Middle East: Hamas seeks ceasefire guarantees – DW – 07/03/2025
"Israel is responsible for one of the cruelest genocides in modern history," said Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Albanese was presenting her latest report which named more than 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and military actions in Gaza.
"What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed," she told the council, calling for international companies to face legal consequences for what she alleged was their involvement in violations of international law.
Israel's delegate was not present for the speech at the Geneva council, which Israel claims has an antisemitic bias, and has yet to comment.
Earlier this week, however, Israeli representatives in Switzerland called Albanese's report "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
At least 94 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and alleged gunfire in the Gaza Strip overnight and on Thursday morning, including at least 45 who were attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
According to the Hamas-run institution, at least five people were killed near sites linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), while at least 33 others were killed at other aid-related locations.
Elsewhere, the French AFP news agency, citing Gaza's civil defense agency, reported that an Israeli strike on a school building providing shelter for displaced people in Gaza City killed at least 12 people, mainly women and children.
The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that others were killed in airstrikes which struck tents in Muwasi, a sprawling zone where many Palestinians are attempting to shelter in tents.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The Palestinian militant group Hamas is seeking "clear guarantees" that a new US-backed ceasefire deal would ultimately lead to the end of the ongoing war with Israel.
The latest deal, which proposes the return of ten living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a 60-day ceasefire, has allegedly been accepted by Israel, according to US President Donald Trump.
"We are approaching the matter with great responsibility," Hamas said on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who sits on the government's security cabinet, told Israeli news outlet Ynet that there was "definitely readiness to advance a deal."
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said most of his government colleagues back a Gaza agreement that includes the release of hostages. "If the opportunity arises, we must not miss it!" he wrote on social media.
Two Israeli officials told the Reuters news agency however that details were still being ironed out.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that there can be no end to the war while Hamas remain in control of the Gaza Strip.
"I am telling you: there will be no more Hamas, there will be no more Hamastan, we are not going back to that, it's over," he said in a speech in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Wednesday in remarks quoted by his office.
"We will free all of our hostages," Netanyahu added. "We will eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations."
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Thursday, July 3.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is seeking guarantees that the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal will eventually lead to an end to the war with Israel.
Meanwhile, almost 100 more people have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, and also reportedly near sites distributing humanitarian aid.
A United Nations expert has descried the "apocalyptic" situation in the enclave and called on states to cut trade ties with Israel over what the UN expert described as a "genocidal" campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
40 minutes ago
- DW
Ukraine: Discrimination and hope drive LGBTQ+ soldiers – DW – 07/04/2025
Up to 10% of Ukrainian soldiers are thought to be from the LGBTQ+ community. While tolerance is improving, Ukraine still does not guarantee legal equality. "I've been open about my sexual orientation all my life," says Roman Abrashyn, a 25-year-old homosexual drone pilot in the Ukrainian army. After coming out at the age of 15, he was supported by friends, his parents and two brothers, one of whom now serves in the same unit. Abrashyn enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces in April 2024. Since then, he's hardly faced any prejudice or discrimination. When fellow soldiers found out about his sexual orientation, most of them reacted neutrally, he recalls. "There were no strange questions." He is more worried that hundreds of openly LGBTQ+ soldiers in Ukraine don't enjoy the same rights as their heterosexual comrades. The abbreviation LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, and queer people, but also includes those with other identities, such as people who are intersex, asexual, bisexual or transgender. Soldiers from Abrashyn's unit have made themselves at home among crates full of drones in a simple building. Abrashyn is the commander of a group of drone pilots who mostly work from basements and cellars, as they are constantly being targeted. Nowadays they are stationed in the Sumy region, previously they were in the Kherson area. Recently, Abrashyn started dating a civilian, however, it is not possible to register same-sex partnerships in Ukraine. In the case of his death, his partner