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

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  Hajj association accuses PA of restricting Gaza pilgrims and limiting access to Hajj

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  The Association of Hajj and Umrah Companies in the Gaza Strip has accused the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments in Ramallah of restricting Gaza residents from performing Hajj this year, alleging deliberate neglect of pilgrims from the enclave. Awad Abu Madhkour, a member of the association, said in statements to Quds Press that the ministry bears “direct responsibility” for the difficulties faced by Gazans seeking to undertake the pilgrimage. He claimed that the ministry had cancelled travel arrangements for pilgrims departing from within the Gaza Strip and limited this year’s Hajj procedures to Gazans residing abroad, including those living in Egypt and other countries. According to Abu Madhkour, the ministry opened registration for Gaza pilgrims — including individuals who had

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  Biblical Writ and Christian Zionism: Mike Huckabee, Tucker Carlson and Israel

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  It was good of Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, to come clean with the witchery and superstition that marks the Bible.  When a text advocating genocide, ethnic cleansing and dubious real estate advice in the name of a vengeful Sky God becomes foreign policy and the sentiment of an office holder, foreheads should crease with worry.  But Huckabee has no concerns on conceding, as he did to conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson in a podcast interview, that Israel has an ancient, unsubstantiated right drawn from the heavens to claim good chunks of the Middle East.   In the interview, the niggling Carlson asked Huckabee whether Israel had a right to the land between the River Nile in Egypt and

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  US Navy withdraws all vessels from Bahrain base amid rising tensions with Iran

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  Satellite images show that the US Navy has withdrawn all of its vessels from its base in Bahrain. The move comes amid concerns that the headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet in Bahrain could become a target for Iran if a conflict breaks out, according to Associated Press. A similar step was taken by the US Navy in June, following an attack on nuclear facilities. The Israeli military now estimates that the United States has reached a “point of no return” regarding a possible strike, and that senior military and political officials would receive only very short notice before any US attack. READ: 12 F-22 fighter jets land in Israel amid US tensions with Iran Talks between the United States

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  Jordan orders Islamic Action Front Party to remove religious references from name

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  The Independent Election Commission said on Wednesday that it has instructed the Islamic Action Front party to change its name to remove “any religious, sectarian or ethnic connotations”. In a statement, the Commission’s Board of Commissioners said it had formally notified the Islamic Action Front — the political arm of the banned Muslim Brotherhood group — that it must correct the violations within 60 days of the notification, in line with Article 33 of the Political Parties Law No. 7 of 2022. The statement added that the party had previously been informed of the violations in a letter dated 17th February. According to the Commission, the breach concerns the party’s internal statute and its name, which it said contravene the

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  Israel approves first Somaliland ambassador and expands cooperation

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  Israel said on Wednesday evening that the government had approved the appointment of the first ambassador of Somaliland to Israel, about two months after Tel Aviv announced it had formally recognised the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa. In a statement posted on its official English-language account on the social media platform X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added: “An Israeli Ambassador to Somaliland will soon be appointed – an additional step in strengthening relations between the two countries.”    The ministry said the appointed ambassador is Dr Mohammed Haji, an adviser to the President of Somaliland. It described him as “a member of the inner circle of officials who promoted the establishment of relations between Israel and Somaliland throughout

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  Rebel English Academy

  by MI on February 26, 2026

  ‘He didn’t believe in peaceful resistance but he was not a happy murderer either,’ Salim Ahmed Salim aka Sir Baghi, an English teacher and revolutionary socialist activist, is confronted with a tough choice. A known radical in OK Town, tensions reach boiling point following the execution of Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the imposition of martial law, Sir Baghi feels the pressure from a student who seeks revenge. Mohammed Hanif’s latest novel Rebel English Academy deals with one of Pakistan’s most troubled periods in the late 1970s. The execution of Bhutto brought to an end a certain post-independence and post-partition politics in the South Asian nation and ushered in a very different country. Mohammed Hanif, a graduate of

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  Trump demands deportation of 2 female Muslim members of Congress

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  US President Donald Trump demanded the rapid deportation of two female Muslim members of Congress on Wednesday after Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar tried to shout him down during his State of the Union address, Anadolu reports. “When people can behave like that, and knowing that they are Crooked and Corrupt Politicians, so bad for our Country, we should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible,” Trump wrote in a lengthy social media screed on his Truth Social platform. While Omar was born in Somalia, she has been a US citizen for nearly three decades. Tlaib, meanwhile, is a Palestinian American native of Detroit, Michigan, meaning she has been a citizen her entire life.

