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

• 
  Hamas delegation in Cairo to meet Egyptian officials, mediators on implementation of Gaza deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  A delegation of Hamas is set to have talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and mediators on implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the group said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The delegation’s agenda prioritizes stopping escalating Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip and the daily killing and assassination crimes,” said Taher al-Nunu, political adviser to the head of Hamas. “Hamas would also seek guarantees that Israel allows the entry of Gaza’s full needs, including materials required to repair hospitals, bakeries and infrastructure, and implements the remaining terms of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement,” he added. The Cairo talks would continue discussions on a roadmap prepared by Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace high representative for Gaza, in cooperation with mediators for the

• 
  Commercial ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz rises more than 50% over past week

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rose more than 50% from the previous week amid ongoing negotiations following a temporary deal between the US and Iran, Anadolu reports. Negotiations between the two countries remain fragile despite the deal reached on June 14, which took effect on June 18. Before the war broke out at the end of February, an average of 130 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz each day. Following a virtual standstill after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation, maritime traffic through the strategic waterway has begun to recover following the US-Iran deal. Despite the recent increase, traffic through the strait remains around 70% below pre-war levels. Industry representatives remain cautious about

• 
  Iran says officials to meet Qatari mediators in Doha on US deal implementation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Iranian negotiators will meet Qatari mediators in Doha on Wednesday to discuss implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, Tehran said Tuesday, ruling out direct talks with the US, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Doha discussions will focus on implementing clauses of the memorandum, according to the country’s official broadcaster IRIB. “What will be done in Doha tomorrow (Wednesday) is a discussion about the implementation of clauses of the memorandum of understanding, including the release of Iran’s frozen assets, which is with the Qatari side,” Baghaei said. He stressed that Tehran has no plans to meet the American side in the coming days. “Basically, we have no plans to

• 
  Israeli opposition slams Netanyahu over silence after ultra-Orthodox leaders brand army ‘teacher of gravest sins’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “complete silence” following inflammatory remarks made during an ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protest, including claims that “the army teaches the gravest sins” and that “Israel is impure,” Anadolu reports. The criticism comes amid escalating tensions over the conscription of Haredi Jews into the Israeli military, which is facing manpower shortages while fighting on multiple fronts for more than 1,000 days. Hundreds of Haredi protesters gathered Monday night in Bnei Brak to demonstrate against the detention of ultra-Orthodox men who refused compulsory military service. During the rally, Rabbi Aryeh Yezdi criticized Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and urged religious seminary students not to comply with military draft orders. READ: Israeli minister proposes

• 
  Lebanese president, army chief discuss troops’ role after framework agreement with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday discussed the army’s upcoming responsibilities with Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal following the US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at ending the war, Anadolu reports. A Lebanese presidency statement said Aoun received Haykal and was briefed on the outcomes of the army commander’s recent visits to Türkiye and the UK, which focused on military cooperation. They also reviewed the country’s security situation and discussed the army’s upcoming missions in light of the results of the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations and the framework agreement to end the war in Lebanon, the presidency said. On Friday, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-brokered framework agreement providing for “a phased” Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, beginning

• 
  Israeli army closes charity headquarters in occupied West Bank city of Nablus

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  The Israeli army closed the headquarters of the Attadamun Charitable Society in the northern occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, claiming it “supports terrorism,” local sources said. Israeli forces stormed Nablus at dawn with military vehicles and trucks, raided the charity’s headquarters and confiscated its contents, including office equipment and aid designated for poor families, local sources told Anadolu. The forces closed the entrance to the building and posted a military order stating that the association was being shut down on the grounds of “supporting terrorism,” the sources said. Speaking to Anadolu after inspecting the charity’s headquarters, Nablus Gov. Ghassan Daghlas said “the [Israeli] occupation will fail in its policy of targeting charitable institutions that provide services to

• 
  Several arrested after Moroccan fans’ World Cup celebrations in Dutch cities

