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The controversy over the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and U.S.-based critic of the Saudi leadership, flared again in the Oval Office in front of cameras as the kingdom's de facto ruler made his first White House visit in more than seven years seeking to further rehabilitate his global image tarnished by the incident. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that bin Salman approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The crown prince denied ordering the operation but acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom's de facto ruler. "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you like him or didn't like him," Trump said. "Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that." (Read more at Japan Times)
"Iran must ... provide the (International Atomic Energy) Agency without delay with precise information on nuclear material accountancy and safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran, and grant the Agency all access it requires to verify this information," read the draft submitted on Tuesday, which diplomats said is highly likely to be passed (Source: Yahoo News).
“I will say that we will be doing that,” Trump told reporters at the White House, "We'll be selling F-35s". In a potential multibillion-dollar deal, Riyadh wants to buy as many as 48 US-made jets. Through the deal, Saudi Arabia is seeking to strengthen its security in the face of threats from countries such as Iran and militias across the Middle East (Read more at Euronews).
Senior executives from IBM, Alphabet's Google, Salesforce, Andreessen Horowitz, Halliburton, Adobe, Aramco, State Street and Parsons Corp are also expected at the Nov. 19 event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The event is planned for the day after the crown prince, widely known by his initials MBS, meets with President Donald Trump (Read more at Reuters).
The foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said it welcomed the resolution and stressed the importance of every party's involvement in it, "especially the Palestinian Authority". "The resolution prioritises conflict resolution and prolonged peace through the capacity building of the Palestinian authorities," Yvonne said in a statement. "Indonesia will always support an independent and sovereign Palestinian nation." (Read more at Jakarta Post)
'It is essential now to translate the diplomatic momentum into concrete and urgently needed steps on the ground,' says Antonio Guterres. "The adoption of the resolution on Gaza by the Security Council is an important step in the consolidation of the ceasefire, which the Secretary-General encourages all parties to abide by," said his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, in a statement (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi).
The Saudi Crown Prince believed Trump's direct pressure was needed to break a logjam in talks to end more than two and a half years of war, pointing to his work to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza last month (Read more at New Arab).
Saudi luxury real estate developer Dar Global hopes to fund much of its latest Trump hotel in the Maldives by selling blockchain-based crypto tokens to U.S. retail investors. London-listed Dar Global is one of The Trump Organization's main overseas partners, with seven projects under development including an 80-storey tower in Dubai, a golf resort in Qatar and hotels and high-end homes across Saudi Arabia and Oman (Read more at MSN).
The decision was made just hours before his planned departure and despite extensive preparations for the visit. The Lebanese Embassy in Washington announced the cancellation of a reception that had been arranged in honor of the army commander, expressing appreciation for guests’ understanding and saying it would inform them of a new date once set, without offering the Lebanese community any further explanation (Read more at Arabnews).
Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed last month to the first phase of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza - a ceasefire in their two-year war and a hostage-release deal - but the UN resolution is seen as vital to legitimizing a transitional governance body and reassuring countries that are considering sending troops to Gaza. Hamas, in a statement, reiterated that it will not disarm and argued that its fight against Israel is legitimate resistance, potentially pitting the militant group against the international force authorized by the resolution (Read more at Reuters).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington marks his first U.S. trip since the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Discussions are centered on significant defense agreements, access to artificial intelligence technology, and progress toward a civilian nuclear deal with the United States. The visit underscores a strategic realignment prioritizing security and technological advancement for Saudi Arabia (Read more at Fundfa).
Seven years on, MbS now casts himself as a broker of peace, repairing ties with Iran, pushing for a Gaza ceasefire and welcoming Syria back into the Arab fold, a striking pivot from a prince once branded reckless for plunging into Yemen’s war. Both reformist and autocrat, MbS has emerged as the most momentous and audacious leader in the kingdom’s modern history -- driving its transformation and shaping its future (Read more at Global Banking and Finance).
Temporary legal protections for Syrians will end on Friday, rendering thousands vulnerable and at risk of being separated from their families (Read more at Middle East Eye)
The chief executive of Diriyah said the Trump family business and Saudi giga-project could announce a deal 'soon'. “Nothing announced yet, but soon to be,” Jerry Inzerillo said, adding it was “just a matter of time” before the Trump Organization reached a deal (Read more at Middle East Eye).
"Iran's use of military forces to conduct an armed boarding and seizure of a commercial vessel in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of international law, undermining freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce," CENTCOM's statement read (Read more at MSN).
A planned $500 million American base near Gaza faces questions, as no one other than the Israel Defense Forces is willing to engage in hostilities with Hamas (Read more at JNS).
Given this official and personal bond between the president and the crown prince, expectations are high about how their latest meeting will influence relations between their countries and the wider region. In Washington, I heard extensive policy discussions about what this visit could achieve and what its implications might be for peace with Israel, ties with Iran, the region’s geopolitical balance and the long-term economic, military and nuclear partnership that Riyadh and Washington are trying to structure through the mid-21st century and possibly beyond (Read more at Arabnews).
Steve Lutes says Saudi-US ties are resilient and rapidly shifting toward technology, innovation and next-generation economic cooperation. Saudi Vision 2030 reforms are driving a surge in US corporate interest across sectors like AI, cloud services, biotech and advanced manufacturing (Read more at Arabnews).
What began as a reliance on oil and gas has expanded to more diverse economic collaboration built on Vision 2030 initiatives. Economic cooperation between the two nations was solidified in the early 1930s when King Abdulaziz granted the right of oil exploration to the American company Standard Oil through a 66-year contract. This led to the formation of the Arabian-American Oil Company, better known as Aramco (Read more at Arabnews).
Washington’s current approach toward Tehran does not indicate any readiness for “equal and fair negotiations”, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, after US President Donald Trump hinted last week at potential discussions (Read more at Dawn).
Document 109, dated June 5, 1974, at 5:15 p.m., captures a pivotal Washington encounter between King Fahd, who was then serving as Saudi Arabia’s second deputy prime minister, and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Historians of bilateral relations recognize this gathering as the bedrock upon which numerous subsequent economic and military initiatives were constructed. Kissinger declared: “It is our firm view that a strong Saudi Arabia is in the interest of the United States and will contribute to peace and stability in the area" (Read more at Arabnews).
Nearly every American President since Richard Nixon in 1974 has visited Saudi Arabia either to avoid regional conflicts or to reinforce bilateral relations in foreign and economic policy. But none of them have made the Kingdom more of a foundation of America’s foreign and economic policies than President Donald Trump (Read more at Arabnews).
Relationship between the two countries “can be as diverse as the Saudi economy is becoming. Once upon a time, oil and defense really dominated the relationship. The big change was really Saudi’s decision to start diversifying its economy. That created huge opportunities for cooperation with the US, particularly with the US companies (Read more at Arabnews).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Nov 16 that Israel remained opposed to a Palestinian state after protests by far-right coalition allies over a US-backed statement indicating support for a pathway to Palestinian independence. Mr Netanyahu spoke two days after Israel’s key ally US and many Muslim-majority nations endorsed a draft UN resolution backing President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, saying the process offered a route to Palestinian statehood (Read more at Straits Times).
Israel is not opposed to the US sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia — but is insisting Washington condition it on whether Riyadh and Jerusalem make diplomatic progress. “We told the Trump administration that the supply of F-35s to Saudi Arabia needs to be subject to Saudi normalization with Israel,” an unnamed Israeli official said (Read more at NY Post).
