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

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  Why a new US–Israeli war against Iran could carry enormous risks

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  In recent days, three developments have emerged as key preliminary indicators that the US may be preparing to step up its military campaign against Iran. First, the dispatch of a third aircraft carrier strike group alongside additional American forces toward the waters surrounding Iran; second, the directive from the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) to achieve full operational readiness; and third, the continuation of economic pressure, sanctions, and blockades, alongside disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic friction surrounding negotiations. While these developments clearly signal an expansion of military options and an intensification of coercive pressure, they do not, on their own, constitute definitive proof of an executive decision to launch a broad war. This new force posture serves

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  Diplomats to MEMO: Colombia’s ICJ withdrawal reflects alignment with US

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Colombia’s decision to withdraw from South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), followed by the opening of its embassy in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday, has drawn criticism from former Latin American ambassadors, who see the moves as a significant shift in Bogotá’s foreign policy, particularly its stance on Palestine. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had informed the Court of its decision to withdraw the declaration of intervention filed on 5th April 2024 under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute. The move marks a reversal of the position taken by former President Gustavo Petro, whose government cut diplomatic ties with Israel in May 2024 over its military offensive in Gaza and backed South Africa’s

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  Brazil’s Lula and Bolsonaro face tight run-off as Netanyahu, Trump back latter

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Brazil’s presidential election is entering its most critical phase ahead of a run-off scheduled for 25th  October, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva facing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a close race increasingly shaped by ties with the United States and Israel, Brazil’s role in the Global South and its position on the Palestinian cause. Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, surprised his rivals by finishing first in the initial round on 4 October, securing 47.03 per cent of the vote against Lula’s 45.16 per cent. The narrow margin has set the stage for a highly polarised run-off. Recent opinion polls indicate that the race remains close, with Flavio holding a slight lead in several surveys. However, the

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  Hezbollah acknowledges ownership of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Hezbollah acknowledged on Thursday that a shipment of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week belonged to the group, saying it was intended for use against Israel. The statement came after Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed to take firm action against any weapons held outside the authority of the state. A Lebanese judicial source said on Saturday that security forces had arrested two men suspected of belonging to Hezbollah in the Dhahr al-Baidar area, on the international road between Beirut and the Syrian border, as they were transporting 500 kilogrammes of explosives. Hezbollah MP Hassan FadlAllah said in a televised statement that the group had contacted the security and judicial authorities after the vehicle was stopped, informing them that

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  From Hormuz to Bab el-Mandeb: Saudi Arabia’s difficult choices

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Developments in Yemen today cannot be separated from the repercussions of the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran. The prolonged nature of this war, and the fact that it remains unresolved, arguably compel the countries of the region to reassess their strategic realities from a perspective different from the traditional approach that has shaped their thinking for decades. The US-Israeli war against Iran has brought about significant shifts in the region’s military, economic and political calculations, confronting Tehran with serious challenges and looming threats to its security, economy and future regional standing. For its part, Iran has drawn on a range of strategic assets at its disposal across the region to mitigate these threats by raising

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  Egypt suspends truck traffic to Sudan after Khartoum attack

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Egypt has indefinitely suspended the passage of trucks bound for Sudan through the Qustul land port after two Egyptian drivers were killed and a third was injured in a shooting at a market south of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. The management of Egypt’s Qustul port, which operates under the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports at the Ministry of Transport, has ordered all trucks heading to the port to stop. Trucks will not be allowed to cross by ferry into Sudan until further instructions, citing “security developments in Sudan’s Northern State”. The suspension does not apply to passenger traffic. Buses, private cars, minibuses and individual travellers are still allowed to cross, while the restrictions apply only to trucks. An

