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

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  The Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza — A Cry at Sea to the World’s Dormant Conscience

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  While the world’s attention has been hijacked by the new American, made-for-Israel war against Iran, a quieter act of resistance is gathering on the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. An act of defiance determined to remind the international community that there is no pause in Gaza’s genocide, and there will be none for those fighting to end it. The Global Sumud Flotilla, (sumud means “steadfast” in Arabic), is now on its 2026 spring mission. International activists boarding close to 100 boats, with Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise providing technical and operational support, are sailing to Gaza under the slogan: We sail until Palestine is free. The goal is clear, and against all odds, to establish a direct maritime corridor to

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  Arizona lawmakers back move to replace “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria” in official use

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  Lawmakers in the US state of Arizona have approved a resolution calling on state institutions to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank” in official documents, in a move that has drawn political attention. According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the measure was recently passed by the Arizona Senate after earlier approval by the state’s House of Representatives, with broad backing in both chambers. The report said the initiative followed lobbying efforts led by Yossi Dagan, in coordination with the council’s foreign relations unit. The legislation was introduced by David Livingston, who promoted the measure after visiting settlements in the occupied West Bank as a guest of Dagan. During legislative discussions, Livingston cited what he described

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  Report: Hezbollah drone tactics expose Israeli gaps despite advanced systems

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  The Israeli newspaper Maariv has reported that Israel’s advanced military capabilities, including the Arrow missile defence system and F-35 Lightning II aircraft, have not prevented operational challenges posed by Hezbollah’s evolving drone tactics in southern Lebanon. According to the report, Israeli military bodies—particularly the Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) and the Directorate of Defence Research and Development (MAFAT)—were unprepared for what it described as a “micro-tactical” threat posed by small, low-cost drones. The newspaper said these drones have been effective in causing casualties among Israeli forces and disrupting operations on the ground. It noted that such threats are not new, with two primary categories identified in military use: drones operated via wireless communication and those controlled through fibre-optic links. READ: Israeli defense

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  Report: 52 Iranian ships breach US blockade within 72 hours

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  Fifty two Iranian vessels have crossed a US-imposed blockade of Iranian waters within a 72-hour period, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported. According to the report, which cited satellite tracking data covering the three days leading up to 10:00 pm local time on Monday, the vessels included 31 oil tankers and 21 cargo ships. The development follows the announcement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on 2nd March that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to maritime traffic, after the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States and Israel on 28th February. The conflict saw exchanges of attacks between Iran and its adversaries, including strikes on Israeli territory and what Tehran described as US-linked sites across the region. A

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  Zelensky warns of sanctions over Israeli purchases of grain taken from Ukraine

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv may impose sanctions over the purchase of grain taken by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories and shipped to Israel. In a statement posted on platform X, Zelensky said a vessel carrying such grain had arrived at a port in Israel and was preparing to unload its cargo, stressing that the shipment “cannot be considered legitimate”. The warning follows an investigation by Haaretz, which reported that a ship carrying grain from Ukrainian territories docked in Haifa Port and waited to unload. According to the report, a Russian cargo ship identified as “Avinsk” had arrived in Haifa about two weeks earlier carrying wheat that Ukrainian authorities say was taken from occupied areas and is

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  Washington studying partial deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  The United States is considering a partial agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report published on Tuesday. A Pakistani official familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that Iran has asked Washington to lift the blockade imposed on its ports in exchange for reopening the strategic waterway to maritime traffic. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, did not clarify whether Tehran would continue to require coordination for ship transit or impose fees on vessels. READ: Iran ties lifting of blockade to reopening Hormuz Strait as US reviews proposal The newspaper said Iran is linking the lifting of the blockade on its ports to reopening the Strait of

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  Israel: Haredi protests escalate with storming of military police chief’s home

