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

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  Azerbaijani president approves financial aid for Palestinian Embassy

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday approved a protocol providing financial assistance to the Palestinian Embassy in Azerbaijan, Anadolu reports. The decree approving the protocol was published on the Azerbaijani presidency’s official website. The protocol was signed in Baku on July 10, 2026. Once it enters into force, Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers will take the necessary steps to implement its provisions. The Foreign Ministry was instructed to notify the Palestinian government that Azerbaijan had completed the domestic procedures required for the agreement to take effect. The move follows Aliyev’s July 16 meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, during which the Azerbaijani president reaffirmed Baku’s support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with East Jerusalem

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  Yemen’s army says several Houthi fighters killed, injured in Taiz attack

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Government forces killed and wounded several Houthi fighters Monday in an attack in the southwestern Taiz province, while a soldier was killed in separate clashes, the military said, Anadolu reports. The 35th Armored Brigade said artillery shelling struck a Houthi military vehicle as fighters attempted to infiltrate the Al-Saila area, southeast of Taiz. “A number of Houthi militia members were killed or wounded” in the strike, the brigade said in a statement on Facebook, without giving a specific toll. Separately, the Taiz Military Axis media center said a soldier was killed in clashes with Houthi fighters in the Jabal Habashi district, west of Taiz. There was no comment from the Houthis on the report. On Sunday, the army said five

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  Walking the Tightrope Between Tehran and Riyadh

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Donald Trump threatened Iran with another strike, then called it off within hours — at the request, he said, of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. He now says talks resume today. Tehran says the opposite: no negotiations are under way, and it isn’t even Iran that asked for the pause, whatever Trump claims. Yet Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has spoken twice in the past 24 hours with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. So the real diplomacy is clearly happening, just not where either government wants it seen. Neither Washington nor Tehran can afford to look like it needs the other, so both are working through intermediaries instead — a way

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  Seeking impunity to keep killing Palestinians, Israel objects to Trump Gaza roadmap

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Israel has raised objections to the US-backed roadmap for the disarmament of Palestinian factions and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The occupation state is seeking the right to continue military operations in the enclave while the agreement is implemented. The roadmap, announced by US President Donald Trump and his Board of Peace, calls for weapons held by Palestinians to be decommissioned gradually as Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza in corresponding phases. Read: Israel rejects mediators’ Gaza proposal, insists on Hamas disarmament: Yedioth Ahronoth There is disagreement over the sequencing, with Hamas insisting that disarmament should proceed alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal, while Israel says it will not withdraw until the Palestinian group has fully disarmed. Two sources familiar

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  Between Tehran’s Defiance and Trump’s Volatility: When Falsehood Becomes Political Reality 

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  The world today feels as if it is being governed by two master fabulists—Tehran and Donald Trump—each bending reality in his own way, each forcing the geopolitical arena to treat falsehood as fact and denial as statecraft. When Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, declares that “there are currently no negotiations with the United States,” he is not refuting a claim; he is announcing a doctrine. In Iran’s political lexicon, truth no longer defines the boundaries of policy. Falsehood is no longer a tactic—it is the architecture of governance. Trump’s relationship with truth operates on a different axis. He lies openly, repeatedly, and with full awareness that the world is watching. His contradictions are not accidents; they are instruments of

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  Prabowo’s false claim about Iran’s nuclear weapons will cost him in the Middle East

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  On 1 August, at a business forum in Jakarta, President Prabowo Subianto told a room of executives that Iran already has nuclear weapons, and that a chain reaction was now underway across the region. His exact words, as reported, were: “It is said that Iran already has nuclear weapons. Now Saudi Arabia wants one too. If Saudi Arabia wants nuclear weapons, it’s possible the UAE will also want them, Qatar will also want them, Egypt will also want them.” He did not say who told him Iran had the bomb, and offered no evidence for the domino effect he predicted across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Egypt. He simply stated all of it as common knowledge, in front of

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  Ceuta shows how the worldwide migrant crisis has been weaponised by propagandists. 

