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

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  Lebanese army: Nearly 7,700 Israeli violations since framework agreement

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The Lebanese army said on Wednesday it had recorded nearly 7,700 Israeli violations since a framework agreement was signed on 26 June, warning that continued violations threatened existing understandings and arrangements. In a statement, the army command said Israel had stepped up attacks on residential areas and institutions in recent days, killing and wounding large numbers of people. The latest incident killed at least 12 people, including women and children, in what the army described as a massacre in the town of Kafr Rumman in the Nabatieh district. Israeli attacks have intensified in several areas of southern Lebanon in recent days, particularly around Nabatieh, amid continued air strikes and artillery shelling. The escalation comes as preparations are under way for

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  Syria condemns Netanyahu’s ‘illegal entry’ into its territory on Mount Hermon

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Syria on Wednesday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” into its territory and visit to the Mount Hermon area, calling it a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued the statement after Netanyahu entered the Syrian-controlled part of the occupied Mount Hermon area earlier on Wednesday, accompanied by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. Netanyahu’s visit comes as Israel prepares for a Knesset election scheduled for October. The ministry said Syria strongly condemns the “illegal entry” by Netanyahu into Syrian territory and his visit to Mount Hermon, describing it as a “provocative step and blatant violation” of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and international law. It

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  Iran rejects IAEA Board resolution on nuclear file

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has rejected a decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors to refer Iran’s nuclear file to the UN Security Council, for the first time in 20 years. In a post on social media on Wednesday, Gharibabadi said US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards had disrupted the inspection and verification process sought by the agency. “They attack our safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use this disruption itself as a pretext to secure a decision from the IAEA Board of Governors,” he said. Gharibabadi described the approach as “fabricated”, saying: “With these fabrications, you cannot make up for the failure of your

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  From Sabra and Shatila to Gaza: The Cost of Impunity

  by Mehdi Editor on September 10, 2026

  Imagine this scene: “One young woman, fearing she would not survive, stepped out of the crowd and handed her infant to one of the female doctors.” Those are the words of American Jewish nurse Ellen Siegel, recalling that moment from Shatila—one of Lebanon’s 12 official Palestinian refugee camps, established in 1949—and the adjacent Sabra neighborhood, which was predominantly Palestinian but was not itself an UNRWA refugee camp. Siegel had volunteered to go to Lebanon as a nurse to help Palestinians and Lebanese civilians caught up in Israel’s 1982 invasion, and was working at Gaza Hospital in the Sabra area when the massacre began. On September 18, as she and other foreign medical workers were being forced out of the hospital

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  Extremist Israeli minister unveils 1,000 new settlement units after trade sanctions

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday announced plans for 1,000 new settlement housing units in the northern occupied West Bank, a day after 12 Western countries said they intended to impose trade restrictions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements, Anadolu reports. Smotrich said on US social media company X that 1,665 dunams (411.5 acres) had been added to the Kida and Havat settlements, allowing for the construction of 1,000 new housing units. The leader of the Religious Zionism party described the move as “another historic step in the settlement revolution.” Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory illegal under international law, a position

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  UK sanctions on illegal settlements mark diplomatic setback, major failure for Netanyahu: Israeli report

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper in Israel on Wednesday described the announcement by 12 Western countries, led by Britain, to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a “diplomatic setback and a significant failure” for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden announced Tuesday their intention to impose restrictions on trade in goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements. In a statement, the 12 countries said the Israeli government’s actions in the occupied West Bank undermine the possibility of a two-state solution and urged Israel to immediately halt illegal settlement expansion and violence by occupiers. Yedioth Ahronoth said that “with the European Union unable for months

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  Beyond Iran: America’s long record of Middle East blunders

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The US government continues to double down, even as its stubbornness costs it dearly—not only in material terms, but also in geopolitical influence. Washington is rapidly losing power and status in the Middle East, a decline that could produce a wider domino effect, reverberating around the world. The latest expression of this hubris came from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Speaking at a G20 gathering of finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 1, Bessent declared that within two years, the Strait of Hormuz would become “a worthless piece of water,” as oil would instead be transported through overland pipelines. Bessent is now promoting a new narrative that shifts the emphasis from the military war to an economic one.