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  Haredi protesters stormed the home of the head of Israel’s Military Police in the south of the country on Tuesday evening, in protest against the arrest of draft evaders, in what a Hebrew newspaper described as a “dangerous escalation”. The incident came as part of demonstrations organised by Haredi groups in central and southern Israel. Israeli Army Radio said: “Haredi protesters recently broke into the yard of the home of the head of the Military Police, Brigadier General Yuval Yamin, in Ashkelon, protesting the military police’s arrest of Haredim who had evaded conscription in recent days.” According to Israeli police, around 200 protesters took part in the demonstration outside Yamin’s home. READ: Israel detains 1,800 Palestinian children since Gaza war began

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  Iran ties lifting of blockade to reopening Hormuz Strait as US reviews proposal

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  International mediators are increasing pressure on both Iran and the United States to reach an agreement, with the coming days seen as decisive. This follows a new proposal put forward by Tehran through Pakistan, aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to break the current deadlock in negotiations. Under the Iranian proposal, which Islamabad has conveyed to Washington, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, the naval blockade lifted, and military operations halted, while the nuclear issue would be postponed to a later stage. The move is seen as an attempt to separate urgent matters from more complex and disputed issues, allowing for interim progress that could ease tensions. READ: Report reveals scale of

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  Trump tells aides to prepare for extended blockade of Iran: Report

  by MI on April 29, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Citing US officials, the report said that in recent meetings, Trump opted to continue squeezing Iran’s economy and oil exports by preventing shipping to and from its ports. He assessed that his other options—resume bombing or walk away from the conflict—carried more risk than maintaining the blockade, officials added, the report said. The US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to respond with strikes on what it described as US interests across the region, many of them in Gulf countries. READ: Trump meets national security team to discuss Iran’s proposal: White House A

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  Gulf leaders reject any fees on ships transiting Hormuz, call for free navigation

  by Marwa A on April 28, 2026

  Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have rejected any fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and called for a secure and free navigation in the waterway, the bloc’s secretary-general said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a consultative meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the Gulf leaders rejected Iran’s closure of strait, describing the move as “illegal,” Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said. The leaders also ordered swift steps for building a joint oil and gas pipeline, along with an early warning system to counter ballistic missiles, Albudaiwi added. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passing through it daily prior to the start of the

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  Viral videos believed to show Syria’s Saydnaya prison expose more details of infamous jail

  by Marwa A on April 28, 2026

  Viral video footage believed to show Syria’s infamous Saydnaya prison, one of the worst torture centers used by the ousted regime, have revealed further details from inside the notorious facility, Anadolu reports. The videos, posted by unknown individuals and believed to be from surveillance cameras, show various sections of the prison during the period of the Assad regime, which was deposed in December 2024. The recordings include areas believed to be a waiting room and a camera monitoring center. The images show more than 20 people sitting crouched on the ground with their heads bowed inside an enclosed space described as a waiting room. Another image shows a room with multiple screens, believed to have been used as a control

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  China urges Palestinian issue not to be ‘pushed to the margins’

  by Marwa A on April 28, 2026

  China on Tuesday urged that the Palestinian issue must not be “pushed to the margins under any circumstances,” Anadolu reports. Chinese UN envoy Fu Cong told a UN Security Council meeting that the Palestinian question “is, and always will be, the core of the Middle East issue.” Addressing developments in the Middle East, he said the situation has escalated “dramatically” in recent months, with widespread consequences severely disrupting regional stability and affecting the global economy and energy security. China urged all parties to “seize the window of peace,” exercise maximum restraint, show sincerity and remain committed to a political settlement to avoid reversing progress in ceasefire negotiations and restore stability in the Middle East and Gulf region. He said the

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  Israeli lawmaker from Netanyahu’s party incites against Egyptian army over Sinai drills

  by Marwa A on April 28, 2026

  A Knesset member from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has issued inflammatory remarks against the Egyptian army over military drills in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Anadolu reports. “The exercises and live-fire drills that the Egyptian army announced it will conduct on our border, just 100 meters from communities near the frontier, are nothing but a display of a broader and more alarming picture,” Amit Halevi said in a recorded statement on Monday. He alleged that Egypt is “systematically” violating its decades-old peace treaty with Israel, claiming that Cairo is “building combat infrastructure in Sinai and constructing a large, modern army.” “The paper the agreement was signed on will not protect (Israel) from danger and will not protect residents,” he

