This week was marked by an Israeli strike that killed the Houthi’s prime minister in Yemen, Belgium’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state (and Israel’s response to this widespread recognition) and — most recently — the beginning of Israel’s ground operation in Gaza City. Belgium announced its plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later in September, the most recent of various European countries to do so. Belgian Prime Minister Prevot did condition the recognition pledge on Hamas releasing all of the remaining Israeli hostages and not exercising any role in the governance of Gaza. Prevot also wrote in his announcement that Belgium would place 12 sanctions on Israel, including a ban on importing products associated with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. As part of these sanctions, Belgium also declared two “extremist” Israeli ministers as “persona non gratae” in Brussels. This designation also applies to “several violent settlers”, and Hamas leaders as well. In retaliation to the wave of pledges to recognize Palestine this summer, Netanyahu is contemplating annexing parts of the West Bank. According to Israeli officials, in an upcoming meeting, Netanyahu will discuss these annexation plans with top cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Smotrich. Netanyahu is reportedly weighing various forms of annexation, from a takeover of settlements in the West Bank to an annexation of Area C. However, this has not been confirmed yet by Israel or the US. Meanwhile, the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group designated as a terrorist organization, has confirmed the killing of its prime minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, by an Israeli airstrike. The airstrike targeted Sana, Yemen’s capital, and also killed other senior Houthi officials. Since October 7th, the Houthis have been launching missiles at Israel and attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Today, Israel began its ground operation in Gaza City, which was authorized by Netanyahu last month. Israel began mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists and reiterated evacuation warnings to Gaza City’s residents. This decision has sparked immense fear in Gaza City of intensified killing and even more displacement. Many Israelis are also concerned for how this operation will impact the hostages and the prospects for a ceasefire deal. Just yesterday, on what was supposed to be their first day of school, Israeli teens participated in a coordinated, nationwide strike for a hostage and ceasefire deal. It should be noted that all of these updates happen in the context of escalating settler violence and raids in the West Bank, and an atrocious humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

This week was marked by stalling ceasefire talks, an intensifying Israeli assault on Gaza City, an official declaration of famine and various highly controversial Israeli military actions that many agree to be war crimes. Last week, Hamas accepted the latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza brought forth by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The proposal is similar to the one that fell apart in July, stipulating that Hamas releases ten living hostages and eighteen deceased hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners (including women and children) and a sixty-day truce, during which follow-up negotiations would take place. Despite the fact that Netanyahu claims he is “immediately” starting ceasefire and hostage release negotiations, Israel has not responded to the deal. Netanyahu is now rejecting deals that release the hostages in phases, instead demanding for a comprehensive hostage release and an end to the war “on terms acceptable to Israel.” The stalling of yet another ceasefire agreement has triggered hundreds of thousands of Israelis to protest their government for what they — and many others — perceive as an effort to prolong the war and preserve political power. This explanation is very likely, evidenced by Israel’s recent aggressive assault on Gaza City. In the last week, Israel has pushed even deeper into the city, blowing up buildings and destroying infrastructure. Israel’s plans to seize Gaza City are stoking widespread fear in its residents for yet another mass evacuation by the Israeli government. Meanwhile, famine has been officially declared in Gaza City and surrounding areas, as confirmed by Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The determination prompted criticism from the Israeli government and its defenders, who argued that the IPC used lower standards to determine famine in Gaza than in other areas. One of the three components of famine is the percentage of children 6 months to 5 years old suffering from malnutrition. This percentage can either be 30%, based on a weight-to-height measurement, or 15%, based on the circumference of their upper arm. The criticism was mostly directed at the IPC’s decision to use the latter lower standard. However, it should be noted that Israel’s limits on international access to Gaza created a lack of sufficient data to make the weight-to-height assessment, causing the IPC to rely on arm circumference instead. Also in Gaza, multiple controversial Israeli attacks, widely considered war crimes, have occurred. On Monday, Israel struck Southern Gaza’s Nasser hospital, killing 22 people, including 5 journalists who worked for Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera. The IDF then bombed the hospital a second time, as rescue workers arrived, resulting in more damage. In a rare moment, Israel acknowledged the strike and Netenyahu expressed regret for the “tragic mishap.” However, Israel also justified the strike by claiming, without any evidence, that the hospital was the site of a Hamas camera being used to surveil the IDF. The strike comes two weeks after Israel’s killing of Gazan Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who Israel also claimed was part of Hamas. These recent events have prompted even more international outcry against Israel and its actions.

