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
Pro-Sistani 'popular mobilization units' break with pro-Iran militias in Iraq A bold move by PMU groupings aligned with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is set to challenge the level of influence of pro-Iran militias in Iraq. Iraq
Temple Mount closed to both Jews, Muslims over coronavirus The Waqf agreed to shut down the Temple Mount to Muslims during the coronavirus crisis, in exchange for a ruling that denies Jews access to the site. Palestine
Intel: Key Biden adviser slams 'sheer hypocrisy' of Trump gambit to extend Iran arms embargo The Joe Biden campaign’s chief foreign policy adviser slammed the Donald Trump administration for relying on a mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal to reinstate multilateral sanctions on Iran should the United Nations fail to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, which is set to expire in October. Palestine
Intel: House Middle East panel spotlights Yemen in first virtual briefing The House Foreign Affairs Committee spotlighted Yemen in its first virtual briefing, which the Middle East subcommittee held today. Saudi Arabia
Iraqi intelligence building bombed in Kirkuk A suicide bomber, reportedly an Islamic State member, detonated himself at an Iraqi intelligence building in the disputed northern city. Iraq
‘Virtual mall’ in Bahrain opens for shoppers on lockdown The online hub will allows shoppers in Bahrain to purchase from more than 100 brands. Bahrain
Afrin truck bombing kills dozens in Syria The explosion during the holy month of Ramadan in the city controlled by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels killed at least 36 and wounded at least 40. Syria
Turkey enjoys PR win with coronavirus aid shipment to US Turkey ships face masks and other personal protective equipment to the United States and evacuates a Turkish COVID-19 patient from Sweden. Turkey
Egypt extends its state of emergency for three more months amid coronavirus In his announcement, Egypt's president cited “dangerous” conditions in the health and security sectors. Egypt
Jordan allows daytime driving as it relaxes coronavirus lockdown Jordan is allowing people to drive their vehicles and many businesses to reopen for the first time in more than a month. Jordan
Intel: US watchdog calls on State Department to add Syria to list of religious freedom violators Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should designate Syria as one of the world’s worst religious freedom offenders and put Iraq, Turkey and Egypt on a special watch list, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended in its annual report. Egypt
Netanyahu's annexation plan can't be stopped Annexation of the Jordan Valley is a long-standing Israeli objective, going back to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Palestine
