Middle East Monitor Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa

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  Don’t wait for the blackout: The world needs binding rules for dangerous AI

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  In recent weeks, supermarket refrigeration across Europe has been turned against the food it protects. After an earlier wave in France that hit hundreds of supermarkets, a second attack on 2 November struck stores in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Estonia. One Swedish store reported its freezers set to 50°C and discarded the stock. The same day, a cyberattack on a refrigeration supplier raised temperature and defrost thresholds to extremely high levels at three French blood-service sites storing plasma. The blood service says no plasma was lost. It also says it was not the direct target. So far, no public evidence links these attacks to artificial intelligence. They appear to have exploited ordinary weaknesses. That makes them more

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  Netanyahu in ‘state of panic’ over prospect of losing power, former Israeli adviser says

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Nir Hefetz, a former close adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Tuesday that the premier is living in a “state of panic” over the prospect of losing power, Anadolu reports. “I think Netanyahu is in a state of panic,” Hefetz told Israel’s 103FM radio as Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot continued efforts to form a new government. “Panic is a fundamental factor in his decision-making. I can almost close my eyes and feel that atmosphere of panic.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday tasked Eisenkot with forming a government, giving him 28 days, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. Eisenkot has since been holding consultations with political parties in an effort to secure the parliamentary support needed

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  UK petition calling for inquiry into complicity in Israel’s Gaza genocide surpasses 100,000 signatures

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  A petition calling for a public inquiry into Britain’s alleged complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza has gathered more than 100,000 signatures, triggering a requirement for Parliament to consider the issue for debate. The petition, which reached the threshold on Monday, calls on the UK government to launch an independent inquiry into any British involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023. It specifically seeks an investigation into the sale, supply and use of weapons, the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases and intelligence gathered during RAF surveillance flights. “We want the UK Government to launch an inquiry into any British involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza, including the sale, supply or use of weapons, surveillance aircraft and

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  UK-based rights group warns over 1/2 million children in Gaza lack safe shelter amid Israeli restrictions

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  A UK-based rights group has warned that more than half a million children in the Gaza Strip are without safe shelter due to Israeli restrictions, as the territory’s first winter storm flooded tens of thousands of tents in a single day. More than half a million children in Gaza are now facing their fourth winter in torn tents or makeshift shelters, many burning garbage to stay warm, as Israel’s restrictions continue to block the entry of materials needed to keep them safe from cold and flooding, Save the Children said in a statement following a powerful storm. A storm that struck Gaza on Friday evening flooded more than 70,000 tents and brought down dozens of war-damaged walls, according to the

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  Trump’s decision to halt military aid to Israel ‘victory for Americans’: Palestinian-American state senator

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Palestinian-American Aber Kawas, elected to the New York State Senate in the US midterm elections, hailed President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would halt military aid to Israel as a victory for Americans. Speaking to CNN, Kawas said New Yorkers and people across the country had long been demanding that their tax dollars be invested in local communities rather than spent on wars, genocide and support for foreign militaries. She described Trump’s reported shift in policy toward Israel as a “victory for Americans” who have campaigned for nearly three years to end US military assistance to the country. Kawas stressed that politicians should take such action not only for financial reasons but also on moral grounds. READ: Trump says US and

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  More Nobel prizes for Trump? Pakistan’s ruling clique from flattery to fallout

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  There is something exquisitely revealing about Pakistan’s ruling establishment discovering that American presidents are not hereditary monarchs and congressional elections are not ceremonial inconveniences. For Field Marshal Asim Munir, Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, the Democrats’ midterm triumph threatens more than diplomatic embarrassment. It could unravel the political protection secured through their extraordinary cultivation of Donald Trump, transforming yesterday’s celebrated Washington connections into tomorrow’s congressional investigations. The diplomatic triumphs may soon become congressional exhibits. Few governments have pursued Trump’s affection with Islamabad’s spectacular lack of self-respect. Sharif, in particular, has elevated presidential sycophancy into something approaching a constitutional responsibility. His repeated enthusiasm for nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize would qualify as political comedy were the consequences not

