Two Israeli's were stabbed on Monday including an IDF soldier in front of the national headquarters of the border police in Jerusalem, reports said.

Watch:

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Israeli police said the attacker was shot and killed at a tram station. Both men who were stabbed were reportedly in their 20s. The identity of the assailant is not yet known.

The incident comes as Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire last week after 11 days of continuous fighting leading to the large scale destruction of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-official-demands-access-to-education-jobs-for-gaza-children-386941">Gaza </a>with several rockets fired by militants at Israeli territory.

Amid the recent ceasefire, United States secretary of state Antony Blinken will leave for the Middle East today to consolidate the peace process.

US President Joe Biden said Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders while asserting that the US is committed towards "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security.

"He will continue our administration's efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect," the US president said.

Two Israeli's were stabbed on Monday including an IDF soldier in front of the national headquarters of the border police in Jerusalem, reports said. Watch: Israeli police said the attacker was shot and killed at a tram station.

Two Israeli's were stabbed on Monday including an IDF soldier in front of the national headquarters of the border police in Jerusalem, reports said. Watch: Israeli police said the attacker was shot and killed at a tram station. Both men who were stabbed were reportedly in their 20s. The identity of the assailant is not yet known. The incident comes as Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire last week after 11 days of continuous fighting leading to the large scale destruction of Gaza with several rockets fired by militants at Israeli territory. Amid the recent ceasefire, United States secretary of state Antony Blinken will leave for the Middle East today to consolidate the peace process. US President Joe Biden said Blinken will meet with Israeli leaders while asserting that the US is committed towards "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security. "He will continue our administration's efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect," the US president said.

Attacker stabs two people in Jerusalem, shot by Israeli police

After the declaration of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-conflict-now-the-narrative-war-begins-amid-ceasefire-386592">ceasefire</a> between Israel and Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation was an "exceptional success".

Watch:

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"We achieved our goals in the operation," the Israeli PM said, adding that the airstrikes had killed "more than 200 terrorists" in Gaza including senior commanders.

Israel's defence minister Benny Gant warned Hamas it would pay a "heavy, very heavy" price if it broke the ceasefire.&nbsp;

However, amid the peace, clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli police outside Jerusalem's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-ceasefire-palestinians-israeli-police-clash-outside-jerusalems-al-aqsa-mosque-386581">Al-Aqsa</a> mosque compound. The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 21 people were hurt after Israeli forces reportedly fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the Palestinians

"Hundreds of people threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers who responded at the scene and began dispersing the rioters," Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

However, the situation was brought under control later in the day.&nbsp;

Egypt said it was monitoring the situation after brokering the ceasefire as residents in Gaza welcomed the peace deal and began clearing the rubble left behind after 11 days of large scale bombardment by the Israeli jets.

The European Union on Friday welcomed the ceasefire as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA) sought to help the homeless while adding that it would assess physical damage to infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East to Israeli, Palestinian and regional counterparts as US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-assures-netanyahu-of-full-support-to-replenish-israels-iron-dome-system-386511">Joe Biden</a> said the ceasefire was a "genuine opportunity" for peace.

"I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I'm committed to working toward it," the US president said.

After the declaration of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation was an "exceptional success". Watch: "We achieved our goals in the operation," the Israeli PM said, adding that the airstrikes had killed "more than 200 terrorists" in Gaza including senior commanders.

After the declaration of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation was an "exceptional success". Watch: "We achieved our goals in the operation," the Israeli PM said, adding that the airstrikes had killed "more than 200 terrorists" in Gaza including senior commanders. Israel's defence minister Benny Gant warned Hamas it would pay a "heavy, very heavy" price if it broke the ceasefire. However, amid the peace, clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli police outside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound. The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 21 people were hurt after Israeli forces reportedly fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the Palestinians "Hundreds of people threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers who responded at the scene and began dispersing the rioters," Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. However, the situation was brought under control later in the day. Egypt said it was monitoring the situation after brokering the ceasefire as residents in Gaza welcomed the peace deal and began clearing the rubble left behind after 11 days of large scale bombardment by the Israeli jets. The European Union on Friday welcomed the ceasefire as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA) sought to help the homeless while adding that it would assess physical damage to infrastructure. Meanwhile, the US State Department said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East to Israeli, Palestinian and regional counterparts as US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire was a "genuine opportunity" for peace. "I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I'm committed to working toward it," the US president said.

Exceptional success, we achieved our goals in the operation, says Netanyahu after ceasefire with Hamas

To hold up something as a victory over Israel, Palestinian militant group Hamas is “trying to have a major success,” such as a cross-border attack or other major assault, Israel Defense Forces(IDF) was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel.

The lethal fighting continued with both Israel and the Islamist militants voicing defiance. 
 
