Iran on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) said a return to war was unlikely but that its military was nonetheless “lying in wait”, while U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “finish the job” if Tehran did not agree to deal.

The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending a West Asia war that has shaken global energy markets and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal. So far they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be,” Mr. Trump said at a televised White House cabinet meeting.

“Either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.”

Mr. Trump also appeared to direct a warning at Oman, a U.S. ally and mediator in the conflict, when asked about a possible short-term arrangement allowing Iran and Oman to control the Strait of Hormuz.

“No, the Strait is going to be open to everybody,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that, they’ll be fine.”

The White House did not immediately clarify whether Mr. Trump had misspoken. Oman has played a mediation role in the war and has itself come under attack from Tehran.

Iranian media reported early Thursday (May 28, 2026) morning that three loud explosions were heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas, around 1:30 a.m. (2200 GMT on May 27).

Earlier on Wednesday (May 27, 2026), Iranian Revolutionary Guards official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said the likelihood of “war is low because of the enemy’s weakness”, but warned the military was “lying in wait with full magazines” if attacked, Tasnim news agency reported.

Mr. Trump, who said at the weekend a deal was close, also told the cabinet meeting he was in no rush.

‘Complete fabrication’

The West Asia war erupted in late February with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, sending oil prices soaring.

Hopes of an imminent deal sent benchmark oil contracts falling more than 5% Wednesday (May 27, 2026).

Global stocks mostly rose, with all three major U.S. indices posting modest gains and fresh records, as investors looked past conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran.

Traders were also buoyed by a retreat in U.S. Treasury yields as oil prices fell, while another surge in technology stocks added momentum to the rally.

Economists have warned that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could keep energy prices elevated, feed inflation and force central banks to raise interest rates.

Adding to optimism, Iranian state TV reported that Washington had committed in a draft framework to lift its naval blockade, restore traffic through Hormuz and withdraw US forces from the Gulf.

The report cited what it called a draft memorandum outline, but the White House dismissed it as “a complete fabrication”.

A day earlier, Iran accused the U.S. of breaching the ceasefire after the most serious strikes since the truce took effect, and warned it was ready to retaliate.

The U.S. military said it launched “self-defence strikes” on Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats overnight Monday to Tuesday.

‘Will there be missile strikes?’

Iran and the U.S. have traded threats for weeks while negotiating through Pakistani mediation.

Neither side appears ready to compromise on the main sticking points: Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.

On Wednesday (May 27, 2026), the Revolutionary Guards’ navy said only ships “willing to abide by Iranian order” could pass through Hormuz.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday (May 26, 2026) that a deal remained within reach, but that the Hormuz would be reopened “one way or the other”.

Iranian authorities also partially restored access to the global internet Tuesday (May 26, 2026) after a three-month shutdown.

“I do feel better now because I finally can use my favourite applications,” said Hana, a 20-year-old student in Tehran who gave only her first name.

“At the same time, I have this concern that war might resume any minute and just cut me off again from my friends.”

Amir, a 27-year-old software developer in the Iranian capital, also feared renewed fighting despite talk of a deal.

“I feel like nothing is certain yet,” he said.

“The daily question is: Will there be missile strikes tonight?”

Fighting expands in Lebanon

In Lebanon, Israel launched broad strikes on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) and declared a huge swathe of the south a new combat zone, urging residents to leave.

The warning further strained an April 17 ceasefire that has done little to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the war by attacking Israel in early March.

Iran says any peace accord must apply to Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesman warned civilians to evacuate north of the Zahrani River, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border, “as all areas south of the river are considered combat zones”.

Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces “at point-blank range” in a strategic town just beyond an Israeli-declared “yellow line” in south Lebanon.

ldIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday (May 25, 2026) to “crush” Hezbollah, while army chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir said Wednesday (May 27, 2026) that Israel was “intensifying our operations” against the group.

Published – May 28, 2026 07:09 am IST

Lebanon and Israel are to hold new peace talks in Washington starting Thursday (May 14, 2026), as their latest ceasefire — considered to still be in place despite hundreds of deaths in Israeli strikes — nears its end.

Iran-Israel war LIVE on May 14, 2026

On the eve of the negotiations, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that 22 people, including eight children, were killed on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) as Israel intensified airstrikes.

The attacks pounded about 40 locations in Lebanon’s south and east, according to the country’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).

