The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
Netanyahu’s damage control strategy ahead of annexation vote Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing contradictory estimates from security agency chiefs on whether annexation will generate massive uprisings in the West Bank and Arab retaliation. Israel
Iraqi security forces raid militia headquarters A group of Iraqi counterterrorism forces raided a headquarter of a militia in southern Baghdad, arresting some of its personnel and confiscating rocket launchers allegedly prepared for attacks against US bases. Iraq
Mossad chief meets with Jordanian king, relates message from Netanyahu According to reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen to Jordan, in an attempt to appease King Abdullah over the annexation plan. Palestine
Will Egypt’s decision to impose visa fees on GCC countries affect tourism revival? Egypt has imposed entry visa fees to its territories on GCC citizens, a decision that some say shouldn’t have been taken under the coronavirus circumstances, as tourism has been dealt a heavy blow. Egypt
Activists press for tougher penalties against female genital mutilation in Egypt Amendments are being finalized to crack down on female genital mutilation which remains popular in rural Egypt. Egypt
Oman weighs costs of bailout from Gulf neighbors Gulf countries might step up to keep Oman’s public finances afloat, but experts warn strings may be attached. Saudi Arabia
Frustration builds as Iraq's airports remain closed amid rising virus cases Many foreigners and Iraqis are unable to return home, including those who have lost jobs amid the pandemic. Iraq
Lebanon protests rage as currency plunges Protesters set fire to tires and waste containers to cut major roads throughout Lebanon. Lebanon
Gender dysphoria during war: A transgender Yemeni man speaks out After fleeing Yemen to escape the civil war, Yahyia al-Zandani, a 23-year-old Yemeni transgender male, has faced challenges due to prejudices from family and society. Yemen
Al-Qaeda is using Iran as safe haven, says State Department report Nathan Sales, ambassador-at-large and the US coordinator for counterterrorism, describes Iran's connections to al-Qaeda as "no surprise." Iran
Senior Erdogan aide slams Bolton memoir for depictions of Turkish president Ankara has criticized the former US national security adviser’s descriptions of President Donald Trump’s discussions with his Turkish counterpart, accusing him of publishing the book for his own personal gain. Turkey
Emirates suspends passenger flights from Pakistan following virus cases The Dubai-based airline said a number of passengers were found to have COVID-19 on a recent flight. United Arab Emirates
