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

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  IOM warns El Obeid risks becoming ‘another El Fasher’ as fighting intensifies in Sudan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 6, 2026

  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that the Sudanese city of El Obeid could face a humanitarian catastrophe similar to that experienced in El Fasher if the conflict continues to escalate. In a video message published on Sunday on the organization’s X account, IOM Sudan Chief of Mission Mohamed Rifaat expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. “We are concerned that El Obeid will become like El Fasher, and if we do nothing, we will see another El Fasher,” Rifaat said. For about a month, El Obeid has been subjected to repeated drone attacks attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeting the city’s main power station, fuel facilities

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  Infant dies after delay at Israeli checkpoint; teenager killed during raid on Qalandiya Camp

  by Mehdi Editor on July 6, 2026

  A four-month-old Palestinian infant died on Sunday after his family prevented from reaching a hospital by Israeli forces at a military checkpoint west of Ramallah, according to Palestinian officials. Separately, a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed during an Israeli military raid on Qalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governor Laila Ghannam said doctors at the Arab Specialized Hospital declared the death of Ahmed Marouf Zeid, a four-month-old infant, after Israeli forces delayed his family’s passage for more than an hour at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Deir Ammar. According to Ghannam, the infant was being transported for urgent medical treatment when Israeli soldiers prevented the family from passing through the checkpoint. She further

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  Rights groups raise concerns over theft during Israeli military raids in the West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 6, 2026

  Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations say they have documented a growing number of incidents in which Israeli soldiers have stolen money, jewellery and other personal belongings during military raids on Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. According to testimonies collected by rights groups, incidents reported during Israeli military searches increasingly involve not only arrests and property damage but also the disappearance of cash, gold jewellery and other valuables. The organizations say the number of such allegations has risen significantly since October 2023, while victims report that complaints have not resulted in the return of their property or disciplinary action. Human rights groups state they have documented hundreds of cases in which Palestinian families reported discovering money, jewellery or

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  Israel’s relentless quest for a next enemy

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  For most of the past year, Israeli officials have described the aftermath of the war with Iran in confident, almost triumphant terms: a weakened adversary, its nuclear program set back, its regional proxies dismantled one by one. But even before that campaign had fully wound down, a new threat was already being sketched out in Jerusalem, in terms once reserved almost exclusively for Tehran. This one is harder to define, has no single capital, and, unlike Iran, comprises states that field some of the world’s most capable conventional militaries. The shift in language was deliberate, and it came from the top. On 17 February, Naftali Bennett, the former prime minister who is widely expected to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel’s

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  Israeli army launches air, artillery attacks in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  The Israeli army carried out an airstrike and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon on Sunday, in the latest violation of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media reported. The state news agency NNA said Israeli warplanes struck the Al-Hariq neighborhood between the towns of Kfartebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon. No information was yet available about injuries. According to the agency, Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of the southern town of Qantara, while an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade on the town of Mansouri in the Tyre district. Israeli forces also carried out an explosion in the town of Tayri in the Bint Jbeil district. The NNA also reported intensive Israeli drone flights over villages and towns surrounding the

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  2 Gazans killed in Israeli drone strike in new ceasefire violation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Two Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City on Sunday, in a new violation of an ongoing ceasefire deal, the Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the agency said a drone struck a group of civilians outside a water distribution station in the Al-Samer area, east of Gaza City, causing the casualties, the agency said in a statement. The Israeli army has continued daily attacks across the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed 1,066 people and injured 3,445 others since the ceasefire. Israel has also expanded its occupation to around 70% of Gaza’s territory, confining

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  Israeli forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque 26 times in June, Palestinian ministry says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem 26 times in June, while authorities prevented the call to prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on 84 occasions, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The figures were included in the ministry’s monthly report documenting Israeli violations against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque last month. According to the report, as many as 4,212 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compound through the Mughrabi Gate during morning and afternoon visits under Israeli police protection. The ministry said “Temple Mount” groups continued to call for intensified incursions into the compound and the imposition of “a new

