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

• 
  Egypt and Turkey: A Summit of Arrangements and Strategic Gains

  by Marwa A on February 10, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo last Wednesday was not an ordinary one; rather, it marked a pivotal moment in Turkish-Egyptian relations, signalling the formation of a strategic alliance between the two countries. The warm reception extended to the Turkish president by his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, carries significant implications, pointing to emerging security and military understandings, as well as political and economic cooperation agreements between Cairo and Ankara. Cairo appears open to broader cooperation with the Turkish side, which has succeeded in easing political tensions between the two countries and in accelerating the pace of rapprochement, to compensate for the strategic losses incurred by both sides. Sensitive Timing The success of President Erdoğan’s third visit to

• 
  UN says all Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal

  by Marwa A on February 10, 2026

  UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday expressed deep concern over Israel’s recent steps to enforce stricter control measures in the occupied West Bank. The concern relates to “the reported decision by the Israeli security cabinet to authorise a series of administrative and enforcement measures in Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank,” his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said at a news conference. In a statement, Guterres warned that this approach undermines the chances of reaching a two-state solution. He reiterated that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and their associated regime and infrastructure, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including relevant UN resolutions. The UN chief stressed that “Such actions, including Israel’s continued presence

• 
  Israeli forces kill 9 Palestinians in Gaza in new ceasefire violation

  by Marwa A on February 9, 2026

  Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in fresh attacks in various parts of the Gaza Strip on Monday, amid daily violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, medical sources said, Anadolu reports. In the latest developments, a medical source told Anadolu that the death toll from an Israeli strike targeting a residential apartment on Al-Nasr Street, west of Gaza City, has risen to three. Al-Nasr Street lies outside areas of Israeli military deployment under the ceasefire agreement. Earlier, a Palestinian fisherman was injured by Israeli fire off the coast of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The sources told Anadolu that a 54-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire in the vicinity of Abu Tammam School in

• 
  Power grabs, demolitions, illegal settlements: What lies behind Israeli decisions on occupied West Bank?

  by Marwa A on February 9, 2026

  An analytical paper issued by the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now has explained the details and objectives behind recent decisions by Israel’s Security Cabinet on the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. In its paper released late Sunday, the Israeli movement said the decisions include “a series of measures that will allow Israelis to purchase land in the territories almost without limitation and without government oversight.” These measures “will give a small number of settlers the power to determine political facts on the ground without government intervention, and will open the door to an industry of forged real-estate transactions,” it added. Peace Now noted that the Security Cabinet also decided to strip the Palestinian Authority of its powers in Areas A

• 
  Red Cross President: ‘What we have seen in Gaza exceeds all legal, ethical, moral and humanitarian norms’

  by Marwa A on February 9, 2026

  The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, has warned that the destruction in Gaza represents a collapse of all international standards. “What we have seen in Gaza exceeds all legal, ethical, moral and humanitarian norms,” she stated in an interview with Dutch newspaper NRC, this week. Spoljaric Egger said that Gaza illustrates the rapid deterioration of international humanitarian law. “Gaza may have provided the most tangible evidence of the erosion of international law,” she explained. “I visited Gaza twice within twelve months. The hostilities never stopped. There was not a minute when you didn’t hear gunfire. When your body did not feel the shelling.” Spoljaric Egger recalled that on her return visit, she

• 
  EU condemns Israeli decision to expand control in West Bank

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The EU condemned on Monday the recent Israeli approval of measures aimed at strengthening control in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. “European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel’s Security Cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. “This move is another step in the wrong direction, while the whole international community is making an effort to implement phase two of the comprehensive plan for Gaza,” spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told the European Commission’s midday press briefing. He noted that the decision would endanger the sensitive status quo of religious sites. “We recall that annexation is illegal under international law, therefore any concrete step taking toward that end would be considered a breach of international law,” El Anouni noted. He

• 
  Iran’s nuclear chief signals ‘possible dilution’ of 60% enriched uranium if sanctions lifted

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The head of Iran’s nuclear agency, Mohammad Eslami, on Monday signaled a “possible dilution” of 60 percent enriched uranium in the case of removing all sanctions on the country, Anadolu reports. “This matter depends on whether all sanctions are lifted in return or not,” Eslami told reporters in Tehran. He, however, dismissed reports about transferring enriched uranium out of the country, saying the issue is being pushed by “pressure groups” against Iran. The nuclear chief emphasized that the transfer of enriched uranium “has not been on the agenda at all” and has not been discussed in the ongoing negotiations with the US. Iran and the US resumed their indirect nuclear diplomacy on Monday in Muscat under Omani mediation, nearly eight months

• 
  Islamic Revolution: 47 years of history, achievement, and permanent siege

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Forty-seven years after 1979, the Islamic Revolution of Iran remains one of the most explosive and most defamed events in contemporary history. It was not merely the overthrow of a corrupt monarchy. It was the rupture of a people with an imperialist system that treated Iran as a strategic colony. For this reason, the Islamic Revolution does not belong to the past. It continues today, waged through sanctions, sabotage, psychological warfare, and permanent attempts at “regime change”. To understand this continuity, it is necessary to go back to 1953. The Anglo-American coup against President Mohammad Mossadegh destroyed a democratic and nationalist experiment in order to reinstall the Shah Pahlavi as guardian of Western interests in the Persian Gulf. Iran was

• 
  Gaza committee awaits ‘Board of Peace’ meeting to confirm relief, reconstruction funding pledges

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The head of a Palestinian committee tasked with running the Gaza Strip said Monday that the panel is awaiting a meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” next week to confirm pledges about funding relief and reconstruction efforts in the enclave, Anadolu reports. “We are working on an appropriate plan for relief and the entry of health and educational supplies into the Gaza Strip,” Ali Shaath, head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), told Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News channel after visiting the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. “We have held meetings with the European Union, the United Nations, and Arab countries to discuss support for Gaza, and we have received pledges about the funding

• 
  Iran’s president calls new US talks ‘good opportunity’ for ‘fair, logical’ nuclear deal

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday described the new round of negotiations with the United States as a “very good opportunity” to reach a “fair, logical, and mutually satisfactory” deal on Tehran’s nuclear issue, Anadolu reports. Tehran is “seeking to guarantee” its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including on the issues of “enrichment and the lifting of unjust sanctions,” Pezeshkian said at an event in the capital marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Iran and the US resumed their nuclear negotiations in Oman on Friday after an eight-month suspension. The Iranian president, who assumed office two years ago promising to revive nuclear diplomacy with the US, emphasized that the most viable way to address regional and global

• 
  Vanished in ICE custody: Palestinian hospitalised, family fears for Leqaa Kordia’s Life

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The family and legal team of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian resident of Paterson, New Jersey, are demanding urgent answers regarding her health and whereabouts following a medical emergency that led to her hospitalisation after being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As of Sunday evening, her location remains unconfirmed, and her condition unknown. Kordia reportedly suffered a serious medical episode on 6 February at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas. A former detainee who witnessed the incident stated that she had fallen, hit her head and experienced a seizure.  The legal team representing Kordia has not been informed of her condition or the hospital she was taken to, even after contacting at least 16 medical facilities across the

• 
  Israeli strike in southern Lebanon kills 3 people, including a child

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Three people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Monday, marking a new violation of a ceasefire deal in effect since late 2024, Lebanese media reported. The attack targeted a vehicle in the center of Yanooh town in the Tyre district, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said. Israeli violations of the November 2024 ceasefire have killed and wounded hundreds of Lebanese, while Israel continues to occupy five Lebanese hilltops seized during the latest war, in addition to other Lebanese areas it has held for decades. Israel began military operations against Lebanon in October 2023 and escalated them into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and wounding about 17,000

• 
  Pax Judaica and the unravelling of the international world order

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Israel’s aggressive settlement expansion and blatant disregard for international law have contributed towards the fragmentation of the international rules-based order. In the midst of this upheaval, Tel Aviv has cemented itself as the dominant power in the Middle East, creating what commentators term “Pax Judaica”. This regional order is dominated by Israeli perceptions of security threats which it must eliminate for the preservation of the Jewish state. Israel’s limited strategic capacity is compensated by leveraging its political lobbies, intelligence networks and ideological support of the Zionist movement embedded deep within Washington. This allows the Israeli defence forces unmitigated access to technology, financial support and military cooperation with the West. Consequently, the Middle East reflects an asymmetrical security architecture where the

• 
  Iran foreign minister takes hard line after US nuclear talks

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran’s strength derives from its ability to “say no to the superpowers”, signalling a firm stance following recent nuclear negotiations with the United States. Addressing diplomats at a summit in Tehran, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s position that it must retain the capability to enrich uranium — a central point of dispute with US President Donald Trump. His remarks came days after talks were held in Oman between Iranian and American officials. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the discussions as “a step forward”, but Araghchi’s comments suggested that significant obstacles remain. “I believe the secret to the strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran is its ability to stand up to bullying, hegemony

• 
  Kuwait adds eight Lebanese hospitals to terrorism list, report says

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Kuwait has added eight Lebanese hospitals to its terrorism list, according to a report by the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai. The paper said the committee responsible for implementing UN Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction had taken the decision. According to the report, the committee may list any individual or entity on its own initiative or at the request of a competent foreign or domestic authority, provided there are reasonable grounds to suspect involvement in committing, attempting, participating in or facilitating a terrorist act. The committee has requested the implementation of the listing decision in accordance with its executive regulations. As a result, the hospitals are now subject to counter-terrorism measures in Kuwait.

• 
  Egypt reiterates support for Somalia’s unity amid regional tensions

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued strong warnings regarding developments in Somalia and the security of the Red Sea, following Israel’s reported recognition of a breakaway Somali region and renewed regional competition over access to strategic waterways. Sisi met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo on Sunday, where the two leaders discussed developments in Somalia, with a focus on preventing partition and safeguarding Red Sea security. At a joint press conference, Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s “firm stance” in support of Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, rejecting “any measures that undermine this unity, including the recognition of the independence of any part of its territory”. He described recognition of secessionist entities as a “flagrant violation of the UN Charter and

• 
  WHO says Sudan health system ‘under attack’ after strikes in South Kordofan

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Sudan’s health system is “under attack”, reporting that three health facilities in South Kordofan were targeted within a single week. Since October 2025, the three Kordofan states — North, West and South — have seen intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that “the health system in Sudan is under attack once again”. Sharing a WHO statement dated 6 February, he noted that three health facilities in South Kordofan — an area already affected by acute malnutrition — had been struck over the course of a week. According to the organisation, an attack on 3 February

• 
  No one welcomes the occupation of Iran, but the fall of the regime is another matter

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Anyone in this region who has experienced occupation firsthand cannot welcome the occupation of Iran. The memory of Iraq alone is enough to make talk of foreign tanks crossing the border a recurring nightmare. The occupation of Iraq and the destruction of its state were not a passing incident in the region’s history, but an open wound in the contemporary world’s memory, and a political and moral scandal in the record of the powers that claimed to have come to liberate the Iraqis, only to unleash chaos. This should have taught the region’s governments, especially the Arab governments that contributed to the 2003 aggression through silence, facilitation or collusion, an unforgettable lesson.   The people were not involved; there were no

• 
  Hamas says Israel detains 10 Palestinian MPs in harsh conditions

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Hamas has said that Israeli authorities continue to detain 10 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council under what it described as harsh conditions, with some having spent decades in prison. In a statement issued on Sunday, the movement’s Prisoners’ Media Office said that among the longest-serving detainees are Ahmad Sa’adat and Marwan Barghouti, both prominent Palestinian political figures. The office said that since the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Israeli authorities have arrested more than 65 MPs, with some detained more than 10 times and held for extended periods, particularly under administrative detention. It added that several lawmakers have received lengthy sentences, including life imprisonment, and that 10 MPs remain in custody. READ: Israeli forces detain journalists, foreign activists in southern West

