Over 400 detained in Istanbul’s May Day protest as Turkey restricts transit The demonstrations, which marked the first major opposition rally since mass protests roiled the country last month over the Istanbul mayor’s arrest, were met with tight restrictions. Turkey
Pope Francis, voice for Middle East peace and first to visit Gulf, dies at 88 Pope Francis died on Monday after serving as pontiff for 11 years, advocating for human rights and inclusion in the Middle East and beyond. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
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. Palestine
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. United States
Analysis Can Hamas defy Trump's ultimatum as Gaza ceasefire teeters? By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
CIA Chief Burns meets with Egypt's Sisi The pair discussed the situation in Afghanistan, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the crisis in Libya, according to the Egyptian presidency. Egypt
Human Rights Watch accuses Gaza groups of war crimes during May fighting Hamas and other Palestinian groups purposefully targeted population centers during the May war with Israel, according to Human Rights Watch. The organization also accused Israel of war crimes last month. News Brief
Senators call for release of 'unjustly imprisoned' women in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia Democratic lawmakers condemn four Middle Eastern states for the politically motivated imprisonment of a number of women and call for the prisoners' release. Washington Pulse
Sweden opens trial of Iranian accused of role in 1988 mass murder Swedish prosecutors accuse Hamid Noury of participating in the extrajudicial executions of political prisoners who were affiliated with an armed Iranian opposition group Iran
Egypt under fire for video of soldier shooting at sleeping target in Sinai International law has rules for how to respond to enemy forces who are not engaged in combat. News Brief
Tunisia places senior Ennahda figure under house arrest Anouar Maarouf, the former communications and technology minister, was reportedly informed by Tunisian authorities that he has been placed under house arrest. Tunisia
Intel: US family seeks Biden's help freeing detained Saudi aid worker The United States said it’s urging Saudi Arabia to resolve the case of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, an aid worker sentenced to prison for allegedly running a Twitter account critical of the kingdom’s rulers. Saudi Arabia
Israeli court gives protected status to Sheikh Jarrah residents facing eviction The Supreme Court adjourned without ruling on the planned eviction of four Palestinian families who reside in the East Jerusalem neighborhood. Israel
Senator urges aid freeze to Egypt amid human rights abuses Sen. Chris Murphy urged the Biden administration not to bypass US law with this year's military aid package to Cairo. Washington Pulse
US condemns violence against protesters in Iran The US condemnation comes as rights groups accuse Iranian authorities of a violent crackdown on protests that erupted earlier this month over severe water shortages in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. Iran
Watchdog: Internet disrupted in Iran amid water protests The internet is heavily restricted in Iran, and the government initiated an internet blackout in 2019 during widespread protests in the country. Iran
Turkey plans further clampdown on independent media Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP says it won't allow "fifth column" activity from independent media organizations. Turkey