This last week and a half saw a continuation of the Israeli-engineered starvation in the Gaza Strip, new Hamas footage of emaciated hostages, a potentially meaningful UN conference on the two-state solution, and most recently, Israeli plans to militarily occupy Gaza. As of publication, nearly 200 Palestinians have starved to death as a result of the lack of food available in the Gaza Strip. Following months of Israel blocking the flow of aid into Gaza, a recent burst of international pressure has caused Israel to allow in more aid. However, until the war ends, experts say that humanitarian efforts in Gaza will not resolve the current crisis. Meanwhile, Hamas recently released new video footage of Israeli hostage Evyatar David appearing emaciated as he dug his own grave. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video of Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski, also looking sickly thin. The videos provoked a wave of outrage in Israel, both against Hamas for continuing to hold and abuse the hostages, and at Netanyahu, who is prolonging the war to stay in power. Days before, a UN conference led by France and Saudi Arabia to revive the two-state solution took place in New York. At the conference, the entire Arab League condemned the October 7th terror attacks and demanded that Hamas release the hostages and disarm. The PA called for the same, along with restating its recognition of Israel’s right to exist, pledging to terminate prisoner payments (or the “pay for slay” system), promising educational reform, committing to elections within a year, and accepting the demilitarized status of a future Palestinian state. Finally, a number of Western countries indicated their willingness to recognize a Palestinian state in the future. The two-state solution has been the basis of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for decades. However, issues like Israeli settlement expansion and the Palestinian desire to return to Israel — as well as the failure of the Oslo peace process — have led many to give up on the idea of a two-state solution. While some propose the one-state solution (a single state for Israelis and Palestinians), many see it as unrealistic and dangerous. In recent years, the concept of a confederation has gained popularity as a solution to the conflict. Regardless, the UN conference represents a glimmer of hope for a peaceful future between Israelis and Palestinians. Right now, this future couldn’t feel more far off. Netanyahu has said that Israel plans to take control of the Gaza Strip through military occupation. Netanyahu justified the controversial decision by saying it would ensure Israel’s security and facilitate the removal of Hamas. He also indicated the occupation would be temporary and that Gaza would be handed over to “Arab forces”. However, critics believe an Israeli occupation would be a large mistake, further endangering the lives of Gazans and Israeli hostages. Additionally, several extremist Israeli politicians — to whom Netanyahu is beholden — have routinely expressed their desire to resettle Gaza, contradicting Netanyahu’s statement. The situation is still unclear at this point in time.

