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

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  Red Ribbon Campaign issue call to action against Israel’s planned executions

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  The Red Ribbon Campaign has today issued an urgent statement calling on the free people of the world to join their planned activities on 16, 17, and 18 April 2026 against Isreal’s plans to execute scores of Palestinian detainees. The statement said, “We will turn every square, every street, and every digital platform into a space demanding their right to live.” It continued: “In the darkness of prison cells, among the worst on earth, Palestinian detainees are no longer facing imprisonment and abuse alone; they are confronting a clear and systematic plan of execution. Through the “Red Ribbons” campaign, we declare to the world that the occupation has completed the pillars of its crime. Execution is no longer a passing

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  Hamas says blocking Palm Sunday Mass in Jerusalem is a “dangerous precedent”

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  Hamas has said that Israeli authorities’ prevention of Palestinian Christians from holding a Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem is a “dangerous precedent” and the first such incident in centuries. In a statement issued on Sunday, and reported by Quds Press the group said the move reflects what it described as the practical implementation of policies aimed at “Judaising” the holy city. Hamas added that the measure constitutes a direct violation of freedom of worship and poses what it called an existential threat to Jerusalem’s identity and landmarks, including both Islamic and Christian holy sites. The group condemned what it described as an “unjustified ban”, along with wider measures targeting land and religious

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  Jerusalem Governorate warns of settler plans for animal sacrifices at Al-Aqsa Mosque

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate has warned of attempts by settlers to bring animal sacrifices into Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing the move as a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing new religious rituals within the mosque compound. In a statement issued Sunday evening, the Governorate said these attempts coincide with the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation authorities for the 30th consecutive day, preventing worshippers from accessing the site. The Governorate stated that such actions represent an effort to use religious rituals as a tool to Judaize Al-Aqsa Mosque, with plans to bring and slaughter animals — such as lambs or goats — inside the compound during the Jewish Passover holiday. According to the statement, so-called “Temple Mount organizations” are exploiting the

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  Former Israeli PM warns of army strain and leadership failures

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has delivered sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the ongoing war, describing it as based on a “grand illusion” and warning that Hezbollah cannot be eliminated militarily. In remarks reported by Israeli Channel 13, Barak said the management of the war from the outset was fundamentally flawed, adding that expectations of a decisive military outcome were unrealistic. He pointed to warnings presented by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who reportedly outlined “ten red lines” to the cabinet indicating risks that could lead to the army’s collapse from within. Barak criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to respond adequately to these concerns. Barak also accused the government of misplaced priorities, saying cabinet

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  Israeli media: Mount Herzl military cemetery nearing capacity

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  Israeli media have reported that the military cemetery on Mount Herzl is nearing full capacity for the burial of Israeli occupation soldiers, amid a sharp rise in casualties since 7th October 2023. According to data presented by the “Matva” unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defence to a local planning and building appeals committee in Jerusalem, the cemetery has exhausted all available graves designated for soldiers in recent months. The Israeli daily Calcalist reported that the committee reviewed an appeal related to an exceptional decision issued in September 2025, allowing the temporary use of 7.7 dunams (approximately 1.7 acres) within the cemetery to create additional burial space. The expansion is expected to accommodate between 500 and 600 new graves over

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  Israeli nuclear city emerges as focal point in escalating Iran–Israel confrontation

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  The city of Dimona has moved to the center of the escalating confrontation between Iran and Israel, following reports of an Iranian strike targeting its vicinity on 21st March. Located deep in the Negev desert, Dimona is widely regarded as one of the most sensitive nodes in Israeli strategic infrastructure, largely due to its association with the country’s nuclear programme. Established in 1955, the city has since evolved into a key military and strategic site. Researchers note that the area surrounding Dimona was historically inhabited by tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouin Arabs prior to the 1948 Nakba. According to political analyst Muhammad Mustafa Shahin, the Negev region was home to between 90,000 and 95,000 Palestinians from tribes including the

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  At least 19 dead, 20 missing in migrant boat tragedy off Tunisia

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  At least 19 migrants have died and around 20 remain missing after a boat sank off the coast of Sfax in Tunisia, according to the monitoring group Alarm Phone. The organisation, which tracks distress calls from migrants at sea, said that approximately 60 people had set off from Sfax, but only 16 survivors were confirmed, with 19 bodies recovered so far. In a post on X, Alarm Phone questioned the fate of the remaining passengers, stating: “Where are the rest? This carnage at sea must be stopped.” The group had earlier reported that 56 migrants were in distress in the central Mediterranean, after departing from Tunisia in an attempt to reach the Italian coast. Adverse weather conditions are believed to

