7 h. ago Israel imposes aid curbs in Gaza as truce comes under strain

Authorities said to introduce limits on supplies in response to Hamas’s delay returning dead hostages

Politics

8 h. ago Hamas says it will return bodies of four Israeli hostages tonight after Israel says it will keep Rafah crossing closed – Gaza ceasefire live

Hamas tells mediators it plans to transfer bodies of four deceased hostages at 10pm local timeDespite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on people who it says approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading...

Events

10 h. ago Rafah crossing to stay closed, Israel says, affecting aid after Hamas failed to hand over bodies of hostages – Gaza ceasefire live

Israeli defence minister says delay in returning bodies is violation of ceasefireDespite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on people who it says approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Gaza ceasefire live: Israel identifies dead hostages and says troops have fired at suspects as key truce issues remain

Defence minister says delay in returning more bodies would be a violation of ceasefire as forces open fire on people approaching troops in northern GazaIsraelis and Palestinians celebrate as truce brings hope of ‘era of peace’Despite the ceasefire agreement, a medical source told Palestinian news agency Wafa today that four people were killed when Israeli drones fired at residents inspecting their homes in Gaza’s eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood. We have not yet been able to independently verify this information.Israel’s military said it opened fire on Tuesday to remove a threat posed by several suspects who approached Israeli forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. Continue reading...

Events

60 h. ago Gaza truce ‘massive step forward’ but ‘only start of process’, minister says

Bridget Phillipson warned there is no ‘cast-iron guarantee’ of enduring peace and international efforts must continue.

Politics

62 h. ago Gaza truce is step forward but it must only be ‘start of process’, minister says

Bridget Phillipson warned there is no ‘cast-iron guarantee’ of enduring peace and international efforts must continue.

Politics

3 d. ago Trump says ‘there is consensus’ on next stages of Gaza ceasefire plan ahead of hostage release: Latest

The US is sending around 200 troops to the region to monitor the Gaza truce, ahead of a major transfer of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees

Events

4 d. ago The West Bank's dwindling Palestinian Christian communities, in photos

Christians who are proudly Palestinian and live in the occupied West Bank continue to find hope in Sunday worship as they wish for independence and peace in the Holy Land, even as they struggle with growing violence from Israeli settlers, restrictions on daily life imposed by Israel and fears of growing Islamist radicalization. The village of Taybeh is entirely Christian — Catholics of the Roman and Greek Melkite rites and Greek Orthodox.

Culture

5 d. ago Do you think the Gaza peace deal will last? Take our poll and have your say

Following two years of devastating war, Israel and Hamas have finally agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal - the closest we've come yet to ending the Gaza conflict. But do you think the truce will hold?

Economics

2 w. ago Israel in line for World Cup qualifying reprieve even if Uefa imposes ban

Ban would take in Nations League and Europa LeagueWorld Cup, co-hosted in 2026 by US, is Fifa competition Uefa is expected to avoid trying to block Israel from World Cup qualifying as it considers measures against the country’s football association.Under plans being worked out by the European game’s governing body that are expected to be voted on by its executive committee this week, the Guardian understands Israel would be banned only from competitions that Uefa directly controls. That means Israel’s men’s and women’s national teams would be excluded from the Nations League and Maccabi Tel Aviv would be removed from this season’s Europa League. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago With or without a ceasefire, humanitarian aid must enter Gaza. We managed it in previous wars | Moazzam Malik

Global powers ensured aid during civil wars in Syria and Sudan. We need a ‘Lifeline Rafah’ before more people starveMoazzam Malik is CEO of Save the ChildrenAs the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, world leaders gathering for the UN general assembly face a grave moral and political test – one that has implications for the conduct of war and the supply of humanitarian aid in the decades to come.The use of humanitarian aid as an instrument of occupation by the Israeli authorities dates back almost 20 years. As a British official, I led a review of the humanitarian situation in Gaza in 2008 when the then government of Israel had just imposed a blockade. I advised UK ministers that this was not in line with international humanitarian principles, that we wouldn’t accept this in other humanitarian contexts, and we should not do so in this case. The UK government ignored my recommendations on securing independent access for humanitarian aid for Gaza.Moazzam Malik is CEO of Save the...

Events

3 w. ago John Swinney calls on UK Government to impose more sanctions on Israel

Mr Swinney has also reiterated calls for a ceasefire.

Politics

3 w. ago Now the UN says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, too. How can western governments still refuse to act? | Steve Crawshaw

The UN commission of inquiry’s report makes it almost impossible for Israel – and its allies – to maintain the narrative that criticism of it is part of an antisemitic plotThe conclusion of a UN commission of inquiry that Israel has committed genocide in the war in Gaza, and that its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders are responsible for inciting that genocide, changes little in legal terms. The international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague has yet to issue its final ruling in the genocide case that South Africa brought against Israel last year.Politically, however, this latest report (officially a “conference room paper”, intended to aid discussion of the themes) may prove to be one of the final nails in the coffin of the shameless but still-continuing narrative from Netanyahu and his allies that any talk of Israeli crimes is part of an antisemitic plot – or, to use Netanyahu’s favourite phrase, “a blood libel”.Steve Crawshaw is the author of Prosecut...

Politics

3 w. ago Now, more proof that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. How can western governments still refuse to act? | Steve Crawshaw

The UN commission of inquiry’s report makes it almost impossible for Israel – and its allies – to maintain the narrative that criticism of it is part of an antisemitic plotThe conclusion of a UN commission of inquiry that Israel has committed genocide in the war in Gaza, and that its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other Israeli leaders are responsible for inciting that genocide, changes little in legal terms. The international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague has yet to issue its final ruling in the genocide case that South Africa brought against Israel last year.Politically, however, this latest report (officially a “conference room paper”, intended to aid discussion of the themes) may prove to be one of the final nails in the coffin of the shameless but still-continuing narrative from Netanyahu and his allies that any talk of Israeli crimes is part of an antisemitic plot – or, to use Netanyahu’s favourite phrase, “a blood libel”.Steve Crawshaw is the author of Prosecut...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump says Russian oil purchases by EU and Nato countries must ‘stop immediately’ — Europe live

US president adds that ‘Zelenskyy will have to make a deal’ and that Ukraine ‘is in serious trouble’ as he departs for UK state visitEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Spain says it will withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Spain votes to withdraw from 2026 Eurovision song contest if Israel takes part — Europe live

Spain is the first of the ‘Big Five’ countries to threaten withdrawal from the competition following vote at state broadcaster RTVEEU commissioners will on Wednesday agree to impose new sanctions against Israel over its war in Gaza, a spokesperson for the commission said on Tuesday.“Tomorrow, commissioners will be adopting a package of measures on Israel,” spokesperson Paula Pinho said, as reported by Reuters.“Specifically, a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions in the agreements between the EU and Israel.” Continue reading...

Politics