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

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  Legal victory for scholar denied university post after calling Gaza a ‘textbook case of genocide’

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  Professor Raz Segal, one of the first genocide scholars to describe Israel’s assault on Gaza as genocide, has reached a $250,000 settlement with the University of Minnesota more than two years after it withdrew an offer for him to lead its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies following a campaign against his appointment. Just six days after Israel began its devastating assault on the besieged Gaza Strip in October 2023, Segal warned that the world was witnessing genocide. Writing in Jewish Currents on 13 October, 2023, the Israeli-American Holocaust and genocide scholar declared: “I say this as a scholar of genocide,” before describing Israel’s attack as “a textbook case of genocide unfolding in front of our eyes.” He cited Israel’s

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  Lebanese soldier wounded after Israeli army targets military vehicle in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  A Lebanese soldier suffered minor injuries after an Israeli army drone dropped a sound bomb on a Lebanese army bulldozer in Lebanon’s southern town of Mansouri, Anadolu reports. “A soldier sustained minor injuries when an Israeli attack targeted an army bulldozer in the town of Mansouri, Tyre, while it was working to clear roads and remove rubble,” the Lebanese army wrote on X. The Israeli army also bombed the Wadi al-Hujeir area, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported. Israeli artillery shelled the southern town of Mays al-Jabal, accompanied by machine-gun fire targeting the area, the agency added. The latest attacks came after Beirut and Tel Aviv concluded a seventh round of US-brokered talks Thursday. The two countries signed a US-mediated

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  Migrant dies in paraglider attempt to enter Spain’s Ceuta

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  A young migrant died Friday after falling into the sea while attempting to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta by paraglider from Morocco, Anadolu reports. Spanish news agency EFE, citing Civil Guard sources, reported that officers recovered the body of the young sub-Saharan migrant after the incident near Ceuta’s northern border. The incident occurred at around 8 am (0600GMT) when officers spotted a person attempting to reach the city on a paraglider from the mountains around Benzu, near the Moroccan border. According to initial indications, the migrant was apparently attempting to land in an area near Ceuta’s northern border but lost control of the paraglider and fell into the sea. Civil Guard officers quickly went to the area believing

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  Israeli ministers call for renewed Gaza attacks, rejection of Trump’s ceasefire roadmap

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  Israeli ministers have called for the resumption of military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the rejection of a roadmap for implementing the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, Israeli media reported Friday, Anadolu reports. The calls came during a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday evening to discuss the roadmap for the plan’s second phase, according to the Israel Hayom newspaper. Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israel has continued to violate the deal through daily attacks on Gaza, killing 1,252 Palestinians and injuring 4,120 others, most of them women and children. Last Friday, the Trump-chaired Peace Council announced that Hamas had approved the roadmap,

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  Greece rescues dozens of migrants, majority Sudanese, Bangladeshis

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  Greek authorities said on Thursday they had rescued dozens of migrants, most of them Sudanese and Bangladeshis, as they approached the country’s shores, including some Egyptians. Irregular migrant arrivals to southern Crete have continued, with at least 202 migrants reaching the Greek island in less than 48 hours in successive journeys launched from the Libyan coast, according to a Greek newspaper, putting increasing pressure on the island’s authorities and reception centres. According to Dimokratia newspaper, authorities said on Thursday morning that a new boat carrying 40 migrants had arrived in the south-eastern area of Ierapetra after being detected by an aircraft belonging to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. A coastguard patrol, assisted by a fishing boat, transported

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  Israel orders uprooting of trees on 316 dunums in West Bank for settlement expansion

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  The Israeli military has issued eight orders to uproot trees and remove vegetation from 316 dunums of land across the occupied West Bank for settlement-related purposes, the Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission (CWRC) said on Thursday. A dunum is equivalent to 1,000 square metres. In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the Palestinian government body said the orders require the removal of wild vegetation and olive trees from land identified in attached maps. The eight orders cover a total of 316.636 dunums. Six of them target about 311 dunums in the northern governorate of Jenin, while the remaining two apply to the Nablus governorate and occupied East Jerusalem. The commission said the vegetation clearance does not target isolated farmland but

