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

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  Israel begins illegal settlement construction atop historic Hebron municipality building in West Bank

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  Israel began illegal settlement construction works atop the historic Hebron municipality building in the southern West Bank, municipal authorities said Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Hebron Municipality said Israeli authorities began to build on the roof of its old headquarters in the Ein Al-Askar area in the Old City. It said the works aim to “impose a new status quo in violation of local and international laws,” describing the construction as part of “the ongoing settlement expansion policy targeting the city of Hebron, its holy sites and historic buildings.” The municipality said the old municipal building has been closed for years under an Israeli military order and is considered one of the major historical and national landmarks in

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  Israeli attacks kill 200 children in Lebanon since March 2: UNICEF

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  At least 200 children have been killed in Lebanon as a result of ongoing Israeli attacks on the country since March 2, UNICEF said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “Children in Lebanon continue to be at the sharp end of ongoing violence, displacement and exposure to traumatic events,” the UN organization said in a statement. UNICEF said at least 59 children were killed or injured in Lebanon during the past week despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since April 17. According to the organization, 23 children have been killed and 93 others injured since April 17, describing the figures as “a stark reminder of the ongoing risks children continue to face.” The agency said the overall toll among children

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  US lawmaker reintroduces resolution recognizing Palestinian Nakba

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  US Rep. Rashida Tlaib reintroduced a resolution Thursday recognizing the 78th anniversary of the Nakba and reaffirming the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Anadolu reports. “The Nakba never ended,” Tlaib said in a statement. “Today, the Israeli apartheid regime is committing genocide in Gaza, violently erasing entire communities across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and bombing Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. It is a campaign to erase Palestinians from existence.” The resolution, titled “Recognizing the Ongoing Nakba and Palestinian Refugees’ Rights,” comes ahead of the 78th anniversary of the Nakba on May 15. The Arabic term “Nakba,” meaning “catastrophe,” and refers to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 war and the creation of

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  Trump claims China’s Xi told him Beijing will not provide military equipment to Iran

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping told him that Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran and expressed support for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, Anadolu reports. “When you say ‘support,’ they’re not fighting a war with us or anything,” Trump said when asked if he discussed China’s support for Iran when he met Xi earlier Thursday in Beijing, during an interview with FOX News. “He said he’s not gonna give military equipment. That’s a big statement,” he said. Trump also said Xi told him China wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open because Beijing buys large amounts of oil from the region. “He said they buy a lot of their oil

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  Head of US Central Command claims Iran had highly enriched uranium before war

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  Iran was in the possession of highly enriched uranium before the US and Israel went to war against that country earlier this year, the head of US Central Command told lawmakers Thursday, Anadolu reports. Asked by a senator on the Senate Armed Services Committee if Iran had uranium enriched up to 60%, Adm. Brad Cooper said, “Yes, sir. They did.” Cooper maintained that there is no civilian use for uranium enriched to that threshold, and said the war has increased the amount of time it would take for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. The senior military official declined to comment when asked if securing the nuclear material would require the US to put boots on the ground in Iran.

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  Iraqi parliament approves Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s government

  by Marwa A on May 14, 2026

  The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved the government of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and its ministerial program, according to the official Iraqi News Agency (INA), Anadolu reports. Al-Zaidi and the ministers who secured parliamentary confidence took the constitutional oath, formally assuming their duties. Parliament granted confidence to 14 ministers during the session. READ: Why Trump decided to back Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi

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  Aafia Siddiqui and Pakistan’s bargain with American gulags

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The Pakistani security state possesses an almost supernatural ability to discover “sovereignty” whenever cameras are rolling in Washington and to lose it entirely the moment the name Aafia Siddiqui is mentioned. Apparently, the Field Marshal can help broker ceasefires, whisper into the ears of presidents, posture as a grand strategist of West Asian stability, and market Pakistan as the indispensable hinge of global diplomacy — yet cannot perform the infinitesimally smaller task of demanding the return of a Pakistani woman whose suffering has become one of the ugliest symbols of the War on Terror. How extraordinary. A nuclear state that can allegedly influence the architecture of regional conflict suddenly develops the political helplessness of a hostage whenever Aafia enters the

