Worldcrunch
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.
“Peace won’t be made by failed diplomats or politicians living in a fantasy land” tweeted Vice President Vance to explain why professionals are being dismissed, both on Gaza and Ukraine. The delegitimization of expertise is a major trend of our time.
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.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected in Washington on Tuesday, a visit that is preceded by a series of contradictory signals that reflect the kingdom’s current standing with the U.S. president. Every detail of the trip will be closely examined, especially in Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron received Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the State of Palestine, as recognized by France on September 22. The two leaders presented ideas for the future of Gaza that go beyond the Trump plan currently being implemented.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From Iran and Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, lasting peace can only arise from shared economic interests and the containment of regional power ambitions.
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 fleet may not open a maritime corridor, and the hunger strike may not end the hunger, but their true strength lies in breaking the psychological isolation, in offering a sense that there is a moral refuge, even if it is materially powerless.
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.
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.
Once a fortress of neutrality and wealth, Qatar now finds itself on the front lines of an escalating regional conflict, as Israel, Iran, and Gulf powers maneuver for strategic advantage.
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.
👋 Салом* Welcome to Tuesday, where Israel orders the evacuation of Gaza City, France’s parliament brings down the government and today’s quiz question sees two TikTokers board the wrong plane. Meanwhile, Jose A. Cano in the monthly Spanish-speaking magazine Pikara explains why the “macho man” persona has become unbearable — even in films made for […]
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.
👋 Allo!* Welcome to Tuesday, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived for a historic visit in Beijing, a landslide kills more than 1,000 in Sudan’s Darfur region, and today’s quiz question features a surprising find by the French police. Meanwhile, Juanjo Ramón in Catalan-language digital media outlet Catalunya Plural looks at how Spain’s […]
I can’t help but juxtapose lines from Primo Levi with the images the television brings, every evening, to the warmth of my own home. And I feel a desperate sense of disorientation. And shame.
U.S. ambassador to France Charles Kushner’s inflammatory letter on antisemitism is part of a campaign against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine. It is an unwelcome interference in France’s affairs and a warning ahead of its 2027 presidential election.
Breakdancing has taken root in one of the most unlikely places: In the refugee camps of Nuseirat and Gaza City, a crew called Breaking 48 trains children and teenagers in the art of hip-hop, amid ongoing conflict, shortages, and destruction. Their story is one of resilience, creativity, and community.
👋 নমস্কাৰ* Welcome to Friday, where Israel’s plans to take control of Gaza City spark widespread condemnation, historic wildfires rage on in France and California, and today’s quiz question comes courtesy of a motorist in Germany. Meanwhile, Kyrgyz investigative outlet Kloop uncovers potential wavering support from Central Asia’s traditionally Kremlin-aligned nations. The Worldcrunch Today crew […]
👋 Manao ahoana!* Welcome to Wednesday, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls for “complete” defeat of Hamas as Israel considers total Gaza occupation, the world marks 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and today’s quiz question highlights a Parisian mishap. Meanwhile, La Marea’s Amador Iranzo looks at the worrying gentrification at play […]
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.
👋 Ha’u!* Welcome to Tuesday, where the WHO condemns Israel’s ground offensive in central Gaza, Bangladesh mourns the victims of a crash of an air force training jet on a school and our daily quiz question is about a deliciously disappearing artwork. Meanwhile, An Flores for independent Latin American online Volcánicas looks at how discussions […]
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.
The so-called “Hebron Emirate” is not a realistic project — but rather a propaganda tool within a campaign to hinder any progress toward a two-state solution. Netanyahu again succeeds in marketing the illusion of alternative solutions to delay a real settlement.
As Netanyahu visits Washington, Israel’s intelligence gears up for a covert campaign against Iran, aiming not just at military targets but at the very core of the regime’s power.