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

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  Palestinian commission records 2,030 Israeli army and settler attacks in West Bank in August

  by Mehdi Editor on September 2, 2026

  Israeli forces and settlers carried out 2,030 attacks against Palestinians, their land and property in the occupied West Bank during August, according to figures released Tuesday by the Palestinian Authority’s Commission Against the Wall and Settlements. The commission attributed 1,402 incidents to Israeli forces and 628 to settlers, describing the figures as evidence of continuing violence against Palestinians across the territory. According to the commission, settler attacks directly affected 164 Palestinians during the month, including 20 children and 17 women. It also reported that 17-year-old Karim Sand Shalalda was shot and killed during a settler attack in the Hamroush area of Sa’ir, in the southern Hebron governorate, on 21st August. The commission said his death brought the number of Palestinians

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  Irrational fear: From Gaza’s paper kites to “unsafe” on campuses

  by Mehdi Editor on September 2, 2026

  I recall my childhood growing up in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el Bared, in Lebanon. We were creative in devising seasonal games that didn’t require much money: one season playing soccer, another hide and seek, swimming and fishing in the Mediterranean and so on. My favorite was the summer kite-making. We made kites from plastic or paper collected from the dump; the frame was dry bamboo sticks tied or glued together from discarded electrical or metal wires. The only real cost was the line, if we weren’t lucky enough to find a fishing line or a sewing spool in the dump, we had to buy it. I never could have imagined that my cheapest favorite childhood toy could

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  Missile, drone attacks target Kuwait and Bahrain as Iran says US sites hit

  by Mehdi Editor on September 2, 2026

  The Kuwaiti army said its air defences had intercepted hostile missile and drone attacks following what it described as “the sinful Iranian aggression”. A statement from the Kuwaiti General Staff said that “if explosions are heard, they are the result of air defence systems intercepting hostile attacks”. In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry warned of “a danger”, urging citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe place. Meanwhile, Iran claimed that drones had targeted “radar facilities and gathering points for US forces at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain”. It vowed that Iranian forces “will take harsh revenge on the aggressors that will make them regret it”. READ: Trump says US launches ‘large and powerful’ strikes near Strait

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  Settler fire attacks damage 11 mosques in West Bank in 2026

  by Mehdi Editor on September 2, 2026

  Israeli settlers have stepped up attacks in the occupied West Bank targeting mosques, after setting fire early on Tuesday to part of the Imad al-Din Zengi Mosque in the village of Bazariya, north-west of Nablus. Local sources said the settlers set fire to a room belonging to the mosque after failing to break into it and burn it down completely. They also spray-painted racist slogans on its walls. The attack brings the total number of mosques subjected to arson or attempted arson since the start of 2026 to at least eleven. The attacks began on 23 February, when parts of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the town of Tell, west of Nablus, were set on fire. This was followed

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  Netanyahu’s son sparks backlash in Britain over Falkland Islands remarks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 2, 2026

  The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom has reported anger in Britain over remarks by Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, about the Falkland Islands, in which he said the islands belong to Argentina. The newspaper said Yair Netanyahu had once again sparked heated debate online, this time over a comment about an area around 13,000 kilometres from Israel’s coast. It said he posted on X in support of Argentine President Javier Milei, claiming that the Falkland Islands, a sparsely populated group of islands off the southern coast of South America, belong to Argentina. According to Israel Hayom, the post sparked a lengthy and heated debate involving several figures, particularly on the British right, which is known for its

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  US MQ9 drone shot down in central Iran, reports Iranian media

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  A US MQ9-type drone was shot down on Tuesday over the skies of Iran’s central city of Khomein in Markazi province, semi-official Tasnim news agency reports. The drone was shot down by Iranian defense systems, it said, without providing further details. The report came after the US Central Command announced that American forces began striking IRGC targets in Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation. The US began a two-week bombing campaign in July and reimposed a naval blockade after differences over navigation in the strait. READ: Trump says US launches ‘large and powerful’ strikes near

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  Iran strikes back at US positions: Iranian media

