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As we mark six months of the most brutal of conflicts in Gaza, a few thoughts. 

First, we’re at the end of the most consequential of weeks in this bloody six-month period.

I say it with a great deal of hesitation and perhaps some naivety (given how many moments for hope have come and gone) but maybe there is a little sense of momentum right now.

After the killing of foreign aid workers, it’s been a week in which American influence seemed finally to have a humanitarian impact.

After a call between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Israeli government announced it would open Ashdod port for the delivery of aid.

It also said a key northern border crossing to Gaza, Erez, would open.

Then came the announcement that Israeli troops would pull out of southern Gaza, leaving just one battalion inside the strip.

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Palestinians ride bicycles past the ruins of houses and buildings destroyed during Israel’ military offensive, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the northern Gaza Strip March 31, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
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Palestinians ride bicycles past ruined homes in the northern Gaza Strip. Pic: Reuters

People walk in the ruins of houses in Gaza City in March. Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

The White House spokesman, John Kirby, says this is a temporary “rest & refit” for the soldiers but also says he doesn’t believe it’s the prelude for a new offensive.

Some reporting from Israel suggests the IDF might be shifting to targeted anti-terror operations over large ground offensives.

Israeli negotiators have also gone back to the table in Cairo, reportedly with a new mandate for hostage/ceasefire talks. The CIA director, the prime minister of Qatar and the Egyptian spy boss are also there.

Could all this amount to a moment for the guns to fall silent, the hostages to come home and a flood of aid to get in?

Well, many of us have wondered this before over the past six months and we’ve been wrong.

Israelis have again called for more action to free the hostages six months after the Hamas attack. Pic: Reuters
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Israelis have renewed calls for more action to free hostages taken by Hamas. Pic: Reuters

Read more:
Israel withdraws almost all troops from southern Gaza
Why Israel pulled out troops – and what could happen now

My second observation?

Well, in all of this, a key piece of the path to peace is still totally absent.

Who will have authority in Gaza? Who governs Gaza? A UN blue beret force? An Arab peacekeeping mission? Palestinian leaders? But which ones?

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Inside hospital after Israeli raid

Six months of war and the ‘day after’ is, just maybe, getting closer.

But no one has any sense of what it looks like. That represents profound political failure and a damning absence of American leadership.

A final thought as we mark six months of this bloodiest of chapters in a decades-long conflict: Remember that international reporters have been prevented from entering Gaza (except on short, restricted military facilities) by Israel and by Egypt since the start.

The reporting has come from a dwindling number of remarkable Palestinians journalists who can’t rest.

At a moment of profound importance, where modern state-led warfare has been redefined, eyewitness journalism has been intentionally restricted.

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Casualties reported in suspected knife attack in Haifa, say Israeli police

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Casualties reported in suspected knife attack in Haifa, say Israeli police

A 70-year-old man has been killed and others wounded after a knife attack in the Israeli city of Haifa, authorities say.

The elderly man is believed to have been the attacker, but it is not clear how he died.

According to Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service, four people were injured in the attack at a busy bus station on Monday morning. Head of the MDA Eli Bin also referenced reports of gunfire although these have not been confirmed.

Three people, a man and woman in their 30s, and a 15-year-old boy, are in a critical condition, and a 70-year-old woman has “moderate” injuries, the MDA added.

In a previous statement an Israel police spokesman said: “Police forces are en route to the scene following reports of a suspected shooting attack in Haifa.

“There are initial indications of multiple casualties, though their condition remains unclear.”

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells Sky News ‘I am exchangeable for NATO membership’ after PM announces missile plan for Ukraine

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells Sky News 'I am exchangeable for NATO membership' after PM announces missile plan for Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is “exchangeable” for Ukrainian membership of NATO, indicating he would be prepared to step down as president if his country was allowed to join the military alliance.

He also suggested he was ready to sign a minerals deal with the US that was put on hold after his heated meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.

Mr Zelenskyy was speaking to reporters on Sunday evening after earlier talks with other world leaders at a London summit hosted by Sir Keir Starmer, who suggested a coalition of European allies could step up to defend Ukraine and “guarantee the peace”.

Latest updates on Ukraine’s future

Asked by Sky News’ lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim if he could quit in the event his country becomes a NATO member, he said: “I am exchangeable for NATO.”

The Ukraine president added: “I have said that I am exchanging for NATO membership, then it means I have fulfilled my mission. NATO means I have fulfilled my mission.”

But, he continued: “To change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating. And it will be a bit more difficult.”

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Mr Zelenskyy has also rebuffed US officials calling for him to resign.

His comments at Stansted Airport come after Republicans including senator Lindsay Graham and speaker Mike Johnson suggested he should step down from his position following the fiery White House exchange with President Trump.

Mr Zelenskyy spoke to journalists shortly before leaving the UK on Sunday evening.

Yalda Hakim and Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking to Sky News’ Yalda Hakim

In response to a question from Yalda Hakim, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I can give [Lindsay Graham] citizenship of Ukraine and he will become a citizen of our country.

“And then his voice will start to gain weight, and I will hear him as a citizen of Ukraine on the topic of who must be the president.”

“The president of Ukraine will have to be chosen not in Lindsay Graham’s home but in Ukraine,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens questions during a meeting with members of the media on the outskirts of London, Britain, March 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
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Pic: Reuters

Mr Zelenskyy confirmed there has been communication between Ukraine and the Trump administration since the clash on Friday, but “not on my level”.

