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

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  Turkiye slams Israeli Prime Minister’s Office over remarks targeting President Erdogan

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Turkiye on Friday strongly rejected remarks by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing them as devoid of “historical facts and political seriousness,” Anadolu reports. “The insolent rants of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office targeting our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which are devoid of historical facts and political seriousness, are yet another indication of the helplessness of an administration seeking to evade accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Turkiye’s Communications Directorate said in a statement on Turkish social media company NSosyal. The directorate said what it called the “cheap politics” of Netanyahu and his associates, aimed in part at gaining an advantage in elections, had no standing in Israeli society, the region, the international

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  Israel preventing foreign support for Lebanese army, deputy PM says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Israel is preventing several countries from providing support to the Lebanese army as the latter deploys in parts of southern Lebanon in line with a US-backed framework agreement signed in June between Lebanon and Israel, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said Friday, Anadolu reports. “Several countries have expressed their readiness to help the Lebanese army as it enters the pilot areas in the south, but Israel is objecting to this,” Mitri said, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. “Pilot areas” refer to parts of southern Lebanon where security arrangements are being made in line with the framework agreement, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces to make way for the deployment of Lebanese troops. Mitri also decried what he described

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  Palestine Action ‘Barclays five’ won’t face terrorism sentences, UK judge rules

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Five members of the Palestine Action group convicted over an attack on a Barclays Bank that caused damage of £200,000 ($280,000) will not be sentenced under terrorism provisions, a judge ruled Friday, Anadolu reports. The five defendants, known as the “Barclays five,” were convicted over the Aug. 5, 2024, attack on the bank’s St James’s Street branch in Burnley, Lancashire. The defendants said the action was intended to pressure Barclays to withdraw financial support for Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, according to a report by The Guardian. They said they did not know their cases could be considered under terrorism legislation until after their convictions. READ: UK Government condemns Israel’s launch of tender for the E1 settlement project Palestine Action was

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  Attacks on West Bank Palestinians by Israeli occupiers surge in 2026: Commission

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  At least 25 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in attacks by Israeli occupiers since the beginning of the year, the highest figure since Palestinian authorities began recording the phenomenon in 2019, according to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Anadolu reports. The commission said Friday that at least 87 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli occupiers in the period from Jan. 1, 2019 to Aug. 21, 2026. Last year, 14 West Bank Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupiers, while 11 were killed in 2024, according to the commission. Since Oct. 8, 2023, 61 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by occupiers, accounting for more than 70 percent of all deaths recorded since 2019, the commission said. The

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  Israeli escalations at Al-Aqsa Mosque won’t alter site’s Islamic character: Hamas

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Hamas said Friday that new Israeli measures at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the allowance of Jewish prayer books and organized public prayers inside the mosque compound, would “not succeed in altering the mosque’s Islamic identity,” Anadolu reports. The Palestinian group issued the statement on the 57th anniversary of a 1969 arson attack on the holy site, and days after Israeli police allowed Jewish prayer books to be brought into the mosque compound. “The [Israeli] occupation’s plans will not succeed in Judaizing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, changing its characteristics, erasing its identity, dividing it temporally or spatially, or legitimizing Talmudic rituals in its courtyards,” Hamas said. The group added that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s decision to allow Jewish prayer books into

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  Israeli occupier kills Palestinian teenager outside his home in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  An Israeli occupier shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian during an attack near his home in the southern occupied West Bank on Friday, according to his family and a medical source, Anadolu reports. A medical source at Al-Mizan Hospital in Hebron told Anadolu Agency that Karim Sanad Shalaldeh died from a gunshot wound sustained during the attack in the Hamroush area of Sa’ir, north of Hebron. His father, Sanad Shalaldeh, told Anadolu Agency that around 50 Israeli occupiers attacked the family home and that one of them shot his son at close range. “My son was standing in front of the house and did nothing. When he asked them to move away, one of them shot him in the chest

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  Israeli military receives 2nd US-made refueling aircraft out of 6 purchased

