israeli tourist killed

latest in US News

Lead Secret Service agent at Trump’s Butler rally knew of...

Strange alien-like fish washes up on Oregon beach, creates 'quite...

Diddy's kids break silence after his sex crimes arrest -- to...

Second abandoned mansion owned by MLB team owner's son blanketed...

Dallas police officer blind in both eyes after fellow cop is...

Air Force vet, brother who were drugged during Dubai yacht party...

Johnny Cash statue unveiled at the US Capitol, marking the first...

Another Outer Banks home collapses into Atlantic, third home lost...

Breaking news, israeli tourists killed by egyptian cop who ‘lost control’ at ancient roman site.

Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were murdered by an Egyptian police officer at a popular archeological site in Alexandria on Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported.

The trio was gunned down while visiting the ancient Roman site Pompey’s Pillar, located in the heart of the coastal city.

It remains unclear what sparked the shooting, but two Egyptian security sources told Reuters the cop claimed he lost control after being provoked by the tour group, then randomly unloaded his gun into their midst

Another person was injured in the shooting, but reports have varied as to whether they were Egyptian or Israeli.

The shooter was taken into custody, according to reports.

Footage from the scene showed bodies slumped about the ancient site, as investigators moved among them and onlookers cried out in distress.

The shooting came just a day after Hamas militants descended on Israel in a sneak attack that’s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and scores more being taken hostage by the Palestinian terror group.

Thousands more people in Israel have been wounded.

Israel has since declared war on Hamas and vowed “mighty vengeance” against the group, resulting in the death of more than 370 Palestinians and 2,000 wounded in Gaza so far, according to Gaza officials.

Egypt was the first nation in the region to formalize relations with Israel with a peace treaty in 1979.

Since then, the nation has been instrumental in mediating relations between Israel, Palestinians and Arab nations.

Pro-Palestinian sentiments among Egyptian citizenry have long led to tensions with visiting Israelis.

In June, three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed by an Egyptian policeman during an altercation over a smuggling operation on the Egyptian border.

Israel called that killing a terrorist attack.

Advertisement

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Two Israeli tourists killed in Egypt shooting attack

• Two Israeli tourists killed in Egypt shooting attack on x (opens in a new window)
• Two Israeli tourists killed in Egypt shooting attack on facebook (opens in a new window)
• Two Israeli tourists killed in Egypt shooting attack on linkedin (opens in a new window)
• Two Israeli tourists killed in Egypt shooting attack on whatsapp (opens in a new window)

Heba Saleh in Cairo, James Shotter in Jerusalem and Andrew England in London

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

An Egyptian policeman shot and killed two Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria on Sunday, according to reports citing the interior ministry. An Egyptian civilian was also killed in the shooting before the policeman was detained.

The Israeli foreign ministry said a third Israeli had been injured in the attack and was in a “moderate” condition, and that it was working with the Egyptian authorities to repatriate the Israeli citizens as quickly as possible.

The foreign ministry did not identify the Israelis involved but said the Egyptian who was killed had been their tour guide as they visited a Roman site in the city.

The shooting came a day after Hamas launched a multipronged attack against Israeli civilians and military posts in Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, triggering a conflict in which hundreds of people have already died.

Egypt was the first Arab state to normalise diplomatic ties with Israel in 1980 and Israeli tourists are regular visitors to the country, particularly to its coastal regions in the Sinai peninsula which they can enter without a visa.

Although there are government-to-government relations and security co-operation between the two countries, Egyptians for the most part sympathise with the Palestinian cause. The relationship between Egypt and Israel is often described as “a cold peace”.

Only small numbers of Egyptians travel to Israel for tourism or other purposes, and Israeli academics and artists are not normally hosted at Egyptian conferences or events.

Attacks against Israelis by Egyptians, however, are extremely infrequent. In early June an Egyptian border guard breached a security fence and entered Israeli territory where he shot dead two soldiers at a military post in the Negev desert. Israeli forces managed to locate him and a gunfight followed in which he was killed after shooting dead a third Israeli soldier.

It was the worst incident on the countries’ border for more than a decade. The border area had been relatively calm since a series of militant attacks in 2011 and 2012.

Egypt borders Gaza and controls access to the Palestinian enclave. Along with Israel it has blockaded the territory since Hamas took control of it in 2007.

Egypt and Israel co-operate extensively over security in the Sinai and the border area. The Egyptian intelligence service has also played a major role mediating between Israel and Hamas and securing ceasefires during previous bouts of fighting between the two sides.

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article.

• Middle Eastern politics & society Add to myFT
• Alexandria Add to myFT
• Egypt Add to myFT
• Israel Add to myFT
• James Shotter Add to myFT

Comments have not been enabled for this article.

