(2026-04-17). Last route to Southern Lebanon destroyed: Israeli airstrike destroys key bridge over Litani River. hindustantimes.com Donald Trump's push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is unravelling as fighting intensifies on the ground. The Israel Defense Forces has carried out massive strikes across southern Lebanon—including a key bridge over the Litani River—further isolating the region. Hezbollah has responded with rockets and drones targeting northern Israel, while Beirut has distanced itself from any ceasefire talks despite Washington's efforts to broker a three-way dialogue. With Benjamin Netanyahu showing no signs of backing down, diplomacy appears to be collapsing even before it begins.
(2026-04-17). Headlines for April 17, 2026. democracynow.org Israel Agrees to 10-Day Ceasefire in Lebanon After U.S.-Brokered Talks, Israelis in Tel Aviv Protest Settler Violence After High Court Lifts Wartime Ban on Gatherings, House Votes 213-214 to Reject War Powers Resolution as Trump Claims Deal with Iran Is "Very Close", Ukraine Strikes Black Sea Oil Refinery as Russian Attacks Kill 17, Progressive Democrat Analilia Mejía Wins Special Election for New Jersey House Seat, House Temporarily Extends FISA's Mass Surveillance Powers in Late-Night Vote , House Votes to Extend Deportation Protections for 330,000 Haitian Immigrants, Acting ICE Director Todd…
(2026-04-17). How Israel's war upended daily life in Lebanon. aljazeera.com People in Beirut describe how the Israel war has turned their lives upside down.
(2026-04-17). Israeli opposition angry over Lebanon truce, label it 'betrayal'. newarab.com 
The US-brokered ceasefire between The truce, which will see a 10-day cessation in fighting between the Israeli army and
(2026-04-17). Report from Beirut: Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Met with "Cautious Optimism" democracynow.org 
A 10-day ceasefire has begun in Lebanon. The news is being celebrated across the country, but major questions remain over what happens next. President Trump announced the deal between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday. Hezbollah, which is not a party to the agreement, says it will observe the ceasefire. The Israeli military is occupying a large swath of southern Lebanon, about 10% of the country. Early on in the current war, the Israeli military announced the intention to create a "security zone" from the Lebanese-Israeli border all the way to the Litani River, 20 miles north of the border. | Many in the…
(2026-04-17). Rami Khouri: U.S. & Israel Were "Forced into Two Ceasefires" as Regional Balance of Power Shifts. democracynow.org 
"We've seen now, in the last six weeks, Iran and Hezbollah almost single-handedly checking — not defeating, but checking — the two biggest military powers in the region, which is the U.S. and Israel," says Rami Khouri. Khouri says the U.S. and Israel have been "forced into" ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon. This is all a sign "of the evolving balance of power across the region" and demonstrates that Iran's Axis of Resistance "is still effective." Khouri is a Palestinian American journalist and public policy fellow at the American University of…
(2026-04-17). 'Trump forced Israel into a ceasefire' with Lebanon. aljazeera.com Abed Abou Shhadeh, a political commentator in Israel, says the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is 'problematic'.
(2026-04-17). Trump dictates the terms in Lebanon and Iran, leaving Netanyahu boxed in. haaretz.com The Israeli prime minister told the security cabinet that the U.S.-facilitated cease-fire is an effort to align on the major issue — Iran. But Netanyahu can't convince the Israeli public that the war's goals were achieved, with Hezbollah not disarmed and the Iranian regime still largely intact…
(2026-04-17). 10-day ceasefire between Israel, Lebanon goes into effect. ecns.cn A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday local time (2100 GMT), following an earlier announcement by US President Donald Trump.
(2026-04-17). Celebrations in Lebanon as 10-day ceasefire with Israel begins. aljazeera.com Celebratory gunfire heard in Beirut as truce takes effect, though Lebanese military reports violations.
(2026-04-17). US Statement on Lebanon Ceasefire Leaves Major Loophole That Israel May Exploit To Continue Attacks. news.antiwar.com
(2026-04-17). Friday 4/17: Demo at israeli consulate. indybay.org 456 MomtgomernSt, SF…
(2026-04-17). The Winner at the DNC's Latest Meeting? indybay.org Israel, Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide…
(2026-04-17). No Tax Funds for Israeli Genocide & US Imperialist Wars – Rally at SF Israeli Consulate. indybay.org
(2026-04-17). Insights | Islam-Confucianism Civilisational Dialogue sheds light on deescalating Middle East crisis: Malaysian scholar. ecns.cn The Islam-Confucianism Civilisational Dialogue can shed light on addressing the Middle East crisis ⚪ the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, a Malaysian scholar said on Thursday.