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  US imports of Saudi crude fall to zero for first time since 1985 amid Iran conflict

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  US imports of Saudi crude oil fell to zero in July for the first time in a full month since 1985, according to preliminary data from the US Department of Energy. The decline comes after months of disruption to Saudi oil exports caused by the conflict between the United States and Iran, which disrupted crude flows through the Gulf and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption forced US refineries to seek alternative sources of supply. The data showed that Saudi crude shipments to the United States stopped completely in July, compared with the beginning of the year when US refineries were importing more than 800,000 barrels a day of Saudi crude. Against this backdrop, US

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  Channel 12: Mossad chief dismisses senior officials after reported failure to topple Iranian regime

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  The head of the Mossad has dismissed the chiefs of two divisions following what was described as a “failure to achieve the goal of toppling the Iranian regime”, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing sources. According to the report, the dismissals followed an internal review of the agency’s recent performance. The Mossad chief reportedly held senior officials in the two divisions responsible for failing to carry out their assigned missions. The broadcaster did not identify the officials who were dismissed or provide details of the operations that allegedly failed. However, it said the decisions were linked to Israeli efforts aimed at undermining the stability of Iran’s ruling system. The report comes amid years of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, including

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  300 Palestinian children killed since Gaza ceasefire, UNICEF Says

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  At least 300 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza during the 300 days since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025, despite an agreement for “the suspension of military operations and the full entry of humanitarian aid and relief,” the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday. “A ceasefire that leaves an average of one child dead each and every day is failing children,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder. He added that hundreds more children had been injured, many of them severely, and that “children in Gaza are still waiting for the end to the violence they were promised.” Beigbeder said statements issued in recent days had outlined a roadmap for

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  Israel rejects Gaza ‘roadmap’, raises reservations over international force role: Channel 14

  by Marwa A on August 7, 2026

  Israel has informed the United States that it rejects a 15-point “roadmap” proposed as part of international efforts to reach an agreement on Gaza, according to Israel’s Channel 14. The channel quoted an Israeli political source as saying that Tel Aviv had told Washington the document, drafted by Egypt and Hamas, was “unacceptable in its current form”. Israel also submitted reservations over several provisions, particularly those affecting the Israeli military’s freedom of operation. According to the source, the only measure approved by the Israeli government was to grant immunity to a limited number of Moroccan and Ugandan soldiers who would serve as part of a planned international force upon its deployment to the Gaza Strip. The source added that Israel

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  Pakistan’s Prime Minister arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks on regional developments

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for a three-day visit focused on bilateral cooperation and regional developments, Anadolu reports. Saudi Arabia’s official SPA news agency said Sharif was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah region. Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said Sharif was accompanied by Field Marshal and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and other senior officials. According to APP, Sharif is scheduled to hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

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  Iranian parliament reviews bill to restrict Strait of Hormuz transit

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  Iran’s parliament is reviewing a draft bill that would significantly tighten state control over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, including by banning vessels linked to the United States, Israel and other countries Tehran designates as hostile, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday, Anadolu reports. Tasnim cited Abbas Salimi, a member of parliament’s presiding board, as saying the preliminary text of the Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Development of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is being reviewed by parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. Under the draft, vessels belonging to the United States, Israel and other countries Iran considers hostile would be barred from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

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  Bomb explosion aboard passenger minibus kills, injures several near Damascus: Report

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  Several people were killed and injured when an explosive device detonated aboard a passenger minibus in Jaramana, in the Damascus countryside, on Thursday, Syrian state media reported, Anadolu reports. State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV said the explosive device exploded inside the minibus, killing and injuring several people, but did not provide an initial casualty toll or further details about the circumstances of the blast. The Syrian Interior Ministry and security authorities had not issued an official statement at the time of publication, and no group immediately claimed responsibility. Syria’s state news agency SANA cited Najib al-Naasan, director of the Referral, Ambulance and Emergency Directorate at the Health Ministry, who said sayig seven people were injured in the explosion. Al-Naasan said forensic teams

