Displaying items by tag: Middle East

A UN commission of inquiry has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since the 2023 war with Hamas began. The 72-page report cites four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention - killing, causing serious harm, deliberately inflicting life-destroying conditions, and preventing births - along with statements by Israeli leaders, as evidence of genocidal intent. It highlights widespread civilian deaths, collapsed infrastructure, repeated displacement, and a UN-declared famine. Commission chair Navi Pillay said speeches by Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, combined with Israel’s military conduct, support the inference of intent to destroy those living in Gaza in whole or part. The commission also warned other nations of their legal duty to prevent and punish genocide, noting potential complicity if they fail to act. Israel’s government rejected the findings as false and biased, arguing that its operations are targeting Hamas in self-defence and comply with international law. Meanwhile, the long-awaited offensive by the Israeli military against Gaza City has begun: see

Syria is facing its worst drought in 36 years, devastating wheat production and deepening a nationwide hunger crisis. Farmer Maher Haddad has harvested barely a third of his normal yield, reflecting a 40% drop in wheat output across the country. The FAO estimates a shortfall of 2.73 million tonnes this year - enough to feed 16 million people - while rainfall has plunged 70%, crippling three-quarters of rain-fed farmland. Nearly 90% of Syrians already live in poverty; over 14 million are food insecure, and 9.1 million suffer acute hunger. Bread prices have skyrocketed, forcing families to borrow for daily food. Aid groups like the World Food Programme are providing emergency subsidies and direct payments to farmers, but long-term solutions such as new irrigation systems are hampered by years of war, soaring fuel costs, and economic collapse. Without sustained international support and adequate rainfall, Syria’s food crisis could escalate dramatically into 2026, threatening rural livelihoods and driving further displacement.

The dramatic airstrike by Israel on Hamas leaders in Qatar on 9 October marks a new twist in a war already destabilising the wider Middle East. Qatar, long considered Hamas’ political base and a central mediator in ceasefire negotiations, condemned the attack as a flagrant breach of international law, while regional powers including the UAE and Saudi Arabia denounced it as an assault on sovereignty. The strike targeted Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief and top negotiator, but reports indicate he and others survived. Coming just a day after Hamas’ armed wing killed six people in Jerusalem, the move risks collapsing fragile ceasefire talks. In Gaza City, Israeli evacuation orders have spread panic among civilians, many already displaced and trapped in worsening conditions. This year Israel has struck Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Iranian-linked targets in Syria and Iran, heightening fears of a regional war.

A deadly double strike on a hospital in Gaza has drawn sharp international condemnation. At least twenty people were killed, including five journalists and four health workers, when two consecutive strikes targeted the facility. The UN, describing the attack as ‘unacceptable’, called for those responsible to face justice. The IDF claimed the strikes were aimed at a Hamas-operated camera, but did not explain why a second strike was deemed necessary. There have been escalating protests inside Israel, with families of hostages and supporters demanding that Netanyahu agree to a ceasefire deal. The humanitarian crisis is deepening across Gaza: a UN-backed body has confirmed that a famine is taking place in Gaza city (a claim described as an ‘outright lie’ by Israel), and most of the territory’s population faces dire shortages of shelter, food, and medical care after months of war. Pope Leo XIV has joined the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem in a powerful plea for an immediate end to the war: see

Qatar has emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting what it called a ‘positive response’ from Hamas to a new truce proposal. The plan, similar to an earlier US-brokered offer previously accepted by Israel, calls for a sixty-day pause in fighting, the release of some hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, expanded humanitarian aid, and negotiations toward a lasting settlement. Israel, however, is maintaining its stance that the war will continue until Hamas disarms and all hostages are freed. Foreign minister Israel Katz says that fear of Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza city is bringing Hamas back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, conditions in Gaza remain dire. The UN has warned that the minimal aid entering Gaza is far from sufficient, with hunger-related deaths increasing. Officials blame Israeli restrictions on humanitarian supplies, warning of imminent famine. Breaking news: Israel is calling up 60,000 reservists in preparation for its planned invasion of Gaza. See

Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced plans to approve over 3,000 housing units in the contested E1 settlement area between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank. Long frozen due to international opposition, the project would physically separate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, undermining prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state. Smotrich declared the plan would ‘bury the idea’ of such a state, describing it as an assertion of Israeli sovereignty. Settlement expansion is considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. The announcement comes amid growing international momentum toward recognising Palestinian statehood, which Israel opposes. Critics warn that the move deepens annexation, fuels conflict, and blocks the path to peace. Smotrich, together with national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, was sanctioned by the UK in June over ‘repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities’ in the occupied West Bank: see

Downing Street has refused to confirm whether the UK will proceed with recognising Palestinian statehood in September if Hamas remains in power or hostages are not released. Keir Starmer previously stated that recognition depends on Israel meeting certain conditions, including a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, halting annexation of West Bank land, and engaging in a peace process. However, critics argue the move could reward Hamas, especially in light of comments by its leader Ghazi Hamad claiming recognition is a 'fruit' of the 7 October attacks. Families of British hostages and some Labour MPs have voiced strong objections, insisting recognition should be tied to the hostages’ release. Despite calling Hamas 'pariahs' with no future role in Gaza, Starmer’s spokesperson said no single party will hold veto power over the decision. The Government insists its focus remains on increasing aid, ending suffering in Gaza, and promoting a two-state peace solution. A final decision is expected at the UN General Assembly in September. See

After nearly two years of war in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to escalate the conflict further by ordering a full military occupation of the territory, despite international outrage, domestic opposition, and dissent within Israel's own military. Critics allege that his push is politically motivated, aimed at preserving his fragile coalition and delaying his corruption trial. Analysts question whether the Israeli army, already strained and suffering from troop shortages and internal resistance, can sustain such an operation. Over 600 ex-military officials have urged Donald Trump to intervene diplomatically, stating that in their professional opinion, Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat. Despite widespread destruction, the goal of rescuing all the Israeli captives has not been achieved. Public support continues to decline, and many accuse Netanyahu of prioritising political survival over peace or national security. Further escalation could deepen the humanitarian catastrophe and international isolation.

Pastor Khalid Mezher, leader of the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church in Suwayda, Syria, was murdered alongside around 20 members of his extended family in what church leaders are calling a targeted massacre. A convert from the Druze faith, Mezher was known for his bold Christian witness in a region torn by conflict. His murder occurred amid escalating violence between Bedouin fighters and Druze militias, with over 250 reported dead in one week. Suwayda has been under siege for 10 days with no food, water, or electricity. Church sources say Mezher was 'killed for his faith,' and many believers remain missing or cut off. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, shelling continues. Christian leaders across Syria have condemned the killings and appealed for urgent international aid. Government forces have shifted roles in the conflict, but humanitarian access remains limited. Mezher’s martyrdom has shaken the remnant Christian community in southern Syria, as calls for global prayer and intervention grow. The church in Suwayda now stands scattered, its future uncertain. See

Deadly violence has erupted in Suweida between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, resulting in at least two hundred deaths, including children and civilians. The fighting, which began after the abduction of a Druze merchant, quickly escalated, prompting Syria's interim government to send troops into the previously autonomous Druze region. Israel launched airstrikes against these troops, claiming they were targeting the Druze, with whom Israel shares strong ties. The strikes drew international criticism and further inflamed tensions. Despite a ceasefire declared by Syria’s defence minister, reports emerged of government forces bombing Suweida, executing Druze civilians and looting homes. A Druze spiritual leader initially called for cooperation with authorities, but later urged resistance. Syria accused Israel of full responsibility for the violence, while the USA urged Israel to halt its strikes. The Israeli military has already carried out hundreds of strikes across Syria to destroy the country's military assets since the fall of the Assad regime. Breaking news: Israel has now bombed Damascus, targeting the presidential palace and the ministry of defence building. See