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

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  Germany’s moral reckoning in Lebanon

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  Germany has long spoken of Israel not merely as a partner, but as a matter of Staatsräson — a reason of state, a moral obligation etched into the national conscience after the Holocaust. Angela Merkel declared in 2008 that Israel’s security was ‘never negotiable’. Annalena Baerbock echoed that sentiment after October 2023 with the stark phrase: ‘In these days we are all Israelis’. Yet history, when turned into doctrine without moral balance, can become not remembrance but blindness.  The question confronting Berlin today is no longer whether Germany should support Israel’s security. It is whether that support has become detached from the very universal principles Germany claims to defend. Nowhere is this contradiction more visible than in Lebanon and Gaza.

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  Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Washington to reopen probe into Shireen Abu Akleh killing

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called on US authorities to reopen the investigation into the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera correspondent who was shot dead in the occupied West Bank in May 2022. In a letter addressed to the US Department of Justice — which oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation — and FBI chief Kash Patel, the committee said the FBI had opened an investigation into the incident in November 2022, “but no demonstrable progress” has been made. The committee added that “This troubling lack of concrete progress — four years after Abu Akleh’s death — represents a profound failure of the US government to respond promptly and impartially to the

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it attacked US destroyers with missiles, drones

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced late on Thursday that it had attacked several US destroyers in response to what it described as a ceasefire violation, using ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles and drones carrying warheads. In a statement, the IRGC navy command said the operation followed what it described as a US attack on an Iranian oil tanker near Jask port and the approach of US destroyers towards the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran said amounted to a breach of the ceasefire. The statement said Iranian forces had launched “a very large and precise combined operation” using various anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles, along with kamikaze drones carrying high-explosive warheads, targeting US destroyers in the area.  It added

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  Meshaal: Gaza to remain at forefront of resilience following historic sacrifices

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  Head of Hamas abroad Khaled Meshaal said the Gaza Strip “has given the greatest of its sons and people”, stressing that the enclave “will remain at the forefront despite all the pain, siege and sacrifices”. His remarks came during a memorial speech for the martyr Azzam al-Hayya, the son of Hamas leader in Gaza Dr Khalil al-Hayya, who was killed in an Israeli air strike targeting him in Gaza City.  Meshaal said: “This is a moment of martyrdom and martyrs, and congratulations to our dear brother, leader Dr Abu Osama, on the martyrdom of his fourth son.” He added that “only people of faith and certainty can make such great sacrifices”. He said losing children “is not easy”, while praising

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  Iran accuses US of violating ceasefire by attacking tanker in Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said the US military had violated the ceasefire and targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another Iranian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state television meanwhile reported that the military launched missiles following what it described as a US attack on an oil tanker, after explosions were heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. State television also quoted a military official as saying: “Following the US military’s attack on an Iranian tanker, enemy units in the Strait of Hormuz came under Iranian missile fire and were forced to retreat after sustaining damage.” The broadcaster also reported, citing military sources, that three US destroyers were targeted by Iranian naval missiles and drones near the

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  Saudi source denies report Riyadh blocked US Strait of Hormuz operation

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  A Saudi source has denied reports that Saudi Arabia intervened to halt a planned US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that Washington continues to have regular access to Saudi airspace and military bases. According to Agence France-Presse, the source rejected as “incorrect” an NBC News report claiming that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had pressured US President Donald Trump to suspend the operation. Trump announced on Tuesday that he was pausing Operation “Freedom”, one day after unveiling the plan, which aimed to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following restrictions imposed by Iran after the US-Israeli war launched in late February. NBC reported that Riyadh had refused to allow US forces to use Saudi bases

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  Jerusalem governorate warns over Israeli plan for settlement centre at Qalandiya airport

