THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Gaza ceasefire deal marks 6 months amid Iran war tensions | AP News Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue to face uncertainty and fading hope six months after a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold. Dozens of Palestinians gathered Thursday morning at Al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza to bid a final farewell to Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Wishah, who was killed in an Israeli drone strike the day before. Palestinians walk along tents at a makeshift camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Palestinians walk along a street surrounded by buildings destroyed during Israeli air and ground operations in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Palestinians walk along a street surrounded by buildings destroyed during Israeli air and ground operations in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Palestinians youth look on as they stand in an area next to tents at a makeshift camp for displaced people, at sunset in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Ha…

Beyond Ceasefires: Gaza Board of Peace and the Limits of Technocratic Peace Posted on February 8, 2026 February 8, 2026 by Firdoos Ahmad Reshi Firdoos Ahmad Reshi Zahoor Ahmad Mir U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict” has been sold as the exit ramp from Israeli-unleashed ruins of Gaza following the 7 October 2023 attacks by the Palestinian Hamas. It is an externally supervised peace plan pairing ceasefire monitoring with demilitarisation, interim administration, and a reconstruction drive managed through an international “Board” model. The plan pitch is seductive as it promises to bring order, money, and a fast-track normalcy to Gaza, where humanitarian needs remain acute after its ‘genocidal’ devastation by Israel for two years. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) , nearly all Palestinians in Gaza require basic humanitarian aid like food, water, shelter, and care, even as its devastated infrastructure and logistics constrain access. But the central problem remains: peace cannot be reduced to a technical package of reconstruction and oversight. The risk with externally designed governance …

4 Bold Goals and Key Details Behind 'Israel's' Controversial New Aid ... 4 Bold Goals and Key Details Behind ‘Israel’s’ Controversial New Aid Plan in Gaza Reports “Israel” aims to avoid responsibility for stopping the aid. Also Hebron Under Israeli Occupation Control: What Remains of the Oslo Accords? After the French Parliament Abolished the Slavery Law: When Will the Victims Be Compensated? Proxies and Missiles Overlooked: Why the Trump–Iran Deal Doesn't Dispel Gulf Concerns ‘America First’ Meets ‘Israel First’ : How War on Iran Is Redrawing a Historic Alliance Hebron Under Israeli Occupation Control: What Remains of the Oslo Accords? From the Gulf to Europe Through Syria: The New Project Alarming Israeli Occupation a year ago 12 Print Share As part of a plan to force Gaza’s residents into displacement through starvation, “Israel” and the United States have devised a new mechanism for distributing food and aid within the enclave, bypassing the UN and established international relief organizations, and overseen instead by a private American mercenary company. The true aim of the Israeli strategy is to empty the northern Gaza Strip of its population by establishing a single aid di…

Is There a Path to Hope for Gaza? Experts discuss on Decision Points - Sponsored Content <p>Experts Ghaith al-Omari and Shira Efron join host David Makovsky to tackle challenges in Gaza, from disarming Hamas to advancing Trump’s 20-point plan to easing misery on the ground.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/is-there-a-path-to-hope-for-gaza-experts-discuss-on-decision-points/">Is There a Path to Hope for Gaza? Experts discuss on Decision Points</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/07/TOIAd_Ep11-1024x640.jpg" title="Is There a Path to Hope for Gaza? Experts discuss on Decision Points" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Vance slams Israel's parliament vote on West Bank annexation - AP News Speaking on the tarmac of Tel Aviv’s international airport before departing at the end of his visit to Israel this week, Vance said “I personally take some insult to it”. “The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.” A bill that would apply Israeli law to the occupied West Bank won preliminary approval in Israel’s parliament on Wednesday. The family of Tal Haimi, whose body was returned after months in captivity, said they can finally begin the healing process. (AP video shot by Srdjan Nedeljkovic) Palestinians carry jerrycans and plastic bottles with water after collecting it at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City, Thursday Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance boards Air Force Two en route to Washington, D.C., at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP) U.S. Vice President JD Vance, center, tours The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sp…

Is peace in the Middle East possible? - philosproject.org This month, the international calendar marks a series of pivotal peace processes that shaped the Middle East in recent decades. Following Hamas’ horrific attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, many wonder if peace is an elusive quest. What can we learn from past deals, and how can the West approach the problem of peace in the Near East? The West’s recent fixation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict detaches Israeli and Palestinian issues from regional and global contexts. An essential element in Israel’s story, often missing from the mainstream narrative, is that since its founding in 1948, Israel has sought peace not only with its Palestinian neighbors but also with its Arab and Muslim neighbors who initially rejected the Jewish state’s right to exist. For decades, there have been efforts to achieve peace between Israel, the Palestinians, and the wider Middle East, but after the events of 10/7, the prospect of lasting peace seems more elusive than ever. Following years of hostilities between the two nations that led to wars in 1948, 1953, 1967, and 1973, Israeli and Egyptian leadership met at the U.S. presidential…

The guns have fallen silent in Gaza — but for how long? By Rafiq A. Tschannen on January 26, 2025 • ( Leave a comment ) The guns have fallen silent in Gaza — but for how long? Yossi Mekelberg January 25, 2025 A Palestinian boy carries his belongings as he walks with his family in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP) Those few hours last Sunday when the start of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was delayed were nerve-wracking. Would something go wrong again, and the firing resume as people caught a glimpse of light at the end of a long and very dark tunnel? When the truce eventually began after a two-and-a-half-hour delay that felt like two-and-a-half days, there was great relief, but this was coupled with the realization that bringing this horrific 15-month war to a complete end is going to be neither easy nor straightforward. The understandable total distrust between the two sides is a major factor that will hinder any attempts to progress from this point, or even to adhere to the terms of the first phase of the ceasefire. Both sides are operating on the supposition that despite this agreement, each is still committed to annihilate the other. Moreover, this truce is not t…