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  Ben-Ami: Israel is living under apartheid, two-state solution currently impossible

  by Marwa A on October 16, 2026

  Former Israeli foreign minister and chief negotiator at the Camp David summit, Professor Shlomo Ben-Ami, has said there is no realistic prospect of implementing a two-state solution under current conditions, arguing that Israel effectively operates as a “binational state” with discriminatory and segregationist policies resembling the apartheid system once practiced in South Africa. Speaking on a history podcast, Ben-Ami said the continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside a clear shift to the right in Israeli society and the military establishment, had made a two-state settlement extremely difficult to achieve. He also warned that continuing along this path could lead to prolonged internal conflict or something resembling a long-term civil war. The Israeli politician and historian addressed

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  Israeli firm weaponized digital ad network for spyware attacks, research shows

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  Israeli digital advertising firm Discover-Tech weaponized a vast commercial ad network to harvest personal data and deliver mercenary spyware to targeted devices worldwide, Canadian cyber watchdog Citizen Lab and New York-based ad security firm Confiant reported Thursday, Anadolu reports. “The core finding is the weaponization of ad infrastructure for advanced staging, preliminary targeting, and payload delivery, characterized by exceptional technical sophistication, robust anti-interception measures, and surgical micro-targeting,” Confiant said in its investigative findings. The coordinated operation enabled US-blacklisted Israeli spyware company Candiru, rebranded as Integrity Labs, and surveillance vendor Intelos to exploit commercial ad inventory across major global platforms, including Google, Beeswax and Russia’s Yandex, to track targets and compromise consumer devices. Citizen Lab described the campaign as the first

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  Lebanon presses US to push Israel for halt to attacks

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  Lebanon on Thursday asked the US to urge Israel to halt attacks that target southern Lebanese towns despite a framework deal, Anadolu reports. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the latest situation in Lebanon and the region, according to a presidency statement. Aoun asked Rubio to push Tel Aviv to abide by the provisions of the framework agreement, cease land-clearing operations, allow farmers to access their fields, and refrain from targeting them. He informed Rubio that the Lebanese army and security forces were fully carrying out their duties in implementing decisions to prevent armed displays, seize weapons and ammunition, and combat smuggling. The Lebanese president stressed that the judicial

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  Sisi says he repeatedly told Netanyahu that Palestinian state would bring ‘lasting peace’

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday he has repeatedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that establishing a Palestinian state would bring peace and benefit everyone, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Police Academy’s 2026 graduation ceremony in New Cairo, Sisi said that in all his meetings and communications with Netanyahu since 2014, he had repeatedly emphasized that “the establishment of a Palestinian state would benefit everyone and lead to lasting peace and stability in the region.” Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges related to Gaza, has repeatedly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state as envisaged in relevant UN resolutions. Israel was established in 1948 on Palestinian lands seized by armed

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  UN says more than 230,000 displaced by fighting in Yemen since August

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  More than 230,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen since August, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Haq told reporters that the fighting between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government continues to force people from their homes and place additional pressure on humanitarian operations, citing warnings from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “Our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration have reported more than 230,000 people displaced by fighting since the start of August,” said Haq. Despite the challenges, humanitarian partners have reached more than 152,000 people with emergency assistance, he added. “We reiterate our call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and

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  UN official sounds alarm about Gaza, West Bank year after ceasefire

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  A senior UN official warned on Thursday that the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank is dangerously fragile, saying a return to war must be avoided at all costs, Anadolu reports. Briefing the UN Security Council on Palestine, Ramiz Alakbarov, UN acting special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7 events, saying Palestinians and Israelis need a political horizon. “Palestinians and Israelis deserve more than short-term fixes. They deserve a credible path to peace and finally an end to this conflict,” he said. “The international community must move beyond words and take concrete actions to ensure the future of security and dignity of the people. It is time to

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  Gaza government denies imposing fees on trucks, demands entry of 600 daily