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  US Federal Reserve sends $500M cash shipment to Iraq: Report

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  The US Federal Reserve has sent a new shipment of $500 million in cash to Iraq’s central bank, according to an Iraqi official cited Thursday by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Anadolu reports. “The US Federal Reserve sent a new cash shipment worth $500 million to the Central Bank of Iraq,” the official told INA, indicating that it would be allocated for transactions related to travelers and foreign money transfers. The official added that the funds would be used for travelers’ transactions and external remittances with the approval of the Central Bank of Iraq. READ: Ali Al-Zaidi may be the failure Iraq needs

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  Israeli forces shell Syria’s Quneitra countryside in artillery attack

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  Israeli forces shelled the northern countryside of Syria’s Quneitra province with artillery Thursday, according to state news agency SANA, Anadolu reports. It reported that “Israeli occupation forces targeted the vicinity of the village of Al-Samadaniyah Al-Gharbiyah in the northern countryside of Quneitra with three artillery shells.” The shells landed in agricultural land surrounding the village, causing no injuries, said the agency. Syrian authorities did not comment on the shelling, and the motive behind it was not immediately known. The attack comes amid continuing Israeli violations in southern Syria. Southern Syria has witnessed repeated Israeli incursions, including the establishment of military checkpoints, searches of civilians and homes, and the detention of civilians, in what Damascus describes as violations of the country’s

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  Yemeni government forces report casualties, material losses in Houthi attacks

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  The Emergency Forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government said Thursday that they suffered casualties and property losses in Houthi attacks targeting several camps and other military units, Anadolu reports. The forces did not provide details about the losses or the locations targeted. “This attack comes after the security and military successes achieved by the armed forces in carrying out their duties under the directives of Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili,” the statement said. Meanwhile, local media outlets, including the independent Yemen Future news website, reported dozens of deaths and injuries following Houthi missile attacks on government forces’ camps in the central Marib and eastern Hadramawt governorates. They provided no further details. The Houthi group later claimed responsibility for the attacks. Houthi

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  Lebanon, Israel conclude 7th round of talks in Rome: Lebanese official

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  The third and final day of the seventh round of US-brokered direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel concluded in Rome on Thursday, a senior Lebanese official told Anadolu, Anadolu reports. The official said the talks began about an hour late for what he described as “US-related reasons.” They were conducted through three parallel meetings covering military, political, legal and border issues, as well as the issue of prisoners. The military meeting focused on technical matters, including consultations on military terminology and wording, the official said. Discussions on prisoners proceeded along two tracks: international law governing prisoners and the exchange of prisoner lists, according to the official. He said the issue remained difficult for Lebanon because it did not have lists

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  Governing the Lebanese confessional state without the prime minister

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Washington framework agreement is discussed as a product of executive consensus. President Aoun signed. Prime Minister Salam endorsed. The cabinet approved. The institutional surface presents a unified Lebanese state negotiating with Israel under American sponsorship. The institutional reality is different. The framework was negotiated without the prime minister. Salam was not in Washington. He was not in Rome. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was not present at either venue. The Lebanese civilian government was excluded from the negotiations entirely. Salam’s later endorsement was not consent. It was capitulation to a fait accompli. Understanding this requires understanding the structural position of the Lebanese prime minister within the confessional system. The presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian, commands the armed forces.