According to IDF Military Intelligence, the terror group has at least enough long-range munitions to conduct several more barrages of dozens of rockets at Tel Aviv.&nbsp;

Israel carried out over a dozen airstrikes on Gaza after midnight, including two that destroyed two houses in the enclave's south. Medics said four people were wounded in an airstrike in the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Israel's military said its aircraft early on Thursday struck what it said was a "weapons storage unit" located in the Gaza City home of a Hamas official, and "military infrastructure located in the residences" of other Hamas commanders, including in Khan Younis.

Rocket sirens blared early on Thursday in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba and areas bordering Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. 
 
Gravitas: Who funds Hamas?

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Since the fighting began on May 10, Palestinian health officials say 228 people have been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation.

Israeli authorities put the death toll to date at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters.

BIDEN SEEKS 'SIGNIFICANT DE-ESCALATION'

Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed what he has described as support from the United States, Israel's main ally, for a right to self-defence in battling attacks from Gaza, home to 2 million Palestinians.

But Biden put the Israeli leader on notice in a telephone call that it was time to lower the intensity of the conflict.

"The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday.

Washington and several Middle East capitals have sought an end to the violence through diplomacy. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly was due to meet on the conflict on Thursday with the participation of several foreign ministers but was not expected to take action.

The U.S. mission said it would not support a French push for a resolution in the 15-member U.N. Security Council, saying it believed such actions would "undermine efforts to de-escalate" violence.

Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it called Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The rocket attacks followed Israeli police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.

The hostilities are the most serious between Hamas and Israel in years, and, in a departure from previous Gaza conflicts, have helped fuel street violence in Israeli cities between Jews and Arabs.

The conflict has also spilt over to the Israel-Lebanon frontier and stoked violence in the occupied West Bank.

Four rockets were launched towards Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday, the third such incident since the Gaza conflict began, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian woman who the military said had fired a rifle at troops and civilians. At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops or other incidents in the West Bank since May 10, Palestinian officials said.

(With inputs from agencies)

To hold up something as a victory over Israel, Palestinian militant group Hamas is “trying to have a major success,” such as a cross-border attack or other major assault, Israel Defense Forces(IDF) was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel.

To hold up something as a victory over Israel, Palestinian militant group Hamas is “trying to have a major success,” such as a cross-border attack or other major assault, Israel Defense Forces(IDF) was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel. The lethal fighting continued with both Israel and the Islamist militants voicing defiance. According to IDF Military Intelligence, the terror group has at least enough long-range munitions to conduct several more barrages of dozens of rockets at Tel Aviv. Israel carried out over a dozen airstrikes on Gaza after midnight, including two that destroyed two houses in the enclave's south. Medics said four people were wounded in an airstrike in the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Israel's military said its aircraft early on Thursday struck what it said was a "weapons storage unit" located in the Gaza City home of a Hamas official, and "military infrastructure located in the residences" of other Hamas commanders, including in Khan Younis. Rocket sirens blared early on Thursday in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba and areas bordering Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Gravitas: Who funds Hamas? Since the fighting began on May 10, Palestinian health officials say 228 people have been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation. Israeli authorities put the death toll to date at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters. BIDEN SEEKS 'SIGNIFICANT DE-ESCALATION' Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed what he has described as support from the United States, Israel's main ally, for a right to self-defence in battling attacks from Gaza, home to 2 million Palestinians. But Biden put the Israeli leader on notice in a telephone call that it was time to lower the intensity of the conflict. "The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday. Washington and several Middle East capitals have sought an end to the violence through diplomacy. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly was due to meet on the conflict on Thursday with the participation of several foreign ministers but was not expected to take action. The U.S. mission said it would not support a French push for a resolution in the 15-member U.N. Security Council, saying it believed such actions would "undermine efforts to de-escalate" violence. Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it called Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The rocket attacks followed Israeli police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem. The hostilities are the most serious between Hamas and Israel in years, and, in a departure from previous Gaza conflicts, have helped fuel street violence in Israeli cities between Jews and Arabs. The conflict has also spilt over to the Israel-Lebanon frontier and stoked violence in the occupied West Bank. Four rockets were launched towards Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday, the third such incident since the Gaza conflict began, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility. In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian woman who the military said had fired a rifle at troops and civilians. At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops or other incidents in the West Bank since May 10, Palestinian officials said. (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas is looking for a ‘major success’ before the end of fighting: Israel Army

Pro-Palestine protesters have occupied a drone factory in Leicester in attempts to 'disrupt the production of arms and military technology.

A group from Palestine Action on Wednesday chained the gates shut and scaled the roof of the UAV Tactical Systems factory in the Meridian Business Park in Braunstone Town of Leicestershire.

A viral photo of four activists on the roof of the factory wearing red overalls and waving the Palestinian flag can be seen all over on social media.

The factory belongs to Israeli-owned Elbit Systems subsidiary UAV Tactical Systems.

The factory manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles that the protesters allege have been used in the conflict between Israel Army and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Palestine Action, which is made up of groups and activists across the UK, have made it their mission to take direct action against Elbit Systems' UK locations including those in Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.