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  American University of Beirut shifts to online learning after Iranian threats

  by Marwa A on March 30, 2026

  The American University of Beirut (AUB) announced that it will shift all educational activities to online learning for two days as a precaution following Iranian threats against American institutions in the region. In a message to students and staff, the university said it had received reports of potential threats targeting American educational institutions, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and working to verify the information amid widespread media reports. The administration stressed that there is no confirmed direct threat to the campus or its affiliated medical centres, urging the university community to rely only on official communications for updates. AUB reaffirmed its rejection of all forms of violence, emphasizing the need to protect educational and healthcare institutions from

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  Egypt begins energy-saving measures amid surging oil prices

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Egypt has enforced a package of energy-saving measures for a one-month period amid a global rise in oil prices in the wake of the US-Israeli offensive on Iran, Anadolu reports. The measures include the closure of shops, restaurants, shopping centers, cinemas, theaters, and wedding halls at 9.00 pm local time (1900 GMT), except for Thursdays and Fridays when closing time will be 10.00 pm (2000 GMT), Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s office said in a statement. The measures also include reducing street lighting and cutting street advertisement lighting by 50%, as well as reducing fuel allocations for government vehicles by 30%. Authorities also decided to close the government district in the New Administrative Capital at 6.00 pm (1600 GMT) and slowing

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  Pakistan would be ‘honored’ to host US, Iran talks in ‘coming days’: Top diplomat Dar

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Pakistan’s foreign minister on Sunday said that Islamabad would be “honoured” to host talks between the US and Iran to end the ongoing Mideast conflict, Anadolu reports. “Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days for comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,” Ishaq Dar said in a video statement hours after a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in the capital Islamabad. Dar said that both Washington and Tehran expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks. He said he briefed the top diplomats of Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia who attended the quadrilateral meeting on the prospects of potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The visiting foreign ministers expressed

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  From Hormuz to households: How geopolitics is repricing Indonesia’s cooking oil

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  The escalating military confrontation in the Middle East, pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, has become a transmission belt, channeling external shocks directly into Indonesia’s domestic economy. Nowhere is this more evident than in the price of cooking oil, one of the country’s most politically sensitive commodities. The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply flows, has created the most severe energy disruption since the 1970s. For Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO), this crisis exposes a striking paradox. Rising global crude prices, projected to hover between $100 and $120 per barrel, are lifting CPO prices through substitution effects in biodiesel markets. As fossil fuel costs

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  Netanyahu orders expansion of Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he has ordered the military to expand the occupation in southern Lebanon, vowing to continue attacks until Israel achieves its objectives, Anadolu reports. Israel is “determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,” Netanyahu said in a video statement released on the US social media platform X. He said military operations in Lebanon would continue, adding that Israeli forces would act with force until their goals are met. The Israeli army has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on Feb.

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  Japanese atomic bomb survivors send letters to US, Israel urging peace amid Iran war

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Japanese atomic bomb survivors have sent letters to the embassies of the US and Israel, condemning their attacks on Iran, Anadolu reports. However, the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo refused to accept the letter co-signed by four atomic bomb survivor groups, according to Japanese daily The Mainichi. Shigemitsu Tanaka, the 85-year-old head of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, said: “The document was sent back without even being read. I think they are becoming closed-minded.” The letter, which called for an immediate ceasefire and condemned the attacks as outrageous, was sent earlier this month. The entire region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing over 1,400 people,

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  Mladenov’s Gaza disarmament plan blackmails the victim, relieves the aggressor

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  When the United Nations Security Council convened on March 24 to discuss Gaza’s future, the world witnessed something grotesque: a plan dressed in diplomatic language that effectively punishes the victims of genocide while covering its perpetrators. Presented by Nickolay Mladenov, the Trump-appointed envoy of the so-called “Board of Peace,” the proposal demands the complete disarmament of Hamas and all Palestinian armed factions as a precondition for the flow of humanitarian needs and reconstruction. This is not a peace plan. It is a one-sided ultimatum and blackmail disguised in diplomacy and under the umbrella of the United Nations. A One-Sided Blackmail, Not a Negotiation The leaked framework, reportedly presented to Palestinian factions in Cairo in mid-March, advances a simple equation: surrender