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  Israel fired 113 projectiles into southern Lebanon Wednesday, highest since June 21: UN peacekeepers

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Israeli army fired 113 projectiles into southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the highest daily total recorded since June 21, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “While violence remains significantly lower than in previous months, the overall situation remains fragile,” UNIFIL said on the US social media company X. “Peacekeepers continue monitoring and reporting developments to the Security Council, maintaining their operational tempo, and engaging with the parties to help reduce tensions,” it added. READ: 5 Lebanese soldiers injured in Israeli attack in south, military says UNIFIL said commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, along with dialogue and coordination, remains essential to de-escalation and the restoration of stability in southern Lebanon. The statement came amid US-brokered

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  Modi, Netanyahu discuss regional developments in phone call

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in the Middle East during a call, according to a statement Thursday, Anadolu reports. Modi’s office said he received a call from Netanyahu and the two exchanged views on recent developments in the Middle East. New Delhi also said the leaders “reviewed sustained progress in India-Israel special strategic partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral cooperation across various sectors for the mutual benefit of the two countries.” “The two leaders agreed to remain in touch,” it said. READ: Indian vessel sinks after Red Sea attack off Yemen, all 14 crew rescued The talks between the two leaders came amid tensions around the Strait of

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  Gold hits 7-week high on weak US payrolls data, Hormuz deal hopes

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Gold prices climbed to their highest level since late June on Thursday, supported by weaker-than-expected US private payrolls data, a softer dollar and hopes for an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. Spot gold rose as high as around $4,300 per ounce before paring some gains to trade around $4,260, extending its advance for a fourth consecutive session. The precious metal gained after payroll processing firm ADP reported a sharp slowdown in private-sector hiring in July, with most job creation concentrated in the healthcare sector. The weaker labor market data reduced expectations that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in September, supporting non-yielding assets such as gold. READ: Aramco reports higher revenue as US-Iran war boosts

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  The Nature of the Ottoman City: Water and Urban Space in Sofia, 1380s–1910s

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The history of a city is political. When examining the heritage of a place, it is often the case that present-day politics projects itself onto the past. Perhaps no other example of this is truer than the Ottoman past in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1913, the local council of the Bulgarian city of Sofia voted to demolish the last remaining Ottoman bathhouse, as Stefan Peychev writes, the destruction of the bathhouse represented more than the removal of a hygiene facility. ‘The bath was also one of the last architectural relics of a 500-year-long period that had seen Sofia’s rise as the capital of the Ottoman Empire’s European possessions in the mid-fifteenth century and its eventual decline to provincial obscurity

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  US begins withdrawing refueling aircraft from Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The US military has begun withdrawing some aerial refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv to ease pressure on airport operations during the peak travel season, Israeli media reported Thursday. The move came after Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev pressed security officials to relocate the aircraft to ensure the airport could operate smoothly during one of its busiest periods, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. There was no immediate comment from Israeli or US authorities on the report. The presence of US aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has previously sparked debate in Israel over its impact on civilian air traffic. READ: Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes, injure six in coordinated West Bank attack The aircraft have been stationed at

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  Israeli attacks threaten Syria’s stability, undermine Gaza peace efforts: Turkish foreign minister

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that Israeli attacks in Syria are among the greatest threats to the country’s stability, and accused Tel Aviv of escalating violence across the region, Anadolu reports. “Israel’s attacks targeting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are among the greatest threats to the country’s stability,” Fidan said, speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara with Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani after talks. Fidan said Damascus contributed to preserving stability in the region throughout the US-Israeli war with Iran, and that protecting Syria’s security and stability is a shared responsibility of all countries in the region. He said the international community should respond more strongly to Israel’s occupation policy and exert the necessary pressure

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  Gaza is exploited either way, through silence or stale statements

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  While Gaza mourns, the international community continues to turn a blind eye. On Tuesday this week, 112 members from the Abu Sharia and al-Hasayna families were put to rest in a mass funeral in the Sabra neighbourhood. The remains were recently recovered from the rubble of homes destroyed in 2023 during Israel’s genocide. According to the Gaza Civil Defence, the bodies of around 8,000 Palestinians are still beneath the rubble, but the conditions make it impossible for complete recovery of those killed by airstrikes.  “Some bodies have disappeared. Some have been scattered into very small pieces, making identification extremely difficult,” Mahmoud Basal, the spokesman for Gaza’s civil defence stated.  Lara Abu Sharia, whose family members were among those recovered from

