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Israeli author and peace activist David Grossman
"I believe what Hamas says"
Israeli author David Grossman still holds fast to the two-state solution, even in the wake of the October 7 massacres. The Israelis are fated to do business with Hamas, he says
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Bowing to Israeli pressure
No more German money for Palestinian human rights NGOs
Despite no signs of funding misuse, Germany has terminated a significant proportion of its co-operation with Palestinian civil society. A long-standing dispute between Israel and Germany was one reason for the move. A report from Ramallah and Tel Aviv
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750th anniversary of Rumi’s death – Part 7
"Light your beacon!"
In Rumi's lifetime, too, people were frightened by war and uncertainty. His poetry has much to teach us about human nature
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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
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Israel-Hamas conflict impacts Berlinale
Gaza war sparks tensions
The Berlin International Film Festival is no stranger to politics. The Middle East conflict was bound to cause debates and protests this year
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German academia and the war in Gaza
Universities must remain places of dialogue
Discussions about the Middle East conflict naturally tend towards polarisation. In Germany, showing empathy for victims of political violence in Israel while drawing attention to the suffering of Gazan and West Bank Palestinians, who bear the brunt of any major confrontation, is a tricky balancing act
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Gaza war challenges Germany's culture of remembrance
"Decent people must take a stand!"
Germany is seeing a lurch to the right in its political discourse and minorities in society are being increasingly stigmatised. A new historical consciousness can counteract these trends, says historian Juergen Zimmerer in interview with Qantara.de
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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Gaza and a world order in ruins
Stop the descent into the abyss!
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has dealt a crushing blow to our multilateral security system and threatens to alienate the entire Arab and Muslim world