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

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  Debris from 2 intercepted missiles falls in Mecca region, Saudi Arabia says

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said debris from two ballistic missiles intercepted by its air defences fell in the Mecca region on Wednesday, amid an escalating exchange of attacks between the kingdom and Yemen’s Houthi group. Saudi state television reported that the debris fell in the village of Sabouha, about 35 km north-east of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and in Wadi al-Maghamas, about 21 km east of the mosque. The Saudi Civil Defence said in a statement that the two missiles had been launched towards the region and were intercepted and destroyed. READ: Egypt confirms military presence in Saudi Arabia, plans to strengthen defensive deployment The Houthis have repeatedly denied Saudi accusations that they have targeted Mecca and Medina, saying their operations are

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  Suits, caves and silence: Powell’s PR machine must speak up about Bilal’s prison hell in Syria

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  Jonathan Powell is one of the most influential, shadowy figures in Britain; a posh, Oxford-educated mandarin who seems to fancy himself as a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia, swanning around the Middle East to cut secret deals with warlords. As the UK’s National Security Adviser — a powerful, unelected political appointment secured under Keir Starmer and remarkably retained under Prime Minister Andy Burnham — Powell sits at the very heart of Downing Street’s security machine. He learned his craft at the feet of his ultimate political mentor, Tony Blair. Wherever and whenever dubious Middle Eastern interventionism is cooking, Blair’s shadow is never far away. Serving as Blair’s right-hand man during the disastrous Iraq War era, Powell demonstrated early on that he

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  6 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  Six Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in an Israeli airstrike on a building inside Nasser Medical Complex in western Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, early on Thursday. Several departments inside the hospital complex also sustained extensive damage. Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said rescue teams had recovered six bodies and evacuated more than 20 injured people following the Israeli strike on the Yassin building inside the complex. Medical sources identified those killed as Jihad Naim Abu Tilkh, doctor Rizq Abu Shaeera, Murad Abu Zarifa, Saif Ghazi Abu Hatab, Khaled Suleiman Abu Anza and Mohammed Nafiz Abu Ouda. READ: Lewis Hamilton visits Rafah crossing to see Egypt’s aid operation for Gaza Witnesses and local sources said the strike caused extensive

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  UN condemns restrictions on aid supplies entering Gaza as winter approaches

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  The United Nations has warned that continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into the Gaza Strip as winter approaches could lead to more deaths, this time from the cold, as tens of thousands of Palestinians continue to live in flimsy tents. Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, issued the warning on Wednesday. “Stop this collective punishment,” Fletcher said in a statement. READ: UK premier vows to continue pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza He called for all border crossings into Gaza to be opened, UN partners to be allowed to carry out their work, and commercial markets to be kept functioning. “Fund the plan. End this predictable and preventable suffering. The

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  Israeli army decides to allow settlers to remain in 8 Jericho homes without providing protection

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  The Israeli military has decided not to evacuate a group of settlers who moved into eight homes in Jericho, in the occupied West Bank’s Area C, a week ago, despite their move taking place without prior coordination with the army. The Israeli army on Wednesday disclosed the findings of a security assessment conducted by its Central Command into the settlers’ move. According to Israeli Channel 13, the assessment, carried out over the past few days, concluded that there was no genuine security obstacle, from the army’s perspective, to the settlers remaining in the homes at this stage. However, the army decided not to provide security protection for the settlers at the site, unlike the arrangements in place at other Israeli

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  Netanyahu: US military aid to Israel to be phased out

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged on Wednesday that US military aid to Israel would be gradually phased out. A statement issued by Netanyahu’s office said he had declared in 1996 that Israel would gradually stop receiving US financial aid, which amounted to $1.3 billion, and had fulfilled that pledge. “Thirty years later, Netanyahu has declared that Israel’s economy is strong enough to gradually stop receiving US military aid as well,” the statement said. It added that Israel’s economy is now strong and stable, and that Israel and the United States are taking an important step towards moving from aid to partnership. The statement said Netanyahu had outlined this position last May in an interview with CBS programme 60 Minutes,

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  Red Mecca: The Life and Afterlives of the Arab-Soviet Romance

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  Russia features prominently in the lives and minds of certain Arab writers, thinkers and filmmakers. While Arabic writings on what is today Russia go back centuries and include seminal works such as Ibn Fadlan’s Land of Darkness written in the 10th century, the last century has seen a distinctly different fascination with both Russia and Post-Soviet republics. Margaret Litvin’s Red Mecca: The Life and Afterlives of the Arab-Soviet Romance tells the story of a generation of Arab students, travelers, authors, scientists and others who made the Soviet Union and later post-Soviet republics home from the 1950s until the present-day. With a particular focus on Arabic writings, it captures the conflicts and tensions between the migrants and wider society. Many of

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  134 violations against Palestinian journalists reported in October, with Hebron worst affected

