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Maybe there will be a breakthrough in the hours or couple of days ahead. 

But it doesn’t feel likely from the language we’ve heard from the men (they are all men) driving the war and the diplomacy in this conflict.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, spent Friday in Israel meeting the Israeli leadership and Saturday in Jordan meeting Arab leaders.

He was threading the tightest of diplomatic needles: maintaining full support for Israel’s right to defend itself while demonstrating to the world that America is capable of influencing events to bring about an end to civilian casualties.

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‘What will it take for a pause in Gaza?’

The Israeli objectives are clear and perhaps summarised most succinctly by war minister Benny Gantz to me on Friday.

“Everything that happens in Gaza right now is rightly connected to break Hamas and release the hostages. All the rest are simply details.”

Those “details” were outlined by the Jordanian foreign minister alongside Mr Blinken in Jordan.

He reminded the world that 3,700 children have died in Gaza in the last four weeks. That’s more, he said, than all the children killed in all conflicts globally since 2019.

He added that the situation in Gaza will create “a sea of hatred that will define generations to come”.

That’s the deep long-term concern. The damage may already have been done – hatred sowed through events generated by the protagonists on both sides – but the extent of the impact depends, most immediately, on the ability to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.

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Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli strikes on a residential building in Khan Younis in southern Gaza
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Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli strikes on a residential building in Khan Younis in southern Gaza

What’s the difference between a ceasefire and a humanitarian pause?

The Arab nations and the United Nations secretary-general are calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The Americans, the British and many other Western nations are choosing different language – a humanitarian pause.

What’s the difference? A ceasefire is political in nature, providing parameters to allow for negotiations. There’s no way Israel is anywhere near close to negotiations with anyone in Gaza. Even on hostages, they are clear: unconditional release now.

A humanitarian pause is, as the name suggests, humanitarian, not political. Its singular aim is to provide space for aid to get in and civilians to get out.

A Palestinian carries a wounded boy after an Israeli strike in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza. Pic: AP
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A Palestinian carries a wounded boy after an Israeli strike in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza. Pic: AP

Israel believes aid will be passed to Hamas

So what’s the problem? Well, Israel doesn’t believe that the aid (fuel for hospitals included) won’t be passed to Hamas for war purposes.

America’s special envoy to the crisis, David Satterfield, said this weekend that he has not seen any attempts by Hamas to interfere with or take aid shipments destined for civilians from the few trucks allowed in last week.

But that hasn’t prompted Israel to change course so far. It begs the question: how much influence does Biden’s America really have over an ally that changed after the 7 October attacks?

Palestinians comfort a crying man after losing relatives under the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Pic: AP
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Palestinians comfort a crying man after losing relatives under the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Pic: AP

Gaza fuel will only last a few days

What’s at stake? Well beyond the colossal civilian death toll (and the lasting impact that will have) here are a few numbers passed to me by a senior UN official this weekend.

Gaza has about 160,000 litres of fuel left. That will last a few days. After that, the hospital generators shut down, the sewage system shuts down, and the lights go out.

There are about 9,000 cancer patients in Gaza right now. There are 1,000 dialysis patients, 50,000 pregnant women.

Some 5,000 women give birth every month in Gaza; that’s about 160 babies born every day in hospitals under bombardment which could soon have no electricity.

These are the “details” as Israel responds in the only way it says it can to its darkest day exactly a month ago.

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French police forced to watch on as migrants in Dunkirk attempt perilous Channel crossing

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French police forced to watch on as migrants in Dunkirk attempt perilous Channel crossing

As the first light breaks across a quiet beach near Dunkirk, a human tide begins to move.

Dozens of migrants, many with children, rush across the sand toward the water’s edge.

French police are present, but they do not intervene.

For many of these men, women, and children, this moment marks the final chapter of a journey that began months ago, fleeing war, persecution, and economic collapse in countries as far afield as Iran, Eritrea, and Sudan.

Now, they face the potentially deadly crossing to the UK in a flimsy inflatable boat.

Migrants in Dunkirk, France, preparing to cross the English Channel

We watched as one vessel emerged from an inland waterway already crowded with people.

The vessel is soon dangerously overloaded.

Floating haphazardly, a baby is yanked onto the boat, as they yell out for more people to climb aboard.

Despite the dinghy taking on water – scooped out with a shoe – the crossing continues.

On the shore, police officers stood by, watching.

French police officer looks on as migrants in Dunkirk, France, prepare to cross the English Channel

When I asked why no attempt was made to intervene, one officer said: “It’s for their safety.

“There are children there. We’re not going to throw grenades at them. It’s inhumane. But it’s sad.”

French police protocol, along with international law, makes such interventions legally and morally complex once boats are afloat – especially when families are involved.

French police officers look on as migrants in Dunkirk, France, prepare to cross the English Channel

Despite millions spent by the UK government to curb these crossings, the numbers continue to rise.

As of the latest count, almost 15,000 people have already made the perilous journey across the Channel this year. Many more are expected this summer as the weather window widens.

In the makeshift camps near Dunkirk, migrants wait their turn for the smugglers to signal that conditions are right.