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  Ryanair CEO warns if jet fuel prices stay high, European airlines may fail

  by Marwa A on April 28, 2026

  Ryanair’s CEO said Tuesday that some European airlines could fail if jet fuel prices remain elevated through the summer, as the aviation sector faces mounting cost pressure from the Middle East war and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Michael O’Leary told CNBC that budget carrier Ryanair is relatively protected because it hedged 80% of its fuel requirements, but warned that rivals with weaker hedging positions could face “real financial difficulties.” “Jet A-1 was about $80 a barrel in March. It’s now $150,” said O’Leary, adding that if prices remain at that level into July, August, and September, “you’ll see European airlines fail.” The average price of jet fuel rose to $179 per barrel in the week ending

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  Ideas of expulsion: Trump, NATO and Spain

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Intellectual giants are in painfully short supply in the Trump administration, but if there was anyone who might lay claim to cerebral weight of any sort, Elbridge Colby might be one of them.  Self-styled as a China hawk, the US Under Secretary of War for Policy must privately be bemused by the changeling that has become US foreign policy, one now latched onto, yet again, the issues of the Middle East and the shaking tail that is Israel.  President Donald Trump, the man who promised to end wars and terminate the state of permanent conflict the US has found itself in for decades, is sticking to bad habits. These bad habits have not been appreciated by various allies, notably members

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  Israeli court extends detention of Gaza hospital director Abu Safiya ‘without charges’

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  An Israeli court extended Tuesday the detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip, without filing charges against him, amid harsh conditions and denial of medical care, a rights group said, Anadolu reports. Abu Safiya, a pediatric consultant, was detained on Dec. 27, 2024, when Israeli forces raided the hospital in the northern city of Beit Lahia, detaining him at gunpoint after the facility was destroyed and put out of service. “The Beersheba District Court approved Tuesday morning the extension of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya’s detention under the Unlawful Combatants Law without filing any charges, and rejected the defense’s request for his immediate release,” Israel’s Physicians for Human Rights said in a statement.

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  1st Japanese crude tanker crosses Hormuz since start of Mideast conflict

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  A Japanese crude tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the first such transit since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Anadolu reports. The very large crude carrier (VLCC), owned by Japanese refiner Idemitsu, successfully transited the strait after departing Ras Tanura Anchorage of Saudi Arabia on April 17, according to MarineTraffic data. The vessel had been in Saudi Arabia since late February. The Panama-flagged ship is carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil. The first Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker had transited the strait earlier this month. Japan procures about 90% of its energy supplies from the Gulf and was among the first countries to release oil from its strategic reserves. The Strait of Hormuz

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  Trump, the creator of national heroes and global icons

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  There is a delicious irony at the heart of Donald Trump’s presidency. In his relentless pursuit of dominance, he has done something no opposition movement, no editorial board, and no diplomatic summit could have engineered on its own. He has minted heroes. Not reluctant ones, not accidental ones, but leaders of genuine moral stature who rose precisely because the moment demanded it. Trump created the vacuum, and courageous leaders rushed to fill it.  Two figures stand out above the rest: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Different in style, different in circumstance, yet united by the same refusal to perform submission while calling it diplomacy. Trump set the stage. They chose not to exit quietly

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  UAE to withdraw from OPEC, OPEC+

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates announced its decision to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+. The decision will be effective as of May 1, 2026, according to the state-run Emirati News Agency (WAM) on Tuesday. The report said the decision is in line with the country’s long-term strategic and economic vision and the development of its energy sector. The decision also reinforces the UAE’s commitment to its role as a responsible and reliable producer that looks to the future of global energy markets, it added. The UAE has joint OPEC in 1967. READ: Report: Israel deployed Iron Dome in UAE during war with Iran

