United States

Iran

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Politics

The Israel Defense Forces said it had confirmed the assassination of Hamas military chief Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza on May 16, and Hamas also confirmed his death, The Times of Israel reported on May 18.

Israel, Gaza: Israel Assassinates Hamas Military Chief, Confirms Expanded Control of Gaza

Lebanon

Israel's navy intercepted nearly half of a fresh humanitarian flotilla attempting to break its blockade of the Gaza Strip, the first such interception since Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire in September 2025, The Times of Israel reported on April 30.

MENA: Israel Tightens Control of Gaza, but Renewed Offensive Remains Unlikely Amid Instability in Lebanon

Europe

Spain

Italy

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would not renew a 2006 defense agreement with Israel that pooled military research and helped cover expenses related to military equipment exchanges, Defense News reported on April 14.

Italy, Israel: Italy Suspends Defense Agreement With Israel

Indonesia

Economics

Thousands of people protested outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta following the deaths of three Indonesian soldiers serving in the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, with demonstrators condemning Israel, the Jakarta Globe reported on April 6.

Indonesia: Peacekeeper Deaths in Lebanon Spark Anti-Israel Protests Outside U.S. Embassy

The Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to insist on a guarantee that Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza before disarmament talks proceed, reinforcing the group's long-standing demand that Israel eventually abandon Gaza in order to end the nearly three-year-old war, Reuters reported on April 2.

Israel, Gaza: Hamas Wants Israeli Troops To Withdraw Before Disarmament

Indonesia rejected a $1 billion fee to secure a permanent seat on the U.S.-led Board of Peace while reiterating its willingness to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, AFP reported on March 23.

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Reject $1B Board of Peace Fee, Leaves Open Trade Deal Withdrawal

Indonesia's foreign minister said discussions related to the U.S.-led Board of Peace overseeing post-war stabilization in Gaza are on hold amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war and as domestic criticism of Jakarta's participation grows, Channel News Asia reported on March 5.

Indonesia: Jakarta Reconsidering Board of Peace Role Amid Iran Conflict

Israel said it would reopen Rafah's Kerem Shalom border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after initially closing it on Feb. 28 over the outbreak of the Iran conflict, AFP reported on March 3.

Israel, Gaza: Israel To Reopen Rafah Border Crossing

Assessments

Germany

United Kingdom

Slovenia

Ireland

Hungary

The EU and Israeli flags in March 2024 in central Berlin's Rotes Rathaus. Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Targeted EU Sanctions on Israeli Settlers Unlikely To Broaden Into Wider Restrictions 

Egypt

Jordan

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

A view shows tents near the Port of Gaza in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 9, 2026.

With its focus on Iran, the U.S. is unlikely to greenlight a major new Israeli offensive in Gaza anytime soon, which will complicate Netanyahu's efforts to remove Hamas from the Strip before the October elections.

Netanyahu Will Struggle To Defeat Hamas Before Israeli Elections

Somalia

Sudan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) inspect the honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on June 22, 2022.

After years of discord, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are finding common ground as they increasingly position themselves against Emirati- and Israeli-backed regional initiatives. 

Saudi Arabia and Turkey's New Regional Alignment

U.S. Vice President JD Vance's shadow is seen as he speaks during a press conference following a military briefing at the civilian military coordination center on Oct. 21, 2025, in Kiryat Gat, Israel. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Negotiations over a new Israel-U.S. security agreement signal a pivot in the bilateral relationship as Israel increasingly focuses on strengthening its domestic defense industry.

How Israel's Defense Sector Will Evolve Amid the Government's Push for Self-Reliance

Vietnam

Slovakia

Ukraine

Russia

India

U.S. President Donald Trump (C) holds up his signature on the founding charter of the Board of Peace among other world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Board of Peace Convenes, Russia-Ukraine-U.S. Talks in Geneva

China

Japan

South Korea

Egyptian trucks and heavy machinery on Oct. 26, 2025, on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip.