It may be a coincidence, but history rarely writes itself without purpose. Next week’s meeting in Washington between Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald J. Trump falls 80 years after the seminal 1945 encounter between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard the USS Quincy. That meeting laid the foundation for a strategic partnership that has endured wars, oil shocks and political transitions. The parallels between then and now are striking — and significant (Read more at Arabnews).
Valued at potentially $142 billion as part of a broader defense framework, this proposed sale represents one of the largest weapons transactions in recent history, aimed at bolstering Saudi Arabia's air superiority against regional threats like Iran. Pentagon insiders warn that approving the deal could expose America's most sophisticated aviation technology to unintended vulnerabilities, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the volatile Gulf region (Read more at Aeronews Journal).
Israeli officials have begun weighing significant changes to the long-standing framework of American security assistance, which for decades has formed a central pillar of defense ties between Jerusalem and Washington. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted on Thursday that he intends to reduce Israel’s reliance on U.S. security aid, saying, “The direction is much greater independence. I expect to have something to say about this soon.” (Read more at JNS)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called for the United Nations to impose "appropriate measures" against the United States and Israel over military strikes in June against Iran's nuclear sites. Araghchi said that President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials bear "criminal responsibility" for the strikes after Trump's statement last week that he directed Israel's initial attack on Iran on June 13 (Read more at Straits Times).
-- Saudi Aramco, one of the world's largest oil exporters, wants to become a major liquefied natural gas player, especially in the U.S., where capacity is expected to grow quickly in the coming years (Read more at Market Screener).
While the proposal released on Friday has little chance of passing in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, it underscores the growing criticism of Israel in US politics. If the resolution did pass, it would officially recognise that “Israel has committed the crime of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza” and call for an end to the transfer of weapons suspected of being used to commit atrocities to the US ally (Read more at Aljazeera).
Ramsi Woodcock’s lawsuit, filed in federal court against the University of Kentucky, is part of a growing backlash against US universities over a clampdown on pro-Palestine speech and activities. His suit argues that his first amendment and due process rights were violated when the university placed him under investigation in July, days after he was promoted to full professorship. The decision was based on allegations that he had violated university policy on anti-discrimination rules (Read more at Arabnews).
President Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a phone call last month that, with the Gaza war ending, he expects Saudi Arabia to move toward normalization with Israel, two U.S. officials said (Read more at Axios).
A total of 32 individuals and entities based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany and Ukraine that operate multiple procurement networks are being targeted in Wednesday’s designations, the Treasury Department said in a statement. “These networks pose a threat to U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and to commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” the department added Source: Iran Front Page).
The United States had evidence last year that Israeli officials discussed how their soldiers sent Palestinians into tunnels in Gaza that the Israelis believed were potentially lined with explosives. The information was shared with the White House and analysed by the intelligence community in the final weeks of former President Joe Biden’s administration (Read more at Aljazeera).
US Central Command said on Wednesday its forces assisted and enabled more than 22 operations against ISIS in Syria. The operations took place from October 1 to November 6. “Our success in countering the ISIS threat in Syria is a notable achievement,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander (Read more at Alarabiya).
“I hope not,” Rubio told reporters after a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers in Canada, when asked whether the West Bank events could endanger the Gaza ceasefire. “We don’t expect it to. We’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen.” (Source: Arabnews)
The move, which follows a phone call last week between Mohammed bin Salman and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) commander Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, would mark a rare direct engagement between the Saudi ruler and Trump on Sudan. A Sudanese source briefed on the call between Mohammed bin Salman and Burhan said that the general told the crown prince there was no way the war in Sudan would end without US pressure on the UAE. The source told MEE that Mohammed bin Salman promised Burhan he would raise the issue with Trump (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Speaking to reporters at the end of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, Rubio said “something needs to be done to cut off the weapons and support that the RSF is getting as they continue with their advances". “Someone’s giving them the money and someone’s giving them the weapons, and it’s coming through some country,” he said (Read more at Middle East Eye).
“I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote (Read more at Aljazeera).
A new US-run system for Gaza aid is bringing Americans, Israelis and humanitarian workers around the same table for the first time since the start of the two-year war. Operations at the Civil Military Co-ordination Centre (CMCC) stand in contrast to the former Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which sidelined well-established organisations such as the UN that had been operating in the West Bank and Gaza for decades. The installation of four GHF sites in the south and centre of the strip earlier this year led to stampedes and massacres in which at least 1,400 people died, UN figures show (Read more at The National).
A de facto partition of Gaza between an area controlled by Israel and another ruled by Hamas is increasingly likely, multiple sources said, with efforts to advance US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war beyond a ceasefire faltering. Six European officials with direct knowledge of the efforts to implement the next phase of the plan told Reuters it was effectively stalled and that reconstruction now appeared likely to be limited to the Israel-controlled area. That could lead to years of separation, they warned (Read more at Dawn).
The Nov. 19 event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia and the U.S.-Saudi Business Council. The forum will "explore new investment horizons across critical sectors, including energy, technology, financial services, infrastructure, and healthcare" and will be a platform for "exclusive business matchmaking (Read more at AOL).
“We are engaged in direct negotiations with Israel, and we have gone a good distance on the way to reach an agreement,” Sharaa said. His comments mark the first time the Syrian leader has confirmed the discussions with Israel. Syria’s official state news agency said in August that the two sides were engaging in direct discussions. US envoy and ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has been mediating between them (Read more at Middle East Eye).
By aligning diplomatic decisions with national interests and regional responsibilities, Saudi Arabia has developed a sophisticated approach to statecraft. Jonathan Panikoff, a former career US intelligence officer for Middle Eastern affairs, noted that Saudi Arabia will not move forward with normalisation until a tangible path to a Palestinian state exists. He added that the crown prince is expected to use his influence in Washington to secure clear American support for a sovereign Palestinian state, a move that reflects the kingdom’s diplomatic skill in managing global power dynamics without compromising national principles. The kingdom has also demonstrated its ability to balance national security with strategic independence by ensuring that negotiations with Washington do not affect the autonomy of its national decisions or vital interests (Read more at Arab Weekly).
The three-judge panel affirmed most of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida’s decision to throw out the case for lack of jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. The three judges identified one exception. “One group, or bundle, of the plaintiffs’ claims—those based on the theory that the kingdom had been grossly negligent in vetting, hiring and sending airman al-Shamrani to the United States. Mohammed Saeed al-Shamrani was a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force who came to the United States in 2017 to take part in a Pentagon-sponsored pilot training program for foreign nationals. In 2019, he shot 11 people at Naval Air Station Pensacola, killing three, before police shot and killed him (Read more at JNS).
Katie Wilson, a Council on American-Islamic Relations endorsed progressive who has accused Israel of “genocide,” pulled even further ahead of incumbent Bruce Harrell. Wilson had 137,217 votes (50.08%) to Harrell’s 135,871 (49.59%). (Read more at JNS)
The Hamas organization has a higher overall favorability rating (19%) and lower unfavorable rating (45%) than does the Israeli government (18%, 56%) on U.S. campuses. That difference in favorability ratings is not statistically significant, because it falls in the margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points (Read more at JNS).
