4 h. ago Belgium to recognise Palestinian state at UN and sanction Israel – Middle East crisis live

Foreign minister says move is not aimed at Israeli people but ‘ensuring their government respects international and humanitarian law’The Guardian’s political correspondent Eleni Courea has done an explainer in July with a section looking at what recognising Palestine would look in practice. Here is an extract:Recognition is a symbolic step but one that would infuriate the Israeli government, which argues that it would encourage Hamas and reward terrorism.It is in effect a formal, political acknowledgment of Palestinian self-determination – without the need to engage in thorny practicalities such as the location of its borders or capital city.In light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government an...

Politics

3 d. ago UK refuses to invite Israeli government officials to London arms fair over the war in Gaza

The U.K. has barred Israeli government officials from attending the country’s biggest arms fair over growing concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Politics

4 d. ago Democrats in damage control crisis as Gaza famine worsens and public turns on party support for Israeli offensive

The response to two very different interviews with Democrats linked to the party’s unpopular 2024 position on Gaza reveals much about 2028, writes John Bowden

Politics

5 d. ago Trump chooses not to end the Gaza slaughter. That’s why I’ll boycott the state dinner when he meets King Charles | Ed Davey

To refuse an invitation like this goes against all my instincts, but I want to send as strong a message as I canEd Davey is leader of the Liberal DemocratsLib Dem leader to boycott king’s Trump banquet in protest over GazaA mother holding a baby boy so thin from starvation you can see his skeleton. The lifeless bodies of children killed while queueing for water. Emaciated hostages, still held captive by Hamas almost two years after those appalling terror attacks.These images and countless more have horrified us all in recent months. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza must stop. The famine must end. The hostages must be returned home.Ed Davey is leader of the Liberal Democrats Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Poisonous war between Tina O'Brien and ex Ryan Thomas over 'nepo baby' GCSE drop

When Ryan Thomas accused his ex-girlfriend Tina O'Brien of smashing up his Range Rover, it was widely assumed the outburst was to linked to the acrimonious collapse of their relationship.

Events

6 d. ago Poisonous war between Tina O'Brian and ex Ryan Thomas over 'nepo baby' GCSE drop

When Ryan Thomas accused his ex-girlfriend Tina O'Brien of smashing up his Range Rover, it was widely assumed the outburst was to linked to the acrimonious collapse of their relationship.

Events

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 UN warns Israel that its probe into IDF attack on Gaza hospital must yield actual results – Middle East crisis live

UN official says investigations have been announced before but ‘we haven’t seen results or accountability measures yet’The UN says that Israel must not only investigate alleged unlawful killings in Gaza like the hospital strike that killed 20 people, including journalists, the previous day, but also ensure those probes yield results.“There needs to be justice,” United Nations rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told AFP in Geneva, adding that the large number of media workers killed in the Gaza war “raises many, many questions about the targeting of journalists”.The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations in such killings.It’s of course the responsibility of Israel, as the occupying power, to investigate - but these investigations need to yield results. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago ‘Sanaa wasn’t a statistic’: Baby who ‘knew nothing but war’ dies of malnutrition as Gaza crisis deepens

A toddler died in hospital as a result of prolonged nutritional deficiency and a lack of baby formula. Tara Cobham reports on the devastating impact the Israel-Hamas war is having on Palestinian children

Events

9 d. ago Israel destroyed Gaza’s water plants. Now a deadly disease is spreading like wildfire

As hospitals in Gaza struggle to cope with a starvation crisis, doctors are also battling the rise of a rare disease that has left children paralysed. Medics on the frontline tell Alex Croft it is one of the most challenging medical incidents they have faced

Events

1 week ago Gaza City offensive would be ‘death sentence’ for Israeli hostages, say relatives

UN warns of ‘massive death and destruction’ if Netanyahu proceeds with plan for expanded military operationMiddle East crisis – latest updatesAn Israeli operation to conquer Gaza City would be a “death sentence” for the remaining living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, relatives of the hostages have said, as the Red Cross and UN warned of a looming catastrophe.Opposition to a new operation – repeatedly “approved” by Israeli figures in recent days – is growing inside Israel and internationally. Calling for an immediate ceasefire, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, warned of the “massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause”. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Israel’s Gaza City plan is killing prospect of peace in Middle East, says Jordan

Criticism adds to international outrage over Israel’s plans for new Gaza offensive and West Bank settlementsMiddle East crisis liveIsrael is “killing all prospects” for peace in the Middle East, Jordan’s foreign minister has said amid escalating international outrage over Israel’s plans for a new large-scale offensive in Gaza City and its intention to massively expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank.Ayman Safadi made his remarks during a visit to Moscow on the same day that the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, approved a plan to conquer Gaza City, an urban area that is home to hundreds of thousands of people in the north of the Palestinian territory. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Israel to call up 50,000 reservists before planned offensive on Gaza City, says Israeli military official – Middle East crisis live

Call-up notices sent as Israeli plans to increase its offensive; Israel studies Hamas’ response to proposal for 60-day ceasefireGood afternoon, Israel will call up 50,000 reservists before a planned offensive to take Gaza City but most forces that would operate in the Gaza Strip’s largest urban centre would be active duty soldiers, an Israeli military official said on Wednesday. The call-up notices could be sent in the coming days, with reservists to report for duty in September, the military official said.“Most of the troops that will be mobilised in this new stage will be active duty and not reservists,” said the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that he treats leaders of other countries with respect after his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu attacked him over his decision to recognise a Palestinian state. “I don’t take these things personally, I engage with people diplomatically. He has had similar t...

