Israel-Palestine Conflict highlights: Immediate de-escalation need of the hour, says India at UN meet

Israel and the Palestinians are mired in their worst violence in years. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flattened three buildings and killed at least 26 people Sunday, medics said, making it the deadliest single attack since heavy fighting broke out between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers nearly a week ago. Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday criticised the arrest of people for holding protests against Israel over the Middle-East conflict. Stay tuned on DH for latest updates.

Immediate de-escalation need of the hour: India on escalating tensions between Israel and Gaza

Amid escalating tensions between Gaza and Israel, India on Sunday urged "both sides" to show extreme restraint and refrain from attempts to unilaterally change the existing status-quo, underlining that “immediate de-escalation" is the need of the hour.

The UN Security Council held an open meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Sunday, during which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres termed the tensions as the "most serious escalation” in Gaza and Israel in years. (PTI)

AP's top editor calls for probe into Israeli airstrike

The Associated Press' top editor on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the Israeli airstrike that targeted and destroyed a Gaza City building housing the AP, broadcaster Al-Jazeera and other media, saying the public deserves to know the facts.

Sally Buzbee, AP's executive editor, said the Israeli government has yet to provide clear evidence supporting its attack, which leveled the 12-story al-Jalaa tower. (AP)

Gaza wounded taken to Egypt as Cairo calls for 'concessions' for peace

Wounded Gazans were taken Sunday across the Rafah border crossing into Egypt for treatment, medical and border sources said, as Cairo's foreign minister called for "concessions" to end the current conflict with Israel.

Three convoys transporting a total of 263 Palestinians crossed into Rafah in the restive North Sinai region, the sources said. (AFP)

Jordan's king says diplomatic contacts under way to halt Israel's military campaign

Jordan's King Abdullah said on Sunday his kingdom was involved in intensive diplomacy to halt what he described as Israeli military escalation that has led to the worst flare-up of violence in years.

The monarch, whose ruling family has custodianship of Muslim and Christian sites in Jerusalem, did not elaboratebut has in recent days warned that Israel's military campaign was risking major instability in the region. (Reuters)

US remains extensively engaged with concerned authorities in the conflict. Israelis and Palestinians have an equal right to safety, of which the current violence deprives them. All parties must respect status quo at holy sites: US Convoy at UN meet

Israel envoy tells UN conflict was 'premeditated' by Hamas

Israel on Sunday told the UN Security Council that the recent deadly violence was premeditated by Hamas, urging condemnation of the militants during a session on the crisis.

"It was completely premeditated by Hamas in order to gain political power," said Israel's ambassador to the world body, Gilad Erdan.

Erdan said that Hamas escalated tensions due to internal Palestinian political maneuvering after the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmud Abbas, delayed long-awaited elections.

Hamas said its rocket fire into Israel was in response to Israeli forces' entry into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, amid high tensions over moves to evict Palestinian families in the city.

Norway supports Israel's right to self defence, but asks it to practice proportionality in its response and have utmost restriant. The country calls for protection of civilians and said the attack on media outlets in Gaza "deeply troubling".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the military campaign is continuing “full-force” and will “take time“ despite a mounting death toll in fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

In a televised address, Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel “wants to levy a heavy price” on Hamas and “return peace and security and restore deterrence” after nearly a week of fighting. (AP)

China urges both countries to cease military action like rocket launches or strikes that aggrevate the situation. It has also called on Israel to exercise restraint.

"China is a sincere friend of the Palestinian people and believe in Middle Eastern peace. We welcome the two sides to come to China and engage in direct negotiations," the representative of the country said at the UN meet.

'UN working tirelessly to restore calm'

"The United Nations is working tirelessly with all sides to restore calm," UNMiddle East envoy Tor Wennesland told the council. "The international community has a crucial role to play. It must take action now to enable the parties to step back from the brink."

"This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must stop immediately," UN Sec General Guterres said. He also renewed criticism of an Israeli strike on Saturday that destroyed the Gaza offices of two major news outlets, Al-Jazeera and the Associated Press.

"Journalists must be allowed to work free of fear and harassment. The destruction of media offices in Gaza is extremely concerning," Guterres said. (AFP)

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel passed evidence on terrorist presence in the building housing journalists to US intelligence agencies. (Reuters)

Palestinian FM at Security Council accuses Israel of 'war crimes'

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki on Sunday accused Israel of "war crimes" in its nearly week-long offensive as he urged international pressure at a UN Security Council session.

"Some may not want to use these words -- war crimes and crimes against humanity -- but they know they are true," Maliki told the virtual session on the crisis. (AFP)

Several injured in east Jerusalem car-ramming attack: police

A car-ramming attack wounded several people including four police officers in the flashpoint Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on Sunday, police said, adding that the attacker was shot.

After the "vehicle-ramming attack" in the district, the scene of weeks of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, the assailant was "shot by officers", police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said without giving details on the attacker's condition. (AFP)

Antonio Guterres told the UNSecurity Council that hostilities in Israel and Gaza were "utterly appalling" and called for an immediate end to fighting. He said the United Nations is "actively engaging all sides toward an immediate ceasefire" and called on them "to allow mediation efforts to intensify and succeed."

