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

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  West Bank killings show Israel’s encouragement of ‘ethnic cleansing’ against Palestinians, Israeli rights group says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Israeli rights group B’Tselem said Monday that the killing of two Palestinians in the village of Deir Jarir in the occupied West Bank was “an example of how Israel encourages ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the group said Israeli occupiers, soldiers, and police carried out a joint raid on the village, near Ramallah, on Sunday night, with soldiers shooting dead Ahmad Abu Mukh, 26, and Odeh Farajna, 53, and injuring three others. One of the wounded remains hospitalized in serious condition, it added. The group said Israeli forces accompanied the occupiers during the raid and helped them steal dozens of sheep. B’Tselem also published footage taken from an ambulance camera documenting the moment Abu Mukh was

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  Bulgaria to seek parliamentary approval for deployment of US refueling aircraft at air base

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Bulgaria’s government will ask parliament to approve the deployment of up to eight US aerial refueling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base following a request from Washington to support operations in the Middle East, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the opening of the annual conference of Bulgarian ambassadors in Sofia, Radev said the US Embassy submitted a diplomatic note on June 17 requesting the deployment under the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States, according to BTA news agency. The Council of Ministers is expected to approve a proposal later Monday to submit the request to the National Assembly for authorization, he said. Radev noted that although Bezmer Air Base is a joint-use

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  Iran’s IRGC says it attacked US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Monday that it had carried out “simultaneous” missile and drone attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the semi-official Fars News Agency, the IRGC Navy said the first attack targeted “drone maintenance and repair hangars used by US units at Al-Sakhir Air Base in Bahrain, destroying the facilities.” The IRGC said it also struck “preparation hangars for Task Force 59 (TF59) vessels at Salman Port in Bahrain, destroying the structures and causing heavy damage to the vessels.” ​​​​​​​In Kuwait, the Iranian force said it “targeted and set ablaze the facilities used to station, support, and equip US special naval commando forces at Camp Arifjan,

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  Israeli minister calls for settlement building in Gaza, claims enclave ‘part of Israel’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Israeli Settlement Minister Orit Strock called on Monday for rebuilding settlements in the Gaza Strip, claiming the enclave is “part of the Land of Israel.” “Jews should live in the Gaza Strip. The demand to rebuild Jewish settlements is a correct demand,” Strock said in comments carried by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN. “Gaza is part of Israel not only according to the Torah and Halakha, but also according to international law,” she claimed. International law considers Gaza part of the occupied Palestinian territory and says Israeli settlements in occupied land have no legal validity and violate international law and UN resolutions. Strock’s remarks came a day after Israeli government ministers joined thousands of occupiers in a march through a closed

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  Yemen’s Houthis declare ‘maritime blockade’ on Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group on Monday declared “a maritime blockade” on Saudi Arabia effective immediately, Anadolu reports. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised statement on the group’s Al-Masirah television that a ban on Saudi-linked maritime navigation “has entered into force from the moment of issuing this statement.” Saree warned that any Saudi escalation would be met with what he called a “comprehensive and severe escalation.” There was no immediate Saudi comment on the Houthi announcement. ​​​​​​​Last week, the Houthi group accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out an airstrike on the Sanaa airport and launched missiles toward Saudi territory, breaking years of calm. While Riyadh did not comment on the Houthi accusation, Yemen’s internationally recognized government claimed responsibility for the

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  Trump warns Iran it will pay ‘many times over’ for any US troops killed

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran will pay “many times over” for any American troops killed amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. “Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. This directive has been passed on to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Daniel Caine, and “every Leader in the Military,” Trump added. The statement came as the US continued to carry out airstrikes against Iran, with the attacks largely focused on southern Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting facilities and bases that it says are used by the US military in several regional countries. The Pentagon

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  Hamas names Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Palestinian group Hamas on Monday named senior member Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in October 2024, Anadolu reports. A brief statement by the group said Hayya had been “elected head of the movement’s political bureau,” succeeding Sinwar. Hayya is one of Hamas’ most prominent figures. He took over leadership of the movement in Gaza in October 2024 after Israel killed Sinwar, and had served as Sinwar’s deputy prior to that. His profile rose further following a series of Israeli assassinations targeting Hamas’ top leadership, including former political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri, making him widely viewed as the leading candidate to head