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  Qatar says US, Iran give ‘positive responses’ to mediation efforts

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday that it has received “positive responses” from both the US and Iran regarding ongoing mediation efforts between the two sides, stressing that efforts continue to end the state of “no war, no peace” and uncertainty in the region, Anadolu reports. “Mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran are still ongoing, and there have been positive responses from both sides,” Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, director of the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s Media and Communications Department, told a press conference in Doha. He stressed that mediators are working to end the state of “no war, no peace” in the region and put an end to uncertainty. His remarks came a day after Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he

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  Israel undermining Gaza health system: Doctors Without Borders

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Israel has severely damaged Gaza’s health system by targeting medical workers and obstructing the entry of medical supplies, the president of medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Javid Abdelmoneim told Anadolu Agency that continued Israeli attacks and casualties, including children, do not reflect the existence of an effective ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “Israel has revoked our authorization to operate and is preventing medical supplies from entering Gaza, including wheelchairs, crutches and ultrasound machines, on the grounds that they could be used for military purposes,” he said. The revocation of operating permits for more than 30 nongovernmental organizations has led to the absence of international staff and a reduction in health services, particularly in the occupied

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  Gulf states agree to establish forward military command in Kuwait

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) defense ministers agreed Tuesday to establish a forward headquarters for the bloc’s Unified Military Command in Kuwait and assign forces to it as part of efforts to strengthen joint defense cooperation, Anadolu reports. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the decision was approved during the 23rd session of the Joint Defense Council, held in Bahrain’s capital Manama, according to a statement issued by the bloc. The meeting was chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Defense Affairs Lt. Gen. Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, with the participation of defense ministers from the five other member states of the bloc. The meeting came amid heightened regional tensions, including Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, concerns over renewed

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  Eisenkot-led bloc to nominate Matan Kahana as Israeli Knesset speaker, Lieberman to head defense panel

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Israeli opposition parties seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government agreed Tuesday to nominate former minister Matan Kahana as the next Knesset speaker and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman as chairman of parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, according to a joint statement, Anadolu reports. The Times of Israel news outlet said the agreement was reached by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, Lieberman, Naftali Bennett of the Together bloc, Democrats chairman Yair Golan, and opposition leader Yair Lapid. Kahana, who holds the No. 5 spot on Eisenkot’s Yashar list, was chosen following several days of negotiations over who would head the Knesset. The parties also agreed that incoming Together lawmaker Liran Avishar Ben-Horin will chair the Finance Committee. The

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  US aircraft evacuated from UK base after threat from Iran: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The US evacuated several American aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, a British air force base, on Monday following a reported threat from Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported. However, US officials have not yet clarified whether the threat was immediate or more general. According to flight-tracking information and officials familiar with the situation, two American refueling tankers initially diverted to Germany, while several other aircraft were later relocated to Germany and other locations. The US Air Force declined to comment on the specific movements, explaining only that American aircraft regularly move between different bases for operational reasons. The White House directed questions to the Pentagon. The development follows a similar decision last month, when the Pentagon withdrew B-1 bombers from RAF

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  Vigil marks 25 years of Irish complicity in US war crimes

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Peace activists travelled from all over Ireland on Sunday for an anniversary all of them hoped they would never see, as they marked 25 years since Shannon Airport was handed over to the US military to facilitate its wars of aggression throughout the Middle East and beyond. It is estimated four million US troops carrying arms have passed through this civilian airport on Ireland’s western seaboard since the then Irish Government, then led by disgraced Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, agreed to make it available to President George W. Bush for his “war on terror” in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Shannonwatch, formed in 2008, have held a vigil outside the airport every month for

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  Iraq reopens Shib border crossing with Iran after 3-week closure

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Iraq reopened the Shib border crossing with Iran to passengers and commercial traffic on Tuesday after a three-week closure, while announcing that the Mandali crossing will temporarily close from Friday for maintenance, Anadolu reports. Omar al-Waeli, head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, said in a statement carried by the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Shib reopened at 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT) on Tuesday after the completion of technical requirements and procedures needed to resume operations. He said Mandali will close from 8 a.m. local time (0500GMT) on Friday to complete preparation and maintenance work ahead of the rainy season. Weather conditions during the rainy season could affect vehicle movement inside the crossing, requiring the maintenance work, he said.

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  The sum of the humanitarian paradigm is deadly

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The discrepancy between what the international community glorifies as humanitarian aid and what Gaza is deprived of keep growing. A woman and four children were killed following heavy rains in Gaza which caused a landslide at the site in Deir al-Balah where displaced Palestinians are living in tents that offer no protection from winter storms. As a result of the diplomacy of humanitarian aid, compounded with Israel’s restrictions on aid entrance and delivery, Palestinians face an added danger in winter which, no doubt, will be treated as collateral damage.  Diplomatic statements are bordering on the ridiculous. “We are aware of the situation in Gaza, and obviously, if you live in the tent and the tent is full of water, the

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  Syria foreign minister denies agreement to send troops to Yemen

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani denied reports on Monday that Syria had reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia to deploy thousands of Syrian fighters to Yemen, saying the recently announced military cooperation agreement focuses exclusively on training and exchanging expertise. Speaking at a joint press conference in Damascus with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, al-Shaibani questioned the sources cited by Reuters in its reporting on the alleged deployment. He challenged the agency’s reliance on unnamed sources, saying their identities and credibility were unclear. Al-Shaibani emphasised that Syria supports regional defence cooperation aimed at strengthening collective security. “We are keen for the region to have a defensive security organization that preserves the security of the region,” he said, referring to the

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  Iran rules out removing enriched uranium from its territory

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that transferring enriched nuclear materials out of the country is categorically off the table, insisting that there is no justification for such a measure. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that Tehran would not make concessions on the issue during any future negotiations concerning its nuclear program. Baghaei also criticised continued US threats against Iranian nuclear facilities, arguing that they undermine the justification for conducting inspections at sites that have sustained damage. “Under current circumstances, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) possesses no mechanism or protocol for inspecting nuclear facilities that have been damaged,” he said. The statements reaffirm Iran’s position against transferring its enriched nuclear materials abroad and highlight continuing disagreements over international inspections

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  Israeli peace group calls for sanctions against military commander over settler activity in Jericho

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The Israeli organisation Combatants for Peace has urged several Western governments to impose personal sanctions on Major General Avi Bluth, commander of the Israeli military’s Central Command, over his involvement in facilitating the entry of Israeli settler families into homes near Jericho in the occupied West Bank. Through attorney Eitay Mack, the organisation sent letters to British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, requesting urgent sanctions against Bluth. Mack disclosed the appeal in a post on X, outlining the organisation’s concerns that the commander’s role in the settlers’ entry into properties reportedly purchased on the outskirts of Jericho. Citing reports by Israeli newspapers Haaretz

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  Israeli settlers set fire to industrial equipment in Beita, south of Nablus

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the industrial zone of Beita, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on Monday evening, setting fire to three excavators and several vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to stone-cutting workshops, according to Palestinian security sources. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the attack caused significant property damage, while Israeli forces simultaneously raided the town. Footage from the scene showed flames engulfing industrial machinery and equipment as firefighters and local residents worked to contain and extinguish the fires. The incident follows repeated settler attacks on Beita’s industrial zone, including the burning of facilities and vehicles and incidents involving gunfire. Several of these attacks have coincided with Israeli military raids on the town. READ: Israeli

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  UN Rapporteur Albanese calls plight of Gaza children in flooded tents ‘disgrace of our era’

