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

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  US sanctions 36 Iran-linked targets under ‘Economic D-Day’ campaign

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  The US Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it imposed sanctions on 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airlines, accusing the sector of facilitating the movement of weapons, personnel and illicit cargo, Anadolu reports. The action, carried out under the Treasury’s “Operation Economic Outcast,” includes sanctions against Iran’s remaining active airlines, as well as companies and intermediaries accused of helping Tehran acquire US-origin aircraft and aviation technology. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were intended to cut financial lifelines supporting the government and warned companies doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines that they could face exclusion from the global financial system. The Treasury Department said the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was also targeting third-country firms

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  UK announces sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Citing the existence of “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,” Britain will impose a trade ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the country’s foreign secretary announced Tuesday. In a statement to lawmakers in the House of Commons, Ed Miliband said today marks the “beginning of a new approach” on Israel, announcing that the UK will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements. “The legislation I have announced today will be in place within six to nine months and we will also take more immediate steps,” he noted. Today’s measures “represent a clear message” to the government of Israel, to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to the world that “we will not acquiesce in

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  Poll shows Israeli opposition within reach of majority as Netanyahu bloc falls to 47 seats

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Israel’s opposition could secure a parliamentary majority if a new party led by Yoaz Hendel joins its bloc, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies would win just 47 seats, according to a new poll published Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The survey, conducted by the private Lazar Research Institute and published by Israeli daily Maariv, projects 57 seats for the opposition parties and four for a new party led by Hendel and economist Yaron Zelekha. If the Hendel-Zelekha party joins the opposition, the bloc would reach 61 seats, the minimum threshold needed to form a government in Israel’s 120-member Knesset. Hendel and Zelekha have not yet indicated which political bloc they would support if their party enters parliament. Maariv said Netanyahu’s bloc lost

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  China says dialogue, not military pressure, can solve US-Iran conflict

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that military pressure is not a solution to the conflict between the US and Iran, Anadolu reports. Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Beijing, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement. The two ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region, which Wang said was seriously affecting regional security and continuing to disrupt energy, shipping and supply-chain stability. Dialogue and negotiations are the only way forward, Wang said, stressing that the sovereignty and security of all countries in the region should be “fully respected.” He added that the legitimate concerns of all parties should be properly

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  US MQ-1 drone downed by Iran over Strait of Hormuz: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  A US MQ-1 drone was shot down by Iranian air defenses over the Strait of Hormuz, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Tuesday. The drone was detected and targeted by the Iranian army’s air defense units stationed in the country’s southeast while flying over the strategic waterway, Fars said. It was tracked by air defense systems operating under Iran’s integrated air defense network before being hit and destroyed, according to the agency. Fars said the drone was downed using domestically developed air defense systems, adding that further details on the incident will be announced later. READ: Iran airs footage purporting to show missile strikes on US warships There was no immediate comment from the US on the report. The reported incident

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  All of Israel’s plans and actions amount to Palestinian erasure

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  During Israel’s genocide in Gaza, people around the world understood that diplomacy was not truly averse to the erasure of Palestinians. When Israel spoke openly of its plan to empty Gaza of Palestinians, it was granted weapons and diplomatic support. When forced transfer was revealed to be part of the plan very early into the genocide, the international community responded through refusal, but the arms sales kept going strong. It became clear that Israel was allowed to turn international law violations and war crimes into exclusive rights granted solely to its colonial agenda.  Now, as forced transfer once again makes the news with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announcing a seven year plan in which 250,000 Palestinians would

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  Drone strikes killed 1,120 civilians in Sudan in first half of 2026: UN

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  At least 1,120 civilians were killed in drone strikes in Sudan in the first six months of 2026, accounting for 80% of all civilian deaths documented by the UN human rights office during the period, a senior UN official said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo said the Kordofan region remains the “current epicenter” of Sudan’s conflict, with the majority of civilian deaths documented by the office this year recorded there. While drone strikes in El Obeid, North Kordofan, decreased sharply in July, civilians continue to face “dire conditions and grave risks,” she said. READ: Mercenaries, drone shipments and military technology fuel Sudan war, UN report says Repeated strikes