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  Iran arrests 8 foreigners for allged links to ‘foreign intelligence services’ amid US tensions

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Iranian authorities arrested eight foreigners in the country’s southeast for alleged links to “foreign intelligence services,” local media reported on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The semi-official Mehr News Agency said three other foreigners were also killed during a security operation on Iran’s southeastern border. Authorities did not specify the nationality of those detained or killed in the raid. Mehr said large quantities of assorted weapons were uncovered and confiscated from their hideouts and targeted safe houses, including RPG-7 launchers, US-made M4 rifles fitted with night-vision devices, several AK-47 rifles equipped with grenade launchers, and handguns. READ: CIA urges Iranians to reach out as tensions between US, Iran hit fever pitch During initial interrogations, the arrested suspects allegedly admitted their involvement in a

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  Israeli president in Ethiopia as Selassie reiterates support for 2-state solution

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie said Ethiopia “consistently supports the two-state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace,” as he hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog for talks in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Herzog, who was welcomed with an honor guard at the Presidential Palace, met with Selassie and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during his official visit, with discussions focused on strengthening bilateral political and diplomatic relations. In a statement released by his office, Herzog highlighted the historical ties between the two nations and expressed appreciation for the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel, describing it as a bridge between the two peoples. Prime Minister Abiy said on his official X account that he had welcomed

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  Israeli occupation forces close entrances to Bethlehem, raid Al-Dawha

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday evening closed several entrances to Bethlehem Governorate and shut down the “Container” military checkpoint, before raiding the town of Al-Dawha west of the city, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Security sources told Wafa that occupation forces sealed off the entrances to Qabr Hilweh, Al-Fardis and Marah Rabah, as well as the southern entrance to Bethlehem Governorate and the town of Al-Khader at Al-Nashash. The eastern entrance to Al-Khader at Al-Manashir was also closed, in addition to the “Container” checkpoint northeast of Bethlehem. READ: Jerusalem church leaders condemn Christian Zionism as harmful political ideology The closures were reportedly carried out on the pretext that a vehicle had attempted to carry out a ramming

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  The Indonesia–US Agreement should be revoked

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Not long after the reciprocal trade agreement between Indonesia and the United States was signed by President Prabowo Subianto and President Donald Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the global reciprocal tariff policy that had served as the backbone of pressure in those negotiations. If the very policy that gave birth to the agreement has collapsed, Indonesia should reconsider and, if necessary, revoke the deal. From the outset, the agreement was negotiated under the shadow of tariffs. Indonesia sought to avoid a 32 percent tariff burden and ultimately settled at 19 percent. That compromise was framed as pragmatic diplomacy. Yet once the global tariff policy itself was invalidated, and other countries ended up with lower tariffs without having to

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  Newnham College agrees to divest from occupation and genocide

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Newnham College, Cambridge University, has agreed to divest from companies linked to occupation, genocide and fossil fuels, following months of sustained pressure from students, staff and alumni. The decision marks a significant breakthrough for campaigners from Newnham for Palestine, who launched their divestment campaign in October 2025. Organisers say the College had indirectly invested at least £20 million in companies they identified as complicit in occupation, human rights abuses and environmental destruction. According to campaign materials shared on social media, these included corporations providing computing, surveillance and AI services to the Israeli state and military, arms and military equipment manufacturers, firms aiding settlement expansion and occupation infrastructure, as well as fossil fuel companies implicated in ecological harm. READ: Oxford, Cambridge

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  Israeli residents near Egypt border voice fears over unusual movements and digging activity

