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☆ Pope Francis calls for investigation into Gaza genocide allegations
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pope Francis has said that allegations of a genocide in Gaza should be “carefully investigated” marking some of his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s war in the territory. “According to some experts… what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” Vatican News, the Holy See’s official news outlet, cited the pontiff as writing in a forthcoming book. Pope Francis rarely comments on politics, often limiting his remarks to calls for peace. He lamented that “unarmed civilians are targets for bombs and gunfire” in Gaza and invoking scripture on war. Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, the ministry of health there says, and has flattened large swathes of the territory, triggering a humanitarian crisis.

Persons: Pope Francis, “, Hope, Yaron, ”, Omar Al, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel Organizations: CNN, Vatican, Vatican News, United Nations ’ International Court of Justice, Getty, ICJ, Hamas, UN, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Pretoria, Jabaliya, AFP, Parish

☆ Iranian anti-regime activist who died by suicide buried in Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Warning: This story contains descriptions of self-harm that some readers might find distressingCNN —Iranian activist Kianoosh Sanjari, who died by suicide this week in protest at political imprisonments by the regime, was buried Friday in the capital Tehran. “It is time to act… as Iranians, we should attend his burial with enthusiasm and respect, to honor this noble and tortured individual,” Ronaghi wrote on X. Abdollah Momeni, another Iranian activist, said that when he saw Sanjar’s post, he rushed to meet him, only to find “a white sheet thrown” over his body by Hafez Bridge. On Thursday, the state news agency ISNA reported that a judicial case had been opened by the prosecutor’s office in Tehran regarding Sanjari’s suicide. He was accused of “acting against state security” and “propaganda against the system,” according to the human rights organization.

Persons: Kianoosh Sanjari, Sanjari, “, Ayatollah, Khamenei, ” Sanjari, Fatemeh, Nasreen, Toomaj, ”, Hafez, Kianoosh, ’ Hossein Ronaghi, …, ” Ronaghi, Abdollah Momeni, ” Momeni, ISNA, IranWire Organizations: CNN, Islamic, Amnesty, Persian Service, of America, Service Locations: Tehran, Islamic Republic, Charsou, “, Iranian, Tehran’s, Iran, Washington ,

☆ UN sounds alarm at Israel’s ‘severe violations’ at key buffer zone with Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The United Nations has accused Israel of “severe violations” of a 50-year-old agreement with Syria, saying it has engaged in “engineering groundwork activities” that encroach on a key buffer zone in the Golan Heights. The Israeli military said the strikes were part of a larger effort to target the capabilities of a Hezbollah unit responsible for weapons smuggling. Saban said that Hezbollah is unlikely to try and trigger an Israeli military offensive from the Golan, however. In July, the IDF said it struck Syrian military infrastructure in retaliation for alleged breaches. “The IDF holds the Syrian military responsible for all activities occurring within its territory and will not allow any attempts to violate Israeli sovereignty,” the Israeli military said.

Persons: Israel, UNDOF, ”, Yasushi Kaneko, Navvar Saban, Golan, ” Saban, Majdal Shams, Saban Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Observer Force, Planet Labs, European Space Agency, Israel Defense Forces, Labs, Alpha, IDF, Israel, Yomiuri Shimbun, AP, Harmoon, for Contemporary Studies, Lebanese, Syrian Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry Locations: Syria, Golan, Israel, Jubata Al Khashab, Majdal Shams, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria Israel, Tehran, Damascus, Majdal, Qusayr, Homs

Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem CNN —If his first term in the White House is any indication, President-elect Donald Trump is likely to keep the Middle East high on his agenda. But the Middle East has changed significantly since he left office in 2021, and all regional actors are keenly watching how the new president will navigate these shifts. Here’s how Trump’s election could affect key players in the Middle East:Israel and the PalestiniansEnding the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and integrating Israel in the Middle East are likely to be at the top of the president-elect’s Middle East agenda, analysts said. “When the war will be over, you’ll need a real restart in the Middle East,” and Trump will be the best person to bring about a “new Middle East,” Bismuth added. Nadav Shtrauchler, a political strategist who has worked closely with Netanyahu, said Trump’s election sends a message to Israel’s enemies in Iran.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Donald Trump, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, “ Netanyahu, ”, Mustafa Barghouti, Alon Pinkas, “, ” Pinkas, Joe Biden’s, Pinkas, ” Trump, Evan Vucci, Netanyahu, haven’t, Biden, Boaz, Trump’s, Nadav, Yoav Gallant, Harris, ” Shtrauchler, Qasem Soleimani, Ali Vaez, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Atta Kenare, – Israel, …, ” Vaez, –, “ Trump, Vaez, Jamal Khashoggi, Hasan Alhasan, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mandel Ngan, ” Alhasan, “ They’re, CNN’s Dana Karni, Irene Nasser, Eyad Kourdi Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Jewish, White House, America, Saudi, United Arab, Trump, Palestinian National Initiative, CNN, West Bank, Palm Beach Convention, Israel, Likud, Abraham Accords, Islamic, Iran Project, Crisis, Biden, Getty, US, Washington Post, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Saudi Arabia's Crown, White, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, –, Hamas Locations: Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, Saudi, Iran, Israel, America, United Arab Emirates, UAE, East, Gaza, Lebanon, Israeli, Palm Beach, Florida, Syria, Tehran, Republic, United States, AFP, Saudi Arabia, Arab, Riyadh, Bahrain, Yemen, China, Washington, Beijing, decouple, Qatar

☆ Israel plans to use lasers to shoot down incoming missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Dubbed the Iron Beam, the shield aims to use high-power lasers to counter an array of projectiles, including missiles, drones, rockets and mortars, Israel’s defense ministry said this week. “The initial capability of the ground-based laser system… is expected to enter operational service within one year,” he said. Israel first unveiled a prototype of the Iron Beam in 2021 and has since been working to get it up and running. From Social MediaIt is unclear if Iran has developed a laser defense system of its own. Experts say the Iron Beam could also act as a deterrent to further attacks by Iran or its proxies.

Persons: ” Eyal Zamir, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s beachside, Yehoshua Kalisky, Rafael, Naftali Bennett, ” Sascha Bruchmann, Kalisky, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Hunter, Bruchmann, Israel “, ” Bruchmann Organizations: CNN, Rafael, Defense Systems, Elbit Systems, Israel’s, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel Defense Forces, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, ”, Institute for Strategic Studies, US Navy, Pentagon, New York Times, Hamas, Times . CNN Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Caesarea, Lebanese, Tel Aviv, London, United Kingdom, China, Russia

Residents of the Jabalya refugee camp are seen after being detained by the Israeli military as they attempt to flee their homes amid ongoing ground operations, in Jabalya. Obtained by CNNThe photo shows a large crowd of more than 200 people, crouching low amid the rubble of Jabalya in northern Gaza. One of them, Muhannad Khalaf, said he, his wife and their infant son were trying to escape the camp using a designated safe corridor when the Israeli military stopped them. “We were all gathered in one place – men, women, children, and the elderly. They were insulting us during that time, calling us names, laughing and taking pictures,” the 27-year old told CNN.

Persons: There’s, Muhannad Khalaf, ” Organizations: CNN, Israeli Locations: Jabalya, Gaza

☆ Naim Qassem: Hezbollah names a new leader to replace Nasrallah. Here’s what we know about him
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hezbollah has named Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as leader, over a month after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Not for long.”The cleric had long been the group’s second-in-command, serving as deputy chief to the late Nasrallah. The 71-year-old Shiite cleric helped found Hezbollah in 1982, and has served seven consecutive terms as deputy secretary-general since 1991. Before killing Nasrallah, Israel also targeted his predecessor Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an airstrike in 1992. Qassem represented “the lower middle class,” while Nasrallah “belonged to the impoverished class in Lebanon,” Ali said.

