Israel News Review http://feed.informer.com/digests/YSYO20ZZSN/feeder Israel News Review Respective post owners and feed distributors Sat, 07 Dec 2013 13:14:34 -0400 Feed Informer http://feed.informer.com/ Trump signs executive order to sanction ICC, accusing court of targeting US and its ‘close ally’ Israel – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:88c79cb8-c5b1-98b9-e6f2-400a641f955f Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:33:37 -0400 <p>Order says ICC issued ‘baseless’ arrest warrants targeting Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s ex-defense minister Yoav Gallant</p><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Kate Lamb (now), Léonie Chao-Fong, Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Palestinians ‘going to have to live somewhere else in the interim’ under Trump’s Gaza plan, US state secretary says – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:dbaa73c0-0a32-d07c-7b1b-896b455efd42 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:16:40 -0400 <p>Marco Rubio called ‘interim’ movement of Palestinians ‘realistic reality’; Egypt says Trump’s proposals would have ‘catastrophic consequences’</p><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/Reuters Middle East crisis live: Trump’s Gaza plan ‘an international crime’, says Unrwa chief as Egypt warns it would ‘squash’ ceasefire https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:ca027c34-131f-4507-8fdf-fc1dfc82c6a1 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 17:13:13 -0400 <p>Unrwa’s future ‘dire’, chief says; Egyptian foreign ministry says Trump’s proposals for Gaza would have ‘catastrophic consequences’</p><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mohammed Saber/EPA Netanyahu gives Trump ‘golden pager’ in apparent reference to Lebanon attack https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/netanyahu-trump-golden-pager-lebanon-hezbollah-attack World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:4569d2fe-12fb-0335-8f0c-1b5d91e51359 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:17:29 -0400 <p>Photos show gift, reportedly nod to Israel’s deadly attack on Hezbollah, during which devices simultaneously detonated</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu">Benjamin Netanyahu</a> reportedly gave Donald Trump a “golden pager” during their meeting in Washington DC this week, in an apparent reference to Israel’s deadly attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon last year.</p><p>In <a href="https://x.com/LahavHarkov/status/1887528447112602000/photo/1">photos circulating online</a>, the golden pager can be seen mounted on a piece of wood, accompanied by a golden plaque that reads in black lettering: “To President Donald J. Trump, Our greatest friend and greatest ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/netanyahu-trump-golden-pager-lebanon-hezbollah-attack">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Middle East and north Africa US news World news Lebanon Hezbollah Anna Betts in New York Photograph: Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock Middle East crisis live: Trump’s plan for Gaza would ‘squash’ ceasefire and ‘incite return of fighting’, Egypt says https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:8f1925c7-7eef-961a-4a8b-149c69d459b8 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:59:07 -0400 <p>Egyptian foreign ministry says Donald Trump’s proposals for Gaza would have ‘catastrophic consequences’</p><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mohammed Saber/EPA ‘Worst nightmare’: Egypt and Jordan put in impossible bind by Trump Gaza plan https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/egypt-jordan-trump-gaza-plan World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:128a7f15-1cac-7be1-0f50-25780b9f6236 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:24:39 -0400 <p>Though heavily dependent on US aid, Amman and Cairo face political calamity at home should they comply</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>International outrage in recent days has focused on Donald Trump’s proposal that the US take “ownership” of Gaza, and that more than two million Palestinians be displaced to allow the territory to be transformed from “a demolition site” into <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/waterfront-property-what-are-trumps-real-estate-interests-in-palestine">a “riviera” in the Middle East</a>.</p><p>In Jordan and Egypt, the demand that both countries accept huge numbers of Palestinians from Gaza – potentially on a permanent basis – has prompted equal concern. Leaders of both countries immediately rejected the proposal, and the Jordanian king, Abdullah II, and <a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/egypts-sisi-visit-trump-february-over-gaza-expulsion-plan">Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the Egyptian president</a>, are heading for Washington in an attempt to convince Trump to change course.