1 week ago The EU was complicit in the war in Gaza. Trump's plan can't be an excuse to dodge responsibility now | Nathalie Tocci

Tiptoeing around Israel has cost Europe its credibility. It must exert meaningful pressure to ensure the horrors we have seen never happen againThe first phase of Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza has drawn a collective sigh of relief from European leaders. After two years of slaughter, the ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the Israeli military’s partial withdrawal from Gaza and humanitarian access to the territory offer hope – and unfortunately, an excuse for Europe to continue doing nothing.When it comes to the war in Gaza, unlike Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European governments have shown their worst colours. They are divided, and their political splits have led to policy paralysis. But worse than sitting on the sidelines hand-wringing, European governments and EU institutions in Brussels can be accused of complicity in Israel’s war crimes. They have been unwilling to exert any pressure on the perpetrators, while continuing economic, political and...

Politics

2 w. ago Israel identifies the remains of a hostage as Hamas says it is committed to ending the war

Israel has identified the body of a hostage released by Hamas overnight

Events

2 w. ago Hamas release another dead hostage to Israel after Trump warns ‘behave or be eradicated’

Trump warned the Palestinian militants to ‘be nice’ as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Tel Aviv to salvage a fragile ceasefire

Events

2 w. ago Hamas to release another dead hostage to Israel after Trump warns ‘behave or be eradicated’

Trump warned the Palestinian militants to ‘be nice’ as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Tel Aviv to salvage a fragile ceasefire

Events

2 w. ago Who are the dead hostages Hamas are yet to release – as ceasefire with Israel hangs in the balance?

The bodies of 21 hostages remain in Gaza as families accuse Hamas of breaching a ceasefire agreement

Events

3 w. ago Kier Starmer urges Hamas to release bodies of dead Israeli hostages to families

The Prime Minister said their families had 'endured terrible and protracted pain over the last two years at the hands of Hamas'

Events

3 w. ago Starmer urges Hamas to release bodies of dead Israeli hostages to families

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the families of the hostages, who he said had ‘endured terrible and protracted pain over the last two years’.

Events

3 w. ago Trump explains his pivot on Qatar after accusing them of funding terrorism in 2017

Donald Trump heaped praise on Qatar for their role in securing the release of Israeli hostages and helping rebuild Gaza after previously accusing the gulf state of funding terrorism.

Politics

3 w. ago Released Israeli hostages give accounts of torture, torment and extraordinary danger

Descriptions of captivity suggest Hamas had a change of approach in recent weeks as ceasefire talks progressedGaza ceasefire – live updatesAfter the jubilation in Israel of the return of the last Gaza hostages, stories of their time in captivity, hidden away in tents and tunnels, are emerging.Some described being tortured and tormented. Others, though, recalled moments of co-existence with their captors under the most extreme of circumstances. One played cards with the men holding him and even cooked for them. Another said the captors would speak Hebrew for ease of communication. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Overwhelming emotions for Israeli hostages finally reunited with their families after more than 730 days in captivity

The 20 living hostages were returned to Israel on Monday under a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, as James C. Reynolds and Nicole Wootton-Cane report

Politics

3 w. ago The hidden health problems Israel's last 20 hostages could face for YEARS after being released from Gaza

The current condition of all the hostages - men aged between 21 and 48 - is unknown after they were returned yesterday following the signing of the Gaza peace deal.

Politics

3 w. ago POLL OF THE DAY: Will Trump's deal bring lasting peace to Gaza?

Some 20 Israeli hostages were released yesterday after Israel agreed, in exchange, to start freeing more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees as part of a ceasefire.

Politics

3 w. ago Horrors endured by Israel's last 20 hostages: Chained, tortured, and starved. As they are finally released from Gaza, captives reveal how Hamas made them suffer

The last 20 living hostages held by Hamas have revealed, for the first time, how the terror group made them suffer for the last two years. 

Events

3 w. ago Tears of joy after Hamas hell as Trump peace deals sees all 20 hostages released

Donald Trump's early stages of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas has seen the release of 20 hostages being returned today after months of hell in captivity

Economics

3 w. ago Trump hails 'historic' Gaza deal at peace summit with world leaders: 'Prayers of millions have been answered'

Donald Trump has hailed his “historic” peace deal between Israel and Hamas, which saw hundreds of hostages and prisoners released earlier today.

Politics

3 w. ago Trump insists there is momentum towards a ‘lasting peace’ in the Middle East

US President signs Gaza ceasefire deal and addresses Knesset after release of all remaining living Israeli hostages

Politics

3 w. ago Israeli hostages release brings tears of joy in Tel Aviv as grim details of captivity emerge

Hostage Square burst into song as the names of the freed Israeli hostages rang out over tannoy systems - a large screen airing live footage of them being handed over to Israeli troopsas part of a US-brokered peace deal

Politics

3 w. ago Trump signs historic Gaza peace deal in Egypt: 'It took 3,000 years to get to this point'

Donald Trump with a stroke of a pen formally solidified the Israel-Hamas peace plan following the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Politics

3 w. ago The Guardian view on peace in Gaza: the relief is real, but Trump’s promise of a ‘golden age’ rings hollow | Editorial

Hostage and prisoner releases are bringing joy to families. But there is no guarantee that the ceasefire will end Palestinian sufferingThe reprieve brought by the end of fighting in Gaza is immense. In Israel, the release of the living hostages has led to widespread elation. In Gaza and the West Bank there are also celebrations, as up to 2,000 Palestinian detainees start to be released – though there is distress, too, due to uncertainty about who is being freed and where they will be sent. In northern Gaza, people can finally return to dig through rubble for the remains of an estimated 10,000 missing people.As recently as three weeks ago, the likelihood of a ceasefire appeared remote. But it has taken effect, and on Monday Donald Trump travelled from Jerusalem, where he was cheered in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he joined a high-powered peace summit of more than 20 world leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace begun there is due to be c...

Politics

3 w. ago All living Israeli hostages freed and hundreds of Palestinian detainees and prisoners released as Trump leads Egypt summit – live

US president in Egypt alongside world leaders after Israeli families welcome hostages home and Palestinian detainees are freedHamas releases 20 remaining living Israeli hostagesJoy and sorrow as Palestinian prisoners and detainees returnDonald Trump has questioned whether former UK prime minister Tony Blair will serve on a new “board of peace” that is intended to oversee the governance of Gaza.The US president’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms of Blair for his role in the Iraq war that began in 2003. Continue reading...

Politics