The NCF Blog
Recent Articles
The Board of Peace: Challenged by Phase Two Gaza Reconstruction?
On 14 January 2026, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced that President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza
Ramadan Donations
The Next Century Foundation needs your help and it is Ramadan, a time for giving. Please help us to make this a safer world. Here
Legitimacy in Sudan: A Narrative Battleground
The devastations of war are not simply limited to the innumerable material effects on families, friends and ecosystems of life. War is also waged through
A Fifth Year of War: Breaking the Russia Ukraine Deadlock
The four-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine passed this week on Tuesday, 24th February 2026. As Russia and Ukraine enter the fifth year
Dr. Said’s Latest Letter From Gaza
Another letter to the Next Century Foundation from Dr Said in Gaza: For the past two days, I have been suffering from a severe headache,
Between Diplomacy and Escalation: USA-Iran Nuclear Negotiations
The second round of indirect talks between the United States (U.S.) and Iran occurred on Tuesday, February 17th, in an effort to reach a nuclear deal that
Rafah Crossing: Written Statement to the UN Human Rights Council
The Next Century Foundation welcomes the limited re-opening of the Rafah crossing on 1st February 2026. It is particularly noteworthy that, according to reports, the
Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: When Exclusion Becomes Governance
Since August 2021, the status of women in Afghanistan has frequently been discussed in terms of “restrictions” and “rights rollbacks.” This happened shortly after the
One state, two states, no state: Exploring Southern Independence in Yemen
The state of divisions within Yemen, between competing political groups and entrenched historical regional identities, begs the question; is a one-state solution the end-goal? Is
Reform UK: A Foreign Policy of Withdrawal
Reform UK’s growing political support invites an examination of the party’s priorities and its emerging approach to foreign policy. The Next Century Foundation´s Research Officer,
The Romanian Spillover – Where is NATO’s Red Line?
In this piece Teodor Stefan Ionescu reflects on the recent drone attacks on Romanian soil. In doing so it argues these attacks are sufficient for evoking NATO’s Article 4. The fact that it is unlikely
Kafala in the Middle East and Ethiopian Workers
8.7 per cent of the global total of domestic workers aged 15 and over are employed in the Arab States. While many opportunities provide migrants with safe working conditions, they often face vulnerable and unstable
The Humanitarian Impact of the Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen
In 2024, the Ansar Allah group (generally referred to in the Western press disparagingly as “the Houthis”), which constitute the main component of the de facto government in northern Yemen, arbitrarily detained UN staff and
The US-Iran War: Between Resolution and Disaster
A Region at the Crossroads The war between the United States and Iran continues to evolve with each passing day. Military developments, political statements, humanitarian consequences, and diplomatic efforts since February 2026 have created an
Tackling Misinformation Whilst Preserving Free Speech
NCF Resesearch Officer Sam Lewis argues that the most important way to combat misinformation is by reframing the law in a way that conceptualises social media companies as having more agency. This would allow attempts
Gender-Based Violence in Sudan
Gender-based violence (GBV) includes physical, sexual, mental, and economic harm that affects women and girls in private or public settings. As conflicts escalate, warfare poses greater risks to women and girls, with over 676 million
Revisiting 1984 in 2026
NCF Research Officer Odessa Grove draws a comparison to the imagined world of George Orwell´s 1984 and today´s situation: Everyone wants Orwell on their side. That’s exactly the problem Conservatives point to censorship and political
A Response to Pope Leo’s Encyclical on AI
Reverend Larry Wright, Religious Affairs Advisor to the Next Century Foundation, comments on Pope Leo´s encyclical on Artificial Intelligence: Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical (Teaching Document) Magnifica Humanitas is a sweeping 42,000 word moral, theological,
Why Ukraine Needs an Environmental Recovery Fund Before the War Is Over
Wars not only kill but also damage infrastructure and destroy the environment. While human lives are impossible to restore, buildings and energy facilities can and should be the object of reparations and reconstruction. However the
Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis
Gaza’s hospitals remain trapped in a humanitarian emergency For many observers, discussions about Gaza centre on ceasefires, military operations, and diplomatic negotiations. Yet behind the headlines lies a human rights crisis: the collapse of Gaza’s
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference this summer from Monday, July 13th to Friday, July 17th
Refugee Integration and the Right to Work
The right to work for refugees is vital, an essential step towards integration and social inclusion. Providing comprehensive support systems that empower refugees by enabling access to employment is critical. Employment and Human Need You
Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine increase exponentially
The following report is by our new Ukraine Research Officer, based in Ukraine, Ms Anastasiia Zadiraka, and is slightly edited by the NCF Secretary General. It represents an Ukrainian perspective and as such is of
Is the World still Sleepwalking into Another Middle Eastern Disaster?
President Donald Trump has delayed rapprochement with Iran to enable Israel to continue its incursion into Southern Lebanon unimpeded. However Iran meanwhile pursues a nuclear weapon unimpeded whilst negotiations are stalled. Is this what the
Is the Ukraine war now set to drag on for years on end?
Despondency leading to inaction is one of the seven deadly sins. But everyone is so despondent about Ukraine that all are losing any hope of peace. The NCF Secretary General examines the issues.
NCF
Reports & Statements
to the United Nations
Middle East
Why Do So Many Kurds Feel Forgotten?
When people talk about the Kurdish issue in Turkey, the conversation usually focuses on politics, security, or conflict. What often gets overlooked is something much
Kafala in the Middle East and Ethiopian Workers
8.7 per cent of the global total of domestic workers aged 15 and over are employed in the Arab States. While many opportunities provide migrants
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
Yemen
The Humanitarian Impact of the Detention of Aid Workers in Yemen
In 2024, the Ansar Allah group (generally referred to in the Western press disparagingly as “the Houthis”), which constitute the main component of the de
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
NCF UN Oral Statement to the UNHRC on regional interference in Yemen
Oral Statement to the United Nations on the crisis in Yemen by NCF Research Officer, Domingo Lapadula di Stefano
Palestine-Israel
Gaza’s Healthcare Crisis
Gaza’s hospitals remain trapped in a humanitarian emergency For many observers, discussions about Gaza centre on ceasefires, military operations, and diplomatic negotiations. Yet behind the
Healing the Nations Conference 2026
Conference Programme We are excited to invite you to register to attend all or part of the Next Century Foundation’s five-day Healing the Nations conference
Iran grows stronger, America looks foolish, and Lebanon burns
20% of global oil flow goes throough the 21 mile chokepoint at Hormuz. We do not really have a ceasefire worthy of the name. We
The Changing Geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East
Ambassador Mark Hambley and William Morris of the NCF speak at the Policy Studies Organization conference in Washington on the changing political geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East in 2018