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  Israel using water access as ‘weapon’ of collective punishment in Gaza, says Doctors Without Borders

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday Israeli authorities are using access to water as a “weapon” of collective punishment against Palestinians in Gaza, urging the immediate restoration of water supplies and unhindered humanitarian access. In a new report, the MSF said repeated restrictions on water access form part of a “systematic and cumulative pattern.” “Israeli authorities know that without water life ends, yet they have deliberately and systematically obliterated water infrastructure in Gaza, whilst consistently blocking water-related supplies from entering,” Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency manager, said. According to the report, nearly 90% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, including desalination plants, pipelines and sewage systems. READ: Former US official: Iran war is direct extension of

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  Ex-Mossad chief ‘ashamed to be Jewish,’ likens occupier violence in West Bank to Holocaust

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo sharply criticized Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, likening recent assaults by the occupiers to the Holocaust, saying he felt “ashamed to be Jewish,” Anadolu reports. Pardo condemned escalating violence by Israeli occupiers against Palestinians, calling it an “existential threat” to the state, the Times of Israel reported. “My mother was a Holocaust survivor, and what I saw reminded me of the events that happened against Jews in the last century,” Pardo said during a tour of Palestinian villages that have come under attack in recent months. “What I saw today made me feel ashamed to be Jewish.” Pardo made the comments to Channel 13 while touring the area alongside former senior military officials,

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  Israeli blockade threatens shutdown of only oxygen plant in northern Gaza

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The Gaza Health Ministry warned Tuesday that the only oxygen generation plant serving Gaza City and the territory’s north is at risk of shutting down due to repeated malfunctions and a lack of alternatives amid a crippling Israeli blockade, Anadolu reports. “The plant is the primary source of supplying patients with medical oxygen, especially those with chronic conditions, in addition to meeting the needs of health-related civil institutions,” the ministry said in a statement. It warned the plant could stop operating due to “repeated breakdowns caused by heavy workload and long operating hours,” in the absence of sufficient alternatives because of the Israeli blockade. The ministry said the shutdown “threatens a disruption in medical oxygen supplies and exposes patients’ lives

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  How the UN maintains Gaza as an exception to the detriment of the Palestinian people

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  “Lebanon cannot be another Gaza,” the UN Secretary General’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said last week in response to a question during a press briefing regarding Israel’s war in Lebanon. Earlier this month, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly spoke about Israel’s plans to extend its non-declared borders into Syria and Lebanon, besides the encroachment already in place and extending in Gaza. Israeli ministers also spoke of applying the same tactics used in Gaza to South Lebanon.  Dujarric’s statement carries as much weight as contradiction in UN rhetoric. Lebanon cannot be another Gaza, and yet, the UN is doing nothing to stop Israel from expanding its borders and increasing its kill toll. On that level, Lebanon is on a par with

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  Former US official: Iran war is direct extension of ‘Greater Israel’ project

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  A former US official, Paul Craig Roberts, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under former President Ronald Reagan, has said that the ongoing wars in the Middle East, particularly the war against Iran, cannot be understood in isolation from what he described as a wider agenda linked to the so-called “Greater Israel” project. In remarks during an appearance on a political podcast, Roberts said that Iran and the wider Islamic world are not directly raising the issue of “Greater Israel” in talks about the future of the Middle East, although he believes it is the central issue driving the conflict in the region. He said that, in his view, Israel has succeeded in pushing US President Donald Trump

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  Ukraine-Israel diplomatic crisis erupts over ‘stolen grain’ shipment

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Ukraine said on Monday evening that it has summoned Israel’s ambassador in Kyiv, Michael Brodsky, for a “reprimand session” on Tuesday morning after Tel Aviv received a Russian grain shipment that Kyiv says was taken by Moscow from Ukrainian territory, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X that “friendly relations between Ukraine and Israel can benefit both countries, and that trade in stolen Ukrainian grain carried out by Russia should not undermine them.”        He added: “is difficult to understand Israel’s lack of an adequate response to Ukraine’s request to refuse entry to a vessel carrying stolen goods in Haifa.” READ: US deploys Ukrainian “SkyMap” system to counter Iranian drones

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  Tehran says EU sanctions have no link to human rights

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that what he described as the “inhuman sanctions” imposed by the European Union on Iran have nothing to do with human rights, stating that they “trample” the basic rights of Iran’s citizens.  In a post on X, Baghaei was responding to remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said, “It is too early to lift sanctions” on Iran. He said: “EU’s inhuman sanctions on Iran were never about ‘human rights’ — they were designed to trample the basic rights of ordinary Iranians. No one is buying this tired moral theatre.”  READ: Report reveals scale of damage to US bases in Gulf after Iranian strikes He added that this “only

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  38 migrants die off Libya coast, including Egyptians, Sudanese, and Ethiopians

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Thirty-eight irregular migrants have died after a boat sank off the coast of eastern Libya, the Libyan Attorney General’s Office said on Monday. In a statement, the office said the victims were on a dilapidated vessel that departed from the city of Tobruk, heading north across the Mediterranean. It added that a human trafficking network had organised the journey using an unsafe boat, which sank before reaching its destination. The victims were of Sudanese, Egyptian and Ethiopian nationalities. The statement said a prosecutor at Tobruk Primary Prosecution Office had launched a wide investigation, identifying those involved in coordinating the smuggling operation. Authorities also seized 300,000 Libyan dinars believed to be proceeds from the crime, and uncovered illegal financial flows through

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  Report reveals scale of damage to US bases in Gulf after Iranian strikes

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  A report by NBC News says Iranian strikes caused billions of dollars in damage to US military assets and bases across the Gulf region. Citing informed sources, the network said runways, advanced radar systems, dozens of aircraft, warehouses, command centres, hangars and satellite communications infrastructure were hit in attacks spanning several countries in the Middle East. The sources said repair costs could reach 5 billion dollars, excluding the cost of fixing radar systems, weapons, aircraft and other equipment that were damaged or destroyed beyond repair. READ: Putin says Russia will support Iran and regional stability to ensure Middle East peace Camp Buehring base in Kuwait was among the affected sites, with early damage reported to an Iranian F-5 aircraft in the

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  Diplomacy by absence: How Donald Trump’s cancelled visits reshaped US engagement in the Middle East

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The cancellation of diplomatic visits by world leaders is rarely a matter of routine scheduling. In international politics, absence can be as meaningful as presence. During the presidency of Donald Trump, several planned visits and engagements involving the Middle East were cancelled or significantly altered. These decisions were not merely logistical; they reflected deeper shifts in US foreign policy and revealed a pattern of strategic disengagement that continues to shape the region’s geopolitical landscape. Diplomatic visits have traditionally served as a cornerstone of international relations. They signal commitment, reinforce alliances and provide opportunities for negotiation and conflict resolution. In the context of the Middle East—where political tensions, security concerns and fragile alliances dominate—such visits carry even greater symbolic and practical

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  Israeli commander warns settler violence in West Bank “could end in disaster”

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The head of the Israeli army’s Central Command, Avi Blot, has warned that escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank “could end in disaster”. Speaking during a meeting with settler leaders, Blot said acts of violence by settlers “endanger lives and threaten security”, according to Israel’s official broadcasting authority. He described the attacks as “illegal and immoral” and cautioned that the situation is approaching “more serious incidents” without elaborating further. Around 750,000 Israeli settlers live across 141 settlements and 224 outposts in the West Bank, including about 250,000 in settlements in East Jerusalem. The Central Command oversees military and security operations across the territory. Human rights organisations say the Israeli army provides protection to settlers during many

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  Israel detains 1,800 Palestinian children since Gaza war began

