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

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  Iran pushes for coordination mechanism for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  A senior US State Department official said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun about establishing a ceasefire and resuming talks in the future. The official said that following those discussions, the United States began operating a monitoring mechanism through the US Central Command (CENTCOM) to provide decision-makers in Washington with accurate and real-time information on the fighting in Lebanon. The official added that Israeli and Lebanese representatives will be in Washington for three days this week to continue discussions. The source did not specify whether the monitoring mechanism is separate from the deconfliction mechanism in Lebanon announced earlier by US Vice-President JD Vance. The disclosure

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  Trump curbs Israel across multiple fronts, Israeli media reports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  Israeli television has reported that US President Donald Trump is placing increasing restrictions on Israel not only in Lebanon, but across multiple fronts, with growing US limitations on both the Israeli military and government. According to the report, Israel’s political leadership has issued new instructions to the military regarding what is permitted in Lebanon. Under the guidelines, Israeli forces are allowed to operate freely within the so-called yellow line and to counter immediate threats, but are prohibited from carrying out operations in Beirut and Tyre. A senior Israeli official told Israel’s Channel 13: “The message we have received from the Americans in recent weeks is clear: you had permission to operate without restrictions, and that period is over.” Israeli Chief

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  Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting Palestinian children, UN says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  Israel continues to commit genocide and other atrocity crimes by deliberately targeting Palestinian children, a UN report said on Tuesday. “Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in the West Bank,” read the report published by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. The commission said it had concluded last year that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and found that the intense scale and systematic nature of the Israeli military operations have continued, causing unprecedented death, injury and trauma among Palestinian children. “The deliberate targeting of children is one

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  Secret meeting held between senior Hamas officials and French delegation

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  A secret meeting was recently held between senior officials from Hamas’s political bureau and a French delegation that included current and former diplomats as well as members of the French parliament. The report was published by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday, citing Palestinian sources. According to the report, the meeting was the first of its kind since the 7 October attack. Two Palestinian sources said the meeting took place “not long ago” in a country in the region, but declined to disclose its exact location. The sources described the meeting as “highly confidential”, noting that some countries and Palestinian factions were informed of it only shortly before it took place or shortly afterwards. Two senior Hamas officials confirmed

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  Senior church delegation from Jerusalem visits Gaza, backs humanitarian and health efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  A senior church delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip on Monday, including Patriarch of the Holy City and All Palestine and Jordan Theophilos III, and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by humanitarian and health officials and representatives of international relief organisations. The visit aims to express solidarity and assess the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave. In a statement received by Quds Press, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate said the visit reflects the responsibility of the churches of Jerusalem towards their local counterparts and the people of Gaza, amid the severe humanitarian conditions facing Palestinians and the continued suffering of thousands of families who have lost relatives and homes during the war. The statement said the delegation also

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  Israeli government funds plan to turn Palestinian archaeological site into settler facility

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  Far-right Israeli Knesset member Zvi Sukkot has announced a new settlement project targeting the archaeological site of Fasayel Pools in the occupied Jordan Valley, through a plan to restore the site and turn it into a tourist resort and organised swimming area for settlers in the coming months. The project will receive direct government funding of 3 million shekels allocated by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. In statements published on his social media accounts and by Israeli media outlets, Sukkot said the project aims to rehabilitate the site known in Israel as Herod’s Pools. He claimed the area had suffered from neglect and vandalism, accusing Palestinians in the region of “stealing water” and causing the ancient pools to dry up.

