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 hopes for partial sanctions relief amid epidemic President Hassan Rouhani claims Iranian assets abroad could soon be unfrozen, but US has no plans to lift sanctions. Iran
Intel: US provides aid to help Iraq fight coronavirus The US Embassy in Baghdad announced today that is providing $670,000 to help Iraq fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. Iraq
Israel’s synagogues close doors for first time over coronavirus Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided a complete nationwide lockdown, but with new COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, new directives have closed the nation's places of prayer. Israel
Turkey charges 20 Saudis in Khashoggi murder Turkey will hold a trial in absentia for the 20 suspects it says participated in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia
Turkey and COVID-19: Is another Italy in the making? Experts warn that Turkey may soon face a calamity similar to what befell Italy and Spain if the government fails to take stronger measures to fight the coronavirus. Turkey
Plan to feed Jordanians under curfew sows chaos The Jordanian authorities' effort to distribute bread to citizens brought more confusion and panic than aid. Jordan
How is Gaza dealing with COVID-19? While the UNRWA turned schools in the Gaza Strip into clinics to provide treatment for patients with respiratory diseases, the Ministry of Health is turning schools into quarantine centers where those arriving to the Gaza Strip are kept as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Palestine
Beirut in the time of coronavirus outbreak Beirut has turned into a ghost city as shops and restaurants that remained open during the civil war closed their doors in implementation of a general mobilization decision issued by the government to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Lebanon
Is another economic crisis looming in Iraq, with dropping oil prices? Iraqis are expressing great concern about the low oil prices amid the coronavirus outbreak, as the government may not be able to pay their salaries in the coming months. Iraq
Syrian Kurds still fight for rights on unrecognizable battlefield Nine years into the Syrian war, much has changed for the Kurds, but conditions seem riper today than ever for them to obtain their rights. Syria
Egypt seeks economic haven from coronavirus threat The Central Bank of Egypt is taking steps to protect the country's economy as it weathers the coronavirus pandemic. Egypt
Outrage as Knesset speaker resigns to avoid highest court order The resignation of Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein has won Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu time to capitalize on the pandemic menacing Israel and cost Blue and White head Benny Gantz precious days to form his government. Israel
