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ECFR MENA

@ecfrmena.bsky.social

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Middle East and North Africa Programme @ecfr.eu https://ecfr.eu/privacy/#social-media-profiles

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ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · Jul 31

📖 NEW @ecfr.eu policy brief by @raniaab.bsky.social on lessons learnt from mass grave exploration in Iraq and how Europeans can better back efforts towards justice and reconciliation in war-ravaged zones, such as in post-regime Syria 🧵 buff.ly/LnqPivf

Unearthing the past: Iraq’s mass graves and the quest for justice

A European-backed UN body explored mass graves in Iraq between 2018 and 2024, supporting steps towards justice and reconciliation—and providing wider lessons for the region…

Reposted by ECFR MENA

ECFR @ecfr.eu · 2d

The absence of clear guarantees—particularly on the scope and timeline of Israeli withdrawal—risks entrenching a fragmented, externally managed and ultimately unsuccessful peace process, write @hlovatt.bsky.social and @muhammadshehada.bsky.social @ecfrmena.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/4gRX0Sg

An imperfect promise: Where Trump’s peace plan for Gaza falls short

Trump’s peace plan could finally bring an end to Israel’s destruction of Gaza. But gaps in timing, guarantees, and last-minute Israeli amendments risk failure unless European and Arab states intervene...

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 2d

“The absence of clear, enforceable guarantees—particularly on the scope & timeline of Israeli withdrawal—risks entrenching a fragmented, externally managed & ultimately unsuccessful peace process" - @muhammadshehada.bsky.social & @hlovatt.bsky.social @ecfr.eu ecfr.eu/article/an-i...

An imperfect promise: Where Trump’s peace plan for Gaza falls short

Trump’s peace plan could finally bring an end to Israel’s destruction of Gaza. But gaps in timing, guarantees, and last-minute Israeli amendments risk failure unless European and Arab states intervene...

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 4d

NEW piece unpacking the security & governance dimensions of Trump's Gaza plan - and outlining necessary benchmarks & guarantees, especially on an Israeli withdrawal, for any hope of success - new by @hlovatt.bsky.social & @muhammadshehada.bsky.social ecfr.eu/article/an-i...

An imperfect promise: Where Trump’s peace plan for Gaza falls short

Trump’s peace plan could finally bring an end to Israel’s destruction of Gaza. But gaps in timing, guarantees, and last-minute Israeli amendments risk failure unless European and Arab states intervene...

Reposted by ECFR MENA

Julien Barnes-Dacey @jbdacey.bsky.social · 5d

Following the announcement of Trump's Gaza plan this is an important piece to revisit by @muhammadshehada.bsky.social on question of Hamas disarmament @ecfr.eu @ecfrmena.bsky.social ecfr.eu/article/deco...

Decommission, not disarm: How Europe can help nudge Gaza toward peace

As Israel and Hamas edge toward a ceasefire, shifts are under way in both: Hamas is quietly opening up to decommissioning and Israel’s security elite is realising military victory is a myth.

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 5d

✍️Trump’s Gaza plan calls for Hamas’ full disarmament, long a red line for the group. But since last year, some moderates have signalled openness to decommissioning. @muhammadshehada.bsky.social explains how this could work in practice 👇 buff.ly/dvzV39X

Decommission, not disarm: How Europe can help nudge Gaza toward peace | ECFR

As Israel and Hamas edge toward a ceasefire, shifts are under way in both: Hamas is quietly opening up to decommissioning and Israel’s security elite is realisi

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 6d

✍️ Trump's Gaza plan’s success will depend on US pressure on Israel. Europeans should strengthen their hand by committing significant resources to ensure its successful implementation conditioned on Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza. @jbdacey.bsky.social @hlovatt.bsky.social buff.ly/IPy4WOm

Trump’s Gaza plan: How Europe can help make it happen

European states should offer support for the broad principles of the plan conditioned on a clear Israeli commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Reposted by ECFR MENA

Julien Barnes-Dacey @jbdacey.bsky.social · 7d

Euro support for Trump's plan - which has sound elements to help end the war - needs to be tied to Israel’s explicit acceptance of a Gaza withdrawal & political path. If not the process will surely unravel, trapping Europe as enforcers of Israeli occupation by proxy @ecfr.eu ecfr.eu/article/trum...

