All articles tagged with #ceasefire
Israel escalates threats of retaliation over kite launches from Gaza after airstrikes kill three Palestinians, including a 4-year-old; officials say the paper kites pose a security risk, but analysts argue the move is a fabricated pretext to justify force and sway politics ahead of elections, with displacement and continued destruction shaping the Gaza context.
DR Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels agreed a roadmap to resume peace talks and establish a ceasefire monitoring mechanism under the US-brokered Doha Framework signed in 2025, with a first verification mission planned in Minembwe; however, disputes linger over sanctions, detainees, and the pace of political reforms.
Israeli strikes in Gaza fuel doubts about ceasefire progress days after a Kushner-led effort, as Israeli troops entered Khan Younis and casualties mount ( Gaza Health Ministry reports over 73,400 Palestinians killed ). Diplomatic talks have stalled with major sticking points over Hamas disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal, and no concrete commitments have emerged; Netanyahu says Israel won’t withdraw until Hamas disarms, while Hamas ties disarmament to broader Palestinian state conditions. The piece underscores how the war’s toll continues even as diplomacy struggles to advance.
Oil prices rose as Iran said the IRGC would keep control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets its demands, the US blockade remained in place, Trump floated a map labeling Hormuz as a new US territory, and a vessel was struck near Oman as a 60-day ceasefire expired, signaling heightened market and geopolitical volatility over Iran’s nuclear and shipping policies.
Russia’s Supreme Court upheld the removal of Yabloko from the September State Duma ballot, the country’s lone openly anti-war party, and a Pskov court sentenced Yabloko deputy chair Lev Shlosberg to 11 years in a penal colony for calling for a ceasefire and for “false information about the army.” The verdicts, viewed by critics as political repression, followed arrests of supporters outside the court, with Amnesty International condemning the outcome as retaliation against anti-war speech.
A cargo ship was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz after the 60-day ceasefire expired, with Iran warning vessels and the U.S. and Iran digging in for a longer standoff. One crew member was injured and the remaining crew were aided by the Omani Coast Guard. President Trump ruled out extending the ceasefire, signaling no immediate de-escalation, while analysts expect a prolonged standoff and at best a partial renewal of Hormuz traffic. Oil prices edged higher as alternate routes and cautious routing limited price spikes.
As a 60-day ceasefire in the Iran conflict expires without a broader peace deal, a poll asks if President Trump can resolve the war; the piece notes Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, including statements about surrender, the threat to bomb Oman if negotiations falter, and a suggestion that the Strait of Hormuz could become U.S. territory.
Strait of Hormuz traffic slowed after the US-Iran ceasefire expired, with 95 confirmed transits from Aug. 10–16 (down from 118 the prior week) and daily crossings dipping to just a few at week’s end as negotiations stalled. The stalemate coincided with Iran signaling escalation, reports of an IRGC seizure of a UAE-owned tanker, and a rise in crude prices, while Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd reroute cargo via land bridges and face higher bunker costs amid ongoing security concerns affecting global shipping.
With the 60-day U.S.–Iran ceasefire expiring and talks stalled, Strait of Hormuz traffic slows dramatically, only a few ships passing as investors brace for disruption; Trump threatens military action against Oman if it blocks traffic while Iran denies direct talks and asserts control over Hormuz, signaling heightened risk to energy markets amid fraught diplomacy.
As the US-Iran ceasefire nears its expiration, the Trump administration pursues backchannel talks with Iran’s IRGC while signaling there is no rush to end the conflict. Trump downplays concerns about the military stockpile, warns Oman against interference in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterates that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his top goal. Iran responds with a $30,000 bounty on U.S. troops, and Gulf states’ alignment against Tehran suggests deeper isolation and a fragile path toward any lasting peace.
Kushner met Hamas leaders in Alamein, Egypt, to push the second phase of Donald Trump’s Gaza peace roadmap and translate it into verifiable steps, including a transfer of governance in Gaza. Hamas said it accepted the roadmap for the second phase and urged mediators to ensure Israel meets first‑phase obligations, while Gaza and Israel remain at odds with Netanyahu calling the plan unacceptable; Washington and regional mediators continue efforts to push a two-state framework amid ongoing fighting and casualties.
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people as violence surges despite US-brokered ceasefire deals; Lebanon’s leaders condemn the attacks and negotiations over withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament continue but remain fragile, with Israel saying it is targeting Hezbollah after attacks on soldiers while civilians bear the cost amid broader Gaza-related tensions.
The monthlong U.S.-Iran ceasefire is set to lapse as talks stall, driven by Iran’s internal factional splits, demands over frozen assets, and disputes on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions, risking a resumption of conflict ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Iranian sources say there have been no discussions about extending the ceasefire under the June interim agreement with the United States. Tehran insists Washington must return to the pact and agree a timeline for implementing its commitments, noting there has been no progress on an extension because the U.S. violated the interim deal shortly after it was reached. Mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, are handling communications while talks remain at an impasse.
Israel rejected the US-backed 15-point plan to end the Gaza war, insisting Hamas must be disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal and calling for a Palestinian-led civilian administration; Palestinians in Gaza respond with skepticism and fear of renewed violence, arguing that ceasefires are only temporary without a genuine shift in power and a path to reconstruction, while Hamas says it remains committed to the plan.