Events

2 w. ago There's a word for the EU's inaction over Gaza: racism | Shada Islam

Europe frames the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis rather than a deliberate political choice. There will be a moral reckoningThe president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and her team face growing criticism of the controversial EU-US tariff deal agreed in July. I am hoping for similar calls for accountability over the EU’s complicity in Israel’s unfolding genocide in Gaza. Such a reckoning is long overdue.I have watched in despair for almost two years as European governments have done little or nothing while Israel has devastated Gaza through bombings, targeted strikes and forced starvation after the 7 October attack by Hamas. There are so many sanctions at the EU’s disposal which they are still refusing to deploy; so many levers they are refusing to pull. The bloc is Israel’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 32% of Israel’s total trade in 2024. Yet at every meeting, EU leaders and foreign ministers have failed to secure the majorit...

Events

2 w. ago Hamas tells mediators it approves latest Gaza ceasefire proposal – Middle East crisis live

Hamas official tells Reuters news agency it has approved latest Gaza ceasefire proposalNorway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, said on Monday it had decided to exclude six companies with connections to the West Bank and Gaza from its portfolio, following a review of its Israeli investments.The $2tn wealth fund did not name the companies it had decided to exclude, but said these would be made public once the divestment was completed, Reuters reports. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Malnourished Palestinian woman dies in Italy after Gaza evacuation

Marah Abu Zuhri, 20, arrived in Pisa on an Italian humanitarian flight along with other critical patientsA 20-year-old Palestinian woman suffering from severe malnutrition who was evacuated from Gaza to Italy this week has died, a hospital in Pisa has said.The woman, named by Italian media as Marah Abu Zuhri, arrived in Pisa on an Italian government humanitarian flight on Wednesday night. Zuhri had come to Italy with her mother on one of three Italian air force flights that arrived this week with a total of 31 critical patients suffering from serious congenital diseases, wounds or amputations, the Italian foreign ministry said at the time. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Middle East crisis live: time not right to recognise Palestinian state, says Danish PM – updates

Mette Frederiksen says recognition should take place when a ‘sustainable and democratic state’ could be created, and that Denmark would use its EU presidency to increase pressure on Israel and HamasThe Metropolitan police has said that 60 more people will be prosecuted for showing support for Palestine Action, which was proscribed by the UK government last month.More than 700 people have been arrested for supporting the group since its proscription on 5 July.We are deeply concerned about the unimaginable crisis in Gaza, which is having a terrible impact on civilians and especially the children. Starvation is deepening. Water scarcity is increasing very much each day. Colleagues on the ground are reporting that people are now basically rationing between either using water for drinking or for hygiene. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago ‘The children in Gaza are too weak to play or sing: hunger has stolen their childhood’

As a hunger crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating, Bryony Gooch speaks to workers at a camp where the children ‘still have hope’

Politics

2 w. ago Middle East crisis live: 25 reported killed in Gaza as UN warns one in five Gaza City children malnourished – updates

Four children said to be among those killed in strikes on Bureij refugee camp, while 12 people were killed seeking aid, according to Al JazeeraThe Metropolitan police has said that 60 more people will be prosecuted for showing support for Palestine Action, which was proscribed by the UK government last month.More than 700 people have been arrested for supporting the group since its proscription on 5 July.We are deeply concerned about the unimaginable crisis in Gaza, which is having a terrible impact on civilians and especially the children. Starvation is deepening. Water scarcity is increasing very much each day. Colleagues on the ground are reporting that people are now basically rationing between either using water for drinking or for hygiene. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago One in five children in Gaza City malnourished, UN warns – Middle East crisis live

Malnutrition has reached 21.5% in Gaza City, meaning around one in five young children are suffering from malnutrition, Unrwa has saidTwo former officials that worked under Joe Biden’s administration have said they received no evidence that “Hamas was physically diverting US-funded goods provided by the World Food Programme or international nongovernmental organizations”.The remarks were made in a joint op-ed in Foreign Affairs by Jacob Lew, who served as US ambassador to Israel from 2023 to 2025, and David Satterfield, former US special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues from 2023 to 2024.The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) warned that malnutrition in Gaza City has reached 21.5%, meaning about one in five young children are now malnourished.The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) said earlier this week that almost 13,000 new admissions of children for acute malnutrition treatment were recorded in July 2025 across Gaza.Two more people were ki...

Events