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  Why Saudi Arabia’s PIF should build battery storage factories in Indonesia

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The future of energy security will depend less on who controls oil wells and more on who controls batteries, critical minerals and electricity storage systems. That is why Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) should directly invest in battery storage factories in Indonesia. The urgency has become clearer amid the Iran war and repeated instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. The conflict exposed how vulnerable global supply chains remain to geopolitical shocks. Governments are now realizing that energy security is no longer only about crude oil. It is also about securing battery materials, storage technology and industrial resilience. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have complementary strategic advantages. Saudi Arabia has capital, industrial ambition

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  Danish police baton charge, detain activists protesting shipping company over Israel-related cargo

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Danish police used batons and detained activists during a protest outside the headquarters of shipping giant Maersk in Copenhagen, as demonstrators demanded the company halt shipments allegedly linked to Israel, Anadolu reports. The protest was organized as part of the “Mask off Maersk” campaign on Wednesday, which accuses the Danish company of transporting weapons and goods connected to Israel despite international criticism over the war in Gaza. According to Danish news outlet Arbejderen, around 100 police officers were deployed to disperse activists attempting to blockade the entrances to Maersk’s headquarters. Photos and videos published by the outlet showed police officers using batons, dragging protesters away from the site and detaining several demonstrators. READ: Denmark calls for maximum pressure on Israel to lift

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  Belgian university to withdraw from 5 EU education projects involving Israeli partners

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Ghent University (UGent) in Belgium plans to withdraw simultaneously from five remaining EU Horizon research projects involving Israeli partners, rector Petra De Sutter said on Thursday, Belga News Agency reported. “These are the last five major Horizon projects with Israeli partners from which UGent had previously decided to withdraw,” she noted. Three other collaborations will expire before any formal exit procedure is completed. De Sutter said the university will apply the same approach used in its withdrawal from the European OSTEONET project, which allowed it to exit without unilaterally terminating contracts or facing major compensation claims. “The board of governors has said: ‘We are proceeding with the withdrawal from those five projects simultaneously,’” she said. READ: Israel becomes world’s most disliked

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  The Nakba between hypocritical remembrance and oblivion

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  On the eve of the 78th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the silence around the world speaks volumes about oblivion. At the UN, a brief program, so far tentative, lasting 2 and half hours, is what the international institution will dedicate to an ongoing rupture that escalated to genocide. The entire world has witnessed Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and the Nakba is treated as less than a relic of the past. At a time when Israel’s hasbara requires a $730 million boost, the international community should be reflecting on its own complicity. Even when Israel can barely sustain its narrative anymore, world leaders are preferring to render the Nakba insignificant. The UN, on the other hand, adorns its complicity with

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  ‘Children shot, stabbed and pepper-sprayed in occupied West Bank’, UNICEF says

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Israeli forces and armed Jewish settlers are carrying out increasingly coordinated attacks on Palestinian children across the occupied West Bank, with documented incidents including shootings, stabbings, beatings and the use of pepper spray, the UN’s children’s agency has said. Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said: “We’re seeing attacks become increasingly coordinated. Documented incidents include children shot, stabbed, children beaten and children pepper-sprayed.” At least 70 Palestinian children have been killed in the occupied West Bank since January 2025 — an average of one a week — and a further 850 have been injured, the vast majority by live Israeli ammunition, according to UNICEF figures. The agency said March 2026 had recorded the highest number

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  US secretary of state raises questions about NATO amid Iran war

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised questions regarding NATO amid the war with Iran, criticizing Spain for denying US aircraft access to its bases during the war, Anadolu reports. “One of the reasons why I supported NATO was because it gave us basing rights. It allowed us to have bases in Europe that we could use in a contingency like something in the Middle East,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News, aired Wednesday but taped earlier this week. “So when you have NATO partners denying you the use of those bases – when the primary reason why NATO is good for America is now being denied to us by Spain, as an example – then what’s the purpose

