The EU is helping Turkey forcibly deport migrants to Syria and Afghanistan
European taxpayers finance ill-treatment and forced expulsion, an investigation found.
humanitarian aid
One year since October 7 attacks: Is the EU impotent in Middle East escalation?
It has been one year since Israel suffered its worst ever terrorist attack, with Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups killing more than 1,000 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostage. Israel’s response has devastated Gaza, displacing most of the …
The EUโs most pointless job
Josep Borrell loves to condemn things โ sometimes in the “strongest possible terms.” Does it ever have any impact?
EU gives โฌ30 million extra to Lebanon in humanitarian aid
The additional funds bring the total amount of monetary aid provided to more than โฌ100 million for 2024.
EU eyes migration routes as humanitarian crisis in Lebanon unfolds
With one million people displaced in Lebanon following Israel’s ground invasion, EU foreign ministers are discussing the possibility of more migrant inflows to the European Union. Tune into the podcast to hear what the experts have to say.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy ramps up efforts to secure military investments and humanitarian aid
Ukrainian President met with several entities on Wednesday to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s defence, as well as securing aid in preparation for the winter.
Russia tightens grip on Donetsk region as it captures key Ukrainian town
Kyiv’s forces had to withdraw to avoid encirclement.
Middle East braces for wider conflict as Israel and Iran trade threats
“There is nowhere in Iran or the Middle East beyond the reach of the long arm of Israel,” Prime Minister Netanyahu warned.
Let Ukraine strike into the heart of Russia, MEPs urge EU countries
European Parliament puts pressure on national governments with large vote in favor of letting Kyiv hit strategic Russian territory.
Russia tried to stage coup in Armenia, prosecutors allege
A traditional Moscow ally, Armenia has pivoted to the West since the Ukraine war began, and its PM now says it could seek EU membership.
The 5 commissioners most likely to get the chop
Once every five years the European Parliament gets to pick off a nominee or two โ and rarely fails to do so.
Ukraine war briefing: Blinken briefed on Kyivโs plan to push Russia to end war
Zelenskiy expected to present plan to UN general assembly next week; Microsoft says Russia behind Harris disinformation. What we know on day 938See all our Ukraine war coverageUS secretary of state Antony Blinken was briefed during his trip to Kyiv on …
Spain hosts high-level meeting on Israel-Palestine two-state solution
Hosted in Madrid, Arab, Turkish, and European officials discussed a two-state solution for Israel-Palestine and urgent humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The great Commission puzzle: Who we think will get each portfolio
Ursula von der Leyen is about to hand out key jobs in her team. Hereโs POLITICOโs version of the next Commission.
From a hospital in Gaza: โPlease let me dieโ
We urge the international and medical community to demand an immediate and permanent cease-fire, and to allow access to the humanitarian aid so desperately needed.
Zelenskyy urges Modi to back Ukraineโs โjust peaceโ push after Putin hug
Indian PM comes to Kyiv to demonstrate he stands for peace, while signing pharma and agri deals.
Why Germanyโs coalition is back at war (with itself)
Germany’s pro-business liberals have spent the summer trolling their center-left coalition partners, further enervating the already-weak government.
As Kyiv makes gains in Kursk, Russia strikes back in Donetsk
Ukraine captured a record 102 Russian soldiers in the Kursk region in one day on Wednesday.
Ukraineโs raid into Russia has shifted the tactical narrative
Kursk has indeed turned the tables on Russia, but itโs also highly questionable whether it has shifted the grim dynamics of the conflict.
Alone and unwanted: Millions of displaced Ukrainians hope to go home as the war rages
The Kyiv government is strapped for cash, but millions depend on aid to survive.
Russia evacuates parts of Kursk region amid ongoing Ukrainian attack
After Ukraine launched an incursion into Russian territory earlier this week, Moscow is making efforts to evacuate its citizens and send them humanitarian aid.
US, Egypt, Qatar intensify push for Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire talks
Joint statement urges resumption of peace negotiations next week.
US aid is flowing to Ukraine again. Can it turn the tide of the war?
Ukraineโs morale is improving on two fronts โ at least for now.
EU finally sends โฌ1.5B from Russian assets to Ukraine
Most of the funds will be used to buy weapons for Kyiv.
A defiant Netanyahu vows to stay the course; hits โuseful idiotsโ
Netanyahu praised Biden for his โheartfelt supportโ following Hamasโ surprise attack.