would not be entitled to compensation. "Also, if I was in intensive care, he would not have any rights," he complains. In his view, this is patently unfair: "We fight like everyone else, but are not legally equal," he told DW. The bill on registered partnerships is one of the central demands of the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine. Such a law would allow partners to receive medical information or inherit or receive social benefits in the event of death. However, it has been under discussion in the committees of the Ukrainian parliament for over two years. The bill was introduced by Inna Sowsun, an opposition MP. She told DW that the law is being blocked by the Legal Affairs Committee. According to Sowsun, the parliament is conservative, with just under a third of MPs categorically against registered partnerships and just over a third in favor. The rest are either hesitant due to concerns about the reaction of the public and colleagues or have no opinion at all. "For LGBTQ+ soldiers, this is an urgent issue as their lives are always in danger," Sowsun told DW. The 19-year-old Dmytro, who asked DW to not publish his last name for fear of retribution, has been serving in the army for about a year. He describes himself as asexual, likes both men and women and seeks romantic rather than sexual relationships. However, when Dmytro's sexual orientation became known in his brigade, problems arose. "I was threatened with physical violence," he told DW. In a chat shown to DW, a comrade advises him to "look for another unit" and threatens to explain the reasons "very clearly so that it will be remembered for a long time". Such harassment drove Dmytro to attempt suicide. After doctors saved his life, he filed a complaint with the police, but without success. "To this day, there hasn't even been a response," he told DW. Eventually, he managed to get transferred to another brigade. The young man says he also knows of cases from other units where higher-ranking comrades tried to quickly transfer an LGBTQ+ soldier to another unit after finding out about his sexual orientation. Nevertheless, Dmytro observes that attitudes in the army are gradually shifting and says he has had positive experiences. "When the commander of a brigade found out about my sexual orientation, he supported me and said he would never insult or discriminate against me," Dmytro recalls. In addition to the draft law on registered partnerships, the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community is also fighting for the introduction of criminal liability for crimes based on intolerance, especially homophobia. Dmytro criticizes that attacks on LGBTQ+ people are usually dismissed as 'hooliganism' and are punished too leniently. A draft law that prioritizes hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community has been in parliament since 2021, however, it is still in discussion. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Viktor Pylypenko, veteran and head of the NGO Ukrainian LGBT+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights, was one of the first Ukrainian soldiers to openly admit his homosexuality. He urges parliament to stop delaying laws to support the LGBTQ+ community. Pylypenko also complains that politicians say that the Ukrainian society is not ready for change, which he cannot understand. The activist points out that support for LGBTQ+ people is on the rise. According to a study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) from June 2024, more than 70% of Ukrainians are in favor of LGBTQ+ people having the same rights as all citizens. According to the same survey, 14% have a positive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community, 47% a neutral one and 32% a negative one. The last indicator has been steadily declining since 2015. A charity event organized by the KyivPride organization in early June featured the usual, albeit small, protests. Activists drew attention to the rights of LGBTQ+ people near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv and raised money for the Ukrainian army. Supporters of traditional values rallied alongside. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine later criticized the fact that the LGBTQ+ event took place near St. Michael's Cathedral and described it as an "anti-clerical provocation." The NGO led by Viktor Pylypenko counts more than 600 military personnel and veterans among its members. According to their information, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or asexual people serve in at least 59 units of the Ukrainian army. It is impossible to determine the exact number as many do not talk about their sexual orientation. According to a study by Pylypenko's NGO, based on estimates in other countries, the proportion of LGBTQ+ soldiers in the Ukrainian army could be between 5% and 10%. There is a lack of rules against discrimination, meaning that the rights of LGBTQ+ soldiers and military personnel go unprotected, Pylypenko says. He hopes that the situation will improve with the planned appointment of a military ombudsman. Drone pilot Roman Abrashyn argues that the more LGBTQ+ people talk about themselves and their problems, the faster change will occur. "This is important, even if there is a wave of hatred," he told DW. The soldier Dmytro agrees with him. Above all, both of them, like most soldiers, want Russia's enduring war in Ukraine to end. "I just want my brothers, my loved ones, civilians and children to stop dying," says Dmytro.