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has described the conditions facing Palestinian children sheltering in rain-flooded tents in the Gaza Strip as “the disgrace of our era,” warning of the humanitarian suffering caused by severe winter weather and the continuing consequences of Israel’s military offensive. In a post on X on Sunday evening, Albanese expressed dismay at images of children living in tents submerged by cold floodwaters, without adequate protection from rain and falling temperatures. She condemned the conditions facing displaced families as they prepare to endure another winter in makeshift shelters. Albanese also invoked the writings of Holocaust survivor Primo Levi, criticizing what she described as the failure of European political and diplomatic leaders to uphold the humanitarian principles taught

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  Peace Council holds Israel responsible for worsening Gaza shelter crisis, urges opening of crossings

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The Peace Council has held Israel responsible for the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of delaying the entry of essential aid and failing to fulfil commitments under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, as heavy rainfall floods tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians. In a statement issued Monday evening, the council’s communications office expressed deep concern over flooding that swept through Gaza during the previous two days, inundating temporary shelters and damaging essential belongings. The council warned that displaced families, already living in precarious conditions, face increasing exposure to cold temperatures and other dangers as winter approaches. The humanitarian situation in Gaza “is no longer merely a looming threat with the arrival of winter; it has

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  Checkpoint 300: Colonial Space in Palestine

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The images evoked in writing by Mark Griffiths in Checkpoint 300: Colonial Space in Palestine (University of Minnesota Press, 2025) are only the beginnings of an intricate, complicit web that links Israel’s colonial violence to the rest of the world. Through detailed descriptions of the actual checkpoint space, its restrictions and implications, Griffiths takes the reader beyond the statistical data with which everything related to Palestine is now measured. The introduction also makes one important observation: “Checkpoint 300 is a border crossing that regulates the movement of Palestinians from one part of Palestine to another … This is not, then, a crossing between Palestine and Israel but a crossing within Palestine, a colonial imposition that funnels Palestinian movement through Israeli

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  Explosions heard in Riyadh after Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi missiles

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Explosions were heard in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday after the Saudi-led military coalition announced that it had intercepted and destroyed two missiles launched by the Houthis towards the city, Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists reported. The coalition had earlier announced that it had also intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s southern region. Residents in Riyadh received text message alerts on their mobile phones urging them to seek shelter because of an “air threat”. They later received another message from the Civil Defence Authority saying the danger had passed. The developments come after weeks of attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, who are backed by Iran. READ: Saudi-led coalition says it destroys Houthi missile

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  Saied accuses ‘remnants of colonialism’ of fuelling chaos, crises in Tunisia

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Tunisian President Kais Saied has accused what he described as “remnants of colonialism” of spreading chaos and creating crises in the country. Speaking during Tunisia’s National Tree Day celebrations, Saied said the outbreak of fires coinciding with disruptions to water supplies was “no coincidence”, adding that the judiciary would investigate the incidents and determine responsibility to ensure those behind them were held accountable, according to a statement from the Tunisian presidency. He added that the continuation of these practices, accompanied by water shortages, fires and rising prices, reflects attempts by remnants of the former system to regain influence by various means. READ: Tunisia’s Justice Ministry denies plans to build new prisons However, he said these attempts had been thwarted by the

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  Moroccan armed forces: Military cooperation with Israel sees ‘positive momentum’

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Morocco’s military cooperation with Israel is witnessing “positive momentum”, particularly in developing capabilities, exchanging experience and expertise, training and technical cooperation, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces General Staff said on Monday. In a statement, it said that, acting on royal instructions, Abdeltif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of National Defence Administration, received Amir Baram, Director General of Israel’s Defence Ministry, at the administration’s headquarters. Baram is on an official visit to Morocco at the head of a large delegation. The statement did not specify when the Israeli official arrived or how long his visit would last. READ: Israeli airline suspends ticket sales to Morocco’s Marrakech over security request It added that the two officials praised the

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Phyllis Bennis: Netanyahu Out, Eisenkot In, Will Israel Change or Remain Genocidal?

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Caroline Rose: Can Trump Escape His Current Quagmire?

