Politics

Israel's offensive in Rafah

What would make Egypt open its border to Palestinians?

As an Israeli military campaign causes casualties in densely crowded Rafah, near the Egyptian border, Egypt is under increasing pressure to admit displaced Palestinians
By Cathrin Schaer
Yemen, USA and the war in Gaza

Houthi 'terrorist' label a threat to Yemen aid?

Houthi rebels in Yemen have been designated a "terrorist group" once before. Back in 2021, aid organisations said they feared the impact on "one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world". So what's changed?
By Cathrin Schaer
Elections in Indonesia

World's third largest democracy at a crossroads

On 14 February 2024, some 205 million Indonesians are going to the polls to choose a new president as well as new national and regional parliaments. Over the past 25 years, the nation with the world's largest Muslim population has evolved into a stable democracy. Yet observers now fear autocratic tendencies
By Christina Schott
DAVA party woos ethnic Turks

Germany fears the "Erdogan party"

For days, Germany has been discussing the emergence of a new party. Its name: DAVA. Critics say it is the extended arm of Turkish President Erdogan. Who is behind DAVA and what are its aims?
By Elmas Topcu
Hamas and sexual violence

"No atrocity ever justifies another atrocity"

In early December, it was made public that Hamas fighters had systematically used sexual violence on 7 October. For international law expert Heidi Matthews, the offences undoubtedly require rigorous investigation. At the same time, however, the accusations are also being used as justification for Israel's disproportionate response in Gaza
By Hannah El-Hitami
The EU response to the Gaza war

A tale of contradiction and division

Faced with the worst-ever Israeli-Palestinian violence, Europe's selective moralism has also led to strategic blindness
By Martin Konecny
Germany's position on the Gaza war

Far from the straight and narrow

The German government's barely audible criticism of Israeli's handling of the war in Gaza is inflicting substantial damage on its foreign and security policy, weakening democracy not only in Germany, but worldwide. A change of course is urgently needed
By Matthias Sailer
Egypt, Jordan and the Gaza war

The pressure is growing

Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has effectively put Jordan and Egypt on the frontline of any escalation. If the situation continues to deteriorate, masses of Palestinians could end up fleeing across their borders. A report from Amman and Cairo
By Birgit Svensson
Israel and the ICJ

UN court ruling on Gaza 'hard to ignore'

All eyes were on The Hague as the UN's International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza but failed to demand a ceasefire. The decision puts Israel's allies in a difficult spot
By Ella Joyner
German demonstrations against right-wing extremism

"Never again" is now

Ever since the AfD's plans to deport immigrants were publicised, hundreds of thousands of people across Germany have taken to the streets in protest
By Sheila Mysorekar
Germany and the Gaza war

Arab criticism of German hypocrisy

Germany used to be a role model for the Arab world. That has changed since the Israeli army killed thousands of civilians in the war against Hamas – with barely a murmur of opposition from German politicians
By Amro Ali
Iran-Pakistan tensions

What was behind the Balochistan strikes?

Tit-for-tat attacks between neighbours Iran and Pakistan are linked to separatists fighting for independence of the mineral-rich Balochistan region that spans their borders
By Thomas Latschan