Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Iran operating new advanced centrifuges, nuclear watchdog finds According to an International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran is now using IR-4 centrifuges to enrich uranium in violation of the nuclear accord. Iran
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
Israeli MK recounts his time on Gaza flotilla In an interview with Al-Monitor, Israeli-Arab Knesset member Basel Ghattas says that contrary to claims by right-wing Knesset members, the Marianne flotilla was not an act of violence, but a political one, drawing international attention to Gaza by peaceful means. Palestine
The Islamic State is coming for the Gulf The Islamic State seems to believe its recent suicide attacks against Shiite targets in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will increase its appeal to Sunnis in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia
Why is Israel turning a blind eye to South Sudan arms sales? Meretz Knesset member Tamar Zandberg accuses Israel of facilitating the sales of weapons to countries at war with an army accused of perpetrating war crimes, such as South Sudan. Israel
Negotiators may ‘stop the clock’ to finish Iran deal While the July 7 deadline for the Iran nuclear talks may not be met, officials still hope to have a deal by July 9 in order to avoid giving the US Congress a 60-day window to review the deal instead of a 30-day one. Iran
Wilayat Sinai fails to cripple Egyptian army Islamic State affiliates in Egypt’s Sinai province, known as Wilayat Sinai and formerly as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, devised a plan to rattle the Egyptian army, but it seems that their attempts were unsuccessful. Egypt
Is Hamas working with Wilayat Sinai? While Hamas officials deny ties to IS in Sinai, Gaza residents claim that Sinai terrorists were admitted for treatment in Gaza, and Israel argues that Hamas provides weapons to these terror groups. Palestine
Egypt clamps down on religious ritual The Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf has imposed a series of strict conditions on religious retreats held in mosques during Ramadan. Egypt
House starts its review of Iran deal A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of July 6. Congress
Turkish military wary of Erdogan plan for Syrian buffer zone The United States remains opposed to a no-fly zone in northern Syria; Masrour Barzani calls for "amicable divorce" for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Jacky Hugi writes that Israel should back the Syrian government "at any price." Iraq
Egypt’s missing activists resurface in prison Mysterious arrests are on the rise in Egypt, leaving citizens feeling vulnerable to both the precarious security situation and security forces. Egypt
IS fights for its window to the Mediterranean As the Islamic State is gaining ground in Homs, which is close to the Lebanese border, the Lebanese army is preparing to counter any attempt to turn north Lebanon into an emirate affiliated with the terrorist organization. Lebanon
Questions emerge over Hamas' ability to secure Gaza The disappearance of Mahmoud Salfiti, a Salafist prisoner who had been granted a 24-hour leave to visit his family, raises questions about Hamas’ ability to control and secure the Gaza Strip. Palestine