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  The Israeli military said Friday it had received the second of six US-made refueling aircraft set to arrive gradually, saying the planes would help extend the operational range of its air force, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the military said a ceremony was held Thursday at Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel to receive the second “Gideon” refueling and transport aircraft for the air force. “A Boeing KC-46 aircraft landed yesterday at Nevatim Airbase and joined the Gideon 46 refueling squadron,” the statement said. The aircraft is the second of six refueling planes purchased through the Israeli Defense Ministry’s procurement mission in the US for the air force, the military said. The aircraft is part of a broader effort by the

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  Turkiye seeks Interpol red notice for Netanyahu over Gaza aid flotilla case

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Turkiye has requested Interpol to issue a red notice for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of an ongoing prosecution over an attack on activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said Friday. In a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Gurlek said judicial proceedings were continuing before Istanbul’s 11th High Criminal Court against 35 defendants, including Netanyahu and Afek Moskovitch, over the incident in international waters. He said arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu and Moskovitch on July 14, 2026, on charges of “genocide” prompted the Justice Ministry to ask the Interior Ministry to seek Interpol red notices for the two suspects. READ: Netanyahu: Israel sent ‘clear warning’ to Ankara,

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  UK, Australia, Canada call Israel’s decision to close World Central Kitchen strike probe ‘shameful’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  The UK, Australia and Canada on Friday called Israel’s decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the deadly 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza “shameful.” In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of the three countries said they spent more than two years pressing Israel to swiftly and thoroughly examine the case and hold those responsible to account. “The announcement by the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) on 19 August 2026 that it would not pursue criminal investigations into this strike, without further explanation, is shameful,” the statement said. The statement noted that the announcement on World Humanitarian Day, when the world honored the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was “particularly egregious.” “This decision is

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  Iraq premier says working to expand oil exports via Turkiye, Syria, Jordan

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Iraq is working to expand oil exports through Turkiye’s Ceyhan port and develop export routes via Syria’s Baniyas and Jordan’s Aqaba ports, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said on Friday, Iraqi News Agency reported. Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference, Zaidi said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz poses a “major challenge” for Iraq, and that the government is taking measures to maintain economic stability. Zaidi said Baghdad is also working to increase Iraq’s export quota through OPEC, and aims to raise oil exports to between 8 million and 10 million barrels per day within six years. READ: Iraq asks Iran for special consideration regarding oil exports via Strait of Hormuz On domestic security, the premier said all political forces

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  Iran’s president says war with US should end while Tehran is in position of ‘power, dignity’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday that the war with the US should be brought to an end while Iran is in a position of “power and dignity,” as he defended Tehran’s recent agreement with Washington, Anadolu reports. Speaking at an event, Pezeshkian said the outcome of the negotiations was a “major achievement” approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency. “What was achieved during the negotiations was a major accomplishment,” he said, adding that members of the council who were directly involved had firmly defended it. Pezeshkian described the recent agreement as “honorable and valuable,” rejecting criticism that Tehran had made concessions. “They cannot find even a single clause in this agreement

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  UN rapporteur says Israeli occupation, not only E1 plan, ‘must end’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said on Friday that not only the controversial E1 settlement plan but Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories itself “must end,” urging states to cut trade with Tel Aviv, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media platform X, Albanese said the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 2024 advisory opinion made clear that “it’s the occupation itself — not just the E1 plans — that must end.” Albanese criticized continued Israeli attacks and occupier violence in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, saying Israeli soldiers and occupiers cut water pipes in the West Bank while the siege of Qusra continued. “In Gaza the pulverization continues and so the massacres,” she said. “Since the ceasefire Israel

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  More than 1,500 ships stuck in Strait of Hormuz may trigger global biological invasions

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  The marine organisms accumulating on the hulls of more than 1,500 ships stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions between the US and Iran could be transported to different parts of the world once the vessels resume their voyages, potentially creating a global “super-spreader” effect for biological invasions, Anadolu reports. A study published in the journal Biological Invasions found that biofouling, consisting of marine microorganisms, algae, and invertebrates, can rapidly develop on the hulls of ships that remain stationary for extended periods. According to the study, more than 1,500 large commercial vessels have becomes stranded following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 28. The prolonged presence of these ships in the region

