Philip Crump: Trump and Netanyahu announce details of US peace plan for Gaza

After the theatrics of the UN, Trump announces an ambitious peace plan for Gaza.

At 7:30am this morning, one week before the second anniversary of October 7, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu began a press conference at the White House to announce a plan for “peace in the Middle East” including a reconstruction and governance plan for Gaza and an expansion of Trump’s first term Abraham Accords.

The 20 point plan, which has had input from many nations, is focused on ending the war, returning the hostages and setting the conditions for enduring security for the Palestinians and Israel.

Kevin: It Ain’t Over

How is the endgame going to be played out? Honestly, I don’t know. But you can bet that Trump and Netanyahu are surrounded by people who are strategy experts.

They say that on the world stage you’re either playing chess or you’re playing poker.

Ian Parmeter: Netanyahu has two war aims - destroying Iran’s nuclear program and regime change

Netanyahu has two war aims: destroying Iran’s nuclear program and regime change. Are either achievable?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could last for at least two weeks.

His timing seems precise for a reason. The Israel Defence Forces and the country’s intelligence agencies have clearly devised a methodical, step-by-step campaign.

Will Jones: Donald Trump Threatens to “Let All Hell Break Out” ......

Donald Trump Threatens to “Let All Hell Break Out” if Hamas Does not Release All Remaining Hostages on Saturday

Donald Trump has threatened to “let all hell break out” if Hamas does not return all the remaining Israeli hostages on Saturday in a potentially game-changing move. The Mail has more.

Dave Patterson: Netanyahu Visits Trump.....

Netanyahu Visits Trump: Level Setting the Relationship

After four years of a tense partnership with the Biden administration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat down with President Donald Trump. At the top of the agenda was level setting the relationship to where both countries are on the same page regarding the future of Gaza and Israel’s place in a perilous region. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, became the centerpiece negotiator for the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release and had a pre-summit meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister to discuss the fragile pause in the conflict with Hamas.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: It's a really tough time to be the UN

Tell you what, it’s a tough time to be the UN.

I can’t help but feel that the UN’s credibility is increasingly on the line at the moment with how often it’s being ignored.

Take for example what’s just happened overnight: the International Criminal Court – which was set up through the UN and endorsed by the UN's General Assembly – has issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suze: There Are Only the Heroes and Villains

A war is no place for casual observers

VP Kamala Harris is dreaming if she believes Israel will yield to US pressure to enter into a two-state peace agreement with Hamas at this point. Taking the pressure off would inevitably lead to a resurgence of Jewish genocide.

Ran Porat: Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel was a strategic miscalculation.

Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel was a strategic miscalculation. Can all-out war now be averted?

Close to midnight on April 13, hundreds of military drones were launched from both Iran and Iraq toward Israel. Subsequently, several waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and rockets followed, originating from Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon – all directed at Israel.

This unprecedented multi-front attack on Israel constitutes a de facto declaration of war and marks the first direct assault against Israel from Iranian soil. However, despite the scale of the operation, it appears to be a tactical failure.

Chris Trotter: The Right Move Against Hamas Was Not To Make One.

Israel's legal right to strike back at Hamas is unchallengeable. No nation, having suffered the sort of horrific attack unleashed upon Israel by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023, is ever going to be convicted in an international court of law for defending itself. It is the nature of Israel’s retaliation that is challengeable. In war, doing precisely what your enemy expects you to do is never a good idea. By responding to the 7 October attack in precisely the way Hamas anticipated, Israel has allowed the terrorists’ long-planned (and far some important) propaganda offensive to build and strengthen the pro-Palestinian Cause.