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  Israel’s 7 October narrative under fresh scrutiny after army accused of deleting footage

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The Israeli army secretly seized and deleted parts of the 7 October security camera footage, according to a report published by Israel Hayom yesterday, in the latest revelation to deepen suspicion over the official Israeli account of the events of that day. The Hebrew-language daily reported that on the evening of 9 October 2023, a classified reserve unit operating under the Israeli army’s Ground Forces Command arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri and asked members of the kibbutz’s rapid-response squad to hand over the device storing all the community’s security camera recordings. The unit commander told the exhausted residents that he needed the material “to bring the hostages home” and promised it would not be shared and would be returned in full.

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  Israel says it inks $35 million deal ‘to extend F-35 fighter jet range’ amid Iran war

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Israel announced Thursday the signing of a contract worth more than $34 million to develop “an extended-range” capability for the F-35 Adir fighter jet, Anadolu reports. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that its Defense Procurement Directorate signed the deal with Cyclone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems. The agreement covers “the development of an extended-range capability for the F-35 ‘Adir’ fighter jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin,” the statement added. “The deal, valued at over $34 million (over NIS 100 million), covers the development and integration of external fuel tanks based on an existing Cyclone design originally developed for the F-16,” it said. The new capability is expected to extend the aircraft’s “operational range, reduce reliance on aerial refueling,

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  The anatomy of a fracture: The structural forces behind the UAE’s OPEC exit

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was primarily established by five oil-exporting nations as a defiant response to the dominance of the global energy giants. These corporations, famously known as the “Seven Sisters,” wielded absolute control over the industry—dictating production levels and setting prices without even consulting the sovereign nations whose resources they were extracting. It was, in essence, another form of economic occupation, persisting even after many of these countries had technically achieved their political independence. When those five founding members gathered at the Baghdad Conference in September 1960, they sought to do more than just stabilize their revenues; they aimed to reclaim their national sovereignty from a colonial-era pricing structure.  This collective defiance in 1960 effectively

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  Saudi minister launches sharp criticism on Muslim Brotherhood

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Abdul Latif Al Sheikh launched a sharp attack on the Muslim Brotherhood group, warning: “Those who have been warned have no excuse.” In a post on X on Wednesday, Al Sheikh said: “I swear by Almighty God that those affiliated with the party of deception, betrayal and treachery pursue every path to reach power and achieve what they were promised by those who kill peoples, destroy states and steal wealth.” He added that the group uses “grand promises” of reform, organisation and increased wealth to win the trust of those who appoint or support them, while in reality they “incite people, fuel unrest and stir up strife to destroy nations and everyone

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  Hamas criticises Mladenov remarks on Gaza ceasefire violations

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement’s position had been clear from the start that it “does not want to be part of the arrangements for the day after the aggression on the Gaza Strip ends”, adding that this later developed into an agreement to form a national committee to administer the territory. In a press statement on Wednesday, Qassem said Hamas had called for pressure on Israel to allow the rapid entry of the national committee into Gaza. He said the movement had “taken all the necessary field, political and legal steps to transfer all governance responsibilities to the national committee in the Strip, including the security sphere”. Qassem also criticised comments by former UN envoy Nikolay Mladenov regarding

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  More than 61 killed in South Kordofan tribal clashes, Sudan Doctors Network says

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The Sudan Doctors Network said more than 61 people, including nine children and five women, were killed during two weeks of clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Otoro tribe in the city of Kauda in South Kordofan state, southern the country.  The network also expressed “deep concern over reports and matching testimonies from survivors in Kauda and nearby areas” following what it described as a serious escalation in violations against civilians over the past two weeks. In a statement, the group said the violations included “extrajudicial killings, slaughters, and the burning of homes and shops, in addition to widespread looting of property” carried out by forces linked to the SPLM-N. It added that, according to testimonies

