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
Facing Israeli pushback, Turkey recalibrates public messaging on Gaza force Turkey’s top diplomat has suggested that being part of the Gaza stabilization force is not Ankara’s priority. Turkey
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
Newsletter: Palestine Palestine’s soccer team delivers hope By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
World Bank report notes improvement Palestinian digital economy The DC-based institution’s report also said that Israeli restrictions and the Palestinian legal framework are impeding further development in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestine
Culture Israeli wall harms wildlife in Gaza Israel’s separation wall on the border with the Gaza Strip is undermining wildlife biodiversity by preventing access of any wild animals. Palestine
Hamas distances itself from protests against Iran, Gulf Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip organized protests against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while others burned pictures of Shiite leaders during another demonstration, prompting Hamas to condemn both for fear of losing Arab support for the Palestinian cause. Palestine
World Bank gives Palestinian Authority new grant to fight COVID-19 The global financial institution has already provided the PA with funding amid concerns about testing capacity in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestine
Hamas targets Sufis in Gaza Sufis have opposed the way the Hamas government came to power, prompting the movement to shut down their institutions and restrict their religious activities. Palestine
Gaza opens 1,700-year-old Byzantine church to public The Byzantine Church dating back to the fifth century in Jabaliya in northern Gaza was renovated and restored into a public museum by the Hamas-run Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in a bid to revive domestic tourism. Palestine
Recycling rubble to rebuild Gaza homes a risky necessity While the widely available and cheap material is needed in Gaza's resource-poor construction sector, rebuilding with the rubble of Gaza's destroyed buildings poses challenges. Palestine
Hamas looks to push its own narrative with new series to rival 'Fauda' Hamas is producing a new series that will air during the month of Ramadan, with the aim to debunk the Israeli narrative of events in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Tourism prices in Gaza out of reach for most Palestinians Prices in Gaza’s tourism sector are much more expensive than those in neighboring Egyptian resorts. Palestine
Hamas claims Israel uses military dolphins against Gaza The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, published a video recorded by its secretive Frogmen Unit in the Mediterranean, claiming Israel was using dolphins to carry out espionage and combat missions off the shores of the Gaza Strip. Palestine
Palestinian-American died of heart attack after Israeli detention, autopsy finds A Palestinian autopsy found that Omar Abdalmajeed As'ad died from a “stress-induced sudden cardiac arrest due to external violence.” Palestine
Wave of political detentions, pursuit of activists in West Bank The Palestinian Authority is continuing its crackdown against activist and opposition voices despite condemnation by rights groups. Palestine
