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/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/crowds-greet-militant-leader-zakaria-zubeidi-among-prisoners-released-in-ramallah World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:506c6198-d95a-6438-8fa0-2e5f08665d64 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:16:31 -0400 <p>Israel freed 110 Palestinians in exchange for three Israelis and five Thai nationals held in Gaza</p><p>As the line of white buses drew closer to the West Bank city of Ramallah at dusk, their most notorious passenger stood at the window of one of the buses and waved. Skinny in his grey Israeli prison tracksuit, his head shaved, Zakaria Zubeidi lifted two fingers to make a peace sign and gestured at jubilant crowds.</p><p>The 49-year-old, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, was among 110 Palestinian prisoners freed in exchange for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/israelis-thais-hostages-freed-gaza-trump-envoy">three Israelis and five Thai nationals</a> held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The prisoners’ release was delayed by Israeli officials, who expressed dismay at the chaotic scenes in Gaza that accompanied the Israelis’ transfer to the custody of the Red Cross.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/crowds-greet-militant-leader-zakaria-zubeidi-among-prisoners-released-in-ramallah">Continue reading...</a> West Bank Palestinian territories Israel Hamas Israel-Gaza war Middle East and north Africa World news Ruth Michaelson and Sufian Taha Photograph: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/israelis-thais-hostages-freed-gaza-trump-envoy World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:f252d55f-aa49-d96d-355b-78040adfef2a Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:14:03 -0400 <p>Handover delayed by jostling crowd in Khan Younis, with Netanyahu suspending release of Palestinian prisoners</p><p>Three Israelis and five Thai citizens held in Gaza have been freed, as Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy met hostages’ relatives, reportedly telling them he was optimistic the ceasefire would hold to allow the return of all the living and the dead.</p><p>The handover on Thursday of seven hostages in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, was delayed by a chaotic crowd surging towards the group, despite an escort of heavily armed militants, jostling and blocking their passage to waiting Red Cross vehicles.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/israelis-thais-hostages-freed-gaza-trump-envoy">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories World news Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Trump administration US news US politics Emma Graham-Harrison and Quique Kierszenbaum in Jerusalem Photograph: Haim Zach/GPO/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/us-private-armed-contractors-gaza-checkpoint World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:eb060461-5437-574b-948f-de3d7c04e096 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:02:59 -0400 <p>Deployment of special forces veterans is unprecedented and poses risk that Americans could be drawn into fighting</p><p>A US security firm is hiring nearly 100 US special forces veterans to help run a checkpoint in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a> during the Israel-Hamas truce, introducing armed American contractors into the heart of one of the world’s most violent conflict zones.</p><p>UG Solutions, a low-profile company founded in 2023 and based in Davidson, North Carolina, is offering a daily rate starting at $1,100 with a $10,000 advance to veterans it hires, according to a recruitment email.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/us-private-armed-contractors-gaza-checkpoint">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war US military US news Israel Egypt Middle East and north Africa World news Reuters Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:ec3f58f5-a74d-9fbf-34b9-e5f867fe8e61 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:44:41 -0400 <p>UN aid agency says work in West Bank and Gaza will continue despite order to halt operations at East Jerusalem HQ</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>International staff working for the UN’s main agency serving Palestinians have been forced to leave after Israel’s ban on Unrwa came into effect.</p><p>The UN flag flew above the headquarters building in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, but Palestinian staff were also not present at the site over security concerns amid a planned “celebration” by Israeli rightwingers, some of whom later vandalised signs and replaced the UN flag with an Israeli one.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect">Continue reading...</a> Israel United Nations Gaza West Bank Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories World news Israel-Gaza war Aid Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem and Sam Jones in Madrid Photograph: Sinan Abu Mayzer/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:a8d5d79e-3b26-0e34-6479-251f33f4b4bf Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:41:35 -0400 <p>This blog is now closed, you can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/israelis-thais-hostages-freed-gaza-trump-envoy">read more on this story here</a></p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:e27b21aa-cc7f-b174-0c60-c4a6133b19c4 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:16:41 -0400 <p>Three Israelis and five Thai citizens held in Gaza were freed earlier today</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:a4a0d60d-25bb-89ea-7a67-023a200dd210 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:07:18 -0400 <p>Israel is due to free 110 Palestinian prisoners today</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:0c53645a-d220-3b33-5206-a899c727799f Thu, 30 Jan 2025 11:28:51 -0400 <p>Israel is due to free 110 Palestinian prisoners today</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:0923c3ea-419c-e1b4-e542-69438bd9b064 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:34:05 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange </p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now); Amy Sedghi and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.ft.com/content/5fb87520-47e1-4e3f-a66e-d7b8550b8fd1 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:485fd5eb-ede3-7e35-e87c-7b9f64c65c3a Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:31:59 -0400 Israel due to hand over 110 Palestinian prisoners in additional exchange designed to resolve stand-off over ceasefire https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:f0d3d6ef-fb42-39b0-5124-69c26fee6f3a Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:16:16 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange </p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:4c62ed2d-9422-fdb4-03e2-8e3878c2d271 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:51:45 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange </p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:4d8bdacd-1507-6c73-37f8-5debcfe3a6aa Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:45:50 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange after Israelis released and Thai hostages due to be freed</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:45d66a8a-9707-b118-2d1d-89174dfc3080 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:12:47 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange after Israelis released and Thai hostages due to be freed</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:80f2f6c8-e781-00fa-bebb-b285ff877b02 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:37:40 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange; Unrwa likely to close in face of Israeli ban</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:3eac024e-82bd-5890-3aad-a961b929531d Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:16:41 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange; Unrwa likely to close in face of Israeli ban</p><p>Away from Gaza and Israel, <strong>Qatar</strong>’s Emir <strong>Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani</strong> arrived on Thursday in <strong>Damascus</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, Al Jazeera reported, the first visit by a foreign head of state since <strong>Bashar al-Assad</strong>’s fall.</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> military said on Thursday that freed Israeli female soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> had been handed over to the army by the <strong>Red Cross</strong> after her release in <strong>Gaza</strong> by <strong>Hamas</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2025/jan/30/female-israeli-soldier-held-hostage-hamas-released-ceasefire-deal-video World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:3895753b-4458-5b79-b106-adf7477c95c2 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:02:21 -0400 <p>Agam Berger, 20, has become the first of three Israeli soldiers to be released in the third exchange since the Gaza ceasefire took effect. Arbel Yehoud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 80, are also set to be freed by Hamas along with five Thai nationals who have not been named. Israel will free 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 minors, according to NGO the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news#top-of-blog">Middle East Crisis live</a></p></li></ul> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2025/jan/30/female-israeli-soldier-held-hostage-hamas-released-ceasefire-deal-video">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Gaza Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa World news Guardian Staff Photograph: AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:903d1ab1-5811-5a21-b282-db54368b744a Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:50:06 -0400 <p>UN agency says work in West Bank and Gaza will continue amid concerns over impact on delivery of aid</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>International staff working for the UN’s main agency serving Palestinians have been forced to leave Israel, after its ban on the agency came into effect.</p><p>As the UN flag was still flying above the headquarters building in Jerusalem, Palestinian staff were not present at the site over security concerns amid a planned “celebration” by Israeli rightwing groups outside the compound.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect">Continue reading...</a> Israel United Nations Gaza West Bank Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories World news Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem Photograph: Sinan Abu Mayzer/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:5b6e46f6-8878-eacc-9050-16cc1bcf4332 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:50:06 -0400 <p>UN agency says work in West Bank and Gaza will continue amid concerns over impact on delivery of aid</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>International staff working for the UN’s main agency serving Palestinians have been forced to leave after Israel’s ban on the agency came into effect.</p><p>As the UN flag was still flying above the headquarters building in Jerusalem, Palestinian staff were not present at the site over security concerns amid a planned “celebration” by Israeli rightwing groups outside the compound.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect">Continue reading...</a> Israel United Nations Gaza West Bank Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories World news Israel-Gaza war Aid Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem Photograph: Sinan Abu Mayzer/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:eafa036e-f01c-e583-d1f6-23f36783c99a Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:50:06 -0400 <p>UN aid agency says its work in West Bank and Gaza will continue despite suspension of operations on Israeli soil</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>International staff working for the UN’s main agency serving Palestinians have been forced to leave after Israel’s ban on the agency came into effect.</p><p>As the UN flag was still flying above the headquarters building in Jerusalem, Palestinian staff were not present at the site over security concerns amid a planned “celebration” by Israeli rightwing groups outside the compound.