JUST IN |Initial reports of rockets hitting buildings in Ashkelon, Ashdod. No injuries or casualties reported yet.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned "in the strongest terms Israel's brutal aggression" against the Palestinian people, according to a statement issued after an emergency meeting of the organisation on Sunday. (Reuters)

Indian journalist bodies condemn Israeli airstrike on Gaza building housing AP, Al Jazeera offices

Indian journalist bodies including the Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Sunday strongly condemned the "brazen" Israeli airstrikes on a building in Gaza that housed the offices of the Associated Press, Al Jazeera and other news media outlets.

The EGI said in a statement that given the recent background of the "escalating conflict" in this region, it sees this airstrike as "a de facto attack on the news media by the Israeli government" that can disrupt the flow of news from this highly volatile region and have global security implications. (PTI)

Just in | Rocket fire has resumed in Gaza, several sirens were sounded after an hour-long break

Ceasefire not considered in Israel security cabinet meet

A ceasefire in Gaza was not considered as an option in Israel's security cabinet meeting on Sunday, which was convened to discuss the ongoing fighting and Israel's diplomatic position. (Hareetz)

Israel strikes kill 33 in Gaza as UN Security Council to meet

Israeli strikes killed 33 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Sunday, the worst reported daily death toll yet in the almost week-long clashes, as the UN Security Council prepared to meet amid global alarm at the escalating conflict.

The heaviest fighting since 2014, sparked by unrest in Jerusalem, saw the rivals again trade heavy fire, with the death toll rising to 181 in the crowded coastal enclave of Gaza since Monday and at 10 in Israel, according to authorities on either side.

Israel said Sunday morning its "continuing wave of strikes" had in the past 24 hours struck over 90 targets across Gaza, where the destruction of a building housing news media organisations sparked an international outcry.

People hold flags during a protest to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Beirut. Credit: Reuters Photo

An international human rights group is calling upon the International Criminal Court to investigate an Israeli attack on a building housing media organiations and another where 10 people including 8 children were killed calling such attacks a war crime.

(PTI)

ICRC calls for 'maximum influence' to halt Mideast violence

World leaders should use "maximum influence" to stop the spiralling conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, the ICRC said on Sunday ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the violence.

(AFP)

Israel has faced the highest ever rate of rocket attacks on its territory during its latest confrontation with the Palestinians Islamist group Hamas that controls Gaza, the army said Sunday.

(AFP)

Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki on Sunday criticised countries that moved to normalise relations with Israel last year, as violence escalates between the Palestinians and the Jewish state.

(AFP)

Palestinians mourn during the funeral of of Wajdi al-Jaafre, who was killed by Israeli fire near al-Fawar refugee camp, in the village of Tarqumiya, northwest of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on May 16, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Mehbooba Mufti questions arrest of people for holding anti-Israel protest

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday criticised the arrest of people for holding protests against Israel over the Middle-East conflict during a corona curfew in the Union Territory.

Egypt has opened the Rafah border crossing a day earlier than planned to allow the passage of students, people needing medical treatment and other humanitarian cases, two sources at the border told Reuters on Sunday.

(Reuters)

In the background, the Israeli Iron Dome missile defence system (L) intercepts rockets (R) fired by the Hamas movement towards southern Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, and on foreground tens of other intercepts rockets (RR) fired by the Hamas while the Iron Dome is busy with the first rockets, as seen in the sky above the Gaza Strip overnight on May 16, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Around 3,000 rockets fired towards Israel from Gaza since Monday: Army

(AFP)

Iran Guards reaffirm support for Palestinians facing Israel 'crimes'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander stressed Tehran's support for Palestinians facing Israeli "crimes" in Jerusalem and Gaza in phone calls with Islamist factions' officials, state media reported Sunday.

(AFP)

Pope Francis calls for end to fighting in Israel and Gaza

Pope Francis called on Sunday for an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, saying the deaths of so many innocent people in recent days, including children, was unacceptable.

(Reuters)

An flare fired by Israeli forces lights the sky above the town of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip early on May 16, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held an emergency virtual meeting Sunday over the situation in Gaza calling for an end to Israel's military attacks on the Gaza Strip.

(AP)

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Sunday called for an end to violence in the Middle East and urged Israel and the Palestinians to resume talks.

(AFP)

Israeli police arrest two people with knives who crossed from Jordan

Israeli police on Sunday arrested two people armed with knives who they said crossed into the country from Jordan amid unrest in the region.

(Reuters)

Israeli soldiers fire a 155mm self-propelled howitzer towards the Gaza Strip from their position along the border with the Palestinian enclave on May 16, 2021. Credit: AFP Photo

Saudi Arabia condemns Israel's 'flagrant violations' of Palestinian rights

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Sunday condemned Israel's "flagrant violations" of Palestinian rights and called on the international community to act urgently to put an end to military operations.

