With the world’s humanitarian system in crisis, many NGOs now recognise that local charities can deliver much more at far less cost Before civil war engulfed her Ethiopian home region of Tigray in 2020, Tsega Girma was a prosperous trader who sold stationery and other goods. But when hungry children displaced by the conflict started appearing in the streets, she sold everything and used the proceeds to buy them food. After that money dried up, Tsega appealed to Tigray’s diaspora for donations. At the height of the war, her Emahoy Tsega Girma Charity Foundation provided meals to 24,000 children ..read more

Police cleared a large protest in Tel Aviv, where hundreds were urging Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the terms of a Hamas truce deal in Gaza What we know so far about the assault on Rafah Hundreds of Israelis rallied have around the country, calling for the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the terms of a ceasefire deal that Hamas accepted earlier on Monday. About 1,000 protesters gathered near the defence headquarters in Tel Aviv, while in Jerusalem, at least 100 protesters marched toward Netanyahu’s residence with a banner reading, “The blood is on your hands ..read more

Gazans thrown into confusion by Hamas’s acceptance of a deal, followed by Israel’s sceptical response and bomb attacks Rafah’s fate hung in the balance on Monday after Hamas said it had accepted a ceasefire-for-hostage deal but Israel responded sceptically and carried out night airstrikes on Gaza’s southernmost city. The more than a million Gazans taking refuge in Rafah were thrown into confusion by the day’s events. Israel issued orders for the evacuation of part of the city earlier on Monday, triggering an exodus of thousands of people. There were celebrations in the streets in the evening a ..read more

Turnaround is likely to redouble calls on Benjamin Netanyahu not to go ahead full-scale offensive on Rafah Israel-Gaza war – live updates Israel is coming under huge diplomatic pressure to accept a three-stage ceasefire surprisingly agreed by Hamas in a dramatic turnaround that may have left the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at least temporarily wrongfooted. The already strong calls for Israel not to go ahead with a full-scale offensive on Rafah, in southern Gaza, are also likely to be redoubled with the US Department of State saying no credible plans for such a military had be ..read more

The protesters in encampments at Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Soas are demanding institutions end ties to Israel Israel-Gaza war – live updates Students at five UK universities have become the latest protesters to stage occupations to pressure their institutions into divesting funds from and ending partnerships with Israel. Students set up encampments at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) and at Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool and Edinburgh universities. They are the latest in a global student uprising that is expected to build over the coming week across European ..read more

With routes for aid into Gaza closed, relief workers say helping displaced people could become impossible Aid groups have warned of grave humanitarian consequences and drastic cuts to the supply of aid if an Israeli offensive on Rafah goes ahead, after Israel demanded that tens of thousands of people leave the eastern part of the city. “A military incursion into Rafah could lead to a bloodbath because of how densely populated Rafah has become,” said Tamara Alrifai, the director of external relations for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa. “Another looming displacement is already c ..read more

People displaced from elsewhere in Gaza during the war are on the move again but find their destination already packed Middle East crisis – live updates By mid-morning, overloaded trucks, carts and donkeys were filling the streets of Rafah. Under dark skies and a cold, unseasonable rain, thousands were setting out on a halting journey through crowded, rubble-strewn streets and sprawling tented camps. The roof of at least one car was piled high with mattresses. Another had a wheelchair stowed in the boot. Children walked through rain-filled potholes and craters or sat on belongings gathered o ..read more

Jason Clare says community, including politicians, must ‘lower the temperature’ Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Jewish students are afraid to go to class and facing an environment of intimidation on campus, their peers allege, as the education minister comes under growing pressure to condemn pro-Palestine encampments. However, while 17 formal reports have been made about “various aspects” of Australia’s longest encampment at the University of Sydney, no breaches related to antisemitism have been found, a spokesperson for the university said. Sign up ..read more

Palestinians in Gaza were seen packing their belongings and leaving Rafah following an Israeli evacuation order. The Israeli army reiterated its commitment to enter the southern city where more than 1 million people from other parts of the Gaza Strip have been seeking refuge Thousands of Palestinians evacuate eastern Rafah amid Israeli attack threat Middle East crisis – live updates ..read more

Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham won elections in areas with large Muslim populations. Both engaged with us as citizens The local and mayoral elections saw many traditional Labour-voting Muslim voters abandon the party they’ve loyally supported for decades. One incident from one interview, and one sentiment in particular that I heard in my local area, sits front and centre: “I was disgusted when Keir Starmer supported Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza – how can I vote for someone who won’t even apologise for this?” said one man, referring to Starmer’s performance in an intervie ..read more