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Israeli media have reported heightened anxiety among residents living near the Egyptian border, following observations of unusual movements and suspected digging activity on the Egyptian side of the frontier. According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11), a climate of fear and uncertainty has taken hold in settlements bordering Egypt, with residents expressing concern about the possibility of an attack similar to the events of 7 October. The broadcaster said inhabitants of the Shlomit settlement reported repeatedly seeing pickup trucks moving close to the border fence, while apparent excavation work in nearby areas has raised questions about security preparedness and whether sufficient lessons have been learned since the earlier attacks. The report, aired as part of the Man in the

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  Rethinking solidarity with Palestine

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Over the past two years, millions have voiced their solidarity with Palestine, many of whom had never done so before. This support has helped Palestinians, especially those going through genocide in Gaza, feel that they are not alone. However, it has not stopped the genocide, nor does it seem capable of standing up to the U.S. administration’s so-called “peace plan.” There are a number of reasons for this, one of the key ones being the shortcomings of the concept of solidarity with Palestine itself. Solidarity as sympathy Oxford Languages defines “solidarity” as “unity or agreement of feeling or action.” However, there is a fundamental difference between unity of feeling and unity of action. In most cases, solidarity seems to have

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  Al-Azhar condemns mosque arson in West Bank, calls attack ‘terrorist crime’

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Al-Azhar has issued a strongly worded condemnation following the burning of a mosque in the occupied West Bank, describing the incident as a “terrorist crime” carried out by Israeli settlers during the holy month of Ramadan. In an official statement, the influential Islamic institution denounced the attack on the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, saying it represented “an embodiment of Zionist terrorism targeting people, holy sites and land simultaneously”. Al-Azhar said the incident constituted a grave violation of international laws and conventions and demonstrated a disregard for the sanctity of places of worship. The statement added that attacks on religious sites reflect escalating crimes against Palestinians and their sacred spaces. The institution linked

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  Israeli report warns of emerging Turkish-Egyptian alignment forming ‘Sunni ring’ around Israel

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  An Israeli political analysis has warned of what it describes as a covert geopolitical shift led by Turkey and Egypt aimed at forming a Sunni regional alignment that could reshape Middle Eastern power dynamics around Israel. The report, published by the Israeli news platform Mida and based on research by the Europe-based Gatestone Institute, argues that while international attention remains focused on Iran, a parallel diplomatic process is unfolding that may carry significant long-term strategic consequences for Israel, the United States and the wider region. According to the analysis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has launched an extensive diplomatic initiative intended to strengthen cooperation among Sunni-majority states under Ankara’s leadership. The report claims the effort seeks not only reconciliation with

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  International aid groups petition Israeli Supreme Court over ban on Gaza and West Bank operations

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Seventeen international humanitarian organisations have petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court to suspend a decision that would terminate the operations of dozens of aid groups in Gaza, the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, warning the move could have “catastrophic consequences” for civilians. The organisations said they were informed on 30 December 2025 that their registrations with Israeli authorities had expired and that they had been given 60 days to renew them by submitting detailed lists of their Palestinian staff members. Groups affected include Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE International. Under the decision, organisations that fail to comply will be required to cease all activities in the occupied Palestinian territories from 1 March. In their petition,

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  Christian Zionism: the radical theology empowering an unchristian settler state | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  In this week’s episode, we unpack the implications of remarks made by Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, whose unapologetic defence of Israeli expansionism reflects the enduring influence of Christian Zionism on American foreign policy. We explore how this radical theological current has shaped political discourse and helped sustain Israel. The discussion also examines the latest Lancet report suggesting Gaza’s death toll may be significantly higher than previously recorded. Finally, we assess the significance of the newly convened Board of Peace.   WATCH: ‘Common enemy’: the Epstein class behind Oslo’s failure | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

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  Doctors Without Borders calls for investigation into killings of staff and relatives by Israeli army

