The Palestinian Health Ministry said seven-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed when Israeli troops fired on his family’s car near Hebron. The Israeli military said soldiers believed the vehicle was accelerating toward them and that an initial inquiry found the wounded were uninvolved civilians.
Posts tagged as “east Jerusalem”
On Palm Sunday, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Reverend Francesco Ielpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the first time in centuries that the traditional Mass could not be held there, due to heightened security amid conflict between Israel and Iran. The move, justified by Israeli authorities as a safety measure against missile threats, sparked widespread international condemnation for infringing on religious freedoms and access to holy sites. In response to the backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office pledged to facilitate worship for church leaders during the remainder of Easter week, highlighting the ongoing tension between security and religious rights in Jerusalem.
Israel and Hamas have been engaged in conflict since May 10, resulting in the death of more than 230 people in Gaza and 12 in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will continue for "many more months" despite international calls for a cease-fire, and the Biden administration has supported this stance, approving a new emergency weapons sale and preventing a U.N. Security Council resolution.
The Israeli-Gaza conflict has escalated once again, with Israeli forces pounding targets in the southern Gaza strip on Saturday. This has caused over 200 Palestinian casualties, 70% of which are women and children. The US has urged Israel to protect civilians, and the international community is calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend a temporary truce for another 24 hours, with Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. Two more Israeli hostages were released on Thursday, and the temporary truce has allowed Palestinians to return to their homes and businesses in the Gaza Strip. Negotiations are ongoing to extend the truce, with additional hostages expected to be transferred in the coming hours.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised alarm over the lack of a substantial offer from Hamas to free hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken of the U.S. vision for Gaza once the Israel-Hamas war ends, emphasizing the administration’s support for a two-state solution. With no substantial offer from Hamas, it is unclear how the conflict will be resolved and when the hostages will be released.
The Senate has confirmed Jack Lew as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, with support from only two Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of those Republicans, said the ambassadorship is "as important and timely as any nomination" due to the war against Hamas. Lew, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Obama, is expected to take up his post in Jerusalem soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the nation of a long and difficult war ahead, as ground troops enter Gaza in response to Hamas' attack on Israel that left 1,400 dead and 200 kidnapped. Netanyahu said his goal remains to bring the hostages home and defeat Hamas, but the situation has been complicated by international pressure and the fate of the hostages. He urged the nation to remain strong and united during this difficult time.