This is the first time the group have struck at the Leicester site.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come "as early as Friday", the Wall Street Journal reported, citing some US and foreign officials involved in the discussions.&nbsp;

As per the report, Egypt has made some headway in the negotiations with Hamas' leadership, while Israel conceded that it is nearing completion of its "objectives".

The report said that the mechanism of the ceasefire is in place, only timing is the issue. However, the members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based armed group, remained a wild card.

Rallies in support of Palestine have popped up globally, with several events scheduled in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.

Israel and Palestine have exchanged several rocket fires, resulting in hundreds of injuries and deaths on both sides.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pro-Palestine protesters have occupied a drone factory in Leicester in attempts to 'disrupt the production of arms and military technology. A group from Palestine Action on Wednesday chained the gates shut and scaled the roof of the UAV Tactical Systems factory in the Meridian Business Park in Braunstone Town of Leicestershire.

Pro-Palestine protesters have occupied a drone factory in Leicester in attempts to 'disrupt the production of arms and military technology. A group from Palestine Action on Wednesday chained the gates shut and scaled the roof of the UAV Tactical Systems factory in the Meridian Business Park in Braunstone Town of Leicestershire. A viral photo of four activists on the roof of the factory wearing red overalls and waving the Palestinian flag can be seen all over on social media. The factory belongs to Israeli-owned Elbit Systems subsidiary UAV Tactical Systems. The factory manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles that the protesters allege have been used in the conflict between Israel Army and Hamas militants in Gaza. Palestine Action, which is made up of groups and activists across the UK, have made it their mission to take direct action against Elbit Systems' UK locations including those in Greater Manchester and Staffordshire. This is the first time the group have struck at the Leicester site. Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come "as early as Friday", the Wall Street Journal reported, citing some US and foreign officials involved in the discussions. As per the report, Egypt has made some headway in the negotiations with Hamas' leadership, while Israel conceded that it is nearing completion of its "objectives". The report said that the mechanism of the ceasefire is in place, only timing is the issue. However, the members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based armed group, remained a wild card. Rallies in support of Palestine have popped up globally, with several events scheduled in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. Israel and Palestine have exchanged several rocket fires, resulting in hundreds of injuries and deaths on both sides. (With inputs from agencies)

Pro-Palestine protesters shut down Israeli drone maker's factory in Leicester, UK

As the brutal Israel-Palestine hostilities enter the tenth day, a senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days, after US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a “de-escalation” in the fighting.

There have been intense international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, with reports indicating a truce could be reached as early as Friday as the current round of fighting appears to be drawing to a close.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-is-looking-for-a-major-success-before-the-end-of-fighting-israel-army-386145">Also read | Hamas is looking for a ‘major success’ before the end of fighting: Israel Army</a>

"I think that the ongoing efforts regarding the ceasefire will succeed," the Hamas political official, Moussa Abu Marzouk, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV. "I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be based on mutual agreement."

Asked on Israel's Kan public radio if a ceasefire would begin on Friday, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said: "No. We are seeing very significant international pressure ... we will finish the operation when we decide we have attained our goals."

Netanyahu, who spoke to Biden by telephone on Wednesday, has said Israel wants to achieve "forceful deterrence" to dissuade Gaza's ruling Hamas Islamists from future confrontation.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera television reported that U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland was meeting Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.

Israel carried out over a dozen airstrikes on Gaza after midnight, targeting what it said was a weapons storage unit in the Gaza City home of a Hamas official, and military infrastructure in the homes of other commanders from the group. Medics said four people were wounded in one attack on the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Rocket sirens blared just after midnight in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba and areas bordering Gaza, with no reports of casualties or damage. The workday began on Thursday with no alerts.

Since the fighting began on May 10, Palestinian health officials say 228 people have been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation.

Israeli authorities put the death toll to date at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters.

BIDEN SEEKS 'SIGNIFICANT DE-ESCALATION'

Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed what he has described as support from the United States, Israel's main ally, for a right to self-defence in battling attacks from Gaza, home to 2 million Palestinians.

But Biden put the Israeli leader on notice in a telephone call that it was time to lower the intensity of the conflict.

"The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday.

Washington and several Middle East capitals have sought an end to the violence through diplomacy. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly was due to meet on the conflict on Thursday with the participation of several foreign ministers but it was not expected to take action.

The U.S. mission said it would not support a French push for a resolution in the 15-member U.N. Security Council, saying it believed such actions would "undermine efforts to de-escalate" violence.

Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it called Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The rocket attacks followed Israeli police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.

The hostilities are the most serious between Hamas and Israel in years, and, in a departure from previous Gaza conflicts, have helped fuel street violence in Israeli cities between Jews and Arabs.

The conflict has also spilt over to the Israel-Lebanon frontier and stoked violence in the occupied West Bank.

