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
Iraqi government calls on civil society to fight COVID-19 Iraqi civil society is offering its help and support to the Iraqi government in fighting the coronavirus. Iraq
Turkey’s femicide toll soars amid coronavirus lockdowns Women’s rights groups are calling for urgent action to protect victims of domestic violence in Turkey, where coronavirus restrictions leave vulnerable women trapped with their abusers. Turkey
Dubai propping up Emirates airline with fresh capital amid coronavirus travel slump With nearly all of its flights grounded, Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum plans to inject equity into Emirates airline to keep it afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. United Arab Emirates
Israel outlines pandemic cooperation with Palestinians, warns international help needed In a briefing, the Israeli Foreign Ministry praised cooperation with the Palestinian Authority in battling the coronavirus, but stressed that the Palestinians will need more help than Israel is able to provide. Palestine
Coronavirus crisis exposes Shin Bet's secret database Resistance to the Israeli government’s emergency measure to track coronavirus patients has revealed one of the most secretive tools of the Shin Bet in its war against terrorism. Palestine
Will COVID-19 reshape ultra-Orthodox leadership? Public outrage against the ultra-Orthodox community is palpable in Israel for its members disobeying coronavirus restrictions against large gatherings. Israel
Syrian Kurds hunker down amid fears of COVID-19 Most people in northeastern Syria seem to be obeying a lockdown imposed by the Kurdish autonomous administration to contain the spread of the coronavirus, but many are wondering how they will survive financially. Syria
Hamas, Houthis hope for deal with Saudi Arabia Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group is suggesting the release of Saudi captives in exchange for the release of Palestinians detained in Saudi jails, an unprecedented proposal that was widely welcomed by the Palestinian Hamas movement. Saudi Arabia
Gazans not giving up on wedding celebrations despite COVID-19 Despite the closure of Gaza's wedding halls, couples who want to tie the knot simply move the large weddings to their homes, much to the rage of the health authorities. Palestine
COVID-19 menaces oil market The novel coronavirus pandemic could have an even greater impact on the global oil glut than the Saudi-Russian showdown over prices and output. Saudi Arabia
Is COVID-19 changing Astana allies' dynamics in Syria? The coronavirus outbreak in Syria may give Russia an opportunity to limit the Iranian presence. Syria
US slashes millions in Yemen aid despite pandemic As Yemen stares down a coronavirus crisis, the United States is set to slash $73 million in humanitarian assistance because of worsening Houthi aid restrictions. Saudi Arabia