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Stark images of thousands of migrants swarming across Africa’s border with Europe during the Ceuta crisis appeared heaven sent for far-right polemicists. They constructed dismal reactions within hours of Morocco allowing the young and fit to get into the Spanish exclave. Cameramen were all conveniently on hand to record last Friday’s drama, as the notoriously dishonest politicians emoted to order. “Make no mistake, these men are on their way to the UK right now,” former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman posted on X, in a manner that was as untruthful as it was inflammatory. Priti Patel, a politician with a shameful record for corruption, who once held the same position as Braverman, also claimed they would “inevitably try to make their way to the UK”. In fact, none

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  Morocco says 40,000 took part in mass crossing attempt to Spain’s Ceuta, 11 died

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Morocco’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday that the latest mass attempts to cross into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla were driven by misleading information on social media and human trafficking networks. In a statement, the ministry said the evidence gathered and analysed showed that the incidents were not the result of temporary or spontaneous factors, but rather the outcome of several overlapping factors, according to Reuters. The ministry said the main factors included the deliberate misuse of digital platforms, the spread of false information, the activities of human trafficking gangs, and the misinterpretation of legal and administrative procedures. It added that about 40,000 people took part in the mass crossing attempt into Ceuta, while 1,135 people were prevented

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  From the Gulf to the Mediterranean: Energy infrastructure in the line of fire

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  On 29th July 2026, a suspected drone struck the Energos Winter, a US-owned floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), at Egypt’s Damietta port. The resulting fire spread to the nearby Gaslog Salem. Both crews were evacuated, the fire was contained, and no casualties were reported. Maritime security firms Ambrey and Vanguard identified a drone or unidentified projectile as the likely cause. Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry confirmed fires aboard two vessels but did not confirm a drone strike or identify the cause. No group had claimed responsibility at the time of writing. The incident should therefore be described as a suspected drone attack rather than a conclusively attributed strike. The Energos Winter has a storage capacity of 138,250 cubic meters and is

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  Israel’s Katz dismisses Central Command chief live on air, says his control is ‘absolute’

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz dismissed the head of the Israeli military’s Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, during a live television interview on Sunday, insisting that his control over the military establishment was “absolute”. Israeli media reports described the move as politically motivated. Speaking to Israel’s right-wing Channel 14 television station, which is particularly popular among the Haredi community, Katz announced that Dado Bar Kalifa would replace Bluth as commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command. The announcement came after Katz reportedly pressured the Central Command chief during a security meeting to stop issuing administrative orders restricting the movements of extremist Israeli settlers. According to Israeli Army Radio, Katz also paid a “lengthy visit” to extremist settler Tal Yinon

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  Rights group issues international appeal for release of Ghannouchi and political prisoners in Tunisia

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  The Geneva-based Association of Victims of Torture (AVTT) has issued an international appeal demanding the immediate and unconditional release of opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and other political prisoners in Tunisia. In a statement, the association said that, “In light of the serious deterioration in the health of Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi, the former Speaker of the dissolved Tunisian parliament, and the growing threats to the lives, health and safety of a number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Tunisia, we are issuing this urgent appeal to the Tunisian authorities, the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and all international and regional bodies concerned with protecting human rights.” It urged those authorities and institutions to take immediate action

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  Sudan’s Burhan chairs first security meeting after army gains in North Kordofan

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Sunday chaired the country’s first security meeting since the army regained control of several areas in North Kordofan State, where officials reviewed the security situation and the progress of military operations. In a statement, the Sovereign Council said the meeting was held in the capital, Khartoum, following the army’s recapture of several areas in North Kordofan. The council said it reviewed the overall security situation across the country, assessed the progress of military operations, and discussed measures aimed at strengthening security and stability. It also reviewed the plans and readiness of the armed forces, other security agencies and supporting forces to defend the country and protect its security and sovereignty. The council,

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  Saudi Arabia and Iran discuss efforts to reduce regional tensions

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions during a phone call on Sunday. The call was received by Prince Faisal from Araghchi, according to a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry. The ministry said the two ministers reviewed “the latest developments in light of the current situation”, alongside diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation. Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continuing its regional role in promoting security and stability in a way that serves the shared interests of all countries and peoples in the region. READ: Iran says talks with Oman on Strait of Hormuz ‘nearing completion’

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  Armed Israeli settlers attack Armenian Church in occupied Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on August 3, 2026

  Armed Israeli settlers attacked the Armenian Church in Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday evening, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. In a statement, the governorate said a group of settlers threw stones at the church and collectively spat at its entrance. According to Palestinian figures, around 750,000 Israeli settlers live in 156 settlements and 360 settlement outposts across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. The figures say settlers have carried out repeated attacks aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians. READ: Israeli attacks kill 18 Palestinians across Gaza despite ceasefire