Four rockets were launched towards Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday, the third such incident since the Gaza conflict began, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian woman who the military said had fired a rifle at troops and civilians. At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops or other incidents in the West Bank since May 10, Palestinian officials said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As the brutal Israel-Palestine hostilities enter the tenth day, a senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days, after US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a “de-escalation” in the fighting.

As the brutal Israel-Palestine hostilities enter the tenth day, a senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days, after US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a “de-escalation” in the fighting. There have been intense international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, with reports indicating a truce could be reached as early as Friday as the current round of fighting appears to be drawing to a close. Also read | Hamas is looking for a ‘major success’ before the end of fighting: Israel Army "I think that the ongoing efforts regarding the ceasefire will succeed," the Hamas political official, Moussa Abu Marzouk, told Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV. "I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be based on mutual agreement." Asked on Israel's Kan public radio if a ceasefire would begin on Friday, Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said: "No. We are seeing very significant international pressure ... we will finish the operation when we decide we have attained our goals." Netanyahu, who spoke to Biden by telephone on Wednesday, has said Israel wants to achieve "forceful deterrence" to dissuade Gaza's ruling Hamas Islamists from future confrontation. Qatar-based Al Jazeera television reported that U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland was meeting Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar. Israel carried out over a dozen airstrikes on Gaza after midnight, targeting what it said was a weapons storage unit in the Gaza City home of a Hamas official, and military infrastructure in the homes of other commanders from the group. Medics said four people were wounded in one attack on the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Rocket sirens blared just after midnight in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba and areas bordering Gaza, with no reports of casualties or damage. The workday began on Thursday with no alerts. Since the fighting began on May 10, Palestinian health officials say 228 people have been killed in aerial bombardments that have worsened Gaza's already dire humanitarian situation. Israeli authorities put the death toll to date at 12 in Israel, where repeated rocket attacks have caused panic and sent people rushing into shelters. BIDEN SEEKS 'SIGNIFICANT DE-ESCALATION' Netanyahu has repeatedly hailed what he has described as support from the United States, Israel's main ally, for a right to self-defence in battling attacks from Gaza, home to 2 million Palestinians. But Biden put the Israeli leader on notice in a telephone call that it was time to lower the intensity of the conflict. "The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday. Washington and several Middle East capitals have sought an end to the violence through diplomacy. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly was due to meet on the conflict on Thursday with the participation of several foreign ministers but it was not expected to take action. The U.S. mission said it would not support a French push for a resolution in the 15-member U.N. Security Council, saying it believed such actions would "undermine efforts to de-escalate" violence. Hamas began firing rockets on May 10 in retaliation for what it called Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The rocket attacks followed Israeli police clashes with worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and a court case by Israeli settlers to evict Palestinians from a neighbourhood in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem. The hostilities are the most serious between Hamas and Israel in years, and, in a departure from previous Gaza conflicts, have helped fuel street violence in Israeli cities between Jews and Arabs. The conflict has also spilt over to the Israel-Lebanon frontier and stoked violence in the occupied West Bank. Four rockets were launched towards Israel from Lebanon on Wednesday, the third such incident since the Gaza conflict began, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility. In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian woman who the military said had fired a rifle at troops and civilians. At least 21 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops or other incidents in the West Bank since May 10, Palestinian officials said. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Palestine conflict: Ceasefire could come by Friday, predicts Hamas official

Supporters of both Israel and Palestine clashed on the streets of New York City this week, following violent attacks in the Middle East.

Several videos posted on social media platforms show the street brawl between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel demonstrators in New York.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This video taken by <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNewYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBSNewYork</a> Photographer Alex Susskind moments ago <a href="https://t.co/24RVAo06fG">pic.twitter.com/24RVAo06fG</a>
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLaytonTV/status/1392235011340967940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Jews being attacked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Can’t say I didn’t see this coming 😞 @jews_of_ny <a href="https://t.co/s3mqaqR7Fj">pic.twitter.com/s3mqaqR7Fj</a>
— Michal Divon מיכל דיבון ميخال ديفون (@michaldivon) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaldivon/status/1395145296741650437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come "as early as Friday", the Wall Street Journal reported, citing some US and foreign officials involved in the discussions.&nbsp;

A per the report, Egypt has made some headway in the negotiations with Hamas' leadership, while Israel conceded that it is nearing completion of its "objectives".&nbsp;

The report said that the mechanism of the ceasefire is in place, only timing is the issue. However, the members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based armed group, remained a wild card.

Rallies in support of Palestine have popped up globally, with several events scheduled in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. 
 
Israel and Palestine have exchanged several rocket fires, resulting in hundreds of injuries and deaths on both sides.

(With inputs from agencies)

Supporters of both Israel and Palestine clashed on the streets of New York City this week, following violent attacks in the Middle East. Several videos posted on social media platforms show the street brawl between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel demonstrators in New York.

