20 h. ago As Trump’s Gaza plan unravels, what’s next for the Middle East? Join live Q&A with Bel Trew

With tensions rising once more and the US rushing to uphold its fragile deal, chief international correspondent Bel Trew will answer readers’ questions on what – if anything – is achievable for the Middle East under the current framework

Politics

21 h. ago Israel and Hamas hand over bodies as part of Gaza ceasefire deal

Hamas hands remains of three soldiers to Israel and bodies of 45 Palestinians are returned to Gaza amid fragile ceasefireIsrael has announced that the remains of three soldiers killed by Hamas during its raid into Israel on 7 October 2023 have been handed over by the militant group.The transfer is the latest since the precarious ceasefire in Gaza came into effect just over three weeks ago. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago New inquest rules South African Nobel laureate Albert Luthuli was beaten to death in 1967

A new inquest into the 1967 death of South African Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-apartheid leader Albert Luthuli has found that he was beaten to death

Events

5 d. ago Tony Blair ‘has a contribution to make’ to Trump’s Gaza peace deal, UK’s Middle East minister says

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer has spoken to The Independent on Gaza and why cutting international aid has not made the migrant crisis worse

Politics

6 d. ago Dear Donald Trump, here’s how you can win that Nobel peace prize | Mehdi Hasan

Make Israel release Marwan Barghouti, the ‘Palestinian Mandela’. The future of peace in the region depends on itDear Donald Trump,You still want that Nobel peace prize, right? You believe you deserve it, don’t you? Even as you send the world’s biggest warship towards Venezuela, promise to just “kill people that are bringing drugs into our country they’re going to be, like dead”, and threaten further national guard invasions of Democratic-run cities here in the United States.Mehdi Hasan is a broadcaster, author and a former host on MSNBC. He is also a Guardian US columnist and the editor-in-chief of Zeteo Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Tony Blair should be part of Trump’s Gaza peace deal, UK’s Middle East minister says

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer has spoken to The Independent on Gaza and why cutting international aid has not made the migrant crisis worse

Politics

6 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Benjamin Netanyahu orders immediate ‘powerful strikes’ on Gaza

Israeli prime minister orders IDF to carry out strikes on Gaza after it accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefireHamas’s armed wing said it was postponing the handover of another hostage body scheduled for Tuesday evening after what it called Israeli “violations” of the US-brokered ceasefire.Hamas’s announcement came minutes after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out intense strikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing the militants of violating the truce deal. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Welcome to Hotel Hamas: 150 dangerous terrorists released by Israel under Gaza peace deal are staying at five

Hamas terrorists released under the Gaza peace deal are staying in a five-star hotel alongside unsuspecting Western tourists.

Economics

1 week ago Vance says Knesset votes on annexing West Bank are an ‘insult’ as Netanyahu halts progress

US vice-president suggests votes were ‘stupid political stunt’ as Israeli PM halts further work on billsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered a halt to the advancement of parliamentary bills linked to the annexation of the West Bank after the US vice-president, JD Vance, described a vote on two bills in the Knesset as an “insult”.The bills applying Israeli law to the occupied West Bank, which would be tantamount to the annexation of land Palestinians want for a state, won preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament on Wednesday, barely a week after Donald Trump pushed through a deal aimed at ending a two-year Israeli offensive in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago JD Vance expresses ‘great optimism’ over Gaza ceasefire deal during Israel visit

US vice-president to visit Netanyahu while Hamas joins talks in Cairo meant to iron out differencesThe US vice-president, JD Vance, expressed “great optimism” over the Gaza truce plan which he described as “durable” and “going better than expected”, during a visit to Israel on Tuesday, two days after Israeli airstrikes killed 26 Palestinians.Vance’s trip, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to strengthen the ceasefire agreement, comes as Hamas officials joined talks in Cairo meant to bridge outstanding differences with Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump threatens 'FAST, FURIOUS & BRUTAL END' for Hamas as horrific video shows Palestinians being kneecapped

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Trump has threaten to unleash death upon Hamas if they do not uphold the Gaza peace deal with Israel.

Politics

1 week ago Trump warns Hamas of 'FAST, FURIOUS & BRUTAL END' as Middle East allies are ready to invade Gaza

Trump threaten to unleash death upon Hamas if they do not uphold the Gaza peace deal with Israel.

Events

1 week ago JD and Usha Vance arrive in Israel for urgent talks as Netanyahu drops 153 tons of bombs on Gaza

The vice president and second lady are hoping to shore up support for the historic peace deal brokered by Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas.

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says Gaza peace deal is holding and insists Hamas leaders are not to blame for 'rebels' within the group attacking IDF troops, as Israel launches deadly retaliation strikes

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, the president downplayed fears that the fragile ceasefire was collapsing, insisting that Hamas' s leadership was not behind the flare-up.

Politics

2 w. ago Reports of Israel airstrikes on Rafah as Gaza ceasefire deal comes under threat

Air force reportedly carries out attack after Hamas militants emerge from tunnels and shoot at Israeli soldiersMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Israeli air force carried out airstrikes in Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, in the most serious threat so far to the week-long ceasefire in the strip.The airstrikes reportedly occurred after Hamas militants emerged from tunnels in the Rafah area and shot at Israeli soldiers in the morning, prompting a firefight. Israel’s army radio reported that deadly clashes in Rafah were continuing. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago The ‘enormous conflict of interest’ at centre of Jared Kushner’s Gaza ceasefire deal

US president’s son-in-law was instrumental in getting deal – which could bring him huge windfall if plan to redevelop Gaza ever comes to fruitionFor a man with no formal role in the White House, Jared Kushner last week literally took centre-stage as Donald Trump’s emissary to the Middle East.As the administration took a victory lap for hammering out a Gaza ceasefire last week, Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, stood in Tel Aviv’s ‘hostages square’, addressing a feverish crowd that had booed the mention of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and later broke into chants of: “Thank You Trump!” Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump vindicated as stunning new poll crowns him the man who did what Obama and Biden never could in the Middle East

Donald Trump may not have been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize yet, but American voters - even Democrats - are giving him high marks for his work trying to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Politics

2 w. ago Giorgia Meloni condemns Italian union leader for ‘Trump courtesan’ remark

Prime minister says CGIL head is ‘clouded by resentment’ and accuses the left of hypocrisy towards womenGiorgia Meloni has condemned the boss of Italy’s biggest trade union after he referred to the prime minister as the “courtesan” of Donald Trump.Maurizio Landini, the leader of CGIL, which organised several pro-Palestinian protests before the Gaza ceasefire deal, made the remarks on TV on Tuesday, the day after world leaders, including Meloni, met in Egypt for a Middle East peace summit. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Gaza latest: Aid delivery ‘extremely challenging’ despite Israel

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said humanitarian groups have a ‘mountain to climb’ to deliver the necessary scale of aid in Gaza

Politics

2 w. ago Gaza latest: Trump threatens to ‘go in and kill Hamas’ if violence continues amid delays over dead hostages

Families of Israeli hostages demand termination of ceasefire deal if Hamas fails to return the 19 bodies remaining in Gaza

Events