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  11 European countries plus Canada vow restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Eleven European countries plus Canada announced plans on Tuesday to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods with Israeli settlements that are illegal under international law, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced, Anadolu reports. “Today, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden confirm their intention to impose national restrictions on trade in goods with settlements that are illegal under international law and/or to support European restrictions to this effect,” said a joint declaration issued by Barrot. The statement reaffirmed that the 12 countries are “seriously considering” adopting such restrictions or other measures in accordance with their national procedures. “In this regard, France, the United Kingdom and Canada welcome the significant measures already taken

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  Turkiye hopes Development Road Project with Iraq will be implemented soon: Parliament speaker

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Turkiye’s parliament speaker voiced hope Tuesday that the Development Road Project linking Iraq with Turkiye would become fully operational as soon as possible, Anadolu reports. “I hope the Development Road Project will become an active, visible and fully implemented project with all its components as soon as possible,” Numan Kurtulmus told a joint news conference in the capital Ankara with Haibat al-Halbousi, his visiting Iraqi counterpart. “The Development Road Project is a very important project that will ensure connectivity in the fullest sense and, in the coming period, contribute to the development of Iraq and the region, as well as Turkiye’s development,” he said. “Through this project, Asia and Europe will be connected via Iraq and Turkiye, and the Asian and

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  Qatar says ‘no war, no peace’ between US, Iran ‘unacceptable’, urges unconditional reopening of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday that the continued state of “no war, no peace” amid the US-Iran conflict is “unacceptable,” calling for the crisis to be resolved through dialogue and the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without conditions, Anadolu reports. “It is unacceptable for the state of neither peace nor war in the region to continue. This is draining the region, and the crisis must be ended through dialogue,” Ibrahim al-Hashimi, director of the Media and Communications Department at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, told a press conference. “The Strait of Hormuz must be opened without conditions, and ensuring that it is not used as a pressure card is a top priority,” he added. READ: Qatar rejects Iran claim strikes only targeted US military

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  Netanyahu warned by UAE president before Oct. 7 events, failed to brief security chiefs: Haaretz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an “explicit warning” from the United Arab Emirates about Hamas plans to carry out a major attack before the Oct. 7, 2023 events, but he failed to brief Israel’s security chiefs, Haaretz reported on Tuesday. The Israeli daily said UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a 45-minute phone conversation with Netanyahu about a week and a half before Oct. 7, warning him that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. Haaretz, which based its report on dozens of Israeli and foreign sources as well as recordings, internal documents and correspondence, said the UAE president urged Netanyahu to take the threat seriously. The Israeli premier reportedly responded that he believed

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  Iranian president vows to continue resistance until ‘aggressors’ regret attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran would continue resisting attacks until what he called the “aggressors” fully regret their actions, Anadolu reports. “Iran has always opposed war and has regarded avoiding warmongering as essential to safeguarding the interests of the people and regional security,” Pezeshkian said on the US social media company X. “But just as it has bravely defended itself against aggression until today, it will continue this resistance with strength until the aggressors fully regret it, and will safeguard the rights of the great Iranian nation,” he added. His remarks come amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict and heightened tensions across the region. READ: Iran warns South Korea of ‘serious consequences’ over military role in Hormuz Iran and the

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  Israeli court rejects 3 petitions to freeze East Jerusalem settlement plan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  An Israeli court on Tuesday rejected three petitions to freeze a tender for the construction of 1,234 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem, despite widespread international criticism of the project that would undermine prospects for establishing a Palestinian state, Anadolu reports. This came in a joint statement by Israeli organizations Ir Amim, Bimkom and Peace Now. According to the statement, the Jerusalem District Court rejected petitions for an interim order to freeze the tender for building 1,234 settlement units in the E1 area and to halt any further steps to implement the plan. Judge Nimrod Flax ruled that a long time still separates the publication of the tender from the start of actual implementation and changes on the ground, it added.

