Iran war deepens Gaza crisis as prices soar, aid falters Gazans fear that Israel could exploit the wider regional war to reenter Gaza, especially as buffer zones along the border continue to expand and civilians are targeted to keep them away. By Daoud Kuttab In Amman, reporting on Palestinian politics
'Apartheid': Arab countries including UAE, Jordan decry new Israeli law A group of foreign ministers struck out at a new Israeli law requiring the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism in military courts. Palestine
Settler violence spike exposes Israeli government rift with military Knesset member Ram Ben-Barak of centrist Yesh Atid told Al-Monitor that the government must permit the use of administrative detention for extremist settlers to curb the violence. Israel
Analysis India's Modi arrives in Israel as fears grow of US-Iran conflict The Indian prime minister’s visit highlights growing cooperation on defense, AI, drones and regional trade, while signaling closer diplomatic coordination. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis Why Turkey’s exclusion from Gaza force may be a strategic blessing By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Polls show soaring Palestinian support for Barghouti as Hamas, Abbas stumble New polling of Palestinian adults suggests that Hamas has been more popular than Fatah in the West Bank, while Fatah is more popular than Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Palestine
As Netanyahu protests, Blinken says Israel arms shipments moving 'normally' The top US diplomat said one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel's military remains under review, though most weapons shipments continue. Israel
In Lebanon, Hochstein calls for 'urgent' end to Israel-Hezbollah escalation US special envoy Amos Hochstein met with the army commander and other top officials in Beirut to discuss the cross-border escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, one day after his trip to Israel. Lebanon
Hamas figure says 'no one has any idea' how many hostages left alive Hamas criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent remarks on the cease-fire and blamed Israel for the failure to reach a deal, while a senior official said the group wants more clarity on the Biden administration proposal. Palestine
Hamas open to direct channel on cease-fire, says former hostage negotiator After months of failed talks, Israel's former back-channel negotiator Gershon Baskin says it’s time to bypass the mediators and open a direct line of communication with Hamas. Israel
Houthi attacks caused 90% drop in Red Sea shipping, Pentagon finds The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency found that the attacks impacted at least 65 countries and forced at least 29 major energy and shipping companies to change their routes. Yemen
Analysis As Hamas wavers on deal, Israel's main front moves to Lebanon's Hezbollah As Netanyahu plays for time, the Israeli military has recommended to the government that troops wrap up their activities against Hamas in the southern Gaza city within a month and move on to deal with Hezbollah in the north. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Hezbollah-Israel clashes intensify as fears grow of all-out war in Lebanon The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border is worsening, all while US efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza have yet to lead to a deal. Lebanon
Pentagon hosts Lebanon’s army chief in bid to avert Israel-Hezbollah war The Biden administration wants the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy near the Israel-Lebanon border to help defuse a potentially explosive conflict with Hezbollah. But first, Lebanon's top general needs to be able to pay his soldiers their salaries. Lebanon
Erdogan and Biden may meet at NATO's US summit in July, ambassador says Amid widening differences over Gaza, Turkey postponed in April the Turkish president’s visit to the White House that was planned for May. Turkey
Movement for PLO reform faces opposition from Ramallah leadership Players from the Palestinian diaspora and elsewhere are pushing hard for reforms to the Palestine Liberation Organization, causing enough of a stir that President Mahmoud Abbas appears to be worried. Palestine
Hamas submits Gaza cease-fire response to Qatar, Egypt Hamas' formal reply comes a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution backing the three-phase proposal. Palestine