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/30/unrwa-staff-forced-to-leave-israel-after-ban-comes-into-effect">Continue reading...</a> Israel United Nations Gaza West Bank Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories World news Israel-Gaza war Aid Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem and Sam Jones in Madrid Photograph: Sinan Abu Mayzer/Reuters https://www.ft.com/content/5fb87520-47e1-4e3f-a66e-d7b8550b8fd1 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:59ed3ff4-58fc-f48e-9a39-c3bf92f05d4d Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:25:40 -0400 Additional exchange brokered to resolve stand-off over how remaining captives would be freed https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:842b3238-1d6c-08c0-7539-743046800f20 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:18:48 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange; Unrwa likely to close in face of Israeli ban</p><p>At a gathering in <strong>Tel Aviv</strong>, people cheered, clapped and whistled as they saw images of <strong>Agam Berger</strong> being released on a TV screen, next to a large clock that’s counted the days the hostages have been in captivity, reports the Associated Press (AP).<br><br> Some held signs saying “Agam we’re waiting for you at home”.</p><p>Here is an image of the <strong>Israel</strong> soldier <strong>Agam Berger</strong> who has just been handed over by <strong>Hamas</strong> to the <strong>Red Cross</strong> in <strong>Gaza</strong>’s <strong>Jabalia</strong>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:537e0f0c-fbea-296a-13da-3f86d025130f Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:00:45 -0400 <p>Israel will reportedly free 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange; Unrwa likely to close in face of Israeli ban</p><p>Live TV shows <strong>Red Cross</strong> vehicles arriving at the hostage handover point in <strong>Gaza</strong>, reports Reuters.</p><p>Earlier, militants from <strong>Hamas</strong> and allied groups <strong>Islamic Jihad</strong> and <strong>Popular Resistance Committees</strong> arrived at the site in <strong>Khan Younis</strong> ahead of the handover of <strong>Israeli</strong> hostages, according to Hamas sources and witnesses.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/30/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-thai-hostages-palestinian-prisoners-unrwa-ceasefire-latest-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Middle East and north Africa Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestinian territories Israel-Gaza war Amy Sedghi (now) and Philip Wen (earlier) Photograph: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP https://www.ft.com/content/5fb87520-47e1-4e3f-a66e-d7b8550b8fd1 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:2eace107-a526-c0ba-dd14-38b4eb991570 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 03:12:42 -0400 Additional exchange was brokered to resolve stand-off over how remaining captives would be freed https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jan/30/israel-and-the-delusions-of-germanys-memory-culture World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:651cfab9-46c7-97c7-5003-9cf7f9a45abb Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:00:27 -0400 <p>Germany embraced Israel to atone for its wartime guilt. But was this in part a way to avoid truly confronting its past?</p><p>After the second world war, Germany’s contrition and radical self-cleansing, under allied supervision, as the chief tormentor&nbsp;of European Jews ought to have been straightforward. No country, however, matches its convoluted journey from ground zero in 1945 to Gaza today.</p><p>In recent decades, solidarity with the Jewish state has burnished Germany’s proud self-image as the only country that makes public remembrance of its criminal past the very foundation of its collective identity. Particularly since German reunification, a&nbsp;Shoah-centred memory has been comprehensively&nbsp;institutionalised. School curriculums and calendars emphasise anniversaries such as 27 January (the Soviet liberation of Auschwitz) and 8 May (the final surrender of the Nazis). Monuments, memorials and museums across the country commemorate the victims of German crimes. A resonant symbol of this memory culture is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe near the Brandenburg Gate in the capital, Berlin, probably the only major national monument to commemorate the victims of a nation rather than the nation itself.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jan/30/israel-and-the-delusions-of-germanys-memory-culture">Continue reading...</a> Germany Israel Judaism Antisemitism Israel-Gaza war Nazism The far right Pankaj Mishra Photograph: Anadolu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images https://www.ft.com/content/3b5efc85-e981-4dfa-8423-a71adeaf0592 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:edac9058-5287-1a3c-eac3-bcf26069483d Thu, 30 Jan 2025 01:00:10 -0400 Goya Gallagher’s vintage Egyptian houseboat makes a stunning showcase for her homeware range https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/the-west-is-complicit-in-the-killing-of-children-in-gaza World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:8616de54-10e0-167f-e828-02b4925a8442 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:15:45 -0400 <p>Readers respond to articles by Nesrine Malik and Seema Jilani about the horrific loss of children’s lives in Gaza</p><p>Thank you, Nesrine Malik, for saying so movingly what many of us have felt throughout the Israeli assault on Gaza (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/27/children-gaza-loved-remembered-innocent-mourn">Goodbye to the lost children of Gaza. You were loved, you are remembered, you did not deserve it, 27 January</a>). Most western media have been reluctant to call out the horror for what it is. One sentence in her excellent article stands out for me: the killing of children on such a scale was “unnecessary and only permitted because Palestinian life as a whole has been made cheap by the logic of Israel’s absolute right to defend itself by whatever criminal&nbsp;means it likes”.