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iran launched missile and drone attacks against US positions on Tuesday, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said. “Field observations indicate Iranian missiles and drones firing at enemy positions,” the agency said. The report came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces began striking IRGC targets in Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation. The US began a two-week bombing campaign in July and reimposed a naval blockade after differences over navigation in the strait. READ: US forces begin strikes on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targets: CENTCOM

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  Israel targets Jerusalem’s education system to erase Palestinian identity: Palestinian education ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Palestinian Education and Higher Education Ministry warned on Tuesday that Israel is systematically targeting education in occupied East Jerusalem to “erase national identity,” including by imposing its curriculum and barring teachers from schools, Anadolu reports. On Monday, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate warned that, with the start of the academic year on Tuesday, Israel would begin imposing the Israeli curriculum on more than 45,000 Palestinian first- and seventh-grade students at schools run by the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem. Earlier Tuesday, several private schools in Jerusalem, including Christian schools, went on strike as the new academic year began, protesting Israeli authorities’ failure to issue entry permits to teachers from the West Bank working at those schools. In a statement, the Palestinian

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  US ‘will regret’ new attacks on Iran, says IRGC

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Tuesday that the US “will regret its new attacks” after American forces began striking its targets in Iran. “A harsh punishment awaits the aggressors,” IRGC spokesman Sardar Mohebi said, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Mohebi’s remarks came shortly after the US Central Command announced that American forces had begun striking IRGC targets in Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation. The US began a two-week bombing campaign in July and reimposed a naval blockade after differences over navigation in the strait. READ: US forces begin strikes on Iran’s

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  Trump says US launches ‘large and powerful’ strikes near Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that American forces were striking Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, warning Tehran against retaliation, Anadolu reports. “The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump described the strikes as “large and powerful” and said they were retaliation for what he called Iran’s “failed attempt” to plant sea mines in the strait. He also cited an Iranian missile attack on a US base in Jordan, saying Iran had fired eight missiles and that they were “all successfully knocked down.” Trump warned that any Iranian retaliation would prompt a heavier US response. “If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates

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  US warns citizens in Middle East of flight cancellations, airspace closures over escalation risk

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The US Embassy in Israel on Tuesday warned Americans in the Middle East of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions amid the risk of further escalation, Anadolu reports. “Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” the embassy said in an advisory. “U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” it said. “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions,” it added. WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Yusuf Erim: Israel & Turkey: Is a breaking point inevitable The embassy also urged

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  Chinese President Xi arrives in Egypt for first visit in 10 years

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday evening for his first official visit to Egypt in 10 years, Anadolu reports. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent. The two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and implementing the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. The Egyptian presidency said Tuesday that the visit would focus on implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by the two countries in 2014. The talks will also include consultations on regional and international developments, according to the presidency. In an article published Tuesday in Egyptian state-run newspapers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouria, Xi said

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  US forces begin strikes on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targets: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that American forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran, Anadolu reports. “Today at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran,” CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X. The command also noted that “the strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region.” Before the CENTCOM announcement, Axios also reported the new strikes, citing US officials. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June

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  Israeli army ‘kills first, then seeks justification’ for Gaza strikes, says veterans group chief

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Israeli army “kills first, then thinks and tries to find a reason” afterward to justify strikes on the Gaza Strip, said the executive director of Israeli veterans’ group Breaking the Silence, Anadolu reports. In an interview with France 24, Nadav Weiman said the army and Israeli authorities seek to “retrospectively” legitimize attacks by attempting to establish links between victims and Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad after strikes have taken place. “In cases like this Nasser hospital or the 15 paramedics that were killed by IDF (Israeli army) soldiers in Rafah, or air strikes that are killing three-digit numbers of civilians in Gaza … suddenly the IDF spokesperson in the state of Israel needs to explain to the international community

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  US Treasury chief claims Strait of Hormuz will be ‘worthless piece of water’ in 2 years

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said that the Strait of Hormuz would become obsolete within two years as alternative oil routes would bypass the strategic waterway, Anadolu reports. “We have to de-risk everywhere in the world. We can see the Iranians are trying to use the Strait of Hormuz as a choke point,” Bessent said during an interview in Asheville, North Carolina. “It’s not a choke point for the US, but it is a choke point for many, many other countries,” he said on the sidelines of meetings with G20 countries’ ministers. Bessent claimed the strategic waterway “will be bypassed in two years.” “In two years, the Strait of Hormuz will be like a worthless piece of water,”

