Displaying items by tag: Middle East

After months of deadlock, there are new signs that Israel and Hamas could be moving closer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. The USA, Qatar, and Egypt are reporting greater willingness by both sides to conclude a deal. Talks are reportedly in a decisive stage. Israel’s defence minister has indicated that they are close to an agreement, though challenges remain, including far-right Israeli cabinet opposition and Hamas's conditions. A three-phase plan proposes releasing civilian and women hostages, with Israeli troop withdrawals and a mechanism for displaced Gazans to return. Subsequent stages include freeing remaining hostages and a broader troop withdrawal. Of 96 hostages in Gaza, 62 are believed to be still alive; a hundred others have been freed through negotiation or military action. The negotiations have been given a new push by Donald Trump’s election; he has warned that a ceasefire deal should be reached before he takes office, because otherwise ‘it’s not going to be pleasant’.

On 8 December, Syrian rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad, ending his 24-year rule and his family’s half-century grip on power. Their victory caps a devastating 13-year civil war which killed over 500,000 people, displaced millions, and involved major global powers. Turkey, a key player, supported rebel groups, primarily to counter Kurdish militias. Turkey, which would also like to repatriate three million Syrian refugees, has played a role in brokering ceasefires and aiding the rebels’ recent offensive. Russia, Assad’s staunch ally, provided air support and troops starting in 2015, securing key military bases in Syria. However, its focus on the Ukraine war weakened its ability to sustain Assad’s regime, leading to his downfall. Assad has reportedly fled to Moscow. The USA has backed moderate rebels and Kurdish-led forces against Assad and ISIS, maintaining about 900 troops in the northeast. Iran and Hezbollah, longtime Assad allies, have also seen their influence wane due to internal and external conflicts. Breaking news: the rebels have announced that the Syrian parliament and constitution will be suspended for three months.

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes and naval operations in Syria, targeting military assets and creating a buffer zone near the Golan Heights. Defence minister Israel Katz stated the actions aim to establish a ‘sterile defence zone’ to prevent terrorist activities. Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed Syria’s naval fleet, military warehouses, air-defense facilities, and weaponry near Damascus. There were probably as many as 250 strikes, with video evidence of naval wreckage in Latakia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed significant damage to Syria’s military infrastructure. Israel claims its operations are temporary and limited to precluding advanced weaponry from extremist groups. However, several nations have condemned the strikes as violations of international law. The UN criticised the buffer zone seizure as a breach of the 1974 disengagement agreement, despite Israel’s assurances of its defensive intent.

Buoyed by their lightning capture of Aleppo and swathes of northern Syria, rebel forces – led by Islamist factions – are now targeting the strategically important town of Hama. This offensive, ending four years of relative calm in the region, has already displaced nearly 50,000 people, with many fleeing nearby towns. Over 600 people, including 104 civilians, have been killed to date. Hama is a former stronghold of anti-Assad sentiment; its capture would ‘pose a threat to the regime's popular base’. The Syrian military say that sizeable reinforcements have arrived to bolster the defence of Hama, with Russian air support. Abandoned military equipment along roads highlights the intense clashes. As winter deepens the plight of displaced civilians, the renewed violence underscores Syria’s enduring humanitarian crisis, drawing international appeals for peace.

Yuval Green, a 26-year-old Israeli reservist and medic, answered the call to defend his country after the devastating Hamas attack in October 2023. Witnessing the aftermath in Gaza, he encountered unimaginable horrors, including civilian devastation and dehumanisation within his ranks. These experiences have led him and 165 other Israeli reservists to publicly refuse military service unless hostages held in Gaza are released and to call for a ceasefire. The refusal highlights growing dissent in Israel, where a poll shows 45% favour ending the war to recover the hostages, contrasting with 43% supporting continued conflict to eliminate Hamas. Diminished national unity and reports of burnout among troops exacerbate challenges. Yuval's decision came after orders he found morally indefensible, reflecting broader tensions within Israeli society about the war's direction and ethical concerns over military actions.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by the USA, began on 27 November, with thousands of  displaced people cautiously returning to southern Lebanon. The truce calls for a sixty-day withdrawal period for Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army deploying extra troops in the region to oversee the ceasefire and reclaim control. However, Israeli officials have warned that any breaches by Hezbollah would prompt immediate military action. Hezbollah claimed ‘victory’ in its first statement since the ceasefire, vowing readiness to confront Israeli actions. The conflict, which began in October 2023 but has escalated since September, has devastated Lebanon, with over 3,800 killed and nearly 16,000 injured. Caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati has called for unity after what he said was the ‘most cruel phase in Lebanese history’. For a view on how this truce might affect the conflict in Gaza, see

The USA has stated that Israel has not violated laws regarding the blocking of aid to Gaza, even though a thirty-day deadline for increased humanitarian access has passed without full implementation. While acknowledging that Israel has made some progress, such as opening a new land crossing and resuming aid deliveries in northern Gaza, the USA says that further improvements are necessary. However, the UN reports that aid into Gaza is at its lowest level in a year, with the humanitarian situation growing increasingly dire, particularly in northern Gaza, where famine is imminent. The UN calls the ongoing Israeli blockade a violation of international law and a humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian groups report that conditions in Gaza have worsened, and aid is still being obstructed. Meanwhile, more people have died following further exchanges of airstrikes between Israel and Hezbollah: see

Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed defence minister Yoav Gallant amid Israel’s ongoing conflicts with Gaza and Lebanon, citing a lack of trust. Gallant’s opposition to ultra-orthodox military conscription and his differing views on hostages have long put him at odds with Netanyahu: he had also publicly dismissed Netanyahu’s oft-repeated goal of ‘total victory’ over Hamas, saying that Israel’s military success had created the conditions for a diplomatic deal. His replacement, foreign minister Israel Katz, vowed to prioritise Israel’s security, emphasising the return of hostages and a decisive stance against Israel’s enemies. Gallant, seen as a moderate influence in Netanyahu’s coalition, was considered to be a stabilising figure. His dismissal sparked major protests across Israel, with citizens decrying the decision as a threat to national security. US officials expressed concern over the timing, especially in the middle of two wars. Meanwhile, on 7 November Israel allowed the evacuation of 231 seriously ill and injured patients from Gaza, the biggest since the conflict broke out. However, WHO said there were still up to 14,000 people waiting for evacuation for medical reasons.

The recent decision by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and Gaza has met with widespread condemnation. Israel has justified the decision by citing alleged links between some UNRWA staff and Hamas, but said it will continue cooperating with other UN agencies on humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. UNRWA has been labelled a terrorist organisation, and all official contact with the Israeli government has been blocked. This decision, opposed by the USA and other nations, raises concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where more than 1.9 million have been displaced. A UNICEF spokesman has warned that without UNRWA, critical necessities such as food, water, and medicine could not be distributed effectively. That would likely cause the collapse of Gaza’s fragile humanitarian system.

Amid escalating violence between Hezbollah and Israel, thousands of families in southern Lebanon, including many Christians, have fled their homes. As they move north, local churches have opened their doors, providing shelter, food, and medical supplies. Church leaders have stressed their commitment to helping all affected, regardless of denomination, showing God's love through practical support. Despite the challenges and fear brought by Israeli airstrikes, Lebanese Christians see this as an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love. Leaders of the Kurdish Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church are among those leading relief efforts, with church members also welcoming families into their homes. SAT-7 continues to broadcast live, bringing messages of hope amid the chaos. As many as 200,000 people have been displaced, and church leaders ask for prayers for peace and strength during these difficult times. Breaking news: an Israeli airstrike on Beirut has killed at least 22 people.