Global Outlook

  The already fragile ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have hit another roadblock, with  Hamas refusing to engage with Israel’s latest proposal . A senior Hamas official accused Israel of sabotaging a previous Egyptian-Qatari plan, further complicating efforts to end the seven-month conflict. The rejection comes despite Israel offering significant concessions, including the release of over 1,200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for just 10 Israeli hostages. With tensions escalating, the question now is: Will diplomacy prevail, or is all-out war inevitable? Israel’s latest proposal, backed by the U.S., included a 40-day ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the return of deceased captives. However, Hamas dismissed the offer, claiming it disrupts earlier mediation efforts. The group’s refusal to even respond suggests a hardened stance, likely due to Israel’s insistence on dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities — a non-negotiable demand for the group. Meanwhi...

  The fragile hopes for a Gaza truce were shattered this week as Hamas officials rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal , accusing the Israeli government of deliberately derailing negotiations. Two anonymous Hamas sources told AFP that the group refused to engage with the Israeli counteroffer, instead demanding that mediators pressure Israel to accept an earlier proposal from Egypt and Qatar. This latest rejection comes after months of failed diplomacy, leaving thousands of Palestinian civilians trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis and Israeli hostages still in captivity. The sticking point appears to be Israel’s refusal to commit to key Hamas demands, including a full withdrawal of troops from Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners — many serving life sentences. Hamas claims the Egyptian-Qatari plan included a 50-day ceasefire, the release of five Israeli soldiers, and the return of 2,000 Palestinian detainees. But Israel’s counterproposal reportedly ...

  Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from Syria has initiated a national dialogue in Damascus which includes promised democratic transformation and the formation of a transitional justice committee. The dialogue serves as a historically significant moment according to al-Sharaa and his HTS-led government for leading Syria to political transformation after the Assad downfall followed by civil war years. The high aspirations of the gathering are overshadowed by doubts about its usefulness because it was implemented too quickly while keeping attendance narrow. The speech by Al-Sharaa appealed for national solidarity by asking Syrians to unite against the injuries caused by the previous political order as he committed to controlling all state weapons to weaken the power of armed organizations. The compressed work sessions about transitional justice and constitutional reform and institutional reconstruction throughout one single day received strong criticism from both national and international...