(Reuters)

Israel bombs key Hamas targets as UN Security Council to meet

Israeli strikes destroyed the home of Hamas' leader in the Gaza Strip and killed 17 Palestinians Sunday as the UN Security Council prepares to meet amid global alarm at the escalating conflict.

(AFP)

Israel faces greater dangers than Hamas

Israel and Hamas have taken to open warfare yet again. The sense of déjà vu, as the militant group’s rocket attacks on Israeli territory are met by retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza, is compounded by Western politicians repeating an old formula: “Israel has the right to defend itself.”

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Sirens sounded in Gaza settlements: Palestine Information Centre

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir condemns Israel's 'violation' of Palestinian rights: State TV

Credit: Reuters Photo

EU to hold urgent talks on Israel-Palestinian conflict Tuesday

European Union foreign ministers will hold urgent video talks on the escalating fighting betweenIsraeland the Palestinians on Tuesday, the bloc's foreign policy chief said.

"In view of the ongoing escalation betweenIsraeland Palestine and the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, I am convening an extraordinary VTC of the EU Foreign Ministers on Tuesday," Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter Sunday. (AFP)

26 killed today in Israel airstrikes: Gaza Health Ministry

Gaza's Health Ministry said that at least 26 people had been killed early on Sunday by Israeli air strikes on Gaza City.

It said the strikes had targeted two houses.

An Israeli military spokesman said he was looking into the report. (Reuters)

Planes target Anas bin Malik building on Gaza's Yarmouk Street

Israeli tanks are pictured at their position along the border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip

Credit: AFP Photo

Palestinian child rescued from under rubble in Gaza

Most foreign airlines cancel flights to Israel over Gaza rockets - Haaretz

A number of foreign airlines have cancelled their flights to Israel owing to the rocket barrage from Gaza. Ethipian Airlines, Agean Airlines, and FlyDubai are the only carriers operating flights to Israel, Haaretz reported.

A Palestinian man listens for any sounds from under the rubble of a building, after it was struck by Israeli strikes, in Gaza City.

Credit: AFP Photo

Search operations at destroyed houses in Gaza under way

Warned civilians in building about airstrike, Hamas used time to take items out of building: IDF

Israeli military says targeted home of Gaza's top Hamas leader

The Israeli military says it has targeted the home of Gaza's top Hamas leader after nearly a week of heavy airstrikes and rocket fire intoIsraelfrom the territory ruled by the Islamic militant group.

Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, an army spokesman, toldIsrael's army radio Sunday that the military targeted the home of Yehiyeh Sinwar, the most senior Hamas leader inside the territory, who is likely in hiding. His home is located in town of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip.(AP)

Canada calls for protecting journalists after Gaza strike

Canada on Saturday stressed "the fundamental importance of protecting journalists" following an Israeli attack on a building housing international media in Gaza, and called for "immediate steps" to end the violence. (AFP)

Biden expresses 'grave concern' to Netanyahu, tells Abbas rocket fire must 'cease'

US President Joe Biden expressed his "grave concern" over violence inIsraeland Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday while separately telling Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that Hamas must "cease firing rockets." (AFP)

Latest Israeli airstrikes leave 2 dead, 25 wounded

Israeli warplanes have struck several buildings and roads in a vital part of Gaza City early Sunday.

According to photos circulated by residents and journalists, the airstrikes created a crater that blocked one of the main roads leading to Shifa, the largest hospital in the strip.

The Health Ministry said the latest airstrikes left at least two dead and 25 wounded, including children and women. (AP)

No indication that Hamas was in the building or active: AP President

"The Israeli government says the building contained Hamas military intelligence assets. We have called on the Israeli government to put forward the evidence. AP’s bureau has been in this building for 15 years. We have had no indication Hamas was in the building or active in the building. This is something we actively check to the best of our ability. We would never knowingly put our journalists at risk," AP President Gary Pruitt said in a blog.

UN chief Antonio Guterres 'dismayed', 'disturbed' by Israel strikes on Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "dismayed" by civilian casualties in Gaza and "deeply disturbed" byIsrael's strike on a building containing international media outlets, a spokesman said Saturday in response to reporters' questions.

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Netanyahu says Israeli offensive in Gaza to continue as long as necessary

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, blaming Hamas for starting nearly a week of hostilities by firing rockets at Israel, said on Saturday Israel will continue to strike in Gaza as long as necessary and do its utmost to avoid civilian casualties.

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Joe Biden talks to Palestinian president on latest Gaza escalation

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has spoken on the phone with President Joe Biden and urged the US to intervene in the conflict and “put an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians."

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Biden, Netanyahu discuss Gaza after media strike

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahuhave spoken about the situation with Gaza.

According to a statement fromNetanyahu's office, the Israeli leader updated Biden on the developments and actions that Israel has taken and intends to take. It saysNetanyahualso thanked Biden for the “unreserved support of the United States for our right to defend ourselves."

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Israeli military says it bombed home of a top Hamas leader

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it bombed the home of Khalil al-Hayeh, a top leader of Gaza's ruling militant Hamas group.

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