6 d. 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

1 week ago At 12 an Israeli missile ‘ripped off’ her face. Now Mazyouna is safe in the US – but not all the scars have healed

The young teenager’s treatment is a rare story of hope from the two-year war in Gaza. With the ceasefire now in effect, she hopes to see her father againIn June 2024, an Israeli missile struck 13-year-old Mazyouna Damoo’s apartment in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, hurling her and her mother into the street.Her younger sister, Tala, was pulled from beneath the rubble alive, but her other siblings – Hala, 13, and Mohannad, 10 – were killed instantly. Mazyouna survived, but half of her face was ripped off, leaving her jawbone exposed. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Zelenskyy urges world leaders not to lose momentum for finding peace, and says the war in Europe can also be ended – Europe live

Ukrainian leader expresses hope amid Trump’s Gaza deal, saying ‘it brings more hope for peace in other regions’The Kremlin said on Tuesday it welcomed US president Donald Trump’s desire to focus on the search for a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine after achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and hoped he would be able to push Kyiv towards a settlement.Addressing the Israeli Knesset a day earlier after brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas, Trump spoke of wanting to get a deal done with Iran over its nuclear programme, but said he would turn his attention to trying to end the war in Ukraine first.We are already well acquainted with Mr Witkoff; he is effective, has proven his effectiveness now in the Middle East, and we hope that his talents will continue to contribute to the work already under way in Ukraine.The Russian side remains open and ready for peaceful dialogue, and we hope that the influence of the United States and the diplomatic skills of President Trump’s envoys will ...

Politics

2 w. ago Preparations begin to ramp up aid in Gaza as ceasefire brings hope for end to 2

Preparations are underway for aid to enter Gaza and for the release of hostages under a new ceasefire deal

Events

2 w. ago US might dragged Netanyahu to the table. The real prize for Trump would be keeping him there | Jonathan Freedland

The ceasefire in Gaza happened because the US president lost patience, but now he must be vigilant. If Israel’s PM can scupper the plan, he willAfter so many images of death and devastation, what sweet relief to see pictures of joy. On the world’s TV news broadcasts, the screen was split on Thursday: celebrations in Gaza and celebrations in Israel, the scenes of cheering and clapping mirroring each other, as if to confirm that this was a war the peoples themselves wanted over long ago – and which most never wanted to begin.The images were not unfamiliar. We had seen a version of them in January, when a ceasefire was announced to great jubilation. That held only until mid-March, when Israel broke the agreement and resumed its bombardment of Gaza, an experience that should temper, and caveat, the current hope with the knowledge that things can unravel at any moment. Still, this time, even the region’s most seasoned pessimists concede, the deal looks more durable. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump wants a prize for the Gaza deal. But the real question is, why didn't he do it earlier? | Jonathan Freedland

The ceasefire in Gaza happened when the US president lost patience, but how much horror occurred, how many people were killed because he delayed?After so many images of death and devastation, what sweet relief to see pictures of joy. On the world’s TV news broadcasts, the screen was split on Thursday: celebrations in Gaza and celebrations in Israel, the scenes of cheering and clapping mirroring each other, as if to confirm that this was a war the peoples themselves wanted over long ago – and which most never wanted to begin.The images were not unfamiliar. We had seen a version of them in January, when a ceasefire was announced to great jubilation. That held only until mid-March, when Israel broke the agreement and resumed its bombardment of Gaza, an experience that should temper, and caveat, the current hope with the knowledge that things can unravel at any moment. Still, this time, even the region’s most seasoned pessimists concede, the deal looks more durable. Continue reading...

Politics

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 ‘Glimmer of hope’: Families in Gaza and Israel hold breath over Trump’s peace plan to end bloodshed

Donald Trump calls on Israel to stop bombing Gaza immediately as Hamas agrees to release hostages under US-proposed peace plan

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Glimmer of hope’: Families in Gaza hold breath over Trump’s peace plan to end bloodshed

Donald Trump calls on Israel to stop bombing Gaza immediately as Hamas agrees to release hostages under US-proposed peace plan

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I feel like we are in a trap’: Gaza residents hopeful but wary of Trump’s peace plan

Hamas’s agreement to release all hostages and surrender power hailed internationally as Israeli attacks continueWhen Arij al-Farra heard that Hamas had partially agreed to Donald Trump’s plan and that the US president had ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza, the first thing she felt was a flicker of hope. The second thing she felt was an explosion. An Israeli aircraft had dropped a bomb close to her tent in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.Though it was luck that saved al-Farra from death, she took the attack as a bad omen for the prospects for peace in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I feel like we are in a trap’: Gaza residents hopeful but wary of Trump’s plan

Hamas’s agreement to release all hostages and surrender power hailed internationally as Israeli attacks continueWhen Arij al-Farra heard that Hamas had partially agreed to Donald Trump’s plan and that the US president had ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza, the first thing she felt was a flicker of hope. The second thing she felt was an explosion. An Israeli aircraft had dropped a bomb close to her tent in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.Though it was luck that saved Farra from death, she took the attack as a bad omen for the prospects for peace in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ANDREW NEIL: I fear the Gaza peace plan rests on the fiction that Hamas will surrender. We must hope I'm wrong and that Trump is right

Donald Trump claims it's the route to 'eternal peace' and 'potentially a great day for civilisation'.

Politics

3 w. ago ‘I hope Hamas will accept it’: Pope Leo praises Trump’s Gaza plan

The US President unveiled his plan during the Israeli prime minister’s visit to the White House on Monday

Politics

4 w. ago ‘Lost the plot’: Tony Blair’s Gaza role prompts incredulity — and some hope

Some in former UK prime minister’s Labour party react with surprise at his proposed role in Palestinian territory

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