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

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  Amnesty International slams France for increased military equipment deliveries to Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Amnesty International’s French office criticized France on Thursday for increasing deliveries of military equipment to Israel, accusing Paris of helping sustain Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “The genocide in Gaza perpetrated by the Israeli authorities has been ongoing for 3 years,” the rights group wrote on US social media platform X. “Why is it not being stopped? Because Israel can count on the support of other countries.” It singled out France, saying Paris had increased deliveries of military equipment to Israel in 2025 compared to 2024. READ: Amnesty accuses France of ‘double standard’ over Netanyahu plane The rights group said France delivered €19.8 million ($22.1 million) worth of military equipment to Israel in 2025, up from €16.1 million

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  Debris falls in Saudi capital after ballistic missile interception, causing property damage

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Thursday, causing property damage, the Saudi Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. “Civil Defense teams in Riyadh responded to debris from a ballistic missile after it was intercepted and destroyed,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing the Civil Defense spokesperson. The official said the missile was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, adding that the incident caused property damage to a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex. The development comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, military sites and oil infrastructure. Yemeni government forces launched a new offensive under Operation “Dawn of Yemen” this week aimed at restoring state institutions

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  In a genocidal state, even Netanyahu is seen as ‘too pro-Palestine’

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  There is something deeply absurd about Israeli politics ahead of the 27th October election. Benjamin Netanyahu — the man who steadfastly has been rejecting Palestinian statehood for ages, expanding settlements and waging a destructive genocidal campaign in Gaza is now being attacked for being too soft on the Palestinians. Apparently, even Netanyahu is not anti-Palestinian enough for today’s Israeli extremist settler-occupiers.  That alone tells us how far Zionist politics has shifted. In a genocidal state facing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza, Netanyahu somehow finds himself portrayed as the moderate in the room. That would almost be funny if the consequences were not deadly. The latest attack comes from hardline politician Avigdor Liberman, a long-time rival of Netanyahu from

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  Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A top adviser to the US ambassador to Israel has systematically suppressed, delayed, and rewritten internal diplomatic cables to shield the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from scrutiny by Washington, The New York Times reported Thursday. David Milstein, an influential gatekeeper at the US Embassy in Jerusalem since April 2025 and principal aide to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, repeatedly stymied assessments intended for senior policymakers, according to an investigation based on interviews with more than a dozen US officials and reviews of internal State Department records. In late March, Israel approved record-breaking occupation expansions across the occupied West Bank. Embassy personnel drafted an alert warning that the move risked violating US President Donald Trump’s explicit red line against

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  Iranian president says Tehran cannot be easily isolated amid strong ties with neighbors

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Iran cannot be easily isolated, pointing to the country’s ties and extensive exchanges with its neighbors. “They cannot isolate us so easily because we have 15 neighboring countries in the region, and through each of these routes, we can maintain many of our economic, commercial, political and security exchanges,” Pezeshkian told reporters before departing for Turkmenistan, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said opportunities arising from regional engagement could also contribute to developing Iran’s interactions, regulations and trade. “I hope we can achieve the objectives we have in mind and will pursue through our discussions,” he added. Pezeshkian departed for Turkmenistan to attend and address the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit

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  UN mission in Libya affirms commitment to working with new parliament leadership

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday affirmed its commitment to engaging with the new leadership of Libya’s House of Representatives and all its members to advance the political roadmap toward holding elections, Anadolu reports. The statement came in response to the election earlier this week of Al-Salihin Abdul Nabi Al-Obaidi as speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, succeeding Aguila Saleh. The mission said it followed an earlier session attended by 102 members, with 98 voting in favor of amending the House’s internal regulations and establishing a rotating presidency for the chamber for a maximum term of 12 months. It added that a second session held the following day, with the participation of 111 members, saw the election

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  Human rights group documents 453 Israeli incursions, 69 killings since 2024

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented at least 453 ground incursions by Israeli forces into Syria and the killing of at least 69 people between Dec. 8, 2024, and Oct. 6, 2026, according to the Syrian Al-Ekhbariya channel on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The figures were included in a report by the group examining the practices and violations of Israeli forces on Syrian territory since the fall of the former regime. The incursions were concentrated in the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, and to a lesser extent in the Damascus countryside, according to the report. The network recorded at least 162 cases of arbitrary Israeli detentions. Of those detained, 127 were released, while the fate of 35 others is