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
Will Germany's military spending bring economic growth? – DW – 07/04/2025
The German arms industry is thriving thanks to a major state-run investment program. But will the country's wider economy benefit? March 18, 2025, will go down in Germanhistory as the day when a two-thirds parliamentary majority cleared the way for the country to take on unprecedented debt. German lawmakers approved an infrastructure investment package worth billions, while also lifting the cap on national defense spending. The aim is to provide the necessary funds to make Germany and its armed forces, the Bundeswehr, "ready for war," as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has repeatedly demanded since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after he took office as chancellor earlier this year, Friedrich Merz said he wanted to make the BundeswehrEurope's strongest conventional army. This spending spree is great news for companies that build roads and bridges, lay rail tracks and manufacture high-speed fiber-optic internet cables. The German defense industry stands to benefit even more. For decades, the sector had been losing economic importance. Who in Germany, after all, was interested in buying tanks? In 2020, shares in Rheinmetall, Germany's largest arms manufacturer, sold for €59 — by June 2025, they were trading between €1,700 and €1,800 ($2,116) each. Swiss bank UBS has forecast further share price growth, currently estimating a rise to €2,200. These are golden times for German arms manufacturers, with industry top brass insisting that defense spending not only benefits their sector but the economy as a whole. "Defense spending is a gigantic economic stimulus program," Oliver Dörre, CEO of defense contractor Hensoldt, told DW at an event in Frankfurt in March. Lawmakers hope the spending spree will help modernize German industry and boost economic growth. Economists, however, were less euphoric even before parliament agreed the investment package. "The increase in government military spending will give the German economy a boost, but the economic stimulus will be rather moderate," wrote Tom Krebs, an economics professor at the University of Mannheim, in a statement for the Bundestag's budget committee. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Krebs and his colleague Patrick Kaczmarczyk conducted a study examining the extent to which additional government spending will increase Germany's gross domestic product, or total value of economic output. The researchers found that military spending would have a maximum impact of 0.5 — meaning that, in the best-case scenario, €1 of government spending will generate just 50 cents of additional economic activity. Investments in infrastructure, education, child care facilities, day care centers and schools would, however, double or even triple the return on investment. "From an economic perspective, the planned militarization of the German economy is a risky gamble with a low overall economic return," said Krebs. The explanation for this is simple. After a tank is built, it is either parked somewhere or, in the worst case, destroyed in battle. A tank, in other words, does not create any additional economic value. Defense spending is, however, like taking out insurance. You make the payments so that you have protection in case of an emergency. If you don't need the insurance, the money is simply gone. If, on the other hand, the state invests in transport infrastructure, goods can be transported to businesses via these roads, bridges and railways. There, they can be used to manufacture products that are then sold. If kindergartens are built, parents are freed up to work and earn money. Investments in schools mean young people get the education they need for their future. Defense production currently only contributes very little to overall economic growth, although German arms companies have seen orders surge. Rheinmetall, for example, had an order backlog worth some €63 billion ($74 billion) in the first quarter of 2025. Before the start of the Ukraine war, it stood at just over €24 billion ($28 billion). Other German defense companies are also busy, with production at full capacity. But if supply is limited and demand increases, this usually causes prices to are already warning this could happen. Krebs and Kaczmarczyk write that "greater defense spending does more to grow arms companies' profit margins and dividends than improve [Germany's] defense capabilities." Companies currently operating outside the defense sector are also looking to get in on the business, especially those suffering amid Germany's economic malaise. Cologne-based Deutz AG, for example, produces engines for lifting platforms, agricultural vehicles, excavators and other large machines. Due to the weak economy, company sales slumped by some 12% in 2024. Deutz, which also manufactures engines for military vehicles, is now set to significantly expand this previously small line of business. "Defense is a very important and interesting market for us with great growth potential," CEO Sebastian Schulte told DW in March. German carmaker Volkswagen is another example. The company is in crisis and has already cut thousands of jobs, with its Osnabrück plant facing closure. Now, Rheinmetall is looking into whether tanks could be built there instead. These are two examples that show how greater defense spending could benefit the wider economy by offsetting losses, rather than generating additional growth. That said, even companies that are doing well are switching to arms production, with demand surging in the metalworking industry.
