Northern Gaza in 'full-blown' famine: Senior UN official

I think going be very soon all important holidays are over


Middle East updates: US renews warning on Rafah offensive


'Probably the last chance' for Gaza cease-fire deal, Middle East expert tells DW
DW spoke with Middle East expert Daniel Gerlach about the ongoing negotiations to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas.

He called the talks "probably the last chance that with this constellation, with the involvement of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, a hostage deal can be negotiated."

He said "everyone is very serious about the proposal," pointing to the increased pressure on Israel from the US, the presence of a Hamas delegation in Cairo and the visit by the head of the Egyptian national intelligence agency, Abbas Kamel, to Israel.

"There are great expectations, but also a high degree of frustration," he said, adding that — according to Qatari mediators — both Israel and Hamas have "sabotaged" earlier attempts to reach a cease-fire.

Some Arab countries are discussing evacuating "parts of the Hamas leadership to another Arab country," with Algeria being put forward as a suggestion.

"However, I think the Israelis need some sort of a symbolic victory image that proves they have won the war," he added, suggesting that this could be the capture o


Israeli offensive in Rafah would cause unacceptable damage: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated his warnings against a planned major Israeli offensive on the crowded city of Rafah in Gaza .

Blinken told a high-level political forum in Arizona that Israel had not yet presented "a credible plan to genuinely protect the civilians who are in harm's way."

"Absent such a plan, we can't support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what's acceptable," Blinken said.

Blinken was speaking two days after meeting Israeli Prim


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