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  Iran’s president calls for ‘unity, collective decision-making’ amid escalation with US

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran needs “unity, collective decision-making and coordination among all state institutions” amid military escalation with the US. “The government would use all available capacities to reform unjust structures and continue serving the people,” Pezeshkian said in statements carried by the semi-official ISNA news agency. “The most important battlefield today is the economy and people’s livelihoods,” he said. “Iran’s enemies are trying through different means to block the country’s path to progress.” On the Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding signed with the US last month, Pezeshkian said Iran “had not retreated from its rights, principles, national interests, or beliefs in any of the 14 points” of the document. “Tehran had made no concessions against

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  ‘Jewish terrorism’ in West Bank ‘threatens everyone’s security,’ Israeli commander warns

  by Mehdi Editor on July 20, 2026

  A senior Israeli army commander has warned of the growing danger of occupier attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying “Jewish terrorism threatens everyone’s security.” Speaking during a closed conference last week, Central Command chief Avi Blot strongly criticized illegal settlement outposts and violence by Jewish youth in the West Bank, warning that they represent “a dangerous phenomenon that threatens the security of all,” the public broadcaster KAN reported late Sunday. Speaking about Israeli occupiers carrying out attacks against Palestinians, Blot said some were young people “who do not respect the law,” while others take the law into their own hands or reject the authority of official state institutions. He also pointed to occupiers establishing outposts in areas

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  UK Consulate in Jerusalem X account suspended after highlighting Israel’s abuse of Palestinian detainees

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  The official X account of the British Consulate General in Jerusalem has been suspended after it published a joint diplomatic statement raising alarm over Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees. Visitors to the @UKinJerusalem account are now met with a notice reading, “Account suspended.” X states only that it suspends accounts which violate its rules, but the platform has not publicly identified the rule allegedly breached or the content that prompted its action. Yesterday the consulate published a four-part thread carrying a joint statement from 14 diplomatic missions, including the UK, Canada, the European Union and several European countries. “Over 9,000 Palestinians are detained in Israeli prisons, including thousands held without charge or trial,” the missions warned, highlighting Israel’s extensive use

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  The UK has a new prime minister, now it must act on Palestine

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Britain has a new Prime Minister at a moment when history is demanding more than carefully worded statements. As Andy Burnham enters Downing Street, he inherits a foreign policy crisis that has exposed deep divisions over Britain’s commitment to human rights, international law and the protection of civilian life: Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza. For Palestinians, this is not an abstract diplomatic dispute. It is a humanitarian catastrophe that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced entire communities and reduced much of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure to ruins. Many human rights experts, legal scholars and international organisations have warned that Israel’s actions may amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice currently examining allegations brought by South Africa under

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  Eleven children are dead in Algeria, where is the outrage?

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  In a tragic event on the night of 16 July, a fire tore through an orphanage in Algeria, burning 11 children to death and injuring 19 others, who now lie in critical care. This raises the question: where is the public rage, in Algeria or in the neighbouring countries? Where are the protests demanding to know why such a horrific accident happened at all. Did the building have sirens, a working fire alarm system, any fire protocol in place? Were children trapped behind steel bars, in scenes closer to a jail than a home meant to shelter them? Why do Arab governments remain so inefficient, even insufficient, at keeping their own citizens’ lives protected? The Childhood Relief Institution, Mouassasat al-Tufula

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  The Normandy logic behind Trump’s escalation against Iran

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  The latest U.S. operations against Iran’s coastal regions, now extending through eight consecutive nights of strikes, follow a nearly forty-day conflict earlier this year and the collapse of a fragile diplomatic framework. The Trump administration initially presented that war as a swift and decisive success. Yet Washington did not convert battlefield gains into a durable political outcome. Iran retained substantial leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, and the fourteen-point Tehran-Washington memorandum of understanding failed to establish the balance Washington had expected. The gap between military claims and political results soon generated pressure at home. The agreement drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators, pro-Israel groups, and hawkish politicians. That backlash did not alone determine the administration’s next move,

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  Indonesia’s decision to deport a Palestinian activist is a moral failure

