War in the Middle East

What Does the US 21-Point Plan for Gaza Include?
ExplainerWhat Does the US 21-Point Plan for Gaza Include?

At the UN General Assembly, the United States shared a 21-point proposal with a small group of Arab and Muslim countries aimed at ending the war in Gaza. According to Axios, the US proposals draw on various ideas discussed over the past six months, as well as concepts developed by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former British Prime ...

Trump Says Gaza Peace Deal in \
Trump Says Gaza Peace Deal in "Final Stages"

United States President Donald Trump told Axios in an interview Sunday that negotiations over his plan to end the war in Gaza are "at their final stages" and contended a deal could open the way for wider peace in the Middle East. Earlier in the day, Trump had announced “something special, a first” in Middle East peace negotiations on the eve ...

Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Statehood as He Heads to UN and Trump Meeting
Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Statehood as He Heads to UN and Trump Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced leaders who had recognized a Palestinian state, as he headed to the United States on Thursday for White House talks and an address to the UN General Assembly. His remarks came three days after France led a special summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which saw a slew of Western ...

Yemen Drone Attack Wounds 22 in Israeli Resort Town
Yemen Drone Attack Wounds 22 in Israeli Resort Town

Israel's military said a drone launched from Yemen struck the southern resort town of Eilat on Wednesday, with rescuers reporting nearly two dozen wounded. A military statement said the drone "fell in the area of Eilat" on the Red Sea coast after air defenses had failed to intercept it, in the second such incident within ...

Beyond Hamas: Gaza’s Emerging Tribal Militias
HighlightBeyond Hamas: Gaza’s Emerging Tribal Militias

In a landscape ravaged by nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas, local figures are stepping in to fill the void left by the weakening of the Palestinian movement in Gaza. In Kizan al-Najjar, a depopulated village south of Khan Younes in the southern enclave, Hossam al-Astal, a former Palestinian Authority officer, has announced the ...

Iran’s Top General Warns of “Strategic Surprises” Amid Sacred Defense Week
Iran’s Top General Warns of “Strategic Surprises” Amid Sacred Defense Week

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, issued a stern warning on Monday, asserting that the country is prepared to deliver “strategic surprises” in response to any attack. In a message marking the commencement of Sacred Defense Week, he emphasized Iran’s growing deterrent capabilities and stated ...

Hamas Releases Video of Israeli-German Hostage Seen Alive
Hamas Releases Video of Israeli-German Hostage Seen Alive

Hamas' armed wing released a video on Monday showing an Israeli-German hostage alive, the second such footage of him shared by the militants this month. The Israeli campaign group Hostages and Missing Families Forum and the captive's family identified him as Alon Ohel, who was abducted by Palestinian militants during their October 7, 2023 attack ...

Palestine Recognition: A Symbolic Gesture Devoid of Substance
SpotlightPalestine Recognition: A Symbolic Gesture Devoid of Substance

On September 21, several Western capitals—including London, Ottawa, Lisbon and Canberra—announced the recognition of a Palestinian state. France is set to follow suit on Monday, with Emmanuel Macron confirming that Paris will formalize its decision at the United Nations. The initiative, backed by a United Nations General Assembly resolution a ...

Ben Gvir and Smotrich Urge West Bank Annexation as Western Countries Recognize Palestinian State
Ben Gvir and Smotrich Urge West Bank Annexation as Western Countries Recognize Palestinian State

Two Israeli far-right ministers on Sunday called for the annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank following the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state. "The recognition by Britain, Canada, and Australia of a Palestinian state... requires immediate countermeasures: the swift application of sovereignty in ...

Macron: Recognition of Palestinian State Key to Isolating Hamas
Macron: Recognition of Palestinian State Key to Isolating Hamas

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted Thursday that recognizing a Palestinian state would isolate the militant group Hamas and reiterated his condemnation of Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza. "Recognising a Palestinian state is just deciding to say: 'The legitimate perspective of Palestinian people and what they suffer today has nothing ...

US Veto Blocks UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire
US Veto Blocks UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza Ceasefire

The United States on Thursday again wielded its veto and thwarted a UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Gaza, shielding its ally Israel from meaningful diplomatic pressure. "The United States rejects this unacceptable resolution. It is beyond time that Hamas release every single hostage now and surrender immediately. The United States ...

US Ambassador Says Lebanese Army’s Efforts Are Strong but Insufficient
US Ambassador Says Lebanese Army’s Efforts Are Strong but Insufficient

US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson highlighted the central role played by the Lebanese Army since the ceasefire agreement, praising its performance as “impressive” but stressing that it is “not enough” to guarantee lasting stability. Speaking in Beirut, Johnson underscored the need for additional measures to strengthen security and ...