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

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  Workers halt production at Belgian arms factory over Israeli officer visit

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Some workers at Belgium’s major weapons manufacturer FN Herstal staged a spontaneous strike to protest the presence of an Israeli army officer who was part of a visiting delegation of defense attaches, Anadolu reports. The walkout took place on Friday afternoon at the factory in Herstal and was initiated by members linked to the socialist trade union FGTB, the company confirmed, according to Belgian outlet L-Post cited by regional media. Dyab Abou Jahjah, general director of the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation, said on US social media company X that employees “stopped the machines and walked out after learning that an Israeli military officer had been received at the factory,” calling the action “a clear message” against arms-industry complicity during the

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  Syria foreign minister, ICC chief discuss holding Assad accountable in first meeting

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met on Saturday International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane to discuss the issue of holding ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and figures of his erstwhile regime accountable, in the “first meeting of its kind” between the two sides, Anadolu reports. AlIkhbaria Syria TV, quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying that al-Shaibani held a meeting with the ICC president on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The source said the meeting discussed “files related to transitional justice and ways to hold those responsible for crimes to account, foremost among them the criminal Bashar al-Assad and a number of figures of the defunct regime.” The source added that the meeting “is the first of its

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  Iranian president says regional countries can resolve issues together, rejects need for external guardianship

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that countries in the region are capable of resolving their problems collectively and peacefully, stressing that they do not need external guardianship, state news agency IRNA reported, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the international Iran Corridor 2026 conference in Tehran on investment opportunities and financing for rail and road corridors, Pezeshkian said: “We do not need a custodian. Regional countries can sit together and solve their problems.” Pezeshkian said the world has become “very small,” and that nations must work to create conditions for peace, security, and stability for present and future generations. “No country benefits from war,” he said, noting that conflict, violence, and bloodshed do not lead to progress. He praised efforts

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  Money, threats, abuse: Israeli efforts to block return to Gaza via Rafah

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  The journey home for Palestinians returning to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has turned into a path marked by interrogation, detention and humiliation – and, in some cases, financial inducements not to return or to cooperate with the Israeli army, according to returnee testimonies and human rights reports, Anadolu reports. On Wednesday, Gaza’s Government Media Office said only 488 travelers of 1,800 had been able to cross Rafah in both directions since its reopening through Tuesday — an Israeli compliance rate of about 27%. In a statement, the office said 275 people left Gaza while 213 entered, and 26 travelers were denied permission to leave for Egypt during the same period. Israel reopened the Palestinian

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  4 Palestinians injured by Israeli army gunfire across Gaza Strip despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Four Palestinians were injured on Saturday by Israeli army gunfire across the Gaza Strip amid daily Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. A young girl and an elderly man were wounded by Israeli gunfire east of Khan Younis, a medical source told Anadolu. Another young girl was shot in the head by Israeli army gunfire in the Netzarim area in the central Gaza Strip, a medical source said. In a separate incident, the medical source said a 60-year-old man was shot in the foot by Israeli army gunfire in Al-Mughraqa area south of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces opened heavy, indiscriminate fire east of the city, before carrying out large-scale demolitions

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  Saving Halmahera Island in Indonesia from Israeli investment

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Despite cultivating a global reputation as a defender of Palestinian rights, Indonesia has approved a geothermal concession on Halmahera, a forested island in eastern Indonesia, involving a company embedded in Israel’s economic system. The decision carries two clear risks. It weakens Indonesia’s political position on Palestine and exposes a fragile environment to deeper industrial pressure. This is not only a foreign policy contradiction. It is a development choice with lasting ecological consequences. On January 8, 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources awarded the Telaga Ranu geothermal working area to PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia as part of the national push toward the Net Zero Emission 2060 target. Expanding renewable energy is necessary in a country still reliant on coal.