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) has filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court calling for an investigation into incidents in which Israeli army fire struck its facilities and vehicles, killing seven staff members and members of their families. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the medical organisation says it has received no indication that a formal investigation has been launched into the incidents. The petition comes amid a recent Israeli decision preventing MSF from continuing its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Omer Shatz, the lawyer representing the organisation in Israel, said the legal action is not intended to prosecute individuals but to ensure future protection for humanitarian workers. “The petition is not aimed at

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  Tehran’s calculated wager

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  When negotiators gather in Geneva on Thursday for the third round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, the most consequential item in the room will not be a summary of earlier rounds. It will be a written proposal from Tehran — designed to test whether diplomacy still has a viable path before the military one becomes irreversible. The first two rounds, in Oman on 6th February and Geneva on 17th February, clarified principles. This round is about definition. Washington has shifted the burden: put your offer on paper, and we will judge whether it crosses the threshold worth taking to Trump. If it does, real bargaining begins. If it does not, the diplomatic runway closes while the

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  Rights group says Israel forcibly displaced 214 Bedouin families from Area C since start of 2026

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  A Palestinian human rights organisation has reported the forcible displacement of 214 Bedouin and agricultural families from Area C of the occupied West Bank since the beginning of 2026, amid escalating settler attacks and continued Israeli control over land and planning. Area C, which remains under full Israeli civil and military authority, is considered one of the most politically and legally complex parts of the West Bank. Israel exercises complete control over land use, natural resources and construction permits, conditions Palestinians say have intensified pressure on local communities. According to the Al-Baydar Centre for Human Rights, Bedouin and farming communities in the Jordan Valley have been among the most vulnerable, facing geographical isolation, limited legal protection and increasing attacks by

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  During Ramadan, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian homes, cars in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Israeli settlers set fire, on Tuesday evening, to Palestinian homes and vehicles in the village of Susya, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, in a continued wave of attacks during Ramadan. The rights group Al-Bidar said in a statement that settlers burned five homes and several cars belonging to Palestinian residents in Susya, located in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron. The group added that the settlers attacked the village and set fire to houses and cars, causing significant material damage and creating fear among the residents, particularly women and children. Local sources told Anadolu Agency that the settlers also fired tear gas inside some homes, resulting in four people suffering from gas inhalation. Around 770,000 Israeli

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  Israel fires on Lebanese soldiers, claims it was warning shot

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Lebanese soldiers in the south of the country came under fire on Tuesday, in what Israel described as a ‘warning’ aimed at stopping the establishment of a military post. The Lebanese army said in a statement that the area around a new observation post near the southern border in Sarda–Marjeyoun “came under fire from the Israeli side, while an Israeli drone flew at low altitude and issued threats.” The army added that it had ordered reinforcements to the post, instructed troops to remain in place, and to respond to the source of the fire. It did not provide details on whether the Israeli fire caused any damage or casualties. READ: Lebanon warned about potential Hezbollah intervention alongside Iran if US attacks:

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  Some questions concerning Indonesia’s 8,000 troops in Gaza

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, President Prabowo Subianto pledged that Indonesia would send 8,000 or more troops to join an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. Standing beside U.S. President Donald Trump, he expressed confidence that real peace could be achieved and that Indonesia was ready to help make it work. Soon after, Indonesia was named Deputy Commander of the force. ISF Commander Major General Jasper Jeffers announced that Jakarta had accepted the role. Foreign Minister Sugiono said Indonesia’s leadership position would strengthen its contribution and help safeguard its troops. He stressed that established international standards would protect personnel welfare and that Indonesia would push for clear mandates and rules of engagement. He also clarified that

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  Islamic Jihad: Gaza Peace Council fails to halt Israel’s war

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Mohammed al-Hindi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, said the proposed Peace Council — officially known as the “Board of Peace” in Gaza — was “a theatrical show” that had failed to stop Israel from continuing what he described as a war of genocide in the enclave. In press remarks on Tuesday, al-Hindi said the council, chaired by US President Donald Trump, had adopted what he called the Israeli occupation’s agenda and was concerned only with guaranteeing Israel’s security. He added that statements by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee exposed what he described as Washington’s clear bias towards Israel. Al-Hindi said it would have been more appropriate for the US administration to issue a clear condemnation and a direct apology

