Latest Israel government News

Middle East latest: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill at least 20 people, Palestinian medics say

Dec. 23, 2024 05:24 AM EST

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight killed at least 20 people, Palestinian medics said Monday. One of the strikes hit a tent camp in the Muwasi area, an Israel-declared humanitarian zone, killing eight people, including two children, according to Nasser Hospital in the...

In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree

Dec. 23, 2024 02:02 AM EST

DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones of what remains of St. George Melkite Catholic Church in southern Lebanon. Once a vibrant community center, the 18th-century church is in ruins after an Israeli airstrike in October. Georges Elia, a...

Former Israeli spies describe attack using exploding electronic devices against Hezbollah

Dec. 22, 2024 23:29 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two recently retired senior Israeli intelligence agents shared new details about a deadly clandestine operation years in the making that targeted Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and Syria using exploding pagers and walkie talkies three months ago. Hezbollah began...

2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says

Dec. 22, 2024 21:11 PM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels. Both...

Winter is hitting Gaza and many Palestinians have little protection from the cold

Dec. 22, 2024 16:39 PM EST

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 14-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. There is a shortage of blankets and warm clothing,...

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 22 as Vatican envoy visits Christians for pre-Christmas Mass

Dec. 22, 2024 14:24 PM EST

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said, while Gaza's small Christian community celebrated a pre-Christmas Mass. Israeli authorities...

Pope Francis calls for a ceasefire on all fronts in his prayer ahead of Christmas

Dec. 22, 2024 07:57 AM EST

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis called for a ceasefire on all war fronts in his Sunday Angelus prayer ahead of Christmas, condemning the “cruelty” of bombing schools and hospitals in Ukraine and Gaza. “Let the weapons fall silent and let the Christmas carols ring out!”...

A rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injuring 16, and Palestinians mourn a dozen children in Gaza

Dec. 21, 2024 16:34 PM EST

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday, days after Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. ...

Middle East latest: Israeli strike in Gaza kills at least 7 people, including 4 kids

Dec. 20, 2024 17:09 PM EST

An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in central Gaza killed at least seven Palestinians, including four children, and wounded 16 other people Friday afternoon, health officials said. Israel faces heavy international criticism over the unprecedented levels of civilian...

Two AP journalists in Ukraine and the Mideast break down the wars they covered in 2024

Dec. 20, 2024 08:30 AM EST

For the world, 2024 was riven by — and in some ways defined by — conflict on two fronts. The ripples after the previous year's Hamas attacks in Israel left Gaza a shambles and tens of thousands dead, and an adjacent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is playing out across the...