Supporters of both Israel and Palestine clashed on the streets of New York City this week, following violent attacks in the Middle East. Several videos posted on social media platforms show the street brawl between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel demonstrators in New York. This video taken by @CBSNewYork Photographer Alex Susskind moments ago pic.twitter.com/24RVAo06fG — Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) May 11, 2021 × Jews being attacked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Can’t say I didn’t see this coming 😞 @jews_of_ny pic.twitter.com/s3mqaqR7Fj — Michal Divon מיכל דיבון ميخال ديفون (@michaldivon) May 19, 2021 × Meanwhile, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come "as early as Friday", the Wall Street Journal reported, citing some US and foreign officials involved in the discussions. A per the report, Egypt has made some headway in the negotiations with Hamas' leadership, while Israel conceded that it is nearing completion of its "objectives". The report said that the mechanism of the ceasefire is in place, only timing is the issue. However, the members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based armed group, remained a wild card. Rallies in support of Palestine have popped up globally, with several events scheduled in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. Israel and Palestine have exchanged several rocket fires, resulting in hundreds of injuries and deaths on both sides. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Protesters supporting Israel, Palestinians clash in New York

On May 12, a message appeared in a new WhatsApp channel called “Death to the Arabs.” The message urged Israelis to join a mass street brawl against Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Within hours, dozens of other new WhatsApp groups popped up with variations of the same name and message. The groups soon organized a 6 p.m. start time for a clash in Bat Yam, a town on Israel’s coast.

“Together we organize and together we act,” read a message in one of the WhatsApp groups. “Tell your friends to join the group, because here we know how to defend Jewish honour.”

That evening, live scenes aired of black-clad Israelis smashing car windows and roaming the streets of Bat Yam. The mob pulled one man they presumed to be Arab from his car and beat him unconscious. He was hospitalized in serious condition.

The episode was one of dozens across Israel that the authorities have linked to a surge of activity by Jewish extremists on WhatsApp, the encrypted messaging service owned by Facebook.

Since violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalated last week, at least 100 new WhatsApp groups have been formed for the express purpose of committing violence against Palestinians, according to an analysis by The New York Times and FakeReporter, an Israeli watchdog group that studies misinformation.

The WhatsApp groups, with names like “The Jewish Guard” and “The Revenge Troops,” have added hundreds of members a day over the past week, according to The Times’ analysis. The groups, which are in Hebrew, have also been featured on email lists and online message boards used by far-right extremists in Israel.

While social media and messaging apps have been used in the past to spread hate speech and inspire violence, these WhatsApp groups go further, researchers said. That’s because the groups are explicitly planning and executing violent acts against Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up roughly 20% of the population and live largely integrated lives with Jewish neighbours.

That is far more specific than past WhatsApp-fueled mob attacks in India, where calls for violence were vague and generally not targeted at individuals or businesses, the researchers said.

Even the Stop the Steal groups in the United States that organized the Jan. 6 protests in Washington did not openly direct attacks using social media or messaging apps, they said.

The proliferation of these WhatsApp groups has alarmed Israeli security officials and disinformation researchers. In the groups, attacks have been carefully documented, with members often gloating about taking part in the violence, according to The Times’ review.

Some said they were taking revenge for rockets being fired onto Israel from militants in the Gaza Strip, while others cited different grievances. Many solicited names of Arab-owned businesses they could target next.

“It is a perfect storm of people empowered to use their own names and phone numbers to openly call for violence, and having a tool like WhatsApp to organize themselves into mobs,” said Achiya Schatz, director of FakeReporter.

He said his organization had reported many of the new WhatsApp groups to Israeli police, who initially took no action “but now are starting to act and try to prevent the violence.”

Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police, said, “Police are tracking social media and monitoring movements on the ground.” He said that while Israelis have been involved in some attacks, they were largely “protecting themselves” against attacks by Palestinian citizens of Israel. He added, “Police investigations are continuing.”

Israeli security officials said law enforcement authorities began monitoring the WhatsApp groups after being alerted by FakeReporter. The police, Schatz said, believed attacks by the Jewish extremists were inflamed by and organized on the WhatsApp groups.

One official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that the police had not seen similar WhatsApp groups forming among Palestinians. Islamic movements, including Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization that controls the Gaza Strip, have long organized and recruited followers on social media but do not plan attacks on the services for fear of being discovered.

A WhatsApp spokeswoman said the messaging service was concerned by the activity from Israeli extremists. She said the company had removed some accounts of people who participated in the groups. WhatsApp cannot read the encrypted messages on its service, she added, but it has acted when accounts were reported to it for violating its terms of service.

“We take action to ban accounts we believe may be involved in causing imminent harm,” she said.

In Israel, WhatsApp has long been used to form groups so people can communicate and share interests or plan school activities. As violence soared between Israel’s military and Palestinian militants in Gaza over the past week, WhatsApp was also one of the platforms where false information about the conflict has spread.

Tensions in the area ran so high that new groups calling for revenge against Palestinians began emerging on WhatsApp and on other messaging services like Telegram. The first WhatsApp groups appeared May 11, Schatz said. By May 12, his organization had found dozens of the groups.

