Israel/Palästina

The European Commission and more than a dozen countries launched an initiative on Monday to deliver Є 883.6 million ($1 billion) in aid projects to help Gaza recover from war.

Israel's parliament on Sunday said it had set the country's national elections for October 27, the latest date permitted by law, which will allow the ruling coalition to complete a full four-term. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving premier, announced that he "intends to win" despite polls showing that a majority of Israelis want him out of office over multiple corruption trials, controversial judicial reforms, and concerns over the ongoing wars in Gaza and Iran. 

This decision could pave the way for the territory to be administered by an already-formed technocratic committee, whose mission is to ensure Palestinian representation in institutions.

The continued expansion of areas under Israeli control in Gaza since October’s ceasefire agreement is placing civilians at greater risk and severely constraining humanitarian operations, the UN and humanitarian partners warned on Wednesday. The alert comes amid continued displacement and mounting humanitarian pressures across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). 

The European Union has appointed Felix Andåker as Head of the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) for the period from 1 July to 30 September this year, … .

Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide and atrocity crimes in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in the West Bank, a UN independent commission of inquiry said in its latest report released on Tuesday.

Israel's foreign minister said Thursday he was severing all contact with the European Union's top diplomat over reported remarks in which she allegedly compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. … Kallas twice responded to Saar's comments on Thursday -- via social media and to reporters -- but declined to address the alleged "apartheid" remarks.

President of Colombia chairs debate on mediation, identifies racial hatred as root cause of global conflicts. 

On Wednesday, the Security Council will convene a high-level debate on “Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace.” Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. The meeting is a fitting occasion to ask a simple question: Who will actually be doing the job of mediating in the Middle East on the UN’s behalf in the months and years ahead?

Talks on advancing the fragile Gaza ceasefire have begun in Cairo between mediators and Palestinian factions, a Palestinian source familiar with the meeting told AFP. … The talks bring together mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, along with representatives of several Palestinian factions, as efforts continue to push forward negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.