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  Bangladesh signs 15-year port deal with UAE-based DP World

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Bangladesh signed a 15-year concession agreement Thursday with UAE-based DP World to modernize and operate a major container terminal at the country’s busiest seaport, as police dispersed protesters opposing the deal, Anadolu reports. The agreement covers the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port, which handles approximately 44% of the port’s container traffic. Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Adm. Md Moniruzzaman and DP World Chairman Essa Kazim signed the agreement in Dhaka, according to a government statement. Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam and UAE Ambassador Abdulla Ali Al Hamoudi attended the ceremony. Under the agreement, DP World will modernize and operate the terminal, while ownership of the land and infrastructure will remain with Bangladesh. READ: Syria signs $800 million agreement

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  From Aramco to ACWA Power: How Saudi Arabia is redrawing its map of energy influence

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  In February 2026, an agreement to develop+ two solar plants in Turkiye illustrated Saudi Arabia’s expanding energy diplomacy. A country whose global economic presence has long rested on oil exports is now entering decades-long partnerships to generate electricity abroad. ACWA Power’s agreement with its Turkish counterparts envisages two gigawatts of solar capacity in Sivas and the Taşeli region of Karaman, as the first phase of a five-gigawatt framework. The projects remain under development, but the relationship extends from energy trade into infrastructure investment. For Riyadh, the strategic question is how to translate oil-sector leverage, investment capital and project delivery into durable relationships that can withstand market shifts and political tensions. Connecting capital with national strategy Aramco and ACWA Power have

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  American Senate candidate accuses Netanyahu of pushing US into Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Democratic candidate in Michigan’s Senate race accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of influencing the Trump administration’s decision to enter the war with Iran, Anadolu reports. “We are in the war in Iran in part because of the advocacy of the Israeli prime minister,” Abdul El-Sayed told NewsNation chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert on Tuesday, according to The Hill’s report Wednesday. “There’s no disagreement on that,” he added. “He came to the Situation Room and advocated for the war, and we’re now paying … for it. Our gas, our groceries are unaffordable, and that’s on top of the billions in tax dollars that we spend sending our money over there,” he said. War fuels affordability concerns The war began

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  EU to launch training and support mission for Lebanese army: foreign policy chief

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The European Union is set to establish a new mission to train and advise the Lebanese armed forces, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, stressing that the mission will not replace the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Beirut, Kallas said planning for the EU’s new support mission had been completed and that the bloc had received a formal invitation from Lebanese authorities. She said she expected EU foreign ministers to formally establish the mission on Oct. 12. READ: Report: Iran transfers $200 million to Hezbollah to assist displaced Lebanese “It will advise and assist the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces to

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  Iran reviewing US feedback on 7-day plan, expects to respond within days

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iran is reviewing US feedback on Tehran’s proposed seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and expects to respond within the next few days, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “The negotiation process is still ongoing, and messages are being exchanged through mediators,” Araghchi said, according to the official IRNA news agency. “We presented our proposal, which was called the ‘seven-day plan,’ and we heard the Americans’ views in response,” he added. “We are currently reviewing them. I believe we will respond within a few days,” he said. The seven-day initiative centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming negotiations between Tehran and Washington. What is the 7-day plan? Araghchi said in late September that Iran

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  Indonesians must boycott pro-Israel singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert at Borobudur

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  On 31 October, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli will perform at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, in Central Java, Indonesia, before a second show in Jakarta on 3 November. The Indonesian government is rolling out the red carpet as if this were a state visit. The state-owned bank BNI is selling discounted tickets and payment plans. Indonesians must boycott this concert. Bocelli is not just a beautiful voice. He is one of the most openly pro-Israel stars in the world, and a friend of the leaders carrying out the genocide in Gaza. Not one seat should be filled by people who say they stand with Palestine. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world. It has never

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  Air France denies transporting weapons to Israel after union allegations

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Air France on Thursday denied transporting weapons or ammunition to Israel after several unions alleged that a shipment of mechanical components destined for an Israeli arms manufacturer was scheduled to depart aboard one of its flights, Anadolu reports. The airline told broadcaster franceinfo that it had no booking for the cargo identified by the unions. “Air France has no reservations for this type of merchandise on its flights, on the date indicated or any other date,” it said. “Air France does not transport weapons or ammunition on its flights to Israel,” the company added, saying it complies at all times with international regulations governing the transport of goods. READ: Rights groups sue France over failure to stop corporate support for Israel’s