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  Egypt denies claims of allowing Ethiopia Red Sea access for Nile dam concessions

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Egypt on Tuesday evening denied reports claiming it was prepared to grant Ethiopia maritime access to the Red Sea in return for flexibility from Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a long-running source of tension between the two countries. According to Egypt’s state news agency, Middle East News Agency, an official source categorically rejected circulating “reports that Egypt is ready to grant Ethiopia maritime access to the Red Sea in exchange for Ethiopian flexibility regarding the dam”. The source stressed that “such reports are entirely baseless and unfounded.”  He reaffirmed that “Egypt’s stance on water security and the GERD remains firm and unchanged.”  READ: Egypt calls for cooperation among Nile Basin countries, rejects ‘unilateral measures’ on river Egypt,

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  The other ‘lizard people’: Why the Epstein Files are shattering global theory

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  When British author David Icke wrote his seminal work, The Biggest Secret: The Book That Will Change the World, published in 1999, he was not speaking metaphorically. When he detailed the “reptilian genetic streams” of “elite” families—human-reptile hybrids allegedly engineering global events—he meant it literally. To Icke, the world is not run by mere men, but by an interdimensional species operating just outside the visible light spectrum. While many scoff at this as the ultimate apex of human gullibility, millions have found a dark comfort in Icke’s “wisdom”. According to a landmark 2013 poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP), roughly 4 percent of American adults—between 12 and 13 million people—believed that shape-shifting lizard people control our world. Conspiracy theories in

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  UN Security Council imposes sanctions on four RSF leaders in Sudan

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  The UN Security Council’s sanctions committee on Sudan has added four senior commanders from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to its sanctions list, following a proposal by the United States, the United Kingdom and France. The proposal, submitted on 17th February, aims to include these leaders within the sanctions system established under Resolution 1591. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes to help curb the ongoing violence in Sudan. Those listed include Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy commander of the RSF and brother of the group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The sanctions also target Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, the RSF commander for North Darfur; Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, a brigadier known as Abu Lulu; and Tijani Ibrahim Musa Mohamed, a

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  For the first time: US embassy to provide consular services in West Bank settlements

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  The United States embassy in Israel announced on Tuesday that it plans to provide consular services to US citizens inside settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking a first-of-its-kind move. In an official statement published under an initiative titled “Freedom 250”, the embassy said consular staff would offer routine passport services in the settlement of Efrat on Friday, 27 February. The embassy said the activity was part of its efforts “to reach all Americans”, adding that consular teams would be present at each location for one day only. According to the announcement, further visits are planned in the coming months to Ramallah, the settlement of Beitar Illit, as well as Haifa, Jerusalem, Netanya and Beit Shemesh. READ: Israeli minister raises flag

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  The Strait of Hormuz: Where geography becomes a weapon

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  For decades, American military planners have operated on a simple assumption: that overwhelming force, applied decisively, could resolve almost any crisis in the Persian Gulf. Iran, it turns out, has spent years making that assumption obsolete — not by building a navy capable of matching America’s, but by turning a narrow strip of water into the world’s most expensive dare. What Iranian commanders have constructed in and around the Strait of Hormuz — the 21-mile-wide chokepoint through which roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes each day — is not a conventional defense. It is an economic booby trap, engineered less to defeat the United States Navy than to make the cost of confrontation appear greater than the

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  Lebanese army says Israeli fire targets new border post in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The Lebanese army said Tuesday that Israeli fire targeted a newly established monitoring post along the southern border, in a new violation of a November 2024 ceasefire, Anadolu reports. A military statement said that while army forces were setting up a monitoring point near Sarda in the Marjayoun district, the vicinity of the post came under fire from the Israeli side. An Israeli drone flew at low altitude over the area and issued threats aimed at forcing Lebanese troops to withdraw, the army added. The military said it has ordered reinforcements to the post and instructed personnel to remain in position and respond to sources of fire. The army said it is following up on the incident with the ceasefire

