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

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim drone attack on oil supply, transport points in Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group claimed drone attacks on key oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia on Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted “a number of sensitive targets and points for the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu” with drones. It claimed that the attack was in response to what it called repeated violations of Yemeni airspace by Saudi Arabia. No details were provided about any possible damage or casualties. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the Houthi claim. Early Monday, Saudi Arabia said that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory targeting oil facilities in the kingdom. ​​​​​​​Last

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  Lebanese officials meet UN rights chief, back collection of evidence on war crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned home demolitions by Israel in southern Lebanon during a meeting with UN rights chief Volker Turk on Monday, as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed his government’s support for collecting evidence of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, Anadolu reports. “Israel’s continued destruction of homes and bulldozing of villages in the south constitutes a direct violation of human rights and a clear breach of international laws and norms, which necessitates international action to end it,” Aoun said during the meeting in Beirut, as cited by a presidency statement. “Israel also targeted religious and heritage sites, and this shows premeditated intentions against people and stones, especially since such places are not military sites and do

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  Trump warns of ‘strong military action’ if Iran talks fail

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington remains engaged in “deep talks” with Tehran, but is also preparing to restart military operations if negotiations stall. “If they don’t work out, we will go back to very strong military action,” Trump told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. He emphasized that the diplomatic window is narrow, noting that the process must move forward rapidly “or not at all.” He asserted that he thinks Iran wants to make a deal. The US president explained he paused strikes on Friday following appeals from regional mediators. “All of the people that deal with Iran asked me: ‘Don’t fire’,” Trump claimed, asserting that there was “nothing gained, nothing lost by granting the request.” Trump’s remarks

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  Indonesia cannot claim solidarity with Palestine while it maintains ties with Elbit

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  A photograph is circulating from the Farnborough International Airshow in England, held from 20 to 24 July. It shows Lieutenant General Rui F.G.P. Duarte, a senior Indonesian defence official, posing in front of the stand of Elbit Systems. Elbit is Israel’s largest privately owned arms company, and one of the main manufacturers arming the assault on Gaza. Duarte was there representing Indonesia’s defence minister. The visit itself came through Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, which confirmed that Duarte attended Farnborough from 20 to 24 July on the minister’s behalf. The photo of him at the Elbit stand was then posted by the ministry itself, on its own Instagram account. Nobody forced this photograph into existence. Jakarta published it, proudly, as if

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  Spain ‘cares about you’: Sanchez thanks Palestinian girl for painting mural of him in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday shared a video on social media thanking a Plestinian girl and local artists for painting a mural of him in Gaza, reaffirming Spain’s support for the Palestinian people, Anadolu reports. In the video, Sanchez responded to a message from a Palestinian girl named Layan, who unveiled the portrait of the Spanish premier that she and other artists painted amid the destruction in Gaza. He thanked the artists for the “beautiful gesture” and expressed gratitude to the Palestinian people for showing “such affection toward Spain.” “In the midst of so much pain, you found a moment to send us your kindness. So, to Layan, to all the boys and girls of Gaza, and to your families,

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  Israeli army raids UNRWA training center north of East Jerusalem, detains staff

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces raided the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Training Center in the Qalandia refuge camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, on Monday and detained staff inside the site, the Jerusalem Governorate said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate said Israeli forces stormed the center, fired tear gas canisters and held teaching and administrative staff inside one of its halls. Israeli forces also climbed onto the roof of the camp’s local committee building, it added. The Israeli army had raided the Qalandia camp overnight Sunday into Monday, deploying forces across several neighborhoods and heavily firing stun grenades and tear gas, causing fire, according to the governorate. The raid came about six weeks after the Jerusalem Governorate warned of an Israeli