Egyptian policeman kills Israeli tourists in Alexandria: Reports

Two Israelis and an Egyptian national killed in firing by a policeman in the Mediterranean city, according to local media reports.

An Egyptian policeman has opened fire on tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israeli nationals and one Egyptian, according to local media reports.

Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, quoted an unidentified security official as saying that another person was wounded in the attack on an Israeli tour group in Pompey’s Pillar site in Alexandria.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the wounded as an Israeli who suffered moderate injuries. The ministry said in a statement that Israeli authorities were working with the Egyptian government to bring the Israelis home.

The suspected assailant was detained and the site of the attack was cordoned off, according to the Extra News.

A video circulating on social media showed at least three ambulances apparently taking the victims to hospitals.

Sunday’s attack came as Israel carried out air raids on the Gaza Strip as it battled Hamas fighters, who killed about 250 Israelis after crossing into Israeli territory.

At least 313 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli siege for the past 16 years.

Policeman shoots dead two Israelis at Egyptian tourist site in Alexandria

The suspected gunman was arrested and taken into custody, according to Extra News, an Egyptian news channel which has close ties to the country's security agencies.

Monday 9 October 2023 11:40, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

At least two Israelis and one Egyptian have been killed after a policeman opened fire on a group of tourists in Alexandria, according to the country's Interior Ministry.

The incident took place at the Pompey's Pillar site in the city of Alexandria on Saturday.

Two Egyptian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the news agency Reuters that the suspected gunman was a police officer.

Women and children among dozens of hostages being held by Hamas, says Israel - follow live

He was arrested and taken into custody, according to Extra News television channel - which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies.

Israel's foreign ministry confirmed that two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian guide had been killed in the shooting.

The tourist site, which dates back to the late Roman Empire, was sealed off following the incident.

It comes as the Israeli military continues to fight Palestinian militants from Hamas after they launched an attack across the border from Gaza on Saturday morning.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more: British citizen missing after Hamas attack What next for Israel and Palestine?

Hundreds of Israelis have been killed in the deadliest attack on the country in decades, while the health ministry said at least 1,590 people had been injured.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry said on Sunday morning that at least 370 people had died, including 20 children, and nearly were 2,000 wounded in Israel's retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, with seven people, including a child, killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned people living in Gaza to leave as he vowed to turn parts of the territory "into rubble" in revenge for what he called a "black day".

Related Topics

• Israel-Hamas war

Take Our Quiz »

Find the best country for you: ».

A Policeman in Egypt Killed 2 Israelis and 1 Egyptian at a Tourist Site in Alexandria

Egyptian authorities say a policeman opened fire on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian

This is a locator map for Egypt with its capital, Cairo. (AP Photo)

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian policeman opened fire Sunday on Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, killing at least two Israelis and one Egyptian, Israeli and Egyptian authorities said.

A statement from Egypt's Interior Ministry said that another person was wounded in the attack at the Pompey’s Pillar site in Alexandria. It provided no further details.

Israel's Foreign Ministry identified the wounded person as an Israeli who suffered moderate injuries. The ministry said in a statement that Israeli authorities were working with the Egyptian government to bring the Israelis home.

Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, reported that the suspected assailant was detained. The dead Egyptian was a tour guide, according to media outlets.

Security forces quickly cordoned off the site of the attack. Graphic footage posted on social media showed two people lying motionless on the ground. Another was seen being helped by a group of men. One woman was heard shouting for an ambulance.

The attack triggered mixed reactions from social media users. Some lauded the attack in Alexandria while others condemned the killing of civilians visiting Egypt.

Writing on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, renowned Egyptian writer and TV host Ibrahim Issa called the attack a “terrorist crime,” adding that, “any attempt to justify it is a crime against humanity and the nation.”

Amr Magdi, researcher with Human Rights Watch, condemned the attack, saying on X: “No justification whatsoever for intentionally targeting Israeli civilians in #Egypt, Gaza or anywhere else.”

In a message to Americans in Egypt, the U.S. embassy in Cairo urged them to take precautions as the attack could be related to the clashes between Israel and Palestinian militants .

Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in the 1970s and has long served as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But anti-Israeli sentiment runs high in the country, especially during bouts of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Copyright 2023 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

Join the Conversation

Tags: Associated Press , politics , crime , world news

America 2024

U.S. News Decision Points

Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.S. News and World Report.

Sign in to manage your newsletters »

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

The 10 worst presidents.

U.S. News Staff Feb. 23, 2024

The Best Cartoons on Donald Trump

Sept. 23, 2024, at 4:04 p.m.

