43 h. ago This war of revenge has lasted two nightmare years. There’s only one hope for peace: Israel recognising Palestine | Raja Shehadeh

Donald Trump’s proposals are in play, but here in the West Bank we live in fear that the devastation of Gaza is coming our wayBeing an eternal optimist, I hoped that the events of 7 October 2023 – Hamas’s attack on southern Israel and breaking of the Israeli siege of Gaza – might precipitate a reappraisal of Israeli strategy towards the Palestinians. I hoped Israeli leaders would come to realise the futility of protecting their country by building walls, however impregnable.Instead, the attack did the opposite. It led to a war of revenge that has now lasted for close to two years, killing more than 65,000 Palestinians and causing the widespread devastation of Gaza, including destroying 92% of its residential buildings. Initially, I was shocked by this, and the dehumanisation of the people of Gaza which immediately came from Israeli leaders – Yoav Gallant, who was defence minister at the time of the attack, justified the war by declaring: “We are fighting human animals and are acting...

Politics

4 d. ago Palestine protests LIVE: Calls for marches to be cancelled after Manchester horror

Thousands of people are set to turn out for pro-Palestine marches today despite being urged 'recognise and respect the grief of British Jews' by Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Events

5 d. ago Nigel Farage accuses Keir Starmer of 'emboldening' hate marchers who 'celebrated Manchester synagogue attack' after recognising Palestine

Farage took to social media on Friday to accuse the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, of 'emboldening' protesters by recognising the state of Palestine last month.

Events

9 d. ago New Zealand government faces backlash for not recognising Palestinian state

Former prime minister says country placed itself ‘very much on the wrong side of history’

Politics

9 d. ago Dismay in New Zealand after government fails to recognise Palestinian statehood

PM Christopher Luxon had suggested recognition was only a matter of time, prompting disappointment from opposition parties and activistsOpposition parties, Palestinian groups and a former prime minister have expressed dismay over New Zealand’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, saying it places the country on the wrong side of history and puts it at odds with its traditional allies.Last week, the UK, Canada, Australia and others formally declared their recognition of statehood ahead of a special UN conference in New York. As of this month, 157 of the 193 UN member countries have recognised a Palestinian state. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago New Zealand says it is not ‘prudent’ to recognise Palestinian state ‘at this time’

New Zealand has diverged from several partners, including Australia, Canada, and the UK, which formally recognised a Palestinian state last week

Politics

1 week ago Bibi beams speech to empty UN to EVERY phone in Gaza blasting 2

BENJAMIN Netanyahu broadcast his entire UN speech to Gaza as he slammed Western leaders who recognised the State of Palestine. The Israeli Prime Minister vowed that his country would "finish the job" as dozens of delegates walked out of the hall in protest. Speaking before a nearly empty assembly, Netanyahu claimed Israel has "crushed the...

Politics

1 week ago Netanyahu accuses Keir Starmer and western leaders of trying to 'shove a terror state down our throats' by recognising Palestine

The Israeli Prime Minister was defiant as he addressed the United Nations this afternoon and said that his country 'must finish the job' against Hamas in Gaza.

Politics

1 week ago Benjamin Netanyahu met by mass walkout of diplomats as he addresses UN

The Israeli PM, who is subject to an international criminal arrest warrant, had pledged to blast heads of countries which have recognised Palestinian statehood before flying to the US

Politics

1 week ago Recognising statehood is the minimum – now the EU must protect Palestine with money

As Europe’s socialist leaders, we call for a trade deal and aid package for Palestine – along with sanctions on Israel to halt the genocideApplause rang out through the UN general assembly this month after it endorsed the so-called New York declaration on the revival of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Adopted by a large majority, 142 countries, this initiative from France and Saudi Arabia offers a rare glimmer of hope in one of the most devastating crises of our time.Separately, the conclusions of the UN commission of inquiry have echoed what human rights organisations and genocide experts have been warning for months: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. As the ground invasion of Gaza City intensifies, the international community has a legal and moral obligation to act. This includes the immediate imposition of sanctions on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt war crimes.Pedro Sánchez is the president of the Socialist International, secretary general of PS...

