Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it had intercepted two rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, while a third landed in an uninhabited area.
"Two projectiles fired from the Gaza Strip that entered Israeli territory were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, and another projectile fell in a deserted area," the army said in a statement. Such rocket fire has become rare since Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18.
The release of Edan Alexander, the Israeli-US hostage freed by the Palestinian movement in Gaza on Monday, is described as "a divine gift" by the young man's parents. "Having Edan at home is wonderful. It’s a divine gift to see him hold Yaël (his mother) in his arms and know that his suffering is over, and that our family can begin to heal," said his father, Adi Alexander, in a statement to the press in Tel Aviv. His mother, Yaël Alexander, spoke of "time standing still" when she held her son after 584 days of captivity.
Alexander said her "heart was broken" when she first heard her son's account of what he had endured. "Edan began to describe the indescribable anguish and the daily fear of not surviving each night, the hunger, the lack of water, the appalling sanitary conditions," she said. "But the most terrifying sound of all was the war raging above his head: deafening explosions, the whistling of missiles, the sounds of collapsing, destruction, and the earth shaking. Every moment could have been the last," she added.
An explosion, the nature of which remains undetermined, occurred near the village of Kfar Remmane in the Nabatieh district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon. Two people were transferred to hospitals in Nabatieh, one of whom later died from their injuries. According to our correspondent, the explosion may have been caused by a bomb left over from the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
An explosion, the nature of which remains undetermined, occurred near the village of Kfar Remmane in the Nabatieh district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Two people were transferred to hospitals in Nabatieh, one of whom later died from their injuries. According to our correspondent, the explosion may have been caused by a bomb from the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Release of Alexander, the Israeli-US hostage freed by Palestinian Movement in Gaza, described as 'a divine gift'
The release of Edan Alexander, the Israeli-US hostage freed by the Palestinian movement in Gaza on Monday, is described as "a divine gift" by the young man's parents. "Having Edan at home is wonderful. It’s a divine gift to see him hold Yaël (his mother) in his arms and know that his suffering is over, and that our family can begin to heal," said his father, Adi Alexander, in a statement to the press in Tel Aviv. His mother, Yaël Alexander, spoke of "time standing still" when she held her son after 584 days of captivity.
Alexander said her "heart was broken" when she first heard her son's account of what he had endured. "Edan began to describe the indescribable anguish and the daily fear of not surviving each night, the hunger, the lack of water, the appalling sanitary conditions," she said. "But the most terrifying sound of all was the war raging above his head: deafening explosions, the whistling of missiles, the sounds of collapsing, destruction, and the earth shaking. Every moment could have been the last," she added.
Southern Lebanon
Hezbollah issued a statement to honor martyr Moussa Ali Abboud, announcing that his funeral will take place this Friday in Houla (Marjayoun), where he was killed earlier today by an Israeli drone strike while riding his motorcycle.
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun also praised the announcement of his U.S. counterpart, expressing hope that "this courageous decision will be a new step towards the restoration of Syria's stability, which will have a positive impact on Lebanon, as well as on our entire region and its people," the Lebanese presidency announced on X.
Syria calls Trump's announcement to lift sanctions a 'turning point'.
Southern Lebanon
Person killed earlier by an Israeli drone strike in Houla (Marjayoun district) has been identified as Moussa Ali Abboud, according to information from our correspondent, Mountasser Abdallah. Israeli army had earlier stated that he was a "member of Hezbollah."
Salam welcomes Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria, congratulating Syria on what he called “a decision that represents an opportunity for recovery.” He emphasized that the move would have “positive repercussions for Lebanon and the entire region.” He also thanked Saudi Arabia for “its initiative and efforts in this regard.”
Israeli 'massive' airstrike hits hospital in Gaza
The Israeli army carried out a "massive" airstrike on the European Hospital in Gaza City, according to local Al Jazeera correspondents, though the number of casualties from the attack has not been specified.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it had worked with the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, to carry out the strike on what it claimed was a Hamas "underground command and control center" located beneath the hospital.
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes also targeted Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least two people, including journalist Hassan Eslaih. The Israeli army frequently cites similar justifications—often without providing evidence—when striking schools, shelters, and medical facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would lift all sanctions on Syria, saying they had served an important purpose but that it was now time for the country to move forward. "I will order the end of sanctions on Syria to give it a chance at greatness," Trump said at an investment forum in Riyadh. "This is their moment to shine. We are lifting them all," he added. "Good luck to Syria—show us something truly special."
Israeli army says it intercepted missile fired from Yemen
Trump said he hopes Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords "in due time." The Abraham Accords are a series of diplomatic normalization agreements signed in 2020 between Israel and several Arab nations, brokered by the United States during Trump's first term.
Donald Trump expressed readiness to support Lebanon in building a future of economic development and peace with its neighbors.
Trump warned that "the U.S. offer to Iran will not last forever," stressing that "the decision to accept it lies entirely with Tehran." He added that if "Iran rejects this olive branch, the United States will have no choice but to apply maximum pressure," including "reducing Iranian oil exports to zero." Despite the tough stance, Trump reiterated his willingness to "reach a deal with Iran."
Trump calls Iran most destructive force in Middle East
From Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Iran is the most destructive force in the Middle East. "The greatest and most destructive of these forces is the regime in Iran, which has caused unimaginable suffering in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Yemen, and beyond," Trump said.
Israeli Education Minister threatens to cut funding to universities holding Nakba events
Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch threatened on Tuesday to cut funding to Israeli universities that organize events commemorating the Nakba—the "catastrophe" Palestinians associate with the creation of Israel in 1948.