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  Qalibaf urges Tehran, Baghdad to use national currencies to ‘deal blow’ to US dollar

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called on Tehran and Baghdad to conduct bilateral trade using their national currencies to “deal a blow” to the US dollar, Anadolu reports. Qalibaf made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad on Thursday, details of which were published Friday by ICANA, the news agency affiliated with Iranian parliament. “Today, we can conduct trade using national currencies and deal a blow to the US dollar,” Qalibaf said. He claimed the era of US dominance over the world has ended, but said Iran and Iraq have failed to sufficiently take advantage of emerging opportunities and continue to conduct trade using methods dating back 50 years. READ: Iraq

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  China urges negotiations over US Treasury chief’s ‘toughest sanctions’ against Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 21, 2026

  China Friday reiterated its call for negotiations between the US and Iran to end the conflict, after the US Treasury secretary announced what they called the “toughest sanctions in history” against Tehran, Anadolu reports. “China always believes military actions, sanctioning, pressuring do not help solve the problem, it only builds up the tensions in the current situation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. He said such actions do “not fit interests of any party.” “We urge the relevant party to solve the current dispute through negotiations and dialogue,” Lin responded when asked about fresh US sanctions on Iran, which Tehran dubbed “economic terrorism.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Thursday said Washington will impose the “toughest sanctions in

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  Iraq is negotiating away its militias’ guns. It is not negotiating away their impunity.

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  On 26 June, Faleh al-Fayyad, the chairman of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, inaugurated a new “Department of Human Rights” within the organization he leads. The announcement would be almost darkly comic if it weren’t so consequential. Washington designated Fayyad a human rights abuser years ago for his role in one of the bloodiest episodes in modern Iraqi history: the killing of more than 500 unarmed protesters during the 2019 Tishreen demonstrations, with thousands more wounded and hundreds detained illegally. The officer he installed to run the new department, Abu Muntadher al-Husseini, is accused by the same rights groups of helping carry out that violence. Seven years later, neither man has faced a courtroom. This is the backdrop against which Iraq’s

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  The strait that broke Washington’s illusion of control

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  When the United States and Israel opened their war on Iran on 28th February by assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the calculation in Washington was simple: overwhelming force would force capitulation. Nearly six months later, that calculation lies in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where a tugboat sits sunk, a dozen seafarers are dead or missing, and a waterway that once carried a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade has become the clearest evidence yet that American military dominance does not translate automatically into political victory. Iran’s response to the assassination of its own supreme leader was not surrender. It was closure. Tehran shut the strait to foreign shipping, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that

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  Pakistan premier Sharif calls for enhanced cooperation with Syria, invites President al-Sharaa to visit

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for expanded cooperation with Syria across multiple sectors and invited Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit the South Asian country as Islamabad seeks to strengthen ties with Damascus, Anadolu agency reported. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Sharif in Islamabad, where the Pakistani premier welcomed the Syrian delegation and conveyed his best wishes to President al-Sharaa, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including its position on the Golan Heights. Recalling the longstanding ties between the two countries, Sharif called for stronger cooperation in politics, defence, trade, investment, education and human resource development. He also said restoring

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  US may ‘consider sanctions’ against Israeli settlers over Qusra violence

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Washington could consider sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra, if they are found responsible for criminal acts. Speaking to Reuters on Thursday, Huckabee said those responsible should face accountability, following days of tensions in Qusra, south of Nablus, where settlers had surrounded several Palestinian homes. One of the affected properties belongs to Palestinian-American Luay Ridi. Huckabee had previously strongly condemned the settlers involved, describing them as “Israeli terrorists” and their actions as intended to intimidate and harass Palestinian residents. He also said the US Embassy had been directly involved in efforts to resolve the situation. The ambassador said Washington was “shocked”

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  Confronting the occupation’s violence strategically

