Israel’s Netanyahu says significant progress made in talks to release hostages
Israel’s Netanyahu says significant progress made in talks to release hostages/node/2604069/middle-east
Israel’s Netanyahu says significant progress made in talks to release hostages
A demonstrator in Tel Aviv lies on an Israeli flag stained with fake blood at a protest demanding the release of all Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas. (Reuters)
Israel’s Netanyahu says significant progress made in talks to release hostages
Netanyahu said in a video statement that there had been progress, without providing details
Two Hamas sources told Reuters they had no knowledge of any new ceasefire offers
Updated 13 sec ago
Reuters
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that there had been “significant progress” in efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, but that it was “too soon” to raise hopes that a deal would be reached.
Despite efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.
Netanyahu, who has come under pressure from within his right-wing coalition to continue the war and block humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, said in a video statement shared by his office that there had been progress, without providing details.
A source familiar with the negotiations said that Washington had been giving Hamas more assurances, in the form of steps that would lead to an end to the war, but said it was US officials who were optimistic, not Israeli ones. The source said there was pressure from Washington to have a deal done as soon as possible.
“There is a deal on the table. Hamas must stop acting recklessly and accept it,” a State Department official said when asked whether the US agreed with Netanyahu’s statement on the progress in talks.
“President Trump has made clear the consequences Hamas will face if it continues to hold the hostages, including the bodies of two Americans,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Two Hamas sources told Reuters they had no knowledge of any new ceasefire offers.
Troops opened fire and “eliminated” both Palestinians, the army said in a statement, using a term the military often uses when killing militants
Updated 10 sec ago
AFP
NABLUS: Israel launched a large-scale military operation on Tuesday in the old city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, AFP journalists reported, with the army reporting injured troops and two Palestinians “eliminated.”
Dozens of military vehicles entered the city shortly after midnight, an AFP journalist reported, after a curfew had been announced over loudspeakers the day before.
Military operations are focused on the old city, a densely populated area bordering a large downtown square where young men and boys gathered to burn tires and throw stones at armored vehicles.
The Israeli army said that one soldier was “moderately injured” and three others “lightly injured” when two Palestinians attempted to steal a soldier’s weapon.
Troops opened fire and “eliminated” both Palestinians, the army said in a statement, using a term the military often uses when killing militants.
AFPTV footage showed Israeli soldiers standing in one of the old city’s narrow streets, next to the bodies of two civilians.
Neither Palestinian medics nor the Israeli army confirmed the two deaths.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Tuesday that three people were injured from bullet shrapnel, four from “physical assaults,” and dozens more from tear gas inhalation.
It added that many injuries had to be handled within the old city after its ambulances were blocked from entering.
Nablus is located in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
The territory’s north has been the target of a major Israeli military operation dubbed “Iron Wall” since Jan. 21.
On Tuesday, Israeli soldiers entered shops to search them and arrested several people for questioning, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.
The correspondent added that Israeli flags were raised over the roofs of buildings in the Old City that had been turned into temporary bases for Israeli troops.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the unprecedented Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
At least 938 Palestinians, including fighters but also many civilians, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to data from the Palestinian Authority.
What daily life is really like for women and girls surviving under Israeli siege in Gaza
UN says one woman or girl is killed every hour in Gaza, with more than 28,000 deaths since Israel’s offensive began
Experts say only a ceasefire will bring critical relief to women carrying unbearable caregiving and emotional burdens
Updated 6 min 28 sec ago
JUMANA KHAMIS
DUBAI: Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, more than 28,000 women and girls have been killed — an average of one every hour — according to UN Women, making the besieged Palestinian enclave one of the most dangerous places in the world to be female.
Thousands more have been injured and nearly a million displaced. As food, water and basic healthcare become increasingly scarce under Israeli blockade, survival has turned into a daily struggle — and women and girls are bearing the brunt.
According to a group of independent UN human rights experts, nearly 13,000 women in Gaza are now the heads of their households, often caring for children without adequate shelter or essential supplies.
Experts say only a ceasefire will bring critical relief to women carrying unbearable caregiving and emotional burdens. (AFP/File)
On May 21, experts issued an urgent appeal to the UN Security Council, condemning what they described as Israel’s “unprecedented assault” on Gaza’s civilian population — and warning of its particularly devastating impact on Palestinian women and girls.
“The devastation experienced by women, girls and entire communities is not incidental — it is the consequence of intentional policies and actions by Israel,” they said.
“The killings of thousands of women and girls may constitute the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction, in whole or in part, of the Palestinian people.”
The UN says one woman or girl is killed every hour in Gaza under Israel’s aid embargo and military offensive. (AFP/File)
Israeli forces launched military operations in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which 1,200 people — mostly civilians — were killed and about 250 others, many non-Israelis, were taken hostage.