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  Former Israeli security officials urge Trump to press Netanyahu to end ‘settler terrorism’ in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Hundreds of former Israeli security officials have urged President Donald Trump to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb “settler terror” in the occupied West Bank, warning that escalating violence by occupiers threatens both Israel’s security and US interests in the region, Anadolu reports. The appeal came in a letter initiated by Commanders for Israel’s Security, a group of about 600 retired officials from the Israeli military, the Shin Bet domestic security agency, the Mossad intelligence service, the police and the diplomatic corps. The letter, signed on behalf of the group by former Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai, was sent Monday ahead of Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, according to a copy reviewed by

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  In Middle East energy, flexibility is the new power

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  From attacks on shipping in the Red Sea to repeated threats around the Strait of Hormuz, the Middle East’s energy arteries are under growing pressure. The war in Gaza and its regional repercussions have added another layer of instability to a system already strained by sanctions, political fragmentation and competition over new corridors. Together, these shocks have exposed a hard truth: in today’s energy order, power belongs not only to those who produce, but increasingly to those who can redirect flows, reach alternative markets and adapt their energy systems fastest when disruption strikes. For decades, influence was measured primarily through reserves, production and export capacity. Those measures still matter, but they no longer tell the whole story. A country may

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  Israel kills 3 more Palestinians in Gaza, death toll neas 73,350: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces killed three more Palestinians over the past 24 hours in the Gaza Strip, raising the death toll from Israel’s genocide since October 2023 to 73,329, the Health Ministry said Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said hospitals in the enclave received three bodies, including two killed by Israeli fire and a third who died of previous wounds. The ministry said 12 injured people were also transferred to hospitals in the last 24 hours, taking the number of injuries to 174,009. Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, the Israeli army has continued its daily attacks in Gaza, killing at least 1,203 Palestinians and injuring 3,900 others. ​​​​​​​The ceasefire agreement was reached after two years of

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  Israel seizes 500 dunams of Palestinian land, occupiers establish 8 illegal settlement outposts in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli authorities seized nearly 500 dunams (123 acres) of Palestinian land in the northern West Bank, as occupiers built eight illegal settlement outposts in the occupied territory since Friday, according to authorities and media on Monday, Anadolu reports. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement that Israeli authorities seized 498 dunams of land in Tubas province and the village of Tayasir to build a military road. “The seizure orders remain in effect until the end of 2028 and aim to establish a security and military road about 10 kilometers long to serve the Israeli army and occupiers,” the statement said. The commission said the military orders impose a wide zone of military control over the area and threaten to

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  Sudanese army says it has secured key supply route after capturing Jereikh

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The Sudanese Armed Forces said on Sunday they had secured control of the main supply route linking El Obeid, Bara, and Omdurman after capturing the strategic area of Jereikh in North Kordofan State following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military sources told Anadolu Agency that army units had taken control of Jereikh on Sunday morning after fighting with RSF forces. According to the sources, Sudanese army units and allied forces are continuing clearing operations in areas captured over the past two days, including Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, Umm Qurfa, and Umm Sayala, with the aim of securing the territory north of El Obeid. The sources said Jereikh is strategically important because it lies along the export route connecting El

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  Israeli cabinet approves deployment of International Stabilization Force in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to the Gaza Strip as part of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, according to Israeli media reports on Sunday. According to the Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom, the cabinet approved the deployment of a multinational force affiliated with the Peace Council to Gaza. The newspaper reported that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the decision, arguing that Hamas had not fulfilled what he described as its commitment to disarm. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben-Gvir told the cabinet that “Hamas has not fulfilled its commitment to disarm the Gaza Strip, and therefore we are not obligated to do so either.” The newspaper also reported that Ben-Gvir

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  Israeli forces issue 10 demolition notices in Beit Dajan, East of Nablus

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces issued 10 demolition notices on Sunday in the town of Beit Dajan, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. Tawfiq al-Hajj Muhammad, deputy head of the Beit Dajan village council, told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that Israeli forces entered the town on Sunday evening and delivered notices ordering the demolition of several structures. According to al-Hajj Muhammad, the notices covered residential homes, agricultural sheds, and a closed poultry farm. He said the affected structures are located in the central and eastern parts of the town. READ: Netanyahu gov’t turning West Bank into ‘powder keg’: Israeli opposition party leader