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  US court suspends sanctions on Albanese despite campaign against her

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  A US court has suspended sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese. The court said the Trump administration had likely violated her right to free speech by imposing the measures after she criticised what she described as the genocide war in Gaza. Federal Judge Richard Leon ruled in Washington that Albanese’s residence outside the United States did not reduce the protections granted to her under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. He said the Trump administration had sought to regulate her speech because of the “idea or message ⁠expressed.” according to Reuters. Commenting on the ruling, Albanese said: “Thanks to my daughter and my husband for standing by me to defend

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  Saudi Arabia, Spain sign strategic partnership agreement during Madrid talks

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Saudi Arabia and Spain signed an agreement on Wednesday to deepen bilateral ties and establish a formal strategic partnership during talks in Madrid between the countries’ foreign ministers, according to a joint statement released after the meeting, Anadolu agency reported. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno in the Spanish capital, where the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in security, defence, trade, investment, and culture. The visit concluded with the signing of an agreement creating a Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council, aimed at strengthening long-term coordination between the two governments. The ministers said the relationship between the two kingdoms was rooted in “historical ties and bonds of friendship” and expressed satisfaction

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  Saudi oil production falls to lowest level since 1990 amid Hormuz disruption

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Saudi Arabia informed OPEC that its crude oil production dropped sharply in April to its lowest level since 1990, amid disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war against Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to a monthly OPEC report cited by Bloomberg, Saudi production declined by 651,000 barrels per day last month, falling to 6.316 million barrels per day. Bloomberg reported that Saudi crude production has fallen by roughly 42 per cent since February, marking the kingdom’s lowest output level since the Gulf War in 1990 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. READ: Saudi expert says UAE exit from OPEC to have limited impact on oil markets The decline comes amid wider disruptions affecting Gulf oil exports after Iran

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  Sisi and Museveni discuss Nile cooperation and water security in Entebbe

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Entebbe on Wednesday for talks focused on East African security, Nile Basin cooperation and regional water resources management. According to a joint Egyptian-Ugandan statement, the two leaders discussed developments related to the Nile Basin Initiative and efforts to bridge differences over the Nile Basin Framework Agreement, also known as the Entebbe Agreement. Uganda is among the Nile Basin states that signed the agreement, while Egypt and Sudan continue to oppose aspects of it. The statement said Sisi and Museveni welcomed progress made by an ad hoc committee tasked with engaging countries that have not ratified the framework agreement and reaffirmed support for dialogue aimed at achieving consensus and mutually

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  Human Rights Watch says reports of sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners align with previous findings

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Human Rights Watch said reports detailing sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention facilities are consistent with findings from previous investigations conducted by the organisation and other rights groups. The statement was made by deputy Director of Human Rights Watch and its representative to the European Union institutions, Claudio Francavilla in remarks to Anadolu Agency on Wednesday. Francavilla said information published in a report by Nicholas Kristof regarding sexual abuse and rape of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons corresponds with evidence previously documented by Human Rights Watch and other organisations. He called for impartial and transparent investigations, fair legal proceedings and unrestricted access for the International Committee of the Red Cross and independent monitors to all Israeli detention facilities.

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  Israeli occupiers storm Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound ahead of Jerusalem Day march

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli occupiers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning under the protection of Israeli forces, the official news agency Wafa reported. Local sources said occupiers entered the compound and publicly performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards under Israeli protection, Wafa added. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. Israeli police have allowed occupiers to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound daily, except Fridays and Saturdays, since 2003. Israeli occupiers stormed the mosque 30 times in April, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. Palestinians say Israel has intensified efforts for decades