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  A Palestinian took the invaders’ weapon, turning it against them to defend his homeland. Immediately hordes of settlers attacked Palestinian towns throughout the occupied West Bank. This is a common pattern in Palestine and Lebanon, especially after the launch of the Al-Aqsa Flood. And it is a calculated one. The occupation imposes as much domination as it can without provoking a massive uprising: apartheid within the occupied territories, a blockade in Gaza, displacement and Judaization in the West Bank, and near-daily killings in Lebanon and Syria. And this is what they want us to consider “routine violence.” As long as the people of the land do not resist, the occupation keeps up this basic violence, gradually escalating it, until we

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  Israel FM invokes Balfour Declaration in rebuttal to UK criticism of West Bank settlement plans

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected British criticism of Israeli settlement expansion on Thursday, asserting that the West Bank and Jerusalem form part of what he called the “Land of Israel” and that Jews have a right to live throughout the territory. Sa’ar was responding to British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who criticized the publication of tenders connected to the E1 settlement project and said Britain would not accept steps that destroy prospects for a two-state solution. The Israeli foreign minister described Miliband’s remarks as “condescending and biased,” arguing that Jews have the right to live throughout the “Land of Israel” in the same way that British citizens may live anywhere in the United Kingdom. Sa’ar also invoked the 1917

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  Yemen’s Houthis say they ‘successfully’ struck two Saudi targets with drones

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthis said Thursday that they had carried out two separate drone attacks targeting an Aramco facility and a “sensitive” target at the Najran airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. In a social-media post, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had conducted two “military operations” with a pair of drones, adding that both operations had “successfully achieved their objectives.” “The first targeted a sensitive Saudi enemy target at Najran airport, while the second targeted Aramco Najran,” Saree claimed. The attacks, he added, came in response to an airspace violation by Saudi Arabia — allegedly involving the use of two drones — in Yemen’s northwestern Saada province. Riyadh has yet to respond to the spokesman’s claims. READ: Yemen’s Houthis claim to

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  Ennahda says detained Vice President Monther Ounissi has lost ability to speak

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Tunisia’s opposition Ennahda Movement said on Thursday that its detained vice president, Monther Ounissi, has been unable to speak since 11th July, raising concerns about his health and prompting renewed calls for medical treatment and his release. In a statement published on Facebook, Ennahda said it was following Ounissi’s deteriorating condition with “grave concern” and called on authorities to provide him with appropriate medical care. There was no immediate response from Tunisia’s General Directorate of Prisons and Rehabilitation to the latest allegations. The prison authorities have previously rejected accusations of medical negligence or mistreatment, saying detainees receive regular medical monitoring. According to Ennahda, Ounissi lost his ability to speak after being informed of a court ruling against him in a

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  Egypt, Qatar renew call to uphold Trump’s plan to end Israel’s war on Gaza

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Egypt and Qatar on Thursday renewed their call for all concerned parties to honour their commitments under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu agency reported. The call came during a meeting in Egypt between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to the Egyptian presidency. The two sides stressed “the need for all parties to fulfil their commitments under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Israeli war, in a way that consolidates stability and contributes to the swift launch of early recovery and reconstruction efforts.” The meeting also addressed regional developments, with Sisi stressing the importance of containing

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  Rowan Williams: Guardian of the soul in an era of commercialised faith

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  In an age when sacred beliefs are traded in the political marketplace and theology is weaponized as a cudgel to intimidate the other, Dr. Rowan Williams—former Archbishop of Canterbury and distinguished scholar—stands as an exceptional moral and human figure. He restores faith to its pure ethical essence, transforming belief into a vehicle for transcendence rather than a tool for coercion. Williams was never merely a high-ranking cleric occupying the pinnacle of the Anglican Church for a decade; he was, and remains, an unwavering moral compass whose intellect is bound strictly to his core principles. Few can forget his courageous opposition to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair during the rush to war in 2003, when Williams unequivocally denounced the invasion of Iraq

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  16 killed by heatstroke in Sudan’s Red Sea state

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Sudan’s Red Sea state Health Ministry said on Thursday that 16 people have died from heatstroke, amid a sharp rise in cases as temperatures in the state have increased significantly in recent weeks. The Sudan Tribune website quoted the ministry’s Director-General, Ahlam Abdel Rasoul, as saying that 160 heatstroke cases have been recorded in the state, including 16 deaths. She said the ministry has taken precautionary measures, including setting up three cooling centres in the most crowded areas in partnership with the SABA organisation, as well as preparing a centre to receive heatstroke patients. She added that emergency departments have been upgraded to receive cases, inpatient wards have been improved with measures to reduce temperatures, and awareness campaigns have been

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  SDF commander announces ‘new phase’ and integration into Syrian government

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi announced the military, security and administrative integration of the SDF with the Syrian state, saying a new phase would begin with a focus on political efforts to secure Kurdish rights in Syria’s constitution. Abdi, who heads the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, made the announcement on Thursday evening at a ceremony organised in Qamishli to mark the 100th anniversary of the city’s founding, attended by a number of senior local government officials in Hasakah province. “Today, with the completion of the integration phase with the government, we announce that we are entering a new phase and a new process,” Abdi said, adding that “the next battle will be political” and that the SDF would

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  Iran: New US sanctions are ‘economic terrorism, crime against humanity’

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry has described the new and sweeping package of sanctions imposed by the US administration on Iran as “economic terrorism and a crime against humanity”. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry criticised the new US sanctions against Tehran. It said Washington had chosen to impose the sanctions to coincide with the anniversary of the 1953 coup in Iran, which was carried out with US and British involvement, describing the move as an extension of “Washington’s 73-year-long hostility towards the Iranian people”. The statement said that the comprehensive economic and trade sanctions that the United States imposes on Iran “target the basic human rights of Iranian citizens”, describing them as “economic terrorism and a crime against humanity”.

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  UN: 94 % of Gaza residents need shelter and basic household supplies

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that 94 per cent of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip need shelter and basic household supplies, amid the ongoing Israeli occupation and blockade of the territory. Dujarric made the remarks during a press conference in New York marking World Humanitarian Day, observed on 19 August, where he briefed reporters on developments in the Middle East. Citing reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Dujarric said reports continued to emerge of “Palestinian civilians in Gaza being killed, being injured or otherwise being impacted by Israeli air strikes, shelling and gunfire, including children.” He said: “94 per cent of Gaza’s 2.1 million people need shelter and basic household assistance.” The UN official added

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  Israeli army leaders warn of ‘West Bank eruption’ over settler attacks

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Israeli army leaders on Thursday warned Defence Minister Israel Katz of the possibility of a “widespread eruption” in the occupied West Bank amid a sharp rise in settler attacks against Palestinians. Israel Hayom newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing military sources, that senior army commanders had issued a “strategic warning that the West Bank faces the risk of a major escalation amid a sharp increase in Jewish terrorism”, referring to settler attacks. According to the sources, the warning was issued during a recent closed-door meeting with Katz, where the army leaders, who were not named by the newspaper, said settler attacks were a “major factor in fuelling tensions”. They warned that attacks targeting Palestinian villages “drive Palestinian residents out of a

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  Former Israeli PM Barak: Netanyahu’s latest statements “reckless and stupid”

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that the current Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has deviated from course, strongly criticising his government’s escalation of tension with Turkey against the backdrop of military developments in Syria. In a post that he wrote on the “X” platform, Barak said that he cannot speak about all the details, but he stressed that “the deliberate” escalation led by Netanyahu in confronting Turkey is a “reckless and stupid” act, adding that it is difficult to determine which of the two descriptions applies to him more. He added that the escalation carries indicators of a political desire to reach the election date amid a series of security tensions that arouse concern and fear among the Israeli

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  Palestine Book Awards 2026: Longlist announcement

  by Marwa A on August 21, 2026

  We are proud to announce the 15 longlisted titles for the Palestine Book Awards 2026. This year, as Palestine continues to endure unimaginable loss, destruction and displacement, the power of the written word has never felt more vital. In a time marked by ongoing war and genocide, Palestinian voices continue to document, challenge, remember and resist: ensuring that their stories cannot be erased. From Palestinian writers and scholars to authors and researchers around the world, this year’s longlist brings together voices united by a commitment to Palestine. Through scholarship, memoir, creative writing and critical thought, these works preserve histories, confront injustice and offer new ways of understanding the Palestinian experience. We received more than 80 submissions this year, making 2026 the largest and most diverse

