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

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  Gathering in shame to honour the US President

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  Has there ever been a worse time for the Irish to venerate and celebrate the President of the United States? With human rights being eroded, innocent people being shot dead for daring to stand up to armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on US streets, and shackled prisoners being renditioned through Shannon Airport, this seems to be a strange time to decide to honour the first citizen of the US. But it’s happening in Galway this week. Right now, an Irish man who has been living in the United States for almost two decades is sitting in a detention centre in Texas, almost 4,000km from his Boston home. Even though he had a valid work permit and no criminal record,

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  Four murders within hours in Arab towns in Israel

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  Four people were killed overnight and at dawn on Thursday in separate shooting incidents in Arab towns in Israel, within about eight hours. The killings are the latest in a continuing rise in violent crime in the Arab community, amid accusations that Israeli police have failed to act effectively and have been complicit with organised crime gangs. At dawn on Thursday, the body of 22-year-old Mukhtar Abu Mdeghim was found inside his vehicle in the city of Rahat. He had been shot dead. He was the son of the former mayor of Rahat. His father, Ata Abu Mdeghim wrote on Facebook: “Mukhtar, my son, was killed by treacherous bullets. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer

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  Iran at 47: An anniversary or an obituary?

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  As the sun rose over Tehran yesterday, 11th February, the familiar echoes of revolutionary slogans filled Azadi Square, marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution not its collapse. For decades, observers have peered through the fog of sanctions and social unrest, wondering if each anniversary might be the Republic’s last. Yet, as the 47th year arrives, the expected “obituary” has once again been shelved in favour of a complex “celebration.” This year, the stakes are uniquely high. While internal pressures and the memory of recent domestic crackdowns linger, the external landscape has shifted back to a familiar, albeit more volatile, theatrical stage. With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, the world is braced for “Maximum Pressure 2.0.”

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  Hamas official says Netanyahu joining ‘peace council’ is a farce

  by Marwa A on February 12, 2026

  Osama Hamdan, a leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Wednesday that the joining of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, to the so-called “Peace Council” represents “the farce of the era.” In remarks broadcast by Al Jazeera, Hamdan said the movement had not received from mediators any draft or official proposals concerning the weapons of the resistance. He stressed that Hamas has not officially adopted any decision regarding freezing its weapons, and that its national position is firm in considering resistance a legitimate right as long as the occupation exists. Hamdan stressed that the Palestinian people reject any form of external guardianship and cannot accept international forces replacing the Israeli

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  Trump’s religious liberty commissioner removed after Zionism dispute

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  Carrie Prejean Boller, a former Miss California, was removed Wednesday from President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission following a contentious hearing on antisemitism for what she claimed were efforts to “force” commissioners to affirm Zionism, Anadolu reports. Commission Chair Dan Patrick wrote on US social media platform X that the decision to remove Boller was his, accusing her of pursuing a “personal and political agenda” during a hearing Monday. “No member of the Commission has the right to hijack a hearing for their own personal and political agenda on any issue,” Patrick wrote, adding that what happened was “clearly, without question” grounds for her removal. Boller wrote in a statement Tuesday that she would not resign and rejected accusations that

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  Trump says he insisted on further Iran talks during meeting with Netanyahu

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there was no concrete result from his closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said he insisted on further talks with Iran, Anadolu reports. “There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the prime minister know that will be a preference,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after sitting down with Netanyahu for roughly two-and-a-half hours. “If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be. Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a deal, and they were hit with Midnight

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  Israeli army reinforces border security after civilian trucks approach Egypt fence: Media

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  The Israeli army reinforced security along its border with Egypt on Wednesday after small Egyptian civilian trucks approached the frontier fence, Israeli media reported, Anadolu reports. Channel 12 said the vehicles reached an area roughly 100 meters from the Israeli settlement of Shlomit in the Negev desert, around 700 meters from the Egyptian border, prompting the military to dispatch additional troops, tanks and combat helicopters to the scene. The army said the trucks were carrying civilians and that no security incident had occurred. It added that the deployment was carried out in coordination with the Egyptian side. Residents in nearby communities were informed that the border remains stable and that the incident does not pose a threat, according to statements

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  Dozens of Palestinians cross Rafah back into Gaza, families reunited

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  Forty-one Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday (Feb. 11) reuniting with relatives after being stranded outside the enclave for a long time, Anadolu reports. Relatives waited at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as vehicles carrying… pic.twitter.com/VsPpC43aea — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) February 11, 2026 Forty-one Palestinians returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday (Feb. 11) reuniting with relatives after being stranded outside the enclave for a long time, Anadolu reports. Relatives waited at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as vehicles carrying the returnees arrived. Emotional scenes followed as families came together after months of separation under Israeli restrictions. Under extremely tight Israeli restrictions, Israel reopened the Palestinian side

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  The predicted ‘collapse of Israel before its centenary’ | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Is Israel collapsing before its centenary? In this episode of Palestine This Week, we examine warnings from a former Israeli major general that the state may not exist by 2048, citing internal fracture and growing international isolation. We analyse how the language of ceasefire now functions to manage, rather than end, Palestinian death and destruction, while dismantling Israeli claims used to justify the high civilian toll. The episode investigates evidence that prohibited weapons have erased thousands of bodies in Gaza, the killing of a 14-year-old boy left to bleed to death in the illegally occupied West Bank amid accelerated settler expansion, signs of democratic retrenchment in the UK through the criminalisation of Palestine solidarity, and a looming scandal inside Human

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  UN rights chief calls deepening Israeli control over Palestinian lands violation of self-determination

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  The UN human rights chief warned Wednesday that recent Israeli decisions to expand land expropriation in the occupied West Bank violate Palestinians’ right to self-determination and risk deepening annexation, Anadolu reports. Volker Turk said decisions approved by the Israeli security cabinet are “the latest in a series of measures to annex Palestinian lands in flagrant breach of the right to self-determination.” “This is yet another step by the Israeli authorities towards rendering a viable Palestinian state impossible, in violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination,” he said in a statement. Turk warned that if implemented, the measures would “accelerate the dispossession of Palestinians and their forcible transfer, and lead to the creation of more illegal Israeli settlements,” while depriving

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  Netanyahu joins Board of Peace ahead of Trump meeting in Washington

  by Marwa A on February 11, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially joined the Board of Peace on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu signed as a member of the board at Blair House, the US president’s official guest residence, during a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Footage of the signing was posted by media outlets via US social media company X. On Jan. 22, representatives of 19 countries signed the Charter of the Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Board of Peace was created within the framework of peaceful settlement efforts in Gaza. Washington has said additional states have since joined the initiative. The

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  First Gaza, then the world: The global danger of Israeli exceptionalism

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  While many nations occasionally resort to a “state of exception” to deal with temporary crises, Israel exists in a permanent state of exception. This Israeli exceptionalism is the very essence of the instability that plagues the Middle East. The concept of the state of exception dates back to the Roman justitium, a legal mechanism for suspending law during times of civil unrest. However, the modern understanding was shaped by the German jurist Carl Schmitt, who famously wrote that the “sovereign is he who decides on the exception.” While Schmitt’s own history as a jurist for the Third Reich serves as a chilling reminder of where such theories can lead, his work provides an undeniably accurate anatomy of raw power: it

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  Instagram suspends Track AIPAC, watchdog tracking pro-Israel lobby spending

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Instagram has suspended the account of Track AIPAC, a widely followed watchdog project that tracks political spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and related pro-Israel lobbying groups. The social media giant cited alleged violations of the platform’s intellectual property and trademark rules. The suspension places the account at risk of permanent deletion unless successfully appealed within 180 days. Track AIPAC — also known as AIPAC Tracker — was launched in 2024 by Cory Archibald and Casey Kennedy as a transparency and advocacy platform documenting AIPAC’s political donations, endorsements and influence on US elections. The project publishes Federal Election Commission data on pro-Israel political spending, highlights which lawmakers receive the most support, and endorses opponents of candidates reliant

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  Pakistan’s blowback state: Generals, proxies, and the roots of terror

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Every collapsing regime needs an external villain. Pakistan’s establishment has turned this into a reflex. Kabul did it. New Delhi did it. Foreign agencies did it. Invisible hands did it. The only entity permanently exempt from suspicion is the one that has dominated Pakistan’s political life for most of its history: the military establishment itself. Pakistan is not merely suffering from militancy. It is suffering from the consequences of a ruling elite that treated militancy as a strategic asset, governance as an inconvenience, and accountability as a foreign concept. For decades, the generals cultivated violence as leverage. Militants were categorized, repurposed, differentiated — “good,” “bad,” manageable, useful. Proxy warfare was rationalized as strategic depth. Chaos was curated. Extremism was not

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  Prime Minister Albanese presses President Herzog over Australian aid worker killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that he pressed Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting in Canberra for “full accountability including any appropriate criminal charges” over the killing of an Australian aid worker by Israeli strikes in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Late aid worker Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom’s brother recently told SBS News that his grieving family was disappointed by the government’s invitation to Herzog, but expressed hope it could lead to progress in his sister’s stalled case. Frankcom and six other aid workers were killed in an Israeli drone strike in April 2024 while working for World Central Kitchen. Their three-car convoy was targeted by Israeli drones. READ: Thousands protest in Australia against visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog “One

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  Kuwait should go beyond oil in Indonesia

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Kuwait should go beyond oil in Indonesia. The relationship is established, the economic signals are positive, and the policy alignment on energy transition already exists. What is needed now is a shift in investment strategy from hydrocarbon expansion to future energy systems. Indonesia has stated its intentions with clarity. Minister of Manpower Yassierli recently affirmed that Jakarta is committed to strengthening friendship and expanding cooperation with Kuwait, with energy at the center of that effort. Speaking at the commemoration of Kuwait’s 65th National Day and 35th Liberation Day in Jakarta, he underscored Indonesia’s optimism for deeper collaboration in the sector. Both governments are now preparing for the inaugural Indonesia-Kuwait Energy Forum, expected later this year. Kuwait has proposed a focus

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  Draft Gaza plan proposes phased Hamas disarmament under US-backed framework: Report

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  A draft Gaza proposal led by US-backed mediators envisions Hamas surrendering weapons capable of striking Israel while temporarily retaining some small arms, according to officials, signaling a potential shift in efforts to demilitarize the enclave after years of war, Anadolu reports. The plan, prepared by an international team that includes President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and former senior UN official Nickolay Mladenov, is expected to be presented to Hamas in the coming weeks, people familiar with the discussions told The New York Times, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of negotiations. Washington is pushing for phased disarmament as a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza framework, which underpins the current ceasefire arrangements. “The

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  Illegal Israeli settlers displace 15 Palestinian families in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Illegal Israeli settlers displaced 15 Palestinian families from their homes Wednesday in the village of Duyuk al-Tahta, west of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. About 50 illegal settlers, accompanied by a bulldozer and an Israeli military vehicle, attacked the village, the sources said. The settlers began demolishing homes made of tin and concrete belonging to 15 families, forced residents out, looted their belongings, livestock and vehicles, and prevented them from returning, the sources added. Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023. Palestinians view the escalation — including killings, arrests, displacement and settlement expansion — as a step toward formal annexation of the territory.

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  The Kurdish Question: A left-wing vision

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  In January 2026, Syria witnessed a military escalation between the Syrian army and its allied militias on one side, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the other. The agreement reached in February 2026 between the “Syrian government” and the SDF constitutes — regardless of one’s political stance toward either party, and despite all reservations and differences — a rational, peaceful step in the right direction. It spares the population from destructive military conflict. These developments once again raise the central question of the Kurdish issue and the national question in the Middle East. This region has endured bloody national conflicts that have left millions of victims and displaced persons in their wake. The Kurdish people today are dispersed across

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  Viral post claims Netanyahu sought legal approval, igniting speculation about Israel’s organ harvesting

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Online allegations about Israeli organ harvesting have resurfaced after a viral post claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought legal approval in the 1990s to take organs from deceased Palestinians for transplantation.  The claim, widely shared on social media, cites documented admissions concerning the removal of organs without consent at Israel’s state forensic institute. Those earlier revelations detailed how corneas, skin, heart valves and bones were taken during autopsies without authorisation — a practice Israeli official later acknowledged and said had ended. נתניהו ב-1990: ״לקיחת אברים ממחבלים הרוגים להשתלה בישראלים? אבדוק אם הרעיון ישים חוקית״. לא דחה את ההצעה – גילגל (או הבטיח לגלגל) אותה למשפטנים. pic.twitter.com/nnqF8pMM9M — אמיר אורן – Amir Oren (@Rimanero) February 7, 2026 The latest discussion

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  The Gaza ceasefire – a cunning camouflage

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  The Gaza ceasefire is a cunning camouflage for continuing the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The day after the second phase of the Trump initiated Ceasefire was announced on Thursday, 5th February 2026, Israel carried out multiple air-strikes in East Gaza City which killed 16 Palestinians. A number of them were from one family, the Haboush family. Even in the first phase of the Ceasefire which began on the 10th of October 2025, 556 Palestinians were killed and 1,500 others wounded over a four month period. Many of them were women and children. A significant number of doctors and pharmacists were targeted. It is important to note that ambulances were also attacked.  This is an established practice with the

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  Sudanese Sovereignty Council announces decision covering all banks

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Sudan is moving forward with reconstruction and development, with no intention of turning back, in honour of the blood and sacrifices of the country’s “martyrs,” said Transitional Sovereignty Council member, Lieutenant General Engineer Ibrahim Gaber. He made the remarks while opening a branch of Al-Salam Bank at the popular market in Omdurman. Gaber described the move as strategically important for supporting and improving banking services. He added that returning banks and financial institutions to historic market areas sends a strong message about the country’s recovery and its ability to manage the economy and meet citizens’ needs. Gaber also revealed plans to establish a central, advanced monitoring and auditing unit for all Sudanese banks by April. The unit will strengthen oversight

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  France labels Syria-SDF agreement best opportunity for both sides, urges SDF to cut ties with PKK

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  France has highlighted the Syria-SDF agreement as a key opportunity and has called on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to sever ties with the PKK. The spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry Christophe Lemoine told Syria TV that the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the SDF is the best opportunity currently available for both sides. He added that Paris is working to bring the two parties closer together to ensure the success of the deal. The spokesperson said that France maintains equal distance from both sides. He explained that France’s relationship with the SDF is based on ten years of joint operations against the so-called Islamic State group (IS). He stressed that implementing the agreement will not be

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  Palestinian vice-president calls for deterrent measures against Israel

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh has called for stronger international action against Israel, saying that condemnation alone is no longer sufficient in the face of “escalating violations”. Al-Sheikh made the remarks on Tuesday during an expanded meeting in Ramallah attended by Arab and Western ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions and officials from international organisations operating in Palestine, according to a statement posted on X. The meeting addressed the ongoing Israeli escalation and its serious political and humanitarian repercussions. Al-Sheikh urged the international community to fulfil its legal and moral responsibilities by applying “real and effective pressure” on the Israeli government to halt what he called aggression and continuous violations, to respect international law, and to recognise the internationally acknowledged sovereignty of

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  Hezbollah chief rejects US-Israeli ‘hegemony’ and backs timely Lebanese elections

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has said that Israel is “weaker today than ever before”, insisting that resistance in Lebanon cannot be halted. In remarks addressing domestic and regional developments, Qassem said the resistance is constitutionally guaranteed and that “no one can stop the resistance in Lebanon”. Commenting on what he described as American-Israeli hegemony in the region, Qassem said Lebanon would not serve as a conduit for Israeli ambitions. He characterised Israel as an occupying power and argued that its international standing had declined. “Israel has become weaker than ever before because it is worthless without America and because it has failed to achieve a decisive victory,” he said, adding that the country had entered a phase of retreat. READ: Trump

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  Iran warns US not to be swayed by Netanyahu ahead of talks