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  Why Trump decided to back Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The decision by United States President Donald Trump to back Ali al-Zaidi as Iraq’s next prime minister may have surprised some quarters. But when one looks into whom Trump was trying to keep out, his motivation becomes clear. Iraq’s dominant parliamentary bloc, the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties aligned with Iran, had initially thrown its weight behind former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. For Washington, the nomination of an openly pro-Iran premier was a red line, especially amid continuing attacks by pro-Iran Iraqi militias on US assets in the country and the region. Trump publicly announced his opposition to al-Maliki and threatened to cut off all aid to Iraq if he were appointed. The pressure campaign was swift and severe. Washington suspended cash payments

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  Report: Shin Bet chief and senior Israeli officials visited UAE amid Iran war

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Senior Israeli security officials, including head of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) David Zini, visited the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks as part of ongoing security and intelligence coordination linked to the confrontation with Iran, according to Israeli media reports. The Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 reported that Zini conducted what it described as an “unprecedented” visit to the UAE during the fragile ceasefire period following the war with Iran. According to the report, the visit reflected deepening security cooperation between Israel and the UAE. Kan 11 also reported that a separate Israeli delegation led by Amir Baram travelled to Abu Dhabi during preparations for the joint Israeli-American attacks on Iran. The delegation reportedly included senior defence officials who

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  Arabs and Palestinians in Britain call on Starmer for equal protection during Nakba commemoration

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  Arab and Palestinian community leaders, campaigners, and professional figures in Britain have issued an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling for equal protection for participants attending the 78th anniversary commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba in London on Saturday, 16th May, amid growing concerns over far-right threats. In the letter, signed by dozens of Arab and Palestinian figures, the signatories said British Palestinians and Arabs are living in “a state of heightened anxiety” due to what they described as an unequal sense of protection, particularly when compared with the speed and seriousness with which the government has responded to the fears of other communities in the British capital. The signatories stressed that, for British Palestinians, the Nakba is “not

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  No military solution to issues involving Iran, Tehran will not yield to threats: Iran’s top diplomat

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  There is no military solution to issues involving Iran, and Tehran will not surrender to pressure or threats, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday, according to Iranian media. Speaking during a BRICS 2026 foreign ministers meeting in India, Araghchi said Iran had twice been subjected within less than a year to “brutal and illegal aggression” by the US and Israel, the Fars News Agency reported. Under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability, the global meeting comes amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, which started on Feb. 28 but is currently under a ceasefire. “It should now be clear to everyone that Iran is invincible, and whenever it is subjected to pressure, it emerges stronger and more

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  UAE denies Netanyahu office statement on alleged visit

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates has denied a statement issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding an alleged secret visit by Netanyahu to the UAE or the reception of any Israeli military delegation on its territory. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UAE said that “its relations with Israel are public and were established within the framework of the well-known and publicly declared Abraham Accords,” adding that “These relations are not based on secrecy or clandestine arrangements”. It concluded: “Therefore any claims regarding undisclosed visits or arrangements are baseless unless issued by the relevant official authorities in the UAE.” READ: Israeli premier made secret trip to UAE to meet President bin Zayed

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  France investigates possible Israeli company interference in local elections

  by MI on May 14, 2026

  French authorities are investigating whether an obscure Israeli company called BlackCore played a role in a foreign interference campaign targeting the hard-left party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed – LFI) ahead of local elections held in March.  According to Reuters, citing two sources, French intelligence services are investigating who allegedly hired BlackCore to carry out a smear campaign against three party candidates through deceptive websites and social media accounts. The campaign reportedly included false accusations of criminal behaviour and disparaging digital ads.  On its website, BlackCore describes itself as “an elite influence, cyber, and technology company built for the modern era of information warfare.”     According to French authorities and the candidates involved, the campaign targeted Marseille mayoral candidate Sebastien Delogu, Toulouse

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  The assault on a French nun and the forgotten story of Palestinian Christians

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  The video is horrifying, though it is the kind of horror now synonymous with the behavior of Israel, its military, its armed settlers, and society that has been conditioned to see the ‘other’ as subhuman. Yet, this was not the typical viral video that emerges almost daily from occupied Palestine. The victim, this time, was not a Palestinian. She was an elderly French nun.   On May 1, footage surfaced from Jerusalem showing a 36-year-old Israeli man running behind a French nun—a researcher at the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research—and shoving her violently to the ground.  In a chilling display of cruelty, the assailant did not simply hit and run. He walked away a few paces, then returned to