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  Could Israel aid mission open the door to renewed Venezuela-Israel relations?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  The arrival of an Israeli aid delegation from the humanitarian organization NATAN in Venezuela, following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on 24th June, has triggered political controversy, particularly after images circulated showing members of the team wearing military uniforms and carrying the Israeli flag. The deployment is notable because Venezuela has had no formal diplomatic relations with Israel since 2009. Caracas has also been among the most prominent political and diplomatic supporters of South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, where Israel is accused of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. “Immediately after landing, the delegation members began a series of working meetings with local authorities, emergency services and other partners to assess the

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  Right to breathe: Unfiltered messages from Gaza to President Catherine Connolly

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  I recently had the chance to send a message to the President of Ireland, Her Excellency Catherine Connolly. President Connolly is a vocal supporter of Palestine and remains one of the few European heads of state to explicitly accuse Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza. She has a long history of this advocacy; while previously serving as a member of the Dáil Éireann—the lower house of the Irish Parliament—she famously argued that if Ireland couldn’t recognize Israel as a “terrorist state,” then the country was “in serious trouble.” The President’s sister, Dr. Margaret Connolly also joined the Global Sumud Flotilla—a multi-boat humanitarian convoy carrying medical supplies and food attempting to break the siege on Gaza.  In May 2026,

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  Israel releases 9 Palestinian detainees through Kerem Abu Salem crossing

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israel released nine Palestinian detainees it had held from the blockaded Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem border crossing on July 5, Anadolu reports. The detainees were handed over to teams from the International Committee of the Red Cross. They were then transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza for medical checks. The released Palestinians were reunited with their families at the hospital, where emotional scenes unfolded as relatives welcomed them back. Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israeli forces have continued carrying out airstrikes, shootings and demolitions across Gaza. Israel has expanded its control to around 70% of Gaza’s territory, confining Palestinians to less than 30% of the strip, according to local

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  Iranian parliament speaker says implementing memorandum ‘difficult but possible’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who headed negotiations with Washington, said on Sunday that implementing the memorandum of understanding with the US is “difficult but possible,” stressing diplomacy must preserve battlefield gains. Qalibaf made the remarks at a meeting with Mohammed Darwish, head of Hamas’ Leadership Council, on the sidelines of farewell ceremonies for slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, according to Iranian Students News Agency. He said diplomacy and negotiations should be able to resolve military deadlocks while preserving and consolidating what he described as the achievements of resistance forces. “This can only happen when the country remains fully prepared for defense alongside diplomacy,” Qalibaf said. Referring to the memorandum with Washington, he said negotiations reached

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  Cholera, measles, food shortages put 200,000 at risk in Sudan’s North Kordofan: Medics

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  More than 200,000 people, including over 20,000 children, are facing a worsening humanitarian and public health crisis in western Bara in Sudan’s North Kordofan State amid cholera and measles outbreaks and acute shortages of food and medicine, a Sudanese medical group warned Sunday, Anadolu reports. “More than 200,000 people, including over 20,000 children, are facing extremely harsh humanitarian conditions due to severe shortages of food and medicine, compounded by outbreaks of measles and cholera,” the Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement. The group said more than 100 cases of measles have been recorded among children at several health centers in Bara, in addition to 45 cholera cases, amid a sharp decline in health services and the absence of essential medical

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  Israeli government says it will not respect High Court verdict on broadcast regulator

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israel’s government said Sunday it will not recognize decisions made by the Council of the Second Authority, the country’s commercial broadcasting regulator, in defiance of a recent High Court ruling allowing the body to continue operating despite lacking a legal quorum, Anadolu reports. The Cabinet approved a declaration proposed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Justice Minister Yariv Levin stating that the government would not respect decisions, approvals, appointments or actions taken by the council in its current composition, according to The Times of Israel news website. The move could trigger a constitutional crisis by creating a situation in which the High Court considers the council’s decisions valid while the government refuses to implement them. In its resolution, the government argued