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
'One event' arms pause troubling for Ukraine – DW – 07/04/2025
The US says its pause on arms shipments is a one-off. But amid the turbulent US-Ukraine relationship, the assurance is little comfort to Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his European supporters. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will seek "clarity" from Donald Trump on Friday amid a challenging week that saw a scheduled US arms shipment paused and Kyiv pummeled by another Russian drone strike. The US confirmed earlier this week that a batch of arms shipments to Ukraine would be paused in yet another reminder that the eastern European country's supply of advanced military equipment is not as secure as it once was. The US has downplayed this decision to withhold crucial arms shipments to Ukraine, as a state department spokesperson told reporters it was a one-off. "This is not a cessation of us assisting Ukraine or of providing weapons," said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. "This is one event and one situation, and we'll discuss what else comes up in future." The US president has continued to press both sides of the conflict to negotiate a ceasefire and spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the matter on Thursday. But progress, according to Trump said, was limited. "I didn't make any progress with him today at all," he told reporters. "I'm not happy about that. I'm not happy… I don't think he's looking to stop." Russia followed that call with a massive drone strike on the Ukrainian capital. Zelenskyy is due to speak with Trump on Friday about the shipment pause. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The pair have had a strained relationship during Trump's second term, publicly evidenced in a televised falling out during a White House sit-down in early March. Following the disastrous visit, Zelenskyy sought to shore up support closer to home with key European allies. Europe has since stepped up their support in financial and supply terms. But if the US were to continue to withhold support, it would significantly undermine Ukraine's position versus Russia. "If this were to be a longer-term issue, it would definitely be a challenge for Ukraine to cope," Jana Kobzova, a senior policy fellow specializing at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. "Partly because some of the US systems are not easily replaceable, that goes especially for air defense, but also some of the longer-range capabilities which Ukraine has started to produce domestically but not in the quantities needed." Despite the spat between Trump and Zelenskyy, the pause on shipments could be as much about the US needing to weigh its own interests against the support it gives to dozens of other countries, including Israel. "After the Israel-Iranian exchange, I can imagine that Trump wants to relocate resources," Marina Miron, a defense researcher specializing in military technology and Russian capability at Kings College London, UK, told DW. Brent Sadler, a research fellow at the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, told Politico the move is likely a "due diligence" measure to ensure adequate resourcing for US forces elsewhere, including the Indo-Pacific in the event of a conflict outbreak in that region. Retired US Army General Ben Hodges, took a different view, saying the shipment pause was not about stockpiles. "It's a choice of this administration to placate Russia, at the expense of Ukraine," Hodges said. "It also shows the very limited understanding this administration [has] of the importance to America's strategic interests to help Ukraine and Europe deter Russia." Irrespective of the US' reasons for pausing its military shipments, the signals from the first months of the new administration suggest Europe's transatlantic ally is not the steadfast partner it once was. "There is a sober analysis both in Kyiv and the European part of NATO that relying on US military assistance to continue forever in Ukraine is not an option," said Kobzova. "And that has been there ever since March when the assistance was stopped for the first time." Among the American weapons due for shipping were Patriot air defense missiles and precision-guided artillery, according to officials speaking to newswires anonymously. The pause on these shipments comes at a critical time, with Russia ramping up weapons production and attacks. Those include strikes on soldier draft hubs in Poltava, the national capital Kyiv, the port city Odesa, and ground advances in key regions in Eastern Ukraine. Despite increased spending on defense from Europe's NATO members — now 5% of GDP following its June meeting — any long-term US stall on weapons will likely squeeze Ukraine and its neighbors. "There is recognition at the political level … that [Europe] would need to be increasing production, but none of that happens quickly enough for Ukraine," said Kobzova. Kobzova also pointed to investments being made into Ukraine's own defense industry to buffer against future supply-line cuts from the US. Europe is now the biggest investor in Ukraine's domestic defense industry. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But even that might not be enough. Experts interviewed by DW highlighted the offer made by Zelenskyy to directly purchase armaments from the US, but in reality, arms manufacturing is a time-consuming process. "It takes two years to produce one [air defense missile] battery," the defense expert Miron told DW. "So even if you buy them now, it doesn't mean that they will be on the battlefield. You place a purchase order and you get in the queue." Finding a way to more effectively repair and adapt equipment for different missiles could be a potential stopgap to meet immediate needs. But, as defense supplies are again in doubt, Miron questioned whether Ukraine has what it needs to push back Russia's offensive. "The problem is time and money and we also have the variable of people," she said, adding that about 90 people are needed to operate a Patriot air missile battery. And Ukraine, Miron pointed out, is losing people, with no guarantee of replacement as the war grinds through its fourth year. Ukraine's support in Europe has been increasing — both rhetorically and materially. As it took over the presidency of the EU for the next six months, Denmark has seized the early opportunity to put Ukraine's membership application into the bloc back on the agenda. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday said the EU "must strengthen Ukraine. And we must weaken Russia." "Ukraine is essential to Europe's security. Our contribution to Ukraine is also a protection of our freedom. Ukraine belongs in the European Union. It is in both in Denmark's and Europe's interest." Her comments come on the back of a visit to Ukraine from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who branded Ukraine's plight Berlin's most important foreign policy task. These statements from Europe might be more important than ever, as Miron says she is pessimistic about the future of the US-Ukraine relationship. "Certainly you can try some diplomacy, and explain to Trump that Ukraine matters, but I think Trump has already made up his mind," she said. "Trump has much more to solve with Russia in terms of global problems than with Ukraine."