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The Palestine Centre for Prisoners’ Studies has reported a sharp rise in the detention and abuse of Palestinian children since the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, documenting more than 1,800 arrests of minors, including some as young as 10. In a recent report, the centre said these arrests are not random but part of a systematic policy targeting Palestinian children, within a broader escalation of repression. It added that tens of thousands of children have been detained since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The report noted a significant increase in violations since the start of the war, with harsher forms of abuse and torture against children. It highlighted serious practices

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  Putin says Russia will support Iran and regional stability to ensure Middle East peace

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will continue strengthening its strategic relationship with Iran and “do everything necessary” to support stability and peace across the Middle East. Speaking during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in St. Petersburg, Putin said he had recently received a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “I would like to ask you to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation,” Putin said, adding that Russia intends to maintain and develop its strategic ties with Tehran. READ: US extends sanctions waivers on Iran, Russia He said the Iranian people are “fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty” and expressed hope they would overcome current challenges, with peace prevailing in the country. Putin stressed that Russia

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  Report: Vance blocked alleged Mossad plan involving Kurdish escalation against Iran

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  US Vice President J. D. Vance rejected a proposal attributed to Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad aimed at toppling the leadership in Iran, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. According to the report, the plan—linked to Mossad chief David Barnea—outlined a multi-stage approach beginning with the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior figures, followed by installing an alternative leadership aligned with Israeli interests. The newspaper said a subsequent phase envisioned backing Kurdish movements to advance into Iran, alongside expectations of widespread internal protests. READ: Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people over “glorifying” Iranian attacks The report added that Vance, along with senior White House officials, opposed the proposal despite what it described as initial approval by former US President Donald

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  Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people over “glorifying” Iranian attacks

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Bahrain has stripped 69 individuals of their citizenship over what authorities described as “glorifying Iranian hostile acts”, following attacks launched by Iran during the recent war in the Gulf. In a statement, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior said the decision targeted those who expressed support for Iranian attacks or were involved in espionage with foreign entities. It added that the total number affected, including family members, had reached 69. Authorities said the move was taken under royal directives and in accordance with the country’s nationality law, which allows citizenship to be revoked in cases deemed harmful to the interests of the state or contrary to the duty of loyalty. The statement included the names of those affected, noting they are

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  Palestinian Media Forum welcomes broadcaster boycott of Eurovision over Gaza war

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The Palestinian Media Forum has praised international broadcasters that have chosen to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest, describing the move as a stand “with truth and humanity” amid Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Forum welcomed steps taken by broadcasters in Ireland and Slovenia, saying their actions challenge efforts to use the contest to divert attention from events in Gaza. The Forum highlighted the decision by Ireland’s national broadcaster to fully boycott Eurovision and refrain from airing the event, calling it a “firm political and ethical message” reflecting public opposition to what it described as the use of cultural platforms to obscure Israeli actions. It also commended Radiotelevizija Slovenija for announcing it would replace Eurovision programming

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  Advocacy group says Gaza faces “slow genocide” as famine deepens under Israeli restrictions

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights has said Israel is carrying out a “slow genocide” in Gaza Strip, warning that famine continues to spread as humanitarian access remains severely limited. Speaking in a televised interview, the commission’s head, Salah Abdel-Aati, said the situation has deteriorated sharply, with aid entering Gaza over the past six months not exceeding 40 per cent of residents’ needs. “Famine continues to take hold in the Strip,” he said. Abdel-Aati added that Israeli actions have included violations of the ceasefire and the targeting of civilians, stating that 823 people have been killed over the past six months, most of them women and children, with a further 2,280 reported injured. READ: Global Sumud flotilla sets sail from

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  Israeli defense minister threatens Lebanon with ‘fire that will burn entire country’

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday threatened Lebanon with “fire that will burn the entire country,” two days after Prime Minister ordered military escalation against Beirut, Anadolu reports. “(Hezbollah chief) Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon,” Katz said during a meeting with UN envoy to Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, as cited in a statement issued by his office. The Israeli minister claimed that the Lebanese government “continues to take cover” under the Hezbollah wing. “Fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz warned. He alleged that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was “gambling with the future of Lebanon”, adding that Israel would not accept a situation in which