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  Turkiye completes preparations to submit Mecca defense pact to parliament: Foreign minister

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Turkiye has completed preparations to submit the Mecca defense agreement to parliament for approval, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday, stressing that the pact is defensive in nature and does not authorize attacks on other countries, Anadolu reports. “The necessary work for the agreement to be submitted to parliament has been completed,” Fidan said at a joint news conference in Ankara with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban. Fidan said the agreement provides for mutual defense if one of its signatories comes under attack. “Once a country that is party to the agreement is attacked, you stand by it for its defense. This is not an attack agreement,” he said. He also clarified that the pact does

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  The Board of Peace’s commitment is tied to Israeli colonialism

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Three years since Israel commenced its genocide in Gaza, the Board of Peace issued a statement in which one sentence particularly stands out. “The President fulfilled his commitment to the people of Israel.” The sentence refers to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages, but the entire statement carries further weight that displaces Palestinians from the narrative.  Besides omitting the historical context of colonialism, of Gaza’s particular history, as well as the genocide itself, the Board of Peace’s statement is openly revealing its allegiance: “Genuine and durable security for Israel is the foundation on which any peace must be built, and it is the surest guarantee that no October 7 will ever happen again.” October 7 could have been avoided primarily if the

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  Rubio says Iranian threats not constraining US operations in Europe

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Potential Iranian threats do not limit American military operations across Europe or NATO territory, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “No. There is nothing we want or need to do against Iran that we can’t still do,” Rubio said in response to a question as he departed Greece for Portugal on the final stop of his European tour. The Pentagon redeployed all American bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to domestic bases following a security alert in late September involving suspicious vehicles. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident, while Tehran rejected the allegations. US President Donald Trump acknowledged that unspecified threats prompted the relocation. “Yeah, I

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  Campaign seeks to bar Biden officials from power over complicity in US-backed Israeli genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Progressive organisations in the US are campaigning to prevent former officials within the administration of President Joe Biden, accused of complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, from returning to government.   The initiatives target senior figures including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, his deputy Jon Finer and former Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, according to a report published by Haaretz. One campaign, #DroptheGenocide20, launched last month, calls for the exclusion of 20 former Biden appointees from future administrations. Separately, the American Committee for Middle East Rights plans to launch ONRECORD, a database assessing the records of former US officials responsible for Middle East policy, after the midterm elections. “Being complicit in genocide should be

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  Israeli court convicts lawmaker Cassif of assaulting police officer

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  An Israeli court on Thursday convicted Ofer Cassif, a lawmaker who supports Palestinian rights, of assaulting a police officer four years ago, prompting him to respond: “Enough with the occupation,” Anadolu reports. It was not immediately clear what consequences the conviction by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court would have for the lawmaker from the Joint List, according to an Anadolu correspondent. According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the indictment said that during a demonstration held about four years ago in the southern Hebron area, Cassif sought to drive his car toward the protest site, but police officers prevented him from doing so. “Following a verbal altercation, Cassif got into his car and drove toward one of the police officers, causing the vehicle

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  Don’t argue about what Zionism is; look at what it does

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  What is happening in the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be a wake-up call to us all. It is not just in Gaza that the Zionist state is committing genocide. Take a look at the following book extract, for example: “It was at this overcrowded hospital that the delegation received a shocking introduction to the effects of the measures being taken by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people. Of course, not every casualty was seen, but the general picture can be obtained from the following list of casualties: A young man with five children was chased by Israeli soldiers to the roof of his two-storey home and deliberately thrown to the ground; he broke both legs and is now paralysed

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  Gaza still has no hospital operating at full capacity: Israeli rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Gaza still has no hospital operating at full capacity a year after a ceasefire took effect, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Israeli rights organization released a report assessing the state of Gaza’s health system nearly a year after the ceasefire began in October 2025. It said the period has not brought about a genuine recovery of the health system despite a limited increase in the number of hospitals that have partially resumed operations. “The number of intensive care beds has practically not changed, the shortage of medicines and essential medical supplies has worsened, while thousands of patients remain deprived of life-saving treatments that are unavailable in the Strip,” the organization said. “In October 2025, 14

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  Israeli forces advance into village in Syria’s Quneitra countryside