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  Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes, injure six in coordinated West Bank attack

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  At least six Palestinians, including four children, were injured when a large group of Israeli settlers carried out a coordinated overnight attack on the village of Tuba in the occupied West Bank’s South Hebron Hills. The attackers arrived in vehicles, stormed Palestinian homes, assaulted residents and set fire to buildings, trees and bales of hay, Haaretz reported. They also destroyed solar panels and damaged at least six structures before retreating towards the nearby Havat Ma’on settler outpost, residents said. Those injured included a mother, three girls aged between five and eight, a ten-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man.  Describing the ordeal, Radwan Abu Jundi, a Tuba resident, said his family hid inside their home as settlers threw stones at the

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  Can Trump reshape the situation in Gaza?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  A few days after Donald Trump expressed his satisfaction with the recent agreement on Gaza, Israel made it clear that the deal fell short of its ambitions. The agreement had become possible after Hamas announced, for the first time, its willingness to hand over its weapons to the Palestinian committee established under the Board of Peace created by Trump. Rather than responding to the optimism expressed by all parties, Israel reacted with further military escalation, destruction, and the killing of civilians. This is not the first time Israel has placed Washington in an awkward position. This article raises a central question: can Washington compel Israel to implement the current agreement on Gaza? The agreement is significant because it moves the

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  Palestine, football and Europe’s selective conscience

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Europe did not rediscover its soul when Palestinian blood was spilled. It did not find its moral courage when homes, hospitals, universities, archives and entire neighbourhoods were destroyed, or when families were displaced from one supposed safe zone to another, only to discover that safety itself had become a fiction. Europe watched, expressed concern, called for restraint and repeated its commitment to international law. It performed morality while refusing to exercise power. Long before Gaza was devastated, Europe had already been warned that the system imposed upon Palestinians was not merely an unfortunate occupation awaiting a diplomatic solution. Palestinian, Israeli and international human-rights organisations including BADIL, B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International had increasingly described it by its proper

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  Jewish terrorists have become ‘sovereign’ in West Bank, Ynet analyst says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Jewish extremists and terrorists have effectively become “the sovereign” in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army protects their illegal activities and serves the political interests of the far-right government, a veteran Israeli military analyst has warned. Writing for Israel’s Ynet news site, Ron Ben-Yishai said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), police and Shin Bet internal security agency are no longer capable of enforcing the law against violent settlers. “The IDF has lost control of the extremists among the settlers and has become a security company for their whims and illegal actions,” Ben-Yishai concluded. He described the situation in which the army protects “Jewish extremists and terrorists” as intolerable.  The extraordinary assessment followed an investigation into a deadly

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  Israeli army demolishes shops, tightens restrictions near Qalandia refugee camp amid ongoing raids

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Israeli army on Thursday began demolishing commercial shops near the Qalandia Palestinian refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, while tightening military restrictions in the area, Anadolu reports. The developments come amid the army’s ongoing attacks in the camp for a second consecutive day. Since early morning, the Israeli army has announced through loudspeakers a curfew in the town of Kafr Aqab, and closed all intersections and roads leading to Jerusalem, including Al-Ma’had Street, amid a heavy military deployment and tightened security measures, according to statements by Jerusalem Governorate. The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the demolitions or the military measures in the area. The demolitions come as the Israeli army continues its second day of operations in

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  Shipping groups urge UN to oppose tolls in Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Eight major international shipping associations have urged the UN to oppose the introduction of compulsory tolls or service charges for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint open letter addressed to UN chief Antonio Guterres and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the groups warned that such fees would undermine freedom of navigation and damage the global economy. The letter was sent Monday and published Wednesday by the International Chamber of Shipping. “Introducing compulsory charges for transit, or service fees that are a toll in all but name, through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a significant departure from established international practice,” the letter said. The associations warned that allowing such charges could create a precedent