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  The Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip on Thursday denied imposing taxes or fees on commercial trucks, accusing Israel of promoting allegations to justify restrictions on the entry of goods and demanding that Israel be compelled to allow 600 trucks into the enclave daily, Anadolu reports. It came in response to allegations made Wednesday by Yoram Halevi, the Israeli government’s coordinator of activities in the Palestinian territories, regarding the imposition of financial charges on traders and measures regulating cash transactions in Gaza. The media office accused Israel of waging a “disinformation campaign” and attempting to hold Gaza’s government authorities responsible for delays in allowing trucks to enter the enclave. It said it sent messages to mediators and international bodies

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  Iran reports another oil tanker fire in restricted area east of Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  Iran’s Navy said Thursday that another oil tanker caught fire in a restricted area east of the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly attempting to navigate the Gulf of Oman with its tracking systems switched off, Anadolu reports. The navy’s public relations office said in a statement carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB that monitoring teams detected the burning tanker during patrol and surveillance operations east of the strategic waterway. The vessel was attempting to cross “an unauthorized area” with its tracking systems disabled, it said. The navy did not identify the tanker, its flag or operator, or specify what caused the fire. It provided no information on possible casualties or the crew’s condition. The Iranian Navy also said the Strait

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  19 killed, 364 injured in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports: Saudi-led coalition

  by Marwa A on October 15, 2026

  Nineteen people were killed and 364 injured in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, the Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “Houthi attacks on the Kingdom have intensified since the beginning of October, following an escalation by the Iran-aligned group against Saudi Arabia since July,” spokesman Turki al-Maliki said at a news conference broadcast by the Saudi Alekhbariya News TV. “King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had been targeted in 20 Houthi attacks since the beginning of October,” he said. “Seventeen people were killed and 333 others injured in attacks on the airport between Oct. 7 and 11.” “Two people were also killed and 28 others injured

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  The Gulf needs a security order that Washington cannot switch off

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The Gulf has spent decades buying security from the world’s most powerful military. American bases dot the region, advanced weapons fill its arsenals, and defence agreements bind its rulers to Washington. Yet the war involving Iran has exposed a troubling paradox. The Gulf’s security arrangements may help deter adversaries, but they cannot guarantee that the region will escape a conflict shaped by decisions made elsewhere. The consequences are no longer confined to military installations or oil terminals. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz threatens energy exports and maritime commerce, while attacks on critical infrastructure jeopardise the economic transformation programmes on which Gulf governments have staked their futures. Wealth can finance reconstruction, but it cannot restore lost confidence overnight. The problem

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  2nd week of Rafah crossing closure worsens crisis for patients: Gaza Health Ministry

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Israel has continued to close the Rafah land crossing for a second week, preventing patients from leaving the Gaza Strip for treatment abroad and causing a “dangerous buildup” of critical cases, the Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday. In a statement, the ministry warned that the continued closure had led to a “dangerous and rapidly growing accumulation of critical cases,” with waiting lists for treatment abroad increasing by the day. It said the number of people awaiting evacuation far exceeds the capacity of Gaza’s deteriorating and besieged hospitals to accommodate them or provide even the minimum level of treatment. The ministry described the continued closure as a “grave violation of international humanitarian law and a deliberate deprivation of patients and wounded

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  The international community does not object to permanent forced displacement

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Mere days after Israel’s High Court of Justice ordered a detailed plan for the return of over 33,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli forces from Tulkarem, Jenin and Nur al-Shams refugee camps, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the forced displacement is permanent.  The difference between the occupied West Bank and Gaza is starting to diminish. In both areas, Palestinians have been declared terrorists. Israel subjected Gaza to genocide which displaced almost the entire remaining population, while enhancing forced displacement tactics, already normalised, in the occupied West Bank. In both areas, a permanent Israeli military presence became a new reality.  In another move that reeks of permanence, the Israeli military started building a base in Jenin, under the pretext

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  Obama says Israel has ‘ceded moral ground’ in Middle East conflict