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  Lawsuit before the Constitutional Court in Germany against arms exports to Israel fails

  by Marwa A on February 13, 2026

  The Federal Constitutional Court, the highest Court in Germany, has spoken. That sentence is the centre of gravity. It signals judicial restraint. It confirms that the Federal Government retains broad discretion in determining how it complies with its constitutional duty to protect fundamental human rights, including in the sensitive area of arms exports contributing to a warfare that is deemed genocidal by the United Nations. This assessment is embedded in the legal framework governing German arms exports, including the relevant provisions of the War Weapons Control Act and the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, which define the procedural and substantive prerequisites for export authorizations and directly inform the court’s evaluation of the complainant’s standing. Beneath the formalism in its decision

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  Government dealt a blow: Highest court deems Palestine Action ban unlawful

  by Marwa A on February 13, 2026

  In a moment that exposed the flimsy nature of the government narrative, Keir Starmer’s government suffered a resounding blow from the UK Supreme Court after it struck down the decision to ban the activist group Pal Action and ruled it unlawful. This was not a mere procedural detail; it was a clear political indictment of a path that chose to criminalise the act of standing by and defending a victim. That same path chose also to shield the aggressor and oppressor. This is not a matter of competing narratives or conflicting claims. What is happening in Gaza is a crime of genocide, plain and simple. Palestinian blood is not and cannot be considered a matter of opinion, and those who

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  Israel bans established NGOs, installs ‘compliant’ politically convenient alternatives

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Israel is replacing dozens of established humanitarian organisations in Gaza with a new cohort of approved unknown groups that are more politically aligned and less likely to challenge Israeli conduct, an investigation by The New Humanitarian, has found. The report reveals that 37 aid organisations operating in Gaza — including nearly all established non-UN international NGOs — face bans under Israel’s new registration law after refusing to comply with its requirements. In their place, Israeli authorities have approved around two dozen organisations that have agreed to the new terms. Aid workers and legal experts cited in the investigation say the move is part of a broader effort to restructure the humanitarian landscape in Gaza. Internationally recognised reputable groups are being

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  Indonesia’s 8,000: Can stabilisation proceed without normalisation?

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Gaza has become a scar on the conscience of the international system. With more than 72,000 Palestinians reported killed and over 1.9 million displaced at the height of the latest war, the strip stands as a symbol of immeasurable grief and diplomatic failure. In November 2025, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803, backing a US-proposed plan and establishing a Board of Peace to oversee stabilisation, civilian protection, humanitarian relief and reconstruction. It is into this shattered and deeply contested landscape that Indonesia has stepped—measured, resolute, and anchored in principle. Jakarta’s decision to join the Board of Peace has been described by its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, in precise terms: participation is not a normalisation of political relations with

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  Extremist Israeli minister storms Ofer Prison, oversees abuse of Palestinian inmates

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday forced his way into Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, in a visit marked by intimidation and abuse of Palestinian detainees, Anadolu reports. Ben-Gvir entered the prison accompanied by senior police officials, including Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israel’s Channel 7 reported, saying that stun grenades were fired near Palestinian prisoners’ cells during the visit. Ben-Gvir, known for publishing inflammatory videos targeting Palestinian detainees and repeatedly threatening them, has openly boasted about tightening prison conditions for Palestinians since taking office in late 2022. During his tour, he said the changes imposed on prisons were “not enough” and

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  Over 2,000 Britons served in IDF as 47,000 dual and multi-nationals enlisted during Gaza genocide

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  More than 2,000 British nationals served in the Israeli military during its genocide in Gaza, according to new data published by Declassified UK. The investigative outlet reported that figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Israeli army show that 1,686 British-Israeli dual nationals and a further 383 individuals holding British, Israeli and at least one additional nationality were serving in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as of March 2025. The combined total stands at 2,069 UK nationals. The British contingent forms part of a much larger group of foreign nationals serving in the Israeli military. The data indicates that 43,194 dual nationals and 3,913 multi-nationals were enlisted in the IDF, amounting to 47,107 soldiers holding Israeli

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  Has Washington come to its senses in Iraq?