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  On July 16, Indonesian authorities arrested a Palestinian activist named Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad. By the next morning he was on a plane to Cyprus. Human rights monitors now warn he could end up in Israeli custody. Indonesia can probably point to paperwork that justifies each step along the way. None of it amounts to a moral defense. If Mr. Miqdad ends up in Israeli hands, Jakarta will have handed over a man who spent his life protesting Israeli policy to the very state that policy serves. Indonesia usually presents itself as the largest Muslim-majority democracy on earth, a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause, a country whose constitution rejects colonialism “in any form whatsoever.” That image took a hit

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  Zero hour in Baghdad

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Something has detonated in Baghdad. Not a missile. A quieter blast, felt in bank vaults and cabinet rooms. Its radius may prove wider than any single strike this region has absorbed in twenty years. At the center sits one date: 30th September. By then, every militia must disband and surrender its weapons to the state. By then, too, American combat troops are due to leave — everywhere except Erbil, the one piece of ground Washington will not give up. Iraq’s oil, its banks, its courts, and its sectarian compact are all being rewritten at once, under a man most Iraqis had never heard of eighteen months ago. The envoy who outranks the prime minister Ali al-Zaidi is the prime minister.

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  The rise of energy finance diplomacy

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and hydrogen technologies are advancing rapidly. But deploying them at scale requires enormous amounts of capital—not only for power generation, but also for electricity grids, storage facilities, ports and critical mineral supply chains. The scale of the challenge is already visible. The International Energy Agency estimated that global energy investment would reach $3.3 trillion in 2025, with about $2.2 trillion directed towards clean technologies. Yet investment remains heavily concentrated in advanced economies and China, while many emerging and developing countries face high borrowing costs and limited access to long-term finance. The IEA estimates that annual clean-energy investment in emerging and developing economies will need to more than triple by the early 2030s. This is changing

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  Islamic resistance in Iraq threatens to target US interests if conflict with Iran escalates

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said on Monday that it had not carried out any attacks against US military bases in Iraq or elsewhere in the region in recent days, while warning that it would become directly involved in the conflict if the United States expanded its military operations against Iran. In a statement, the group said it would enter the conflict “directly” if the United States continued what it described as its aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The statement added that, in such a scenario, the group would target “all American interests and bases” in Iraq and across the region. Separately, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that a US service member had been killed in

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  Displaced civilians gather west of Gaza as Israeli forces control 70% of the territory

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  IMAGES: Seven Palestinians, including a woman, killed in Israeli strike on police station in Gaza

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  US strikes target military, civilian, and nuclear sites in Iran as Tehran expands attacks across the region

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  The United States launched a new wave of strikes against targets in Iran, including military and civilian sites as well as a nuclear facility under construction, according to Iranian authorities, as Iran expanded its missile and drone attacks to include Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The escalation has brought hostilities to levels approaching those seen during the peak of the conflict. The Israeli military said that Israeli and Jordanian forces intercepted an Iranian missile heading toward the southern Jordanian port city of Aqaba, near Israel’s border. According to the military, this was the first time since the latest round of fighting began that Iranian missiles had reached the area. Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted strikes early Sunday, marking

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  Israel floods US phones with AI messages in campaign to manipulate public opinion

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Israel is using AI-generated text messages, conservative media and online influencers in an expanding campaign to stem the collapse in US public support, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal. The effort reaches from millions of Americans having their mobile phones flooded with pro-Israel content, evangelical churches to university campuses, social-media feeds and even the online material used by AI chatbots. According to the Journal, the Israeli government has retained at least six firms to conduct influence operations in the US, while around three dozen marketing and communications professionals have registered as foreign agents working on its behalf. The campaign comes amid growing American opposition to Israel following its genocide in Gaza and war with Iran. A Pew

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  Lebanese source: Aoun and Rubio agree on complete Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  An official Lebanese source told Saudi broadcaster Al-Hadath that the United States supports full cooperation between Lebanon and Syria at all levels and that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reached an agreement regarding a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Separately, the US State Department said Rubio met with President Aoun in Washington, where the two discussed the implementation of the tripartite framework. According to the State Department, Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the framework and to backing the Lebanese government’s efforts to achieve peace and economic recovery. The State Department also said Rubio praised the Lebanese government’s efforts to restore state sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, and dismantle

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  Al-Jawahiri… and a statue that does not recognise him