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  Russia wants to develop cooperation with Gulf countries amid Mideast tensions, says Kremlin

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Russia wants to develop cooperation with Gulf countries amid the current Mideast tensions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told state news agency Tass on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Saying that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are Moscow’s “good partners” and “good friends,” he underlined that these are also countries “we want to develop bilateral cooperation with.” “We will continue to do this; we value our relations,” he added. The US and Israel on Feb. 28 launched an air offensive on Iran, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting

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  Norway ‘alarmed’ by attacks on journalists, health care workers in Lebanon

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Norway’s foreign minister on Sunday expressed concern over attacks on journalists and health care workers in Lebanon, urging respect for international humanitarian law, Anadolu reports. “I am deeply concerned by developments in #Lebanon, and alarmed by the attacks on health care workers and journalists. Medical personnel, hospitals, and members of the press must be protected,” Espen Barth Eide wrote on the US social media platform X. He called for international humanitarian law to be respected “at all times.” The comments came after two paramedics were reportedly killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a center belonging to the Islamic Health Organization near Bint Jbeil Hospital in southern Lebanon. READ: 3 journalists killed in Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanese city of Jezzine

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  US-Israeli war against Iran violates international law, German parliamentary study says

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Legal experts for the German parliament consider the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran to be in violation of international law and warn of potential implications for Germany, media reports said Sunday, Anadolu reports. According to a report commissioned by the opposition party The Left, the attacks, “according to prevailing opinion,” violate the prohibition on the use of force under the UN Charter, as they are neither justified by self-defense nor authorized by the UN Security Council. In their 12-page analysis, the experts examined whether the potential use of US military bases in Germany — including Ramstein Air Base — for operations against Iran could amount to assistance for which Germany bears responsibility under international law. They

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  Bab al-Mandeb Strait faces disruption risk as Iran war escalates

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow maritime chokepoint linking the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, faces potential disruption as the US-Israel war against Iran escalates, raising concerns over global energy supplies and trade, Anadolu reports. The risk comes as the global oil market is already under strain following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Located between Yemen and Djibouti, the Bab al-Mandeb is the only direct sea route connecting Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. At its narrowest point, it is about 32 kilometers (17 nautical miles) wide. On Wednesday, Iranian news agency Tasnim quoted an unnamed military official as saying, “If the Americans want to think of a solution for the Strait of Hormuz with

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  Talks without balance: Why Tehran and Trump remain locked in escalation

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Negotiation is being spoken of constantly, yet a meaningful settlement has rarely been farther away. In an existential war, talks are not a neutral return to reason. They become another theatre of the conflict itself. That is the central reality of the current war involving Iran, Israel and the US. For Tehran, entering negotiations before altering the regional balance of power – especially in relation to Israel and the Gulf monarchies – would not mean peace. It would mean formalising vulnerability. For Donald Trump, de-escalation is not a cost-free option either. A war tied to Hormuz, Gulf infrastructure and energy prices cannot simply be paused without looking like strategic retreat. This is why both sides now speak the language of

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  Top Pakistani, Saudi diplomats discuss ‘evolving regional, international developments’ in Islamabad amid Mideast conflict

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Sunday discussed “evolving regional and international developments” amid the Mideast conflict, which just started its second month, Anadolu reports. The two top diplomats stressed “the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and collective efforts to promote peace, security and stability in the region,” according to a statement from Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry. They reaffirmed their commitment to closer engagement and agreed to continue working together at both the bilateral and multilateral levels to “further strengthen cooperation and contribute to regional peace and prosperity.” The two sides also “reviewed bilateral relations and discussed joint efforts regarding regional developments,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on the US social media

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  French president condemns Israeli police decision to bar Latin patriarch from Jerusalem church

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday condemned Israel’s decision to prevent the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, one of the holiest ceremonies on the Christian calendar, Anadolu reports. “I condemn this decision by the Israeli police, which adds to the worrying increase in violations of the status of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites,” Macron wrote on the US social media platform X. Voicing his support for the patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Macron also said: “The free exercise of worship in Jerusalem must be guaranteed for all religions.” In a statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Pizzaballa, along with the custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, was stopped

