Four perspectives on the conflict that divides the world

Whether FUF members are in Dublin, Berlin, the Arava or the Jordan Valley, the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas are something that arouses emotions and touches. Photos in order: Anna Lundberg/Molly Adolfsson/Linn Davrin/Josephine Forthmann

Of: Karin Klerby

No matter where our editorial team is located, the conflict between Israel and Hamas and its impact on people in Israel and Palestine is something that engages and provokes debate. This week, we portray this issue from four locations and perspectives.

May 13, 2025, News

“While Gaza burns, hope is stifled in the West Bank”

Under a tree at dusk, villagers gather in al-Farisiyah, Hannah and Murad's village in the northern Jordan Valley, along with three companions. The conversation revolves around everyday life under occupation and the constant threats of violent attacks and forced displacement. The village is completely surrounded by Israeli settlements and outposts: Giv'at Sal'it and Mehola to the north, Shadmot Mehola and Rotem to the east, and Maskiyyot to the south. Photo: Linn Davrin.

Of: Linn Davrin

How much can a heart bear before it breaks? How long can people live in an invisible struggle without the world seeing them? Gaza is burning, but in the West Bank hope is stifled – in the shadow of statistics and international silence, tells City Davrin as just returnt after a time as a companion i Jordan Valley, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. She carries with her stories from Hannah, Mohammed and Love that would rather die than leave his home. 

May 12, 2025, Guest chronicle

Palestinians and Israelis in Ketura: Peace begins with trust

Protesters in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv demanding an end to the war on February 21, 2025. Photos: Josephine Forthmann/Utvecklingsmagasinet

Of: Josephine Forthmann

Just after Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas, FUF correspondent Josephine Forthmann spoke to students at the Arava Institute in Ketura, Israel. An environmental institute where young Israelis and Palestinians study side by side. Achieving real peace requires more than silence between the bullets: it requires trust, cooperation and meetings between people who have learned to fear each other for generations, they say. 

May 12, 2025, FUF-correspondents, Interview

Pause in peace talks between M23 and DRC government

The UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO had begun a withdrawal, but now remains in the Democratic Republic of Congo indefinitely due to developments in the eastern parts of the country. Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti Source: Flickr

Of: Meklit Teklu

In April, we met the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group forfirst time in an official call on the conditions for a ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Despite the efforts of various actors, it is now clear that further talks between them are postponed to the future. At the same time, continued strife to spä on the wholeannual humanitarian crisis in the country.  

April 28, 2025, Development magazine explains

Week 12: Criticism of the government's Palestine policy – ​​"You just have to use your eyes"

Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas this week and launched new airstrikes on Gaza, which has sparked reactions in the Swedish debate. Image from Gaza 2023. Photo: Ali Hamad for APAimages/Palestinian News & Information Agency/Wikimedia Commons

Of: Ida Löjmand and Mona Adam Abdi

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been broken. Swedish media are discussing the parties' desire to find a peaceful solution and the government, which is accused of inaction after a new UN report reported possible acts of genocide in Gaza.

March 25, 2025, Current debate

Week 10: European rearmament and International Women's Day on the agenda in troubled times

The feeling that the US is failing Europe when Donald Trump stops military support for Ukraine is palpable among the debaters. On International Women's Day, attention is paid to women in conflict zones. Image: Ivan Bandura/Unsplash, NATO/Flickr

Of: Elina Malmberg and Isabel Odelfelt

After to Donald Trump has breakt all military support to Ukraine many believe debaters to the iMarketplace longer goes to rely on USA participation i NATO. The international Women's Day pay attention tos i debates, and governments presents a bindentation of 22,5 million kronor to the women of Ukraine. 

March 10, 2025, Current debate

Week 9: Debaters urge Europe to take a more active role in the new world order

Over the past week, there has been a lively debate about Europe's responsibility in a world where US influence is changing. Image: Collage in Canva

Of: Meklit Teklu and Nora Sargin

Last Monday marked third anniversary av Russia full-scale invasion av Ukraine, at the same time that the global the policy was minted av gold more than USA concessions i the peace negotiations w/ Russian Federation. USA pulls sig back from earlier commitments must Europe - and i especially Scandinavia – step fram and ta en the sea aktiv roll i world politics mean several debaters.

March 3, 2025, Current debate

Week 8: Peace talks without Ukraine draw international concern and criticism

This week, Ukraine has been excluded from the peace talks between Russia and the United States that took place in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Prime Minister's Office/Flickr

Of: Meja Roberg and Olle Hoög

Under the previous week has world politics embossed av discussions om security and Diplomat. Not least fthe conversations between USA and Russian Federation has has sparked intense reactions and debate across Europe. The discussions, held in Saudi Arabia and without participation from Ukraine, has been met with strong skepticism from European leaders and with concern from the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.  

February 24, 2025, Current debate

Week 3: The editor tips – The result of the government's reform agenda for aid and development cooperation as an investment for peace and security

In Svenska Dagbladet, Carl Björkman and Ulrika Schenström debate the important role of development cooperation in peacebuilding, and in Dagens Arena Göran Holmqvist writes about the government's transformation of aid.

While waiting for the spring FUF editorial staff to start covering the debate on global issues, here are a couple of reading tips from the debate on global issues in recent weeks.

January 13, 2025, Current debate

Current debate in 2024: NATO, climate, EU, migration and war

Migration, the climate, NATO, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are some of the topics that dominated the debate in 2024. Image: collage in Canva.

Of: The Chancellery

A year marked by the conflict between Israel and Palestine, lack of climate action, the EU election, migration and the importance of supporting Ukraine. That sums up Chat GPT FUFeditorial coverage of the debate on global issues and Sweden's role in the world on Swedish debate and editorial pages during 2024.  

January 13, 2025, Current debate