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Because I belong to a generation that never lived through the era of Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri when he was truly Iraqi, I knew him as many others did: from books, from poems, and from the echo of his voice as it traversed decades of controversy and compromise. Yet, I was close to his son, Furat (Abu Ban)—that writer who used to carry his weekly column to me when I supervised the back page of Al-Jumhuriya newspaper more than thirty years ago. As if carrying a fragment of his father’s soul, he would hand over his article like a precious gift to be handled with exaggerated care. He grew fond of me for some reason, perhaps because of how I treated

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  Clashes resume between Yemeni Government forces and Houthis in Hudaydah

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Clashes resumed on Sunday between forces aligned with the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Houthi movement in Hudaydah Governorate, western Yemen, according to a statement from the National Resistance Forces. The military media office of the National Resistance Forces, led by Tariq Saleh, a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, said its forces detected what it described as Houthi troop movements near the 14th Infantry Brigade sector in Jabal Dhubas and responded to them. According to the statement, the National Resistance Forces engaged in fighting after Houthi forces advanced toward Jabal Dhubas, south of Hudaydah. The statement further claimed that troops from the 14th Infantry Brigade forced Houthi fighters to retreat after inflicting casualties. It did not provide figures

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  Chickenpox infections climb among displaced children in Gaza, UN says

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Chickenpox cases among displaced Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have continued to rise, with about 9,300 cases recorded over the past two weeks, more than half of them in the densely populated city of Khan Younis, the United Nations said, Reuters reported. A report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said overcrowded living conditions, accumulating waste, limited access to clean water and the collapse of sewage infrastructure were driving the spread of infectious diseases in displacement camps. The worsening conditions have turned chickenpox into a growing public health concern in the enclave, the report added. The United Nations said acute respiratory and skin diseases remained the most commonly reported health problems in Gaza. The

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  Israeli Prosecution seeks up to 50-month prison sentence for Sheikh Kamal Khatib

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  An Israeli court is scheduled to issue its sentencing decision on Monday in the case of Sheikh Kamal Khatib, deputy head of the Islamic Movement, after convicting him of incitement to violence and incitement to terrorism. According to court proceedings, the convictions relate to two social media posts and a sermon delivered during the May 2021 unrest. The court acquitted Khatib of a separate charge of identifying with a terrorist organisation. Khatib was arrested in May 2021 after the Israeli government, acting on recommendations from the Shin Bet security agency, said his statements and online posts constituted incitement to violence and terrorism. The indictment was based on social media posts and a speech concerning Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, clashes

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  2 Palestinians killed, another injured in attack by Israeli occupiers on West Bank village

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Two Palestinians were killed and another was injured after Israeli occupiers opened fire during an attack late Sunday on the village of Deir Jarir near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victims as Awda Abdul Rahim Awda Farakhna, 53, and Ahmed Adel Rashid Abu Mukh, 26, saying they were killed by Israeli gunfire. Earlier, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews transported a critically injured man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen to a hospital after the attack, adding that medics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation while transferring him. It later said another man was taken to the hospital with a live-fire gunshot wound to the knee before

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  Araghchi says security breach behind Khamenei assassination remains and affects decision-making

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the security breach that led to the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains unresolved and continues to influence Iran’s policymaking and decision-making process. According to the Iran International website, Araghchi made the remarks during an interview on the programme The Story of the War. He said he was at Khamenei’s headquarters on 28 February when the site came under attack. Araghchi said the attack on the headquarters was carried out through a security breach, adding: “That breach still exists, and it also affects the direction and mechanisms of decision-making.” Recalling the moments before the attack, he said: “That day, as we were leaving the headquarters, I asked Khamenei’s deputy chief of

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  Palestinian UN envoy urges continued European support for UNRWA

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Palestine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, has stressed the vital role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in supporting the Palestinian people and helping them remain on their land. Mansour said a Palestinian delegation had visited France and Belgium and met European Union officials, as well as Spanish representatives, to urge Europe to continue and increase its funding for UNRWA, both collectively through the EU and individually through member states. Speaking on the Cairo News programme Today’s File, he said Arab countries could also increase their contributions to help cover UNRWA’s funding shortfall. He said UNRWA plays a vital role in helping Palestinians remain on their land by providing essential services, including

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  Israeli military carries out operations in Syria’s Quneitra countryside under air cover