</p><p>Western governments and media have been shamefully complicit in overlooking these atrocities, taking no significant action to restrain or condemn Israel, maintaining neutrality between those dropping the bombs and the babies underneath them. Even now, Palestinian suffering is underemphasised. The attention given to the fewer than 100 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza is grossly disproportionate to that given to the suffering of the Palestinians, including the <a href="https://www.btselem.org/statistics/detainees_and_prisoners">more than 9,000 Palestinian detainees</a>, many of them held <a href="https://www.btselem.org/administrative_detention/statistics">without trial or charges</a>.<br><strong>Michael Foster</strong><br><em>Chelmsford</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/the-west-is-complicit-in-the-killing-of-children-in-gaza">Continue reading...</a> Gaza Israel Israel-Gaza war World news Hamas Children Doctors Palestinian territories Guardian Staff Photograph: Hatem Khaled/Reuters https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/the-tragic-conflict-in-gaza-should-not-be-oversimplified World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:4242cea1-1c5c-627c-ec6d-4913103e85d4 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:14:54 -0400 <p><strong>Boaz Tal </strong>feels<strong> </strong>Owen Jones ignored key elements in a recent article on Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, <strong>Desmond Hewitt </strong>shares the columnist’s despair and rage</p><p>Owen Jones’s article (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/23/israel-leaders-genocide-gaza-political-media-power">Israel’s leaders committed genocide in Gaza and must pay for it. Their political and media allies must too, 23 January</a>) oversimplifies the deeply complex and tragic conflict in Gaza, diluting the seriousness of his arguments.</p><p>While he condemns the west’s supply of weapons to Israel, he ignores the global arms trade that fuels violence on both sides. Hamas and other militant groups have also received weapons, and the international community has failed to address this. Critiquing only one side’s arms supply neglects the broader dynamics that perpetuate this conflict.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/the-tragic-conflict-in-gaza-should-not-be-oversimplified">Continue reading...</a> Gaza Israel Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa Hamas World news Guardian Staff Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jan/29/the-long-walk-back-inside-the-31-january-guardian-weekly World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:b7d7f89f-8286-38cb-f5a8-c0629fc39aca Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:00:13 -0400 <p>Gaza’s displaced people return home. <strong>Plus:</strong> Trump’s big bang theory<br></p><p>• <strong><a href="https://support.theguardian.com/uk/subscribe/weekly?promoCode=WWM53X">Try the Guardian Weekly with our time-limited 12 for 12 offer</a></strong></p><p>The fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas was to some extent overshadowed last week by the return of Donald Trump in the US. But the two stories are now beginning to conflate more ominously.</p><p>After a second round of Israeli hostage returns and Palestinian prisoner releases, Israel on Monday reopened the military checkpoints that divide north and south Gaza.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jan/29/the-long-walk-back-inside-the-31-january-guardian-weekly">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war Israel Hamas Gaza Graham Snowdon Photograph: AFP/Getty/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:6b94fbc8-6f39-4a9d-8cec-b07196e6f869 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:23:11 -0400 <p>Five Thai hostages are also set to be freed alongside Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and 80-year-old Gadi Mozes</p><p>In a statement given on Tuesday at the <strong>United Nations general assembly,</strong> in <strong>New York</strong>, the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong> president, <strong>Mirjana Spoljaric</strong>, said she had seen “so much devastation” on recent visits to <strong>Lebanon</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, <strong>Israel</strong>, <strong>Gaza</strong>, and the <strong>West Bank</strong>.</p><p>Spoljaric warned that “respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis” and “threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve”.</p><p>The evidence is clear: hospitals reduced to rubble, civilian neighbourhoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis, threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve.</p><p>This is not an abstract issue. It is one that impacts millions of lives every day, and one that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to recover from.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war World news Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Donald Trump Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US news Christy Cooney (now) and Amy Sedghi (earlier) Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:6e22f7e9-3e1a-f940-da17-f119b591044c Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:23:11 -0400 <p>This blog is now closed, you can<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast"> read more of our Middle East coverage here</a></p><p>In a statement given on Tuesday at the <strong>United Nations general assembly,</strong> in <strong>New York</strong>, the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong> president, <strong>Mirjana Spoljaric</strong>, said she had seen “so much devastation” on recent visits to <strong>Lebanon</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, <strong>Israel</strong>, <strong>Gaza</strong>, and the <strong>West Bank</strong>.</p><p>Spoljaric warned that “respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis” and “threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve”.</p><p>The evidence is clear: hospitals reduced to rubble, civilian neighbourhoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis, threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve.</p><p>This is not an abstract issue. It is one that impacts millions of lives every day, and one that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to recover from.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war World news Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Donald Trump Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US news Christy Cooney (now) and Amy Sedghi (earlier) Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/closure-of-unrwa-imminent-as-last-bid-attempts-to-stop-israel-banning-refugee-agency-fail World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:f4727c7d-1ffe-442b-1bd5-04450f4358f5 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:21:01 -0400 <p>Palestinians in war-devastated Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank expected to be hardest hit by ban</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>The main UN agency serving Palestinians in the occupied territories, including Gaza, looks set to be shut down on Thursday as Israel defied widespread international support for the agency in a move Unrwa warned “will sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition”.</p><p>Unrwa’s banning looked certain as Israel’s high court of justice refused a last minute request to intervene to suspend the law forbidding the agency from operating in Israel.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/closure-of-unrwa-imminent-as-last-bid-attempts-to-stop-israel-banning-refugee-agency-fail">Continue reading...</a> Gaza United Nations West Bank Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa World news Israel Aid Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/closure-of-unrwa-imminent-as-last-bid-attempts-to-stop-israel-banning-refugee-agency-fail World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:07dcc732-edf9-f8f7-f006-1c43c0c56a8e Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:21:01 -0400 <p>Palestinians in war-devastated Gaza and occupied West Bank expected to be hardest hit by ban on refugee agency</p><p>The main UN agency serving Palestinians in the occupied territories, including Gaza, looks likely to be shut down on Thursday as Israel defied widespread international support for the agency in a move Unrwa predicted would “sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition”.</p><p>Unrwa’s banning looks certain, as Israel’s high court of justice refused a last-minute request to intervene to suspend the law forbidding the agency from operating in Israel.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/closure-of-unrwa-imminent-as-last-bid-attempts-to-stop-israel-banning-refugee-agency-fail">Continue reading...</a> Gaza United Nations West Bank Palestinian territories Israel Middle East and north Africa World news Aid Israel-Gaza war Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.ft.com/content/f623c076-0623-460d-ab04-9d31fef817f8 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:2c942c8c-c242-03be-1c3e-bb5b84c070e2 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:53:15 -0400 Gaza ceasefire and Iran nuclear threat to be discussed by US president and Israel’s premier at White House next week https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:b966f07a-8688-d5c0-c502-3cc218ed2a40 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:52:21 -0400 <p>Crisis ‘threatens the very humanity these laws seek to preserve’, says president of ICRC</p><p>In a statement given on Tuesday at the <strong>United Nations general assembly,</strong> in <strong>New York</strong>, the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong> president, <strong>Mirjana Spoljaric</strong>, said she had seen “so much devastation” on recent visits to <strong>Lebanon</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, <strong>Israel</strong>, <strong>Gaza</strong>, and the <strong>West Bank</strong>.</p><p>Spoljaric warned that “respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis” and “threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve”.</p><p>The evidence is clear: hospitals reduced to rubble, civilian neighbourhoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis, threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve.</p><p>This is not an abstract issue. It is one that impacts millions of lives every day, and one that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to recover from.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> Israel-Gaza war World news Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Donald Trump Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories US news Christy Cooney (now) and Amy Sedghi (earlier) Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2025/jan/29/idf-expands-military-raids-west-bank-bulldozers-tulkarm-video-report World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:bdf11a63-79f1-b8d9-076c-a00eefcbf8c6 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:51:13 -0400 <p>Increased military action by the IDF in the West Bank has forced thousands of Palestinians to flee the Jenin refugee camp and caused extensive damage in the city of Tulkarm. Bulldozers used by the Israeli army were seen damaging water infrastructures and homes. The Palestinian health ministry says more than 800 people have been killed in the West Bank in Israeli raids since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attacks that triggered the war</p><p></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Middle East crisis live</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/24/un-deeply-concerned-israel-using-unlawful-lethal-force-in-west-bank">UN concerned by Israeli use of ‘unlawful lethal force’ in West Bank</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/palestinians-despair-unrwa-closure-israel-gaza">‘It will devastate people’: Palestinians despair at looming Unrwa closure</a></p></li></ul> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2025/jan/29/idf-expands-military-raids-west-bank-bulldozers-tulkarm-video-report">Continue reading...