The two nations last met on April 23 at the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension and voiced optimism for a historic agreement.

Mr. Trump at the time made the bold prediction that, within the latest ceasefire period, he would welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Washington for a historic first summit between the countries.

The summit did not happen, with Aoun saying a security deal needed to be in place and Israeli attacks needed to end before such a landmark meeting.

The ceasefire, which went into effect on April 17, had been extended through Sunday (May 10, 2026).

Still, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 people during the truce, according to an AFP tally based on figures from Lebanese authorities.

Israel has vowed to keep pursuing attacks against Hezbollah, the Shia armed group and political movement backed by Iran’s ruling clerics, despite the ceasefire.

Hezbollah began a campaign of firing into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on February 28.

“Anyone who threatens the State of Israel will die because of his actions,” Mr. Netanyahu said last week after an Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander.

A Lebanese official told AFP that the country would seek “the consolidation of the ceasefire” during the talks in Washington.

“The first thing is to put an end to the death and destruction,” the official told AFP on custom of anonymity.

Iran has demanded a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon before any agreement to end the wider war, as it has frustrated Mr. Trump by refusing his appeals for an accord on his terms.

The West Asia war has spread throughout the region, roiling the global economy and impacting hundreds of millions worldwide.

Mr. Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) the Israeli leader “paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates” during the conflict and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE, which has been frequently targeted by Iran during the war, subsequently said it “denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit” by Netanyahu.

It also denied “receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country”.

Pressure on Hezbollah

More than 2,800 people have died in Lebanon since Israel launched the strikes in early March, including at least 200 children, according to Lebanese authorities.

Hezbollah said that toll includes its fighters.

Israel has pounded areas of Lebanon with large Shia populations, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, and has invaded the border region, seizing control in an area it occupied from its 1982 Lebanon war until withdrawing in 2000.

The United States has backed Lebanon’s calls to maintain sovereignty over all its territory but also repeatedly pressed it to take action against Hezbollah.

The United States “recognizes that comprehensive peace is contingent on the full restoration of Lebanese state authority and the complete disarmament of Hezbollah,” a State Department statement said.

“These talks aim to break decisively from the failed approach of the past two decades, which allowed terrorist groups to entrench and enrich themselves, undermine the authority of the Lebanese state, and endanger Israel’s northern border,” it said.

It will be the third round of talks between the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations.

Unlike the last round, which Mr. Trump brought to the White House, or the first round, neither Secretary of State Marco Rubio nor Mr. Trump will participate as the president is on a state visit to China.

The U.S. mediators for the two-day meeting at the State Department will include the ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon — respectively Mike Huckabee, an evangelical pastor and staunch supporter of Israel’s regional ambitions, and Michel Issa, a Lebanese-born businessman and golf partner of Trump, as well as Mike Needham, a close aide to Mr. Rubio.

Lebanon will be represented by special envoy Simon Karam, a veteran lawyer and diplomat who has fiercely defended Lebanon’s sovereignty, as well as its ambassador in Washington.

Israel’s team will include its ambassador in Washington, Yechiel Leiter, a Netanyahu ally who is close with the Israeli settler movement in the occupied West Bank.

Published – May 14, 2026 09:45 am IST

Hamas on Tuesday (December 9, 2025) called for more international pressure on Israel before the militant group moves forward with the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, with a Hamas leader saying it wants Israel to open a key border crossing, cease deadly strikes and allow more aid into the strip devastated by the two-year war.

The demand came as Israel’s government says it is ready to move into the next and more complicated phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire agreement, while calling on Hamas to return the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza as envisioned in the deal.

Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political wing, called for the “full implementation of all the terms of the first phase” before moving forward, including an end to what he called the continuing demolition of Palestinian homes in the majority of the territory still controlled by Israel.

Israeli airstrikes and shootings in Gaza have killed at least 376 Palestinians since the ceasefire took hold on Oct 10, according to Palestinian health officials.

Mr. Badran said it was not possible to enter the second phase of the ceasefire unless the steps he demanded were taken — remarks that reflect a hardening of tone from Hamas.

However, the group has little leverage in ceasefire negotiations and could come under heavy pressure from regional powers like Qatar and Turkey to not hit the brakes on the fragile truce.

Israel has also accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and says its recent strikes in Gaza are in retaliation for militant attacks against its soldiers, and that its troops have fired on Palestinians who approached the “Yellow Line” — a vague line between Israeli-controlled territory and the rest of Gaza.