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  Qatar, France discuss Lebanon, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani received a phone call on Sunday from French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, during which the two sides discussed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments, particularly in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. According to a statement by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the call reviewed cooperation between Doha and Paris and ways to support and strengthen ties. The two officials also discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region, particularly after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran to end their military conflict. The talks also touched on the latest developments in Lebanon and a number of issues of mutual interest,

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  Netanyahu denies Trump restricted Israeli strikes in Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports Sunday that the US had restricted Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. “I heard it was said in the media that President Trump asked not to act against terror tunnels in Lebanon. This is a legend, fake news. He didn’t say anything to me about it, and I didn’t ask him. We operate according to our considerations,” Netanyahu said during a weekly Cabinet meeting. His remarks contradicted an earlier report by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN late last month that Israel had provided US officials with detailed intelligence on alleged Hezbollah tunnels in the Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon in an effort to obtain US approval for military operations in the area. The

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  Israeli army chief threatens Lebanon with ‘swift offensive’ from occupied Beaufort Castle

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Sunday threatened Lebanon with a “swift offensive” in the event of any violation of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, during a field visit to the occupied Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Israeli army said Zamir toured forces stationed in the Beaufort area, known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif, alongside senior military commanders. During the visit, Zamir called for transitioning to a “swift offensive” if the ceasefire agreement is breached. The statement quoted him as describing Beaufort Castle as a “strategic point dominating its surroundings” and claimed the area was “full of terrorist infrastructure.” Ignoring Israel’s near-daily violations of the ceasefire, Zamir also urged the Lebanese army to fulfill its

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  French President Macron to visit Syria, Syrian presidency says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Syria to discuss bilateral ties and address issues of mutual interest, Syria’s presidential media directorate said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Macron will be accompanied by a delegation of investors and representatives of French companies, the directorate added in a statement carried by the SANA news agency. Macron and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will hold a roundtable meeting with their respective delegations during the visit, it added, without specifying a date for the trip. If confirmed, the visit will be the first by the French president to Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in late 2024. READ: Syria reassures Lebanon it has no intention of military intervention

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  Iran, Qatar resume maritime trade after 5-month hiatus

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Iran and Qatar have resumed their maritime trade following roughly five months of suspension, Iran’s commercial attaché in Doha said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Maritime shipping between Iran’s Dayyer Port and Qatar’s Al Ruwais Port resumed following coordination between the Iranian Embassy in Doha and Qatari authorities, Abbas Abdolkhani added in statements carried by Iran’s state news agency IRNA. Tensions have escalated in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets, including Qatar. The fighting stopped on April 8 when Pakistan secured a ceasefire, and an initial memorandum was signed in June. Mediators, including Qatar, continue talks for a final deal. READ: Qatar

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  Cholera outbreak kills 30, infects 800 in West Kordofan: Sudanese group

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  A Sudanese relief group on Sunday reported 30 deaths from a cholera outbreak in West Kordofan state in western Sudan since June 20, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Dar Hamar Emergency Room said 800 people have also been infected with the disease during the same period. The organization said the outbreak was recorded in Wad Banda and Al-Nahud localities as well as neighboring villages in the state. “Statistics to date show 30 deaths and 800 cholera infections across more than 25 villages,” it said, appealing to humanitarian organizations and health authorities to intervene urgently to provide the medicines, intravenous fluids, and medical supplies needed to contain the epidemic. On Tuesday, the Sudanese Health Ministry said that 911 cholera cases, including

