AP Week in Pictures, Middle East

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in the Middle East, Afghanistan & Pakistan Region between Dec. 3-9, 2020.

This week´s selection includes scenes from across the region, where Ethiopia´s situation is "spiraling out of control with appalling impact on civilians" and urgently needs outside monitoring, according to the U.N. human rights chief. A Palestinian boy, 13-year-old Ali Abu Alia, was shot and killed by Israeli military forces during clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in the West Bank. In Lebanon, mourners held vigil marking four months since their relatives were killed during the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands. In Jerusalem, ultra-orthodox Jewish men laid to rest Rabbi Aharon David Hadash, the spiritual leader of the Mir Yeshiva, who had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The gallery was curated by AP Middle East Deputy News Director for Photography & Storytelling Dusan Vranic and photographer Maya Alleruzzo.

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A Tigray refugee woman walks up a hill after arriving on the banks of the Tekeze River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in Hamdayet, eastern Sudan, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Ethiopian forces on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 blocked people from the country's embattled Tigray region from crossing into Sudan at the busiest crossing point for refugees, Sudanese forces said. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Tigray refugee woman walks up a hill after arriving on the banks of the Tekeze River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in Hamdayet, eastern Sudan, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Ethiopian forces on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 blocked people from the country's embattled Tigray region from crossing into Sudan at the busiest crossing point for refugees, Sudanese forces said. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, wait on a bus transporting them to Village 8 temporary shelter on a highway in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, wait on a bus transporting them to Village 8 temporary shelter on a highway in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Sudanese midwife waits for patients, inside the Mercy Corps clinic at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Sudanese midwife waits for patients, inside the Mercy Corps clinic at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2020, file photo, people who fled the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, wait to receive medicine at a clinic in Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan. In a remote part of neighboring Sudan, no coronavirus testing is taking place in the crowded camps that are now home to more than 45,000 Ethiopian refugees. People share shelters and stand close together in lines for food, cash and registration. There are few face masks to be seen. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2020, file photo, people who fled the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, wait to receive medicine at a clinic in Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan. In a remote part of neighboring Sudan, no coronavirus testing is taking place in the crowded camps that are now home to more than 45,000 Ethiopian refugees. People share shelters and stand close together in lines for food, cash and registration. There are few face masks to be seen. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty, File)

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, light fires to prepare their dinners in front of their tents at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, light fires to prepare their dinners in front of their tents at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, take shelter at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Tigray refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, take shelter at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Tigray refugee mother carries her child as she waits her turn for treatment at a clinic run by MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Village 8, the transit centre near the Lugdi border crossing, eastern Sudan, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Tigray refugee mother carries her child as she waits her turn for treatment at a clinic run by MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Village 8, the transit centre near the Lugdi border crossing, eastern Sudan, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Tigray woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, holds her malnourished and severely dehydrated baby as nurses give him IV fluids, at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic, at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

A Tigray woman who fled the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, holds her malnourished and severely dehydrated baby as nurses give him IV fluids, at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic, at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, gather at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan Dec. 4, 2020. In a remote part of neighboring Sudan, no coronavirus testing is taking place in the crowded camps that are now home to more than 45,000 Ethiopian refugees. People share shelters and stand close together in lines for food, cash and registration. There are few face masks to be seen. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Refugees who fled the conflict in the Ethiopia's Tigray, gather at Umm Rakouba refugee camp in Qadarif, eastern Sudan Dec. 4, 2020. In a remote part of neighboring Sudan, no coronavirus testing is taking place in the crowded camps that are now home to more than 45,000 Ethiopian refugees. People share shelters and stand close together in lines for food, cash and registration. There are few face masks to be seen. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Relatives mourn the body of 13-year-old Ali Abu Alia who was shot dead by Israeli military forces during clashes with a stone-throwing Palestinains during his funeral in al-Mughair village near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Relatives mourn the body of 13-year-old Ali Abu Alia who was shot dead by Israeli military forces during clashes with a stone-throwing Palestinains during his funeral in al-Mughair village near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Cars drive during heavy fall rain and hail as a storm cloud passes over downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Cars drive during heavy fall rain and hail as a storm cloud passes over downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A woman holds a portrait of her relative who killed during the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion, as she weeps during a vigil at the seaport main entrance to marking four months since the blast that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands, in Beirut, Lebanon Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. An investigation has yet to provide answers or hold any senior official responsible and the victims are demanding answers and justice for their loved ones. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A woman holds a portrait of her relative who killed during the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion, as she weeps during a vigil at the seaport main entrance to marking four months since the blast that killed more than 200 people and injured thousands, in Beirut, Lebanon Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. An investigation has yet to provide answers or hold any senior official responsible and the victims are demanding answers and justice for their loved ones. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Ultra-orthodox Jewish men gather around the body of Rabbi Aharon David Hadash, the spiritual leader of the Mir Yeshiva, a prominent religious seminary, during his funeral in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The mass ceremony took place despite coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of funerals. Hadash, who was 90 was hospitalized two months ago after he tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Ultra-orthodox Jewish men gather around the body of Rabbi Aharon David Hadash, the spiritual leader of the Mir Yeshiva, a prominent religious seminary, during his funeral in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The mass ceremony took place despite coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of funerals. Hadash, who was 90 was hospitalized two months ago after he tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Hindu women attend a ceremony to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, at Swami Narayan temple in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali celebrates the spiritual victory of light over darkness. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Hindu women attend a ceremony to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, at Swami Narayan temple in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. The Hindu festival of lights, Diwali celebrates the spiritual victory of light over darkness. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Israeli border police officers and Palestinians clash during a protest against the expansion of Israeli Jewish settlements near the West Bank town of Salfit, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli border police officers and Palestinians clash during a protest against the expansion of Israeli Jewish settlements near the West Bank town of Salfit, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the funeral of Rabbi Aharon David Hadash, the spiritual leader of the Mir Yeshiva, a prominent religious seminary, in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The mass ceremony took place despite coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of funerals. Hadash, who was 90 was hospitalized two months ago after he tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men attend the funeral of Rabbi Aharon David Hadash, the spiritual leader of the Mir Yeshiva, a prominent religious seminary, in Jerusalem, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The mass ceremony took place despite coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of funerals. Hadash, who was 90 was hospitalized two months ago after he tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Motorcyclists drive along a road in heavy fog in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Various cities in eastern and central Pakistan continue to experience heavy fog, disrupting air and road transportation. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Motorcyclists drive along a road in heavy fog in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Various cities in eastern and central Pakistan continue to experience heavy fog, disrupting air and road transportation. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

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