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Former US President Barack Obama has criticized Israel’s handling of the Middle East conflict, warning that military strength cannot guarantee lasting security and that refusing concessions to Palestinians risks undermining its moral standing, Anadolu reports. The former president made the remarks on Tuesday during a discussion with award-winning writer and journalist Susan McKay at Belfast, northern Ireland, according to the Belfast Telegraph. Speaking about the Israeli war on Gaza, Obama said the violence should “pain everybody”, describing it as a destructive cycle driven by historical grievances, hardened attitudes and deep divisions. He acknowledged the long history of persecution faced by Jewish people in Europe. However, he also stressed that Palestinians had suffered injustice through the loss of their land. “That

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  London Protest to Oppose Hijab Restrictions in Azerbaijani Schools This Friday

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The student organisation ASAP in Britain and its partners are preparing to hold a protest outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London on Friday 16 October, in opposition to restrictions on the wearing of hijab in Azerbaijani schools and in solidarity with Muslim pupils and teachers who face measures preventing them from attending school or continuing their work because they wear the hijab. The demonstration is scheduled to take place from 4pm to 6pm outside the Azerbaijani Embassy at 66 Holland Park, London, W11 3SJ, near Holland Park station. It will be held under the slogan “Hands Off My Hijab”. The protest comes amid renewed opposition to restrictions in Azerbaijan, where school uniform rules have sparked widespread controversy following reports that

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  From underground wealth to diplomatic power: Azerbaijan’s energy strategy

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Azerbaijani oil passes through Turkiye to Israel, its gas reaches European markets, and Emirati and Saudi capital finances its power plants. This network places Azerbaijan at the intersection of interests that do not always align. Baku has made itself relevant to several competing actors. Its harder task is to turn those relationships into lasting influence while preserving strategic autonomy. Continued oil deliveries to Israel, despite Ankara’s trade restrictions, illustrate the challenge. Infrastructure, contracts and commercial interests can sustain connections across political divisions. Azerbaijan gains revenue and strategic importance, while becoming exposed to disputes among its partners. Ankara and Tel Aviv: Two relationships, one route Turkiye is both a political partner and Azerbaijan’s gateway to overseas markets. The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline carries

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  Trump could lose Congress and still expand the US war on Iran

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  President Trump has promised that the United States will not attack Iran before the 3rd  November midterm elections. That statement sounds like restraint and at the same time also be read as a warning. By tying military restraint to election day, Trump has made the period after the vote more dangerous. The Iran war is making the election harder for the Republican Party. As of now, prediction markets give Republicans roughly a one-in-ten chance of retaining both chambers of Congress. An October AP-NORC poll found that 69 per cent of Americans believed the war was not worth fighting, while only 28 per cent approved of Trump’s handling of Iran. For many voters, the war is no longer a distant foreign-policy

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  Secret meeting held between US ambassador, opposition leader ahead of Israeli elections: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  US Ambassador Mike Huckabee held a secret meeting with an Israeli opposition leader just weeks before this month’s hard-fought Knesset elections, Israel’s public broadcaster reported Thursday. The broadcaster said Huckabee’s meeting with opposition Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot took place in recent days, in the runup to the Oct. 27 elections, and was their first and only meeting. It did not disclose where or when it was held. Citing a source familiar with details of the previously unreported meeting, the broadcaster said their discussion covered security issues, including tensions in the occupied West Bank and occupier violence, as well as the situation in the Gaza Strip. Neither the US ambassador nor Eisenkot’s office issued an official announcement about the meeting,

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  Gaza’s future is not Washington’s to decide, says rights chief

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Nearly a year after the UN Security Council endorsed the Board of Peace to oversee Gaza’s transition, questions over who controls it, and in whose interest, have not gone away. For Anouar El Gharbi, president of the Geneva Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (GCDHR), the problem begins with the Board’s origin. It was not born of an independent international process grounded in the freely expressed will of the Palestinian people, he told MEMO in an interview, but of a political initiative led by the US. That origin, he argues, shapes everything that follows: the scope of the Board’s mandate, the powers it holds and the people it answers to. The Board emerged from the “Comprehensive Plan to End the

