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

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  Sudanese man dies after walking 65 kilometres for help in Libyan desert

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  A Sudanese man has died after reportedly walking approximately 65 kilometres through the Libyan desert near Kufra in an attempt to seek help after the vehicle he was travelling in broke down, according to informed local sources. The sources said the man became stranded in the desert when the vehicle stopped unexpectedly. Faced with remaining in a remote area without water or shelter, he reportedly decided to walk in search of a paved road or passing motorists who could assist him. According to the sources, the man died before reaching help as a result of the extreme heat and harsh desert conditions. Rescue teams later recovered his body. The incident highlights the dangers faced by travellers and migrants using the

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  Amnesty International urges Tunisia to protect prisoners during heatwave

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  Amnesty International on Thursday called on the Tunisian authorities to strengthen measures to protect prisoners from the effects of the ongoing heatwave, particularly older detainees and those with chronic illnesses or disabilities. In a statement, the human rights organization expressed concern about the impact of high temperatures on vulnerable prison populations, citing what it described as recent testimonies regarding conditions in Tunisian detention facilities. There was no immediate response from the Tunisian authorities to Amnesty International’s statement. The Ministry of Justice has previously said it is committed to respecting human rights in prisons and applying internationally recognized standards and best practices. READ: Daughter of Tunisian opposition figure raises concerns over prison conditions, says Rached Ghannouchi fainted Amnesty International said older prisoners

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  Egypt urges US to accelerate deployment of international stabilisation force in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  Egypt has called on the United States to expedite the deployment of an international stabilisation force in the Gaza Strip, facilitate the full delivery of humanitarian aid, and complete the remaining steps of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. The appeal was made during a meeting on Thursday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, according to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry said Abdel-Aty stressed the importance of rapidly deploying the international stabilization force, ensuring unrestricted humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and completing implementation of the first phase of the US-backed plan. According to the

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  Sudanese army says it has made field gains against Rapid Support Forces

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  Sudan’s Defence Minister Hassan Daoud Kabroun said on Thursday that the Sudanese Armed Forces had made what he described as “field gains” in the states of Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, and had inflicted “heavy losses” on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In a statement, Kabroun said military operations would continue “until the militia (Rapid Support Forces) is eliminated and the entire homeland is secured.” He added that the armed forces were continuing their operations with confidence, citing the determination of military personnel, public support, and what he described as the legitimacy of their mission. Kabroun also claimed that the RSF was at “its weakest point,” arguing that reports of looting and theft in parts of Kordofan and Darfur reflected

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  Brent crude briefly surpasses $100 after reported attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  Brent crude briefly rose above $100 per barrel on Thursday after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, raising concerns over energy supplies and regional shipping routes. By 13:40 GMT, Brent crude was trading at approximately $99.56 per barrel, up 5.84%, after earlier exceeding the $100 mark for the first time since May. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark, rose 4.68% to $90.89 per barrel. The Houthis said they had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers, identified as the Incilia and the Layla, alleging that the vessels had violated a blockade the group announced earlier this week on Saudi ports. The claims have not been independently verified.

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  Gaza Ministry of Social Development reports increase in number of registered orphans

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  The Ministry of Social Development in Gaza said on Thursday that the number of registered orphans in the territory has risen to 65,279, including 54,468 children who it said lost one or both parents during the war. In a statement, the ministry said 2,039 children had been added to its records after 10th  October 2025. The ministry also reported that the number of registered widows had reached 28,224, including 742 women who were widowed during the same period. According to the ministry, the figures reflect a worsening humanitarian and social situation, which it attributed to the continued conflict, repeated displacement, and the reduction of safe areas for civilians. The ministry said its teams had documented damage to or strikes affecting

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  Tunisia’s Ennahda expresses concern over Rached Ghannouchi’s health in prison

  by Mehdi Editor on July 24, 2026

  Tunisia’s Ennahda movement has held the authorities fully responsible for ensuring the safety of its leader, Rached Ghannouchi, expressing deep concern over what it described as a serious deterioration in his health and the refusal to allow his lawyers and family to visit him. Ghannouchi’s defence team said on Thursday that he suffered a fainting episode and severe exhaustion last week. It also said the Tunisian authorities had refused to allow his lawyers or relatives to visit him, while providing no information about his condition. In a statement, Ennahda said it was “following with deep concern” information provided by the defence team about what it described as a sharp and dangerous decline in Ghannouchi’s health. It said he had suffered