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  3 Republican senators join Democrats in bid to advance Iran war powers resolution

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Three Republican senators broke with party leadership on Wednesday and voted with Democrats to advance a resolution seeking to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran without congressional approval, Anadolu Agency reports. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Rand Paul joined nearly all Senate Democrats in supporting a motion to discharge Senator Jeff Merkley’s war powers resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The motion failed by a narrow 49-50 vote. Democratic Senator John Fetterman was the only member of his party to vote against advancing the measure, while Republican Senator Pete Ricketts did not vote. The vote marked the seventh congressional attempt to curb Trump’s war powers amid a fragile ceasefire with Iran. Regional tensions

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  Israeli premier made secret trip to UAE to meet President bin Zayed

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed Wednesday that he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates to sit down with that country’s leader amid the war against Iran, Anadolu reports. “In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Netanyahu’s office wrote on US social media company X. Additional details were not available officially, but the CBS American television network reported that the visit occurred in late March, during the height of the US-Israeli war against Iran. A ceasefire was brokered in April and subsequently indefinitely extended by US President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported this week

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  ‘We are not asking Hamas to disappear as political movement,’ says Board of Peace envoy

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative of the Board of Peace overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, said “we are not asking Hamas to disappear as a political movement,” Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem, Mladenov repeated demands for Hamas and other armed groups to disarm, describing the issue as “not negotiable.” Seven months after the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, “the door to the future of Gaza is still closed,” he said. “It is not what the Palestinians were promised and it is not what they deserve. And it is not giving Israel the security to move forward, as the Israeli people also want,” Mladenov added. “We have a ceasefire. It is holding. It is not perfect.

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  Pentagon strikes deal for 10,000 containerized missiles as Iran war eats into stocks

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  The Pentagon announced Wednesday that it inked agreements with several arms firms to acquire 10,000 low-cost containerized missiles, as the war against Iran badly eats into existing missile stocks, Anadolu reports. The agreements with Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos, and Zone 5 launch what the Defense Department is calling “the Low‑Cost Containerized Missles (LCCM) program.” A separate parallel agreement with Castelion will see the Pentagon acquire at least 500 low-cost Blackbeard hypersonic missiles per year. The two-year Castelion deal includes an option for the contract to be renewed for up to five years, and the Pentagon said in a statement that it is “actively seeking authority and funding” to purchase thousands more hypersonics from the company “to further encourage Castelion’s self-funded facility

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  Germany calls for probe of alleged Israeli torture and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Germany on Wednesday called for an investigation following a New York Times report about alleged Israeli torture and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, Anadolu reports. “We have, of course, taken note of these reports. As a matter of principle, the federal government condemns sexual violence in all contexts. We do not have any information of our own regarding the cases mentioned, which is why it is absolutely crucial that these allegations be investigated and that the perpetrators be held accountable,” said foreign ministry spokesman Martin Giese at a press briefing in Berlin. Asked whether the German government would support independent bodies gaining access to prisons in Israel to investigate the matter, Giese replied, “Well, this is a policy that the federal

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  Iran says ‘smart management’ plan for Strait of Hormuz finalized in parliament commission

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  A strategic proposal on the “smart management” of the Strait of Hormuz has reached its final stage in Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission and has been uploaded to parliament’s system for review and approval, the commission’s head said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Ebrahim Azizi said the proposal aims to use Iran’s geographic position in the strategic waterway as a “power-generating leverage.” “The missile triad, the people and the Strait of Hormuz destroyed the product of 50 years of US efforts,” Azizi said in comments carried by the state broadcaster IRIB. He also praised public support during the recent conflict, saying the presence of people in streets and public squares “carried an important message.” The remarks came after Azizi

