![A toddler in angel costume pinches a man as Catholic believers gather outside Greek-Melkite Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady to mark Palm Sunday in the capital Damascus in Bab Sharki, Old Damascus on 14 April, 2019 [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GettyImages-1137062236.jpg?fit=920%2C614&ssl=1)
![Emirati girls wear traditional clothes during the Al-Dhafra Water Festival, off the coast of al-Mirfa beach, outside Abu Dhabi on 13 April, 2019 [KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GettyImages-1136867461.jpg?w=472&h=340&ssl=1 "UAE-WATER-FESTIVAL")
Emirati girls wear traditional clothes during the Al-Dhafra Water Festival, off the coast of al-Mirfa beach, outside Abu Dhabi on 13 April, 2019 [KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images]
![A driver takes part in the second edition of "Rallye des Graces" on 13 April, 2019 [ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GettyImages-1136711214.jpg?w=472&h=315&ssl=1 "LEBANON-SPORT-RALLY-WOMEN")
A driver takes part in the second edition of “Rallye des Graces” on 13 April, 2019 [ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images]
![Tuki Turtle is seen during its 99th birthday celebrations at the Faruk Yalcin Zoo and Botanic Park in Kocaeli, Turkey on 13 April, 2019 [Tahir Turan Eroğlu/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190413_2_35970373_43535978.jpg?w=440&h=659&ssl=1 "99th birthday celebrations of Tuki Turtle in Turkey's Kocaeli")
Tuki Turtle is seen during its 99th birthday celebrations at the Faruk Yalcin Zoo and Botanic Park in Kocaeli, Turkey on 13 April, 2019 [Tahir Turan Eroğlu/Anadolu Agency]
![Children smile as they leave school after classes finish in the Shuhada Miskan refugee camp in Azaz region, Syria on 8 April, 2019 [Meryem Göktaş/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190416_2_36004386_43598528.jpg?w=610&h=407&ssl=1 "Syrian children hold on to education despite challenges")
Children smile as they leave school after classes finish in the Shuhada Miskan refugee camp in Azaz region, Syria on 8 April, 2019 [Meryem Göktaş/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinians take part in a protest to show solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners held in Israeli jails, marking Palestinian Prisoner Day, in front of Red cross office in Gaza city, on 17 April, 2019 [Ashraf Amra/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/170419_ASH_00-66.jpg?w=302&h=202&ssl=1 "Palestinians take part in a protest to show solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners held in Israeli jails, marking Palestinian Prisoner Day, in front of Red cross office in Gaza city")
Palestinians take part in a protest to show solidarity with Palestinian Prisoners held in Israeli jails, marking Palestinian Prisoner Day, in front of Red cross office in Gaza city, on 17 April, 2019 [Ashraf Amra/Apaimages]
![Palestinian students visit the Rashad Al Shawwa Cultural Center during "Gazzetu Hashim" book fair, which was opened in despite of limited conditions due to Israeli blockade, in Gaza City, Gaza on 14 April, 2019 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190414_2_35981403_43560962.jpg?w=302&h=201&ssl=1 "Book fair opened in the shade of Israeli blockade in Gaza")
Palestinian students visit the Rashad Al Shawwa Cultural Center during “Gazzetu Hashim” book fair, which was opened in despite of limited conditions due to Israeli blockade, in Gaza City, Gaza on 14 April, 2019 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinians enjoy a day at the beach of the Mediterranean sea in Gaza city during sunset, on 17 April, 2019 [Yasser Qudih/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/170419_YQ_00-12.jpg?w=274&h=173&ssl=1 "Palestinians enjoy a day at the beach of the Mediterranean sea in Gaza city during sunset")
Palestinians enjoy a day at the beach of the Mediterranean sea in Gaza city during sunset, on 17 April, 2019 [Yasser Qudih/Apaimages]
![A squirrel is seen at Emirgan Park in Istanbul's Sariyer district, Turkey on 18 April, 2019 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/20190418_2_36046651_43676519.jpg?w=115&h=173&ssl=1 "Squirrels at Emirgan Park")
A squirrel is seen at Emirgan Park in Istanbul’s Sariyer district, Turkey on 18 April, 2019 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]
![An Iraqi Yazidi woman sits outside the Temple of Lalish, in a valley near the Kurdish city of Dohuk about 430 kilometres northwest of the capital Baghdad, on 16 April, 2019, during a ceremony marking the Yazidi New Year [SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GettyImages-1137660259.jpg?w=255&h=173&ssl=1 "IRAQ-CONFLICT-RELIGION-YAZIDI")
An Iraqi Yazidi woman sits outside the Temple of Lalish, in a valley near the Kurdish city of Dohuk about 430 kilometres northwest of the capital Baghdad, on 16 April, 2019, during a ceremony marking the Yazidi New Year [SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images]
![A toddler in angel costume pinches a man as Catholic believers gather outside Greek-Melkite Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady to mark Palm Sunday in the capital Damascus in Bab Sharki, Old Damascus on 14 April, 2019 [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GettyImages-1137062236.jpg?w=260&h=173&ssl=1 "SYRIA-RELIGION-HOLIDAY")
A toddler in angel costume pinches a man as Catholic believers gather outside Greek-Melkite Patriarchal Cathedral of the Dormition of Our Lady to mark Palm Sunday in the capital Damascus in Bab Sharki, Old Damascus on 14 April, 2019 [LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images]