"He comes from a very tough place, and he's a tough guy. I liked him. I get along with him, the president, the new president in Syria," the US president said in the Oval Office. Trump forecasted forthcoming announcements on Syria but did not detail them, saying only that "we want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, and I think this leader can do it." (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)
The two discussed some of the most sensitive aspects of phase two, Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told journalists. “Together the two discussed phase one, which we are currently still in, to bring our remaining hostages, and the future of phase two of this plan, which includes the disarming of Hamas, demilitarising Gaza and ensuring Hamas will have no role in the future of Gaza ever again,” Ms Bedrosian said (Read more at Straits Times).
In practical terms, Washington’s stance strengthens Damascus’ hand in integrating the SDF into state command structures while Kurdish leaders say key protections and timelines remain unfulfilled (Read more at Media Line).
The US and Israeli officials working on the plan termed them as "Alternate Safe Communities". Palestinians would be screened for “anti-Hamas” sentiment before being granted entry into the compounds. The proposal was discussed in an email by US Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, who is heading the civil-military coordination centre overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, which has been marred by regular Israeli violations (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Iran aims to reach a "peaceful" nuclear agreement with the United States to settle a decades-long dispute, but will not compromise its national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday. Speaking at the 12th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, Khatibzadeh said Washington was delivering conflicting messages to Tehran about nuclear talks through third countries (Read more at CGTN).
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday met with Republican Congressman Brian Mast as part of efforts to secure the full repeal of the 2019 Caesar sanctions during his historic visit to Washington. Mast, a pro-Israel lawmaker and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been an opponent of repealing the Caesar Act, which imposed sweeping penalties on Syria in 2019 following evidence of human rights violations under the rule of Bashar al-Assad. In a statement after the meeting, Mast said he and Sharaa “had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS and extremism.” (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi)
"The city that once stood as a symbol of global freedom has handed over its keys to a Hamas supporter," Israel's right-wing Minister of Diaspora and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli wrote on X. "New York will never be the same again, especially not for its Jewish community," he added (Read more at TRT World).
Hamdi was detained on 26 October at San Francisco international airport. At the time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) said his detention appeared to be in retaliation for the Muslim political commentator’s criticism of Israel while touring the US, calling it a “blatant affront to free speech”, and called for his release. The family of British political commentator Sami Hamdi, who was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late October while on a speaking tour in the US, say he is set to be released and will be able to “return home soon” (Read more at Guardian).
Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, stated that he will travel to Israel on Friday for a four-day visit, during which he will meet with government officials, economic development leaders and technology workers (Read more at JNS).
The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, which is celebrating its 100th year, stated earlier this month that it is “thrilled” to welcome Israel as a new member and offered the Jewish state “heartfelt congratulations.” The group refers to itself as the “world’s largest consular corps, comprising consulates, consulates general and honorary consulates.” It offered “special thanks” to Ofir Akunis, consul general of Israel in New York, for “his outstanding leadership.” (Read more at JNS)
The World Bank backs language in a US-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution on Gaza that would authorize a two-year mandate for a transitional governance body, according to a letter to the United States (Read more at Daily Sun).
Betsy Berns Korn, Chair, and William Daroff, chair and CEO respectively of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, stated on Sunday that they welcome the liberation of the remains of former Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin with “profound relief and gratitude.” “We thank President Trump and his administration for their leadership and resolve in bringing Hadar home,” the umbrella group’s leaders said (Read more at JNS).
Zimnako Salah, 46, whom a jury convicted in March of placing a backpack around a toilet in a church in Roseville, Calif., to “convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there,” was sentenced to six years in prison. The Justice Department added that Salah “had consumed extremist propaganda online,” including searching “for videos of ‘infidels dying,’” and watching “videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people.” “In a cellphone video taken days before the crimes of conviction, defendant Salah declared, ‘America. We are going to destroy it,’” it said (Read more at JNS).
It also told the university to bar speakers who are being investigated for or found to have committed “genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or systematic human rights violations.” The resolution added that the International Court of Justice has said it is “plausible” that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza (Read more at JNS).
The document, titled AWWG Palestine Policy Meeting Meeting Agenda & Notes, lists the following demands:
John Hurley, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Iran has managed to funnel about $1 billion to Hezbollah this year despite a raft of Western sanctions that have battered its economy. Late last week Washington sanctioned two individuals accused of using money exchanges to help fund Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist group by several Western governments and Gulf states. “There’s a moment in Lebanon now. If we could get Hezbollah to disarm, the Lebanese people could get their country back,” Hurley said (Read more at Indian Express).
The United States has gathered intelligence that Israeli military lawyers warned there was evidence that could support war crimes charges against Israel for its genocide in Gaza — attacks carried out with American-supplied weapons. The information circulated more widely within the US government only in the final weeks of the Biden administration, ahead of a December 2024 congressional briefing (Read more at TRT World).
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) asked Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, to investigate whether the far left, anti-Israel group Code Pink has violated U.S. law by failing to register as a foreign agent or supporting terror organizations. “Alongside Samidoun, Code Pink organized a campaign calling for the release of Ahmad Sa’adat, a PFLP secretary-general who was convicted and sentenced to 30 years for leading a terrorist organization responsible for multiple attacks against Israeli military and civilians,” the senator wrote. “These activities raise serious questions about whether Code Pink has provided material support to designated foreign terror organizations.” (Read more at JNS)
The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) will replace Israel in overseeing aid into Gaza. Israel was part of the process but that CMCC would decide what aid enters Gaza and how. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said that the U.S. was "working hard, in tandem with Israel and regional partners, on the next phases of implementing" the president's "historic peace plan" (Read more at New Arab)
President Donald Trump said Thursday he expects a US-coordinated international stabilization force to be on the ground in Gaza “very soon,” following two years of war in the territory between Israel and Hamas. The multinational force — likely to include troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates — is part of Trump’s post-war governance plan for Gaza (Read more at Defense Post).
A Foreign Ministry source told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Thursday that "there is no truth to what Reuters published regarding American bases in Syria". The official said the current phase "is witnessing a shift in the American position toward direct engagement with the central Syrian government, supporting efforts to unify the country, and rejecting any calls for partition" (Read more at New Arab).
"Kazakhstan is the first Country of my Second Term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many. This is a major step forward in building bridges across the World," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Today, more Nations are lining up to embrace Peace and Prosperity through my Abraham Accords. We will soon announce a Signing Ceremony to make it official, and there are many more Countries trying to join this club of strength. So much more to come in uniting Countries for Stability and Growth — Real progress, real results," he added (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).
"Iran has been asking if the sanctions could be lifted. Iran has got very heavy US sanctions, and it makes it really hard for them to do what they'd like to be able to do. And I'm open to hearing that, and we'll see what happens, but I would be open to it," Trump said (Read more at TRT World).
The deal with the Cantor Fitzgerald-backed special purpose acquisition company comes as this unconventional route to the public markets has regained popularity in the U.S. after years of subdued activity, following poor share performance and regulatory roadblocks (Source: Reuters).
The US Department of the Treasury removed al-Sharaa, a former fighter linked to al-Qaeda, from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list on Friday. The United Nations Security Council also removed al-Sharaa from a largely symbolic sanctions list on Thursday (Read more at Aljazeera).
He will also sign onto a US-led coalition against his one-time rival, the Islamic State militant (IS) group. Sharaa’s bid to cement his alignment with the US comes as his government faces an Israeli occupation in a swath of southern Syria, festering problems with Kurdish fighters in the north and a sputtering economy that has been unable to draw outside investment because of sanctions. None of those topics is expected to be resolved outright when Sharaa visits, but the image of Sharaa - who Trump has praised as an “attractive”, “strong”, and a “tough guy” - sitting in the Oval Office is going to resonate far (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The proposal would grant a two-year mandate for a transitional governing body and an international stabilisation force. The United States circulated the draft to all 15 council members on Wednesday evening, saying it already has regional backing from Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (Read more at Anews).