Persons: Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem, “, Israel –, Yoav Gallant, Nasrallah, ” Mohanad Hage Ali, Malcolm H, ” Hashem Safieddine, “ Harakat al, –, Amal, Nabih, Israel, Abbas, Ali, ”, Nasrallah “, ” Ali Organizations: CNN, group’s Senior, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, Lebanese Locations: group’s, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Lebanese, Kfar Kila, “, Nabih Berri, Gaza

☆ Israel has banned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. That could be devastating for millions
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Salma Arafa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Israel’s parliament has voted to ban a nearly eight-decade-old United Nations agency that provides essential services for Palestinian refugees, a move that could have devastating consequences for millions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The move is expected to severely restrict the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in territories Israel occupies. In the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by a devastating Israeli war for more than a year, UNRWA serves some 1.7 million Palestinian refugees. Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty ImagesThe agency provides a wide range of aid and services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, including shelter, healthcare, food and education. It is unclear who would assume assistance for the millions of Palestinian refugees who rely on UNRWA, if it wasn’t able to.

Persons: CNN —, Boaz, Yuli Edelstein, Israel, Antony Blinken, ’, Asma, Omar Al, ”, ” Yulia Malinovsky, Ilia Yefimovich, “, António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Guterres, Guterres, Aida Touma, Suleiman, ” Touma, United Kingdom –, Lloyd Austin, Biden Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UNRWA, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Likud, US State Department, UN, Hamas, Israel, West Bank, Getty, Commission, Refugees, UNRWA …, Palestinian, World Health Organization, WHO, UNHCR, US Locations: Israel, Israel …, Gaza, United States, ”, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Gaza City, AFP, New York, Geneva, Brussels, UNHCR, Jerusalem, El Far’a, Palestinian Territory, Crescent, Israeli, Arab, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom

☆ The US wants this to be ‘the end’ of direct Israel-Iran fire. It may be too soon to tell
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After Israel’s attack on Iran Saturday, US officials were quick to caution both countries against perpetuating the cycle of violence, but analysts say lasting de-escalation is not a foregone conclusion. The airstrikes “should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” a senior US administration official said after the attacks. After reports emerged of explosions heard in Tehran, Israel in a statement said it launched what it described as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran” early Saturday. Iran said Israel “attacked parts of military centers” on Saturday in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam, causing “limited damage” in some areas. A general view of Tehran after several explosions were heard, in Tehran, Iran on Saturday.

Persons: ”, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel “, Iran’s, Behnam Ben Taleblu, Israel, Majid Asgaripour, Sean Savett, “, Danny Citrinowicz, ” Citrinowicz, …, ” Parsi, Hellyer, CNN’s Paula Newton Organizations: CNN, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Foundation for Defense for Democracies, Wana News Agency, Reuters, Iran, National Security, White House, Institute for National Security, Israel Defense Intelligence, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, Washington ,, DC, “ Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, “ Israel, Beirut, London

CNN —Israeli forces entered the compound of northern Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital and opened fire after days of laying siege to the facility, health authorities in the enclave said. The Gaza health ministry and the director of the hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, have told CNN that the Israeli military twice entered the hospital compound over the past 24 hours and fired at parts of the complex. Kamal Adwan is one of three minimally operational hospitals in northern Gaza, and the closest to Israeli military activity in Beit Lahiya and the Jabalya Refugee Camp. We have nothing to offer them.”It has been 21 days since Israel ramped up its military operation in northern Gaza. Authorities in Gaza say the military has stopped aid from reaching parts of the area and displaced many of its residents.

Persons: Kamal Adwan, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ” Ghebreyesus, Kamal Adwan “, WHO’s Ghebreyesus, ‘, ’ Maher Shamiya, Shamiya, ”, Safiya, Abu Safiya, “, Israel ramped Organizations: CNN, Health, World Health Organization, WHO, Shifa, Getty, UNICEF, Intensive Care Unit, Authorities Locations: Gaza, Beit Lahiya, AFP, Jabalya, Israel

Videos provided by Basal show a chaotic scene with multiple women and children severely wounded and heavily bleeding. One boy yells hysterically, “Dad! The woman yells, “Uncle Abu Mohammed, no, no. People’s blood is all over the ground.”In another scene, a woman, a boy and a girl are seen sitting and lying on the ground. The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency has accused Israel of preventing aid from reaching northern Gaza.