Harris may not be the savior on Gaza some dems want
In most ways, Harrisโ policy toward the Israelis and Palestinians isnโt necessarily going to differ that much from Bidenโs.
Breath bated, Russia and Ukraine monitor US as Biden withdraws from race
Moscow sniffs a plot behind American president’s decision not to run for reelection, while Kyiv hopes Washington perseveres with aid.
Zelenskyy urges partners to show โbraveryโ in helping Ukraine
Ukraine president warns Russian leader Vladimir Putin will work to break up the pro-Ukraine alliance.
Hamas claims military chief survived Israeli strike
But the Israeli military announced that Rafa Salama, a Hamas commander it described as one of Deifโs closest associates, was killed in Saturdayโs strike.
Israel and Turkey trade blows in row over NATO โcomplicityโ in Gaza
President Erdoฤan has vowed to prevent military support for Israel until a cease-fire agreement is reached.
Ukraine war briefing: Thousands of Ukrainian convicts join fight against Russian forces
More than 3,000 prisoners in Ukraine released on parole to boost military numbers; Hungaryโs pro-Russian PM, Viktor Orbรกn, expected to visit Kyiv. What we know on day 860See all our Ukraine war coverageUkraine is turning to its prisoner population to h…
Fighting in Gaza will continue, Netanyahu tells Cabinet amid tense cease-fire talks
The U.S. has been pushing Israel to agree to a three-part cease-fire deal, backed by several countries including France, the U.K., Egypt, Qatar and by the European Commission.
Famine will loom over Gaza as long as conflict rages, report warns
Latest data shows that more than half of the population often doesnโt have any food to eat, nearly nine months into Israelโs bombardment and siege of the enclave.
LEAK: Spain to ask member states for medical aid with Gaza patients
Spain will urge EU health ministers to support the transfer of patients in need of urgent medical care from Gaza to EU countries willing to offer their healthcare services, according to a leaked document seen by Euractiv.
Israeli army to pause some Gaza fighting during the day for humanitarian aid
Military to suspend fighting along a road in southern Gaza during certain hours to allow aid deliveries to reach Palestinians.
US unveils $1.5B in new energy, humanitarian aid for Ukraine
Vice President Harris announced the package at Ukraine peace summit inย Switzerland.
Photographer Mark Neville on capturing the horror of war and delivering aid in Ukraine
A British photographer who has lived in Ukraine since 2020 has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his mission to help the Ukrainian people since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Mark Neville has set up a charity called Postcode Ukraine that makes deliveries of hu…
UN Security Council approves Gaza cease-fire resolution
The U.S.-led resolution increases pressure on Hamas and Israel to end hostilities.
US supported Israel in hostage rescue in Gaza
Sullivan also said there was no confirmation any Israeli hostages were killed in the rescue mission.
White House prods Israel to accept Gaza peace plan
U.S. national security spokesperson John Kirby said that if Hamas accepts the deal to end the Gaza war, Washington expectsย Israel to accept the plan too.
France bans Israeli companies from major weapons show over Rafah assault
Paris to Israeli arms merchants: Sorry, you’re not welcome.
Norwayโs PM: Why we recognized the state of Palestine
Only a two-state solution can provide security, prosperity and hope for the people of both Israel and Palestine.
EUโs Charles Michel backs recognition of Palestinian statehood
Meanwhile, the Belgian presidency of the Council of EU is trying to find a common position among the 27 member countries of the bloc.
EU foreign ministers discuss sanctions against Israel
“For the first time at an EU meeting, in a real way, I’ve seen significant discussion on sanctions and ‘what if’,” Ireland’s foreign minister said.
โNo longer justifiableโ: European leaders condemn Israelโs strike on refugee camp
Israel’s actions are “incompatible with international law,” German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said.
Israel must halt Rafah offensive, orders UN top court
ICJ cites “immediate risk” to Palestinians.
US preparing for โprominentโ role in postwar Gaza
The idea was mentioned in a classified State Department document that outlined how the U.S. could help stabilize Gaza after a cease-fire.
Europeโs new political consensus: We need to make more weapons
The war in Ukraine has shifted thinking โ both among politicians and the public โ on the need to spend more on defense.
The frontrunners for the next European Commission
Even before the European elections, maneuvering is under way for top jobs in Brussels.
France stands by decision not to recognize Palestinian state
EU countries are divided on whether to recognize a Palestinian state or not.