Trump sets tough path for Palestinian Authority's return to Gaza Trump sets tough path for Palestinian Authority's return to Gaza By Ali Sawafta and Suleiman Al-Khalidi Oct 1, 2025 Add AL-MONITOR on Google Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation as displaced Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate, in the central Gaza Strip, September 30, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas — Dawoud Abu Alkas By Ali Sawafta and Suleiman Al-Khalidi RAMALLAH (Reuters) -Driven out of Gaza two decades ago by Hamas, strapped for cash and headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority's hopes of running a future Palestinian state have long seemed bleak. Its prospects, however, appeared to brighten briefly on Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to end the Gaza war that hinted at a future role for the PA and its 89-year-old leader President Mahmoud Abbas, who hasn't faced an election since 2005. Yet the terms laid out in Trump's 20-point plan require the PA to carry out difficult reforms before it can run Gaza again, setting a tricky path for its return to the territory where Isra…

Did Israel meet US Gaza aid requirements? Israel, UN respond November 13, 2024 at 4:05 pm Palestinians wait in line to receive aids at the school where UNRWA distributes food parcels in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on November 07, 2024. [Ashraf Amra – Anadolu Agency] The United States, on Tuesday, said Israel is not currently impeding humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip and, therefore, is not violating US law, avoiding restrictions on US military aid. Israel has said it met most of the 16 specific demands put forward by Washington but was still discussing some items. International aid groups, however, said that Israel failed to meet any of them completely. In a 13 October letter, the US gave 30 days to comply. Below are the requirements and responses by Israel’s COGAT military agency, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and a report by a coalition of eight aid groups. Israel: Israel allowed a daily average of 76 trucks over the past 30 days. Israel said it was planning to reopen a fifth Crossing, Kissufim. United Nations: An average of some 50 truckloads a day entered Gaza over the past month. From 1 October to 10 November, three Crossings were open and no ne…

Israel returns to war in Gaza with wider aims, almost no constraints The bodies of victims of an Israeli army airstrike are prepared for burial at Indonesia Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) By Associated Press PUBLISHED: March 21, 2025 at 11:35 AM EDT | UPDATED: March 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM EDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By JOSEPH KRAUSS, Associated Press Israel’s renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints. Israel resumed the war with a surprise bombardment early Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians, ending the ceasefire and vowing even more devastation if Hamas doesn’t release its remaining hostages and leave the territory. President Donald Trump has expressed full support for the renewed offensive and suggested last month that Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians be resettled in other countries . Iran-backed militant groups allied with Hamas are in disarray. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union. Israeli Prime Minist…

Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: October 2025 Agreement Explained Last updated: Jun 07, 2026 8:54 PM GovFacts Published: October 10, 2025 SHARE Last updated 2 weeks ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change. Contents Two Years of Conflict October 7, 2023: The Beginning Israel’s Response Previous Ceasefire Attempts Major Military Events (2024-2025) The Humanitarian Crisis What the Agreement Includes The Ceasefire Hostage and Prisoner Exchange Israeli Troop Withdrawal Humanitarian Aid How the Trump Administration Secured the Deal From Mediation to Pressure The 20-Point Plan Public Ultimatums The Doha Strike Regional Mediators Egypt and Qatar Turkey’s Role International Support Why Both Sides Agreed Netanyahu’s Considerations Hamas’s Considerations Reactions to the Deal Gaza: Mixed Emotions Israel: Celebration and Grief The Palestinian Authority Unresolved Challenges Hamas’s Disarmament Gaza’s Future Governance International Presence Trust Issues After two years of conflict that reshaped the Middle East, Israel and Hamas agreed in early October 2025 to the first phase of a U.S.-brokered plan . Announ…

Israel Pushes Back on Trump Gaza Plan Phase Two - iaqaba.com In a bold editorial stance, The Jerusalem Post urges Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject phase two of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan until Hamas fully disarms. This call comes amid ongoing clashes in northern Gaza and Hamas’s firm refusal to give up its weapons, highlighting tensions in the fragile ceasefire declared in late September 2025. Ongoing Skirmishes Undermine Ceasefire Hopes Daily fights between Israeli forces and Hamas militants continue to rock the Gaza Strip, especially around the Yellow Line buffer zone. On December 7, 2025, the Israel Defense Forces reported killing three terrorists who crossed the line in two separate incidents. These clashes show the ceasefire is not holding. Hamas is strengthening its hold on areas Israel left after the September agreement. Experts say this buildup threatens long-term peace efforts. The situation grew worse on December 3, 2025, when militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad moved a body bag thought to hold an Israeli hostage’s remains in Beit Lahia. This act fueled outrage and calls for stronger action. Israeli officials worry that without full disar…

IDF warns that Hamas wants to fight it again to save Gaza. Washington prefers to preserve the current status quo in the Gaza Strip while continuing to advance US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative. Trump’s plan for Gaza set a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Oct. 2025. #IDF

US is holding unprecedented direct talks with Hamas over ending Gaza ... Adam Boehler, right, speaks during “Mornings With Maria” at Fox Business Network Studios, Oct. 23, 2024 in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images) By Philissa Cramer March 5, 2025 ( JTA ) — The White House has confirmed that U.S. officials are holding talks with Hamas representatives in an effort to negotiate an end to the Gaza war. Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s hostage envoy , who is Jewish, met with Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, in recent weeks, according to a report in Axios by the Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, which cited unnamed sources. The Associated Press reported that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the talks. “Look dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is [a] good faith, effort to do what’s right for the American people,” she said, according to the AP. The talks are unprecedented: Previously, the United States and Israel have negotiated only through intermediaries with Hamas, which has been designated as a terror organization by …