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  UK foreign secretary condemns ‘appalling settler terrorism’ in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Tuesday condemned what he called “appalling settler terrorism” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, vowing that the government would not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution, Anadolu reports. “Over recent weeks, we’ve also seen appalling settler terrorism and Palestinians driven from their homes,” Miliband told lawmakers in the House of Commons. Saying the government would not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution, he added: “We will act, and I will set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks.” Miliband also said the British government does not want UK companies “financing, constructing, or advertising” new settlements in the occupied West Bank. His remarks came amid a sharp

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  UN says Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon continue to affect civilians

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Continued Israeli attacks and military activity in southern Lebanon are still affecting civilians, sometimes preventing people from returning home or causing localized displacement, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday. Responding in writing to an Anadolu question about displacement caused by Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said: “Continued Israeli strikes and military activity in southern Lebanon continue to affect civilians and can, at times, hinder returns or trigger localized displacement.” “As of mid-August, more than 350,000 people remain displaced across Lebanon, while approximately 860,000 people have returned to their communities of origin or nearby areas, although many continue to face significant challenges and these should not be considered durable returns,” Baloch said. READ: Iranian president criticizes UN

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  Putin says US-Iran ceasefire proved ‘too fragile,’ assures Tehran of support

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the US-Iran ceasefire proved “unstable and too fragile” after the June memorandum, assuring Tehran of support, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Putin emphasized Moscow’s support for Iran amid the current military and political tensions. “We welcomed the conclusion in June of this year of the Iranian-American memorandum on a ceasefire, but, unfortunately, the truce proved unstable and too fragile,” Putin said. He added that Russia had been seeking to provide Iran with assistance during the difficult period, including supplies of necessary goods. Despite the tensions, Moscow and Tehran had maintained the momentum of

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  Several explosions reported in southern Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Several explosions were heard east of Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province on Tuesday, state media reported. More than five explosions were heard around Masan village on Qeshm Island, IRIB said, adding that four more explosions were also heard from the direction of the Strait of Hormuz on Qeshm. Citing the deputy governor of the Hormozgan province for political, security and social affairs, the outlet added that no casualties have been recorded in the province so far. The explosions come as tensions between Tehran and Washington have remained high since the war began with strikes on Iran in late February. A framework deal was signed in June through Pakistani and Qatari mediation. The US began a

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  Saudi crown prince, Oman’s sultan discuss efforts to stabilize region

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq discussed efforts Tuesday to strengthen regional security and stability during a meeting in Jeddah, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and opportunities to expand cooperation across various fields, SPA said. Discussions also dwelt on regional developments and efforts to preserve security and stability, the same source said. READ: Oil tanker hit by unidentified projectile off Oman: UKMTO The meeting came as Oman, Qatar and Pakistan work to ease regional tensions and bring Iran and the US back to negotiations to reach a lasting end to their war after an initial agreement reached in June stalled. Regional tensions escalated when the US

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Yusuf Erim: Israel & Turkey: Is a breaking point inevitable

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  WATCH:Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Joe Kent: Can Trump maneuver his way out of the corner he painted himself into?

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  The Palestinian Legislative Council elections: An opportunity or a trap?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Palestinian Legislative Council elections have reignited the long-standing debate over the merits of participation versus boycott. The announcement of a broad coalition uniting Hamas and Dahlan, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s historical decision to take part in the elections, have also sparked reactions ranging from welcome to surprise to condemnation. So, do these elections represent an opportunity or a trap? What is the purpose of elections? Contrary to popular belief, elections are not a tool for change but for consolidation of a political order. Elections reflect the will of society but do not affect the material and cultural context that shapes that will. For example, the decisions made by the Ramallah Authority—such as employing large numbers of Palestinians and their

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  Belgian union threatens strike over Brussels Airlines flights to Tel Aviv

