Gaza

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 23: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) walks out of the Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Senate takes up a $95 billion foreign aid package today for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: November 20, 2024, 9:51 pm

Senate rejects bid to block key arms transfers to Israel

Lawmakers rejected three separate measures aimed at halting transfers of explosive shells and bomb guidance kits to Israel, despite a clear-cut case laid out by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and others that the Biden administration is violating US law.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

After UAE visit, Qatari PM holds talks in Iran as Hamas officials depart Doha

A Gulf political official told Al-Monitor on Wednesday that the Qatari prime minister's visit to the UAE is designed to communicate Doha's new policy toward Hamas, where it seeks to be more in alignment with them regarding the group.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

US vetoes UN resolution demanding Gaza cease-fire

The United States was the single dissenting vote on a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire and the release of the Hamas-held hostages.

US Sen. Bernie Sanders, joined by fellow US Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Jeff Merkley and Peter Welch, listens to a question at a news conference on restricting arms sales to Israel at the US Capitol on Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington, DC.

Senate Democrats to challenge Biden’s arms sales to Israel

The Bernie Sanders-led rebuke comes a week after the Biden administration said it would not curb weapons transfers to Israel over lack of Gaza aid access, as originally threatened.

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Analysis

As Netanyahu warms to Israel-Lebanon deal, US role comes into play

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre shows smoke billowing following an Israeli airstrike which targeted the area of al-Hosh on the outskirts of Tyre, on November 19, 2024. (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU / AFP) (Photo by KAWNAT HAJU/AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Interview

EU escorted over 200 ships in Red Sea amid Gulf maritime threats, envoy says

NUSA DUA, INDONESIA - JULY 08: The Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi (R) greets the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio (L) during arrival of the G20 Foreign Ministers and Head of Department at the Grand Ballroom Mulia Hotel on July 08, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)

Luigi di Maio

Luigi di Maio

EU Special Representative for the Gulf

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US warns Turkey against hosting Hamas' political leaders

People carry the picture of late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh as they march during a protest to express support for Palestinians in Gaza on the eve of the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, on Oct. 06, 2024, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Shin Bet chief discusses Gaza truce in Turkey: What we know

Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi (C), Director the Security Agency Ronen Bar (C-R) and Israel's Chief of the Mossad David Barnea (R).

Israeli settlers walk through a street in Hebron's old city. Security is reinforced for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, West Bank, on Oct. 22, 2024.

US unveils new West Bank sanctions amid calls to target Israeli ministers

The latest sanctions come after nearly 90 Democratic lawmakers urged the administration to penalize Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Hamas's chief representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan (L), Hamas Arab relations chief Khalil al-Hayya (C) and Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command Talal Naji arrive for a press conference during a visit to Damascus, Syria, Oct. 19, 2022.

Reports Hamas' political bureau relocated to Turkey false, Turkish sources say

Turkish diplomatic sources refutes claims of Hamas political leaders relocating from Qatar to Turkey, following media reports.

In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument to Minin and Pozharsky on Red Square on the National Unity Day in Moscow on November 4, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail TERESHCHENKO / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL TERESHCHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With leverage in Syria, can Russia's Putin broker Israel-Lebanon deal?

Israel is considering accepting the Russian push for some sort of involvement in the talks or in the implementation of a deal with Hezbollah.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington, DC.

Gaza hostage families look to Trump as hope fades for deal

As President Joe Biden's time in office wanes, the families of the American hostages are looking to his replacement to strike a deal.

People check the damage following a reported Israeli strike in the Mazzeh district of Damascus, on Nov. 14, 2024.

Israeli strikes in Syria kill 17 as Iranian adviser set to visit

Israel has allegedly escalated its attacks on Syria amid an international push for de-escalation and continued fighting in Gaza and Lebanon.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

US investor Steve Witkoff attends the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024.

From golf to the Gulf: Who is Trump’s new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff?

Trump's long-time friend will face a tough job in trying to quell a regional war that has been raging since Oct. 7, 2023, between Israel, Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Secretary-General of Fatah’s Central Committee Jibril Rajoub looks on during an interview in Paris on July 27, 2024.

Interview

Senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub calls for 'Marshall-like plan' to rebuild Gaza

Potential unity with Hamas represents a key dilemma for the Ramallah-based government, which would lose legitimacy with the Western world but gain legitimacy with the Palestinian people.

Jibril Rajoub

Jibril Rajoub

Fatah Central Committee Secretary-General

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid delivered from Jordan cross into Gaza.

Despite missed deadline to boost Gaza aid, US says Israel arms flows to continue

The Biden administration will not follow through with threatened consequences after Israel missed a deadline to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

This aerial photo taken on June 22, 2021, shows cargo containers stacked at Yantian port in Shenzhen in China's southern Guangdong province.

Analysis

How Trump could squeeze shipping firms impacted by Red Sea crisis

Xeneta, an ocean freight intelligence platform, warned Nov. 6 that shipping container rates grew by 70% during the last Trump administration.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives to attend a EU - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels on October 16, 2024. Avoiding a "general conflagration" in the Middle East will be top of the agenda when European Union and leaders of countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, meet in Brussels on October 16, 2024. (Photo by JOHANNA GERON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNA GERON/POOL/AFP via Get

MBS condemns Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza as Saudi frustrations mount

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler has called for the establishment of a Palestinian state following phone calls with US President-elect Donald Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian last week.

A Palestinian man carries away an injured child from a home that was hit in an Israeli strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on November 7, 2024. Israel's military has been conducting a sweeping air and ground assault in northern Gaza since October 6, 2024, particularly around Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, saying it aims to prevent Hamas regrouping. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Feature

Uncertain future: Gaza’s hopes and fears as Trump wins presidency

Palestinians hope for a sign that the US president-elect might shift American policy toward halting the Gaza conflict and addressing their humanitarian crisis, but they are not optimistic.

Abeer Ayyoub

By Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (C) visits the Nova festival memorial.

French FM to visit Israel as Paris, Washington work on Lebanon deal

In another push to end the war in Lebanon, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel on Wednesday to Israel.