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  Lebanon’s Energy Diplomacy: Turning Vulnerability into Connectivity

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Lebanon’s electricity crisis is usually attributed to fuel shortages, financial collapse and institutional failure. All three explanations are valid, but they are incomplete. The deeper problem is that Lebanon remains an energy island in a region increasingly shaped by cross-border grids, gas corridors and flexible electricity markets. Lebanese households and businesses have learned to survive without reliable public electricity. Diesel generators filled the first gap; rooftop solar panels and batteries are filling the next. Yet survival is not energy security. Lebanon’s electricity supply may have become more decentralised, but the country has not become less vulnerable. Lebanon must now turn connectivity into an instrument of diplomacy. This does not mean replacing one foreign dependency with another. It means creating diversified

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  Israeli forces demolish Palestinian homes, vital facilities in Masafer Yatta

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Israeli forces deployed bulldozers and heavy machinery to Khirbet al-Fakhit in the Masafer Yatta region south of Hebron on Tuesday, tearing down Palestinian homes, livestock shelters, water wells, and solar power installations, Anadolu reports. Head of the Masafer Yatta Village Council Nidal Younis said Khirbet al-Fakhit became the second hamlet completely leveled by Israeli authorities within a single week. The demolitions struck residential dwellings, animal pens, essential water cisterns, solar systems powering the community, and historic caves dating back to the Canaanite era. READ: US envoy to Israel visits occupied West Bank, calls occupiers attacking Palestinians ‘terrorists’ Troops gave residents no time to salvage their possessions, leaving schoolbags, textbooks, basic food supplies, and furniture crushed beneath the concrete debris as children

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  Amnesty International blames the victim in a time of genocide

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  The late Dr. Israel Shahak once related that during WWII when a collaborator at the Warsaw ghetto was eliminated, the jubilant inmates (himself included) danced with joy.[0]  Maybe the extreme situation didn’t permit the semblance of a legal process, but natural law ran its course. Now imagine if at that time a sanctimonious body were to pop up and chastise the inmates for this “crime”.  Under the circumstances, it would appear hypocritical for anyone to criticise the inmates, let alone refer to their action as “unlawful” and demand “accountability”. Well, Amnesty International just published an article that fits that description in a contemporary setting.  It just published a news release, “Hamas must stamp out extrajudicial executions…” [1], which is an

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  Why is El-Sisi’s regime considering the sale of the Suez Canal?!

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  A proposal to sell the Suez Canal, in north-eastern Egypt, has sparked widespread concern among Egyptians, who are already deeply suspicious of the government’s accelerated sale of state assets, vital infrastructure and strategic ports to Gulf allies. The idea was put forward days ago by Hassan Heikal, an adviser to the Egyptian Prime Minister, as part of what has been described in the media as the “grand swap”, involving the exchange of state assets and the transfer of debt between state institutions. Under the proposal, domestic debt would effectively be wiped out by transferring part of the state’s assets – such as its stakes in public companies or the Suez Canal – to the Central Bank of Egypt, provided that

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  Israel Katz threatens ‘all-out war’ if Palestinian Authority forces prepare major attack

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel has instructed its military to prepare for an “all-out war” against the Palestinian Authority if PA security forces launch, or are found to be preparing, a large-scale attack against Israeli forces or settlements in the occupied West Bank. Katz made the remarks on Monday following a stabbing attack in the northern West Bank in which one person was injured. The Israeli military said the Palestinian assailant was subsequently killed. “If there is a shift in direction, and the Palestinian Authority’s security services and affiliated bodies begin launching a terror attack — like the 7th October attack — against IDF forces and Jewish settlements, or if we obtain definitive confirmation that they are on

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  Nearly 1,000 Sudanese leave Egypt for home under voluntary return program