It says those killed were suspected militants who posed a threat to troops, but it appears at least some were civilians who ventured too close to the line, and those killed have included women and children.

As a humanitarian crisis continues in Gaza, the United Nations and other aid organisations said not nearly enough aid is entering the territory, parts of which have faced famine.

Under the ceasefire deal, the number of trucks of supplies was supposed to ramp up to at least 600 a day. For the past month, the UN has recorded an average of around 120 trucks of aid entering Gaza. The figure does not include commercial trucks, whose precise numbers are not known.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid entry, has said 600-800 trucks are entering daily.

But the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in its latest weekly report that many of the commercial goods in the market remain unaffordable to many Palestinians, and “dietary diversity remains poor, with essential protein sources still largely unavailable”.

The agency also said the entry of medical supplies has “not increased in any meaningful way” and some hospitals still face severe shortages of essential drugs and supplies.

Israel said on Wednesday it would begin to allow aid destined for Gaza through a crossing on the Jordan-Israel border.

The ceasefire deal also calls for the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be opened for traffic in both directions. Israel has said it is prepared to open the crossing for Palestinians to leave the territory, but not yet to enter.

The U.S.-led plan outlining the future for the devastated territory has gained momentum in recent weeks. The two sides and mediators are to enter negotiations soon over the terms of the next phases, which call for Hamas to be disarmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel and Hamas are “very shortly expected to move into the second phase of the ceasefire,” after Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage. Hamas has said the destruction by Israeli strikes in Gaza has been an obstacle in their search for the remains.

Meanwhile, officials have said that an international body tasked with governing Gaza is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

Israel’s 2-year-long campaign in Gaza has killed more than 70,300 Palestinians, roughly half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count.

The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by the international community.

The campaign was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, when militants killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Almost all of the hostages or their remains have been returned in ceasefires or other deals.

Published – December 10, 2025 12:57 am IST

One year after Donald J. Trump was elected for a second time as President of the United States in November 2024, his MAGA movement is in turmoil–and that too on a question that was thought to be an eternal consensus in American domestic politics. Israel has so divided the MAGA camp that its key influencers are framing it as a conflict between “Israel-First” and “America-First” politics, targeting what they call the MIGA–Make Israel Great Again–camp.

But the division over Israel is not limited to Republicans; it runs deep among Democrats as well. The Trump movement, which started in 2015, had scrambled the bipartisan consensus on three linked issues that had long united U.S. elites under globalisation–immigration, trade, and the outsourcing of manufacturing and services. By challenging the orthodoxy on these questions, Mr. Trump sold America’s dispossessed a new dream under the “America-First” slogan. Crucially, the debate on these issues has not just pitted Republicans against Democrats, but split both parties internally.

Today, many in both parties have moved closer to the views Mr. Trump first articulated–on stronger border control, trade restrictions, protectionism, and the promotion of domestic manufacturing. A similar realignment is now underway on Israel.

Mr. Trump himself is increasingly caught in the crossfire. MAGA supporters are calling him out for his support for Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, while he is being cheered by traditional pro-Israel Republicans such as Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. For decades, older leaderships in both parties had maintained a unified front on Israel: for instance, Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Republican Nikki Haley, despite disagreeing on many issues, always agreed that when it comes to supporting Israel with money and weapons, there are no limits.

A new wave of populism in both parties, fuelled by outrage at the human cost of the war in Gaza, is now toppling that consensus.

Today, figures as diverse as Zohran Mamdani–the Muslim mayor-elect of New York City—and Tucker Carlson–the most influential Christian nationalistic voice in the MAGA world–find common ground in their condemnation of the Netanyahu government. Meanwhile, Israel-sceptic strategic scholars such as John Mearsheimer are expanding their reach via independent platforms, bypassing conventional media.

Shifting dynamics

If Israel once served as a unifier across American political divides, it is now becoming a defining fault line. Criticism of Israel is no longer a “no-go” area, immediately branded as ‘anti-Semitism’ as it was in the past. The demographic composition of both parties is changing, and being critical of Israel is now not only politically viable but, in some quarters, considered necessary.

One key reason is a generational shift in attitude. This is reflected most starkly in the opposing views between Nikki Haley and her son Nalin Haley. She once endorsed bombing in Gaza and insisted that the U.S. needed Israel, while he argues that Israel is “just another country” and the U.S. should treat it as such. The second source of division lies within the Christian-nationalist narrative itself.