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate has warned of an Israeli plan to establish a settlement-linked heritage centre at the site of the former Jerusalem International Airport in Qalandiya. According to a statement carried by WAFA, the project is expected to receive approval from the Israeli government and was initiated by Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu. The governorate said the initiative coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Entebbe military operation carried out by Israel in Uganda. The proposed project would convert the airport’s historic reception building—originally constructed during the British Mandate period in 1920 and later expanded under Jordanian administration—into what Israeli authorities describe as a heritage, tourism and educational centre. The governorate said the centre would promote the Israeli narrative

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  Hamas urges US to stop Israeli attacks on Gaza following deadly strikes

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  Hamas on Wednesday accused Israel of escalating attacks in Gaza in violation of the ceasefire agreement and called on the United States and mediating countries to intervene to stop the offensive, Anadolu Agency reported. In a statement, Hamas said Israeli strikes on the Daraj and Zeitoun neighbourhoods of Gaza City and the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, which killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians, represented “a further violation” of the ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and an extension of an ongoing war. “The government of the terrorist (Israeli) occupation continues its brutal crimes against our people in the Gaza Strip under the cover of the ceasefire agreement, without facing any response capable of deterring these dangerous violations of

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  RSF commander affirms readiness to fight Sudanese army for decades

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  The commander of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, stated that his forces are prepared to fight for decades in their confrontation with the army, warning that his fighters remain stationed on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum. In a speech delivered to a group of soldiers at an undisclosed location on Wednesday evening, Dagalo said, “We do not want this war to continue, but if they (the army) continue it for 40 years, it will continue until they are uprooted.” Dagalo added that “elements of the Rapid Support Forces have not left the capital, which the army recaptured in March 2025,” indicating that these elements “are still stationed on the outskirts of Omdurman, on the opposite

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  Khamenei adviser says Iran has ended policy of “strategic patience”

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei has announced that Iran has abandoned its policy of “strategic patience”, signalling a tougher stance amid ongoing tensions with the United States. In media remarks, Rezaei said Tehran would not return to the conditions that existed before last year’s 12-day war, accusing Washington of attempting to stage “theatrical scenarios” around the Strait of Hormuz. He claimed the United States was using the issue of reopening the strait as a show of force ahead of a broader withdrawal from the region, adding that Iran would not allow what he described as previous mistakes to be repeated. Rezaei also said the United States must compensate Iran for losses caused during the conflict, insisting that Tehran would obtain

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  Families’ committee accuses Palestinian Authority forces of torture in al-Junaid prison

  by MI on May 8, 2026

  A committee representing families of detainees in the occupied West Bank has accused Palestinian Authority security forces of carrying out systematic torture and abuse against political prisoners held in al-Junaid Prison. The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners said it was deeply concerned over what it described as escalating violations against detainees, accusing Palestinian Authority security agencies of pursuing a policy of political arrests and repression targeting activists and resistance supporters. In a statement issued on Thursday, the committee said torture practices had reached “shocking levels”, citing the case of detainee Suleiman al-Shami, whose family alleged he was subjected to severe abuse that resulted in burns to his feet while in custody. The committee described the alleged abuses as a

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  Lebanon-Israel talks to resume in Washington next week: State Department

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Lebanese and Israeli officials will hold another round of talks in Washington as an extended ceasefire approaches its expiry on May 17, according to a State Department official. “There will be talks next Thursday-Friday,” the official told Anadolu on Wednesday, without providing further details on the participants or agenda. A Lebanese source told Anadolu earlier that the new round of discussions will take place at the US State Department headquarters in Washington. The two countries, which lack formal diplomatic relations, previously held two rounds of talks in Washington on April 14 and April 23 amid US efforts to advance diplomatic discussions between the two sides. READ: Israeli army chief says no limits on force in southern Lebanon operations The upcoming meetings

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  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait lift restrictions on US military access to bases, airspace: Report

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on the US military’s use of their bases and airspace that were imposed after the launch of an American operation aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The move removes a significant obstacle for President Donald Trump’s effort to secure commercial shipping routes through the strategically vital waterway amid heightened tensions involving Iran. Citing US and Saudi officials, the newspaper reported that the Trump administration is preparing to restart naval escort operations for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz with US naval and air support. The mission had reportedly been paused earlier this week after operating for 36 hours. Pentagon planners are now assessing timelines for resuming

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  UN warns foot, mouth disease increasing in occupied West Bank amid Israeli restrictions

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Cases of foot and mouth disease are on the rise in the occupied West Bank amid increasing Israeli restrictions on movement, jeopardizing public health in nomadic communities, the UN said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. “Our humanitarian colleagues warn that foot and mouth disease is now increasing concerns for vulnerable Bedouin and herding communities whose livestock is their primary source of income and food,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the UN’s New York headquarters. “Partners say that movement restrictions and insecurity are complicating timely vaccination, and [the] veterinary response that is needed to treat this disease,” he added. The occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem have seen a surge in Israeli restrictions and attacks on Palestinians, including raids, arrests, shootings

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  Poland voices outrage over Israeli soldier’s ‘disrespect’ of Virgin Mary statue

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Poland’s Foreign Ministry expressed “strong concern” on Thursday over an incident involving an Israeli soldier in Lebanon who showed “disrespect” toward a statue of the Virgin Mary, saying such actions offend the religious sentiments of Christians, Anadolu reports. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland expresses strong concern regarding another incident involving a soldier of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Lebanon, who showed disrespect toward the figure of the Virgin Mary. Such actions offend the religious sentiments of Christians,” the ministry said in a statement on the US social media platform X. The statement reminded that every state has a responsibility to respect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as outlined in Article

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  Iran urges UN members not to support ‘provocative’ US draft resolution on Hormuz

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged UN member states not to support what he described as a “one-sided and provocative” US draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Thursday. In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China’s UN envoy Fu Cong and UN member states, Araghchi criticized the draft resolution over the situation in the strategic waterway and surrounding areas. Araghchi said the proposed resolution ignores what Tehran describes as the “root cause” of current tensions, namely the US and Israeli military actions against Iran. “The current situation is directly and exclusively the result of their unjustified and illegal war of aggression,” he said in the

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  German finance minister says Trump’s ‘irresponsible war’ on Iran is hurting economy

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on Thursday blamed US President Donald Trump for an “irresponsible war” against Iran, saying the conflict and a resulting jump in energy prices are weighing on the country’s economy and public finances, Anadolu Agency reports. “The Iran war, which was triggered by Donald Trump — this irresponsible war and the resulting energy price shock — is slowing down our positive economic momentum,” Klingbeil told reporters in Berlin. The Social Democrat politician said the Iran conflict, along with Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing tariff disputes, is expected to reduce Germany’s tax take in coming years. He said projected tax revenue for 2027 is about €10.1 billion ($11.9 billion) below an October forecast.

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  Iran says no final decision yet on US proposal conveyed through Pakistan

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Iran has not yet reached a final decision on a US proposal conveyed through Pakistani mediation and remains in the review phase, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in an interview with Iran’s official IRNA news agency. “The most important foreign policy issue being discussed these days is the war, the ceasefire, and efforts to end the war and restore peace and stability in the region,” Baghaei said. He said recent discussions with Pakistani officials had focused on Iran’s proposed framework, described as a “14-point proposal,” which had been transmitted to the United States through Pakistan. READ: Trump sees potential Iran deal within ‘a week’: Fox News Baghaei said Iran is currently reviewing the proposal and would communicate its conclusions to

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  Hotel bookings in Israel’s Eilat canceled to accommodate US troops: Reports

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Hundreds of Israelis received messages canceling their hotel reservations in the Red Sea resort city of Eilat to make room for US soldiers, Israeli media reported Thursday. Israel’s Channel 24 said Israelis began receiving calls from hotels in Eilat late Wednesday informing them that “reservations from this month through November, including the summer holiday season, had been canceled.” The report said the cancellations came as operations at Ben Gurion Airport remain irregular, due to the repercussions of the war with Iran, limiting Israelis’ ability to plan vacations abroad and increasing reliance on Eilat as a domestic tourism destination. It quoted a source from a hotel chain, which it did not identify, as saying all rooms in affected hotels had been

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  Several Palestinian students suffer suffocation in Israeli military raid in occupied West Bank

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Several Palestinian students suffered temporary asphyxiation from tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a military raid Thursday in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah in the central West Bank, local sources said. The sources said Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles and bulldozers, raided the village, firing stun grenades and tear gas at the Al-Mughayyir Boys’ School while students were inside, causing several to suffocate. The Israeli army set up a military checkpoint at the village entrance, preventing entry and exit, and simultaneously fired tear gas canisters at residents, the sources added. In the southern West Bank, Israeli occupiers damaged trees and crops and chased away shepherds and farmers in various areas of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron,

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  Israel to build Jewish heritage center at abandoned Palestinian airport in occupied East Jerusalem: Report

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  The Israeli government is set to approve next week the construction of a Jewish heritage center on the grounds of the abandoned Jerusalem International Airport in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli media reported Thursday. Channel 7 said the government will meet next week to approve a proposal by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu to establish the center in the city’s northern part. Before Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967, Jerusalem International Airport served as the only airport in the territory. Israel later seized the airport and converted it into a limited domestic airport before shutting it down completely in 2000. The airport was established in 1920, while British Mandate authorities began using it in 1924. It officially

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  EU lawmakers urge bloc to pressure Israel for media access to Gaza

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Sixty-one members of the European Parliament (MEPs) urged top EU officials on Thursday to make foreign journalists’ access to Gaza a central demand in relations with Israel, calling for “all possible diplomatic and political means” to ensure independent reporting from the enclave, Anadolu Agency reports. In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the lawmakers said Israel’s continued restrictions on international media access to Gaza undermine press freedom and the public’s right to information. “We call on you to specifically make access for foreign journalists a key demand in your bilateral relations with Israel and to use all possible diplomatic and political means to ensure it is granted,” the

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  French lawmakers slam Eurovision over Israel’s participation

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Thomas Porte, a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party and its MEP Rima Hassan on Thursday slammed the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation in the competition, Anadolu Agency reports. “How can Eurovision continue to present itself as a celebration of peace, unity, and fraternity while offering a platform to a state accused of the gravest crimes under humanitarian and international law, and which is perpetuating the first filmed genocide of the 21st century?” lawmakers wrote in a statement reported by the L’Humanite newspaper. They said that what is happening today in Gaza and in Lebanon as well is beyond a simple war and described Israel’s actions as a “large-scale policy of destruction.” “An increasingly divided Europe

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  Egypt’s president visits UAE to show support after Iranian attacks

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi visited the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to show support to the Gulf state after Iranian attacks, Anadolu Agency reports. Sisi was welcomed by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The Egyptian leader affirmed Egypt’s solidarity with the UAE and stressed Cairo’s support for the country’s security and stability and its complete rejection of Iranian attacks on Emirati sovereignty. “These attacks constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and a grave escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region and the world at large,” Sisi said, underlining the necessity of

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  Israeli occupiers storm Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque amid tensions

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday, as graduation ceremony was held for soldiers at the Western Wall (Al-Buraq Wall), a Palestinian agency said, Anadolu Agency reports. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that former Knesset member Yehuda Glick led the occupiers’ entry into the flashpoint site under Israeli police protection. According to the statement, Israeli authorities also held a graduation ceremony for 100 soldiers at the Western Wall (Al-Buraq Wall) inside the mosque. The Al-Buraq Wall, called by Jews as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, is a significant religious site for both Muslims and Jews and forms part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The governorate posted videos on Facebook

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  Iranian president urges unity, warns against attempts to weaken national cohesion