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  Iran says talks with Oman on Strait of Hormuz ‘nearing completion’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday negotiations between Iran and Oman over the management of the Strait of Hormuz are “nearing completion.” Araghchi briefed the Cabinet on the latest status of negotiations between Tehran and Muscat, noting progress in the discussions, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. He said the negotiations are “nearing completion and in their final stages,” without providing further details. Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the talks were bilateral and “do not concern any other party,” according to the semi-official Fars news agency. “The issue of Iran and Oman holding talks to reach a mechanism that safeguards our interests is not new and has been under discussion for a long time,” he said. Baqaei

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  Egyptian foreign minister, Board of Peace envoy discuss next phase of Gaza ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the Board of Peace envoy Nikolay Mladenov on Sunday discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and arrangements for the next phase of the ceasefire plan, Anadolu reports. During a phone call, the two officials reviewed negotiations aimed at completing the implementation of commitments under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement. Abdelatty stressed “the importance of fulfilling all commitments under the plan’s first phase, including ensuring the full, safe and sustainable delivery of humanitarian assistance and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by early recovery and reconstruction.” The two sides also discussed arrangements for the coming phase. READ: Israeli attacks kill 18 Palestinians across Gaza despite ceasefire

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  Trump postpones Iran escalation following Gulf diplomatic pressure: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has temporarily delayed a planned major military escalation against Iran following high-level diplomatic pressure from key Gulf allies, according to reports on Sunday. The decision followed a pivotal phone call from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who urged de-escalation and requested clarity on Washington’s “plan of action,” Axios reported. The Wall Street Journal noted that Gulf countries have grown increasingly frustrated with the perceived lack of a clear US strategy as the war continues to subject their territories to frequent Iranian retaliatory strikes. READ: Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran to allow for talks on peace deal While Saudi Arabia led the push for dialogue, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reportedly lobbied the US president

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  Hamas says Israel escalating Gaza attacks to derail ceasefire understandings

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Hamas accused Israel on Sunday of deliberately escalating its attacks on the Gaza Strip to derail understandings reached with mediators and the US administration on completing implementation of the ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Palestinian group said Israeli attacks since Sunday morning had killed more than 18 Palestinians and “wiped out” entire families. The bombardment constituted “a deliberate escalation by the government of war criminal Netanyahu, aimed at obstructing the understandings reached with the mediators, including the US administration, to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” it said. READ: Israeli attacks kill 18 Palestinians across Gaza despite ceasefire Hamas called on the mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire agreement to “assume their responsibilities,” condemn the Israeli attacks

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  Libyan leaders discuss advancing political process to end transitional phases

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Libyan Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi and High Council of State President Mohamed Takala discussed Sunday ways to advance the country’s political process and end its prolonged transitional phases, Anadolu reports. The talks marked their first meeting since Takala was reelected Wednesday to lead the High Council of State for a fourth one-year term, according to a statement by the Presidential Council. The meeting addressed efforts to reach a “comprehensive, consensual settlement that would bring all transitional phases to an end and complete national entitlements in a way that fulfills the Libyan people’s aspirations for security, stability and development,” the statement said. The two officials also reviewed the latest political, economic and security developments and stressed the importance of continued

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  Israeli attacks kill 18 Palestinians across Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Israeli attacks killed at least 18 Palestinians, including three children and an unborn baby, and wounded several others across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, in the latest violations of the ceasefire that has been in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. The attacks came two days after US President Donald Trump and the Board of Peace announced an agreement to implement the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. A medical source at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said three Palestinians (a husband and wife and their daughter) were killed and three others injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment in the Al-Qarara area northwest of the city. The strike hit an apartment belonging to

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  Iran denies seeking halt to US attacks, agreement to reopen Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Iranian military officials on Sunday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran had asked for a halt to a planned US attack as a “lie,” as sources denied reports of an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Trump’s claim that Iran asked for the attacks to be halted is merely another lie and a desperate attempt to blackmail Gulf rulers and pressure them through threats,” the officials were quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. They said Iranian forces remained at the “highest level of readiness” and were prepared for all possibilities. “If confrontation becomes inevitable, the battlefield will be decisive,” the officials said. “At that point, everyone will understand who holds the power and who will have

