Gaza

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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he speaks during an end-of-year press conference in the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, DC on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Rubio hints US could accept Hamas keeping small arms

The top US diplomat told Al-Monitor the focus of disarmament should be on the "weaponries or capabilities" that Hamas would need to threaten Israel.

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.

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Analysis

How Netanyahu ceded to Trump, agreed to Egypt's $35B gas deal

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT - OCTOBER 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi clasp hands as they speak to the press before their meeting on October 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. President Trump is in Egypt to meet with European and Middle Eastern leaders in what’s being billed as an international peace summit, following the start of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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

Qatar’s prime minister meets US officials as Gaza plan stalls

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) shakes hands with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the State Department in Washington, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Over 600 Israeli ex-security chiefs urge Trump to disarm Hamas, back PA in Gaza

President Donald Trump speaks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem.

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

(L-R) Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, and former US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley attend the International Military Innovation Conference at the Tze'elim Urban Warfare Training Center (UWTC) base in southern Israel on September 15, 2022.

CENTCOM chief back in Israel amid fears of Iran, Hezbollah attack

US Air Force F-22 Raptors arrived in the Middle East on Thursday as the Pentagon gears up to fend off an anticipated retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies against Israel for the assassination of a top Hamas leader in Tehran last week.

Egyptian army vehicles are deployed along the border with the Gaza Strip on July 4, 2024 in el-Arish, in the north Sinai Peninsula, amid continuing battles between Hamas and Israel in Palestinian besieged territory. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Netanyahu says arms smuggling from Egypt's Sinai, not Qatar, fueled Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Time magazine that his approval of Qatari financial assistance to Hamas over the years was not the reason the group became powerful enough to attack Israel.

Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani addresses the United Nations Security Council during an emergency meeting on April 14, 2024 at U.N. Headquarters in New York City. The U.N. Security Council convened for the meeting at the request of Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan after Iran's attack on Israel. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Iran says cease-fire in Gaza 'priority' as US sees deal 'closer than ever'

Iran's statement on a cease-fire comes as Washington intensifies its efforts to reach a deal that could avert Iranian retaliation against Israel and a potential regional war.

Israeli tanks move toward Rafah during the wider military operation in the Gaza Strip, May 29, 2024.

US says cease-fire talks in 'final stage' as Hamas taps Sinwar to be new leader

The nomination of Gaza Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as head of the organization's political bureau does not mean that the door of cease-fire and hostage release negotiations is closed.

Motorists drive their vehicles past a billboard depicting Iranian missiles in Tehran on April 20, 2024, a day after Iran's state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan.

US mounts diplomatic blitz to contain Iranian attack

The Biden administration is urging Iran to temper its retaliation against Israel for the assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.

WOODSTOCK, ENGLAND - JULY 18: French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for the European Political Community Summit at Blenheim Palace on July 18, 2024 in Woodstock, England. At the 4th European Political Community Summit, Europe’s leaders will focus on energy, infrastructures, connectivity, cybersecurity, countering disinformation and migration. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Analysis

France struggles to find its footing, play role in Lebanon-Israel crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron has multiplied his contact with Middle Eastern leaders, trying to prevent escalation in the region, but so far, has not sent his foreign minister to Beirut.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

The coffin of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr is flanked by Hezbollah reservists.

Hezbollah chief vows to respond to Israeli attacks ‘whatever the consequences’

The region has been on edge for the past week after Israeli strikes killed a senior Hezbollah commander and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in a suspected Israeli strike.

Yahia al-Sinwar (C), Gaza Strip chief of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, waves to supporters during a rally marking the 35th anniversary of the group's foundation, in Gaza City on Dec. 14, 2022.

Hamas' Gaza-based leader Yahya Sinwar to replace slain political chief Ismail Haniyeh

Sinwar, considered the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, will succeed Ismail Haniyeh following the latter’s assassination in Iran.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office at the White House on July 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. Netanyahu's visit occurs as the Israel-Hamas war reaches nearly ten months. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Analysis

As US, Israel coordinate, Biden works to curb Netanyahu's response to Iran

Under pressure from the Biden administration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly not currently planning a pre-emptive attack against Iran.

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

US President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team regarding the unfolding missile attacks on Israel from Iran, on April 13, 2024.

Biden and Jordanian king speak as US scrambles to avert regional war

The call between the two leaders came as the Middle East braces for Iran's expected retaliation against Israel following last week's back-to-back assassinations.

Customers wait outside currency exchange stores on Aug. 5, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan.

Global stocks tank over fears of Middle East war, US recession

On Wall Street, the S&P 500 lost 3.1% while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index lost 3.7% of its value after markets opened in New York Monday morning.

US Central Command Cmdr. Gen. Michael Kurilla speaks at the 18th IISS Manama Dialogue, Manama, Bahrain, Nov. 19, 2022.

CENTCOM chief heads for Israel as country prepares for Iran attack

US Central Command Commander Michael Kurilla has arrived in the Middle East in efforts to coordinate with Israel and other countries against an expected attack by Iran.