Trump's Gaza Board of Peace will hit the reset button in Cyprus U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace is set to convene at a Cyprus resort on June 30 to “adjust its strategy,” an official familiar with the matter told POLITICO. Two senior EU officials, involved in the arrangements for the gathering and granted anonymity to speak freely, confirmed the meeting will take place on the Mediterranean island next week and last two or three days. The goal is to “reset” after “the Iran war has completely shifted the attention in the last several months,” said one of the officials. The Board of Peace rejected the characterization of its upcoming get-together as a reset, and said it was part of regularly held internal meetings including in Brussels, Abu Dhabi and Cairo. The meeting will be attended by representatives from the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza — a committee of Palestinian technocrats tasked with replacing Hamas in governing the Gaza Strip — and the Office of Nikolay Mladenov, the former Bulgarian diplomat Trump appointed as his high representative for Gaza, according to the officials. Advertisement “Cyprus is not a co-organizer of the event, and it…

Smotrich Says His 'Red Line' Blocked Earlier Gaza Deal, Claims It Led ... Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, May 19, 2026. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Read Summary Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Nadav Perry's "All In" podcast that he blocked a January 2025 proposal to return only eight hostages, drawing a "red line" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said that decision forced broader negotiations and ultimately helped ensure the return of hostages taken on October 7. Smotrich — who previously argued in February 2024 that hostage swaps should not be the top priority — opposed the final October 2025 agreement alongside several other hardline ministers. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Nadav Perry on the "All In" podcast that he drew a decisive "red line" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after January 2025 negotiations — a move he says helped secure the eventual return of hostages taken on October 7. "I think that without me, the war in Gaza would have ended even before Rafah," Smotrich said on the program, describing his refusal to accept a January proposal that he said would…

Gaza: Guterres calls for 'all parties' to commit to US peace plan, as ... FacebookTwitterPrintEmail The UN Secretary-General António Guterreshas welcomedMonday’s Gaza peace deal proposal from US President Donald Trump, urging “all parties” to commit to it. Hamas has yet to respond to Washington’s 20-point peace plan, which has the backing of Israel and the wider international community. Hamas leadership had not been consulted on it prior to the announcement but was briefed on the details by Qatari and Egyptian mediators later on Monday, according to news reports. In a statement released by his Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres said he appreciated the important role played by Arab and Muslim States towards a sustainable peace deal: “It is now crucial that all parties commit to an agreement and its implementation.” The UN chief said the priority must be to “ease the tremendous suffering” caused by the devastating conflict since the 7 October attacks. “He once again reiterates his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostagesand he hopes that this will create the conditions allow…

US announces next phase of Gaza ceasefire plan as committee is formed ... Iman Al-Atoutt repairs her tent after days of rain in a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians set up on the beach in Gaza City, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP The Middle East Israel-Hamas war Donald Trump See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow The US announced the start of the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan on Wednesday as a new committee was formed to run the battered enclave. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the second phase of the 20-point-plan would focus on “demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction,” but his statement lacked key details about how to carry out some of the most difficult issues stipulated in the agreement. “The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage. Failure to do so will bring serious consequences,” he said in a post on X. The US moved to the second phase of the ceasefire deal despite Israeli opposition over the lack of progress on Hamas disarmament and the remains of one hostage, Ran Gvili, still being held in Gaza. In response, Isra…

Report: Trump's Board of Peace plans pilot Gaza 'humanitarian zone' <article data-history-node-id="443797" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/report-trumps-board-peace-plans-pilot-gaza-humanitarian-zone" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/report-trumps-board-peace-plans-pilot-gaza-humanitarian-zone" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Report: Trump's Board of Peace plans pilot Gaza 'humanitarian zone' </span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>Tens of thousands of vetted Palestinian civilians will be accommodated in&nbsp;the planned zone in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, AFP reported, citing an official.</p> <p>The zone could act as a "starting point" for the Palestinian technocratic committee meant to assume the day-to-day governance of Gaza's transitional phase out of war under Trump's 20-point plan.</p> <p>The zone would be secured by multinational troops from the International Stabilization Force (ISF), a fledgling body that operates under the Board of Peace.</p> …

Hamas opposes Trump's plan to eliminate UNRWA | Demócrata Follow us 6 minutes 2 minutes 4 minutes 1 minute 1 minute The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has rejected this Thursday the call made by the Peace Board for the Gaza Strip, an initiative promoted by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, which seeks to end the work of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA). The Islamist group has stressed that this position "fits with the Israeli occupation policy aimed at attacking the agency". In an official note, Hamas has remarked that UNRWA "is an international witness to the nakba of the Palestinian people and the embodiment of international responsibility towards Palestinian refugees". Likewise, the movement has recalled that "its mandate is based on a mandate issued by the United Nations General Assembly, which makes any attempt to undermine or replace it an attack on international legitimacy, an attempt to liquidate the refugee issue and to eliminate one of the most prominent international witnesses of that Palestinian exodus". In this way, Hamas has insisted that the Peace Board's proposal constitutes a "violation of the historical…

Hamas decision to dissolve Gaza government is a nod to Trump, expert says <article data-history-node-id="443690" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-decision-dissolve-gaza-government-a-nod-trump-expert-says" class="story default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-decision-dissolve-gaza-government-a-nod-trump-expert-says" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Hamas decision to dissolve Gaza government is a nod to Trump, expert says</span> </a> </h2> <footer> <div class="author"> Submitted by <span class="field field-uid"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/sean-mathews" lang about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/sean-mathews" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>Sean Mathews</a></span> on <span class="field field-created"><time datetime="2026-07-06T18:22:25+01:00" title="6 July 2026 18:22 BST">Mon, 07/06/2026 - 18:22</time> </span> </div> </footer> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-subhead">Hamas's disarmament is the 'trickier' issue to solve as Isra…