This week has been marked by a rapid acceleration in the starvation in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Classification platform recently announced that Gaza has reached two of the three famine thresholds: plummeting food consumption and acute malnutrition. Over 20,000 children received treatment for acute malnutrition over the last few months. The remaining threshold is deaths from malnutrition, although over 115 Gazans have died from starvation. Many of these deaths have occurred during the last two weeks. Meanwhile, the death-toll in Gaza just passed 60,000, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. It should be noted, however, that many believe the toll is an undercount, as there are likely thousands under the rubble who have yet to be found. Graphic images and reports of the starvation have prompted a burst of international pressure. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France would recognize the State of Palestine in September at the New York United Nations General Assembly Meeting. Days ago, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would also recognize the State of Palestinian in September unless Israel pursues a ceasefire and commits to peace in the form of the two-state solution. Even United States leaders like Donald Trump and JD Vance have expressed criticism, although very restrained. There is “real starvation,” said Trump on Monday. “Israel’s got to do more to let that aid in,” Vance remarked. Israel has responded to this global outcry in a limited capacity. Israel has begun dropping humanitarian aid into Gaza, and it also announced that it would pause fighting for ten hours a day in order to let more food reach the strip. Still, international organizations have said that these measures will not stop starvation — only a ceasefire would allow sufficient humanitarian aid to enter the territory. Israel has painted reports of starvation as Hamas propaganda, and blamed the UN for failing to distribute aid waiting at the Gazan border. Israel also has accused Hamas of deliberately impeding humanitarian efforts and stealing aid. However, the New York Times recently released a report saying no evidence supports the claim that Hamas systemically diverts aid. In other news, on Monday, a Palestinian peace activist named Awdaw Hathaleen was killed by an Israeli settler in Umm al-Khair, a West Bank village. The killing took place in the larger municipality Masafer Yatta, which faces constant harassment from settler violence and house demolitions. It was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land , directed by Israelis and Palestinians, which Awdaw had contributed to.

This week in the Middle East was marked by Israel’s intervention in Syria against the backdrop of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza. The Israeli Knesset also notably passed a resolution declaring Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Violence had erupted last week in the Syrian province of Suwayda between Druze and Bedouins, with both groups retaliating against each other for what they accused were atrocities coming from the other side. The Syrian government had intervened and appeared to side with the Bedouins, committing atrocities of their own against the Druze population. Israel generally sees the Druze as allies. The Druze population within Israel is loyal to the country, serving in the army at very high rates. Israel intervened in Syria with airstrikes against government forces and military infrastructure in Suwayda and Damascus, justifying it by claiming they were trying to protect the Druze from further persecution. It is probable, however, that Israel’s goals were more than humanitarian. Israel has consistently demanded that Suwayda and other Southern Syrian provinces remain demilitarized for Israeli security. This was likely another motivation for the intervention. The escalation between Israel and Syria’s new government, led by President al-Sharaa, makes the future of their relationship uncertain. They have a common adversary in Iran and its proxies, and there have been reports of limited, indirect talks between the two parties. However, the status of the Golan Heights and this most recent Israeli intervention makes normalization highly unlikely at this juncture. On Saturday, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire in Suwayda between the Druze and the Bedouins. Talks between Israel and Syria regarding security matters have resumed, deescalating the situation for now. Meanwhile, the misery in Gaza only grows. Starvation appeared to have intensified this week. Since October 7th, at least 111 Gazans have died from hunger-related causes. 43 of these deaths have occurred within the last few days, indicating a rapid acceleration. Dozens more Gazans looking for aid were gunned down by the IDF this week, bringing the death toll of Gazans at aid sites to at least 1,000 since May. This Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset voted on a declaratory resolution calling on the cabinet to fully apply Israel sovereignty across the West Bank. The vote passed by 71 votes to 13. Although the resolution has no legislative consequences and is purely symbolic, it largely aligns with what many see as the goal of the current Israeli government: to annex the West Bank.

