Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd to partner on Africa route avoiding Red Sea Gemini Cooperation will use the Cape of Good Hope network, which has been the alternative transit route for hundreds of vessels since the Houthis stepped up their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea in mid-November 2023. Yemen
Analysis Gaza looms large over Biden’s foreign policy legacy as diplomacy falters As the war continues into its second year, the Biden administration appears no closer to de-escalating in Gaza and laying a framework for a lasting Middle East peace. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Analysis What is extent of France-Israel rift as Macron calls for arms embargo? Israel and France are not yet in a diplomatic crisis, but the exchange of accusations between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu does not bode well for bilateral relations. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Palestinians long for life before Oct. 7 as Gaza war upends lives, future One year into the Israeli war on Gaza, as winter approaches, Gazans feel hopeless and trapped in an endless cycle of conflict amid tragic living conditions. Palestine
Arab Americans are evenly split between Harris and Trump. Will it matter? By Megan Mineiro In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress
Analysis After Al Jazeera office closure, what's next for press freedom in Israel? By Mazal Mualem In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Analysis Biden moves goalposts on containing war as Israel invades Lebanon By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis Israel buoyant after killing Nasrallah, mulls risky Lebanon ground invasion By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Hamas to try collaborators in military courts, claiming legality Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is seeking the formation of military field courts under a PLO law to try collaborators accused of spying for Israel during the latest escalation round between the two sides. Palestine
Hamas claims Israeli assassinations won't hobble resistance Despite major losses against Israel, including the killing of two of its top leaders, Hamas still clings to victory narrative. Palestine
The Takeaway: US ties with Egypt loom large again Picking up the pieces in Gaza; the uneasy, uncertain peace between Israel and Hamas; PLO and Hamas still can’t find common ground; Russia on the diplomatic sidelines; desert kingdom looks to build forest; and more! Egypt
Israeli war adds scars to Palestinian psyche Activists see Israel’s bombing of cultural centers, bookstores and other cultural institutions in the Gaza Strip, as well as the killing of a 17-year-old in a refugee camp in the West Bank, as an attempt to obliterate Palestine’s cultural identity. Palestine
Gaza survivors recount hours trapped under rubble The Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip has destroyed hundreds of houses and buildings, leaving many to stuck under rubble that rescuers are ill-equipped to move. Palestine
Egypt’s role in Gaza conflict helps Sisi break ice with Biden President Joe Biden called his Egyptian counterpart as Egypt led back channel negotiations to mediate a cease-fire that ended the Israeli-Hamas escalation. Egypt hopes the call represents a turnaround in US ties and support for Nile Dam dispute. Egypt
Blinken announces US aid to Gaza, says Hamas won't benefit Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said the US will move to reopen the US Consulate in Jerusalem, which served as a de facto American embassy for the Palestinians before it was shuttered by the prior administration. Israel
Will PLO and Hamas find common ground? Hamas’ popularity has risen sharply, but this doesn’t help them much with the outside world. An understanding with Fatah is key to any potential role in regional diplomacy. Palestine
The heavy toll of Israel-Hamas war, by the numbers A look at the destruction wrought by more than a week of fighting between Hamas and Israel. News Brief
Moroccan PM congratulates Hamas for 'victory' against Israel Saadeddine Othmani's support for the Palestinians during the recent conflict with Israel followed Morocco and Israel agreeing to normalize relations late last year. Morocco
Blinken visits Middle East to bolster Israel-Hamas cease-fire Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman this week for discussions on maintaining the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Israel
Israeli-Palestinian conflict forces Biden to put Mideast on agenda Egyptian and Palestinian Authority leaders are back at center stage of US regional diplomacy. Israel