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  Israeli occupiers burn down restaurant in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to a restaurant in the occupied West Bank on Sunday after stealing money from there, local sources told Anadolu Agency. A group of occupiers broke into the restaurant near Al-Zaytouna University, between the towns of Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and Ammuriya, south of Nablus, the sources said. They smashed its doors, stole money, and set it on fire, completely destroying it, the sources stated, adding that the attack occurred under the protection of the Israeli army. The sources added that the restaurant served university students, and estimated the losses from the fire at around $300,000. In the central West Bank, Israeli occupiers, accompanied by their livestock, attacked an area surrounding Palestinian homes in the northern part of Sinjil,

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  Cargo vessel comes under attack off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, British maritime agency says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  A cargo ship came under attack on Sunday off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center said, Anadolu reports. UKMTO said it has received a report of an incident 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah. “A cargo vessel has triggered a distress alert stating that they are under attack by unknown armed assailants,” it added on US social media company X. Authorities are investigating the incident, the agency said, urging vessels operating in the area to exercise caution and report “any suspicious activity.” No further details were immediately available. READ: Houthis declare ‘total’ ban on Israeli maritime navigation in Red Sea

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  Egypt rules out ‘popular normalization’ with Israel without just peace, Palestinian state

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said there will be “no popular normalization” with Israel unless a just peace is achieved that ends the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Sisi’s remarks came during a Saturday speech at the inauguration ceremony for the State Strategic Command headquarters in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital east of Cairo, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency. “There will be no lasting peace, no true stability, and no popular normalization except with a just peace that ends the occupation, puts an end to injustice and aggression, restores rights to their rightful owners, and provides security for all,” the president said. A just peace would provide

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  Qatar resumes all maritime activity after week-long pause

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Qatar announced on Sunday that all maritime navigation activities would resume with immediate effect after nearly a week of suspension, Anadolu reports. “Maritime navigation activities can now resume normally for all types of maritime vessels & ships, as of the date of this announcement,” the Transport Ministry said on the US social media company X. It also called on “everyone to abide by the maritime regulations & instructions in effect, to ensure highest levels of safety & security for all trips.” The move reverses a June 29 advisory that suspended sailing and fishing activities until further notice while exempting commercial shipping. Doha did not explain the reasons for the June 29 measure. However, it came a day after the Qatari

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  Jailed Gaza hospital director faces life-threatening condition, lawyer says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the Gaza Strip, who has been detained by Israel since 2024, is facing an immediate threat to his life, Physicians for Human Rights said Saturday. Physicians for Human Rights said its lawyer, Nasser Odeh, documented serious injuries, signs of physical abuse, breathing difficulties and repeated episodes of loss of consciousness during a July 2 visit to Abu Safiya at the Rakefet detention facility in Nitzan Prison, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA on Saturday. Abu Safiya was brought to the meeting shackled at both hands and feet and escorted by masked prison guards, Odeh said. He reportedly showed fresh injuries and severe bruising around his head, eyes, ears and neck,

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  Israel’s Ben-Gvir to skip UN police summit in New York amid legal pressure: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is planning to skip a UN police chiefs conference in New York this week amid legal pressure over his prison policies and “involvement in war crimes,” Israeli media reported. Ben-Gvir’s office has yet to confirm the cancellation of the visit, the Jerusalem Post reported Saturday. The report came a day after the Israeli daily Haaretz, citing ministry officials, said the decision was made amid planned demonstrations against Ben-Gvir’s visit and growing calls by human rights groups for his investigation and arrest. Earlier in the week, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgium-based group known for filing legal cases against Israeli soldiers and officials around the world, urged US authorities to detain and prosecute Ben-Gvir over

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  Trump says Netanyahu asked for meeting at White House

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  US President Donald Trump told Axios on Saturday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked him for a meeting at the White House and it could take place as early as next week, Anadolu reports. “We get along very good. (Netanyahu) knows who the boss is,” Trump said in a brief phone interview. This would be the first meeting between the two leaders since their February Situation Room meeting, when Netanyahu presented his plan for a joint war against Iran. An Israeli official said next week could be too soon because of Trump’s trip to Türkiye for the NATO summit on July 7-8, saying the meeting “might take place the week after.” Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister called Trump