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  UN warns Israeli raid led by minister on Al Aqsa Mosque ‘very dangerous’ for status quo

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The UN said Thursday that a raid by an Israeli minister, accompanied by an extremist group, on Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem was “very dangerous” for the status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites, Anadolu reports. “There is a status quo regarding the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity, and, of course, Islam in Jerusalem. It is incumbent that that status quo be respected,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference when asked about the raid. “It is incumbent on the Israeli authorities to ensure that it is respected, and that the faithful of all religions are able to interact with those sites, their own sites, in a free manner,” he said, stressing that “these sorts of activities that we

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  US Senate rejects resolution to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The US Senate on Thursday failed to advance a resolution that would have directed President Donald Trump to withdraw American forces from hostilities against Iran, Anadolu reports. The Senate voted 47-49 against the War Powers Resolution introduced by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, falling short of the votes needed to advance. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine broke with her party to vote in favor of the measure, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against it. Senators Katie Britt, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul did not vote. The resolution would have required Trump to remove US forces from hostilities “within or against Iran,” absent a declaration of war or specific congressional authorization. Democrats and

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  2 paramedics among 3 injured by Israeli fire in Lebanon despite framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Three people, including two paramedics, were injured by Israeli army fire in southern Lebanon on Thursday, as Tel Aviv continued its daily violations of a US-mediated framework agreement, Lebanese media reported. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a Syrian national was shot and wounded by Israeli forces in the town of Ebel El-Saqi in the Marjeyoun district. In Nabatieh, an Israeli drone hit a vehicle of the Islamic Health Society, a local ambulance service, on a road in the town of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, injuring two paramedics, NNA said. The service said an Israeli strike hit Al-Barid neighborhood in Nabatieh al-Fawqa as paramedics were inspecting the site of an earlier attack in the area, injuring two paramedics and causing damage to

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  Polish foreign minister urges Israel to halt expansion of illegal settlement in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Thursday urged Israel to stop expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, reaffirming Poland’s support for a two-state solution during talks with Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint news conference in Warsaw, Sikorski called for an end to what he described as the illegal seizure of Palestinian land and settler violence. “The West Bank is not part of Israel,” Sikorski said, calling for “an end to the illegal seizure of land, settler violence and the dismantling of illegal settlements in the West Bank.” He also urged Israel to protect places of worship, ensure unrestricted access for believers of all faiths and release customs and tax revenues collected

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  2026 World Cup fuels online racism, Islamophobia targeting Lamine Yamal

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph was overshadowed by a surge in racist and Islamophobic abuse online, with the tournament emerging as a major trigger for hate speech and teenage star Lamine Yamal becoming one of its most prominent targets, Anadolu reports. According to a social media monitoring bulletin published by the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), which operates under Spain’s Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, 40,861 pieces of content linked to hate speech and discriminatory narratives were detected online in June. Sports accounted for 16% of the monitored content, ranking as the second-largest trigger of hate speech after issues related to public insecurity, which accounted for 69% of the detected material. OBERAXE said a “significant” presence

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  Trump weighing ‘massive’ US strikes on Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  US President Donald Trump is considering launching a new military operation against Iran that could surpass the scale of the US strikes from Operation Epic Fury earlier this year, Axios reported Thursday. In an interview with the outlet, Trump said he was nearing a decision on a potential major attack but stressed that no final determination had been made. Two US officials also told Axios that no new military orders have been issued. “I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said. He also said Israel could join the operation almost immediately if requested, but maintained that the US would not require assistance from

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  A reading of US national security strategies

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  US presidents’ National Security Strategies accurately reflect the direction of their foreign policies, which are governed by American interests that are not always explicitly stated, yet are not difficult to surmise. The National Security Strategy is an official presidential document issued by the President of the United States outlining the country’s national security and foreign policy priorities.These strategies are shaped by political developments around the world and by the ways in which the United States responds to them in pursuit of its objectives, even when this comes at the expense of the countries in the regions concerned, including its own allies. For example, President Joe Biden’s 2022 National Security Strategy, issued eight months after the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war,

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  Iraq will not allow its territory to be used to threaten Iran: Prime minister

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Thursday Baghdad will never allow the use of Iraqi territory to threaten Iran, reaffirming his country’s commitment to security cooperation with Tehran, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint meeting of senior Iranian and Iraqi delegations in Tehran, al-Zaidi said Iraq will not accept hostile action against Iran by any party. “Iraq will never forget Iran’s support in the fight against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group,” he said, as cited by a statement from Iran’s presidential office. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, said that a comprehensive strategic cooperation plan would serve as a roadmap for expanding relations between Tehran and Baghdad, stressing that the security of the two neighboring countries was closely linked. Pezeshkian

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  Turkiye strongly condemns Israeli raid led by minister on Al Aqsa Mosque

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Turkiye on Thursday condemned “in strongest terms” a raid carried out by Israeli minister, accompanied by an extremist group, under the protection of Israeli security forces, on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Anadolu reports. “We condemn in the strongest terms the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli minister, accompanied by a group of extremists and under the protection of Israeli security forces,” said the Foreign Ministry in a statement. The statement reaffirmed that the global community has a shared responsibility to prevent the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “provocative acts and attempts to create fait accompli that violate the historical and legal status of the holy sites in Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.” More than

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  Over 4.6M displaced people returned to their areas in Sudan: UN migration agency

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday that nearly 4.65 million displaced civilians have returned to their areas in Sudan, as the number of internally displaced people due to the ongoing civil war continues to decline, Anadolu reports. The UN agency said in a statement that the new data was based on surveys done at nearly 13,000 locations across 185 localities in all 18 Sudanese states. The IOM said the number of internally displaced people reached nearly 8.69 million across 185 localities, down 25% from the highest recorded displacement level and around 1% lower than the previous month. According to the agency, nearly 4.65 million people had returned to their areas across 74 localities, with 82% returning from

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  Israel shows there is no limit to the imagination of colonial violence

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Forget the importance of preserving and protecting wildlife. For Israel, certain wildlife also serves a purpose in colonial violence. In December last year, Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir proposed building moats for crocodiles around prisons holding Palestinian prisoners. This month, Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman created a loophole for Ben Gvir’s macabre idea. The Nile crocodile is now classified as a ‘cultivated wild animal kept for security purposes’, according to Israeli media.   A 170 metre long moat is already being dug at Ketziot Prison, which holds Hamas members among other Palestinian political prisoners. The news was confirmed by Ben Gvir’s office. The National Security Ministry allocated a budget of $21 million for the moat construction.  The decision was

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  Israeli forces kill 3 Palestinians, withhold their bodies in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Israeli army forces killed three Palestinians, including a minor, on Thursday and withheld their bodies in the northern West Bank amid ongoing assaults in the occupied territory, the Health Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said it was informed by the General Authority of Civil Affairs, the official liaison body between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, that Mahmoud Hussein Abu Samra, 20, and Mohammad Samer Mleitat, 16, were killed by Israeli fire in the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. It said a 24-year-old man was also shot and killed by Israeli forces near Haddad Roundabout, east of Jenin. The official news agency Wafa, citing security forces, said early Thursday that Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians

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  Riyadh’s energy horizon and the dawn of a more equal future

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  There are moments in international affairs when the tectonic plates of the global order grind against each other, and the resulting tremor is felt not only in chancelleries but in the very architecture of power that has defined the post-war world. The signing of the US-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement—a thirty-year framework that could place uranium enrichment capability in the hands of an Arab nation for the first time—is precisely such a moment.  This is not merely an energy deal. It is a civilisational rupture. It is the sound of eight decades of Western nuclear double standards shattering against the anvil of a resurgent Middle East. It marks the instant when Riyadh steps onto the stage of sovereign technological power, forcing

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  Tehran warns any UK base used by US to attack Iran will become ‘legitimate target’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Thursday that any British military base used by the US to launch attacks against Tehran will become a “legitimate target,” while accusing London of playing a major role in recent US and Israeli military operations, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the IRGC said the US had recently resorted to using B-1 bombers flying from RAF Fairford in England after warships operating in the Indian Ocean exhausted their stock of cruise missiles. “Any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for us,” the IRGC said. It warned Britain “not to further worsen its record,” accusing London of being “a principal architect of instability” in the Middle East, saying it had played