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  Egypt, Qatar stress need to halt hostilities against Saudi Arabia

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Egypt and Qatar stressed the need to halt all hostilities against Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity with the kingdom, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The position was expressed during a phone call late Wednesday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the ministry said in a statement. The call came as part of “continuous communication and coordination between the two brotherly countries on various issues of common interest,” the statement said. The two officials discussed bilateral relations and areas of cooperation, including exchanges of high-level visits. They praised the progress in ties and affirmed their commitment to further strengthening them, according to the statement. On regional

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  US considering using ‘mother of all bombs’ against Iran: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The US military has developed new strike plans that include the potential use of the “mother of all bombs” against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, CNN reported Wednesday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the plans. The proposed use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, would mark a significant escalation in the conflict with Iran, although officials have questioned whether the weapon could achieve Washington’s military objectives. According to CNN, Trump has directed the military to prepare additional strike options against Iranian targets, including energy infrastructure and facilities associated with the country’s nuclear program. The plans could be

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  Don’t let Britain shelve Sally Rooney

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  This week, something happened in Britain that should worry every reader, every writer and everyone who believes in free speech. Faber, the publisher of the Irish novelist Sally Rooney, announced that it will no longer supply her books in the United Kingdom, in any format. Her novels, Normal People, Conversations with Friends, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Intermezzo, will slowly disappear from British bookshops. Faber said that current UK law means it cannot pass on UK earnings to the author. It said that selling a writer’s work without paying her is not acceptable for any publisher. It will continue to sell her books in every other country. Think about that for a moment. A British publisher can sell its

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  Trump says Qatar offered to gift 747 jet to US after he asked to ‘borrow’ it for Air Force One

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he initially asked Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to lend the US a Boeing 747 jet for temporary use as Air Force One, but the Qatari leader offered to give the aircraft to Washington instead, Anadolu reports. “When you’re given gifts, you take ’em, right?” Trump told the crowd at a rally in Arizona. “When they give you a 747, you say two words: ‘thank you.’” Trump said he approached Sheikh Tamim because the US presidential aircraft currently in service are ageing. “We’d love to borrow it because our planes are 35 years old. “So I called up the head of Qatar, highly respected guy, great guy, young, handsome guy actually

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  Israeli Spy Pollard stole the files, today’s it’s delivered through official channels

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Espionage novels portray the spy as a person in a trench coat carrying stolen documents and disappearing into a dark alley. Israeli spy, Jonathan Pollard, certainly fit that picture. A Navy analyst who stole American secrets including the complete ten-volume manual of the National Security Agency exposing how the US gathers its signal intelligence and the names of thousands of foreign individuals who worked for US spy agencies. Intelligence officials believe Israel shared stolen documents with the Soviet Union. According to several intelligence assessments, Pollard was one of the most damaging spies in US history. Pollard received a life sentence in 1987 and was released in 2015. At first, Israel claimed he was a rogue, apologised and did not admit

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn US would ‘regret’ any new attack

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said on Wednesday that another US attack on Iran would be “illogical” but remained possible, warning that Tehran was prepared to respond with measures Washington would “regret.” Speaking during a television program, Mohebbi suggested that US President Donald Trump could consider renewed military action against Iran to secure political gains ahead of the US midterm congressional elections. He said Iran was prepared for such a scenario and warned that any new American attack would trigger a response that the United States would regret. Mohebbi also claimed that Iran had used older-generation weapons during the conflict that began on 28th February but now possessed more advanced weapons systems. READ: Iran’s IRGC Navy threatens to sink US

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  A protest against the detention of Tunisian activists from the Sumud Flotilla

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  WATCH: Global day of action for Palestine: Millions mobilise across 60 countries in synchronised worldwide solidarity

