Politics

Sudan crisis

Mass displacement and death

Over the past month, the conflict between two military groups in Sudan has reached what experts say is a grim turning point. The country's future is even more unclear
By Cathrin Schaer
Palestinians in Iraq

Between sympathy and rejection

Palestinians living in Saddam Hussein's Iraq were courted until his overthrow in 2003, after which they suffered widespread harassment. Ever since the onset of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, however, Iraqis have been keen to show their solidarity
By Birgit Svensson
Hezbollah and the Gaza war

Caught out by its own propaganda

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has a penchant for using strong words. His terrorist organisation has no interest, however, in the Israeli war escalating uncontrollably
By Bente Scheller
COP28 in the United Arab Emirates

How will the Israel-Hamas conflict impact the UN climate summit?

As the UN's annual climate conference convenes, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza is casting a long shadow. Observers suggest the conflict will impact regional cooperation and the future of Middle East environment policies
By Cathrin Schaer
Israeli plans for Gaza

A Palestinian exodus to Egypt?

Is the entire population of Gaza to be relocated to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt? This is what a strategy paper by the influential Israeli Misgav Institute envisages. In interview with Qantara.de, German-Israeli economist Shir Hever explains what the plan is all about
By Elisa Rheinheimer
Germany’s stance on the Middle East conflict

What does 'never again' actually mean?

History puts Germany on Israel's side. For the same reason, Germany must defend international and human rights. This is now a dilemma. A value-driven foreign policy would do well to remember the universalist understanding of 'never again'
By Daniel Bax
Israeli hostages held by Hamas

What can Germany do?

Weeks of tough negotiations have led to an initial hostage deal between Hamas and Israel with Qatar playing a leading role in the mediation process. Bearing in mind Germany’s historic debt towards the Jews, what part could – or should – Germany play?
By Stefan Buchen
Israel's war against Hamas

"The Middle East conflict must be resolved at the roots"

Leading Palestinian intellectual Sari Nusseibeh on the Hamas massacres, Israel's war in Gaza and the distant dream of equal coexistence
By Inge Günther
A different take on Gaza

Global South criticises Israel

Germany, the USA and the UK have stood firmly behind Israel following the Hamas attacks. The Global South, however, sees the Gaza conflict differently. Pro-Palestine voices can be heard across the region. By Kristin Palitza and Denis Duettmann, dpa
Arab popular support for Gaza

How pro-Palestinian protests threaten Middle East autocrats

In some Middle Eastern countries, pro-Palestinian rallies recall pro-democracy protests from 2011. Now, the region's authoritarian leaders are worried the conflict in Gaza could alter the political status quo at home
By Cathrin Schaer
Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative

"The only solution is the initiation of a true peace process"

Mustafa Barghouti, general-secretary of al-Mubadara – the Palestinian National Initiative – and leading civil rights activist, talks about the ongoing war in Gaza and his vision for peace
By Irene Anastassopoulou
Regional perspectives on the Gaza war

The Middle East conflict is back

In recent years the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had gradually become uncoupled from the other lines of conflict in the Middle East. This "encapsulation of the Middle East conflict" may be off the table for now, but it does nothing to change the parameters of the larger regional struggle for dominance
By Thomas Demmelhuber