People can join the groups through a link, many of which are shared within existing WhatsApp groups. Once they have joined one group, other groups are advertised to them.

The groups have since grown steadily in size, Schatz said. Some have become so big that they have branched off into local chapters that are dedicated to certain cities and towns. To evade detection by WhatsApp, organizers of the groups are urging people to vet new members, he said.

On Telegram, Israelis have formed roughly 20 channels to commit and plan violence against Palestinians, according to FakeReporter. Much of the content and messaging in those groups imitates what is in the WhatsApp channels.

On one new WhatsApp group that The Times reviewed, “The Revenge Troops,” people recently shared instructions for how to build Molotov cocktails and makeshift explosives. The group asked its 400 members to also provide addresses of Arab-owned businesses that could be targeted.

In another group with just under 100 members, people shared photos of guns, knives and other weapons as they discussed engaging in street combat in mixed Jewish-Arab cities. Another new WhatsApp group was named “The unapologetic right-wing group.”

After participating in attacks, members of the groups posted photos of their exploits and encouraged others to mimic them.

“We destroyed them, we left them in pieces,” said one person in “The Revenge Troops” WhatsApp group, alongside a photo showing smashed car windows. In a different group, a video was uploaded of black-clad Jewish youths stopping cars on an unnamed street and asking drivers if they were Jewish or Arab.

We beat “the enemy car-by-car,” said a comment posted underneath the video, using an expletive.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel visited Lod, a mixed Jewish-Arab city in central Israel that has been the scene of recent clashes.

“There is no greater threat now than these riots, and it is essential to bring back law and order,” said Netanyahu.

Within some of the WhatsApp groups, Netanyahu’s calls for peace were ridiculed.

“Our government is too weak to do what is necessary, so we take it into our own hands,” wrote one person in a WhatsApp group dedicated to city of Ramle in central Israel. “Now that we have organized, they can’t stop us.”

On May 12, a message appeared in a new WhatsApp channel called “Death to the Arabs.” The message urged Israelis to join a mass street brawl against Palestinian citizens of Israel.