Persons: Mahmoud, hysterically, Dad, Uncle Abu Mohammed Organizations: Gaza’s Civil Defense, United Nations, Civil Defense, CNN, Palestinian Locations: Jabalya, Gaza, Israel

☆ Israeli soldiers returning from Gaza war struggle with trauma and suicide
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

The Israeli military reservist returned a different person, traumatized by what he had witnessed in the war against Hamas in the strip, his family told CNN. The Israeli military has said it is providing care for thousands of soldiers who are suffering from PTSD or mental illnesses caused by trauma during the war. Israeli soldiers who fought in the enclave told CNN they witnessed horrors the outside world can never truly comprehend. For many soldiers, the war in Gaza is a fight for Israel’s survival and must be won by any means. There was a “very strong collective attitude” of distrust among Israeli soldiers toward the Palestinians in Gaza, especially at the outset of the war, the medic said.

Persons: Ma’ale, Eliran Mizrahi, “, ”, Jenny Mizrahi, Eliran, Benjamin Netanyahu’s “, Mizrahi, Bulldozing, ’ Mizrahi, Jenny, ” Jenny, Shir, Omar Al, ” Guy Zaken, ” Zaken, Zaken, Bregman, Abdel Kareem Hana, Uzi Bechor, ” Bechor, didn’t, ” Bregman, Beit, Amir Levy, Netanyahu, Joe Biden Organizations: Tel, CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations, IDF, West Bank, Getty, UN, Israel’s, King’s College London, Haaretz, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Lebanon, Shejaiya, Gaza City, AFP, Deir al, Balah, Beit Jann

☆ Israel’s ties with Europe strained by wars in Gaza and Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Adding impetus to their effort is the fact Israeli military strikes are now hitting UN peacekeeping bases in southern Lebanon, which house European troops. European reproach of Israel reached new levels when Israeli military strikes began hitting posts of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. The UN has said Israel’s military has fired on its peacekeepers multiple times in recent weeks, injuring more than a dozen. ‘We have blocked everything’Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned Israel’s actions in Lebanon, including an Israeli military strike that hit a UN peacekeeping base where around 1,100 Italian troops are stationed. In an earlier move that protested Israel’s war in Gaza, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized Palestinian statehood in May.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Hugh Lovatt, Josep Borrell, Ali Moustafa, ” Lovatt, ”, Biden, It’s, ” Borrell, Lovatt, Israel, Maya Sion, Netanyahu, António Guterres, Emmanuel Macron, “ Netanyahu, Macron, Carl Court, ” Macron, ” Netanyahu, Borrell, Guterres, Giorgia Meloni, ” Meloni, Meloni, Tzidkiyahu, Keir Starmer, of National Security Itamar Ben, Bezalel Smotrich, David Cameron, Ben Gvir, Smotrich, ” Ben Gvir’s, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Israel “ Organizations: CNN, UN, EU, North Africa, Foreign Relations, Hamas, European Union, Red Crescent, Reuters, UNIFIL, Europe, Agence France, Presse, United Nations Interim Force, AFP, Israel, UK, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Foreign Affairs Council, Getty, of National Security, Finance, Sky News, DPA, Nazi Locations: CNN — Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, East, Berlin, Rafah, Egypt, United States, “, Iran, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France, Tzidkiyahu, Jerusalem, Paris, AFP, Marjayoun, Vichy, Stockholm, Germany, United Kingdom, Irish, Sion, Norway, Britain, Lebanese, Khiam, Palestine