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  UK, Italy, France, Germany urge Israel to halt plans on occupied West Bank settlement expansion

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  The UK, Italy, France and Germany on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, warning they threaten the chance of a two-state solution, Anadolu reports. The four governments said the expansion was “unacceptable” and warned that the E1 development would “undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories.” The governments said the international community had long opposed settlement expansion and repeatedly raised its concerns with Israel — privately and publicly. “International Law is clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal,” they said, adding that the position had been reaffirmed by

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  870 Sudanese nationals leave Egypt for home under voluntary return program

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  Sudan’s Al-Amal Committee for Voluntary Return said Thursday that 870 Sudanese nationals had left Egypt for Sudan aboard 30 buses departing from Cairo, Alexandria and Aswan, the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported, Anadolu reports. The Al-Amal Committee is a community-led humanitarian initiative that coordinates with Sudanese state institutions to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of citizens. Returnees include university professors and students enrolled in Sudanese universities, the committee said. Maher al-Zein Ahmed, head of the committee’s transport division, said arrangements were underway with businesspeople, institutions, government bodies and humanitarian organizations to support the returning convoys. Returning to Sudan helps reunite families and ease economic burdens on those coming back, he said. – 50,000 returnees Hassan Khalid, rapporteur for

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  Israeli groups, Palestinians challenge controversial East Jerusalem settlement plan

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  Palestinian residents and three Israeli rights groups have filed an urgent petition with an Israeli court seeking to freeze a tender for the construction of 1,234 illegal settlement units under the controversial E1 plan in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports. The petition was filed Thursday with the Jerusalem District Court by rights groups Ir Amim, Bimkom and Peace Now, together with Palestinian community members, according to a statement issued by Ir Amim. Petitioners asked the court to issue an interim order suspending the first tender under the E1 plan — which was published this week – for the construction of 1,234 housing units east of Jerusalem. They also requested the court to halt publication of additional tenders, or any other

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  US approves potential $4.5B sale of KC-46A aircraft to Qatar

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  The US State Department has approved the possible $4.5 billion sale of KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft and related equipment to Qatar, the agency announced on Thursday. The proposed Foreign Military Sale includes up to four KC-46A aircraft, eight PW4062 turbofan engines, radar warning receivers, laser transmitter assemblies and other equipment, according to a statement. The agency said the proposed sale would reinforce Qatar’s strategic role in regional security and “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” The announcement came as tensions have escalated in the region after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in late February that killed thousands. Tehran retaliated against US bases and assets in Gulf countries. Although the two sides reached

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  Germany criticises Israeli airstrike on Syrian airbase

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  Germany on Thursday criticised an Israeli airstrike in northwestern Syria, stressing that Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, Anadolu reports. “The German government has noted with concern reports of an airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airfield in northwestern Syria,” a senior official at the Foreign Ministry told Anadolu, when asked about Berlin’s stance on Tuesday’s attack and the Israeli government’s recent escalatory moves. “Any foreign military intervention is not conducive to the stabilisation of Syria or to peace in the region,” the diplomat stressed, referring to the Israeli airstrikes. “A stable Syria contributes to the stability of the Middle East as a whole. Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected by all countries,” he added. In recent

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  From Bolivia to Colombia: Is the pro-Palestine Hague Group beginning to fall apart?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Electoral shifts in Latin America are testing the cohesion of the Hague Group, a prominent international bloc launched in January 2025 by Global South governments to turn diplomatic support for the Palestinians into coordinated pressure on Israel over its aggression on Gaza. Its founding members including South Africa, Namibia, Chile, Brazil, Senegal, Colombia, Belize, Bolivia, Honduras and Malaysia. The group called for blocking weapons transfers to Israel that could facilitate violations of international law and restricting vessels suspected of carrying military supplies for Israeli operations. For a time, the Hague Group appeared to be gaining momentum, with Colombia and South Africa emerging as key political forces and its meetings attracting governments beyond the bloc’s original membership. But electoral changes in

