6 d. 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

6 d. 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

1 week ago Israel receives remains of two more hostages from Hamas days after IDF launched fresh wave of strikes on Gaza

Israel said its security forces in the Gaza Strip had received from the Red Cross the remains of two hostages returned by Hamas on Thursday as part of a ceasefire deal.

Events

2 w. ago Trump signals regional trade deals as he kicks off Asia tour

President hails ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia as US and Chinese officials conclude trade talks

Politics

2 w. ago Trump oversees ‘historic’ ceasefire deal as Thailand and Cambodia end long

At least 18 Cambodian prisoners of war would be released following the ceasefire extension

Politics

2 w. ago Trump hails ‘historic’ ceasefire deal as Thailand and Cambodia end long

At least 18 Cambodian prisoners of war would be released following the ceasefire extension

Politics

2 w. ago Trump warns Hamas he could 'take care of them in two minutes' as he condemns terror group for breaking peace deal terms after videos of them torturing and executing Palestinians emerge

Donald Trump has warned Hamas he could 'take care' of the terror group in just two minutes as he condemned them for not honouring its ceasefire deal with Israel. 

Events

2 w. 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

2 w. ago US envoys arrive in Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire after a major flareup

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy says that Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the U.S. president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have arrived in Israel

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza attacks UPDATES as Israel mounts air strikes claiming Hamas ceasefire breach

Israel has confirmed the IDF has struck southern Gaza after claiming Hamas breached their ceasefire agreement - Hamas has also accused Israel of violating the peace deal

Events

3 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

3 w. ago Xi Jinping is preparing to go toe to toe with Donald Trump – and there will only be one winner | Simon Tisdall

Beijing has realised that reckless America First policies are alienating old and new friends alike, creating a vacuum it can fillHolding court for the cameras in Sharm el-Sheikh last week, a manically self-congratulatory Donald Trump, Gaza’s make-believe saviour, hailed his fellow “tough guys” – tame tyrants, such as Egypt’s Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who helped fabricate his flimsy Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.Yet later this month, the American pharaoh-president is due to face a far less biddable tough guy: China’s leader, Xi Jinping. Bookmakers may withhold odds on the outcome. In the US-China race for 21st-century primacy, Xi is sprinting ahead, assisted by spur-heeled Trump’s many missteps.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...

Politics

3 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

3 w. ago Israel identifies remains of 10th Gaza hostage as body search continues

Eliyahu Margalit, 76, has been identified as the 10th dead hostage returned to Israel by Hamas, as part of a fragile ceasefire deal

Politics

3 w. ago Hamas continues efforts to return bodies of hostages under ceasefire deal

Hamas has delivered the remains of nine individuals, plus a tenth body Israel claimed was not a hostage

Events

3 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

3 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

3 w. ago Mamdani and Cuomo spar in New York mayoral debate – US politics live

Candidates debate Trump, Gaza and New York-specific issues, while John Bolton indicted by federal grand juryFormer Trump adviser John Bolton indicted on 18 countsA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Israel and Hamas trade accusations as tensions rise over hostages’ remains

Militant group says it needs specialist equipment to recover bodies as Netanyahu says fight ‘is not over yet’Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son saysIsrael and Hamas have traded accusations of ceasefire violations amid tensions over the flow of aid into Gaza and warnings that the humanitarian crisis in the devastated territory risks deteriorating further.The ceasefire deal signed last week between Israel and Hamas raised hopes of a surge of humanitarian aid finally reaching the territory after two years of war, but most restrictions have remained in place, throttling the supply of desperately needed assistance. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary after ‘productive’ call – live

US president says he and Russian leader agreed to convene next week in an undetermined location in BudapestA reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics