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Middle East

April

Displaced Palestinians fleeing Rafah last month.

Gazans fear Israel is enacting Trump’s ‘Riviera’ plan

Benjamin Netanyahu has embraced the US president’s idea to expel the Palestinian population and rebuild the Gaza as Israel’s own Mediterranean tourist strip.

Firefighters work as black smoke rises in the sky after a massive explosion rocked a port near the southern city of Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Missile fuel blamed for huge explosion at Iran’s largest port

The blast that killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds has been attributed to sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.

Race winner Oscar Piastri

Piastri on top of the world with a lot more winning to do

It is the first time an Australian has led the drivers’ standings for 15 years, following his manager Mark Webber in 2010.

The Dubai chocolate craze has caused a shortage of pistachios.

Dubai chocolate sparks pistachio shortage as TikTokers go nuts

A TikTok craze has helped drive pistachio kernel prices from $US7.65 a pound a year ago to around $US10.30 a pound now as importers scramble for supplies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel still eyeing a limited attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities

As US and Iranian negotiators are set for another round of nuclear talks, Israel officials have vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

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Australian Oscar Piastri celebrates his win in Bahrain.

‘Pretty damn fun’: Piastri earns serene Bahrain GP win

The Australian became the season’s first repeat winner in four races, while leading McLaren teammate Lando Norris had to settle for third at the desert circuit.

President Donald Trump meets with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office.

Trump says Iran ‘in great danger’ if nuclear talks with US fail

The US will hold direct talks at a very high level on the weekend, the first between Trump officials and Tehran since he returned to office.

Turkish democracy is fighting for its life

The jailing of President Erdogan’s main political rival Ekrem Imamoglu follows a familiar trajectory. It could also backfire spectacularly.

Israeli forces to seize ‘large areas’ of Gaza

Defence minister Israel Katz says the offensive is “expanding to crush and clean the area of terrorists” and “seizing large areas that will be added” to Israel.

Hundreds of Palestinians chanted anti-Hamas slogans at a protest in northern Gaza on March 25.

The case for Palestinian pragmatism

It’s time to reject violent extremism and embrace Israeli security as complementary to the pursuit of freedom, dignity and independence in Gaza and the West Bank.

March

The beach at Hurghada.

Six killed as tourist submarine sinks off Egyptian coast

The Russian embassy reportedly said that 45 people were on board the submarine when it sank in the tourist port city of Hurghada.

Why the Trump-Putin bromance could finally topple Iran’s ayatollahs

The question is: will Russia defend the clerics in Tehran, or sacrifice their regime on the altar of Russo-American rapprochement?

Hundreds of Palestinians chanted anti-Hamas slogans at a protest in northern Gaza on March 25.

Palestinians stage rare Gaza protest against Hamas

One protester who attended the rally said they wanted Hamas to end the war and leave the Palestinian territory.

Israeli soldiers sit on a tank as it takes position in front of the northern Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu’s secret plans to ‘finish the job’ in Gaza

The new military leadership has drawn up a drastically harsher proposal to destroy Hamas and corral Palestinians into a tiny stretch of land.

Displaced Palestinians fleeing Rafah amid ongoing Israeli military operations arrive in Khan Younis.

Israel strikes largest hospital in southern Gaza

Israel’s military confirmed the strike, saying it hit a Hamas militant operating there. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates among civilians.

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Palestinians inspect the rubble of a structure hit by an Israeli bombardment in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, at the weekend.

Israeli airstrike kills Hamas political leader in southern Gaza

Pro-Hamas media said the airstrike killed Salah al-Bardaweel, a member of the group’s political office, and also his wife.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets after fire from within Lebanon

Israel vowed a forceful response to rocket fire from Lebanon on Saturday as a fragile four-month truce with Hezbollah showed new signs of strain.

An Israeli soldier Stans on a tank as it is taking position in front of the northern Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu restarts forever war amid Israeli anger, burnout

Israel’s PM is accused of resuming airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza for political reasons, and endangering the lives of hostages.

Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

The secret history of Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa

Is the man once known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani intent on moderating or a brutal strongman?

An Israeli soldier Stans on a tank as it is taking position in front of the northern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops begin limited ground incursion in Gaza

Israel’s army began “targeted ground activities” in the Palestinian territory, with the aim of creating a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza.

 Palestinians carry the body of someone killed during Israeli airstrikes at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, Gaza.

Netanyahu says Israeli strikes across Gaza are ‘only the beginning’

The prime minister said the military would press ahead until it achieves all of its war aims: destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the militants.

Gaza strikes March 18.

‘Gates of hell will open’: Israel launches major strikes on Gaza

Israel’s military said it was conducting extensive strikes on Hamas targets and medics reported dozens of deaths, in the biggest attacks since the ceasefire.

Houthi supporters chant slogans and hold pictures of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, during an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen.

Pentagon says operation targeting Yemen’s Houthis is open-ended

The Pentagon said US forces had struck more than 30 Houthi targets since Saturday, including command-and-control and training sites and drone infrastructure.

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa.

‘Hell will rain down’: Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthis

US president warned Tehran against supporting the militant group which has disrupted global shipping in the Red Sea.

Iranians burn a representation of the Israeli flag during the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, killed in an airstrike in Tehran. The country’s mutual aminosity is spurring espionage.

The astonishing stories of Israelis spying for Iran

In the past year, 39 Israelis have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, prompting speculation about why they were open to overtures from their country’s bitterest foe.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east