Joe Biden Behind The Scenes

Aug. 20, 2024

Takeaways: Biden’s U.N. Farewell

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Sept. 24, 2024

Consumer Confidence Tumbles on Job Fears

Tim Smart Sept. 24, 2024

3 Things to Watch This Week at the U.N.

Laura Mannweiler Sept. 24, 2024

Stopgap Bill Pushes Drama Past Election

Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Sept. 23, 2024

Israel, Hezbollah Clashes, Explained

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder Sept. 23, 2024

The Week in Cartoons Sept. 23-27

Sept. 23, 2024, at 4:09 p.m.

Post Fed Rate Cut, Eyes Turn to New Data

Tim Smart Sept. 23, 2024

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Two Israeli Tourists Killed in Egypt After Hamas War Erupts

(Bloomberg) -- An Egyptian policeman opened fire on a group of Israeli tourists in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Sunday, killing two of the holidaymakers and a local guide, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Israel Latest: First Round of US Security Aid Is on the Way

Schumer Confronts Xi on Israel-Hamas Stance in Rare Meeting

Israel Latest: Over 1,100 Dead; US Sends Warships to Region

Stocks Shrug Off Losses After Fedspeak; Oil Climbs: Markets Wrap

The shooter was taken into custody by Egyptian authorities, MENA said, citing unidentified security officials. A third Israeli tourist was also wounded in the attack, the agency said.

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed the attack.

The incident came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country “at war” following a coordinated attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, with hundreds killed on both sides. Fighting continued for a second day as Israeli defense forces sought to regain control of infiltrated areas.

Read More: Israel Latest: Regional Stocks Stumble; Deadly Egyptian Shooting

The Alexandria attack “may be related to ongoing hostilities in Gaza and Israel,” the US Embassy in Cairo said in a statement. It urged US citizens in Egypt to “exercise increased security awareness and precautions.”

The shooting may reflect lingering animosity harbored by many in Egypt toward Israel despite a peace deal agreed to by the two nations decades earlier. Anti-Israeli sentiments tend to come to the fore during flare-ups of violence between the country and the Palestinians.

(Updates with US embassy statement in fifth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

Worst US Bond Selloff Since 1787 Marks End of Free-Money Era

Can AI Beat the Market? Wall Street Is Desperate to Try

Despite Backlash, Companies Still Benefit From Being Pro-LGBTQ

With Banks Offering 5% Returns, Financial Advisers Fight Irrelevance

Tech IPOs Could Burn Firms Who Bought Into Hot Startups Too Late

©2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Recommended Stories

Lakers coach jj redick reveals team's starting lineup before training camp.

No, the Lakers aren't starting Bronny.

Yahoo Top 10: Tennessee's road win at Oklahoma boosts Vols to No. 1 while USC falls out of rankings

This college football season is still devoid of major upsets, but some teams have played tougher schedules than others.

College Football Playoff Picture: Here's what the 12-team bracket looks like after Week 4

Boise State moves into the 12-team field after Northern Illinois lost in Week 4.

Caitlin Clark, DiJonai Carrington shut down idea that Game 1 eye poke was intentional: ‘Just watch the play’

“I don’t even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye.”

Panic Meter: Anthony Richardson, Miami Dolphins, all the TEs + Waiver Wire pickups | Yahoo Fantasy Forecast

Week 3 is in the books and oh my there's a lot of panic on these fantasy streets. Dalton Del Don joins Scott Pianowski for another edition of the 'People's Panic Meter' to answer all of your listener submissions. The duo examines the situations for Anthony Richardson, Brandon Aiyuk and the entire TE position.

Mortgage and refinance rates today, September 24, 2024: 15-year rates back under 5%

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. The rates on a few terms have increased today, but many rates have fallen. Lock in your rate today.

Ryan Pepiot throws fourth immaculate inning in Rays history

With only 117 in MLB history, an immaculate inning is rarer than a no-hitter.

Hurricane tracker: Tropical Storm Helene intensifies, Florida declares state of emergency and starts evacuations

The National Hurricane Center said that a major hurricane will make landfall along the Florida gulf coast on Thursday.

The Mandela effect: 10 examples that explain what it is and why it happens

No, Mr. Monopoly didn't have a monocle — it's just one example of a false memory that many of us share, an expert says.

Bottled water contains harmful contaminants, experts warn. Here are safer ways to hydrate.

Experts say that the potential health — and environmental — risks of bottled water outweigh the benefits for people where tap water is safe.

AP Top 25: Tennessee moves to No. 5, Missouri drops out of top 10

The Volunteers won on the road at Oklahoma on Saturday.