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  5 Lebanese soldiers injured in Israeli attack in south, military says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Five Lebanese soldiers were wounded Sunday in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, the army said, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the soldiers sustained minor injuries in the town of Kafra in Bint Jbeil while escorting civilians in an army vehicle. The army did not provide further details on the circumstances or the type of strike and there was no comment from the Israeli army yet. Separately, Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli forces detonated explosives in the town of Kounine in Nabatieh, with the blasts heard across several areas in southern Lebanon. The agency also reported explosions shortly after midnight in the vicinity of the town of Haddatha, also in the Bint Jbeil district. READ: Israeli violations in Lebanon may

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  Comparing Israel to Nazi regime is not a criminal offense, German court rules

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  A German court ruled that comparing Israel to the Nazi regime is not a criminal offense, the legal website beck online reported, Anadolu reports. In the case, in several Instagram posts, a user had compared the actions of the state of Israel to the methods of the Nazi regime—and in doing so used the Nazi swastika and the Nazi party flag. Citing her right to freedom of speech, a higher regional court in the southwestern city of Zweibruckem has acquitted her of any wrongdoing, according to the report published earlier this week. According to the court, the criminal offense of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations is not fulfilled if someone uses the symbols to sharp criticize the state of Israel’s methods

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  Former Israeli premier says Trump ignores Netanyahu, Gaza framework sidelines Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that a new Gaza framework sidelines Israel, arguing that US President Donald Trump “no longer” places much weight on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu reports. ​​​​​​​“The agreement’s language is highly ambiguous, but the general direction is clear. Israel and its demands are being ignored,” Barak said in an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster KAN. He claimed that the framework does not require the complete disarmament of Hamas, the removal of weapons from the Gaza Strip or the exile of the group’s leadership. “Instead, it speaks about ending assassinations and returning to control over 53% of the Gaza Strip instead of 65%,” he said. Barak described the situation as “a painful reality.” “The painful

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  Israeli forces search civilians in new incursion into southern Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Israeli forces carried out a new incursion into Syria’s southern Quneitra province on Sunday and set up a temporary checkpoint to search civilians and passing vehicles, according to the Syria Arab News Agency (SANA), Anadolu reports. A patrol of three Israeli military vehicles advanced along the Al-Hiran–Al-Rafid Road in the southern countryside of Quneitra, where troops established a checkpoint to inspect passersby and vehicles, SANA said. No arrests or clashes were reported. The latest incursion came a day after the Israeli army raided and searched a house in Wadi al-Ruqqad in the western countryside of neighboring Daraa province, according to Syria’s Alikhbariah TV. The broadcaster did not provide further details about the operation. Southern Syria has witnessed recurring Israeli incursions and

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  Israeli occupiers cut power to West Bank town as army arrests 5 Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Sunday cut electricity to a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank by attacking power infrastructure, while the Israeli army arrested five Palestinians during raids across several areas, Anadolu reports. Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that a group of occupiers attacked Madama in the northern West Bank, near the city of Nablus, cutting and damaging electricity poles, causing power outages in the northern part of the town. In a separate incident, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians after raiding eastern Nablus and searching their homes, Wafa said. Israeli forces also raided the nearby town of Tel, southwest of Nablus, searching several homes without making any arrests, according to the agency. READ: Israeli defense minister says government approved 104 illegal

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  Football lucre: The revolt against Infantino’s funding plans

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  It is a stew of inedible quality.  But eat it we are expected to do.  Consider the stomach-churning ingredients.  FIFA, an opaque organisation of mafia qualities that governs world football.  Add to the mix crawling-to-power President Gianni Infantino, a preposterous darling of authoritarian favour.  Mix in his cringeworthy, very public association with US President Donald Trump, peace prize and all.  And money. Money, money and some.  Will that contaminated mix set? Not happy with the loot secured from the just concluded Men’s World Cup, stained by criminally high-ticket sales and returns from the secondary market, Infantino was onto another venture.  This one, largely kept from most of the organisational cadres of FIFA and virtually everybody else, would involve the creation

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  Trump reaffirms Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Saturday reaffirmed Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, saying that “any other path” to resolving the dispute is “unacceptable,” Anadolu reports. “The United States has been clear: we recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, and we support Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution,” Trump said in a message to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. “Any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable. This urgently needed solution will not only bring peace to the region but prosperity and greater integration for all of Africa. This dispute must end now, and the United States will continue to drive progress toward that end.” READ: Morocco

