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Palestine

December 27, 2025

Ramallah 4:20 pm

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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

Analysis

Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US special envoy Tom Barrack, Jerusalem, Dec. 15 2

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

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

Israeli policemen check the ID of an employee before he enters Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on March 23, 2020, due to its closure following the Waqf decision in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Will waqf expansion strengthen Jordan’s control of Jerusalem holy sites?

The Jerusalem Waqf Council is now witnessing changes after years of no activity. With the change of names and an increase in the number of representatives, is the council now more or less representative of the Palestinians?

A large mosaic is pictured at the archaeological site of the St. 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, on March 19, 2013. The earliest building dates back to the fourth century and is attributed to St. Hilarion, a native of the Gaza region and the father of Palestinian monasticism. Abandoned after a seventh-century earthquake and uncovered by local archaeologists in 1999, today the settlement asp

New archaeological discovery in St. Hilarion Monastery

In cooperation with Palestinian experts, a French antiquities mission found graves dating back to the Byzantine era at the site of St. Hilarion in the western Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian vendor displays a necklace in a window case at a gold market in Gaza City's historic old quarter, Gaza Strip, March 30, 2016.

Gold industry in Gaza booms amid coronavirus outbreak

The gold industry in Gaza has thrived amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of increased production locally and enhanced quality and availability of a variety of gold products and jewelry.

Klos-C is escorted into the southern Israeli port of Eilat

Report outlines how Iran smuggles arms to Hamas

Israel reveals how weapons are being smuggled from Iran to Hamas in Gaza via Yemen and Sudan and then through Egypt.

People watch as rockets are fired during a military drill by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Dec. 29, 2020.

Hamas boosts military capabilities amid preparations for Palestinian elections

Israeli military sources revealed that Iran’s aid has helped Hamas’ military arm achieve gradual military progress in the Gaza Strip and boost its rockets and drones production capabilities.

A Palestinian rides a bicycle past the closed gate of a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on April 6, 2021, amidst a lockdown due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden restores US aid to Palestinian refugee agency

Along with providing $150 million to UNRWA, the US administration announced funding for economic and development assistance in the West Bank and Gaza.

A young boy holds a flag as people pray during a protest of Palestinian activists over confiscated lands by the Israeli army in Beit Iksa, West Bank, Jan. 25, 2013.

Palestinian village becomes prison for residents

The Palestinian village of Beit Iksa lies on the Palestinian side of the Israeli separation wall, and its residents feel trapped in a large prison surrounded by Israeli settlements.

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) holds a joint press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting at the presidential compound, Ramallah, West Bank, March 10, 2010.

Palestinian, international observers weigh Biden approach to Palestinian conflict

Although the Biden administration promised to reverse many of the previous US decisions, Palestinians-US relations are moving forward at a very slow pace.

JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images

Farming families in West Bank retreat to caves as settlers encircle land

In the southern West Bank near the separation wall lies the village of Khirbet al-Radhim, where seven Palestinian families live without roads, electricity or water and report constant harassent by the Israeli authorities and settlers.

Palestinian West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti flanked by Israeli guards walks into a Tel Aviv court 20 May 2004.

Jailed Palestinian leader's alliance could deal Fatah blow at ballot boxes

Marwan Barghouti and Nasser al-Qudwa's popularity present a serious challenge to President Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah party, and could have implications that go beyond the legislative elections.

A picture taken on March 31, 2021 near the Israeli Qalandiya checkpoint, between Jerusalem and Ramallah, shows a mural of Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti on a section of Israel's controversial separation wall. - Imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has endorsed a list of challengers opposing president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement in legislative elections next month, the head of the dissident list said on April 1. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

36 electoral lists will compete in upcoming Palestinian vote

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission has announced 36 new lists have been submitted — what happens now?

Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian protester as an Israeli settler hurls rocks at Palestinians during a demonstration against the expansion of settlements in the town of Salfit, near the Israeli settlement of Ariel, West Bank, Nov. 30, 2020.

Palestinians in this village suffer daily settler raids of Muslim shrines

While the Israeli settlers stepped up their storming of Muslim shrines in Kifl Haris village in Salfit governorate, Palestinians perceive that such raids pave the way for the seizure of additional lands in the town.