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  UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ over Strait of Hormuz escalation

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” of escalating military actions and threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesperson said on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Guterres expressed grave worry regarding recent attacks against commercial vessels and “threats of additional action” against maritime and energy infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint. Dujarric emphasized Guterres’ position that navigational rights and freedom of passage in the region “must be fully restored and respected in accordance with international law.” He recalled the UN chief’s appeal to all parties involved to “exercise utmost restraint” and avoid hostile actions or rhetoric. The UN warned of “grave consequences” for civilians, global economic stability, and international peace

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  After 9/11: How the Muslim became a security subject

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the most enduring legacy of 9/11 may not be the destruction of the World Trade Center or even the wars that followed. It may lie in something less visible but more enduring: the transformation of the Muslim from a religious and political identity into a security subject. The attacks were an act of mass terrorism, but their historical significance lies equally in how governments subsequently interpreted and responded to them. The question, therefore, is not only why 9/11 happened, but how its aftermath changed the meaning of security itself. The immediate response was understandable. The United States declared a “War on Terror”, invaded Afghanistan and subsequently Iraq, expanded intelligence cooperation and transformed counterterrorism into

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  Finland backs sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements but ‘unlikely’ to impose ban

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Finland said on Wednesday that it would not be able to impose national trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements but would support continued EU efforts, despite being part of a joint declaration by 12 countries to support such trade curbs, Anadolu reports. In response to a question from Anadolu, the Foreign Ministry said Finland joined the statement because it aligns with the country’s long-term foreign policy objectives, including support for the rules-based international order and international law, as well as support for the two-state solution and the Palestinian Authority. But, it added: “Finland is unlikely to impose national sanctions or restrictions due to the fact that we lack national legal basis for it.” “Therefore, we support continued work in the

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  Saudi Arabia warns residents of possible threat in Abha, Khamis Mushait

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Saudi authorities issued alerts Tuesday warning of a “potential danger” in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait amid escalating Houthi attacks from neighboring Yemen, Anadolu reports. The Saudi Civil Defense urged residents to “immediately proceed to the nearest safe place (inside a building or an interior room away from windows) and stay there until the danger has passed,” according to a statement on US social media platform X. The warnings came as escalating fighting in Yemen increasingly spilled into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Earlier Tuesday, Riyadh said Houthi attacks targeting civilian and economic sites in the southwestern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran had injured 73 civilians, including women and children. Report: US officials consider reducing Middle

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  Red Cross meets Israeli authorities in effort to restore access to detainees

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday its team met Israeli authorities and toured a military detention facility as part of efforts to resume access to detainees held in Israel, Anadolu reports. The ICRC said in a statement that the team held a technical meeting with detaining authorities, conducted an assessment and toured parts of the facility, but “neither met nor had direct contact with any detainees.” “This meeting is a step in the right direction towards resuming proper visits to detainees held in Israeli places of detention,” said Julien Lerisson, ICRC’s head of delegation for Israel and the occupied territories. Lerisson said the organization would continue discussing the arrangements for such visits with relevant authorities

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  Italian opposition slams government for not joining sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Italy’s opposition parties on Wednesday slammed the government for not joining a group of countries imposing restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the La Repubblica newspaper, Anadolu reports. Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte called on the government to “show a shred of dignity” and back an opposition bill in parliament to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements. “Show a shred of dignity and approve our bill in parliament to proceed with sanctions,” Conte said, criticizing Rome’s decision not to join the initiative. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein also condemned Italy’s absence, calling it “shameful” and accusing the government of missing another opportunity to defend international law and avoid “double standards.” Foreign Minister

