At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program. Israel
Analysis Gaza realities test Trump’s 2025 Middle East ambitions During its first year, the second Trump administration confronted wars in Gaza and Sudan, forged new ties with Syria and grappled with the growing nuclear threat from Iran. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit Worried about the increasing empowerment of Turkey across the Middle East, Israel is making a show of neighborhood strength with Greece and Cyprus. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis In 2025, Netanyahu saved his coalition but stalled on Gaza, Iran, Lebanon With 2025 ending, Israelis are frustrated over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to fully end the Gaza war, solve the Hezbollah problem, reach a deal with Syria or find a way to constructively impact talks on the Iranian nuclear program. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Trump has upper hand over Netanyahu, but is it enough for Gaza? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Israel again bombs Hamas targets in Gaza as fire balloons continue The flare-up could threaten last month's cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. News Brief
Hamas tests new Israeli government by resuming incendiary balloons The so-called “night confusion units” in Gaza continue to fire incendiary balloons toward Israel. Palestine
Turkey seeks cooperation with Egypt in Gaza Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested cooperation between Ankara and Cairo on the Palestinian issue, a move seen unlikely as Cairo looks with suspicion at the Turkish role in the Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza Strip. Egypt
For Israel’s new government, Egypt key to calm on border with Gaza An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo in the very near future, to continue discussing with the Egyptians a framework for an arrangement with Hamas. Israel
Egypt struggles to reconcile Hamas, Palestinian Authority Egypt postponed a highly anticipated meeting between Palestinian factions to avoid failure, as Cairo recently came out as a major regional player after brokering the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Palestine
Israeli bombs ignite pesticide stores, spew dangerous chemicals in Gaza Israeli warplanes bombed the largest warehouse of agricultural material in the Gaza Strip, burning tons of dangerous pesticides and setting off an unfolding environmental disaster. Palestine
Did Gaza war end or rejuvenate Abbas’ presidency? With the United States and other states unwilling to work with Hamas, aid money is flowing into the Palestinian government coffers. Palestine
The Takeaway: US looks to Gulf to help break deadlock in Nile Dam dispute Egypt, Ethiopia reshape security alignments in Horn of Africa; Erdogan readies for make-or-break summit with Biden; Lapid emerges as arbiter of Israeli politics; Israeli Arab community split on coalition government; update on Gaza. Egypt
Hamas releases audio of alleged Israeli soldier The militant group also released old footage of former Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel
Hamas, PA compete for Gaza reconstruction Palestinian division is deepening further, with disputes emerging between the PA and Hamas over which party will be responsible for handling the Gaza reconstruction process. Palestine
Gazan women turn to social media to promote home businesses Amid the bad economic situation, high unemployment rates and the stifling ongoing Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, many Gazan women have turned to social media to market their homemade products and goods. Palestine
Jerusalem’s Batn al-Hawa could be next Sheikh Jarrah The Batn al-Hawa neighborhood in east Jerusalem faces a similar fate to the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where 86 Jerusalem families are threatened with eviction to make way for Israeli settlers. Palestine