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged national unity and warned against attempts to undermine internal cohesion during a surprise appearance at a meeting with merchants and trade guild representatives, Iranian media reported on Thursday. Pezeshkian’s call came after a recent meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei that lasted nearly two and a half hours. “We visited the dear Leader of the Revolution and spoke with him for nearly two and a half hours; his perspective and manner were highly humane, sincere and humble,” Pezeshkian said. “I consider unity and cohesion more important than anything else; if we have endured until now, it is because of unity and cohesion,” he added. The Iranian leader said the “enemy believed that people would

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  Hamas leader’s son dies of injuries from Israeli strike in Gaza

  by MI on May 7, 2026

  The son of Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya died Thursday of wounds sustained in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, as Israel confirmed an attack on a top Hezbollah commander in the Lebanese capital, in the latest violations of ceasefire deals in both areas. An Anadolu correspondent said Azzam al-Hayya breathed his last after suffering critical injuries in the strike that targeted the Daraj neighborhood east of Gaza City on Wednesday evening. On Wednesday, Hayya said his son had been seriously wounded in the Israeli attack, accusing Israel of seeking to achieve its goals through “pressure, killing and terrorism.” Video footage from Gaza City showed mourners carrying Azzam’s body from Al-Shifa Hospital before his burial. According to Palestinian sources, Azzam

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  Spain awards civil merit honor to UN rapporteur for documenting crimes in Gaza

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez awarded on Thursday the Order of Civil Merit to UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, recognizing her work documenting violations of international law in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Sanchez received Francesca Albanese in Madrid, where they discussed the situation in Palestine, the importance of international law and “the need for an immediate end to the violence and the building of a lasting peace based on dignity and humanity,” according to a government statement. “Public responsibility also implies the moral obligation of not looking away,” Sanchez wrote on social media, praising Albanese as “a voice that upholds the conscience of the world.” The Order of Civil Merit is one of Spain’s highest civilian honors and is

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  What has Guterres supported in Gaza?

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  In March this year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had stated that the UN is “cooperating actively with structures created by the Board of Peace.” By the time Guterres made his statement, US Board of Peace High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov had already warned, in February this year, that Hamas bears the burden of Israel’s full resumption of genocide in Gaza if it fails to disarm. In a letter that was quoted yesterday in Israeli media, Mladenov and senior US official Aryeh Lightstone warned the Palestinian technocratic government, “Failure by Hamas to accept the framework within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Board of Peace and after consultation with the parties, shall render such commitments null and void.”

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  UAE received $80m in EU farming subsidies as calls grow for sanctions over Sudan genocide

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates’ ruling Al Nahyan family has benefited from more than €71 million (US $80 million) in European Union farming subsidies, even as campaigners intensify calls for sanctions against senior Emirati officials over Abu Dhabi’s alleged role in the Sudan genocide. A cross-border investigation by DeSmog, shared with the Guardian, found that subsidiaries controlled by the Al Nahyan family collected more than €71 million over six years through farmland in Romania, Italy and Spain. The payments were made under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which distributes around €54 billion (US $60 billion) a year to farmers and rural areas across the bloc. Read: Sudan files genocide case against UAE at ICJ The investigation traced 110 subsidy payments

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  The Muslim victim who wasn’t there: Golders Green and the ‘ghost logic’ of Islamophobia

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  “As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there. He wasn’t there again today. I wish, I wish he’d go away.” Scholars David Tyrer and Salman Sayyid open their 2012 essay on race and Islamophobia with this nursery rhyme about a haunting. Reading the British media coverage of the Golders Green stabbings, it is impossible not to think of it again. Last Wednesday, a man named Essa Suleiman, a British national reportedly discharged from a psychiatric hospital days earlier, was accused of stabbing three people in London. The first victim was Ishmail Hussein, a Muslim man who appears to have been an acquaintance of the alleged attacker. Then two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders

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  Ted Turner: The mastermind behind the imperialism of satellite broadcasting