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  Palestinian families in Jordan Valley face displacement deadline today

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Thirty-six Palestinian families in the Abu El Ajaj Bedouin community, near Jiftlik in the occupied West Bank’s Jordan Valley, face the threat of forced displacement today after more than 40 demolition orders were issued against their homes and community structures, the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has said. According to residents, armed Israeli settlers issued the demolition orders and set a deadline of Wednesday 9 September — today — threatening violence against anyone who refuses to leave. In the nearby community of Ash-Shuneh, residents given a similar verbal ultimatum have since received a postponement, though MAP said threats from settlers remain. The threats come a day after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a new package of UK measures against

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  Israel’s Campaign Trail Runs on Cruelty Towards Palestinians | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we look at Israel’s election campaign and how politicians are competing to run the most hateful campaign in an effort to win support from an increasingly radicalised Israeli public. We also discuss the push to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Israel’s efforts to win US backing for its plans, allegations of apartheid against Palestinian students in Israeli universities, Britain’s proposed sanctions on illegal settlements, Nicaragua’s case against Germany at the ICJ and concerns over the future of UNRWA.     WATCH: Is Evidence of Genocide in Gaza Being Erased? | Palestine This Week

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  Trump allies push ‘Israel First’ retaliation against UK at Americans’ expense

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Prominent American Zionist commentator and ally of President Donald Trump, Mark Levin has called on nearly 40 US states to retaliate against Britain using controversial anti-BDS laws, raising fresh questions over the willingness of Israel’s most vocal supporters to impose economic and constitutional costs on Americans in defence of a foreign state. Levin issued the threat after Britain announced a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. “SO NOW OUR STATES CAN BOYCOTT THE UK” said Levin on X arguing that states with laws penalising boycotts of Israel should deploy them against British companies complying with the new measures. SO NOW OUR STATES CAN BOYCOTT THE UK Close to 40 states across the U.S. have

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  Tunisian businessman Lazhar Sta dies after health deteriorates in prison

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Tunisian businessman Lazhar Sta, who was being held in connection with a financial case, died at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, his daughter Amina Sta said in an Instagram post. Amina said her father died around midnight after being transferred from Mornaguia Prison in critical condition on the evening of Saturday, 5 September 2026. She said he had been suffering from several illnesses and that prison conditions, including high temperatures and limited water supplies, had worsened his health. She accused the authorities of negligence and said she would take legal action before international courts against those responsible for the deterioration of her father’s health and his subsequent death. She also criticised the authorities for failing to inform the family immediately

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  Israeli military court sentences Palestinian journalist to 4 years for ‘incitement’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  An Israeli military court on Tuesday sentenced Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Fatafta to four years in prison on charges of so-called “incitement”, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate said. The syndicate condemned the sentence in a statement, calling it “a new chapter in the targeting of Palestinian journalists and a systematic attempt to silence voices and suppress freedom of opinion and expression”. The Israeli army arrested Fatafta on 30 May 2024 while he was passing through the Container checkpoint northeast of Bethlehem in the southern occupied West Bank. READ: Israel isolates detained Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil in Ramle prison The syndicate said prosecuting journalists in Israeli military courts over their journalistic work or expression of their views was “a flagrant violation of international law

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  What next after Tel Aviv closed London’s consulate—one older than the State of Israel itself?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  While following Channel 4’s coverage of Tel Aviv’s decision to close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, I was struck by a comment from the presenter or commentator on the story. He noted, in essence, that the consulate was older than the “State of Israel” itself. The remark may seem like a passing historical observation, but it captures something of the paradox in the situation we are witnessing today. Britain’s diplomatic presence in Jerusalem dates back decades before the establishment of the State of Israel. Yet this long-standing British institution now finds itself facing an Israeli decision to close it, against the backdrop of measures taken by London toward Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. And this inevitably raises the

