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'Stop the war', say Israelis demanding return of Gaza hostages

Hundreds of Israeli protesters in Tel Aviv voiced their frustration with the government on Saturday for failing to secure a truce deal to bring the remaining hostages in Gaza home.

Flag-waving demonstrators in the country's commercial hub held placards with slogans including "Deal now", "Stop the war" and "We won't abandon them", and beat drums and chanted: "Why are they still in Gaza?"

"There have been countless opportunities to end this crisis and each one was torpedoed by the government," said demonstrator Zahiro Shahar Mor, a 52-year-old bank employee from Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrate in commercial hub Tel Aviv for a truce deal to bring the remaining hoistages home from Gaza

WHO says strike on Gaza vaccination centre wounds four children

The World Health Organization said four children were among six people wounded Saturday in a strike on a polio vaccination centre in northern Gaza.

The WHO only restarted the second round of vaccinations in northern Gaza on Saturday after being forced to suspend them earlier because of Israeli bombardments.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the health centre was "in an area where a humanitarian pause was agreed to allow vaccination to proceed" and the attack could off parents of children needing a second vaccine to be covered.

A medic administers polio vaccine to a Palestinian child at Abdel Aziz Rantissi hospital in the Gaza City area of north Gaza -- the campaign resumed after a halt due to Israeli bombing

Israel commandos seize 'Hezbollah operative' in Lebanon raid

Israeli naval commandos have seized a trainee mariner a military official described as a "senior operative" of Hezbollah in a raid in Lebanon and brought him to Israel for questioning.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati instructed the foreign ministry to submit a complaint to the UN Security Council over the raid on the coastal town of Batroun, his office said on Saturday.

The Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL are both conducting investigations into the raid, Mikati's office said, adding that he had called for "expedited" results.

Lebanese soldiers inspect the beach where Israeli naval commandos are believed to have landed on Friday

UN official says Israel strikes Lebanon-Syria border crossing

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said an Israeli air strike hit "humanitarian structures" Saturday at a border crossing between Lebanon and Syria that was previously hit last month.

The crossing, known as Jousieh on the Syrian side, became a key escape route for those fleeing the Israel-Hezbollah war after the main border crossing between the two countries was hit.

But it was put out of service late last month when an Israeli strike created a large crater that blocked vehicle traffic.

Lebanon sources say man seized on coast in suspected Israeli raid

A Lebanese military source said Saturday that unidentified naval commandos abducted a trainee mariner in the coastal city of Batroun, in an operation a judicial official said was likely carried out by Israel.

"A naval commando force kidnapped a civilian," the military source said on condition of anonymity, adding an investigation was underway to determine whether the operation was carried out by Israel.

A Lebanese judicial official said Israel was likely behind the "kidnapping operation", the first of its kind since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted in September.

Iran leader vows response to Israel after attacks

Iran's supreme leader vowed retaliation on Saturday for attacks by Israel, as an Israeli military official confirmed naval commandos seized a suspected Hezbollah operative in a raid in Lebanon.

The World Health Organization said four children were among six people wounded in a strike on a polio vaccination centre in north Gaza, where UN agencies have spoken of "apocalyptic" conditions in the face of a blistering Israeli assault.

A Palestinian girl transports clean water past a destroyed building in Gaza City, in the territory's north

US-Israeli settlers hope to see a second Trump term

Less than a week before the United States presidential election, Americans living in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank know exactly who they want to win: Donald Trump.

Recent polls show that a majority of Israelis, 66 percent according to one conducted by Israel's Channel 12 News, dream of the days when the former president inhabited the White House.

Israeli-American Eliana Passentin, 50, says that unlike the Democrats, Trump understands Israel's right to defend itself

'Nobody cares about us': US election doubts in West Bank

As Palestinian-American entrepreneur Jamal Zaglul stood by his olive press at the end of harvest season in the occupied West Bank, his mind was far away on next week's US election.

Like other US passport holders living in Turmus Aya -- where they form the majority -- he was sceptical the ballot would bring change to the region.

"Here we have problems. Nobody (in the US) cares about us," said the businessman in his 50s.

Palestinian-American entrepreneur Jamal Zaglul, in front of his olive press in Turmus Aya, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, speaks fondly of former US president Bill Clinton

UN positions in Lebanon risk being 'occupied': peacekeeping chief

The UN peacekeeping chief said Friday that the blue helmet force in Lebanon will hold its line despite facing attacks in recent weeks, adding that its positions would be "occupied" if it left.

More than 10,000 peacekeepers with the UNIFIL mission have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 1978 and are tasked with monitoring the "Blue Line" of demarcation with Israel.

A UNIFIL spokesman said the force had recorded more than 30 incidents this month resulting in property damage or injury to peacekeepers

Gauff backs WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia despite 'reservations'

Coco Gauff believes bringing the WTA Finals to Saudi Arabia can "open doors" and inspire positive change for women in the country, although the world number three admitted: "I'd be lying to you if I said I had no reservations".

The WTA has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation to stage its season finale in Riyadh, with the first edition kicking off at King Saud University Indoor Arena on Saturday.

'Open doors': Coco Gauff is set to play in the WTA Tour Finals at Riyadh which start Saturday