Any prolonged Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon could breathe new life into Hezbollah, a group that was founded to liberate Lebanon from Israeli occupation and has portrayed itself as the only force capable of protecting Lebanon’s borders,

Four female soldiers were freed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad after 15 months in captivity, in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel does not signal an end to all hostilities in the region, as Israeli forces continue operations in the West Bank. Operation Iron Wall, launched earlier this week, is Israel's effort to eliminate terrorism,

Israel's economy minister said on Wednesday it seeks a peaceful Gaza but has not decided whether to help fund its reconstruction and would not allow the rebuilding of Hamas rule that he said could lead to another cross-border militant attack.

In the days since a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip, Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank and suspected Jewish settlers have rampaged through two Palestinian towns.

Life expectancy in the Gaza Strip was nearly cut in half in the first year of the war between Israel and Hamas, a new study has estimated.

After a faltering start, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect last Sunday. Fergal Keane has been reporting on the conflict from the outset and was on Israel's border with Gaza last weekend – here he reflects on the human cost of the war and what the future might hold.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, an official briefed on the deal told Reuters on Wednesday, opening the way to a possible end to a devastating 15-month conflict.

Israel also opened fire in Lebanon on protesters demanding their withdrawal by Sunday’s deadline under a separate ceasefire.

Israel’s defense minister has announced a series of raids that he says are targeting “terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, as Palestinian officials warned of a “man-made disaster.”

The Israeli military launched a large raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, killing nine people and injuring 40 others, according to Palestinian health officials.