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  Trump says Saudi nuclear deal will be subject to Riyadh joining Abraham Accords

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Thursday that a nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia will be subject to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords, Anadolu reports. “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump said that the agreement “is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” adding that the US “is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.” The Abraham Accords are normalization agreements signed between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries during

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  UK considered suspending Israel trade agreement last summer: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The UK government considered suspending its trade agreement with Israel after the Department for Business and Trade conducted an impact assessment on pausing the arrangement last summer, British broadcaster Sky News reported Thursday, Anadolu reports. The assessment, carried out in August, examined the potential effects of suspending the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, a 2019 post-Brexit continuity arrangement under which Israeli imports receive preferential tariff treatment and mostly enter the UK tariff-free. Impact assessments examine issues including the economic and social effects of potential policy changes and are understood to be frequently conducted as part of trade policy. The assessment was also understood to have been carried out as one of the UK’s responses to the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza

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  1.4M people in Gaza expected to face ‘high levels of acute food insecurity’ by year’s-end: IPC

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza are expected to face “high levels of acute food insecurity” through December, up from 1.2 million from mid-April to June, despite improvements driven by humanitarian assistance, according to a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The IPC said the number of people experiencing crisis (Phase 3) or worse conditions is projected to rise to 67% of Gaza’s population, while 212,000 people are expected to remain in emergency (Phase 4). All five of Gaza’s governorates are classified as being in crisis. The report said expanded humanitarian assistance following last October’s ceasefire helped improve food security and nutrition, with food aid reaching about 1.49 million people in May.

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  US House passes $1.15tn defence bill embedding Israel’s war machine inside America

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The US House of Representatives has passed a $1.15 trillion defence policy bill which would embed military support for Israel more deeply within Pentagon research, weapons procurement, technology sharing and the American defence-industrial base. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2027 fiscal year passed yesterday by 216 votes to 212. Six Democrats joined 209 Republicans and one independent in supporting the legislation, while seven Republicans voted against it alongside 205 Democrats. Three representatives did not vote.  At the centre of the controversy is section 219, titled the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative”. The provision requires the US secretary of defence to appoint an executive agent responsible for synchronising, expanding and accelerating military technology cooperation between the US

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  Met Police reverses decision to close Gaza war-crimes referral against British nationals

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The Metropolitan Police has withdrawn its decision not to investigate allegations that British nationals committed war crimes while serving with the Israeli army in Gaza, following a legal challenge brought by a British-Palestinian human rights campaigner. The reversal means that the force’s previous decision no longer stands and its War Crimes Team will conduct a fresh assessment of the evidence relating to four identifiable British nationals. British-Palestinian campaigner Lubna Speitan challenged the decision with the assistance of the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). Lawyers sent the Metropolitan Police a detailed letter before action threatening judicial-review proceedings over its handling of the case. The original referral was submitted by PILC and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) on April, 2025.

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  Wounded Journalists Demand Their Right to Travel for Medical Treatment

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  WATCH: Displaced civilians gather west of Gaza as Israeli forces control 70% of the territory

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  The geopolitics of energy reconstruction: Who will rebuild the Middle East’s damaged energy systems?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  In the Middle East, war often survives in the electricity grid long after it recedes from the battlefield. It persists through blackouts, fuel shortages, damaged substations, disrupted water supplies and hospitals forced to rely on generators for the basic requirements of life. From Gaza and Syria to Lebanon and Yemen, energy systems have been destroyed, degraded or deprived of investment. Restoring them will require immense financial resources, advanced technology and sustained political coordination. Yet energy reconstruction is not simply an engineering or humanitarian undertaking. Decisions about who finances a power station, supplies its equipment, controls its software and maintains its operations can shape a country’s economic orientation and political relationships for decades. The next phase of Middle Eastern energy diplomacy

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  Palestinian election commission announces timetable for Nov. 28 legislative vote

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The Palestinian Central Elections Commission on Thursday announced the legal timetable for legislative elections scheduled for Nov. 28, in accordance with a presidential decree and the general elections law, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the commission said voter registration centers in the West Bank will open on Saturday, Aug. 15, for five days, until the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 19. Candidate nominations will open on Saturday, Sept. 26, and continue for 12 days until the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 7, it added. The commission said election campaigning will begin Friday, Nov. 6, and continue for 21 days, ending with the start of the electoral silence period on Friday, Nov. 27. Early voting for security forces will be held Thursday, Nov.