• 
  Senior Hamas official, Khaled Mashaal, signals political repositioning without abandoning resistance principles

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Senior Hamas figure Khaled Mashaal has the “right to resistance” while calling for a comprehensive Arab-Islamic strategy and a unified Palestinian vision for the post-war phase in Gaza. Speaking at the 17th Al Jazeera Forum in Doha on Sunday, Mashaal warned of what he characterised as a structural threat posed by Israel not only to Palestine but to the wider region and the Islamic world. He urged the development of a broader regional approach and called for a national Palestinian framework to address the period following what he referred to as “Operation Decisive Storm”, including the reconstruction of Gaza and the reorganisation of Palestinian internal affairs. Observers said the speech reflected an attempt at political repositioning, not by retreating from

• 
  Families of detainees demand ICRC to take urgent action

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  WATCH: The occupation floods the Gaza market with luxury goods while preventing the entry of basic building and construction materials

• 
  Israeli settlers spit at Armenian church entrance in Jerusalem

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  The entrance of the Armenian Church in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem witnessed a new assault on Sunday, carried out by Israeli settlers. Surveillance camera footage and eyewitness testimonies showed several of them deliberately spitting in front of the church entrance, in a provocative attack that violates freedom of worship and targets Christian holy sites. Local sources said Israeli occupation forces also raided the town of al-Issawiya, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, and the al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The occupation forces were deployed in streets and residential areas, causing tension among residents.   The sources added that the occupation municipality in Jerusalem imposed a fine of 5,000 shekels on the manager of the post office in Silwan,

• 
  Banner in Tehran’s Palestine Square alarms Tel Aviv

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Israeli media said on Sunday that while US President Donald Trump claims that Iranians “really want to reach a deal”, Tehran is sending the opposite message and raising its tone ahead of the next round of talks. In the Iranian capital, a new threatening banner was hung in Palestine Square, showing a map of central Israel with the words “a barrage of missiles”. Israeli media added that the message of the banner, put up by the Iranian regime, is clear. It said Iran is warning that it would strike cities in central Israel with a barrage of missiles in any future confrontation with Israel. Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister said that Tehran does not intend to give up its

• 
  Israel moves in Washington to block F-35 deals and influence Iran and Gaza files

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Israel is lobbying in Washington to influence US decisions on Iran and the Gaza Strip, including efforts to halt the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Sunday night that a meeting was held between Israeli and American officials to discuss several key issues, notably Gaza, Iran and bilateral cooperation. According to the Hebrew-language channel, in light of talks on selling F-35 aircraft to regional countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Israeli and US officials discussed the need to maintain Israel’s military technological edge. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his wish to visit US President Donald Trump to influence US negotiations with Iran. He is concerned that

• 
  Norway’s ambassador to Iraq and Jordan resigns over Epstein links

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Norway’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, Mona Juul, has resigned from her post following controversy linked to the case of convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a statement issued on Sunday, Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Juul’s contacts with Epstein revealed a “serious lapse in judgement,” adding that her decision to step down was correct and appropriate. The foreign minister said the issue made it difficult to restore the level of trust required for such a sensitive diplomatic position. Juul and her husband, former senior Norwegian diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, have come under increasing pressure after the release of new documents related to the Epstein case. Epstein was convicted of

• 
  Made-for-Israel Wars: America’s Dangerous Habit of Forgetting

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  As argued in last week’s article, economic coercion is never an end in itself, it is the prelude. When sanctions fail, when financial pressure cannot bend reality to the satisfaction of Washington’s Israel-first demands, the next instrument is always the same: war. The US has fallen into this trap repeatedly, ignoring the lesson every time, especially when Israel’s interest sits at the core. Promoted as counterterrorism and the export of democracy, US interventions in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and beyond were nothing but proxy wars waged to secure Israel’s regional military supremacy, cement its occupation of Palestine, and preserve and expand a system of Jewish apartheid. The result was predictable and perverse: mushrooming terrorism, new dictators, pulverized states, endless

• 
  Hebrew media report preparations to enforce death penalty law against Palestinian prisoners

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Hebrew media have reported that the Israel Prison Service has recently begun special preparations to enforce a death penalty law against Palestinian prisoners accused by Israel of carrying out or planning attacks. The law has passed its first reading in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. According to Israel’s Channel 13, the plan includes building a dedicated facility for carrying out executions, setting out the required procedures, training staff, and drawing on the experience of countries that apply similar punishments. The report said the plan being developed within the Prison Service involves establishing a separate complex, referred to internally as the “Israeli green corridor”. Under the plan, executions would be carried out by hanging. Three prison guards would press the activation

• 
  Israel cancels Jordanian law banning sale of West Bank land to Jews in new decisions

  by MI on February 9, 2026

  Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday approved a series of new decisions on the occupied West Bank, proposed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defence Minister Israel Katz. The measures introduce major changes to how land, planning and construction are managed in occupied the territory. According to an official statement issued after the meeting, the decisions aim to remove long-standing obstacles in order to speed up the development and expansion of settlements, as described by the Israeli government. The package includes cancelling a Jordanian-era law that banned the sale of property in the West Bank to Jews, a move the government said would open the way for land purchases. The two ministers also announced that the cabinet approved lifting secrecy on

• 
  FBI informant believed Jeffrey Epstein had links to Israeli intelligence, newly released documents show

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  An undercover FBI informant “became convinced” that Epstein was an Israeli spy, according to a document that is among millions of pages released last week by the Justice Department, Anadolu reports. The government record recounts the informant, known in government-speak as a confidential human source (CHS), recalling that Epstein’s attorney, Alan Dershowitz, told then-US Attorney of the Southern District of Florida, Alexander Acosta, “that Epstein belonged to both U.S. and allied intelligence services.” “CHS shared phone calls between Dershowitz and Epstein during which he/she took notes. After these calls, Mossad would then call Dershowitz to debrief. Epstein was close to the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak, and trained as a spy under him,” the document says. Noting that

• 
  Israel could collapse before its centennial, retired Israeli general warns

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Retired Israeli Maj Gen Itzhak Brik warned Sunday that Israel could collapse before reaching the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2048, citing deep “internal divisions” and growing “international alienation,” Anadolu reports. Brik made the remarks in an opinion article published by the daily Maariv under the headline “Israel is on the road to destruction, and there is only one way to save it.” “When I try to look ahead, I find myself asking: will the State of Israel reach the age of 100?” Brik wrote. Israel was established in 1948 on land seized by Zionist armed gangs that carried out massacres and displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. In 1967, Israel occupied the remainder of Palestinian territory and continues

• 
  Iran says unexploded bombs still present at nuclear facilities struck by US

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that unexploded bombs are still present at nuclear facilities struck by the United States last year, Anadolu reports. In statements carried by Iran’s Young Journalists Club news agency, Araghchi said he asked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi whether there was any law or specific protocol governing visits to nuclear facilities targeted by the US. “No, there is nothing of that sort,” Grossi replied, as mentioned by Araghchi. The top diplomat said he informed Grossi of the need to establish a protocol prior to any visits, “given existing security issues, including the presence of unexploded bombs and other matters that need to be agreed upon.” He said inspections should take

• 
  Morocco continues evacuations in 4 provinces hit by floods

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Moroccan authorities on Sunday continued evacuation of residents from four provinces hit by floods and flash floods for the 12th consecutive day, as water levels in dams and river valleys rose amid ongoing heavy rainfall, Anadolu reports. According to an Anadolu reporter, the evacuations continued in the provinces of Larache, Kenitra, Sidi Kacem and Sidi Slimane in the country’s northwest, as authorities provided temporary shelters in nearby cities. The four provinces were hit by flooding since Jan. 28, as water levels continued to rise in the Loukkos River after the Oued El Makhazine Dam reached 156% of its capacity for the first time, causing it to overflow, according to official data. Moroccan authorities have set up temporary camps and relocated

• 
  New documents reveal Epstein donated to the Israeli army and funded settlements

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Documents recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice have revealed that billionaire Jeffrey Epstein made donations to the Israeli army and helped fund settlement activities, Anadolu reports. More information continues to emerge about Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of running a sex-trafficking network involving minors. A review of tax documents he filed in 2005 shows that Epstein provided financial support to the Israeli army and to settlers who seized Palestinian land. The documents show that on March 3, 2005, Epstein donated $25,000 to the “Friends of the Israeli Defence Forces.” He also gave $15,000 to the “Jewish National Fund,” which finances settlers in the West Bank, in addition to $5,000 to the

• 
  Jeffrey Epstein is plural: An autopsy of the liberal world order

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  As a political sociologist, I have trained myself to maintain analytical distance from my subjects, to study everyday events and political phenomena with the detachment required for rigorous scholarship. My work revolves around analyzing, researching, and explaining the processes, historical influences, and unfolding of global socio-political events. But the recent release of the Jeffrey Epstein files has shattered that professional remove. I find myself not just analyzing, but reckoning with what these documents reveal about the architecture of power in our contemporary world order. This is not to say I was naïve about horrendous crimes against humanity, my research in post-colonial studies and Middle Eastern politics has exposed me to systematic violence in various forms. But the Epstein case crystallizes

• 
  Egypt decries attacks on aid convoys in Sudan as ‘grave violation of international law’

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Egypt on Sunday denounced recent attacks on aid convoys in Sudan as “a grave violation of international humanitarian law,” Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the attacks on aid convoys, for which the Sudanese government blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), represent “a dangerous continuation of targeting humanitarian corridors and obstructing relief efforts.” The attacks constitute “a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which guarantees the protection of civilians and health facilities,” it added. The ministry warned that a repeat of these attacks “causes to deepening the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing Sudan, amid rising displacement rates and worsening food insecurity.” It stressed the need for “unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to reach the brotherly Sudanese

• 
  The Mandelson scandal and Britain’s recurring failure of judgement

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Keir Starmer’s eventual apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein is not offered as a matter of genuine conscience, but rather as a matter of political expediency. The astonishing confession by the Prime Minister that he was “lied to” and “deceived” by Peter Mandelson reveals not naivety, but rather a deference to establishment figures which transcends due diligence, morality, and even political instinct. The latest cache of documents released by the US Department of Justice reveals that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein endured even after the financier’s conviction for child sex offenses in 2008. The records show that Mandelson sent messages of support to Epstein, calling him his “best pal” even as victims of Epstein’s crimes suffered on. Perhaps even more

• 
  Indonesia’s vice foreign minister visits Egypt: Key takeaways

  by Marwa A on February 8, 2026

  Indonesia’s Vice Foreign Minister Anis Matta arrived in Cairo on 4th February with a schedule that reflected both diplomacy and signaling. His visit did not produce a single headline agreement. Yet it offered a clear view of how Southeast Asia’s largest country sees its role in a shifting global order and within the Muslim world. The trip began with a meeting at the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo. Officials reviewed current developments and discussed strategic steps to strengthen the Indonesia-Egypt partnership. The relationship gained new weight after President Prabowo Subianto signed a strategic partnership with Egypt last year. Indonesian officials describe the framework as a foundation for expanding economic ties and supporting regional security. For Jakarta, Egypt is more than a