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  Iran says it has suspended retaliatory attacks after US strikes ceased

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran said on Sunday that it had suspended its retaliatory attacks after the United States halted military strikes against the country, amid signs of renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran. Iranian military spokesman Mohammad Akrami Nia said US forces had stopped their attacks over the previous two nights. “The Americans halted their attacks during the past two nights,” Akrami Nia said. “Since our strategy is based primarily on reciprocity, we have also halted our retaliatory operations.” His remarks came as an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for talks that reportedly include discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, raising expectations that negotiations between the two sides may continue. READ: Iran accuses some regional countries of participating in US war According to

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  Palestinian Fatwa Council condemns burning of mosques in the West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  The Palestinian Higher Fatwa Council on Sunday condemned the burning of two mosques in the occupied West Bank, describing the incidents as part of what it called a systematic Israeli policy targeting religious sites. In a statement, the council said the burning of Al-Rahma Mosque in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kur, south of Tulkarm, along with the painting of racist and inciting slogans on their walls, constituted “a new crime” against places of worship. The council said the incidents were not isolated, explaining that Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked and desecrated religious sites. It also referred to ongoing restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and repeated visits by Israeli groups

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  Arab League chief urges Trump to restrain Israel, warns region nearing ‘explosion’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy on Sunday called on US President Donald Trump to restrain the Israeli government’s policies toward the Palestinians, warning that the Middle East is approaching a “moment of explosion”. In a statement issued ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Fahmy said the region was moving toward “a very dangerous point” amid rising tensions on multiple fronts. He attributed the situation to the prolonged deadlock over the Palestinian issue, as well as escalating tensions in the Gulf. Fahmy’s remarks come amid continued regional instability, including disputes over the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, increased tensions in the occupied West Bank, US-Iran friction over the Strait of Hormuz, and

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  Smart glasses that strip the world bare — and strip us with it

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  For decades, travellers returning from Europe to the Middle East carried stories that were more fantasy than fact—tales shaped not by reality but by the hunger of societies that knew the world only through hearsay. One of the most persistent myths of the 1940s claimed that Europeans wore special glasses that allowed them to see people naked. It was absurd, of course, yet it spread like a small cultural fever in communities where imagination about the human body was tightly policed and ignorance was a kind of social glue. How could a pair of glasses undress women without their knowledge? The question alone was enough to ignite collective astonishment in a time when curiosity was forbidden and the body itself

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  Majority of Americans believe ongoing US-Iran war is ‘more challenging’ than Trump administration expected: Survey

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  A recent survey conducted in the US found that 76% of Americans believe the ongoing US-Iran war has proven more challenging than the Trump administration expected, CBS News reported Sunday. The survey was conducted by CBS News and YouGov between July 22 and 24. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said they felt uncertain about the ongoing conflict, while 57% reported feeling frustrated. In addition, 36% expressed pessimism, whereas only 19% said they felt optimistic. The survey also found that 20% of respondents believed the war had unfolded as expected, while 4% believed it had proven easier than expected. Regarding the balance of the conflict, 40% of respondents believed the US was in the more advantageous position, while 38%

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  Iran accuses some regional countries of participating in US war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran on Monday accused some countries in the region of participating in US attacks against Tehran, and allowing their territories to be used by attacking forces, Anadolu reports. “We hold the United States responsible for the military aggression against Iran, which began on Feb. 28,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press briefing, as cited by the official IRNA news agency. “Of course, we cannot ignore the participation of some countries in the region in this aggression,” he claimed. Baqaei said Tehran continues to seek good relations with neighboring countries and harbors “no hostility” toward them. “We have repeatedly stressed that we seek good relations with the countries of the region. On the contrary, there are many ties and

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  Iran says it will not let US determine timing of war and peace

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iran will not let the US decide when war or peace takes place, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday, Anadolu reports. “We will not allow the United States to determine the time of peace and war,” Baqaei said at a weekly news conference, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. He also said the US was “stuck in a self-made quagmire after five months.” On Sunday, Iranian military spokesperson Amir Mohammad Akraminia said the US had halted its attacks over the previous two nights and that Iran’s “counter-operations” had also stopped. According to an Axios report on Saturday, US President Donald Trump had directed the US military not to launch new strikes on Iran, ending nearly two weeks of daily attacks.