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Israeli forces carried out military operations in the countryside of Syria’s Quneitra province early on Sunday, including setting up a temporary checkpoint, inspecting civilians and shelling areas near al-Hamidiyah, while military helicopters flew overhead, local sources told RT. The sources said an Israeli patrol of five military vehicles set up a temporary checkpoint in the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah in the Quneitra countryside, where troops searched passers-by before leaving. There were no reports of any civilians being detained. Later, Israeli forces stationed at the al-Hamidiyah military base fired three shells that landed near the town of al-Hamidiyah in central Quneitra countryside. No casualties or material damage were reported. At around 3 a.m. local time, Israeli military helicopters flew over several

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  US soldier killed in northern Iraq during controlled detonation of downed Iranian drone

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  A US service member was killed in northern Iraq while taking part in a controlled operation to destroy unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone that had crashed earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Sunday. In a statement, CENTCOM said: “a U.S. service member in northern Iraq was killed in action July 18 during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member was wounded and continues to receive medical treatment for a minor injury.” The latest death brings the confirmed number of US military personnel killed since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on 28 February to 17. On Saturday, CENTCOM said two US service members

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  14 diplomatic missions urge Israel to allow Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  Fourteen diplomatic missions to Palestine on Sunday called on Israel to immediately allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Palestinian prisoners held in its jails, expressing concern over the deteriorating health of Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya. The appeal came in a joint statement issued by the diplomatic missions of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The appeal was published by the EU mission on X. The missions urged Israel to fulfil its human rights obligations towards detainees. “We call on Israel to uphold its human rights obligations towards detainees under international law, including by granting the ICRC immediate access to all detention facilities,” the

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  Palestinian scholars warn against extraditing Sheikh Miqdad to Israel

  by Marwa A on July 20, 2026

  The Palestinian Scholars Association has warned against the possible extradition of its member, Sheikh Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad, to the Israeli authorities after he was arrested in Indonesia and urgently deported to Cyprus. It said the case requires immediate legal and diplomatic action to prevent him from being placed at risk. In a statement, the association said it was following the case with “grave concern”. It called on the Indonesian government to clarify the legal basis for Sheikh Miqdad’s arrest and deportation, disclose the charges against him, and ensure he is granted fair trial guarantees. The association also urged the Cypriot authorities to halt any procedures that could lead to his extradition to Israel and to guarantee his right to

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  Israel threatens retaliation if Iran attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday threatened retaliation if Iran attacks his country, following Iranian missile launches toward the southern Jordanian city of Aqaba. “If Iran attacks Israel, we will respond and strike back, regardless of any other factor and without any conditions,” Katz said during a visit to ZAKA, an emergency rescue organization in Tel Aviv, according to Israel’s Channel 12. “The first thing we will do there is target the missile launchers,” he added. His remarks came after debris from missiles launched by Iran toward Aqaba reportedly fell in the area. Earlier Sunday, the Jordanian army said it intercepted three of four Iranian missiles launched toward the kingdom. The fourth fell in a remote area in southern

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  US energy chief says Gulf oil flows nearing 14M barrels per day despite Iran tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday claimed that nearly 14 million barrels of oil per day have been flowing from the Gulf region, with about half passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Wright said traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had not stopped despite ongoing exchanges between the US and Iran. “I get the data on that every day. The seven-day trailing average right now is just under seven million barrels a day flowing through the waterway and just under seven million barrels a day additional flow through the bypass pipelines,” Wright said. “So, we’re at a little under 14 million barrels a day from the Arabian Gulf region. That’s

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  Israeli strike on tents for displaced Palestinians kills 1, injures 10 in southern Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  At least one Palestinian was killed, and 10 others, most of them children, were injured after an Israeli strike hit tents sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The wounded children and a woman were taken by medical teams to the Kuwait Field Hospital for emergency treatment. After receiving first aid, the injured were transferred to Nasser Hospital for further care. The tents struck in the Israeli attack were heavily damaged. Hussam Abu Hajras, who witnessed the strike, said displaced Palestinians were inside the tents in Al-Mawasi when a powerful explosion erupted nearby. Residents rushed to the scene and found one person dead and several others, including children, injured.

