Israel, citing security needs, has imposed strict new conditions on international NGOs that the U.N. and aid groups say could cripple the relief effort in Gaza.

<article data-history-node-id="433303" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-expects-israel-open-rafah-crossing-both-directions-after-putting" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-expects-israel-open-rafah-crossing-both-directions-after-putting" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">US expects Israel to open the Rafah crossing in both directions after putting on pressure</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Israel is expected to reopen the Rafah Crossing in both directions after US president Donald Trump and his aided raised the issue with Israeli&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday, citing an unnamed US official.</p> <p>Although the Rafah Crossing was supposed to reopen as part of the 10 October ceasefire agreement, Israel said it would only open the crossing one-way for Palestinians to exit the Gaza Strip.</p> </div> </div> </article>

YouTube video by WatchfulCoyote

In a briefing to members of Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the officials said 'the working assumption is that Hamas will not give up its weapons'

The 26th Amendment has weakened Pakistan’s judiciary, fostering rulings of fear and convenience that undermine rights and judicial independence

<article data-history-node-id="428831" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-captives-gaza-city-cant-be-saved-if-netanyahu-will-kill-them" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-captives-gaza-city-cant-be-saved-if-netanyahu-will-kill-them" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Israeli captives in Gaza can't be saved if Netanyahu kills them during attacks: Qassam Brigades</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>The military wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades, issued a statement on Thursday saying that it will not attempt to save the lives of Israeli captives in Gaza City "as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them" with his latest military operation in the area.</p> <p>"We say to the enemy's military and political leadership: Your prisoners are scattered throughout the neighbourhoods of Gaza City, and we will not spare their lives as long as Netanyahu has decided to kill them. Initiating and expanding this criminal operation means that you will not obtain a single prisoner, neither living nor dead, and their fate will be the same as that of Ron Arad," the Qassam Brigades said.</p> <p>Arad is a member of the Israeli air force who has officially been declared missing since October 1986.</p> <p>"Gaza will not be an easy prey for your mighty army. We do not fear you and are prepared to send the souls of your soldiers to hell," the Brigades said. "We have prepared for you an army of martyrs and thousands of ambushes and engineering bombs."</p> <p>"Gaza will be a graveyard for your soldiers".&nbsp;</p> <p>The statement added that Israel will only be going into "a harsh war of attrition" and that the Brigades have trained their fighters "to place explosive devices inside the cabins of your vehicles. Your bulldozers will be prime targets".&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </article>

Five-month investigation reveals how four members of one family were shot and killed in a single day and highlights a pattern in which Israeli troops target unarmed civilians

Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):

Bestowing a medal on the very American general who has been so intimately involved in Israel’s holocaust of Gaza is beyond absurd.

Here are the key events on day 1,279 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.