Israel Returns to War in Gaza with Wider Aims and Almost No Constraints Israel's renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints. Israel resumed the war with a surprise bombardment early Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians, ending the ceasefire and vowing even more devastation if Hamas doesn't release its remaining hostages and leave the territory. President Donald Trump has expressed full support for the renewed offensive and suggested last month that Gaza's 2 million Palestinians be resettled in other countries. Iran-backed armed groups allied with Hamas are in disarray. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is stronger than ever, and there are fewer hostages inside Gaza than at any point since Hamas ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which gives Israel's military more freedom to act. It all suggests that the war's next phase could be more brutal than the last, in which tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed, the vast majority of the population was displaced and much of Gaza was bombed to rubble. “If all the Israeli hostag…

'It's a task for a whole generation': how the Hind Rajab Foundation ... Early this morning, Israel ratified phase one of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. According to the agreement, the ceasefire will go into effect within 24 hours, with an initial limited withdrawal of Israeli forces and a prisoner exchange to follow. What Israel has agreed to do in principle is likely to be very different from what it will do in reality. In the hours after its ratification, Israel continued to bomb Khan Younis and Gaza City, while preventing the delivery of aid to designated UN warehouses. Its track record of unilaterally collapsing ceasefires is well - documented . Since Donald Trump’s Wednesday announcement that both parties had agreed in principle to the ceasefire, many Palestinians have reported their feelings of “ cautious optimism ”. Nothing beyond this first phase of Trump’s flagranty colonial 20-point plan has been determined, including significant details about the timing and lines of Israel’s withdrawal and the composition of a future Gaza governing body. The only certainty, it would seem, is that Israel, the US, and the UK (if it is permitted a voice beyond looming viceroy Tony Blair…

Israel faces global backlash as Gaza invasion deepens isolation An Israeli soldier walks near tanks as they are stationed near the border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. (Amir Levy / Getty Images) By Nabih Bulos Foreign Correspondent Sept. 17, 2025 10:13 AM PT 11 7 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred As Israel continues its ground offensive to occupy Gaza City, it skirts ever closer to becoming a pariah state. Israeli Prime Ministery Benjamin Netanyahu said, ‘Israel is entering diplomatic isolation,’ a rare admission of the war’s effect on Israel’s international standing. BEIRUT — Cascades of condemnation from friend and foe alike. An array of international organizations and rights groups leveling accusations of genocide and war crimes. Boycotts across a range of sectors and fields. As Israel begins its ground offensive to occupy Gaza City, defying international and domestic pressure to negotiate…

Israel Pushes Back as Gaza Becomes Testing Ground for Emerging ... Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes a meeting with members of his security cabinet following Iran's launch of a ballistic missile attack against Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 14, 2025. (Avi Ohayon (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) Israel Pushes Back as Gaza Becomes Testing Ground for Emerging Postwar Governance Frameworks Gabriel Colodro 01/19/2026 The emergence of a Palestinian technocratic governing committee alongside President Donald Trump’s US-backed Board of Peace has triggered sharp Israeli backlash, exposing cabinet rifts and deep unease over who will shape Gaza’s future Israel’s concern over Gaza’s postwar trajectory has intensified with the emergence of two frameworks that many Israeli political leaders now view as interconnected and deeply problematic. One is a Palestinian technocratic governing committee tasked with administering Gaza’s internal affairs. The other is an international oversight panel, known as President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, intended to supervise reconstruction, coordination, and political guarantees. Israeli politicians argue that, taken together, the…

Netanyahu says Hamas must disarm or "all hell breaks loose" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he's hopeful for a peaceful next phase in the deal between Israel and Hamas, but noted President Trump's conditions are "very clear:" Hamas must give up its arms and demilitarize, or "all hell breaks loose." "We agreed to give peace a chance," Netanyahu said Tuesday, a day after Mr. Trump made a brief visit to Tel Aviv to mark the first phase of his 20-point peace plan for Gaza, declaring "the war is over." Now that the living hostages have been returned, Netanyahu said demilitarization and disarmament must come next. "First, Hamas has to give up its arms," Netanyahu said in an exclusive interview in Tel Aviv with "CBS Mornings" co-host Tony Dokoupil. "And second, you want to make sure that there are no weapons factories inside Gaza. There's no smuggling of weapons into Gaza. That's demilitarization." Hamas has rejected giving up arms. Mr. Trump warned Tuesday that if Hamas does not disarm, "we will disarm them." "And it'll happen quickly and perhaps violently," he said. "But they will disarm." Netanyahu said he heard Mr. Trump's remarks, paraphrasing them as "all hell breaks…

Israel Insists on Hamas Disarmament, Rejects Freeze Proposal Israel has held firm to demands that Hamas be disarmed as part of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza, whose first phase began in October. An Israeli official said Tel Aviv has rejected a proposal from the group’s leadership to freeze the use of weapons under a long term truce. Speaking to Agence France Presse on Thursday, the official said there will be no future for Hamas under the twenty-point plan and the group will be disarmed. Gaza will be demilitarized, the official added. The comments came a day after Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas’s political bureau abroad, relayed in an interview aired by Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the idea of completely giving up weapons is unacceptable to the resistance. He said the group had floated the notion of freezing its weapons, adding that the resistance was offering proposals that could guarantee the absence of military escalation from Gaza against Israel. Israeli Army Radio quoted an official in Tel Aviv on Thursday as saying Israel “remains committed to fully disarming Gaza,” adding that there is ongoing coordination with the United States on this issue. The cease…