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  Iraq’s search for a national consolation prize in football

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  History has not been kind to Iraqis. For more than two decades, they have lived without a single contemporary symbol capable of restoring even a fragment of their shattered national dignity. And so, they turn backwards. They return to a sentimental museum of figures who once embodied a different Iraq: al‑Rasafi, al‑Sayyab, Nazem al‑Ghazali, Yusuf al‑Ani, Salim al‑Basri, Ali al‑Wardi… and, in the present, Kadim Al Sahir—perhaps the last remaining “consolation prize” in a landscape disfigured by sectarian politics, corruption, and cultural decay. These names are not mere cultural icons. They are compensatory symbols, emotional substitutes for a present that offers little to believe in. Iraqis who cannot find a state that respects them, a political system that represents them,

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  Report: US-mediated Lebanon-Israel talks to address possible Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  A new round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel is expected to focus on the possibility of a gradual Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, according to a report by the Israeli news website Walla. The talks, scheduled to begin in Washington on Tuesday under US mediation, will mark the fifth round of discussions between the two sides since negotiations began in April. According to Walla, citing unnamed Israeli sources, participants are expected to discuss a phased Israeli withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon that Israeli officials believe do not pose an immediate security threat to communities along the border. The report said Israeli officials are considering withdrawing from positions that “do not allow for direct fire towards

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  Report: Former Shin Bet chief evacuated from UAE following security warning

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and his wife were reportedly evacuated from the United Arab Emirates and returned to Israel after Israeli security agencies received warnings of a potential threat against him, according to Israeli media reports. Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Monday that the evacuation was carried out urgently after security services received intelligence indicating a possible Iranian threat targeting Bar during a visit to the UAE. According to the broadcaster, the warning related to concerns that the former intelligence chief could be targeted while attending a private security gathering in the country. The report cited unnamed sources who said Bar and his wife were subsequently removed from the UAE and returned to Israel under heightened security measures.

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  UN warns against secessionist salls in Sweida and reaffirms support for Syrian unity

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  A senior UN official has warned that calls for secession in Syria’s southern Sweida province could undermine the country’s unity and territorial integrity, urging dialogue and confidence-building measures to address growing tensions. Addressing a UN Security Council session on Syria, Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria, stressed the importance of preserving national cohesion during a critical period for the country. Cordone said that secessionist rhetoric poses a challenge to efforts aimed at maintaining Syria’s unity and called on all parties to pursue dialogue and political engagement. He also warned that hate speech continues to threaten social cohesion and could hamper attempts to rebuild the country after years of conflict. According to Cordone, the United Nations

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  EU condemns Ben-Gvir’s call to burn Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  The European Union on Monday strongly condemned remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suggesting that Lebanon “must burn,” describing such rhetoric as unacceptable while reaffirming support for Lebanese sovereignty and stability, Anadolu agency reported. Asked about Ben-Gvir’s comments and ongoing discussions among EU members on possible sanctions against the minister, a European Commission spokesperson said the bloc condemns “in the strongest possible terms” such discourse. “Let me be clear, the EU strongly condemns this in the strongest possible terms, such discourse,” Anouar El Anouni told reporters at a daily briefing. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said last week that several member states support imposing sanctions on Ben-Gvir, but there was no consensus, as has been the case

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  US temporarily eases sanctions on Iranian oil sector under new understanding with Tehran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  The United States has suspended key sanctions on Iran’s oil sector for 60 days, marking the first major economic measure implemented under the recently announced Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran. The US Treasury Department announced on Monday the issuance of a temporary general licence authorising transactions related to the production, sale, transport and delivery of Iranian oil and petroleum products until 21st August 2026. The measure also covers petrochemical products of Iranian origin and permits associated financial transactions and payments connected to authorised activities. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the decision was linked to ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two countries. READ: Iran exports 36M barrels of oil since US-Iran agreement announced The move comes “in line

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  Thousands rally for Palestine in Chile as activists pursue UN action against Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 23, 2026

  Thousands of people took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Chilean capital over the weekend, while a group of lawyers announced plans to submit a petition to the United Nations calling for action against Israel. The march, held under the slogan “The Resistance Continues,” drew supporters from a range of social, cultural and human rights organizations, according to organizers. Participants gathered outside the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center before marching through central Santiago to Aviation Square in the Providencia district. Organisers said the demonstration was intended to express solidarity with Palestinians and protest Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Chilean newspaper La Tercera reported that organizers estimated attendance at around 5,000 people. Local media said

