising at the expense of social needs. The ‘peace dividend’ years are over.

22 Nov 2024 - 6:07PMvideocam

Middle East

ICC warrants put Netanyahu and others in a small group of accused leaders

The International Criminal Court’s wanted list includes Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

22 Nov 2024 - 5:11PMvideocam

War and conflict

UN says its officials could meet with Israel’s Netanyahu despite warrant

Despite no-contact rules, UN officials may still meet with Israel’s Netanyahu under limited circumstances, spokesman says.

22 Nov 2024 - 2:53PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Gaza Strip this week. Photo: GPO via AFP

US-China relations

China slams US for blocking Gaza ceasefire resolution at UN Security Council

China’s top UN envoy says US veto has ‘shattered the Gazan people’s hope for survival’ as war rages on in Palestinian enclave.

21 Nov 2024 - 5:07PMvideocam

Israel

ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel’s Netanyahu, Gallant and a Hamas leader

The action by the International Criminal Court came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000 people.

22 Nov 2024 - 1:08PMvideocam

United Nations

US vetoes Gaza ceasefire call at UN, says no link to hostage release

The UN Security Council voted 14-1 in favour of the resolution, but it was not adopted because of the US objection.

21 Nov 2024 - 2:52AM

Israel

Israel’s Netanyahu offers US$5 million reward for each Gaza hostage freed

The prime minister also promised a ‘safe way out’ of Gaza for the family of anyone who brings an abductee back to Israel.

20 Nov 2024 - 1:11PM

Israel

Nearly 100 food aid trucks violently looted in Gaza, UN agencies say

Gaza gangs target trucks bringing aid into the war-torn territory threatened with famine.

19 Nov 2024 - 1:30PM

A truck carrying Gaza humanitarian aid, at the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel. Photo: Reuters

G20

G20 leaders’ declaration urges ‘action’ on wars, climate change

Statement hopeful about ‘soft landing’ for global economy as its silence on North Korean support for Russia reveals China’s sway.

19 Nov 2024 - 8:40AMvideocam

Middle East

Israeli strike in Beirut near government buildings and embassies kills 5

Israel presses its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah as the US works on a ceasefire proposal.

19 Nov 2024 - 10:45AM

Israel

US hits Israeli settler group with sanctions over West Bank violence

US Treasury sanctioned Amana, the largest organisation involved in illegal settlement development in the West Bank, and its subsidiary Binyanei Bar Amana.

19 Nov 2024 - 12:03PM

Palestinians look through a window after an Israeli settler attack in Al-Bireh city, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on November 4. Photo: Reuters

G20

G20 summit begins with Brazilian host laying out ambitious global priorities

Anti-poverty agenda set by Brazil’s leader gains some initial support, but progress is threatened by instability and conflict around the world.

21 Nov 2024 - 6:44AMvideocam

Malaysia

Starbucks Malaysia confronts long-term sales decline from anti-Israel boycott

Malaysia’s largest bank has warned that the brand is likely to suffer from long-term slumping sales, despite a booming coffee market.

18 Nov 2024 - 12:14PM

Middle East

Israeli strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah media chief

Mohammad Afif was a long-time adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike in September.

18 Nov 2024 - 2:42PM

The aftermath of an Israeli strike on a building that killed Hezbollah’s media relations chief Mohammad Afif in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis

Pope Francis calls for genocide investigation into Israel’s attacks in Gaza

The pontiff makes the call in excerpts released on Sunday from a new book ahead of his jubilee next year.

17 Nov 2024 - 8:16PM

Pope Francis leads mass for the World Day of the Poor at St Peter’s basilica in The Vatican, on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Israel

UN special committee says Israel warfare in Gaza ‘consistent with genocide’

UN report said Israel was ‘using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population’.

15 Nov 2024 - 5:06PM

Hong Kong society

Letters | HKEX worked through No 8 typhoon signal. So should rest of Hong Kong

Readers discuss the need to overhaul a typhoon signal system last revised in 1973, forging partnerships for Hong Kong’s industrial modernisation, the application of the rule of law in Hong Kong and football violence in Amsterdam.

15 Nov 2024 - 11:30AM

The Netherlands

Dutch investigate alleged police violence after banned Amsterdam protest

Social media footage seemed to show police officers beating protesters who had been released after being taken away from the protest.

14 Nov 2024 - 6:58PMvideocam

Police officers detain a protestor at a protest on Dam Square in Amsterdam. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Deadly day for Israel army as 6 troops killed in Lebanon

Israel’s defence minister said there would be no easing up in the war against Hezbollah.

14 Nov 2024 - 2:16PM

Members of ZAKA rescue services clean the blood stains where a rocket fired from Lebanon hit in the northern Israeli town of Nahariya, killing two. Photo: AP

The Netherlands

Dutch firebrand Wilders wants to deport those who attacked Israeli soccer fans

Opposition lawmakers say the far-right politician’s remarks are ‘pouring oil on the fire’.

14 Nov 2024 - 5:05AM

United States

Opinion | Trump’s rise signals the end of US global leadership

Expect greater isolationism in favour of bilateral, outcome-based deals with no more free rides for allies as Trump seeks capitulation, not cooperation.

13 Nov 2024 - 10:30PMvideocam

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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