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
UN rights expert says Israeli settlements a 'war crime' Israel blasted the report as “the latest one-sided and biased report against Israel." News Brief
Kuwaiti poet arrested for insulting emir Jamal al-Sayer's apparent arrest came after he tweeted that Kuwait's rulers were violating the constitution. News Brief
Palestinian plainclothes security agents further popular dissent The method in which the protests against the killing of the critic of the Palestinian leadership Nizar Bayat were violently put down, with the use of security officials dressed in civilian clothes, has exposed a deep rift in Palestinian society. Palestine
Islamic State exploits economic downturn in Iraq, Syria, US envoy says John Godfrey said the thousands of suspected Islamic State fighters held in northeast Syria constitute a security threat to the region. Syria
US adds Turkey to list of countries using child soldiers A US State Department report called out Turkey for providing support to armed groups in Syria that use children in combat. Turkey
No end in sight for Egyptian Nubians jailed in Saudi Arabia Despite growing calls to release 10 Nubians who have been detained in Saudi Arabia for nearly a year, it seems the Egyptian government is not making any effort to resolve the case. Egypt
New Israeli government to renew controversial law banning Palestinians from uniting with families in Israel The Israeli government is expected to renew the law on citizenship and family reunification, which prohibits Israelis from passing on citizenship or residency to their Palestinian spouses residing in the West Bank or Gaza Strip for family reunification purposes. Palestine
UN's Iran investigator calls for inquiry on Raisi's role in 1988 executions The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Iran told Reuters that his office had collected evidence of the mass executions to share with the UN Human Rights Council. Iran
Family reunification law aims to lower number of Palestinian citizens in Israel The family reunification law could endanger the new Israeli government coalition. Palestine
Death of political critic sparks outcry from Palestinian activists Although the Palestinian government has ordered an investigation, some have questioned whether it will be serious and if anyone will be held responsible. Palestine
John Bolton joins newly launched Turkish Democracy Project The group describes its mission as “encouraging Turkey to adopt more democratic policies and responding to the steady erosion of Turkey’s democratic institutions.” News Brief
Egypt arrests TikTok influencer over 'human trafficking' A Cairo court sentenced university student Haneen Hossam to 10 years in prison and fined her 200,000 Egyptian pounds. Egypt