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Israeli forces carried out a new military incursion into Syria’s Quneitra countryside on Thursday, advancing into the village of eastern Samadaniyah, according to Syrian media. The Syrian Al-Ekhbariya news channel said two Israeli tanks and more than 15 military vehicles carrying soldiers entered the village and advanced toward the outskirts of Tal Krum. No further details were immediately provided. The incursion came a day after the Israeli army shelled the outskirts of Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province, according to the official SANA news agency. Israel has carried out repeated shelling and ground incursions in southern Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Damascus has repeatedly demanded that Israeli forces withdraw from Syrian territory

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  Iraqi Airways resumes Iran flights after 7-month suspension

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iraqi Airways resumed direct flights to Iran on Thursday after a seven-month suspension that began amid the US-Israeli war on Iran in early March, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). The national carrier said regular daily flights would operate from Najaf International Airport to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan. The resumption followed efforts by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahab al-Hasani after the necessary regulatory and technical requirements were completed, the airline said. It added that restoring the routes aims to facilitate passenger travel and expand Iraq’s regional air connections, particularly for religious, medical and educational purposes. Iraqi Airways suspended its flights to Iran in early March as a precautionary measure following the outbreak of the

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  UK removes signage from East Jerusalem consulate as Israeli closure deadline expires

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Workers removed signs from the British Consulate General in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday as an Israeli deadline for shutting down the diplomatic mission expired, according to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground, Anadolu reports. The correspondent saw workers taking down a plaque identifying the building as the British Consulate General, along with signage for its consular section. Thursday marked the end of a 30-day deadline imposed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who ordered the consulate’s closure in response to British sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on imports of settlement products. Saar said on the US social media company X that Israel had established a “clear principle” that any measure taken

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  Berlin police intervene in pro-Palestinian demonstration, detain protesters

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Police intervened in a pro-Palestinian demonstration and detained some of those who refused to leave in Berlin, on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. More than 1,000 people gathered at Oranien Square to protest what they described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza, before marching toward Hermann Square. Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others, according to Palestinian figures. The war has also destroyed about 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure. READ: Major espionage arrest puts German ex-spy chief’s Israeli connections in the spotlight

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  7th October: The earthquake that put Palestine back at the centre of the world

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A few days before 7 October, the US National Security Adviser said “the Middle East was quieter than it had been for two decades”. That sentence now sounds like a full summary of the American illusion. Washington was looking at the region from above. Normalisation was moving forward. Israel felt secure. Gaza was besieged but “under control”. The West Bank was being swallowed slowly by settlements. Palestine was no longer treated as the center of the conflict, but as a disturbing file that could be managed with aid, work permits and economic promises. Then 7th October happened. It was not only a military operation. It was a political, intelligence and psychological earthquake. It surprised Israel, the United States, Arab governments

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  Major espionage arrest puts German ex-spy chief’s Israeli connections in the spotlight

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The arrest of former German intelligence chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage on behalf of a foreign country  has drawn attention to his connections with Israeli intelligence figures, including allegations that he approached a former Shin Bet chief to organise the abduction of a German heiress’s children. Hanning, who led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005, also serves on the advisory board of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an American pressure group whose leadership includes former senior Mossad officials. The 80-year-old was arrested on 6 October and ordered into pretrial detention the following day over allegations involving state secrets and foreign intelligence services. Prosecutors have not publicly identified the countries involved. Commenting on his connections,

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  Houthi leader hopes Pakistan, Turkey will not help Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hizam Al-Asad, a member of the political bureau of Yemen’s Houthi movement, said the group hopes Pakistan and Turkey will refrain from taking part in military operations against it alongside Saudi Arabia. “We hope the governments of Pakistan and Turkey will refrain from participating in the aggression by the Saudi enemy and the siege imposed on our country, which has continued for more than 11 years and has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties,” he told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency. On Monday, under the Makkah Defence Pact, Turkey and Pakistan decided to move towards the practical implementation of their collective defence commitments and ensure the rapid deployment of troops and military assets in Saudi Arabia. READ: Houthis warn airlines

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  Hamas official condemns Peace Council’s 7th October statement as ‘racist and biased’

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim on Wednesday rejected a statement issued by the Peace Council marking the third anniversary of the 7th October 2023 attack, describing it as “racist, biased, and rejected in both form and substance.” In a post on X, Naim said the statement was inappropriate for an institution representing international will, laws and resolutions. He also argued that the council’s language did not contribute to establishing peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Earlier on Wednesday, the Peace Council published a statement on its official X account marking the third anniversary of the 7th October attack, emphasising Israel’s security as a central requirement for lasting peace. READ: Mamdani says occupation and apartheid must not continue three years

