9 d. 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 Gaza latest: Trump says deal reached for Hamas to release hostages and Israel to withdraw troops as ‘first steps’ toward peace

Trump claims all hostages will be released ‘very soon’ after negotiators ‘sign off’ on plan

Economics

2 w. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Hostages and prisoners to be released within 72 hours of deal starting

Donald Trump announces that all hostages will be released ‘very soon’ and Israel will withdraw troops to an agreed upon lineFull report: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and HamasAs part of the Guardian’s Israel-Gaza: two years on series marking the second anniversary of the Hamas attack into Israel and the war in Gaza, the below has been published:The children’s names appear on a list of victims of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, maintained by health authorities in the territory. As of the end of July it ran to 60,199 names, of whom 18,457 were under 18s. Far from comprehensive, the list does not include the thousands still buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, as well as the war’s many indirect victims. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Gaza ceasefire talks live: Trump says Israel and Hamas have signed off on ‘first phase’ of peace plan

Trump says ‘all parties will be treated fairly’ while Israeli prime minster Benjamin Netanyahu says ‘with God’s help’ all hostages will be brought homeAs part of the Guardian’s Israel-Gaza: two years on series marking the second anniversary of the Hamas attack into Israel and the war in Gaza, the below has been published:The children’s names appear on a list of victims of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, maintained by health authorities in the territory. As of the end of July it ran to 60,199 names, of whom 18,457 were under 18s. Far from comprehensive, the list does not include the thousands still buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, as well as the war’s many indirect victims. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The Hamas veteran who Israel failed to kill – and is now leading Gaza peace talks

The senior official has led Hamas' delegations in mediated talks with Israel to try to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal

Events

3 w. ago Two years of unprecedented bloodshed in Gaza: ‘Our greatest hope is that this nightmare will end’

Two years on from the brutal Hamas killings of October 7 and Israel’s retaliatory bombings, life in Gaza has been a hellscape of death and famine, report Nedal Hamdouna in Gaza and chief international correspondent Bel Trew

Events

3 w. ago Gaza latest: Ceasefire talks underway in Egypt as Israel marks anniversary of October 7 attack

Parties have wrapped up the first round of negotiations, agreeing on most of first-phase terms, which include ceasefire and release of hostages, Egyptian official says

Events

3 w. ago Greta Thunberg among 171 Gaza flotilla activists deported by Israel; ceasefire negotiations due to begin in Egypt – Middle East crisis live

Activists deported to Greece and Slovakia; negotiators from the US, Israel and Hamas are set to begin talksIran signalled its support for Trump’s Gaza plan, with the country’s foreign ministry saying it supports any initiative that brings an end to the genocide of Palestinian people.Iran’s foreign ministry wrote in a post on X:Taking into account the dangerous dimensions and aspects of this proposal, and while reiterating its warning about the repeated breaches and obstructionism by the Zionist regime in fulfilling its promises, especially in light of its expansionist and racist plans, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers any decision in this regard to be within the authority of the Palestinian people and resistance.It welcomes any decision by them that guarantees halting the genocide of Palestinians, the withdrawal of the occupying Zionist army from Gaza, respect for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of Gaz...

Events

3 w. ago Gaza ceasefire talks live: Israeli airstrikes continue with negotiations due to begin in Egypt

Negotiators from the US, Israel and Hamas are set to begin talks, as the US president said the first phase should be completed this weekIsrael continues Gaza bombardment as Trump plan negotiators arrive in CairoEgyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has praised Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, saying it could mark the start of a path towards stability in the region.In an address to mark the 1973 war between Israel and Egypt that led to the end of Israel’s occupation of the Sinai peninsula, Sisi said on Monday:I can only extend my praise and appreciation for US President Donald Trump for his initiative that seeks a ceasefire in Gaza after two years of war, genocide, killing and destruction.A ceasefire, the return of prisoners and detainees, the reconstruction of Gaza and the launch of a peaceful political process that leads to the establishment and recognition of the Palestinian state means we are on the right path to lasting peace and stability. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump urges negotiators to ‘move fast’ as Gaza ceasefire talks set to begin in Cairo

Talks on Monday expected to focus on release of hostages and end to war, after Israel kills 63 people in Gaza in past dayDonald Trump has urged negotiators to “move fast” in talks focused on the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and a broader end to the war, as representatives arrived in Cairo for discussions set to begin on Monday.The talks will focus on the first phase of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, the Egyptian foreign ministry said, which is the release of the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump urges negotiators to ‘move fast’ as Gaza ceasefire talks set to begin in Egypt

Talks on Monday expected to focus on release of hostages and end to war, after Israel kills 63 people in Gaza in past dayDonald Trump has urged negotiators to “move fast” in talks focused on the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and a broader end to the war, as representatives arrived in Egypt for discussions set to begin on Monday.The talks will focus on the first phase of Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, the Egyptian foreign ministry said, which is the release of the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump warns Hamas faces ‘complete obliteration’ as Gaza ceasefire talks begin in Egypt

Under terms of US president’s 20-point peace deal, Hamas would largely have to give up its control of Gaza

Events

3 w. ago US envoys head to Egypt for Gaza ceasefire talks as Trump says ‘we are very close’ to deal

US president says he will push to finalize agreement in the coming days even as scores of Palestinians killed in latest Israeli attacksDonald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior envoy are heading to Egypt to begin ceasefire negotiations, the White House has said, as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he hoped to bring all remaining hostages home in the coming days.A White House official said the US president was sending his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, to Egypt on Saturday to finalise the technical details of a hostage release and discuss a lasting ceasefire deal a day after Hamas said it was ready to free hostages under Trump’s plan to end the two-year-old war. In an interview, Trump said “we are very close” to reaching an agreement. Continue reading...

Politics