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/egypt-jordan-trump-gaza-plan">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Middle East and north Africa Egypt World news Africa Israel Palestinian territories US foreign policy Gaza Jason Burke International security correspondent Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Ben Jennings on Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza – cartoon https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/feb/06/ben-jennings-donald-trump-gaza-cartoon World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:ef22dde2-9ee4-fd82-44bc-576828705a70 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:05:55 -0400 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/feb/06/ben-jennings-donald-trump-gaza-cartoon">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza Palestinian territories US news Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East and north Africa World news Ben Jennings Illustration: Ben Jennings/The Guardian US slaps sanctions on Iranian tanker network https://www.ft.com/content/246d4145-7dea-4c43-87b4-7f5a72be668e FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:35f1979e-dde1-9a11-fe7a-6072a276a7bb Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:04:50 -0400 White House resumes campaign of ‘maximum pressure’ on the Islamic Republic US slaps sanctions on Iranian oil tanker network https://www.ft.com/content/246d4145-7dea-4c43-87b4-7f5a72be668e FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:2640ef3a-9419-19ff-df9b-57a0ab86a0d7 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:04:50 -0400 White House resumes campaign of ‘maximum pressure’ on the Islamic Republic Israel tells army to prepare plans for Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/israel-tells-army-to-prepare-plan-for-palestinians-to-voluntarily-leave-gaza World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:301e2ca5-2b9e-c518-c3d9-0611186fc1f4 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:45:29 -0400 <p>Order comes after Donald Trump suggested US take over territory and resettle its residents elsewhere</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>Israel’s defence minister has ordered the military to prepare plans to allow Palestinians “who wish to leave” Gaza to exit, after Donald Trump suggested the US take over the territory and resettle its residents in other countries.</p><p>A Hamas official attacked the proposal as a “declaration of intent to occupy” Gaza, as Egypt, which <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/04/trump-netanyahu-gaza">Trump named as a possible destination for Palestinians</a>, launched an intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic campaign to block it going further.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/israel-tells-army-to-prepare-plan-for-palestinians-to-voluntarily-leave-gaza">Continue reading...</a> Gaza Israel-Gaza war Palestinian territories Israel US foreign policy Donald Trump World news Middle East and north Africa US news Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Saudi Arabia’s high-wire act wobbles amid Trump’s Gaza gambit https://www.ft.com/content/a6d68bbf-6907-4840-b7b9-1271c462de54 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:11c3d02c-48d8-36be-1498-e3d1707257a1 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:33:32 -0400 But the kingdom should remember that it still has considerable leverage over the US president Trump says Gaza will be ‘turned over to the US by Israel’ https://www.ft.com/content/1b5c542b-34bc-4e1a-ab54-3b29b9e94ed0 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:d643b46e-be1f-2a96-1fb1-fd3be6488694 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:07:40 -0400 President says plan to take over and resettle Palestinians elsewhere ‘in the region’ won’t require American troops The Seed of the Sacred Fig is an indictment of Iran’s regime dressed as a crackling domestic thriller https://www.ft.com/content/7fc3fc8e-b786-45a0-8b56-cf5412f19a5d FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:b757e2c5-adac-fa8c-1d5d-a688538275fd Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:00:17 -0400 A lawyer asserts control over his wife and teenage daughters in Mohammad Rasoulof’s admirable Oscar contender Trump doubles down on Gaza takeover proposal despite bipartisan opposition https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/donald-trump-gaza-takeover-opposition World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:143caea6-5e59-83ba-a492-b51826094004 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:39:10 -0400 <p>President says territory would be ‘turned over’ to US by Israel as it emerges idea was not discussed with aides</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a> has restated his proposal to take over Gaza amid widespread opposition – even from his own supporters – saying the territory would be “turned over” to the US by Israel after it concludes its military offensive against Hamas.</p><p>Trump reinforced his commitment to the idea in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113956721204228037">rambling post</a> on his Truth Social network on Thursday, even as it emerged that the proposal –<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/donald-trump-plan-to-take-over-gaza-strip-netanyahu-visit"> announced without warning during a White House visit by Benjamin Netanyahu</a>, the Israeli prime minister – was purely his own and had not been subject to detailed discussion with aides.