All Middle East
Hamas鈥� lead negotiator is dead. How can Gaza cease-fire talks continue?The search for a Gaza cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas has been long and difficult, with only fleeting glimmers of hope. Now a pivotal figure has been assassinated, and trust has been shattered.
Killing of Israel鈥檚 foes in Beirut and Tehran brings shaken region to the edgeEver since the Hamas-Israel war erupted last October, and was joined swiftly by Iran鈥檚 regional allies, the world has feared a larger conflict in the Middle East.聽
First LookStrike on Israeli Golan kills at least 11 children, risking a broader warHezbollah quickly denied any role in the attack, which Israel blamed on the militant group. The strike raises fears of war between the foes, who have been exchanging fire since the start of the Gaza invasion.
First LookPalestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas try again 鈥� in Beijing 鈥� to build a coalition governmentPalestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have vowed to form a government together. Previous attempts have failed due to power struggles between the factions and Western countries鈥� refusal to accept a Palestinian government that does not recognize Israel.
In Egypt, Gazans sought to leave the war. But it鈥檚 not far behind.As the Gaza war grinds on, life goes on in next-door Egypt. Some Palestinians managed to escape the physical conflict by crossing the border, but the war, its worries, and survivor鈥檚 guilt are ever present.
Hamas believes it has won. Why it now wants to unburden itself of Gaza.Ever since Hamas triggered a calamitous war in Gaza last October, questions have been asked: What were its aims? How could it win? What was it thinking? Today it sees victory at hand, and its stated ambitions are soaring.
How a reformist connected with Iranians and inspired enough to voteThe one reformist candidate allowed to stand for president in Iran faced severe hurdles, not least of which was a public largely unwilling to confer legitimacy on the regime by voting. But his everyman persona and a message of improving lives resonated.
First LookIsraelis mark 9 months of Gaza war with protests demanding hostages dealThe 鈥淒ay of Disruption鈥� started at 6:29 a.m., the same time Hamas fired the first rockets at Israel in the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. Protesters blocked main roads and demonstrated outside of the homes of government ministers.
First LookVowing outreach to the West, an Iranian reformist is elected presidentSupporters of longtime lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian, a multilingual heart surgeon, entered the streets of Tehran and other cities early Saturday to celebrate as his lead grew over a hard-line former nuclear negotiator. Iran鈥檚 Interior Ministry said 30 million people voted.
4 ATMs, 2 million people: Cash crunch compounds Gaza鈥檚 wartime woesFood and transportation are expensive; shelter and humanitarian aid are scarce. For Palestinians trying to survive in wartime Gaza, cash is a precious commodity, and worth going to great lengths to find.
Many Israelis are resigned to war with Hezbollah. Are they prepared?Many factors fuel resilience in time of war: hope, confidence, unity, trust in government. As Israelis endure their longest-ever war, against Hamas in Gaza, the threat of a far more arduous conflict looms with Lebanon鈥檚 powerful Hezbollah.
First LookA first look inside the US $230 million pier delivering aid to the Gaza coastThe U.S. military has reopened the $230 million pier on the Gaza coast for humanitarian aid delivery amid conflict. For the first time, international media was allowed to watch its daily operations.聽
First LookIsrael鈥檚 ultra-orthodox men have not had to serve in the army, until nowUltra-orthodox men will now be drafted into the Israeli army, the high court ordered on June 25. With Israelis divided over the decision, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 governing coalition may collapse.
In Tunisia, a Sufi shrine with an exuberant feminist vibeIt is said that Sayyida Manoubia, a Sufi saint, refused to marry, concerned it would interfere with her charity and pursuit of heavenly truths. Which is why, perhaps oddly, her shrine is now a must-stop for Tunisian brides.
First LookAmid economic turmoil, Iranians pin hopes on 鈥楬amster Kombat鈥� appThe rise of the 鈥淗amster Kombat鈥� crypto app in Iran underscores economic desperation and widespread hope for relief amid the presidential election. Iran鈥檚 economy suffers from Western sanctions, high inflation, and few jobs.
How Lebanese escape Hezbollah-Israel fight, a war beyond their controlNonbelligerents in war often pay a very high price in聽the violent disruption of their lives.聽In Lebanon, the children, perhaps, can be entertained and distracted in the moment, but adults are all too aware of the value of what has been lost.
When does self-defense cross a line? Outcry over Israel in Gaza mounts.Debate grows about what level of civilian casualties in Gaza is justifiable in international law, raising fundamental ethical and political questions.
Why Iranian hard-liners are allowing a reformist candidate for presidentIran鈥檚 leadership sees every election as a referendum on its legitimacy. But as hard-liners have sought to solidify their control over the levers of power, political apathy has set in, and voter turnout has fallen.
鈥楾his is not our war.鈥� Lebanese 海角大神s caught between Hezbollah and Israel.It鈥檚 a recurring theme in warfare: the plight of noncombatant civilians caught in the crossfire. In southern Lebanon, 海角大神 villagers say Hezbollah鈥檚 tactics make them vulnerable to destructive Israeli salvos.
Why Israeli relief over hostages鈥� rescue from Gaza was short-livedPure joy swept Israel Saturday after the electrifying news that four hostages had been brought home to safety from Gaza. But within hours, the unresolved questions raised by the war against Hamas had reasserted themselves.