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  14 civilians killed in RSF shelling of Sudan’s South Kordofan: Medics

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  At least 14 civilians were killed in artillery shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s South Kordofan state, a local medical group said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement that two women and five children were among the victims in the attack that targeted the city of Dilling Saturday night, while 23 other people, including seven children, were injured. It said the attack targeted residential areas in the city, causing a high number of casualties “amid extremely difficult humanitarian and health conditions and a shortage of medical personnel.” According to the group, the city was subjected to heavy shelling for the second day by the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North

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  Iran says 281 students, teachers killed in US-Israeli attacks

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  At least 281 students and teachers have been killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since last month, an Iranian official said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The toll included 222 students, four preschool children, 48 teachers, and seven retired education staff, Hossein Sadeghi, head of the Information and Public Relations Center at the Education Ministry, told the state news agency IRNA. He added that 185 students and education personnel have also been injured in the US-Israeli assault. Sadeghi said the attacks have damaged 789 administrative, cultural, and educational facilities, including 700 schools, 40 administrative buildings, 30 sports facilities, five student camps, and 14 cultural and educational centers. The US and Israel have maintained airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far

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  Will the US-Israeli war on Iran open the road to Palestinian freedom?

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Some are expressing frustration that Iran’s conditions to end the war have not explicitly and unequivocally included a demand to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and dismantle the apartheid regime. Among the conditions circulated in Iranian and sympathetic media—though not formally confirmed by Tehran—is the proposition that any resolution must include an end to Israel’s war across all fronts: Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond. However, these conditions did not specifically prioritize the freedom of Palestine as a precondition to ending the war. That frustration is neither misplaced nor marginal. For many, Palestine is not one issue among others, but the defining axis of the conflict itself. Precisely for that reason, however, it cannot be approached in isolation. To treat

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  US-Israeli strike hits building housing Qatar-based Al Araby TV office in Tehran

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  A US-Israeli attack hit a building housing the office of Al Araby Television Network in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The Qatar-based channel said on US social media company X that all staff were safe after the attack on the building containing its Tehran office. Video footage aired by the channel showed extensive damage to the second and third floors of the building, where its office is located. The US and Israel have maintained airstrikes on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. READ: 3 journalists killed in Israeli

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  Israeli police bar Latin Patriarch from Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said Pizzaballa, along with the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, was stopped while heading privately to the church and “was compelled to turn back.” The Patriarchate said the incident marked the first time in centuries that church leaders were prevented from celebrating Palm Sunday at the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest Christian sites. It described the incident as a “grave precedent” that “disregards the sensitivities of billions” of Christians worldwide, particularly during Holy Week, when attention is focused on Jerusalem. READ: Pro-Palestinian French

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  ‘Journalists must never be targeted in war zones,’ says French foreign minister after 3 killed in Lebanon

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Sunday denounced the killing of three journalists in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, noting that targeting journalists would be a violation of international law, Anadolu reports. “Journalists must never be targeted in war zones, including if they have ties to parties in the conflict,” Barrot told broadcaster France 3, according to BFM TV. “If it is indeed confirmed that the journalists in question were deliberately targeted by the Israeli army, then this is extremely serious and a blatant violation of international law,” he said. Three journalists were killed on Saturday when an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle they were traveling in near the city of Jezzine in southern Lebanon, according to an Anadolu

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  Hundreds of Israelis stranded at Aqaba Airport as Jordan suspends flights

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Hundreds of Israelis were stranded at King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, southern Jordan, on Sunday after the Kingdom suspended flights of Israeli airline Arkia, Israeli Channel 12 reported. The channel aired a video showing hundreds of Israelis stranded at Aqaba Airport. There was no official comment from Jordan on the matter. Israel has closed Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv amid missile and drone attacks from Tehran, in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iran since Feb. 28. Arkia, Israel’s second-largest airline, said last week that it would transfer most of its operations to airports in Jordan and Egypt. The company, however, said Sunday that Jordanian authorities were preventing it from implementing its plans, according to the daily

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  Iran says US, Israeli universities ‘legitimate targets’ amid military escalation

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Sunday warned that US- and Israeli-linked universities in the region are now “legitimate targets” in retaliation for attacks on Iranian educational facilities, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the semi-official Fars news agency, the IRGC accused the US and Israel of repeatedly bombing Iranian universities, including Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran. “From now on, all universities of the occupying entity (Israel) and American universities in West Asia will be considered legitimate targets,” in response to the destruction of Iranian academic institutions, it said, calling on staff and students at US-linked universities in the region, as well as nearby residents, to stay at least one kilometer away from such facilities for

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  Pro-Palestinian French member of European Parliament denied entry to Canada

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian origin, said late Saturday she was denied entry to Canada hours before her scheduled flight, Anadolu reports. “I was prevented from traveling to Canada: a troubling obstruction to parliamentary work and freedom of expression,” Hassan wrote on X. Hassan is affiliated with France’s left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). The party said Hassan had been invited to speak at two conferences in Montreal and that her initial electronic travel authorization had been approved by Canadian authorities. However, she was informed by email late Friday, on the eve of her departure, that her application was under review, the party said. Hassan said Canadian authorities requested extensive personal records just hours

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  Bahrain intercepts 174 missiles, 391 drones from Iran since war onset

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Bahrain said Sunday that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 174 missiles and 391 drones targeting the kingdom since the start of Iranian attacks on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force said its air defense systems continue to confront successive waves of what it described as “terrorist Iranian attacks.” No details were given about casualties or damage. The entire region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing

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  Great‑power recklessness and the future of Gulf security

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  The Strait of Hormuz has always been more than a stretch of water. It is a pressure point of the modern world – where oil, ideology, history and fear collide in ways that reverberate far beyond the Middle East. The recent US–Israeli strike on Iran, described in the attached analysis as part of ‘Operation Epic Fury’, has pushed that fragile equilibrium to breaking point, triggering a cascade of retaliation, economic panic and moral uncertainty that now touches every corner of the global system. At the heart of this crisis lies a brutal truth. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz. When that artery is blocked, the world does not simply feel discomfort – it feels

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  Closure of Bab al-Mandeb ‘likely’ amid Iran-US war: Houthi official

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  A Houthi official in Yemen has not ruled out the closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as part of the ongoing military escalation between Iran, the US and Israel, as war entered its second month, Anadolu reports. The Houthi group launched missile strikes toward Israel on Saturday, the first by the Iran-backed Yemeni group since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Tehran last month. “We are in joint coordination with our brothers in Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq,” Mohammed Mansour, deputy information minister in the Houthi-run government, told Al-Araby Television on Saturday. He said the Houthis joined the conflict “to provide support to our brothers in Iran who

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  One-third of global food is wasted as millions face hunger

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  In a world where more than 3 million children die each year from hunger-related causes, about 1.3 billion tons of food – roughly one-third of all food produced globally – is wasted, according to the UN food agency, Anadolu reports. The UN has designated “food waste” as the theme for this year’s International Zero Waste Day on March 30, urging governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to participate in the initiative at all levels. According to data compiled by Anadolu from the Global Report on Food Crises, which gives an in-depth analysis of food and nutrition crises at the global, regional and country level, more than 295 million people across 53 countries and regions faced varying levels of acute hunger in

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  How Indonesia’s tilt toward the US left it stranded in the Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  In today’s fractured geopolitical landscape, energy flows are no longer governed by markets alone. They are shaped—often decisively—by politics. Nowhere is this clearer than in the unfolding crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, where Indonesia finds itself on the wrong side of a strategic divide. As tensions escalate in the Middle East, Iran has adopted a selective approach to maritime access through the strait, one of the world’s most vital energy chokepoints. Rather than a blanket closure, Tehran has opted for a calibrated policy: friendly nations may pass; others must wait.  The consequences for Indonesia are immediate and stark. While countries like Malaysia, Thailand, China, India and Russia have secured safe passage for their tankers, two Indonesian vessels remain stranded.

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  Iran says US seeking to achieve war goals via 15-point plan after military failure

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Iran’s parliament speaker accused the US on Sunday of pursuing a 15-point plan to achieve its war goals after failing to achieve them by military force, warning that any ground attack on the country would face a “decisive” response, Anadolu Agency reports. Writing on Telegram, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the US is “openly calling for negotiations while secretly planning a ground attack.” He said the Iranians are prepared for any ground operation by US forces, vowing a “decisive response” for any such attack. “These days, different words and statements are heard from enemy officials about negotiations. America is expressing its desires and declaring what it has not achieved in war as a 15-point list and seeking it in diplomacy.” Iran

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  Palestinians commemorate the 50th anniversary of Land Day

  by MI on March 29, 2026

    IMAGES: Many tents of displaced people were damaged by a low-pressure system hitting the Palestinian Territories

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  UK prepares mine-clearing vessel for possible Strait of Hormuz deployment

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Britain is preparing to deploy a Royal Navy evacuation vessel to the Strait of Hormuz, equipped with a fleet of autonomous drones designed for mine detection and clearance, according to the Sunday Times on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Last week, ministers said RFA Lyme Bay, an amphibious landing vessel currently undergoing routine maintenance in Gibraltar, would be sent to the Mediterranean for training exercises. However, sources cited by The Sunday Times, indicated that John Healey, the UK’s defense secretary, has authorized contingency plans for the 580-foot Bay-class ship to be sent to the Strait of Hormuz to support mine-clearance efforts. According to the report, RFA Lyme Bay will be equipped in Gibraltar with autonomous mine-clearance systems, including underwater drones and mine-hunting

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  Israel says its forces cross from Syria’s Golan Heights into southern Lebanon for ‘targeted operation’

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  The Israeli army said Sunday its Alpinist Unit crossed for the first time from the Syrian Golan Heights into southern Lebanon to carry out what it described as a “targeted operation” along the border, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the army said troops from the Alpinist Unit, under the command of the 810th Brigade, “completed a targeted operation” to thwart what it called attempts by “terror” groups to establish a foothold along the Lebanon border. It said the forces operated in complex mountainous terrain, crossing on foot through deep snow from the Syrian Hermon area (Jabal al-Sheikh) in the occupied Golan Heights toward Mount Dov (Shebaa Farms) in southern Lebanon. According to the statement, the troops conducted reconnaissance, intelligence gathering,

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  The envisaged five stages of Israel’s next colonial phase

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, now the Board of Peace High Representative for Gaza, is misrepresenting Gaza to the full capability of Western complicity with colonialism.  Over the span of eight months, the Board of Peace is supposed to implement the five stages of disarmament, subject to agreement by Israel and Hamas. Israel has nothing to lose whether the agreement goes through or not. For Palestinians, however, the picture is bleak either way, and no amount of double speak by Mladenov can disguise the fact that disarmament and reconstruction facilitate Israel’s control over Gaza through the Board of Peace. Stopping military operations and implementing humanitarian protocols constitutes the first stage of disarmament.

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  Israeli police officer faces discipline for calling National Security Minister Ben-Gvir ‘convicted criminal’

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  An Israeli police officer is set to face disciplinary action after referring to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as a “convicted criminal,” media reports said Saturday. The report by Haaretz said police concluded in its investigation that describing Ben-Gvir as a “convicted criminal” constituted a “political statement,” despite his criminal record, including convictions for 13 offenses, among them “supporting a terrorist organization.” Ben-Gvir, who has been accused of attempting to turn the police into a “private militia,” has convictions that include incitement to racism, identifying with a terrorist organization, propaganda for a terrorist organization, participation in an illegal gathering, taking part in a riot and damage to property. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara previously petitioned the Supreme Court to remove Ben-Gvir

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  Pentagon preparing weeks-long ground operations in Iran amid escalation debate

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of potential ground operations in Iran as thousands of US troops deploy to the Middle East, pending a decision by President Donald Trump, a media report said Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports. Officials said the plans could mark “a new phase of the war” that may be “significantly more dangerous” for US forces than the first four weeks of fighting, according to the Washington Post. Any ground mission would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could involve raids by Special Operations forces and conventional infantry, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. They said the operations could expose troops to “drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives.” “It’s the job of

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  Israel arrests 18 during protests against war on Iran

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Israeli police arrested 18 people Saturday in Tel Aviv and Haifa during protests against the war on Iran, according to media reports. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said 13 were detained during a demonstration at Habima Square in central Tel Aviv. Police said protesters disrupted the public order and failed to comply with officers’ instructions. The newspaper said clashes broke out between demonstrators and police during the rally, prompting the arrest of several people police described as “rioters.” READ: Israeli gov’t’sending army into multi-front war without strategy,’ says opposition leader Five more were arrested during a separate protest involving 100 demonstrators at Horev Junction in the northern city of Haifa, the newspaper added. Police said the arrests there were made for what

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  Yemen’s Houthis announce ‘second military operation’ targeting southern Israel

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthis announced Saturday that they carried out a “second military operation” targeting southern Israel, Anadolu reports. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group launched cruise missiles and drones at “vital sites.” He said the operation was carried out simultaneously with military operations by Iran and Hezbollah, and claimed it had achieved its objectives. Saree said Houthi operations would continue in the coming days until “the aggression“​​​​​​​ stops. Earlier Saturday, the group announced its first military operation against southern Israel since the outbreak of the current US-Israeli war against Iran. READ: Over 230 children killed in US-Israeli attacks in first month of war, says Iran The Houthis said they launched a ballistic missile at “sensitive military sites” in southern Israel.