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Several people were arrested after celebrations by Moroccan supporters overnight Monday after the national team’s World Cup victory over the Netherlands led to disturbances in several Dutch cities on Tuesday, according to Dutch outlet NU.nl. Hundreds of supporters gathered in The Hague’s Schilderswijk district after Morocco advanced to the round of 16 following a penalty shootout victory over the Dutch team. The celebrations initially included fireworks, Moroccan flags, motorists sounding their horns, and people dancing in the streets. Dutch police said officers were later targeted with fireworks and stones, prompting the deployment of a water cannon to disperse a group gathered on Vaillantlaan, a main road in the district. READ: Netherlands commemorates Palestinian children, journalists killed in Israeli attacks Police said

• 
  Israeli rabbi urges army to stay in Lebanon, claims Lebanese territory belongs to Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Israeli Rabbi Eliyahu Zini has called on the Israeli military to maintain its presence in Lebanon, claiming that the country is part of Israel’s historical inheritance and opposing any withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Zini made the remarks during a parliamentary committee session on Monday, according to video footage circulated on social media and reports by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “I spoke with several ministers last night. I asked them: Are you normal? On what basis are you giving up our ancestors’ heritage? All of Lebanon belongs to us,” Zini said. According to Haaretz, Zini is the uncle of Shin Bet chief David Zini. READ: Egypt: Full Israeli withdrawal is key to stability in Lebanon His comments come amid an ongoing debate

• 
  Qatari, Iranian defense officials discuss regional security developments

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani received a phone call from Iran’s acting Defense Minister Majid Ebn Reza on Monday evening, amid rising regional tensions, Anatoly agency reported. According to a statement from Qatar’s Defense Ministry, the two officials reviewed the latest security developments in the region and discussed areas of joint coordination in light of the current circumstances. The call comes as Gulf states remain on alert following recent military escalations involving Iran, the US and Israel, alongside growing concerns over maritime security in the region. READ: Iran says $6B of its funds in Qatar ‘should be released’ under US deal

• 
  Israeli soldier found dead as military investigates death amid concerns over rising suicides

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  The body of an Israeli soldier was found in central Israel last week, with military police investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, according to Israeli media reports. The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday that the soldier’s body was discovered on Friday but did not identify him or disclose the circumstances of his death. According to the report, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division has opened an investigation, and its findings will be transferred to the military prosecutor upon completion. The soldier’s family has been notified. The incident comes amid growing concern over the number of suicides among Israeli soldiers, a subject that has received increased attention in Israeli media. In May, the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that an

• 
  Katz: US-Iran linkage prevented Hezbollah’s collapse, Israel will not withdraw before its disarmament

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz said the linkage between the Lebanese front and US-Iran understandings prevented what he claimed would have been Hezbollah’s collapse, adding that Israel has since adopted a new strategy centred on maintaining its military presence in southern Lebanon. Speaking during a briefing with military correspondents on Monday, Katz said Israel was forced to alter its military approach after Washington linked developments in Lebanon to negotiations with Iran. “When President Donald Trump linked Iran and Lebanon, we stopped bombing buildings in Beirut,” Katz said, according to Israeli Army Radio. He argued that connecting the two fronts served US interests and reflected the constraints of Israel’s strategic partnership with Washington. “If there hadn’t been a link between the

• 
  Turkey condemns Israeli strikes in southern Syria, urges international action

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Turkey has condemned Israeli military operations in southern Syria, describing them as a violation of Syrian sovereignty and calling on the international community to act to halt the attacks. In a statement issued on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry criticised Israeli strikes targeting the governorates of Quneitra and Daraa. “We strongly condemn Israel’s attacks on Quneitra and Daraa, which violate Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the ministry said. The statement added that the attacks endangered civilians and their property and described them as a clear violation of international law and the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. READ: Israeli forces open fire on civilians in southern Syrian village Ankara called on the international community to take responsibility for ending the attacks, warning that their

