Israel escalates attacks on south Lebanon
Thousands of Israelis rally for hostages
Houthis accuse US of attacking airport
Palestinian death toll in Gaza tops 50,000
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March 23, 2025
Israel begins ground offensive in Gaza as death toll mounts
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March 23, 2025
Palestinians denounce Israeli recognition of new occupied West Bank settlementsThe Palestinian foreign ministry has condemned an Israeli decision to recognise more than a dozen new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, upgrading existing neighbourhoods to independent settlement status.
The decision by Israel's security cabinet was a show of "disregard for international legitimacy and its resolutions", said a statement from the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry.
March 23, 2025
Israel approves plan to separate, legalise 13 settlement outposts in occupied West BankFar-right finance minister Smotrich hails the move as a step toward imposing Israeli ‘sovereignty’ over the occupied West Bank.
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March 23, 2025
Israeli army arrests 13 more Palestinians in occupied West Bank raidsAt least 13 Palestinians have been detained in Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces searched several homes in the city of Qalqilya and arrested five people, the official news agency Wafa reported.
Four more people were taken into Israeli custody in Nablus city and one in Jenin in the occupied territory, Wafa said.
Israeli forces also detained three Palestinians in the town of Silwad in the central occupied West Bank.
The new arrests brought the number of Palestinians detained by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank since October 2023 to over 15,700, including those who were released after being arrested, according to Palestinian figures.
March 23, 2025
Israel plans new airport in south, an hour from Gaza borderIsrael's Economic Affairs Committee gave its final approval to a plan to build another international airport in the south of the country, not far from the area near the border with Gaza.
According to a bill pending approval in parliament, the airport would be built in the town of Nevatim, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) - less than an hour's drive from the Gaza border and adjacent to a military airbase in the Negev desert that is home to F-35 fighter jets.
March 23, 2025
Lebanon says one dead as Israel resumes strike on south despite ceasefireLebanon's health ministry has said one person has been killed in an Israeli drone strike, a day after the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah.
"The Israeli enemy raid with a drone on a car in Aita al-Shaab led to the death of one citizen," the health ministry said after the official National News Agency (NNA) had reported the strike on the southern village.
The NNA also reported separate Israeli strikes on Sunday on Naqurah, Shihin and Labbouneh in the south, near the Israeli border.
March 23, 2025
Pope calls for 'immediate' end to Israeli strikes on GazaPope Francis has called for an "immediate" end to Israeli strikes on Gaza and for the resumption of dialogue for the release of hostages and a "definitive ceasefire".
"I ask that the weapons be silenced immediately and that the courage be found to resume dialogue so that all the hostages can be freed and a definitive ceasefire reached", Francis wrote in an Angelus prayer that was published on Sunday.
March 23, 2025
Israel approves new agency for ‘voluntary departure’ of Palestinians from GazaIsrael’s Security Cabinet has approved the formation of a directorate to encourage what it called the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from war-ravaged Gaza.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the new directorate will work to “prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries.”
Katz’s office said the new administration will be responsible for establishing movement routes, checking pedestrians at designated crossings in Gaza, and coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea, and air to the destination countries.
He claimed that the departure of Gazans would be subject “to Israeli and international law and in accordance with the vision of US President Donald Trump.”
March 23, 2025
Gaza authorities warn of ‘humanitarian disaster’ amid Israeli blockadePalestinian authorities warned of a “humanitarian disaster” for Gaza’s 2.4 million population amid a stifling Israeli blockade and renewed air strikes.
"The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe amid ongoing genocide and international silence," Gaza’s government media office said in a statement.
"More than 2.4 million Palestinians are facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster as the Israeli occupation continues to implement a policy of genocide and daily killing of defenseless civilians without any deterrent from the international community."
The media office said Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza’s crossings to humanitarian aid “has caused hunger and malnutrition to surge among the population, particularly children and elderly people.”
March 23, 2025
Gaza death toll tops 50,000 as Israel kills 41 more PalestiniansAt least 41 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza, raising the death toll since October 2023 to 50,021, the Health Ministry said.
A ministry statement said the toll included two bodies retrieved from the rubble in the last 24 hours.
The ministry said 61 more injured people were transferred to hospitals, taking the number of injuries to 113,274 in the Israeli onslaught.
March 23, 2025
Israel begins ground onslaught in Gaza’s Beit Hanoun amid renewed assaultThe Israeli army began a ground offensive in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun amid a renewed assault on the Palestinian enclave, the army said.
Army spokesman Avichay Adraee claimed that the onslaught targets Palestinian group Hamas infrastructure and aims to expand a buffer zone in northern Gaza.