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Amnesty International has published a report accusing Hamas of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report is particularly significant given that the human rights organization had previously accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. It’s a timely reminder that the law applies to everyone.
The Israeli army chief of staff has described the separation between the two areas of Gaza as a “new border,” raising fears that the situation will become permanent when it was only supposed to be temporary pending the second phase of the “Trump plan.” But that plan may be destined to go nowhere.
The reality is that Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to Israel, but rather to the Lebanese state itself; whereas Israel represents an existential threat to the state, to Hezbollah, and to Lebanese society as a whole.
The anniversary of the former prime minister’s assassination comes at a moment when both Israeli and Palestinian extremists have the upper hand. But it is at least a reminder that belief in a resolution to the Middle East conflict once existed, on both sides.
Lebanon is bracing for a new assault by Israel, while the recent ceasefire in Gaza looks bound to break. In the Middle East, there’s a massive gap between pause and peace.
Israel’s post-hostage relief must not harden into absolution, but must be taken as a moment for accountability and a rethinking of coexistence.
After the hostages’ release, will Israelis see Benjamin Netanyahu as the man who weakened Iran and its allies, or as the person responsible for the security failure of October 7? The answer will largely determine the future of the Gaza agreement and the state of Israel’s relations with the world.
Donald Trump and some 20 European and Middle Eastern leaders meet Monday in Egypt to discuss Gaza, but with different agendas and objectives. The risk is that this will lead to a ceasefire without a peace process, which is a recipe for future disasters.
Recently released, a former Palestinian detainee recounts the beatings, humiliation, and deprivation he endured as human rights groups warn of a prison system turned into an instrument of state violence.
The first phase of the agreement will see the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners. But can we really be optimistic about what comes next, when the tougher political choices are still to come? Not just yet, says geopolitical analyst Pierre Haski.
Under pressure from the U.S. president, Israeli and Hamas negotiators reached an agreement on the first phase of the Gaza plan — a deal that includes the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. But the path forward remains uncertain, with the next steps in the plan’s implementation still unclear.
As the region transforms after October 7, Berlin needs both empathy for Israel and the courage to rethink its own foreign policy doctrine.
Two years after the worst massacre in their history, Israelis have yet to recover from the trauma. The war in Gaza still rages, with the nation waiting for the results of ongoing negotiations. While they have achieved military victories, the moral struggle remains unresolved — leaving Israel at a critical crossroads.
Negotiations on the implementation of Trump’s plan for Gaza began on Monday in Egypt. No one wants to be held responsible for failure, which gives the first phase— a ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners — a real chance of success. What comes next will be far more complex.
Israeli authorities intercepted boats from the international Gaza aid flotilla late Wednesday. But the standoff is bound to continue to weigh on the Middle East conflict.
Donald Trump’s 21-point plan, unveiled after his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, falls short of the Franco-Saudi proposal adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Even if implemented, it is unlikely to offer a viable path toward a political solution.
Italy’s prime minister signals support for a Palestinian state at the UN with conditions attached, breaking with Netanyahu and Trump but stopping short of a full embrace.
Despite being 89 and having little support among the Palestinian population, Mahmoud Abbas remains central to the Franco-Saudi peace plan. The president of the Palestinian Authority is, however, being shunned by Israel and the United States over the decision of who is to oversee the “aftermath” in Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister is threatening to annex all or part of the occupied West Bank in retaliation for France and other countries recognizing the State of Palestine, but this is easier said than done, and Netanyahu is seeking the green light from Donald Trump.
For some, it is not enough; for others, it is a gift to Hamas. But the recognition of Palestine by a growing number of Western countries is way of saying “no” to the eradication of Palestinians from their land.
By twisting words into tools of war, Israel turns destruction into “security,” displacement into “voluntary migration,” and Gaza’s annihilation into a defensive necessity.
The Israeli Prime Minister calls for an updated vision of the militarized city-state of ancient Greece, a justification for the growing isolation of the Jewish state. His comments came as the Israeli army launched its ground offensive on Gaza City, an operation that has been condemned by many nations.
The Al Ghafri Tower, Gaza’s tallest residential building, was destroyed Monday after the Israeli army ordered its evacuation. The term “urbicide”— literally, “killing the city”—is used to describe this strategy aimed at rendering Gaza City uninhabitable.
The debate too often strips Palestinians of their political agency, ignoring their own demands for equality, self-determination, and return.
Experts suspect Israel is planning another round of precision strikes on Iran, targeting key military sites and hoping to maim the Tehran regime enough to make it incapable of suppressing a “decisive” revolt against it. Even Tuesday’s Israeli strike in Qatar was ultimately a message to Iran.
As Israel’s devastating war on Gaza continues, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg draws a clear link between environmental devastation and political violence. Her stance is based on a reality: in Gaza, like elsewhere, environmental destruction is yet another weapon of war.
Even as the Israeli army continues to leave a trail of destruction in northern Gaza, some families refuse to leave their homes as ordered by the Israeli government. They have experienced displacement before, and saying risking death is better than returning to such a state.
Less than three weeks after Emmanuel Macron announced his intention to recognize Palestine, Israel and the United States are increasingly mounting obstacles to the French diplomatic initiative. Israel accuses the French president of seeking to “undermine stability” in the Middle East.
Poland’s historic “New Jerusalem” once housed a vibrant Hasidic Jewish community before being destruction in the horrors of the Holocaust.
With more than 115 attacks since 2023, Yemen’s Houthis now offer ship operators a website to register vessels and avoid drone or missile strikes, a move that raises alarms among maritime security experts and highlights the rebels’ bid to control global shipping lanes.
As the UN vote to formally recognize the State of Palestine gets closer, pressure on Donald Trump is growing. He must decide, once and for all, whether to continue his unconditional support for Netanyahu or seek a viable way forward.
France, the UK and Canada are preparing to formally back Palestinian statehood at the UN this September. Behind the symbolic gesture lies a strategic power play aimed at Benjamin Netanyahu — and Donald Trump.
The Israel-Jordan peace treaty brought a moment of hope to the region. But Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination killed the Israeli left, and with it the idea and spark of hope.
One-quarter of the way into the 21st century, Israel is emerging not only as a staunch ally of the United States but also as the dominant regional power. That inevitably places it in direct competition with Iran, both in its current theocratic form and in a potential free and democratic future.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have resumed. While Europe demands guarantees that Tehran will not build a nuclear bomb, Trump is also pushing for a deal. Is the regime willing to give ground, or is it bluffing?
The area where the city will be established will lie on the ruins of thousands of homes in Rafah, after the Israeli army “cleanses” it. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is directly adjacent to Egypt — which means the next step could be pushing hundreds of thousands of residents into Sinai.
Europe, Iran and global powers are meeting in Istanbul on Friday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The talks may determine whether dialogue or confrontation will shape their future relations. It’s also a reminder that diplomacy is a better way than war to settle disputes.
People would have understood Israel’s punitive retribution, even a singularly harsh response, to the October 7 massacre of Israelis by Hamas gunmen. But it has since gone far too far, prompting even sympathizers to wonder in horror, is a democracy committing genocide.
Israel is attacking an area that had been designated as a “humanitarian zone,” offering shelter to around 70,000 displaced people and humanitarian workers. This comes after scores of civilians had been killed by Israeli troops while attempting to get food and other basic supplies for their families.
Benjamin Netanyahu proposing the U.S. president for the Nobel Peace prize may seem a sinister joke, but it seems the Gaza genocide these laureates-in-waiting are boasting about is reaping them benefits. It is giving them wings, like those of vultures.