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  Second commercial vessel sinks near Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  An Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier has sunk near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by a projectile last month, according to information from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), marking the second reported sinking of a commercial vessel in the area within 24 hours. The vessel, Cape Daw, was attacked on September 23 and subsequently sank following an unsuccessful salvage operation, Reuters reported on Wednesday. British maritime risk management firm Vanguard Group said in a statement: “The bulk carrier Cape Daw, which flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda and was attacked on 23rd September, is reported to have sunk following a failed salvage attempt.” READ: Iran’s IRGC Navy threatens to sink US warships approaching Strait of Hormuz The reported

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  Yemeni premier calls Houthi attacks, siege of Taiz ‘war crime’

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani said Wednesday that Houthi attacks on civilians and the siege of the southwestern city of Taiz constitute a “war crime,” stressing that those responsible would face punishment and accountability, the prime minister’s office wrote on US social media company X, Anadolu agency reported. His remarks came during a call with Taiz Gov. Nabil Shamsan to discuss humanitarian conditions, public services and the effect of the siege. “The Houthi terrorist militia’s continued targeting of civilians in Taiz and its unjust siege of the city constitute a war crime that is not subject to a statute of limitations,” said al-Zindani. Shamsan briefed the premier on humanitarian and human rights conditions in Taiz and violations against residents, it

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  Former Shin Bet chief sues Netanyahu for defamation, says he warned him more than 20 times about Hamas

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar filed a defamation lawsuit against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday, seeking three million shekels in damages over allegations concerning intelligence failures preceding the 7th October 2023 Hamas attack. The lawsuit follows a 28th September post on X in which Netanyahu accused Bar of deliberately withholding intelligence from him on the eve of the attack and alleged that the former security chief had committed “failures and offenses.” In the filing, Bar accused Netanyahu of spreading what he described as a “blood libel” against him in an attempt to shift responsibility for the failures that preceded the attack. Bar said he had repeatedly warned Netanyahu about Hamas’s growing

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  Palestinian Prisoners’ Club says Israel has detained over 2,000 children since October 2023

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Israeli authorities have detained more than 2,000 Palestinian children since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with at least 350 children remaining in custody, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the independent Palestinian human rights organization said detained children face harsh conditions, including torture, food deprivation, isolation and denial of medical care. The organisation reported that Israeli forces detained at least six Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank overnight, primarily in the towns of Sa’ir and Al-Shuyukh in the Hebron Governorate. It said the arrests were part of an ongoing campaign of detentions targeting Palestinian minors. READ: Israel arrests Palestinian man wanted for nearly 10 years in occupied West Bank

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  The policing of Muslim women’s bodies, from West Asia to Europe and beyond

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  There is something profoundly vile about discriminating against women and policing their bodies in the name of secularism. Dictating what a woman should or should not wear is fundamentally at odds with freedom of choice. When institutions use their authority to compel women to dress according to a particular vision of society, secularism begins to resemble the very authoritarianism it claims to oppose. The question has never been whether women should wear the hijab. The question is why everyone seems to believe they have a say in the matter. As I write this, in October 2026, Azerbaijan is witnessing protests following new school clothing restrictions that have resulted in hijabi students and teachers being denied entry to some schools. The

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  Egypt, Kuwait and Arab League condemn Colombian Embassy opening in Jerusalem

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Egypt, Kuwait and the Arab League have condemned Colombia’s reported opening of an embassy in Jerusalem, describing the move as a violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions and warning that it could undermine efforts to achieve peace. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the decision, stressing that unilateral measures intended to alter the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem were invalid and had no legal effect. The ministry reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to a two-state solution as the basis for a just and comprehensive peace, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 4th June1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the

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  Israeli airstrike kills Gaza mother as three-year-old daughter survives fire

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  A three-year-old Palestinian girl survived a fire caused by an Israeli airstrike on a residential flat in the western Gaza City neighbourhood of al-Rimal early on Wednesday, but her mother was killed. The body of Reem Asaad Awad, 33, and two injured people, including a child, were taken to al-Shifa Hospital, a medical source said. A journalist said the airstrike occurred at around 4am local time. Local sources said the strike hit a flat in the al-Amin building near the Abu Talal junction in al-Rimal, causing extensive damage to the flat and neighbouring buildings. A large fire broke out and was later extinguished by civil defence teams. Witnesses said the flames spread rapidly through the flat and civil defence crews

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  What does the Green Party’s historic anti-Zionist motion mean for Palestine?

