MIDDLE EAST

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After 15 months of collective grief and anxiety, three Israeli hostages left Hamas captivity and returned to Israel, and dozens of Palestinian prisoners walked free from Israeli jail, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians torn between celebration and trepidation as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold Sunday.

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Iran's parliament sacked Finance Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati on Sunday after impeaching him over the country's economic crisis. A vote of no confidence saw 182 of 273 parliamentarians backing his removal, state television reported.

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Italian journalist Cecilia Sala has returned to Rome after weeks of detention in an Iranian prison. The 29-year-old was arrested on December 19th, reportedly held in solitary confinement at Tehran's notorious Evin prison. Her arrest came three days after Italian authorities detained an Iranian engineer in Milan, suspected of providing drone technology that resulted in the deaths of US soldiers.

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The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faces a critical juncture as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an ultimatum threatening to resume military operations in Gaza. The agreement, which began on January 19, 2025, now stands at risk of collapse amid accusations of violations from both sides.

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Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) 2022 claim that the death penalty would be limited to murder cases, Saudi Arabia executed 330 people this year, marking the highest number in decades. This contradicts MBS's Vision 2030 plan to transform the kingdom into a tourism and entertainment hub, shedding its reputation for strict religious restrictions and human rights abuses.

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In his first address to the nation since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged to prosecute those responsible for "massacres and crimes" and the shedding of Syrian blood. Al-Sharaa, who led the rebel offensive that overthrew Assad seven weeks ago, has been appointed president for a "transitional period."

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Following the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria, protests have erupted, with calls for the new Islamist authorities to ensure the protection of minorities. Social media footage captured the tree ablaze in the town's main square.