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  Iran holds mass funeral prayer for slain supreme leader

  by Mehdi Editor on July 5, 2026

  A mass funeral prayer was held in Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday for the country’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque, Anadolu reports. The funeral ceremony for Khamenei and his family members drew hundreds of thousands of mourners, many of whom arrived at the venue in the early hours of the morning carrying Iranian flags. The prayer at the major prayer complex was led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior military and political officials, and religious figures were among those attending the ceremony. Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28 and were followed by Iranian retaliation. READ: Medvedev says Strait of Hormuz gives Iran leverage comparable to ‘nuclear

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  Moroccans celebrate historic World Cup quarterfinal berth after 3-0 win over Canada

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Moroccans at home and abroad celebrated on Saturday after their national team’s 3-0 victory over Canada in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, sending the Atlas Lions into the quarterfinals, Anadolu reports. The win over Canada, one of the tournament’s three co-hosts alongside the US and Mexico, made Morocco the first African side to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in back-to-back tournaments. Fans waving Moroccan flags and chanting “Dima Maghreb” – meaning “Always Morocco” – flooded major streets and squares in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and Fez, while celebrations also erupted at the Houston Stadium. – ‘My heart will always be in Morocco’ Manal Elfakir, a Moroccan architect living in Istanbul, told Anadolu that

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  Iranian president criticises international silence over Israeli actions

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday criticised international institutions for what he described as their failure to stop Israeli actions in the region, saying global bodies have remained silent while Israel openly speaks of assassinations and targeted killings, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a conference in Tehran’s Summit Hall held in commemoration of slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said international organisations and human rights advocates were expected to prevent such actions, but instead political and logistical support was being provided. He said Israel attacked multiple countries in the region and was responsible for many of the crises and instability across the Middle East, adding that Muslim countries had not initiated such aggression. Pezeshkian also referred to the beginning of

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  Israeli strike kills Palestinian in Gaza as army continues demolitions

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  At least one Palestinian was killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike on Gaza City on Saturday, while the Israeli army continued demolishing buildings and shelling areas across the enclave in the latest reported violations of the ceasefire in force since October 2025, Anadolu reports. The developments came hours after the Palestinian presidency warned that Israel’s “daily killing policy” in the Gaza Strip, along with settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, could lead to an “uncontrollable explosion” of the situation. A medical source told Anadolu that the body of Mohammad Najib Ashour and several wounded were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital and Al-Ahli Arab Hospital after an Israeli drone strike targeted a young man riding a bicycle near

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  Lebanon says 400,000 displaced people have returned south as government prepares reconstruction plan

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Haneen El Sayed said Saturday that around 400,000 displaced people have returned to their areas in southern Lebanon, while many others remain unable to go back because of widespread destruction or lack of access to their homes, Anadolu reports. El Sayed made the remarks during a visit to the southern city of Tyre, where she met officials from the Union of Municipalities of Tyre district and the region’s disaster management unit, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. She said the ceasefire remains fragile, but noted that southern Lebanon has begun witnessing the return of displaced residents. El Sayed said the purpose of her visit was to assess the situation on the ground and hear about the

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  Medvedev says Strait of Hormuz gives Iran leverage comparable to ‘nuclear weapon’

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz gives it leverage comparable to a “nuclear weapon,” arguing that restricting passage through the waterway showed Tehran’s strategic reach, Anadolu reports. Speaking to journalists after a visit to Iran, Medvedev said Tehran could disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the event of a wider regional conflict, warning that such a move could halt oil and commercial transport. “I hope it does not come to that, but all countries seeking conflict in the region should remember this,” he said. Medvedev also criticized recent US strikes on Iran, calling them “completely unprovoked” and arguing that Tehran posed no threat to the US while negotiations between

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  Israeli intelligence rejects Netanyahu’s request to back claim Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed: Report