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  A total of 980 Sudanese nationals departed Cairo for Sudan on Monday aboard 20 buses as part of an organised voluntary return program, according to Sudan’s state news agency SUNA. The “Hope for Voluntary Return” committee organized the departures from the Al-Matba’a area and Al-Aziziyah Square in Cairo’s Abdeen district. Maher al-Zein, head of the committee responsible for transportation, said return operations would continue for Sudanese nationals in Egypt who wish to travel home. He added that transportation for university faculty members and students is scheduled to begin on Thursday to allow them to participate in Sudan’s new academic year. Monday’s departures were the latest in a series of organised returns from Egypt. The committee reported that 550 people returned

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  Germany asks ICJ to dismiss Nicaragua case over support for Israel

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Germany has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to dismiss a case brought by Nicaragua accusing Berlin of violating its international obligations through its political and military support for Israel during the war in Gaza. German lawyers began four days of hearings before the UN’s highest court on Monday as Berlin challenges the Court’s jurisdiction and the admissibility of claims brought by Nicaragua. Nicaragua filed the case in 2024, accusing Germany of facilitating violations of the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law by providing military assistance to Israel. As part of the proceedings, Nicaragua asked the ICJ to impose provisional measures requiring Germany to halt assistance to Israel, particularly the supply of military equipment. In April 2024, the Court

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  Jerusalem court adjourns incitement trial of Al-Aqsa preacher Ekrima Sabri

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  A Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Monday held its first evidentiary hearing in the trial of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, who faces charges of incitement brought by Israeli prosecutors. During the hearing, an Israeli prosecution witness testified regarding Sabri’s participation in condolence gatherings and statements he had made publicly, according to reports on the proceedings. Sabri’s defence team challenged the testimony, arguing that it lacked specificity, was not directly connected to the allegations contained in the indictment and did not comply with established procedures for hearing witnesses. The court accepted the defence’s objection and discontinued that portion of the witness’s testimony. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Michael Ratney: Iran: The Rules of the Game Have Changed, Now What?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Murat Aslan: How Will Turkey’s Meteoric Rise Change The Middle East?

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  Morocco’s PJD unveils election platform as Benkirane acknowledges challenge of winning majority

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) has unveiled its platform for the upcoming parliamentary elections, placing education, healthcare, employment and anti-corruption measures at the center of its campaign as it seeks to recover from its heavy electoral defeat in 2021. The platform, presented under the slogan “To Achieve Citizen Dignity,” pledges to improve the quality of education, strengthen healthcare coverage, expand access to decent employment and address corruption and conflicts of interest. The campaign marks a change in emphasis from the PJD’s 2021 electoral platform, which was presented under the slogan “Credibility, Democracy and Development.” In its latest program, the party also offers a critical assessment of Morocco’s political and socioeconomic trajectory during its five years in opposition. It argues

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  Gaza hospital reports severe NICU overcrowding amid rise in premature births

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  The neonatal intensive care unit at Al-Tahrir Hospital, part of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, is operating far beyond its capacity amid an increase in premature births and shortages of essential medical supplies, according to a doctor at the facility. Pediatrician Darwish Abu al-Khair said the neonatal unit was experiencing its highest level of overcrowding since it was established in 2000. According to Abu al-Khair, the hospital admitted 10 premature infants on 4th September, bringing the number of newborns receiving care in the unit to 54. He said the figure represented approximately 200 percent of the unit’s capacity, while the hospital was also facing critical shortages of medicines and oxygen. The overcrowding has forced medical

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  Former Shin Bet chief: Israel is losing war and heading towards end of Zionist project

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Former Israeli Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon said he believed Israel had achieved military victories on several fronts but had failed to achieve the war’s strategic objectives. In an interview on Rumble, Ayalon said: “Israel is winning battles, but losing the war.” He said the Israeli military had achieved exceptional battlefield gains against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, but that these tactical victories did not amount to victory in the wider war. He said Hamas and Hezbollah had not been dismantled and continued to pose a strategic threat despite the heavy losses they had suffered. Ayalon said the main problem was the lack of a political objective for the war, turning it into an end in itself rather than a means

