Daily News

Over the past week, Syrian opposition fighters have seized control of Aleppo and advanced further south towards Hama. This unexpected move has reignited what was largely a frozen conflict. In response, the Syrian Army, with support from Russia and reportedly, Iraqi militias, has intensified bombing campaigns on opposition-held areas. So, what’s next for Syria’s war?

South Korea’s president has declared emergency martial law, banning all political activities. However, the national assembly has passed a resolution rejecting the move, deeming it invalid. Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-Myung stated that following the president's orders after the parliament's vote would now be illegal. Earlier, the military attempted to prevent politicians from entering the parliament. Protests against martial law have broken out outside the building.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is in place and seems to be holding. US President Joe Biden confirmed the agreement on Tuesday, calling it a “permanent cessation of hostilities”. People forced to flee Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon are eager to return to their homes. Major routes are full of vehicles heading south. More than a year of bombardment has displaced 1.2 million people across the country. Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport says pressure from incoming president Donald Trump is a factor, as he promised voters that there will be peace in Lebanon, but there are other considerations as well.

Netanyahu is speaking on Israeli television following an hours-long meeting with his security cabinet that discussed the ceasefire deal. The agreement would end Hezbollah’s armed presence along the border south of the Litani River and require Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Netanyahu also pledged to return families in northern Israel to their homes – a main war objective.

In the past few weeks, Israeli forces have killed thousands of Lebanese, obliterated the southern part of the country and displaced about one-fourth of the population. The US and Israeli aims for the war are not only to diminish Hezbollah’s fighting capacity, but to sideline the group and Iran in the region. Host Steve Clemons asks analysts Hassan Mneimneh (Middle East Alternatives) and Ken Katzman (Soufan Group) about the prospects for a ceasefire, and the stakes for Iran, Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel.

dNeve Gordon, a Professor of International Law at Queen Mary University of London, joins to us live to discuss accusations of Israel using food as a weapon of war. He addresses the historical context, evaluates the evidence under international law, and considers the legal defenses put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Robbie Sabel, a Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former Legal Adviser to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, also joins Al Jazeera’s live from West Jerusalem. He provides a contrasting perspective, analyzing Israel’s legal stance and responding to allegations of imposing a strict blockade on Gaza during the conflict.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza. It's also issued warrants for Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. Israel says he was killed in an airstrike in July. But that has not been confirmed. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, says it is time for the US government to penalise the ICC for its warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that the decision to issue these warrants was “not political”, and that the court’s decision should be “respected and implemented”.

US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is in the Lebanese capital, holding talks for a second day He's hoping to make progress for a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. On Tuesday, Hochstein met the Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri. A Hezbollah official says that any peace deal must swiftly end Israel's attacks and preserve Lebanon's sovereignty.

It's Day 411 of Israel's war on Gaza and for a second day in row, Israeli forces shell Kamal Adwan Hospital, the only health facility still operational in northern Gaza. It's director general says at least 85 patients are inside, most of them are women and children. Meanwhile, Israel continues to target residential buildings. The latest attack happened in the neighourhood of Zeitoun. Since dawn, at least 24 Palestinians have been killed across the Gaza strip but that number is only expected to rise as more injured are taken to overburdened hospitals.

Donald Trump is set to begin his second term with daunting foreign policy challenges. The most pressing? - wars. But his plans on Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon lack detail and are vague. And the people he is choosing are controversial. Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State, is hawkish on China. Defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth thinks Israel should annex Occupied West Bank. So do Trump's choices signal his foreign policy to come?