29 h. ago Hamas likely to accept Trump Gaza plan with key revisions, experts say

Turkey and Qatar putting pressure on group to make concessions – but condition it disarm a sticking pointMiddle East crisis – live updatesHamas is likely to provisionally accept Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire proposal in the coming days – but only on condition there are significant revisions of some of its key elements, analysts and sources close to the group say.Trump imposed a deadline of “three or four days” from Tuesday for Hamas to give its response to his 20-point plan, which aims to bring the two-year war in Gaza to a close and allow an apparently indefinite international administration of the devastated territory, or “pay in hell”. Continue reading...

Politics

34 h. ago Gaza aid flotilla: Israel intercepts vessels but one ship reported to have got through blockade – live

One boat, the Mikeno, reported to have escaped the maritime blockade and to have stopped inside Palestinian territorial watersGaza flotilla interception: what we know so farReport: Israeli naval forces board pro-Palestinian flotilla 120km from GazaReaction: interception triggers protests, diplomatic expulsions and calls for strikesAmnesty International UK called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to denounce Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.“Reports that Israeli forces have intercepted the Gaza flotilla marks yet another shameful chapter in the brutal and merciless enforcement of Israel’s illegal and immoral 18-year blockade of Gaza and is an attack on international law and basic humanity,” said Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s director of communications. “Keir Starmer has a serious role to play. With British citizens and British-flagged ships involved, he must not revert to silence as usual.” Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Gaza aid flotilla: more than a dozen vessels intercepted by Israeli forces; Greta Thunberg arrested – live

Israeli foreign ministry posts video of Thunberg’s arrest; vessels carrying about 500 activists intercepted about 75 miles off coast of war-torn territoryIsraeli naval forces board pro-Palestinian flotilla 75 miles from GazaAmnesty International UK called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to denounce Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.“Reports that Israeli forces have intercepted the Gaza flotilla marks yet another shameful chapter in the brutal and merciless enforcement of Israel’s illegal and immoral 18-year blockade of Gaza and is an attack on international law and basic humanity,” said Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s director of communications. “Keir Starmer has a serious role to play. With British citizens and British-flagged ships involved, he must not revert to silence as usual.” Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago Israel tells Gaza aid flotilla to change course as activists say navy is intercepting boats – Middle East crisis live

Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying about 500 activists including Greta Thunberg, says Israeli navy boats approaching; foreign ministry says it asked flotilla to change course Activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla said Israeli warships surrounded several of its boats on Wednesday and that the interception of the main vessels was under way, according to AFP.“The warships are moving in to intercept the flotilla – only 81 nautical miles remain to Gaza,” said the Maghreb contingent of the Global Sumud Flotilla in a statement. Continue reading...

Politics

58 h. ago Israeli minister says ‘last opportunity’ for Gaza City residents to flee – Middle East crisis live

Israeli offensive intensifies amid reports Hamas will seek amendments to Trump’s Gaza planHere are some images coming in via the newswires today:The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the “intensification of military operations in Gaza City” has forced the humanitarian organisation to temporarily suspend operations at its Gaza City office and relocate its staff to ICRC offices in southern Gaza “to ensure staff safety and operational continuity”.The ICRC will continue to strive to provide support to civilians in Gaza City, whenever circumstances allow, from our offices in Deir al-Balah and Rafah, which remain fully operational. This includes providing medical donations to the few remaining health facilities in Gaza City and doing the utmost to facilitate the movements of first responders. In Rafah, the Red Cross Field hospital will continue to be a lifeline for the many wounded patients pouring in.The ICRC has been in Gaza City for decades. Following the latest...

Politics

62 h. ago Israel to close last remaining route from southern Gaza to the north as it continues offensive on Gaza City – Middle East crisis live

Hamas has said it will review the outline of Trump’s Gaza plan, as leaders across the Middle East voiced support for the proposalThe Australian government has said it is “deeply concerned” about the safety of its citizens on board a flotilla to Gaza, with expectations the boats could be intercepted by Israeli forces as early as Wednesday afternoon Australian time.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said they have been in contact with six Australians confirmed to be on flotilla consisting of more than 40 ships.I’m deeply concerned by the alleged drone attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla and the risks to the safety of Australians and other passengers onboard.Australia calls on all parties to respect international law and international humanitarian law, and to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the flotilla.I think people feel pretty calm. And because everybody is really, really concerned about what’s happening in Palestine every single day, it really kind of...