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  Pro-Palestine demonstrations draw crowds across Europe

  by MI on March 29, 2026

  Several pro-Palestine rallies were held across Europe on Saturday, drawing large crowds. “Over half a million people” marched together for Palestine and against the far right in London, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said on the US social media platform X. Joined by groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Stop the War Coalition, protesters also condemned Israeli strikes on Lebanon and the US-Israeli war on Iran. Demonstrators carried banners reading “Freedom for Palestine,” “Stop Bombing Iran,” and “Stop Arming Israel,” while also speaking out against Islamophobia. Meanwhile, rallies were held across multiple regions in France following a call by around 90 organizations. READ: Israeli media reports consolidation of ‘yellow line’ as Gaza border reality “In every region of France

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  Iran agrees to allow 20 more Pakistani-flagged ships to transit Strait of Hormuz, Islamabad confirms

  by Marwa A on March 28, 2026

  Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed for weeks, Anadolu reports. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the move on the US social media platform X, calling it a constructive gesture that deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region, he said. “Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward,” he added. Pakistan is set to host a quadrilateral meeting on the Middle East conflict on Sunday. Top diplomats of Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are due to meet in Islamabad to discuss ongoing efforts to de-escalate heightened tensions in the

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  3 journalists killed in Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanese city of Jezzine

  by Marwa A on March 28, 2026

  Three journalists were killed on Saturday when an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle they were traveling in near the city of Jezzine in southern Lebanon, according to an Anadolu correspondent, Anadolu reports. The deceased include Al-Manar TV correspondent Ali Shuaib, Al-Mayadeen correspondent Fatima Fatouni, and a cameraman. In a statement, the Israeli army admitted the killing of Ali Shuaib, but did not comment on the death of the other two journalists. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the attack constitutes a “blatant crime that violates all norms” and called on international bodies to take action. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attack, urging respect for international law, according to the National News Agency. Separately, the Syndicate of Workers in Visual

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  US amphibious ship USS Tripoli arrives in Middle East, CENTCOM says

  by Marwa A on March 28, 2026

  A US amphibious assault vessel carrying thousands of expeditionary forces has arrived in the Middle East, US Central Command said Saturday, Anadolu reports. “US Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility, March 27,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The USS Tripoli serves as the flagship for an expeditionary force of about 3,500 sailors and Marines, along with transport and strike fighter aircraft and amphibious and tactical assets, the command said. The deployment comes as the US and Israel continue joint strikes on Iran that began Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan,

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  Iran weighing possible withdrawal from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

  by Marwa A on March 28, 2026

  The possibility of Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is under discussion in Tehran, Iranian media reported on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Relevant government bodies, including parliament, are currently “urgently” mulling withdrawal, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported. On the US social media company X, Tehran Deputy Malek Shariati said an “emergency plan to support the nuclear rights” of Iran has three main areas. These include a declaration of withdrawal from the NPT, the cancellation of the countermeasure law in implementing the 2014 Iran nuclear deal, and support for a new international agreement with like-minded countries for the development of peaceful nuclear technologies, including Shanghai and the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others. The

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  “Schadenfreude, how sweet it is”

  by Marwa A on March 28, 2026

  There is a word that describes what is unfolding across screens in the Middle East at night: Schadenfreude. The feeling of immense, indescribable pleasure to see your enemy suffer pain, destruction, and death. When Iranian missiles arc across the skies over Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Eilat—trails of fire cutting through the dark, Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, a great swath of people across the globe, do not watch in fear or terror, but in thrilling exultation. Phones glow in living rooms from Beirut to Baghdad, from Amman to distant corners of the Muslim world. Bloggers, popcorn in hand, narrate the spectacle in real time and colorful language, their voices rising, urging viewers to celebrate, to chant, to scream with joy as every