• 
  US official held meetings with Hamas as Washington presents Gaza demands to Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  A senior official in US President Donald Trump’s administration held meetings in recent months with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya as part of talks on the proposed disarmament of Gaza, according to an Israeli media report published on Monday. The report came as another report said Washington has delivered a document of demands to Israel regarding arrangements for the Gaza Strip. The document includes steps related to infrastructure, governance, border crossings, and reconstruction, amid US pressure to prevent a resumption of the war. According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, the US official was Aryeh Lightstone, an adviser to US envoy Steve Witkoff and a member of Trump’s Board of Peace. The broadcaster said the meetings took place during discussions

• 
  Gaza security force says it foiled major drug smuggling attempt linked to Israel-affiliated gangs

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Security agencies in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the Radaa force affiliated with the Resistance Security, said they had foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of drugs through a route allegedly linked to gangs collaborating with the Israeli occupation. In a statement received by Quds Press on Monday, the force said the drugs had been seized and those allegedly involved had been detained pending legal action. The statement said the alleged smuggling attempt was part of what it described as Israeli efforts to use collaborators and other networks to undermine the security of Palestinian society by bringing the scourge of drugs into the Gaza Strip. The force added that the security agencies would continue pursuing anyone seeking

• 
  Israeli minister proposes Gaza relocation plan involving Mossad

  by Mehdi Editor on June 30, 2026

  Israeli Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel said on Monday that she had submitted a government plan for the “relocation” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, with support from Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 7, Gamliel, a member of Israel’s security cabinet, said she had prepared a “political initiative” titled “voluntary migration from the Gaza Strip” and presented it to the government. “I prepared this plan and presented it to the cabinet. It is close to being implemented, and the Mossad has now joined the process to manage this effort in the best possible way,” she said. Gamliel said the proposal was part of a broader strategy and pledged to expand Israel’s

• 
  Fresh Israeli strikes kill 8 in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  A new wave of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Monday killed eight people, including a woman and her young daughter, and injured dozens amid ongoing violations by Tel Aviv of a ceasefire in effect since last October, medical sources said, Anadolu reports. The sources told Anadolu that a woman and her daughter were killed when an Israeli strike hit tents housing displaced families in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The attack caused extensive damage to the tents and the displaced residents’ belongings, eyewitnesses said. Shortly before that, an Israeli drone struck a beach tent in Al-Mawasi, killing two Palestinians and injuring 27 others. Medical sources said the wounded, whose injuries ranged from minor to moderate,

• 
  ‘Time for condemning is over’: Palestine’s UN envoy demands end to Israeli annexation of Palestinian land

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  Palestine’s UN envoy Riyad Mansour called for an end to Israel’s illegal annexation of Palestinian land, saying “annexation is an act of war” that “kills all peace efforts” and “cannot be bargained with,” Anadolu reports. “Israel has decided to entrench its occupation rather than bring it to an end; whether in the Gaza Strip, where it has unlawfully seized control over 70% of the Gaza Strip, or in the West Bank, where it has effectively annexed over 60% of the West Bank and all of East Jerusalem,” Mansour said at the UN Security Council. He said Israel’s actions are “not only illegal” but also “contrary to President (Donald) Trump’s plan and resolution 2803, which explicitly states there should be no

• 
  America’s Gulf bases are turning allies into targets

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  There is a hard truth Gulf capitals do not like to say aloud: hosting an American base does not only buy protection. It also rents out geography. It turns ports, airfields and small countries into possible addresses in a war they may not have chosen and cannot easily control. That truth became impossible to hide after Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait in response to US strikes. The details will be argued over, as they always are in war. Officials will speak of interceptions, limited damage and military readiness. Washington will insist that its regional posture deters danger. Gulf governments will try to reassure their publics. But the political meaning is already clear. When the United