☆ Israel and Hamas are fighting a battle of narratives over Sinwar’s death
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Or perhaps it shows a defiant hero who is staring the enemy in the eye while fighting till the bitter end. When the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Yahya Sinwar last week, they released several photos and a video showing the Hamas leader during his last moments alive and after his death. Internationally, it is under pressure over the mounting Palestinian death toll and horrific humanitarian situation in the strip. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, said the IDF found huge sums of money, food and water in Sinwar’s hideouts. But Siegal said that there was likely another reason for the IDF releasing the video showing Sinwar all alone at the end.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Gershon Baskin, Baskin, Gilad Shalit, Netanyahu –, ” Baskin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Saladin, ”, Sinwar, “, Netanyahu, ” Mustafa Barghouti, Shin Bet, –, Mohammed Huwais, ’ Gil Siegal, ” Siegal, Mohammed Deif, Hassan Nasrallah, Avichay Adraee, ” Adraee, Adraee, Shira Efron, he’s, Siegal, CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Abeer Salman, Dana Karni Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, CNN, Palestinian National Initiative, CIA, Getty, Center for Medical Law, Bioethics, Ono Academic College, ’, Israel Policy, Hamas Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, backchannels, Gaza, Palestine, Jerusalem, Yemen's, Sanaa, AFP, Sinwar’s hideouts, “

• Israel’s plan to respond to Iran’s October 1 attack is ready, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. • Israel is opposed to a “unilateral ceasefire” in its war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Netanyahu said. Hezbollah has called on Israelis to accept a ceasefire or face “pain,” suggesting it would ramp up attacks further south in Israel. • Israel has struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time in several days. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah weapons in an underground storage facility.

Persons: •, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, UN Locations: Lebanon, Israel, • Israel, Gaza

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari says the Israel Defense Forces will look into how a Hezbollah-launched drone entered Israel on Sunday without triggering an alert. Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of rockets towards Nahariya and Acre with the aim of engaging Israel’s air defense systems, while it also launched a swarm of drones – some used for the first time – toward areas of Acre and Haifa. The Israeli military said four soldiers were killed in the attack. Emergency services have said more than 60 people were injured. Hezbollah warned Israel that Sunday’s attack was the “easy part of what awaits if (Israel) continues its attack on our defiant people.”On Sunday, the Iran-backed group said it had launched 38 attacks on Israeli soldiers, army bases and barracks in Israel and southern Lebanon — the most since the start of Israel’s war with Hezbollah.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Hagari, “, ” Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Golani Brigade Locations: Israel, Binyamina, Lebanon, Nahariya, Acre, Haifa, Iran

CNN —Palestinians fleeing sites of Israel’s renewed military operation in northern Gaza are being shot at as they evacuate, according to residents there and footage shared with CNN documenting their journey. “Drones were firing at everyone passing by on the road,” Sultan told CNN. Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City later identified her as 9-year-old Dana Nasser, and told CNN she must be admitted to surgery. The Israeli military on Monday issued fresh evacuation orders in both northern and southern Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been sheltering. Flyers were dropped by the Israeli military over Jabalya Tuesday morning, “urgently” warning residents to “evacuate immediately,” residents told CNN.

Persons: Mohammad Sultan, ” Sultan, Sultan, Dana Nasser, Al Mawasi, “, ’ Hassan Hamad, Itaf, Hamad, Mahmoud, ”, Mohammad Ibrahim, ” Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Jabalya Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Flyers, Mahmoud ssa, Anadolu, Getty, Residents Locations: Gaza, Jabalya, Abu, Ahli, Gaza City, Hassan

ISIS executed Yazidi men and boys and committed acts of sexual violence and rape against women and girls, among other crimes, as CNN has reported. Sido said she was then trafficked to different locations across several countries over the next few years. The United States and Iraq confirmed they had coordinated to help evacuate Sido out of Gaza. “The government of Iraq asked us to do whatever we could to get her out of Gaza and get her home. An Israeli diplomat, David Saranga, released a video of Sido reuniting with her family members.