</a> West Bank Palestinian territories Middle East and north Africa World news Israel Israel-Gaza war Guardian Staff Photograph: Social media/Anadolu https://www.ft.com/content/0fe18a07-2e10-456f-98f2-2d3624b83c75 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:dfb782a3-6458-a809-af02-5722b08eaf72 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:25:43 -0400 Kremlin delegation makes first trip to country since collapse of ally Bashar al-Assad’s regime https://www.ft.com/content/0fe18a07-2e10-456f-98f2-2d3624b83c75 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:e59f53d9-0919-9e68-4387-91ad3daa9736 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:25:43 -0400 Kremlin delegation makes first trip to country since collapse of ally Bashar al-Assad’s regime https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:526cf9b5-2563-a609-ca6a-83afafbf0efb Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:25:07 -0400 <p>Crisis ‘threatens the very humanity these laws seek to preserve’, says Mirjana Spoljaric, president of International Committee of the Red Cross</p><p>In a statement given on Tuesday at the <strong>United Nations general assembly,</strong> in <strong>New York</strong>, the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong> president, <strong>Mirjana Spoljaric</strong>, said she had seen “so much devastation” on recent visits to <strong>Lebanon</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, <strong>Israel</strong>, <strong>Gaza</strong>, and the <strong>West Bank</strong>.</p><p>Spoljaric warned that “respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis” and “threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve”.</p><p>The evidence is clear: hospitals reduced to rubble, civilian neighbourhoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis, threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve.</p><p>This is not an abstract issue. It is one that impacts millions of lives every day, and one that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to recover from.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> World news Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Donald Trump Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories Amy Sedghi Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/palestinians-despair-unrwa-closure-israel-gaza World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:1d31b222-02b4-fc98-42ff-7c2e8117d308 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 07:18:22 -0400 <p>Nobody knows what will happen when Israel’s ban on UN agency that provides services across Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank comes into force on 1 February</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Middle East crisis – live updates</a></li></ul><p>Pressing her face to the blue bars of a pharmacy window, Fatmeh Jahaleen pleaded for just a few extra boxes of medication. She relies on the pharmacy inside an East Jerusalem clinic run by the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, for a monthly supply of blood pressure and kidney medications, as well as insulin.</p><p>“Where am I supposed to get my medicine? This would cost me 400 [Israeli shekels – £90] a month otherwise. We can’t afford that; we are refugees,” she said.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/palestinians-despair-unrwa-closure-israel-gaza">Continue reading...</a> West Bank Palestinian territories United Nations World news Middle East and north Africa Israel Gaza Ruth Michaelson, Sufian Taha and Quique Kierszenbaum Photograph: Quique Kierszenbaum/The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:25a34225-fcf4-a81a-6351-d698cbbd7f56 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:58:57 -0400 <p>Israeli prime minister’s invitation is major concession to US ally who is wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes</p><p>In a statement given on Tuesday at the <strong>United Nations general assembly,</strong> in <strong>New York</strong>, the <strong>International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)</strong> president, <strong>Mirjana Spoljaric</strong>, said she had seen “so much devastation” on recent visits to <strong>Lebanon</strong>, <strong>Syria</strong>, <strong>Israel</strong>, <strong>Gaza</strong>, and the <strong>West Bank</strong>.</p><p>Spoljaric warned that “respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis” and “threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve”.</p><p>The evidence is clear: hospitals reduced to rubble, civilian neighbourhoods destroyed, and innocent lives lost. Across the globe, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is in crisis, threatening the very humanity that these laws seek to preserve.</p><p>This is not an abstract issue. It is one that impacts millions of lives every day, and one that costs hundreds of billions of dollars to recover from.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/29/middle-east-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-white-house-israel-gaza-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> World news Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Israel Donald Trump Middle East and north Africa Palestinian territories Amy Sedghi Photograph: Sebastian Scheiner/AP https://www.ft.com/content/f623c076-0623-460d-ab04-9d31fef817f8 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:030f5390-c500-b8ec-550e-565ffc8c89f2 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:08:36 -0400 Gaza ceasefire and Iran nuclear threat will be discussed by US president and Israel prime minister at meeting next week https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/jan/29/wednesday-briefing-the-problems-perils-and-precedent-of-cleaning-out-gaza World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:dbf54435-a5e6-56bf-130b-5170194f6f70 Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:52:58 -0400 <p>In today’s newsletter: After Donald Trump’s remarks, renewed alarm about what will follow the first phase of the ceasefire</p><p>Good morning. Donald Trump presented his proposal as one rooted in a concern for the safety of Palestinians: it was time to find many of the residents of Gaza somewhere else to live. “I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change,” he said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over.’”