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Twenty-three years after the invasion of Iraq, Washington seems to have suddenly regained its senses — or worse, to be a detached observer of a catastrophe that it did not create. However, the record does not permit such lenient forgiveness. The United States is not an impartial bystander to Iraq’s political demise; it is the surgeon who performed the operation, then left the patient to bleed to death in the dark. What Washington is doing today is not state-building. It is the management of a decaying body — keeping a faint pulse, never attempting real resuscitation. It is worth recalling that Paul Bremer, the US civilian administrator of Iraq in 2003, was not a bureaucratic footnote, but rather the chief

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  African Union urges Israel to withdraw recognition of Somaliland

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The African Union’s Peace and Security Council on Thursday rejected Israel’s recognition of the breakaway Somaliland region and called on Tel Aviv to reverse its decision, urging international partners to reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. It also stressed that it opposes any form of interference that threatens the country’s stability. The statement came from the African Union’s Peace and Security Council after a meeting of foreign ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting focused on the situation in Somalia and the operations of its African Union Mission for Support and Stability (AUSSOM). In its statement, the council said: “We reject all forms of external interference aimed at dividing Somalia, and we condemn any action that undermines its sovereignty,

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  Israel arrests 22,000 Palestinians in West Bank, Jerusalem since start of the genocide war

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Israel has arrested around 22,000 Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, since the start of what has been described as a war of genocide, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoner’s Club. The rights group said the figure covers all cases of arrest during this period, including those who remain in detention and those who were later released. It described the number as an unprecedented record for arrests over just two and a half years. The Prisoner’s Club stressed that the total does not include arrests in the Gaza Strip, which it said amount to thousands, nor arrest campaigns in the territories occupied in 1948. In a statement issued on Thursday, the group added that arrest operations in the West

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  France’s censorship of voices calling out international complicity with genocide

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has once again been targeted, this time by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, for her speech at the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha on Saturday, in which she denounced the entire complicit system that supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The term “common enemy”, which Albanese used to describe how involved the international community has been in furthering genocide in Gaza, was taken out of context and framed as a direct targeting of Israel. “France unreservedly condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks made by Francesca Albanese, which are directed not at the Israeli government, whose policies may be criticized, but at Israel as a people and as a nation, which is absolutely

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  7 Palestinian families forced out of Jordan Valley amid illegal settler attacks in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Seven Palestinian families on Friday dismantled their homes in the Al-Maita area of the northern Jordan Valley in the West Bank amid escalating attacks by illegal settlers and Israeli forces. Moataz Bisharat, who monitors settlement activity in Tubas, told Anadolu that the families removed their tin and tent structures after illegal settlers set fire to uninhabited tents overnight and carried out repeated assaults, including beatings, livestock theft, destruction of crops and restrictions on grazing. With the departure of the seven families, the area will be left without any Palestinian residents, he said. Earlier Friday, four Palestinians were injured and 24 others detained in Israeli military raids and attacks by illegal settlers across the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent

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  UK police say will no longer make arrests for supporting Palestine Action after ruling

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday that officers will prioritize gathering evidence over making arrests following a High Court ruling that said the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action under terrorism legislation was unlawful, Anadolu reports. Judges said the proscription was “disproportionate” and “the nature and scale of its activities falling within the definition of terrorism had not yet reached the level, scale and persistence to warrant proscription.” However, the group will remain banned for now to allow for further legal arguments. The goverment said it will appeal the decision. In a statement released after the court’s decision, police, however, warned that the ban on the group remains in place and that showing support for Palestine Action is still a

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  Man City manager backs Gaza amputee football team with signed Palestinian jerseys

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  English Premier League club Manchester City’s manager Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala signed Palestinian national team jerseys on Thursday in a show of support for an amputee football team in Gaza, the Gaza team announced, Anadolu reports. The Gaza al-Irada FC (Gaza of Will) amputee football team announced the gesture in a post on US social media platform Instagram, calling the moment a symbolic link between local athletes and the global football community. “From the heart of Gaza to the top of the football world. Our heroes in the Gaza Will Team (Amputation Football) received a special message and a signature from the ‘philosopher’ Pep Guardiola,” the team said. READ: Gaza amputee football team names Pep Guardiola honorary coach The players expressed

