All Middle East
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.
West Bank village, proudly self-reliant, now faces wartime hostilityLong before the war in Gaza erupted, Monitor reporters covering the West Bank found a remarkable story of self-sufficiency in Farkha, a village frustrated by Palestinian governance. But the war has brought new threats, so our reporters returned.
ICC prosecutor angers Israel, Hamas, but will that impact the war?The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has seen horrors on both sides. An attempt by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor to hold leaders accountable has elicited outrage and bluster – but how much reflection remains to be seen.
First LookCostly floating Gaza aid pier close to failure, UN saysThe U.S. $320 million pier off the coast of Gaza is poised to fail unless Israel can secure food shipments from looters, says the U.N. World Food Program. Recent aid truck convoys were stripped of all their goods before they could reach a warehouse in central Gaza.
Did Israeli leaders undermine military in Gaza? A rift becomes public.Since last fall, the United States, having learned its own lessons, has urged Israel to envision a political endgame for the military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The government’s continued refusal to do so is creating a widening rift with the military.
First LookIsrael cites new media law, seizes AP equipment, bars reporting from GazaIsraeli officials have seized the Associated Press’s equipment, banning the wire service from reporting in Southern Israel. They allege that the AP has contributed to coverage by Al Jazeera, the Qatari state-owned news outlet.
What unpopular president’s death means for continuity vs. change in IranIn the Iranian leadership’s conduct of internal elections and foreign relations, the primary focus has been the continuity of the Islamic Republic. President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash, embodied that continuity.
First LookChief prosecutor of international court seeks warrants for Israel and Hamas leadersThe chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has called for the arrests of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas chief leader Yehia Sinwar as war fatalities continue to rise. Neither party accepts blame.
First LookCritical aid enters Gaza via U.S. pier, more land routes still neededTrucks carrying badly needed aid for the Gaza Strip have rolled across a newly built U.S. pier. Friday’s shipment is the first in an operation that American military officials anticipate could scale up to 150 truckloads a day.
