The 7 October Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent brutal Israeli military campaign on Gaza beg the question: Can mutual animosity between Israel and the Arab world ever be resolved?
While the Middle East has a track record of leaving conflicts unresolved, could this chapter be one that could reshape history and break with past patterns of conflict resolution?
History has proven that cutting separate peace deals with Israel has not led to a comprehensive and lasting peace for the region. The potential of a Saudi-Israel normalisation opens a new door.
Erdoğan must carefully weigh his supporters' deep emotions toward the Palestinian cause with the realpolitik benefits of improved relations with Israel.
Russia's credibility in the region was diminished by its backing of the Syrian regime, so it has limited cards to play. But Moscow stands to benefit from Western distraction in its war on Ukraine.
US warships have been deployed to the Middle East for nearly a century. As the USS Gerald R Ford arrives in the region, Al Majalla revisits the list of 'presidential' destroyers in Arab waters.
Hamas's surprise offensive has hit Israel with its third great surprise of a long-running conflict, and political change will follow, just like after the October War and the Intifada.
Israel's commandeering of aid distribution in Gaza forces starving Palestinians to run the gauntlet at centres with biometric monitoring systems, armed security, and life-or-death hazards