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  Libya, Greece discuss maritime border demarcation, irregular migration

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  The Libyan foreign minister in the Tripoli-based government, Taher Al-Baour, held talks Monday with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, to disuss maritime border demarcation and bilateral relations, Anadolu reports. Discussions in the Libyan capital dwelt on avenues to expand cooperation in strategic sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and maritime transport, Libya’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The two diplomats also discussed irregular migration, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach based on burden-sharing, enhanced security, technical cooperation, and increased training programs, the statement said. READ: More than 7,600 migrants died or went missing in 2025, UN agency says The talks between the two sides also took up the work of the joint Libyan-Greek technical committee on maritime border demarcation, with the

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  UN reports ‘one of highest volumes’ of Israeli firing incidents south of Blue Line in Lebanon

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  The UN on Monday reported 299 incidents of firing originating from Israeli forces south of the Blue Line in Lebanon, marking “one of the highest volumes” recorded since a ceasefire took effect on April 17, Anadolu reports. Pointing to the Israeli forces’ area of operation, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference that “yesterday, our peacekeepers reported 299 firing incidents originating from south of the Blue Line,” noting that the incident represents “one of the highest volumes since the cessation of hostilities.” Dujarric noted that no rockets were detected traveling from north to south, though UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) observed one projectile interception by Israeli forces. UN peacekeeping forces also reported clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

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  Israel bans 2 prominent Palestinian preachers from Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for 1 week

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Monday banned two prominent Palestinian preachers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for one week, Anadolu reports. In statements, Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib said they were summoned for questioning by Israeli authorities and were handed a one-week ban order from the mosque. “We received an order preventing us from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Salah told reporters. “When asked about our response, we said that Al-Aqsa is a purely Islamic right and we have the right to be there,” he said, denouncing the Israeli ban as “invalid” and “unjust.” Salah called the Israeli ban “an assault on our religion” and “religious persecution,” stressing that the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem has the sole authority

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  Germany: Pro-Palestinian groups show solidarity with detained activists

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied Monday outside a Stuttgart prison in solidarity with five activists facing trial for storming an Israeli arms factory to protest what they described as the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Dozens gathered outside Stammheim Prison, carrying banners that read “From Ulm to Gaza – Freedom for all political prisoners” and “Free the Ulm 5 – Shut Elbit down.” They were protesting the activists’ continued pretrial detention, months after their September 2025 arrest. The trial in Stuttgart marked the first hearing for the group known as the Ulm 5, five activists aged 25 to 40 who hold Irish, British, Spanish, and German citizenship. READ: Germany’s Merz says US has ‘no exit strategy’ in Iran war, calls Tehran

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  Trump meets national security team to discuss Iran’s proposal: White House

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Monday to discuss Iran’s latest proposal, the White House said, Anadolu reports. “I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning … the proposal was being discussed,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing. “I don’t want to get ahead of the president or his national security team. What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well,” she added. Her remarks came amid growing diplomatic efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran following weeks of war

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  UK-based group urges sanctions on 62 Israeli lawmakers over death penalty bill

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  A UK-based advocacy group has urged the British government to impose sanctions on 62 Israeli lawmakers over legislation introducing the death penalty for certain offenses, Anadolu reports. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) said Monday it submitted recommendations to the Foreign Office targeting the parliamentarians over alleged responsibility for serious human rights violations. In its submission, the group argued that lawmakers’ support for the legislation could breach international law, citing concerns over the right to life and protections against cruel or degrading treatment. It called for sanctions under existing UK frameworks, including the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. “The new penal law which exclusively and purposefully targets Palestinians, marks an extreme escalation in Israel’s genocidal policies against

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  US secretary of state says Iran ‘serious’ about deal