Dissecting 3-0 teams: why the Bills, Seahawks, Steelers, Vikings and Chiefs are undefeated | Football 301

Nate Tice is joined by Charles McDonald to give their thoughts and takeaways from Week 3 of NFL action.

Asked & Answered: Has there ever been a career rebirth quite like Sam Darnold?

Plus, it's clear now the city of Green Bay has made a deal with the devil when it comes to QBs.

macOS Sequoia review: iPhone mirroring is more useful than you think

MacOS Sequoia is the rare Mac update you should install immediately, especially if you're an iPhone user.

Is MWC dissolution coming? UNLV now holds keys to future in fight between Pac-12 and Mountain West

The Pac-12’s rebuilding effort could, ultimately, result in the destruction of its sister conference if UNLV accepts its offer to join.

Disney's theme parks have seen a slowdown. Is it a temporary blip?

Disney's parks business is slowing. But that might not be as concerning as it seems.

Conference realignment strikes again & Week 5 preview | College Football Enquirer

Oh boy, another conference realignment update! Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger and SI's Pat Forde react to the latest news in conference realignment. They dive into the Pac-12 securing a commitment from Utah State, the AAC fighting to keep its top teams, and the Mountain West scrambling to stay alive.

Ranking the NBA's No. 2 options: Lakers, Celtics boast the league's best co-stars

Within all 30 teams is a hierarchy. Here's a look at each franchise's second go-to player.

MLB playoffs 2024: Ranking all the postseason teams' starting rotations, from the Guardians to the Phillies

With October around the corner, the Phillies, Astros and Padres appear locked in, while other teams have questions to answer.

This knit jacket is better than J.Crew's coatigan, fans say — it's over 50% off

Why wait for chilly weather? This polished bestseller, just $34, will keep you toasty even if the A/C is still blasting.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Egypt investigating killing of israeli businessman in alexandria, egyptian police are currently investigating the killing of an israeli businessman in alexandria on tuesday..

An Jewish Israeli businessman was killed Tuesday in the port city Alexandria by unknown gunmen, Egyptian media reported.

According to Al-Arabiya TV, the man was killed in one of Alexandria’s affluent neighborhoods. It also said that the victim was the owner of a frozen fruit and vegetables company based in the city and that he had been traveling to Egypt frequently over the last nine years, reportedly using a Canadian passport. The report said he also held Russian citizenship.

Israeli media identified the victim as Ziv Kiefer. Arabic-language media outlets reported that a group known as Vanguards of the Liberation took credit for the attack. The group claimed in a statement on Telegram that Kiefer worked with Israel's spy agency the Mossad, according to the outlets. 

Al-Monitor was unable to verify the statement.

Who killed the man and whether their motivation was political remain unclear. Egyptian police are now investigating the incident. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said they were familiar with the case and that the embassy in Cairo is in contact with local authorities. 

The incident comes against a backdrop of growing tension between Israel and Egypt after the Israeli military entered east of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Cairo has reiterated on several occasions its objection to such an operation. 

Tuesday’s incident is not the first time an Israeli civilian has been killed in Alexandria. Two Israeli tourists and their tour guide were killed in the port city on Oct. 8, one day after the Hamas assault on Israel. Another Israeli tourist was injured in that shooting incident. The offender was a local police officer who shot at the group of Israeli tourists with his personal weapon. 

Related Topics

Related articles.

At least 7 Israelis killed, several injured in Jerusalem synagogue shooting

Saudi media hosting more Israeli figures since Gaza war

Six killed in rare Oman attack claimed by Islamic State group

Attack on US Embassy in Lebanon, Syrian gunman wounded

Two Israelis killed in Egypt attack

Policeman opened fire on tourists in alexandria.

October 08, 2023

• Share on Facebook
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on WhatsApp

Middle East Today

The must read newsletter for the region

Israeli tourists killed by Egyptian cop who ‘lost control’ at ancient Roman site

T wo Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were murdered by a Egyptian police officer at a popular archeological site in Alexandria on Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported.

The trio was gunned down while visiting the ancient Roman site Pompey’s Pillar, located in the heart of the coastal city.

It remains unclear what sparked the shooting, but two Egyptian security sources told Reuters the cop claimed he lost control after being provoked by the tour group, then randomly unloaded his gun into their midst

Another person was injured in the shooting, but reports have varied as to whether they were Egyptian or Israeli.

The shooter was taken into custody, according to reports.

Footage from the scene showed bodies slumped about the ancient site, as investigators moved among them and onlookers cried out in distress.

The shooting came just a day after Hamas militants descended on Israel in a sneak attack that’s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and scores more being taken hostage by the Palestinian terror group. Thousands more people in Israel have been wounded.

