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Palestine

December 31, 2025

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At Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu seeks Iran strike approval while Trump presses Gaza plan

US President Donald Trump is expected to push Israel to enter the second phase of his Gaza peace plan, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will focus on securing Trump’s approval for a potential strike on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Analysis

Gaza realities test Trump’s 2025 Middle East ambitions

During its first year, the second Trump administration confronted wars in Gaza and Sudan, forged new ties with Syria and grappled with the growing nuclear threat from Iran.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participates in a joint news conference with US President Donald Trump (not seen) in the State Dining Room at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington.

Analysis

In 2025, Netanyahu saved his coalition but stalled on Gaza, Iran, Lebanon

With 2025 ending, Israelis are frustrated over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to fully end the Gaza war, solve the Hezbollah problem, reach a deal with Syria or find a way to constructively impact talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

US President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on Oct. 13, 2025.

Analysis

Trump has upper hand over Netanyahu, but is it enough for Gaza?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been stalling on the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, but at the end of the day, Trump has much more leverage over Netanyahu.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Latest News

Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat

A ship sails along Egypt's Suez Canal near Ismailia, April 16, 2025.

Facing Israeli pushback, Turkey recalibrates public messaging on Gaza force

Saeed Jaras / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Daoud Kuttab

Palestine Columnist

In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics

Rasha Abou Jalal

In Gaza City, reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Fatima AbdulKarim

In Ramallah, reporting on the West Bank

Palestinians wear face masks as they gather to perform the Friday prayers at the Ibrahimi mosque, also known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, Hebron, West Bank, June 26, 2020.

Israel implements Judaization project at Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron

Israel has begun implementing a Judaization project at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to install an external elevator, open a route for pedestrians and a parking lot, amid Palestinians' protests that are likely to escalate in the coming weeks.

A Palestinian medical worker prepares a dose of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at a mosque in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, July 6, 2021.

Concerns grow in Gaza over new coronavirus wave

There are increasing warnings that a new coronavirus wave will reach the Gaza Strip amid concerns over a psychological crisis plaguing health workers due to Israeli restrictions.

A Palestinian boy waves his national flag in front of the house occupied by settlers belonging to the Palestinian Al-Kurd family, Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, Sept. 16, 2011.

Palestinian families forced to share homes with settlers in Sheikh Jarrah

Several Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah are forced to share their homes with Israeli settlers.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (R) and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (C) are seen during a meeting with Palestinian residents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 10, 2007.

Saudis sentence 60 Palestinians, Jordanians for supporting Hamas

Jordanian and Palestinian officials have been silent on what many believe are exaggerated sentences of their citizens who are accused of supporting Hamas and providing financial support to Palestinian charities.

Palestinian singer Reem Talhami from the West Bank sings with choir members, who attend an UNRWA-funded school, during a performance in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, April 23, 2013.

Gaza resort attacked for holding mixed-gender concert

A group of masked men bombed a tourist resort in the Gaza Strip for holding a concert for both men and women, which raises questions on whether fundamentalists are once again gaining the upper hand in the coastal enclave.

A large mosaic is pictured at the archaeological site of the Saint Hilarion Monastery, one of the largest Christian monasteries in the Middle East, in Tell Umm al-Amr close to Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, March 19, 2013.

Domestic tourism thrives in Gaza

Local travel companies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, are organizing trips for Gazans to discover the many hidden archaeological sites spread across the besieged enclave.

Leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement Ismail Haniyeh (2nd R) shakes hands with Iranian Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri (L)

Palestinian Authority, Hamas divided on Iran

The Palestinian Authority participated in the annual conference of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, which the United States removed from its terrorism list in 2012, while Hamas leaders welcomed incoming Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

Palestinian men, some wearing face masks, dance at a wedding a day before authorities impose a ban on festive events as a protective measure against the coronavirus pandemic, Rafah, Gaza Strip, March 21, 2020.

Artistic, musical events bring some joy to grief-stricken Gaza

Touristic establishments in the Gaza Strip are slowly regaining life with more local singers holding music events amid the ongoing Israeli siege and the difficult economic conditions.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Palestinian, Israeli ministers meet in another sign of post-Netanyahu thaw

The meeting in Jerusalem is another sign of improved ties under the new Israeli government and amid US efforts to restore Israeli-Palestinian relations.

portrait of Barghouti in Ramallah

Hamas insists Marwan Barghouti be part of any prisoner swap with Israel

Hamas hopes its support for Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who retains wide popularity, will pay political dividends.

A Palestinian woman collects grapes to make Grape Malban, a mixture of grapes and semolina, at Halhoul village, near Hebron, West Bank, Sept. 4, 2020.

Israel undercuts Palestinian agriculture with cheap produce

Israel is flooding Palestinian markets with large quantities of agricultural products with the aim to ruin the Palestinian agricultural seasons.

Palestinian protestors clash with Israeli forces the funeral of a 20-year-old Palestinian, in the village of Beit Ummar, north of the West Bank City of Hebron, on July 30, 2021.

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops during funeral of boy shot by IDF

Shawkat Khalil Awad was shot during clashes that erupted between Palestinian mourners and Israeli troops.