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/donald-trump-gaza-takeover-opposition">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza Palestinian territories US news World news Israel Republicans Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East and north Africa Israel-Gaza war US foreign policy Robert Tait in Washington Composite: APAImages/REX/Shutterstock, Anadolu via Getty Images Who will show Trump and Netanyahu that they're not above the law? It has to be Europe | Steve Crawshaw https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/06/donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-law-europe World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:b5502229-bf3e-450d-0647-e1a3a8d901f3 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:22:13 -0400 <p>The US president is quick to roll out the red carpet for an ally wanted for war crimes. Now Europe must stop placating them</p><p>Donald Trump’s proposal to evict 2 million Palestinians from Gaza is an unashamed declaration of support for ethnic cleansing. As so often, he seems ready to ignore moral and legal codes alike. “Deportation or forcible transfer of population” is listed in the Rome statute of the international criminal court as a crime against humanity. And yet a US president has put that idea on the table. Trump insists this would be in everybody’s interest. According to him, Palestinians would not want to return to their homes. “I have heard that Gaza has been very unlucky for them,” he recently said. The population is, in Trump’s words, “living in hell”, with “death and destruction and rubble and demolished buildings falling all over”. He made no mention of Israel’s responsibility for that death and destruction and rubble.</p><p>More than 30 years ago, during the early months of the bloody Bosnian war that I had been reporting on as the eastern Europe editor of the Independent, the Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadžić, explained to me that the ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population that was then under way was, in fact, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/a-strange-world-in-which-bosnian-serbs-do-no-wrong-steve-crawshaw-east-europe-editor-listens-to-radovan-karadzic-s-version-of-events-and-also-reports-on-muslim-despair-about-the-next-talks-1536591.html">doing the Bosnians</a><strong><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/a-strange-world-in-which-bosnian-serbs-do-no-wrong-steve-crawshaw-east-europe-editor-listens-to-radovan-karadzic-s-version-of-events-and-also-reports-on-muslim-despair-about-the-next-talks-1536591.html"> </a></strong><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/a-strange-world-in-which-bosnian-serbs-do-no-wrong-steve-crawshaw-east-europe-editor-listens-to-radovan-karadzic-s-version-of-events-and-also-reports-on-muslim-despair-about-the-next-talks-1536591.html">a favour</a>. “We let them go,” Karadžić explained with a smile, “with their luggage and everything.” Like Karadžić, Trump does not hide the fact that Palestinians who are forced to abandon their homes would have no choice in the matter. Sitting next to Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested: “I don’t think they’re going to tell me no.”</p><p>Steve Crawshaw is author of <a href="https://guardianbookshop.com/prosecuting-the-powerful-war-crimes-and-the-battle-for-justice-9780349128931/">Prosecuting the Powerful: War Crimes and the Battle for Justice</a></p><p><em><strong>Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters"> letters</a> section, please <a href="mailto:guardian.letters@theguardian.com?body=Please%20include%20your%20name,%20full%20postal%20address%20and%20phone%20number%20with%20your%20letter%20below.%20Letters%20are%20usually%20published%20with%20the%20author%27s%20name%20and%20city/town/village.%20The%20rest%20of%20the%20information%20is%20for%20verification%20only%20and%20to%20contact%20you%20where%20necessary.">click here</a>.</strong></em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/06/donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-law-europe">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza Israel-Gaza war Israel Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories International criminal court World news International criminal justice US foreign policy Steve Crawshaw Photograph: Shawn Thew/UPI/Rex/Shutterstock Middle East crisis live: Trump repeats wish to control Gaza, saying region would be ‘turned over’ to US by Israel https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:1292a0c6-d99e-8eed-a616-19090a3c2bd8 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:05:51 -0400 <p>Region would be ‘one of the greatest and most spectacular developments on Earth’ and no US troops would be required, claims president</p><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza threatens decades of US policy https://www.ft.com/content/3e6e3bfd-9175-44a8-af41-bbf76b987f8d FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:42251a51-e579-b5b3-fafa-398923685a38 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:00:46 -0400 Also in today’s newsletter, bookmark our new US trade tracker for all the latest data amid the prospect of an all-out trade war Middle East crisis live: countries which opposed military operations in Gaza such as Spain, Ireland and Norway should take Palestinians, says Israeli minister https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:8f08e2e1-ce73-c1ee-c587-a759984ad455 