All Middle East
Trump鈥檚 plan for Gaza ridiculed as unserious. So why did he float it?While President Trump has ridiculed past U.S. military deployments and nation-building efforts, he has consistently been drawn to Mideast diplomacy. But his proposal to 鈥渙wn鈥� and develop the Gaza Strip and displace its population has many questioning how serious he is.
As Palestinian prisoners return home, there is joy, but sorrow, tooJoyful family reunions that the ceasefire has enabled in Israel are being echoed in the West Bank and Gaza. But few freed Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were jailed for decades, knew much of the Gaza war, or its staggering costs.
Cover StoryAfter Assad鈥檚 fall, Syrians search for lost loved ones 鈥� and a path forwardAfter the fall of the Assad regime, Syrians grasp for answers and a path to restoration聽under new president聽Ahmed al-Sharaa.
How Gaza hostage-release drama works for both Hamas and NetanyahuThe stage-managed spectacle of Israeli hostages being released in Gaza serves political interests on both sides. Hamas鈥� assertions that it is still in power bolster the argument that Prime Minister Netanyahu still has a job to do.
Who will rule Gaza, if not Hamas? Unanswered question dogs ceasefire.Israel has failed to eliminate Hamas, a key goal of its war in Gaza, and the militant group has reasserted its rule in Gaza. Can that situation last?
First LookIsrael stops return of thousands to northern Gaza over ceasefire disputeAccusing Hamas of violating the terms of a fragile ceasefire, Israel has prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza.
鈥楲ike 10 earthquakes鈥�: Palestinians return home to Gaza devastationPalestinian residents of Gaza, the vast majority of them homeless, celebrated when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was announced. But as they return home, the destruction they are finding is almost too much to comprehend.
Israelis rejoice at hostages鈥� release, yet worry a sacred vow was brokenAs Israelis celebrate the return of hostages held in Gaza, they are also anguished over the long time it took to bring them home. A nagging question for many is whether a social contract of mutual responsibility has been broken.
First LookGaza ceasefire sets in motion release of 3 Israeli hostagesA ceasefire in the War in Gaza took effect on Sunday as Hamas released the first three hostages it has held for 15 months during its fighting with Israel.聽
In Gaza and Israel, ceasefire elicits happiness and delayed griefOver more than 15 months of war and loss, Israeli and Palestinian emotions have been rubbed raw, or suppressed. Now they are being released by an imminent ceasefire, even as questions over its durability persist.
In Israel and Gaza, ceasefire deal鈥檚 many uncertainties temper joyWord of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal was greeted with relief and some celebrations. But Israelis and Palestinians have been disappointed before; joy over the fragile deal was muted.
First LookPhased Gaza ceasefire deal is announced between Israel and HamasAfter months of聽on-off negotiations conducted by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, there is hope that the remaining details of the ceasefire deal will be resolved within hours and could go into effect on Jan. 19.
With eye on Gaza, Palestinian Authority tackles West Bank militantsPopular support for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has been in steady decline. Now, to burnish its credentials, the authority is taking on a militant stronghold in Jenin. The high-risk move is further dividing Palestinian society.
In Israel鈥檚 democracy battle, an added front: Politicized policeHow central is an independent police force to democracy? In Israel, the politicization of the national police is seen as part of the hard-line government鈥檚 revived judicial overhaul.
First LookLebanon army commander Joseph Aoun is sworn in as president, filling two-year voidFollowing 13 attempts to elect a president, Lebanon鈥檚 parliament has sworn in army commander Joseph Aoun as the head of state. Mr. Aoun is聽the preferred candidate of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
鈥楥old is death.鈥� For Gazans in flimsy tents, a winter of sorrow and loss.For Palestinian families forced from their homes by 15 months of war, the temporary shelters they have constructed are no match for Gaza鈥檚 winter. Infants are especially vulnerable.
Israel has a Houthi missile problem. It鈥檚 stuck finding a solution.For more than a year, Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebels have launched long-distance missile and drone attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping. After Israel largely subdued its Iran-allied enemies closer at hand, it is struggling to deter the Houthis on its own.
First LookIn Syria, small Jewish community can again visit synagogue built 720 years before ChristIn a Damascus suburb, remaining Jews can again visit one of the world鈥檚 oldest synagogues where people throughout the region once came to pray.
Can Syria heal? For many, Step 1 is learning the difficult truth.As Syrians seek to recover from decades of a brutal dictatorship, they want to learn what happened to missing loved ones. For many, the first stop is a notorious prison.
In Syria, what remains of Iran鈥檚 regional 鈥楢xis鈥� is rubble and resentmentFirst Hamas, then Hezbollah, now Syria. As key components of Iran鈥檚 anti-Israel/anti-U.S. 鈥淎xis of Resistance鈥� are sidelined or incapacitated, what is left of Tehran鈥檚 regional strategy?