An older generation of Christian conservatives, especially Evangelicals, often expressed near-dogmatic loyalty to Israel, rooted in a Judeo-Christian shared heritage and a theological reading of biblical prophecy. Figures such as Senator Ted Cruz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio epitomise that tradition. But a new cadre of challengers is questioning this conflation, arguing that Israel’s war in Gaza is morally incompatible with Christian values. Tucker Carlson, for example, has forcefully criticised American Christians who back Israel, calling Christian Zionism a “brain virus” that warps faith and prioritises foreign entanglements over gospel obligations.

For different reasons, Israel-sceptics are also gaining traction in the Democratic camp. Some progressive Democrats are now drawing a line by refusing campaign contributions from pro-Israel lobbyists: for example, Representatives Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky), Deborah K. Ross (North Carolina), and Valerie Foushee (North Carolina) have said they will no longer accept funds from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Mr Trump himself has acknowledged the shift.

During the 2024 campaign, he quipped, “Earlier, one word against Israel and your politics is over… Now, one word for Israel, and your politics could be over.” Meanwhile, Mr Mamdani’s strong showing in New York saw more than a third of Jewish voters backing him, according to some surveys.

The polling trends reinforce the sense of realignment: a 2025 Pew survey found that 53% of U.S. adults now hold an unfavourable view of Israel, compared to 42% in 2022. A July 2025 Gallup poll reported that only 32% of Americans now approve of Israel’s military actions in Gaza–reportedly the lowest level in the survey’s history. Younger respondents, in particular, are far more critical of Israel’s policies, suggesting that this trend could shape future elections.

Unsurprisingly, politicians across the spectrum are now facing primary challenges centered on their views on Israel. Senator Graham is being challenged within his own State on this issue. On the libertarian-populist right, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky–a vocal Israel sceptic–is confronting a pro-Israel opponent. Mr. Massie has even argued, “Instead of accepting refugees from Gaza, the United States should quit giving munitions to Israel to create refugees.”

Against this backdrop of sharpening battle lines, Mr. Trump is struggling to navigate a path that satisfies both sides. At times, he expresses frustration with Mr. Netanyahu; at others, he proclaims unwavering support for Israel. As more of his own base turns against the traditional pro-Israel consensus, the revolution he once helped ignite may risk devouring him.

Published – November 15, 2025 11:04 pm IST

A U.S.-sponsored ceasefire proposal for Gaza on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) was hanging on Hamas’s response to the 20-point plan which President Donald Trump has said was “beyond very close” to ending the two-year-old conflict in the enclave.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt shared the document with Hamas late on Monday (September 29, 2025) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood alongside Trump at the White House and pledged his support for the proposal because he said it met Israel’s war aims.

Hamas was not involved in the negotiations that led to Mr. Trump’s plan, which calls on the Islamist militant group to disarm, a demand it has previously rejected.

A source close to Hamas told Reuters the plan was “completely biased to Israel” and imposed “impossible conditions” that aimed to eliminate the group.

However, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters early on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) that Hamas negotiators “would review it in good faith and provide a response”.

Hamas faces pressure from Muslim nations

Mr. Trump warned Hamas that if it rejected his offer, Israel would have full U.S. support to take whatever action it deemed necessary.

The plan specifies an immediate ceasefire, an exchange of all hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the introduction of a transitional government led by an international body.

Many elements of the 20 points have been included in numerous ceasefire deals proposed over the last two years, including those accepted and then subsequently rejected at various stages by both Israel and Hamas.

One of Hamas’s main conditions since the outset of the war has been a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for the release of the remaining hostages. And while the group has indicated its readiness to relinquish administrative authority, it has consistently ruled out disarming.

“What Trump has proposed is the full adoption of all Israeli conditions, which do not grant the Palestinian people or the residents of the Gaza Strip any legitimate rights,” a Palestinian official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

However, Hamas faces considerable pressure to accept the plan, with the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt all welcoming the initiative.

Turkey’s head of intelligence will join Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha to discuss the peace proposal later on Tuesday (September 30, 2025), a spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said. Turkey has not previously been involved as a key mediator during efforts over the last two years to bring peace to Gaza.

It was unclear if Hamas officials would join Tuesday’s (September 30, 2025) meeting. The last time Hamas leaders gathered to discuss a U.S. peace plan in Qatar, Israel tried, and failed, to kill them with a missile strike.

