Daily News

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has suspended Al Jazeera from broadcasting in the occupied West Bank. The PA is accusing Al Jazeera of broadcasting what it calls provocative material and reports, that it says are misleading. The decision will affect Al Jazeera's offices and its employees working in the occupied West Bank. It comes more than three months after Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah and shut it down. Al Jazeera Media Network has deplored the PA’s decision to close its office in the occupied West Bank, calling it a move that is “in line with the [Israeli] occupation’s actions against its staff”. Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut is following events from the Jordanian capital Amman. She's reporting from there because the Israeli government has banned Al Jazeera from reporting in Israel.

A high-ranking Syrian delegation led by newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, has arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh. It's the new government's first foreign visit since the fall of the Assad regime last month. The head of Syria's new administration Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said that Saudi Arabia will have a large role in the country's future. Syrian leaders are looking to shore up regional and international support, in order to improve the country's economy and infrastructure, after more than 13 years of civil war.

senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights the paradoxical nature of the Palestinian Authority's actions against Al Jazeera. He emphasizes that while it is shocking for the PA to crack down on the network—given Al Jazeera's critical role in broadcasting the realities of the occupation, genocide, illegal settlements, racism, and apartheid to a global audience—it is not entirely surprising. Bishara suggests that the move may be linked to differences of opinion regarding Al Jazeera's recent reporting from Jenin. He asserts that such disagreements should not warrant the shutdown of the network.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa said that the temporary ban was a result of Al Jazeera broadcasting “inciting material” and “interference” in Palestine’s internal affairs. The PA has been angered by Al Jazeera’s coverage of clashes between PA security forces and local resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reports live via phone from Amman, the Jordanian capital, because the Israeli government has banned Al Jazeera from reporting there. Meanwhile, Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative—a political party—joins live from Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani discusses the nation’s challenges following the fall of the Assad regime. Tasked with rebuilding trust both domestically and internationally, al-Shaibani outlines plans to foster democracy, dissolve military factions, and engage with powerful neighbours. He emphasises the urgent need to lift US sanctions and secure support from wealthy Arab states to rebuild a war-torn Syria.

Families in Gaza face severe hardships during winter, living in makeshift tents on beaches after repeated displacement. These fragile tents, often made of plastic sheets, provide little defence against wind and rain, exposing residents to the elements. Cooking outside becomes nearly impossible due to strong winds, while fears of nearby naval fire prevent lighting fires at night. Flooding from seawater adds to their struggles, forcing temporary evacuations with no safer alternatives. Israeli bombings continue to destroy or damage nearly all residential buildings, leaving families with limited shelter and worsening their plight during harsh conditions. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA has reported that more than one hundred tents have flooded in Khan Younis.

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined our year at The Take. This originally aired on September 30. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. What does it mean for the world to forget your country? In Sudan’s civil war, a surprise push by the army could break the RSF’s hold on Khartoum. For Sudanese forced to flee their homeland, the journey is far from over. One woman shares her take on the world’s indifference to a conflict that has faded from the attention of many, and the hope she refuses to give up on for Sudan’s future.

The United Nations and aid agencies are warning of alarming rates of contamination in Gaza’s water supply. The poor water quality is caused by Israel’s blockade. It has cut off access to water testing equipment and disinfectants. Israel has also destroyed Gaza's water quality control system. Sami al-Arian is the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Sabahittin Zaim University. He says there is not enough international pressure on Israel to stop acts of genocide in Gaza.

Heavy rains are making the situation worse in Gaza. Tent camps are flooding across the Strip and preventable diseases are spreading. UN agencies estimate more than 1.6 million Palestinians are living in makeshift shelters, that cannot withstand the cold. Pascale Coissard, the Emergency Coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza, joins Al Jazeera’s live from Al Mawasi in southern Gaza.

Syria welcomes 2025 with renewed hope as celebrations light up Damascus. The new administration prepares for a crucial National Dialogue Conference, focusing on rebuilding the economy, security, and institutions. Key votes on dissolving parliament and drafting a new constitution are also on the agenda.