• 
  The Keys to my House: A Gaza Diary

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  Sami al-Ajrami’s account of the first six months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza starts with a tenacious link to home and homeland. A week after Hamas infiltrated Israel, al-Ajrami decides to leave his home in Gaza, taking his two nineteen-year-old daughters with him. “This isn’t a rented apartment in some random condominium,” al-Ajrami writes in the first page of The Keys to my House: A Gaza Diary. “The house was built literally stone by stone by my family.” Originally from Beer Sheva, al-Ajrami’s grandfather arrived in Gaza in 1953. For al-Ajrami, Gaza is his permanent home, yet immediately the reader is told of how fragile the concept of home is in Gaza. Forced displacement remains a reality because of Israeli

• 
  Pepe, Pakistan, and the last of the great foreign correspondents

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  The trouble with spy stories is not that they are unbelievable. It is that in Pakistan they are often believable for reasons that make every serious person reach for a notebook, a headache tablet, and perhaps a map of the last fifty years. So when Pepe Escobar, on the YouTube channel Transition Protocol, discussed the allegation that Mossad had plotted to assassinate Field Marshal Asim Munir, the reaction was instant, theatrical, and mostly pointless. One camp received the claim as revelation, as if Pepe had descended from the Eurasian mountains carrying tablets engraved by the intelligence gods. The other dismissed it with the polished little smirk of people who confuse scepticism with intelligence. Between adoration and heckling, thought was quietly

• 
  Qatar suspends non-commercial maritime activities as security precaution

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  Qatar on Monday temporarily suspended non-commercial maritime activities as a precautionary security measure amid heightened regional tensions, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Qatar’s Transport Ministry urged all owners and users of marine vessels — including leisure boats, fishing boats, jet skis and similar watercraft — to stop sailing and maritime activities effective immediately until further notice. The ministry said vessels operating under international maritime agreements are exempt from the suspension and may continue their operations in line with applicable regulations and procedures. It added that the measure was taken in coordination with relevant security authorities. The ministry also called on the public to fully comply with the directive and said any new developments would be announced through official channels. The

• 
  Robotics, energy, and geopolitics: How China is reshaping the global energy landscape

  by Marwa A on June 29, 2026

  China’s rapid robotization drive is reshaping its energy sector, from solar panel manufacturing and wind turbine assembly to oil and gas operations and power grid management. As the world’s largest installer and producer of industrial robots, China installed roughly 295,000 new units in 2024, more than the rest of the world combined, bringing its operational stock to over 2 million units, nearly half the global total. This automation surge, backed by state policies such as Made in China 2025, the 14th Five-Year Robotics Plan, and the “Robot+” Action Plan, intersects with Beijing’s dual-carbon goals and its wider pursuit of energy dominance. The result is a complex mix of stronger competitiveness, faster energy transition, geopolitical leverage, and major challenges related to

• 
  65 Palestinian students arrested by Israel in occupied West Bank this year: Rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israel has arrested 65 Palestinian high school students in the occupied West Bank since the start of 2026, including four detained since final exams began this month, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports. The arrests were part of “an ongoing Israeli escalation targeting Palestinian students and depriving them of their right to education,” the nongovernmental group said in a statement. The rights group said a student was placed under administrative detention, while another was shot and wounded before being arrested. “Since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, Israeli forces have escalated arrest campaigns targeting students across various educational levels, as part of broader arrest operations that have affected tens of thousands of Palestinians,” the group

• 
  West Bank child deaths reflect ‘broader Israeli policy’ of killings ‘with virtually no accountability’: B’Tselem

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Children account for nearly a quarter of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since October 2023, the highest death rate of minors since Israel’s occupation of the territory in 1967, Israeli rights group B’Tselem said on Monday. “The widespread, unprecedented killing of Palestinian children and teenagers in the West Bank is the result of a broader Israeli policy that enables the killing of Palestinians with virtually no accountability,” B’Tselem Executive Director Yuli Novak said in a report. “When the military commander of the area boasts that Israel is killing Palestinians ‘like we haven’t killed since 1967,’ he is confirming exactly that: the system does not merely back those who pull the trigger — it effectively grants them

• 
  Trump’s Gaza board accused of creating legal black hole to protect officials and contractors