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Israel’s intelligence agencies rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office to endorse the government’s claim that Iran’s nuclear program had been “completely” destroyed, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Saturday, Anadolu reports. According to the newspaper, Netanyahu’s office pressured security, intelligence and military officials to issue an assessment stating that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been completely destroyed, reinforcing a claim made by US President Donald Trump following US strikes on Iran in June 2025. The confrontation reportedly took place hours after the end of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. From June 13 to June 24, 2025, Israel, with US backing, carried out a military campaign against Iran targeting military infrastructure, missile launch sites and nuclear facilities, while

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  Iran rejects UK-France Hormuz statement, warns against foreign military presence

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Saturday said the Strait of Hormuz “is not a stage for extra-regional powers to display military force,” warning against “any military activity” in the key waterway, Anadolu reports. “The Strait of Hormuz is not a stage for extra-regional powers to display military force. “As a responsible power and the guarantor of security in the strait, Iran warns against any military activity in this sensitive waterway,” Gharibabadi wrote on US social media company X. His remarks came in a post in which he shared a UK-France joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz, saying the two countries “stand ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation” in the waterway.

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  Egypt celebrates historic first-ever World Cup Round of 16 qualification

  by Marwa A on July 4, 2026

  Celebrations swept across Egypt on Friday evening after the national football team reached the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history, defeating Australia on penalties in the Round of 32, Anadolu reports. Crowds gathered in streets across the country’s governorates, waving Egyptian flags and chanting in celebration of the team’s historic achievement, an Anadolu correspondent reported. Egypt will play against Argentina in the Round of 16. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also congratulated the team. “I congratulate the sons of Egypt, the heroes of our national football team, on this historic achievement of qualifying for the Round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in the team’s history,”

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  Rights center documents 83 Israeli attacks on Christians in 3 months, mostly in occupied Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  This April to June saw 83 Israeli attacks on Christians in Israel or Israeli-occupied territories in 76 incidents, most of them in Jerusalem, according to a report released Friday, Anadolu reports. The report was issued by Israel’s Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) and the its Hotline for Documenting Harassment against Christians in Israel, a nongovernmental center specializing in documenting attacks related to freedom of worship. According to the report, 68 incidents took place inside Jerusalem, a city also revered by Christians. Two incidents were recorded in Haifa and the Galilee in northern Israel, one in the Sea of Galilee area, one in the West Bank, one in Beit Shemesh west of Jerusalem, and two in Mevaseret Zion west of Jerusalem.

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  Two scorpions in a jar

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  There is an old parable about two scorpions in a jar. Neither can leave. Neither trusts the other. And sooner or later, one strikes, not because it wants to kill the other, but because the jar has become unbearable. Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are those scorpions now, and the jar is the wreckage of the Middle East they built together. For the better part of a year, they marched in locked steps. One man’s appetite for spectacle matched by the other’s genius for making disaster look like deliverance. Netanyahu persuaded Trump that Iran could be shattered quickly, cleanly, at no real cost. Trump believed him because believing him was easier than doubting him, and doubt has never been a

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  The funeral that reveals a world divided

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  A casket draped in black makes its slow procession through Tehran, past millions of mourners whose chests beat in unison against the late-summer heat. Red fists—the funeral’s symbol—rise above a sea of black-clad bodies, fists clenched not in grief alone but in defiance. The slogan is stark: “We must rise”. This is the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for thirty-six turbulent years, killed in the opening salvo of the US-Israeli war on February 28. It is not merely a religious rite. It is a geopolitical manifesto, a metaphysical referendum on empire itself. Across five cities in two countries, over seven days, Iran expects between fifteen and twenty million mourners. Delegates from more than one hundred countries are

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  The geopolitics of energy storage: Who will control the batteries of the Middle East?