Biden: Whatโs happening in Gaza โis not genocideโ
The president emphasized his backing of Israel, aiming to quell frustrations heโd conditioned aid.
Palestinian PM thanks Portugal for UN rights vote, humanitarian aid
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa thanked Portugal on Monday for voting to extend Palestinian rights at the UN and for its humanitarian support, said Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.
European leaders divided on ICC arrest warrant bid for Netanyahu
Reactions ranged from welcoming the International Criminal Court’s decision to slamming it as “appalling” and “non comprehensible.”
Commissionerโs offering of EU โsolidarityโ with Iran creates storm
“European solidarity? With whom. And with whose money?” one MEP asked.
Blinken orders crackdown on Israel-Hamas leaks
The secretaryโs message has been delivered to every corner of the State Department.
EU urges Israel to end Rafah offensive โimmediatelyโ
Brussels warns that failure to do so would undermine relations between Israel and the bloc.
UKโs David Cameron slams โextremistโ Israeli attacks on Gaza-bound aid
UK’s top diplomat will raise attack on convoys with Israeli government.
Cease-fire calls mount as Israel ramps up military operations in north and south of Gaza
U.N. chief Guterres renews demands for an immediate cease-fire, unconditional release of all hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid.
Biden admin punts on declaring Israel violated international law
A new State Department report, criticized as inconclusive, drew immediate fire from both progressive Democrats and Republicans.
Armenian protesters vow to oust prime minister
Demonstrators issue ultimatum for Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation and pledge to derail his push for a peace deal with Azerbaijan.
Russia to withdraw troops from Armeniaโs border
The move comes as the South Caucasus country seeks to normalize ties with historic rival Azerbaijan.
Progressives cheer Bidenโs Israel weapon pause while Republicans fume
“We’re trying to turn the Titanic,” one Democratic lawmaker said.
US report on Israelโs wartime conduct in Gaza delayed, aides say
The State Department was expected to issue a report on Wednesday.
EUโs top diplomat condemns assault on Rafah as Israel halts aid routes
โThe will to continue the war will produce another great humanitarian crisis, bigger than it is already.โ
Israel approved Rafah military operation and started striking Hamas targets
The decision by Israelโs War Cabinet came hours after Hamas agreed to a cease-fire that Israel hadnโt previously accepted.
US fears Israel speeding up Rafah invasion timeline after deadly Hamas attack
A Hamas rocket attack on Sunday killed four Israeli soldiers.
โI love my country, but I canโt killโ: Ukrainian men evading conscription
As the war stretches on indefinitely, there are few eager recruits and Kyivโs armed forces are short of soldiersAnton* was on his way to work as a civilian volunteer in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv 10 days ago. Several men stopped him. They asked: โHi…
Rethinking EU restrictive measuresย ย ย ย
Against a backdrop of alternative global trade channels, food insecurity, and a stagnant EU economy, sanctions against Russia need to be more strategic and fair to legitimate businesses.
EU pledges further โฌ68M in humanitarian aid for Palestinians
“The critical condition of Palestinians in extreme peril is getting disastrous beyond words,โ the European Commissioner for Crisis Management said.
Ukrainian agriculture minister offers resignation following corruption allegations
Mykola Solskyi is accused of abetting the illegal acquisition of โฌ6.9 million worth of state land while working as a lawyer.
Belgian agency aid worker killed in Gaza
The Belgian foreign minister summoned Israel’s ambassador in response to the death of the agency employee.
US Senate overwhelmingly passes long-delayed Ukraine and Israel aid
The U.S. Senate sent a $95 billion foreign aid package for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan to the president’s desk Tuesday โ a long-awaited result after months of congressional haggling over whether to provide funding for the allies.
Ukrainian agriculture minister under suspicion of orchestrating land-grab scheme
Suspect alleged to have illegally obtained state-owned land worth โฌ6.9 million.
Israel โyet to provide evidenceโ of UNRWA staff terrorist links, independent report says
Israel’s claims the UNRWA was penetrated by terrorist networks led several European countries to halt funding to the agency.
Israeli strikes on Rafah kill 13, as Gaza death toll surpasses 34,000
Attacks come hours after U.S. House passed $26.3 billion in aid to Israel.
โWe wonโt write blank checksโ: Biden urges Congress to pass Ukraine and Israel aid
โThere are moments in history that call for leadership and courage. This is one of them,โ the president wrote.
