Yemen’s war has entered a far more dangerous phase, the UN warns, as the Houthis tighten their grip at home while projecting power across the region. The report documents a disturbing rise in child recruitment, with boys appearing on front lines and in mass rallies carrying rifles as though they were part of the regular fighting force. Behind the public displays of defiance is a quieter, more suffocating reality: families pressured to send their children to ideological camps,

Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s decision to freeze Gaza’s reconstruction funds until Hamas is disarmed is not cruelty—it’s common sense. After decades of destruction and rebuilding, both nations are refusing to bankroll another cycle of war. Ahmed Fathi argues that real aid must start with accountability and the removal of weapons from the hands of militias that serve foreign agendas, not the people of Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed a “desperately needed breakthrough” following the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement brokered under a proposal by President Donald J. Trump. Speaking at UN Headquarters, Guterres commended U.S., Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediation, urged full compliance with the deal, and called for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian access, and renewed momentum toward a two-state solution.

Israel’s strike killing Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi marks a sharp escalation. By targeting top leadership, Israel is extending its campaign to cut Iran’s influence—this time in Yemen. The Houthis are unlikely to stay quiet, raising fears of wider conflict as the triangle between Israel, Iran, and the Houthis heats up.

France, Germany, and the UK have accused Iran of breaching its nuclear commitments and triggered the UN’s snapback mechanism. Unless the Security Council acts within 30 days, all pre-2015 sanctions will automatically return, reinstating arms, missile, and financial restrictions. Russia and China are circulating a draft resolution for a technical extension, but it faces certain vetoes.

At Rafah, the narrative is clear: Egypt has been the bridge, not the barrier. UN transcripts confirm thousands of trucks staged on Egyptian soil awaiting Israeli clearance, yet Islamists spearheaded by the Muslim Brotherhood manufactured the opposite story. This is not about defending a regime—it’s about defending the truth and the dignity of millions of Egyptians who have never abandoned Gaza.

Israel’s far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have turned humiliation into policy — taunting imprisoned Palestinian leaders and vowing to “bury” statehood. Their words echo the darkest chapters of the 20th century, as forced displacement, bombed hospitals, and erased institutions unfold in Gaza and the West Bank. While Western democracies sanction them, Arab states weigh mediation and restraint.

The joint declaration by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar calling for Hamas to disarm and step aside could mark the beginning of the end of political Islam’s dominance in the Arab world. But history urges caution. These regimes have long mastered the art of bold promises with little follow-through. This isn’t yet an Arab reset—it’s a test of whether rhetoric can finally become reality.

At the UN’s Two-State Solution conference, a diplomatic earthquake shook the G7: France, the UK, and Canada pledged recognition of Palestine by September. Even the Netherlands sanctioned Israeli ministers. As President Trump holds firm behind Netanyahu, traditional allies are turning away. The message is clear—Israel’s impunity has a shelf life, and the West is no longer willing to protect it at all costs.

At the UN’s high-level Conference on the Two-State Solution, Secretary-General António Guterres and global leaders called for urgent action to end the war in Gaza and revive Palestinian statehood. France pledged recognition, while Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its stance: no peace without justice.