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  Congressional Democrats seek information on Kushner’s investments in Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  US Congressional Democrats are seeking information about Jared Kushner’s financial investments in Israel following a CNN investigation that raised questions about potential conflicts of interest involving his business interests and his role in Middle East diplomacy. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter on Monday to Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, requesting details about its business dealings in the Middle East. The request followed a CNN investigation reporting that Kushner’s private equity firm was the largest shareholder in an Israeli company that supports businesses involved in Israeli military operations. READ: Kushner signals US support for Israeli operations in Gaza if Hamas refuses to disarm Garcia said committee Democrats were “investigating the unprecedented and dangerous

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  Mamdani says occupation and apartheid must not continue three years after 7th October

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the 7th October 2023 attack, mourning the victims while criticizing Israeli policies and calling for an end to what he described as occupation and apartheid. “We mark the third anniversary of the horrific war crimes that took place on 7th October, during which Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted over 251 people,” Mamdani said. “We grieve alongside our neighbours and friends who are facing unimaginable loss,” he added. Referring to Israeli policies in the three years since the attack, Mamdani said: “Three years after the massacre, we must refuse to accept a world where occupation and apartheid continue.” READ: Mamdani renews call for Netanyahu’s ICC arrest

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  Report: Iran transfers $200 million to Hezbollah to assist displaced Lebanese

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hezbollah received $200 million from Iran last month to assist Lebanese families displaced by the war with Israel, according to two informed sources, despite tightening US sanctions on Tehran and increasing difficulties in transferring funds. Intermediaries involved in facilitating the transfer said they charged a commission of 20 percent, with one describing the fee as four times the usual rate. Asked to comment, a Hezbollah official confirmed that funds had been secured and said a distribution plan would be announced in the coming days, without specifying the source of the money. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have been displaced by the Israeli military campaign following Hezbollah’s decision to join Iran in the conflict that began with US-Israeli attacks on 2nd

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  Palestinian Education Ministry says more than 90% of Gaza schools destroyed during three years of war

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham said on Wednesday that more than 90 percent of schools and over 85 percent of universities and higher education institutions in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed during three years of war since 7th October 2023. In a statement, Barham said Israeli military operations continued to affect educational infrastructure in Gaza, severely disrupting access to education. He said the ministry was working to maintain educational activities despite difficult humanitarian and security conditions by introducing virtual schools and establishing more than 700 educational centers and temporary schools in tents. According to ministry of education figures, 21,806 students and educational staff members have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank since the war began. READ: MSF

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  IFJ calls for international solidarity and medical evacuations for Gaza journalists

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on Wednesday called for greater international solidarity with journalists in the Gaza Strip, reporting that more than 212 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces since 7th October 2023. In a statement, the federation said dozens of journalists had also been injured, while others remained missing, describing the past three years as one of the deadliest periods in the history of journalism. It also expressed concern over the lack of accountability for attacks on media workers. The IFJ urged journalists’ unions and associations worldwide to pressure their governments to facilitate the evacuation of sick and injured journalists from Gaza so they can receive specialized medical treatment abroad. The federation said more

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Gideon Levi: Netanyahu ignores warnings of imminent attack

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Fozzie Miller: Is Yemen on the brink of a major change?

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  Rabat protest calls for cutting ties with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hundreds of people protested outside Morocco’s parliament in Rabat on Wednesday, calling for an end to diplomatic ties with Israel and the cancellation of the normalisation agreement between the two countries. The protest, held in solidarity with Palestinians, marked the third anniversary of Israel’s war on Gaza, which Palestinians, several UN officials and human rights groups have described as genocide. The protesters raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including “Long live Palestine… long live the resistance”, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. They also carried banners reading “No to normalisation and no to exchanging ambassadors” and “No ambassador, no embassy”. READ: Moroccan opposition leader: We are not Israelis; we support Palestine, King, government and people The protesters reiterated their opposition to the normalisation

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  The lists are growing: Will Israel finally pay a price?