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  AIPAC signals fresh spending against El-Sayed after humiliating $32m Michigan defeat

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is considering spending tens of millions of dollars to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan after its record-breaking attempt to defeat pro-Palestine candidate Dr Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary ended in failure. AIPAC’s second attempt to defeat El-Sayed is seen as a growing desperation within the pro-Israel lobby as opposition to Israel becomes increasingly mainstream among American voters.  AIPAC’s main super political action committee, the United Democracy Project (UDP), spent approximately $32 million promoting pro-Israel congresswoman Haley Stevens and attacking El-Sayed. Despite the unprecedented expenditure, El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination and will face Rogers in November. According to the New York Times, several AIPAC donors and allies are urging the

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  Helium diplomacy: The invisible bottleneck in the AI economy

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  A warning from Ras Laffan The Middle East is usually described as the engine room of the hydrocarbon economy. But it also sits quietly inside the infrastructure of the digital age. When conflict disrupted natural-gas processing in Qatar in March 2026, international attention focused on liquefied natural gas. Another, less visible supply chain was also shaken: helium. Qatar is not a marginal supplier. US Geological Survey data reported by Reuters show that it produced about 63 million cubic metres of helium in 2025 out of roughly 190 million cubic metres globally—close to one-third of world output. As Qatari production stopped, helium spot prices rose sharply and industries far beyond the energy sector began assessing their exposure. This was not a

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  2 Israeli soldiers killed in explosive device blast in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Two Israeli soldiers were killed and four others injured as an explosive device detonated in southern Lebanon, Israeli media reported on Thursday, amid Tel Aviv’s ongoing incursions in Lebanon despite a ceasefire, Anadolu reports. The incident took place in the town of Majdal Zoun, Tyre district, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. In a press release, the Israeli army also confirmed that two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday. Beirut and Tel Aviv are currently holding a seventh round of US-brokered talks in Rome. The three-day talks meant to discuss the ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, among other topics, are expected to conclude on Thursday. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israel’s attacks in Lebanon since March 2 have killed at least

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  ‘Canada’s support for ICC is unequivocal,’ Premier Carney says amid US pressure on court

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday reaffirmed his country’s support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying Ottawa would continue backing the institution despite US efforts to pressure allies to withdraw their membership and funding, Anadolu reports. Asked whether his government was doing enough to defend the ICC and why he had not spoken publicly about a Canadian judge facing US sanctions, Carney said Canada’s support for the court remained firm. “Canada is a proud member of the International Criminal Court. We support it with funding. We support it with personnel. We support it with our values. We support it with our actions, and we will continue to do so,” he said at a news conference in Toronto. Carney said

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  Israel plans to build 2,300 illegal settlement units in East Jerusalem, organization warns

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Israeli authorities are planning to build 2,300 new housing units to expand the illegal Gilo settlement built on Palestinian land in southwestern East Jerusalem, an Israeli non-profit organization focused on affairs in Jerusalem said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The project represents another step toward further isolating East Jerusalem from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the Ir Amim organization warned. The plan calls for construction on Palestinian land confiscated under Israel’s Absentees’ Property Law, it said. At least 28 dunams (6.9 acres) of land included in the plan were confiscated from their Palestinian owners and classified as “state land” before being allocated for settlement expansion, the group highlighted. The area of ​​confiscated land could increase, as dozens of dunams within the plan

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  America First’s real test is Washington, not Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Iran crisis has become more than another confrontation in the Middle East. For America First, it is a test of a political promise: Can the United States break from the cycle of endless wars, reserve its power for clear national interests, and resist turning every foreign crisis into another open-ended American commitment? That question goes to the heart of what America First was supposed to change. For its supporters, America First has never meant abandoning American power or retreating from the world. It means asking harder questions about how that power is used and for what purpose. Must every regional threat become a test of American credibility? Must every crisis lead to a larger military commitment? Or is American

