The Takeaway: Would Hamas complicate US plans for reset with Palestinians? Also: the back story on the spat between Israel and Jordan; Gulf post-COVID economic trends; Turkey’s Kurds; Egypt and Somalia; and more! Originals
Egypt sentences activist Sanaa Seif to 18 months in prison Seif, who had been in pretrial detention since June, was convicted Wednesday of spreading false news and misusing social media. Egypt
Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downed passenger plane The Iranian government said last year's shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was the result of a human error. Iran
Palestinians receive first batch of vaccines through COVAX More than 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines arrived in Ramallah on Wednesday. Palestine
Egypt starts vaccinating sick, elderly The country first gave vaccine doses to medical staff and is now offering vaccines to the wider population. Egypt
Teen suicide highlights torture in Turkey's juvenile detention centers Conditions in Turkish jails and prisons for juveniles ignite charges of human rights abuses. Turkey
Helicopter crash kills 10 Turkish soldiers, including general The crash killed the commander of Turkey's 8th Army Corps in the eastern Bingol province. Turkey
Oil prices continue to rise as Saudi Arabia and Russia talk production The price of Brent crude continued to increase above its pre-pandemic levels during the OPEC+ meeting Thursday. Gulf
Are Gulf oil giants ready to go green? As European and American oil companies face increased pressure and scrutiny on new climate restrictions, the Gulf has so far been avoided the heat. Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu says Israel, Denmark, Austria will cooperate against virus Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel, Denmark and Austria will establish a joint research and development fund to battle the coronavirus. Israel
Biden faces calls to lift Trump's controversial ICC sanctions The International Criminal Court’s investigation into potential war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas is looming over the Biden administration’s review of sanctions on the Hague-based tribunal. Palestine
Pope heads for Iraq in historic first The pope will land in Iraq tomorrow for a three-day pilgrimage. Iraq
Inconclusive polls: No clear-cut Netanyahu challenger In the March 23 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the clear favorite — but against whom? Israel
Turkey to supply electricity to opposition-held areas in Syria Authorities affiliated with the opposition in the cities of Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain in northern Syria recently signed an agreement to import Turkish electricity, as the Syrian regime forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces continue to control the feeding stations of these areas. Syria
Gazan divers search for missing Egyptians after storm Amateur and professional divers are searching Gaza's coast for Egyptian sailors feared dead in a goodwill gesture toward Cairo. Palestine
Israel set to vaccinate 120,000 Palestinian workers After much controversy and debate, the Cabinet approved for the Health Ministry to start vaccinating 120,000 Palestinian workers on Sunday. Palestine
![Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein holds a press conference at the Babylon Hotel in the capital Baghdad, on March 4, 2021, on the eve of the first papal visit to Iraq. - Pope Francis begins a historic 4-day trip to war-scarred Iraq on March 5, defying security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Sabah ARAR / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Sabah ARAR has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [March 4] instead of [February 4]. Please im](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/03/GettyImages-1231514369.jpg/GettyImages-1231514369.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=-3c1ljaj)
![A health worker arranges vials of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine at the Clalit Health Services in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Beit Hanina, in the Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem on March 2, 2021. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by AHMAD GHARABLI has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [March 2] instead of [March 3]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention from all your online services and delete it from yo](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2021/03/GettyImages-1231471153.jpg/GettyImages-1231471153.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=3-tYjDEw)