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  Lebanon building damage in Israeli attacks estimated at $1.38B

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  The direct cost of damage to buildings in southern Lebanon due to the recent Israeli offensive on the country exceeded $1.38 billion, with rubble estimated at around 3.1 million cubic meters, a UN agency and a Lebanese research center said Monday. The assessment report was released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Lebanon’s government-linked National Council for Scientific Research It found that 11,095 buildings were completely destroyed, affecting 17,891 housing units, while 2,242 buildings were partially damaged, equivalent to 5,219 housing units. The report also revealed that 9,311 buildings sustained minor damage, equivalent to 18,282 housing units. The assessment covers areas south of the Litani River, including the districts of Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Tyre, and Sidon. READ: Israeli

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  UN committee warns Palestinian children increasingly unprotected amid pressure on rights groups

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on Monday warned that Palestinian children are being left increasingly unprotected as human rights defenders and humanitarian organizations are forced to halt or scale back their work in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the committee strongly condemned what it described as Israel’s recent tactics of labeling human rights defenders and civil society organizations as “terrorists.” It said the measures have been accompanied by military raids, travel bans, financial sanctions, threats of arrest, destruction of records and threats of secondary sanctions against partners supporting their work. The committee expressed concern that organizations assisting children are being forced to curtail operations because of

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  Iran exports 36M barrels of oil since US-Iran agreement announced

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  Iran has exported 36 million barrels of crude oil since a memorandum of understanding with the US was announced, according to ship-tracking platform TankerTrackers. “Iran has exported 36 million barrels of crude oil since 2026-06-15. There is roughly an equal amount still afloat in Iran,” it wrote on the US social media company X. On June 14, Iran and the US announced they had reached a 14-point understanding through Pakistani mediation, aimed at ending the war and resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiations. The memorandum entered into force on June 18 after being electronically signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump. Its provisions include ending hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, reopening the Strait of

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  Rubio to visit UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain to discuss Iran deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain this week to discuss regional security following a memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran, the State Department announced Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that Rubio’s trip, which will take place on June 23-25, will focus on “a range of regional priorities including the memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and free safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region.” In Bahrain, Rubio is scheduled to meet representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to discuss shared regional priorities and cooperation on key

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  Vance reiterates claim Iran agreed to nuclear inspections, Tehran denies

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance on Monday reiterated his claim that Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, while Tehran denies making any new commitments on its nuclear program, Anadolu Agency reports. “We have the Iranians allowing weapons inspectors, nuclear inspectors into their country for the first time in a long time. We’re obviously going to bolster that inspection regime to make sure they can never have a nuclear weapon,” Vance told reporters before departing Switzerland after talks with Iranian officials. Vance said the new round of negotiations in Burgenstock laid “a foundation for what could be a truly transformed Middle East,” while stressing that a final agreement has not yet been reached. Technical-level discussions between

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  US Treasury issues 60-day license for Iranian oil as part of emerging nuclear framework

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  The US Treasury Department has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil as part of an emerging nuclear framework, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Monday, Anadolu reports. “Under President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, we continue to make the world safer and more prosperous,” Bessent wrote in a post on US social media platform X. Bessent said: “In line with the ongoing productive talks in Switzerland, Iran has committed to free and open transit in the Strait of Hormuz,” also claiming that Iran agreed “to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors into their country.” “As part of the framework, Treasury has issued a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the

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  Palestinian rights group calls for release of 3 pregnant women held by Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  A prisoner advocacy group called Monday for urgent intervention to secure the release of three pregnant Palestinian women held by Israel under “harsh” and “tragic” conditions at Damon Prison, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoner Society held the Israeli authorities fully responsible for the fate of Amina al-Taweel, Dana Jouda and Manar Ibrahim, saying they are among 93 Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons, most of them at Damon Prison in northern Israel. “The women are being held under severe conditions and in unprecedented isolation, with the International Committee of the Red Cross still barred from visiting prisoners since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza,” the group said. “Their families are also denied visits, like all Palestinian