</p><p>That was more than stream of consciousness: Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/trump-repeats-suggestion-palestinians-should-leave-gaza-for-egypt-and-jordan">doubled down on his comments</a> on Monday. But the idea of “cleaning out” Gaza is not welcomed by the Palestinians who live there – or the countries that Trump has in mind as their new home. And if they were to be forced to leave after Gaza was devastated by the Israeli military, it would appear to be a clear case of ethnic cleansing.</p><p><em><strong>Kumbh Mela festival</strong></em> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/india-crowd-crush-kumbh-mela-religious-festival-death-toll-injuries-prayagraj">Dozens of people are feared to have died</a> in crowd crushes at India’s Kumbh Mela festival, local officials have said, as vast crowds went to bathe at one of the holiest sites of the Hindu gathering. People were crushed in the early hours of Wednesday as tens of millions flocked to immerse themselves in the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.</p><p><em><strong>UK economy</strong></em> | Rachel Reeves is unveiling plans <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/28/reeves-plans-to-create-silicon-valley-between-oxford-and-cambridge">to create “Europe’s Silicon Valley” between Oxford and Cambridge</a> as she stakes the government’s success on kickstarting economic growth. The chancellor will announce a blueprint to improve infrastructure across the region in the hope of adding £78bn to the UK economy within a decade.</p><p><em><strong>Extremism </strong></em>| Yvette Cooper will reject internal Home Office advice to widen the definition of extremism to include violent misogyny and conspiracy theorists, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/28/yvette-cooper-to-reject-call-to-broaden-extremism-definition-misogyny">the Guardian understands</a>. The home secretary is expected to reject a report saying that authorities should adopt an “ideologically agnostic” approach in favour of focusing on Islamist and far-right violence.</p><p><em><strong>Tax</strong></em> | Roman Abramovich, the billionaire Russian oligarch, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/29/roman-abramovich-may-owe-hmrc-1bn-pounds-unpaid-taxes-analysis-shows">may owe British tax authorities as much as £1bn</a>, according to analysis of documents that suggests his companies failed to pay tax on profits made through an elaborate offshore investment scheme.</p><p><em><strong>Technology </strong></em>| US tech stocks <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/28/donald-trump-china-deepseek-ai-chatbot-shares">tentatively recovered on Tuesday</a> after the emergence of the Chinese DeepSeek app wiped $1tn (£800bn) in value from the leading US tech index. Nvidia recovered somewhat from Monday’s 17% drop, rising 9%.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/jan/29/wednesday-briefing-the-problems-perils-and-precedent-of-cleaning-out-gaza">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Palestinian territories Gaza Israel Israel-Gaza war Benjamin Netanyahu US news World news Middle East and north Africa Archie Bland Photograph: Majdi Mohammed/AP https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/trump-netanyahu-white-house-visit World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:73c7d243-18ba-8558-accd-7ca15799abe6 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:28:50 -0400 <p>US president makes major concession to ally, whose prime minister is wanted by international court for war crimes</p><p>Donald Trump has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House, in a major concession to a US ally who is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-for-benjamin-netanyahu-israel">wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes.</a></p><p>The invitation was made in a letter from the US president, which invited the Israeli prime minister to come to the White House on 4 February to “discuss how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/trump-netanyahu-white-house-visit">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Trump administration US foreign policy US news US politics Israel Israel-Gaza war Middle East and north Africa Andrew Roth in Washington Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/trump-netanyahu-white-house-visit World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:77af9527-6a55-ca2f-f0eb-df7fe5d72ba5 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:28:50 -0400 <p>President makes major concession to Israeli PM, US ally who is wanted by international court for war crimes</p><p>Donald Trump has invited Benjamin Netanyahu to be the first foreign leader to visit the White House, in a major concession to a US ally who is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-for-benjamin-netanyahu-israel">wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes.</a></p><p>The invitation was made in a letter from the US president, which invited the Israeli prime minister to come to the White House on 4 February to “discuss how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/trump-netanyahu-white-house-visit">Continue reading...</a> Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Trump administration US foreign policy US news US politics Israel Israel-Gaza war Middle East and north Africa Andrew Roth in Washington Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.ft.com/content/72cd43bc-d786-445c-b9f5-aaa495256810 FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:4f6be6c8-93a4-51bb-2791-9aabb20724ae Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:13:00 -0400 Defence minister says forces will remain in positions seized after collapse of Assad’s regime ‘for an unlimited time’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:862be007-3320-dd03-90b5-e3cc85836fa9 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:52:36 -0400 <p>This live blog is now closed, you can <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel-hamas-war">read more of our Israel-Gaza war coverage here</a></p><p>In the UK, the chair of the House of Commons international development committee has issued a statement today on Israel banning the UN’s aid agency for Palestinian refugees, <strong>Unrwa</strong>. As a reminder, Israel has ordered the UN agency to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by Thursday, after the country’s parliament passed a law in October <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/28/what-is-unrwa-and-why-has-israels-parliament-voted-to-ban-it">banning its operations</a> in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel’s ban only directly covers Israeli territory, which Israel considers East Jerusalem to be. Unrwa also operates in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but it was unclear how the law will affect Unrwa’s work there.