The Trump administration wants to use a crisis over Hamas militants who got "stuck" in tunnels behind Israeli lines in Gaza to develop a model for disarming the group. Convincing Hamas militants to lay down their weapons is the most sensitive issue in President Trump's Gaza peace plan. Israel is highly skeptical that Hamas will agree to disarm through diplomacy (Read more at Axios).
Israel on Tuesday received a body from Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza, the Prime Minister’s Office said, after the Palestinian group reported it had found the remains of an Israeli hostage to be handed over. The office confirmed the body was that of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, an Israeli-American, following an identification process (Read more at NBC News).
The sale would signify a significant change in policy, with the potential to alter the military balance in the Middle East while also challenging Washington’s commitment to maintaining Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge. Although Israel also has F-35 stealth fighter jets in its fleet, Saudi Arabia’s acquisition would help narrow its capability gap with Israel (Read more at India).
The draft resolution would also lift sanctions on Syria's Interior Minister Anas Khattab. It was not immediately clear when it could be put to a vote. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the U.S., France or Britain to be adopted (Read more at Tass).
Sudani’s comments come ahead of Iraq's highly anticipated parliamentary elections on 11 November. Sudani is balancing between Washington, which is critical for Iraq’s dollar transactions, and neighbouring Iran, which backs a constellation of mainly Shia militias called the Popular Mobilisation Forces (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Cheney's family said in a statement that the former vice president died from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. Later, whilst serving as defence secretary under President George HW Bush, Cheney became an outspoken figure advocating for military force against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whose troops had invaded Kuwait (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The draft resolution would give the U.S. and other participating countries a broad mandate to govern Gaza and provide security through the end of 2027, with the possibility of extensions after that. The draft resolution will be the basis for negotiations over the coming days between UN Security Council members, with the goal of voting to establish it in the coming weeks and deploying the first troops to Gaza by January, a U.S. official said (Read more at Axios).
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will visit Washington, DC, later this month for an official working meeting with US President Donald Trump, a White House official said, marking the Saudi Arabian leader’s second visit to the United States capital in seven years. The visit of the Saudi royal comes as Trump pushes countries to join the Abraham Accords (Read more at Aljazeera).
"He has said they won't join the Abraham Accords without a two-state solution. Do you believe that?" CBS correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked. "No, I think he's going to join," Trump responded. "I think we will have a solution." "I don't know if it's going to be two-state, that's going to be up to Israel - and other people, and me - but look, the main thing is, you could have never had any kind of a deal if you had a nuclear Iran," he added, seemingly deflecting to the ceasefire deal his administration helped broker in Gaza (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Ali Khamenei speaking on Monday at a meeting with students in Tehran, the Supreme leader said that the U.S. request for cooperation would be examined at a later date. Khamenei's comments came as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to increase pressure on Iran. "The Americans sometimes say they would like to cooperate with Iran. Cooperation with Iran is not possible as long as the U.S. continues to support the accursed Zionist regime, maintains military bases, and interferes in the region," Khamenei said (Read more at Anews).
As Abu Dhabi and Dubai kick off a significant week hosting annual energy and technology conferences, we want to share details of our ongoing and planned investments in the United Arab Emirates. Roughly two and a half years ago, we embarked on a new AI initiative with the encouragement and support of both the United States and UAE governments. Much of this progress has involved a new partnership with G42, the UAE’s sovereign AI company, with whom we’re making critical progress (Read more at Mircrosoft).
Iraq has pledged to bring all weapons under the control of the state, but that will not work so long as there is a US-led coalition in the country that some Iraqi factions view as an occupying force, the prime minister said on Monday. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said a plan was still in place to have the multinational anti-Daesh coalition completely leave Iraq, one of Iran’s closest Arab allies, by September 2026 because the threat from Islamist militant groups had eased considerably (Read more at Arabnews).
Experts in Syria predict a security deal with Israel and a joint fight against ISIS could move a step closer when Mr Al Shara is received by US President Donald Trump. Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani, who said the visit will take place in early November, said the visit was "certainly historic". The trip, the first by a modern Syrian leader to Washington, is aimed at bringing Syria into the US-led ISIS coalition, other American officials said. Mr Al Shara turned against ISIS during the middle stages of his career as an insurgent, which ended when he led Hayat Tahrir Al Sham on an 11-day offensive that toppled the Bashar Al Assad regime in December (Read more at The National).
Fidan told reporters the meeting would “evaluate our progress and discuss what we can achieve together in the next stage.” The Turkish Foreign Ministry said ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been invited. All seven countries previously met with US President Donald Trump on September 23 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to discuss the same proposal (Read more at Turkish Minute).
John Hurley, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will travel in the coming days to Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Lebanon, according to the statement, in his first trip to the Middle East since taking office (Read more at RNZ).
Lebanese authorities have held indirect talks with Israel, but US envoy Tom Barrack said the key to easing tensions could be direct negotiations. “The conversation needs to be with Israel. It just needs to be with Israel. Israel is ready,” Barrack told reporters on the sidelines of the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. “March to that door, to Israel, and have a conversation, it can’t hurt,” he added (Read more at Defense Post).
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with Israel Katz, the Israeli defense minister, in Israel on Saturday. “We discussed the close strategic and operational cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. military, a partnership that is shaping the new reality in the Middle East,” Katz stated (Read more at JNS).
“The U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) observed suspected Hamas operatives looting an aid truck traveling as part of a humanitarian convoy delivering needed assistance from international partners to Gazans in northern Khan Younis,” CENTCOM tweeted. The Command’s coordination center in the Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, established in October to help monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, saw the incident via a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone flying overhead, the U.S. military said (Read more at JNS).
Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, told the Axios newspaper on Saturday that al-Sharaa is expected to sign an agreement to join an international US-led alliance against the ISIL (ISIS) group during his visit. The trip was expected to take place within the next two weeks (Read more at Aljazeera).
According to the sources, "the goal of the US proposal, which was conveyed to Hamas on Wednesday by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, was to stabilize the ceasefire and clear the roughly half of Gaza that Israel controls of Hamas militants." A source in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Axios that "there are dozens of Hamas militants still hiding in tunnels on the Israeli side of the ‘yellow line,’ which separates the zones of control, particularly in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah." (Read more at Tass).
The Trump administration on Friday said it supports repealing the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, urging the US lawmakers to include it in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is currently under discussion in Congress. “The administration supports repealing the Caesar Act. Congress should include the repeal in the NDAA,” a State Department spokesperson said (Read more at Anadolu).
The proposed force, part of President Donald Trump’s plan and referred to as the International Stabilization Force (ISF), raises politically delicate questions for Israel, Hamas, and the countries that might contribute troops. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is leading the planning, which envisions the creation of a new Palestinian police force trained and vetted by the U.S., Egypt, and Jordan, alongside contingents from Arab and Muslim countries (Read more at This is Beirut).
An American airstrike in April on a prison run by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that killed over 60 detained African migrants should be investigated as a possible war crime, activists said. The call by Amnesty International renews scrutiny on the April 28 strike in Yemen’s Saada province. The attack came as part of an intense campaign of airstrikes waged under U.S. President Donald Trump targeting rebels for disrupting shipping through the Red Sea corridor amid the Israel-Hamas war (Read more at Politico).