Politics

3 d. ago Prince William to address Gaza crisis in speech at London ceremony

Prince William to address Gaza crisis in speech at London ceremony  The Times

Politics

3 d. ago Trump gives Hamas ‘three or four days’ to respond to Gaza peace plan or face ‘a very sad end’ – live

Ultimatum comes as Netanyahu says he did not agree to Palestinian state as part of Trump Gaza plan, and IDF will remain ‘in most of territory’What’s in Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza?The Gaza health ministry has announced on Telegram that 453 people, including 150 children, have died of famine and malnutrition in Gaza.Since the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared famine in Gaza in August, a further 175 deaths have been recorded, among them 35 children. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Women in Gaza say they were promised food, money or work in exchange for sexual interactions

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis grows, some women say they're being exploited by local men promising food, money, or other aid in exchange for sexual interactions

Economics

4 d. ago The Guardian view on catastrophe in Darfur: The world has looked away, but Sudan’s civilians can’t wait any longer | Editorial

A brutal war has been fuelled by outside powers. Diplomatic efforts must be intensifiedWhen the history of the 21st century is written, the name of El Fasher will surely appear on its bleakest pages. The besiegement of the city by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has lasted more than 500 days. Families are surviving on animal feed. An estimated 260,000 civilians face a terrifying choice: to stay and die of starvation or in an airstrike – or attempt to flee and face rape, robbery and death.El Fasher is the last major city in Darfur still defended by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) – and allied fighters – in the bloody and unrelenting struggle with the RSF, which has lasted almost two and a half years. Yet a conflict that has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis has remained largely ignored as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have consumed international attention. In the runup to the UN general assembly in New York last week, the US finally appeared to be ma...

Politics

4 d. ago Tony Blair £300million Gaza peace plan revealed with crisis 'war room', elite bodyguard protection and an internationally vetted police force to bring order to the Strip

Sir Tony would be chairman of the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), leading the Strip's international diplomacy on the world stage.

Events

8 d. ago Israel carrying out crime against humanity in Gaza, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas tells UN – Middle East crisis live

Speech by Palestinian Authority president also says Hamas should have no role in governing Palestine and must disarmAlimi says the policy of containment has given the Houthis time to expand its arsenal.“It has become clear the peace we seek cannot be asked for but must be imposed by force,” he says. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer confirms UK will recognise Palestinian state in historic move

The Prime Minister said the move was intended “to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis”.

Politics

1 week ago UK to recognise Palestinian state in historic move as Starmer condemns humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Keir Starmer will take the historic step of recognising Palestine on Sunday after ministers concluded the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave has deteriorated amid Israel’s assault on Gaza City.

Events

2 w. ago IDF try to force civilians out of Gaza City as ground offensive continues

Two army divisions work their way toward centre of Gaza City as further Israeli airstrikes destroy buildingsMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsraeli troops have been trying to force more people out of their Gaza City homes as part of a ground offensive that is destroying large parts of Gaza’s biggest urban centre.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday they had carried out 150 air and artillery strikes before the ground operation that began early on Tuesday morning. Two army divisions are working their way slowly towards the city centre and are expected to be joined by a third in the coming days. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago EU’s proposed trade suspension with Israel ‘appropriate and proportionate’ given crisis in Gaza, Šefčovič says – Europe live

EU trade commissioner says proposed partial trade suspension is ‘carefully considered response’ to humanitarian crisis in GazaNordic correspondentDenmark is for the first time to buy long-range precision weapons such as missiles and drones, Mette Frederiksen has abruptly announced, as she warned “Russia is testing us”.There is no doubt that Russia will be a threat to Denmark and Europe for many years to come. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Netanyahu claims trade boycotts over Gaza will force Israeli economy to become ‘super Sparta’

Israeli PM admits Israel is ‘in isolation’ amid growing alarm over its war in Gaza and humanitarian crisis

Politics

3 w. ago Israel’s expanded assault on Gaza City will endanger lives of ‘countless civilians’, charity warns – Middle East crisis live

Warning from ActionAid comes after Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army told residents of Gaza City to leave Dan Sabbagh is the Guardian’s defence and security editorFifty-one Israeli arms makers and the US defence giant behind the F-35 fighters used to bomb Gaza are among the 1,600 exhibitors at the biennial DSEI trade show that begins in London’s Docklands on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Spaniard among six killed in Jerusalem shooting as Madrid steps up criticism of Israel – Middle East crisis live

Pedro Sánchez has accused Netanyahu’s government of ‘exterminating defenceless people’ and killing innocent boys and girls with hunger’Sam Jones is Madrid correspondent for the GuardianSpain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has stepped up his scathing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “exterminating a defenceless people” by bombing hospitals and “killing innocent boys and girls with hunger”. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Five people killed in Jerusalem shooting; Israel threatens Gaza City with ‘powerful hurricane’ – Middle East crisis live

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has warned that a ‘powerful hurricane’ will ‘strike the skies of Gaza City’ later today Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding an “assessment” with the heads of the “security establishment” after the deadly attack in Jerusalem this morning, according to the prime minister’s office.Paramedics said at least five people were killed in the shooting attack in Jerusalem, in an update of the death toll. Continue reading...

Events