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

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  Longtime Palestine advocate Liam Cunningham criticises Ed Sheeran over Macklemore’s removal from tour

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Irish actor and longtime Palestine advocate Liam Cunningham criticised Ed Sheeran after rapper Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of the British singer’s Loop Tour, Anadolu reports. “We know who Ed Sheeran is now,” the Game of Thrones star, wrote on X. In a subsequent post that did not mention Sheeran by name, Cunningham rejected claims of neutrality over Israel’s war on Gaza. “If you find yourself saying ‘I’m not taking sides’ during a genocide, you are. You most definitely are,” he wrote. The posts were the latest expression of Cunningham’s long-standing support for Palestinians. The actor said in April 2024 that he had participated in Palestine solidarity campaigns for “30 to 40 years” and criticised public figures

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  Israeli fire kills 4 Palestinians, injures others in latest Gaza ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Four Palestinians were killed and several others injured in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the latest violations of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, medics said, Anadolu reports. A medical source told Anadolu that two Palestinians were killed in a double Israeli strike on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northwestern Gaza City. Several other people, including a child, were injured in the attack. Eyewitnesses said an Israeli drone struck a gathering of civilians in Sheikh Radwan, before carrying out a second strike targeting civilians who had rushed to rescue those wounded in the first attack. Another medical source said that a 65-year-old man was killed by Israeli gunfire targeting a camp sheltering displaced people east of Jabalia

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  Libya suspends production operations at 3 oil sites following closure of major pipeline

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Libya’s National Oil Corporation announced Tuesday that production and operations at three oil sites were suspended after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guards closed the valve on the Al-Hamada–Zawiya shipping pipeline in western Libya, Anadolu reports. The Petroleum Facilities Guard is a state-affiliated security force tasked with protecting Libya’s critical energy infrastructure. In a statement, Libya’s National Oil Corporation said the closure caused a sudden increase in pressure along the production lines, resulting in the suspension of operations at the three sites. The corporation warned that it could be forced to declare “force majeure” if the valve remains closed or if other fields face similar shutdowns. Prolonged field closures would hurt the national economy and threaten the state’s ability to

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  UN rights chief says Israeli bulldozers continue levelling Gaza ‘with no respect for the dead’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  The UN human rights chief said on Tuesday that many areas in Gaza continue to be levelled by Israeli bulldozers, criticizing the lack of respect for the dead under the rubble, Anadolu reports. “Much of Gaza has been flattened by Israeli bombing or demolition and clearing by heavy machinery and explosives. Today, many areas in Gaza where the Israeli military is deployed continue to be levelled by bulldozers with no respect for the dead under the rubble,” Volker Turk said in a written statement. While underlining that the remains of “what appears to be entire families” are being unearthed, he voiced concern that what is being uncovered “may only be the tip of the iceberg.” Turk stressed the need to preserve

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  ‘In accordance with international law’ guarantees Israel’s impunity

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Praising the bare minimum in terms of statements in support of Palestine has long been treated like a diplomatic breakthrough. BRICS’s New Delhi Declaration was no exception. Following the 18th  summit held in Delhi, BRICS referenced Palestine in its statement among many other political concerns and reiterated all the rhetoric largely associated with the UN. However, despite the trajectory from the 1947 UN Partition Plan to genocide in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry praised BRICS for its “positions and reaffirmations in support of the Palestinian cause.” In accordance with international law, of course, even though international law has not yet once been implemented to protect the colonised from the coloniser.  According to WAFA news agency, the PA’s Foreign Ministry

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  UN says West Bank women face heightened risks amid violence, restrictions

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Women and girls in the occupied West Bank face heightened risks of violence, displacement, and movement restrictions, according to a new analysis by UN Women released Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The analysis found that about 83,200 households in the West Bank are headed by women, while 40% of women-headed households reported being displaced from their original homes, compared with 30% of male-headed households. Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action, said women who suddenly become responsible for their households face difficulties securing income, humanitarian assistance, and basic needs. “Women who suddenly find themselves heading households must earn an income, secure assistance and protect their families under extremely difficult conditions,” Calltorp said. The analysis found that 57% of women heading households