Qatar’s ambassador to the US sent a rare, direct rebuke to Republican Congressman Randy Fine for Islamaphobic and anti-Qatar comments he made during an interview with far-right social media personality Laura Loomer. Fine, a Jewish-American lawmaker, is a staunch defender of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has been recognised as a genocide by the United Nations. Over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Throughout Israel’s onslaught, Fine, who has a history of Islamophobic rhetoric, called for Israel to “nuke” the enclave and for Palestinians in Gaza to “starve away” (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Joel Rayburn’s nomination to lead the State Department’s Middle East bureau was withdrawn after he lacked enough support from lawmakers. Rayburn, a former US Army officer, served as US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Syria from 2018 to 2021 and concurrently as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs until November 2020 (Read more at Anadolu Ajansi).
Zohran Mamdani is closing in on the mayor's office. His final pitch: Guilt-tripping America for not loving Muslims enough after 9/11. Alex Marlow joins Blake and Andrew to react to this gross attack on the American people and looks at the bigger picture of Islamic migration into America, and they debunk the Left's meltdown over Trump's East Wing construction (Listen here).
After he was interviewed on Jewish far-right commentator Laura Loomer’s show, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) told JNS that he received a letter from the Qatari ambassador to Washington stating that his “observations about Qatar” are inaccurate. “You said that Qatar ‘funds most of the institutions that are damaging’ the United States, adding that Qatar is ‘responsible for’ protests on U.S. college campuses,” Meshal Al Thani wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 22 (Read more at JNS).
“This assistance will support life-saving needs of approximately 60,000 people through targeted provision of food, water and hygiene items, as well as the rehabilitation of houses and water systems for when people can safely return home,” the State Department said. The assistance comes as part of efforts to restore stability to the region (Read more at The National).
“Until The New York Times takes accountability for its biased coverage and commits to truthfully and ethically reporting on the US-Israeli war on Gaza, any putative 'challenge' to the newsroom or the editorial board in the form of a first-person essay is, in effect, permission to continue this malpractice,” the signatories to the letter wrote (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Israel claimed it struck a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group on Saturday, accusing the individual of planning to attack Israeli troops. However, Islamic Jihad denied it was planning an attack. The US top diplomat added that Israel has not surrendered its right to self-defence as part of the agreement brokered by Washington, Egypt and Qatar that saw Hamas release the remaining living hostages held in Gaza this month (Read more at Dawn).
Lebanon fears the bombing shows Israel intends to ramp up its air campaign, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was intended to end a year-long war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ortagus, the White House’s deputy Middle East envoy, is expected to attend a meeting on Wednesday reviewing the Lebanese army’s efforts to clear Hezbollah arms caches in the country’s south, in line with the 2024 truce (Read more at Arabnews).
Many foreign carriers halted flights to Tel Aviv after October 7 and stayed away for long stretches during the past two years due to intermittent missile fire from Iran and Yemen. In the wake of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, many foreign airlines have restarted flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways, SAS, Iberia and Swiss are slated to resume flights this week (Read more at Reuters).
US President Donald Trump says an international stabilisation force will operate in Gaza soon. Hours later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel can veto which countries take part. What are the challenges facing such a force and in setting it up? (Listen here)
Trump’s Gaza plan is in danger of going the way of the Oslo Accords, argues US journalist Chris Hedges: Never to be implemented beyond the first phase. Hedges tells host Steve Clemons that there are no guarantees that the US-brokered deal “will actually thwart the genocidal project that Israel is intending to carry out in Gaza and … the West Bank”. While a parade of US officials visited Israel to signify commitment to the ceasefire, Israel continued to restrict food and medicine to millions of Palestinians, and Israeli forces continued to occupy more than half of the Gaza Strip (Listen here).
“We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas,” Rubio said on X. “Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their — and all — remains are returned,” he said, before wrapping up his three-day visit to Israel (Read more at Defense Post).
The U.S. military has begun flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip in recent days, as part of an effort to ensure that Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization uphold the ceasefire agreement, Israeli and American military officials said (Read more at JNS).
The State Department said that Steve Fagin, a career diplomat, will work alongside US Army Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, the military head already appointed to the hub set up after the October 10 ceasefire. The Civil-Military Coordination Centre was set up in southern Israel on October 17 to observe the ceasefire for any violations and handle logistics, including aid delivery into war-ravaged Gaza (Read more at Defense Post).
"Many of the countries that have expressed an interest in participating at some level -- whether it be monetary or personnel or both -- are going to need that (a UN resolution or international agreement) because their domestic laws require it," Rubio told reporters traveling on his plane between Israel and Qatar en route to Asia. "So we have a whole team working on that outline of it." (Read more at Al-Monitor)
"We’ve done a lot together, especially in the last year,” Trump said on Air Force One. "What we’ve done is incredible – peace to the Middle East – and they were a very big factor in it, so I just want to thank you.” The comments came as several senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were in Israel this week to ensure the top US ally abides by the deal and to discuss the details of phase two of the US-led plan (Read more at Qatar-Tribune).
Sen. Bernie Sanders blasted AIPAC and Israel's right-wing government, accusing the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group of using billionaires' money to silence U.S. progressives and shield Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza (Read more at Axios).
"It won't happen. It won't happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries. And you can't do that now. We've had great Arab support," Trump said when asked what the consequences would be for Israel if it did so (Read more at TRT Afrika).
According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the proposal also includes "voluntary reconciliation facilities for militants to surrender their weapons and receive amnesty", as well as forward bases "for the forces expected to assist the international stabilisation force in disarming Gaza" (Read more at New Arab).
The Israeli parliament votes to annex the occupied West Bank - a move unlikely to become law but described as an 'insult' by the U.S. vice president. Donald Trump insists annexation won't happen, but settler violence is escalating. Are US-Israeli relations in upheaval? (Listen here)
In his conversation with podcast host Allison Kaplan Sommer, Leifer also discussed the way in which Trump “has completely scrambled American Jewish politics.” On one hand, he said, “American Jewish liberals loathe him and experience him and his followers as racist, sexist, homophobic and antisemitic” while “on the other hand, it's true that he managed to do what Joe Biden couldn’t: end the war and bring the hostages home.” (Listen here)
During a visit to Israel, Mr Rubio said the US was committed to making the plan work, as there was no alternative. “This is the best plan, it's the only plan, it's one that we think can succeed,” he said during a press conference (Read more at The National).
While in Israel, state leaders will promote Nebraska-made kosher beef, encourage agricultural technology (ag tech) partnerships, and develop relationships with civil associations. During the mission, Gov. Pillen will hold high-level diplomatic meetings and discuss the critical role played by U.S. defense technologies to secure Israel from attack. The delegation will also have an opportunity to see humanitarian work in Israel being supported by organizations in Nebraska (Read more at Ruralradio).
NATO member Turkiye, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, has joined the ceasefire negotiations as a mediator after largely indirect involvement. Its increased role followed a meeting last month between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump at the White House. “As Turkiye, we are doing our utmost for the ceasefire to be secured. The Hamas side is abiding by the ceasefire. In fact, it is openly stating its commitment to this. Israel, meanwhile, is continuing to violate the ceasefire,” Erdogan told reporters on his return flight from a regional Gulf tour (Read more at Arabnews).