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  Pro-Palestinian candidates score wins in US Democratic primaries

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The results of US primary elections point to the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, which has placed the Palestinian issue at the centre of its political message. Supporters of the movement say more than 250 progressives now hold elected positions across the United States. They also say that 35 progressive candidates defeated establishment Democratic candidates for Congress in this year’s primary elections, describing the results as a major shift within the party. The United States is currently holding primary elections ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, with Democratic and Republican voters selecting their parties’ candidates for Congress. READ: American Jews favour Mamdani over Netanyahu as 30% say Israel committed genocide Among the most notable results from Tuesday’s

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  24 Palestinian workers released by Israel return to Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Twenty-four Palestinian workers detained by Israeli forces returned to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing on Wednesday, following their release under the terms of a ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. About 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, including 92 women and 370 children, are currently held in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions, with dozens reported to have died as a result of starvation, torture and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights organizations. In 2002, Israel’s Knesset passed the “Unlawful Combatant Law,” which allows Palestinians to be held for indefinite periods without indictment or sufficient evidence being presented to a court, according to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. Since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza on Oct.

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  Detained Gaza hospital director Abu Safiya suffers serious health deterioration following reports of torture and abuse

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office said detained doctor Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, is facing extremely difficult health and humanitarian conditions in Israel’s Rakevet Prison after enduring severe and repeated abuse that left him with multiple injuries, including fractures to his rib cage. In a statement, the office said Abu Safiya was subjected on 27 July to what it described as the most violent prison raid since his arrest, calling it “the hardest day of his life in prison.” It said detainees were beaten with batons, subjected to electric shocks, exposed to tear gas and rubber bullets, and attacked by police dogs. The statement said Abu Safiya suffers from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure, as

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  US to use military, economic, diplomatic tools to end Iran war: Vance

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The US will use military, economic and diplomatic tools to bring the Iran conflict to a resolution, Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News Wednesday. Asked about the setbacks in negotiations with Iran, Vance cited two factors: “Number one, the Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people. Number two, they have a fractured system.” “There are people within their system that want the war to be over and there are also people in their system that are crazy radicals who want the war to continue,” he said. “Our job is to navigate through that and get the best outcome for the American people and for the President of the United States as well.” Vance expressed hope for a

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  Darkness: How corruption, mismanagement, and heat ignited Libya’s protests

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  When temperatures crossed 43°C across western Libya in July, with some places like Al-Azizia, just south of Tripoli, recording near 50°C, it was not merely the air that reached a boiling point—it was the collective patience of a population pushed beyond its limits. What began as desperate protests against devastating electricity outages, lasting up to 14 hours a day at summer peak, rapidly transformed into a full-scale political rebellion against Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and his Government of National Unity (GNU). Attempting to deflect mounting public anger, Prime Minister Dbeibeh took to the stage during a cabinet meeting on 18th July to publicly lash out at the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL). He openly accused the state utility’s

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  Israeli Researcher Calls for Treating Qatar as ‘Hostile State’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  An Israeli researcher has described Qatar as a hostile state and called for Israel to adopt a comprehensive strategy to deal with it. In an article published by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), Israeli researcher Ariel Admoni urged Israel to treat Qatar as a “hostile state”, citing what he described as Doha’s media influence across various sectors. Admoni also recommended coordinated political, economic, legal and media measures, including the establishment of a specialised centre to study Qatari influence. He called for efforts to target Qatar-linked specific businesses and institutions in the United States and Europe, rather than pursuing military escalation or direct propaganda campaigns. “A sophisticated, well-coordinated campaign could restrain and weaken a dangerous state that acts

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  Mohamed Salah arrives in Trabzon amid a massive public reception