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  Rights groups sue France over failure to stop corporate support for Israel’s occupation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Five human rights organisations have launched legal action against the French government over its failure to prevent French companies and financial institutions from contributing to Israel’s unlawful occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Jurists for the Respect of International Law (JURDI), the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), La Ligue des Droits Humains (LDH) and Law for Palestine filed the challenge before the Conseil d’État, France’s highest administrative court, on 22 July, 2026.  The organisations want the court to order the French government to introduce effective regulatory and enforcement measures restricting trade, investment and other commercial activities that help sustain Israel’s illegal occupation. The defendants include the French prime minister and ministers

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  Lebanese parliament speaker says success of Aoun-Trump meeting depends on results on the ground

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the success of this week’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun should be judged by developments on the ground, particularly the implementation of a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. In remarks published on Wednesday by the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Berri said, “What matters now, after the summit between Presidents Trump and Aoun in Washington, are the results on the ground, not just the way things appeared.” He said that the key test would be “establishing a ceasefire and implementing withdrawals,” adding that these objectives had not yet been achieved. Referring to the reported Israeli withdrawal from the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Monday, Berri

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 22 July

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in the first of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire. WATCH:  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 08 July

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  Modish blockades: The Houthis, Trump and expanding the war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The naval blockade has become conveniently modish, particularly when it comes to narrow straits of water where heavy international traffic and cargo pass through.  The Iranians were the first to realise an eventuality long suspected: that the Strait of Hormuz might be feasibly shut for lengthy periods of time with minimum use of force, periodically and selectively opened to balance the strategic books when needed.  It has been seen, no less, as a divine gift with ambrosial properties.  The Iranian-backed Houthis of the Ansar Allah (Partisans of God) movement are now doing much the same thing with their July 20 announcement of a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.  The measure is intended to counter the Saudi blockade of ports and

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  New York mayor says he and his wife received death threats over their views on Gaza and Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he and his wife have received death threats following public statements they made regarding Israel and the war in Gaza. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mamdani said, “It’s difficult to prepare for death threats, but when you’re prepared to stand up for everyone, there are consequences.” He added that he had received similar threats while serving as a member of the New York State Legislature, citing his criticism of US military assistance to Israel and his opposition to the killing of Palestinian civilians. READ: Mamdani says New York City reviews authority to arrest Netanyahu during UN visit: Report Mamdani said the threats began before he became mayor and continued after taking office. He

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  Israeli minister says government’s ultimate goal is to control Gaza and establish settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said on Wednesday that the government’s ultimate goal is to regain control of the Gaza Strip and establish Israeli settlements there. According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Eliyahu, a member of the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said: “Our ultimate goal is to regain control of Gaza, including establishing settlements.” He added: “I agree that the prime minister has not yet put this matter on the agenda, but it is certainly up for discussion,” and said, “In the Middle East, public opinion understands this language.” The Otzma Yehudit party has repeatedly called for Israel to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, establish Israeli settlements there, and encourage the

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  Israel on ‘high alert’ for any scenario with Iran amid Washington-Tehran tension: Energy minister

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said Thursday that Israel was on “high alert for any scenario,” warning of a forceful response if Iran launches an attack, Anadolu reports. In an interview with local radio station 103FM, Cohen said Israel had been closely monitoring developments across the region over the past three weeks, stressing that it was on “high alert for any scenario.” “Only one country is destabilizing the Middle East. If Iran makes a mistake, we will respond forcefully,” he said. Cohen said Israel seeks to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, arguing that “regime change” in Tehran was necessary to achieve long-term regional stability. He also criticized the agreement signed between the US and Iran, saying Israel had

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  China urges US, Iran to cease hostilities, resume dialogue