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  For more than a century, geopolitical influence in the Middle East has been defined by oil reserves, natural gas resources and the strategic waterways that connect them to global markets. Pipelines, shipping lanes and export terminals have shaped alliances, driven conflicts and determined the economic fortunes of states across the region. Yet the global energy transition is quietly introducing a new strategic variable that could redefine regional power: energy storage. The rapid expansion of renewable energy is transforming the fundamentals of energy security. Unlike hydrocarbons, electricity generated from solar and wind sources cannot always be consumed when it is produced. Solar and wind generation are inherently intermittent, creating a growing need for technologies capable of balancing supply and demand. In

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  Israeli army confirms authenticity of image showing Palestinian detainee abused in Gaza

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  The Israeli army on Thursday confirmed the authenticity of a widely circulated image showing a Palestinian detainee being abused by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. The image shows the detainee lying face down, blindfolded and bound with wire, with an iron rod strapped to his back. The image sparked widespread criticism on social media and renewed calls from human rights advocates for an independent investigation into the treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody. The confirmation came in a statement carried by Israel’s Army Radio, which quoted an unnamed military spokesperson after the image circulated widely on social media. Blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back, a widely circulated image of a Palestinian detainer from

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  Israeli army disperses protest in southern West Bank, injures, arrests Palestinians

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  Israeli forces dispersed a Palestinian protest Friday in the Abu Njeim community, located southeast of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank against the establishment of an illegal settlement outpost, injuring and arresting several Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Israeli occupiers had set up a tent on residents’ land in the community, an Anadolu cameraman said, in what residents viewed as an attempt to establish a new illegal settlement outpost. Dozens of Palestinians then staged a protest before Israeli army forces intervened to disperse them. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition and stun grenades, injuring many Palestinians, although an exact toll was not immediately available. Israeli forces also arrested a Palestinian during the protest. Eastern Bethlehem has witnessed an increase in attempts to establish

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  Israeli drone strikes injure 2 in southern Lebanon despite framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  Two people were injured Friday in Israeli drone strikes targeting a vehicle in Lebanon’s southern Tyre district, in what Lebanese authorities described as another violation of the framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv. The strikes targeted the vehicle overnight in the town of Siddiqin, injuring two people, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. In a separate incident, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade in the town of Safad al-Battikh in Bint Jbeil district, with no injuries reported. Another Israeli drone also dropped a stun grenade in the town of Mansouri in Tyre district, NNA said. Earlier Friday, the Israeli army claimed it carried out airstrikes on around 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon and later struck a

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  Israeli spyware used against ex-Greek MEP during probe of illegal surveillance: Report

  by Marwa A on July 3, 2026

  Israeli spyware was used to hack the phone of a former Greek member of the European Parliament while he was serving on a committee investigating spyware abuses in Europe, according to a report by Citizen Lab published on Friday, Anadolu reports. The University of Toronto-based research group said that forensic analysis found Stelios Kouloglou’s iPhone was successfully infected with Pegasus spyware, developed by Israeli company NSO Group, in October 2022 and again the next March. Kouloglou, a journalist and former MEP, was at the time a substitute member of the European Parliament’s PEGA committee, which was established to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware in EU member states. Citizen Lab said the infections took place during key

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  Gulf states express solidarity with Syria after deadly Damascus cafe bombing

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait condemned the deadly bombing that targeted a cafe in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing at least six people, Anadolu reports. In separate statements, the foreign ministries of the three Gulf countries condemned the attack, expressed solidarity with Syria, rejected all forms of violence and terrorism regardless of motive, and extended condolences to the victims’ families. Hamas also condemned the bombing, saying such attacks serve only projects of chaos and the destabilization of security and stability. At least six people were killed and 22 others injured when an explosive device planted inside a cafe on Al-Nasr Street near the Justice Palace detonated earlier Thursday, according to Syria’s Alikhbariah TV. No group has claimed responsibility for the

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  UAE thwarts ‘sophisticated’ cyberattacks targeting financial sector