What Comes Next for Gaza and Trump's Board of Peace Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East | Issue Brief What Comes Next for Gaza and Trump’s Board of Peace January 29, 2026 | Robert Barron toggle sidebar Toggle Sidebar Table of Contents Author(s) Robert Barron Contributing Expert Read More Share this Publication Facebook Twitter Email Linkedin Print This Publication Cite This Publication Robert Barron, “What Comes Next for Gaza and Trump’s Board of Peace,” Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, January 29, 2026, https://doi.org/10.25613/3qaw-w390 . Copy Citation Tags Gaza Israel-Hamas war Israel Palestine Middle East Foreign policy Donald Trump The decisions made by Trump, as chairman of the board, and by the Board of Peace in the coming weeks will shape Gaza’s trajectory for years. Trump Advances Gaza Peace Plan In mid-January 2026, the Trump administration advanced its peace plan for Gaza from phrase one to phase two — “ from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction .” In a White House press statement issued on Jan. 16, President Donald Trump outlined the structure of these next steps: A National Committee for the Administ…

Trump announced his 20-point Gaza peace plan. What comes next? Members of the media raise their hands to ask questions as U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) hold a joint press conference in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The Middle East Donald Trump Israel-Hamas war See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow US President Donald Trump called it “potentially one of the great days ever in civilization” as he laid out his administration’s 20-point proposal for a comprehensive end to the war in Gaza. In statements alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump said, “We are beyond very close.” It’s the sort of hyperbolic language that we’ve come to expect from the US president, but is it grounded in realistic expectations? The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages , 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas members can be granted amnesty after that if they “commit to peaceful co-exist…

Hamas considers a disarmament plan that could set in motion Gaza's ... Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli military strike on a target next to a tent camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March, 25, 2026.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Palestinians walk through a flooded area in a temporary tent camp after heavy rainfall in Gaza City, Thursday, March 26, 2026 (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches across the Gaza City seaport, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) JERUSALEM (AP) — The Hamas militant group is weighing a new proposal for disarming its fighters inGaza, a major concession that would clear the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for rebuilding the war-ravaged territory. How Hamas responds, expected in the coming days or weeks, has great implications for Gaza’s 2 million people, who have been living in a grim limbo since aceasefiretook effect nearly six months ago. Hamas’ founding charter calls for armed resistance against Israel, and it has been reluctant to give up an arsenal, including rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosives, that lies at the heart of its identity. For that reason,…

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the next phase of an Israel ... On Monday, in the first part of a cease-fire deal brokered by the White House, Hamas released all twenty living hostages that it still held following its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, while Israel released nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, paused strikes, and began to pull back Israeli forces within Gaza. “A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE,” US President Donald Trump posted on social media on Tuesday. “Phase Two begins right NOW!!!” So what should this next phase include? Who or what might play the spoiler in further peace-building efforts? And what moves should we expect from the different sides and stakeholders? To better understand what could come next, Atlantic Council experts answer twenty pressing questions below. 1. Will Hamas return deceased hostages to Israel? The question of Hamas’s ability to return deceased hostages still in Gaza not only concerns the human aspect of returning their bodies and bringing closure to their families, but also the future of phase two of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. If Hamas fails to return all the bodies and Isr…

The Gaza Deal Is Not Too Big to Fail - Foreign Affairs The Gaza Deal Is Not Too Big to Fail How Israel’s Military Dominance Could Undermine America’s Quest for Regional Peace Joost R. Hiltermann and Natasha Hall October 9, 2025 Celebrating the impending first phase of a Gaza cease-fire, Tel Aviv, October 2025 Shir Torem / Reuters JOOST R. HILTERMANN is Special Adviser for Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. NATASHA HALL is a Nonresident Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. More by Joost R. Hiltermann More by Natasha Hall Listen Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Share & Download Print Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in . Save Sign in and save to read later Close Share The Gaza Deal Is Not Too Big to Fail How Israel’s Military Dominance Could Undermine America’s Quest for Regional Peace Joost R. Hiltermann and Natasha Hall Share in email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Copy Link Copied Article link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/gaza-deal-not-too-big-fail https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/gaza-deal-not-too-big-fail Copy Gift Link Copied This is a subscriber-only feature. Su…

Israel-Palestine Ceasefire - Latest Developments & Trump's Peace Plan After two years of relentless conflict, Israel and the Palestinian faction Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire as of October 9, 2025. The war – which began on October 7, 2023 – has inflicted a staggering toll. Israeli forces’ offensive in Gaza following Hamas’s initial attacks led to more than 67,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza (about 3% of the population) and over 169,000 injured. Tragically, at least 20,000 children are among the dead, roughly one child killed every hour over the past two years. These fatalities, on top of the initial 1,100+ Israelis killed in the October 2023 Hamas attacks, underscore the immense human cost of the conflict. Many of these lives could have been saved had a peace deal been reached earlier. The ceasefire announcement, therefore, comes as a beacon of hope for millions of Israelis and Palestinians who have endured unimaginable loss. The breakthrough was achieved under a U.S. brokered peace initiative led by President Donald Trump. Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-point peace plan in late September 2025 as a “roadmap to end the war in Gaza,” following meetings with Israeli Prime Mini…

Fate of Gaza Strip eclipsed by Middle East war | The Daily Star Editor's Pick Is Bangladesh ready for the future of work? 4 July 2026, 00:00 AM Big Picture The slow disappearance of Kuakata’s Rakhines 4 July 2026, 00:00 AM Unheard Voices The forgotten history of football in Bangladesh 3 July 2026, 00:15 AM In Focus Bengal, Mysore, and the making of American independence 2 July 2026, 00:38 AM In Focus The human cost of wasting Rohingya aid funds 1 July 2026, 11:00 AM Views Fate of Gaza Strip eclipsed by Middle East war 4 hour(s) ago UPDATED 4 hour(s) ago WORLD SHARE AFP, Gaza City Palestinian children swim in the ocean in Gaza City on July 3, 2026. The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, prompting Israel to launch a retaliatory campaign against the territory. Photo: AFP The Gaza war was the spark that touched off years of Middle East conflict culminating in the US-Israeli war with Iran, but as Washington and Tehran wrangle over terms for peace, the devastated territory's fate seems largely out of mind. "Ever since the United States went to war with Iran, the whole world has forgotten Gaza and its tragedy. We no longer have anyone standing by u…