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Iran has warned the United States against allowing Israel to influence its foreign policy, as tensions persist ahead of renewed diplomatic engagements. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei told a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday that Washington should act independently and not permit Israel to dictate its decisions. Baghaei criticised Israel’s role in regional diplomacy and said Iran’s scepticism towards the United States was rooted in past experience, particularly developments over the past decade and recent US actions. READ: Trump weighs sending 2nd aircraft carrier to Middle East amid talks with Iran He said ongoing threats and sanctions require Tehran to exercise “extreme caution” in diplomatic processes, but insisted that Iran remains committed to diplomacy and bases its positions on

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  Two scorpions in a jar: How Trump and Netanyahu’s alliance became a cage

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Today, Benjamin Netanyahu meets Donald Trump at the White House for the seventh time since Trump was reelected. Ostensibly, it is a reunion of old allies; in reality, it is a war council of desperate men. As they lean over maps spread across a large table, the atmosphere will be thick with the scent of gunpowder and political calculus. The primary agenda is not just a strike against Iran, but the preservation of their own legacies and possibly political lives. Senior military and national security officers will provide an update on the latest buildup in the Persian Gulf. Trump, ever the sceptic of “forever wars”, will likely pierce the briefing with the same blunt interrogations that haunt the Pentagon. “Will

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  Settlers open fire on shepherds in Masafer Yatta as Israeli forces arrest two Palestinians

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Israeli settlers reportedly opened fire on Palestinian shepherds in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron on Tuesday, before Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians at the scene. Media activist Osama Makhameh said settlers from the Yitzhar Man outpost attacked shepherds from the Alian Awad family in the Wadi Abu Shaban area of Masafer Yatta. According to Makhameh, the settlers fired live rounds at the shepherds, although no injuries were reported. He added that Israeli forces later arrived and fired tear gas at the shepherds and other Palestinians present. The forces then reportedly assaulted and arrested Saif Tawfiq Awad and Mu’ath Saeed Awad. The incident comes amid what local residents describe as a surge in settler attacks targeting Palestinians and their

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  Palestinian female journalist re-arrested after previous release in exchange deal

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Taweel has been re-arrested by Israeli forces, marking another chapter in a detention history spanning 15 years. Al-Taweel was detained last Friday at a military checkpoint near Ramallah in the central West Bank. She was transferred to the al-Maskubiya interrogation centre before being moved to a women’s prison, according to local sources. Her re-arrest came roughly a year after her release in January 2025 as part of a prisoner exchange deal that included female detainees held in Israeli prisons. The detention also follows the re-arrest several months earlier of her father, Jamal al-Taweel, a Hamas figure who had likewise been freed in a prisoner exchange arrangement. READ: Israeli forces detain journalists, foreign activists in southern West Bank following

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  Israeli forces issue demolition order for sports stadium in Masafer Yatta

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Israeli occupation forces have issued a demolition order for the Umm al-Khair stadium in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, following what local sources described as a campaign of settler incitement. According to residents, the order was delivered on Tuesday for the sports field, which serves as a key recreational space for children in the village. The stadium was inaugurated around two years ago with foreign funding as part of projects aimed at supporting communities in Masafer Yatta. The move comes amid efforts by the settlement organisation Regavim, which has claimed that the facility obstructs settlement expansion in the area. Local observers say the development signals further settlement-related plans affecting Masafer Yatta. Human rights groups reported

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  Trump says he opposes Israeli annexation of West Bank

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he does not support the annexation of the occupied West Bank by Israel. Earlier, a White House source told Axios that the president has opposed, and continues to oppose, such steps by Israel.   In an interview with Axios, Trump responded to a question about Israel’s recent steps in the occupied West Bank by saying: “I am against annexation.” “The measures approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet on Sunday significantly expand Israeli control over the West Bank, including in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority,” the American news website reported. READ: Israel cancels Jordanian law banning sale of West Bank land to Jews in new decisions Previously, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates,

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  A silent annexation swallows the West Bank while attention turns to Iran, why?