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:19:58 -0400 <p>Israel Katz, defence minister, orders Israeli army to prepare plan to allow ‘voluntary departure’ of residents from Gaza as Spain rejects suggestion it should accept displaced people</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Martin Belam (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters Israel tells army to prepare plan for Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/israel-tells-army-to-prepare-plan-for-palestinians-to-voluntarily-leave-gaza World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:01d413d1-e4b4-7db1-43ea-f8a0c25a463f Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:19:10 -0400 <p>Order comes after Donald Trump suggested US take over territory and resettle its residents elsewhere</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>Israel’s defence minister has ordered the military to prepare plans to allow Palestinians “who wish to leave” Gaza to exit, after Donald Trump suggested the US take over the territory and resettle its residents in other countries.</p><p>Israel Katz said the military plan would include options to leave via land, air and sea. “The people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration,” he said in a statement on X, although it was clear that the journeys would only be in one direction.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/israel-tells-army-to-prepare-plan-for-palestinians-to-voluntarily-leave-gaza">Continue reading...</a> Gaza Israel-Gaza war Palestinian territories Israel US foreign policy Donald Trump World news Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters Trump might want to revive America’s imperial heyday – but does his base? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/trump-gaza-netanyahu-imperialism-roosevelt-jackson World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:f8173e39-f646-94f7-8c0c-ff7bfaea2256 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:00:51 -0400 <p>The president’s Gaza proposal is a signal that old-school, blunt-force US expansionism seems to be back in fashion</p><p>Donald Trump’s proposal that the US take ownership of the Gaza Strip, expel and resettle the people there, and turn Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” has outraged Palestinians, shocked the international community and even confused many of his own conservative voters.</p><p>Yet the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/donald-trump-plan-to-take-over-gaza-strip-netanyahu-visit">announcement</a> seems like yet another sign that the president, while sometimes <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/us/politics/trump-foreign-policy-neocons-america-first.html">distancing</a> himself from the neoconservative foreign policies that entangled the US in Iraq and Afghanistan, is willing to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/opinion/trump-panama-greenland-foreign-policy.html">pursue</a> – or at least entertain pursuing – an undisguised US imperialism that has more in common with the expansionism of Teddy Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson, the 19th and early-20th century presidents associated with some of American’s most brazen and violent conquests.<strong> </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/trump-gaza-netanyahu-imperialism-roosevelt-jackson">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Trump administration Israel-Gaza war Gaza Israel Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa World news US politics International criminal court US news US foreign policy J Oliver Conroy Composite: Getty Images/Reuters White House insists Trump has ‘not committed’ to sending US troops to Gaza https://www.ft.com/content/ce8aeb82-8923-4e2e-844e-b06a4cf24454 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:7ea19756-bcde-3c89-d752-047c96509da6 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:35:04 -0400 Republican party divided amid uproar over US president’s plan to take over enclave Middle East crisis live: Israel’s defence minister says countries which opposed military operations in Gaza should take Palestinians https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:fa0d78ea-a1d2-0d52-9530-67a229c16265 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:17:29 -0400 <p>Israel Katz orders army to prepare plan to allow ‘voluntary departure’ of residents from Gaza as Spain rejects suggestion it should accept displaced people</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Amy Sedghi(now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters Palestinians fear their Trump nightmare has begun https://www.ft.com/content/473a32b1-57c4-4224-bc74-beef04b05424 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:fd55a524-8bff-260c-2124-c36071c8368f Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:00:57 -0400 US president’s plan to expel Gazans may embolden Israeli ultranationalists bent on annexing West Bank Middle East crisis live: Israel defence minister orders army to plan for ‘voluntary’ departures from Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:28271773-ae18-fc07-909a-0301ef110acd Thu, 06 Feb 2025 04:09:34 -0400 <p>Israel Katz orders army to prepare for ‘any Gaza resident who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to accept them’ as international backlash grows</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Spain</strong>’s foreign minister <strong>José Manuel Albares</strong> on Thursday rejected the suggestion by <strong>Israeli</strong> defence minister <strong>Israel Katz</strong> that Spain should accept displaced <strong>Palestinians</strong> from <strong>Gaza</strong>.