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Let’s start with the good news. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has added 61 companies to its database of businesses involved in activities linked to illegal Israeli settlements, expanding the list from 158 to 214 companies. Why is this good news? Because it further illustrates a degree of seriousness within the international community to move its position on Israel from the realm of language to that of action. Yet more good news: five previously listed companies were removed after the Office determined that their involvement in the relevant activities had ended. This matters because it suggests that the mechanism can work: sustained scrutiny can influence corporate behaviour, and supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine can

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  Israeli poll finds only 37% believe Israel won Gaza war

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Only 37 per cent of Israelis believe their country won its war on the Gaza Strip, while 63 per cent believe an attack similar to the 7th October 2023 assault could happen again, according to an Israeli opinion poll published on Wednesday. The findings were published by Israel’s Channel 13 in a poll marking the third anniversary of its war on Gaza, which began in October 2023 and has been described as genocide by Palestinians, UN officials and rights groups. The poll was conducted by HaMadad and surveyed 1,013 people, with a margin of error of 2.5 per cent. READ: Israeli banks fear new sanctions over West Bank settlement financing: Report According to the findings, 37 per cent of respondents said

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  Iraq asks Syria to help export oil via its territory, bypassing Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iraq has directly asked Syria to help with oil exports, Bloomberg reported wednesday, citing sources. Syria is preparing to provide a secure route for Iraqi crude oil exports to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, “with a stream of trucks being lined up to haul oil overland to a port on the Mediterranean Sea,” the report said. The Iraqi government has asked Syria to help export crude oil as well as fuel, Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Yousef Qablawi told Bloomberg in an interview.  “I expect the export of Iraqi crude via Syria by trucks to start as soon as possible as the deal between both governments is almost done,” Qiblawy said. “So, hopefully, by mid-October the first chain of trucks with

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  Syria denies reports of joining Yemen war, says it has no plans to open new fronts

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Syria on Wednesday denied reports that it could join the war in Yemen, while stressing its support for Saudi Arabia in confronting threats to its security and saying its regional policy was not based on “opening new fronts”. Earlier on Wednesday, international reports claimed that Saudi Arabia had asked Syria to deploy troops to fight the Houthis, and that Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa discussed the possibility of providing military assistance during his visit to the kingdom on Tuesday. Al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, where they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, economic cooperation and Syria’s reconstruction, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. READ: After years of displacement, Syrian Christians return home as children go back

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  Ben-Gvir calls for Palestinian Authority to be disarmed

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday called for the Palestinian Authority to be disarmed, claiming this was necessary to prevent an attack from the occupied West Bank similar to the 7th October 2023 attack.  In a video posted on X, Ben-Gvir said “I am standing here at the seam line near Tulkarm, just a few metres from Highway 6, not far from Netanya, Kfar Saba and the Sharon communities in central Israel, to issue a warning.” “We must not repeat the same mistake. We must not wait until the events of 7th October reach this area as well.”  READ: 28% of Israeli police officers resigned since Ben-Gvir took office: Report “We must disarm the Palestinian Authority, clear the

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  The shadow of Balfour: Confronting a century of selective memory

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  As the 2nd November 1917 anniversary of the infamous Balfour Declaration approaches, we are reminded of the fateful promise issued by the British government that would go on to define much of historical Palestine ever since. Eight years after issuing his government’s infamous pledge to establish a Jewish “national home” in Palestine—a promise that would later evolve into today’s Israel—Arthur Balfour visited Palestine for the first time in the spring of 1925. He was met by the Arab population, who constituted the overwhelming majority at the time, with a wave of fierce protests and general strikes. They acutely recognized that what he had set into motion in 1917 was the first structural nail driven by Great Britain—then governing Palestine under

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  France summons Iranian ambassador over alleged disinformation on student protests

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  France summoned Iran’s ambassador to Paris on Wednesday over what it described as a “disinformation campaign” by Iranian authorities concerning student protests in France, according to a Foreign Ministry statement, Anadolu reports. The ambassador was told that content disseminated online by official Iranian Foreign Ministry accounts was “absolutely unacceptable ” and false, the statement said. It said the ambassador was summoned at the request of Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. France also rejected as unfounded a summons issued Tuesday to its ambassador in Tehran, according to the statement. “These disgraceful provocations must stop,” the ministry said, adding: “The summoning of our Ambassador in Tehran on 6 October was unfounded.” On Tuesday, Iran summoned the French ambassador in Tehran over the French

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  French court suspends ban on pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  A French administrative court on Wednesday suspended a ban imposed Tuesday on a pro-Palestinian demonstration planned in Paris for the evening, allowing the rally to proceed, according to the court, Anadolu reports. The court said the demonstration did not constitute a “trouble to public order.” The rally, called by the Urgence Palestine collective “against the genocide in Gaza and for respect for the ceasefire,” can therefore go ahead Wednesday evening. Paris police chief Patrice Faure had banned the demonstration Tuesday at the request of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, citing “significant risks of public disorder.” Faure said the decision was also based on a “high terrorist threat” and what he called antisemitic acts that “remain at historically high levels” across France.