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Egyptian star Mohamed Salah arrived in the Turkish city of Trabzon on a private jet on Wednesday evening to a huge welcome from fans after Trabzonspor announced it had begun negotiations to sign him. Thousands of Trabzonspor supporters gathered at the airport carrying flares and chanting to welcome the Egyptian forward. Addressing the crowd at the airport, Salah said he was overwhelmed by the reception. “I just want to say I’m very happy to be here. Honestly, I find it difficult to describe how surprised and happy I am because there are 25,000 people here. I don’t remember ever receiving a welcome like this before,” he said. READ: Palestine Football Association says FIFA failed to enforce rules against Israel Salah said

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  Iran says it backs Palestinian leadership decisions on Gaza’s future

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday during a phone call with Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ political bureau, that Tehran supports every step, initiative and decision taken by the Palestinian leadership during negotiations on Gaza’s future. He added: “The hearts of the Iranian people and its officials are with the Palestinian people. Tehran will continue to support the Palestinian people and stand by them.” Earlier on Wednesday, Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and its negotiating delegation, said the group was still awaiting an official response from Nikolay Mladenov, Gaza’s representative on the Board of Peace, regarding the implementation of the second phase of the roadmap under the latest Cairo agreement reached with the mediators. In a

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  Turkey says any attack on al-Aqsa mosque is an assault on Turkish values

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey regards Al-Aqsa Mosque as one of its own sacred sites, stressing that “any violation directed against it is regarded as a violation of the values of our nation.”  Fidan made the remarks on Wednesday during a press conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where he took part in the ministerial meeting on Jerusalem. He described the meeting as “historic”, saying it addressed several regional issues, including developments in the Gulf, the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Palestinian issue. Fidan said Turkey’s focus had not diverted from the Palestinian issue, Al-Aqsa Mosque, or the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. He said these issues

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  Israel’s Netanyahu hints at unilateral military action against Iran amid regional de-escalation efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hinted that Israel could take unilateral military action against Iran as diplomatic efforts continued to secure an agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Tehran and Washington, Anadolu reports. “We heard today the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, declare that Iran intends to continue developing a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu said. “As Israel’s prime minister, I am determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he added. Describing the US as “Israel’s greatest ally,” the Israeli premier said, however, that he was “determined to do whatever is necessary to ensure” Israel’s security. On Tuesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said mediation efforts between the US and Iran had

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  US military says it redirected 48 vessels while enforcing Iran blockade

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that American forces continued to enforce a US blockade against Iran, reporting that dozens of commercial vessels had been redirected as part of ongoing maritime operations, Anadolu reports. “A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet is refueled during a patrol over regional waters in the Middle East while the U.S. continues enforcement of the blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM said on the US social media company X. “As of Aug. 5, CENTCOM forces have redirected 48 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2,” it added. Iran said Wednesday that a joint statement with Oman on a proposed navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz was in the final stages of drafting, provided no external party

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  Egypt’s flag carrier resumes flights to Sudan after suspension since May 2025

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  EgyptAir resumed flights to Sudan on Wednesday, with its first flight landing at Port Sudan International Airport after operations had been suspended since May 2025, Anadolu reports. Sudan Airports Company said in a statement that Port Sudan International Airport had received EgyptAir’s first flight, marking the resumption of the direct route between Cairo and Port Sudan. The return of direct flights would strengthen air connectivity between Sudan and Egypt, support operations at Port Sudan International Airport and expand travel options for passengers, the company added. With EgyptAir’s return, the number of international airlines operating at Port Sudan International Airport has increased to five, it said. READ: 350 more Sudanese return home from Egypt under voluntary repatriation program The other international carriers

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  Canada, UAE conclude ‘successful’ negotiations on comprehensive economic partnership

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan celebrated the “successful conclusion” of negotiations for a Canada-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during a phone call Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The agreement is the “fastest such agreement ever negotiated in the two countries’ histories,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. It said the deal reflects the “focus, resolution, and commitment” both countries bring to their bilateral relationship. The UAE is Canada’s largest export market in the Middle East, while two-way trade between the countries is growing 10% annually, according to the statement. READ: US, UAE to establish military artificial intelligence task force The agreement will “lower tariffs, create new opportunities for