</p><p><em>More details soon …</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Amy Sedghi(now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters Middle East crisis live: White House walks back Trump’s Gaza ‘takeover’ comments in face of widespread international anger https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:8743f5ae-b04b-76f0-78b8-9e9a024ab72e Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:41:00 -0400 <p>Secretary of state Marco Rubio says Trump comments should not be seen as ‘hostile move’; Netanyahu says ‘remarkable idea’ should be pursued </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p>Even by his own wild standards, <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a></strong> shocked the world on Tuesday evening by suggesting the <strong>US</strong> should take over the <strong>Gaza Strip</strong>, displace millions of <strong>Palestinians</strong> and turn the territory into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’.</p><p>It was a plan casually announced by the US president and immediately denounced around the world. In particular, the idea that the Palestinians of <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a></strong> should be resettled in neighbouring Arab countries seems to amount to a form of ethnic cleansing.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/06/middle-east-crisis-live-white-house-walks-back-trumps-gaza-takeover-comments-in-face-of-widespread-international-anger">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Pete Hegseth US politics Middle East and north Africa World news Amy Sedghi(now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Trump’s Gaza remarks are no surprise: ethnically cleansing was always the plan | Arwa Mahdawi https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-ethnic-cleansing World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:482de0f4-7a6a-ba26-434d-019506313b82 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:00:06 -0400 <p>If Trump executes his plans, it’s because the media helped pave the way. It’s beyond time for more of my colleagues to speak up</p><p>“They make a desert and call it peace,” said Tacitus, paraphrasing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/oct/30/verso-dissent-nicholas-lezard-review">Calgacus</a>.</p><p>Israel, meanwhile, has made a graveyard of Gaza, and Donald Trump is calling it a real estate opportunity. The president, as you will know, has decided the US should just <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/donald-trump-plan-to-take-over-gaza-strip-netanyahu-visit">take over the Gaza Strip</a>. As for the Palestinians who are inconveniently there at the moment? According to Trump, they can just be moved somewhere else. They can be dumped in Jordan or Egypt or Saudi Arabia. They won’t mind. Those Arabs are all the same anyway.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-ethnic-cleansing">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump US news World news Israel-Gaza war Trump administration Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa US politics Media Newspapers & magazines Arwa Mahdawi Photograph: Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Trump’s grotesque Gaza proposal is appalling on every level | Kenneth Roth https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/05/trump-israel-gaza-proposal World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:3766e7b5-4ce4-ceaf-af3a-6b8afdc87198 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:00:05 -0400 <p>The US president’s plan to expel 2 million Palestinians from Gaza clashes with his desire to be a dealmaker. He should push for a Palestinian state instead</p><p>Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/04/trump-netanyahu-gaza">proposal to expel</a> all 2 million or more Palestinians from Gaza is so mind-bogglingly outrageous that it seems designed to stun us into paralyzed acquiescence. It is the latest example of the US president’s tendency to normalize the unthinkable, to bring ideas that were rightly considered beyond the pale and force them into the realm of policy discussion. Yet there are plenty of reasons to overcome our shock and reject this appalling scheme.