U.S. officials report that Israel has "more or less accepted" a ceasefire deal after negotiations between Hamas and negotiators in Cairo. This comes at a crucial time, when the north of Gaza is already suffering famine, and heartbreaking videos of babies dying due to malnutrition are growing more common. 

Israelis opposing the delivery of aid to Gaza had been blockading aid trucks from entering the strip, part of the widespread protests against humanitarian aid for Gazans in Israel. U.S. aid convoys finally delivered 38,000 meals yesterday morning, hopefully signalling a turning point in the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. Over 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with another over 70,000 injured. Thousands lie buried beneath the rubble of bombed-out buildings. 

Widespread frustration with Netanyahu's government and their handling of the hostage situation boiled over this weekend, and thousands marched on Jerusalem. The protestors were led by the families of hostages, concluding a four-day march, which visited the sight of the October 7th attacks and gained volume outside of PM Netanyahu's house. 

Meanwhile, Israeli group the Amana Settlement Movement has planned to sell off West Bank land to Americans. The group is hosting a sale in a NJ synagogue next weekend on March 10, the first day of Ramadan, asking Americans to buy property in the West Bank and rent it to Israeli settlers. While Biden has ordered sanctions for settler activity in the West Bank on February 1st, referring to the settlement of the West Bank as a "national emergency", it seems we must also look closer to home for those destroying the hope of a two-state solution. 

Alexei Navalny, Russia's main opposition leader, was buried on March 1st. Thousands gathered in Moscow for his funeral, with people creating tributes across the country. Though the funeral was lined with riot police, they did not forcibly disperse the large crowds, even when they began chanting anti-Putin slogans. However, the area around Navalny's grave was heavily surveilled so it is possible that the crackdown happens later.

Navalny's wife, Yulia, has promised to continue his political work from abroad, as she faces persecution by the Kremlin. Yulia is part of Navalny's Anti-Corruption organization – which has reported on, for example, Putin's Italianate palace on the Black Sea – has been branded a terrorist cell. While Yulia's bravery is an inspiration, Russia has run out of martyrs. Two weeks from now, Putin will be holding a presidential election with no serious opposition on the ticket. 

Ghana has passed an incredibly controversial anti-LGBT bill which makes it illegal to identify as gay or trans (or anything caught by LGBTWQ+) in Ghana. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was passed unanimously last Wednesday , though it has yet to be signed into law by Ghanian president Nana Akufo-Addo. The bill mirrors Russia's restrictions, carrying a prison sentence of up to 5 years for the promotion or support of LGBTQ agendas and activities. 

Though Ghana has long criminalised gay sexual acts – which carry a prison sentence of up to three years – resentment towards LBGT groups has risen in recent years after the opening of a LGBT+ Rights center in 2021. Over half of African countries criminalise homosexuality, and the language of this bill heavily borrowed from similar legislation in Uganda. 

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