Articles in this Cluster
30-05-2025
A senior Hamas official has told the BBC that the group will reject a new US-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza, saying it doesn't meet their core demands, including an end to the war. The plan, backed by Israel, proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas handing over 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in two phases. The official said Hamas remains in contact with mediators and will respond in due course. The conflict has killed almost 4,000 people in Gaza over the past 10 weeks, with another 600,000 displaced, and warnings of catastrophic hunger levels in the coming months.
30-05-2025
Security has broken down in Gaza as desperate people search for food and aid is difficult to access, leading to chaos, looting, and violence. The Hamas-run interior ministry reported that seven police officers were killed in an Israeli air strike while attempting to restore order at a market in Gaza City. At least 44 people were killed across Gaza on Thursday, including 23 at the Bureij refugee camp. The UN's World Food Programme reported that "hordes of hungry people" broke into its warehouse in Deir al-Balah, and thousands overran a new aid distribution centre in Rafah, resulting in dozens being shot and injured. The Israeli military said it had struck "dozens of terror targets" in Gaza and that troops fired warning shots into the air, but not at crowds. The situation has been exacerbated by a total Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, with aid distribution centres being overwhelmed by desperate people.
30-05-2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar has been killed, listing him among other top Hamas leaders killed during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Sinwar, a longtime Hamas member and brother of previously killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was reportedly a key figure in leading the group in the Gaza Strip. The announcement came as the US pushes for a temporary ceasefire and amid nearly 20 months of war between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in over 54,000 deaths in Gaza and significant humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu vowed to continue the war, stating there will be "no way we will stop the war … we're going to the end."
30-05-2025
Israel has authorized the establishment of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the legalization of outposts already built without government authorization, sparking criticism from neighboring Jordan, Britain, and Palestinian leaders. The move is seen as a major obstacle to Palestinian statehood and a deliberate attempt to deepen Israel's occupation of the territory. The international community largely views settlements as illegal, and the decision has been condemned as a "deliberate obstacle" to peace and a "grave violation" of international law. The West Bank is home to 3 million Palestinians living under Israeli military rule, and the new settlements will further confine them to smaller areas, making a viable Palestinian state even more remote.
30-05-2025
The US and Israel are waiting for Hamas to respond to a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, according to the White House. The proposal, backed by Israel, includes plans to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 dead hostages, with aid expected to flow into Gaza. Hamas has not yet accepted the deal, with a senior official stating it "fails to meet any of our people's demands," but is reportedly studying the proposal. The group is seeking guarantees that Israel will not attack Gaza during the ceasefire. Hamas still holds 58 hostages, and a US source says a deal is close.
30-05-2025
Hamas is facing a crisis as its influence and support continue to decline in the Gaza Strip due to internal pressure to end the war and return hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The group has threatened Palestinians who accept food aid from US- and Israel-backed aid centers, warning they "will pay the price." Despite this, Palestinians have flocked to the aid sites, with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distributing over 840,000 meals. Hamas's opposition to the new aid distribution mechanism has signaled that its primary concern is preserving its authority, not the well-being of Palestinians. The erosion of Hamas's influence over aid flows poses a symbolic and operational threat to the group, leading to a legitimacy crisis. Civilians are increasingly calling on Hamas to return hostages, stop the war, and leave the Gaza Strip, further undermining its image as the authority in Gaza.
30-05-2025
The White House confirmed that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal backed by US President Donald Trump and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, aimed at returning 58 hostages held in Gaza for over 600 days. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Israel signed off on the proposal before it was sent to Hamas, and discussions are ongoing. The details of the proposal are not yet clear, and Hamas's position is currently unknown, although the group previously stated it had reached a general framework with Witkoff on a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
30-05-2025
Israel has accepted a US-proposed ceasefire plan for Gaza, according to the White House, while Hamas says it is "under discussion". The plan calls for a 60-day pause in fighting, the release of nine living hostages and half of the known hostages who have died, and the exchange of 125 Palestinian prisoners for 28 Israeli hostages. Israel would retain the right to resume military action if talks break down. Hamas officials have said the proposal does not meet their demands to end the war and allow aid into Gaza, but are still considering it.
30-05-2025
Israel has authorized 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, despite international law considering such settlements illegal. Tensions have intensified since the Hamas attack on October 7, with reports of increased violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian families in villages such as Ras al-Ayn, aiming to drive them from their homes.
30-05-2025
Israel has launched a renewed ground offensive in Gaza, prompting criticism from its allies and concerns over the humanitarian situation. A new aid center, backed by Israel, has begun distributing food, but the UN and other humanitarian organizations have boycotted it, citing a lack of independence. About 17,200 food boxes have been distributed, but the UN says this is a "trickle" compared to the needs of Gaza's 2 million people. Israel's blockade, which lasted over two months, had halted food and fuel entering Gaza, causing widespread hunger and deprivation. The international community has expressed concern over Israel's actions, with Britain's minister of state for international development saying Israel is "using hunger as a weapon of war." Palestinians in Gaza are responding with fear, having already been forcibly displaced multiple times during the war. Israeli troops have advanced into Gaza, but details of the renewed offensive remain scarce, and the military has yet to fully invade major Palestinian cities.