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  Israeli wars may cost Lebanon over $27B, prime minister says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that the economic cost of Israel’s wars on Lebanon since 2023 may exceed $27 billion, stressing that reconstruction is beyond the state’s current capacity and requires Arab and international funding, Anadolu reports. “We must also be frank with the Lebanese people: the scale of destruction is far greater than the state’s capacity,” Salam said in an address to parliament during a general debate on government policies. “Therefore, reconstruction and recovery require, alongside state resources, Arab and international support and major external funding,” he added. Salam linked obtaining funding to restoring trust and carrying out reforms. “There can be no sustainable reconstruction without funding, no funding without trust, and no trust without a capable state.

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  9/11 at 25 — Why Israel Fuels Islamophobia | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  In this episode we speak to Muhammed Shehada about his clash with the Board of Peace and his concern that it is burying evidence of genocide in Gaza. We unpack revelations in the Haaretz that Benjamin Netanyahu was warned in advance of the 7 October attack. Marking twenty-five years since 9/11, we look at how the War on Terror emboldened Israel, and at the rise in Islamophobia since — fuelled by Israel-linked groups working in alliance with the far right. We close on Britain’s sanctions against Israeli settlement products, the ferocity of the backlash, and how easily measures like this can be circumvented.     WATCH: Israel’s Campaign Trail Runs on Cruelty Towards Palestinians | Palestine This Week

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  Palestinian president arrives in Egypt for 2-day official visit

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Egypt, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, Anadolu reports. Abbas was received at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk and several Egyptian and Palestinian officials. He is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments concerning the Palestinian cause as well as Arab and international issues of common interest. The talks are also expected to address Egyptian-led efforts, in coordination with regional and international partners, to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and support the reconstruction of areas devastated by the ongoing war, Wafa said. The visit comes as Cairo steps up diplomatic contacts over regional

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  Syrian president says lifting sanctions opened door to investment, economic recovery

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated on Tuesday that Syria was “born again” after sanctions against the country were lifted, saying their removal opened the way for economic recovery, foreign investment and a stronger regional role, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Arab Media Summit 2026 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Sharaa said Syria had faced an exceptionally extensive sanctions regime, with some restrictions dating back to 1979, leaving generations unfamiliar with international financial transactions and banking guarantees. He said mediation efforts involving Arab and regional leaders, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in contact with US President Donald Trump, contributed to what he described as a “historic decision” to lift the sanctions. “I believe Syria was born again after

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  Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts over ‘potential danger’ in Jeddah, Mecca, Taif

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts Tuesday warning of a “potential danger” in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif in the country’s west, urging residents to seek shelter and follow official safety instructions, Anadolu reports. The alerts were issued through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to the Saudi Civil Defense. Authorities did not specify the nature of the potential danger. Residents were urged to remain calm and immediately move to the nearest safe place, preferably inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and remain there until the danger passes. READ: Satellite images show damage to Saudi fuel depot, military site after Houthi attacks The Civil Defense also advised people to stay away from open areas, windows, balconies and rooftops,

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  Is Saudi Arabia turning to Israel for help against Houthi attacks despite its new defence pact?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Recent reporting says yes — at least on the intelligence front. Diplomatic sources cited separately by Israel Hayom, Walla, and The Jerusalem Post say Riyadh has sought intelligence assistance from Israel through U.S. Central Command as Houthi forces advance along the Red Sea coast, seize strategic islands including Perim, and strike Saudi cities, airbases, and oil infrastructure. Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the matter, separately reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has appealed to Washington directly for military assistance. Neither Riyadh nor Jerusalem has confirmed either report on the record. It’s worth being precise about scope: the reporting describes intelligence-sharing and threat-mapping support, not Israeli military intervention, airstrikes, or a troop presence. That distinction matters. A request for