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  Gaza water crisis reaches critical levels, municipality warns

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Gaza’s water crisis has reached critical levels, the Gaza Municipality said, warning that continued shortages could lead to severe thirst threatening residents’ lives, particularly as temperatures rise and Israel restricts the entry of essential supplies, maintenance materials, spare parts, fuel and industrial oils in sufficient quantities. Municipality spokesman Husni Muhanna told Arab21 that the destruction of wells, water networks, pumping stations and desalination plants across the Gaza Strip, along with shortages of fuel, maintenance materials, spare parts and industrial oils, had sharply reduced the amount of water available to residents. In Gaza City, daily water needs are estimated at about 100,000 cubic metres, while only about 30,000 cubic metres are available even under the best conditions, representing a 70 per

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  Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of putting political interests ahead of Israel security

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Gadi Eisenkot, the main challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the October legislative election, accused him on Monday of putting political interests ahead of Israel’s security. Eisenkot, a former army chief of staff, unveiled his Yashar party’s candidates for the 27 October election and criticised Netanyahu for failing to fulfil his responsibilities since Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, the deadliest in the country’s history. “At a time of the deep rupture that occurred on 7 October and the serious challenges facing the State of Israel, we need leadership that rises to the level of responsibility, knows how to unite and restore the principles of Zionism,” Eisenkot said at a campaign rally in the Israeli settlement

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   Israeli universities expel 100 Palestinian students over Gaza war criticism

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Israeli universities have permanently or temporarily expelled 100 Palestinian students for criticising the war in Gaza since October 2023, a Palestinian-run rights group Adalah said on Monday. The figures were published in a report by the group titled “Apartheid in Israeli Academia: Palestinian Students After 7 October 2023” The report examines how Israeli higher education institutions have changed their treatment of Palestinian students since the start of the war on Gaza on 8 October 2023. It documents cases in which Israeli universities suspended Palestinian students, launched disciplinary proceedings against them and classified their social media posts as “support for terrorism”. “In more than 80 cases, institutions imposed temporary suspensions before holding any hearing and before even determining whether the alleged

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  Egypt calls for new Arab security framework to counter regional threats

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

  Egypt has called for new Arab security arrangements to strengthen collective efforts to protect Arab security, integrate defence capabilities and turn political will into practical mechanisms for deterrence and crisis response. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said at the Arab League Council’s 166th ordinary ministerial session in Cairo that Egypt is ready to work with the Arab League and its member states to develop a comprehensive framework for the arrangements. The framework would define areas of cooperation, coordination and crisis response, as well as implementation and follow-up mechanisms. Abdelatty said the Arab security system should focus on greater security and defence integration, better coordination of Arab capabilities, and building on the 1950 Arab Treaty of Joint Defence and relevant Arab

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  Nauru opens Israel embassy in occupied Jerusalem in violation of international resolutions

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  The South Pacific nation of Nauru opened its embassy to Israel in occupied Jerusalem on Monday, making it the ninth country to take the step in violation of international resolutions, Anadolu reports. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar took part today in the official opening of Nauru’s Embassy in occupied Jerusalem, together with Vice President and Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Today, Nauru becomes the ninth country, and the third from the South Pacific, to open an embassy in Jerusalem. More are on the way,” Sa’ar said at the opening ceremony. The island nation is the world’s third-smallest country, with an area of 21 square kilometers (8.1 square miles) and a population of around

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  Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against Israeli foreign minister ahead of Slovenia visit

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) said on Monday it filed a criminal complaint in Slovenia against Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over alleged war crimes, acts of genocide and torture in Gaza ahead of his expected visit to Ljubljana this week, Anadolu reports. The complaint was filed with the Ljubljana District Prosecutor’s Office and police. Sa’ar is expected to attend the opening of a new Israeli embassy in Ljubljana this week, the HRF said, citing information provided by the Movement for the Rights of Palestinians, a Slovenian social initiative and solidarity group. The complaint alleges that Sa’ar bears criminal responsibility for several actions during Israel’s war in Gaza, including the attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza between Oct.