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Belgian trade union ACV Puls filed a strike notice Tuesday over Brussels Airlines’ decision to resume flights to Tel Aviv using mandatory staff assignments, saying the move raises serious safety and ethical concerns amid Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Anadolu reports. The strike notice took effect Sept. 1, according to the union. ACV Puls said industrial action could follow if Brussels Airlines does not withdraw its decision, adding that any disruption would be limited to flights between Brussels and Tel Aviv. “Serious concerns exist among the staff regarding both physical safety and the mental and ethical impact of these flights,” the union said in a statement. The union said Brussels Airlines had previously agreed with unions to operate Tel Aviv flights using

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  Sudan sends military reinforcements to Blue Nile state as hundreds displaced in South Kordofan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Sudanese army announced Tuesday the arrival of the first batch of joint forces from allied armed groups to Blue Nile state, as the UN migration agency said 730 people were displaced from five villages in South Kordofan due to worsening security conditions, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the army said Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, received the joint forces, which arrived to take part in military operations against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan. The army said the arrival of the forces represents additional support for troops deployed in the area, amid escalating clashes with the RSF and its allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM–N) in the state.

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  Iran says US mistakes negotiations for dictation, warns approach will not work

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iran on Tuesday accused the US of mistaking negotiations for dictation, saying such an approach would not work with Tehran, as tensions between the two countries remain high, Anadolu reports. “The Americans have mistaken the concept of negotiation for dictation, something that will definitely not work with Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a televised news conference. Baqaei accused Washington of acting in “bad faith” and being confused over its approach toward Iran, arguing that the US had become trapped in what he described as a strategic mistake. “As long as they act in this manner, they will certainly achieve no result other than what they have obtained so far,” he said. Referring to a recent US attack on Iran’s

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  Trump’s tug-of-war with Iran: A game of perpetual attrition

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  On the international political stage, war does not always manifest as a decisive confrontation that births a triumphant victor and leaves a shattered loser. Instead, the conflict between Donald Trump’s administration and the regime of Velayat-e Faqih in Tehran has devolved into a tedious, exhausting tug-of-war, a game of mutual attrition where neither side collapses to the ground. Every time the rope stretches to its absolute limit, leading the world to fear an imminent snap, the board resets to the same maneuvering square. Trump threatens “limited” military strikes, crafted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and defense officials to neutralize Iran’s radar and missile capabilities near the Strait of Hormuz, only to reassure global markets with dry irony that “maritime traffic

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  WHO warns of deteriorating water quality, rising disease risks in Gaza ahead of winter

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The World Health Organization on Tuesday voiced concern over the deteriorating water quality and the disease risks rising with it in Gaza ahead of the upcoming winter, Anadolu reports. “What is extremely worrying for us is that the quality of the water is deteriorating,” Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, told the weekly press briefing in Geneva. She noted that microbiological contamination has almost tripled this year, while laboratory capacity remains limited, allowing authorities to detect and track only essential microbiological contaminants in the water and the environment. “From the more than 6,500 samples that were tested, we went from just under 6% contamination in January to almost 20% last month, just last August,” Van

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  Occupier violence in West Bank serves Netanyahu, allies: Former Israeli premier

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday that occupier violence in the West Bank serves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political partners, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Israel’s 103 FM radio about escalating occupier attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, Barak said the damage was “huge” and that while the public may not fully understand it, “the prime minister and his ministers understand what is happening.” “There is actual encouragement from senior ministers in the government, a blind eye from other parts of the political system and disregard by some executive bodies as a result of indirect pressure,” he said. Barak warned that a single incident could ignite the occupied West Bank and be used to cancel Israel’s general

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  Qatar calls for de-escalation after Iranian attacks on UAE, Jordan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Qatar on Tuesday called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations between Iran and the US following Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, Anadolu reports. “The return of escalation in the region is in no one’s interest,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha, calling for calm and a return to negotiations. Ansari also called for an end to Israeli escalation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, accusing Tel Aviv of exploiting regional developments to impose a new reality in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. READ: Qatar pledges support to ease hardships facing Iranian people He said Doha is working with all partners to reach a peaceful solution and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

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  Belgium’s Leuven mayor refuses to host Europa League match against Israeli club

