‘We Never Fear Bombs or Death’: Church in Egypt Grows Despite Jihadist Threats
It was a year ago this week that twin suicide bombings struck two churches in Egypt killing 45 people.
Egypt
Egyptian military court sentences 36 to death over bombing three churches, police checkpoint
An Egyptian military court sentenced on Tuesday 36 defendants accused of bombing three churches and a police checkpoint. The court referred the ruling to Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam for approval, a step required by law, though his opinion is non-binding.
‘Multitude’ of Egyptians Coming to Christ Despite Persecution from Muslim Extremists, Reveal Church Leaders
Despite continued persecution from Muslim extremists, Christians in Egypt remain unwavering in their faith, compelling a ‘multitude’ to come to Christ, church leaders have revealed.
Why Hamas Needs Israel’s Conflict With Gaza to Explode Again
For days, agitated Israeli officials warned of an imminent ‘ecological disaster’ in anticipation of Friday’s massive protest at the border with the Gaza Strip, where Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist militia, readied tens of thousands of tires to be set on fire.
Report: Egypt, Saudi Arabia urge Hamas to end ‘Great March of Return’ protests
Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt have called on militant organization Hamas to end the annual weekly protests it is holding for the ‘Great March of Return,’ according to an Egyptian source.
Egyptian government gives legality to 53 churches
A special committee set up to review church registration applications legalised the status of 53 Egyptian churches and related buildings on 26 February, but thousands more still await registration.
Egypt’s Sisi heads for landslide election win with low turnout
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi cruised toward a landslide election victory against no real opposition but early results showed a lower turnout than the vote that brought him to power in 2014, despite efforts to get more Egyptians to the polls.
Arab League aims to stop Israel from gaining UN Security Council seat
Arab League nations will meet in Riyadh on April 15 to work to prevent Israel from gaining a seat on the U.N. Security Council, Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a statement on Tuesday.
Bodies of 21 Christians Beheaded by ISIS to be Returned to Egypt
The bodies of the 21 Egyptian and Ghanaian Christians who were brutally beheaded by ISIS on the shore of a Libyan beach will be returned to their families in Egypt, according to Al Arabiya English.
With Red Sea mega-city, Saudis eye economic unity with Egypt, Jordan
To observers, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud’s flagship idea may seem overly ambitious – to build a mega-city known as Neom along the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea that extends across the borders to Jordan and Egypt.
White House to meet on Gaza crisis Tuesday, as it prepares to unveil peace plan
The Trump administration will convene a conference at the White House on Tuesday aimed at solving the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, with Jared Kushner and National Security Council staff outlining their plan for alleviating suffering in the coastal enclave.
U.S. and IDF troops, in major joint drill, simulating battle on 3 fronts
Juniper Cobra, the largest joint US-Israeli air-defense exercise, is under way, with thousands of troops deployed across the country simulating scenarios where Israel faces missile barrages simultaneously on various fronts.
US secretary of state kicks off Mideast tour in Egypt
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew into Egypt on Sunday at the start of a five-nation tour that coincides with heightened regional tension, as well as unease over the Trump administration’s Mideast policies.
Aiding Egypt, Israel Conducted ‘Over 100 Airstrikes’ Against ISIS in Sinai
Egypt has permitted Israel to conduct over a hundred aerial raids on the Islamic State group affiliate in Sinai, the restive desert peninsula that shares a border with Israel, the New York Times claimed Saturday.
Senior White House Official Reveals What ‘Ultimate’ Middle East Peace Deal Includes
A senior White House official, traveling with Vice President Mike Pence in the Middle East, revealed what an ‘ultimate’ peace deal brokered by the Trump administration would look like.
Pence lands in Israel as PM stresses ‘no alternative’ to US as peace broker
US President Mike Pence arrived in Tel Aviv Sunday evening for a two-day visit to Israel amid unprecedented tensions with the Palestinians over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month.
IDF destroys Hamas attack tunnel that penetrated Israel and Egypt
The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday said it had destroyed a border-crossing Hamas attack tunnel, the third in recent months, that penetrated hundreds of meters into both Israeli and Egyptian territory from the Gaza Strip, in an airstrike in southern Gaza on Saturday night.
Arab League to hold meeting on Jerusalem next month
The Arab League will meet on February 1 to discuss how to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s move last month to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Egypt’s state news agency MENA said on Wednesday.
VP Mike Pence to Visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel Later This Month
In his first trip to the Middle East as vice president, Mike Pence is scheduled to visit several countries and leaders in the region later this month.
Islamic State Affiliate in Sinai Declares War on Hamas in Bloody Execution Video
The Islamic State affiliate in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has called for attacks on the Palestinian terror group Hamas in a gruesome execution video posted online.