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  Iran’s Ghalibaf warns of Israeli plan to drag US into ‘endless war’ with Iran

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that Israel is seeking to drag the United States into an “endless war” with Iran. “Israelis are working overtime to drag the US into an endless war with Iran,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X. He described the conflict as “a quagmire that no president, now or in the future, Republican or Democrat, could escape.” “Unless Washington drops the “Israel First” mindset, America and its allies are headed straight for a dark age,” he warned.  Earlier, Ghalibaf said Americans had voiced their opposition to the war against Iran, expressing support for their message in his first comment on preliminary results from the US midterm congressional elections. “Conscience or the cost of

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  Netanyahu attacks Arab parties as ally seeks to block their support for Eisenkot

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Natan Eshel, a close associate of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeatedly contacted United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas before and after the Israeli elections in an attempt to prevent the party from supporting a government led by Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Monday. According to the report, Eshel repeatedly asked Abbas whether the United Arab List would support Eisenkot in the Knesset and tried to persuade him not to do so, as Netanyahu publicly campaigns against the possibility of the next government relying on Arab parties.  One of the first contacts concerned the conscription law. Eshel asked Abbas whether he would allow Eisenkot to pass the legislation in the Knesset. Abbas replied: “We will

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  UN: Israeli restrictions hamper relief efforts for flood-hit Palestinians in Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip are forcing relief teams to work with inadequate equipment and shelter supplies following floods that have caused deaths, missing people, displacement and material damage, the United Nations said on Monday. UN Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq made the remarks during a press conference in New York. Haq said the Israeli restrictions are forcing humanitarian workers to operate with equipment and shelter supplies that are “completely insufficient”. He quoted Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as calling “for the urgent lifting of all unnecessary restrictions and delays, including those preventing humanitarian organizations from bringing into Gaza enough vacuum trucks, mobile dewatering

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  Egypt’s government refuses to free political prisoners

  by EditorMehdi on November 10, 2026

  The Egyptian presidency’s official website highlights a decision by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi under the headline: “President Issues New Criminal Procedure Code Following Parliament’s Approval and the Removal of Grounds for Objection” (https://h1.nu/1HAfh). The presidential decision, published on 12th November 2025, has yet to take effect, more than a year after its approval and publication in the Official Gazette. The authorities say the delay is due to the need to complete the technical and logistical preparations and training required to implement the law. The delay in implementing the controversial law, which was due to come into force on 1st October 2026, has prolonged the suffering of political opponents and prisoners of conscience held in pretrial detention. Many have spent more

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  Gaza’s UNRWA staff rally against job cuts, demand labor rights

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  UNRWA employees marched in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday,  to protest potential layoffs and demand the protection of their labor rights amid the UN agency’s ongoing financial crisis, Anadolu reports. Organized by the UNRWA Arab Employees Union, the demonstration highlighted concerns that proposed austerity measures will devastate staff livelihoods and disrupt critical services for displaced Palestinians enduring the Israeli blockade. READ: Board of Peace says policy on UNRWA in Gaza remains unchanged Following the march, Palestinian Employees Union head Mustafa el-Gul told reporters that the union categorically rejects any threats to agency personnel, emphasizing that workers must not bear the burden of UNRWA’s financial deficit. Zahir el-Benna, head of the Employees Union Council, described the rally as

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  Russian military aircraft makes ‘unusual’ landing at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  A Russian military aircraft used to transport senior officials and military personnel landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday evening in an “unusual” flight, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Monday. The Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft arrived at the airport under circumstances that remain unclear, with no information available about the identities of its passengers or the purpose of the visit, according to KAN. The broadcaster said no similar landing had been recorded at the airport in recent years. The aircraft departed from Russia’s Chkalovsky Air Base near Moscow and landed at Ben Gurion Airport around 9 pm local time (1900GMT) Sunday, KAN reported. READ: Russia expresses ‘deep concern’ over reports of planned new military action against Iran The plane was

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  Germany calls for more talks with Iran during G7 Paris meeting