Israel has since declared war on Hamas and vowed “mighty vengeance” against the group, resulting in the death of more than 370 Palestinians and 2,000 wounded in Gaza so far, according to Gaza officials.

Egypt was the first nation in the region to formalize relations with Israel with a peace treaty in 1979.

Since then, the nation has been instrumental in mediating relations between Israel, Palestinians and Arab nations.

Pro-Palestinian sentiments among Egyptian citizenry have long led to tensions with visiting Israelis.

In June, three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian security officer were killed by an Egyptian policeman during an altercation over a smuggling operation on the Egyptian border.

Israel called that killing a terrorist attack.

1 tourist killed, 5 wounded in Tel Aviv attack following airstrikes, West Bank violence

Israeli jets hit targets in lebanon, gaza on friday after rocket fire amid rising tensions.

Tensions soar in Gaza during holy time

Social sharing.

An Italian tourist was killed and five people were wounded in a car ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday that came hours after two Israeli sisters were killed in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank.

The attacks, after a night of cross-border strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, added to an atmosphere of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions following Israeli police raids in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque earlier this week.

The tensions threatened to spiral into a wider conflict overnight as Israel responded to a barrage of rockets by hitting targets linked to the Islamist militant group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon, but the fighting entered a lull on Friday.

However, the two attacks underlined how volatile the situation remains after successive nights of trouble that have drawn worldwide alarm and calls for calm.

Driver in car attack killed by police

In the latest attack, a car plowed into a group on a street near a popular bike and walking path on a Tel Aviv promenade. The driver was shot dead by a nearby police officer when he tried to pull a gun, police said.

An Israeli security source identified the assailant as an Arab citizen of Israel from the town of Kafr Qassem.

Reuters video from shortly after the incident showed a white car upside down on the grass of a park. Police cordoned off the area that was brimming with emergency responders.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said the victims were all foreign tourists and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that an Italian had been killed and other Italians may have been among the wounded.

• Why the Al-Aqsa site is so important to Muslims and Jews — and the site of renewed violence

"Our enemies are putting us to the test again," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following a visit to the site of the attack with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

As soldiers hunted for the gunman, Netanyahu ordered border police reserves and additional military forces to be mobilized to confront the wave of attacks.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Friday that the U.S. "strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks."

"The three horrific attacks today, in which three were killed and at least eight others wounded, affected citizens of Israel, Italy and the United Kingdom. The targeting of innocent civilians of any nationality is unconscionable," the spokesperson said.

Ongoing tensions over religious sites

No claim of responsibility was made for either of Friday's attacks, but Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the blockaded Gaza Strip, praised them and linked them to the tensions around Al-Aqsa mosque.

Friday prayers passed without major incident and apart from some stone-throwing, police said the situation had been quiet.

Calls for peace after clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque

However, twice this week Israeli police have raided the mosque, where hundreds of thousands of worshippers have been praying during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to dislodge groups they said had barricaded themselves with the aim of causing trouble.

Footage of officers beating worshippers who confronted them aroused concern, even among Israel's allies, and prompted condemnation across the Arab world.

The site in Jerusalem's Old City, holy to both Muslims and Jews, who know it as Temple Mount, has been a longstanding flashpoint, notably over the issue of Jewish visitors defying a ban on non-Muslim prayer in the mosque compound.

• At least 11 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Israeli raid in West Bank

Even before the flare-up of the past few days, the West Bank has seen a surge of confrontations in the past several months, with frequent military raids and escalating settler violence amid a spate of attacks by Palestinians.

Since the beginning of the year, at least 18 Israelis and foreigners have been killed in attacks in Israel, around Jerusalem and in the West Bank. In the same period, Israeli forces have killed more than 80 Palestinians, most of them fighters in militant groups but some of them civilians.

Airstrikes in Lebanon, Gaza

The attacks in Israel and the occupied West Bank came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israeli airstrikes on Palestinian militant targets in both Lebanon and Gaza.

Israeli jets hit sites in Lebanon and Gaza earlier on Friday, in retaliation for rocket attacks that Israel blamed on Hamas, as tensions following police raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem this week threatened to spiral out of control.

Ground-shaking blasts rocked different areas of Gaza. Israel said its jets hit targets including tunnels and weapons manufacturing sites of Hamas, which controls the blockaded southern coastal strip.

As daybreak neared, the military said it had also struck Hamas targets in southern Lebanon, where residents around the area of the Rashidiyeh refugee camp reported three loud blasts.

Two Lebanese security sources said the strike hit a small structure on farmland near the area from which the rockets had been launched earlier. The strike appeared to have left a large crater in farmland in the south, according to Reuters witnesses.