On May 12, a message appeared in a new WhatsApp channel called “Death to the Arabs.” The message urged Israelis to join a mass street brawl against Palestinian citizens of Israel. Within hours, dozens of other new WhatsApp groups popped up with variations of the same name and message. The groups soon organized a 6 p.m. start time for a clash in Bat Yam, a town on Israel’s coast. “Together we organize and together we act,” read a message in one of the WhatsApp groups. “Tell your friends to join the group, because here we know how to defend Jewish honour.” That evening, live scenes aired of black-clad Israelis smashing car windows and roaming the streets of Bat Yam. The mob pulled one man they presumed to be Arab from his car and beat him unconscious. He was hospitalized in serious condition. The episode was one of dozens across Israel that the authorities have linked to a surge of activity by Jewish extremists on WhatsApp, the encrypted messaging service owned by Facebook. Since violence between Israelis and Palestinians escalated last week, at least 100 new WhatsApp groups have been formed for the express purpose of committing violence against Palestinians, according to an analysis by The New York Times and FakeReporter, an Israeli watchdog group that studies misinformation. The WhatsApp groups, with names like “The Jewish Guard” and “The Revenge Troops,” have added hundreds of members a day over the past week, according to The Times’ analysis. The groups, which are in Hebrew, have also been featured on email lists and online message boards used by far-right extremists in Israel. While social media and messaging apps have been used in the past to spread hate speech and inspire violence, these WhatsApp groups go further, researchers said. That’s because the groups are explicitly planning and executing violent acts against Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up roughly 20% of the population and live largely integrated lives with Jewish neighbours. That is far more specific than past WhatsApp-fueled mob attacks in India, where calls for violence were vague and generally not targeted at individuals or businesses, the researchers said. Even the Stop the Steal groups in the United States that organized the Jan. 6 protests in Washington did not openly direct attacks using social media or messaging apps, they said. The proliferation of these WhatsApp groups has alarmed Israeli security officials and disinformation researchers. In the groups, attacks have been carefully documented, with members often gloating about taking part in the violence, according to The Times’ review. Some said they were taking revenge for rockets being fired onto Israel from militants in the Gaza Strip, while others cited different grievances. Many solicited names of Arab-owned businesses they could target next. “It is a perfect storm of people empowered to use their own names and phone numbers to openly call for violence, and having a tool like WhatsApp to organize themselves into mobs,” said Achiya Schatz, director of FakeReporter. He said his organization had reported many of the new WhatsApp groups to Israeli police, who initially took no action “but now are starting to act and try to prevent the violence.” Micky Rosenfeld, a spokesman for the Israeli police, said, “Police are tracking social media and monitoring movements on the ground.” He said that while Israelis have been involved in some attacks, they were largely “protecting themselves” against attacks by Palestinian citizens of Israel. He added, “Police investigations are continuing.” Israeli security officials said law enforcement authorities began monitoring the WhatsApp groups after being alerted by FakeReporter. The police, Schatz said, believed attacks by the Jewish extremists were inflamed by and organized on the WhatsApp groups. One official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that the police had not seen similar WhatsApp groups forming among Palestinians. Islamic movements, including Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization that controls the Gaza Strip, have long organized and recruited followers on social media but do not plan attacks on the services for fear of being discovered. A WhatsApp spokeswoman said the messaging service was concerned by the activity from Israeli extremists. She said the company had removed some accounts of people who participated in the groups. WhatsApp cannot read the encrypted messages on its service, she added, but it has acted when accounts were reported to it for violating its terms of service. “We take action to ban accounts we believe may be involved in causing imminent harm,” she said. In Israel, WhatsApp has long been used to form groups so people can communicate and share interests or plan school activities. As violence soared between Israel’s military and Palestinian militants in Gaza over the past week, WhatsApp was also one of the platforms where false information about the conflict has spread. Tensions in the area ran so high that new groups calling for revenge against Palestinians began emerging on WhatsApp and on other messaging services like Telegram. The first WhatsApp groups appeared May 11, Schatz said. By May 12, his organization had found dozens of the groups. People can join the groups through a link, many of which are shared within existing WhatsApp groups. Once they have joined one group, other groups are advertised to them. The groups have since grown steadily in size, Schatz said. Some have become so big that they have branched off into local chapters that are dedicated to certain cities and towns. To evade detection by WhatsApp, organizers of the groups are urging people to vet new members, he said. On Telegram, Israelis have formed roughly 20 channels to commit and plan violence against Palestinians, according to FakeReporter. Much of the content and messaging in those groups imitates what is in the WhatsApp channels. On one new WhatsApp group that The Times reviewed, “The Revenge Troops,” people recently shared instructions for how to build Molotov cocktails and makeshift explosives. The group asked its 400 members to also provide addresses of Arab-owned businesses that could be targeted. In another group with just under 100 members, people shared photos of guns, knives and other weapons as they discussed engaging in street combat in mixed Jewish-Arab cities. Another new WhatsApp group was named “The unapologetic right-wing group.” After participating in attacks, members of the groups posted photos of their exploits and encouraged others to mimic them. “We destroyed them, we left them in pieces,” said one person in “The Revenge Troops” WhatsApp group, alongside a photo showing smashed car windows. In a different group, a video was uploaded of black-clad Jewish youths stopping cars on an unnamed street and asking drivers if they were Jewish or Arab. We beat “the enemy car-by-car,” said a comment posted underneath the video, using an expletive. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel visited Lod, a mixed Jewish-Arab city in central Israel that has been the scene of recent clashes. “There is no greater threat now than these riots, and it is essential to bring back law and order,” said Netanyahu. Within some of the WhatsApp groups, Netanyahu’s calls for peace were ridiculed. “Our government is too weak to do what is necessary, so we take it into our own hands,” wrote one person in a WhatsApp group dedicated to city of Ramle in central Israel. “Now that we have organized, they can’t stop us.”

Mob violence against Palestinians in Israel is fueled by groups on WhatsApp

According to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-ways-to-deal-with-hamas-conquer-or-deter-them-netanyahu-386037">Israel's</a> defence forces(IDF), four rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon with&nbsp;one intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system and others hit open areas with no casualties reported.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/in-gaza-un-classrooms-become-dormitories-as-palestinians-flee-conflict-386046/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The IDF said artillery cannons struck a number of "targets in Lebanese territory” in retaliation as sirens rang out in Israel’s north area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-palestine-conflict-france-jordan-egypt-hold-talks-seek-ceasefire-385927">Israeli</a> authorities sounded out citizens in the southern Galilee region including Haifa's Kiryat Bialik and Kiryat Motzkin region on Wednesday evening.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/gal-gadot-to-rihanna-celebs-speak-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-384797">Also read: Gal Gadot to Rihanna: Celebs speak on the Israel-Palestine conflict</a>

Rockets were fired from Lebanon earlier with Israel reportedly indicating that the latest rocket attacks were launched by&nbsp;Palestinian&nbsp;militant groups.

The attacks occurred even as Israel continued its attack on Gaza with Hamas hitting back with more rocket attacks.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expects "significant de-escalation". &nbsp;

"The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," the White House said.

Amid the fighting, German foreign minister Heiko Maas will travel to Israel including the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-israel-palestine-where-is-the-conflict-heading-385830"> Palestinian</a> territories&nbsp;in a bid to end the attacks which have escalated since May 10.

"The political talks will focus on the current escalation in the Middle East and the international efforts to end the violence," the German foreign ministry said.

Maas is expected to meet t Israel's foreign and defence minister including President Reuven Rivlin. The German foreign minister will also hold talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah, reports said.

According to Israel's defence forces(IDF), four rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon with one intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system and others hit open areas with no casualties reported.