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  Gaza Health Ministry warns medical system nearing collapse after Israel destroys drug warehouse

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Gaza’s Health Ministry warned Saturday that the enclave’s medical system is rapidly approaching collapse after Israeli forces destroyed a drug warehouse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, amid severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, Anadolu reports. Earlier Saturday, the ministry said the Israeli army destroyed two warehouses containing essential medicines and medical supplies and severely damaged two others in strikes on storage facilities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, told Anadolu that Israeli attacks were no longer limited to patients, medical staff and hospitals but had expanded to include medicine warehouses. “The Israeli occupation targeted the drug warehouse of the kidney department behind the outpatient building at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after prior notification,

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  Egypt steps up contacts to implement Cairo understandings on Gaza ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Egypt has intensified contacts with the parties involved to advance implementation of the Cairo understandings on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Egyptian sources said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Egypt’s Al Qahera News channel quoted the sources as saying Cairo is holding “intensive contacts” regarding the implementation of understandings reached by the mediators and Palestinian factions to complete the agreement. The sources said a meeting involving the mediators will be held soon in Cairo to reaffirm all parties’ commitment to implementing the agreement’s provisions. They added that Hamas and other Palestinian factions are engaging positively with Egypt’s efforts and those of the other mediators, expressing hope that successful implementation of the agreement would pave the way for the reconstruction of

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  Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran to allow for talks on peace deal

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after Tehran and “other Middle Eastern countries” requested time to finalize the framework of a peace deal, saying Israel has joined the commitment, Anadolu reports. In a post on his proprietary social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that the sides agreed to the “perimeters” of a potential deal that would include the “immediate, complete, and total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Trump said he agreed to cancel the attack “for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran,” adding that the decision is subject to the parties being able

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  Israeli media say 10 more US refueling aircraft heading to Ben Gurion Airport

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Ten additional US aerial refueling aircraft are on their way to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, bringing the number stationed there to 40, Israeli media reported Saturday, Anadolu reports. The Calcalist newspaper said the aircraft are expected to join 30 US refueling planes already parked at the airport. It cited the Israel Airports Authority, which said the unusually large number of military aircraft has placed a significant operational burden on the airport, causing civil flight delays of around two hours in recent days, with disruptions expected to worsen once the additional aircraft arrive. The report noted that the airport typically experiences its busiest travel period during July and August. READ: Israeli airstrike destroys medical warehouses near hospital in central Gaza Israel’s Transportation Ministry

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  152 killed in Gaza in July, highest monthly death toll this year: Gaza’s Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday that 152 people were killed in the enclave during July, marking the highest monthly death toll recorded since the beginning of this year, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said data from its Health Information Center showed a sharp increase in fatalities across the Gaza Strip during the past month, with 152 people killed in various governorates. The ministry said the victims included 21 children, 14 women and four elderly people, saying the figures reflected the direct impact of the continued escalation on civilians and densely populated residential areas. READ: Board of Peace sets $400M limit for Gaza administration’s financial commitments Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israel has continued to

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  Saudi crown prince voices concern to Trump about reported Iran strike plans: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman voiced concern Saturday during a call with US President Donald Trump about reported plans for new large-scale strikes on Iran, said two US officials and another source familiar with the conversation, according to the Axios website, Anadolu reports. The call came as the US is reportedly preparing a large-scale attack on Iran. The development followed security alerts issued by US embassies in the Middle East warning Americans of “unforeseen escalation,” a day after Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard.” READ: Saudi US lobbying boosted with ex-House Foreign Affairs chair in its team Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, warned in calls with his Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi counterparts that any “aggression” by the US and

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  Hundreds protest in Sweden’s Stockholm against Israeli attacks on Gaza, West Bank

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The demonstration, held at Odenplan Square, called for an immediate ceasefire. Carrying Palestinian flags, demonstrators marched with banners reading “There is a massacre in Palestine,” “There is genocide in Gaza,” and “Immediate permanent ceasefire for Gaza.” Israeli Knesset member Ofer Cassif addressed the rally via video link, criticizing the Israeli government’s policies toward Palestinians. Citing Israeli philosopher and scientist Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Cassif said the scholar had warned that when a state elevates military power and territorial expansion above all else, it risks moral collapse. Leibowitz also warned that such a mindset could give rise

