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
Iran enlists Pakistan for support against sanctions as pandemic spreads Iran’s inability to contain the spread of the coronavirus within its borders is endangering the Middle East region and beyond. Iran
Egyptian government’s anti-virus plan met with mixed reactions Cairo has taken several new measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many Egyptians are skeptical about the government's plans and fear the worst is yet to come. Egypt
Intel: Republicans dial up pressure on Saudis to end oil price war with Russia Republicans are throwing their weight behind the Donald Trump administration’s push to get Saudi Arabia to end its oil price war with Russia, which has increasingly squeezed American energy companies as the coronavirus runs rampant throughout the United States. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu’s chief rival reverses, signals he’ll cut unity deal Benny Gantz said he would serve in an emergency government led by rival Benjamin Netanyahu to help prevent a coronavirus crisis in Israel. Israel
US issues fresh Iran sanctions targeting IRGC’s ‘web of front companies’ The US Treasury Department places sanctions on more companies, officials and individuals affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force and Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Iraq
Iran to restrict travel to stop coronavirus Iranian authorities said that starting tomorrow they will restrict travel and implement more restrictive measures to stop the spread of coronavirus. Iran
Turkey mulls full lockdown to check coronavirus Turkey's interior minister says “full isolation” is possible if current measures do not slow the outbreak and Istanbul’s mayor says the country’s biggest city needs a stay-at-home order now. Turkey
Turkish government divided over lockdown proposals Turkish policymakers are split on whether a lockdown approach is the best way to protect Turkey from coronavirus, with some more fearful of the economic fallout than the potential deaths. Iraq
Gantz made a tough decision. Will he regret it? Blue and White leader Benny Gantz slammed the door on his anti-Netanyahu partners to join a unity government with the Likud, but will he ever occupy the Prime Minister's Office? Israel
Intel: Timeline of CIA contractor Robert Levinson missing for 13 years in Iran The family of Robert Levinson, a CIA contractor who disappeared on Iran’s Kish Island in 2007, confirmed Thursday that the US government informed them that the former FBI agent had died at some point prior to the coronavirus pandemic. United States
US coalition transfers another base to Iraqi security forces The US-led coalition against the Islamic State has announced the transfer of another military base to Iraqi security forces as a temporary precaution against the coronavirus outbreak. Iraq