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  At a time when Israel and the United States are preparing to launch strikes on Iran (which may be wide strikes), we notice that Israel is taking very dangerous steps in the West Bank. The problem is that the West Bank does not receive enough media coverage, and many people do not care about what is happening there. This “distraction” and “blackout” give Israel a greater chance to move without pressure or monitoring. Trump had spoken about an initiative for Gaza that does not include the “annexation of the West Bank,” but what is happening in practice is an American–Israeli agreement to annex the West Bank on the ground without using the word “annexation.” But how? By expanding settlements, making

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  Hamas urges guarantor states to press Israel to halt ceasefire violations

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Hamas has called on countries acting as guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire to compel Israel to stop what it described as repeated violations of the agreement. Hazem Qassem, spokesman for Hamas, said Israel had stepped up its breaches of the ceasefire by intensifying strikes on civilian homes under what he called false pretexts. “The occupation is escalating its violations of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by bombing civilian houses under false claims, disregarding the efforts of all mediators and guarantor states seeking to maintain calm in the Strip. This requires a firm position from these parties to oblige the occupation to stop its violations,” Qassem said. The Gaza Strip has recently seen a new wave of Israeli military escalation, including demolitions

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  Netanyahu may seek Trump’s backing for Gaza relocation plan: Hebrew newspaper

  by MI on February 11, 2026

  Israel Hayom newspaper has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss with US President Donald Trump the possibility of mass migration from Gaza, following Hamas’s refusal to disarm. The newspaper said the talks, which may take place today, would come amid efforts to prevent a return to war.  The report noted that President Trump first raised the idea a year ago, shortly after returning to the White House. Arab states strongly opposed the proposal at the time, which led to it being effectively set aside. A commitment to allow Gaza residents to live in dignity within the territory was also a key part of the Arab-backed Trump’s 20-point plan.  However, the newspaper said that, given the difficulties

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  National Commission: The occupation’s annexation plan ends the Oslo Accords

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  The National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action on Tuesday issued a press statement condemning the Israeli occupation’s plan to annex the West Bank including Jerusalem. The statement said the Commission “rejects the aggressive, expansionist, and dangerous resolutions approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet and announced by Ministers Smotrich and Katz.”  The Commission is comprised of a number of Palestinian organisations namely: The Palestinian National Congress, The Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, The Palestinian Federation of Latin America, and the Palestinian Popular Conference – 14 Million. The body’s membership includes several prominent independent Palestinian figures notably: Hassan Khreisheh, Oraib Al-Rantawi, Mustafa Barghouti, and Wadah Khanfar. The statement read: “these measures are not merely isolated administrative steps, but rather an integrated strategic

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  Netanyahu revokes citizenship of 2 Palestinians in Israel, orders deportation to Gaza

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday signed an order revoking the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinians, with Israel’s public broadcaster saying they will be deported to the Gaza Strip in a first-of-its-kind move, Anadolu reports. Writing on US social media company X, Netanyahu said: “This morning he signed the revocation of citizenship and deportation orders for two Israeli terrorists.” Netanyahu, who himself is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Gaza, claimed that the two “carried out stabbing and shooting attacks against Israeli civilians.” “Many more like them are on the way,” he warned, threatening additional measures against Palestinians in the territories occupied by Israel in 1948. READ: Nearly 400 Palestinians crossed Rafah in a week, Gaza

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  Saudi Cabinet says Turkish president’s visit showed strength of bilateral ties

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet said Tuesday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to the kingdom last week demonstrated the strength of relations between the two countries, Anadolu reports. The Cabinet, meeting in the capital Riyadh chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, was briefed on talks held between Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Cabinet said the visit highlighted the solid nature of bilateral ties and reflected the will to strengthen cooperation across various fields, saying this was concretely demonstrated through agreements and memorandums of understanding signed during the visit. The Cabinet also authorized the energy minister to hold talks and sign framework and cooperation agreements with Türkiye and Jordan

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  UN reports continued Israeli shelling, airstrikes in Gaza, warns civilians at risk