The Weekly Rundown: A Gaza Border Reopening, EU Leaders Visit India

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) holds up his signature on the founding charter among world leaders during a ceremony for the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.

The U.S.-led endeavor's immediate priority will be expanding aid in Gaza, but internal divisions, international skepticism and Israeli interference will likely undermine its effectiveness, especially if the Israel-Hamas ceasefire collapses.

What To Make of Trump's 'Board of Peace'

A photo of Israeli banknotes.

While Israel's economy has proven remarkably resilient during the years-long Gaza war with Hamas, persistent security risks and an upcoming election will present new challenges.

How Israel's Economy Will Weather Persistent Political and Security Concerns in 2026

Greenland

Denmark

France

Switzerland

A sniper police officer on the Congress hotel during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Jan. 24, 2025, in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland.

The Weekly Rundown: Davos, Europe Steps Up Greenland Deployments

Iraq

A stock image shows the silhouettes of soldiers.

U.S.-Iran Relations

Emboldened by its recent capture of Venezuela's Maduro, the White House will likely seek to kill and potentially abduct more Middle Eastern extremists in the coming year, but pursuing high-profile targets like Iranian leaders will carry significant risks.

Potential Targets for U.S. Assassination and Abduction Operations in the Middle East

Benin

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Madagascar

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

Canada

Paraguay

Venezuela

Morocco

Australia

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Mongolia

Myanmar

Philippines

Thailand

Bulgaria

Afghanistan

Nepal

Pakistan

Flight routes.

Cyber

As 2026 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five patterns and trends as measured by geopolitical impact.

2025: A Geopolitical Review

The Palestinian Territories comprise two sections of the former mandate of Palestine: the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The two small areas are separated from one another by Israel, which controls most of their frontiers. Jordan borders the West Bank on the east, while Egypt lies to the west of the Gaza Strip. The West Bank is a hilly, warm country that enjoys sufficient rainfall to support agriculture, but because the Gaza Strip receives little precipitation due to its location next to the dry Sinai Desert, its economy has traditionally relied on fishing and trade. The territories' only natural border is the Jordan River on the eastern edge of the West Bank.    The Palestinian Territories lack a clear demographic core, although the lands have a symbolic heart: the city of Jerusalem, which Palestinians view as their capital.    The Palestinian Territories evolved over time. After Israel gained its independence in 1948, Jordan annexed the West Bank while Egypt took control of Gaza. After the Six Day War in 1967, however, Israel occupied both territories. The occupation strengthened Palestinian identity, and members of the community eventually came to regard Gaza and the West Bank as components of a united proto-state.      But due to their size and domination by Israel, the Palestinian Territories have not succeeded in achieving state status. The territories, meanwhile, are not only divided geographically but also politically, as the Islamist party Hamas rules Gaza, while the more nationalist and secularist Fatah controls the West Bank. In addition to overcoming the lack of unity, the Palestinian Territories must convince Israel's allies to allow the entity to gain autonomy and eventually achieve independence. Ultimately, internal political divisions and the need to pursue diplomacy to become a sovereign state represent the core geographic challenges for the Palestinian Territories.  

Israel's Survival Strategy

The Pulse of Political Islam

SITUATION REPORTS

Israel, Gaza: Israel Assassinates Hamas Military Chief, Confirms Expanded Control of Gaza

MENA: Israel Tightens Control of Gaza, but Renewed Offensive Remains Unlikely Amid Instability in Lebanon

Italy, Israel: Italy Suspends Defense Agreement With Israel

Indonesia: Peacekeeper Deaths in Lebanon Spark Anti-Israel Protests Outside U.S. Embassy

Israel, Gaza: Hamas Wants Israeli Troops To Withdraw Before Disarmament

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Reject $1B Board of Peace Fee, Leaves Open Trade Deal Withdrawal

Indonesia: Jakarta Reconsidering Board of Peace Role Amid Iran Conflict

Israel, Gaza: Israel To Reopen Rafah Border Crossing

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