3 d. ago Donald Trump could stop Gaza’s famine. Instead he’s following Biden’s lead | Mohamad Bazzi

A hunger-monitoring group has confirmed what we already knew about Palestinians’ suffering. The US has the power to end itA global hunger-monitoring group declared last week that Gaza’s largest city and its surrounding area were suffering from an “entirely man-made” famine, mostly caused by Israel’s deliberate starvation strategy and continued siege of the territory. This news won’t surprise anyone who has paid even scant attention to the images and videos of emaciated children and desperate parents that have been coming out of Gaza for months.But the first confirmation of famine by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which includes the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and other aid agencies, is an important institutional marker. Years from now, it will serve as a reminder of how Israel used starvation as a weapon of war while western powers did nothing. And it will be a source of shame for all those who will inevitably claim that they didn’t ...

Politics

4 d. ago Boycott the banquet, send a tweet. But ending the horror in Gaza still relies on the worst people in the world | Marina Hyde

This humanitarian catastrophe is barely of passing interest to Donald Trump. The curse of our times is how little we can do about itDay 222 of Donald Trump’s presidency, and Russia’s war in Ukraine – which he promised to end on day one – shows no sign of having got the memo. This was not a single-use Trump promise; he made it at least 53 times. Yet the US president has failed to keep it, either literally or in his favourite manner: figuratively. Can you figuratively end a war? Not even, apparently.What his most recent round of failure means, however, is that Trump is pivoting back to another war, the grotesquely horrifying and unlawful humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Not the way he’d phrase it, possibly. This week he swerved commenting on either Israel’s invasion of Gaza City or the mounting declarations that famine and starvation are clearly under way in the territory, and instead announced: “I think within the next two, three weeks, you’re going to have a pretty good, ...

Events

5 d. ago Voices: Trump has a rival for that Nobel Peace Prize, now he’s let Blair into the White House

Those who've never forgiven Tony Blair for the Iraq war were horrified to discover the US president has sought his counsel on Gaza's future. Enough of such childish spite, says Sean O'Grady – the former PM is an ideally qualified adviser...

Politics

5 d. ago Ed Davey accused of disrespecting the King after Lib Dem leader vows to BOYCOTT next month's state banquet for Donald Trump in protest over Gaza

Following an invitation by His Majesty, the US President is due to arrive in Britain for an historic second state visit between September 17 and 19.

Politics

5 d. ago Tony Blair meets Donald Trump at White House for meeting on the future of Gaza

Sir Tony briefed the American president on ideas to rebuild the war-torn territory, a senior US official said

Politics

5 d. ago Sir Tony Blair has briefed Donald Trump on how to rebuild Gaza 'when the war ends in the next four months'

The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East peace process with the US President and his son-in-law Jared Kushner at the White House.

Politics

6 d. ago Donald Trump to chair meeting on Gaza as US says it expects ‘to settle this before the end of this year’ – Middle East crisis live

US special envoy Steve Witkoff says ‘we think we’re going to settle this one way or another’ as Marco Rubio also prepares to meet Gideon Saar Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Lammy condemns Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital that killed five journalists

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was ‘horrified’ by the attack on Nasser Hospital, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Events

1 week ago State Department employee fired after questioning talking points on Israel and Gaza

The State Department has fired a press officer responsible for drafting Trump administration talking points about policy toward Israel and Gaza

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump's Gaza blackout as US President BANS visas for desperate and starving kids

Visas for starving and sick children from Gaza have been halted by Donald Trump's administration following pressure from a conservative activist who questioned why they were allowed into the US

Politics

2 w. ago Western journalists are failing to stand up for their colleagues in Gaza | Mohamad Bazzi

This hypocrisy of western media has been laid bare by Israel’s targeting of journalists since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attackFor nearly two years, Israel has been systemically targeting and killing Palestinian journalists in Gaza. On Sunday night, the Israeli military brazenly killed another six journalists, who had been sheltering in a tent housing media workers in Gaza City. Among them was the 28-year-old Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and the rest of the network’s team reporting from the besieged territory.Israel is able to kill Palestinian journalists with impunity not just because of the unconditional military and political support it receives from the US and other western powers, but also the failure of many western media organizations and journalists to stand up for their Palestinian colleagues. Western outlets are often willing to publicly criticize governments and campaign for journalists who are harassed or imprisoned by US adversaries like Russia, China or Iran. ...