A member of Lebanon's Civil Defence at the scene on Friday morning said there were no casualties.

Rocket attacks

The Israeli airstrikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon toward northern Israeli areas, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas.

The military said 34 rockets were launched from Lebanon, 25 of which were intercepted by air defence systems. It was the biggest such attack since 2006, when Israel fought a war with the heavily armed Hezbollah movement.

The airstrikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with his security cabinet to discuss the rocket fire. He vowed an "aggressive response."

"We will strike our enemies and they will pay a price for every act of aggression," he said, noting that Israelis remain united in the face of external threats despite their political differences.

Fears of wider conflict

The unusually large salvo of rockets raised fears of a wider conflagration; Hezbollah holds sway over much of southern Lebanon. 

In a briefing with reporters, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesperson, said the army drew a clear connection between the Lebanese rocket fire and the recent unrest in Jerusalem.

"It's a Palestinian-oriented event," he said, adding that either the Hamas or Islamic Jihad militant groups, which are based in Gaza but also operate in Lebanon, could be involved.

But he said the army believed that Hezbollah and the Lebanese government were aware of what happened and also held responsibility. He declined to say how Israel might respond, saying there were "all sorts of scenarios."

No faction in Lebanon claimed responsibility for the salvo of rockets.

A Lebanese security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said the country's security forces believed the rockets were launched by a Lebanon-based Palestinian militant group, not by Hezbollah militants. The official said there were no casualties on the Lebanese side.

A spokesperson for Hezbollah did not respond to a request for comment. Both Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out conflict since a 34-day war in 2006 ended with a draw.

• Israeli PM Netanyahu announces pause on judicial reform after mass protests
• Analysis More religious or more democratic? Israel protests become fight for country's 'essential character'

Tensions have simmered along the Lebanese border as Israel appears to have ratcheted up its shadow war against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, another close ally of Iran, Israel's archenemy in the region.

Suspected Israeli airstrikes in Syria in recent weeks have killed two Iranian military advisers and temporarily put the country's two largest airports out of service. Hecht said Thursday's rocket fire was not believed to be connected to events in Syria.

With files from The Associated Press

Related Stories

• Trudeau calls for peace following Israeli raid of mosque

• Share full article

Advertisement

Morning Briefing: Europe Edition

Tuesday briefing: israeli airstrikes in lebanon kill hundreds.

Plus, vintage soccer jerseys and the memories they preserve.

By Justin Porter

Israeli airstrikes killed hundreds in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon killed nearly 500, including dozens of women and children, and injured more than 1,000 others, Lebanon’s health ministry said. It was the deadliest day of Israeli attacks there since at least 2006, when Israel last fought a war with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group. Follow live updates.

The strikes were Israel’s latest attempt to break Hezbollah’s resolve. They followed clandestine operations last week that blew up the wireless devices of Hezbollah members and killed at least 37 people. The Israeli military said that its air force had struck about 1,600 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon yesterday, adding that it would continue to do so. Here’s a map of the strikes.

So far, Israel has failed to force Hezbollah to pull back from the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah launched its own barrage at Israel yesterday, most of which was intercepted by Israel’s antimissile defense system. Hezbollah leaders have said they will continue their attacks until Israel and Hamas agree to a cease-fire in Gaza.

Evacuations: Thousands of Lebanese families have been displaced , some of whose cars and vehicles were struck as they tried to flee, according to Lebanon’s health minister. Israeli strikes also hit ambulances and fire trucks as they raced to respond.

Gaza: Israeli forces struck a school building where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in central Gaza, killing a couple and their daughter and wounding several other people, according to Palestinian officials.

U.S. response: The Pentagon announced it would send dozens of U.S. troops to the Middle East to protect the thousands of Americans stationed there.

New poll results are the best for Trump in weeks

The latest New York Times/Siena College polls of Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina find Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris in all three states . It’s further evidence that in a sharply divided nation, the 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the tightest in history.

“We’re getting to the point in the election cycle where we’re starting to get a lot of polls — enough that it will occasionally start to feel as if the polls are swinging from left to right and back, every day,” writes our chief political analyst, Nate Cohn. “This is one of those days.”

If Trump wins those states, he won’t need many more. But in one sign of how these contests remain up for grabs, about 15 percent of voters in these states described themselves as undecided or not definitely decided. Read more of Nate’s analysis of Trump’s best poll results in weeks.

More on the U.S. election

Americans head to the polls in less than seven weeks.

Harris reiterated that she supported eliminating the Senate filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation .

The pop star, Janet Jackson, who challenged Harris’s racial identity this weekend, doubled down on her false claims .

Polls show voters want to know more about what Harris would do in office. This week she plans to ramp up her economic policies .

Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers .

Stay up to date:

See our poll tracker .

Listen to “ The Run-Up ” podcast.

Sign up for the On Politics newsletter .

Pressure mounts on Biden before annual U.N. meeting

President Biden will be under increasing pressure this week to loosen restrictions on Ukraine’s use of weapons when global leaders meet today at the United Nations for their annual gathering .

Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, will come with what he calls a victory plan for Biden to examine. Key European leaders are pushing hard for Biden to allow him to use longer-range weapons supplied by NATO countries to hit farther inside Russia. Biden has been reluctant to give Ukraine permission to do so, careful not to escalate the war and risk a direct conflict between Moscow and the NATO alliance.

MORE TOP NEWS

The Vatican: Pope Francis canceled appointments yesterday because of a mild flu before his travels to Belgium and Luxembourg later this week.

United Arab Emirates: The White House hosted Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed , the U.A.E.’s ruler, to discuss Gaza, the war in Sudan and artificial intelligence.

China: A U.S. congressional report argued that Beijing had exploited its ties with American universities to advance its military’s technology, and that further guardrails were needed.

Italy: A man smashed a porcelain sculpture by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei at a new exhibition in Bologna.

California: The state’s attorney general sued Exxon Mobil , accusing the oil giant of overhyping the promise of recycling and spawning a plastic-pollution crisis.

Germany: The center-left party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz scored a narrow victory over the far-right ethnonationalist party, Alternative für Deutschland, in a state election.

Japan : A Russian military patrol plane breached airspace off the country’s northwestern coast three times , prompting Japan’s military to use a signal flare to deter it.

Australia: In a rare case of legal action tied to rising prices, the government sued the grocery store giants Woolworths and Coles over what regulators described as fake discounts .

SPORTS NEWS

Premier League: The bad blood between Manchester City and Arsenal goes to the top of both clubs .

Highlights: Watch a brilliant back-heel goal by Sunderland’s 17-year-old soccer wunderkind, Chris Rigg.

Formula One: Max Verstappen protested being punished by the F.I.A. for swearing .

MORNING READ

Vintage soccer jerseys have become a streetwear staple and a target of major investors. But their real value, a few obsessed collectors told Rory Smith, lies in the memories and the stories they conjure.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Animal instinct: A 2-year-old Siamese cat who disappeared in Yellowstone made a 800-mile trek home to California. His owners have no idea how.

Superager shark: Scientists mapped the genome of the Greenland shark, hoping to learn how it can live for up to 400 years .

Food for thought: When Keith Lee, a restaurant reviewer, tastes takeout in his car, he sometimes offends whole cities in the process.

ARTS AND IDEAS

Tourism’s next battlefront: running water.

As a prolonged heat wave scorched Greece in mid-June, residents in the small island of Sifnos faced a reality they long expected and feared: Their taps ran dry. For 10 days, homes and vacation rentals lacked fresh running water.

Water scarcity is becoming the next battleground in overtourism, as residents in popular vacation destinations grapple with the impact of climate change and compete with tourists to get their share of a dwindling supply. The situation is particularly alarming on the Greek islands, many of which do not have the infrastructure to absorb tens of thousands of tourists.

But governments dependent on tourism dollars are fearful of deterring visitors, making them reluctant to impose restrictions on hotels and restaurants. In Sicily, for example, the local authorities have admitted to prioritizing water supply to hotels. Earlier this year in Barcelona, only residents, not tourists, faced water restrictions.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Cook: This lemony white bean soup is brightened by lemon and herbs and packed with hearty greens.

Read: Sally Rooney’s latest novel, “Intermezzo,” which comes out today, considers love in its various permutations.

Give: Wirecutter has pulled the best of its tested products for 25 gifts guaranteed to delight for years.

Play the Spelling Bee . And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle . You can find all our puzzles here .

That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Justin

Reach Justin and the team at [email protected] .

Justin Porter is Times editor working on the Newsletters desk. More about Justin Porter

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

Israel launches more strikes on Hezbollah as death toll in Lebanon rises to 558

BEIRUT - Israel announced dozens of new air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon on Sept 24, a day after 558 people, including about 50 children, were killed in the deadliest bombardment since a devastating war in 2006.

“In the last hour, warplanes bombed Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including missile launchers, military buildings and buildings where weapons were stored,” Lieutenant-Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Israeli army spokesman, said in a post on social media platform X on Sept 24.

A Lebanese security source said an Israeli strike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sept 24, killing six people, including Ibrahim Qubaisi, a top Hezbollah commander who oversaw the deployment of missile batteries.