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  Hind Rajab, Israeli impunity and the international community

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Over two years of denial will likely now translate into a new form of impunity. Israel has announced it will be investigating the killing of five year old Hind Rajab, who was trapped in a car among her dead relatives as the Israeli military opened fire on the vehicle on 29 January 2024. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society was unable to rescue Hind, having been blocked by the military from reaching the site.  The Israeli military said it “fired at a vehicle that was approaching them”. Hind’s family were trying to follow evacuation orders, as her family had been forcibly displaced that same day from Gaza city.  Israel’s admission that its military killed Hind is no precursor to justice. Three

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  Egypt, Jordan condemn Israeli E1 settlement project as threat to Palestinian statehood

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Egypt and Jordan on Thursday condemned Israel’s move to advance the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, warning that the plan threatens prospects for establishing an independent Palestinian state. In a statement, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemns” Israel’s implementation of the E1 settlement project, which it said “aims to divide the West Bank and encircle and isolate occupied East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings.” The ministry called on the international community to “fulfill its responsibilities and take serious steps to halt the violations,” while reaffirming Egypt’s “support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned Israel’s decision to issue

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  Israeli occupiers besiege 3 West Bank homes for 12th consecutive day

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Thursday continued besieging three Palestinian homes in the town of Qusra in the occupied West Bank — for the 12th consecutive day — with Israeli forces preventing local residents from leaving or entering their residences, Anadolu reports. Israeli military forces and occupiers have imposed the siege in the town’s Ras al-Ain district, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing Qusra Mayor Abdul Azim al-Wadi. According to al-Wadi, besieged families are facing food and medicine shortages, with Israeli forces blocking access to basic supplies and daily necessities. Israeli forces have declared the area a “closed military zone” and turned one of the Palestinian homes into a “military barracks,” al-Wadi said. In recent days, Qusra’s Ras al-Ain district has seen

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  How daily life in the West Bank is being ground to a halt

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  To live in the occupied West Bank today is to exist within a finely tuned apparatus of deliberate friction. When people outside Palestine think of the Israeli occupation, their minds focus on military incursions, violent raids, and harrowing images of warfare. Those realities are undeniably real and constant. But there is another, quieter layer of control shaping every second of our lives—an insidious policy of administrative and physical strangulation degrading the basic mechanics of human survival. From gas station queues and dry water pipes to unpaid paychecks, blocked roads, trapped bank deposits, and choked border crossings, life here has been rendered so excruciatingly difficult that the underlying message becomes undeniable: there is no future for you—the Palestinians—here. This message isn’t

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  Israeli occupiers set Palestinian home in occupied West Bank on fire with mother, daughter inside

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian home in the Hebron governorate in the occupied West Bank on Thursday while a mother and her daughter were inside, according to local sources. Aliya al-Nawajaa, the owner of the burned home, told Anadolu Agency that five masked occupiers attacked her house at dawn in the Khirbet al-Fara area of the city of Yatta. She said one of the occupiers opened the window of the bedroom where she was sleeping with her daughter and threatened her and her family. The attackers then set fire to the bedroom, causing the flames to spread rapidly before she could put them out, Nawajaa said. She added that she immediately woke her daughter and they barely managed

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  UNIFIL hands over position in southern Lebanon to Lebanese army

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) officially handed over a military position to the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon’s Khardali area on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The move comes as part of a broader plan to transfer several longstanding UNIFIL positions to Lebanese army control. According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), the position — located near an army facility in the Khardali-Litani area — was handed over to the Lebanese army’s 7th Brigade. The handover comes in line with a UN Security Council decision to end UNIFIL’s mission in Lebanon by the end of this year. It also comes amid efforts to implement security arrangements linked to a “framework agreement” signed between Lebanon and Israel in late June.