Trump’s Gaza plan: How Europe can help make it happen

European states should offer support for the broad principles of the plan conditioned on a clear Israeli commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Reposted by ECFR MENA

ECFR @ecfr.eu · 7d

Italy can do more. It should immediately stop blocking EU action to suspend the trade clause of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, writes @kellyp90.bsky.social @ecfrmena.bsky.social in @dawnmenaorg.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/4gHSAgG

Italy Should Lift its Block on EU Action to Stop the Genocide in Gaza

After almost two years of genocide, famine, ethnic cleansing and unspeakable war crimes, European Union Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen proposed a partial suspension of EU-Israel ties and sa...

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 7d

🎤 Tune into Middle East Institute's's virtual event "Palestinian Politics, Publics and Paths forward Post October 7" today at 3pm London/4pm Berlin, featuring @ecfr.eu Visiting Fellow @tahanimustafa.bsky.social 👇 buff.ly/ZRRChtj

Palestinian Politics, Publics and Paths forward Post October 7

Please join us on Wednesday, October 1, at 10:00 AM EDT for a discussion with Tahani Mustafa and Wasim al Masri about Palestinian politics, publics and the road ahead, the first in a series of MEI…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 7d

🔴 European states should offer support for the broad principles of Trump's 20-point Gaza plan conditioned on a clear Israeli commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza, write @jbdacey.bsky.social & @hlovatt.bsky.social for @ecfr.eu 👇https://buff.ly/IPy4WOm

Trump’s Gaza plan: How Europe can help make it happen

European states should offer support for the broad principles of the plan conditioned on a clear Israeli commitment to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 7d

✍️ Now that European leaders have reimposed UN sanctions on Iran, they must steer clear of America’s maximum pressure campaign and instead keep the diplomatic door open. Read Ellie Geranmayeh's piece for @ecfr.eu here 👇 buff.ly/w6z0osT

The risks of the draw: Europe’s post-snapback move on Iran

European leaders have reimposed UN sanctions on Iran. Now they must steer clear of America’s maximum pressure campaign and instead keep the diplomatic door open…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 8d

📰 @kellyp90.bsky.social speaks to @en.france24.com about Italy's positioning on the war in Gaza & resistance to amendments in EU relations with Israel 👇 buff.ly/UL8uwYY

The Debate - Netanyahu under pressure to accept Trump plan for Gaza

So far, Benjamin Netanyahu has been able to avoid almost any concessions in his dealings with Donald Trump. Instead, despite growing global outrage over the demolition of Gaza, Washington has always…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 8d

This could give the US and Iran breathing room to quietly reduce tensions & advance more meaningful talks. Europe must not allow snapback to cut it out of diplomatic process or push them towards an aggressive US-led approach that risks further conflict. buff.ly/w6z0osT

The risks of the draw: Europe’s post-snapback move on Iran

European leaders have reimposed UN sanctions on Iran. Now they must steer clear of America’s maximum pressure campaign and instead keep the diplomatic door open…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 8d

Europe should reach a series of deals to build a degree of confidence & cap nuclear escalation e.g.
> Tehran not resuming enrichment & allowing inspections of bombed nuclear sites
> West not restricting oil exports & US giving assurances that it won't support Israeli strikes

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 8d

🧵Having gone through with snapback, Europe used up its most powerful leverage against Iran. Ellie Geranmayeh argues that instead of joining Washington's maximum pressure campaign, Europe should create a soft landing to preserve diplomatic off-ramps buff.ly/w6z0osT

The risks of the draw: Europe’s post-snapback move on Iran

European leaders have reimposed UN sanctions on Iran. Now they must steer clear of America’s maximum pressure campaign and instead keep the diplomatic door open…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 9d

📰 The aftermath of Israel's attack on Doha could see a joint security alliance emerge in a "6+2 format", consisting of the six GCC states, Turkey, & Egypt, comments @cinziabianco.bsky.social for Deutsche Welle👇 buff.ly/Lchp3z2

