During last week's visit to the region, Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff has been tasked with extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire which stalled last weekend when Israel refused to release 602 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for six Israeli prisoners freed by

The Trump administration has delivered a shipment of 900-kilogram bombs to Israel despite the pause imposed by President Joe Biden in May due to the use of these bunker busters in heavy populated neighbourhoods.

 Donald Trump has gone rogue during the first days of his second residence in the White House. His executive decrees have upset US global relations and threaten US short, medium and long-term interests.Trumps’ actions have unsettled this already tense region.

It is to be expected that the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and captive exchange will not proceed as planned.

The appearance of fighters sporting face masks and the green headband band of Hamas during Sunday’s hand-over of three Israeli women hostages out of 98 women, men and child captives served as a reminder that the movement has not been eliminated.

The fate of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, is uncertain as US-President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term in office next week . Last November the Israeli Knesset adopted a law which prohibits all contacts and cooperation with UNRWA.

 It is ironic that former US President Jimmy Carter should die at 100 and his funeral rites should take place during the remaining days of Joe Biden's presidency.

On December 10, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his first regular court appearance in his forever trial for corruption.

 US President Joe Biden welcomed the shock ouster of his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad but called it “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for this region.