"Academia is not a platform for inciting hatred under the guise of freedom of expression," Kisch wrote in a post on X.
Meeting between Trump and Sharaa scheduled for Wednesday in Riyadh
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, this Wednesday, according to a White House official quoted by Reuters.
Trump agreed to meet with Syria’s new de facto leader during his visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he arrived on Tuesday for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Israeli army says motorcyclist killed in southern Lebanon was a “Hezbollah member”
Israeli army stated on its X account that the person killed in a drone strike while riding a motorcycle in Houla (Marjeyoun district) was a "member of Hezbollah."
The military justified the killing by claiming the individual had "operated last week at a site" used by Hezbollah fighters to "attack an Israeli aircraft," referring to the "Beaufort Castle ridge," located near the village of Arnoun in southern Nabatieh, just north of the Litani River.
No military activity had been reported in the area since March 28, when two missiles were launched toward Israeli territory — an attack for which Hezbollah denied responsibility.
Israeli drone broke the sound barrier near a school in Dhayra (Sour district), without causing any injuries, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
Gaza
Hamas's claims to have killed Israeli soldier in Shujaiya
Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed in a statement to have killed an Israeli soldier two days ago "using light weapons" in the Shujaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.
Israeli army has not yet confirmed the report.
On Saturday, nine Israeli soldiers — including several officers — were injured in a mine explosion in the same area, Shujaiya. The Israeli army's official account stated that the soldiers belonged to the Golani Brigade and had been transferred to hospitals inside Israeli territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army would enter the Gaza Strip "with all its force" in the coming days, and does not see a scenario in which his country would end the war, his office said Tuesday.
"In the coming days, we will enter with all our strength to complete the operation and defeat Hamas," Netanyahu said during a meeting with reserve soldiers on Monday. "There will be no situation where we stop the war," he added, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
The Israeli drone strike that targeted a motorcycle in Houla (Marjayoun) killed its rider, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon.
Iran is ready to accept temporary limits on the level of its uranium enrichment, its deputy foreign minister said, specifying that talks with the United States have not yet gone into detail.
The United States and Iran concluded a fourth round of nuclear talks on Sunday, without announcing a breakthrough but expressing cautious optimism.
"For a limited period, we can accept a series of restrictions on the level and volume of enrichment," Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, according to the Tasnim news agency, which was reported by AFP. "We have not yet gone into details regarding the level and volume of enrichment," he added.
An Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in Houla (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon, seriously injuring the motorcyclist.
Hamas denied on Tuesday that the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander the day before was linked to Israeli "military pressure," as claimed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The return of Edan Alexander is the result of serious communications with the American administration and the efforts of mediators, and not a consequence of Israeli aggression or the illusion of military pressure," the Palestinian Islamist movement said in a statement.
In a statement, Islamic Jihad strongly condemned the assassination of Palestinian journalist Hassan Aslih, who was killed by Israeli forces while he was "in his hospital room at the Nasser Medical Center in Khan Younis."
The Israeli army announced that the bombing targeted Hassan Aslih, who was described as "a terrorist ... acting under the cover of a journalist," who allegedly "participated in the Oct. 7 massacre."
Describing the crime as "heinous," Islamic Jihad said the journalist, who was injured in a bombing on April 7, was receiving medical treatment when he was targeted. The movement considered the assassination "a flagrant violation of all human values and a clear disregard for the inviolability of health facilities." Islamic Jihad also warned against the continuation of the policy of "systematic elimination of journalists in Gaza," noting that the death toll since the start of the offensive has now exceeded 215.
Good morning!
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The Israeli army resumed its bombardments against the Gaza Strip, striking a hospital overnight Tuesday and killing a journalist, according to Hamas, after a pause observed for the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.
But the Israeli army announced early this morning that it had struck "a command and control center located in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis," in the south of the Palestinian territory. "Senior Hamas officials continue to use the hospital for terrorist activities, cynically and brutally exploiting the civilian population in and around the hospital," it added.
Gazan authorities later reported several patients killed, without specifying the number. They accused Israel of "assassinating" journalist Hassan Aslih, identified as the director of the Palestinian news agency Alam24, who was being treated after being wounded in a previous strike on April 7, which killed two other Palestinian journalists.
The Israeli army then announced that the bombing targeted Aslih, who was described as "a terrorist ... acting under cover of a journalist," who allegedly "participated in the Oct. 7 massacre."
As Donald Trump began a tour of the Middle East on Tuesday, the release of the only living American hostage still held in Gaza offered a rare respite to its inhabitants.
On Monday, a Hamas source said the movement had been informed through mediators of a pause in fighting following the release of Edan Alexander.
Released after 19 months in detention, the 21-year-old former hostage was reunited with his parents before taking a helicopter to an Israeli hospital where he "will receive medical treatment and be reunited with the rest of his family," according to the Israeli army.
Yesterday, after 10 p.m., Israeli forces conducted search operations inside Lebanese territory on the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab (Sour), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region. An Israeli helicopter flew over the border area in the western sector of the south, where UNIFIL alarm sirens sounded.
This morning, Israeli drones flew over some villages in Nabatieh.
Acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip is being used as a "weapon of war" through the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory, warns the NGO Médecins du Monde (MDM). After 18 months of war, the Gaza Strip has reached malnutrition levels "comparable to those observed in countries facing protracted humanitarian crises spanning decades," such as Yemen or Nigeria, it says.
In a report based on data from six health centers it manages in Gaza, MDM points to a link between rising malnutrition rates and the decline in aid volumes entering the Palestinian territory. In November, for example, a 17 percent spike in child malnutrition was observed, a period that coincided with a significant reduction in humanitarian aid inflows.
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