Hamas promises retaliation for Israel killing senior military leaders Israeli strikes have killed a large number of Hamas commanders and destroyed dozens of security, military and police sites in the Gaza Strip. By Ahmad Abu Amer
Hamas says some Arab dramas promote normalization with Israel An Egyptian series starring Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan angered Hamas for portraying the Gaza Strip as a drug den in the 1940s; Hamas also is critical of Ramadan over issues involving Arab states' normalization of relations with Israel. By Hana Salah
Arab-Israeli soccer players offer symbol of coexistence With tensions between Jews and Arabs in Israel reaching sad records, Israeli-Arab soccer players carry the (perhaps heavy) mission of demonstrating coexistence. By Danny Zaken In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel
Egypt to complete construction of New Rafah City New Rafah City is becoming a reality in northern Sinai, giving displaced Rafah residents hope for a new and secure life and Egypt a chance to better fight the Islamic State in the border area with the Palestinian Gaza Strip. By Amr Emam
Israel, Hamas confrontation spills into diplomatic arena As the Israel-Hamas campaign intensifies, so does the public diplomacy campaign waged by Israel’s Foreign Ministry on the international arena. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Will renewed US diplomacy help solve Nile dam dispute? Washington has renewed its attempts to resolve the dispute over Ethiopia’s controversial Nile dam, with the US envoy for the Horn of Africa making stops in Egypt and Sudan. By Ayah Aman In Cairo, reporting on politics and culture
Egypt's Sisi approves plan to widen, deepen Suez Canal after stuck ship The plan includes widening and deepening the area where Ever Given got stuck in March. By Al-Monitor Staff
Israel imposes curfew on Arab-Jewish city as protests intensify The central city of Lod is under a state of emergency, and residents are banned from leaving their homes Wednesday night. By Al-Monitor Staff
Hamas open to halting hostilities with Israel, Russia says Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has ruled out a cease-fire for now. By Al-Monitor Staff
Erdogan wants to 'teach a deterrent lesson' to Israel The Turkish president made the remarks on the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories during a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. By Al-Monitor Staff
ICC monitors Israeli-Palestinian violence for war crimes Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, says she is monitoring the escalating violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel. By Al-Monitor Staff
Lockdown stems virus surge in Turkey but slow vaccination raises concern Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday a nationwide lockdown would be gradually lifted as planned on May 17, though health experts urged caution amid a vaccination campaign slowed by supply hurdles. By Diego Cupolo
The Takeaway: How Netanyahu gains politically from conflict with Gaza Also: The United Arab List may be down, but it's not out; Biden administration sends envoy to region; our coverage from Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank; Egypt wants return of pregnant mummy from Poland. By Andrew Parasiliti, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Joe Snell
US sends diplomat to urge calm as Israel, Hamas fighting escalates Hady Amr, the top State Department official on Israeli-Palestinian affairs, will push for both sides to de-escalate. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
New York City politicians spar over Israel, Palestine The leaders in New York City’s mayoral election both defended Israel over the recent conflict with the Palestinians, though other politicians more to the left spoke in favor of the Palestinian cause. By Al-Monitor Staff
Intel: US reaches out to Egypt over Israel-Palestine violence The Egyptians may talk Hamas off the ledge, but both the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian militants may stand to politically benefit from a prolonged conflict. By Al-Monitor Staff