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  US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to join Middle East naval forces: Report

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships, currently in the Caribbean, will be redeployed to the Middle East and are unlikely to return home until late April or early May, according to the New York Times. Four US officials, speaking to the newspaper on condition of anonymity, said the ship’s crew was notified of the decision on Thursday. The Ford strike group will join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf to support US President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure on Iran. Trump had previously called for a second carrier in the region, though the ship was not specified. The US president warned last month that a massive “armada” was heading toward Iran, urging Tehran to reach an

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  Israel plans to restrict access to al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Israeli authorities have planned to restrict Muslims’ access to al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers during the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a well-known Muslim scholar and former grand mufti of Jerusalem said in an interview with Anadolu. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, former grand mufti of Jerusalem and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem, expressed regret for the Israeli administration’s plan to restrict access to the third-holiest mosque for Muslims during Ramadan, which begins midweek. Israel’s ill intentions were clear when Maj. Gen. Avshalom Peled was appointed as a new police commander in occupied East Jerusalem in the first week of January, a move seen as an attempt to advance plans by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the

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  Palestine Action group wins legal challenge in UK over ban as ‘terrorist organisation’

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The co-founder of Palestine Action on Friday won a legal challenge in the UK over the group’s ban as a “terrorist organisation.” Huda Ammori had challenged the ban at a trial in the High Court in London, where judges ruled that the group’s proscription under terrorism legislation was unlawful. “The High Court ruled the Palestine Action ban is unlawful as it is disproportionate to free speech and the Home Secretary breached her own policy,” Ammori said on X. “The court ordered the ban be quashed. Details of lifting the ban will be decided and completed at a later date.” Overall, the court said in a summary published on its website, the proscription of the group was “disproportionate” and “the nature

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  Civil Defence in Gaza: 8,000 bodies under rubble, 3,000 missing

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The Civil Defence in Gaza has said that around 8,000 bodies remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings across the territory, despite ongoing search and rescue efforts. In a statement on Thursday, spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said Civil Defence teams are working under very difficult conditions with limited resources, which makes it hard to reach many affected areas. He added that more than 3,000 people are still missing, with no confirmed information about whether they are alive, have died, or been detained. He pointed out that hundreds of bodies had decomposed or lost their features during the search operations, due to the prolonged time and the difficulty of removing the rubble amidst a lack of heavy equipment and necessary technical capabilities.

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  Iran is not Iraq and it is definitely not Venezuela

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Once again, a familiar pattern is playing out in US-Iran tensions: one side talks of diplomacy paired with threats of force. And when Washington treats the standoff as a strategy, it only makes an unstable region more dangerous and increases the odds of a wider conflict. If the stated goal is de-escalation, why keep turning the negotiating table into a launchpad confrontation? Trump casts himself as the dealmaker, as if pressure automatically yields persuasion. Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Netanyahu, insists every negotiation is a trap unless Iran surrenders completely. Together, they reduce the region to a bargaining chip, one misstep away from full-scale war. Yet Tehran has drawn a hard line: nuclear talks and nothing else. That stance, in

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  UN official refuses calls to resign, denounces states’ silence over genocide in Palestine

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, has refused calls to resign and rejected criticism from states that fail to condemn genocide in Palestine. She stressed that she will not accept “lessons from countries that violate international law and fail to condemn genocide.” Earlier on Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for the resignation of the UN rapporteur over comments she made allegedly targeting Israel at a conference on Gaza.  In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, she urged Western governments to discuss the reports she has submitted on alleged Israeli violations, rather than target her personally. She said the debate should focus on the content of her reports, not on her as

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  Separatists demand removal of Saudi adviser from Aden