“An Israeli strike targeted two floors in a residential building in the Ghobeiri area,” the security source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The Israeli military said it killed a large number of militants when it hit about 1,600 suspected Hezbollah targets around Lebanon on Sept 23.

Hezbollah said, in response, that it launched volleys of missiles at Israeli military bases on Sept 24. It said 180 of its projectiles and an unmanned aerial vehicle crossed into Israeli airspace, sending people in the city of Haifa running for shelter.

The raids in Lebanon on Sept 23 also killed 94 women, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad. He said that the vast majority, if not all, of the 558 individuals killed in these attacks were unarmed people in their homes.

The UN said tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled their homes since Sept 23, in the face of the intensifying Israeli bombardment.

“Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes yesterday and overnight, and the numbers continue to grow,” UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said, adding that “the toll on civilians is unacceptable”.

“It was a day of terror,” 41-year-old housewife Thuraya Harb said, at a makeshift centre for displaced families in Beirut, after fleeing her home in south Lebanon.

“I didn’t want to leave my home, but the children were scared,” the mother of four said, adding that the family fled “with nothing but the clothes on our backs”.

The Sept 23 assault on Lebanon was by far the largest and deadliest, not just in the past year, but since the Israel-Hezbollah war in the summer of 2006.

That war saw 1,200 people killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 Israeli deaths, most of them soldiers. Large swathes of Hezbollah strongholds were also devastated.

‘Operation Northern Arrows’

Israel has dubbed its raids on Hezbollah “Operation Northern Arrows” after announcing earlier in September that it was shifting the focus of its firepower from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon.

Long-time foes Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire for almost a year, since the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, staged an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 .

The Oct 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly Israelis.

Israel’s retaliatory military offensive, meanwhile, has killed at least 41,467 people in Gaza.

Hezbollah backer Iran condemned the Sept 23 raids on Lebanon, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying its ally “cannot stand alone” against Israel.

“Hezbollah cannot stand alone against a country that is being defended and supported and supplied by Western countries, by European countries and the US,” Mr Pezeshkian said in an interview with CNN.

“We must not allow Lebanon to become another Gaza at the hands of Israel,” he added.

Other leaders have expressed alarm over the rapid escalation, with UN chief Antonio Guterres’ spokesman saying he was “gravely alarmed”, and the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell warning “we are almost in a full-fledged war”.

The Pentagon said it was sending a small number of additional US military personnel to the Middle East after thousands were deployed earlier alongside warships, fighter jets and air defence systems.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity at the UN General Assembly, said Washington opposed an Israeli ground invasion targeting Hezbollah and had “concrete ideas” on how to de-escalate the crisis.

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi expressed support for Lebanon and condemned what he described as “indiscriminate attacks against civilians”.

‘Most difficult week for Hezbollah’

Israeli armed forces chief Herzi Halevi said the strikes on Sept 23 hit combat infrastructure Hezbollah has been building for two decades, while Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called it “a significant peak” in the operation.

“This is the most difficult week for Hezbollah since its establishment – the results speak for themselves,” he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was acting to change the “security balance” in the north, while Hezbollah said it was in a “new phase” of confrontation with Israel.

The violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalated dramatically last week, when coordinated communications device blasts that the militants blamed on Israel killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000.

Then on Sept 20, an Israeli strike on southern Beirut, a bastion of Hezbollah, killed its elite Radwan Force commander Ibrahim Aqil.

An Israeli military official, who cannot be further identified under military rules, said the operation seeks to “degrade threats” from Hezbollah, push them back from the border, and then destroy infrastructure.

“This is an extremely dangerous situation, but one that for me still leaves room for diplomacy to avoid the worst,” said Israeli political analyst Michael Horowitz.

Global powers urged Israel and Hezbollah to step back from the brink of all-out war.

France and Egypt called on the UN Security Council to intervene, while Iraq requested an urgent meeting of Arab states on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the UN and world powers to deter what he called Israel’s “plan that aims to destroy Lebanese villages and towns”.

‘Full-fledged war’ nearing

US President Joe Biden, whose country is Israel’s main ally and weapons supplier, said Washington was “working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return home safely”.

Group of 7 foreign ministers said in a joint statement that “no country stands to gain” from escalating conflict, warning of “unimaginable consequences” if a regional war broke out.

The UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon warned “any further escalation of this dangerous situation could have far-reaching and devastating consequences”.

Qatar, a mediator in Gaza ceasefire talks, said Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon “puts the region on the brink of the abyss”, while Turkey said the strikes threatened “chaos” and Jordan urged an immediate end to the escalation “before it is too late”.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes and ordered Palestinian medical staff in Lebanon to provide support for the wounded. AFP

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

• Air strikes
• Wars and conflicts

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now