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  Egypt ‘categorically’ rejects invoking Sinai in Israeli finance minister’s remarks

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Egypt “categorically” rejected Wednesday dragging the Sinai Peninsula into remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an informed source told Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA), Anadolu reports. Responding to a query about Smotrich’s statements during the last two days, the source said Egypt “categorically” rejects any attempt to invoke Sinai in his remarks. The source described the statements as “empty threats,” noting that they coincide with Egypt’s celebrations marking the 53rd anniversary of its victory in the October 1973 war. The source said the statements “did not warrant any further assurances regarding Egypt’s ability to protect its territory and safeguard its independence against any threats.” The source described Smotrich’s remarks concerning Sinai and the displacement of Palestinians from

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  Israeli banks fear new sanctions over West Bank settlement financing: Report

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Israeli banks fear new international sanctions over financing settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, particularly measures planned by Britain, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The newspaper said the Association of Banks in Israel had prepared an assessment warning that anticipated British sanctions could affect Israeli financial institutions. The measures could target entities involved in settlement construction or financing, extending beyond those implicated in violence by Israeli occupiers, according to the report. Banks are declining to clarify whether they will provide guarantees to contractors seeking to participate in government tenders for the E1 settlement project between Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement. Located east of Jerusalem, the project aims to connect Maale Adumim to the city through the

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  Ancient crocodilian found in rocks that built Great Sphinx: Study

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Fossils recovered from the same limestone formation used to build Egypt’s Great Sphinx belong to a distinct extinct crocodilian that lived about 45 million years ago, researchers said Tuesday. The animal, named Herugavialis cairensis, inhabited the shallow tropical sea that once covered what is now northern Egypt, according to a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Its remains came from the Mokattam Formation, a thick limestone deposit containing fossils of fish, sharks and early whales, according to the study. It said stone quarried from the formation was later used in some of ancient Egypt’s best-known monuments, including the Great Sphinx and the Giza pyramids. The key specimen, a nearly complete skull uncovered during the 1920s, had previously

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  Israel isolating Palestinian journalist for 46 days and counting

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Israeli prison authorities have continued to hold Palestinian journalist and administrative detainee Bushra al-Tawil in isolation for 46 straight days, Palestinian prisoners’ organizations said Wednesday. The Palestinian Prisoner Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, and the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said in a statement that Tawil, 33, was transferred to Ohalei Oz isolation facility in Beersheba in southern Israel. She was moved there from Neve Tirza prison in central Israel after being held in isolation at Damon prison in Haifa in northern Israel, according to the statement. The groups said the repeated transfers and continued isolation have prevented her legal team from visiting her, despite several requests submitted by lawyers from the Commission

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  Israeli forces demolish East Jerusalem building as occupiers injure 2 Palestinians in West Bank

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished a five-story residential building housing 70 Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, while two Palestinians were injured in attacks by Israeli occupiers and soldiers carried out raids across the West Bank, according to local authorities and media, Anadolu reports. Israeli forces demolished the building that contains 10 apartments in the Al-Tur neighborhood, a day after residents were given a final demolition notice, the Jerusalem Governorate said. “Israeli authorities had pursued the residents for years with demolition orders and fines while refusing to issue them building permits,” the governorate added in a statement. Witnesses said Israeli authorities forced residents to evacuate their apartments before the demolition, while extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the site

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  Israeli strikes kill 4 Palestinians, including teen, civil defense medic

  by Marwa A on October 7, 2026

  Four Palestinians, including a teen and a civil defense medic, were killed and others injured in Israeli attacks Wednesday, Anadolu reports. In the latest attacks, a Palestinian was killed and others were injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting a tent sheltering displaced people in the Al-Buraq neighborhood, west of Khan Younis, a medical source at Nasser Hospital told Anadolu. A volunteer medic was killed in Israeli attacks targeting several areas across the Gaza Strip, another medical source said. The medic was working with the Palestinian Civil Defense. He was killed in an airstrike while he was heading to help wounded people near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, the source told Anadolu. In southern Gaza, the body of a