Archives for December, 2023

A crucifix is raised as deacons and other clergymen congregate for Christmas Eve celebrations outside the Church of the Nativity in the biblical city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank

Sombre Christmas Eve in Bethlehem as Gaza war rages

Agence France-Presse

Palestinian youth members of the scouting movement hold up banners calling for an end of the conflict in the Gaza Strip

Grim Christmas Eve in Bethlehem as war rages in Gaza

Agence France-Presse

UN officials have warned no area of Gaza is safe as Israel's bombardment campaign continues

Israel trains fire on south Gaza, as Biden urges caution

Agence France-Presse

Eleven weeks of war have killed thousands in Gaza and displaced the vast majority of its inhabitants, officials say

In Gaza, displaced women recount lives upended by war

Agence France-Presse

The Syrian capital has a lone Christmas market this year, as churches cancel most festivities in solidarity with Gaza

Syrians cancel Christmas festivities in solidarity with Gaza

Agence France-Presse

US President Joe Biden pays a holiday visit to patients and families at Children's National Hospital in Washington on December 22, 2023

US sees new isolation from Israel support

Agence France-Presse

A picture taken from Rafah shows flares fired by Israeli soldiers over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip

Biden presses Netanyahu on protecting civilians in Gaza: W. House

Agence France-Presse

Many children are among those queueing, desparate for food

Gripped by hunger, Gazans queue for meagre food

Agence France-Presse

UN officials have warned no area of Gaza is safe as Israel's bombardment campaign continues

Hamas says 200 killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes on Gaza

Agence France-Presse

Tarpaulin covered the entrance hall's glass exterior and nearby administrative buildings, while police and gendarmes prevented access

Unaccompanied minors on plane held in France over suspected trafficking

Agence France-Presse

Much of the vilage has fled amid the threat of a war between Hezbollah and Israel

War dampens Christmas spirit in southern Lebanon

Agence France-Presse

Yemen's Huthi-affiliated security forces stand guard during a march in solidarity with the people of Gaza in the capital Sanaa

Stepping up tone, US says Iran 'deeply involved' in Huthi ship attacks

Agence France-Presse

Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow Dec. 7, 2023.

Iran in tight spot as Russia backs UAE claim on disputed Gulf islands

Russia-Iran ties were in the spotlight again, and Tehran was put in the unwanted position of having to reservedly criticize the key ally, after Moscow supported the Arab stance on three Iran-controlled disputed islands.

Wang Yi speaks during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East and the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations headquarters on Nov. 29, 2023.

With confidence at all-time high, can China emerge as Mideast peace broker?

China is riding a wave of support since its Iran-Saudi agreement, but experts say the Palestinian-Israeli brokerage is a different matter.

Members of the UN Security Council hold sideline meetings as they take a break at the United Nations headquarters on Dec. 19, 2023, in New York City.

Day 75 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Wednesday, Dec. 20

Egyptian drivers carrying aid to Gaza wait for hours at a recently reopened border crossing

Gaza-bound aid trucks endure grueling wait at border

Agence France-Presse