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

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  Western politicians lie, millions die: The architecture of manufactured consent

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Modern ‘victory’ is prepared long before the first shot. It is paved with a sophisticated architecture of manufactured consent—where political deception and media complicity turn illegal aggressions into ‘moral necessities. To sustain a perpetual state of war, the public must be shielded from the gore of the battlefield and fed a steady diet of “imminent threats” and “humanitarian interventions.” Whether it was the phantom WMDs of Baghdad, the “freedom-fighting” narrative of the Afghan occupation, or the distorted “responsibility to protect” that left Libya a fractured marketplace for human trafficking, the media has acted less as a watchdog and more as a megaphone for the state. The formula remains hauntingly consistent: Western politicians lie, the media amplifies, and millions die The

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  Egypt’s Al-Azhar warns of Israeli intentions to undermine ceasefire agreement

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Al-Azhar, the top Islamic Sunni institute in Egypt, has strongly condemned what it described as “brutal crimes” carried out by Israel in several areas of Lebanon, which killed dozens of people and injured hundreds of civilians. In a statement, Al-Azhar said the attacks represent a “dangerous escalation” and a “flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian conventions and laws”. It added that targeting innocent civilians reflects a continued pattern of aggression and disregard for human and moral values. The institution warned of what it called Israeli attempts to “ignite the region in order to undermine the current truce and ceasefire agreement”. It stressed that the absence of international and legal accountability “has encouraged the occupier to persist in its criminal

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  Lebanon declares Thursday day of mourning after Israeli air strikes

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The Lebanese government has declared Thursday a national day of mourning for victims of Israeli air strikes that hit several areas across the country, killing hundreds of civilians. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement issued on Wednesday that all public administrations, institutions and municipalities will be closed. Flags will be flown at half-mast, while regular programming on radio and television stations will be adjusted in line with the national tragedy. Salam added: “We extend our deepest condolences to the Lebanese people, especially to the families of the martyrs, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are continuing contacts with our Arab brothers and international officials to mobilise all of Lebanon’s political and diplomatic efforts to stop

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  Israeli air strikes kill 254 in Lebanon on Wednesday

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 254, with more than 800 people injured, following Israeli air strikes on several areas across the country, the Lebanese Civil Defence said on Wednesday evening. Lebanon’s Health Ministry had earlier reported that dozens were killed and hundreds wounded in simultaneous strikes that hit multiple areas, including the capital, Beirut. In a statement, the ministry said: “In a very serious escalation, Israeli enemy aircraft launched a wave of simultaneous raids on many Lebanese areas, resulting in dozens of martyrs and hundreds of injured.” The ministry urged residents to reduce congestion in Beirut’s neighbourhoods to allow ambulance and rescue teams to move more quickly, warning that heavy traffic is obstructing access to targeted areas.

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  Arab League condemns Israeli bombing of Lebanon as “unprecedented barbarity”

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, describing the attacks as “barbaric and unprecedented.” In a statement, Aboul Gheit said that the Israeli airstrikes, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries among civilians, constitute a blatant violation and serious breach of international law, accusing Israel of working to undermine ceasefire efforts in the region. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Arab League, Jamal Rushdi stated that despite ongoing international efforts to de-escalate the conflict, Israel continues with its obstructive role, preventing progress toward restoring stability. He added that Israeli occupation policies are based on a systematic escalation through Lebanon, warning that such actions risk sabotaging any understanding aimed at achieving regional

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  Al-Aqsa Mosque reopens after 40-day closure by Israel

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Palestinian Muslims gather and enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as it reopens for worship after 41 days of closure following Israeli attacks on Iran carried out with the United States in the Old City of East Jerusalem on April 9, 2026, Anadolu reports. The gates of the Haram… pic.twitter.com/RfmETqmHnf — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) April 9, 2026 Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem was reopened to Muslim worshippers Thursday following a 40-day closure imposed by Israel amid joint US-Israeli military actions against Iran, Anadolu reports. According to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground, the mosque, located in the Old City, was reopened at dawn, allowing hundreds of Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound. As the gates were opened