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  Lebanon warned about potential Hezbollah intervention alongside Iran if US attacks: Official

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  Lebanon has received warnings from “friendly” international parties about a potential “catastrophe” if Hezbollah intervenes alongside Iran in the event of a possible US attack, a Lebanese official told Anadolu Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The official said that “the Lebanese government was warned that any involvement by Hezbollah in support of Iran would have severe consequences for the country,” without elaborating. The government and the Foreign Ministry are working to shield infrastructure from any potential repercussions, the official added. The reported warnings follow remarks by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who said the group “will not remain neutral” if Iran is attacked by the US or Israel. The US State Department instructed staff and their families at its Beirut Embassy on Monday

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  CIA urges Iranians to reach out as tensions between US, Iran hit fever pitch

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The CIA asked Iranians to reach out to the agency with any “information or skills of interest to our organization” Tuesday as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate, Anadolu reports. “Hello. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can hear your voice and wants to help you. Below is the necessary guidance on how to securely contact us virtually,” the agency said in a Farsi-language social media post on X alongside a more than two-minute video with instructions on how to contact the CIA. The video offered detailed instructions on how Iranians can reach out, suggesting the use of virtual private networks or Tor networks while avoiding business computers and office phones. It was posted as the US continues

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  12 F-22 fighter jets land in Israel amid US tensions with Iran

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  At least 12 US F-22 fighter jets landed at an Israeli air base on Tuesday amid escalating tensions with Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported, Anadolu reports. “Twelve US F-22 fighter jets landed this afternoon at one of the Israeli Air Force bases in the south of the country, as part of the American deployment in the Middle East,” KAN said. It added that the aircraft are among the most advanced fighter jets in the world, possessed only by the US, and are tasked, among other missions, with “penetrating enemy territory and disabling air defense systems and radar installations.” The US has increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf region amid threats by US President Donald Trump of military

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  Israel had ‘zero’ national evacuation plans after Gaza war outbreak, state comptroller finds

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The Israeli government had “zero national evacuation plans” following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said in a report on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The state must rectify the shortcomings in the treatment of the evacuees and prepare for the evacuation of tens of thousands in light of the current security situation,” Englman said in his report amid current rising tensions with Iran. “We found a grim picture of a systemic disorder to prepare for absorbing residents in emergency situations,” went on the comptroller. The report found that the Israeli government and army entered the Gaza war in October 2023 without an approved national operational plan for evacuating thousands of residents in frontline communities.

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  Reconstructing the details of Israel’s obliteration of Palestinians

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  A joint report released recently by Forensic Architecture and Earshot reconstructs Israel’s massacre of aid workers in March 2025. Commencing with Israel’s first violation of the ceasefire on 18 March 2025, in which 414 Palestinians were killed, the report focuses on 23 March, when two Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulances were headed towards Al-Hashashin, close to Rafah and the site of an Israeli airstrike. At Tel al-Sultan, Israeli forces ambushed the second ambulance, killing two aid workers. The first ambulance was then dispatched to search for the missing ambulance, along with two other PRCS ambulances. Two other UN vehicles passing by Tel al-Sultan were also ambushed by Israeli forces. According to the report, 910 gunshots were heard in the three

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  In waiting for the light: The hidden philosophy of Ramadan

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  In a world where eating has become a solitary act, snatched quickly in front of a screen or in the corner of an office, Ramadan arrives to restore the rhythm that modern life has quietly eroded. Not only the rhythm of the body, but the rhythm of community itself. The moment of iftar marks not the end of hunger, but the beginning of shared time. It is a rare moment when human beings come together without meeting, because the sun neither waits for nor favours anyone. This is what Muhammad Abdulsater captures in his recent piece for The Guardian when he writes, ‘Iftar isn’t just eating; it’s synchronisation’. A simple sentence, yet it opens a wide door to understanding Ramadan

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  28 killed, dozens injured in RSF attack on Sudan’s North Darfur, medics say