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  Israeli occupiers torch Palestinian vehicle, attack home in southern West Bank

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian vehicle and attacked a home near the town of Surif, north of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, early Saturday, according to a local resident, Anadolu reports. Ali Ghneimat told Anadolu that occupiers “attacked the outskirts of Surif from the direction of the Etzion settlement” at around 2.30 am local time (2330GMT Friday). “They set fire to one vehicle and attempted to burn another,” he said. The occupiers also “attacked a house and attempted to set it on fire,” but residents gathered in its courtyard thwarted the attack, Ghneimat said. He added that the assault caused fear and panic, particularly among women and children. Residents of the area remain in a constant

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  Israeli police disperse protest by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli police on Saturday dispersed a protest by ultra-Orthodox Jews in central Jerusalem against a cafe opening during the Jewish Sabbath, Anadolu reports. Haredi protesters broke through police barriers outside the Basmta cafe on Agripas Street, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The protesters clashed with patrons of the cafe who had formed a human chain at its entrance. Footage showed some patrons pulling the prayer shawls, known as tallit, worn by protesters who attempted to enter the cafe. Police intervened and used batons to disperse the demonstrators. Yisrael Beiteinu party leader and Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman arrived at the site. As he left, protesters shouted: “Lieberman, go back to communist Russia.” Lieberman was born in 1958 in Chisinau, the capital

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  EU chief says Ceuta migrants returned to Morocco, calls for stronger border controls

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Saturday that the vast majority of people who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta illegally had returned to Morocco following joint efforts by Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement authorities, Anadolu reports. “The good news is that the vast majority of those who arrived illegally have returned to Morocco, due to the effective work of Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement. Not a single person reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU,” von der Leyen said on the US social media company X. Von der Leyen said she held a conference call with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and for Demography

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Dalton: The Escalation Trap: How Long Can It Go On?

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern & Larry Johnson 

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  The long shadow of 1973: Why “energy memory” is reshaping global diplomacy

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Crises end. Institutions remember. On an autumn morning in October 1973, motorists across Europe and North America queued for hours outside petrol stations, uncertain whether fuel would still be available. Governments imposed rationing, reduced speed limits and introduced emergency measures that reshaped economic life. Although the immediate crisis faded, the institutions and strategic doctrines created in response continue to influence global energy policy more than fifty years later. The legacy of the 1973 oil embargo extends far beyond temporary shortages or price shocks. It fundamentally altered how governments understood vulnerability. Energy crises rarely disappear when markets stabilise; they survive in strategic reserves, infrastructure, alliances and national security doctrines. States do not simply recover from existential shocks—they institutionalise them. This article

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  Israeli airstrike destroys medical warehouses near hospital in central Gaza

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli fighter jets struck medical warehouses near a hospital in the central Gaza Strip early Saturday, destroying at least half of the facilities and extensively damaging nearby tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, witnesses said. Witnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army targeted the warehouses next to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, completely destroying two of them and the critical medical supplies within and setting fire to dozens of tents erected nearby. The attack caused fear and panic among patients, displaced people, and residents in the vicinity of the hospital, they added. There were no immediate reports of casualties. According to the witnesses, the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for the area only minutes before the strike. READ: US Embassy

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  US Embassy in Jordan urges citizens to consider leaving Middle East

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  The US Embassy in Jordan on Saturday urged Americans to consider leaving the Middle East if regional tensions escalate. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” the embassy said in a security alert on US social media company X. It also advised Americans outside the Middle East to “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.” The embassy warned that “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas” and described the situation in the Middle East as “fluid.” “U.S. Embassy Amman advises all Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan,” it added, urging citizens to

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  Palestinian Resistance Literature Under Occupation: 1948 – 1968

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Assassinated in Lebanon by Israel in 1972, Palestinian intellectual Ghassan Kanafani is mostly renowned for his anti-colonial resistance, political writings and works of literary fiction. Palestinian Resistance Literature Under Occupation: 1948 – 1968 (Verso Books, 2026) brings another aspect of Kanafani’s work to an English-speaking public; a deep historical critique of Palestinian literature in the first two decades since Israel established its colonial presence on Palestinian land. Drawing upon several Palestinian writers, their poetry, short stories and plays, Kanafani provides an analysis of cultural resistance in Palestinian literature, and shows that it is just as vital as armed struggle against colonial rule. In the foreword, Rashid Khalidi  notes that despite Kanafani’s distance from occupied Palestinian lands in 1948 as he