According to Israel's defence forces(IDF), four rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon with one intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system and others hit open areas with no casualties reported. Watch: The IDF said artillery cannons struck a number of "targets in Lebanese territory” in retaliation as sirens rang out in Israel’s north area. Israeli authorities sounded out citizens in the southern Galilee region including Haifa's Kiryat Bialik and Kiryat Motzkin region on Wednesday evening. Also read: Gal Gadot to Rihanna: Celebs speak on the Israel-Palestine conflict Rockets were fired from Lebanon earlier with Israel reportedly indicating that the latest rocket attacks were launched by Palestinian militant groups. The attacks occurred even as Israel continued its attack on Gaza with Hamas hitting back with more rocket attacks. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expects "significant de-escalation". "The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," the White House said. Amid the fighting, German foreign minister Heiko Maas will travel to Israel including the Palestinian territories in a bid to end the attacks which have escalated since May 10. "The political talks will focus on the current escalation in the Middle East and the international efforts to end the violence," the German foreign ministry said. Maas is expected to meet t Israel's foreign and defence minister including President Reuven Rivlin. The German foreign minister will also hold talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah, reports said.

Rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon amid fighting in Gaza

Amid heavy fighting between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-palestine-conflict-france-jordan-egypt-hold-talks-seek-ceasefire-385927">Israel </a>and Hamas in Gaza, PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said, "We’re not standing with a stopwatch. We are taking care of the operation’s objectives."

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-is-the-ground-situation-in-gaza-385963/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Israeli prime minister said there is "no timeframe" to end the conflict as the fighting rages into the second week.

"There are only two ways that you can deal with them <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-representative-is-hamas-of-palestinians-385908">(Hamas)</a>: You can either conquer them, and that's always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence, but I have to say we don't rule out anything," Netanyahu said. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/gal-gadot-to-rihanna-celebs-speak-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-384797">Gal Gadot to Rihanna: Celebs speak on the Israel-Palestine conflict</a>

Netanyahu added that Israel is trying to “achieve a state of deterrence against Hamas to bring an end to the fighting”. The Israeli prime minister made the statement while briefing diplomats in Tel Aviv.

"Hamas used the events of Jerusalem Day and the situation in Sheikh Jarrah to serve its own political interest," Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-misinformation-on-social-media-is-worsening-israel-gaza-conflict-385903">Gaza </a>on Wednesday in a pre-dawn attack as the jets targeted Hamas leaders including the country's vital infrastructure.

At least 219 Palestinians have been killed during the strikes even as Netanyahu asserted that Hamas was set back by "many years".

Israeli jets pounded the southern Gaza Strip region in a 25-minute overnight attack as several buildings were damaged including hospitals, according to reports.

Israeli military spokesman said &nbsp;Hamas and Islamic Jihad had nearly 12,000 missiles and mortar bombs even as 50 rockets were fired by the militant groups at Israel overnight.

The Hamas rockets targeted Israel's Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv but there were no reports of any damage.

Israel and Palestinian militants have been exchanging daily attacks since May 10 after Israeli jets pounded Gaza. Netanyahu said earlier that "Israel's attacks will continue for as long as it takes to restore calm."&nbsp;

Amid heavy fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said, "We’re not standing with a stopwatch. We are taking care of the operation’s objectives.

Amid heavy fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said, "We’re not standing with a stopwatch. We are taking care of the operation’s objectives." Watch: The Israeli prime minister said there is "no timeframe" to end the conflict as the fighting rages into the second week. "There are only two ways that you can deal with them (Hamas): You can either conquer them, and that's always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence, but I have to say we don't rule out anything," Netanyahu said. Also read: Gal Gadot to Rihanna: Celebs speak on the Israel-Palestine conflict Netanyahu added that Israel is trying to “achieve a state of deterrence against Hamas to bring an end to the fighting”. The Israeli prime minister made the statement while briefing diplomats in Tel Aviv. "Hamas used the events of Jerusalem Day and the situation in Sheikh Jarrah to serve its own political interest," Netanyahu said. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza on Wednesday in a pre-dawn attack as the jets targeted Hamas leaders including the country's vital infrastructure. At least 219 Palestinians have been killed during the strikes even as Netanyahu asserted that Hamas was set back by "many years". Israeli jets pounded the southern Gaza Strip region in a 25-minute overnight attack as several buildings were damaged including hospitals, according to reports. Israeli military spokesman said Hamas and Islamic Jihad had nearly 12,000 missiles and mortar bombs even as 50 rockets were fired by the militant groups at Israel overnight. The Hamas rockets targeted Israel's Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv but there were no reports of any damage. Israel and Palestinian militants have been exchanging daily attacks since May 10 after Israeli jets pounded Gaza. Netanyahu said earlier that "Israel's attacks will continue for as long as it takes to restore calm."

Two ways to deal with Hamas - conquer or deter them: Netanyahu

Why Israeli fighter jets are targeting buildings in Gaza