Born two months premature as war raged in Gaza, Palestinian baby Yehia Hamuda was evacuated to southern Gaza after Israeli forces raided the hospital where he was being cared for in the north. His parents, stuck in the north, have not seen him since.

Sderot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Born amid the chaos of war in Gaza, Palestinian baby Yehia Hamuda's early life has been defined by separation from his parents. Born prematurely two months before his due date, Yehia's circumstances took a dramatic turn when Israeli forces raided the hospital in Jabalia, north Gaza, where he was receiving care. In response, he was evacuated to a hospital in southern Gaza, while his parents, Sondos and Zakaria Hamuda, found themselves unable to leave the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The separation of Yehia from his parents has lasted for an extended period, now reaching five months. The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted communication lines, delaying the moment Sondos could see her son's photograph through a mobile phone for the first time since his birth. Expressing her longing, Sondos shared her distress with Reuters, emphasizing the natural desire of a mother to embrace and nurse her child and the pain of their separation.

Travelling the 20 miles from Jabalia to Rafa, where Yehia is being cared for, is fraught with danger due to military checkpoints, tanks, bulldozers, and the threat of violence, as detailed by Sondos. The fear of leaving Yehia orphaned has prevented his parents from attempting the journey, a decision marred by the dread of a family torn apart by conflict.

In the absence of his parents, Yehia has found a new family among the medical staff of the Al-Emirati Hospital in Rafa, who have collectively taken on the role of his caregivers. Nurse Amal Abu Qatla remarked on the unique bond forged between the staff and Yehia, indicating that about 50 medical personnel have embraced him as their own. This sense of collective guardianship has ensured that Yehia, despite the adversity surrounding his early life, has never been left alone.

Across the divide, in Jabalia, Yehia's family holds onto the hope of reunion, a sentiment echoed through the halls of the Al-Emirati Hospital where Yehia continues to grow under the watchful eyes and loving care of the hospital staff.



Gaza war separates parents from newborn baby

As war raged in Gaza, Palestinian baby Yahia Hamouda was born prematurely into conflict. As Israeli forces raided the hospital he was being cared for in Jabalia in the north, he was evacuated to southern Gaza. But his parents, Sondos and Zakaria, became stuck in the north of the strip and have not seen their son since. He is now five months old. Yahia's mother told Reuters that with communications down, the months passed before she finally made contact with the hospital in Rafa and saw his photo on a mobile phone. I want to hold him. I want to breastfeed him, she says. Every day my chest hurts. I cannot deal with this. It is only 20 miles from Jabalia to Rafa, but the north is severed from the south by Israeli military checkpoints and Sondos says the journey is too dangerous. The checkpoint separates between Rafa and the north. There are tanks and bulldozers. My husband and I cannot go to it. There is shooting. They would kill us. I am afraid my son would end up living alone without parents. He only has his mother and father. Yahia is being cared for by the nurses and medical staff of the Al-Emirati Hospital in Rafa. Nurse Amal Abu Qatla says he has become the son of the neonatal unit, with everyone taking it upon themselves to care for him. She says around 50 medical staff at the unit have taken on the role of Yahia's mother and father. We pay him a lot of attention and he is never alone, she says. Back in Jabalia, his family yearn to be reunited.

Tens of thousands of Iranians gathered Tuesday (May 21) to mourn President Ebrahim Raisi and seven members of his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash on a fog-shrouded mountainside.

Tabriz

Iran holds funeral procession for late president Raisi

U.S. President Joe Biden strongly defended Israel, after the International Criminal Court's prosecutor said he had requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense chief and three Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes.

Washington

Biden defends Israel after ICC warrants request

Telstra has announced it will cut 2,800 jobs, nearly ten percent of its workforce, by the end of the year as part of cost-cutting measures. Despite being profitable, the company aims to reduce costs by $350 million and has assured that customer service will not be impacted.

Council of the City of Sydney

Telstra announces mass job cuts

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister in a helicopter prompted public mourning as well as celebration by those who’d experienced Raisi’s brutal crackdown on opponents.

Tehran

Grief, celebration follows Iranian president’s death

Western allies are taking too long to make key decisions on military support for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters in an exclusive interview in Kyiv. Zelenskyy also said he was pushing Western partners to get more directly involved in the war.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy says Western aid to Ukraine too slow

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was given permission to appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges. Assange argued at London's High Court he might not be able to rely on his right to free speech at a trial in a U.S. court.

London

Julian Assange wins right to appeal U.S. extradition

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday (May 20) applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders. Karim Khan said he was seeking warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes including "starvation."

The Hague

I.C.C. prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Netanyahu

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and all other passengers were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, officials and state media said, after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.

