Middle East

US withheld intelligence from Israel during Biden era: Reuters

US intelligence officials temporarily suspended sharing some key information with Israel during the Joe Biden administration over concerns about its conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, six people familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency.

UN General Assembly adopts resolution asking Israel to allow aid into Gaza Strip

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly supported a resolution demanding that Israel open unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, stop attacking UN facilities, and comply with international law in line with its obligations as an occupying power.

Iceland becomes fifth state to boycott Eurovision 2026 over Israel participation

Iceland has become the fifth country to boycott next year’s Eurovision song contest after Israel was given the go-ahead to compete, deepening the crisis facing the competition.

US Congress advances bill to repeal Caesar Act sanctions on Syria

The United States House of Representatives has voted forward a bill that would nix the restrictive Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, originally imposed during the rule of former leader Bashar al-Assad.

Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ to be announced in early 2026: Trump

US President Donald Trump has stated that the members of his Gaza "Board of Peace" will be announced early next year, adding that they will be comprised of global leaders.

US highlights ‘close cooperation’ with Syria against Daesh threats

The head of the US military’s Middle East-based Central Command, Brad Cooper, has said that the United States is working with Syrian forces to carry out operations against Daesh, highlighting the collaboration between Washington and Damascus.

Gaza tents flood, families seek shelter

Storm Byron is threatening to heap new miseries on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with families making distress calls from flooded tents and hundreds of others fleeing their shelters in search of dry ground as the fierce winter storm lashes the besieged territory with heavy rains.

Hamas proposes long-term ceasefire if Israel fully withdraws from Gaza Strip

Hamas has told mediators that it is prepared to freeze all operations against Israel from the Gaza Strip for up to a decade, and that it is prepared to bury its weapons, if Israeli soldiers fully withdraw from the besieged enclave, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the discussions told Middle East Eye.

Syria, Saudi Arabia sign deals in oil, gas sectors

Damascus and Riyadh inked a number of agreements in the oil and gas sectors on Tuesday, according to local media.

Israel biggest killer of journalists worldwide for 3 years running: RSF

Reporters Without Borders reported on Tuesday that Israel was responsible for nearly half of all journalists killed this year worldwide, with 29 Palestinian reporters slain by its forces in Gaza. In its annual report, the Paris-based media freedom group added the total number of journalists killed reached 67 globally this year, slightly up from the 66 killed in 2024.

Israel facing sharp rise in hunger due to economic fallout of Gaza war: Report

More than one-quarter of households in Israel are now experiencing food insecurity, driven by the economic and social fallout of the two-year war in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli organization has found.

‘Record high’ number of Palestinians died in Israeli prisons: Report

A "record high" number of 110 Palestinians have died under prison policies implemented by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in the past two and a half years, according to Walla.

Israel confirms 22,000 wounded soldiers since Gaza war

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced Monday that it has treated nearly 22,000 wounded soldiers since the Gaza war in October 2023.

EU looking at options for enhancing Lebanon’s internal security forces: Document

The European Union is studying options for strengthening Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces to help free up the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the armed group Hezbollah, according to a document seen by Reuters.

At least 80k Israeli soldiers treated for psychological disorders since Gaza war: Report

The number of Israeli soldiers receiving treatment for psychological disorders has risen sharply since the war in the Gaza Strip began two years ago, an Israeli Defense Ministry official has confirmed.

UN committed to supporting Syrian-led transition: Secretary-General

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, marking the first anniversary of the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, said the organization remains “fully committed to working with Syrians to ensure the transition is successful.”

Israeli PM says will not quit politics if he receives pardon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he would not retire from politics if he receives a pardon from the president in his years-long corruption trial.

Israeli PM rules out creation of Palestinian state

Tel Aviv will not allow the creation of a Palestinian state, since its true purpose is the destruction of “the one and only Jewish state”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated.

Hamas says will hand over weapons to a Palestinian authority ‘if the occupation ends’

Hamas has announced that it is ready to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian authority governing the territory on the condition that the Israeli army's occupation ends.

Herzog pushes back against Trump’s pressure to pardon Netanyahu on corruption charges

Israel's president has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s call for a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial.

Syria’s president accuses Israel of ‘exporting crises’ to distract from Gaza ‘massacres’

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has accused Israel of "exporting crises" to other countries as a way to divert attention from the "horrifying massacres" it is committing in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Canada removes Syria from its list of countries that support “terrorism”

Canada has removed Syria from its list of states that support “terrorism”, citing a similar move by the United States as well as bids by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to “advance” the country’s stability.

Arab, Muslim nations refute Israel exit-only plan for Gaza’s Rafah crossing

Gaza mediators Egypt and Qatar, and six other Muslim-majority countries have raised the alarm over Israel’s stated plan for a one-way opening of the Rafah border crossing, which would allow Palestinians to leave their territory, but not to return, and block the entry of humanitarian aid.

UN sounds alarm over repeated Israeli attacks near peacekeepers in Lebanon

The United Nations has warned Israel again over the latest airstrikes against southern Lebanon, calling the repeated raids "clear violations" of Security Council Resolution 1701.

Lebanese president meets UN delegation in Beirut, urges pressing Israel to enforce ceasefire

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with a visiting delegation of UN Security Council ambassadors on Friday, urging them to press Israel to enforce the ceasefire and comply with international resolutions, the presidency has announced.

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