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  Gaza dentists protest shortage of dental supplies caused by Israeli restrictions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Dentists in the Gaza Strip staged a protest on Tuesday, warning that dental treatment services could come to a complete halt due to severe shortages of essential medical supplies, which they said Israel has prevented from entering the territory, Anadolu reports. Gathering outside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) building in Gaza City, dentists called for the entry of materials used for fillings, root canal procedures, anesthesia and other essential treatments. Mohammed Khashku, a representative of the Gaza Strip Dentists Association, said shortages had already forced some clinics and medical centers to close, while others were operating with extremely limited supplies. Dentist Suheir Mahmoud said many patients could no longer receive necessary treatment because essential materials were unavailable. She

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  China urges diplomatic end to Iran war as US admits ammunition shortages

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  China on Tuesday called for political and diplomatic solutions to the US-Iran war after the Pentagon inspector general reported ammunition shortages caused by the conflict, Anadolu reports. Beijing is “following the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news conference. “We hope relevant parties will solve disputes through political and diplomatic means,” he added. Guo was responding to the first report by the Pentagon inspector general, which found that munitions used during the four-month US war with Iran caused “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed bottlenecks in the defense industrial base. The report said expanding production requires “significant lead time,” with key bottlenecks, including solid rocket motors, high-grade explosives and propellants, and

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  US airmen faced 1,200 alert conditions during Operation Epic Fury

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  US Air Force personnel supporting Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East weathered 1,200 “Alarm Red” conditions amid Iranian missile and drone attacks, completed 48 runway repairs, and conducted more than 400 unexploded ordnance sweeps, a senior military official said Monday, Anadolu reports. The operation will be studied for its scale, precision and speed, Gen. Ken Wilsbach, chief of staff of the Air Force, said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference. He noted that in over 38 days of combat missions, the Joint Force hit more than 13,000 military targets. A fleet of 500 aircraft executed 10,000 sorties, maintaining a daily tempo of more than 250 flights, while personnel managed emergency repairs and conducted more than 420 reportable ordnance disposal

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  Iran says 2 MQ-1 drones intercepted near Strait of Hormuz amid US tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that two MQ-1 drones were intercepted and “destroyed” near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the fourth such drone it says it has downed in recent days, Anadolu reports. The IRGC said the drone was shot down east of the waterway by a newly deployed advanced air defense system operated by its Aerospace Force under Iran’s integrated air defense network. Earlier Tuesday, the IRGC said that it intercepted an MQ-1 drone west of the Strait of Hormuz, without providing details on its operator or the exact location of the incident. READ: Iranian body lists 77 vessels for violating Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz protocols It came a day after the IRGC said that it had

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  Israeli opposition seeks to bar Ben-Gvir’s party from Knesset election

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Israel’s opposition Democrats party asked the Central Elections Committee on Monday to disqualify the Jewish Power party, led by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, from the Oct. 27 general election, citing incitement to racism, Anadolu reports. The petition also accused the party of undermining democracy, the rule of law and judicial authority, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The Democrats said Kahanist lawmakers had used political power and parliamentary immunity to defy court orders, challenge the Supreme Court’s authority and incite “violent racism.” READ: Italian opposition slams government for not joining sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements The committee has yet to rule on the request. Ben-Gvir rejected the move and accused Yair Golan’s Democrats of being “anti-Semitic” and “anti-Israel.” The petition

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  Iranian strikes cause $184m damage to US Gulf facilities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Iranian strikes caused an estimated $184 million in damage to US diplomatic facilities in four Gulf countries, according to a Pentagon inspector general’s report. The report, published by The Hill, said the damage affected US facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is the first report issued by the inspector general’s office since the United States and Israel launched the war in late February. Iraq suffered the most damage, at more than $157 million, followed by Kuwait with more than $14 million and Saudi Arabia with about $11.5 million. Damage to the US diplomatic facility in the UAE was estimated at about $125,000. The US mission in Iraq also came under more than 600 Iranian attacks. READ: Iran

