White House announces Israel has accepted US ceasefire proposal, Hamas’ response ambiguous

White House announces Israel has accepted US ceasefire proposal, Hamas’ response ambiguous

Hamas had previously said it had agreed with Witkoff on a “general framework” of an agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an influx of aid and a transfer of power from the militant group to a politically independent committee of Palestinians.

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US proposes 60-day truce for Gaza but Hamas and Israel unmoved by the plan that’d unlock humanitarian aid flow

US proposes 60-day truce for Gaza but Hamas and Israel unmoved by the plan that’d unlock humanitarian aid flow

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the devastating Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

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Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza, among them a rescue service official and local journalist

Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza, among them a rescue service official and local journalist

Israel’s military said in a statement that chief of staff Eyal Zamir visited troops in Khan Younis on Sunday, telling them that “this is not an endless war” and that Hamas has lost most of its assets, including its command and control.

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250 people killed in deadly Israeli strikes Gaza as visiting Trump helplessly says ‘people are starving’

250 people killed in deadly Israeli strikes Gaza as visiting Trump helplessly says ‘people are starving’

Israel has faced increasing international isolation over its campaign in Gaza, with even the United States, its staunchest ally, expressing unease over the scale of the destruction and the dire situation caused by its blockade on deliveries of food and other vital aid.

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During visit to Syria Trump puts premium on lucrative business in Middle East than relations with Israel

During visit to Syria Trump puts premium on lucrative business in Middle East than relations with Israel

As Trump spoke in Riyadh on Tuesday, claiming credit for the ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, Israeli media noted that warning sirens were sounding in areas across Israel including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as a missile from Yemen headed towards them.

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Horror of domestic workers persists in Saudi Arabia as Kenya called to protect rights of its women in Middle East

Horror of domestic workers persists in Saudi Arabia as Kenya called to protect rights of its women in Middle East

Amnesty International wants Kenya and Saudi Arabia to protect the lives of Kenyan women who work in the Gulf nation. The organisation emphasised the need for Kenya’s labour migration policy to include a comprehensive protection framework to safeguard migrant workers abroad.

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Israel strikes near Syria’s presidential palace to warn new Islamist authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action

Israel strikes near Syria’s presidential palace to warn new Islamist authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action

It has framed its stance around its suspicion of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa – who once headed a branch of al Qaeda before renouncing ties to the group in 2016 – and a desire to protect the Druze, a minority sect that is an offshoot of Islam with followers in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

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Hopeful Sudanese refugees return from exile in Egypt, but find no peace at home

Hopeful Sudanese refugees return from exile in Egypt, but find no peace at home

The battle for power between the military and the RSF has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Famine is spreading. At least 20,000 people have been killed, according to the UN, although the figure is likely higher.

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Tales of boats sinking with migrants across the Gulf of Aden are common but Ethiopian youth would rather that than the poverty at home

Tales of boats sinking with migrants across the Gulf of Aden are common but Ethiopian youth would rather that than the poverty at home

Boats carrying migrants across the Gulf of Aden regularly sink. In March, the IOM reported that four boats had capsized off the coast of Yemen, with more than 180 migrants feared dead. Even for those who survive the crossing, traversing war-ravaged Yemen is itself fraught with danger.

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‘I’m going to Saudi Arabia or to my grave: How hope became frustration, then despair among Ethiopia’s Oromo youth under PM Abiy

‘I’m going to Saudi Arabia or to my grave: How hope became frustration, then despair among Ethiopia’s Oromo youth under PM Abiy

The government or its militias “can accuse anyone of being OLA and try to get money from them. If you don’t pay, you’ll be put in prison, and unless you pay you won’t get out,” Østebø says. “There is so much discontent and hopelessness.”

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