At a hearing of the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control earlier in the week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) described the ties between the Lebanese terrorist group and the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. “Hezbollah collaborates extensively with government officials in Venezuela on intelligence infrastructure, securing arms, identification documents, bank accounts and pipelines for moving operatives and equipment,” Cornyn said, citing a 2025 RAND study (Read more at JNS).
Rubio added that the future of governance in Gaza still needs to be worked out among Israel and partner nations but could not include Hamas, adding that any potential role for the Palestinian Authority has yet to be determined (Read more at Middle East Online).
The Muslim and Yemeni-American mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, was on the defensive about past social media posts and BDS views. His outspoken criticism of Israel and other comments on social media from his days as a private citizen have emerged as a major obstacle to his confirmation, particularly after being amplified by the staunchly pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and some right-wing news outlets (Read more at Middle East Eye).
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was in the process of “standing up” a civil-military coordination centre to monitor the Gaza ceasefire and would then consider “going to the UN potentially and getting the international mandate, building the international defense security forces” (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Palestinian factions met in Cairo on Friday to lay out the beginnings of a "national dialogue" that will address Gaza's governance and future as part of a Palestinian state, a joint statement on Friday indicated. "We agreed to continue working together to unify our visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause, including calling for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy, and to activate the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," the Palestinian factions said after the meeting (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Hard-liners in the Knesset narrowly passed a preliminary vote in support of annexing the West Bank on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to embarrass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while Vance was still in Israel. While many members of Israel's coalition support annexation, they have backed off those calls since US President Donald Trump said last month that he opposes the move (Read more at Euronews).
Global oil prices rose by 5% on Thursday following the news that also prompted India to consider cutting Russian imports. "I expect that any decision to impose sanctions will certainly have a positive impact on prices," Kuwaiti Minister Tariq Al-Roumi said in response to a Reuters question (Read more at Market Screener).
The White House did not respond to a request for comment about Trump’s deliberations on the matter. But the president’s acknowledgment of the internal discussions underscores the difficult task of finding credible political figures to oversee governance in Gaza as the U.S. and Israel say they are committed to preventing Hamas from continuing to rule the territory (Read more at AP).
In this episode of Middle East Focus, hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj speak with MEI Senior Fellow Brian Katulis about US policy in the Middle East under Donald Trump’s second administration. Nine months into Trump 2.0, how much has really changed? Katulis breaks down the administration’s approach to major issues, including the cease-fire in Gaza and broader prospects for peace, the aftermath of the 12-Day War with Iran, and how Washington is managing ties with regional partners. He also previews his upcoming quarterly report card, which grades the administration on key policy areas (Listen here).
Iran will not return to negotiations with the United States as long as Washington makes "unreasonable demands," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday, according to IRGC media site Tasnim News Agency. "Talks that were ongoing with the US, as well as New York negotiations, were suspended and did not go forward because of US excessive demands," Araghchi said (Source: Yahoo)
Out of those polled, 59 percent supported the U.S. recognizing statehood, while 33 percent were opposed. The rest of the respondents were not sure or did not have an answer. Most surveyed Democrats, at 80 percent, support U.S.-backed statehood, while 41 percent of Republicans support it (Read more at The Hill).
Turkey’s ties to Hamas, once a liability in Washington, have turned into a geopolitical asset. By persuading Hamas to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza deal, Ankara has reasserted itself on the Middle East chessboard, to the dismay of Israel and Arab rivals (Read more at Japan Times).
Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, has been named co-chair representing the US side, while Lubna Olayan, Chair of Olayan Group, will serve as co-chair representing Saudi Arabia. Fraser succeeds Steve Demetriou, former CEO of Jacobs Engineering Group, who held the position from 2018 to 2024 (Read more at Saudi Gazette).
A US-backed stabilisation force, known as the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, or CMCC, is meant to ensure security in Gaza. Its composition, role, chain of command, legal status and other issues are yet to be agreed. A small contingent of British military planning officers has been sent to Israel to join a task force led by the United States to support stabilisation efforts in Gaza, the UK Ministry of Defence said (Read more at Daily Star).
President Donald Trump ordered the lifting of most US sanctions on Syria in May after meeting President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, but the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 that authorizes them remains US law. “We have to do some push and some lobbying to continue with this path that started in the right direction, and we’re hoping by the end of the year the bill (to scrap the act) will reach the president (Trump), and hopefully he’ll sign it,” Al-Shaar told Reuters during a conference in London (Read more at Arab News).
Mr Vance, though, said events since the truce took effect had given him "great optimism the ceasefire's going to hold". US envoy Steve Witkoff added: "We are exceeding where we thought we would be at this time." Donald Trump warned Hamas it would meet a "fast, furious and brutal" end if it breaches the Gaza ceasefire deal, as his Vice President visited Israel to keep the truce on track (Read more at The National).
“Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and ‘straighten our Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday (Read more at Aljazeera).
VP JD Vance visits Israel to discuss Gaza ceasefire after weekend flare-up; Trump vows Hamas will face “eradication” if truce breaks. The ultimatum came as fighters returned the body of another dead hostage under the ceasefire deal, with the Israeli military confirming the remains were back in Israel where they would be positively identified (Read more at New Arab).
During their visit that began on Monday, the U.S. envoys, Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, were expected to try to shore up the truce then start talks on the next, more difficult, phase of the 20-step plan. Trump, keeping pressure on both Hamas and Israel as he seeks to salvage the signature foreign policy achievement of the first year of his second term, said on Monday the U.S. was taking many steps to maintain the ceasefire (Read more at Japan Times).
Progressive lawmaker Ayanna Pressley says Washington should do all it can to ensure the release of teenage captive Mohammed Ibrahim, a US citizen held by Israel since February. “Right now, Mohammed Ibrahim, a US citizen, is being held in an Israeli prison. His health is deteriorating. The circumstances are desperate,” Pressley wrote in a social media post (Read more at Aljazeera).
“The struggles, connecting the dots with the working class, doesn’t exclude the liberation of Palestinians,” he said. “One of the motto that I stand by is a motto that’s well-known in the labour movement: an injury to one is an injury to all.” (Read more at Aljazeera)
A Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA) survey of 322 randomly selected Americans conducted after the recent ceasefire in the Israel–Gaza war reveals nuanced and complex attitudes toward the conflict and its aftermath. While sympathy for Israel remains stronger than for Hamas, there is a growing empathy for Palestinians as distinct from Hamas. Most respondents believe no side truly “won” the war, though those who did choose a winner overwhelmingly named Israel (Read more at JNS).
“At Times Square, our message is clear: Barely days into a ceasefire, Hamas turned its weapons on Palestinians to reassert control through fear & violence,” the Foreign Ministry tweeted on Sunday afternoon. “The world watches. The ceasefire must be upheld. Hamas must go. Gaza must be demilitarized,” added the ministry in the X post (Read more at JNS).
Their visit comes a day after Israel launched its fiercest wave of attacks in Gaza over the weekend since a fragile ceasefire took effect. Witkoff and Kushner's travel to the region was planned before the apparent ceasefire violations had occurred, according to a Trump administration official (Read more at ABC News).
Barrack warned that if Beirut "fails to act now", Hezbollah's military wing will inevitably face "a major confrontation with Israel". Barrack also revealed an offer the United States made to Lebanon earlier this year, part of a plan called "One More Try", which included a framework for phased disarmament, verified compliance, and economic incentives under American and French supervision (Read more at New Arab).