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  Trump says he is ‘open’ to engaging with Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump reiterated on Monday that he was “open” to engaging with Iran to end the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February. “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage — The concept of which we are open to,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Monday that it had shot down an advanced US MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic efforts faced a setback with the postponement of a meeting between Iran and Gulf states. READ: Trump says Iran wants deal with US ‘quickly and badly’

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  Norway moves to ban trade with West Bank Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Norway is preparing legislation to ban trade in products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, joining several Western countries that announced similar measures last week. Offenders could face up to three years in prison. Speaking to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK on Monday, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said parliament would approve the law in its current form. “Yes, I actually think so,” Eide said when asked whether the law would be passed this autumn. The arguments have only become “stronger because the situation in the West Bank has become even worse,” he said, adding that several other European countries have taken similar measures aimed at isolating Israel on the international stage. READ: Israeli channel says Europeans could face up

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  IOM warns Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Sudan’s humanitarian system could collapse within weeks due to funding shortages and the near depletion of emergency relief supplies, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned on Monday. IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a statement: “We simply can’t turn our back on the people of Sudan when they need us most amid raging conflict, increased displacement and the impact of heavy rain.”         “The entire humanitarian system could collapse within weeks if we don’t act now. Without new funding, we won’t be able to get help where it’s needed most.”  she added.  The IOM warned that emergency relief supplies for Sudan delivered through the humanitarian corridor, which it operates, are running low, amid severe shortages of shelter for displaced

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  Why Europe finds it easier to punish Israeli settlers than to pressure Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  For decades, the European Union has said that its relationship with Israel is built not only on trade, science and security cooperation, but also on human rights and international law. This is not just political language. Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement says clearly that relations between the two sides are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles. These are described as an “essential element” of the agreement. But Gaza has exposed the weakness of this language. Europe is now more willing to sanction individual Israelis linked to extremist settler violence than to use its real economic leverage against the Israeli state itself. This difference is important. It shows that the EU’s problem is not simply that

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  MSF says staff member injured in Israeli strike on bus in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  An Israeli airstrike damaged a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) bus carrying humanitarian workers in Gaza City on Monday, injuring one staff member, the organisation said.  In a statement posted on X, MSF said the bus was carrying 10 of its humanitarian staff when it was damaged in an Israeli air strike, leaving one worker injured. It said the targeted vehicle was clearly identifiable by the organisation’s large logo displayed on its roof. READ: Gaza faces deliberate pattern of genocide and suffocation of life, says MSF “Once again, Israeli forces have shown a blatant disregard for the safety of humanitarian and medical personnel. Nowhere is safe in Gaza. Civilians, healthcare workers and humanitarian staff must be protected,” the statement said. MSF stressed

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  Palestinian woman gives birth in Israel’s Damon prison following arrest during pregnancy

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Palestinian prisoner Dana Joudeh, 35, from Iraq al-Tayeh in Nablus governorate, gave birth to a baby girl on Monday inside Israel’s Damon prison in northern occupied Palestine, six months after being placed under administrative detention, amid what her family and human rights organisations described as medical neglect. Local sources said Joudeh’s family and human rights organisations held the Israeli authorities and prison administration responsible for the safety of the prisoner and her newborn, saying that arresting her while pregnant, placing her under administrative detention and denying her necessary healthcare amounted to violations of international law and conventions. Joudeh had spent six months in administrative detention, which allows Israel to imprison Palestinians without charge or trial, and was due to be

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Kiriakou: Why Is Hatred Toward Israel Rising?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Fozzie Miller: The stalemate in Gulf grinds on, what will Trump do next?

