Natasha Hall

YouTube video by Bloomberg Podcasts Trump Stresses Need for Gaza Deal Ahead of Netanyahu Visit

“if we can’t even get a deal on humanitarian aid flowing unimpeded back into Gaza, I’m pretty pessimistic” Chatting w/ @kaileyleinz & @JMathieuReports @BloombergTV about Gaza, Iran, Israel and ceasefire talks m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICj4...

Can Syria Recover? Why Sanctions Relief Is Not Enough President Trump’s recent announcement to lift sanctions on Syria is an important first step, but it’s not enough. The United States and Syria’s other partners now need to clear the remaining…

"President Trump’s recent announcement to lift sanctions on Syria is an important first step, but it’s not enough," write @natashahall.bsky.social and Ninar Fawal.

Read more in @foreignaffairs.com on Syria's recovery:

Can Syria Recover? Sanctions relief is not enough.

My latest with colleague Ninar Fawal on the next steps for Syria in @foreignaffairs.com

In short, clear the path of spoilers to allow Syria to recover. The announcement of sanctions relief is an incredible first step but it isn't the only one.

www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/can-sy...

Syria's driest winter in nearly 7 decades triggers a severe water crisis in Damascus Syria's capital, Damascus, is suffering from its worst water shortages in years as a result of the lowest rainfall in more than six decades.

After a dry winter, Syria adds a severe water crisis in the capital to its many troubles, report @apnews.com’s Omar Sanadiki and Ghaith al-Sayed.

apnews.com/article/syri...

YouTube video by DW News Trump says US will remove all sanctions on Syria | DW News

“This is the historic statement and peace offering that we’ve been waiting for to meet the historic moment of the end of the house of Assad”

My thoughts w/ @dwnews on #Syria #SaudiArabia and @realDonaldTrump announcement on sanctions m.youtube.com/watch?v=qAVa...

YouTube video by DW News Could Israel’s new military operation in Gaza eliminate Hamas and free hostages? | DW News

“How much influence do you think the US president has over Netanyahu?”

….my thoughts on Gaza, Israel, and expectations for Trump’s Gulf trip youtu.be/zEasfTLc63k?...

The west’s shameful silence on Gaza The US and European allies should do more to restrain Benjamin Netanyahu

From the @FinancialTimes editorial board www.ft.com/content/f5fd...

The Thirst for Power The Middle East has battled water insecurity for centuries, but today, the region is on a razor’s edge. Tackling the politics and power dynamics that have exacerbated scarcity is the only way to…

"The trends are clear: By 2050, every single country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will live under extremely high water stress," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social

Learn more:

#Yarmouk was destroyed & stripped to the ground. What’s striking is the lack of anything other than cement. Not a piece of furniture, not a tile. It’s the kind of destruction you undertake when you want to ensure people can’t return. #Syria

U.S. Toughens Demands on Syria’s New Islamist-Led Leadership The Trump administration wants Damascus to crack down on extremists and expel Palestinian militants in return for a limited easing of sanctions.

“There is so much assistance that is desperately needed to accomplish any of these things [that the White House is demanding] and to secure the country, let alone begin any kind of development...Time is running out.” #Syria
spoke to @jmalsin.bsky.social @wsj.com www.wsj.com/world/middle...

My latest in the @nytimes.com on Syria. Don’t let a once in a lifetime opportunity for US foreign policy slip away

"There is no way this government survives" without sanctions relief, argues @natashahall.bsky.social to Arab News about the challenges facing #Syria's new government.

Read her recent comments below 👇

Tipping Point: The Politics of Water Insecurity in the Middle East While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. There is an urgent need to address the politics of…

"Every country in the Middle East and North Africa will experience extreme water stress by 2050, meaning that all will be using at least 80% of their available water supplies," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social

More on the politics of water insecurity:

Tipping Point: The Politics of Water Insecurity in the Middle East While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. There is an urgent need to address the politics of…

"The Middle East is no stranger to water scarcity and violence, but the region is now at a tipping point," warns @mideast.csis.org expert @natashahall.bsky.social

Learn more about the politics of water insecurity in the Middle East:

Syria's capital Damascus has been hit by Israeli air strikes Israel's defence minister said the air strike was part of an anti-terrorist operation in Damascus.

The Israelis just hit the building next to my aunt’s house in Syria. 6 people died. She’s in shock. This has to stop. news.sky.com/video/syrias...

Exclusive: Qatar to supply gas to Syria via Jordan with a US nod, sources say Qatar is set to supply Syria with gas via Jordan to improve the nation's meager power supply, three people familiar with the matter said, in a move that a U.S. official said had Washington's approval.

"Qatar is set to supply Syria with gas via Jordan to improve the nation's meager power supply, three people familiar with the matter said, in a move that a U.S. official said had Washington's approval."