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  Israeli minister storms Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark East Jerusalem occupation

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Israeli Minister of Negev and Galilee Affairs Yitzhak Wasserlauf stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, two days before the anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the city, according to Palestinian sources, Anadolu Agency reports. Wasserlauf is a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both Ben-Gvir and Wasserlauf had previously forced their way into the Al-Aqsa compound, drawing a wave of condemnations from Palestinians and Arab countries. Wednesday’s raid comes two days before Israel marks the anniversary of its occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 according to Hebrew calendar. Far-right Israeli organizations have called on supporters to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to mark Israel’s occupation of the city.

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  Palestine hails EU sanctions on ‘extremist’ Israeli occupiers over West Bank violence

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Palestine welcomed a decision by the European Union to sanction “extremist” Israeli occupier organizations and individuals involved in illegal settlement activities and violence against Palestinians, Anadolu reports. “This is an important step toward accountability and upholding international law,” Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin wrote on the US social media company X. She called for “concrete measures” to address Israeli settlement activity and attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. On Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed on a new round of sanctions targeting Israeli occupiers and organizations accused of supporting illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. The occupied West Bank has seen escalating violence since the start of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, including killings,

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  Palestinian teen killed by Israeli fire during occupier attack in West Bank

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  A Palestinian teenager was killed Wednesday by Israeli fire during an attack by occupiers on the towns of Sinjil and Jiljilya in the central West Bank, according to health authorities and local sources, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that Yousef Ali Yousef Kaabneh, 16, was killed by Israeli fire near Jiljilya, north of Ramallah. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its teams treated a child in critical condition with a chest wound during an occupier attack on Sinjil and Jiljilya. The organization said four other people were injured during simultaneous raids in the two towns, including two wounded by gunfire and two injured after being beaten. READ: Israeli army raids West Bank’s Ramallah, renews closure of

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  Turkey’s Maritime Jurisdiction Bill: Energy, law, and power in the Eastern Mediterranean

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Turkey’s reported plan to submit a bill to parliament asserting maritime jurisdiction over disputed areas of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean marks a serious escalation in one of the region’s most sensitive maritime disputes. The proposed legislation would reportedly formalize Ankara’s claims in contested waters believed to contain existing or potential natural gas resources. If submitted and passed, the bill would give Turkey’s long-standing claims a stronger domestic legal basis and could influence future exploration, drilling, and naval activity. Ankara appears to be trying to convert disputed maritime positions into national legislation, making them harder to reverse and easier to defend politically. The bill could also justify Turkish activity in areas claimed by Greece, Cyprus, and others, adding pressure to

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  International human rights organisations call for UN action on proposed “Execution of Palestinian Prisoners Law”

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Geneva / Istanbul: A coalition of international legal and human rights organisations has submitted a formal communication to the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging immediate attention to the continued advancement of legislation commonly known as the “Execution of Palestinian Prisoners Law.” The communication was addressed to the President and Members of the Human Rights Council and jointly submitted by: The Geneva Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Geneva The International Justice Forum Against Genocide, Istanbul The International Union of Jurists, Geneva Branch The organizations expressed grave concern that the proposed legislation could provide domestic legal cover for the execution of Palestinian detainees and prisoners held under occupation. They warned that such a measure would represent a serious escalation in the

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  Russia says disputes over Iran, Greenland and Canada distract from Palestine

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the US of trying to distract global attention from Palestine, Anadolu reports. Commenting on the situation in the Middle East in an interview with RT India TV channel, Lavrov said ongoing US-provoked disputes involving Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland and Canada were distracting international attention from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “All of the efforts that are being taken right now on Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Greenland, and now Canada … all of these issues are moving us away from settling the most protracted, the most negative crisis in the world – that is, the crisis around Palestine,” he said. The minister criticized American proposals regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, saying they did not address the

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  Palestinian students from Gaza arrive in Italy for university program