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  US vice president says ‘very good foundation’ laid for final Iran deal after Burgenstock talks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance said Monday that negotiations with Iran at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland had made significant progress, adding that the parties had laid a “very good foundation” for reaching a final agreement, Anadolu reports. “Yesterday was a very, very good day. We made a lot of good progress,” Vance told reporters after talks involving US and Iranian officials, alongside mediators from Qatar and Pakistan. He said the discussions achieved several key objectives, including establishing mechanisms to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and a deconfliction mechanism between Israel and Lebanon. The arrangement is intended to ensure that “when things happen, the sides are actually talking to one another,” and to prevent tensions from spiraling into a

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  Europe’s matrix of indifference

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  I am angry, and have been for days. This time the reason was not the catastrophic, bleeding injustice of what is happening day after day to our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the Middle East. They will understandably sigh at our domestic plight, given their immense pain, suffering and the world’s criminal indifference to their survival. But this is not to undermine the global seriousness of the state of the Ummah; rather, it is a recognition that the very same malice that is destroying Palestine and its people is being allowed to fester unchecked on the streets of Europe. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, warned explicitly against reckless anger, famously stating in a narration found in Sahih al-Bukhari that,

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  Israeli army kills 2 Palestinians in southern occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  The Israeli army killed two Palestinians and wounded two others in the southern occupied West Bank early Monday, the Health Ministry said. A ministry statement said Reda Awad, 15, and Issa Awad, 19, were killed by Israeli fire in the town of Beit Ummar, northwest of Hebron. The official news agency Wafa, citing security sources, said Israeli forces left both victims bleeding for an extended period before withholding their bodies. Two other young men were also wounded by Israeli gunfire and transferred to a hospital, with their condition reported as stable. In a statement, the Israeli army claimed the individuals had thrown Molotov cocktails toward the illegal settlement of Karmi Tzur. READ: Olmert: Israel is running a state-funded campaign of settler

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  Israeli army demolishes Palestinian home near Bethlehem

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  The Israeli army demolished a Palestinian-owned home in the town of Al-Khader, near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on Monday, claiming it had been built without a permit, Anadolu reports. The single-story, approximately 100-square-meter home belonged to Palestinian Muhammad Ali Salim Musa. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli forces raided and surrounded the Umm Rukbe area south of Al-Khader before carrying out the demolition. WAFA said the Umm Rukbe area has long been subjected to Israeli measures, including demolitions, construction-stop orders and demolition notices. READ: Protest in West Bank over illegal settler outpost as Israeli forces intervene and detain protesters Palestinian officials say such practices are aimed at increasing pressure on residents, forcing them off their land

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  Israeli Cabinet minister rejects ceasefire, says Lebanon ‘should be Israel’s playground’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called Monday for rejecting any ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, saying the Arab country “should be Israel’s playground,” as opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman called a US-Iran agreement “the biggest political disaster” since Israel’s creation. “Israel cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” Ben-Gvir told Israel’s public broadcaster KAN in an interview. He urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convey Israel’s rejection of any ceasefire in Lebanon to US President Donald Trump. “Trump is a true friend, and we must treat him politely and embrace him, but we need to tell him that we cannot agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon,” Ben-Gvir said. “We are the ones making decisions, and there are good results for our

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  Germany rejects presence of Israeli troops on Lebanese territory

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  Germany said on Monday it is opposed to a permanent Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory following statements by Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz, who stated that his country would not withdraw from territory occupied in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. “The federal government’s position is quite clear: We reject a permanent presence of Israeli troops on Lebanese territory. Nor must the civilian population be prevented from returning to where they live,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese at a press briefing in Berlin. Giese’s remarks were underscored by government spokesman Stefan Kornelius, who reiterated German “support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity.” Katz claimed that Israeli forces have “no restriction” in Lebanon. “There was and is no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon

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  Israeli forces raid church-owned land in occupied East Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on June 22, 2026

  Israeli forces raided church-owned land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the town of Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday, in the latest move targeting Palestinian religious properties in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate said personnel from Israel’s so-called “Nature Authority” raided the church-owned land and forced the official in charge of overseeing the property to leave the site. The governorate said the land, owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, covers around 11 dunams (2.72 acres) and is located near the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan. According to the statement, Israeli authorities seized the land on June 15 and surrounded it with fences and gates, prompting the Patriarchate to

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  ‘Israel will have a war with Egypt in 15 years’: Zionist activist warns of future conflict after ‘weakening the Shia’

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  A prominent Zionist activist has predicted that Israel will be at war with Egypt within 15 years, arguing that the country’s next strategic challenge will come from Sunni Muslim powers after the weakening of Iran and its regional allies. Speaking at the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Amiad Cohen, chief executive of the Herut Center and a leading figure in Israel’s nationalist camp, warned that Egypt and Turkey pose a long-term threat to Israel and the wider West. “Fifteen years from now, Israel will have a war with Egypt.” Zionist activist Amiad Cohen tells Jewish News Syndicate Summit in Israel that a war with Egypt is on the horizon. pic.twitter.com/ctCsHsCVd7 — Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) June

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  Colombia’s Petro alleges Israeli interference in election, demands audit and recount

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Israel of interfering in Colombia’s presidential election, weeks after French prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged foreign interference targeting pro-Palestine candidates from La France Insoumise in local elections. French authorities suspect the campaign involved BlackCore, an Israeli cyber and influence firm, though they have not identified who commissioned the operation. In the latest case of alleged Israeli interference, Petro has raised serious irregularities in Colombia’s vote-counting process, claiming that changes to electoral server IP addresses indicate that the software may have been compromised. The Colombian president called for a full forensic audit, judicial oversight of the scrutiny process and a nationwide recount, while alleging that Israel was behind the purported interference. The claims emerged

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  Islamabad’s fragile bargain: Why Tehran and Washington need the truce to hold

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  When U.S. and Iranian negotiators left Switzerland on June 22, the important result was not a final peace treaty. Mediators said the two sides had made “encouraging progress” toward a 60-day roadmap, established political oversight, and begun further technical talks. That matters. But it does not erase the fact that the path from a ceasefire to a durable settlement remains crowded with unresolved questions: Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, the future of shipping through Hormuz, and the fighting in Lebanon. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding should therefore not be read as a clean victory for either Tehran or Washington, much less as proof that both have already won. It is better understood as a provisional mutual exit from a war

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  UK maritime agency reports attempted approach by armed men near Yemen coast

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a commercial tanker reported an encounter with a small boat carrying armed men off the coast of Yemen on Sunday. In a statement, UKMTO said it received a report of an incident approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Al-Shihr in eastern Yemen. According to the agency, the captain of a product tanker reported that a small craft carrying five armed individuals approached the vessel and appeared to be attempting to board it. The tanker responded by altering its course and carrying out evasive manoeuvres, moving away from the approaching boat. UKMTO said the vessel was able to continue its voyage safely and is proceeding to its next scheduled port of call. No

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  The Swiss summit of imperial humiliation

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  In Switzerland, amid the alpine calm where empires go to perfume panic as diplomacy, Iran delivered another masterclass in the ancient art of refusing to kneel. The Americans arrived with the usual imperial luggage: threats, ultimatums, sanctions theology, and that peculiar Washington habit of mistaking obedience for “peace.” Iran arrived with something far less fashionable and far more effective: leverage. Not the decorative leverage of think-tank seminars and cable-news generals, but the real kind — the kind that closes straits, terrifies markets, freezes war rooms, and forces the self-appointed masters of the universe to rediscover geography. The spectacle would be hilarious if it were not so historically obscene. For decades, Washington imagined Iran could be sanctioned into hunger, bombed into

