Israel Financial News

Pope Francis has kicked off global Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as Israel's war on Hamas and Russia's invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world's favourite holidays. Having said earlier in the day that he was thinking of people «who are suffering from war — we are thinking of Palestine, of Israel, of Ukraine», the pope struck a sombre tone during his Christmas Eve mass.

Are ripples of hostility from the Gaza War reaching Indian shores? Over the weekend, an oil tanker with 25 Indians on board—all confirmed safe—was struck by a drone in the Red Sea, according to the US, which is patrolling this trade route being disrupted by Yemen’s Iran-sponsored Houthi militia. Hours earlier, a Mangalore-bound ship suffered a drone attack off the coast of Gujarat, making India rush armed forces to its defence.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Denmark's Maersk is preparing to resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the company said on Sunday, citing the deployment of a U.S.-led military operation designed to ensure the safety of commerce in the area.

By Steven Scheer

(Reuters) — A drone launched from Iran struck a chemical tanker in the Indian ocean early on Saturday, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Pope Francis lamented the war in the Holy Land where Palestinian health officials said airstrikes killed at least 78 people on Christmas Eve in one of the Gaza Strip's deadliest nights in Israel's 11-week-old battle with Hamas. Israeli strikes that began hours before midnight persisted into Christmas Day on Monday. Local residents and Palestinian media said Israel stepped up air and ground shelling against al-Bureij in central Gaza. At least 70 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Maghazi in central Gaza, health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said, adding that many were women and children. The Israeli army said it was reviewing the report of a Maghazi incident and was committed to minimising harm to civilians.

Hamas captivity were recovered from an underground tunnel network in the northern Gaza Strip, the military said on Sunday, showing footage of a white-tiled bathroom and work room linked by dark concrete-lined passages. The publication left open the question of how they had died, with chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari saying post-mortems were pending. «We will brief the families and then, depending on what they approve, the public,» he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday conveyed a Christmas message to the global Christian community, emphasizing that Israel still grapples with the absence of lasting peace. Here are the top ten updates on the Israel-Gaza war: 1. “To our Christian friends around the world, Merry Christmas," Netanyahu said, adding, “Christmas is supposed to be a time of goodwill to all men and peace on Earth.

Bethlehem will not celebrate Christmas. Devasted by the toll of Israel's pounding of Gaza some 70 km away, Christ's birthtown in the West Bank will not have a single Christmas tree, let alone festivities. On last count, the Hamas-Israel conflict has killed more than 20,000 Palestinians and injured 50,000-plus people.

The U.N. Security Council has passed a new resolution that calls for speeding up aid deliveries into Gaza, but without the original call for an “urgent suspension of hostilities” between Israel and Hamas

President Joe Biden signed a new executive order aimed at targeting financial facilitators of the Russian defense industry

Benjamin Netanyahu expressed grief over the deaths of Israeli soldiers who were killed over the weekend amid the ongoing war with terror group Hamas, Times of Israel reported. He also denied the reports that US prevented Israel from carrying out military operations against Hezbollah.

Red Sea crisis, shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk Sunday decided to resume voyages through the Suez Canal. This followed the setting up of the multi-national security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), led by the US. “As of Sunday 24 December 2023, we have received confirmation that the previously announced multi-national security initiative Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) has now been set up and deployed to allow maritime commerce to pass through the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden and once again return to using the Suez Canal as a gateway between Asia and Europe, the shipper said in an advisory to its customers. “This is most welcome news for the entire industry and indeed the functionality of global trade. With the OPG initiative in operation, we are preparing to allow for vessels to resume transit through the Red Sea both eastbound and westbound,” it added.

World Health Organization said Sunday the health system in Gaza was being destroyed and reiterated his call for a ceasefire. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also hailed Gaza's medical workers who continue their work under increasingly dire circumstances.

Investing.com – Israel stocks were lower after the close on Sunday, as losses in the Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Insurance sectors led shares lower.

Nvidia and its employees have donated $15 million to Israeli non-profit organisations that are supporting civilians affected by Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. Thousands of employees from more than 30 countries donated a total of $5 million, which the company matched and doubled to $10 million under a special programme introduced to help those affected by the war, Nvidia said on Sunday.

ground offensive and a sign that Hamas is still putting up a fight despite weeks of brutal war. The mounting death toll among Israeli troops is likely to play an important factor in Israeli public support for the war, which was sparked when Hamas-led militants stormed communities in southern Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 and taking 240 hostage. The war has devastated parts of the Gaza Strip, killed roughly 20,400 Palestinians and displaced nearly 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people.

ANI quoted Indian Navy as saying. Earlier on 29 November, Rajnath Singh unveiled the crest of Yard 12706 (Imphal) – Indian Navy's third stealth guided missile destroyer, reported Times of India. ALSO READ: Indian Navy aircraft establishes connection with Israel-linked ship hit by drone strike near Indian coast | 10 Points Named after Imphal, the INS Imphal is the first capital warship that has been got its name after a city in the northeastern region.

Iran's navy on Sunday added domestically produced sophisticated cruise missiles to its arsenal, state TV reported. The TV said both Talaeieh and Nasir cruise missiles have arrived at a naval base near the Indian Ocean in the southern Iranian port of Konarak, some 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.

drone attack on an Indian cargo vessel on the high seas, defence expert Wg Cdr (retd) Praful Bakshi on Sunday said the incident marks a security concern for the country and the entire world as the ship came under fire in an 'innocent area' outside the conflict zone. Speaking on Sunday, the former Indian Air Force (IAF) officer said the suspected drone strike spells concern as it was carried out within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the subcontinent and there were several Indians on board the vessel. «It is very surprising because now you can see the action that was going on around Israel and Gaza, the Red Sea, etc., is now spilling over into the Arabian Sea. That doesn't augur well for the security of this area.

Jaishankar said while speaking at an event in Chennai. He pointed out that the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) drive is a step towards meeting the demand, however, the debate is still alive, as reported by Hindustan Times. Dual or multiple citizenship grants an individual legal status as a citizen of two or more countries simultaneously.