How to win the European election
We crunched the latest Eurobarometer numbers into a step-by-step guide.
Germanyโs Scholz lashed out at EU foreign policy chief over Gaza stanceย
At EU summit in March, German and Austrian chancellors criticized Josep Borrell privately while publicly agreeing to calling for a cease-fire.
EU pledges over โฌ900 million for Sudan, calls for war not to be โforgottenโ
International donors committed on Monday (15 April) to spend more than โฌ2 billion in humanitarian support in Sudan โ โฌ900 million of which will come from the EU and its member states โ and better coordinate efforts to secure a sustainable ceasefire….
On holiday with Europeโs right-wingers
Hundreds of European conservatives gathered in Cyprus for a “cultural weekend” that mixed policy discussions, networking and time away from the bureaucratic machine.
UK not banning Israel arms sales, says David Cameron
Top U.K. diplomat says “ultimate judgment” of government legal advice is that export licenses “will continue” amid calls for change back home.
Germany slaps down Nicaraguaโs charge it facilitates โgenocideโ in Gaza
Berlin has been one of Israel’s staunchest military backers in its war against Hamas.
The world court will rule on Germanyโs support for Israel. That shows how geopolitics has changed | Steve Crawshaw
Western governments could once be confident of protecting their friends. Nicaraguaโs case shows those days are goneThe case brought by Nicaragua against Germany at the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague this week is a powerful example of…
Israel steps up preparation for Rafah invasion despite Western warnings
The EU and U.S. have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if Israel goes ahead with its planned offensive.
Clashes reported on Armenia-Azerbaijan border hours after EU support announced
Brussels has pledged to boost Armenia’s ‘resilience’ as the US warns against renewed violence.
Israel not doing enough to protect civilians, say UN and EU
UN and EU say that Israel does not take “adequate” measures to provide humanitarian aid and to protect civilian lives.
Israeli military admits โserious mistakeโ in killing of 7 food aid workers
IDF removes two top officials after bombing of World Central Kitchen convoy sparked global fury.
Biden tells Netanyahu the US policy hinges on โIsraelโs immediate actionโ
The president, in a phone call, said that the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza was โunacceptable.โ
โAngryโ Biden not changing Israel policy after deadly strike on aid workers
Biden was privately enraged and in a public statement upbraided Israel for it. But two senior officials said that is as far as he will go for now.
Israel faces mounting outrage from allies after killing World Central Kitchen aid workers
โYou cannot save the hostages by bombing every building in Gaza. You cannot win this war by starving an entire population,โ said chef Josรฉ Andrรฉs.
UKโs David Cameron slams โcompletely unacceptableโ killing of aid workers in Gaza
UK’s top diplomat hits out as Israeli ambassador summoned.
Aid group accuses Israel after 7 workers die in Gaza airstrike
World Central Kitchen says its convoy was hit โdespite coordinating movements with the IDF.โ
Humanitarian aid needs more focus on tackling gender based violence, urges UNFPA director
Humanitarian aid programmes need to be even more focused on efforts to combat the rise in sexual and gender based violence (GBV) in countries affected by crises, Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told Eura…
GOP congressman tempers โNagasaki and Hiroshimaโ comments on Gaza: โI used a metaphorโ
Rep. Tim Walberg said he really wasnโt advocating using nuclear weapons.
Pope calls for humanitarian aid to ‘be ensured’ to Gaza in Easter address
Pope Francis made renewed calls on Easter Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages in a peace-focused address marking the most important day on the Christian calendar.
Israel has agreed to provide โsecurity bubbleโ for Gaza pier project
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have raised concerns about protecting U.S. personnel helping in the humanitarian aid effort.
US allows passage of UN resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza, prompting retaliation from Israel
The U.S. abstention prompted the Israeli government to cancel a visit by Israeli officials to Washington this week.
From โI Love Youโ to โAssholeโ: How Joe Gave Up on Bibi
After decades of building a โclose, personalโ friendship with Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden has had it with the Israeli prime minister. Now heโs hitting him hard โ and it may be working.
State of the Union: War economy and humanitarian aid
The economic impact of war and new sources of investment for defence were at the heart of the EU summit this week in Brussels. #StateOfTheUnion
Von der Leyen to hold Armenia crisis talks with US amid war fears
The meeting comes as Yerevan turns its back on former ally Moscow.