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  Israeli authorities issue stop-work orders for homes and agricultural structures south of Bethlehem

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Israeli authorities issued stop-work orders on Sunday for a number of homes under construction and agricultural structures in the village of Wadi Rahal, south of Bethlehem, according to local Palestinian sources. The sources said Israeli forces delivered notices affecting eight residential buildings that were under construction, citing the absence of building permits. According to the reports, the affected properties belong to Othman Mahmoud Al-Fawaghra, Samer Da’na, Ismat Sand, Ibrahim Abu Srour, Adnan Abu Srour and Suha Mohammad Salim, while the ownership of two additional structures was not immediately known. The notices also included an order halting work on an extension to an existing home, as well as two agricultural structures belonging to Othman Mahmoud Al-Fawaghra and Samih Abdul Karim Rahal.

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  Trump says Hamas ‘not causing many problems’ as focus shifts to Iran talks

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has said Hamas is currently playing a limited role in regional tensions, arguing that the priority for Washington should be securing an agreement with Iran. In remarks to Fox News, Trump said Hamas “isn’t causing a lot of problems right now” in the Gaza Strip and suggested that ongoing diplomatic efforts should be given time to develop. The president linked broader regional stability to the outcome of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which are currently underway in Switzerland. “The main focus of the United States should be on reaching an agreement with Iran,” Trump said, adding that “many other issues will find their way to resolution once the Iranian issue is resolved.” His comments come as

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  Trump says Syria could play larger role against Hezbollah, criticises Israeli performance

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has suggested that Syria could assume a greater role in efforts against Hezbollah, while expressing frustration with Israel’s ability to weaken the Lebanese group. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he was considering giving Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa a broader role in addressing the Hezbollah issue. “I’m about to give the order to enter southern Lebanon to Ahmed al-Sharaa because he will do a more precise job,” Trump said. The US president also criticised Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, arguing that Israeli operations had failed to achieve their stated objectives. Trump said he was disappointed that Israel “cannot eliminate Hezbollah” and claimed that the Israeli military “cannot do anything without demolishing buildings.” The remarks

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  Report: Trump administration establishing contacts with Israeli opposition figures amid political uncertainty

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly established contacts with prominent Israeli opposition figures amid growing expectations of political change in Israel and continuing tensions between Washington and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, officials within the Trump administration believe there is a significant possibility that Israel could see a change in government, prompting informal outreach to opposition leaders. The report said US officials have held contacts with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as part of efforts to maintain communication channels across Israel’s political spectrum. Channel 12 reported that some officials in Washington are concerned about the influence of hardline factions within Netanyahu’s governing coalition and

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  Palestinian detainee Saber Al-Amital dies in Israeli custody

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Palestinian detainee Saber Al-Amital from the Negev region has reportedly died in Israeli custody, Palestinian rights groups announced on Sunday, calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. According to family members, Al-Amital had no known pre-existing medical conditions before his arrest earlier this month. Al-Amital was detained by Israeli authorities on 4June and was interrogated by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, according to Palestinian sources. The sources said he was denied access to legal counsel during his detention. According to information provided by his family, Al-Amital appeared before a court the day after his arrest and told the judge that he was in good health. The court subsequently approved extending his detention until June 11 on

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  Hezbollah: direct negotiations with Israel based on ‘wrong premise’, lead to submission

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Lebanon’s Hezbollah has condemned direct negotiations with Israel and the outcomes they may produce, describing the approach as “flawed and suspicious” and aimed at “submission and surrender”. In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said the rounds of direct talks involving a Lebanese government delegation in Washington were taking place under what it described as US-imposed conditions that undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and shift its political position towards “those reconciled with the Zionist occupation”. Hezbollah said the “reconciliation-based” negotiations were unlikely to achieve any positive results because, in its view, they are founded on submission and surrender. The group reiterated its condemnation of what it called the obstructive role of the talks, arguing that they hinder efforts to confront Israeli