Is the Middle East about to get an 'Islamic NATO'? – DW – 09/25/2025

Israel's first-ever attack on a Gulf state is causing changes in Arab defense policies, with more calls for regional cooperation and common defense pacts. Some politicians have even called for an…

Reposted by ECFR MENA

ECFR @ecfr.eu · 13d

#UNGA80 🧵
1/ Today, Mahmoud Abbas virtually joins #UNGA80. On Sunday, Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal recognized a Palestinian state. What can we expect from Germany?
🔗https://www.dw.com/en/germany-uk-france-say-gaza-humanitarian-crisis-must-end/live-73407430

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 13d

📰 "[Recognition of a Palestinian state] should be seen as the trajectory of travel. We may not get there tomorrow, but the trajectory is clear" commented @hlovatt.bsky.social for Deutsche Welle 👇 buff.ly/rApxpIO

What will recognizing Palestine as a state actually achieve? – DW – 09/21/2025

Several European countries plan to recognize Palestine as a state at the UN. Israel and its allies call the designation "political theater." Supporters of Palestinian rights say formal recognition is…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 16d

✍️ Israel's strike on Doha is a sobering recalibration for Gulf rulers. If they once viewed US influence over Israel as stabilising, they now face the possibility that Netanyahu pursues a unilateral vision free from US constraints, writes @cinziabianco.bsky.social 👇 buff.ly/03Iba63

Out of the rubble: The new Gulf response to Israeli aggression

The Israeli attacks on Doha, and America’s support of them, has caused Gulf leaders to majorly rethink their security. This could lead to a new Gulf-led security format…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 19d

✍️ NEW @ecfr.eu commentary by @cinziabianco.bsky.social: The Israeli attacks on Doha, and America’s support of them, has caused #Gulf leaders to majorly rethink their security. This could lead to a new Gulf-led security format 👇 buff.ly/03Iba63

Out of the rubble: The new Gulf response to Israeli aggression

The Israeli attacks on Doha, and America’s support of them, has caused Gulf leaders to majorly rethink their security. This could lead to a new Gulf-led security format…

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 19d

📰 Ellie Geranmayeh comments on snapback & Iranian-US nuclear talks for @foreignpolicy.com 👇 buff.ly/pZN9Ps9

The Iran Deal That Isn’t Quite Yet

The would-be agreement between Iran and the IAEA hinges on U.S. willingness to come back to the table.

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 21d

📰 “A far more significant shift is happening among long-standing supporters of Israel, predominantly on the political Right, who are also becoming increasingly critical." comments @hlovatt.bsky.social for @telegraphnews.bsky.social. For more 👇 buff.ly/vAddSsv

Netanyahu: Boycotts will force Israeli economy to become self-reliant

PM’s declaration comes as European nations harden their attitude to country over its war in Gaza

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 22d

📰 “Iran is trying to preserve ambiguity over its nuclear programme — both to keep its options open over weaponisation, but more likely to draw Trump back into talks.” comments Ellie Geranmayeh for @financialtimes.com buff.ly/k3SfjhF

Iran says enriched uranium stockpile buried under bombed sites

Fate of hundreds of kilogrammes of fissile material has been unclear since Israel and US bombing campaign in June

ECFR MENA @ecfrmena.bsky.social · 25d

📰 @cinziabianco.bsky.social speaks to La Repubblica about Israel's strike on Qatar and its wider regional ramifications 👇 buff.ly/00rix70

Israele colpisce vertice di Hamas in Qatar, l’esperta: “È la fine di ogni negoziato sulla Striscia”

L’intervista a Cinzia Bianco, dell’European Council of foreign relations: “Pensavano di essere protetti dagli Usa, ma hanno capito che…

Reposted by ECFR MENA

ECFR @ecfr.eu · 26d

The Israeli government has broken another taboo. Not only did it bomb a major Western ally, but it also struck Hamas’s negotiators as they discussed a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, write
@jbdacey.bsky.social, @hlovatt.bsky.social and Ellie Geranmayeh @ecfrmena.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3IhltUe

Qatar quake: Israel blows another hole in Middle East security

The Doha strike risks deepening regional scepticism of Western security partnerships in the Middle East. Europe needs to do much more to pressure Israel into ending the war in Gaza and curbing its reg...