February
Israel calls up reservists as fears for fragile Gaza ceasefire rise
Concern that the truce will collapse is growing as fury mounts in the Arab world over President Donald Trump’s plan for the United States to take over Gaza.
How dare Trump state the obvious about Gaza
Everyone says the Gazans must live in the rubble and stay under the control of Hamas. No one asks why the Gazans should be suspended in the aspic of their leaders’ failure and fanaticism.
Reality will bite Trump’s big dreams in Gaza
The US president’s vision of the US taking over Gaza and turning it into a peaceful, prosperous property development project is a fantasy.
January
Trump’s Palestinian refugee idea falls flat with Arab allies
Middle East nations rejected Donald Trump’s idea to resettle Gaza’s population as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in the enclave held after a major crisis.
October 2024
Australia condemns Israel’s ban on UN aid agency UNRWA
Australia has joined international condemnation of Israel over its efforts to nobble top UN body that looks after almost 6 million Palestinian refugees.
Israel’s twin fears collide on a Jaffa street
Israelis confronted the anxieties that have consumed them for most of their lives – a chance encounter with death from a gunman, and an attack by a powerful enemy.
August 2024
Risk of broader Middle East war has eased: top US general
But Iran still poses a significant danger as it weighs a strike on Israel, says Air Force General C.Q. Brown
Israel braces for attack as US urges Gaza ceasefire
Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting “Israel is in a multi-front war against Iran’s axis of evil”.
May 2024
President’s death shows an Iran with few cards left to play
The death of president Ebrahim Raisi opens the way for a dynastic succession to Iran’s supreme leadership. The regime’s chief goal now is protecting the status quo.
April 2024
US pushes for Gaza truce and hostage release as Blinken visits
Egypt is stepping up efforts at mediation to secure an agreement between Israel and Hamas leading to a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages.
Israel scaled back planned attack on Iran to avoid war
Israeli leaders originally discussed bombarding several military targets across Iran last week, including near the capital Tehran, in retaliation for the Iranian strike on April 13.
The risks to Biden of Israel going rogue against Iran
The problem is that ‘ironclad’ support can be read as a blank cheque to Israel to take whatever military action it sees fit — confident that, when the chips are down, America will have its back.
Israel considers next move as US urges restraint
The US has highlighted its role in helping Israel thwart Iran’s aerial attack as Joe Biden convenes G7 leaders in an effort to coordinate a global rebuke of Tehran.
US sends Ukraine seized Iranian-made weapons
The weapons include 5000 Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, along with half-a-million rounds of ammunition.
March 2024
Israel has ‘basically agreed’ a ceasefire. Hamas must now decide
Some obstacles to the deal remain as talks are set to resume. The apparent breakthrough came as the United States started dropping food aid into the Gaza Strip.
February 2024
US kills militia leader behind deadly attack on troops
A US drone strike killed a senior commander of the Iran-backed militant group that was responsible for the attack on a US base in Jordan.
January 2024
Biden decided on response to deadly drone strike in Jordan
The US President could opt to attack the Iranian suppliers of drones and missiles, perhaps including inside Iranian territory.
Five maps that show why the Red Sea is so important
The Houthi attacks on shipping and the US-led response have highlighted the global significance of this narrow stretch of water.
Biden under pressure to respond to deadly attack on US troops
The president said the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing”.
UN fires Gaza staff over claims they joined Hamas attack
Australia will pause recently announced funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency after the UN fired staffers over allegations they took part in the attack.