(2026-04-17). Neoliberalism caused two fractures in the world why Iran's resistance is so vital. asiapacificreport.nz ANALYSIS: By Prabhat Patnaik It is the people of the Global South, not governments, who must resist this subversion of the concepts of the "nation' and of non-alignment. The Indian government's position on the US-Israeli war against Iran shows an unbelievable degree of pusillanimity. India attended the recent meeting of about 50 countries called by…
(2026-04-17). Ervand Abrahamian: Iran Under Fire. newleftreview.org One of modern Iran's leading historians provides a critical anatomy of the power structures of the Islamic Republic, on the eve of war—and a scathing denunciation of the long-incubated American-Israeli assault on the country, calculated to bring about Syria-style disintegration and civil war.
(2026-04-17). Trump says war in Iran be ending pretty. haaretz.com
(2026-04-17). War on Iran: Uneasy Truce: Iranian president condemns US-Israeli strikes on schools and hospitals, thanks China for humanitarian aid. ecns.cn
(2026-04-17). Gaza's young, untrained journalists step up to document Israel's war crimes. asiapacificreport.nz Pacific Media Watch At least 262 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war against the besieged enclave, marking one of the deadliest periods for media workers in recent global history, reports Al Jazeera. Despite newsrooms being destroyed and reporters losing their lives, coverage continues through a new generation of…
(2026-04-17). Israel kills toddler in Gaza. electronicintifada.net Israelis subjecting Gaza to systematic, escalating process of engineered starvation.
(2026-04-17). Gaza: Israeli sniper kills Palestinian schoolgirl in front of classmates. ummid.com Israeli occupation forces shot and killed a Palestinian schoolgirl Thursday April 09, 2026 in front of her classmates while she was studying in a tent classroom in northern Gaza.
(2026-04-17). Israeli strikes on desalination plant in Gaza kill two. newarab.com 
The two civilians were killed after the Israeli army targeted a water desalination plant in Shujaeyya, east of The…
(2026-04-17). Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills four, including child. newarab.com 
Gaza's civil defence agency said Thursday that Israeli fire killed four people, including one child, in different locations across the Palestinian territory. | Israeli violence continues despite Saleh Badawi, 9, "was killed and taken to Al-Maamadani Hospital after being hit by Israeli fire in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City", in northern Gaza, Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defence agency, told AFP. | He added that "two br…
(2026-04-17). Press groups push Israeli court to expedite Gaza media access. newarab.com 
Several press freedom organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Foreign Press Association in Israel (FPA), the Union of Journalists in Israel (UJI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have filed an The statement, released by CPJ, said the motion was submitted on Monday after the court post…
(2026-04-17). Tax Day Protest at the Zionist Consulate. indybay.org Our tax money for Israel's bombs are big problem for many…
(2026-04-17). This Prisoners' Day, WB's mothers fear children may return dead. newarab.com 
During events marking the In particular, these mothers are afraid that their children may return as corpses amid harsh conditions within Israeli prisons and the recent approval of an Israeli law allowing the Watfa Shehwan…
(2026-04-17). Italy suspends defence pact with Israel over Netanyahu's war mongering. ummid.com In a major setback for Netanyahu-led far right Zionist regime, Italy has suspended its defence deal with Israel over the ongoing war in the Middle East.
(2026-04-17). Haaretz during the Arab Revolt: Blood is the glue that binds a nation and its land. haaretz.com At the start of the Arab Revolt, which began 90 years ago this week, the newspaper told its readers that 'the God of Israel wanted our sacrifices,' and promised that the Jewish community was here to stay…
(2026-04-17). Renewed calls for EU sanctions on Israel amid global outrage. newarab.com 
Pressure is mounting on European politicians to impose Hundreds of European former politicians, diplomats and officials this week renewed calls for the EU to sever trade ties in response to Israel's violations of international law in the occupied territories. | An
(2026-04-17). Palestinian Prisoners Live on Hope. Israel's Death Penalty Aims to Destroy It. truthout.org On March 30, 2026, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, wearing a golden noose-shaped pin, popped a bottle of champagne as he toasted the Israeli Knesset's enactment of a bill making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of "terrorist attacks," under the pretext of "negating the existence of the State of Israel." The bill — which passed with 62… |
(2026-04-17). Inside Israel's prison system. aljazeera.com As Palestinians mark Prisoners' Day, more than 9,600 Palestinians are still being held in Israeli prisons.