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Donald Trump’s so-called Board of Peace is planning to grant itself sweeping legal immunity for its work in Gaza, according to a draft resolution obtained by the Guardian. Details uncovered about the resolution has raised concerns that the US-backed body could shield its officials, soldiers and contractors from legal action if Palestinians are killed, injured, abused or stripped of property.   The draft resolution, labelled “sensitive but unclassified”, would protect members of the Board of Peace, its administrative affiliate, the Office of the High Representative (OHR), Palestinian technocrats, international military forces and non-resident contractors from “any arrest, detention or legal proceedings in the courts or other entities in Gaza,” the Guardian reported.   The document would also allow the organisation to obtain

• 
  EU reiterates position on Jerusalem after Slovenian premier’s remarks on embassy relocation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The EU on Monday reiterated its position on the status of Jerusalem following remarks by Slovenia’s prime minister regarding the possible relocation of the country’s embassy to the city, Anadolu Agency reports. “The EU and its member states will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem embodied in UN Security Council Resolution 478, including on the location of diplomatic representations, until the final status of Jerusalem is resolved,” EU External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during a press briefing. He also reaffirmed the EU’s longstanding position in favor of a negotiated two-state solution based on internationally agreed parameters and international law. The comments came in response to questions about an interview by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez

• 
  Not in our names

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Something historic is stirring inside the American Jewish community. Not a murmur of dissent, but a seismic re-evaluation — of identity, of loyalty, of the weaponised invocation of Jewish safety in defence of mass destruction. Gaza did not merely divide opinion. For a critical and growing fraction of Jewish Americans, it shattered a foundational consensus that had endured for decades: that support for Israel was not just politics, but patrimony. The numbers are no longer on the fringe. A landmark Washington Post poll conducted in September 2025 — the most comprehensive of its kind — found that 61 percent of American Jews believe Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza. Nearly four in ten — 39 percent — go further,

• 
  Israeli army kills 3 Palestinians, expands areas under occupation in central Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The Israeli army killed three Palestinians, including a child, and injured others in the latest ceasefire violations in Gaza, as its forces continue to expand areas under its occupation in the territory, medical sources and witnesses said, Anadolu reports. The sources said an Israeli drone strike struck a gathering of civilians on Al-Baraka Street in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing three people and wounding others. Two more people were also injured by Israeli artillery shelling that targeted the Al-Salatin area in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, the sources added. Separately, several Israeli military vehicles advanced on Salah al-Din Street in the Nuseirat refugee camp, amid gunfire and artillery shelling, witnesses said. Israeli vehicles moved concrete blocks marking the “Yellow

• 
  Trump says US-Iran meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Doha

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that Iran wanted a meeting, and the two sides will meet on Tuesday in the Qatari capital Doha. “Iran requested a meeting. It will take place tomorrow in Doha,” Trump said in a brief post on his Truth Social account. Earlier in the day, however, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said “no technical talks” with the US are scheduled this week in Doha, refuting US media reports. But he added that consultations with mediators continued. Axios had earlier reported that the US and Iran, after recent strikes, agreed to resolve their differences over the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran shut after the US and Israel launched attacks in late February. READ: Iran says $6B of its funds

• 
  Iran says $6B of its funds in Qatar ‘should be released’ under US deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that $6 billion of Iran’s funds held in Qatar “should be released” and returned to the country under the agreement with the US.​​​​​​​ “Based on the plans made, $6 billion out of a total of $12 billion of Iran’s funds in Qatar should be released and returned to the country,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani, according to ISNA news agency.​​​​​​​ He added that “necessary follow-ups are underway” for the return of the remaining funds. The Iranian president described the recently signed memorandum of understanding with the US as “a great victory for the Iranian people,” adding that oil and petrochemical sanctions “have been lifted as per the understanding.” He