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The mayor of the Belgian city of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, has refused to allow Belgian football club Union Saint-Gilloise to host Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva at the city’s Den Dreef Stadium in a UEFA Europa League match scheduled for Oct. 22, Anadolu reports. Ridouani cited public safety and security concerns for his decision, saying the match could not be held in Leuven even behind closed doors, Belgian daily Le Soir reported on Tuesday. “Union is welcome here, but in this specific case, it’s an Israeli team, and I’m consistent on that point,” Ridouani said during a municipal council meeting. READ: Belgium approves import ban on goods from occupied Palestinian territories He recalled that he had previously refused to allow Belgium’s women’s

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  Syria says foreign policy focused on restoring ties with Europe as Denmark reopens embassy

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Tuesday that Syria’s foreign policy is focused on restoring relations with all European countries, including Denmark, as Copenhagen reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 14-year closure, Anadolu reports. Shaibani held talks in Damascus with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation. “Our foreign policy focuses on restoring relations with all European countries, including Denmark,” Shaibani told a joint press conference with Rasmussen, as cited by Syrian Alikhbariah TV. He said the Syrian policy had received a positive response from European countries seeking to develop relations with Damascus. “Denmark stood with the Syrian people in difficult moments and continues to support them in the new phase,” Shaibani said. He

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  Iranian president criticizes UN response to Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday criticized the UN and its Security Council over their response to Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the international body had failed to effectively address major threats to the international order, Anadolu reports. Addressing the “SCO Plus” meeting held as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek, Pezeshkian said the world is facing military aggression, genocide, war crimes, terrorism and what he called illegal sanctions. “The performance of the United Nations and the UN Security Council in dealing with these developments, including in Gaza, Lebanon and the recent aggression against Iran, has been very disappointing,” he said. Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of violating

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  Guterres urges end to Israeli strikes in Gaza, occupier violence in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an end to Israeli strikes in Gaza and occupier violence in the West Bank, Anadolu reports. “In Gaza, the ceasefire must be respected,” Guterres said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. He called for the immediate removal of obstacles to humanitarian aid. The ceasefire in Gaza took effect last October. Since then, Israel has killed more than 1,320 Palestinians and injured more than 4,385 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 people and injured over 174,000 others in a brutal offensive in Gaza since October 2023. He also said “settler attacks and settlement expansion must end” in the occupied West Bank. The UN said in August

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  Finland extends defense agreement with Israel until 2034: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Finland and Israel have “quietly” signed an extension to a memorandum of understanding on defense materiel cooperation that will remain in force until 2034, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle on Monday, Anadolu reports. The memorandum is intended to facilitate cooperation between the two countries on the research, development and procurement of military equipment. The agreement was originally drawn up in 2013, and its previous period of validity was approaching its end. Finland reportedly proposed extending it in early 2024. Unlike the previous five-year terms, the latest memorandum extends the cooperation for 10 years, through 2034. Yle reported that the arrangement has attracted little public attention because Finland’s Defense Ministry did not announce it. The broadcaster also noted that the memorandum

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  Over 100 families evacuated in Tunisia as wildfires spread

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Tunisian authorities have evacuated more than 100 families in the central Kairouan province and in Siliana in the country’s northwest due to wildfires, officials said late Monday, Anadolu reports. Member of parliament Nabil Al-Hamdi said 100 families were evacuated from Mount Qaytoun in Kairouan’s El Oueslatia district after a fire that first started on Mount Bargou in Siliana. Speaking to the state news agency TAP, Al-Hamdi said strong winds helped the fire spread and pushed the flames close to residential areas, prompting authorities to evacuate families and house them inside a school. In Siliana, Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development Jamal Al-Farchichi said strong winds caused the Mount Boulemane fire to expand and reach the Ain Bousadia area in Bargou district on

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  Israeli occupiers attempt to set fire to mosque in northern West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the northern West Bank early Tuesday, in the latest attack in the occupied territory, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Local sources told Wafa that the occupiers tried to break into the Nur al-Din Zengi Mosque in the town of Bazariya, northwest of Nablus. After failing to force open the mosque’s doors, they set fire to a room near the mosque and sprayed racist slogans at the site. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the attack, describing the targeting of mosques and places of worship as a “dangerous and systematic escalation” aimed at provoking Muslims. READ: Israeli rabbi calls for Palestinians’ expulsion from occupied West Bank