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s Freedoms Committee recorded 134 crimes, attacks and violations against Palestinian journalists and media institutions in October 2026, allegedly committed by Israeli occupation forces, settlers, Hebrew-language media platforms and Israeli military courts. According to the committee’s monthly report, the violations included measures aimed at obstructing journalists’ work and restricting their ability to cover events, including detention, bans on coverage, arrests, harassment and threats, as well as raids on homes and media institutions. Detentions and restrictions on media coverage topped the list, with 70 cases, followed by 27 incidents involving tear gas and stun grenades, eight raids on journalists’ homes and media institutions, seven arrests and an equal number of cases in which journalists were referred to military

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  Brazil must not offer holidays to those who committed crimes in Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 12, 2026

  The arrival of Israeli soldiers and former soldiers at Brazilian holiday destinations demands a question: does accountability for crimes disappear when military uniforms are exchanged for beachwear? Brazil cannot welcome as ordinary visitors people against whom there is credible evidence of involvement in atrocities without investigating those suspicions. As I have repeatedly argued, the genocide in Gaza is part of the history of Zionist settler colonialism. The Nakba, which uprooted more than 750,000 Palestinians in 1948, never ended. It continues through land dispossession, forced displacement and the denial of self-determination. The destruction of Gaza deepens this process of expulsion and the attempt to eliminate the Palestinian presence. In September 2025, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli

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  Israel’s Eisenkot warns Netanyahu against ‘dangerous moves’ before new government takes office

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Gadi Eisenkot, tasked with forming Israel’s next government, warned caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching military or security operations without an immediate threat, Israeli media reported Wednesday. In a letter to Netanyahu, Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, said the prime minister was heading a caretaker government that no longer enjoyed the confidence of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, according to the Ynet news website. “Only 46 Knesset members still support your continued tenure as prime minister,” said Eisenkot. He stressed that Netanyahu had a responsibility to exercise particular caution when making security and national decisions during the politically sensitive transition period. “The deployment of security forces without a direct and immediate threat that cannot be delayed could have devastating

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  US watchdog expose Israeli intelligence links with Sudan’s RSF

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Midas Project, the US-based organisation, exposed this Tuesday that a network of 400 sockpuppet accounts on the X platform was found to advance the cause of many entities, including the RSF militia.  The network traced back to Koios, the Israeli intelligence company, which claimed it stopped its business last year, but at the same time, a new company with the same staff and business model appeared. The account associated with Koios kept posting online.  Accounts affiliated with the network shared tweets claiming the RSF militia is pro-peace and pro-ceasefire, and that it works to promote stability and protect civilians, end local rivalries, and facilitate humanitarian access. In addition to accusing the Sudanese Army of having ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. 

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  The beginning of the end: Israel at the heart of America’s political civil war

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  On the very morning of the critical US midterm elections, President Donald Trump made what seemed like a shocking announcement: no more aid to Israel. “Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping,” Trump told Fox News’ Fox & Friends. He goes on to make two seemingly contradictory assertions: “We won’t be paying Israel,” and “We’ll help Israel if they need it.” In truth, there was little euphoria among those who have long campaigned against US funding of Israel. The lack of enthusiasm can be explained by two factors: few take Trump’s pledges seriously, and his remarks were widely understood as a

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  Israeli settlement council chief denied entry to France: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  French authorities denied entry to the head of the settlement council in the northern occupied West Bank, in what Israeli media described as a “diplomatic precedent.” i24NEWS, citing his office, said French immigration authorities stopped Yossi Dagan at a Paris airport after he arrived for meetings with elected French officials. The broadcaster said there was no known previous case of a Western country directly barring the head of an Israeli regional council in the occupied West Bank. Dagan’s office said immigration officials took him aside for questioning at passport control last week. An official showed him documents citing his role in building 35 settlements in the occupied West Bank and his efforts to reestablish Gush Katif, a bloc of Israeli

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  Iran says it sent clear response to US, awaits Washington’s decision

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator said Wednesday that Tehran had delivered a clear response outlining its demands to the US but has yet to receive an official reply from Washington. “We have provided a clear and transparent response to the United States that includes our demands,” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf told Al Jazeera in an interview. He said Tehran conveyed its response through Qatari mediation and was awaiting a decision from Washington. He said Washington has not yet provided an official or specific response to Iran’s message. “The ball is now in the Americans’ court. They must make a decision and announce it,” he added. Qalibaf said Iran’s priority is peace if Washington accepts its conditions, stressing that Tehran does

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  French lawmakers submit bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  French lawmakers have submitted a bill to the National Assembly seeking a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to media reports. The bill was submitted by Socialist Party (PS) First Secretary Olivier Faure and has received the support of more than 100 lawmakers from eight different political groups. It was approved by a parliamentary committee and proposes banning imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as commercial and financial dealings with them. It is expected to be put to a vote in the National Assembly’s plenary session on Nov. 19. The proposed legislation also seeks to prohibit financial services that contribute to maintaining the settlements, including the rental of tourist