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  Iran’s missile campaign exposed the limits of Western deterrence

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  On 28th February, 2026, Iran launched Operation “True Promise-4,” a wave of ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli airspace. The strikes were in response to the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, which saturated the most heavily protected skies until even success became unaffordable for their adversaries. Iran went into the war with the most sophisticated ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, including the solid-fuel Fateh family, hypersonic-adjacent Fattah-1 and older Shahab-3 variants. It fired over one hundred heavy missiles in each wave; analysts called it “volumetric saturation”– overwhelming the target with more missiles than any interceptor network could handle. Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling and long-range Arrow defence systems had created the most multi-layered air-defence system ever

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  RSF unit surrenders to Sudanese army with full military equipment

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  A unit of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) surrendered to the army on Friday, handing over its personnel and full military equipment, according to the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA). The agency said the force belonged to the RSF’s “Group 26” but did not specify the number of fighters involved or the type of equipment surrendered. It said the group was received by Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as Al-Nour al-Qubba, alongside senior officers from the Sudanese army and the General Intelligence Service. Al-Nour al-Qubba, one of the RSF’s founding members, defected to the army in April after previously serving among the paramilitary’s senior commanders and taking part in the battles for El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, which

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  Spain says over 48,300 migrants have returned to Morocco from Ceuta

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  More than 48,300 of the approximately 50,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta since early Thursday have returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, Spain’s Interior Ministry said, according to EFE news agency. EFE reported that the figures, compiled as of 3.30 pm local time (1330GMT), followed an earlier ministry statement that returns from Ceuta to Morocco were taking place at a rate of about 150 people per minute. Despite the large number of departures, thousands of migrants remained in different neighborhoods of Ceuta with no clear destination, according to the report. READ: Ceuta crisis sparks online speculation over Israel’s role in pressuring Spain EFE said hundreds of migrants were heading toward the border Friday afternoon to return to Morocco,

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  UK welcomes Gaza disarmament deal, urges Israeli withdrawal

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Britain on Friday welcomed the agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza and called for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, Anadolu reports. “The focus must now be on implementing the 20-Point Plan in full. This includes the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and respect for the ceasefire by all parties,” Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. Miliband said conditions for people in Gaza remain “appalling.” “Israel must immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid so that more food, medicine and support can reach those who need it,” he said. Miliband said the international community must work toward a viable peace, with the State of Palestine and the State

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  Trump says US will hit Iran ‘very hard,’ wants to ‘win’ war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington will continue striking Iran “very hard,” adding that the US wants to “win” the war, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Maryland, Trump said: “We just want to win. We’re doing very well. We’re trying to be as nice as you can be in a situation like that. But they’re being decimated.” “It’s very simple,” he said, adding: “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.” “We’ll be hitting Iran very hard, and at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore’,” Trump added. READ: Axios: Reported rift between Vance and Netanyahu deepened over Iran diplomacy and war The US president also

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  Lebanese president says Israeli blasts at Beaufort Castle threaten framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, saying powerful explosions at the historic Beaufort Castle constituted a dangerous escalation that directly threatened the implementation of the US-mediated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Aoun denounced what he described as ongoing Israeli violations, particularly explosions targeting infrastructure and archaeological sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, saying they caused extensive damage across southern Lebanese villages and endangered civilians. He said the powerful explosions recorded Friday at Beaufort Castle generated seismic waves equivalent to a 3.8-magnitude earthquake, according to Lebanon’s National Center for Geophysics. Aoun described the blasts as “a highly dangerous escalation” and

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  UN chief urges Israel, Hamas to implement Trump-announced Gaza deal without delay

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged Israel and Hamas to fully implement the Gaza agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. “The only good news in recent days is the announcement by the US president of an agreement for Hamas to relinquish their weapons and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza,” Guterres said at a news conference in New York. His remarks came after Trump and the Board of Peace announced an agreement on implementing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with the Board saying Hamas had approved a detailed roadmap. Israel has yet to officially endorse it. Responding to a question about reports that Israel remains skeptical of the arrangement and has indicated