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  UN investigators: Israeli operations in Syria may amount to war crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  UN investigators said on Tuesday that Israeli operations in Syria, including the detention of dozens of people, may amount to “war crimes”.  “We are deeply alarmed by violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Israel on Syrian territory, which may amount to war crimes,” Commissioner Fionnuala Ni Aolain told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria, mainly targeting military sites. Israel has said the strikes are aimed at preventing the new authorities from taking control of the former regime’s weapons stockpiles. Israeli forces have also moved beyond the buffer zone bordering the Golan Heights, most of which Israel has

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  Israeli settlers call for Oslo accords to be scrapped in response to sanctions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  The leadership of Israel’s settler movement on Tuesday called for the Oslo Accords to be scrapped, settlements to be expanded into Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled, in response to recent European sanctions targeting settlements. Israeli political and settler circles are also working to push the United States to take countermeasures, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11. The broadcaster reported that Yesha Council chairman Yisrael Gantz met US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to discuss possible US steps in response to sanctions imposed by Britain, France and other countries on settlements. READ: Israel advances plans for more than 1,000 settlement homes in central West Bank It said the meeting was

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  Hamas says Israel exploits Board of Peace silence to step up Gaza attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Tuesday that Israel’s destruction of homes near displacement camps in Gaza showed it is continuing its attacks on Palestinians. Qassem said Israel is exploiting the Board of Peace’s silence and weak response, along with the failure of mediators and Arab and Islamic states to take practical steps to stop the attacks. He called on all parties to move beyond statements and take practical steps to stop the attacks, warning that the lack of effective measures would allow Israel to continue killing Palestinians and destroying their homes as a prelude to displacing them. READ: Board of Peace says Israel must implement Gaza commitments to move roadmap forward The comments came as Israeli aircraft carried out a

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  Huckabee warns UK of US backlash over Israeli settlement product ban

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has warned that British trade measures against products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank could backfire and harm economic ties between the two countries. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Huckabee said the British measures were likely to have “repercussions”, which he described as “very negative”, and argued that they would not achieve London’s intended goal. The US ambassador said several US states, including Florida, have laws that could restrict trade with entities that take similar measures against Israel. READ: Huckabee repeats claim despite Trump remarks: US would not exist without Israel He warned that British restrictions on a US ally such as Israel could affect British companies, saying the measures could prompt US

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  When allies change the rules: A language Israel has never liked hearing

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  The United Kingdom’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank was not a routine legal measure, nor a narrow trade restriction. It was a political declaration—clear, deliberate, and unusually blunt—that London, alongside eleven other states, has finally chosen to speak in a language Israel has long resisted: the language of accountability. For the first time in decades, Britain—historic ally, early sponsor of the Zionist project, and a state that has traditionally avoided any step that might irritate Tel Aviv—issued a condemnation of remarkable clarity. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is “entirely illegal,” and that what is unfolding there amounts to “ethnic cleansing carried out

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Does US Conduct Unlawful Military Strikes and is Israel a Terrorist Country?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

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

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  Report: US officials consider reducing Middle East footprint after Iranian strikes expose base vulnerabilities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  US military and intelligence officials are discussing whether to reduce or restructure the country’s presence in the Middle East after Iranian missile and drone attacks exposed vulnerabilities at American facilities across the region, according to a CNN report. CNN reported that repeated Iranian strikes had targeted a number of US military installations in the Middle East, causing significant damage and killing 18 US service members. The attacks have prompted discussions within the US government about whether some military and intelligence operations could be conducted without relying as heavily on permanent facilities in the region, according to officials cited by the network. CNN reported that US facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait sustained substantial damage during Iranian attacks. The

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  Tehran plans to equip metro stations as civilian air-raid shelters

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Authorities in Tehran are developing plans to equip the Iranian capital’s metro stations for use as civilian shelters during air raids, according to Iranian media reports. Mehdi Chamran, head of the Tehran City Council, said work was underway to prepare metro stations to accommodate civilians during emergencies and to identify the facilities and services required at or near the stations. “We are currently working on equipping subway stations so they can be used as shelters,” Chamran was quoted as saying by the Iranian news website Didban. “We are also identifying the necessary facilities located within or in the immediate vicinity of these stations.” Authorities are also expected to install signs directing residents to designated shelter areas, according to the report.