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Separatists backed by Abu Dhabi have called for the expulsion of a Saudi military official from Aden, as hundreds gathered in a protest in the city on Thursday. The demonstrators, affiliated with the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, staged a rally in Yemen’s temporary capital, Aden, in the south of the country. The protest was directed against the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, which supports it. Protesters chanted slogans demanding the removal of Falah Al-Shahrani, adviser at the Saudi Royal Court and adviser to the commander of the Joint Forces, from Aden. READ: UAE weaponised antisemitism in Washington in its feud with Saudi Arabia Al-Shahrani is overseeing efforts to reorganise the security and military situation in southern Yemen, including in the temporary

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  IMEC vs INSTC: The emerging battle over Middle Eastern energy corridors

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The Middle East is no longer merely a producer of energy; it is fast becoming the epicentre of a new geopolitical contest over corridors, connectivity and control. The launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has signalled more than an infrastructure project. It represents a strategic attempt to redraw trade and energy routes in ways that could alter the region’s geoeconomic balance for decades. At the same time, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), in which Iran plays a pivotal role, offers an alternative model of connectivity linking India to Russia and Europe via Iranian territory. What we are witnessing is not simply competition between logistics networks. It is a corridor war with profound implications for energy diplomacy, regional

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  Trump says Israeli president should be ashamed over Netanyahu pardon, Herzog responds: “Israel operates by the Law”

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  US President Donald Trump criticised Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday evening for not granting a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial, prompting a firm reply from the Israeli president’s office. Speaking to reporters about Netanyahu’s visit to Washington and other political and security issues, Trump said: “President Herzog should be ashamed of himself, a pardon over this trial that’s going on. The president of Israel, the primary power he’s got is the power to give pardons.” Repeating his criticism, Trump added: “he said he’s given it five different times, but he doesn’t want to do it, because I guess he loses his power. I think the people of Israel should really shame him. He

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  Sudan urges African Union to end suspension of its membership

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Sudanese Foreign Minister Muhi al-Din Salem Ahmed renewed his call on Thursday for the African Union (AU) to end the suspension of his country’s membership in the bloc, Anadolu agency reported. Speaking at a session of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Salem said the conflict in Sudan has reached its end. “War is not our goal and we will continue to seek peace,” the top diplomat said in his comments cited by Sudanese media, stressing that the Sudanese government continues its efforts to achieve lasting peace in the country. He accused certain foreign actors of fuelling the conflict in Sudan, without naming them, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of unlawfully exploiting

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  Moscow declines participation in first session of US-led Peace Council

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Russia will not participate in the first session of the Peace Council chaired by US President Donald Trump, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. Responding to a question about whether Russian diplomats would attend the council’s inaugural meeting, scheduled for 19th February, Zakharova stated: “Russia will not attend, and work is under way to formulate its position.” Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow was still assessing its stance on the initiative, taking into account the cautious approach shown by a number of countries in both the West and the East, including permanent members of the UN Security Council. READ: Pakistani premier to attend Board of Peace inaugural meeting in Washington On 22nd January, representatives of 19 countries signed

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  Iranian president says his salary now worth about $1,000 amid currency decline

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the value of salaries in Iran has sharply declined, citing his own income as an example of the country’s currency devaluation and reduced purchasing power. Speaking at a meeting on Thursday, Pezeshkian said that he previously earned a salary of 6,000 tomans, which he said was equivalent to $6,000 at the time. “Now, as president, I receive the equivalent of only about $1,000,” he said, underscoring the impact of inflation and currency depreciation. During the same meeting, which included families of victims and those injured in December’s protests, Pezeshkian said the government was working to mitigate the consequences of the unrest. He said officials were closely monitoring the situation of affected families and seeking

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  Why Iran–US talks in Oman matter for global nuclear security

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The resumption of Iran–US nuclear negotiations in Oman represents a pivotal moment for global nuclear safety. The airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan in June 2025 showed the vulnerability of global nuclear infrastructure. It is the need of the hour that the diplomacy goes beyond uranium enrichment limits and verification measures and includes enforceable legal, technical, and operational protections. The central question is whether the Oman negotiations can create a framework that ensures nuclear security, prevents coercive military action, and preserves the credibility of the global nonproliferation regime. The Oman talks mark the significant diplomatic contact between Tehran and Washington since efforts to revive the JCPOA collapsed. Iran and the United States resumed nuclear negotiations in