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The Green Party has put the conversation back on track: the problem is not the lack of creative solutions to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The problem is Zionism itself. To appreciate the significance of Motion A105, adopted by the Green Party of England and Wales on 4th October, consider its basic tenets. The party is now formally anti-Zionist. It endorses the Palestinian right of return, supports one democratic state throughout historic Palestine, reaffirms its commitment to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, distinguishes anti-Zionism from antisemitism, and calls for a full arms embargo against Israel. Though the decision may seem revolutionary within British politics, it is hardly revolutionary when examined against the history of Palestinian dispossession, beginning long

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Kelley Beaucar Vlahos: Target Locked: Is Trump’s Iran Brinkmanship Psy-Op or a Trap?

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Nasser Hadian: How will Iran deal with US’s plan of total isolation? 

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  Sudanese army advances in West Darfur, recaptures areas from RSF

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Bahar al-Din Adam Karama, the Governor of Sudan’s West Darfur State, announced that the army has seized control of the Bir Klikil area in the Jebel Moon locality following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces. Karama said in a statement that the recapture of Bir Klikil, in the eastern part of Jabal Moon locality, represents an important victory for the Sudanese state, according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA). He said the move has strategic significance for extending state authority and restoring security in West Darfur, given the area’s geographical position and importance around Jabal Moon. Karama added that military operations in West Darfur are proceeding steadily according to plan as part of national efforts to restore security and preserve

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  Houthis renew attacks on King Khalid airport in Riyadh and Aramco facilities

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group has targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile, the group’s military spokesman said. Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the missile scored a “direct and accurate” hit on the airport. He also said the group had targeted gatherings of Saudi-backed government forces in the Ras al-Ara and Al-Mudharaba areas with three ballistic missiles, claiming the strikes had caused a large number of deaths and injuries and damaged several military vehicles. The Houthis also targeted Aramco facilities in Dhahran, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, Saree said. The attacks followed threats issued on Tuesday in response to any strike on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. READ: Yemen’s Houthi rebels

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  Israel arrests Palestinian man wanted for nearly 10 years in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The Israeli army arrested a Palestinian man on Wednesday evening after shooting and wounding him during a raid on his home in Tammun, in the occupied West Bank. The army has been pursuing him since 2017. Kamal Bani Odeh, head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club in Tubas, told Anadolu Agency that Israeli special forces raided the home of Samer Bani Odeh, a man in his 40s, and the neighbouring homes of his brothers in the al-Rafid area of Tammun, south-east of Tubas governorate. Israeli forces opened fire during the raid, wounding Samer Bani Odeh in the hand before arresting him, he said. READ: Israeli army arrests 30 Palestinians as occupiers assault family in occupied West Bank Bani Odeh added that the

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  Dutch parliament backs move to protect ICC from US sanctions

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The Dutch parliament has approved a motion calling on the government to explore ways to ensure the International Criminal Court (ICC) retains access to international payment systems despite US sanctions targeting the court. The motion was submitted on 8th October by Hanneke van der Werf of the D66 party, alongside MPs Kati Piri of the Progressive party, Sarah Dobbe of the Socialist Party and Maes van Lanschot of the Christian Democratic party. It calls on the government, in cooperation with the Dutch central bank and the European Central Bank, to examine ways to ensure that the ICC and other legal entities affected by sanctions can continue accessing international payment systems. READ: Rights group files ICC complaint against Israeli medical officials over

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  Palestinian journalists’ union warns of systematic targeting in West Bank, Jerusalem

