All Middle East
Israel-Hamas war: What’s left of the pro-peace camps?For decades, Israelis and Palestinians – officials and regular folk – have convened to talk about, and advocate for, coexistence and peace. Amid the horrors of Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza, is that still possible?
First LookSeeds of resistance: Why watermelon symbolizes Palestinian solidarityWatermelon slices have grown to signify resistance to Israeli censorship. The fruit is now seeing an emoji-borne renaissance, marking new efforts to circumvent social media suppression and convey Palestinian support.
Mixing hope and skepticism, Palestinians watch Hague genocide hearingsMany Palestinians in the West Bank say the case brought by South Africa against Israel could prompt judges to order a cease-fire in Gaza, offering a rare glimmer of hope for relief amid a bleak war.
First LookHouthi militants vow revenge after US-British airstrikeThe Houthis, an Iranian-backed proxy group, vows revenge after a US-British airstrike left five dead and six wounded in a military attack. Houthi troops have been targeting US-Israeli commercial shipping in response to the war in Gaza.
First LookTaliban’s dress-code crackdown targets Afghan women, UN warnsThe UN has said they are “deeply concerned” over the detention and abuse of Afghan women not wearing the hijab. Their statement is the first official confirmation of the Taliban’s crackdown on dress codes for women since the Taliban took power in 2021.
‘Time for us to leave’: Gaza reporter, again, joins thousands fleeingThe Monitor’s reporter in Gaza has been living the Israel-Hamas war. Driven by basic human needs – safety above all as fighting neared – her family looked urgently for a truck and a route south.
Lives on hold, economy in check: Gaza war tests Israel’s staminaWar brings clear costs. Lives lost, homes destroyed. As Israel girds for a long war in Gaza, and tensions rise in Lebanon, it is trying to balance, too, the human and economic costs of mass mobilization.
First LookHezbollah fires rockets at Israel in response to Hamas leader’s killingThe cross-border escalation comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken starts his fourth Mideast trip in three months in hopes of preventing the Israel-Hamas war from turning into a regional confrontation.
Gaza war: Why Houthis pose a stubborn challenge to US in Red SeaFrom Lebanon to Iraq and Yemen, attacks by the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” have raised concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a regional conflict. In the Red Sea, a U.S. bid to secure shipping lanes faces a determined adversary.
First LookHezbollah vows ‘punishment’ after Hamas leader is killed in BeirutThe killing of Hamas’ No. 2 leader Saleh al-Arouri in an apparent Israeli airstrike raised fears of retaliation from the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, whose leader Hassan Nasrallah said “this dangerous crime” will not go “without response.”
In wartime Gaza, a complicating burden: Communication blackoutsCommunications are a basic societal need, especially in times of stress. In wartime Gaza, where phone and internet service is often cut, journalists say they have to balance their professional duties with helping people to cope.
First LookGround offensive intensifies: Israeli strikes Gaza's refugee campsThe Israeli military broadens its ground offensive in Gaza, targeting densely populated urban refugee camps, including Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij. These camps house Palestinians displaced during the 1948 war. Shelling and airstrikes are reported.
First LookSilent night? On Christmas Eve, Bethlehem resembles a ghost town.Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have all been muffled by the Israel-Hamas war. The once-busy biblical city in the West Bank misses its festive traditions as both residents and visitors search for the holiday spirit.
A plan for Gaza’s future is taking shape. Obstacles loom.The trauma of war is catalyzing a diplomatic push for a “day-after” plan for Gaza. It faces challenges. How they are met may be the difference between reconstruction and peace, and a security vacuum and chaos.
At Oct. 7’s ground zero, what an Israeli survivor lost ... and learnedThe scene at a border kibbutz that was overrun by Hamas Oct. 7 shows the enduring physical and human damage from an attack that changed Israel, launched a brutal war, and deepened the challenge of achieving peaceful coexistence.
‘We are mourning’: This Christmas, Palestinian Christians pray for GazaPalestinian Christians are putting Christmas festivities on hold, focusing their attention on family and friends in danger and praying for the return of peace.
First LookWhy are Yemen’s Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea?The Houthis of Yemen, in support of Palestinians, have been firing drones and missiles at ships transiting through the Red Sea. In October, they announced they would continue to attack Israel “until the Israeli aggression stops.”
The ExplainerCalls for Gaza truce rise after mistaken killing of hostages by IsraelIsrael’s government is facing calls for a cease-fire from some of its closest European allies. The deadly shooting of three hostages who waved a white flag added to concerns about Israel's wartime conduct.
‘This is a war that starves you’: For Gaza, hunger is a new enemyAs international food aid slows to a trickle, Gaza Strip residents face a new threat – the prospect of starvation, U.N. officials warned this week.
Fearing fallout, Gulf rulers urge US to help stop war in GazaGulf leaders are frustrated the U.S. has not used its clout with Israel to stop the Gaza war. They fear spreading violence could spell their demise.