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  Egypt, Jordan welcome UK measures restricting trade linked to illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Egypt and Jordan welcomed measures by the UK restricting trade linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for further international action to halt settlement expansion and protect the two-state solution, Anadolu Agency reported. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the UK’s decision to ban trade in goods and certain services associated with illegal settlements is an important step that reflects a commitment to international law and relevant international resolutions. The ministry said the measures will help counter illegal settlement activity and attempts to impose new realities on the ground in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. “Continued settlement expansion undermines the territorial unity of Palestinian land and the possibility of establishing an independent, viable Palestinian

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it seized US unmanned underwater vessel near Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that its naval forces had seized a US unmanned underwater vessel near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened military tensions between Tehran and Washington. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC Navy said it had captured and taken control of what it described as an intelligent US unmanned submarine during an operation in the Strait of Hormuz area. According to the Iranian account, the vessel is now in the possession of Iranian forces. Iranian media reported that images of the captured vessel were expected to be released. READ: US sanctions 36 Iran-linked targets under ‘Economic D-Day’ campaign The type of underwater vehicle involved, its mission and the

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  Israel advances plans for more than 1,000 settlement homes in central West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Israeli authorities have announced a land designation covering approximately 1,665 dunams for the settlements of Keida and Hadat in the central West Bank, a step intended to facilitate plans for the construction of more than 1,000 housing units. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds responsibilities within the Defence Ministry relating to West Bank civilian affairs, announced the move alongside Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz, who also heads the Yesha Council, an umbrella organisation representing Israeli settlements. According to the announcement, authorities have completed a so-called “Blue Line” designation defining the boundaries of land associated with Keida and Hadat, both located in the Shiloh settlement bloc. Israeli officials described the designation as an important step toward advancing development

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  More than 1,000 flights canceled at UK airports following technical failure

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  More than 1,000 flights were canceled at UK airports following a technical failure at a Britain’s air traffic control service center, according to reports on Tuesday. The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said in a statement that technical issues were causing disruptions in flight departures at UK airports including major London airports. “We are investigating a technical issue which is causing some disruption to flight departures,” NATS said in the statement. It later determined that the issue was in “our flight processing system.” Flight-tracking site FlightRadar24 said that as of 8 pm local time (1900GMT) more than 1,000 flights were cancelled due to the technical failure including inbound flights to London, Manchester, Birmingham airports. READ: Belgian union threatens strike over Brussels

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  Rajoub Doubts Palestinian elections will be held in November, calls 2021 postponement ‘strategic error’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub has expressed doubt that Palestinian elections scheduled for 28th November will take place as planned, arguing that the political arrangements and consensus required to hold the vote have not yet been reached. Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah’s Central Committee, made the remarks during a televised interview with Al-Ghad TV on Monday, in which he discussed the electoral process, internal Fatah affairs and broader Palestinian political developments. “It is my conviction that the elections will not take place on 28th November — period,” Rajoub said. Rajoub argued that a presidential decree setting the election date should have been preceded by a comprehensive national dialogue among Palestinian political factions to establish the rules, guarantees and conditions governing the

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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  UK announces sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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  Israeli court rejects 3 petitions to freeze East Jerusalem settlement plan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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  Lebanon’s energy diplomacy: Turning vulnerability into connectivity

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

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

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  Israeli forces demolish Palestinian homes, vital facilities in Masafer Yatta

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

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

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  Amnesty International blames the victim in a time of genocide

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on September 8, 2026

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