Alex Rossi points to migrants in Dunkirk, France, preparing to cross the English Channel

Ali Reza told us he fled Iran after converting to Christianity. He dreams of reaching Britain, where he hopes to claim asylum.

He said: “Britain is good and accepts refugees. It has good behaviour for refugees.

“I think I’ll get a good welcome. Many Iranian people go to Britain. There’s good behaviour.”

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Back on the beach, not everyone manages to get aboard. The boat taxi service is in high demand.

Among the group, a woman from Eritrea spoke with me briefly.

Although she missed today’s crossing, she vowed to try again later in the week.

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Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire at US-backed aid site, officials say

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Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire at US-backed aid site, officials say

At least 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire at a US-backed humanitarian aid site in Gaza, according to health officials.

Medical officials at Shifa and al Quds hospitals say the people were killed as they approached the site – operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Dozens more were injured at the scene close to the former settlement of Netzarim, near Gaza City, medical officials from the Hamas-run territory added.

It comes just a day after Gaza health officials said 17 people were killed close to another GHF site in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Health officials said at least another six people were killed by Israeli gunfire as they approached a GHF site in Rafah on Wednesday.

Ten other people were also killed on Wednesday by Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, according to officials.

The Israeli military said its forces fired warning shots towards suspects who were advancing and which it claimed posed a threat to the troops in the area of Netzarim.

“This is despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone. The IDF is aware of reports regarding individuals injured. The details are under review,” it added.

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A total of 163 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded trying to reach the handful of aid sites operated by the GHF since it began work two weeks ago after a three-month blockade, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

It comes as the US ambassador to Israel said he does not think an independent Palestinian state remains a foreign policy for the Trump administration.

Mike Huckabee’s comments to Bloomberg News prompted the White House to say he spoke for himself.

When asked if a Palestinian state remains a US goal, Mr Huckabee said: “I don’t think so.”

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The deadly road to reach aid in Gaza

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Asked about Mr Huckabee’s comments, the White House referred to remarks earlier this year by Donald Trump when he pledged an American takeover of Gaza – a proposal which was condemned globally.

Rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the UN said such a move amounted to “ethnic cleansing”.

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Farewell letter from gunman discovered as Austria mourns school shooting victims

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Farewell letter from gunman discovered as Austria mourns school shooting victims

A farewell letter and video have been discovered at the home of a 21-year-old gunman who killed 10 people in a school shooting in Austria, as the nation observed a minute’s silence on Wednesday.

The country paused at 10am local time (9am UK time), marking the moment of the attack a day earlier at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in the southeastern city of Graz.

A teacher and nine students were killed – six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17. Another 11 people were wounded.

People light candles in honour of the victims of a deadly shooting at a secondary school, at the main square in Graz, Austria, June 11, 2025
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People lit candles in honour of the victims on Wednesday. Pic: Reuters

Emergency personnel stand infront of the site of a deadly shooting at a secondary school, in Graz, Austria 
Pic: Reuters
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Medics gathered at the site of the shooting on Wednesday. Pic: Reuters

Hundreds of people gathered for the silence in the central square of Austria‘s second-biggest city, some also lighting candles in memory of those killed, others hugged each other, as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

In the capital Vienna, trams, subway trains and buses also stopped for a minute.

Hundreds of people joined Austrian officials at a service on Tuesday evening in Graz cathedral.

People light candles on the main square in the city center after a deadly shooting at a school in Graz, Austria. Pic: AP
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Candles were lit as people gathered in Graz’s main square on Tuesday night. Pic: AP

Police said the gunman, who took his own life, was a former student at the school who had not completed his studies.

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But they added they do not yet know what his motive was.

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What we know about Austria shooting

The unnamed man used two weapons in the attack, a shotgun and a pistol, which he owned legally.

On Wednesday, officers searched the home where he lived with his mother near Graz and found a pipe bomb, which was not operational, along with abandoned plans for a bombing.

Police officers stand guard near a school following a deadly school shooting in Graz, Austria.
Pic: Reuters
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Officers secured the scene after the shooting on Tuesday in Graz. Pic: Reuters

Rescue service personnel attend the scene of a shooting at a school in Graz, Austria, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Kleine Zeitung via AP)
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Paramedics were called to the scene on Tuesday. Pic: AP

Franz Ruf, public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, told TV network ORF about the messages which officers discovered.

“A farewell letter in analog and digital form was found. He says goodbye to his parents. But no motive can be inferred from the farewell letter, and that is a matter for further investigations,” Mr Ruf said.

He added that the wounded people were found on various levels of the school and in the front of the building, but would not speculate on whether they were specifically targeted by the gunman.

Map of Austria showing location of Graz
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Graz, where the attack happened, is Austria’s second-largest city

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Among those in the square on Wednesday was Chiara Komlenic, 28, who said she always felt safe when she attended the school.

“I made lifelong friendships there. It just hurts to see that young girls and boys will never come back, that they experienced the worst day of their lives where I had the best time of my life… it just hurts a lot,” she said.

On Wednesday morning, local health officials said that those injured were aged between 15 and 26 and were in a stable condition.

Nine were still in intensive care units, two of whom needed further operations. Another two had been moved to regular wards.

Austria has declared three days of national mourning following what appears to be the deadliest attack in its post-Second World War history.

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