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  Iran links participation in Islamabad talks to ceasefire in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Iran has threatened to withdraw from upcoming peace talks in Islamabad, conditioning its participation on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Tehran informed mediators that the continued Israeli aggression on Lebanon constitutes a clear violation of initial understandings, stressing that negotiations cannot proceed amid ongoing military escalation against its allies. The sources indicated that the Iranian leadership is also reconsidering its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and may instead maintain it as a closed military zone for oil tankers, in response to what it described as Israeli provocations. This position places the US-brokered ceasefire framework under increasing strain, as Tehran views Washington’s inability to restrain Israeli military operations

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  Iran halts Hormuz transit and warns of strikes after ceasefire violations in Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 9, 2026

  Iran has announced the halt of oil tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz and warned of imminent retaliatory action following Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon. According to reports by the semi-official Fars News Agency, an Iranian military source said Tehran is preparing to carry out retaliatory operations against Israeli military sites in the occupied territories. The source stated that the move comes in response to the continued Israeli aggression against Lebanon and repeated violations of the temporary ceasefire with the Islamic Resistance. Iranian officials indicated that there is a growing belief in Tehran that the ongoing Israeli attacks, despite ceasefire understandings, reflect either the inability of the United States to restrain Israel or that US Central Command

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  Sen. Sanders to introduce resolution to halt US military aid to Israel

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Wednesday that he will introduce a resolution next week aimed at stopping US military aid to Israel, Anadolu reports. Sanders criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump for a “disastrous war” with Iran. “No great surprise. Netanyahu talked Trump into the disastrous war in Iran. We cannot allow Israel to continue shaping U.S. military and foreign policy. “Next week I will be offering a resolution to stop U.S. military aid to Israel,” Sanders wrote on US social media company X. Several American lawmakers frequently make demands for the US to stop supplying weapons to Israel and being complicit in Israel’s actions. READ: Iran must remove enriched uranium or face renewed fighting, Israeli premier

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  Iran must remove enriched uranium or face renewed fighting, Israeli premier says

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that any enriched uranium remaining in Iran would have to leave the country either through an agreement or renewed military action. “The enriched material that still remains will leave Iran. It will leave either by agreement or through a renewal of the fighting,” Netanyahu said in televised remarks carried by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The premier claimed that a temporary ceasefire with Iran was “not the end of the war but a station on the way” toward achieving Israel’s objectives, stressing that Israel is ready to resume combat “at any moment required.” He also claimed that Iran is entering negotiations from a weakened position, insisting that Israel has inflicted significant damage on Iran’s

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  White House says Lebanon not part of cease-fire deal with Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Lebanon is not covered by a newly brokered, two-week cease-fire agreement with Iran, the White House said on Wednesday as Israel carried out sweeping bombardment of its northern neighbor, Anadolu reports. “Lebanon is not part of the cease-fire. That has been relayed to all parties involved in it,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “assured” US President Donald Trump that Israel will “continue to be a helpful partner throughout the course of the next two weeks.” Iran warned earlier on Wednesday that the US must choose between a cease-fire and “continued war via Israel,” saying Washington “cannot have both.” “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the

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  Iran warns US must choose between ceasefire and war via Israel, ‘it cannot have both’

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran warned on Wednesday that the US must choose between a ceasefire and “continued war via Israel,” saying Washington “cannot have both,” Anadolu reports. “The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose—ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on US social media company X. “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.” Citing an informed source, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported earlier that Tehran will withdraw from the truce with the US if Israel continues to violate it through attacks on Lebanon. The Israeli army said it struck more than

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  Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, death toll rises to 262

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  A Palestinian journalist with the Qatari Al Jazeera television was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, bringing the death toll of reporters since October 2023 to 262, local authorities said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Gaza Government Media Office said the killing of Mohammed Wishah, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, reflects a “systematic targeting and assassination” of Palestinian journalists by Israel. It called on the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and media bodies worldwide to “condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media workers in the Gaza Strip.” The office appealed to the international community and relevant organizations to “stop these repeated attacks,” prosecute those responsible in international courts,

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  UN ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli strikes on Lebanon, urges diplomatic solution

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The UN on Wednesday “strongly” condemned Israeli strikes across Lebanon that caused “significant” civilian casualties, calling on all sides to pursue diplomacy and cease hostilities, Anadolu reports. “The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes by Israel across Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties. The UN strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives,” said UN spokesperson Farhan Haq at a news conference. Urging all parties to return to the negotiating table, Haq said: “We continue to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities, and recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.” Pointing to the ceasefire between the US and Iran, he said: “The ceasefire between the US and Iran offers an opportunity

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  New Pew poll shows support for Israel plummeting in the US

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  A clear majority of Americans now view Israel unfavourably, according to a new Pew Research Center survey, in the latest sign of collapsing public support for the occupation state. Pew found that 60 per cent of US adults now have an unfavourable opinion of Israel, while just 37 per cent express a favourable view. The figures mark a sharp deterioration from last year, when 53 per cent of Americans viewed Israel negatively. Pew said the share of Americans with a “very unfavourable” view has also surged to 28 per cent, up nine points in a year and nearly triple the level recorded in 2022.  The survey, conducted between 23 and 29 March among 3,507 US adults, suggests that Israel’s standing

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  The world on the brink of the stone age: When Trump’s threat goes beyond Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  When Donald Trump declared in one of his threatening statements that he could, if necessary, “bring Iran back to the Stone Age,” many interpreted the remark merely as a military threat directed at a specific country. Yet the deeper meaning of this statement lies not in its military message but in the political logic that underpins it. The central issue is not whether the United States has the capability to devastate another country; rather, it is what kind of view of the international order makes such a threat possible—or even appear normal. If one examines the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy in recent years, it becomes increasingly clear that the threat of “returning a country to the Stone Age” reflects

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  Witkoff, Kushner from US, Aragchi, Ghalibaf from Iran to attend talks in Islamabad

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are likely to represent the US in talks with the Iranian side in Islamabad starting Friday, a senior Pakistani official told Anadolu on Wednesday after the South Asian nation secured a ceasefire between the two warring sides, Anadolu reports. The Iranian side, the official said, wishing not to be named, could be represented by Tehran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and the speaker of the parliament, Bagher Ghalibaf. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who played an active role in negotiating an end to 39 days of fighting, will also join the landmark talks, the official added. There was no official announcement from either side regarding

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  Iran halts tanker traffic at Strait of Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted following Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday. The report said tanker movements stopped in parallel with the Israeli strikes, without providing further operational details. Earlier in the day, after US President Donald Trump accepted Iran’s conditions and a ceasefire was established, two oil tankers were granted permission to pass safely through the strategic waterway, Fars added. The Israeli army said on Wednesday it struck more than 100 sites “within 10 minutes” across multiple areas in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, marking the “largest” coordinated strike since the start of the current offensive. Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying

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  ‘Ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran must include Lebanon’: Belgian foreign minister

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on Wednesday called for the ceasefire recently brokered between the US and Iran to be expanded to include Lebanon, as deadly Israeli strikes continued in the Lebanese capital, Anadolu reports. Prevot said on social media platform X that he was visiting Beirut to reaffirm Belgium’s support for Lebanese authorities, condemning a massive Israeli strike that hit just hundreds of meters from the Belgian embassy. “We were at the embassy with my delegation, just a few hundred metres from where the missiles struck. This must stop. The ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran must include Lebanon!” he said. Prevot also welcomed an offer by Lebanese President Michel Aoun to open official negotiations with Israel toward a

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  Iran may quit US ceasefire if Israel continues attacks in Lebanon: Iranian media

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran will withdraw from a ceasefire agreement with the US if Israel continues to violate it through attacks on Lebanon, an informed source told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday. “Iran will withdraw from the agreement if violations of the ceasefire by the Zionist regime continue through attacks on Lebanon,” the source said. The source added that Tehran is reviewing the situation amid what it described as “continued Israeli breaches” linked to strikes on Lebanon. According to the source, a halt to fighting on all fronts, including against Lebanon’s “Islamic resistance,” had been accepted by the US under a proposed two-week ceasefire plan. READ: Netanyahu says Lebanon excluded from ceasefire However, Israel has carried out “clear violations of the ceasefire”

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  How to tell the rebels have won: The structural defeat of empire

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Eqbal Ahmad, one of Pakistan’s finest public intellectuals of the 20th century, offered a ruthless litmus test for imperial decay in “How To Tell The Rebels Have Won”: ignore what power says — watch what its enemies dare to do. When those once expected to kneel begin to set terms, the empire’s fate is no longer a question. It is a conclusion. Empires are not undone by declarations but by disobedience — by the moment their threats stop working. What we have just witnessed is precisely that moment: not drift, not error, but rupture — the most concentrated defeat of American power in the post-war era, compressed into weeks. For years, decline was discussed in abstractions: deficits, deindustrialization, multipolarity, China’s

