Author: CNN

Israelis enter through the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, on June 5. Leo Correa/APLarge crowds of young Israeli nationalists pushed their way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian shopkeepers and journalists, as they marked Jerusalem Day in what has become the traditional fashion.The annual event marks the capture of the eastern part of Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six Day War in 1967. In recent years it has taken the form of a rally of right-wing religious Israelis, with anti-Palestinian songs and chants becoming standard.After gathering at the Damascus Gate entrance…

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on May 31. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images US President Joe Biden has laid out a three-phase proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, saying, “It’s time for this war to end.” Biden unveiled the plan Friday in a speech from the White House, saying the proposal was submitted by Israel. The US leader said Hamas has been degraded to a point where it can no longer carry out the type of attack that launched the current eight-month conflict. Hamas has expressed openness to the proposal, which was also hailed by some world leaders. But Israel has since made statements…

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz seen on March 5, 2024, at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. Kevin Lamarque/ReutersIsrael’s National Unity party, led by war cabinet member Benny Gantz, has proposed a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and trigger new elections in the fall. “This is a continuation of the initiative led by the chairman of the State Camp, Minister Benny Gantz, to hold elections with broad consensus by October, one year after the massacre,” Gantz’s press office said in a statement. Knesset member Pnina Tamano-Shata submitted the bill on Thursday. “October 7th is a disaster that requires us to regain the…

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters in Gransee, Germany, on May 28. Annegret Hilse/Reuters/FileFrench President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready to recognize a Palestinian state – but only following reforms to the Palestinian Authority.Macron spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a call on Wednesday and offered the “prospect of recognition” if the Palestinian Authority “implements necessary reforms,” according to the Elysee Palace.  Macron also highlighted to Abbas France’s commitment to building a “common vision” and “security guarantees” for Palestinians and Israelis.The French leader’s comments come after Ireland, Norway, and Spain each formally recognized a Palestinian state. Macron also…

Spain, Ireland and Norway are set to formally recognize a Palestinian state today — a move that will bolster the global Palestinian cause but has further strained relations between Europe and Israel. The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries. Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood: More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only…

A Palestinian man walks past a destroyed building in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 26. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesDoctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has expressed horror following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah that killed at least 35 people on Sunday night, according to Gaza’s health ministry.MSF said in a statement that the attack “shows once again that nowhere is safe.””Dozens of wounded and more than 15 dead people were brought to the trauma stabilization point that we support,” MSF added. The humanitarian group reiterated its call for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza.What…

Police use water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 25, 2024.  Ariel Schalit/APPolice and protesters clashed in Tel Aviv on Saturday night after a day of rallies calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the return of all hostages, according to several videos posted on social media.In the videos, horse-mounted police and water cannons can be seen in Tel Aviv’s Democracy Square attempting to disperse crowds refusing to leave, resulting in violent clashes.At a separate protest, police said they arrested two people “for disorderly conduct”…

At least five Palestinians were killed on Thursday by an Israeli airstrike on al-Zaytoun, in Gaza City, according to local officials.      Several other people were injured by the assault on the northern Gaza neighborhood, which struck just before midnight, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense told CNN. One child is still unaccounted for, Mahmoud Bassal said. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment. Further north, two “huge airstrikes” hit Jabalya at around 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time on Friday, Bassal said. The Israel Defense Forces said it launched an “operation” with “intense combat” in Jabalya overnight, claiming to have “eliminated…

A rescue team works following the crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in Varzaqan, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, on May 20. West Asia News Agency/ReutersThe chief of staff for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has revealed new details about the hours after the presidential helicopter went missing.Gholam Hossein Esmaili was in one of three helicopters returning from a dam inauguration ceremony on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan, he said in an interview with IRINN state TV, and reported by Iran’s semi-official news agency Mehr News on Tuesday.The helicopter carrying nine people ran into inclement weather on the way back…

Iran elections have been set for June 28 following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Follow for live updates. Source link