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  Israel releases 16 Palestinian detainees through Karem Abu Salem crossing

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Israel released 16 more Palestinian detainees into the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom, or Karem Abu Salem, border crossing on Sunday, marking the latest prisoner release amid the ongoing conflict in the enclave, Anadolu reports. Teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received the released individuals and transferred them to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical checks. Palestinian and international human rights organizations say Israel has refused to provide information about the fate of many Palestinians detained from Gaza and has denied them access to lawyers and family members. More than 9,600 Palestinians, including 350 children and 73 women, are currently held in Israeli prisons and face torture, starvation and medical neglect, according

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  Lebanese president meets top US diplomat at start of Washington visit

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the start of his official visit to Washington, according to a US State Department readout, Anadolu reports. The meeting, held at the State Department, discussed the US-Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework, the readout said. Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the “successful implementation of the Trilateral Framework” and to supporting Lebanon’s “efforts to deliver peace, economic recovery, and a better future for the Lebanese people.” Aoun arrived in Washington on Saturday for a four-day official visit and is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. READ: US advises citizens not to travel to Lebanon, northern Israel The Lebanese president is also expected to

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  Turkish foreign minister urges return to US-Iran agreement, says Ankara coordinating with Qatar

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday called for a return to the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran, saying Qatar is using all available diplomatic channels to help resolve the crisis and that Turkiye is coordinating closely with Doha, Anadolu reports. “I am pleased to see that Qatar is once again trying to do everything it can to resolve this crisis by using all constructive methods and all available channels. Hopefully, we will receive good news in the coming days,” Fidan said in an interview with Qatar TV during his visit to the Gulf country. “Turkiye is also in close coordination with Qatar on this issue,” he added. Fidan warned that hostilities between the US and

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  Egypt urges EU, international community to ban products from illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Egypt on Sunday called on European Union countries and the international community to ban imports of goods and products originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, following a similar move by Belgium, Anadolu reports. The Belgian government on Saturday announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, according to the Belgian news agency Belga. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the move, saying it “supports the values of justice and represents a practical and responsible application of the principles of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.” It particularly cited UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of Israeli settlements and calls for their immediate cessation to prevent the undermining of peace prospects and the two-state solution.

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  14 US refueling aircraft arrive in Israel amid Iran escalation: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Fourteen US refueling aircraft arrived in Israel over the weekend, amid an exchange of attacks between Washington and Tehran, Israeli media reported on Sunday. The Walla news site, citing an unnamed source in the Israeli Air Force, said the US military plans to deploy 100 refueling aircraft to Israeli military bases and Ramon Airport in southern Israel. “If the Americans intensify their attacks against Iran, this will necessitate the deployment of more US refueling aircraft to Israel,” the source said. “In that case, these aircraft might land at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv,” he added. There are already 33 US refueling aircraft parked at Ben Gurion Airport amid Israeli warnings of potential disruptions to civilian flights during the summer

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  Israel issues eviction, demolition orders for Palestinian homes north of East Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  The Israeli army issued 22 eviction and demolition orders for Palestinian homes in the town of Kafr Aqab, north of occupied East Jerusalem, amid an escalating Israeli campaign targeting Palestinian presence in the West Bank. In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces raided the town and distributed eviction orders for an unspecified number of homes ahead of their demolition. The governorate said the notices gave the Palestinian homeowners one week to evacuate their buildings before they are demolished. An earlier statement by the governorate said Israeli authorities had previously distributed notices to halt construction works for around 20 homes in the town. READ: Israeli occupiers burn mosque, injure 4 Palestinians in West Bank attacks Meanwhile, Israeli forces placed concrete

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  Iran says 50 killed, over 500 injured in US attacks since June 27

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  More than 50 people have been killed and over 517 others injured in US attacks in Iran since June 27, the Iranian Health Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The fatalities included five women and two children, while 35 women and 19 children were injured, ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a post on the US social media company X. He added that 28 surgical procedures had been performed, 468 patients had been discharged after completing treatment, and 32 others remained hospitalized. The US has escalated attacks against Iran in recent days, with Tehran retaliating with strikes targeting facilities and bases it says are used by the US military in several regional countries. The exchange of fire between Washington and Tehran

