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Palestine

December 22, 2025

Ramallah 9:47 am

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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

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

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.

Saeed Jaras / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

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.

Latest News

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

Analysis

How the Trump administration reshaped US diplomacy toward Hamas

Donald Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner (L), White House special envoy Steve Witkoff (C) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a meeting between President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (not pictured) at a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Oct. 13, 2025.

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

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

Blinken Abbas

The Takeaway: Blinken's call for two-state solution met with Israeli-Palestinian pessimism

Plus, the US denies involvement in the Isfahan drone attack and Jordan's king returns to Washington.

RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken announces $50M to UNRWA, no timeframe on consulate for Palestinians

During a trip to the West Bank on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he saw a "shrinking horizon of hope” for Palestinians.

Palestinians celebrate in Gaza City on January 27, 2023, following a shooting attack by gunman outside an east Jerusalem synagogue. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

In Gaza, Palestinian indifference to Blinken's visit to Israel, West Bank

The armed factions in the Gaza Strip are not paying much attention to the visit of the US secretary of state to the region, and vowed continued retaliation against the Israeli military operations in the West Bank.

Israel protest

Netanyahu more worried about Israel's protests than Palestinians

The Israeli prime minister will receive US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as violence escalates, normalization stalls, and the economy tanks in anticipation of right-wing reforms.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Escalating violence clouds Blinken visit to Israel, West Bank

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s first visit to Israel since the election of a new right-wing government comes as the region braces for more unrest following a deadly raid in the West Bank and a shooting near a Jerusalem synagogue.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

By Elizabeth Hagedorn

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

Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City as Israel launched airstrikes, Gaza Strip, early on Jan. 27, 2023.

Israel, Gaza trade overnight fire after West Bank deadly clashes

Palestinian factions fired rockets toward Israel after Thursday's West Bank raid that killed 9, in latest escalation and ahead of US secretary of state’s visit to the region.

Relatives mourn during the funeral of Palestinians killed during an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on January 26, 2023. - Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including an elderly woman, said officials in the occupied territory, while the Israeli military said troops traded fire with Islamist militants during a "counterterrorism operation". (Photo by ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Nine Palestinians killed in Israeli raid in Jenin ahead of Blinken visit

Only four days before the arrival to Israel of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, tensions in the West Bank between Israeli security agencies and Palestinian groups increases.

Sally Azar is seen during the ordination ceremony at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Jerusalem, Jan. 22, 2023.

Culture

Sally Azar becomes first Palestinian woman pastor ordained in Jerusalem

A graduate of theology, Sally Azar was ordained as the first female Palestinian pastor in Jerusalem by the Lutheran church.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attends a session at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2023.

Saudi FM says no normalizing ties with Israel before Palestinian issue resolved

Following the normalization deal between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, talks have increased about more Arab countries joining the initiative; Saudi Arabia is on hold for now.

Palestinian residents and gunmen inspect the damage following the accidental explosion of an improvised explosive device in Jenin refugee camp, near the city of Jenin, West Bank, Dec. 12, 2022.

Israeli raid kills Palestinian teacher, militant

The West Bank is becoming a daily battleground, witnessing night raids and clashes between Israeli authorities and Palestinians.

Mourners attend the funeral of Omar Khmour, 14, in the Dheisheh refugee camp, Bethlehem, West Bank, Jan. 16, 2023.

Israeli forces kill Palestinian boy in West Bank

A Palestinian teenager was killed during a night raid amid increasing tensions in the West Bank, signaling more instability and clashes to come, while President Abbas arrives in Egypt for a tripartite summit.

SERGIO LIMA/AFP via Getty Images

Brazil’s Lula fires Israel ambassador as part of pro-Palestine shift

Former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro was a strong supporter of Israel and friend of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.