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  The UAE Cybersecurity Council said Friday it thwarted “sophisticated” cyberattacks targeting the country’s financial sector, Anadolu reports. According to the state-run Emirates News Agency, authorities detected the attacks early and responded under national cybersecurity protocols. They contained the attacks and ensured the continuity of financial services and the stability of the country’s digital infrastructure. Cyber monitoring and incident response teams operate around the clock under an integrated national cybersecurity framework, coordinating with relevant authorities, financial institutions and strategic partners to rapidly detect, analyze and respond to cyber threats. he attacks included attempts to target digital systems and critical technology infrastructure, conduct advanced phishing campaigns, exploit security vulnerabilities and deploy malicious software, according to the council. READ: UAE becomes 1st Arab country to

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  Israeli army ends Givati Brigade mission in southern Lebanon after 8 months

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  The Israeli army announced Thursday that the Givati Brigade completed its mission in southern Lebanon after eight months of operations, as Israeli forces continue to occupy several areas of the country and carry out attacks. Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed 4,298 people since October 2023, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the military said the brigade concluded its combat mission during a ceremony at Camp Filon in northern Israel attended by Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo. The army said the brigade initially carried out border defense operations before launching ground offensives in Khiam, Bint Jbeil, and areas north of the Litani River. It claimed the brigade destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah sites, killed hundreds of fighters and seized more

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  Australian police review war crime allegations against citizen as war in Gaza crosses 1000th day

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  Australian Federal Police (AFP) is reviewing allegations that an Australian citizen serving in the Israeli military committed war crimes as war in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza crossed 1000th day this week, Anadolu reports. A 61-page submission prepared by the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) was provided to the AFP, alleging war crimes committed by a battalion of the Israeli military during operations in Gaza in 2023 and 2024. AFP Commander of Special Investigations Matthew Gale confirmed that his office had received the submission, according to The Guardian Australia. “Noting my command’s responsibility for the investigation of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide I appreciate the time taken in bringing this matter to our attention,” Gale said. “Your

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  China calls for ‘proper settlement’ to end disruptions in Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  China on Friday called for “proper settlement” to end disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran held indirect talks in Qatar this week, Anadolu reports. “The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming safe and free passage in the strait at an early date serves interests of all parties,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing. Guo said a “proper settlement” was needed to address disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the “shared concerns of the international community,” adding that they “require a proper response.” The statement from Beijing came as the US and Iran held indirect talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, in Doha this week. Doha talks are

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  Israel approves 13 new illegal settlements as Palestinians warn of Jerusalem’s further isolation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  Israel’s Security Cabinet on Thursday approved a plan to establish 13 illegal new settlements in the central occupied West Bank, prompting Palestinian officials to warn that the move would further fragment the territory and isolate East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings, Anadolu reports. Israel’s Channel 7 reported that the Cabinet approved the construction of the new illegal settlements in the “Binyamin” regional area, with the implementation of the first phase expected to begin in the coming months. According to the report, “the Binyamin Regional Council” plans to launch “the first phase” of the project by establishing between four and six new illegal settlements, backed by investments worth millions of shekels. The Jerusalem Governorate condemned the decision, saying it forms part of

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  One thousand days of war: Why Israel failed to defeat Palestine

  by Mehdi Editor on July 3, 2026

  July 3 marks one thousand days since the beginning of the genocidal war in Gaza. It also compels us to acknowledge an undeniable reality: despite overwhelming military superiority, Israel has failed to achieve its principal political objective. The destruction has been immense. The humanitarian catastrophe has reached unprecedented levels, and tens of thousands of lives have been lost. Yet the Palestinian question remains alive, the Resistance continues to operate, and Palestine occupies an even more prominent place on the international agenda than it did before the war began. Since 1948, successive Israeli governments have sought to resolve the conflict through military force. In Gaza, the strategy once again relied on the assumption that overwhelming military superiority would eliminate the Resistance