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  Iraqi court sentences Najaf butcher to 10 years for selling spoiled pork as beef and mutton

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  An Iraqi court on Monday sentenced a butcher to 10 years in prison for selling pork deemed unfit for human consumption while presenting it to customers as beef or mutton, according to Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council. The Najaf Criminal Court issued the sentence after authorities seized approximately 75 kilograms of meat from the defendant, the council said in a statement. According to the judiciary, the butcher had marketed the meat as livestock meat despite it being pork and considered unsuitable for human consumption. The court based its ruling on a 1998 law criminalizing the sale of dog, donkey and other meat deemed unfit for human consumption. The case centered on the sale of unsafe meat and its misrepresentation to consumers.

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  Iranian body lists 77 vessels for violating Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz protocols

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  An Iranian maritime organisation has placed 77 vessels on a non-compliance list for violating Tehran’s protocols for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a list published by the organization, Anadolu agency reported. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) said vessels violating Iranian protocols for the strategic waterway would face restrictions on future passages, including possible fines, detention or confiscation. The organisation also warned insurance companies, protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs and classification societies against providing services to vessels on the list, citing possible consequences for dealing with them. It urged cargo owners shipping to or from the Gulf to check the Non-Compliance List before chartering vessels to avoid potential problems. The PGSA said any vessel working with a

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  Israeli army chief orders investigation into documentary revealing AI-assisted Gaza strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Monday ordered an investigation into the leak of classified material used in a documentary that examines the Israeli military’s use of artificial intelligence in targeting civilians in Gaza. Zamir also instructed the military’s chief legal adviser to examine whether legal action could be taken in connection with the documentary, titled “Naza,” and against individuals involved in its production, according to an Israeli military statement. According to the film, AI-assisted targeting systems were used in Israeli attacks in Gaza that resulted in killing dozens of Palestinian civilians. Zamir convened senior military officials on Monday to discuss the documentary and the allegations it raises. The Israeli military said it rejected the film’s portrayal of

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  Iran issues passive defence plan for 3 scenarios, including full-scale war

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff has issued a nationwide passive defence directive outlining preparations for three possible scenarios: the end of war, a ceasefire, and full-scale war, Anadolu reports. Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and chairman of the country’s Permanent Passive Defense Committee, issued the 10-article directive for Iran’s 2026 Passive Defense Commemoration programs, according to Fars News Agency on Tuesday. Under the full-scale war scenario, large public gatherings and in-person events would be suspended, with activities instead focusing on operational preparedness, continuity of essential services, resource management, public assistance and coordination among relevant agencies. In the event of a ceasefire without a definitive end to hostilities, the directive prioritizes public preparedness, vigilance

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  Report: Israeli military faces $13.1 billion funding shortfall as stockpiles come under pressure

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  The Israeli military is facing a funding shortfall estimated at 40 billion shekels ($13.1 billion) as it seeks to replenish weapons stockpiles and restore capabilities after nearly three years of sustained military operations, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The newspaper reported on Monday that senior military officials have warned Israel’s political leadership in recent months that insufficient funding could affect operational readiness, weapons procurement and longer-term force-building programs. The warnings have reportedly been raised by the Israeli military chief of staff, his deputy and the head of the Planning Directorate, who have stressed the need for additional funding to sustain current operations while rebuilding capabilities depleted since October 2023. According to the report, Israeli defence officials

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  Norway moves to criminalising trade with Israeli settlements, other Western countries consider similar steps

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Norway is moving toward legislation that would criminalise certain commercial dealings with businesses in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, while several other Western countries are considering similar measures, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. The newspaper, citing reports and comments by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, said the proposed legislation would apply to Norwegian citizens and companies engaged in trade with businesses operating in Israeli settlements. Violations could carry penalties of up to three years in prison, according to the report. Eide expressed optimism that the legislation could be approved by the Norwegian parliament this autumn, amid growing political pressure for measures addressing Israeli settlement activity and developments in the Palestinian territories. READ: UK sanctions

