The Covid-19 pandemic is not only a health challenge. In the MENA region, against the backdrop of protracted conflicts, instability, and an overall deterioration in socio-economic conditions, the coronavirus crisis adds another layer of vulnerability and has already had long-lasting repercussions on human security across the region.

It seems Palestinians are trying to get out of international and Arab isolation by taking a series of measures, including restoring ties with Israel and returning their ambassadors to the UAE and Bahrain, in anticipation of the Joe Biden administration’s arrival into office. Scientists say animals have an internal clock that …

Supporters of the exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan appear to be taking the brunt of the Fatah leadership’s anger, with rounds of political arrests. Palestinian security services in the West Bank have been clamping down in recent days on supporters of the so-called Democratic Reform Current led by dismissed Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan, …

At long last, Fatou Bensouda, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has uttered the long-anticipated conclusion that “all the statutory criteria under the Rome statute for the opening of an investigation (into alleged war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories) have been met”. Bensouda’s verdict has been …

Despite press reports to the contrary, Qatar has not informed Hamas that Doha might not renew humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip beginning in January, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor. The Qatari assistance was part of truce agreements mediated by Egypt between Hamas and Israel. In October 2018, Qatar agreed to provide $150 million in emergency humanitarian aid to …

In the world of US President Donald Trump, the illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen Palestinian land with flagrant disregard for international law have been declared legal. The acquisition of territory through military means remains illegal in international laws and conventions, but that has not deterred this wretched president. Nevertheless, …

Since the 1948 Nakba when Israel was created in the historic land of Palestine, which resulted in the ethnic cleansing of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland, successive Israeli governments have continued to propose political and demographic plans for the displacement of more Palestinians from the West Bank, the …

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday received a delegation of Democratic members of US Congress, headed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. The president affirmed that the two-state solution, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, is the only solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, stressing his rejection of the US’ dictates …

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Wednesday his country is going through dangerous times as the Israeli government attempts to undermine a two-state solution through its recent policies, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Shtayyeh said Israel’s violations are taking place thanks to the U.S. administration, which has made extreme and unjust statements …

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Cairo is resuming its efforts to reconcile the Fatah and Hamas Palestinian factions, taking a somewhat more hands-on approach to solving the main problem. The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank wants Hamas to give up administrative control of the Gaza Strip, including ministries, security, courts, border crossings and tax collections. But Hamas refuses to …