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Ted Turner, the man who built what can only be described as the imperialism of satellite broadcasting through CNN, has died. He was the first to turn news into a 24‑hour live stream, transforming television from a medium of entertainment into a global news platform. CNN’s CEO Mark Thompson described Turner as “bold, fearless, and always willing to trust his own judgment.” But celebrating Turner’s unwavering trust in his own instincts clashes with the spirit envisioned by the American Founding Fathers—men who preferred a nation without a government to a nation without a free press. CNN still posts operating profits, yet they are nearly half a billion dollars below its last peak. The era of the 1990s—when CNN stood alone

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  UK crackdown on pro-Palestine speech faces landmark legal test

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Activist and humanitarian aid worker Majid Freeman is due in court this week as the final phase of his landmark case comes to an end. Freeman was charged with encouraging terrorism over social media posts in which he allegedly invited support for Hamas and expressed support for the group. He was arrested in July last year. Freeman has pleaded not guilty, with the jury expected to reach a decision as early as Wednesday or Thursday this week, amid a widening crackdown on pro-Palestinian sentiment across the country. The allegations against Freeman do not accuse him of committing any physical act of terrorism, operational involvement or financial support. The charges relate directly to social media posts which prosecutors claim could indicate

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  The illusion of controlled war

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  As of May 2026, the U.S. approach to international conflict is characterized by a high-stakes, transactional balancing act – using aggressive, limited military actions (“maximum pressure”) while simultaneously attempting to avoid full-scale, direct war. The multiple dimensions of U.S. escalation management include various key factors: One of USA’s calculated military posture stems from the Trump administration being focused on using targeted strikes, economic sanctions, and naval deployments to achieve objectives, rather than engaging in prolonged, boots-on-the-ground wars. In early May 2026, the U.S. announced the end of “Operation Epic Fury,” a campaign targeting Iranian infrastructure. While Washington claimed success, critics saw a, dangerous deadlock and an attempt to reset the 60-day war powers clock without initiating a wider war. The

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  Former Tunisian justice minister sentenced to 20 years in prison

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  A Tunisian court has sentenced former justice minister and leading figure in Ennahda Islamic movement, Noureddine Bhiri, to 20 years in prison over a case linked to the issuing of forged passports and official citizenship documents to foreign nationals, according to Tunis Afrique Presse on Wednesday. The investigation began in 2021 and relates to facilitating the acquisition of Tunisian citizenship documents and passports for two Syrian nationals during Bhiri’s time as justice minister. A specialised counter-terrorism court also sentenced Bhiri and a former security official to 20 years in prison. Six other defendants were also convicted, including four who are outside Tunisia, with sentences ranging from 11 to 30 years. Bhiri, who served as justice minister between 2011 and 2013,

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  Trump pauses his Strait of Hormuz reopening plan following ally backlash

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  US network NBC News has reported that Saudi Arabia blocked an operation proposed by US President Donald Trump to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for ships stranded in the Gulf. The network quoted US officials as saying that “Trump surprised Gulf allies by announcing “Project Freedom” on social media Sunday afternoon, angering leadership in Saudi Arabia.” “In response, the Kingdom informed the US it would not allow the US military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort,” the officials added. A phone call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the dispute, forcing the US president to suspend “Project Freedom.” Other Gulf allies

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  Hamas calls on Washington to stop Israeli aggression on Gaza

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Hamas said on Wednesday that the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip represented a “continued violation” of the ceasefire agreement. The movement called on the United States and the countries guaranteeing the agreement to intervene to stop attacks on civilians. In a statement, Hamas said that “the escalation by the occupation army in the Gaza Strip, and the air strikes targeting the Al-Daraj and Al-Zaytoun neighbourhoods in Gaza City, and Al-Mawasi west of Khan Younis, which resulted in the killing of several citizens and the injury of others, represents a continued violation of the ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh and an extension of the ongoing war of genocide.” It added that “the terrorist occupation government continues its brutal crimes

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  Historic Washington consensus on support for Israel shows signs of collapse: Report