The Quest for Palestinian Statehood: What to Know Share By experts and staff Updated September 23, 2025 2:25 p.m. Mariel Ferragamo Writer/Editor Diana Roy Senior Writer/Editor, Latin America Share The Palestinian territories have been in a state of political limbo for decades, and Palestinians’ desire for independence and international recognition remains deeply contentious. Since Israel declared its independence in 1948, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have been at the center of recurring conflict with Israel over competing claims about borders and Palestinian sovereignty. As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues, several countries—including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom (UK)—have recognized Palestinian statehood ahead of and during the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA). Here’s what this could mean for the region and how it could affect international order and diplomacy in the ongoing war. In his announcement to formally recognize a Palestinian state—although a largely symbolic move—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this decision by his country, Canada, and the UK is “part of a coordinated international effort to build ne…

Trump hints at 'action' if Hamas doesn't return hostage bodies The bodies of 13 deceased hostages are believed to still be in Gaza. U.S. officials -- including Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner -- traveled to Israel this week for high-level meetings, discussing the next steps in the delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire deal by withholding the bodies of the remaining 13 deceased hostages thought to have died during or after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas has said the return of the remaining bodies "may take some time" due to the destruction. Egyptian state-linked media confirmed Saturday evening that the country has deployed equipment and a specialized team to the Gaza Strip to help locate and recover the bodies of Israeli hostages who remain missing. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya also confirmed that “new areas will be entered” on Sunday to search for the bodies of the missing hostages, according to a write-up on Hamas’ official website summarizing Al-Hayya’s interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday. "We will not give the occupation a pretext to resume the war. ... We have no …

What Palestinians and Israelis Have Learned Since October 7th Save this story Save this story Save this story Save this story Earlier this week, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire that included the release of the twenty living hostages who remained in Gaza and some two thousand Palestinians who are held in Israeli jails. The success of the exchange has raised hopes that the devastating war may really be coming to an end. President Donald Trump , who took credit for the deal after pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept it, now wants both sides to implement his twenty-point peace plan , which would require Hamas to disarm and Israel to leave Gaza. (Israeli officials told the New York Times that they are now considering punitive measures after Hamas said late on Wednesday that the remains of more than a dozen Israeli hostages—who are also supposed to be returned to Israel—were unable to be located. Separately, Israeli forces that still operate in Gaza have continued to kill Palestinians since the ceasefire began.) I recently spoke by phone with Nathan Thrall, a former director of the International Crisis Group’s Arab-Israeli Conflict project. Thrall, who l…

Hamas says it will dissolve Gaza government as US-brokered ... - CNN Palestinians stand amidst the rubble of buildings flattened by Israeli strikes in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on May 24. Hamas said Monday it would disband its government there. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images The Middle East Israel-Hamas war Donald Trump See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow Hamas announced on Monday that it will dissolve its government in Gaza, a move that experts say puts pressure on Israel as progress from the US-brokered ceasefire plan has stalled . Ismail al-Thwabta, the head of the Hamas’ Government Media Office (GMO), said the militant group is ready to turn over governance to the Palestinian technocratic committee that’s meant to lead the enclave under the agreement. Hamas’ statement made no mention of disarmament, one of the key requirements under the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which the group has so far refused. The announcement changes little on the ground, where Hamas and its security forces maintain firm control of the portion of Gaza not occupied by the Israeli military. But the symbolic move puts the focus of the ceasefire agreement back on Isra…

Hamas says it has dissolved ‌its de facto government in the Gaza Strip and is ready to hand over to a group of Palestinian technocrats - a move it described as a step forward in a US-backed plan for the ‌enclave but Israel dismissed as a "stunt". The militant group's promise to end its body overseeing ministries - which has run for more than a decade - was a key part of the plan for a civilian-ruled, post-war ‌Gaza Strip set out by US President Donald Trump after the start of a fragile ceasefire with Israel in October. Hamas said the ministries themselves and the staff it had appointed would stay in place and it would still oversee security and policing in parts of the strip left under its control following the US-brokered truce. The Trump-appointed Board of Peace, set up to monitor the plan, said it noted Hamas' move. But it added that "ultimately, our assessment will be guided by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza". Israeli Foreign ‌Minister Gideon Saar dismissed ‌Hamas' announcement. The group's "apparent willingness to 'make ⁠room' for a technocratic government is designed to prevent its own disarmament," Saar said on X. "As long as H…

Hamas Considers a Proposal to Disarm in Gaza That's Central to the ... Like Follow Followed Add us on Josef Federman and Samy Magdy Published Mar 27, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT Sign in to your Military.com account Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli military strike on a target next to a tent camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, March, 25, 2026.(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) Originally published by Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — The Hamas militant group is weighing a new proposal for disarming its fighters in Gaza , a major concession that would clear the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for rebuilding the war-ravaged territory. How Hamas responds, expected in the coming days or weeks, has great implications for Gaza’s 2 million people, who have been living in a grim limbo since a ceasefire took effect nearly six months ago. Hamas' founding charter calls for armed resistance against Israel, and it has been reluctant to give up an arsenal, including rockets, anti-tank missiles and explosives, that lies at the heart of its identity. For that reason, it is far from certain the group will comply. Hamas has indicated it is unhappy with a U.S.-backed proposal cu…

US pushes UN to back Trump's Gaza peace plan, warns delay will ... - WION The US urged the UN Security Council to back its resolution supporting Trump's Gaza peace plan, warning delays would harm Palestinians. Washington says the ceasefire is fragile. Here's all you need to know. The United States has urged the UN Security Council to rally behind its draft resolution supporting President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza. On Thursday (Nov 13), the nation warned that any delay could lead to Palestinians suffering "grave" consequences. In a sharp message, the US mission to the UN said divisions inside the Council at this stage would carry grave, "tangible" and entirely preventable consequences for Palestinians in Gaza. Washington argued that the Gaza ceasefire was fragile and that the Council should move quickly toward securing peace. A spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said that, "Attempts to sow discord now -- when agreement on this resolution is under active negotiation -- has grave, tangible, and entirely avoidable consequences for Palestinians in Gaza". Calling the ceasefire an "historic moment to pave a path towards enduring peace in the Middle East," the spokespers…