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  Israel pounds southern Lebanon with airstrikes, artillery despite truce deal

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  The Israeli military on Thursday continued to carry out relentless airstrikes and artillery barrages across southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire deal that ostensibly went into effect in June, Anadolu reports. According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), Israeli artillery fire targeted the town of Houla and parts of the Marjayoun district, along with positions near the towns of Qabrikha and Tulin. Artillery shelling was also reported in the Saluki and Hujeir valleys, which extend through the Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh districts. In the Tyre district, the towns of Majdal Zoun and Mansouri were both reportedly shaken by Israeli artillery barrages. In the Nabatieh district, Israeli warplanes conducted overnight strikes on Ali al-Taher hill and around Al-Dabsha and the

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  Turkiye, Egypt, Qatar condemn Israeli attacks in Gaza, urge compliance with ceasefire

  by Marwa A on August 20, 2026

  Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip that killed civilians, including women and children, warning that the escalation threatens ongoing efforts to implement the ceasefire, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, the three countries, acting as mediators, expressed “deep concern” over continued violations and said the intensification of Israeli attacks was undermining regional and international efforts at a critical stage. They said intensive efforts were underway to implement the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, citing a meeting between the Board of Peace and Israeli officials as well as “constructive steps” in the negotiation process. “The mediating countries stress the imperative for Israel to fully comply with all its obligations under

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  The IRGC paradox: Why economic collapse in Tehran won’t buy peace in Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) recent decision to sever all trade and financial ties with Iran, executed alongside an escalating US naval blockade, has been hailed across Western and Gulf capitals as a decisive turning point. By dismantling Dubai’s long-standing role as Tehran’s financial lungs, a conduit responsible for nearly a third of Iran’s vital imports and up to 80 percent of its foreign currency inflows, the coalition believes it has finally cornered the Islamic Republic. The prevailing logic in Washington and Abu Dhabi is as clean as it is conventional: inflict unbearable economic pain, spark domestic unrest, and force the regime to surrender its maritime ambitions in the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic calculation, while mathematically sound on paper,

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  After revelation of UAE funded plot against its former president, MAB urge UK government to take a firm stand

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  The Muslim Association of Britain today, Thursday, issued a statement expressing its absolute horror by the ITV News’s revelation that a UAE-funded mercenary ran a covert surveillance operation against Dr Anas Altikriti, its former president, on British soil. Dr Altikriti’s home, office, and daily route to work were all logged and shared like target data, report revealed. The MAB statement read: “This is what happens when a foreign state believes it can act with impunity on British soil. This is the same regime that used Pegasus spyware on a device inside 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s own office. The pattern is consistent: covert operations against British citizens and British institutions, run from Abu Dhabi, with no expectation of consequence.

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  Hamas rejects Israeli account of Gaza city police station strike

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Hamas on Wednesday rejected Israeli claims that a strike on a police headquarters in Gaza City targeted members of the group’s armed wing, saying those killed were predominantly police officers and personnel. According to Palestinian sources, nine people were killed and several others were wounded when Israeli forces struck the police facility on Wednesday afternoon. Hamas described the attack as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and accused the Israeli government of seeking to obstruct its implementation. In its statement, Hamas said Israeli assertions that the strike targeted resistance leaders were “baseless,” arguing that the claims were being used to justify attacks on Gaza’s police force and civilians. Israel, however, said the strike targeted Hamas field commanders and identified the

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  Bennett outlines security platform, pledging tougher policies on Qatar, Gaza and Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 20, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett outlined a security platform on Wednesday that includes designating Qatar an “enemy state,” maintaining Israel’s military presence in Gaza until Hamas is disarmed, and holding Iran responsible for attacks by Hezbollah. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Israel’s 27th October general election, Bennett presented what he described as a new security doctrine that he would pursue if he succeeds in forming the next government. Bennett criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to national security, arguing that the assumptions underpinning Israeli policy before the Hamas-led attacks of 7th October  2023, had failed. “On 7th October, an entire security concept, which Netanyahu had entrenched for years, collapsed,” Bennett said, adding that the