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  Israel plans to reduce forces in southern Lebanon under US pressure ahead of Lebanese army deployment

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The Israeli army is expected to reduce the size of its ground forces operating in southern Lebanon, according to a report published on Sunday by Israeli public broadcaster KAN. The broadcaster said the gradual reduction is due to the fact that “most offensive missions have been completed and there is no longer a need for all the soldiers currently deployed in the security zone”. KAN added that another reason is an expected meeting this week between Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams, during which pilot areas in southern Lebanon will be defined. According to the report, these areas will be free of Hezbollah, with the Lebanese army taking responsibility for them to test its ability to prevent the group from re-establishing

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  Huckabee repeats claim despite Trump remarks: US would not exist without Israel

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has repeated his claim that the United States would not exist without Israel, despite comments by US President Donald Trump that Israel would not exist without the United States. Speaking at a conference organised by the Jewish News Agency in West Jerusalem on Sunday, Huckabee said he had sparked controversy when he stated that “without Israel and its Jewish foundation, there would be no America.” He argued that Western civilisation was built on Jewish and Judeo-Christian foundations. “Without that, there would be no United States. It’s that simple,” Huckabee said. He also claimed that he feels safer in Jerusalem than in Washington. Huckabee noted that US-Israeli relations had experienced tensions over the past week,

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  ‘Losing bet’: Hebrew media reports failure of armed militias to challenge Hamas in Gaza

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Despite months of attempts by Israel to support local armed groups in the Gaza Strip as an alternative to Hamas, growing Israeli media reports indicate that the experiment has failed to achieve its objectives, amid widespread public rejection of these groups and accusations that their members have committed abuses against civilians. In this context, the Hebrew news website Zman Yisrael published a lengthy report concluding that more than 99 per cent of Gaza’s residents still live under Hamas rule, while the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to rely on armed militias that cooperate with the Israeli military despite their limited influence on the ground. The report said these groups had failed to pose a genuine challenge to

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  Hebrew Media: Warnings mount in Israel over politicisation of judiciary

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Israeli media reported that the Supreme Court held a heated hearing on Sunday on a bill aimed at changing the judicial selection committee, amid warnings that the move could politicise the judiciary. The bill was proposed by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January 2023, with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, as part of a wider judicial reform plan. According to Israel’s official public broadcaster KAN, the court held a lengthy session to consider petitions filed against the proposed legislation. The broadcaster described the bill as one of the key elements of the judicial reform programme led by Levin, which has sparked deep political and legal divisions in Israel, particularly since 2023. Several Supreme Court judges voiced

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  Hezbollah rejects Israel’s ‘free rein’ to carry out attacks amid Lebanon ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday rejected any ceasefire that grants Israel a “free rein” to carry out attacks in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. “They said a ceasefire means that Hezbollah will not fire, while Israel will remain free to act, to kill wherever it wants, and to advance wherever it wants. This is called a continuation of the aggression, and we will not accept it,” Qassem said in a televised speech. “There is no such thing as a ceasefire with freedom of movement for Israel,” he stressed. The Hezbollah chief said a ceasefire means “a complete cessation of aggression by air, land, and sea, and a halt to destruction.” “The continued presence of the Israeli army on Lebanese soil is

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  Iran says Switzerland talks with US focus on ending war, easing sanctions, releasing frozen assets

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that talks in Switzerland are focused on implementing key provisions of the June 18 memorandum of understanding with the US, including ending the war, easing sanctions, and releasing frozen Iranian assets, Anadolu reports. Iran “is determined to pursue the implementation of the other side’s commitments with precision and seriousness,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in comments carried by state broadcaster IRIB. He said the Switzerland meeting was convened to follow up on the implementation of the memorandum ending the war, adding that Article 13 makes the start of negotiations on a final agreement “conditional” on the implementation of Articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11. “Without the implementation of these provisions, particularly Article 1, which