Meanwhile, Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal has told Reuters that the group is only committed to a ceasefire lasting up to five years, with guarantees for what happens next depending on Palestinians being given “horizons and hope” for statehood. Some Hamas leaders once envisioned a “multi-front confrontation” involving coordinated attacks by Iran, Hezbollah, and allied groups across the region — but “that vision never materialized,” he said. “Hezbollah was quickly neutralized and forced into a ceasefire, and Iran stepped back (Read more at Arab News).
“Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying,” Mr Khamenei said. Last week, Mr Trump told the Israeli Parliament that it would be great if Washington could negotiate a “peace deal” with Tehran , following the start of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. “The US president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!” Mr Khamenei added (Read more at Straits Times).
US State Department claims the Palestinian group is planning an attack against civilians in Gaza ‘in grave violation of the ceasefire’. Hamas called on the US to “stop repeating the [Israeli] occupation’s misleading narrative and to focus on curbing its repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement” (Read more at Aljazeera).
The United States judge has slashed an earlier damages award of $168m to just $4m. “Part of what companies such as WhatsApp are ‘selling’ is informational privacy, and any unauthorised access is an interference with that sale,” she said (Read more at Aljazeera).
“Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century,” Mamdani wrote on X. During trials, Wahhaj testified in support of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman — the infamous “blind sheikh” and leader of a terrorist sect out of Egypt — calling the man a “respected scholar.” (Read more at New York Post)
A Norwegian court has sentenced a former US embassy security guard to three years and seven months in prison for spying for Russia and Iran. The 28-year-old Norwegian man was convicted of providing floor plans, personal details of embassy staff and their families, and information about activities at the US embassy between March and November 2024 (Read more at Defense Post).
US Representative Seth Moulton has said that he is returning donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and will not accept any future contributions from the lobby as he begins his bid for the Senate in Massachusetts (Read more at TRT World).
The deal in discussion was similar to the recent US-Qatar pact that pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States. Last month, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia entered into a landmark mutual defence agreement, under which any aggression against one state will be considered an attack on both (Read more at Dawn).
“I hope to see Saudi Arabia go in, and I hope to see others go in. I think when Saudi Arabia goes in, everybody goes in,” Trump said. The US president called the pact a “miracle” and “amazing” and hailed the United Arab Emirates’s signing of it. The “Abraham Accords” secured agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan (Read more at Aljazeera).
Omar Fateh, the state senator born to Somali parents, said he 'would love' for the fake rabbi 'to get more involved' in his campaign. "I would love to do a fundraiser for you," Rabbi Linda Goldstein wrote. "How do I get in touch? This anti-Zionist rabbi loves and supports you." Fateh replied on August 11. "Thank you for reaching out," he wrote. "Can you share with me your phone and email? I'll have my finance director reach out to you." (Read more at Washington Free Beacon)
Whether the performance reviews came in from the Democratic establishment's must-read paper, The New York Times, the right-wing Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal, or the more straight-laced Politico magazine, there was a certain agreement that New York City assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is a winning communicator (Read more at Middle East Eye).
“The International Stabilisation Force is starting to be constructed and once that occurs, there'll be more efforts, but there's a lot of planning and a lot of very positive conversations between the sides,” a senior US adviser said. Another adviser said the US is in contact with Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Azerbaijan and other nations on the possibility of their joining the effort (Read more at The National).
Trump said he had received word from Hamas “through my people” that the group would agree to disarm following recent talks at what he called “the highest level”. He also claimed that Hamas had “taken out two very evil gangs” in Gaza and “killed a number of them,” adding that “it didn’t bother me much” (Read more at Indian Express).
Former Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton on Monday praised US President Donald Trump for helping broker a ceasefire in the Gaza war, a rare show of bipartisan approval for the Republican leader. “I commend President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line,” Biden, who served as president until January, said on X. With support from the United States and global partners, the Middle East was now “on a path to peace,” he said (Read more at Qatar Tribune).
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang welcomed Mr Avinatan Or from “two unimaginable years in Hamas captivity” in Gaza, saying a number of the chip giant’s families had suffered losses during the war. An electrical engineer at Nvidia in Israel, 32-year-old Or was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on Oct 7, 2023 along with 250 others including his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, whose desperate cries on the back of a motorcycle became one of the most haunting images of the Hamas attack (Read more at Starits Times).
Despite the ceasefire that took effect on Friday, Hamas has not publicly committed to ceding power. The group has gradually returned its personnel to Gaza’s streets, maintaining law-and-order measures while asserting control over the enclave. According to a Palestinian security source, Hamas has killed more than 30 members of a “gang” in Gaza City, though the group did not specify which gang (Read more at First Post).
How will Donald Trump enforce his plan for Gaza? In his address to the Israeli Knesset and in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, the US President urged leaders to move past conflicts. But how challenging will that be? (Listen here)
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, vetoed a bill on Monday that would have required social media companies to pay fines every time their algorithms promoted posts deemed violent or discriminatory (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Trump expressed enthusiasm about a rally held in Tel Aviv on Saturday in support of the captives, which featured his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff as speakers. "It was an incredible rally. It was a great thing," he said (Read more at Royanews).
"As we welcome this moment of light after so much darkness, we remain deeply concerned about Hamas's commitment to abide by the full terms of a peace agreement," the leaders of B'nai B'rith said (Read more at JNS).
At 4:59 a.m. on Monday on the East Coast, Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.) posted about the hostages returning to Israel from Gaza and reached across the aisle to credit U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, stated that, “for the first time in 738 days, there are no living Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) used a biblical Hebrew expression that refers to praising God and stated, “to President Trump and his team, thank you so much. Well done.” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Mike Lawler, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, stated that “this is a day of celebration for families across Israel, the United States and around the world.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) stated that “today is the result of great American leadership, led by President Trump and his team, and also the tireless efforts of the Biden administration.” Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) praised Trump for “unwavering leadership and tireless efforts to bring the hostages home” and “strength made this historic moment possible.” Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) said that “no other president could have done this.” Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was one of the Democrats who posted about the freed hostages on Monday morning. “May the hostages have a full recovery and may we never forget those who didn’t make it out alive,” he said. “Credit to President Trump for a breakthrough ceasefire of this awful war.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, didn’t mention the U.S. president or Israeli prime minister in a statement on social media. “For more than two years, we’ve prayed for the return of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, stated that “today is a day of great relief, as after 738 days, the last 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas have finally come home to their families.” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, stated that “this day brings deep relief, but our thoughts remain with the families still grieving those who did not return.” (Read more at JNS)
What's the US planning for the Middle East? President Donald Trump came to the region on Monday to cement his plan for peace in Gaza. He says the end of the war ushers in a historic new dawn. But can he succeed where his predecessors have failed? (Listen here)
“I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody,” Trump said, without naming specific leaders who could be weighing in on his choice of Blair (Read more at Dawn).
"Well, they [Hamas] are standing because they do want to stop the problems, and they've been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time," Trump said. "We want it to be safe. I think it's going to be fine. Who knows? Who knows for sure?" he said. "But I think it's going to be fine." (Read more at Yahoo News)
"We have noted that Donald Trump's peace plan only addresses the Gaza Strip. It mentions statehood, but in rather general terms," Lavrov told reporters from Arab countries. "It's imperative to flesh out these approaches, including defining what will happen in the West Bank." (Read more at Yahoo News)
California-based artificial intelligence chip designer Cerebras Systems plans to deploy its AI infrastructure to the United Arab Emirates to support the Stargate UAE project (Read more at DC Pulse).