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  Kuwait ratifies defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Kuwait has ratified a broad defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan, three years after it was signed, according to the country’s official gazette, Anadolu reports. The agreement was approved and published Sunday in the official gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, formalizing a defense pact signed by the two countries in June 2023, the Kuwait Times reported. The agreement establishes a framework for military cooperation between the Kuwaiti and Pakistani armed forces, covering military training, education, intelligence sharing, logistics, defense technology, research and exchanges of expertise, with the aim of strengthening institutional military ties between the two countries. It also provides for cooperation in military manufacturing, electronic communications systems, scientific research, military media and cultural and sports activities. READ: Kuwait says several firefighters wounded following Iranian attacks

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  Netanyahu departs for Washington for talks with Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday departed for Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu is visiting Washington at Trump’s invitation and will discuss issues of mutual interest to Israel and the US, according to the official Israel in Arabic account on US social media platform X. The Israeli prime minister said on Sunday that he plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York despite calls for his arrest by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Last Tuesday, Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged the US government to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him if he enters the US. US President Donald Trump, however, has vowed that

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  The bombing of Iran paused at the edge of a different war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  For two nights after US Central Command announced a 13th consecutive night of strikes, it issued no announcement of fresh attacks on Iran. Yet coercion continued at sea. American forces said they had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports, disabled two and boarded two. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said warning shots had forced four vessels away from the southern route near Oman. The air campaign paused; the struggle over who writes the operating rules of the Strait of Hormuz did not. This is neither a ceasefire nor proof that talks, which Tehran says have made technical progress, will produce one. The lull exposes the limit of controlled force. Washington cannot restore normal navigation merely by

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  Israeli opposition leader says troops paying price for Netanyahu’s ‘reckless’ policies

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan said Sunday that Israeli troops were paying the price for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “reckless” policies, two days after Israeli occupiers under army protection attacked the Palestinian town of Tal near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, said in a video posted on the US social media platform X that Netanyahu’s policies, including the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and what he described as “Jewish terrorism,” were exacting a heavy toll on Israeli soldiers. “The Netanyahu-Bezalel Smotrich-Itamar Ben-Gvir government is abandoning Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank,” he said. Golan concluded by saying: “Netanyahu, we are coming to replace you in the elections.” On

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  Israeli forces raid homes, detain man in southern Syria: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Israeli forces raided homes in southern Syria and detained a Syrian man on Monday, Syria’s Alikhbariah TV reported. The broadcaster said Israeli forces detained the man after searching a house in the village of Taranja in northern Quneitra countryside. In a separate incursion into Syrian territory, Israeli forces raided and searched several civilian homes in the village of Al-Ardah in the western countryside of Daraa amid heavy gunfire, according to Alikhbariah TV. No casualties were reported, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli army. On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the UN would submit a detailed report to the Security Council later this month on Israeli violations in Syria. READ: UN to submit report to Security Council

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  Palestine welcomes Ireland’s ban on Israeli settlement goods, urges others to follow

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Palestine has welcomed Ireland’s decision to ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on countries and parliaments around the world to adopt similar measures. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement on Sunday that it welcomed Ireland’s law banning the import of goods produced in what it described as illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The ministry said it welcomed “the Republic of Ireland’s adoption of the law banning the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements established on occupied Palestinian land”, following its signing by the President of Ireland and the completion of all constitutional procedures required for it to enter into force. The Irish

