Israel/Palestine Conflict

The fighting that erupted between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 was no ordinary flare-up. It shattered the relative calm observed in the Middle East over the past few of years ā€“ a result of Israelā€™s efforts to reclaim its international status; of Iranā€™s efforts to reconcile with its neighbors; and of new alignments slowly forming among erstwhile enemies. Regional leadership and power dynamics are directly at stake, as is the potential shape of the Middle East itself.

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The State of the Israeli-Gaza Conflict

The origins of the modern Arab-Israeli conflict are pretty well known. Gaza, the narrow strip of land running to the Sinai Peninsula, was originally...

The Drumbeat of War in the Middle East

Threats of impending war have permeated the Middle East since Israelā€™s establishment in 1948. Though Egypt made peace with Israel in 1978 and Jordan...

The Eclipse of the Palestinian Question

Until the 1970s, the Palestinian question had preoccupied the Arab world since the creation of Israel in 1948. Public figures and ordinary Arabs were...

West Bank Violence Stalls Arab-Israeli Normalization

Last month, three senior U.S. officials visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories to try to avert a third Palestinian intifada. National Security Adviser Jake...

Special Collection on the Middle East

This complete work consists of several dozen essays spread out over 8 parts tackling the regionā€™s conflicts and historical evolution, relating them to contemporary issues. Divided into distinct regions and critical issues, the Special Collection of the Middle East is your source to better understand this volatile region and to be prepared for what comes next.

Recent Analysis: Israel & Palestine

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Daily Memo: Syrian Leader Speaks With Macron, German Economy Gets a Boost

French invitation. French President Emmanuel Macron invited Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit France in the coming weeks. During a call on Tuesday, they...

Daily Memo: Russian Missiles for India, US Weapons for Egypt

Russian weapons. India signed a contract with Russia to purchase anti-ship cruise missiles, the Indian Defense Ministry said. The ministry added that the weapons...

2025 Forecast: Middle East and North Africa

The Middle East is an Arab-majority region, but with the exception of a 200-year period that began in the early 7th century, Arabs have...

Daily Memo: Germany Reports Contraction

Still struggling. The German economy contracted 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter, according to data released Thursday by the...

Daily Memo: US and Russia Consider Future Plans for Syria

The U.S. in Syria. The Trump administration has conveyed to Israeli officials that it intends to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, according to Israeli...

Daily Memo: US-Colombia Agreement on Deportees, Ukraine’s Dire Warning

Crisis averted. After the U.S. imposed tariffs on all Colombian goods due to Bogotaā€™s refusal to accept deported Colombian migrants on U.S. military aircraft,...

Daily Memo: EU Divided Over Russian Gas

Hungarian request. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union to press Ukraine to resume transit of Russian natural gas, threatening to block...

Daily Memo: Russian Economic Indicators, Saudi Outreach to Washington

Russian industry. Russiaā€™s production of certain iron and metal products declined markedly in the fourth quarter, the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, a major...

Daily Memo: Russia’s Presence in Syria, Transnistria’s Energy Crisis

Making changes. The new Syrian administration in Damascus has canceled a deal with a Russian company to manage the port of Tartus. All revenue...

Daily Memo: Russia Readies Reservists

Relying on reservists. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday ordering reservists to participate in military training in 2025. According to the...

Daily Memo: Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Starmer Visits Ukraine

Shaky deal. The Gaza ceasefire deal reached on Wednesday has hit a ā€œlast-minute crisis,ā€ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuā€™s office said. The Israeli leader...

Daily Memo: NATO’s Expanding Presence in the Baltic Sea

New initiative. NATO will launch a new mission to protect critical infrastructure around the Baltic Sea following the recent suspected sabotage of undersea cables...

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Audio & Video

What’s Next For Iran? ClubGPF Bonus with Kamran Bokhari

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Israelā€™s decimation of Hezbollahā€™s leadership and war-making capabilities has paved the way for a massive altering of the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. After decades on the offensive, Iran has suffered a major setback in its strategy for the region. GPF contributor Kamran Bokhari joined host Christian Smith on our recent Podcast+ episode for ClubGPF members to discuss whatā€™s next for Iran, its proxies, and the Middle East at large.

Shadows of Power: George Friedman on Russia, the Middle East, and the Rise of Non-State Actors

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At GPF we have a distinct method for looking at the world, and every day we see this model play out in real time, like in the current conflicts in the Middle East. In this ClubGPF live discussion, Chairman George Friedman discusses the relationship between current conflicts and the dangers of non-state actors like Hezbollah and Hamas.

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