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  NRW wasted thousands in public money to silence a Palestinian activist, yet they lost twice

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The recent court ruling in the case of Ahmad Othman, a Palestinian-German activist in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), shows that the German state’s repression isn’t just brutal – at times it is also remarkably incompetent in its attempt to disregard the laws it claims to uphold. Ahmad, who was active in the group Palästina Solidarität Duisburg (PSDU), – which was banned by the Ministry of Interior in May 2024 – had been working as a technician for the federal state of NRW. However, after PDSU was banned, his employer tried to fire him precisely because of this political activism. Yet despite having hired a law firm with 60 lawyers at its disposal, the state of NRW could not convince the court of the lawfulness of

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  Netanyahu led US into Iran war with ‘farcical’ regime change pitch

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Sensational details have emerged about how the US was led by Israel into war with Iran after Benjamin Netanyahu personally pitched President Donald Trump in the White House Situation Room, advancing claims about regime-change that senior American officials described as “farcical”. According to the New York Times, the Israeli prime minister used a highly classified meeting in February to press Trump to join a major assault on Iran, presenting regime change as a plausible outcome and portraying the risks of war as manageable. The report says Netanyahu arrived at the White House on 11 February and was taken to the Situation Room, where he delivered what officials described as a forceful presentation on Iran to Trump and a small circle

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  Palestinian centre warns of “legalised killing” under prisoner execution law

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The Palestinian Center for the Defence of Prisoners has warned that recent statements by Itamar Ben-Gvir reveal a “premeditated intention” by the Israeli occupation to expand the killing of Palestinian prisoners under legal cover. In a statement reported Tuesday, the center said that Ben-Gvir’s assertion that the execution law is applicable to a large proportion of prisoners — estimated at around 80%, particularly from the West Bank — indicates a clear move toward broadening the scope of targeting rather than limiting it. The center also pointed to remarks referring to the inclusion of so-called “elite elements,” arguing that such classifications are being used to justify wider application of the law. READ: Palestinian journalists’ Syndicate documents 53 Israeli violations against journalists in

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  OCHA: Gaza’s needs far exceed aid capacity amid worsening crisis

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The OCHA has warned that humanitarian needs in Gaza far exceed the capacity of aid organizations, as severe restrictions and ongoing obstacles continue to hinder relief efforts. In a statement issued Tuesday, OCHA said that UNICEF and its partners managed to partially restore access to clean water in southern Gaza after an Israeli airstrike on March 25 reduced the capacity of a seawater desalination plant to less than 20 percent of its normal output. As a result, around 500,000 people in Deir al-Balah and al-Mawasi in Khan Younis have been left without adequate access to drinking water, despite efforts by the United Nations to supply water through trucking. OCHA stressed the urgent need to facilitate humanitarian operations, including allowing the

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  The gallows law: Israel moves toward executing Palestinian children

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  According to Israel’s new death penalty law, Palestinian children, like adults, could, in practice, find themselves facing the gallows. This might take some by surprise, or even be dismissed as an exaggeration. Sadly, it is neither. The death penalty law, passed by Israel’s Knesset on March 30, mandates capital punishment for Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly attacks. The legislation, often referred to as the ‘Death Penalty for Terrorists’ law, requires that executions be carried out swiftly, within 90 days, while sharply limiting avenues for appeal or commutation, according to human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. It resolves a long-standing political demand by Israel’s far-right leadership to formalize execution as a tool of control over Palestinians.

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  Iran warns Bab al-Mandab could be closed if talks fail

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran has warned that key maritime routes could face further disruption if diplomatic efforts fail, raising concerns over the security of global shipping lanes. According to a source cited by Reuters, Tehran maintains that no negotiations are currently taking place with the United States, accusing Washington of seeking Iran’s surrender through pressure rather than dialogue. The source said Iran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for what it described as “empty promises,” stressing that any flexibility from Tehran would depend on reciprocal steps from the US side. He added that if the situation escalates further, Iran’s regional allies could move to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of

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  US Senate leader warns Republicans over support for conflict

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  US Senator and Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump, describing him as “a very sick person” and urging lawmakers to oppose the ongoing war. In a post on Tuesday, Schumer warned that Republicans who refuse to vote against the conflict would “bear full responsibility for the consequences,” calling it a “senseless war of choice.” His remarks came in response to statements by Trump, who warned that “an entire civilization will die tonight” in the context of escalating tensions with Iran and developments related to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump suggested that major changes in Iran’s leadership could influence events, stating that a “radical and complete change of the system” might open the door to