</p><p>The international development committee, which scrutinises the aid policy of the British foreign ministry, has warned that the Unrwa ban could cause the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to “deteriorate rapidly, possibly irreparably” and would “almost certainly lead to further conflict and increased displacement”.</p><p><em>Let us be clear: this ban will be devastating for Palestinian refugees across the region. Food, water, education, even rubbish collection will all be affected.</em></p><p><em>In the strongest possible terms, I urge the UK government to do everything it can to get all parties round the table and ensure that Unrwa can fulfil its UN-mandated work. The success of the current ceasefire hangs in the balance if not.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Middle East and north Africa World news Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now) and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:61beaa6f-e94f-9cde-6172-da6dc19badb6 Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:24:58 -0400 <p>Philippe Lazzarini told UN security council measure as ‘harming the lives and future of Palestinians’ </p><p>In the UK, the chair of the House of Commons international development committee has issued a statement today on Israel banning the UN’s aid agency for Palestinian refugees, <strong>Unrwa</strong>. As a reminder, Israel has ordered the UN agency to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by Thursday, after the country’s parliament passed a law in October <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/28/what-is-unrwa-and-why-has-israels-parliament-voted-to-ban-it">banning its operations</a> in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel’s ban only directly covers Israeli territory, which Israel considers East Jerusalem to be. Unrwa also operates in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but it was unclear how the law will affect Unrwa’s work there.</p><p>The international development committee, which scrutinises the aid policy of the British foreign ministry, has warned that the Unrwa ban could cause the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to “deteriorate rapidly, possibly irreparably” and would “almost certainly lead to further conflict and increased displacement”.</p><p><em>Let us be clear: this ban will be devastating for Palestinian refugees across the region. Food, water, education, even rubbish collection will all be affected.</em></p><p><em>In the strongest possible terms, I urge the UK government to do everything it can to get all parties round the table and ensure that Unrwa can fulfil its UN-mandated work. The success of the current ceasefire hangs in the balance if not.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Middle East and north Africa World news Israel-Gaza war Christy Cooney (now) and Yohannes Lowe (earlier) Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images https://www.ft.com/content/8e33f6b5-e912-41bf-b5de-d05185116d2b FT.com - World, Middle East urn:uuid:205b4041-c3fd-5488-fc90-dd26a4c4572a Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:04:49 -0400 Italian PM says prosecutors are probing her government’s decision to return Osama Elmasry Njeem to Libya https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news World news: Israel | theguardian.com urn:uuid:874cdafe-fec1-edac-97e9-1d498e1addda Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:44:57 -0400 <p>Ahmed al-Soufi says nearby presence of Israeli troops and lack of basic living conditions make much of city ‘extremely dangerous’</p><p>In the UK, the chair of the House of Commons international development committee has issued a statement today on Israel banning the UN’s aid agency for Palestinian refugees, <strong>Unrwa</strong>. As a reminder, Israel has ordered the UN agency to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by Thursday, after the country’s parliament passed a law in October <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/28/what-is-unrwa-and-why-has-israels-parliament-voted-to-ban-it">banning its operations</a> in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel’s ban only directly covers Israeli territory, which Israel considers East Jerusalem to be. Unrwa also operates in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, but it was unclear how the law will affect Unrwa’s work there.</p><p>The international development committee, which scrutinises the aid policy of the British foreign ministry, has warned that the Unrwa ban could cause the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to “deteriorate rapidly, possibly irreparably” and would “almost certainly lead to further conflict and increased displacement”.</p><p><em>Let us be clear: this ban will be devastating for Palestinian refugees across the region. Food, water, education, even rubbish collection will all be affected.</em></p><p><em>In the strongest possible terms, I urge the UK government to do everything it can to get all parties round the table and ensure that Unrwa can fulfil its UN-mandated work. The success of the current ceasefire hangs in the balance if not.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/28/israel-gaza-netanyahu-trump-hamas-palestinians-middle-east-latest-live-news">Continue reading...</a> Israel Gaza Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Middle East and north Africa World news Israel-Gaza war Yohannes Lowe (now) and Christy Cooney (earlier) Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images