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Germany on Monday called for de-escalation and the continuation of indirect talks between the US and Iran to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, Anadolu reports. I have reiterated here that I do not see a military solution to this problem, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters after talks with his G7 counterparts and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Paris. We are firmly in favor of continuing these negotiations between the US and Iran—which are taking place indirectly, he said. Every effort made in this direction is a step in the right direction. In this spirit, we remain in constant contact with all our counterparts in the region. Wadephul urged Iran to demonstrate political will in the

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  Iraqi prime minister made unannounced visit to Tehran for talks on ending Iran-US war: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made an unannounced visit to Tehran on Friday for talks with Iran’s chief negotiator on efforts to end the war between Tehran and Washington, Iranian media reported Monday. Iran’s Fars news agency, citing an informed source, said al-Zaidi and his accompanying delegation met Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, head of Iran’s negotiating team, during a visit lasting several hours. The source said the discussions focused exclusively on Iraq’s diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US war, with no other issues addressed. Qalibaf expressed appreciation for Baghdad’s efforts and outlined Tehran’s two-day proposal, stressing that Washington must respect Iran’s rights under the plan to advance negotiations, according to the report. The visit had not been publicly announced beforehand, and

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  Israeli forces open fire on journalists in southern Syria

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Israeli army forces opened fire on Monday on a group of journalists in a rural area of Syria’s southern Quneitra province as they were documenting Israeli violations, according to Syrian Al-Ikhbariya TV. The incident took place as the journalists “were documenting Israeli violations in the village of Bariqa,” the channel said. Further details were not immediately available. READ: Israeli troops storm school, raid homes in southern Syria

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  Israeli army demolishes house, car showroom in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  The Israeli army demolished a house and a car showroom in the West Bank on Monday, as attacks targeting Palestinian property continue to escalate in the occupied territory, Anadolu reports. Anti-settlement activist Iyad Masharqa told Anadolu that Israeli forces raided the al-Qasr neighborhood in the village of al-Hijra, southeast of Dura in Hebron, and demolished a house covering an area of about 200 square meters. He added that Israeli forces also uprooted several fruit-bearing trees, bulldozed land surrounding the house, and demolished a water well and walls belonging to the homeowner. In East Jerusalem, military bulldozers demolished a car showroom in the town of Hizma. In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces closed the town’s entrances and exits

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  EU urges Israel to ensure full humanitarian access to Gaza amid worsening conditions

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  The EU on Monday urged Israel to ensure full humanitarian access to Gaza, warning that heavy flooding and worsening winter conditions were deepening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, Anadolu reports. “We are aware of the situation in Gaza, and obviously, if you live in the tent and the tent is full of water, the situation gets much more worse,” European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told reporters during a midday briefing in Brussels. She said the EU had repeatedly called on the Israeli government, at every level and opportunity, to allow full humanitarian access to the territory. “Not all the crossings are open for humanitarian aid,” she said, stressing that restrictions were worsening an already critical situation. Hrncirova warned that

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  Syria denies sending troops to Yemen, says military deal with Saudi Arabia excludes deployment

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Monday that his country has not deployed troops to Yemen and has no immediate plans to do so, stressing that a military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia does not include sending Syrian forces to the war-torn country, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi at Tishreen Palace in Damascus, Shaibani said any Syrian military deployment abroad would be publicly announced rather than carried out secretly. “There is no deployment of Syrian forces in Yemen, nor are there any plans to do so in the near future,” he said. Shaibani also reaffirmed Syria’s support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government and condemned threats by the Houthi group against Saudi

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  2.1 million people in Gaza need protection during winter: Palestinian minister

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Around 2.1 million people in the Gaza Strip need protection and humanitarian assistance during winter amid continued displacement, deteriorating living conditions and Israeli restrictions on relief supplies, a Palestinian minister said Monday, Anadolu reports. Social Development Minister Samah Hamad made the remarks during a news conference at the Government Communication Center in Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank. Hamad said approximately 30% of relief and shelter supplies remain stranded at border crossings due to Israeli measures, preventing their delivery to Gaza. She stressed that addressing the humanitarian crisis requires not only funding but also ensuring the entry of relief supplies, shelter materials, winter essentials and repair equipment. Displacement According to Hamad, more than 1.76 million people, representing 84% of