Persons: Fawzia Sido, David Saranga X, Fawzia Amin Sido, Sido, “, ”, Fawzia, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, David Saranga, Saranga Organizations: Islamic, Reuters, ISIS, CNN, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, American Locations: Islamic State, Iraq, Gaza, United States, Sinjar, Al, Hol, Syria, Idlib, Turkey, Istanbul, Hurghada, Egypt, ”, Rafah, Israel, Kerem, Jordan, Allenby, Baghdad, Iraqi, Israeli, Palestinian Hamas

☆ Who is Hashem Safieddine, rumored to be the next Hezbollah chief?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hezbollah has lost contact with Safieddine since the strike, a Lebanese security source told CNN on Saturday. Just like Nasrallah, Safieddine is a staunch critic of Israel and the West, with deep alliances with the Iranian leadership. The executive council is one of five bodies that make up the Shura Council, which is the organization’s decision-making body. The executive council oversees political matters, as opposed to the Jihad Council which is the group’s military body, which Safieddine is a member of. The United States designated Hezbollah a foreign terrorist organization in 1997, and in 2017 designated Safieddine a foreign terrorist.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Safieddine, Nasrallah –, Nasrallah, Israel, Qasem Soleimani, Safieddine’s, Soleimani’s, Sayyid, ”, Prophet Mohammed, Nasrallah “, They’ve, ” Phillip Smyth, –, “, ” Saffiedine, Washington Organizations: CNN, Shura, Jihad, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Reuters, United Locations: Beirut, Iran, Baghdad, Lebanese, Deir Qanoun En, Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States

☆ Hezbollah is not Hamas. Can Israel afford another all-out war?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Since October 8, the day after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, there has been regular cross-border fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military. Hezbollah first fired at Israel to protest the war in Gaza, demanding a ceasefire there as a condition to end its attacks. Should Israel enter full-scale war with Hezbollah, experts say it will face a much stronger threat than Hamas – and commensurate costs. “It’s devastating on the Israeli economy, on Israeli society,” Guzansky said, adding that the impacts will live on for years to come. Domestically, while Israelis showed a greater appetite for fighting at the outset of the Gaza war, polls show that domestic support has waned over the last months.

Persons: Israel, –, ”, Yoel Guzansky, Tsur Shalom, Abbas Ahmad Srour, Mohammad Hussein Kassem, Chris McGrath, Hassan Nasrallah, ⁠ Behnam Ben Taleblu, ” Ben Taleblu, Mizrahi, ” Orna Mizrahi, ” Mizrahi, Yoav Gallant, Guzansky, Netanyahu, Mostafa Alkharouf, ” Guzansky, “, Lebanon's, Jack Guez, Amir Yaron, That’s, Moody’s Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel, Institute for National Security Studies, National Security Council, Reuters, Military, Ramat, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington DC, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, Division, Getty, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Bank, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Kiryat, Moreshet, Haifa, Aita al Chaab, Israel’s, Iraq, Yemen, –, Ramat David, Lebanese, Iran, ”, Anadolu, Independence, Kiryat Bialik, AFP

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. Such escalation could also jeopardize efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages, despite recent progress in negotiations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed comprehensive security strategies to protect Israel, according to a statement on Monday. Israel was considering its options to prepare for a regional attack over the weekend. The country braces for war in its own way and tends to pick up after itself.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, ”, Israel, Israel hasn’t, “, Yoav Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Ayman Safadi, Badr Abdelatti, Ali Bagheri Kani, ‘, Masoud Pezeshkian, Safadi, Nasser Kanaani, Fu’ad Shukr, Majdal Shams, Hassan Nasrallah, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” “, ” Netanyahu, Ali Bagheri, Netanyahu, Gallant, Daniel Hagari, Lebanon scrambledto, floaties, Samer Othman, Jalaa Marey, Othman, Liz Nicholas, David Adom, Be’er, Ivana Reiser, Zeev Jabotinsky, Naama, ” Be’er, ” Baer, Reiser, Roy Dror, Ron Heckmann, they’re, Dror, ” Heckmann, Uri Shacham, Shacham Organizations: Jerusalem CNN —, Iran’s, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Saturday, US, Israeli, Defense, US Central Command, Jordanian, Egypt’s, Zionist, Israel, Iran, Sunday, Getty Images Israel, Hezbollah, CNN, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Getty, MDA Locations: Beirut, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Israel, Iran, Tehran, Lebanon, Gaza, United States, Syria, Majdal, Golan, ”, AFP, Cairo, Lebanese, Beirut’s, Mount Herzl, London, Nahariyah