• 
  Iraq sets Sept. 21 deadline for armed factions to surrender weapons

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The Iraqi government has set Sept. 21 as a final deadline for armed factions to hand over their weapons to state authorities, a government spokesman said Monday, Anadolu reports. “Sept. 21 is the final deadline for handing over weapons, and at the same time for the withdrawal of the international coalition,” Haider al-Aboudi said in statements carried by the state news agency INA. Separately, Aboudi said the Iraqi government approved Iran’s request to hold funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Iraq on July 8. On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would coordinate with Iraq on arrangements for Khamenei’s funeral procession at Iraq’s holy shrines. READ: Iraqi prime minister vows ‘no immunity’ for corrupt officials after arrests

• 
  Iran says ‘no technical talks’ with US this week in Doha

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Monday that “no technical talks” with the US are scheduled this week in the Qatari capital Doha, refuting US media reports, Anadolu reports. Gharibabadi said media reports about holding technical-working group talks between Tehran and Washington in Doha “are not confirmed,” state news agency IRNA reported. “Technical meetings of the working groups are not scheduled for this week,” he added. Gharibabadi said consultations with Qatar are continuing, including efforts to follow up on the implementation of US commitments under the recently signed memorandum of understanding. “The first round of technical talks within the designated working groups will be held once conditions are met and after agreement is reached on the date and venue,” he

• 
  Inside Indonesia’s growing market for fake Middle Eastern doctorates

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  For generations, Indonesian Muslims have looked to the Middle East as the highest destination for Islamic learning. A degree from Cairo, Medina or Riyadh has never been simply an academic qualification. It has represented years of mastering Arabic, studying under respected scholars and earning recognition from institutions whose reputations were built over centuries. That reputation has become a commodity. A recent interview on the Indonesian podcast TimTeng with a teacher at the Indonesian School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a master’s graduate of King Saud University, offers a revealing window into this emerging phenomenon. Across Indonesia, a growing number of religious figures have begun displaying honorary doctorates and professorships supposedly issued by institutions bearing Middle Eastern names. Some claim affiliations

• 
  Press freedom group ‘changes’ definition of journalist as Israel sets record for reporters killed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  With Israel’s genocide on Gaza killing more journalists than any other modern conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has come under fire over who it counts as a journalist. The prominent press freedom group is reviewing its database of slain Palestinian media workers, months after whistleblowers accused it of scrapping its Global Impunity Index because Israel was expected to rank first. CPJ announced last week that it is “conducting a full review” of its database of journalists killed during Israel’s war on Gaza. The New York based group claimed that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad published obituaries “identifying as combatants” individuals previously listed by CPJ as journalists. The organisation said the current total of journalists and media workers killed

• 
  The Next Energy War Will Be Over Rules, Not Resources

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  When the European Union officially launched the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), much of the world’s attention focused on its environmental implications. Governments debated carbon emissions, exporters calculated potential costs, and industries assessed their competitiveness. Yet beneath the climate narrative lies a far more consequential geopolitical shift. CBAM is not merely an environmental regulation. It is an attempt to shape the rules of tomorrow’s global energy economy. For decades, international competition in energy centred on physical assets. Countries sought to secure oil fields, natural gas reserves, pipelines and strategic maritime routes. Energy diplomacy revolved around production quotas, long-term supply contracts and control over transportation corridors. That era is beginning to evolve. The next phase of global energy competition will increasingly

• 
  Iraqi prime minister vows ‘no immunity’ for corrupt officials after arrests

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi vowed Monday there will be “no immunity for any corrupt person,” saying his government will pursue those who steal public funds, Anadolu reports. His remarks came during a Cabinet session, a day after authorities announced the detention of dozens of officials and lawmakers on corruption charges. “The government is waging a battle against corruption,” Zaidi said, describing it as a “first round” that will be followed by further steps and measures, according to the Iraqi News Agency. “The people’s money must return to its owners,” he said, stressing that he “will not remain silent over any mistake or hesitate to defend the interests of the people.” Zaidi said Iraq will begin a new phase in

• 
  Gaza generator fuel crisis deepens under tightened Israeli blockade

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  WATCH: The occupation targeted a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in several fatalities and injuries