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  American actor Mark Ruffalo attacks Netanyahu over ICC prosecutor’s dismissal: ‘You are a serial killer’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  American actor Mark Ruffalo has strongly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the latter welcomed the dismissal of International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan. Ruffalo said: “Just because you lobbied to have the man who issued the war crimes taken down doesn’t mean the war crimes disappear or your guilt is assuaged. You will not outrun justice. You will not lobby history. You are a murderous maniac, Benjamin Netanyahu. You will always be remembered as such.”  Earlier, Netanyahu welcomed the decision to remove Khan from his post. On Friday, member states of the ICC voted to dismiss Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct. READ: Oscar-winning Javier Bardem says Gaza war has changed global views on Palestine A total of

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  Tunisian opposition demands urgent statement on Rached Ghannouchi’s health

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Tunisia’s opposition National Salvation Front has called on the authorities to issue an urgent official statement clarifying the health condition of Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi and lawyer Ahmed Nejib Chebbi. In an urgent statement issued on Sunday, the coalition said it was “following with deep concern” conflicting reports and rumours about the health of Ghannouchi, as well as reports regarding the health of National Salvation Front leader Ahmed Nejib Chebbi. It warned that, in the absence of any official clarification, and with Ghannouchi’s family and legal team still being prevented from visiting him and checking on his condition, the continuing lack of transparency could only fuel rumours and increase the concerns of their families. READ: Amnesty International urges Tunisia to protect

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  Mojtaba Khamenei tells Hezbollah ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon was key condition in Tehran’s US MoU

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei has told Lebanon’s Hezbollah that Tehran made ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon a key condition in its memorandum of understanding with the United States. In a message issued on Sunday, Khamenei said Iran also made preserving Lebanon’s territorial integrity a condition for concluding the memorandum with Washington, which was signed electronically last month. He added that US President Donald Trump announced the end of the ceasefire on 8 July. Khamenei also said Tehran had made “defending these oppressed but capable fighters” a permanent strategic policy, according to the message. In the message, published by Iranian media, Khamenei said that “jihad and resistance” were the way to confront the United States. He praised Hezbollah’s “steadfastness” and said

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  Malaysia reaffirms refusal to recognise Israel despite US pressure

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Malaysia has reaffirmed its longstanding policy of not recognising Israel, insisting the position remains unchanged despite growing pressure from the United States and calls by members of the US Congress to review security and economic ties with Kuala Lumpur. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, explained the country’s position after being summoned by the US State Department. He said Malaysia’s policy towards Israel was not a new stance or a response to recent developments, but a long-established official policy maintained by successive governments. According to the Malaysian national news agency Bernama, Hasan said Malaysia was handling the issue in line with its longstanding policies. “It has always been Malaysia’s policy. Our

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  Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh describes abuse and starvation in Israeli prisons

  by Mehdi Editor on July 27, 2026

  Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh has described what he called “extremely harsh” detention conditions, saying prisoners held in solitary confinement are subjected to repeated crackdowns, beatings, starvation and ongoing medical neglect. In a message sent from the Janot solitary confinement section of an Israeli prison and published by his fiancée, Ghufran Al-Zamel, on Sunday, Salameh said prisoners had faced four raid and search operations in less than ten days, during which they were beaten. He said they were also assaulted while being transferred from Megiddo Prison’s solitary confinement unit to Janot, and were beaten every time they were taken out to meet their lawyers. Salameh added that the amount of food provided in the Janot solitary confinement unit was significantly less

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  Syrian president rules out military intervention in Lebanon, backs state monopoly on arms

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said his country does not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon but is prepared to offer the Lebanese state several options to address its challenges, Anadolu reports. “We are not considering military intervention, but Syria has several cards that it can offer the Lebanese state to use as it sees fit,” al-Sharaa said in an interview with the Qatari Al Jazeera channel’s Al-Muqabala program. He said Damascus is discussing “a range of solutions” with the Lebanese government that could help bring the country to safety and allow it to benefit from Syria’s current recovery. Al-Sharaa voiced “deep” concern that turmoil inside Lebanon could “negatively” affect Syria. “The continued presence of weapons outside the authority of the