Politics

1 week ago Trump says he ‘will not allow’ Israel to annex West Bank after lobbying from allies

British officials said they feared Trump would recognise Israeli control over the West Bank in retaliation for the UK, Australia, France and other recognising PalestineDonald Trump has said he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, rejecting calls from some far-right politicians in Israel who want to extend sovereignty over the area and snuff out hopes for a Palestinian state.“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.” Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Netanyahu’s son takes shot at UK & ‘recognises Falklands as part of Argentina’ after Starmer’s Palestine move

BENJAMIN Netanyahu's son has lashed out at Keir Starmer for welcoming a Palestinian State - by recognising the Falkland Islands as Argentinian in a baseless social media post. The kneejerk claims came just days after Sir Keir's appeasing announcement - and followed a fresh bid from Argentina to annex the British territory. Using the Argentinian...

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer rules out second Scottish independence referendum under his watch

The Prime Minister said the issue was a ‘distraction tactic’ by the SNP

Politics

1 week ago Netanyahu vows to denounce Keir Starmer for recognising Palestine as he sets off to address the UN in New York

Sir Keir Starmer made the move on Sunday 21 on the same day as Canada , Australia and Portugal, prompting a furious response from Israel which accused the countries of 'rewarding' Hamas terror.

Politics

1 week ago Benjamin Netanyahu vows to blast leaders recognising Palestine during UN speech

The Israeli PM spoke on Thursday before flying to the US for the United Nations General Assembly in New York – after UK was among countries to recognise Palestine in historic move

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Guess what?’ Macron phones Trump after US president’s motorcade blocks his car

Bemused French president forced to take unscheduled 30-minute trek through the streets of New YorkEmmanuel Macron had to walk half an hour by foot through New York after his speech to the United Nations on recognising Palestine as a state.Video footage shows him getting out of his car to talk to police officers after they stop his vehicle to make way for the expected arrival of the motorcade of Donald Trump, the US president. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago The consensus is clear: it’s genocide. Now will international law die in Gaza too? | Raji Sourani

There is a UN convention for exactly this kind of horror: the convention for the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide. When will the world act on it?Raji Sourani is the coordinator of the Palestinian legal team at the international criminal court (ICC)Israel has committed and continues to commit genocide in Gaza. That is the conclusion of a UN commission report. Since the release of the report last week, Palestine has finally been recognised as an independent state by the UK and a number of other countries. In his announcement at the weekend, Keir Starmer called the death and destruction in Gaza “utterly intolerable”. This recognition comes too late and is still conditional, but has the UK government indeed now stopped tolerating Israel’s devastation of Gaza? Has anything changed for the people there who are being starved and bombed? Far from it.Even as the UN publishes the findings of its independent commission, and a flag is raised outside the Palestinian mission in ...

Society

2 w. ago British officials fear Trump could recognise Israeli West Bank settlements

Government insiders say move would be a serious blow to prospect of a two-state solutionMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritish officials fear Donald Trump could recognise Israeli control over illegal settlements on the West Bank in retaliation for the UK, France and others deciding to recognise Palestine.Government insiders believe the US president is considering granting official recognition to the Israeli communities there, which would be a serious blow to achieving a two-state solution. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump to address UN General Assembly after UK and France recognise Palestinian state: Live

President to speak in New York at contentious moment for international relations

Politics

2 w. ago France recognises state of Palestine, Macron tells UN; Abbas says Hamas to ‘surrender their weapons’ – Middle East crisis live

French announcement followed by Morocco, Belgium, Malta and Luxembour; Palestinian president says Hamas must have ‘no role’ in governing GazaThe Israeli military, which justifies its assault on Gaza City by saying it wants to “destroy Hamas military infrastructure” hasn’t given a timeline for the ground offensive, but there are indications it could take months.Amid this flurry of diplomatic activity, Israel is continuing to launch deadly attacks on Gaza, including on Gaza City, the biggest urban centre in the territory. Continue reading...

Events