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  Iranian side ‘very straight’, handled crisis to de-escalate: Pakistani Premier Sharif

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday described the Iranian side as “very straight” and said its leadership had handled the Middle East crisis with “a sense of dignity” in efforts to de-escalate tensions during ongoing talks in Switzerland, Anadolu reports. “They genuinely mean promoting peace in the region,” Sharif told reporters. “So is (US) President (Donald) Trump. I have no second thought about the fact that he is the man of peace. He has demonstrated that during the war between Pakistan and India, when the two countries were very close to a nuclear flashpoint,” he added. Sharif is in Switzerland as United States and Iranian delegations hold technical negotiations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday

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  Germany warns against Strait of Hormuz tolls

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned on Sunday against establishing a toll system for the Strait of Hormuz following the end of the US-Iran war, Anadolu reports. The sea lane, which is crucial for global energy supplies, must remain freely navigable—this is a principle of the law of the sea, the German Press Agency (dpa) cited the minister as saying at a public forum at the Foreign Ministry during the German government’s Open House in Berlin. Wadephul noted that the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran contains unclear wording, “which at least calls for a degree of skepticism as to whether this is truly 100 percent guaranteed.” READ: Trump says ‘no tolls’ in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days,

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  Trump says Israel unable to ‘put Hezbollah away,’ suggests Syria could do it

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Israel’s handling of Hezbollah, saying it has failed to decisively defeat the Lebanese group and relies too heavily on destructive military tactics, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Israel has been unable to “put Hezbollah away.” “I am disappointed Israel cannot put Hezbollah away,” he said. Trump also criticized Israel’s military approach in Lebanon. “They can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” he said. READ: Trump warns Iran to stop ‘proxies in Lebanon’ or US will hit Tehran ‘very hard again’ The US president suggested that Syria’s leadership could be more effective in dealing with the group. “I am close to giving this to Syria,” Trump said in terms of dealing with

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  Turkish foreign minister warns US-Iran talks may face setbacks, says Israel could sabotage process

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday said that technical issues remaining in the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran may not be easy to resolve quickly and warned that Israel could sabotage the process, Anadolu reports. “These are important issues. It may not be easy to immediately resolve their technical details. We may see deadlocks from time to time. We need to be prepared for that. Secondly, of course, there is always an Israel waiting in the corner, ready to sabotage the process as soon as it finds the opportunity,” Fidan told Anadolu in Cairo. He made the remarks during his visit to the Egyptian capital for the Fourth Consultative Meeting of the Foreign Ministers

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  FIFA’s double standard in global geopolitics

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup began surrounded by a contradiction that extends far beyond the boundaries of the football pitch. While FIFA insists on presenting football as a neutral space capable of uniting peoples and nations above political disputes, the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico has exposed a different reality: geopolitics continues to determine who can travel, compete and be represented at the world’s largest sporting event. In the opening weeks of the competition, referees were prevented from entering the United States, accredited professionals were deported, officials encountered visa obstacles, delegations faced immigration-related harassment and supporters had their travel plans disrupted by administrative decisions taken by US authorities. Perhaps the most symbolic case involved Haiti’s national

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  Iran’s negotiating team protests Trump ‘threats,’ says they violate memorandum of understanding

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iran’s negotiating team has protested US President Donald Trump’s “threats” during ongoing talks in Switzerland, arguing that the remarks constitute a “violation” of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. Citing the Iranian negotiating delegation, Tasnim reported that Trump’s threats against Iran and its negotiating team represent “a blatant violation” of the first article of the memorandum of understanding. According to the delegation, Article 1 of the memorandum requires the US to refrain from issuing a “threat.” Earlier on Sunday, Trump urged Iran to “immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble,” or Washington will hit Tehran “very hard again.” “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just