This week in the Middle East was marked by Israel’s intervention in Syria against the backdrop of the ever-worsening situation in Gaza. The Israeli Knesset also notably passed a resolution declaring Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank. Violence had erupted last week in the Syrian province of Suwayda between Druze and Bedouins, with both groups retaliating against each other for what they accused were atrocities coming from the other side. The Syrian government had intervened and appeared to side with the Bedouins, committing atrocities of their own against the Druze population. Israel generally sees the Druze as allies. The Druze population within Israel is loyal to the country, serving in the army at very high rates. Israel intervened in Syria with airstrikes against government forces and military infrastructure in Suwayda and Damascus, justifying it by claiming they were trying to protect the Druze from further persecution. It is probable, however, that Israel’s goals were more than humanitarian. Israel has consistently demanded that Suwayda and other Southern Syrian provinces remain demilitarized for Israeli security. This was likely another motivation for the intervention. The escalation between Israel and Syria’s new government, led by President al-Sharaa, makes the future of their relationship uncertain. They have a common adversary in Iran and its proxies, and there have been reports of limited, indirect talks between the two parties. However, the status of the Golan Heights and this most recent Israeli intervention makes normalization highly unlikely at this juncture. On Saturday, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire in Suwayda between the Druze and the Bedouins. Talks between Israel and Syria regarding security matters have resumed, deescalating the situation for now. Meanwhile, the misery in Gaza only grows. Starvation appeared to have intensified this week. Since October 7th, at least 111 Gazans have died from hunger-related causes. 43 of these deaths have occurred within the last few days, indicating a rapid acceleration. Dozens more Gazans looking for aid were gunned down by the IDF this week, bringing the death toll of Gazans at aid sites to at least 1,000 since May. This Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset voted on a declaratory resolution calling on the cabinet to fully apply Israel sovereignty across the West Bank. The vote passed by 71 votes to 13. Although the resolution has no legislative consequences and is purely symbolic, it largely aligns with what many see as the goal of the current Israeli government: to annex the West Bank. 50

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Qatar appear to have stalled, leading many to believe that they are on the verge of collapse. While the initial reception to Trump’s proposed framework from both parties was promising, little has recently been heard about the ongoing negotiations. The obstacles to an agreement between Israel and Hamas have proven nearly impossible to overcome. Israel is adamant on Hamas’ total destruction in all forms — military, political, and symbolic. Earlier in February, a Hamas political official claimed that Hamas was ready to cede political control over Gaza, yet he conditioned disarmament on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state — something that the Israeli government has categorically rejected. Hamas clearly wants to play some role in a post-war Gaza, even if not in its government. Meanwhile, it has become clear that Netanyahu has been prolonging the war to remain in power. This week, the New York Times published an exposé revealing that Netanyahu rejected past ceasefire deals at the behest of extremist Israeli politicians Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who threatened to leave the government and thereby end Netanyahu’s prime ministership. These factors all contribute to the elusiveness of a ceasefire deal. This week, the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced his proposal to build a “humanitarian city” for Gazans on the ruins of Rafah. Katz claims that the city’s purpose is to create a secure zone for 600,000 Gazan civilians, where they would be apart from Hamas and receive aid. Under his proposal, Gazans would not be allowed to leave the city, except to other countries as part of a “voluntary emigration” process that Katz envisions. The city has been likened to a concentration camp by critics both inside and outside of Israel, who argue that there is no other term for a structure that forcibly imprisons an entire population. Recently, Israel has been concentrating Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip through evacuations and its placement of aid distribution sites in the south. The city proposal appears to be the next stage of this effort. Israeli politicians’ repeated calls to expel Gazans and resettle Gaza support the view taken by many human rights experts — that the “humanitarian” nature of the city is a pretext to accelerate the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from northern areas of Gaza. Israel has been systemically clearing out infrastructure within these northern areas, an ominous indicator of future Jewish settlement. Defenders of Israel claim that calls for expulsion and settlement have not been translated into Israeli policy, while its critics argue that we are currently witnessing their implementation. Meanwhile, in the West Bank town of Sinjil, Israeli settlers beat to death a 20-year-old American citizen, Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet, from Florida. Musallet was trying to defend his family’s land from the settlers, who circled him for over three hours to block the ambulance from reaching him. The IDF expressed awareness of the killing, saying that it is being “looked into” by the Israeli police. This attack is part of a larger trend of increasing settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

