All Middle East
First LookIsraeli strike on Gaza school used as shelter kills at least 80, Palestinian officials sayThe strike came as U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators renewed their push for Israel and Hamas to achieve a cease-fire agreement. The Israeli military says it hit a Hamas command center inside the compound. A top Hamas official denied there were militants in the school.
First LookBoxer Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold after facing gender misconceptionsImane Khelif was cheered to victory by crowds chanting her name in Paris. Her gold medal is Algeria’s first in women’s boxing.
Iran-Israel strife leaves Palestinians feeling in the middle, yet sidelinedWith the world preoccupied with the Iran-Israel confrontation, Palestinians say their urgent needs amid a brutal war are in danger of being forgotten, and that they stand to be punished regardless.
Amid tensions, Israelis follow a war routine: Live life, wait for what comesIsraelis are preparing – mentally and practically – for the most serious multifront conflict in the Middle East in decades following the killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials last week.
First LookBoxer Imane Khelif clinches medal amid furor fueled by gender misconceptionsThe Algerian boxer’s assurance of at least bronze comes following days of sharp scrutiny and online abuse as unsubstantiated rumors about her gender have exploded into a larger clash about identity in sports.
Hamas’ 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’s 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’s regional allies, the world has feared a larger conflict in the Middle East.
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 – in Beijing – 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’ refusal to accept a Palestinian government that does not recognize Israel.
In Egypt, Gazans sought to leave the war. But it’s 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’s 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 “Day of Disruption” 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’s Interior Ministry said 30 million people voted.
4 ATMs, 2 million people: Cash crunch compounds Gaza’s 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’s 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.
First LookIsrael’s 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’s 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 ‘Hamster Kombat’ appThe rise of the “Hamster Kombat” crypto app in Iran underscores economic desperation and widespread hope for relief amid the presidential election. Iran’s economy suffers from Western sanctions, high inflation, and few jobs.