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  At least 28 civilians were killed and 39 others injured, including 10 women, in attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur, a Sudanese medical group said Tuesday. The Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement that the fatalities were reported in a rocket attack on the town of Mustariha in western Sudan. The attack also destroyed the area’s only health center. Medical personnel were attacked, and one healthcare worker was detained and has been missing ever since, the group stated. The medical group said the attack has caused a large wave of displacement to nearby villages and settlements amid already dire humanitarian conditions. “These attacks constitute a fully fledged crime and a blatant violation of all

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  France delivers 80 tons of food aid to Gaza: Foreign minister

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  France delivered 80 tons of food aid to Gaza on Monday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, noting that the humanitarian situation in the enclave remains difficult despite a ceasefire, Anadolu reports. “France delivered 80 tons of food aid to Gaza yesterday, where the humanitarian situation remains difficult despite the ceasefire. 320 tons are still waiting to be delivered,” Barrot wrote on the US social media company X. He stressed that assistance must reach civilians without obstruction. “The aid must be allowed to reach civilian populations without hindrance, alongside whom we remain mobilized,” he said. Although a ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, with Israel continuing to block the entry of aid shipments

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  Heavy rains flood displaced Palestinians’ tents in Gaza amid cold wave

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Heavy rains flooded tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday in the first winter storm to hit the territory since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis amid Israeli restrictions on shelter supplies, officials and witnesses said. A weather system brought rain and falling temperatures to Gaza late Monday and was expected to ease by Tuesday evening, meteorologist Laith Al-Alami said in a post on the US social media company Facebook. Gaza’s Civil Defense said its crews received multiple distress calls overnight reporting flooded displacement camps caused by heavy rainfall. Rescue teams saved several families after floodwaters submerged their tents in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in

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  Several Palestinians arrested as Israeli forces raid town in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli forces raided a Palestinian town south of Nablus in the northern West Bank, arresting several people and damaging property, a local official said Tuesday. Yaqub Oweis, head of the eastern Lubban local council, told Anadolu that Israeli troops entered the town around midnight, searched several homes and damaged property inside some houses. He said several young men were arrested, without specifying the number. The town, home to about 4,200 Palestinians, has faced repeated closures and tightened restrictions by Israeli forces since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Oweis said. He added that illegal Israeli settlers have also raided the town and carried out acts of vandalism. READ: US lawmaker introduces bill to condition US arms use in Gaza,

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  US lawmaker introduces bill to condition US arms use in Gaza, West Bank

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  US Congressman Sean Casten on Monday introduced legislation that would bar the use of US-origin weapons in Gaza and the West Bank if Israel violates the Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire, pursues annexation, or fails to address settler violence against Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Casten said the Ceasefire Compliance Act is designed to align US military assistance with American laws, interests and values while preserving Israel’s right to defend itself. “As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests, and the law. “That starts with requiring compliance with the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement and the steps laid out in the 20-point plan, curbing

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  Israeli minister raises flag in Jordan Valley, claims West Bank is ‘part of the Land of Israel’

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has claimed that the occupied West Bank is “part of the Land of Israel”, publishing footage showing himself raising an Israeli flag on a mountain peak in the Jordan Valley. Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, shared the video on the social media platform X on Monday evening, amid growing Palestinian concerns that Israeli political rhetoric and actions are paving the way for the annexation of the West Bank. In the post, the minister said the Israeli flag had been raised “for the first time” on the summit of Mount Sartaba, approximately 650 metres above the Jordan Valley. “We are reclaiming what is ours,” Eliyahu said, adding that authorities plan

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  PLO official says Hamas not a terrorist organisation and rejects calls for disarmament

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Azzam al-Ahmad, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has said that Hamas is not a terrorist organisation and rejected calls for its disarmament, revealing plans for dialogue on the movement’s possible inclusion in the PLO. In an interview with Egypt’s Al-Shorouk newspaper, al-Ahmad addressed key political issues facing the Palestinian leadership, including the future governance of Gaza, relations between the PLO and Hamas, and international pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority. The senior Palestinian official, elected to his post last May following the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as Vice President of the Palestinian Authority, said discussions would soon begin regarding Hamas’s potential membership in the PLO framework. READ: Israel gives 60-day ultimatum for Hamas to disarm,