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  Prisoners’ office reveals assault on Abdullah Barghouti in Israeli jail

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office said on Thursday that detainee Abdullah Barghouti was injured during a suppression operation at Gilboa prison a day earlier. In a statement, the office said Barghouti appeared exhausted during a family visit and had a visible injury to his left eye. It claimed he had struck his head against a door while being taken to the visit as prison authorities launched the operation inside the facility. The statement added that Barghouti has suffered severe weight loss, reportedly dropping from 110kg to 60kg, a dangerous indicator of deteriorating health due to neglect and malnutrition, as well as a lack of basic necessities. READ: Number of Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli jails rises to 59, Hamas office says

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  Swiss lawyers file ICC complaint accusing government of complicity over Gaza

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  A group of Swiss lawyers has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court, accusing their government of failing to meet its international legal obligations in relation to Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip. The complaint relies on reports issued by United Nations bodies and independent international human rights organisations in characterising events in Gaza as genocide. According to sources familiar with the filing, the complaint places particular emphasis on Switzerland’s status as the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, arguing that this role carries heightened legal and moral responsibilities. The plaintiffs include 25 lawyers from both French- and German-speaking regions of Switzerland, a move they say reflects broad concern within parts of the country’s legal community. READ: Legal case in

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  US sent thousands of Starlink terminals to Iran after January protest crackdown: Report

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  The US covertly smuggled 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following nationwide protests in January, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing officials, Anadolu reports. The operation marked the first time Washington directly facilitated the transfer of Starlink systems into Iran. The shipments came after Iranian authorities imposed a sweeping internet shutdown during unrest driven by economic hardship and currency depreciation, according to the report. Officials said the State Department purchased nearly 7,000 terminals in recent months, most in January, after senior officials decided to redirect funds from existing internet-freedom initiatives inside Iran to acquire the satellite systems. President Donald Trump was aware of the deliveries, they said, though it was unclear whether he personally approved the plan. The

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  Saudi, Pakistan defense chiefs reaffirm strategic partnership in bilateral talks

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Thursday held talks in Riyadh with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reaffirming strong relations between the two countries and their strategic defense partnership, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media company X, Prince Khalid said the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral military ties and advancing joint efforts to promote global peace and security in line with the shared interests of Riyadh and Islamabad. The talks come amid heightened regional tensions, as Riyadh and Islamabad maintain close coordination across defense and security matters. READ: Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agree to increase trilateral defence cooperation

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  2026 will be ‘toughest financially’ due to Israel’s withholding of tax revenues: Palestine

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Palestinian Finance Minister Istifan Salameh warned Thursday that the Palestinian Authority is facing an “existential threat” due to Israel’s continued withholding of tax revenues, stressing that 2026 will be its most difficult financial year, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference in Ramallah, Salameh said Israel has seized around 70% of Palestinian revenues, exacerbating the fiscal deficit and undermining the government’s ability to meet its obligations, foremost among them paying salaries and providing basic services. He said 2026 would be the most financially challenging year in the history of the Palestinian Authority, warning that the Israeli policies toward Palestinians amount to “playing with fire.” Salameh warned of the repercussions of these measures on financial and banking stability, as well as

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  Beyond Oslo: Engineering a new reality in Palestine

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  It has become clear that Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government are seeking to leverage their current alignment with the administration of US President Donald Trump, a government that strongly backs Israeli policies, to cement a reality in Palestine that will be difficult to reverse in the future. Under Israeli law, general elections are ordinarily held in October of the fourth year of the Knesset’s term, unless the Knesset is dissolved earlier. Although the term can, in theory, be extended, such a step is subject to strict and exceptional conditions, such as a full-scale war or a grave security emergency that makes elections impossible. A postponement cannot be effected through government emergency regulations, nor through an administrative decision suspending the

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  US completes withdrawal from al-Tanf base in Syria: CENTCOM