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has warned of a rise in attacks on journalists and media crews in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, saying ongoing Israeli attacks aim to prevent the documentation of violations by Israeli forces and settlers, in what it described as an extension of the “media genocide” in the Gaza Strip. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the syndicate said Palestinian journalists face growing risks while carrying out their work, paying for their efforts to report events to the world with their freedom and safety. It warned of systematic attempts to silence them and conceal information about alleged Israeli crimes. The syndicate also warned that the widespread targeting of journalists seen in the Gaza Strip could

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  The ceasefire that keeps killing children: Gaza one year on

  by EditorMehdi on October 15, 2026

  According to the Trump administration, there is a ceasefire in Gaza, since 10th October 2025. This would suggest that no firing is going on, nobody is being killed or injured, no homes, schools or hospitals are being destroyed, and no Palestinians are being detained and taken away from Gaza. It also implies that Gazans are getting enough food, water and medicines and even rebuilding is around the corner awaiting the go ahead signal. But is this the reality on the ground, or merely the picture the word “ceasefire” is supposed to convey so Mr Trump, desperate for the Nobel Peace Prize can build up his profile on the hope to win it next year? On the anniversary of the ceasefire

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  Egypt has ‘no hidden agendas,’ ambitions against anyone: President

  by EditorMehdi on October 14, 2026

  President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday that Egypt has “no hidden agendas” or ambitions against anyone, responding to remarks by an Israeli official about the Sinai Peninsula in northeastern Egypt, according to a statement by the presidency, Anadolu reports. Sisi made the remarks during the armed forces’ 44th educational symposium, titled, “Homeland of Heroes,” marking the 53rd anniversary of the October 1973 war. Responding to the Israeli remarks, Sisi said Egypt had “fought a war to defend its land and recovered all its territory.” He questioned whether some circles in Israel harbored “unjustified perceptions or fears about Egyptian ambitions against them.” “Egypt’s first and foremost goal is to preserve its security and stability and safeguard its people’s resources,” he said,

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  Saudi football league postpones 3 matches after Houthi attacks

  by EditorMehdi on October 14, 2026

  The Saudi Pro League (SPL) on Tuesday postponed three Matchweek 9 fixtures, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr match against Al Ahli, amid a sharp escalation in the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthis, Anadolu reports. The league said in a statement that the fixtures were rescheduled for “logistical considerations, taking into account the mandatory minimum rest period between matches.” The match between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh, along with Al Ittihad’s against Al Shabab, will be played Dec. 19. Al Ahli’s match against Ronaldo’s Al Nassr has been rescheduled for March 6, 2027. The SPL said the remaining Matchweek 9 fixtures would be played as previously scheduled. READ: Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten further attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities Al Nassr’s

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  Indonesia slams Israel for discriminating against one of its pilots

  by EditorMehdi on October 14, 2026

  Indonesia on Wednesday slammed Israel for discriminating against one of its nationals after Tel Aviv banned an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft from landing for having an Indonesian pilot, local media reported. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said that Jakarta rejects such actions taken on the basis of “political considerations or one’s nationality,” local English daily the Jakarta Globe reported. The spokesperson said that every flight authority has the right to set the safety standards for the crew but that this must be done in an “objective, proportionate and risked-based manner.” “Israel restricts its flight crew from certain countries, including Indonesia based only on their citizenship. This practice is contrary to the non-discriminatory principle and the spirit of international aviation facilitation,” said

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  4 Palestinians killed, several others injured in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by EditorMehdi on October 14, 2026

  Four Palestinians were killed and several others, including a girl, were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital told Anadolu Agency that the body of Reem Asaad Awad, 33, and two injured people were brought to the hospital following the airstrike on a residential building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. The source said the strike caused extensive destruction to the targeted apartment and neighboring buildings. A large fire also broke out after the attack and was later extinguished by civil defense crews. Two more Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a vehicle on al-Jiya Street in al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Earlier,