This past week has been defined by renewed ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Following a successful US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump has seemed intent to put an end to the war in Gaza. Last Tuesday, Trump had announced a proposal for a sixty day truce between Israel and Hamas, during which the two parties would negotiate further for a permanent ceasefire. These sixty days would correspond to an increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and a gradual release of the remaining Israeli hostages. The proposal stipulated the phased release of ten living and eighteen deceased hostages throughout the sixty days in exchange for the immediate increase of aid. International organizations would primarily be responsible for the distribution of the aid. The negotiations during the truce would cover further hostage releases in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and plans for Gaza following the end of the war. Last Wednesday, Trump reported that Israel had agreed to the necessary conditions for the sixty-day truce to take place. Netanyahu at that point had not publicly endorsed Trump’s plan. Hamas on Friday said that it had submitted a “positive” response to the truce to Egypt and Qatar, who are involved in mediating the ceasefire talks. These developments raised hopes for another temporary pause in the deadly fighting in Gaza. On Saturday, Israel announced its decision to send a delegation to Qatar on Sunday for ceasefire talks with Hamas. However, Netanyahu accused Hamas of making changes to the truce plan that are “unacceptable to Israel”. A Palestinian official said that, despite its initial acceptance of the deal, Hamas had sought amendments to prevent a resumption of hostilities if the talks failed. Regardless, talks began on Sunday and are ongoing. Despite these seemingly promising negotiations, the war in Gaza by all means rages on, at least as of now. Friday saw at least 138 Palestinians killed by Israel, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. On Saturday, two American employees of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — the controversial American and Israeli-backed organization currently responsible for aid distribution in Gaza — were wounded in a grenade attack on its site in Khan Younis. Israel and the US said that Hamas was behind the attack. Hopes are high for an end to the war that has killed almost 60,000 Palestinians and the release of the hostages who have been held captive for 21 months. However, little differentiates this particular plan from the many prior that have fallen apart. There are no guarantees for its success, especially because little has been heard since Sunday, when talks began. Meanwhile, on Monday, Israeli settlers attacked the only entirely Christian village in the West Bank, Taybeh. The settlers set fires near Taybeh’s ancient Byzantine cemetery and the Church of Al-Khader, which dates back to the 5th century and is one of the West Bank’s oldest churches. This recent attack follows repeated harassment by Israeli settlers on Taybeh in the last few weeks, and is part of a larger trend of increasing settler violence in the West Bank.

Representatives of the Coalition for Peace and Coexistence and HWPL during a formal meeting in Melbourne. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence held its first formal in-person institutional meeting with Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace organisation, in Melbourne. The meeting provided an opportunity for structured dialogue between the two organisations, focusing on respective peacebuilding approaches, civil society engagement, and the importance of principled, non-violent efforts to address conflict and division. Discussions were conducted in a professional and exploratory capacity, reflecting a shared commitment to dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence operates as a neutral international alliance of Israeli, Palestinian, and international peacebuilding organisations. In line with its principles, the meeting did not constitute a formal partnership or endorsement, but rather an initial institutional engagement aimed at mutual understanding and information exchange. The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence continues to engage with a range of civil society actors globally, prioritising dialogue, neutrality, and respect as foundational elements of sustainable peacebuilding. Further updates regarding formal partnerships or cooperative initiatives, where applicable, will be communicated through official channels. — The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence (CPC), an international alliance bringing together over 20 Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilding organisations, unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack targeting members of the Jewish community during Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney. An act of violence reportedly carried out in a public civilian space, near a children’s playground and in broad daylight, this attack represents an assault on innocent life and on the fundamental principles of human dignity and safety. Violence directed at civilians — particularly acts motivated by hatred or identity — is categorically rejected by the CPC. This attack underscores a painful reality: the divisions, fear, and radicalisation often associated with distant conflicts do not remain confined to one region. They spill across borders and societies, harming innocent people far removed from the original theatres of violence. This reality reinforces the urgency of sustained, principled, and neutral peacebuilding efforts worldwide. The CPC denounces all forms of violence without exception, reaffirms its commitment to non-violent dialogue and coexistence, and extends its deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and the wider Jewish community affected by this attack. Peace must be built through courage, restraint, and humanity — not through terror. — The Coalition for Peace and Coexistence (CPC)