(2026-04-17). Turning tides: Most Democrats voted to block aid to Israel. newarab.com 
This week, the majority of Democrats in the US Senate voted for bills to block Though there were not enough votes for the bills to pass (40 out of the 47 in the Senate's minority in the bill to block weapons), this nevertheless shows a major departure from years of reliable US congressional support for Israel. | "When you have someone like [Adam] Schiff and [Alex] Padilla both voting on this, that to me is major progress. These aren't people who were progressive on th…
(2026-04-17). opposition suffers from with too many Magyars. haaretz.com Naftali Bennett may be encouraged by the victory of a right-wing candidate in Hungary, but he has a problem with his opposition partners. Research is showing that Netanyahu's most loyal voters are leaving Likud. And, what's the hottest name to appear on a party slate for the next Knesset election…
(2026-04-17). Tucker Carlson may have Turned on Israel and Trump, but he's no friend to Progressives or Muslims. juancole.com Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) — Republicans seem to have reached the Donner party stage now, cannibalizing one another, as is illustrated by
(2026-04-17). Lebanese return south as fragile Israel ceasefire takes hold. newarab.com 
A cautious calm has settled over On Thursday, hours before the ceasefire came into effect,
(2026-04-16). Lebanon buries paramedics killed in Israeli 'triple-tap' strikes. newarab.com 
The method, which involves striking the same location multiple times to maximise casualties and prevent rescue efforts, has been repeatedly documented in Gaza during Israel's assault. | An Israeli strike on the town of Mayfadoun on Wednesday hit a team from t…
(2026-04-16). Lebanon fears talks with Israel could push the country to the brink of civil war. haaretz.com Lebanon's pro-government camp views the talks in Washington as part of a broader effort to curb escalation, while the pro-Hezbollah camp warns of a path detached from the reality on the ground. Beirut is waiting to gauge domestic reactions before forming a stance, a Lebanese source said…
(2026-04-16). Lebanon, Hezbollah, Israel: Negotiations at gunpoint. newarab.com 
The New Arab/Al-Araby Al-Jadeed Cartoon of the Day by Palestinian-Jordanian editorial cartoonist Emad Hajjaj.
(2026-04-16). Trump says Israel and Lebanon's leaders will speak on Thursday. aljazeera.com The US president says the conversation will be the first between the Israeli and Lebanese leaders in 34 years.
(2026-04-16). The changing regime in Washington. unitedworldint.com Interview with Jon B. Alterman, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies Regime change in Teheran or in Washington? Though Washington declared regime change in Iran as one of its goals, many see more the change of regime in the U.S. capital. While the US-Israeli war against Iran is on …
(2026-04-16). Hundreds of Tel Aviv houses on brink of collapse: buildings are crumbling. haaretz.com The collapse of a residential building in Tel Aviv during the second Iran war was not caused by a missile or an earthquake, but by a country of crumbling houses and no effective system for routine inspections or enforcement…
(2026-04-16). Senate again fails to block weapons to Israel. responsiblestatecraft.org Another effort to limit U.S. arms shipments to Israel failed in the Senate on Wednesday as the body voted down a pair of measures that would block certain military sales to the country. The two joint resolutions of disapproval — one targeting a $150 million sale of 1,000-pound bombs and the other a $300 million sale of bulldozers — failed by votes of 36-63 and 40-59, respectively. The votes marked the fourth effort to restrict arms sales to Israel since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023.The vote count marked a meaningful improvement — some are even calling it 'historic — ove…
(2026-04-16). Israeli forces fire stun grenades at journalists in occupied Nablus. aljazeera.com Video shows Israeli forces firing stun grenades towards journalists who were reporting on the army's raid of Nablus.
(2026-04-16). Smotrich taps loyalist, ex-settlement treasurer for top Finance Ministry post. haaretz.com Smotrich picked Israel Malachi, who previously served as treasurer of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council in the central West Bank, in a role overseeing state fund transfers to settlements…
(2026-04-16). Israel collaborating with settlers to expel Palestinians from their Old City homes. haaretz.com The Justice Ministry is using a lawyer from the Ateret Cohanim association to lead the eviction process of the Basha family from a building where they have lived for almost a century in the Old City of Jerusalem. The family has less than two weeks to leave…
(2026-04-16). Displaced Lebanese wary as ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah begins. aljazeera.com Tensions linger as evacuees await clarity on the ceasefire's terms before risking a return to war-torn villages.
(2026-04-16). settler Hundreds of Jews and Arabs rally in Tel Aviv against West Bank attacks. haaretz.com Speakers included Palestinian and Israeli victims of recent settler attacks, as organizers called on the Israeli government to move from condemnation to concrete action, and call on Israeli to join 'protective presence' initiatives in the West Bank…
(2026-04-16). Watching US grip on global weapons market slowly slip away. responsiblestatecraft.org Several recent developments suggest that the longstanding dominance of the global arms market by the United States could be poised for decline, including in the Middle East. Given the way U.S. arms have been used in the region in this decade, a reduction in U.S. sales could be a plus for American security over the long-term. America's role in enabling violence in the Middle East is large, not only through cash sales to the Gulf States but through military aid to Israel. Israel has received over
(2026-04-16). Lebanese say AFP photos show their village has been destroyed. al-monitor.com Looking at an AFP photo taken in the Lebanese border village of Mais al-Jabal, Khalil Hamdan recognised the ruins of his own house, overrun by Israeli forces carrying out systematic destruction."The work and toil of a lifetime, to see it collapse before your eyes, it hurts a lot," Hamdan, 59, said after looking at the picture of Israeli bulldozers next to his destroyed home.
(2026-04-16). Israeli airline El Al to buy six Boeing 787 Dreamliners in $1.5 billion deal. haaretz.com Israel's largest airline announced it would buy additional wide-body aircraft, converting some options to the largest variant, the Boeing 787-10…