Middle East

The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has begun hearings for an opinion on whether Israel must co-operate with the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency – Unrwa – after it severed ties with it last year after accusing it of colluding with Hamas. The court is also being …

The UN’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has begun hearings for an opinion on whether Israel must co-operate with the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency – Unrwa – after it severed ties with it last year after accusing it of colluding with Hamas. The court is also being …

The US military says it has hit more than 800 targets since launching sustained air and naval strikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen on 15 March. In a statement on Sunday summarising recent operations, US Central Command said it had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders”. …

Sebastian Usher and Jessica Rawnsley BBC News, Jerusalem and London Getty Images Israel’s military offensive in Gaza resumed after a ceasefire collapsed in March Qatar’s prime minister says there has been “a bit of progress” in efforts to broker a new ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, but that …

Footage filmed by a driver, and verified by the BBC, shows the moment a massive blast shook the Shahid Rajaee port on Saturday morning, near the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas. At least four people have been killed and 500 more injured in the explosion, according to state media. …

The UN World Food Programme says it has depleted all its food stocks in Gaza, where Israel has blocked deliveries of humanitarian aid for seven weeks. “Today, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens,” it warned. “These kitchens are expected to fully run out of food …

BBC Israel’s destructive military campaign in Gaza has released a silent killer: asbestos. The mineral, once widely-used in building materials, releases toxic fibres into the air when disturbed that can cling to the lungs and – over decades – cause cancer. Nowadays, its use is banned across much of the …

Nine Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a police station in northern Gaza, health officials and first responders say. Several other people were also wounded when missiles hit the market area of Jabalia town. Video footage showed crowds gathered around the remains of a flattened building. …

Paul Adams BBC News, Jerusalem Getty Images Public criticism of Hamas is rare, with protests violently dispersed and opponents jailed, tortured and killed “Out! Out! Out!” The voice in the Telegram video is insistent. Loud. Sometimes musical. And the message unambiguous. “All of Hamas, out!” On the streets of Gaza, …

Sebastian Usher & David Gritten BBC News Reuters Mahmoud Abbas told a meeting in Ramallah that Hamas had given Israel “excuses” to continue the Gaza war Mahmoud Abbas has called Hamas “sons of dogs” in a fiery speech in which he demanded the group release the hostages it is still …

Yolande Knell BBC Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem Reuters Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 51,200 Palestinians have been killed At al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Alam Hirzallah resigns himself to a grim task: registering the deaths of the wife and two children of his grieving cousin. His family brought …

A swimmer is missing following an extremely rare shark attack off the coast of northern Israel on Monday. It happened in the sea at Hadera, about 40km (25 miles) north of Tel Aviv. The incident was witnessed by people on Olga Beach, who can be heard yelling in shock in …

A senior Palestinian official familiar with Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations has told the BBC that Qatari and Egyptian mediators have proposed a new formula to end the war in Gaza. According to the official, it envisages a truce lasting between five and seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in …

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has described an Israeli military report into a deadly attack on its paramedics as “full of lies”. The Israeli military said in its report that “professional failures” led to the killing of the 15 workers in Gaza. It dismissed the deputy commander of the …

The Israeli military has said an “operational misunderstanding” and a “breach of orders” led to the killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza last month. An inquiry into the incident by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) found a series of failings. The deputy commander of the unit involved has been …

Parham Ghobadi BBC Persian EPA As Iran and the United States prepare to hold a second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome, hopes for de-escalation are being tempered by mounting military threats and mixed messages. US President Donald Trump reminds Tehran nearly every day of its options: a deal …

The US military says it has destroyed a fuel terminal in Yemen during its latest strikes against the Houthis. It says the aim of the attack on the Red Sea port of Ras Isa was to restrict supplies and funds for the Iranian-backed movement.  According to the Houthis, at least …

Hamas has formally rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire offer, saying it is prepared to immediately negotiate a deal that would see the release of all remaining hostages in return for an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners. In a video statement, Hamas’ chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said: …

Lina Sinjab Middle East Correspondent BBC On the morning of 8 December 2024, I waited anxiously at the Lebanese border, hoping to get into Syria as soon as the crossing opened, not knowing what to expect. Bashar al-Assad, the president of 24 years, was gone. Opposition fighters had advanced towards …

Jordan’s security services say they have arrested 16 people suspected of plotting attacks inside the country involving rockets and drones. The General Intelligence Department said the suspects had been under surveillance since 2021 and their plans were aimed at “targeting national security, sowing chaos and sabotage”. They involved possession of …