Israel expands Gaza buffer zone to 20% as humanitarian situation deteriorates Israel’s expanded buffer zone will cut off Gaza from Egypt and further partition the Strip, as the humanitarian crisis in the territory deepens. Palestine
Feature Fearing for safety, Syria's Alawites who fled to Lebanon have no plans to return More than 30 members of one family spoke to Al-Monitor after fleeing into northern Lebanon from Syria amid a spasm of sectarian violence in the country. Many remain skeptical that it's safe to return. By Katya Hovnanian-Alexanian
Analysis Could Israel's West Bank operation lead to annexation long sought by right? The Israeli military is currently operating in West Bank Area A, which under the Oslo Accords should be administered fully by the Palestinian Authority. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
From Saudi Arabia to Australia and China, world leaders denounce Trump’s plan to 'take over' Gaza President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about a possible US takeover of Gaza after relocating the Palestinians caused a wave of uproar across the region and the world. Palestine
Analysis EU seeks channels with HTS as it grapples with post-Assad Syria By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
'I do...I'm done': Divorce spikes among Syrian refugee women in Germany The transition to their new lives in Germany has led some Syrian women to end their marriages away from the prying eyes of their home communities. Syria
Water crisis worsens in Syria's Idlib as support dries up The "Goal" organization, which has been active in Syria since 2012, has stopped pumping water in villages and towns as support for it ends Syria
Half a million Syrians return from Turkey, but were they forced? Some 560,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey have returned to their country as part of deportation projects, many fleeing the harassment they were facing in the country. Syria
Syrian children in Idlib take part in own World Cup Refugee and internally displaced children in Idlib are taking part in the "Camps World Cup" event. Syria
Israeli defense minister fosters security ties in Azerbaijan Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz traveled this week to Azerbaijan on the backdrop of growing tensions with Iran and Jerusalem’s desire to deepen strategic, security and economic ties with Baku. Israel
Concerns grow over cholera epidemic reaching northern Syria The Syrian opposition fears that cholera will reach its areas of control in northwestern Syria, which would be catastrophic, especially since the area’s resilience to the epidemic is low with weak capabilities of the health sector and a great number of displaced persons in camps. Syria
Israeli court rejects cap on Ukrainian refugees This week, Israel’s Supreme Court struck down the cap imposed by the Interior Ministry on the number of Ukrainian refugees allowed into the country. Israel
23 migrants dead at Morocco-Spain border Spain’s enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta in North Africa have long been a flashpoint for people seeking to enter the European Union from Africa, resulting in tensions between Morocco, Algeria and Spain. North Africa
Analysis UN: Majority of Syrian refugees don't plan to go home within year Most Syrian refugees in the Middle East do not plan to return to Syria in the near future. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Traffickers use refugees to smuggle drugs from Iran to Turkey There are growing claims and indications that refugees illegally crossing the Iranian-Turkish border, the route of an exodus from Afghanistan to the West, are forced to smuggle drugs by their traffickers. Turkey
Turkish women's rights activists decry racism in their name Dozens of Turkey’s grassroots women rights groups issued a statement against racism and anti-immigrant sentiment, only to face angry reaction from many parts of the political spectrum. Turkey
Teenage Syrian refugees in Lebanon find cricket a welcome distraction Cricket is emerging as a tool for social transformation and improving Syrian refugees’ education. Lebanon