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  The US military has completed its withdrawal from the al-Tanf base in southern Syria after nearly a decade, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday, Anadolu reports. “U.S. forces remain poised to respond to any ISIS threats that arise in the region as we support partner-led efforts to prevent the terrorist network’s resurgence,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement. “Maintaining pressure on ISIS is essential to protecting the U.S. homeland and strengthening regional security,” he added. READ: Syrian president meets US envoy in Damascus to discuss regional developments CENTCOM said the departure from al-Tanf Garrison was completed on Feb. 11 as part of a “deliberate and conditions-based transition” under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve

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  Pakistani premier to attend Board of Peace inaugural meeting in Washington

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP), scheduled for Feb. 19 in Washington, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “I can confirm that the prime minister will attend the upcoming BoP meeting. He will be accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister [Ishaq Dar],” spokesman Tahir Andrab told reporters in Islamabad. He did not share details about Sharif’s engagements in Washington but said that “we will inform you in due course of time.” Andrab said Pakistan will join eight other Muslim nations to raise a voice for the rights of Palestinians at the meeting. READ: Pakistan accepts Trump’s invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza “We will continue to strive

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  Mr President: Do not relinquish Somalia’s future, let the constitutional process continue

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  Somalia is at a defining moment. After decades of conflict and fragile governance, the Federal Government’s ongoing constitutional amendment process offers a historic opportunity: to reclaim political legitimacy, strengthen democratic institutions, and return power to the Somali people. Yet, rather than supporting this essential reform, opposition leaders are attempting to derail it — prioritising political expediency over national interest. An historic opportunity for Somalia Under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the constitutional review has moved steadily and deliberately. Its goal is clear: introduce universal suffrage, clarify the separation of powers, and dismantle the clan-based electoral system that has long entrenched elite dominance. These are not abstract reforms; they are foundational steps toward a government that reflects the will of the people

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  Palestinian mother, daughter recount strip searches, harsh conditions in Israeli detention

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Two Palestinian women detained by Israel have detailed mistreatment in custody, including strip searches, prolonged interrogation and severe detention conditions, according to the Palestinian Commission of Detainees Affairs, Anadolu reports. The commission said Thursday that Amina Suweilim, 55, and her daughter Ayat, 22, from Nablus in the occupied West Bank, have been held in Damon prison since their arrest on Nov. 3, 2025. Their accounts were conveyed following a legal visit conducted by a commission lawyer. According to a statement by the commission, Israeli forces forcibly entered the family home in Nablus, detained the two women and transferred them separately in military vehicles. Amina said she was made to sit on the floor of a military vehicle during transfer, resulting

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  Lebanese army closes ‘illegal’ crossings with Syria

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  The Lebanese army said Thursday that it had closed several “illegal” crossings with Syria in the northern Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon, as part of efforts to combat smuggling, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the “illegal” crossings were shut in the areas of Martisa and Mikyal Farah in northern Bekaa. The statement did not provide further details about the crossings. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian side. The Lebanese-Syrian border is geographically intertwined, consisting of mountains, valleys and plains without clearly marked boundary signs separating the two countries. This overlap and the rugged terrain have facilitated the establishment of illegal crossings used by smugglers and drug traffickers to move goods between the two countries. In recent months,

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  Gaza government calls on national committee to ‘urgently’ enter enclave

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Gaza’s Government Media Office on Thursday called on the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to “urgently” enter the enclave and begin carrying out its duties, affirming that government institutions and employees are fully prepared to cooperate, Anadolu reports. “In light of the ongoing political and administrative developments, and out of keenness to ensure the regular functioning of institutional work and the continuity of essential services, we renew our welcome to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and stress the importance of its urgent presence to assume its tasks and national responsibilities,” the office said in a statement. It affirmed its “full readiness to transfer relevant powers and to take all necessary measures within professional and legal

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  Saudi king issues royal decrees reshuffling key ministerial, judicial posts

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  Saudi king Salman on Thursday announced a series of royal decrees introducing changes at the ministerial and judicial levels, including the appointment of a new investment minister and a restructuring of senior prosecution and oversight posts, the state news agency SPA reported. Under the decrees, Khalid Al-Falih was relieved of his duties as minister of investment and appointed minister of state and member of the Council of Ministers. Fahd Abduljalil Al-Saif was named the new investment minister. In the judicial sphere, Public Prosecutor Saud Al-Mu’jab was relieved of his post and appointed adviser at the Royal Court with ministerial rank. Khalid Al-Yousef, previously head of the Board of Grievances, was designated as the new public prosecutor, also with ministerial rank.