Mr Graham – a Republican senator and close Trump ally – labelled the meeting a “complete, utter disaster” at a press briefing on Friday.

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Watch Trump and Zelenskyy clash

Asked whether Mr Zelenskyy should step aside, he said: “He either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”

After the London summit on Sunday, the prime minister unveiled a four-step plan discussed by leaders, including a pledge to “develop a coalition of the willing” to defend a deal in Ukraine and guarantee a peace settlement.

Sir Keir said Europe “must do the heavy lifting”, and the UK “is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others”.

He also announced a new deal which will allow Ukraine to use £1.6bn of UK export finance to buy 5,000 more air defence missiles.

Zelenskyy’s meeting with the King

The Ukrainian president’s 90-minute sit down with the media came shortly after he wrapped up a tough week with a visit to see the King at Sandringham.

Mr Zelenskyy flew to Norfolk in a helicopter on Sunday afternoon after attending the security summit in central London.

King Charles III meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Picture date: Sunday March 2, 2025. Joe Giddens/PA Wire
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Pic: PA

People – some holding Ukraine flags – gathered outside Sandringham to try to witness his arrival. A military helicopter could be seen flying low before descending over the estate.

Pictures released after the meeting show Charles and Mr Zelenskyy shaking hands by the entrance to the royal home. The pair chatted briefly before heading inside, where they posed for more photographs.

Their meeting lasted just under an hour, Sky News understands.

King Charles III meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Picture date: Sunday March 2, 2025. Joe Giddens/PA Wire
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Pic: PA

A difficult week for Ukrainian president

Mr Zelenskyy’s difficult few days began on Friday, when his day at the White House with Mr Trump was cut short after their meeting in the Oval Office descended into a shouting match.

The pair had been due to sign a minerals deal and hold a joint press conference – but both events were called off after their tense exchange, fuelled in part by comments from vice president JD Vance.

Read more:
What Ukrainians think of the Trump row
What did Vance say to Zelenskyy?
UK, France and Ukraine work on peace plan

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to 10 Downing Street, London for a bilateral meeting to discuss the UK's support for Ukraine. Picture date: Saturday March 1, 2025.
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Sir Keir welcomed Mr Zelenskyy to Downing Street on Saturday. Pic: PA


As White House officials scrapped the day’s schedule, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

Meanwhile, in an interview on Fox News, the Ukrainian president said the row was “not good for both sides” and refused to apologise. Mr Zelenskyy then jetted to the UK to meet Sir Keir and other world leaders.

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US speaker says Zelenskyy might need to resign – as Lord Mandelson suggests Ukraine commits to ceasefire before Russia

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US speaker says Zelenskyy might need to resign - as Lord Mandelson suggests Ukraine commits to ceasefire before Russia

US Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested Volodymyr Zelenskyy might need to leave office in order for Ukraine to achieve a peace deal with Russia, as Lord Mandelson says Kyiv should commit to a ceasefire before Russia.

“Something has to change,” Mr Johnson told NBC.

“Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country to do that,” he added, referring to Mr Zelenskyy.

The Republican said “it’s up to the Ukrainians to figure that out”.

Meanwhile Lord Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the US, told ABC News: “I think that Ukraine should be the first to commit to a ceasefire and defy the Russians to follow.

“And then, as part of the unfolding plan for this negotiation, the Europeans and perhaps some other countries too have got to consider how they are going to put forces on the ground to play their part in providing enduring security and deterrence for Ukraine.”

Ukraine war summit latest: ‘This is a once in a generation moment’, PM tells EU leaders

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Trump and Zelenskyy’s body language explained

The remarks came two days after a disastrous meeting between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump and his vice president JD Vance descended into a shouting match in the Oval Office.

Mr Johnson said: “What President Zelenskyy did in the White House was effectively signal to us that he’s not ready for that yet and I think that’s a great disappointment.”

The fallout left a proposed agreement between Ukraine and the US to jointly develop Ukraine’s natural resources in limbo.

Mike Johnson. Pic: Reuters
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Mike Johnson. Pic: Reuters

The idea of Mr Zelenskyy stepping aside also came up on Friday after the Oval Office meeting, with US Republican senator Lindsey Graham saying the Ukrainian leader “either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change”.

Meanwhile, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said it is not clear Mr Zelenskyy is prepared to secure lasting peace with Russia.

“We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians and end this war,” Mr Waltz told CNN when asked whether Mr Trump wants Mr Zelenskyy to resign.

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Every time Zelenskyy thanks US

“If it becomes apparent that President Zelenskyy’s either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands.”

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he had not spoken to Mr Zelenskyy since the spat on Friday.

“We’ll be ready to re-engage when they’re ready to make peace,” Mr Rubio told ABC.

Marco Rubio during the meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
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Marco Rubio during the meeting between Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Trump. Pic: Reuters

But Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar told ABC she was “appalled” by the clash in the Oval Office and said she met Mr Zelenskyy before he went to the White House on Friday and he had been excited to sign an expected minerals deal.

“There is still an opening here” for a peace deal, she said.

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World leaders embrace Zelenskyy

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer hosted a summit between Mr Zelenskyy and other European leaders in an effort to get a peace plan back on track.

The prime minister said the UK, France and Ukraine would work on a ceasefire plan to present to the US.

Sir Keir, who visited Washington on Thursday, said he believes Mr Trump does want a “lasting peace” but warned Europe is in a “moment of real fragility” and he would not trust the word of Vladimir Putin.

Mr Zelenskyy will later meet the King.

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