</p><p>It does have its supporters. The Israeli far right is salivating at the proposition. It has long <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-07/ty-article/ben-gvir-voluntary-transfer-of-gazans-is-the-solution-israelis-should-re-settle-strip/0000018c-e2f0-d751-ad8d-fff4fb4d0000">sought</a> to “solve” the Palestinian problem by getting rid of the Palestinians. No wonder Benjamin Netanyahu, sitting next to Trump during their White House press conference, could barely contain his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLkEekgBxxo">glee</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/05/trump-israel-gaza-proposal">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza US politics Trump administration Israel-Gaza war Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa World news US news International criminal court International court of justice Kenneth Roth Photograph: Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock ‘How often do you see Palestinian stories in fiction?’: the film-maker trying to adjust our focus https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/06/palestinian-stories-fiction-film-maker-mahdi-fleifel-to-a-land-unknown-feature-film-refugee World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:66354b4e-4591-5dd0-3f99-39003dbf0af1 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:00:05 -0400 <p>After a career making documentaries, Mahdi Fleifel has created To a Land Unknown, a feature film about the refugee experience</p><p>Palestinian stories, according to Mahdi Fleifel, are always “stranger than fiction” yet too often are told only in documentaries.</p><p>Now, after a career making factual films, the Danish-Palestinian’s debut feature, <a href="https://nakbafilmworks.com/to-a-land-unknown/">To a Land Unknown</a>, will be released in the UK on 14 February.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/06/palestinian-stories-fiction-film-maker-mahdi-fleifel-to-a-land-unknown-feature-film-refugee">Continue reading...</a> Global development Film Culture Palestinian territories Refugees World news Middle East and north Africa Lebanon Greece Film industry Cannes film festival Israel Saeed Kamali Dehghan Photograph: Tim P Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival Thursday briefing: The outlandish plan to turn Gaza into a ‘riviera of the Middle East’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/thursday-briefing-first-edition-gaza-riviera-middle-east-donald-trump World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:6dd74680-bc88-156a-8fa1-479ac2067de8 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 02:52:45 -0400 <p>In today’s newsletter: Donald Trump’s proposal is an attempt to reshape political reality that has historical precedent, explains architect and researcher Eyal Weizman</p><p>Good morning. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">Donald Trump’s suggestion</a> that Palestinians should be forced out of Gaza so that it could be rebuilt as a US-run “Riviera of the Middle East” is so outlandish that many have returned to the reminder that we should beware of taking what he says too literally. And, it’s true, the comments don’t seem as if they came on the back of a detailed feasibility study; White House officials spent much of yesterday trying to walk his comments back.</p><p>But it’s also true that his proposal, which if enacted would amount to an unambiguous case of ethnic cleansing, tells us something about who Trump understands to be the stakeholders in Gaza’s future: not Palestinian civilians, but the United States, Israel, and the contractors who could make it happen. And the idea has so delighted the Israeli right that it is easy to see how, even if no American soldier ever sets foot in Gaza, it creates the space for serious discussion of the same project by other means.</p><p><em><strong>UK economy</strong></em> | Bank of England policymakers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/06/bank-of-england-poised-to-cut-interest-rates-amid-uk-economic-gloom">are poised to cut interest rates and downgrade forecasts for economic growth</a>, underlining the risks facing Rachel Reeves’s budget plans. With inflation falling, the Bank’s monetary policy committee is expected to cut rates by a quarter point to 4.5% – the lowest level since June 2023 – on Thursday.</p><p><em><strong>Democratic Republic of the Congo</strong></em> | Hundreds of women <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/democratic-republic-congo-goma-women-raped-burned-death-prison-m23-rebels-rwanda">were raped and burned alive</a> after a Rwandan-backed rebel group entered the Congolese city of Goma last week. The female inmates were attacked in their wing inside Goma’s Munzenze prison during a mass jailbreak, according to a senior UN official.</p><p><em><strong>Energy</strong></em> | Keir Starmer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/06/keir-starmer-unveils-plan-for-large-nuclear-expansion-across-england-and-wales">will unveil plans for a historic expansion in nuclear power</a> across England and Wales, pledging to use Labour’s large majority to make new sites across the country available for new power stations. The prime minister said that he anticipated small modular reactors could be built by 2032 and could become commonplace across Britain.</p><p><em><strong>UK news</strong></em> | The families of Valdo Calocane’s victims have called for doctors responsible for his treatment <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/05/nottingham-attacks-victims-families-call-for-killers-doctors-to-be-named">to be named and held accountable</a>. The intervention followed the publication of a report detailing Calocane’s mental health treatment before the attacks in Nottingham in 2023.</p><p><em><strong>Media</strong></em> | A high court judge <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/feb/05/noel-clarke-lawyers-claims-against-guardian-journalists-unacceptable-judge-says">has criticised lawyers representing Noel Clarke</a> for “unacceptable” allegations against Guardian journalists which “should not have been made and publicly aired without foundation”. Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed claims there had been any fabrication of evidence by them and said any deletion of documents was “not in breach of any rule or duty” to preserve them.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/06/thursday-briefing-first-edition-gaza-riviera-middle-east-donald-trump">Continue reading...</a> World news Gaza Palestinian territories Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Israel-Gaza war Middle East and north Africa Archie Bland Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA Trump’s Gaza power-trip tells us this: he is just another coward denying the need for a Palestinian state | Simon Tisdall https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/06/trump-gaza-power-trip-denying-palestinian-state World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:d6ea3c74-7140-e3fb-6ffc-d03d47337b83 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 02:20:54 -0400 <p>Benjamin Netanyahu called it ‘ground-breaking’ thinking, but it isn’t. It is idiocy that will make a bad situation worse</p><ul><li>Simon Tisdall is the Observer’s foreign affairs commentator</li></ul><p>It’s easy to mistake sheer ignorance for brilliance. Seeming empathy conceals unfeeling stupidity. In demanding the permanent emptying of Gaza and the forcible resettlement of Palestinian civilians on a wholly imaginary “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land”, Donald Trump tried to break the mould. Instead, he broke hearts – and the US’s word. His so-called simple, brilliant big idea is for the simple-minded only – unworkable, unjust and tainted by wilful deceit, recklessness and the monstrous weight of his unleashed ego.</p><p>Trump’s incoherent rambling does not amount to groundbreaking thinking, as Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggests, let alone a plan. It’s more akin to bar-room talk by a loudmouthed boor. And yet it’s very dangerous. The fundamentalist aim lurking beneath his mock concern is an enlarged and consolidated Israel occupying and “owning”, through some bizarre form of US lend-lease, all of Gaza and possibly the West Bank. It means death to hopes of a Palestinian state. No wonder far-right Jewish nationalists and religious extremists cheer. No wonder <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">today’s stern warning against “ethnic cleansing”</a> from UN secretary general, António Guterres and today’s <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw89x8x11o">prediction from Palestinian president</a><strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw89x8x11o"> </a></strong><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw89x8x11o">Mahmoud Abbas</a> that any such move would “put oil on the fire” in the region.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/06/trump-gaza-power-trip-denying-palestinian-state">Continue reading...</a> Gaza Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel-Gaza war Israel Hamas Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa US news World news Simon Tisdall Photograph: Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock Trump sets his sights on Gaza property deal https://www.ft.com/content/9a5cb7c7-45b3-4f87-91d9-84c60adbb70a FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:758de018-97ed-0152-380b-df24ad4eabe4 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0400 And Iraqi president says his country is finally at peace Gaza, trade wars and the chaos of Trump diplomacy - podcast https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/feb/06/gaza-trade-wars-and-the-chaos-of-trump-diplomacy-full-story-podcast World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:799a9920-08ef-8b2a-934d-7490ed367692 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:02:28 -0400 <p>The Guardian diplomatic editor, <strong>Patrick Wintour, </strong>talks through Donald Trump’s latest moves on the world stage, from proposing that the US takes over Gaza to starting trade wars with America’s biggest trading partners</p><p>Donald Trump shocked the world on Tuesday evening by suggesting the US should take over the Gaza Strip, displace millions of Palestinians and turn the territory into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’.</p><p>It was a plan casually announced by the US president and immediately denounced around the world. In particular, the idea that the Palestinians of Gaza should be resettled in neighbouring Arab countries seems to amount to a form of ethnic cleansing.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/feb/06/gaza-trade-wars-and-the-chaos-of-trump-diplomacy-full-story-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza US foreign policy Trump administration Israel Presented by Helen Pidd with Patrick Wintour; produced by Natalie Ktena and Joel Cox; executive producer Sami Kent Composite: ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Gaza, trade wars and the chaos of Trump diplomacy | podcast https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/feb/06/gaza-trade-wars-and-the-chaos-of-trump-diplomacy-podcast World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:73f012b9-4cd9-0170-0e8c-02b965d9845e Wed, 05 Feb 2025 23:00:04 -0400 <p>The Guardian diplomatic editor, <strong>Patrick Wintour, </strong>talks through Donald Trump’s latest moves on the world stage, from proposing the US takes over Gaza to starting trade wars with America’s biggest trading partners</p><p>Even by his own wild standards, Donald Trump shocked the world on Tuesday evening by suggesting the US should take over the Gaza Strip, displace millions of Palestinians and turn the territory into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’.