Netanyahu and his wife Sara are accused in one case of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours. "Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?" Trump joked, declaring his ally Netanyahu's one of Israel's greatest wartime leaders. "Hey, I have an idea, Mr President," Trump said, addressing his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, "Why don't you give him a pardon?" (Read more at France 24)
Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks, prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites. The talks faced major stumbling blocks such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which Western powers want to bring down to zero to minimise any risk of weaponisation, a plan that Tehran has rejected (Read more at Straits Times).
President Donald Trump, in a speech to Israel’s parliament, spotlighted mega-donor Miriam Adelson’s outsized influence on U.S. policy toward Israel, recalling her frequent White House visits with her late husband, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Sheldon Adelson, who died in 2021, assembled the world's largest casino empire as head of Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS.N), opens new tab and put much of his fortune into nurturing conservative politicians and policies in the United States and Israel (Read more at Reuters).
US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners. “The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things”, Trump said (Read more at Arabnews).
The Palestinian Authority is ready to work with US President Donald Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on their effort to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and start rebuilding, a senior Palestinian official told Mr Blair on Oct 12. Mr Trump’s plan for ending the Gaza war holds out the prospect of the Palestinian Authority, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and led by President Mahmoud Abbas, eventually taking control of Gaza, but only after it completes reforms. Mr Abbas lost control of Gaza to the Hamas militant group in 2007 (Read more at Straits Times).
Vice President JD Vance on Sunday characterized the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas as “a remarkable achievement” by the Trump administration. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Vance said, “We have to remember this is a remarkable achievement from an administration that really chose a non-conventional path to diplomacy. And I think that’s the major takeaway. The President of the United States instructed Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, he said, get a deal done, talk to the Gulf Arab states, talk to Israel, find where there’s common ground here, and actually, let’s go and find a way to get it done.” (Read more at Politico)
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said that Tehran is exchanging messages with the United States through some mediators. He made it clear that Iran will not stop enriching uranium but will consider measures to build trust that its nuclear program is peaceful (Read more at Hindustan Times).
For the past couple of months, the billionaire father-son duo of Larry and David Ellison have been making deals involving major media brands. Having acquired Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, they appointed Bari Weiss - an outspoken supporter of Israel - as the network’s editor-in-chief. The moves by the Ellisons are not just about growing their media empire, but about shaping the narrative around Israel in the US, where public support continues to decline (Listen here).
“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase the lethality, interoperability,” Hegseth said during a meeting with his Qatari counterpart Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon. “It’s just another example of our partnership. And I hope you know, Your Excellency, that you can count on us.” (Read more at CNN)
"Iran will never recognize an occupied regime that has committed genocide and killed children," Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state television (Read more at AOL).
The U.S. State Department announced sanctions on Thursday against a support network for Iranian armed forces and Tehran-backed militias in Iraq. The designation falls on eight people and entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its elite Quds Force, along with the Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq militias in Iran (Read more at JNS).
Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but questions will quickly turn to whether that can now be made into a lasting peace. The Paris meeting, which brought together key European and Arab foreign ministers, was seen as an opportunity to add details on core issues such as an international stabilisation force, post-war governance in Gaza and reconstruction (Read more at Reuters).
The White House said it expects hostages to be released Monday. Forty-eight hostages remain to be returned, 20 of whom Israel says it believes are still alive. Trump said he plans to travel to Egypt for an official signing of the ceasefire deal in opening remarks at his White House Cabinet meeting (Read more at NBC News).
The US Treasury included Rizhao Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Co Ltd among several entities sanctioned for facilitating Iranian oil shipments. The company, based in the port city of Lanshan in Shandong province, was designated to receive Iranian crude delivered by already sanctioned vessels (Read more at Industry Insider).
American defense tech firm VisionWave Holdings has entered a strategic collaboration with PVML, an Israeli company that focuses on keeping sensitive data safe while using artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership links VisionWave’s radar and AI-powered computer vision tools with PVML’s secure data infrastructure (Read more at Defense Post).
An email sent by the National Education Association—the largest labor union in the United States—to its approximately 3 million members with resources for “teaching about indigenous peoples” included a map that “erases Israel completely.” (Read more at JNS)
Exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said on Thursday the group has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators, and Turkey that the war in Gaza has permanently ended. Under the deal, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will free all remaining 48 hostages it captured in the attack that precipitated the war, in exchange for prisoners held by Israel. At the White House, Trump said he believed it would lead to "lasting peace." (Read more at NDTV)
"After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered," Obama posted on X on Thursday. Many users criticised the choice to reference "Israeli families" while referring to Palestinians as "the people of Gaza" (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The US president long refused to use his influence over the prime minister. Last month, that appeared to change. But Trump appears to have soured on Netanyahu last month, after Israel launched an attack against Qatar. Two weeks after the attack on Qatar, Trump met with a group of Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN general assembly. The US administration then circulated a 21-point peace plan (Read more at Guardian).
The image of a vast board of stakeholders, all with their own objectives, somewhat captures the spirit of the ceasefire Trump has ushered in. While Israel is still left in control of more than half the enclave and has vast leeway about further withdrawals, Trump’s plan delivered a blow to Netanyahu’s government in two key areas: it rejected Israeli annexation or occupation of Gaza and the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The meeting will follow up a conference on a “two-state solution” at the United Nations. The note had said Washington's participation would depend on advances in the negotiations (Read more at Arabnews).
Exxon Mobil signed an agreement with Iraq on Wednesday to help it develop its large Majnoon oilfield and expand its oil export infrastructure, marking a return to the country two years after leaving (Read more at Yahoo Finance).
Marking the second anniversary of the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, federal lawmakers announced legislation to honor those whom Hamas took hostage or killed on Oct. 7, condemn the terror group and develop a curriculum for schools to teach about the attack and about Jew-hatred. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), lead sponsor of the three bills, unveiled the bipartisan legislation as he stood outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, alongside a former hostage and a relative of one murdered by Hamas (Read more at JNS).
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) praised the signing of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas on Thursday while criticizing the actions of the Israeli government over the past two years. The legislator said the agreement “is long overdue but welcome news.” “While not every issue has been resolved, Israel and Hamas have taken the first and needed step towards peace,” she wrote (Read more at JNS).
The United States will deploy up to 200 troops to Israel to support the ceasefire agreement, two senior White House officials said. The officials said that the troops, under U.S. Central Command’s Adm. Brad Cooper, would not enter Gaza. “He’ll initially have 200 people on the ground. His role will be to oversee, observe, make sure there are no violations-incursions. Everybody’s worried about the other side,” one of the senior officials said (Read more at JNS).
Two years after Hamas’ October 7 attack and Israel’s punishing response, both sides say they accept in principle President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to halt the war and chart a path toward enduring peace. MEI Senior Fellow Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to unpack what’s in the plan, how compatible it is with earlier Arab and European proposals, and whether its vague “credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood can withstand politics in Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Washington. They also explore the sticking points—Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and Palestinian Authority reform—as well as what success would actually look like on the ground (Listen here).
The lesson of U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest diplomatic gambit is that in Middle East deal-making, “the devil is in the details, but the most important thing is political willpower,” said Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist’s Israel correspondent and former Haaretz columnist, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast (Listen here).