Since then, at least 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to local health officials. Israel maintains that it does not deliberately target civilians and accuses Hamas of using Gaza’s population as human shields.
The crisis has been compounded by repeated Israeli blockades on humanitarian aid and commercial goods, pushing the territory into famine and prompting accusations that food is being weaponized.
Despite ongoing international attempts to broker a ceasefire, the conflict has devastated the enclave, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
“More than two-thirds of Gaza’s population, about 1.7 million people, are now estimated to be crammed into an area of 69 sq. km — less than a fifth of the Strip,” Hadeel Qazzaz, Oxfam MENA’s regional gender coordinator, told Arab News.
In overcrowded tents and displacement camps, privacy is almost nonexistent. Care responsibilities have increased for women, and water shortages are taking a disproportionate toll.
“From queuing for hours in the heat for water to facing daily health risks due to lack of proper sanitation, the lack of clean and safe latrines is leading to serious health issues, including infections among women,” said Qazzaz.
At displacement sites reached by Oxfam in May 2024, water points were reportedly located up to a kilometer away. Women and girls were spending up to three hours a day collecting water — compared to 1.7 hours for men and boys.
But water is only part of the problem. Food insecurity presents another growing threat. Nine out of 10 displacement sites show visible signs of malnutrition among residents, with female-headed households among the most vulnerable.
“Women are skipping meals so their children can eat,” said Qazzaz. “Many are putting their own health at risk to keep their families going. When food parcels arrive, women often eat last — or not at all.”
An estimated 71,000 children and 17,000 women are expected to require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition in the coming weeks, highlighting the scale of the emergency and the desperate need for sustained aid access.
“Even when food is available, women often have to cook on open fires due to fuel shortages — exposing them to health risks and doubling the time needed to prepare a meal,” said Qazzaz.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are especially at risk, with many becoming dangerously undernourished.
Since October 2023, Gaza has seen a 300 percent increase in miscarriages. Premature births and maternal deaths have surged, with many women forced to give birth without proper medical support.
“Maternal care is nearly nonexistent,” said Qazzaz. “Women are giving birth in tents, without skilled help, clean supplies or even pain relief.”
These accounts are echoed by medical workers on the ground.
“The situation in Gaza is precarious for everyone, but especially for pregnant women,” Denise Potvin, a Canadian nursing activity manager with Medecins Sans Frontieres at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, told Arab News.
“Over the past weeks, we’ve seen malnutrition steadily increase. It’s very visible — there’s a huge vulnerability for pregnant and lactating women. The small amount of food entering Gaza through aid crossings is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of this population.”
Maternity departments are seeing more women arriving late — after giving birth at home — or showing up in emergency rooms because they couldn’t reach a hospital in time.
“Colleagues, including midwives and health professionals, are being woken up in the middle of the night to assist in home deliveries because women simply cannot reach hospitals,” said Potvin.
“Constant displacement, insecurity and lack of transport make it incredibly difficult for pregnant women to access care.”
Routine antenatal check-ups have become nearly impossible to access. With clinics shutting down, the ability to detect or treat complications has all but vanished.
“The space that organizations operate in is decreasing by the day,” said Potvin. “More people are displaced, and it’s harder to meet the growing needs of the population.”
She called on the international community to recognize the extreme vulnerability of pregnant women under siege.
“Imagine being a pregnant woman in this situation — living in a tent, unable to access prenatal care, giving birth without medical help, while also trying to feed your family, find clean water and maintain basic hygiene,” she said.
“Daily survival is already a huge challenge, and pregnancy only adds to it.”
Reports from UN Women, the UN Population Fund and independent rights monitors paint an increasingly bleak picture.
Women and girls with disabilities face even greater risks, including neglect, violence and denial of basic services.
From bombardment to birth complications, period poverty to famine, every aspect of life has been made much harder.
With 90 percent of households facing extreme water shortages, women and girls struggle to manage menstruation without access to clean water, soap, sanitary pads or private spaces.
IN NUMBERS
• 28k Women and girls killed since October 2023.
• 1m Women and girls displaced by the conflict.
• 13k Women who are now single heads of households.
• 17k Pregnant and breastfeeding women deemed acutely malnourished.
Source: UN
Around 700,000 women and girls of menstruating age — many experiencing their first periods — are facing these challenges in shelters and displacement camps.
A rapid gender analysis by Oxfam found that 690,000 menstruating women and girls lack access to clean facilities and sufficient water for basic hygiene.
Each person is allocated just 6.6 liters of water a day — less than half the global emergency minimum. Toilets are unsanitary, overcrowded and often unsafe for women and girls, with up to 1,000 people sharing a single facility.
The Oxfam report warned: “Girls are vulnerable to harassment and abuse and resort to using old clothes or only their underwear when sanitary pads are unavailable” — a situation that has led to infections, maternal complications and even infant deaths.