Timour Azhari & Andrew Mills, @reuters.com

www.reuters.com/business/ene...

Syria’s new government strikes deal to integrate powerful Kurdish rival in landmark agreement | CNN Syria’s interim government says it has reached a landmark agreement with Kurdish-led forces to integrate them into state institutions as it tries to unify the country’s diverse communities after a dec...

On the SDF-govt deal “Sharaa is reeling from the weekend’s violence…He is looking for wins w/ the intl community, knowing that Kurds have good relations w/ the US & even perhaps Israel. He’s playing a strategic game by signing the agreement.” www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/m...

While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. @natashahall.bsky.social stresses urgency in addressing the politics of water insecurity.

More from @mideast.csis.org ⤵️

The Thirst for Power: Overcoming the Politics of Water in the Middle East | CSIS Events The CSIS Middle East Program launches its new report on water politics in the Middle East, edited by Natasha Hall. Hall will be joined by five regional experts to discuss water insecurity, aid cuts,…

Happening Tomorrow | @natashahall.bsky.social hosts a panel of experts to discuss a new CSIS report on the politics of water scarcity in the Middle East.

🕔 10:00 - 11:00AM ET
📆 March 11, 2025
📍 Online

Register here:

Tipping Point: The Politics of Water Insecurity in the Middle East While parts of the Middle East are inherently water scarce, tensions in the region and governance issues have brought the region to a tipping point. There is an urgent need to address the politics of ...

NEW report: The Thirst for Power: Overcoming the Politics of Water in the Middle East
“water can no longer be put on hold in the region. The choice is stark. Either change course or face far greater challenges in the future.” #Iraq #Syria #Yemen #Jordan #Gaza #WestBank
www.csis.org/analysis/tip...

The changing dynamic between Russia and Syria - The World from PRX Syria’s new government is reportedly working with Russia as it rebuilds. It’s a surprising turn of events because Russia formerly allied itself with the Assad regime, which the current government topp...

Spoke to @MarcoWerman @TheWorld about the reemerging relationship b/w Syria's new govt and Russia.

Astounding that Syrians would have to reach out to Moscow again and that the US is missing a historic strategic opportunity. theworld.org/segments/202...

Can Ukraine Survive Trump? Pod Save the World · Episode

Spoke to @brhodes on the geopolitical challenges Syria faces. If I sound exasperated, I am. Never has the right thing & the strategic thing to do been so closely aligned. To see that opportunity thrown away is heartbreaking. #Turkey #Israel #Russia #PKK
open.spotify.com/episode/5CRi...

I’ll be on C-SPAN today at 8:45am to talk all things #Gaza, #Syria, and a bit of US foreign #aid. The three complicated topics that I’ve devoted about 15 years of my life to. Looking forward to your questions. www.c-span.org/event/washin...

Trump braces for 'awkward' meeting with Jordan's king over Gaza offer - Washington Examiner Jordan has denounced Trump's proposal to approach Gaza as a real estate project.

“Trump’s rhetoric alone about Gaza is an existential threat to Jordan’s stability,” says @natashahall.bsky.social to the Washington Examiner about President Trump's call to relocate Gazans to #Jordan.

Read her recent comments here:

Netherlands confirms that there are "significant" stockpiles of undeclared CW and production facilities in Syria.
h/t @vreij.bsky.social
open.overheid.nl/documenten/8...

With the Fall of Assad, Can Syria Rise? On 27 November 2024, Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham broke out of Syria’s isolated northwestern enclave, launching an offensive that felled the 54-year Assad dynasty in 11 days. While the...

My piece with Survival is out: With the Fall of Assad, Can Syria Rise?

In it, I lay out the interests and potential actions of various stakeholders outside Damascus. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Great step forward in accountability and ending the scourge of chemical weapons in Syria. The DG said, “This visit marks a reset. After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities”

Great to chat with/ my brilliant colleague @msnegovaya.bsky.social and former comrade @hannanotte.bsky.social on Russia in the Middle East after the fall of Assad in Syria and the state of the region and its spoilers today. Check out the podcast Russian Roulette 👇

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CWCC Webinar: The Future of Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpile. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. The CWC Coalition will host a webinar on Wednesday, January 29 on the future of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile after the fall of the Assad regime. The collapse of the Assad regime and the resulti...

Please join me and @natashahall.bsky.social for a webinar "The Future of Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpile" sponsored by the CWC Coalition.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 a.m., U.S. Eastern Time

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Yes, yes we should. Read this piece by @natashahall.bsky.social and me for why securing and destroying Syria's remaining chemical weapons needs to be a priority for the US and allies, Syria, and the OPCW.
www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/syria-...