Worldcrunch
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 debate too often strips Palestinians of their political agency, ignoring their own demands for equality, self-determination, and return.
A summit of Arab countries will be held in Doha on Sunday to discuss the consequences of Tuesday’s Israeli raid on Hamas in Qatar. The Gulf states have reacted very negatively to this Israeli incursion, which appears as an act of pure hubris by Benjamin Netanyahu.
👋 Haaahe!* Welcome to Friday, where Vladimir Putin warns Western troops deployed to Ukraine would be “legitimate targets,” Afghanistan is struck by third quake as death roll tops 2,200, and today’s quiz question is about David Bowie’s secret final project. Meanwhile, Bogotá-based daily El Espectador examines the debate over banning former Colombian soldiers from fighting […]
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.
👋 Sannu!* Welcome to Thursday, where Kim Jong-un affirms his support for Vladimir Putin, the UAE denounces Israeli plans to annex the West Bank, and today’s quiz question is about a Nazi-looted Italian painting. Meanwhile, we offer a tour du monde of the state of the debate as to whether adults can physically discipline children. […]
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.
👋 Bonjour!* Welcome to Monday, where Israeli strikes on a Gaza hospital kill at least 15, Vietnam braces for Typhoon Kajiki and a little bird has tipped us off about today’s quiz question from Hong Kong. Meanwhile Andrés Nieto Ramírez, writing in the Bogotá-based daily El Espectador, argues that Colombia’s anti-drug forces need to rethink […]
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.
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.
👋 Ekamowir omo!* Welcome to Thursday, where Canada says it will recognize a Palestinian state if democratic conditions are met, a Russian airstrike kills at least six in Kyiv, and today’s quiz question takes us back to one of the earliest traces of human addiction. Meanwhile, for German weekly Die Zeit, researcher Olivia Masseck lays […]
👋 Zdravo!* Welcome to Tuesday, where Russia continues to strike Ukraine despite Trump’s ultimatum, a lone gunman kills four in a Manhattan skyscraper and our daily quiz question is about Portugal’s down-to-earth president. Meanwhile, Basma Al-Atty in Beirut-based independent media Daraj looks at how sudden floods following years of drought have fueled conspiracy theories about […]
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.
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.
👋 Håfa adai!* Welcome to Thursday, where airstrikes and shootings kill at least 94 Palestinians in Gaza overnight, South Korea revises governing martial law rules, and today’s quiz question asks what’s on the menu aboard the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Tarek Ismail for Daraj draws a dictatorial parallel between Donald Trump and late Libyan strongman […]
As Netanyahu’s war recalibrates alliances and redraws red lines, international law fades into irrelevance, Gaza becomes background noise, and the West’s moral compass spins off course.
As Berlin and Tel Aviv mark a diplomatic milestone, the relationship born out of pragmatism, guilt and survival faces its toughest questions yet — especially amid war, protest and growing calls for criticism.
👋 Talofa!* Welcome to Thursday, where a suspect is in custody after a shooting in Washington, D.C., killed two Israeli embassy staff, a White House meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump goes awry, and today’s quiz question asks what piece of advice the Netherlands has against cyber crime. Meanwhile, as the […]
A growing number of Israelis oppose the ruthless war in the Gaza Strip and fear their country’s international isolation. Increasing criticism from Europe is fueling this sentiment, which, for now, has not stopped Benjamin Netanyahu from escalating the conflict.
Israel is calling up tens of thousands of reservists as its military operations threaten to expand in Gaza and grow more significant in Syria. This escalation raises serious questions about the goals behind what has become one of the longest wars in the country’s history.
For 59 days now, Israel has prevented the supply of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the UN is warning that stocks are running out. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague opened proceedings where Israel is accused use of hunger as a weapon. This practice should have been left in the 19th century.
An international front is refusing to bow to the White House’s demands, and it’s the only way out of the crisis.
The Egyptian people love soccer, but those who rule its professional leagues don’t seem to care about the sport. The people had to find a solution, on city streets and remote villages — and special once-a-year Ramadan tournaments.
In his first extensive interview since the ceasefire, longtime influential Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk said the group is running Gazan affairs, despite Israel’s attempt to unseat it. Still, Abu Marzouk said Hamas is seeking a future Palestinian unity leadership that it doesn’t necessarily have to run on its own.
As the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire offers brief respite for Gaza, the Arab world’s response remains divided. While some celebrate diplomatic efforts, others remain skeptical, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll and the uncertainty of lasting peace.
Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States — with an important role played by Donald Trump — along with Qatar and Egypt. It’s a relief to families of hostages and Palestinians in Gaza but also raises the question of the “day after,” which remains unwritten.
Palestinians must engage in deep domestic dialogue to end their division and agree on a set of principles to address the towering challenges they face, including their ties with Syria’s new rulers.
How can we transcend the anonymity of numbers? How can we preserve moments of love, resilience and defiance against oppression. Egyptian filmmaker and writer Basel Ramsis reflects on human connection, memory and the fight against dehumanization.
The previous world order, based on the domination of a few superpowers, has been turned upside down in 2024. Will this be the year of explosions, or the year of reactions? French political theorist Jacques Attali explains the theory of order through noise.