Iran's president Raisi killed in helicopter crash

New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria State Governments are calling for the minimum age to use social media being raised to 16. It comes as the NSW Premier announces a social media summit later this year to explore the issue.

New South Wales

Calls for age restrictions on social media use

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip, residents said, as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid U.S. calls for a more focused military campaign.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

U.S. envoy visits Israel as troops push deeper into Gaza

A prominent member of Israel's war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has threatened to quit if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't outline a post-war plan for Gaza by early next month. There's also pressure from protesters who are calling on the government to do more to secure the release of captives.

Key ally of Netanyahu threatens to quit over Gaza

Sunday is the final day of the Premier League season, with both Manchester City and Arsenal in contention to win the title. A victory against visitors West Ham will guarantee a fourth championship in a row for City.

Manchester

Man City know ‘it’s win or Arsenal will be champions’

New York police have beaten and arrested several protesters at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Brooklyn, according to witnesses. The New York Post said at least 12 people were arrested.

New York

Pro-Palestine protesters beaten, arrested in New York

There were ugly scenes in Melbourne city as hundreds of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protest groups clashed with each other. With tensions flaring, a significant police presence blocked off streets and separated the rival demonstrators.

Melbourne

Palestinian and Israeli protestors clash in Melbourne

A police officer has been stabbed in the back of the head in an unprovoked attack near Hyde Park in Sydney city. The injured constable then chased his attacker, who was eventually tasered by a patrolling riot squad officer.

Police officer stabbed in Sydney CBD

Crews in the U.S. city of Houston are working to restore power to nearly one million homes and businesses, after storms caused widespread damage. A Texas official says some residents could be without power for weeks.

Houston

Seven dead after powerful storms slam Houston, Texas

Heavy rains caused flooding in parts of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands overnight into this morning, swamping streets and buildings and sparking evacuations.

Berlin

Floods in parts of northern Europe after heavy rains

One more person was killed and two injured in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia as security personnel tried to restore order after a fifth night of riots and looting that has now claimed six lives.

Nouméa

Some neighbourhoods out of control in New Caledonia riots

Three Spanish tourists were killed and at least one Spaniard was injured in an attack by gunmen in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province, Spain's foreign ministry said on Friday.

Bamyan

Spanish tourists killed in Afghanistan shooting

Gregor Haas, father of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, has been arrested in the Philippines. Authorities allege that he attempted to smuggle five kilograms of methamphetamine into Indonesia, a crime that carries the death penalty.

Cebu City

Father of NRL star arrested in Philippines

A new temporary pier built by the U.S. is helping bring desperately needed aid to Gaza. The first shipment of humanitarian aid has already started rolling into the besieged enclave, but UN officials say it's no replacement for deliveries by land.

Rafah

Aid rolls into Gaza as U.S. constructed pier opens

Surveillance video from a hotel in 2016 appears to show rapper and record mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs grab, shove, drag and kick his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, matching allegations she made in a now-settled civil suit against him.

Los Angeles

Video emerges of Sean 'Diddy' Combs assaulting woman

The world's number one ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested early this morning on his way to the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. He is facing four charges including assault of an officer, after allegedly dodging a pedestrian death investigation.

Louisville

Scheffler, top ranked golfer arrested outside tournament

Hundreds of French police reinforcements have arrived in Noumea amid deadly riots that have claimed the lives of five people. The unrest follows plans to change electoral rolls to allow more French residents to vote.

French force arrives in New Caledonia

Aid trucks have started moving through a U.S.-built pier anchored off Gaza's coast, the U.S. Central Command said on Friday (May 17), marking the first batch of aid to reach Gaza by sea in weeks.

Jerusalem

Aid trucks begin moving through Gaza pier, U.S. says

Israel was at the International Court of Justice Friday (May 17), defending its military operation in Gaza. The United Nations' top court wrapped up a third round of hearings on emergency measures requested by South Africa, which says Israel’s military incursion in Rafah threatens the “very survival of Palestinians in Gaza."

Israel responds to genocide charges at U.N. court

Speaking at the end of his state visit to China, President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces advancing in Ukraine's northeast were carving out a buffer zone to protect Russia from attacks. Ukraine's top commander warned of "heavy battles" looming on the war's new front in the Kharkiv region.

Kharkiv

Putin says Russia carving out 'buffer zone' around Kharkiv

FIFA will take independent legal advice on a call by the Palestinian Football Association to suspend its Israeli counterpart over events in Gaza, the world body's president said Friday (May 17).

Bangkok

FIFA to seek legal advice over Israel suspension

French police shot dead an armed man who set fire to a synagogue in the northwestern city of Rouen. Officers opened fire when the assailant threw an iron bar at them and threatened them with a knife as he left the building.

SEE THE FULL STORY

Israel-Gaza War