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  A report by the American newspaper The Washington Post has revealed an unprecedented crack in the “historic consensus” surrounding support for Israel within political circles in Washington, saying the alliance that for decades stood above partisan disputes has now become a source of deep division within both the Democratic and Republican parties. The newspaper said the Democratic Party is witnessing the biggest shift, as criticism of Israel is no longer confined to closed-door discussions but has become a central part of political discourse during primary elections. The report noted that terms such as “genocide” are now being openly used to describe the war in Gaza, while the traditional influence of lobbying groups such as AIPAC has begun to weaken, with

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  Ship traffic through Hormuz falls to lowest level since war began

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Ship traffic carrying raw materials through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level since the outbreak of the war, despite US efforts to reopen the strategic waterway, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began, according to data from maritime analytics company Kpler. Kpler, which tracks only raw materials vessels, recorded the passage of just one ship on Monday and no ship crossings on Tuesday. Such a sharp decline in shipping traffic has not been recorded since the start of the war, when the United States and Israel launched their first strikes on Iran on 28th  February. According to maritime data platform Lloyd’s List, around 120 ships usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day.

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  Palestinian resistance ambush kills, wounds collaborators in Khan Younis

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  The Radaa force, affiliated with the Palestinian resistance’s security apparatus in Gaza, said on Wednesday evening that it had carried out an armed ambush targeting what it described as “collaborator gangs” south of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In a statement, the force said it monitored the group crossing the Yellow Line east of the Moza roundabout, south of Khan Younis, before the group attempted to move westward and fell into a pre-planned ambush. It said its fighters opened fire at close range, leaving several members of the group killed and wounded. The statement added that the remaining members fled towards the “yellow zone”, leaving behind a jeep at the site of the clash. According to the force,

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  Iranian source: US proposal contains “unacceptable clauses”

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Iran has not yet formally responded to the latest proposal from the United States, describing parts of it as “unacceptable”, Tasnim News Agency reported an informed Iranian source as saying. The source said ongoing American media messaging was aimed at justifying what he described as US President Donald Trump’s retreat from recent hostile actions, adding that “the language of force and threats” had proven ineffective against Iran and had instead worsened the situation. According to the source, Tehran had previously submitted a 14-point proposal through Pakistani mediators, which he described as “reasonable and logical”. He said the US later presented its own plan, but Iran paused its review after what he called renewed American hostility. The source added that Tehran

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  Israeli court rejects appeal over detention extension of Gaza flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  An Israeli district court in Beersheba on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by rights group Adalah against the extension of the detention of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek, Anadolu Agency reported. Attorney Hadeel Abu Saleh, from the Adalah human rights center, told Anadolu: “We appealed to the Central Court in Beersheba after the Magistrate’s Court decided to extend their detention for six days.” “In our appeal, we said that the arrest was illegal and took place in international waters, and that the court, the Israeli police or the authorities had no jurisdiction to make the arrest,” she added. Abu Saleh said both activists were questioned from day one regarding their humanitarian mission to deliver humanitarian

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  The barometer of volatility: How the world became a hostage to Trump’s mood

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Last Friday, 1st May, Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, commented to journalists that his assessment of global stability was reduced to a startlingly simple metric: the morning temperament of the American President. “Everything is under pressure, including oil prices, depending on how President Trump wakes up,” Fico remarked, noting that a “good mood” can send oil prices tumbling while a single erratic statement can send them surging. While Fico’s comments might sound like hyperbole, they describe a new and precarious “Barometer of Volatility” that now governs international security. For the Middle East—a region where the price of a barrel and the movement of a carrier strike group are often determined by whispers in Washington—this unpredictability is not just a market

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  Israeli report says concern growing over Syrian army reconstruction

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that concern is increasing within Israel over efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to rebuild the Syrian military. According to the report, the Syrian leadership is working to rehabilitate the air force and develop heavy weapons capabilities, including armoured vehicles, artillery systems and missiles. Maariv said Israeli officials believe the consolidation of the new Syrian government is advancing more rapidly than expected. The report added that Israeli security officials view the developments with concern partly because of support provided by Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Syrian authorities. Israeli military and defence officials quoted by the newspaper described the new Syrian government as a potential long-term threat, claiming it is strengthening its military