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  Burning homes with innocent Arabs inside is ‘Jewish terrorism’: Ex-Israeli Prime Minister

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said burning homes while innocent Arabs are inside consitutes as “Jewish terrorism,” Anadolu reports. “If someone comes to burn down the home of innocent Arabs with the people inside it, then of course that is Jewish terrorism. “If it is done for nationalist reasons, that is the definition,” Bennett told the Besheva conference on Sunday. He said such acts should be condemned, adding: “I don’t understand how this serves the settlement movement.” Bennett’s remarks come ahead of Israel’s general elections that are set to be held on Oct. 27. The vote centers on Netanyahu’s Likud party and his principal challengers, particularly former army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Bennett. The comments also coincide

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  Evangelical Zionist Huckabee attacks Jewish Ed Miliband, accuses UK government of ‘Jew hate’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and one of Washington’s most outspoken supporters of Zionism and Israel’s settlement project, has accused the British government of “Jew hate” in an extraordinary attack prompted by comments from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is himself Jewish. Huckabee launched the attack after Miliband published a video describing a meeting with people who had been in Gaza and were working on the ground there. The foreign secretary said what he had heard about the humanitarian and medical situation was “horrific”, including accounts of medicines being blocked from entering the enclave and children dying while waiting for life-saving treatment.   Miliband said the accounts reinforced the need for Britain to take stronger action. He

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  Adidas apologizes after campaign featuring former Israeli soldier sparks boycott calls

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  German sportswear company Adidas apologized Monday after an advertising campaign featuring a former Israeli soldier prompted a backlash and calls for a boycott, Anadolu reports. The campaign featured Shalev Biton, whose left leg was amputated after he was wounded while serving in the Israeli army in 2021, to promote Adidas’s Single Shoe service. “We recognize that an image used in a recent local activation by the local team has raised concerns and strong reactions,” Adidas said in a statement. “It was never our intent to cause offense and we apologize for anyone affected,” the company added, describing the promotion as a local initiative rather than part of a global campaign. Biton was one of 11 disabled athletes featured on posters displayed

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  Board of Peace says Israel must implement Gaza commitments to move roadmap forward

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Israel must implement its commitments under the Gaza peace roadmap for the process to move forward, Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for Gaza at the Board of Peace, said on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the third Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Mladenov said progress had been made compared to a year ago, but the situation remained far from what was needed to achieve a political solution. “We are still at the point at which we need to make sure that what has been agreed is going to be implemented and is going to change significantly the lives of the people in Gaza,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re not there yet,” he added, saying discussions were continuing with Israel on “the implementation of

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  UN rapporteur warns Israeli rubble-clearing in Gaza could erase evidence of atrocity crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Large-scale rubble removal in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control could erase evidence of atrocity crimes and hinder the recovery of human remains, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese warned Monday, Anadolu reports. “The ongoing removal, crushing and relocation of rubble in Gaza must not destroy evidence of international crimes or prevent the recovery and identification of human remains in the besieged enclave,” Albanese said in a statement. She stressed that Gaza’s rubble contains human remains and physical evidence relevant to investigations into alleged international crimes, including genocide. Palestinian authorities estimate more than 10,000 people remain buried under the debris. READ: Gaza holds funeral for 100 Palestinians recovered from rubble of destroyed homes Albanese said recovery and

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  UN rights chief urges halt to arms transfers to Israel, business support to illegal settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Monday urged states to end transfers of arms to Israel that risk being used to violate international law, and called on companies to stop business practices supporting illegal settlements, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the opening of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk said Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank was “unfolding, unobstructed,” despite a clear ruling by the International Court of Justice. “What more will it take for states to take action to prevent the entrenchment of occupation across land earmarked for Palestinians under the two-state solution?” he said. “They (states) need to end the transfer to Israel of arms that risk being used to violate international