Mr. Netanyahu apologised on Monday (September 29, 2025)) to his Qatari counterpart for the September 9 attack, the White House said.

Although he initially backed the Trump plan, Mr. Netanyahu later expressed doubts about elements of the proposal, including the prospects for eventual Palestinian Statehood — something he has repeatedly ruled out.

Mr. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from a war-weary Israeli public to end the conflict. But he also risks the collapse of his governing coalition if far-right Ministers believe he has made too many concessions for a peace deal.

Israeli forces push further into Gaza city

In Gaza itself, some Palestinians hailed Mr. Trump’s peace plan, saying it could end the bombardment and deaths, but they wondered whether it would end Israel’s control of the enclave.

“We want the war to end, but we want the occupation army that killed tens of thousands of us to get out and leave us alone,” said Salah Abu Amr, 60, a father of six from Gaza City.

“We hope the plan will end the war, but we are not sure it will. Neither Mr. Trump nor Mr. Netanyahu can be trusted,” he told Reuters via a chat app.

Israel began its Gaza offensive after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages back to Gaza. The offensive has killed over 66,000 people in Gaza, Gaza health authorities say.

Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza City on Tuesday (September 30, 2025), reaching the centre of the territory, which Mr. Netanyahu has described as the last Hamas bastion.

Israeli planes also dropped new leaflets over the city ordering Palestinians to immediately leave and head south.

“The battle against Hamas is decisive and will not end until it is defeated,” the leaflet said in red writing.

Published – October 01, 2025 11:04 am IST

After nearly 480 days of intense fighting and bombardment, resulting in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a ceasefire deal has finally been reached. Though long in the making, previous efforts repeatedly fell short of achieving finality.

This agreement, however, remains fragile, with no guarantees that it will be implemented fully in both letter and spirit. The trigger for the Gaza conflict, as well as the related hostilities in Lebanon, was the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack carried out by Hamas near the Israel-Gaza border. This heinous act of brutality sought to refocus international attention on the Palestinian issue, which Hamas perceived as sidelined by various international agreements, including the Abraham Accords.

Wrong On Both Sides

Much like Anwar Sadat’s surprise cross-Suez attack that initiated the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, Hamas’ actions involved the mass killing of innocents and the taking of hostages. These acts provoked a massive Israeli response, including the mobilisation of 3,50,000 troops, large-scale destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, and the deaths of countless civilians. It is essential to underscore the criminal nature of both actions, which disregarded the principle of proportionality—a fundamental concept guiding the conduct of warfare to minimise harm to civilians while resolving conflicts.

The ceasefire agreement has been brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt as part of a three-phase plan. A joint follow-up mechanism involving these nations will monitor progress to ensure the deal is upheld. The key conditions of the agreement are as follows:

• Phase 1: This phase will last 42 days. Hamas will release 33 hostages, including women, children, and individuals over 50 years old. In return, Israel will release 32 Palestinian prisoners for each hostage, begin withdrawing from certain areas, and facilitate a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Additionally, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will withdraw from densely populated areas, allowing internally displaced people to return to their homes.
• Phase 2: Hamas will release the remaining male hostages, and Israel will complete its withdrawal from Gaza.
• Phase 3: This phase will include the return of deceased hostages and the initiation of Gaza’s reconstruction, with significant contributions expected from the Arab world.

The IDF will gradually withdraw from Gaza towards a buffer zone in the east. Additionally, the IDF will vacate the Netzarim corridor and gradually withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. While the agreement contains several other provisions, its significance lies in the challenges of implementation, the obstacles that may arise, and the enablers required to ensure success.

Pressing Questions

The most critical factor is overcoming the trust deficit after such an extended period of violence. Given its weakened state, Hamas may be inclined to adhere to the deal. However, questions remain:

Will Israel believe it missed the opportunity to eliminate Hamas entirely? This could tempt Israel to resume operations after a period of relative calm.

Will Israel withdraw completely at the designated time and revert to the status quo ante?
This scenario appears unlikely in a security-conscious Israel. Politically, the dominant narrative prioritising security may lead to both practical and impractical measures that risk reigniting tensions.
Will IDF stick to the agreement?

