ISRAEL TO OCCUPY GAZA CITY: HOSPITALS IN GAZA ARE AT NEAR-TOTAL COLLAPSE UNDER ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT
Gaza’s healthcare is near collapse after years of Israeli attacks, with over 900 killed and 11,000 needing urgent evacuation. Jordan’s “Medical Corridor” has moved patients, including children like five-year-old Haneen, to hospitals, though some are sent back despite international law concerns. For those trapped, Jordan continues aid airdrops, but stampedes and accidents have killed 23 and injured 124 since last October.
PALESTINE TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT AMMAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival just concluded, further cementing its reputation as a key cultural event in the region dedicated to showcasing first-time filmmakers and promoting Arab cinema.
This year, Palestine took the spotlight with a powerful lineup of films from both Palestinian and Jordanian creators, many of which explored the Palestinian experience. Among the standout titles were “Mother of Schools” by Abdalla Essa and “Yalla Parkour” by Areeb Zuaiter.
LIFE AFTER ASSAD: SYRIAN REFUGEES IN JORDAN TORN BETWEEN RETURN AND LIFE IN EXILE
Six months after the fall of Bashar Al Assad, Syrian refugees in Jordan are grappling with a complex and emotional decision: whether to return home or remain in exile. While around 50,000 have gone back, the majority are still in limbo — caught between hope and uncertainty. Syria remains unstable, its infrastructure shattered, its future unclear.
“WE ARE THE LIVING STONES:” CHRISTIAN PRESENCE FADES IN JERUSALEM AMID RISING TENSIONS
Jerusalem, once a beacon of religious coexistence, is rapidly losing its multi-faith character as the Christian population drops below 1% and attacks on clergy – over 100 this year – rise, many linked to Jewish ultranationalists. Tensions peaked this Easter when Israeli Border Police barred hundreds from the Orthodox Holy Fire ceremony, sparking outrage. The 1,700-year-old Armenian community also faces displacement over a disputed land deal made without their consent. Christian leaders now say the struggle is no longer just about land, but about survival: “We are Jerusalem and Jerusalem is us.”
MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS: ISRAEL INTENSIFIES OPERATIONS IN THE WEST BANK, DISPLACING THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS
Israel has intensified demolitions in the northern West Bank under its military campaign, Operation Iron Wall, which it says targets armed groups. In Tulkarm, the operation has led to a sharp rise in home demolitions, with residents warning that conditions increasingly resemble those in Gaza. Since January, over 100 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 260 structures destroyed, according to local health officials and the UN. Aid groups say the campaign has triggered the largest wave of displacement in the West Bank in decades.
Francesca Maria Lorenzini 