Middle East Crisis
News, analysis, and background on the Israel-Hamas war and regional conflict between Israel and Iran and its proxies.

Meet the New Middle East, Same as the Old Middle East
Everything has changed in the region, and nothing is different.

Hezbollah Is Weak Enough for Lebanon to Finally Disarm It
The government and army are taking back their own country.

Israel Escalates War Against Hamas With Doha Strike
Qatar decried the strike as a violation of international law.

The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming
Both countries’ strategic calculus suggests it will be even more violent.
Israel-Hamas War

What Was the Tipping Point on Gaza?
After almost two years of war, Israel is feeling the growing weight of governmental opprobrium.

Israel Isn’t a Hegemon Yet, But It’s Now a Revisionist Power
Netanyahu is seeking to remake the Middle East by force.

Why Israel’s War in Gaza Has Been So Deadly for Journalists
Israel is directly targeting media workers, rights groups warn.

Why Recognizing Palestine Is Meaningless or Even Harmful
Recent announcements by France, Britain, and Canada are mostly performative.
Iran-Israel Tensions

There’s More Than One Way to Build a Bomb
Iran doesn’t need to rebuild its damaged facilities to sprint for a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s Collapse Could Cause a Nuclear Security Nightmare
Washington would struggle to secure dangerous materials, technologies, and expertise.

Iran Is Islamism’s Last Lifeline in the Middle East
Without support from a weakened Tehran, the region’s extremist movements would wither.

What the War Changed Inside Iran
The regime has been pushed to the edge of strategic pivot.
Israel and Hezbollah

Hezbollah Is Trying to Spin Loss as Victory
Assad’s fall and Israel’s offensive give Lebanese a chance to reclaim their country.

Lebanon’s Demining Mission Faces Aid Uncertainty
Cuts to foreign assistance and a fragile cease-fire have made the urgent work more dangerous.

Lebanon’s Success Depends on Sidelining Hezbollah
The new government in Beirut is the country’s best chance for reform in years—but support from Washington and Riyadh will be crucial.

Washington Has One Chance to Help Disarm Hezbollah
As Lebanon moves to confront the country’s most dangerous militia, U.S. support will be vital.
Regional Dynamics

In the Middle East, a Cold War Redux?
China and the U.S. are competing for influence in the troubled region.

Ankara’s New Syrian Headache
Toppling Assad didn’t solve Turkey’s problems—it made them worse.

How Israel’s Strikes on the Houthis Will Change Yemen
For years, the group has relied on the perception that it is untouchable.

Qué Sharaa, Sharaa
With concrete steps, Washington can keep Syria’s future on track.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Why the Oslo Peace Process Failed
And what it means for future negotiators.

The Palestinian Leader Who Survived the Death of Palestine
What would it mean for Hussein al-Sheikh to lead a people whose dream of independence is no longer alive?

How Will This War End? How Can the Next One be Prevented?
FP asks experts two questions about the fighting between Israelis and Palestinians.

All the Palestinians Got From Oslo Was KFC
Thirty years of the peace process has left us with less land and fewer rights.
Latest Stories

How the Oct. 7 Attack on Israel Sank the Palestinian Cause
The war in Gaza galvanized sympathy for Palestinians but little more.

Israeli Attacks on Syria Risk Destabilizing Jordan
King Abdullah II faces backlash against his country’s peace deal with Israel.

For the First Time Since Oct. 7, a Broad Israeli Backlash Against the War in Gaza
Israelis want the hostages home, even if it means ending the fighting.

Trump Should Not Give Israel a Pass on Gaza Blockade
By doing so, he makes Palestinian suffering U.S. policy.

Is Israel Preparing for a Long-term Occupation of Gaza?
Palestinian American peace activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib discusses where he thinks the war is heading.

Proposed Laws Would Devastate Rights Groups in Israel
Netanyahu’s government is targeting their foreign funding.

The Old War Is Over in Gaza, and a New One Is Underway
Israel’s tactics have changed and so have its objectives.

Surprisingly, the Lebanon-Israel Cease-Fire Is Holding
Notwithstanding continued exchanges, the agreement is functioning and appears durable.

War in Gaza the ‘Worst Ever Conflict for Reporters’
A new report says Israel is waging an “unrelenting war on the press.”

A New Marshall Plan for Gaza
A successful Arab-led reconstruction plan requires a lasting cease-fire and full demilitarization of Hamas.

Why Did Israel Restart the War in Gaza?
The likelihood of the cease-fire being salvaged in the near future appears extremely low.

State Commissions Have Probed Israel’s Worst Security Failures—But Not Oct. 7
Netanyahu fears the findings might end his political career.

Who Will Rule Over Gaza After the War?
U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, and Egypt have all made proposals on postwar governance in the enclave.

Gaza Is the Land of No Good Options
Only an outside-the-box solution can avert the current trajectory.

Documentary on West Bank Evictions Wins Big at Oscars
An Israeli co-director of the documentary said U.S. foreign policy was blocking peace.

Israel’s Lapid Lays Out Alternative to Trump’s Gaza Plan
The opposition leader’s proposal would see Egypt take temporary control of the enclave and oversee its reconstruction.