</p><p>It was a plan casually announced by the US president and immediately denounced around the world. In particular, the idea that the Palestinians of Gaza should be resettled in neighbouring Arab countries seems to amount to a form of ethnic cleansing.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/feb/06/gaza-trade-wars-and-the-chaos-of-trump-diplomacy-podcast">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Gaza US foreign policy Trump administration Israel Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa Mexico Canada China International trade Presented by Helen Pidd with Patrick Wintour; produced by Natalie Ktena and Joel Cox; executive producer Sami Kent Photograph: Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Trump officials try to walk back president’s Gaza comments – as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:1ac144c9-ba4b-d961-528a-08b8bbf94777 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:51:44 -0400 <p>This liveblog is now closed. </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics World news US news Trump administration Philip Wen (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Australian opposition leader praises Trump over Gaza comments – as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:5a500ac2-5d10-6f30-f0b1-90626d10f10b Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:51:44 -0400 <p>This liveblog is now closed. </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics World news US news Trump administration Philip Wen (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Trump officials try to walk back president’s comments on Gaza ‘takeover’ – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:21e9c3cb-08f3-e068-cae2-a4ba892642a5 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:29:18 -0400 <p>Marco Rubio and press secretary appear to backtrack on president’s proposal to permanently relocate Palestinians in Gaza</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime – experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics World news US news Trump administration Philip Wen (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Trump officials attempt to walk back president’s comments on Gaza ‘take over’ – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:979749bb-5624-c451-6652-864b6b6991ad Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:44:23 -0400 <p>Trump’s top diplomat and spokesperson appear to backtrack his proposal of permanent relocation of Palestinians from Gaza</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/un-chief-warns-against-ethnic-cleansing-after-donald-trump-gaza-proposal">UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime, say experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Trump officials attempt to walk back president’s comments on Gaza; UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:44c62019-16bc-a095-7dae-c58a71665474 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:05:31 -0400 <p>Trump’s top diplomat and spokesperson appear to backtrack his proposal of permanent relocation of Palestinians from Gaza</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/donald-trump-plan-to-take-over-gaza-strip-netanyahu-visit">Full report: Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza Strip</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime, say experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: ABACA/REX/Shutterstock Trump not yet committed to putting US troops in Gaza, White House says; UN chief to warn against ‘ethnic cleansing’ – live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:f1075f07-8cb5-8a8b-ab7a-231c8ce0657f Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:05:01 -0400 <p>António Guterres to condemn ‘forced displacement of people’ after Donald Trump said US would ‘take over’ Gaza</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/05/donald-trump-plan-to-take-over-gaza-strip-netanyahu-visit">Full report: Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza Strip</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-plan-could-amount-to-war-crime-say-experts">Trump’s Gaza plan could amount to war crime, say experts</a></li></ul><p><strong>Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East</strong>, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.”<br><br> “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australia governments have always done, which is to provide support.”<br><br> Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterise Trump’s Gaza plan.<br><br> “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said. “I’ve made that very clear.”<br></p><p>Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/05/trump-gaza-take-over-reaction-israel-netanyahu-middle-east-latest-live">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US politics Léonie Chao-Fong (now); Christy Cooney, Amy Sedghi, Martin Belam and Kate Lamb (earlier) Photograph: Kent Nishimura/Reuters