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  Israel issues tender for over 700 settlement units near Bethlehem in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Israeli authorities have issued a tender for the construction of 732 units in the Gvaot settlement west of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, a Palestinian government body said Monday, Anadolu reports. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement that Israeli authorities published the tender Sunday as part of the first phase of a project to expand illegal settlements in the Bethlehem governorate. The tender includes the construction of multistory residential buildings, commercial facilities and public institutions, the commission said, citing the Israel Land Authority’s official records. The commission said bids would be accepted starting Dec. 1, with the submission deadline set for Dec. 28. Israeli authorities also published a separate tender for land designated for commercial

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  Consultancy linked to Trump’s Gaza plans hired to advise on UK’s 10-year strategy: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a US consultancy linked to President Donald Trump’s controversial proposals for Gaza, has been hired to advise on the UK government’s 10-year strategy, local media reported Monday. The Times reported that the firm had been brought in to help develop the long-term plan, which could be scaled back from its original ambitions and delayed until the new year rather than unveiled in December. BCG has faced criticism over its reported involvement in Trump’s proposal to transform Gaza into a so-called “Riviera of the Middle East,” which critics have condemned as a plan to displace Palestinians. READ: Trump adviser, Board of Peace envoy to visit Israel for talks on US Gaza plan: Report The consultancy was also involved

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  The unfinished war that broke the GOP

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Trump has admitted that the war with Iran cost Republicans Congress. His vice president is already negotiating a way out of that war. The lesson for Democrats is not merely that war is bad politics, but that war without consent is unsustainable politics. On 4th November` 2026, Donald Trump acknowledged something notable at the White House: the war he had launched against Iran had helped cost his party both chambers of Congress. “I think that’s largely true,” he said, pointing to the short-term rise in gasoline prices as the reason. But he was not remorseful. He conceded that, if he had to choose again, he would do the same thing. And then he said: “You cannot let Iran have a

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  Iran open to negotiations to end ‘no war, no peace’ situation: President

  by EditorMehdi on November 9, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Tehran remains open to negotiations to end the country’s “no war, no peace” situation, stressing that Iran seeks dialogue with the US based on mutual respect but will not surrender to pressure, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a ceremony, Pezeshkian said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had instructed officials to end the state of “neither war nor peace,” according to a statement published on the Iranian presidency’s website. “We can negotiate with dignity and resolve the issue with dignity. We favor dialogue and negotiations,” he said. Pezeshkian stressed that logic dictates resolving disputes through negotiations rather than war whenever a country’s rights can be secured through dialogue. “However, we will not surrender to force and

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  Gaza floods expose deadly cost of Israel’s aid restrictions, says Medical Aid for Palestinians

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a British health and humanitarian charity, has called on the UK government to sanction those obstructing aid to Gaza, after weekend floods exposed what it calls the catastrophic consequences of Israel’s continued restrictions on shelter, medicine and equipment entering the enclave. Heavy rain and high winds flooded tens of thousands of tents across Gaza over the weekend. Families already living in desperate conditions saw their shelters destroyed and belongings washed away, and could no longer easily reach healthcare. Emergency responders struggled to reach people because of fuel shortages and damaged equipment. MAP says around 65 per cent of Gaza’s population lives in tents or makeshift shelters, and some 950,000 people are in areas at medium

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  Can the Gulf become a global hydrogen hub amid the Iran–US war?