'We will hunt you down'. Netanyahu warns Hamas in fiery UN speech WORLD Israel Add Topic 'We will hunt you down'. Netanyahu warns Hamas in fiery UN speech Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UK, France, Canada and Australia for recognizing a Palestinian state, calling the move "sheer madness." Kim Hjelmgaard USA TODAY Sept. 26, 2025 Updated Sept. 29, 2025, 7:52 a.m. ET Hear this story Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Hamas to free the remaining hostages being held in Gaza during a combative speech at the UN General Assembly marked by walkouts and a smattering of American applause. “Free the hostages now,” Netanyahu said in his Sept. 26 address. “If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.” Empty chairs for Israeli leader As Netanyahu took to the stage, dozens of assembled diplomats filed out the room in New York. There was also some applause as Netanyahu spoke, including from members of the U.S. delegation after Netanyahu praised President Donald Trump , who he's due to meet at the White House on Sept. 29. "Trump understands better than any other leader that Israel and America face a common threat," Netanyahu said, referring t…

President Trump's Board of Peace Pushes To Replace UNRWA in Gaza UNRWA employees and Palestinians inspect a damaged school after Israeli fighter jets hit an UNRWA school in Nuseirat Refugee Camp of Deir al-Balah, Gaza on July 15, 2024. (Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images) President Trump’s Board of Peace Pushes To Replace UNRWA in Gaza The Media Line Staff 07/02/2026 The Board of Peace established by US President Donald Trump declared that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has “no place in the new Gaza” and called on international donors to redirect funding from the agency to Board-led humanitarian initiatives. In a post on X, the Board of Peace said: “UNRWA has no place in the new Gaza. We are turning the page on the complex of perpetual aid dependency & conflict. The people of Gaza deserve better.” UNRWA has no place in the new Gaza. We are turning the page on the complex of perpetual aid dependency & conflict. The people of Gaza deserve better. https://t.co/MttkJqX1Np — Board of Peace (@BoardOfPeace) July 1, 2026 Give the gift of hope We practice what we preach: accurate, fearless journalism. But we can't do it alone. On the ground in Gaza, Syria, Israel, Egy…

Hamas’s move <p>THE decision taken by Hamas to relinquish governance of Gaza appears to be designed to put the onus on the US and Israel to take the peace process forward. Having ruled the Strip for about two decades, the Palestinian group <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2013512">announced </a>on Monday that it was ready to hand over governance duties to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the technocratic body set up under <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1969546">Donald Trump’s Board of Peace</a>.</p> <p>As per a Hamas spokesman, the move is supposed to “remove any pretexts for the [Israeli] occupation” which, he rightly said, “continues its … war of extermination”. Since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Gaza has hardly turned into a cradle of peace. Over 1,000 people have been murdered by Israel, including children, during what is supposed to be a truce. Since the Zionist state commenced its genocidal attacks on the Strip after the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas operation, over 73,000 people have been butchered, with nearly 2m displaced and denied adequate shelter, food and healthcare.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--emb…

Israel's Bezalel Smotrich sparks anger after saying captive return 'not important' | Middle East Eye Israeli Finance Minster Bezalel Smotrich has provoked an angry backlash after he suggested that the release of captives in Gaza was "not the most important thing" for the goverment. On Monday, Smotrich said in an interview with Galey Israel radio that the "Gaza problem" must be eliminated, citing a "tremendous opportunity". Smotrich believes the end of former US President Joe Biden's tenure at the White House and the political demise of rivals, like former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and former Israeli army chief of staff Herzi Halevi, means there are no longer any obstacles to fulfilling a hardline Israeli policy on Gaza. "We have to say the truth, returning the hostages is not the most important thing," he said. "It is obviously a very important goal, but if you want to destroy Hamas so that there can't be another October 7, you need to understand that there can't be a situation where Hamas remains in Gaza." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In r…

Failure to end Gaza war undermining world's credibility, UN chief warns FacebookTwitterPrintEmail UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday that the crisis in Gaza has become “one of the darkest chapters of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” with worsening suffering and deepening regional instability. The high-level meeting attended by foreign ministers and senior officials – came amid Israel’s intensifying military operation to wrest full control of Gaza City, growing starvation and growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood. “The Israeli military onslaught in Gaza City is compounding an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis,” Mr. Guterres said. “Countless Palestinian civilians and the remaining hostages are trapped under relentless bombardment and deprived of food, water, electricity, and medicine. Famine is a reality.” He repeated his appeals for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access. “UN resolutions continue to be ignored. International humanitarian law violated. Impunity prevails. And our collective credibility is being undermined,” he warned…

Path for lasting peace and rebuilding in Gaza is precipitous | AP News People gather to greet freed Palestinian prisoners arriving on buses in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails under a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) People wave Israeli flags and spray foam in celebration after the arrival of freed hostages at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, following their release from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) President Donald Trump and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pose during the greeting ceremony before the family picture at the Gaza International Peace Summit, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Monday, Oct.13 2025. (Yoan Valat, Pool photo via AP) President Donald Trump holds a signed document during a summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (Suzanne Plunkett/Pool via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — On Monday, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza led tofreedom for…