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  The UN on Tuesday reported continued Israeli airstrikes, shelling and gunfire across the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, warning that attacks on residential areas are putting civilians at serious risk, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted “more reports of airstrikes, bombing, shelling, navy fire and shooting in the last 24 hours” in Gaza, during a news conference. He said the attacks included strikes in residential areas, which “put civilians in danger and adds to the immense hardship they’ve endured over the last 28 months.” Dujarric stressed that “civilians are protected under international humanitarian law, wherever and wherever they are, whether they cross military demarcation lines or just

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  Trump weighs sending 2nd aircraft carrier to Middle East amid talks with Iran

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he is considering the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, intensifying pressure on Tehran amid diplomatic talks, Anadolu reports. “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump told Axios, confirming that he is “thinking” about an additional deployment. A US official corroborated that internal discussions regarding a second strike group are underway, which would join the USS Abraham Lincoln currently stationed in the area. Trump framed the choice for Iran as a binary one, asserting, “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time,” referring to the US strikes last June,

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  Egyptian parliament approves cabinet reshuffle

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Egypt’s parliament on Tuesday approved a cabinet reshuffle proposed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, covering 17 ministerial portfolios and creating a new post of deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Anadolu reports. During a parliamentary session, Speaker Hisham Badawy said the president had submitted a letter requesting changes in several ministries. According to an Anadolu correspondent, Badawy presented the reshuffle list to lawmakers, who voted to approve it. The changes also included the return of the Ministry of Information for the first time since April 2021. Under the reshuffle, Hussein Mohamed Ahmed Issa was appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar was named minister of health and population, Kamel Al-Wazir minister of transport, Manal Awad minister of

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  France ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli measures to expand control over West Bank

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  France condemned on Tuesday the recent Israeli measures aimed at expanding control over the occupied West Bank as “a serious blow to the two-state solution,” Anadolu reports. “France strongly condemns the recent decisions by Israel’s security cabinet aimed at extending Israel’s control over the West Bank, including Areas A and B. These decisions are contrary to international law and represent a dangerous challenge to the Oslo Accords and the Hebron Protocol,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It noted that these measures contribute to advancing the “logic of annexation of the West Bank” and constitute “a serious blow to the two-state solution.” READ: Japan urges Israel to ‘fully freeze’ illegal settlements in occupied West Bank “At a time when international

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  Japan urges Israel to ‘fully freeze’ illegal settlements in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Japan on Tuesday urged Israel to “fully freeze” illegal settlement activities after Tel Aviv on Sunday approved measures aimed at altering the legal and civil framework in the occupied West Bank to strengthen Israeli control, Anadolu reports. Tokyo “is deeply concerned” that the government of Israel amended a series of measures, including real estate transactions, in the West Bank and implied acceleration of development of settlements, Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura said in a statement. Japan reiterates its “deep regret over the continuing unilateral acts, including settlement activities, by the government of Israel despite repeated calls by the international community, including Japan, and once again strongly urges the government of Israel to redress the decision and fully freeze its

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  Nearly 400 Palestinians crossed Rafah in a week, Gaza authorities say

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Local authorities in Gaza said Tuesday that only 397 travelers crossed the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in one week since Israel partially reopened the terminal under strict restrictions, Anadolu reports. “Only 397 Palestinians crossed the terminal in both directions from Feb. 2 to 9, out of an expected 1,600 travellers, reflecting roughly 25% Israeli compliance with agreed arrangements,” the Gaza government media office said in a statement. Israel reopened the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on Feb. 2 in a highly limited manner after occupying it since May 2024. Of those who crossed during the week, 225 travelers departed Gaza, 172 arrived, and 26 were turned back, the media office said. The office did not specify the basis

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  Netanyahu says he will present ‘Israel’s vision’ on Iran talks to Trump during US visit

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he will present Israel’s vision for negotiations with Iran during an expected meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters before departing Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv en route to Washington, Netanyahu described Israel’s relationship with the US as “exceptional and unprecedented in our history.” Outlining the agenda, Netanyahu said his talks with Trump will cover Gaza and regional issues, but will focus primarily on negotiations between Washington and Tehran. “I will present to the president our vision for the principles of the negotiations,” Netanyahu said. He claimed Israel’s approach reflects “important principles not only for Israel, but for everyone seeking peace and security in the Middle

