Trump's Gaza diplomacy takes back seat to Iran, Ukraine in first 100 days Gaza is on the back burner as nuclear negotiations with Iran and talks to end the Ukraine war command the attention of President Trump and his Middle East envoy. Palestine
Analysis For Israel, al-Sheikh appointment as Palestinian VP signals continuity, pragmatism The appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as vice president of the Palestinian Authority is unlikely to bring dramatic changes to its policies on Israel. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Switzerland to ban Hamas on May 15, allowing expulsions: What we know Historically neutral Switzerland moved to ban Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, mirroring actions taken by others on the continent. Palestine
Analysis Hussein Sheikh as PLO's first vice president: Palestinian reform or Abbas gesture? Mahmoud Abbas' move to create a vice chairman position within the PLO may signal potential plans for succession, but the decision is clouded by the PLO's waning influence and uncertainty over Palestinian governance in Gaza. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis Macron’s Palestine gamble: Can recognition plan jump-start peace talks? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis As Witkoff hints US won't dismantle Iran nuclear program, Israel fears Trump may settle for 'bad deal' By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
From Yemen to Turkey, Mideast reacts to death of Hezbollah's Nasrallah Leaders and groups in the Middle East have reacted to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed Friday in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Lebanon
Israel says it struck Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut The strike followed days of intensifying Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Lebanon
Israel: Pentagon finalizes $8.7B arms package as strikes on Lebanon continue Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed aside the Biden administration's call for a cease-fire just days after Washington quietly released $3.5 billion in additional funds for the Israeli military. United States
US, France call for 21-day cease-fire on Israel-Lebanon border US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron said it was time to “give diplomacy a chance to succeed.” Lebanon
US, UK militaries deploy troops to Cyprus in case of Lebanon evacuation Washington has not yet authorized an evacuation, but President Joe Biden acknowledged "all-out war is possible" as Israel mobilizes two reserve brigades amid threats of a potential ground incursion to root out Hezbollah. Lebanon
Israeli military prepares for possible ground operation in Lebanon The Israeli military is activating two reserve soldier brigades in what could be part of the preparation for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon. Israel
Qatar to join US visa-free travel list in first for Arab country Qatar is set to become the second Middle Eastern country, behind Israel, to join the US Visa Waiver Program. Qatar
On UN summit sidelines, US seeks off-ramp to Israel-Hezbollah conflict A senior State Department official said Washington had "concrete ideas" to de-escalate the mounting crisis in Lebanon and warned against an Israeli ground offensive. Lebanon
Analysis Israel's 2 goals in Lebanon: Decouple Hezbollah-Gaza, restore deterrence "Our aspiration is to strike Hezbollah with a force that it has not yet experienced, while remaining below the threshold of regional war or bringing Iran into direct war," a senior Israeli political source told Al-Monitor. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran’s IRGC stops using communication devices following Israel's pager attacks The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also unveiled a new missile while its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah battles Israel. Iran
Gallant vows to keep striking Hezbollah as Israel hits hundreds of Lebanese targets Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Israeli citizens that difficult times were ahead as the military continues to target Hezbollah posts while rockets stream from Lebanon. Israel
At least 492 killed in Israeli strikes on south, east Lebanon The Israeli army has been sending warnings to Lebanese citizens to distance themselves from areas where Hezbollah might be storing weapons, as it intensifies its airstrikes in the country. Lebanon