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  Iran’s parliamentary speaker warns US energy assets in Gulf exposed to Iranian retaliation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned Monday that US energy assets in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz are exposed to Iranian retaliation if Washington strikes Tehran’s oil and gas infrastructure, Anadolu reports. “It’s simple: the oil and gas production chain here is sprawling, accessible, and exposed. American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure,” Qalibaf said on the US social media company X. “Strike our assets and you get struck. We’ve already proven it. Ask the bases that are no longer viable,” he added. His remarks came amid US warnings that Iranian oil vessels could be targeted in response to attacks on American naval forces. On Sept. 5, US Central Command (CENTCOM)

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  Volkswagen, Israeli firm agree on sale of Osnabrueck plant

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  Volkswagen agreed to sell its Osnabrueck plant to Israeli private equity firm Aurelius and the state of Lower Saxony, the German automaker said Monday, Anadolu reports. Under the deal, air defense systems from the Israeli Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael are to be produced at the factory. “Aurelius and the State of Lower Saxony intend to develop the site over the coming years into a competence center for security and defense solutions. “As an initial anchor project, Aurelius and the State of Lower Saxony are planning to cooperate with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems,” VW said in a statement. The plant is expected to manufacture systems and components for air defense systems for Germany and Europe, he said. The cooperation is also

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  No arms export licenses issued to Israel for weeks in 2025, Germany claims at ICJ

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Germany told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday that it significantly restricted arms exports to Israel between August and November 2025, with no export licenses issued initially and later approvals limited to equipment that could not be used in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Addressing the court during hearings on Germany’s preliminary objections to a case brought by Nicaragua, German representative said Berlin closely monitored the situation in Israel, Gaza and the wider region and adapted its export licensing policy accordingly. “The figures for licenses granted for the final export of arms to Israel fell significantly in the period from 8th of August to 23rd of November 2025, during which the federal government restricted its arms exports to Israel,

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  UK vows further measures amid ‘unacceptable’ expansion of illegal West Bank settlements

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  The British prime minister on Monday condemned the unacceptable expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, reiterating that the UK would respond with “comprehensive measures” soon, Anadolu reports. In a phone conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Andy Burnham said he was focused on ensuring de-escalation in the Middle East and supporting partners in the region to help restore stability and security. Burnham recalled that the UK government would announce measures in response to the increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, his office said in a statement. “Turning to the situation in Israel and Gaza, the Prime Minister said the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank

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  Rapper Macklemore voices support for Palestine at Ed Sheeran concerts, faces removal petition

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  US rapper Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians during two opening performances for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, leading an Israeli-American organization to petition for his removal from the remaining tour dates, Anadolu reports. Wearing a keffiyeh before a crowd of more than 80,000 people, Macklemore performed his pro-Palestinian song Hind’s Hall as footage from Gaza and the occupied West Bank was displayed on screens around the stadium. “I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” he told the audience during Friday’s concert. “I believe that every human being walking this earth deserves the exact same freedom, to

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  Iran warns South Korea of ‘serious consequences’ over military role in Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Iran warned on Monday that any South Korean military participation in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz would have “serious consequences,” amid reports that Seoul is considering a possible military contribution to efforts to secure navigation through the strait, Anadolu reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on US social media company X that relations between Iran and South Korea span more than 64 years and have consistently developed on the basis of mutual respect. “Iran attaches great importance to its friendly relations with South Korea,” Baqaei said. However, he said that at a time when the Iranian people are defending themselves against what he called US aggression and responding to US “war crimes against women and children,”

