Human rights

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Oscar-winning Palestinian director freed from Israeli detention after night in custody

Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was assaulted by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank as the Israeli army continues its raids in the Palestinian territory.

A Department of Homeland Security officer stands guard at 26 Federal Plaza as protestors gather to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil on March 10, 2025, in New York City.

Hearing delayed after Lebanese doctor with US visa deported: What to know

A Lebanese citizen is the latest in a string of detentions, visa revocations and deportations conducted by the Trump administration.

A voter holds his proof of Kuwaiti citizenship upon arriving at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Kuwait City on June 6, 2023.

Kuwait revokes citizenship of 464 as restrictions tighten under new emir

Over 35,000 Kuwaitis have lost their citizenship since the government enforced amendments to its citizenship law in September of last year.

SHADI AL-DUBAISI/AFP via Getty Images

Canceled Syrian justice workshop sparks repression fears: What to know

Syrian civil society organizations condemned the sudden cancelation of a planned workshop on transitional justice in Damascus, calling it an act of oppression reminiscent of the Assad era.

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Turkey slaps travel ban on 2 businessmen for criticizing dissident crackdown

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Analysis

Can Hamas defy Trump's ultimatum as Gaza ceasefire teeters?

Israeli hostages stand on stage flanked by Hamas militants during the official handover in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on February 8, 2025. Hamas hands over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross as part of ongoing negotiations. (Photo by Youssef Alzanoun / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by YOUSSEF ALZANOUN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Analysis

US aid freeze threatens Sudan’s lifeline as USAID support hangs in balance

“CLOSE IT DOWN!” Mr. Trump wrote of U.S.A.I.D. on Truth Social,

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

'Death itself could not get us out of here!' Gazans reject Trump’s proposal

People in Jabalia erect tents amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza during a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, Jan. 23, 2025.

Morocco lgbt

In Morocco, YouTube is one tool to attack LGBTQ, vulnerable communities

After a Moroccan content creator targeted the transgender community, the damaging videos were left on YouTube for two weeks before being removed.

A reveller flashes the V-sign in front of a bonfire during a gathering of Turkish Kurds for Newroz (or Nowruz) celebrations marking the Persian New Year in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, on March 21, 2023.

'Police beating' of 14-year-old Kurd highlights claims of impunity in Turkey

Kurdish teenager allegedly assaulted and humiliated by officers in Diyarbakir.

Mounted Israeli police stand guard as protesters gather outside Israel's parliament in Jerusalem amid ongoing demonstrations and calls for a general strike against the hard-right government's controversial push to overhaul the justice system, on March 27, 2023. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP) (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli PM Netanyahu, under pressure from military brass, delays judicial overhaul

The dramatic developments in Israel in the past 48 hours seemed to have pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to put a pause on the judicial changes.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 27, 2023. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 26, 2023 fired Defence Minister Yoav Galant a day after he broke ranks, citing security concerns in calling for a pause to the government's controversial judicial reforms. On a day when 200,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the reforms, Galant -- who had been a staunch Netanyahu ally -- on Saturday sai

General strike in Israel, Netanyahu under pressure to freeze judicial overhaul

Spontaneous rallies have been taking place across Israel since Sunday night, including some violent confrontations with police, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

People demonstrate at the Brandenburg Gate during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against possible legislation in Israel that would undermine the role of Israel's Supreme Court, Berlin, Germany, March 16, 2023.

Analysis

Avalanche of security chiefs warn Netanyahu: Israel on brink of the abyss

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems deaf to warnings by Israeli security chiefs that the growing rift within Israeli society could end up in a strategic disaster.

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

Netanyahu

Israel's Netanyahu to continue judicial overhaul despite security warnings

In a televised address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed ahead for Knesset approval next week of the next step in the controversial plan.

Israeli police confront protesters during ongoing demonstrations in Tel Aviv on March 23, 2023, against controversial legal reforms being touted by the country's hard-right government. - Israel's ruling coalition presented an amended version of a key element in its contentious judicial overhaul, in hopes of allaying concerns at home and abroad for Israeli democracy. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

'Day of paralysis' in Israel, as Knesset adopts anti-impeachment law

Organizers of the anti-judicial overhaul plan are expecting half a million demonstrators today across Israel, rallying, blocking roads and marching through cities.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) sits with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before a dinner at the Prime Minister's residence March 9, 2010 in Jerusalem, Israel. Biden, visiting Israel as part of U.S.-led efforts to restart Middle East peace talks, on Tuesday condemned Israel's plans for 1,600 new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank it has annexed to Jerusalem. (Photo by Baz Ratner-Pool/Getty Images)

Biden losing patience with Netanyahu over judicial overhaul, democratic values

After statements by several senior US officials criticizing Israel’s judicial overhaul plan, it was President Joe Biden himself that scolded Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to forge a compromise in Israel.

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2023 Mideast happiness rankings: UAE, Israel happiest as Lebanon hits bottom

The Middle East and North Africa region remains the least happy region after sub-Saharan Africa globally, but several regional nations have become happier in comparison to the previous period.

An undated image of Saad Ibrahim Almadi.

Saudi Arabia releases US citizen Almadi jailed over tweets

Saad Ibrahim Almadi was released after 16 months in prison but remains in Riyadh under a travel ban, according to his son.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

Breaking | Last Updated: March 20, 2023, 4:57 pm

US outlines Iran abuses including torture in annual report

Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the international community to confront Iran's violent clampdown on protests.

An Iranian man walks past banners at a street exhibition by Iran's army and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard force to celebrate "Defence Week", marking the 41th anniversary of the start of 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, at the Baharestan Square in Tehran, on September 25, 2021. (Photo by Atta KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

EU, UK slap new sanctions on Iran's IRGC leadership

Shortly after the British Foreign Ministry announced more sanctions against Iranian officials, the European Union added its own new sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities.