  Middle East conflict

Israel's government has agreed to implement the first phase of the US plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist organisation Hamas had previously agreed to US President Trump's proposal, which provides for the withdrawal of the Israeli army and the release of all Israeli hostages and around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Commentators voice scepticism and hope.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas carried out a terrorist attack in southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 250 hostages to the Gaza Strip. Since then Israel has been waging war against Hamas in the densely populated Palestinian territory. On the anniversary of the massacre, the media reflect on the situation in the Middle East.

Israel has intercepted the international Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to bring aid to the Gaza Strip, long before it reached the coast, and seized its 40 ships and boats. Of the 462 people on board, more than 300 are still in Israeli custody. Israel described the flotilla's mission as a provocation and is in the process of deporting the activists one after the other.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted a 20-point plan presented by US President Donald Trump with the aim of ending the war in Gaza. However Hamas, which was not involved in drawing up the plan, has yet to give its approval. The plan stipulates that the terrorist organisation must release all hostages and lay down its arms. In return, Israel's army would withdraw. The media discuss whether the initiative could really end the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced France's recognition of Palestine as an independent state at a UN conference in New York. He described the move as a necessary step towards peace. Canada, the UK, Australia and Portugal had already recognised Palestine shortly before France, while Belgium, Malta and Luxembourg went on to do so shortly afterwards. The discussions at the meeting in New York were focused on the Gaza war and the goal of a two-state solution.

A commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council has published a report which concludes that four of the five criteria for genocide listed in the UN Genocide Convention have been fulfilled: killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing measures to prevent births. Reactions in the European press are mixed.

The Israeli army has launched a ground offensive in Gaza City that aims to completely eliminate Hamas forces in the area, according to a military spokesman. Hundreds of thousands of residents are trying to flee the city. The EU has called for a stop to the 'cycle of violence, destruction and suffering', while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed doubts that the Gaza war can be ended through diplomatic means.

The Israeli military launched airstrikes against buildings in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday, killing several people. According to its own statements it was targeting the leadership of radical Islamist group Hamas, which bears direct responsibility for the massacre on 7 October 2023. The Qatari Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a 'flagrant violation' of international law. Europe's press takes stock.

The tone of exchanges between Israel and Europe is becoming harsher. In a break with previous language, EU Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera described Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide". Speaking in Paris, the Spanish politician said that the situation there had exposed "Europe's failure" to act and speak with one voice on this issue. The Belgian government also took a tougher stance this week when it unilaterally imposed sanctions on Israel.

Twenty people, including five local journalists, have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks on a hospital in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. Reuters, AP and Al Jazeera have confirmed that journalists working for them were among the victims. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a "tragic mishap", the circumstances of which were now being investigated. Must journalists put their lives at risk to cover the situation in Gaza?

An Israeli planning committee has approved a project which would expand Jewish settlements in a particularly sensitive area of the West Bank, effectively splitting the Palestinian territory in two. At the same time the Israeli army is advancing on Gaza City, where famine now prevails according internationally recognised criteria, as the IPC Famine Review Committee has announced. The media assess Israel's actions and the attitudes of other countries.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Israel at the weekend to demand a deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages and protest against an expansion of the military operations in the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators blocked major roads and intersections across the country. Thousands also took part in a nationwide strike called by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Europe's press takes stock.

The Israeli security cabinet has approved an expansion of military operations in the Gaza Strip and the plan to take over Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the aim was not to occupy Gaza but to demilitarise the area and place it under a non-Israeli civil administration. European commentators voice numerous objections.

Israeli media are reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to expand the military operations and take full control of the Gaza Strip. Europe's press debates the latest developments, including a declaration signed by the key Arab states Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan calling for the disarmament and disempowerment of the terrorist group Hamas.

In view of the crisis situation in Gaza, a growing number of countries are speaking out in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. Canada has now become the third G7 country after France and the UK to announce that it is willing to take this step. The press assesses the impact of the initiative and the preconditions for genuine statehood for Palestine.

The EU is considering sanctions against Israel in view of the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, but Germany and Italy in particular are reportedly blocking such plans. US President Donald Trump has called on Israel to allow more food supplies into the sealed-off area. The media examines to what extent Israel and the West are responsible for the impending famine.

Britain has announced that it intends to recognise Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly at the end of September. Just a few days earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron made a similar announcement. However, British PM Keir Starmer has said he will only make this move if Israel fails to take significant steps to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip. The media take stock.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of widespread starvation in the Gaza Strip. According to the organisation, the lack of aid deliveries and violence and chaos during food distribution are leading to ever more deaths. The dire situation was also sharply criticised in a statement published on Monday in which 30 countries called for an immediate ceasefire. Commentators discuss whether the circumstances warrant more than just appeals to Israel.

