Hamas and Israel reach prisoner-swap deal

More than 1,000 Palestinians will be released in exchange for Israeli Sgt Gilad Shalit who has been held by Palestinian militants since June 2006, when he was captured in a cross-border raid.

The announcement on Tuesday brought celebration both in the Gaza Strip and in Jerusalem (photo, from europe1.fr).

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Turkey lowers ties with Israel over Gaza flotilla row

A day before the release of the anticipated official release of a UN report into last year’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk), Turkey has expelled Israel’s ambassador and suspended military agreements between the countries, announced Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister on Friday during a news conference.

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Air strikes in Gaza follow deadly attacks in southern Israel

After a series of attacks (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk) killed seven people in southern Israel, the Israeli army has confirmed carrying out air strikes over the Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said six people died in the air strikes.

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Israel will not apologise

Israeli ambassador to the US said his country will reject a proposed international commission to investigate its deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla.

Michael Oren (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk) told US broadcaster Fox News that Israel has the ability and the right to investigate its own military.

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Several die in Israeli raid on Gaza aid ship

The flotilla of aid-carrying ships that left Cyprus on Sunday was attacked by Israeli commandos off the coast of the Gaza Strip early on Monday, killing nine people on board.

Dozens of others were injured (photo, from aljazeera.net) when troops raided the convoy of six ships, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla.

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Gaza waiting for aid ships

A flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip has left Cyprus, organisers say. (photo, from bbcimg.co.uk)

Around 5am local time (2am GMT), five ships left the island and they are expected to reach Gazan waters late on Sunday afternoon.

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Ban Ki-moon : Gazans were “denied basic human rights”

More must be done in order to repair damage done by Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip (photo, from bbc.co.uk) one year ago, said UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

He said Gazans were being denied “basic human rights” and urged Israel to end its “unacceptable and counterproductive blockade”.

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Nakba marked by Palestinians

In the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians have gathered (photo, from aljazeera.net) in order to mark the 61st anniversary of the “Nakba” (catastrophe). It describes the dispersal of hundreds of thousands of refugees after the creation of Israel.

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Investigation demanded over Israel white phosphorus

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an international investigation into Israel’s use of white phosphorus during its 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip. (photo, from bbc.co.uk)

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Israeli deadlock confirmed

Neither of the two main parties (photo, from bbc.co.uk) can form a government on its own, confirmed the final results of Israel’s general election.

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