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  US urges citizens to leave Saudi Arabia amid rising tensions

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The US Embassy in Riyadh has issued a heightened security alert, urging American citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia and consider leaving the country amid escalating regional tensions. In its statement, the embassy said that the safety of US citizens remains a top priority, noting that authorities are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and advising Americans to remain vigilant and follow local guidance. The embassy encouraged US nationals to depart via available commercial flights, despite ongoing disruptions linked to missile and drone threats. It noted that some airlines have suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam, although Saudi airspace remains open. Regarding the upcoming Hajj season, the embassy advised US citizens to avoid travelling to Mecca this year

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  In Israel’s colonial ethnic cleansing, the world fails stand for decolonisation

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  From genocide in Gaza to the death penalty in the occupied West Bank, Israel seeks the annihilation of Palestinian resistance and, on a slower pace, further ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The latest statistics, which have been considered conservative estimates but continue to be shared as the officially recognised kill toll by the Palestinian health ministry, show that Israel killed 72,312 people and injured 172,134. By the end of 2025, Israel had killed 21,283 Palestinian children. On Monday, the Israeli Knesset approved a bill that imposes the death penalty upon Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. Jewish Israelis who kill Palestinians, however, will not share the same fate. In colonial logic, twisted as it is, the differentiation makes sense, for

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  Victory for Iran, Permanent Pariah for Israel | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  In this episode, we assess where the war with Iran stands at the six-week mark, examine whether Tehran is emerging stronger from the conflict, and consider where Donald Trump’s latest deadline could lead. We also look at the murky story of the downed US pilot, Trump’s admission that Washington sent weapons to Iranian protesters, the wider regional risks for the Gulf states, the striking critique of American power by the doyen of neoconservatism Robert Kagan, and what Israel’s moves in Lebanon could mean for the next phase of the war.   WATCH: How Hormuz could become the US and Israel’s Suez | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

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  Israeli occupation forces Jerusalem brothers to demolish their homes in Silwan

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Israeli occupation authorities forced two Palestinian brothers to demolish their own homes in the Silwan neighbourhood, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Tuesday. The Jerusalem Governorate stated in a press release that the occupation authorities forced the brothers, Nader and Hatem Baydoun, to demolish their homes in the Al-Bustan area of the neighbourhood. The two houses, which cover an area of approximately 88 square meters and had been standing since 1998, were home to 10 people, who are now displaced. Silwan is one of the neighbourhoods most targeted for demolition and displacement in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinian human rights organizations say that Israeli occupation authorities rarely issue building permits to Palestinians in Jerusalem, while simultaneously increasing building permits for settlements in

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  Antisemitism as a weapon to silence critics of Israel

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The accusation of antisemitism has increasingly been instrumentalised as a political weapon to silence criticism of Israel and its policies against the Palestinian people.  This is not an occasional distortion, but a recurring strategy aimed at constraining, intimidating and punishing journalists, academics, activists and movements that denounce practices such as apartheid, military occupation and genocide. It is essential to state clearly that antisemitism is a real and historically grounded form of racism, responsible for brutal persecutions that culminated in the Nazi genocide. Combating it is an ethical imperative.  The problem arises when this concept is deliberately distorted and expanded to include legitimate political criticism, turning it into a tool of censorship and repression. Today, this manipulation is particularly evident among

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  Iran says it secured ‘massive victory’ and forced US to accept ceasefire proposal

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday it had achieved a “massive victory” and forced the United States to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal for a ceasefire, while confirming that a framework for ending the war had been reached and would be discussed further during a two-week truce.     The council said the deal includes full compensation to Iran, the withdrawal of US forces from all bases across the Middle East, and an end to the war against all groups within the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”  It also covers regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iranian forces, lifting all sanctions, and releasing frozen Iranian assets held abroad. READ: Trump announces 2-week ceasefire with Iran The council said

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  Netanyahu says Lebanon excluded from ceasefire

