All Middle East
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.
How Lebanese escape Hezbollah-Israel fight, a war beyond their controlNonbelligerents in war often pay a very high price in the violent disruption of their lives. 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’s 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.
‘This is not our war.’ Lebanese Christians caught between Hezbollah and Israel.It’s a recurring theme in warfare: the plight of noncombatant civilians caught in the crossfire. In southern Lebanon, Christian villagers say Hezbollah’s tactics make them vulnerable to destructive Israeli salvos.
Why Israeli relief over hostages’ 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.
First LookIsraeli strike draws condemnation. US issues urgent call for Gaza cease-fire.Israel hit a U.N. site in Gaza where civilians were taking shelter. It said it was targeting Hamas fighters hidding inside. Some 40 were reported killed, including women and children.
Once a seaside getaway, Gaza ‘safe zone’ now feels like a polluted prisonPalestinians seeking to survive the Israel-Hamas war have spent eight months looking for safety. Now displaced Gazans describe overcrowded and filthy Al-Mawasi – once a dream vacation destination – in nightmarish terms.
Sidelined in Gaza war, Hezbollah fighters yearn for victory over IsraelWhat does Lebanon’s Hezbollah want? Against the religion-infused backdrop of a commander’s funeral, fighters from the Shiite militia embrace martyrdom and speak of the high price they and their families are willing to pay to defeat Israel.
Amid isolation over Gaza, Israelis grapple with ‘becoming outcasts’Both sides in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza are seeking international empathy. In Israel, a growing sense of global isolation is fueling both support for the hard-line government and a feeling of abandonment.
To avoid war, Israel and Hezbollah shift their red lines. But war heats up.Old adversaries Israel and Hezbollah know each other well, and what triggers the other. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel, the two sides have sought to avoid a full-scale war even as they appear to move closer to it.