The success of the deal depends significantly on the entry of humanitarian aid, construction materials, and resources for restoring civilian life. Before the war, the IDF appeared lax in addressing the ambiguous nature of its adversaries, inadvertently allowing materials to be used in constructing Hamas’ 150-kilometre tunnel defence system. This network posed a significant challenge for the IDF to neutralise during the conflict. Will the IDF adhere to the letter of the agreement, or will it complicate the process, creating obstacles for humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza? Aid agencies and UN personnel will require considerable patience and persistence to ensure effective implementation.

IDF’s Dual Identity

The IDF cannot afford to permit military supplies to enter Gaza as Hamas remains active. It has not been fully defeated militarily, straddling the line between a conventional force and a terrorist organisation—a dual identity that continues to frustrate the IDF.

At times, military ego can overshadow even the most disciplined armed forces. Currently, Israel, the IDF, and its veteran leadership, driven by a desire to restore their reputation, may heighten the risk of stand-offs with Hamas.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is expected to play a key role in administering the Gaza Strip. It is tasked with addressing the humanitarian crisis, rebuilding infrastructure, and overseeing security in collaboration with Egypt. However, the history of confrontation between the PA and Hamas presents challenges. Under new or interim Hamas leadership, the PA must navigate a delicate balance to maintain stability.

Iran’s potential role in fostering peace remains significant, despite its military weakening alongside Hamas. It has partially lost its ability to engage in proxy wars across the Middle East due to the diminished capability of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, as well as its reduced influence in the Levant. At this time, with its capabilities compromised, Iran may avoid drawing the focused attention of the US and Israel. However, this does not preclude its efforts to maintain control over proxy groups throughout the region. Iran may prefer covert actions to support Hamas, though such moves risk derailing the ceasefire entirely.

Uncertainty Reigns

The sustained involvement of Qatar and Egypt will be critical, as the US alone cannot manage this situation effectively. A peacekeeping force with a clear and well-defined mandate may become necessary. The United Nations Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF), currently active in Israel’s Golan Heights, could potentially expand its role to include temporary monitoring. India, already contributing to UNDOF, might participate in such an initiative.

Much remains uncertain, particularly with the return of a Trump administration to power in the US. For now, unpredictability continues to define the situation.

(The writer is a Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir, and Former GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Tel Aviv:

As the Israeli security cabinet voted in favour of a ceasefire deal to end the fighting with the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday that there are three “main reasons” he wants a truce now. an Israeli official told the media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Tuesday that there are three “main reasons” he wants a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon now.

“With the United States’ full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action. If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to rebuild terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck carrying rockets, we will attack”, Netanyahu noted.

“The first reason is to focus on the Iranian threat, and I won’t expand on that. The second reason is to give our forces a breather and replenish stocks. And I say it openly, it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. These delays will be resolved soon. We will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe and give us more strike force to complete our mission. And the third reason for having a ceasefire is to separate the fronts and isolate Hamas. From day two of the war, Hamas was counting on Hezbollah to fight by its side. With Hezbollah out of the picture, Hamas is left on its own. We will increase our pressure on Hamas and that will help us in our sacred mission of releasing our hostages,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli PM’s speech was released after an Israeli official told CNN the security cabinet had approved a ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu also said the duration of a ceasefire would “depend on what happens in Lebanon”.

He added that Israel would resume attacks if Hezbollah violated the agreement by rearming, digging tunnels, launching rockets, or rebuilding its infrastructure near the Israeli border.

“With the United States’ full understanding, we maintain full freedom of military action,” he said.

Israel and Lebanon have been engaged in a prolonged conflict that began on October 8 last year, when Hezbollah attacked Israeli-controlled territory in solidarity with Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza, as reported by CNN.

This incident sparked a series of tit-for-tat border attacks, which eventually escalated into a major military offensive launched by Israel in mid-September.

The conflict has seen a ground invasion by Israel, resulting in the deaths of several Hezbollah leaders, including one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, and thousands of injuries from an attack involving exploding pagers. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The United States and its allies have called for a 21-day ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border, effective immediately. The proposed pause, endorsed by a 12-nation bloc, including the UK, EU and several Arab states, comes amid intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes have killed nearly 600 people and displaced roughly 5 lakh people in Lebanon since Monday.

The joint statement, issued by President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, stressed the need for safety and security, urging both Israel and Lebanon to agree to a temporary halt in hostilities. “The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians,” the leaders said. They said the proposed ceasefire would allow diplomatic efforts to succeed and “enable civilians to return to their homes.”