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  Trump giving Iran peace talks ‘some space’ as strikes halt: US envoy

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  US President Donald Trump is allowing “some space” for diplomatic discussions with Iran, according to the US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, as regional strikes remained halted for a second consecutive night, Anadolu reports. “The president is keeping all options on the table,” Waltz told NBC News on Sunday. He clarified that while negotiations are proceeding at “every level,” the Iranian leadership should take the US president very seriously. “I wouldn’t go that far at all,” said Waltz when asked if Trump has currently decided against escalation. Waltz asserted that the US military is “locked and loaded,” adding that additional assets have been deployed to the region to target those who “illegally struck civilian shipping.” CENTCOM chief advised

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  CENTCOM chief advised halt of Iran strikes due to ‘exhausted’ targets: Report

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  The US military leadership advised pausing the bombardment of Iran after concluding that the current air campaign had achieved its immediate goals and was no longer producing operational results, Axios reported on Sunday, Anadolu reports. CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper reportedly informed the White House that two weeks of intensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area had “significantly degraded” Tehran’s ability to target commercial vessels. Sources indicated that Cooper noted the designated bombing targets were “mostly exhausted,” arguing that continuing the strikes would serve no strategic purpose without a major escalation into full-scale combat. This military assessment played a critical role in US President Donald Trump’s decision on Friday to suspend operations. Additionally, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint

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  Netanyahu says he intends to attend UN General Assembly despite NYC Mayor’s arrest threats

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he plans to attend the UN General Assembly in New York, dismissing recent calls for his arrest by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Anadolu reports. “I’m not concerned, and I certainly intend to do so,” Netanyahu told Fox News about the September gathering. He added that he has appeared at the high-level diplomatic gathering almost every year during his tenure, unless there are security conditions that barred him from doing so. The remarks follow Mamdani’s characterization of Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and he is not welcome in the city. Mamdani previously urged Washington to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) to execute existing warrants against the Israeli leader. US President

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  UN to submit report to Security Council on Israeli violations in Syria: Guterres

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  The UN will submit a detailed report to the Security Council later this month on Israeli violations in Syria, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference in Damascus, Guterres stressed that violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are “unacceptable,” urging Israel to comply with the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. “The atrocities Syria has witnessed have not broken the Syrian people’s resolve to pursue their legitimate aspirations,” he added. He also warned that UN humanitarian assistance currently meets only around 20% of the Syrian people’s needs. Guterres said his visit to Sednaya Prison revealed the scale of the horrors endured there, where tens of thousands of people were killed and tortured. He voiced determination to do

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  Enrichment antics: Trump’s Saudi nuclear deal

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  The Israelis had their jaws dropping and dragging on the grounds.  The Saudis were cock-a-hoop.  The Trump administration remains, as it always does, streaky and fickle.  The agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia for the creation of a civilian nuclear program was originally contingent on one vital fact: that Israel and the Kingdom normalise their relations through the Abraham Accords.  But President Donald Trump is the enemy of contingency and conditions, indifferent, even hostile to stability.  He is the relativising distillate, the corrosive acid that does away with fetters and understanding. Trust him, and any sense of constancy, at your peril. On July 22, the US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin

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  America is playing Iran’s game

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  For much of the past four decades, the strategic debate over Iran has revolved around one recurring assumption that Tehran is a fundamentally reactive power. Whether responding to sanctions, assassinations, cyberattacks, or military strikes, Iran has often been portrayed as a state whose actions are driven primarily by retaliation. This assumption has shaped Washington’s military posture, informed the security calculations of America’s Gulf partners, and reinforced the belief that overwhelming military superiority would ultimately constrain Iran’s ambitions. That assumption is becoming dangerously obsolete. The latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project should not be read merely as another battlefield update. It is better understood as a warning that many policymakers continue

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  The UN returns to Damascus at the edge of reconstruction

