World | Middle East

For years, Arab states wanted Europe to recognize Palestine; Europe wanted Arab states to rein in Hamas. Now, they have stepped forward together to do something hard for each.

The hunger crisis in Gaza has many asking if Israel had a deliberate policy of starving civilians. Israelis say that was never the case, but an ignorance of Palestinian suffering allowed an inconsistent government policy to lead to a calamity.

One of the biggest challenges to rebuilding Syria may prove to be environmental. Years of drought are causing crop yields to fall dramatically.

Our correspondent in Gaza has been covering hunger for months. But this week the world seems to be paying attention in a new way – including media outlets worried about starvation of their staff.

The eruption of violence in the majority-Druze Syrian province of Suwayda, the second-worst outbreak of sectarian strife since the fall of the Assad regime, is challenging the delicate balance the young Damascus government is trying to maintain.

Amid sectarian violence in Syria in which hundreds of Druze were killed, Israel struck Damascus and issued a warning to the new government. Israeli Druze are mourning the deaths, but are divided over whether Israeli military action is the wisest course.

A key challenge for postwar Syria is building trust between Arabs and Kurds. The security in Kurdish parts of Aleppo show how difficult that may be.

The breakdown in public order in Gaza accompanying the weakening of Hamas has allowed armed gangs to seize influence. That is affecting distribution of badly needed food aid, but the perpetuation of disorder is another concern.

Rebuilding Syria is proving a potentially lethal task, as streets and farmland are seeded with unexploded land mines – with children and civilians in harm’s way.

Benjamin Netanyahu has long sold himself to the Israeli public as “Mr. Security,” but Hamas’ devastating Oct. 7 attack stained his record. Now he’s hoping the war with Iran has rehabilitated his image.