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, on Wednesday, Israel supports US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two-weeks, adding that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon. Netanyahu said Israel backs the pause in strikes on condition that Iran reopens key maritime straits and halts its attacks. Earlier, a senior White House official told CNN that Israel is a party to the two-week ceasefire announced by Trump. The official added that Israel has also agreed to suspend its air campaign while negotiations continue. Previously, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post ​on X that “the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including

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  Palestinian journalists’ Syndicate documents 53 Israeli violations against journalists in March

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate said on Tuesday that Israel committed 53 violations against its members during March, including two martyrs. The Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee said in a statement that it had “documented a total of 53 crimes and violations” against Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces. These included two deaths, 12 cases of detention or prevention from covering events, eight incidents of direct targeting with tear gas and stun grenades, and eight cases of physical assault. The committee also recorded seven cases of confiscation or destruction of journalistic equipment, six arrests, four raids on journalists’ homes, two instances of verbal threats, and two cases of interrogation. READ: Death toll of journalists rises to 261 since start of Gaza war It said the

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  UN chief rejects any military justification for destroying civilian infrastructure

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  UN secretary-general António Guterres said on Tuesday evening that there is no military justification for destroying a society’s infrastructure or deliberately causing suffering to civilians. In a post on the social media platform X, Guterres made the remarks as a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran was about to expire. Trump had threatened to destroy bridges and power stations if Tehran failed to respond to efforts to reach an agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Guterres said: “There is no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society’s infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations.”  READ: Iran says Hormuz passage to resume under army supervision “Conflicts end when leaders choose dialogue over

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  Pro-government protesters in Tehran chant ‘death to America, death to Israel’ after ceasefire

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Hundreds of pro-government supporters demonstrated in the Iranian capital, chanting “death to America, death to Israel”, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States. US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to suspend bombing for two weeks, indicating that a ceasefire would take effect from both sides. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and

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  Iran says Hormuz passage to resume under army supervision

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be allowed over the next two weeks under the supervision of the Iranian army. US President Donald Trump announced he had agreed to suspend bombing for two weeks, indicating that a ceasefire would be implemented by both sides. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack

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  Operational suicide? Inside the military revolt against a ground war in Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  The dismissal that tells the story Gen. Randy George, the US Army’s Chief of Staff, was removed from his post by War  Secretary Pete Hegseth and ordered to retire immediately last week. Ostensibly, the sacking seemed like one more entry on a long list of Pentagon house cleanings. It was not. George, a four-star infantry officer, had served more than four decades in uniform, with combat deployments in the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and Afghanistan. He was precisely the general you want advising a president contemplating his most consequential military decision: whether to invade Iran or not. It was no coincidence that his ouster followed the President’s address on Iran by a single day. By telegraphing intensified strikes and

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  Trump announces 2-week ceasefire with Iran

  by MI on April 8, 2026

  US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a two-week suspension of military action against Iran following discussions with Pakistani leaders, Anadolu reports. Trump said that after conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, he agreed to halt planned strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz “completely, immediately, and safely.” “I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. “This will be a double sided ceasefire!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. He noted that US military objectives have already been met and that the two-week pause would allow both sides to finalize a comprehensive agreement. Earlier, Trump gave Iran a deadline to reopen the

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  US advises nationals to reconsider performing this year’s Hajj amid ongoing escalation

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised Americans on Tuesday to reconsider performing the Hajj pilgrimage this year amid the ongoing regional escalation, Anadolu reports. “Per the Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory, and due to the ongoing security situation and intermittent travel disruptions, we advise reconsidering participation in Hajj this year,” the embassy said. “Beginning April 18, individuals attempting to enter Mecca will be required to show a Hajj permit, a residency ID issued from Mecca, or a valid Mecca work permit. Other visa holders should depart Mecca before April 18,” it added. READ: Iranian strike on US Embassy in Saudi Arabia caused more damage than disclosed: Report The Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of the Islamic faith – a ritual

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  Israeli tank fire killed UN peacekeeper in Lebanon, UNIFIL investigation finds

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  A projectile that killed a UN peacekeeper in Lebanon last month was fired by an Israeli military tank, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Tuesday, concluding its investigation into the deadly incident, Anadolu reports. Based on analysis of the impact site and fragments recovered at the position, UNIFIL said the round was a 120mm tank main armament projectile fired by an Israeli Merkava tank from the east, in the direction of Ett Taibe. UNIFIL noted that it had provided the Israeli military with the coordinates of all its positions and facilities March 6 and again March 22, weeks before the incident, in an effort to reduce risk to its personnel. The peacekeeper was killed on the night of