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  Tehran has enough foreign currency, Iran central bank chief tells Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iran has sufficient foreign currency despite intensified US sanctions and economic pressure, Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Addressing US President Donald Trump, Hemmati said: “Iran has foreign currency, and it has enough.” Speaking at a conference in Tehran, Hemmati said the central bank was ready to inject $2 billion into the foreign exchange market, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Rejecting US claims of an economic collapse, he said Iran continues to collect foreign currency revenues and receivables and has domestic reserves and other resources whose details he said cannot be disclosed. Hemmati said Iran’s economic system continues to function despite new sanctions, while attributing the rial’s recent depreciation largely to what he called psychological

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  US university students associate Israel with ‘genocide’ against Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  University students in the US state of New York increasingly identify the word “genocide” as their primary association with Israel, highlighting a shift in the nation’s international standing among young Americans, Anadolu reports. The military operations, seizures, and human rights violations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have led many to question the nation’s international legitimacy. Interviews conducted at Manhattan-based New York University (NYU) and Columbia University revealed consistent primary associations among the youth. Samuel, a student at NYU, told Anadolu that his first thought is the genocide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committing against the Palestinian people. He listed his top three associations as “Netanyahu, genocide and Palestine.” Another NYU student named Maddy, with a troubled expression reflecting

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  Israeli security agency chief on secret Washington visit for ‘sensitive’ talks with FBI: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency secretly traveled to Washington for talks with FBI officials on “sensitive issues,” Israeli media reported Monday. Channel 13 said David Zini left for the US capital for meetings with his counterparts at the FBI. An unnamed source told the broadcaster that the talks would involve “sensitive issues,” without providing further details. Neither Israel nor the US has announced the visit. READ: Leaked recording attributed to Shin Bet chief sparks political controversy in Israel The trip comes days after Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was urgently evacuated from the US over what Israel’s public broadcaster KAN described as a “significant threat.” KAN said Saturday that Shin Bet confirmed the

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  ‘Propping up apartheid’: UK failing legal duties on Palestine, new briefing warns

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  A hard-hitting new legal briefing has accused Britain of breaching binding legal duties under the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion, which found that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end “as rapidly as possible”. Published by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) and the Labour Muslim Network, Priority Measures for UK Policy on Palestine sets out six priority areas in which it says the UK’s foreign and domestic policies are “not consistently adhering” to the law.  The six priority areas are illegal Israeli settlements; the funding and protection of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA; the protection of Palestinian access to religious sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites in

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  Palestinian Authority: Health of female prisoners deteriorating as repression escalates in Israeli Jails

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The health of several Palestinian female prisoners in Israeli prisons is deteriorating amid increased raids, searches and punitive measures, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said on Monday. The authority said in a statement that reports and testimonies from prisoners documented harsh detention conditions, including overcrowding, shortages of basic necessities, poor-quality food and medical neglect, alongside repeated raids, searches and disciplinary measures. It said the conditions were adversely affecting the prisoners’ physical and psychological health, with several cases of illness reported at Damon Prison and Israeli interrogation centres. READ: Ben-Gvir’s visit to Palestinian female prisoners’ cells draws criticism Among them is Abeer Ouda from Tulkarm, who suffers from oesophageal and back problems and asthma, according to the authority. She had

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  All Christian schools in Jerusalem suspend classes as Israel denies permits to over 70 teachers, staff

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  All Christian schools in Jerusalem announced Monday evening that they will suspend classes starting Tuesday after Israel failed to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff, preventing them from reaching their schools, Anadolu Agency reported. The new academic year in Israel and Jerusalem is scheduled to begin Tuesday. In a statement, the Christian schools in Jerusalem said that as they prepared to open for the 2026-2027 academic year, they were surprised by the “failure to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative and support staff, suddenly and without prior warning.” They said the failure to renew the permits prevented the teachers and employees from reaching their schools and directly affected

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  Iraq prime minister rejects extension of International Coalition presence beyond 30th September

