Category: 2. Middle East

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul today slammed Israel’s Gaza strategy, stressing that denying food and medicine to Palestinian civilians was “unacceptable” and violated international humanitarian law.

Speaking at the WDR European Forum in Berlin, Wadephul expressed Germany’s deep concern over the situation in Gaza and outlined ongoing diplomatic efforts to persuade the Israeli government to allow more aid deliveries to Palestinian civilians.

“With regard to the Gaza Strip,…

Palestinian traders in Jerusalem’s Old City returned to their shops on Tuesday to clean up a day after a march by Israeli nationalists that saw scuffles, insults and acts of vandalism.

Some had to use crowbars, hammers and wirecutters to regain access to their own shops after many were vandalised during the Jerusalem Day march the day before.

Jerusalem Day commemorates Israeli forces taking east Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

On Tuesday, metal shutters protecting the shopfronts…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly yesterday voted in favour of a resolution to allow the flag of the State of Palestine to be raised at the organisation’s headquarters in Geneva.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the resolution was supported by 95 countries, while four voted against it — Israel, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany. A further 27 countries abstained, including the United States, which is currently…

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou today rejected turning Islam into a political focus or pitting French people against each other.

“I have no desire to make Islam an obsession in French society. I know it’s fashionable … but we must live together,” Bayrou said in an interview with French broadcasters BFMTV and RMC.

“I believe that in France, atheists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists … we will have to live together,” he said. “We must not…

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas today called for three days of protests around the world to pile pressure on Israel to end its destructive war on Gaza, as the onslaught approaches its 600th day.

Wednesday will mark 600 days since Israel unleashed its brutal assault on Gaza on 7 October, 2023, killing more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring over 123,100 others.

In a statement, Hamas called for worldwide protests from 30 May to…

The Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster today condemned in the “strongest terms” the escalating attacks on displacement sites in Gaza, warning that civilian protection is collapsing amid intensified Israeli military operations.

Between 15-25 May, nearly 180,000 Palestinians were newly displaced following deadly strikes on shelters including tents in Al-Mawasi and a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, the humanitarian coordination unit…

Australia’s public broadcaster is facing mounting criticism for removing an interview with a prominent Palestinian advocate amid growing scrutiny of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe today accused the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) of suppressing a “crucial Palestinian voice” after it reportedly pulled from its website an interview with Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN).

“This…

UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk today accused Israel of inhumanity in its military operations in Gaza, describing the situation in the Palestinian territory as “catastrophic” and calling for urgent international intervention.

In an interview with Austria’s public broadcaster O1, Turk said Israel’s conduct in Gaza in recent months “no longer has anything to do with respect for fundamental principles of humanity.”

“It is very clear that we…

The Israeli occupation army is using psychological tactics against Palestinians in Gaza as part of its military “Operation Gideon’s Chariots”, according to the Hebrew-language news site Walla.

The site reported that “the Israeli military establishment is trying to incite Gaza residents against Hamas through various means, and this time through leaflets dropped from the sky.”

According to the report, Israel hopes the leaflets will reduce public support…

British Trade Envoy Ian Austin’s visit to Israel this week has drawn criticism following the UK’s move to suspend free trade talks.

Yesterday the British Embassy in Tel Aviv posted that Austin visited several sites at Haifa Port, “witnessing UK-Israel cooperation at every stop.”

Great to welcome @LordIanAustin to Haifa!

In a day full of innovation by the Carmel, the UK Trade Envoy to Israel visited the cutting-edge Customs Scanning Centre, Haifa…