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  Hubris in action: Netanyahu and the warnings of 7th October

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Whatever awaits him this coming November, few politicians could claim to have the endurance, bloody mindedness and sense of granite staying power than Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.  With some prowess, he has wooed, deceived, and lied his way to power, and, for the most part, stayed the course for the best part of a generation. He bloomed in arid soil when sceptics thought him dead.  He offers lessons of Machiavellian proportions almost unsurpassed.  What, then, of being found out for falling short ahead of the 27th October elections?  Errors in the making, the sundering blunder to soil the image of strength?  History offers the guidance of tragic and foolish mistakes.  The British failure to anticipate their routing in Singapore by the

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  Pro-Palestinian activist sues Columbia University over ‘systematic discrimination’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil announced Monday that he is suing Columbia University and one of its deans, accusing them of systematic discrimination against Palestinian students, Anadolu reports. “Today, I’m filing a lawsuit against Columbia University and SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs) Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo for their gross and systematic discrimination against Palestinian students at Columbia,” Khalil told a New York news conference. He accused the university of creating an environment that intimidates Palestinian students, stressing that Columbia laid “the groundwork for my targeting by the Trump administration through its deliberate indifference and discrimination aimed at intimidating Palestinian students.” “For over two years, we pleaded with Columbia. Columbia did not care,” he said, adding: “Our safety and well-being did

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  Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after his comments on Palestine

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  US rapper Macklemore was removed on Monday from the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran’s US stadium tour after several venues allegedly objected to his participation following his public statements of support for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Anadolu reports. Macklemore, who has repeatedly spoken out in support of Palestinians and called for a “free Palestine” during performances, had been scheduled to appear at eight of the 10 remaining shows on Sheeran’s US leg of the Loop Tour. Messina Touring Group, promoter of the US tour, said in a statement to Rolling Stone that it had been notified by venues that they would not allow concerts featuring Macklemore, adding that his participation could have led to the cancellation of

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  UN voices ‘deep concern’ over Israeli strikes killing civilians across Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) voiced “deep concern” Monday over Israeli military strikes hitting densely populated areas across the Gaza Strip and continuing to kill and injure civilians. “We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarians and their supplies and property, must always be protected,” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters, conveying OCHA’s message. Citing casualty reports from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Haq said nine children were killed or died of their wounds over the previous week. The victims included two sisters aged 6 and 12, as well as four other children between the ages of 3 and 14, he said. READ: 21 Palestinians, including children, injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip

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  Vance says US in direct talks with Houthis after Red Sea island seizure

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Washington has been engaged in “direct conversations” with the Houthis and is “on top” of the situation following the Iran-backed group’s seizure of the strategic island of Mayun, also known as Perim, in the Red Sea, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for Kansas, Vance was asked whether he was concerned about the Houthi takeover and how the US planned to respond. “We’ve been in constant contact with the Emiratis, the Saudis, and others who are affected in the region,” Vance said. “It’s something the United States administration is very much on top of.” READ: Satellite images show damage to Saudi fuel depot, military site after Houthi attacks

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  Has Palestine become an election issue in Latin America’s largest country?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Brazil is experiencing one of its most polarised electoral battles, as the race intensifies between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his right-wing rival, Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. While the economy, security and domestic crises dominate voters’ concerns, an issue that at first glance appears to lie thousands of kilometres away from Brasília has moved to the heart of the electoral contest: Palestine. The latest Datafolha poll points to an extremely tight race, with Lula, the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate, receiving 39 percent of voting intentions in the first round, compared with 35 percent  for Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party (PL) candidate.  But the contest between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro is unfolding at a

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  Trump says Iran wants deal with US ‘quickly and badly’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran wants to reach an agreement with Washington “quickly and badly,” while saying he would decide whether the US engages with Tehran, Anadolu reports. “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage — The concept of which we are open to,” he added. READ: Trump forecasts end to Iran war around November US midterm elections The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and US military targets across the region. Washington and Tehran reached the Islamabad understanding in June with Pakistani