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Seventeen years. That is how long it has been since a sitting United Nations Secretary-General last set foot in Damascus. When António Guterres’ plane touches down on Syrian soil, it will not be a ceremonial gesture. It is the diplomatic ignition point of Syria’s post‑Assad metamorphosis—a collapsed state now being re‑stitched through UN‑brokered legitimacy, Gulf‑conditioned constitutional engineering, Turkish‑regulated border sovereignty, and a covert Western–Syrian intelligence liaison that keeps the Islamic State’s remnants buried in the Badiya desert. Yet for all the diplomatic choreography, one uncomfortable truth lingers: this nation of 23 million remains a house of cards, and any external anchor that slips could send it crashing back into the abyss. The numbers tell a story of unspeakable ruin. Fourteen

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  Israel plans 763 new settlement units, threefold expansion of Eli settlement in occupied West Bank

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Saturday that Israel plans to build 763 new settlement units in the Eli settlement south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, a move expected to triple its size in the coming years, Anadolu reports. Smotrich said Israel intends to continue building settlement farms and communities, according to Israel’s Channel 14. He said the housing units would be built and developed in the Eli settlement, which falls under the Binyamin Regional Council in the occupied West Bank. Channel 14 said implementation of the plans is expected to triple the size of the settlement in the coming years and allow it to accommodate thousands of additional settlers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly described

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  Israeli occupiers set fire to 2 mosques in occupied West Bank

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to two mosques in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank on Sunday, targeting a mosque in the village of Kur, south of Tulkarem, and another one under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, according to Palestinian officials, Anadolu reports. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said Israeli occupiers stormed the village of Kur and set fire to a mosque, causing partial damage to the building and its interior. The attackers also spray-painted racist graffiti on the mosque’s walls before leaving the area, while local residents managed to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading. WAFA said the attack in Kur came just hours after Israeli occupiers set fire to Al-Rahma Mosque,

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  US–Saudi nuclear deal: The road to a nuclear Middle East?

  by Marwa A on July 26, 2026

  The recent civil nuclear agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia has jolted the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. The agreement veers off the gold standard nuclear arrangement with the UAE, permitting Riyadh to enrich uranium and reprocess nuclear waste. Though the US administration has indicated strict non-proliferation mechanisms and inspections, the possibility of weapons-grade enrichment in case of a serious threat to Saudi sovereignty cannot be ruled out. This agreement will compel other regional powers to pursue the nuclear option, triggering a nuclear competition in the region. The 30-year deal is stated to fulfill the Kingdom’s energy requirements, providing a practicable alternative to its oil reserves. Concurrently, it also aligns with Vision 2030 of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman,

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  The spark in Tell: How a village resistance disrupted Israel’s West Bank strategy

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  During a military raid on the small town of Tell, southwest of Nablus, a moment of direct defiance shattered the illusion of total Palestinian submission. Faced with relentless military incursions, land confiscation, and settler harassment and violence, local villagers and farmers refused to retreat. In the confrontation that followed, a single Palestinian disarmed an Israeli soldier and opened fire on the invading forces near the illegal Havat Gilad settlement outpost, killing two soldiers and wounding three others. What followed was the predictable, unyielding fury of the occupation: Israeli forces and state-backed armed settlers immediately launched a series of raids across Tell and neighboring communities, killing four Palestinians, setting fire to homes, and converting residential buildings into field interrogation centers. In

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  Nablus: When the killer becomes the victim

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  In the occupied West Bank, the story often starts too late. It starts when an Israeli settler is killed, injured, or frightened. It starts when Israeli officials speak, when the army enters Palestinian villages, and when headlines describe a “clash” or a “terror attack”. Suddenly, the settler becomes the victim, the Palestinian village becomes the threat, and the occupation disappears from the story. But Nablus cannot be understood from the middle of the story. For years, Palestinian villages around Nablus have lived under daily pressure: land seizures, settlement expansion, military raids, road closures, intimidation, and settler violence. This is not a normal conflict between two equal communities. It is a system where one side expands with weapons, army protection, and