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has rejected a proposal to extend the presence of some International Coalition forces in Iraq beyond 30th September, government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Monday. “The prime minister rejected a proposal to extend the presence of some International Coalition forces beyond 30th September,” al-Aboudi said, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA). He added that the government was closely monitoring regional developments and that “Iraq will not be part of the conflict.” Al-Aboudi said the withdrawal process was proceeding smoothly, including the transfer of sites previously used by Coalition forces to Iraqi security forces. He described 30th September as a significant milestone for Iraqi sovereignty and said the date was expected to mark the complete

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  Report: Israeli army closed most investigations into suspected looting by soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The Israeli military has closed most of the investigations it opened into suspected looting by soldiers during operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, with only two cases resulting in indictments, according to data reported by Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot. The figures were released following a freedom of information request submitted by Israel’s Movement for Freedom of Information, the newspaper reported. According to the military’s response, the Military Police opened 25 investigations into suspected looting in Gaza between 2023 and mid-2026. Three were opened in 2023, 19 in 2024, two in 2025 and one during the first half of 2026. Only two of the Gaza investigations resulted in indictments, both filed in 2025, according to the report. Both cases were

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  Iranian president says Tehran to reciprocate if US honors commitments

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran would immediately reciprocate if the US returned to its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, according to the presidency, Anadolu reports. “I state clearly that if the United States returns to its commitments under the memorandum, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately reciprocate,” Pezeshkian said in an address to the 26th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek. He accused Washington of failing to honor the agreement less than two weeks after signing it, saying US violations were met with a proportionate response from Tehran. Pezeshkian said the agreement came after 40 days of fighting and nearly three months of negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.

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  Ship traffic through Strait of Hormuz falls to around five vessels per day

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to around five commodity vessels per day over the weekend, according to shipping data released on Monday, amid continuing concerns over potential attacks on vessels using the strategic waterway. Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler showed that traffic through the strait was largely limited to relatively small vessels, including two liquefied gas tankers. One of the tankers exited the strait using a route through Iranian waters, while another sailed overnight toward India, according to the data. READ: Iran says it controls Strait of Hormuz and has stopped 30 ships from crossing The figures represented a sharp decline from Friday, when 14 vessels transited the strait. Friday’s traffic included a supertanker carrying approximately two

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  Hamas accuses Israel of escalating Gaza attacks and violating ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  Hamas on Monday accused Israel of intensifying military operations across the Gaza Strip, saying the latest attacks amounted to a continuing military campaign rather than isolated incidents and constituted violations of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement, Hamas cited the demolition of homes in southern Gaza, reported Israeli fire toward fishermen off the coast of Gaza City and attacks on civilians in several areas of the enclave. The group said at least five Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in Monday’s attacks. Palestinian reports said five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in western Gaza City. READ: 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed by Israel during Gaza genocide: Sports official Hamas described the latest Israeli actions as a “systematic policy of

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  Israeli poll: Smotrich’s party falls below threshold as Eisenkot overtakes Netanyahu

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  A new opinion poll published by Israel’s Channel 12 on Monday evening showed major shifts in the political landscape ahead of a possible election, with Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party remaining in first place with 24 Knesset seats, compared with 23 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.  Naftali Bennett’s B’Yachad party came third with 15 seats, followed by Yair Golan’s Democrats with 11 and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu with nine. The poll also showed United Torah Judaism, led by Moshe Gafni, winning eight seats, the Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir eight, the Joint List led by Yousef Jabareen seven, and Shas seven. READ: Smotrich calls for removal of 40 Palestinian memorials in West Bank within 24 hours The new People

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Joe Kent: Can Trump maneuver his way out of the corner he painted himself into?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Kelley Beaucar Vlahos:The D-Day Sanctions Against Iran: Will They Work or Backfire?

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  UKMTO: Incident involving oil tanker and military forces in Arabian Sea

  by Mehdi Editor on September 1, 2026

  The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Monday evening that it had received a report of an incident involving an oil tanker and military forces in the Indian Ocean. In a post on X, UKMTO said the incident took place in the Arabian Sea, south-east of Muscat, Oman. The agency advised vessels to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain awareness of the evolving operational environment.  UKMTO added that that authorities are aware and relevant investigations remain ongoing.” READ: Iran says US strikes on Kharg Island did not stop oil production Iran said on Monday evening that it had shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.  Iran’s Fars news agency reported that