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  China on Thursday voiced “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East, urging the US and Iran to halt hostilities, return to dialogue and pursue a political solution amid fears that full-scale conflict could resume, Anadolu reports. “The achievements made through negotiations have been hard-won, and the resumption of hostilities serves the interests of no party. The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of countries in the region should be respected and upheld,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing. He was responding to questions about reports that the US is deploying additional military equipment, including aircraft carriers and fighter jets, to the region, that a full-scale war against Iran may resume in the coming days, and that multiple

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  Rubio says Houthis should ‘stay out of’ Iran conflict, claims they got ‘suckered into’ war by Tehran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  US Secretary of State Rubio said Thursday that Houthis should “stay out of” the Iran conflict, claiming that they were “suckered into” the war in the Middle East by Tehran, Anadolu reports. “I hope that they’ll stop. They shouldn’t really do that. They got suckered into this by the Iranians,” Rubio told reporters in the Philippines. “You know, the Houthis largely were smart and stayed out of all this throughout the conflict, but they now apparently have gotten themselves suckered into this, going after Saudi Arabia and their ships,” Rubio said. He expressed his hopes for the situation to de-escalate, saying that the Houthis “should stay out of it, and they should stop. We’ll see what happens there. Obviously, it’s not

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  Why does Saudi Arabia tolerate the Houthis as a dagger in its side?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  The question sounds deceptively simple, but it cuts straight into the structural weakness of how Riyadh thinks about its national security, the limits of power when it is used without strategy, and the illusion that crises can be “managed” rather than resolved. It is not just a question about Yemen and what remains of Iran’s network of militias; it is a question about the future of the Red Sea, the stability of global energy markets, Iran’s ability to maneuver through its proxies, and the strategic vacuum Saudi Arabia has allowed to persist since the first day of the war in Yemen. The spark for this question came by chance, on a flight, when I found myself seated next to a

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  Over 2,500 Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  More than 2,500 Israeli occupiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning as they marked the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, commemorating what they call the “destruction of the Temple.” An official from the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu Agency that more than 2,500 Israeli occupiers had stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, adding that the incursions were “continuing in very large numbers.” The official said the incursions were accompanied by “widespread violations,” including collective Talmudic prayers, praying aloud and performing full prostrations. Videos circulated by Israeli right-wing activists showed occupiers performing collective prayers opposite the Dome of the Rock. Another clip showed the Israeli flag being raised inside the compound

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  Settlers seize Palestinian home as Israeli army continues West Bank raids

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Israeli settlers seized a Palestinian family’s home in the village of Jalud, south of Nablus in the occupied northern West Bank, on Wednesday after forcing the family to leave, while the Israeli army continued raids across the territory, according to Palestinian sources. Local sources told Anadolu that settlers took over the home of Mahmoud al-Tubasi after forcing his family to leave following more than three months of attacks and restrictions. The sources said the settlers had previously set fire to the house and established a settlement outpost nearby. Despite being cut off from water and food and living under what the family described as a siege, they had remained in the home. According to the sources, the settlers cut off

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  Oil hits six-week high as war threatens crude shipping routes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Oil prices rose to their highest levels in six weeks on Wednesday, with Brent crude nearing 99 dollars a barrel, as concerns over supply increased amid the escalating US-Iran war and growing Houthi threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices settled at their highest level since 11 June, driven by fears of supply disruptions caused by the intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran and Houthi threats to target commercial vessels. Brent crude futures rose by 3.06 dollars, or 3.36 per cent, to settle at 94.07 dollars a barrel, their highest closing level in about six weeks, after reaching an intraday high of 95.47 dollars. READ: After Trump’s threat, Iran warns no one will sell oil if

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  Heavy US losses reported in Iranian attacks across Arab countries

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Twelve US soldiers suffered serious injuries in Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan and other countries during July, according to a US military official quoted by The New York Times. The official said the injured troops were flown to a US military hospital in Germany for treatment. They are among around 100 US service members whom the Pentagon says have been injured in Iranian attacks since the beginning of July. The official added that about 50 of those injuries were sustained during recent attacks on bases hosting US forces in Jordan. The New York Times reported that US Central Command is not required to disclose information about injured service members, particularly if they return to duty quickly. The official