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  Nouri al-Maliki refuses to withdraw prime ministerial bid despite US pressure

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has said he will not withdraw his candidacy for the premiership despite reported United States pressure and threats of sanctions linked to his nomination. Speaking to AFP on Monday, the leader of the State of Law Coalition said he had “absolutely no intention” of stepping aside, stressing that the decision rests solely with Iraqi political forces. “I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing, out of respect for the country I belong to, its sovereignty and its will,” al-Maliki said. “No one has the right to tell you not to vote for so-and-so and to vote for so-and-so.” Al-Maliki added that the Shiite Coordination Framework — the largest bloc in Iraq’s parliament — had agreed

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  UN chief warns of ethnic cleansing risk in Gaza and global human rights collapse

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the risk of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and a broader collapse of the global human rights system, citing escalating violations and growing disregard for international law worldwide. Speaking at the opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres said civilian suffering had reached catastrophic levels across major conflict zones, including Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. The Secretary-General stressed that the erosion of respect for human rights standards was not accidental but the result of deliberate political choices by international actors. He urged member states to stop treating human rights as optional commitments shaped by narrow political interests, emphasising that such rights are universal and indivisible. READ: UN raises alarm over risk

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  Netanyahu again rejects Gaza administration logo over use of ‘national’

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his objection to the logo of the Gaza Administration Committee, opposing the inclusion of the word “national”, according to a report published Monday by the Israeli newspaper Maariv. The newspaper said Netanyahu raised the issue during a meeting of the Security Cabinet, describing the logo as “unacceptable”. He had previously objected to an earlier version, arguing that it resembled the emblem of the Palestinian Authority. According to the report, the committee amended its design earlier this month in response to Israeli concerns. However, Netanyahu rejected the revised version as well, reiterating that Israel opposes the use of the term “national” in reference to the body. READ: Netanyahu tells Knesset Israel facing “very complex, difficult

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  US evacuates embassy staff from Beirut amid rising regional tensions

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  The United States has begun evacuating dozens of personnel from its embassy in Beirut as regional tensions intensify, while Israel announced expanded military preparations linked to a potential confrontation involving Iran and Hezbollah. Diplomatic sources and Lebanon’s LBCI television reported that dozens of US embassy staff were evacuated on Monday, 23rd February 2026, via Rafik Hariri International Airport. The move was described as a precautionary measure amid growing concerns over possible regional escalation. Security advisories issued to American citizens in Lebanon urged heightened vigilance and recommended avoiding crowded public areas. READ: Netanyahu tells Knesset Israel facing “very complex, difficult days” amid Iran tensions The partial evacuation reflects mounting diplomatic anxiety as tensions across the Middle East continue to rise. Meanwhile, assessments

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  Palestine FM: Israel continues killing and displacement; peace impossible without ending occupation

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Monday that Israel continues mass killings and forced displacement, stressing that there can be no just peace without ending the occupation. She made the remarks to the Human Rights Council during its 61st session in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a statement from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.  Shahin said, “Israel continues mass killings and forced displacement, imposing a colonial reality by military force, in blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.” She added that “the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip shows a systematic disregard for the international system and its resolutions.” READ: Peace with Israel ‘not possible’ under constant violations of Palestinian rights, says foreign minister With US support,

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  Sudan’s Burhan offers amnesty to RSF fighters who lay down arms

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Monday offered amnesty to fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) if they lay down their arms. The remarks were made during a graduation ceremony for a new group of officers at the Naval College in Omdurman, west of the capital, Khartoum, according to a statement from the Sovereign Council. Burhan said the Sudanese army and people would continue fighting until the RSF was “defeated” and the country was “cleansed” of the group. “We have no option but to continue the battle to its end, or for the enemy to surrender and be eliminated,” he said. He renewed his offer of “amnesty for fighters who were misled”, adding: “The doors of repentance