• 
  Israeli forces raid Palestinian university, assault security guard in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli forces raided Birzeit University in the central occupied West Bank early Monday, assaulting a security guard and damaging property before withdrawing, local sources and the institution said. Israeli forces stormed the campus near Ramallah, assaulted the security guard, raided the Faculty of Physical Education building from the eastern side and damaged infrastructure and items, local sources told Anadolu Agency. The exam schedule at the university, however, was not affected. “Following up with the relevant authorities on what happened at dawn today, when Israeli forces raided the university campus and later withdrew, we confirm to our dear students that exams will be held at their scheduled times according to the approved timetables, with no changes,” the university administration said on

• 
  Belgian Jewish group urges sanctions against Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  A group of Belgian Jews called on Belgium and Europe to impose sanctions against Israel as Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem continue to face human rights violations, Belga news agency reported on Monday. The group issued an open letter, urging that Israel should no longer enjoy impunity over its actions against Palestinians. It criticized Tel Aviv’s recent death penalty law, warning that it will only be applied to Palestinians. The group also denounced Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon, pointing out that it causes thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. It called on the Belgian government and the European Union to ban imports from Israeli settlements and urged the bloc to also suspend its association agreement with

• 
  Iran, Oman hold first joint Hormuz committee meeting in Muscat

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iran and Oman held the first meeting of a joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz in Muscat to discuss current issues related to the narrow sea passageway and its future management, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said on Monday. In a statement on US social media platform X, Kazem Gharibabadi, deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said the meeting was held during his visit to Muscat with Abdulaziz Al-Hinai, ambassador-at-large at the Omani Foreign Ministry. “While reviewing current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management of the strait within the framework of Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the sovereign rights of coastal states,” he added. READ: Oil prices rise

• 
  Azerbaijan calls on Israel to reconsider decision to recognize 1915 events as ‘genocide’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Azerbaijan on Monday criticized the Israeli government’s decision to recognize the so-called “Armenian genocide,” calling on Israel to reconsider the move, Anadolu Agency reports. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was “seriously concerned” by the decision distorting historical facts surrounding the events of 1915. “It is unacceptable to distort historical facts about the events of 1915 and turn complex historical processes into the subject of political decisions far removed from legal and scientific foundations,” the statement said. The ministry stressed that such decisions do not contribute to reconciliation or mutual understanding but instead deepen existing divisions and hinder efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region. It urged the Israeli government to reconsider its decision and that

• 
  Turkish parliament speaker says ending Israeli aggression key to ensuring world peace

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday that ending the Israeli government’s actions would not only allow Palestinians to live in peace but would also help secure world peace, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the opening of the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul, Kurtulmus said there could be no lasting peace in the world without peace in the Middle East and no peace in the Middle East without peace for Palestinians. “The end of these acts of aggression by the Israeli government would not only allow Palestinians to attain peace and tranquility, but would also mean securing world peace,” he said. Kurtulmus reiterated Turkiye’s support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding

• 
  Israel rebrands Gaza displacement plan amid backlash over forced transfer concerns: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli political and security officials replaced the term “voluntary migration” with “Free Movement Plan” when referring to plans to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to Israel’s Channel 13, amid international concerns over forced displacement. Citing unnamed informed sources, Channel 13 said instructions were circulated to relevant bodies, including security and intelligence institutions, “to reintroduce the initiative using language deemed more acceptable internationally.” Sources involved in contacts with concerned countries “expressed optimism that the change in terminology could help shift those countries’ positions and revive the plan after earlier setbacks,” the channel added. A senior Israeli official, whose name was not disclosed, acknowledged that Hamas “still exists” in the Gaza Strip and that Israel is seeking to push “as

• 
  US and Iran agree to suspend attacks, hold meeting in Qatar

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend attacks against each other for the time being, according to US media reports citing senior officials. The two sides intend to hold a meeting in Qatar on Tuesday to resolve their dispute regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides exchanged strikes in recent days despite signing a memorandum of understanding on 17 June aimed at ending the conflict that disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway. Under the memorandum, Tehran pledged to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington agreed to lift its blockade on Iranian ports. READ: US strikes Iran following attack on ship in Strait of Hormuz: CENTCOM A senior US official told

