Middle East Experience

Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday declared a ceasefire with Turkey following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of armed struggle. It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after Ocalan this week called for the dissolution of the group and asked it to lay down arms.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: PKK declares ceasefire with Turkey after 40 years of armed struggle

Israel must take note as it navigates complex foreign policy challenges, it cannot assume that traditional diplomatic norms remain intact.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel must learn Trump's altered rules of diplomatic discourse from Zelensky meeting

The video shows the Horn brothers hugging and saying their goodbyes a day before Iair's release, in Hamas's underground tunnels.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: 'Don't destroy our lives': Hamas propaganda video shows Iair, Eitan Horn prior to separation

The writers of the book have featured anti-Israel sentiments on their social media pages, including the celebration of terrorists.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: ‘Understanding Hamas’: LSE to host launch of book claiming Hamas ‘demonized,’ ‘vilified’

Shiloh and Jerusalem represent two complementary forces – engagement with the world and preservation of identity – that drive our journey toward redemption.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: A profound holy distinction: Shiloh vs Jerusalem

The big question now is whether the PKK will actually heed this call by Ocalan and if PKK affiliates will agree.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: What does call for disarmament of Kurdish militants in Turkey mean for Middle East?

A red-covered table stretching several hundred metres carved a path through mounds of rubble in southern Gaza on Saturday, as families gathered to break their fast during the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.As the sun set over a neighbourhood in Rafah, where fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants has left barely a handful of buildings standing, hundreds of Gazans of all ages dug into their Iftar meal marking the end of the day's fast.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: 'Steadfast' Gazans begin second Ramadan amongst rubble

A highly anticipated trial of several prominent Tunisian opposition figures accused of plotting against state security is set to start Tuesday, with critics and rights groups denouncing it as unfair and politically motivated.The case has named around 40 high-profile defendants -- including former diplomats, politicians, lawyers and media figures -- some of whom have been outspoken critics of President Kais Saied.Many were detained following a flurry of arrests in February 2023, after Saied dubbed them "terrorists".
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Tunisia opponents to be tried on state security charges amid crackdown

Iran's parliament sacked the country's finance minister on Sunday after impeaching him over soaring inflation and a plunging currency, state television reported.Economy and finance minister Abdolnaser Hemmati lost a vote of confidence, with 182 of 273 parliamentarians present backing his removal.On the black market on Sunday, the Iranian rial was trading at more than 920,000 to the US dollar, compared with less than 600,000 in mid-2024.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran lawmakers sack minister over economic woes

Israel said Sunday it was suspending the entry of aid into Gaza, where both Israel and Palestinian sources reported Israeli military strikes as Hamas alleged a "coup" against a six-week old truce.The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported at least four killed and six wounded in Israeli attacks. As the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire drew to a close with negotiations inconclusive, Israel early Sunday approved a truce extension it said US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff proposed.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel suspends aid, strikes Gaza as Hamas sees 'coup' against truce