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  Iran could target Israel’s Karish, Tanin gas fields after Trump deadline: Iranian state TV

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  The Karish and Tanin natural gas fields located off the shores of Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean are believed to be potential targets of Iranian strikes if US President Donald Trump’s threats to destroy infrastructure in Iran are realized. A document circulated by Iran’s state-run Press TV said four points were outlined, including references to the Karish and Tanin gas fields as potential targets. The remaining points in the document were not clearly visible, as they appeared blurred. Trump has set a deadline for 8 pm Eastern Time Tuesday (0000GMT Wednesday), and threatened to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a deal. Regional escalations have continued

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  UN ‘deeply troubled’ by threats to Iranian civilization: Spokesperson

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  The UN expressed concern Tuesday about threats directed at Iranian society following a warning from US President Donald Trump that a “whole civilization” could face destruction, Anadolu reports. “The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) is deeply troubled by statements suggesting that entire civilian populations or civilizations may be made to bear the consequences of political and military decisions,” said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. He emphasized that no military goal justifies the “deliberate infliction of suffering on civilians” or the ruining of a nation’s infrastructure. The warning follows a post by the US president on his social media platform Truth Social in which he said, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” READ: Trump says ‘whole civilization will die tonight’

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  ‘No threat can undermine deeply rooted civilization,’ Iran says after Trump’s ‘civilization will die’ warning

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  Iran on Tuesday said that “no threat can undermine” its “deeply rooted civilization,” in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out a “whole civilization,” Anadolu reports. In a statement on US social media company X, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said national security remains the government’s top priority and that all affairs are being managed carefully. Earlier, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” Trump’s set a deadline until Tuesday 8 pm Eastern Time (0000GMT) and threatened to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a deal. Regional escalations have continued to rage

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  UK denies US use of bases for strikes on Iranian bridges, power plants

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  Britain will not allow the United States to use Royal Air Force (RAF) bases to launch strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants, according to a media report. The i Paper reported on Monday that US targeting of bridges and power plants would not fall under the definition of defensive missions. If Washington requests use of UK bases for such operations, it would be denied. US requests permission to use RAF bases on a case-by-case basis, and no such request has yet been made for potential strikes on Tuesday, which Trump has called “Power Plant Day” and “Bridge Day.” On Monday, US President Donald Trump again criticized the UK government over a lack of support in the Iran conflict, saying

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  Pakistan blames Israel for ‘dangerous development’ amid facilitation of US-Iran talks

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday blamed Israel for trying to spoil Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate ceasefire talks between the US and Iran by attacking Tehran when “both sides were in a stage to sit down,” Anadolu reports. “A dangerous development took place last (Monday) night. Israel attacked Iran at a stage when both sides (Washington and Tehran) were set to sit down,” Dar told lawmakers in the Pakistani Senate, according to local broadcaster Geo News. “We were very optimistic (about talks) before (Monday) night,” he said, adding that Iran and the US had agreed on Pakistan’s facilitation, with both sides accepting talks to be held in Islamabad. Pakistan, he further said, handed the US’ 15-point conditions to Iran, and

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  US urges all citizens in Bahrain to shelter in place ‘until further notice’

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  The US Embassy in Bahrain urged all American citizens and government employees in the Gulf nation to shelter in place “until further notice,” Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X, the embassy said it had suspended routine consular services, adding it was monitoring the situation in the region closely and would provide updates as needed. “To the extent possible, remain in a secure structure, and stay away from windows. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items. “Please continue to check your email for additional information or last-minute changes,” it advised the Americans. Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

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  The geostrategic and geoeconomics of Kharg Island

  by MI on April 7, 2026

  Security dynamics in the Persian Gulf have entered a perilous phase following the outbreak of armed confrontation between the United States–Israel axis and Iran in late February 2026. At the center of this storm lies Kharg Island, a mere 20-square-kilometer outcrop that has rapidly become one of the most consequential nodes in the global economy. When President Donald Trump ordered a large-scale airstrike on the island in March 2026, it became evident that this was not a routine military operation, but a high-stakes geopolitical gamble aimed at crippling the economic lifeline of the Islamic Republic. What was initially framed as a calibrated pressure tactic now appears to be drifting toward what many observers increasingly describe as an “unhinged” policy trajectory.