• 
  Israeli TV channel claims to obtain parts of Lebanon agreement’s secret security annex

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli Channel 12 claimed on Sunday evening that it had obtained parts of what it described as the “secret security annex” to the framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv. The channel claimed the annex had remained undisclosed at the request of the Lebanese government, while permission had been given to publish its main provisions. According to the report, the annex states that the Israeli army’s withdrawal will not follow a fixed timetable but will instead depend on developments on the ground and assessments of the security situation, meaning there is no commitment to an automatic withdrawal. The channel also claimed that the annex grants the Israeli army freedom to carry out military operations within the so-called Yellow Line to

• 
  Egypt: Full Israeli withdrawal is key to stability in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday that a “full” Israeli withdrawal is the key to stability in Lebanon. His remarks came during a phone call with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during which they discussed developments in Lebanon and the wider region, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese Parliament Presidency. The call came two days after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement in Washington providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory. The process is set to begin with two pilot areas after verification that non-state armed groups have been disarmed, in an apparent reference to the Iran-backed Hezbollah. According to the statement, Abdelatty reaffirmed “Egypt’s commitment to stability in Lebanon” and

• 
  Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions escalate

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Oil prices rose slightly as hostilities between the United States and Iran continued for a fourth consecutive day, while Iran maintained its insistence on controlling the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose 0.9 per cent to US$72.20 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1.3 per cent to US$70.09 a barrel. On Friday, oil prices fell to their lowest levels since the conflict began, with Brent closing at around US$72 a barrel and WTI settling at about US$69. Oil prices declined last week amid hopes that a 60-day ceasefire would allow oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to resume. The strategic waterway carries around one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies. READ: US to continue targeting Iran

• 
  Hezbollah says framework agreement will not be implemented, insists on keeping its weapons

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, said the group will continue to hold on to its weapons, describing them as essential for protecting and defending Lebanon. He also said what he called the “agreement of humiliation and disgrace” signed by the Lebanese authorities with Israel “will not be implemented”, accusing the government of surrendering national sovereignty and bowing to foreign pressure. Fadlallah delivered the remarks during a memorial ceremony organised by Hezbollah for Ali Al-Rida Haidar Faqih at Al-Sayyida Al-Zahra Hall in Ain Al-Delbeh, located in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The event was attended by religious figures, local dignitaries, residents, and the families of the martyrs. He said the resistance milieu was destined

• 
  Israeli forces open fire on civilians in southern Syrian village

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Israeli forces opened fire on Syrian civilians on Sunday evening as they began withdrawing from the village of Abidin in Daraa province, southern Syria. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that “Israeli occupation forces opened fire towards residents while withdrawing from the village of Abidin in the western Daraa countryside.” There were no immediate reports of injuries, and the Syrian authorities have not commented on the incident. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli army set up tents on Tal al-Maghar, west of Abidin village, and in the Yarmouk Basin area in the Daraa countryside. Syrian media reported that Israeli forces fired live ammunition and illumination flares, targeting farmers near El-Tallah after a force of four armoured personnel carriers moved from

• 
  Iraq detains politicians, officials in anti-corruption crackdown

  by Mehdi Editor on June 29, 2026

  Iraqi security forces arrested politicians and senior officials early on Sunday as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, a ​government spokesperson said, Reuters reported. Elite Counter Terrorism Service units raided homes inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified ‌Green Zone in overnight operations, detaining multiple suspects, legal and security sources said. Iraq News Agency (INA), citing a senior official, said 47 suspects were detained, including members of parliament and government officials. Zaidi, who took office ​in May, has pledged to tackle entrenched corruption, which remains one of Iraq’s ​most persistent challenges despite repeated promises by successive governments to hold officials accountable. Sunday’s ⁠operation was launched on his direct orders after judicial authorities issued arrest warrants targeting what