☆ Israelis fear for hostages as Netanyahu celebrates ‘crushing blows’ against enemies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Mike Schwartz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Tel Aviv, Israel CNN —As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrates what he sees as major victories against Hamas and Hezbollah this week, the mood in Tel Aviv is far from celebratory. On Wednesday, Netanyahu said that his country “struck crushing blows” to the “the three H’s” – Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah, all Iranian-backed, all fierce Israeli foes. Hamas also blamed Israel for the assassination of their political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed on Wednesday in Tehran. Netanyahu’s tone stands at odds with the mood on the ground in Tel Aviv, including among families of the hostages still in Gaza. Polls have repeatedly shown that most Israelis prioritize the release of hostages over continued war.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, Mohammed Deif, Fu’ad Shukr, Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, –, Shiri, Yarden, Ariel, Kfir, Bibas, Zailer, CNN’s Clarissa Ward, ” Zailer, “, Kibbutz Nir, ” ‘, “ We’re, Itay, Let’s, ” Oved, Alona Lelchuk, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Israel CNN —, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Minister’s Office, Israel Democracy Institute, IDI, “ Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Yemen, Tehran . Israel, Gaza, Rafah, ”, United States, Tel

Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hama, arrives for the inauguration of the new Iranian President at the parliament in Tehran, on July 30. Tehran: Haniyeh took at least four trips to Tehran – in November, March, May and July. In May, he attended the funerals of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who were killed in a helicopter crash. On his final trip to Tehran, which ended with his assassination, he attended the inauguration of the new Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Doha: As Israel’s war ravaged Gaza, Haniyeh spent the majority of his time in Hamas’ Doha offices.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Hama, Stringer, Ismail Haniyeh’s, Haniyeh, Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Masoud Pezeshkian Organizations: Getty, CNN, Tehran –, Iranian Locations: Tehran, AFP, Gaza, Istanbul, Turkey, Doha, Cairo, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Killing of Hamas leader leaves Gaza ceasefire hopes dangling by a thread
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The assassination of the political leader of Hamas has plunged the Middle East into fresh crisis and dented already slim hopes of an end to the war between Israel and the militant group that rules Gaza anytime soon. Here’s what the killing of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders means for the Gaza war and the region. “Netanyahu has systematically sabotaged ceasefire talks because ending the war will likely end his political career,” said Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, a US-based foreign policy think tank, in a post on X. A faltered negotiation process also extends the risk to the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “This is the time for a deal.”There are 111 hostages still in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead, according to data from Netanyahu’s office.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, ”, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Benjamin Netanyahu, –, “ Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu, Jalaa Marey, Gershon Baskin, Baskin, ” Baskin, Gaza’s, Anwar, Antony Blinken, Biden, ” Hellyer, CNN’s Becky Anderson Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Quincy Institute, Palestinian, Getty, Families, Anwar Amro, Hellyer, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Iran, Beirut, Golan, Qatar, Egypt, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Doha, US, Karmiel, AFP, Beirut's, United States, London

Smoke billows from the area of an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Khiam near the border with Israel on March 23. RabihIsrael and Hezbollah have been trading rocket fire on a near-daily basis with increasing ferocity since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel. Following Saturday’s strike on the soccer field, Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah targets “deep inside Lebanese territory” and along the border overnight Sunday, according to the military. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting, and members “authorized the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense to decide on the nature of the response against the terror organization Hezbollah, and on its’ timing,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Israeli officials have blamed Hezbollah for the strike and vowed to retaliate, while the Lebanese militant group has denied responsibility.

Persons: Rabih, Israel, – Sami Taleb Abdullah, Muhammed Neamah Naser –, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Organizations: Defense, Hezbollah Locations: Lebanese, Khiam, Israel, Rabih Israel, Gaza

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