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  The Gulf has spent decades selling oil and gas to the world. Now its governments want to sell something else: low-carbon hydrogen. It is an appealing prospect. The region has plenty of sunshine, deep pockets and companies that know how to build energy projects at scale. But the Iran–US war has brought an uncomfortable question to the surface. What good is producing a cleaner fuel at a competitive price if ships cannot move safely, investors hesitate and customers worry about delivery? The conflict has not made the Gulf’s hydrogen plans irrelevant. It has shown how much those plans still depend on the security of the energy system they are supposed to help transform. A promising business, with strings attached The

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  Trump blames ‘great dislike’ for Israel for election defeat and says ‘Israel would not exist except for Donald Trump’

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel owes its survival to him, saying the countries the United States protected during the war on Iran will repay its full cost, and admitting that “a great dislike, incredibly, for Israel” among American voters helped sink the Republicans in last week’s midterm elections. Trump spoke to Ross Douthat on 60 Minutes, the CBS News current affairs programme, in an interview broadcast last night. It was his first major interview since Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress on 3 November. Asked how the war on Iran would end, Trump said the US-protected countries “are going to pay us back any and all costs that we’ve had for the war. Because without

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  Rubio: Iran’s demands for a settlement are unacceptable, outrageous and unrealistic

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Iran’s demands for a settlement as unacceptable, saying some of them are outrageous and unrealistic, and stressing that talks with Tehran have so far failed to produce meaningful results. “Negotiations right now haven’t been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic,” Rubio told reporters upon arriving in France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers. Rubio stressed that the United States would respond to any Iranian threat against its forces or ships, adding that President Donald Trump is acting to defend US national interests abroad. “The president took on something that other presidents have failed to do,”

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  The cyberwar comes for the refrigerator

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  For years, governments have prepared for cyberattacks on power grids, airports, financial systems, and telecommunications networks. The assumption was straightforward: cyberwarfare would target the infrastructure that keeps nations running. But recent attacks on refrigeration systems in European supermarkets suggest a more unsettling possibility. The next front in cyber conflict may not be critical infrastructure in the traditional sense. It may be the countless ordinary systems that allow modern societies to function without attracting much attention. The target, in this case, was not a military installation, a government ministry, or a strategic energy asset. It was the humble refrigerator. Within weeks, major retailers across France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Sweden reported disruptions to refrigeration systems after cyberattacks interfered with temperature controls. Freezers

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  Water must never be a weapon

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  A farmer in Pakistan’s Punjab does not need to follow international arbitration to know when his crops are at risk. A family beside the Chenab does not need to read diplomatic cables to know what an early flood warning is worth. For both, information about water can decide whether they keep their livelihood, their home or their lives. That information now depends on the state of relations between two nuclear-armed neighbours. On 23rd April 2025, a day after the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, India placed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance”. The attack killed 26 tourists and demands accountability. India says the suspension will last until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends its support for cross-border terrorism. Indian police

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  ‘Toxic’ and ‘radioactive’: Labour MPs turn on Palestine Action ban after 4,000 arrests

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  Labour MPs who backed the ban on Palestine Action now say the government pressured them into voting to list the direct-action group as a terrorist organisation, a decision that has led to almost 4,000 arrests of protesters over the past year and that several now admit has damaged the right to protest in Britain. The Observer reported the MPs’ regret yesterday. It says ministers held a series of meetings in Westminster to bring MPs into line ahead of the Commons vote on 2 July last year. One senior backbencher said the security minister, Dan Jarvis, had assured Labour members that peaceful protesters would not be affected. “That is very clearly not the case,” the MP told the paper. “People who

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  Former Israeli Prime Minister Barak urges Eisenkot to accelerate government formation

  by Marwa A on November 9, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called on Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday to accelerate efforts to form a new government, saying the immediate priority should be replacing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration. Speaking to Israel’s public broadcaster, Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, urged Eisenkot to move quickly in negotiations over the next governing coalition. “Eisenkot must act as quickly as possible,” Barak said. “The most important commitment is to oust Netanyahu; the primary priority is to replace this government,” he added. Barak also expressed openness to including Arab political parties in the next government, arguing that all potential coalition arrangements should be considered. “All options are valid; if Arab parties are part