• 
  Lebanon secures $360M to rebuild war-damaged south, premier says

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  A total of $360 million has been secured to help rebuild areas of southern Lebanon damaged during Israel’s latest war, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Salam made the announcement during a visit to southern Lebanon, saying in a post on US social media company X that the government will launch “reconstruction projects after securing the necessary funding.” The financing includes $250 million in concessional loans from the World Bank, €75 million from the French Development Agency, and €35 million in grants provided by the EU, France, and Denmark, he added. Lebanon’s government has previously said the cost of reconstruction resulting from the latest Israeli offensive will be no less than $5 billion. Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati

• 
  Israel’s actions destabilizing entire region: Iranian foreign minister

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Israel’s actions are “destabilizing” the entire region, calling for Tel Aviv to be held accountable and for sanctions to be imposed over violations it commits in countries across the region, particularly in Palestine, Anadolu reports. His remarks came during a speech at the opening of the 17th edition of the Al Jazeera Forum, held in the Qatari capital Doha from Feb. 7 to 9 under the theme “The Palestinian Cause and the Regional Balance of Power in the Context of an Emerging Multipolar World.” Araghchi said that the Palestinian cause “is the defining question of justice in West Asia and beyond. It is the strategic and moral compass of our region. It

• 
  Solidarity rally held in Paris for Palestinians, other communities facing repression worldwide

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in the French capital on Saturday for a solidarity rally with the people of Palestine, Haiti, Venezuela, New Caledonia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, Anadolu reports. Responding to calls from various associations, demonstrators assembled at Place de la Nation to protest what they described as “discrimination and oppression” faced by those communities. Participants expressed support for the affected populations while carrying banners reading “Boycott Israel” along with the flags of the nations mentioned. Some members of France’s Yellow Vests movement also joined the demonstration, which was held under police supervision. READ: Thousands rally in Paris on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians

• 
  Syria, Saudi Arabia sign mega strategic agreements in Damascus

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Syria and Saudi Arabia signed on Saturday a series of mega strategic agreements in Damascus covering aviation, telecommunications, infrastructure and real estate, SANA news agency reported, Anadolu reports. The ceremony was held at the People’s Palace and attended by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih. Talal al-Hilali, head of the Syrian Investment Authority, said the parties gathered to sign several “strategic agreements” in vital sectors that directly affect citizens’ lives. The deals aim to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure, develop digital connectivity systems and shape a new phase of partnership based on mutual trust and respect, he added. Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia stands alongside Syria and supports its path toward recovery, growth and stability. He announced the launch of

• 
  Israeli army kills Palestinian man east of Gaza City in violation of ceasefire

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire on Saturday in the Shejaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City, an area from which the army had previously withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. The incident came amid Israel’s daily violations of the ceasefire deal, which entered into force on Oct. 10, 2025. A medical source told Anadolu that the Palestinian, Faraj Ibrahim Salem, 30, was killed by Israeli fire in the Shejaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that Salem was shot dead in an area located outside the zones of Israeli army deployment and control under the agreement. Earlier Saturday, Israeli artillery shelled various areas east of Gaza City and east of the town of Jabalia in the northern

• 
  Iran ready for reassuring enrichment deal, rejects zero enrichment: Foreign minister

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran is ready to reach a “reassuring agreement” on uranium enrichment, stressing that zero enrichment is outside the framework of negotiations, Anadolu reports. Speaking to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel, Araghchi said the Iranian nuclear file can only be resolved through negotiations, noting that Washington returned to talks after previously resorting to military action. “Negotiations are the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue,” Araghchi said, adding that talks with Washington marked “a good starting point,” though a “long road remains to rebuild trust” between the two sides. He emphasized that Iran’s missile program is not subject to negotiations, now or in the future, describing it as a “defensive matter.” Araghchi

