Latest news with #israeli
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Belgium questions two Israelis over war crimes accusations
Belgian authorities said on Monday that they had briefly held and questioned two israeli citizens who attended an electronic music festival, after pro-Palestinian groups accused them of war crimes. Prosecutors said they received legal complaints alleging that two Israeli soldiers responsible for "serious violations of international humanitarian law" in Gaza were spotted at the Tomorrowland festival near the northern city of Antwerp last week. The federal prosecutor's office said it had "asked the police to locate the two people named in the complaint and to interview them". "Following these interviews, they were released," it said in a statement. The office said that it took action after concluding that Belgian courts have extraterritorial jurisdiction over alleged war crimes. "No further information will be given at this stage of the investigation," the office said. The pair have not been named. Last week, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgian pro-Palestinian organisation, said it had identified two Israeli soldiers "responsible for grave international crimes" in Gaza among the crowds at Tomorrowland. It claimed that a group of young Israeli men was seen at the festival waving a flag of the Givati Brigade, an Israeli military unit involved in the fighting in the Palestinian territory. HRF said it then filed a complaint with prosecutors in association with the Global Legal Action Network, a lawyers group specialising in human rights violations. One of the world's largest electronic music festivals, Tomorrowland draws music enthusiasts from all over the world. About 400,000 people are expected to attend the event this year over two weekends. Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza, where Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 58,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN considers the figures reliable. Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Al-Ahram Weekly
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Belgium interrogates two Israelis over Gaza war crimes - War on Gaza
Belgian authorities said on Monday that they had briefly held and questioned two israeli citizens who attended an electronic music festival, after pro-Palestinian groups accused them of war crimes. Prosecutors said they received legal complaints saying that two Israeli soldiers responsible for "serious violations of international humanitarian law" in Gaza were spotted at the Tomorrowland festival near the northern city of Antwerp last week. The federal prosecutor's office said it had "asked the police to locate the two people named in the complaint and to interview them". "Following these interviews, they were released," it said in a statement. The office said that it took action after concluding that Belgian courts have extraterritorial jurisdiction over alleged war crimes. "No further information will be given at this stage of the investigation," the office said. The pair have not been named. Last week, the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Belgian pro-Palestinian organisation, said it had identified two Israeli soldiers "responsible for grave international crimes" in Gaza among the crowds at Tomorrowland. It said that a group of young Israeli men was seen at the festival waving a flag of the Givati Brigade, an Israeli military unit involved in the killings in the Palestinian territory. HRF said it then filed a complaint with prosecutors in association with the Global Legal Action Network, a lawyers group specialising in human rights violations. One of the world's largest electronic music festivals, Tomorrowland draws music enthusiasts from all over the world. About 400,000 people are expected to attend the event this year over two weekends. Israel has killed more than 58,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Israel Suffers Heavy Blow as Netanyahu Meets Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. At least five Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza in one of the deadliest recent attacks on Israeli forces as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House this week Gaza authorities said at least 24 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday in Israeli strikes and gunfire. Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for comment and the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza for comment. Why It Matters The deadly attack could increase Israeli pressure on Netanyahu to ensure that a ceasefire is reached at a time that the United States is pushing forward efforts for Israel and Hamas to agree. The attack also shows that despite over 21 months of war in which Hamas forces have been heavily depleted and the territory has been devastated, Israel has still been unable to fully wrest control of the territory from the Islamist group. An israeli army vehicle drives near the Israeli-Gaza border with a banner reading " Bring them home now" call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, Sunday,... An israeli army vehicle drives near the Israeli-Gaza border with a banner reading " Bring them home now" call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, Sunday, July 6, 2025. More Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Photo What To Know The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said five soldiers were killed in battle on Tuesday and two others were severely wounded. A roadside bomb in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, killed the five Israeli soldiers and reportedly wounded 14 others, according to the Times of Israel citing the Israeli military. An initial IDF probe found that infantry soldiers on foot were hit by a roadside bomb in Beit Hanoun and came under fire while evacuating the wounded, the report added. The Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed the attack, describing it as a "well-planned ambush," in an Arabic statement. Nearly 24 people were killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire in Rafah and Khan Younis, Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported. Local authorities do not say how many of the dead are fighters. Uncertainty still looms over a Gaza ceasefire, a key topic in talks between Trump and Netanyahu during his ongoing visit and meetings with senior U.S. officials. Hamas said this week that it delivered to mediators a "positive" response to the latest U.S. proposal, to which Israel had previously agreed. "Hamas is fully prepared and serious about immediately entering a round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," the group said in a Friday statement. But disagreements have remained over terms for the ceasefire, with Hamas seeking a path to the complete end of the conflict that could allow it to keep some hold in the territory and also wanting Israel to relinquish its control over aid distribution. The war in Gaza started on October 7, 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel and killed around 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages. Since then, Palestinian officials say the Israeli operations have killed more than 57,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according the Associated Press. What People Are Saying Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement: "During the incident in which Staff Sergeant Meir Shimon Amar and Sergeant Moshe Nissim Frech fell, three additional soldiers fell. Their families have been notified and their names have not yet been cleared for publication and will be published later." Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas' military wing, said in Telegram message broadcast in Arabic: "Our fighters are wearing down the enemy from the north to the south of Gaza, causing them more losses every day. They may have recently managed to rescue their soldiers from disaster, but next time they might fail—and we could capture more of them. The most foolish decision Netanyahu could make is to keep his forces inside Gaza." U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday: "I think we're close to a deal on Gaza—we could have it this week." What Happens Next There is no breakthrough yet in the ceasefire that Trump is pushing for with talks set to continue this week in Qatar.
Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US begins evacuation flights from Israel
An israeli El Al commercial jet evacuated during the ongoing war is parked on the tarmac at Larnaca International airport in Cyprus on June 19. PHOTO: EPA-EFE WASHINGTON - The United States has begun evacuation flights from Israel, the US ambassador said on June 21, as Israel trades deadly strikes with archenemy Iran. Mr Mike Huckabee wrote on X that the US government was offering assistance to American citizens and permanent US residents living in Israel or the West Bank. A State Department official said around 70 people were flown from Tel Aviv to Athens, Greece on June 21 on two government-organised flights. The official urged US citizens to depart on their own if possible, without waiting for government assistance. Several other countries, including China, India and several European nations, have also arranged evacuations for their nationals. Israel and Iran have exchanged wave after wave of devastating strikes since Israel launched its aerial campaign on June 13, saying Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran's health ministry on June 21 gave a toll of more than 400 people killed in Israeli attacks. Iran's retaliatory strikes have killed at least 25 people in Israel, according to official figures. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Israel's Missile Defenses Running Short as Iran Fires Hypersonics: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Israel is running low on its supply of Arrow missile interceptors just as Iran unleashes hypersonic missiles in its latest attack, according to The Wall Street Journal. Citing a senior U.S. official, the report said American defense leaders have known for months about the shortfall, raising urgent questions about Israel's ability to defend itself from high-speed, long-range threats. The revelation coincides with Iran's announcement that it fired Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles at Israel on Wednesday. The missiles, which travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can maneuver mid-flight, pose a serious challenge to even advanced missile defense systems. Newsweek has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces and Iran's foreign ministry. Why It Matters Israel's Arrow system is a key part of its multi-layered missile defense, built to intercept long-range ballistic threats. A shortage of interceptors during the sixth day of active conflict with Iran could leave major population centers increasingly vulnerable—especially as Iran now deploys faster, more evasive hypersonic missiles. The introduction of such advanced weapons has reshaped the threat landscape. As both nations trade strikes and diplomacy stalls, military readiness—and the ability to intercept incoming fire—has become a defining factor in the escalating confrontation. Iranian missiles face off israeli interceptive missiles over Beirut, Lebanon. June 14 2025. Iranian missiles face off israeli interceptive missiles over Beirut, Lebanon. June 14 2025. Nael Chahine/AP Photo What to Know The shortage of Arrow interceptors stems from intense missile barrages in recent days combined with limited production capacity. A senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal that Washington has been aware of the issue for months and has responded by deploying additional American assets across land, sea, and air in the region. However, the official did not specify how many interceptors remain or when production might replenish Israel's stockpile. Defensive Missile System It [Israel] will expand its target sets to increase the pain and force the Iranian regime to change its behavior. Seth Krummrich, Retired U.S. Army Colonel Jointly developed by Israel and the U.S., the Arrow system defends against long-range ballistic threats with layered coverage beyond Patriot and David's Sling. Arrow 2 targets missiles in the upper atmosphere, while Arrow 3 intercepts them in space. Both use high-speed "hit-to-kill" technology and support Israel's broader missile shield, including Iron Dome. Hypersonic Retaliation Yet hypersonic missiles like Iran's Fattah-1 pose a new and serious challenge. Their extreme speed—over five times the speed of sound—combined with mid-flight maneuverability makes them far harder to track and intercept, even for advanced systems like Arrow. Iran said it had fired Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles at Tel Aviv, saying the strikes "shook the shelters" across the city. Iran state media released video footage of the launches, highlighting Tehran's expanding military capabilities. Alongside the hypersonic missiles, Iran also deployed a "swarm of drones" targeting Israeli territory, further complicating the defense landscape. Video released by Iran's IRGC show the moment Iran launched missiles against Israel Follow — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) June 18, 2025 Israel retaliated with strikes on weapons factories and a centrifuge plant in Tehran, after warning civilians to evacuate the area. The IDF also intercepted two drones over the Dead Sea. Though casualties were minimal, the use of advanced missiles and drones marks a sharp escalation in the conflict's intensity and sophistication. US Weighs Options Amid the intensifying conflict, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Israel but signaled growing impatience with Tehran. While the administration has so far avoided direct military engagement, U.S. officials confirmed that the USS Nimitz carrier strike group has been deployed to the region, and Trump convened his National Security Council to discuss possible options. No decision on intervention has been announced, but officials say military involvement remains under consideration. The developments came as Iran claimed to have struck what it described as a Mossad intelligence facility inside Israel, escalating tensions further. Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025. Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025. Baz Ratner/AP Photo What People Are Saying Seth Krummrich, Retired U.S. Army Colonel and Vice President at Global Guardian told Newsweek: "Initially, Israel focused primarily on military and nuclear targets. If Israel does not achieve the effects it wants, it will expand its target sets to increase the pain and force the Iranian regime to change its behavior. I expect to see expanded targeting of governmental facilities and oil and gas infrastructure to continue to increase the pain level to an intolerable level that Iran has to negotiate. Iran will continue to launch ballistic missile strikes against any Israeli targets with the goal of wearing down Israel's will and reducing Israel's interceptor stockpile to do more damage." What Happens Next As missile technology evolves and tensions rise, Israel's ability to restore interceptor supplies may shape not only the conflict's trajectory but the broader stability of the region. Whether the U.S. remains on the sidelines or steps in more directly could depend on how long Israel can hold the line.