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  Houthis say they targeted two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group said early on Thursday that it had carried out a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a statement that Houthi forces targeted two Saudi oil tankers that had violated the group’s shipping ban in the Red Sea. He identified the vessels as Encelia and Layla. Saree said the attack was carried out using ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. He claimed the strikes were accurate and caused large fires on board both tankers. He also claimed that the Encelia and Layla had breached the maritime blockade imposed by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia. Reuters quoted a maritime security source as saying that

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  France investigates alleged torture of French MP and Gaza flotilla participants by Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that French activists, including left-wing La France Insoumise MP Marie Mesmeur, were tortured after taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in early October 2025 while heading to the Gaza Strip to challenge the blockade. The prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday that the investigation was launched earlier this month following two complaints concerning alleged incidents that took place between 1 and 7 October 2025. The case has been assigned to the Central Office for Combating Crimes Against Humanity and is being investigated on suspicion of torture, as defined under the UN Convention against Torture. The investigation was opened after Mesmeur filed a

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  Is it just about AIPAC’s money, or does the US-Israel rot run far deeper?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 23, 2026

  Two major stories regarding the United States and Israel in recent days represent profound watershed moments in the history of the relationship between both countries.  The first incident occurred on 8 July when US Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) and his delegation were detained by armed, illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.  “These hoodlums come in with machine guns—an M4, an American-made machine gun—and they detain us,” Khanna recounted in a stunning statement. “They block off the road. And then they call the IDF, and the IDF is on their side, not on the side of the Americans.”  Equally shocking to the congressman’s direct encounter with the raw, lawless reality of the occupation was the response of US Ambassador

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  After Trump’s threat, Iran warns no one will sell oil if Tehran can’t

  by Mehdi Editor on July 22, 2026

  Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war state, warning that no country in the region would be able to sell oil if Iran was prevented from doing so, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media platform X, Qalibaf said the conflict had become an “all or nothing” equation. “In a region where we cannot sell oil, no one will sell oil,” he warned. Qalibaf also warned that if Iran’s security was not guaranteed, “no infrastructure will remain secure.” He further argued that security in the Strait of Hormuz depends on the absence of US forces, adding that Iran had

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  Iran warns any attack on its infrastructure will trigger ‘powerful’ response

  by Mehdi Editor on July 22, 2026

  Iran warned Wednesday that any attack on its infrastructure would trigger a “powerful and decisive” response, saying countries supporting such strikes would be considered legitimate targets, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the warning in a post on the US social media platform X, saying Iran’s defense doctrine was based on the principle of “eye for an eye.” “Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye,” Araghchi wrote. “Any aggression against Iran, including our infrastructure, will compel a powerful and decisive response.” He added that “those who contribute to such aggression, whatever the kind of support, will also be considered as legitimate targets.” READ: Trump warns US will bomb bridge or power plant for every attack on ship in

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  Libyan parties call for unified institutions, presidential and parliamentary elections

  by Mehdi Editor on July 22, 2026

  Libyan political parties called Wednesday for unifying state institutions and holding presidential and parliamentary elections based on a consensual constitutional framework to restore stability in the country, Anadolu reports. The call came in a statement issued during the first conference of Libyan parties, which opened in the central city of Sirte. The conference is scheduled to continue for two days. The statement stressed the importance of “unifying state institutions, foremost the executive authority and the military institution, in a way that supports building a state of institutions and law and meets citizens’ aspirations.” “Holding free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections under a consensual constitutional framework represents the most legitimate path to restoring state institutions and renewing their legitimacy, leading

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  US urges citizens in Israel to remain vigilant amid surge in organized crime violence

  by Mehdi Editor on July 22, 2026

  The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert on Wednesday, warning American citizens of a significant increase in violence linked to rivalries between organized crime groups in central Israel, Anadolu reports. “US Embassy Jerusalem is closely monitoring reports of a spike in violence … primarily in the Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Herzliya neighborhoods,” the embassy said. It said that recent attacks have involved hand or stun grenades thrown at vehicles, private homes, and businesses, often by assailants on motorcycles. READ: US, Israel discuss potential Trump-Netanyahu Oval Office meeting: Report The embassy advised Americans to remain vigilant in commercial districts, particularly during evening and overnight hours. It urged citizens to avoid areas with heavy police activity, report suspicious items to local