The call comes after Israel’s military chief, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, signalled that extensive airstrikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon could lead to Israeli forces entering enemy territory. The joint statement by the US and its allies noted that the hostilities were presenting the risk of broader regional “escalations” across the border.

Despite the international push, official responses from the Israeli and Lebanese governments are still pending. According to a senior US official, negotiations with Lebanon are underway, expecting the government, and not Hezbollah, to take the lead in handling non-state actors within its borders, the BBC reported.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, cautioning that “hell is breaking loose.”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the airstrikes, calling them a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. He hoped for a resolution that pressured Israel into agreeing to the ceasefire, adding, “We are facing blatant violations of our sovereignty and human rights.”

In response, Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, maintained that Israel does not seek a full-scale war but is committed to using “all means at our disposal” to protect its citizens, in line with international laws. 

Meanwhile, cross-border attacks continue, with Hezbollah targeting Israeli military and intelligence installations.

Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, condemned Israel’s airstrikes, warning that the Middle East is facing a “full-scale catastrophe.” Tehran also vowed it would support Lebanon by “all means necessary” should Israel intensify its military offensive. 

Jammu:

A Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was injured when Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian posts in violation of a ceasefire agreement along the border here on Wednesday, officials said. The BSF troops also retaliated but the casualties on the Pakistani side were not known immediately, they said.

“At about 2.35 am, an incident of unprovoked firing in the Akhnoor area from across the border happened and which was befittingly responded by the BSF. One BSF personnel sustained injuries in Pakistani firing,” a spokesperson of the border guarding force said.

He said the troops are on high alert and keeping a strict vigil all along the International Border and Line of Control.

The ceasefire violation between the two countries has been very rare ever since India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021. Last year, a BSF jawan was killed in Pakistan Rangers firing in the Ramgarh sector, the first loss of life on the Indian side in more than three years.

The latest ceasefire violation comes days ahead of the first phase of the three-phase assembly elections scheduled on September 18. The second phase of the elections will be held on September 25 followed by the third phase on October 1.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Palestinians assess damage in the street following an Israeli military operation in Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on September 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Israeli forces appeared Friday (September 6, 2024) to have withdrawn from the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, after a more-than weeklong military operation that has left dozens dead and a trail of destruction.

Overnight, Israeli armored personnel carriers were seen leaving the camp from a checkpoint set up on one of the main roads, and an Associated Press reporter inside the camp saw no evidence of any remaining troops inside as dawn broke early Friday morning.

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Israel’s military had no immediate comment but said it would issue a statement later in the day. It was not clear whether the apparent withdrawal was only a temporary measure to regroup forces.

Hundreds of Israeli troops have been involved for more than a week in what has been their deadliest operation in the occupied West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began, employing what the United Nations called “lethal war-like tactics.” Their focus has been the Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of Palestinian militancy that has grown since the Hamas attack on Israel that started the war in Gaza nearly 11 months ago.

Fighting in Jenin accounts for 21 of 39 Palestinians who local health officials say have been killed during the Israeli push in the West Bank — most of whom, the military says, have been militants.

Effect on civilians

The fighting has had a devastating effect on Palestinian civilians living in Jenin.

Water and electric services have been cut, families have been confined to their homes and ambulances evacuating the wounded have been slowed on their way to nearby hospitals, as Israeli soldiers search for militants.

In the quiet morning Friday, Jenin residents took advantage of the lull to rummage through the rubble of destroyed buildings and take stock of the damage.

Twisted rebar protruded from the concrete of collapsed buildings, and walls still standing were pockmarked by bullets and shrapnel.

During the operation, Israeli military officials said they were targeting militants in Jenin, Tulkarem and the Al-Faraa refugee camp curb recent attacks against Israeli civilians they say have become more sophisticated and deadly.

It was not immediately clear whether they were also removing troops from the other two camps as well.

Israel under pressure

Israel has been under increasing pressure from the United States and other allies to reach a cease-fire deal in Gaza, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on a demand that has emerged as a major sticking point in talks — continued Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow band along Gaza’s border with Egypt where Israel contends Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza. Egypt and Hamas deny it.

Hamas has accused Israel of dragging out months of negotiations by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over both Philadelphi corridor and a second corridor running across Gaza.

Hamas has offered to release all hostages in return for an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants — broadly the terms called for under an outline for a deal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden in July.