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  Gaza students shame the Irish authorities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  After a summer in which the dreams of dozens of the best and the brightest young people in Palestine seemed to be shattered by the Irish authorities, it was fitting that three survivors of the Gaza genocide managed to shame the Irish Government thanks to the brilliance of their artwork this past weekend. At the end of the academic year, Masters students who have completed the MA in Creative Practice at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Galway are invited to take part in a joint exhibition which showcases the power of their work and some of the projects they have worked on over the past year. At a time when up to 40 of the most gifted young people

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  Israeli army played football in Palestinian home as settlers carried out ethnic cleansing, court hears

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Israeli soldiers were filmed playing football inside a Palestinian home that had been seized during a campaign of settler violence that drove residents from their homes in Jalud, the country’s High Court has revealed. Israel’s High Court of Justice has now ordered the state to allow Palestinian residents of Jalud, a village in the northern occupied West Bank near Nablus, to return to homes from which they were driven out by Jewish settlers. According to the ruling, the campaign against Jalud’s residents began in April, when settlers pitched a tent on privately owned Palestinian land in Area B, which is under Israeli civil and Palestinian security control. Over the following months, residents were subjected to a campaign of terror intended

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  Qatari official says Iran war showed US strategic alliance is not enough

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said today that the war with Iran had shown Gulf Arab states should not rely solely on their strategic partnership with the United States to ensure their security. Speaking during a panel discussion at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, he said: “We have to realise in the Gulf region that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the US is very important but is not enough. Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward.” READ: Qatar rejects Iran claim strikes only targeted US military sites

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  An awakening question: From Rousseau to Al-Husri

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  On a summer day in 1749, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was walking through the streets of Paris when he stumbled upon a question posted by the Academy of Dijon: Has the progress of the sciences and arts contributed to the purification and elevation of morals? It was meant as an intellectual competition, a polite invitation to philosophers and writers. Yet for Rousseau, it was not an invitation at all—it was a jolt, a moment of existential interruption. The Iraqi historian and educational reformer Sati’ al-Husri, in his 1951 book “Opinions and Discussions on Science, Morality, and Culture,” describes that moment as a spark that pierced Rousseau’s life. The question, he writes, struck Rousseau not as a scholarly prompt but as a slap

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  Kushner downplays Gaza suffering, blaming Hamas disarmament, Israeli politics for stalled Gaza talks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator on Middle East affairs, has justified the faltering talks on the next steps in the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza, saying that the Strip had been a “miserable place for a long time”, in remarks that appeared to overlook the scale of the humanitarian suffering caused by Israel’s war on Gaza.  Speaking at a press conference in Ukraine on Sunday, Kushner said disarming Hamas would not be easy, describing the group’s “militarisation” in the Palestinian territories as “beyond our comprehension”. He added that the Trump administration is “extremely determined” to resolve outstanding issues and said it agreed with Israel on the territory’s desired end state, saying: “I think we agree with

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  EU urges Tunisia to allow political pluralism

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  The European Union has called on Tunisian authorities to create the necessary conditions for political pluralism and allow independent voices to contribute to the country’s development. In a statement, the EU said that “Questions remain as to whether the guarantees of a fair trial have been fully respected,” and called on the Tunisian authorities to ensure full respect for human rights. The EU also criticised the use of communications with diplomats accredited to Tunisia, including European diplomats, as a basis for bringing charges or as evidence against defendants, according to the statement. READ: Tunisia: Ennahda calls for release of female political detainees The EU reaffirmed its commitment to its partnership with Tunisia and said it would continue to support its people in

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  Israel issues 800 al-Aqsa expulsion orders since start of 2026

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate said on Sunday that the number of Israeli expulsion orders from Al-Aqsa Mosque recorded since the start of 2026 had risen to 800, after around 15 orders were documented during the first six days of September. In a statement, the governorate said the number of orders recorded in the first six days of September was close to the combined total recorded in July and August, which stood at 23. It said Israeli authorities issued 17 expulsion orders in July and six in August. The governorate said the figures “reflect an acceleration in the use of the expulsion policy ahead of the Jewish holiday season”, which runs from mid-September to early October. READ: UN warns Israeli raid led by