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  Netanyahu gov’t turning West Bank into ‘powder keg’: Israeli opposition party leader

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  The leader of Israel’s Democrats party, Yair Golan, warned Saturday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is turning the occupied West Bank into a “powder keg,” Anadolu reports. His remarks came a day after Israeli occupiers, protected by the army, attacked the town of Tell near Nablus in the northern West Bank, killing four Palestinians and injuring four others, according to Palestinian sources. Two Israelis were also killed in a shooting as residents confronted the attack, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. Following the incident, Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered a “wide-scale” military offensive in the occupied territory. In a post on the US social media company X, Golan accused the government and far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and

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  Israel increasingly relying on foreign agents to expand influence in US: Report

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  Israel is increasingly relying on foreign agents, rather than traditional US allies like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), to expand its influence in the US, according to a new Quincy Institute paper released Friday, Anadolu reports. The paper, titled The Eighth Front: Inside Israel’s $1 Billion Influence Campaign, was authored by Nick Cleveland-Stout, a research associate at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Since 2023, Israel has spent more than $1 billion on public diplomacy, including over $100 million on US influence efforts disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). It is on pace to become the largest FARA spender this year. Seventeen firms registered under FARA to represent Israeli interests in 2024–2025, including Brad Parscale’s Clock

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  Why Pakistan must choose active neutrality in the Iran-US war

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  A war is entering Pakistani homes right now. Not through headlines, but through the electricity bill, the bus fare, the price of vegetables at the local market. Wars in the Middle East rarely stay confined to the countries that start them — their consequences travel through oil pipelines, shipping lanes, financial markets, refugee routes, sectarian networks and military alliances. For Pakistan, the escalating war between Iran and the United States isn’t a spectacle to watch from a safe distance. It’s a national emergency unfolding just beyond the western border, and across the waters the country’s economy depends on. As of July 24, 2026, the conflict has entered an increasingly dangerous phase. American missiles have struck targets across Iran, including military

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  UN rapporteur calls Israeli attacks in occupied West Bank civilians ‘pogroms’

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese on Saturday described Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians across the occupied West Bank as “pogroms,” calling for an immediate arms embargo and a halt to trade with Israel, Anadolu reports. “Pogroms against defenseless civilians all over the West Bank, while Gaza is under fire,” Albanese said on US social media platform X. She accused Israeli civilians and the army of “joining forces” in the attacks, arguing that responsibility was not limited to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or “a few rotten apples.” “Arms embargo now — stop trade now,” Albanese said, adding that such measures are required under international law. On Friday, Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz

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  HRW, FairSquare urge Manchester mayoral candidates to condemn UAE abuses

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  Human Rights Watch and FairSquare on Friday called upon candidates in the upcoming Manchester mayoral elections to publicly commit to engaging with the Emirati government on its egregious human rights record if elected. In a joint letter to the candidates the organisatiosn noted that “Manchester City Council’s ties to Emirati officials have given the UAE’s government valuable reputational cover while it backs forces committing atrocities in Sudan,” said Joey Shea, senior Saudi Arabia and UAE researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Mayoral candidates should not stay silent about the UAE’s record despite the money flowing through Manchester.” The letter pointed out that Manchester City Council has a close financial relationship with senior figures in the Emirati government, in particular through its stake in

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  Israeli army detains at least 70 Palestinians across West Bank, 8 injured in attack by occupiers

  by Marwa A on July 25, 2026

  Israeli forces detained at least 70 Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank on Saturday, while eight others were injured in a separate attack by occupiers, according to Palestinian media and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Anadolu reports. The official Voice of Palestine radio said Israeli forces arrested more than 40 young Palestinian men in an ongoing raid on the town of Tell, west of Nablus in the northern part of the occupied territory. Israeli troops seized a house in the town and converted it into a field interrogation center, the broadcaster said. It added that Israeli forces were carrying out extensive raids on homes across the town while surrounding it from all directions. On Friday, Israeli Premier Benjamin