According to defence minister Israel Katz, Israel wants to construct a massive camp for 600,000 Palestinians in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. The aim is to physically separate Hamas fighters from the civilian population, he told journalists. A few days ago he had said that it would not be possible for them to return to northern Gaza. Commentators fear this amounts to an expulsion in violation of international law.

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran has been in place since 24 June. There are contradictory statements about the damage to Iranian nuclear facilities and the whereabouts of the enriched uranium. Tehran has temporarily suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Europe's press analyses the situation.

Israel and Iran appear to be observing the ceasefire announced by Donald Trump on Tuesday after several days of the two countries exchanging rocket fire and unusually harsh criticism of their respective leaders by the US president. Europe's press comments on the display of power from Washington and discusses what should follow.

The US airforce has dropped 'bunker buster' bombs on Iranian nuclear sites. The extent of the damage inflicted is not yet clear, particularly with regard to the Fordo facility, which is surrounded by mountains. The aim of operation, which was ordered by President Donald Trump, was to incapacitate the Iranian nuclear weapons programme, whose existence Iran denies. Europe's press assesses the situation.

The Gaza aid ship Madleen was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday morning. The Foreign Ministry in Tel Aviv described the boat as a 'selfie yacht' and explained that the activists on board, including Greta Thunberg, had been detained and deported on Tuesday. The European press criticise both the boat action plan and the reaction.

The expansion of the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip is prompting growing criticism of the Israeli military's operations. A number of people have also been killed or wounded in skirmishes at aid distribution points run by the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

On Friday, nine of a doctor's ten children were reportedly killed when her home was hit by an airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Israel's harsh military actions and the lack of food supplies and aid have already provoked growing international criticism. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that acts that entail such suffering for the civilian population could no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism. Europe's media reflect on what is being said and done.

Following airstrikes last week, the Israeli military announced on Saturday that it has launched a new ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced the intention of conquering and permanently occupying the area. According to Palestinian sources, dozens of people are being killed in the attacks every day.

Following the announcement of Israel's plan to conquer and permanently occupy the Gaza Strip, spokespersons for the terrorist militia group Hamas have declared that they are no longer interested in negotiating a ceasefire. Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir has announced that tens of thousands of reservists will be called up for the upcoming operations.

Israel has expanded its military offensive and declared almost all of Gaza a "combat zone". Its army hit a hospital in Gaza City again during air strikes. According to the UN, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are being forced into an ever smaller area because Israel wants to establish so-called security zones. Europe's press is increasingly critical of the Israeli offensive that began after the Hamas terrorist attack.

After 15 medics in a convoy of ambulances were shot dead by Israeli soldiers on 23 March, Israel claimed the vehicles had been moving in a suspicious way and did not have their emergency signals on. After video footage emerged that clearly shows the ambulances had their emergency and headlights on when the shots were fired, Israel admitted its account had been mistaken. Despite lingering uncertainties, commentators are deeply unsettled by the evidence.

The Israeli military has stepped up its attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire ended. According to the Hamas-controlled authorities more than 800 people have been killed there in the last ten days. In Israel, tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, while in the Gaza Strip several hundred have protested against Hamas. This conflict must not be forgotten, warns Europe's press.

Israel began carrying out air strikes in the Gaza Strip again on Tuesday night. More than 400 people have been killed so far, according to Palestinian sources. The ceasefire that has been in place since January was supposed to have entered a second, extended phase, but Israel would only agree to this if Hamas released all remaining hostages, disarmed and relinquished control of the Gaza Strip, which it has refused to do.

Donald Trump has suggested resettling most of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip in Jordan and Egypt, where he said they could "live in peace for a change". Both countries immediately rejected the idea, while far-right circles in Israel have endorsed it. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned against the repercussions of a mass displacement of the ruined coastal strip's inhabitants.

The initial six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into force on Sunday. The terrorist organisation handed over three Israeli hostages, with 95 reportedly still being held. On 7 October 2023, Hamas abducted around 250 hostages in total. As agreed, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. Europe's commentators voice relief, but also scepticism.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is to come into force in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. In the first of three phases, 33 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be released in batches. Commentators discuss whether the agreement can bring lasting peace to the region.

There are growing signs that an agreement in the Gaza war is imminent. A draft agreement provides for the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and a 42-day ceasefire, with Israel's army withdrawing from parts of the Gaza Strip. During this time further releases and a long-term ceasefire would be negotiated.