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Iran is “serious” about reaching a deal with the US, but any agreement must prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, Anadolu reports. “I think they’re are serious about getting themselves out of the mess that they’re in,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News. He pointed to Iran’s worsening economic conditions, including inflation, difficulties paying wages, as well as ongoing sanctions, saying: “All the problems that Iran had before the start of this conflict are still in place, and most of them are worse.” “We have to ensure that any deal that is made … definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” he added. Rubio’s

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  The US-Israel war on Iran: Objectives, strategy, and escalation management

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  ‘States tend to overestimate themselves or the benefits and swiftness of war, and to underestimate their opponents’ capabilities, intentions, or the costs and duration of war.’ If anything, the 2026 war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran shall be remembered in the annals of warfare among the most visible manifestations of this dynamic.  The war, immediately preceded by the January mass protests in Iran, did not represent a sudden rupture but rather the continuation of a 47-year-long confrontation and a more intense phase of the June 2025 war.  The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, defined the war’s objectives as being laser-focused: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and its security infrastructure, while ensuring that it could never

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  UN chief urges immediate reopening of Strait of Hormuz amid global trade crisis

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled US-Iran peace talks, Anadolu reports. “I appeal to the parties: Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe,” Guterres said at a high-level UN Security Council debate on maritime security. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows—has faced major disruptions since early March after the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28. The war is currently on a halt and efforts to end it permanently are underway. “Since early March, the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has struck

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  Israel withholds Palestinian clearance funds again, deducts $200 million

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israel decided Monday to withhold clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority, and deducted around $200 million this month, worsening a financial crisis facing the Ramallah-based authority, Anadolu reports. A statement from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office claimed that most of the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority this month were deducted to settle outstanding bills. “Out of a total of more than 740 million shekels ($248 million) collected this month, extensive deductions totaling approximately 590 million shekels ($197.7 million) were made,” the statement said. “These funds were redirected to cover the Palestinian Authority’s accumulated debts to the Israel Electric Corporation, water utilities, and environmental bodies,” it added. According to the statement, the remaining balance

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  Germany’s Merz says US has ‘no exit strategy’ in Iran war, calls Tehran ‘skilled negotiator’

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticized the US for lacking an “exit strategy” in the Iran war, while saying the Iranians are “very skilled” negotiators, Anadolu reports. “The problem with such conflicts is always this: You don’t just have to get in; you also have to get out. We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq,” Merz said during a discussion with high school students in the western town of Marsberg. The US “clearly went into this war in Iran without any strategy at all,” German Press Agency DPA quoted the chancellor as saying, adding that this is why it is all the more difficult to end the conflict now. Merz said

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  Germany calls on UN to take responsibility for settling Iran conflict

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Germany’s foreign minister on Monday urged the UN to play a more active role in resolving the conflict involving Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, warning the situation is affecting the global economy, Anadolu reports. “To resolve pressing issues of peace and security, the United Nations must become the linchpin of contemporary conflict diplomacy,” Johann Wadephul said before departing for New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting. He criticized several Security Council members for blocking decisions and said the international community cannot afford such obstruction while facing multiple major conflicts simultaneously. The top diplomat warned that Iran’s blockade of Strait of Hormuz is having a serious impact on global economy, particularly affecting poor countries and putting the

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  Pakistan’s pageant, Washington’s whim, Iran’s refusal

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  There is something almost admirable — artistically, if not morally — about a “breakthrough” engineered to last precisely as long as a news cycle and not a second more. It appears, it trends, it reassures, and then, like a stage prop after curtain call, it quietly disappears. In Islamabad, diplomacy has not failed; it has been rebranded as entertainment. A Field Marshal performs statesmanship with theatrical zeal, a prime minister delivers his lines with the solemnity of a man who knows improvisation is not in his job description, and in Washington, Donald Trump directs the whole production like a conductor who has misplaced both the score and the orchestra. Iran, inconveniently, declines to applaud. Let us retire the comforting myth