The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
Suicide rates increase within Iraq’s Yazidi community The number of suicides among Iraqi Yazidis have been increasing recently, while they receive little support from local and international organizations in this regard. Iraq
Tunisia emerges healthy from six-week lockdown Tunisia has started to ease lockdown measures, pointing to the relative success of the restrictions it imposed early on in the pandemic. Tunisia
Israel expands settlement projects around Hebron’s mosque Israel has approved a project near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in another step toward annexation. Palestine
Pompeo to discuss annexation, Iran, China with Israel’s new government Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will arrive in Israel with a long list of issues to discuss the day the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz is sworn in. Israel
Egypt withdraws from FIFA online friendlies Two Egyptian soccer players have withdrawn from the FIFA eNations StayAndPlay Friendlies, over Israel’s participation. Egypt
Women protest spike in domestic violence as locked-down Israel simmers In nationwide demonstrations over the last few days, Israeli women are demanding help with the spike violence against women during the COVID-19 crisis. Israel
Intel: US to withdraw Patriot missile systems from Saudi Arabia The Pentagon is set to pull Patriot missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia amid internal pressure to transfer military assets to counter China. Saudi Arabia
Uber lays off 40% of Cairo office, largest in Middle East The layoffs come amid global cuts as the coronavirus pandemic sees revenues drop. Egypt
Trump blasts Republicans who voted for Iran war powers bill as Senate fails to override veto President Donald Trump laid into some of his close Senate allies for siding with Democrats on an Iran war powers bill even as Congress failed to override his veto. Saudi Arabia
British-Australian academic held in Iranian prison reportedly attempts suicide Kylie Moore-Gilbert is among the many foreigners held in Iran's notorious Evin prison on espionage charges. Iran
US grants Iraq summer break from Iran electricity sanctions The Trump administration’s reprieve for Iraq from US sanctions on Iranian electricity imports will extend through September. Originals
Kurdish and coalition forces target Islamic State in eastern Syria The operation comes at a time of recent IS attacks in Syria and Iraq. Iraq