Despite the immense logistical challenges, the UN Population Fund continues to address urgent sexual and reproductive health needs.
Since October 2023, it has distributed two-month supplies of disposable menstrual pads to more than 300,000 women and girls. More than 12,000 new mothers have received postpartum kits for recovery in conditions where professional care is almost impossible.
To help women regain a sense of dignity and autonomy, the agency has also provided cash and voucher assistance to more than 150,000 women and girls, enabling them to buy essential hygiene items like soap, towels, pads, and underwear amid severe shortages.
These relentless hardships — from caregiving and hunger to hygiene struggles in unsafe conditions — are taking a psychological toll. Mental health issues are on the rise, with mounting reports of stress, anxiety and depression among women and girls.
With Gaza’s education system in collapse, many girls have become full-time caregivers for their younger siblings.
“Girls are being more deeply affected,” said Qazzaz. “The war has pushed many out of school and into caregiving roles. Some are being forced into early marriages as families try to reduce economic burdens.”
As household tensions rise, so too does gender-based violence.
Experts say only a ceasefire would offer immediate relief to the women and girls of Gaza.
“Even a temporary end to the violence would offer critical psychological relief for women carrying enormous emotional and caregiving burdens,” said Qazzaz. “It would give families a chance to breathe, regroup, and begin to heal.”
A truce would also help restore access to hospitals, allow medical teams to resume work, and ensure that essential aid — from food and medicine to hygiene supplies — reaches those in need.
Meanwhile, the independent UN experts have issued a stark warning about the wider implications of the conflict.
“In Gaza, the rules of engagement and fundamental protections owed to civilians have been intentionally, persistently and flagrantly violated,” they said.
“If the Security Council fails to confront this profound breakdown in compliance and accountability, and what it means for humanity and multilateralism, the very foundations of international law risk becoming meaningless."
Lebanon committed to renewing UNIFIL’s mandate, says PM
Nawaf Salam condemns attack on Finnish peacekeeper by Hezbollah supporters
UNIFIL reiterates that freedom of movement is fundamental condition for implementing mandate
Updated 22 min 10 sec ago
NAJIA HOUSSARI
BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Tuesday reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to renewing the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to support UN Resolution 1701 and maintain border security.
His statement followed an incident in which UNIFIL peacekeepers reported being confronted by rock-throwing individuals during a patrol in southern Lebanon, and described repeated attacks on its troops as “unacceptable.”
Salam condemned the attacks on UNIFIL, calling for the perpetrators to be apprehended and held accountable.
He warned that such actions threatened southern Lebanon’s stability and national interests, directing security agencies to refer the assailants to the judicial authorities.
FASTFACT
UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said a Finnish soldier was slapped during Tuesday’s confrontation.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry echoed his sentiments, urging prosecution under Lebanese and international law while reaffirming its support for UNIFIL’s role in preserving peace and security.
UNIFIL urged the Lebanese government to “take all necessary measures to ensure that its forces perform their duties without any threat.”
The peacekeepers said they conducted their mission in coordination with the Lebanese army and based on UNIFIL’s mandate terms.
UNIFIL reiterated that freedom of movement was a fundamental condition for implementing its mandate, including the ability to operate independently and impartially, as outlined in UN Resolution 1701.
“Any restriction on this freedom, whether during operational activities with or without the Lebanese Armed Forces, is a violation of this resolution,” the statement added.
A supporter of the Iran-backed Hezbollah slapped a Finnish UNIFIL soldier on Tuesday. The incident occurred while a UNIFIL patrol was conducting search operations in an area between the towns of Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr and Al-Halloussiyah in the Tyre District, south of the Litani River.
The assault represents the most serious incident in two weeks of mounting tensions between UNIFIL peacekeepers and individuals Hezbollah describes as “locals.”
The assault, which was captured on video by the protesters themselves and shared across social media platforms, occurred during disputes over UNIFIL’s right to conduct inspections without Lebanese army escorts.
The controversy emerged as the UN prepared to review the renewal of the peacekeeping mission’s mandate.
The next renewal is expected to be considered by the UN Security Council in August as the current mandate, extended on Aug. 28, 2024, expires on Aug. 31.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, characterized Tuesday’s incident differently, claiming it represented “a conspiracy against international forces designed to harm them, Lebanon, and the south.”
Tuesday's violence occurred after two separate patrol incidents. First, Hezbollah supporters blocked UNIFIL forces from entering private property in Bedias town without the Lebanese army, forcing the patrol’s withdrawal. Later on, another UNIFIL unit approached private land along the Al-Halloussiyah to Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr road, again without military escort.
Locals quickly mobilized, surrounding the international patrol and demanding its departure. Tensions peaked when one protester physically struck the UN soldier.