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  Israeli occupiers burn mosque, injure 4 Palestinians in West Bank attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to two houses and a mosque and injured four Palestinians in a series of attacks in the occupied West Bank on Sunday. The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said in a statement that Israeli occupiers set fire to a mosque in the town of Tuwana in Masafer Yatta in Hebron, causing extensive damage to the facility. The ministry, citing local sources, said the occupiers stormed the village and used flammable materials to set the mosque ablaze before residents and civil defense teams rushed to extinguish the flames. According to the ministry, clashes broke out during the firefighting efforts with Israeli army forces, who were providing protection for the occupiers. The ministry called the mosque

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  Jordan says 3 Iranian missiles intercepted as sirens sound

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  The Jordanian army said Sunday that it shot down three Iranian missiles targeting the country’s territory as air raid sirens sounded in the country. A fourth missile fell in a remote area in the kingdom, said a military statement carried by the state news agency Petra. No casualties or damage were reported from the attack. An Anadolu Agency reporter earlier said that sirens were heard in multiple parts in Jordan, while eyewitnesses said explosions were heard over the Red Sea city of Aqaba. The developments came amid heightened tensions in the region, where the US has launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting facilities and bases it says are used by the US military in several regional

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  Iran says US attack targeted nuclear power plant under construction

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Sunday that US strikes targeted the Darkhovin nuclear power plant, which is still under construction in the country’s southwest, Anadolu reports. “An attack on a peaceful nuclear facility under international safeguards is a clear violation of international law,” the organization said on the US social media company X. It did not reveal further details about possible damage from the attack. The statement came amid heightened tensions in the region, where the US has launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting facilities and bases it says are used by the US military in several regional countries. The exchange of fire between Washington and Tehran comes despite a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed

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  Syrian president appoints new national security, intelligence chiefs

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa made a series of appointments on Sunday to the heads of the National Security Bureau and the General Intelligence Service. Sharaa named Interior Minister Anas Khattab as head of the National Security Bureau while retaining him in his current post, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. He also appointed Abdul Qader Tahan as head of the General Intelligence Service. The appointments also included Hussein Al-Salama, who was appointed as deputy head of the National Security Bureau, and Mulham Al-Shantout as assistant interior minister for security affairs. READ: Syria foils attempt to smuggle weapons, missiles to Hezbollah The National Security Bureau oversees all of Syria’s security agencies, while the General Intelligence Service is responsible for gathering intelligence,

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  Yemeni government prevents Iranian plane from landing at Sanaa airport

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Yemen’s internationally recognized government said Sunday that it had prevented an Iranian aircraft from completing its flight to Sanaa International Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi group, Anadolu reports. “No flights will be allowed to operate without obtaining the required authorizations from the internationally recognized government,” Transport Minister Mohsen Al-Amri said in statements carried by the state-run Al-Yemen TV. He said the decision was taken because the flight “did not go through the approved official channels and procedures,” without providing further details. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis and Iranian authorities on the report. The move comes amid heightened tensions in Yemen after the government said on Monday that its forces struck a runway at

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  Iran says it downed US MQ-9 drone in Ahvaz: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB reported on Sunday. There was no immediate comment from US officials on the claim. Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks over the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides trading attacks despite a Pakistani-mediated framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict and reaching a lasting peace deal. READ: At least 6 missiles hit Iran’s Qeshm Island amid new US strikes

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  Egypt eyes land reclamation projects in Tanzania

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  Egypt expressed interest Saturday in reclaiming agricultural land and establishing logistics zones in Tanzania, as well as reaching understandings on water issues among Nile Basin countries, Anadolu reports. The remarks came during a news conference by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on the sidelines of a day visit to the Tanzanian capital, according to an official Egyptian source. During her meeting with the Egyptian president, Hassan praised the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. Sisi said the project represented a positive model of cooperation aimed at achieving development and prosperity, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency. On Dec. 12, 2018, Egypt signed a contract in Tanzania to build a dam for water storage and

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  At least 6 missiles hit Iran’s Qeshm Island amid new US strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 19, 2026

  At least six missiles hit Qeshm Island, and the explosions were heard in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas early Sunday as the US carried out a new round of strikes against Iran. Several explosions were heard in areas of Qeshm Island between 3.38 am and 3.45 am local time, Tasnim News reported. Statements on the attacks have not yet been made by authorities. No information was provided on the extent of possible damage and casualties by officials. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that residents in parts of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm heard explosions shortly before 4 am local time. The cause and precise locations of the blasts were initially under investigation. READ: Iran’s supreme leader accuses US of