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  Announcing the Shortlist for the 2026 Palestine Book Awards

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  We are delighted to unveil the shortlist for the 2026 Palestine Book Awards, celebrating outstanding literary and scholarly works that explore and illuminate Palestinian history, culture, identity, and resilience.  This year, we received an exceptional number of submissions, reflecting the continued and growing global engagement with Palestinian narratives and the diverse range of voices contributing to this important conversation.  In recognition of the quality, depth, and breadth of the works submitted, the judges have selected 10 books for this year’s shortlist. The shortlist represents a range of categories nominated for the awards, including Academic, Memoir, Edited Books and Anthologies, Global Impact, and Counter-Current.  The Shortlisted Titles (Alphabetical by First Name)  How to sell a genocide: the media’s complicity in the

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  Israeli rights group accuses Israel of seeking to erase Palestinian presence in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Israeli human rights group B’Tselem on Monday accused Israel of seeking to erase the Palestinian presence in the occupied West Bank through a series of interconnected policies aimed at reshaping the territory, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the group said Israel is simultaneously employing five mechanisms that reinforce one another to dismantle the collective Palestinian presence and establish a permanent and contiguous Israeli-Jewish presence and sovereignty in the territory. B’Tselem said Israeli policy in the occupied West Bank entered a new phase at the end of 2022, characterized by increasingly overt and accelerated policies of control, violence and dispossession. “What Palestinians in the West Bank are experiencing is part of a single political project that permeates every aspect of life,” B’Tselem

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  21 Palestinians, including children, injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip despite truce

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Twenty-one Palestinians, including four children, were injured Monday in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, despite a ceasefire agreement in force since last October, Anadolu reports. In the latest developments, medical sources told Anadolu that 10 Palestinians were injured in an Israeli strike targeting a tent on Al-Wahda Street in central Gaza City. The sources described the condition of two of the injured as “critical,” while eyewitnesses said the strike hit a crowded area sheltering displaced people near Al-Wafa Hospital in the city center. Earlier, medical sources said eight Palestinians, including four children, were injured when an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a gathering of civilians near a tent sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis

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  Several Belgian university rectors denounce political deadlock over arrival of Gazan students

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Several Belgian university rectors criticized on Monday the lack of government consensus over the arrival of Gazan scholarship students, according to the Belga news agency. Rectors reportedly published an open letter in daily De Standaard, calling the political deadlock over the arrival of thirteen Gazan scholarship students “unacceptable.” They noted that it is not a matter of “illegal migrants,” but rather students who had been selected by independent committees for a competitive scholarship. “It is a matter of political will, and that is clearly lacking in some parties. The moral compass of some government partners is lost,” they said. READ: UN chief denies plans to transfer Gaza education system to UNESCO Rectors reaffirmed that the students will not go to an

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  20 Israeli occupier families seize land in Jordan Valley

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Twenty Israeli occupier families have seized land in the Jordan Valley, eastern occupied West Bank as Israel continues to expand illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory. The occupiers on Monday moved into the newly established agricultural settlement of Bitron, which was inaugurated ahead of the Jewish New Year on Sept. 12, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. Bitron is one of 13 settlements that Israel’s Security Cabinet approved separating from neighboring illegal settlements last year as a step toward recognizing them as independent settlements. Channel 12 described Bitron as the first agricultural settlement established by Israel in around 20 years. On March 23, 2025, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the Security Cabinet had approved his proposal to separate 13 settlements in

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  Israeli channel says Europeans could face up to 10 years in prison for trade with settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  European countries are moving toward prison sentences that could be as long as 10 years for individuals and companies involved in trade with Israeli illegal settlements built on occupied Palestinian land, Israeli media reported. Israel’s Channel 7 said Norway is preparing a legal framework to boycott settlement products, including prison sentences of up to three years for individuals or companies dealing with them. The channel quoted Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide as saying he expected his country’s parliament to approve the draft law in its current form. “Yes, I really think so, and the arguments have become stronger as the situation in the West Bank has worsened,” Eide said in response to a question on the issue. “There are