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  China opposes new illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 12, 2026

  China on Thursday opposed Israel’s new illegal settlements and new rules aimed at strengthening control on the occupied West Bank, according to state-run media. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Gaza and the West Bank are “inseparable” parts of the Palestinian territory, and the two-state solution is the fundamental way to resolve the Palestinian question, Global Times reported. “China has consistently opposed the construction of new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and all attempts to annex or encroach upon Palestinian territory and to undermine the political foundation of the two-state solution,” Lin told reporters in Beijing. He added that the current situation in Gaza remains highly fragile, and relevant parties should refrain from taking any actions that

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  Jerusalem Post platforms Tommy Robinson as he seeks to distance Epstein from Zionism

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  The Jerusalem Post, one of Israel’s biggest newspapers, has given a platform to far-right British activist Tommy Robinson, despite his long record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and previous condemnation by leading British Jewish organisations. Robinson, who was once described by the Board of Deputies of British Jews as a “thug” that represents “the very worst of Britain,” used the platform to argue that Jeffrey Epstein was not ideologically aligned with Zionism or the Israeli state. In his article, Robinson wrote: “Epstein did not live or behave like someone ideologically committed to the Jewish state. In fact, much of his fascination pointed elsewhere.” Instead, Robinson suggested Epstein had stronger connections with Saudi Arabia — a country he has recently criticised — and

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  Greece: Shipwreck raises questions over Europe’s border enforcement model

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  The fatal encounter off the coast of Chios on February  3 2026  in which at least fifteen people died and dozens more -including pregnant women and children-  were injured when a small vessel carrying people on the move collided with a Greek coast guard patrol boat has been rapidly reframed in official rhetoric as yet another tragic consequence of “smugglers” killing their own passengers. As the European Commission reiterated in Brussels, “every life lost at sea is a tragedy caused by traffickers” and thus enforcement must continue in partnership with third-country actors. (Eunews) Nevertheless, this framing obscures a far more troubling political logic where the construction of anti-smuggling enforcement functions as a liability shield and depoliticizes state violence while strategically

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  UAE weaponised antisemitism in Washington in its feud with Saudi Arabia

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  The UAE sought to weaponise allegations of antisemitism in Washington as part of its escalating rivalry with Saudi Arabia, according to current and former US officials cited by Middle East Eye. Officials said Abu Dhabi approached prominent American Jewish organisations and encouraged them to raise concerns about alleged antisemitic rhetoric in Saudi Arabia — a move seen as an attempt to influence how Riyadh is perceived in US policy circles. Among the groups contacted was the American Jewish Committee (AJC), which maintains deep bipartisan ties in Washington and is led by former Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch. The AJC opened a satellite office in Abu Dhabi in 2021 following the Abraham Accords, formalising its relationship with the Emirati government. While the

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  Australia should not provide a platform for Israel’s security narrative

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia was largely tied to the Bondi memorial. However, in a Q&A session with Jewish students attending Moriah College in Sydney, the tone shifted to Israel’s security narrative. “I know that the demonstrators and protesters who are cursing us, saying the biggest lies and affirmations against our nation, do not want to hear this, but I believe that the silent majority of Australians definitely want to hear and move back on track,” Herzog stated, conflating criticism of Israel and opposition to Israel’s genocide with antisemitism. Opposition to Herzog’s visit has been weeks in the making. Referencing Herzog’s statements that incite genocide against Palestinians, the Jewish Council of Australia issued a statement partly reading, “We