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  A group of 72 Palestinian university students from the Gaza Strip arrived in Italy on Tuesday, under an academic support initiative coordinated by Italian institutions, Anadolu Agency reports. The students landed at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport after departing from Amman, Jordan, and were welcomed by Italian University Minister Anna Maria Bernini and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The program was promoted by the Italian Conference of University Rectors in cooperation with Italy’s Foreign and University Ministries. According to Italian officials, the students will continue their education at 21 universities across Italy, as well as in the Republic of San Marino. The initiative aims to provide educational opportunities and support for Palestinian students affected by the situation in Gaza. READ: Senior UN official briefly detained

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  Nakba at 78: The Beginning of the End of Zionism? | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on May 13, 2026

  In this episode, we mark Nakba Day with a special discussion on the historical roots and continuing reality of Palestinian dispossession. We place the Nakba within the wider settler-colonial project that shaped Palestine from the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate through 1948, 1967, Oslo and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The episode examines whether Gaza represents the final and most violent stage of a century-long project to erase the Palestinian people, or whether this moment marks the beginning of the end of Zionism as a settler-colonial system. It also looks at the crisis of Palestinian political leadership, the collapse of Israel’s claim to moral legitimacy and the regional fallout from Gaza, including Iran, Trump and the limits of US

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  Israel becomes world’s most disliked country, global survey finds

  by Marwa A on May 13, 2026

  Israel is now perceived more negatively than any other country in the world, followed by North Korea, Afghanistan and Iran, according to new global polling published by Nira Data as part of its 2026 democracy and country perception research. The five most positively perceived countries were Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Sweden and Italy. The findings place Israel at the bottom of the Global Country Perceptions 2026 ranking, a survey of 46,667 respondents assessing how 129 countries and three international organisations are viewed around the world. The ranking was published alongside Nira Data’s 2026 Democracy Perception Index, which surveyed 94,146 respondents across 98 countries on how citizens experience democracy in their own countries. Israel is globally perceived more negatively than any other

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  Epic interruptus: The Iranian snare and American defeat

  by Marwa A on May 13, 2026

  On May 10, Robert Kagan, the high priest of neoconservative thought, the bell ringer for muscular interventionism and general American meddlesomeness, lamented in The Atlantic that the United States had suffered a unique defeat in its efforts to subjugate Iran.  The article says much about Kagan’s own identification with the obvious, some feat given the military fancy and fantasy that continues to blot the current Trump administration. Be that as it may, he finds the Iran War dishing out a defeat to the United States of unique quality, one that “can neither be repaired nor ignored.”  No ultimate American triumph could emerge, and nothing would “undo or overcome the harm done” to “return to the status quo ante”.  The Strait

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  Israel uprooted Palestinians 2.8 million times in a single year, new report reveals

  by Marwa A on May 13, 2026

  Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza forced Palestinian families to flee their homes 2.8 million times over the course of 2025, while displacement in the Israeli occupied West Bank surged to its highest level since 1967, according to a major new global report released on Tuesday. The Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), in its Global Report on Internal Displacement 2026, found that Palestinians in the illegally occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, were uprooted from their homes more than five times as often as in the previous year — 51,000 displacements in total — the highest figure on record since the start of the Israeli occupation in 1967. Read: More than 700,000 people displaced in Gaza since March: UN In

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  Official report: Israel facing military fragility as armament stockpiles dwindle since October 2023

  by Marwa A on May 13, 2026

  An official report issued by Israel’s State Comptroller’s Office has revealed a significant decline in Israel’s weapons production capabilities and military stockpiles during the ongoing war since the 7th October attack. The report warned that Israel’s growing reliance on foreign imports had harmed its political and military decision-making freedom and threatened the availability of supplies needed by the Israeli army on the battlefield. The report, published by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, said the production capabilities of Israel’s military industries had deteriorated despite billions of dollars being invested in weapons manufacturing infrastructure. It added that some production lines had completely lost their efficiency, while others had weakened due to the security establishment’s decision to buy cheaper raw materials from abroad and