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  Israeli authorities ban Raed Salah and Kamal Khatib from Al-Aqsa for six months

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Israeli police in occupied Jerusalem have issued orders banning Raed Salah and Kamal Khatib from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for six months. The order, signed by Jerusalem District Police Commander Avsholim Peled, states that the ban will remain in effect from 27th April until 27th October 2026 and was issued under powers granted by Israeli police regulations dating back to 1971. According to the decision, the two sheikhs are prohibited from entering or remaining within the Al-Aqsa compound unless granted special permission directly by the police commander. In response, Khatib rejected the measure, describing it as part of a continuing campaign targeting leaders linked to the Islamic Movement since it was outlawed by Israel in 2015. He said the

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  Israeli army chief says no limits on force in southern Lebanon operations

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said there are “no restrictions on the use of force” in operations against Hezbollah during a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Zamir made the remarks during a tour of Khiam alongside senior commanders from the Israeli army’s Northern Command, as cross-border attacks and military raids continued despite the fragile ceasefire. According to Israeli military statements, forces in the north are continuing operations aimed at defending Israeli towns, eliminating threats and intensifying strikes against Hezbollah positions. Addressing officers and soldiers, Zamir said troops had full access to the army’s capabilities and instructed them to continue identifying and targeting Hezbollah fighters in the field. He claimed that since the war began on 2nd March, Israeli

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  Palestine envoy protests removal of “Palestine” from British Museum displays

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom Husam Zomlot has formally protested to the British government over the removal of the word “Palestine” from displays at the British Museum, describing the move as a “deliberate historical erasure” of the Palestinian narrative. According to The Guardian, the museum removed references to “Palestine” from explanatory panels related to the geography of the Levant and ancient Egypt, replacing them with terms such as “Gaza” and “West Bank”. The words “Palestine” and “Palestinian” were also reportedly removed from descriptions in the museum’s Ancient Near East and Egypt galleries. The changes came despite United Kingdom recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025, prompting criticism over what Zomlot described as a contradiction between Britain’s official

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  Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 16, wound 21, damage school despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  Israeli drone and air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon killed 16 people and wounded 21 others, including paramedics, and damaged a school, Lebanese officials said on Wednesday, in the latest apparent violation of a ceasefire, Anadolu reports. Two people were killed in drone strikes on the town of Mefdoun, while additional airstrikes targeted areas between Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. Four more people were killed and three others injured in a separate strike that hit the home of a municipal council head in the town of Zellaya in western Bekaa, with rescue operations ongoing at the site, the agency added. An Israeli strike also hit a car between the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiya and

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  Football is not ‘the beautiful game’ when it collaborates with genocide

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino played an infantile game at the 76th FIFA congress when he encouraged the Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub and Israel’s FA Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman to shake hands. Faced with Rajoub’s refusal, Infantino then said, “We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters.” Throughout the decades FIFA turned a blind eye to international law violations several times. One would recall the destruction of favelas in Brazil to build stadiums  for the 2014 World Cup. In earlier history, FIFA’s tacit silence during Latin America’s right-wing dictatorships enabled both impunity and coverup of disappearances of thousands of detainees. One horrifying details regarding

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  A Daring Enterprise: A US-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  The United States has been implementing steep cuts to its overseas aid development programmes since Donald Trump became US president in 2024. In 2025, US Foreign Aid went from $200 billion to $174 billion with proposals for more cuts. Most of the aid effected include humanitarian relief as well as stabilisation projects, within the circles of the current administration foreign aid is treated as an unacceptable freebie or handout that gives the United States very little in return. While USAID is treated as a drain at best on America’s resources and at worst an attempt by the old liberal elite to benefit foreigners over Americans, few who demonise it understand what USAID actually does. Cuts to these programmes hamper global