Lebanese army units later intervened to restore calm and immediately launched a hunt for the assailant.
Local witnesses expressed alarm at seeing Lebanese soldiers potentially confronting civilians.
UNIFIL later clarified that its “personnel used non-lethal measures in order to guarantee the protection of the patrol members and others.”
Lebanese Armed Forces quickly arrived at the site and the patrol resumed its duties when the situation was brought under control.
A witness said an argument ensued between locals and the Lebanese army after the latter began to hunt for the man who slapped the peacekeeper.
The protesters argued that UN forces should not operate independently of Lebanese military supervision, while UNIFIL maintained that its operations complied with established protocols.
Fares Souaid, the head of the Lady of the Mountain Gathering, warned that “the cost of beating a UNIFIL soldier will be very high.”
He added that Hezbollah members were “unaware of the harm the party is causing them.”
The incident was preceded by an Israeli drone striking shepherds in the border town of Shebaa. The Lebanese Ministry of Health later reported the strike had killed “the citizen Mohammed Kanaan and his son, Wael, a soldier in the army. His second son, Hadi, was injured.”
The number of Israeli violations since the ceasefire agreement of Nov. 27 has now reached 1,643 on land, 1,774 by air, and 88 by sea, a total of 3,505.
Hezbollah media reported that these had resulted in 172 deaths and 409 people suffering injuries.
The ceasefire agreement, which sought to end over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, allows only Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers in the south of the country.
Jordan pledges continued support for Lebanon’s efforts to preserve security, stability, sovereignty
President Joseph Aoun holds talks with King Abdullah in Amman, thanks him for Jordanian support of Lebanese army
Updated 10 June 2025
NAJIA HOUSSARI
BEIRUT: During talks in Amman on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, King Abdullah of Jordan reaffirmed his country’s “support to Lebanon in its efforts to preserve its security, stability, sovereignty and territorial unity.”
The two leaders also emphasized “the importance of preserving security and stability in Syria, which will help facilitate the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees” to their home country.
Aoun praised Jordan for the role it has played, under the leadership of King Abdullah, “in standing with Lebanon and its people, and providing support to the Lebanese army.”
He also highlighted the importance of “enhancing security and defense cooperation between both countries, particularly in the field of combating terrorism and smuggling.”
In a joint statement, King Abdullah and Aoun stressed “the need to immediately reinstate the ceasefire in Gaza, and ensure adequate humanitarian aid reaches all areas” of the territory. They rejected any plans to displace Palestinians, and urged Arab states and the wider international community to step up efforts to reach a just and comprehensive resolution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-state solution.
The king also warned of “the danger of the unprecedented escalations and violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank, and Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.”
More broadly, the two leaders said it was important to maintaining coordination and consultation on all issues of mutual interest.
UN peacekeepers say troops attacked by individuals in south Lebanon
UN Interim Forces in Lebanon sits on a five-member committee to supervise the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he 'strongly condemns the repeated attacks' on UNIFIL forces in south Lebanon
Updated 10 June 2025
AFP
BEIRUT: United Nations peacekeepers said rock-throwing individuals confronted them during a patrol on Tuesday in south Lebanon, calling repeated targeting of their troops “unacceptable.”
The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), deployed since 1978 to separate Lebanon and Israel, sits on a five-member committee to supervise the ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
In a statement, UNIFIL said peacekeepers conducting “a planned patrol” coordinated with the Lebanese army were “confronted by a group of individuals in civilian clothing in the vicinity of Hallusiyat Al-Tahta, in southern Lebanon.”
“The group attempted to obstruct the patrol using aggressive means, including throwing stones at the peacekeepers,” the statement read, adding that “one peacekeeper was struck” but no injuries were reported.
The situation was defused when the Lebanese army intervened, allowing the peacekeeping force to continue its patrol.
“It is unacceptable that UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to be targeted,” the statement added.
UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti told AFP a Finnish soldier was slapped during the confrontation.
A witness, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said an altercation ensued between locals and the Lebanese army, who were searching for the man who slapped the peacekeeper.
One man opposing the army was injured and hospitalized, the witness said.
In a statement, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he “strongly condemns the repeated attacks” on UNIFIL forces and called for the attackers to be stopped and held accountable.
There have been several confrontations between people in south Lebanon, where Hezbollah holds sway, and UN peacekeepers in recent weeks.
Confrontations are typically defused by the Lebanese army and rarely escalate.
In December 2022, an Irish peacekeeper was killed in a shooting at a UN armored vehicle in the south. Hezbollah surrendered a man accused of the crime, but he was released around a year later.
The November ceasefire agreement, which sought to end over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, states that only Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers may be deployed in the country’s south.
Israel is supposed to have fully withdrawn its troops from Lebanon according to the deal, but has remained in five positions it deems strategic and has repeatedly bombed the country.