• 
  Thousands of Houthis rally in Sanaa against Israeli strikes on Gaza

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Thousands of Houthis gathered in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday, to condemn Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip in violation of the ceasefire, Anadolu reports. The ceasefire ended an Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 and lasted two years, killing nearly 72,000 Palestinians and wounding over 171,000 others, while destroying about 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure. Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, the Israeli army has continued to violate it, killing 574 Palestinians and wounding 1,518 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. READ: Houthi leader calls for solidarity marches for Palestine, says group is ready for next round with Israel

• 
  UNICEF says at least 20 Sudanese children killed in January

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  At least 20 Sudanese children were killed in January, most of them in the Kordofan and Darfur regions in western Sudan, UNICEF said Friday, Anadolu reports. The deaths were cited in a report published by the UN children’s agency addressing the situation of children across the region, including Sudan. “In Sudan, in January 2026, at least 20 children were killed, most of them killed in the Kordofan and Darfur states,” UNICEF said. The agency warned that “millions of children in Sudan require lifesaving assistance, protection and the restoration of essential services” as fighting continues to devastate large parts of the country. UNICEF said famine has already been confirmed in Al Fasher in North Darfur and in Kadugli in Kordofan, with nearly

• 
  Epstein and the quiet financing of occupation

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  There are crimes that shock because they are brutal, and there are crimes that endure because they are respectable, well documented, tax-deductible, and protected by silence. The story that emerges from the Epstein financial records belongs firmly to the second category, not because it is less violent, but because it shows how modern violence survives through institutions that look lawful, ethical, and even benevolent. Jeffrey Epstein is usually remembered as a symbol of sexual abuse, elite corruption, and judicial failure, but this memory, while necessary, is also incomplete. Epstein was not simply a criminal operating outside the system; he was a man fully embedded within it, moving money through charities, donating to universities and foundations, attending elite gatherings, and participating

• 
  US Democratic lawmaker slams Israeli lobbying group for spending in New Jersey primary

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Friday, saying the pro-Israel lobby undermines democracy, Anadolu reports. “I hope Dems begin to see that moderate or progressive, AIPAC is not our friend,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. She accused the group of backing Jan. 6 insurrectionists while pressuring elected officials to ignore US laws, including the Leahy laws that prohibit assistance to foreign forces committing human rights abuses. “They are a right-wing organization that undermines democracy,” she said. “They have zero tolerance for any diversity of thought from their line, and pressure elected officials to increasingly place themselves at odds with our responsibility to represent the electorate and the views of the majority of Americans, who

• 
  US plans Board of Peace meeting on Gaza reconstruction Feb. 19: Report

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  The White House is planning to host a leaders’ summit of the Gaza “Board of Peace” on Feb. 19 to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and raise funding for reconstruction in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, Axios reported Friday, citing US and diplomatic sources, Anadolu reports. “It will be the first Board of Peace meeting and a fundraising conference for Gaza reconstruction,” Axios quoted a US official. The Trump administration has begun reaching out to dozens of countries to invite leaders and discuss logistics, according to the report. The meeting is expected to be held at the Institute of Peace in Washington. “Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the administration is planning it and has started checking which leaders

• 
  Tehran wants to make deal ‘very badly’: Trump

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  US President Donald Trump claimed Friday that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly,” following “good talks” in Oman, Anadolu reports. “We have to see what that deal is. But I think Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump cited US military movements in the region. “We have a big armada, and we have a big fleet heading in that direction, gonna be there pretty soon. So, we’ll see how that works out.” The president said additional talks are expected early next week and warned Tehran of serious consequences if negotiations fail. “We’re going to meet again early next week, and they want to make a deal, Iran,

• 
  Jeers target US, Israeli delegations during Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  The opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday was marked by audible boos from the crowd as delegations from the US and Israel entered the San Siro stadium, Anadolu reports. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegation. As Vance appeared on the stadium’s big screen, waving the US flag, the crowd responded with jeers, according to live coverage of the event. “There is the Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha. Oops — those are a lot of boos for him,” an announcer was heard saying during the broadcast. The reaction followed days of tension surrounding the participation of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Olympic