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  Germany’s top court to rule this week on controversial arms exports to Israel

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Germany’s top court will rule Thursday on whether a Palestinian civilian from Gaza can legally challenge arms exports to Israel—a decision that could set a precedent for other cases, according to rights groups, Anadolu reports. The Federal Constitutional Court will decide on a constitutional complaint filed by a Gaza resident who lost his wife and child in Israeli military strikes. The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Palestinian partner organizations are backing the legal challenge. “The decision will clarify whether people from Gaza, whose fundamental rights are threatened by German arms exports, will have access to German courts and whether courts will in future be required to examine seriously whether German exports endanger civilians,” said Dr. Alexander Schwarz from

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  Israeli army detains 25 Palestinians in West Bank raids

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  The Israeli army detained 25 Palestinians on Tuesday in military raids across the occupied West Bank, according to local sources, Anadolu reports. The sources told Anadolu that the detentions took place mainly in the northern and southern West Bank and targeted multiple cities and towns, accompanied by raids on Palestinian homes and searches of their contents. In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians in the city of Nablus and the towns of Beit Dajan, Deir al-Hatab and Qusra after raiding and searching their homes. Israeli forces also detained seven Palestinians from the village of Azzun, east of Qalqilya, during an early morning raid. In the city of Jenin, an undercover Israeli unit detained a Palestinian man after storming his

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  Swiss lawyers accuse their country and foreign minister of ‘aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza’

  by MI on February 10, 2026

  Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is being accused of complicity in alleged war crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip and of failing to adequately respond to the genocide in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Irene Wettstein Martin, one of 25 lawyers who filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Cassis, told Anadolu that Switzerland has been included on a UN-prepared list of countries implicated in the genocide. She said the lawyers condemn Switzerland’s continued export of military equipment and so-called dual-use goods to Israel. “For example, in 2024, military equipment exports were worth approximately 16.7 million Swiss francs. In 2025, this reached 25 million. So, it has been steadily increasing,” she said, adding that Switzerland is engaged in commercial

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  Bad Beginnings: The End of New START

  by Marwa A on February 10, 2026

  How awful could it get?  The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) expired on February 5, terminating an era of arms control and imposed limits on lunatically contrived nuclear weapons programs of the United States and Russia.  The New START Treaty entered into force on February 5, 2011 and initially imposed a timeline of seven years for the parties to meet the central limits on strategic offensive arms.  Those limits would then be maintained for the duration of the Treaty. Till its expiry, the countries maintained limits on the following nuclear arms and systems: 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers capable of using nuclear armaments; 1,550 nuclear warheads on all

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  The architecture of deceptions in the West Bank

  by Marwa A on February 10, 2026

  History does not always collapse with the sound of gunfire. Sometimes it dissolves through paperwork, zoning maps, cabinet votes and regulatory notices that barely make the evening news. The latest Israeli security cabinet decisions on the West Bank belong to that quieter, more consequential category. They do not declare annexation. They do something more durable: they normalise it. By lifting long-standing restrictions on land purchases, dissolving permit systems, extending Israeli civil enforcement into Palestinian-administered areas, and assuming unilateral authority over key religious sites, Israel has not merely revised policy. It has effectively dismantled the territorial logic underpinning the Oslo framework that governed the West Bank for three decades. The result is not an interim arrangement, nor a security measure, but

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  Gulf states urge firm international action to halt Israeli violations in West Bank

  by Marwa A on February 10, 2026

  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states on Monday urged the international community to take firm action to stop violations and unlawful measures announced by Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank. In a statement issued on Monday, GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi strongly condemned the unlawful decisions and measures announced by Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank. He said these measures include attempts to impose unilateral realities that go against international law and relevant international resolutions. Al Budaiwi stressed that the illegal and unilateral steps taken by Israeli occupation forces to impose sovereignty are a clear violation of international law, international resolutions and existing agreements. He called on the international community to meet its legal responsibilities,