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The IDF is embroiled in simultaneous conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran and in the West Bank – but hadn’t reckoned on the social and political divisions this would causeYoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, described the conflict Israel was engaged in as a “multi-front war” earlier this month.Israeli forces were fighting Hamas inside Gaza and engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah on...

IDF fired two rounds at ‘clearly identifiable journalists’ in Lebanon last year when there was no exchange of fire in areaAn Israeli tank that killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six others in Lebanon last year fired two 120mm rounds at a group of “clearly identifiable journalists” in violation of international law, a UN investigation has found.The investigation by the United Nations Interim Force...

Defence minister Yoav Gallant’s announcement comes despite presence of more than 1 million civilians in citySaudi Arabia would be willing to accept a political commitment from Israel to create a Palestinian state, rather than anything more binding, in a bid to get a defence pact with Washington approved before the US presidential election, three sources have told Reuters. The news agency reports:Months of US-led...

IDF says no damage or casualties caused after Lebanese militant group launches explosives at Safed baseMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael and Hezbollah edged closer towards full scale war on Tuesday, as the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group launched explosive drones at a key Israeli command base, declaring the attack part of its response to recent high-level Israeli assassinations in Lebanon.Hezbollah announced it had launched...

Israel’s president criticises claim of genocide brought to international court of justiceHere is a photograph issued of the meeting between Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, and the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv.During the public portion of the meeting Herzog said a lawsuit filed in the international court of justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive was...

US secretary of state poised for meetings with leaders who have so far proved resistant to pressure from WashingtonThe US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has landed in Israel for potentially difficult meetings with Israeli leaders and officials who have repeatedly proved resistant to pressure from Washington over their conduct of the war against Hamas.Blinken flew late on Monday night from the Saudi oasis...

Escalation of violence comes as US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and Europe’s Josep Borrell begin tours of the region• Middle East crisis – live updatesThe most senior diplomats from the US and the EU launched a dual diplomatic offensive in the Middle East on Saturday aimed at calming tensions that threaten chaos and wider conflict across the region.Antony Blinken, the US secretary of...

Israeli military says about 40 rockets fired into the Meron areaSee all our Israel-Gaza war coverage hereAttacks by Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea may impact the British economy, the chancellor has said.Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, Jeremy Hunt was asked whether the attacks could push inflation back towards the high levels seen in recent years. Continue reading...

Hassan Nasrallah says assassination in Beirut has changed nature of his group’s conflict with Israel, raising fears of escalationMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe assassination of one of Hamas’s most senior officials in Beirut has changed the nature of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Hezbollah’s head, Hassan Nasrallah, has said, adding that a response is “inevitable”.In a second nationally televised address within three...

The head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service has vowed to track down and kill all Hamas leaders responsible for attacking Israel, less than a day after a drone strike in Lebanon killed the militant organisation’s second most senior official.David Barnea said on Wednesday the Mossad was “committed to settling th...

Death of Arouri in Israeli drone strike on Beirut suburb threatens significant escalation of war in regionIsrael-Gaza war – live updatesOne of Hamas’s most senior officials, Saleh al-Arouri, has been killed in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut that threatens a significant and dangerous escalation of Israel’s war against Hamas and its related conflict with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.The Lebanese prime minister, Najib...

Officials’ warning echoes those of two ministers, as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies on boundaryIsrael-Gaza war: live updatesIsraeli officials have hinted that the “diplomatic hourglass” is running out to reach a negotiated solution to the escalating fighting on the boundary with Lebanon, even as the war in Gaza continues at a ferocious pace.Security sources said the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired the most rockets and...