Daily News

Sophie Driscoll, Policy, Advocacy, and Communications Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee’s Occupied Palestinian Territory office, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Amman, Jordan. She highlights the critical shortage of humanitarian aid in Gaza during the ongoing war, stressing that essential supplies like food, water, and medical aid have not reached the population at acceptable levels. Driscoll points out that the lack of medical supplies has led to preventable injuries and deaths, particularly among children, who are also facing severe malnutrition. She calls for a surge in humanitarian aid to provide emergency medical supplies, treatment for malnutrition, and necessary winter clothing.

Israel keeps killing Palestinians in Gaza even as a ceasefire agreement is reached to end 15 months of war. It's due to come into effect on Sunday, a day before Donald Trump's return to the White House. So what's the deal, why now and what could undo it?

US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on an array of issues that he promised to resolve on “Day One”, ranging from immigration to oil production. Host Steve Clemons speaks with Tevi Troy, who served as a deputy secretary in the cabinet of Republican former President George W Bush, and Niall Stanage, White House columnist for The Hill. Stanage notes that many of Trump’s initiatives will be mired in courts and legislature, even though both chambers of Congress are under Republican control. And Troy argues that Trump’s negotiation tactic is to elevate the rhetoric (ie, threatening tariffs), but then reach practical compromises.

Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire set to start on Sunday. The deal includes humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel’s gradual withdrawal, the release of Israeli captives, and a Palestinian prisoner release. As Palestinians in Gaza hope to leave 15 months of devastation behind, can this agreement hold or is it another fragile promise?

Donald Trump has threatened to hike tariffs as soon as he assumes office as United States president on January 20. Both his rivals and allies could be affected by the measures. Trump says the measures are aimed at protecting US industries. But, he has gone as far as threatening to use economic force against Ottawa after suggesting Canada should become the 51st US state. Many economists have warned his policies, which also include cutting taxes, could reignite inflation and lead to a global trade war. And what is the cost of Los Angeles wildfires? Plus, the United Kingdom’s first sanctions law to target people smugglers.

Palestinians living abroad have also been celebrating the news of a ceasefire deal in Gaza. In the Egyptian capital Cairo, there were scenes of joy on the streets. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed the deal. He said it highlighted the importance of quickly providing critical aid to people in Gaza. Hussein Haridy, a former foreign minister of Egypt, says the Gaza truce agreement reflects “new directions” in US foreign policy with Donald Trump set to take over as president.

Israel’s war on Gaza has left a trail of devastation, with the lives of more than two million Palestinians severely disrupted. As mediator Qatar announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to halt the 15-month war and exchange captives for prisoners, the Israeli military continued to launch deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip. UN Chief Antonio Guterres has welcomed the Gaza deal and said it is imperative the ceasefire removes all aid obstacles in the Strip. Martin Griffiths is a former senior UN humanitarian coordinator and said it would be difficult to quickly mobilise enough aid trucks into Gaza and expressed concern that looting and attacks on convoys could worsen.

Rami Khouri, a distinguished fellow at the American University of Beirut, said that it was almost comical to see Biden and Trump outbid each other to claim responsibility for the Gaza ceasefire deal, while their actual behaviours were “100 percent supporting the Israeli genocide”. “Even in their announcements today they don’t really talk about the Palestinians as real people,” Khouri said, noting at the same time that US media was almost exclusively focused on the release of Israeli captives from Gaza as a result of the ceasefire. “So we see in both the presidential behaviour and the acts of the Congress, and the performance of the mass media in the United States, a reaffirmation that this is not really about justice and equality for Israelis and Palestinians,” Khouri said. “It’s about an assertion of American might and the fact the United States feels it can dictate what will happen in the region,” he said. Khouri also noted that Israel’s military had killed dozens on Wednesday despite the ceasefire announcement and they will “keep killing people until Sunday”. “This is their legacy,” he said. “They did the same thing in Lebanon before every ceasefire,” he added.

Maoz Inon, an award-winning peace activist, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Binyamina, Israel. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his parents in the October 7 attacks and the devastation in Gaza and Israel. Inon urged for an immediate ceasefire, a deal to end the violence, and the initiation of a peace process. While he welcomed the prospect of quiet nights and family reunions for many, he mourned those for whom it is already too late.

Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, joins live from Ramallah. He describes the ceasefire agreement as a "moment of relief" for the people of Gaza, who continue to endure immense suffering. Barghouti highlights the ongoing challenges, including the anticipated intensified bombardment until the ceasefire takes effect and the scars left by widespread destruction. He emphasizes the devastating toll on Gaza, with most homes destroyed, families shattered by loss, and the lasting impact of what he calls genocide, collective punishment, and ethnic cleansing.