Palestinians condemn Trump's Gaza plan: 'These remarks are hostile and ... Luis de Vega Jerusalem - Feb 05, 2025 - 18:15 CET Share on Whatsapp Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Desplegar Redes Sociales Prefer EL PAÍS on Google Compartir: Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Bluesky Linkedin Copy link The fact that hundreds of thousands of Gazans have returned to the ruins of their homes and streets in the devastated northern Gaza — following the ceasefire after nearly 16 months of war — offers a clear insight into the resilience that drives them. From one generation to the next, they inherit a deep-rooted connection to a land from which they are once again being pushed to leave . This happened in 1948 when Israel was established, and it has continued with various Israeli governments, both in Gaza and the West Bank. This explains the widespread rejection of the plan presented by U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to expel the population and leave Gaza under Israeli control. This opposition is shared by ordinary citizens and official bodies alike, including the Hamas government in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah, the West Bank capital. Hamas, which has controlled the Ga…

Trump promises 'something special' on Gaza as Israeli ... - CNN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin and US President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office in April. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images The Middle East Israel-Hamas war Donald Trump See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow US President Donald Trump has promised “something special” is coming on Gaza as Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reservations about the White House’s 21-point ceasefire and post-war governance plan. The two leaders will meet on Monday for a high-stakes discussion that Trump has boasted could end the war in Gaza. Trump projected optimism on Sunday as his administration works to close a comprehensive plan that would include the release of all hostages held by Hamas. “We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump wrote on social media. “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!! President DJT.” But in an interview with The Sunday Briefing on Fox News on Sunday afternoon, Netanyahu did not say he had accepted the plan. “We’re working on it,” he said. “It’s not been finalized yet.” Hamas said on Su…

Gaza Board of Peace Meets Today | Council on Foreign Relations Council on Foreign Relations Share By experts and staff Published February 19, 2026 10:02 a.m. Share Welcome to the Daily News Brief , CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day. Top of the Agenda U.S. President Donald Trump’s international Board of Peace meets today in Washington to discuss the future of Gaza. While at least twenty-seven nations are officially members of the board, envoys from some forty-five are expected to be present at its first meeting, underscoring Trump’s significant role in orchestrating the postwar plans for the enclave. Outstanding questions still loom about next steps of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, including how Hamas’s demilitarization could unfold. The details. Countries will pledge at least $5 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction today, Trump said earlier this week. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are each expected to pledge $1.2 billion of that total, an unnamed U.S. official told Reuters. Many of the board’s members are Gulf Arab and Central Asian countries. Israel joined last week, while no Palestinian group is currently represented;…

Under the flag of peace, the dream of a Greater Israel moves forward ... October 13, 2025 at 9:49 am US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport on October 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. [Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images] The twenty-point plan introduced by Donald Trump in the fall of 2025, presented as a solution to end the Gaza war, outwardly attempts to establish a framework for peace and reconstruction in the Middle East. However, beneath its surface, this plan is less of a peace proposal and more a sign of a new geopolitical engineering; one whose aim is not to end conflict but to redefine power and territory in the Middle East in favor of Israel. In reality, this political document, like previous Washington plans, is merely a diplomatic veneer for the gradual emergence of “Greater Israel,” a concept with a fundamental place in the political history of Zionism. While ostensibly offering mechanisms for Gaza’s reconstruction and management, it, in practice, leads to the entrenchment and institutionalisation of Israel’s influence throughout the geography of Palestine and its surro…

Countries recognize Palestine: Will it be different this time? - GIS Reports Although many nations have recognized Palestine in recent years, these symbolic acts have not altered the regional situation. June 9: Thousands of people take to the streets of Paris, France, to protest against the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza and to demand sanctions against Israel. © Getty Images × In a nutshell Six Western countries will formally recognize a state of Palestine This move is intended to pressure Israel with international isolation Instead, it will encourage Hamas to resist ceasefire offers, prolonging the war For comprehensive insights, tune into our AI-powered podcast here In October 2014, Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize the state of Palestine. This decision came just one month after the Social Democrats returned to power in Stockholm. Did this announcement alter the dynamics between Israel and the Palestinians? No. Swedish recognition of Palestine did not alter anything on the ground in the Middle East, not even for the Swedes. Sweden does not have an embassy in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is based. Instead, Swedis…

Trump to launch Gaza Board of Peace next week - Israel National News Trump to launch Gaza Board of Peace next week Axios report: Trump is set to unveil the Gaza Board of Peace, a 15‑nation body overseeing a new Palestinian Arab technocratic government and Gaza reconstruction. Israel National News Jan 8, 2026, 2:17 AM (GMT+2) Gaza Region Donald Trump Trump Gaza Peace Plan 1 minutes Donald Trump White House Photo by Daniel Torok US President Donald Trump is expected to announce the establishment of the Gaza Board of Peace next week as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, two US officials and two sources familiar with the matter told Axios’ Barak Ravid on Wednesday. The new board, to be chaired by Trump and composed of roughly 15 world leaders, is intended to supervise the still‑to‑be‑formed Palestinian technocratic government and oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. A source with direct knowledge said, "Invitations are going out to key countries to be members of the board." Countries expected to join include the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, according to Axios . US officials noted that the plan could still shift depending on development…

With 2022 Deadliest Year in Israel-Palestine Conflict, Reversing ... With 2022 Deadliest Year in Israel-Palestine Conflict, Reversing Violent Trends Must Be International Priority, Middle East Coordinator Tells Security Council – Press Release (SC/15179) 9246TH MEETING (AM & PM) SC/15179 18 JANUARY 2023 video Français The international community’s immediate priority in the Occupied Palestinian Territory must be reversing the trends that marked 2022 as one of the deadliest years in recent history, the United Nations senior official working to end the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict told the Security Council today as it held its regular open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that, even as a new year dawns, the dangerous cycle of violence that characterized recent months continues to persist, amid increased political tensions and a long-stalled peace process. “The violent trends that dominated the last months of 2022 continue to take a devastating human toll,” he said, adding:  “Preventing more loss of life and reversing negative trends on the ground mu…