23 h. ago Aid groups voice alarm as US pushes Israeli plan for Gaza assistance

Groups say plan to resume limited humanitarian assistance under strict Israeli rules ‘risks enabling war crimes’US politics live – latest updatesAid groups have voiced alarm at US moves to pressure them into accepting an Israeli proposal to resume limited humanitarian assistance to the war-ravaged territory under strictly controlled conditions.The Trump administration has attempted to strong-arm international agencies – including the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) – into accepting Israel’s stringent rules for resuming deliveries, according to sources familiar with the discussions and news reports. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Israel laid out its harrowing plan to take Palestinian territories in 2017. Now it is happening | Ofer Cassif

Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich’s vow that Gaza be ‘entirely destroyed’ should surprise no one – he formulated this chilling idea way before 7 October• Ofer Cassif is a member of the Knesset for HadashIsrael’s announcement of a new offensive to “conquer” Gaza, along with claims by Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli minister of finance, that the strip will be “entirely destroyed”, have flustered the international community. Observers may be distressed, disturbed or upset by these plans. But they should come as no surprise. This kind of genocidal ideology has been evident, in Smotrich’s case, since long before 7 October. And opposition voices – including mine – have been warning of the government’s intentions in Gaza since October 2023.These latest actions by the fanatic nationalists in Israel’s government are causing misery to Palestinians, but also to Israelis. The decision of the Israeli cabinet to expand its invasion has terrified the families of Israeli hostages. They have accused S...

Politics

53 h. ago Leading aid group shuts down its soup kitchens across Gaza over Israel's blockade

A leading aid group says that Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian assistance for Gaza has forced it to shut down its community soup kitchens

Politics

3 d. ago Seize Gaza, or make it uninhabitable. That’s Netanyahu’s plan – and either way he wins | Yair Wallach

The talk of a major new offensive may be strategic bluster, but either way it serves a purpose. It shows extremist policy is now mainstreamAfter two months of daily bombings, raids and a total blockade preventing the entry of food and medication to Gaza, Israel approved a military plan on Monday it claims will bring about the final destruction of Hamas. The intensified offensive by the Israel Defense Forces will aim to occupy large parts of the strip and maintain a permanent Israeli presence there. It has been dubbed Operation Gideon’s Chariots – but it might be more accurate to call it the Roadmap to Hell. More of the population would be forced into an ever-shrinking “humanitarian zone”, while Israel explores options for their permanent displacement from the strip altogether.While Israeli officials explain that the renewed onslaught would help to release hostages, it is abundantly clear that intensifying military operations would only put them at greater risk. Hostages’ families ha...

Politics

4 d. ago Palestinians ‘desperate for food but getting bombs’, says UN as it criticises Israel’s Gaza aid plan – Middle East crisis live

Reports say that Israel is planning to use private American security contractors in move that OCHA says falls short of ‘humanitarian principles’China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said Beijing is “highly concerned about the current Palestine-Israel situation”.“We oppose Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, and hopes all parties continuously and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement,” Jian said.The government of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hopes that the Israel Defense Forces’ call-up of tens of thousands of reservists, the threat of the new offensive and the prospect of Israel seizing swaths of territory will force Hamas’s leaders to make concessions.If it fails to do so, then physical possession of terrain will offer useful leverage in future negotiations and allow Hamas to be squeezed further in the meantime Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Hamas says it will not engage with Israel again until ‘hunger war’ in Gaza ends

‘No sense’ in considering new truce proposals, says group, hours after Israel agrees plan for ‘conquest’ of territoryMiddle East crisis – live updatesHamas has said it is no longer interested in truce talks with Israel and urged the international community to halt Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza, hours after Israeli officials agreed an intensified offensive in the devastated territory that would involve displacing “most” of its residents and a sustained Israeli military presence in the devastated territory.“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told AFP. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Israel will move Gaza's entire 2million population to 'humanitarian zone' under plan to 'conquer' the strip and hold it indefinitely

Gaza has been under total Israeli blockade since March and faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than 52,000 people killed since the start of the conflict, per health officials

Politics

4 d. ago Netanyahu says new offensive in Gaza focused on consolidating seizure of territory

Israeli PM says operation will lead to significant displacement of the population ‘for its own protection’Middle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has said a new “intensified” offensive in Gaza will involve Israeli troops holding on to seized territory and significant displacement of the population.Speaking after officials said Israel’s security cabinet had approved a plan for “conquering” the Gaza Strip and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Netanyahu posted a video on X in which he said Israeli soldiers would not go into Gaza, launch raids and then retreat. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago John Swinney condemns Israeli plan to 'capture' Gaza that would cause 'more deaths'

Scotland's First Minister called for a two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Politics

5 d. ago Trump’s 100% film tariff plan ‘not in the interests of American businesses’ – US politics live

Australian and UK politicians push back against US president’s move, which is expected to send ‘shock waves’ through global industry Israel is to expand its military operations in Gaza in the coming weeks, with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Israeli officials have said.The plan, which was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Israel to expand military operations in Gaza to establish ‘sustained presence’

Plan goes beyond any aims so far outlined and is likely to prompt international concern and fierce oppositionMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael is to expand its military operations in Gaza in the coming weeks, with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a “sustained presence” there, Israeli officials have said.The plan, which was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Israel's cabinet ‘approves plan to capture and occupy all of Gaza’ as military offensive expanded

The move, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory

Events

5 d. ago Israel's cabinet ‘approves plan to capture all of Gaza’ as military offensive expanded

The move, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory

Events

5 d. ago Israeli cabinet approves plan to capture all of Gaza and keep its soldiers there indefinitely

Netanyahu has called up tens of thousands of reservists to free up soldiers for ‘the next stage’ of war in Gaza

Politics

5 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Israeli ministers ‘approve plan to capture all of Gaza’

Officials tell Associated Press that plan would involve troops staying there for an unspecified amount of timeYemen’s Houthis have said the US of carried out strikes in and around Sana’a, after the Iran-backed rebels claimed a missile strike on Israel’s main airport yesterday, AFP reports.The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and the airport road, blaming them on “American aggression”. Saba said 16 people were wounded, citing the Houthi’s health ministry. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago What is the International Court of Justice and why is it weighing in on humanitarian aid in Gaza?

The top United Nations court on Monday will begin hearing from 40 countries on what Israel must do to provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank

Society