Events

3 w. ago Joe Biden is complicit in Gaza’s starvation. Blood is on his hands | Mohamad Bazzi

At several points during his presidency, Biden could have stopped starvation from spreading in Gaza. He didn’t do thatIn March 2024, the global authority on food security warned that Palestinians were experiencing “catastrophic levels of hunger”, and famine was imminent in northern Gaza as Israel continued its siege of the territory. That report was one of the most direct warnings from the UN and international relief groups, which had been raising alarms about the potential for widespread starvation in Gaza since December 2023.Joe Biden was in the White House at the time, and his administration not only failed to heed those repeated warnings, but it worked to undermine UN agencies and humanitarian groups that tried to focus attention on Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. Today, Donald Trump and his administration are deeply complicit in the human-made famine unfolding in Gaza, but it’s important to remember that US complicity predates Trump – and it’s another sta...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump says he will meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday – US politics live

President posts on Truth Social that meeting with Russian counterpart will take place in AlaskaTexas house meets without necessary number of lawmakersAccording to new reporting by the New York Times, the president has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the Trump administration considers terrorist organizations.According to the Times’ sources, US military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the group. The Times also notes that this escalation would be the most “aggressive step” in the administration’s “campaign against cartels”. They also noted that this continues the president’s preference for using “military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Texas house again fails to meet quorum as governor threatens to add more Republican seats to gerrymandered map – live

State legislature fails to meet quorum for third day; Greg Abbott says ‘we may may it six, or seven, or eight’ about number of added gerrymandered seatsTexas house meets without necessary number of lawmakersAccording to new reporting by the New York Times, the president has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the Trump administration considers terrorist organizations.According to the Times’ sources, US military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the group. The Times also notes that this escalation would be the most “aggressive step” in the administration’s “campaign against cartels”. They also noted that this continues the president’s preference for using “military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Texas House again fails quorum as governor escalates threats and Democrats face second bomb threat amid redistricting battle – live

Hotel where several Texas Democrats are staying has second bomb threat this week, police say; Greg Abbott says he will keep calling special sessionsAccording to new reporting by the New York Times, the president has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the Trump administration considers terrorist organizations.According to the Times’ sources, US military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the group. The Times also notes that this escalation would be the most “aggressive step” in the administration’s “campaign against cartels”. They also noted that this continues the president’s preference for using “military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago No contempt for Trump officials over Venezuelan migrant deportations to El Salvadorian prison, appeals court rules – live

Three-judge panel sided with government by a 2-1 vote, with two Trump-appointed judges and one Obama-appointed judge making the decisionAccording to new reporting by the New York Times, the president has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that the Trump administration considers terrorist organizations.According to the Times’ sources, US military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the group. The Times also notes that this escalation would be the most “aggressive step” in the administration’s “campaign against cartels”. They also noted that this continues the president’s preference for using “military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump orders increased federal law enforcement in Washington DC to combat crime

Move comes amid president’s suggestions that his administration could fully take over running the cityUS vice-president JD Vance kicks off a trip in the United Kingdom with a meeting with British foreign secretary David Lammy on Friday that will bring renewed scrutiny of Vance’s sharp criticism of Britain and its governing Labour party.Vance, his wife, Usha, and their three young children are expected to land in London at the start of a trip that includes staying with Lammy at Chevening, the country residence used by the foreign minister, Reuters reported.Vice-president JD Vance kicks off a trip in the United Kingdom with a meeting with British foreign secretary David Lammy on Friday that will bring renewed scrutiny of Vance’s sharp criticism of Britain and its governing Labour party. Vance, his wife, Usha, and their three young children are expected to land in London at the start of a trip that includes staying with Lammy at Chevening, the country residence used by the foreign mini...

Events