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. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
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. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Newsletter: Palestine Abbas bets on ministry merger as financial crisis deepens The Palestinian government has merged its finance and planning ministries under Estephan Salameh in a bid to confront a deepening financial crisis and restore donor confidence amid mounting fiscal and political pressures. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
Maersk resumes Red Sea passage after two-year halt amid easing Houthi threat A ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas in October has prompted some shipping companies to consider resuming services, but security concerns persist. Yemen
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump expands travel ban By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis How the Trump administration reshaped US diplomacy toward Hamas By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Hamas leader Meshaal reaches out to Riyadh on Saudi TV After a decadelong hiatus, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal spoke to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya TV, promoting the resumption of relations with Saudi Arabia. Palestine
Gazan children wander cemeteries for pennies The harsh economic conditions in the Gaza Strip has led to an increase of child beggars in cemeteries. Palestine
Gazan children graduate from Islamic Jihad’s military camp Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, concluded its summer training camps with the participation of more than 2,000 boys ages 14 to 17, who received military training simulating a confrontation with the Israeli army. Palestine
Report raises cost of Gaza's recovery to $485M A report from the World Bank, United Nations and European Union found that the 11-day conflict caused between $290 and $380 million in physical damages alone to the Palestinian enclave. Palestine
Palestinian plainclothes security agents further popular dissent The method in which the protests against the killing of the critic of the Palestinian leadership Nizar Bayat were violently put down, with the use of security officials dressed in civilian clothes, has exposed a deep rift in Palestinian society. Palestine
Israel demolishes facilities in Silwan, Jerusalem Israel has prioritized the evacuation and demolition of Palestinian homes in the town of Silwan in Jerusalem, in favor of settlement projects, but it measures the Palestinian and international reactions before moving forward with its plans, fearing a repetition of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood scenario. Palestine
Italians build Gaza’s largest sports park The Gaza Strip will have a huge recreational sports project, which includes one of the largest skateboard tracks in the Middle East. Palestine
Yoga for Gaza paramedics raises controversy A social club in Gaza has organized a one-time event to give a yoga session for paramedics who suffered psychological trauma during the latest Israel escalation. Palestine
Jerusalem bilingual school promotes coexistence A bicultural school in Jerusalem has put the political conflict aside and is building a better future for Arab and Jewish students. Palestine
Hamas launches military summer camps for Gaza youth Hamas’ military wing launched its military summer camps less than two months after Israel launched its aggression against the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Gazans rebuild with rubble as reconstruction delayed The Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza is contracting with local companies to crush rubble and turn it into construction material. Palestine
The Takeaway: Iran deal on front burner before Raisi takes office Also: Bibi plots his comeback, a woman boxing coach trains men in Egypt, and the latest from Gaza, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey. Iran