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  Satellite images show damage to Saudi fuel depot, military site after Houthi attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Satellite imagery shows extensive damage to a Saudi Aramco fuel depot and apparent damage to a military site in southern Saudi Arabia following recent Yemen’s Houthi attacks, according to analyses by satellite imagery platform Soar, Anadolu reports. Satellite images of Saudi Aramco’s bulk fuel plant in Abha show at least six storage tanks completely destroyed, while eight others sustained varying degrees of damage, according to the analysis. The facility, a major fuel distribution hub for southwestern Saudi Arabia, appears to be largely out of operation, Soar said. Separately, satellite imagery dated Sept. 13 shows two burn marks on a military hardstand in Sharurah in the southern Najran province. The area is used to park armored personnel carriers and military pickup trucks,

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  Russia says Gulf instability rapidly worsening global oil market situation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  The situation in global oil markets is rapidly deteriorating amid instability in the Persian Gulf, with major volumes of oil being removed from international supply, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov pointed out that “a huge amount of oil is dropping out of the market.” “Just with the disruption of the oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, more than 4% of global supplies have been knocked out of the global market. This cannot but have the most serious consequences, and it cannot but cause concern among the world’s economies,” he said. Peskov said Russia had introduced a ban on exports of oil products in order to ensure adequate supplies for its

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  Saudi crown prince receives US Central Command chief in Jeddah

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and his accompanying delegation in Jeddah on Monday, state news agency SPA reported. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and the US, as well as the latest regional developments. The meeting was also attended by Saudi Minister of State, Cabinet member and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. The statement comes amid escalation between government forces and Houthis in Yemen, and the rebel group’s attacks on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia. READ: Saudi crown prince, Oman’s sultan discuss efforts to stabilize region Last week, the East-West pipeline was temporarily shut down as a precaution after drone strikes from Iraq hit

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  Iran police chief says 6,000 people arrested so far over January protests

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Iranian authorities have arrested 6,000 people so far over their alleged involvement in anti-government protests and unrest in January, the country’s police chief said on Monday, Anadolu reports. In remarks aired by state broadcaster IRIB, Ahmadreza Radan said the detainees were involved in an attempted coup, and accused them of assisting countries hostile to Iran during the unrest on Jan. 8-9. “We will not release these people, except those who express regret and repent,” he said. The protests began on Dec. 28, 2025, at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar amid a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions before spreading to several cities across the country. The demonstrations intensified on Jan. 8-9, with Iranian authorities saying some of the protests

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  Houthis claim large-scale missile, drone attack on King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthis on Monday claimed to have carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack on a Saudi air base in the southern city of Khamis Mushait, Anadolu reports. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the group targeted King Khalid Air Base with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. He claimed the attack targeted aircraft hangars, radars, runways, ammunition depots and other military facilities, causing “significant losses” at the base. The Houthis said the operation came in response to Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, claiming Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets had carried out more than 300 strikes across several Yemeni provinces over the past five days. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of the Houthi claims regarding

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  Iran says Oman meeting canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request

  by Mehdi Editor on September 14, 2026

  Iran said on Monday that a planned meeting in Oman involving foreign ministers from Gulf countries and Tehran was canceled at Saudi Arabia’s request, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told a press briefing that Riyadh requested the meeting should not take place for the time being. “The report that Saudi Arabia requested that the meeting not be held for now is correct,” Baqaei said, according to state news agency IRNA. He rejected attempts to link Iran to recent developments between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, saying Yemen’s problems have “long-standing roots.” Baqaei also categorically denied US claims that Iran was involved in an attack on a Saudi oil pipeline from Iraqi territory, accusing Washington of seeking to deepen divisions among