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Hamas

Hamas is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a militant wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas was founded in 1987, emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood. Headquartered in Gaza City, it has functioned as the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since seizing control in 2007. Its primary mission is the establishment of an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine, pursuing this through armed resistance against Israeli occupation. Hamas also provides social services in Gaza. It is widely designated as a terrorist organisation by numerous countries, including the UK, US and EU.

Pedestrians walk past a campaign billboard featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot as Israelis head to the polls on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Israeli settlers line up to vote in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, in the occupied West Bank. Photo: AP

Voters cast their ballots in Jerusalem. Photo AP

A supporter of the Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, carries electoral banners outside a polling station in Jerusalem. Photo: AFP

Israel

Israelis vote in tense election testing Netanyahu’s grip on power

First post-October 7 ballot gauges public appetite for change after three years of devastating war.

44 minutes ago

Middle East

Netanyahu touts Trump backing on eve of vote, hints at restarting war with Iran

6 hours ago

Israel

‘I’ll die here’: Israel widens West Bank crackdown, displacing families

25 Oct 2026 - 2:23PM

Middle East

Netanyahu orders West Bank closure after attack on Israelis ends in gun battle

Netanyahu warned of a major military operation in the territory after two Palestinian assailants killed two Israeli soldiers near Hebron.

23 Oct 2026 - 11:37PM

Armed Palestinian gunmen exchange fire with Israeli forces at a checkpoint near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday. Photo: AFP

A Palestinian gunman aims a handgun towards Israeli military vehicles. Photo: AFP

Hamas

Israelis vote in tense election testing Netanyahu’s grip on power

First post-October 7 ballot gauges public appetite for change after three years of devastating war.

Netanyahu touts Trump backing on eve of vote, hints at restarting war with Iran

‘I’ll die here’: Israel widens West Bank crackdown, displacing families

Netanyahu orders West Bank closure after attack on Israelis ends in gun battle

Netanyahu warned of a major military operation in the territory after two Palestinian assailants killed two Israeli soldiers near Hebron.

Palestinian leader Abbas postpones elections to September 2027

Palestinians have not held legislative or presidential elections since 2005-2006, after which Hamas seized control of Gaza.

Israel continues demolishing buildings in Gaza a year after ceasefire

With almost the entire population homeless, displaced Palestinians face an unrecognisable landscape.

Israel marks 3 years since October 7 attack that sparked war in Gaza

Sombre tributes take place as political debate intensifies weeks before Israel’s national vote.

‘There will be no Hamas rule in Gaza,’ Netanyahu vows at October 7 memorial

The Israeli prime minister also says he stands with victims’ families and the nation shares their grief.

Israel’s Gaza air strike kills Hamas commander behind October 7, 2023 attack

The Israeli military says it has killed at least ‌20 Hamas figures this month, while Hamas accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza peace deal.

Israel files security complaint after TV station reports Netanyahu’s secret UAE visit

Prime minister’s office accuses broadcaster of endangering lives as Abu Dhabi later confirms high-level talks.

Hamas leader says Israel to use ‘blood’ of Palestinians as fuel for election

Khalil al-Hayya also said Hamas was ready to engage with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to ‘achieve genuine unity’.

Netanyahu blasts critics at UN, dismissing Gaza genocide accusations

Israeli prime minister denounces walkout delegates as ‘moral cowards’ during a fiery address defending the war against Iran.

Trump’s Board of Peace proposes US$2.45 billion Gaza reconstruction plan

Physical damage across Gaza will cost roughly US$35.2 billion in the medium term and another US$71.4 billion in the next 10 years.

‘We will learn even in a tent’: Gaza children return to in-person schools

The move is a fragile milestone; the conflict with Israel has killed around 22,000 youngsters and over 770 education workers.

Israel prepared to ‘finish job’ in Gaza and remove Palestinians, minister says

Israel Katz says the IDF is prepared to resume fighting, eliminate Hamas and implement ‘the migration plan’.

Israeli army chief orders legal review of award-winning Gaza war film

Israeli-made Gaza documentary makes waves after winning the Venice special jury prize.

Israeli film on AI-backed Gaza killings gets 25-minute ovation

Oscar-winning directors premiere ‘NAZA’, featuring military whistle-blowers detailing automated target selection.

‘Not for sale’: Thais take to streets in rare protest against Israel

The protest follows months of complaints about illegal landholding, cultural disrespect and proliferation of Israeli religious houses.

Israel ready to remove Palestinians in Gaza once US approves, minister says

Defence Minister Israel Katz says there is ‘no real solution’ without migration and that Trump’s displacement plan is ‘frozen’.

Netanyahu accuses security officials of intentionally not waking him on October 7

Israeli prime minister repeats assertions about 2023 security fiasco as he faces pivotal elections.

Kushner talks with Israel, Hamas end without breakthrough on Trump Gaza plan

Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed agreement that would see Hamas surrender its arms in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza.

Far-right Ben-Gvir urges Israel to kill ‘30 to 40 every night’ in Gaza

The national security minister does not have power to order strikes but is one of the most influential people in Israel.

US envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader in push for Gaza road map

Israeli PM Netanyahu last week rejected the US-backed 15-point plan in a rare public show of defiance against the Trump administration.

1 killed in Israel’s first Gaza strike in over a week

The attack comes days after Netanyahu publicly rejected a Trump-backed ceasefire deal.

Israel’s Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan endorsed by Hamas

Israeli leader dismisses 15-point document for the future of war-torn Gaza in the latest break with the White House.

Netanyahu says Israel didn’t agree to US-backed Gaza plan

The Israeli leader has received guarantees that the Israeli army would only need to leave its current positions in Gaza after Hamas disarms.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ conditions Israel’s Gaza withdrawal on Hamas disarmament

US-backed panel seeks to calm Israeli pushback over framework for war-torn enclave.

Singapore battles speed of youth radicalisation as concerns mount

Observers say boosting relationships, digital literacy and emotional resilience can help young people better reject violent ideologies.