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  Maldives president reaffirms ban on Israeli passport holders entering country

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  The Maldives’ president has reaffirmed his country’s ban on Israeli passport holders, saying they will not be allowed to enter under any circumstances, according to a statement from his office, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference at the President’s Office on Monday, Mohamed Muizzu said proposed immigration legislation would establish an unconditional prohibition on entry for Israeli passport holders, regardless of changing circumstances. He explained that earlier proposals had sought to prohibit entry until Israel ended the genocide against Palestinians that began in October 2023, but the new bill would make the restrictions unconditional. Muizzu described Israel’s actions against Palestinians as genocide and said allowing Israeli passport holders to enter the Maldives was unacceptable. He also reiterated the Indian

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  US-Israeli attacks on Iran caused 1.5M tons of carbon emissions: Iranian President

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that US and Israeli attacks on fuel facilities in Iran released 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing extensive environmental damage, Anadolu reports. Pezeshkian said at the COP31 UN climate summit in Turkiye that attacks on fuel facilities in Asaluyeh released 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide. In comparison, strikes on fuel storage tanks near Tehran produced another 1 million tons. Israeli strikes targeted oil storage facilities in Tehran on March 7, while gas processing facilities in Asaluyeh in southern Iran were hit March 18. The president accused Washington and Tel Aviv of causing severe environmental destruction during the military offensive, which began Feb. 28. He said the attacks highlighted a contradiction

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  Turkiye can turn climate promises into action at COP31

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Climate diplomacy earns public trust when it delivers cleaner air, reliable water supplies and affordable energy. As COP31 gathers in Antalya, Turkiye has an opportunity to turn international commitments into practical cooperation, with benefits extending far beyond its borders. In his opening address on 11th November, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a conference centred on implementation. His emphasis on accessible climate finance, vulnerable countries and the environmental consequences of war offers a clear direction. The challenge is to translate that vision into lasting results. For me, environmental cooperation with Europe has a personal history. On 21st December 2009, while I was Turkiye’s Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, we opened Chapter 27 on Environment in our accession negotiations

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  Yemeni army says 138 Houthis killed, injured in recent military operations

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  The Yemeni Defense Ministry said Wednesday that 138 Houthi fighters were recently killed or injured in military operations across several fronts, Anadolu reports. In a statement on US social media company X by Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili, the ministry said the operations were carried out in recent hours as part of Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeting Houthi positions, commanders, reinforcements and military equipment. It said government forces conducted 23 airstrikes, 44 drone strikes, 37 rocket artillery attacks and 773 field artillery strikes against Houthi positions and fortifications. The operations killed or injured 138 Houthi fighters, including field commanders allegedly trained by experts from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), it said. READ: UN Population Fund says over 13,000

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  Netanyahu’s bloc loses 1st vote in new Israeli Knesset as opposition secures majority

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc suffered its first parliamentary defeat in the newly elected Knesset on Wednesday, as opposition and Arab parties secured a majority in a vote to establish the Arrangements Committee, Anadolu reports. The proposal passed by 63 votes to 50, with Roy Folkman of Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party set to chair the committee. In a statement on its website, the Knesset said lawmakers approved the proposal submitted by Folkman to establish the committee and determine its composition. Under the approved arrangement, Netanyahu’s Likud party will hold five seats on the committee, while Yesh Atid, the Joint List, the Democrats and the United Arab List (Ra’am) will each have two. Yisrael Beiteinu, Otzma Yehudit, United Torah Judaism,

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  World at ‘global tipping point’ as Hormuz energy disruption shakes markets, climate targets at risk: EU

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that the world is at a “global tipping point” amid disruptions to energy supplies and intensifying climate challenges, Anadolu reports. “At the same time as the climate crisis is unfolding, disruption of energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz is shaking global energy markets,” von der Leyen told the high-level segment of the COP31 UN climate summit in Antalya. “The world is witnessing the cost of continuing with the status quo for our climate and for energy security, we are at a global tipping point,” she said. Citing devastating floods in Nepal, droughts from Sudan to Central America and “one of the worst wildfire seasons on record” in Europe, she said

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  Gaza’s floods are no accident, but the result of Israel’s destruction of its infrastructure

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  At least six people have been killed as torrential rain once again floods Gaza. On 8 November, Gaza’s Civil Defence said a woman and four children had been killed when a sand embankment collapsed onto tents sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. An infant was also reported to have drowned. The woman was identified as Tahrir Nabhan, and two of the children killed were reported to be her own. Flooding began on Friday 6 November as heavy rain and strong winds swept across the Strip. Gaza’s Government Media Office said at least 70,000 tents were flooded within the first 12 hours of the storm, and the Health Ministry later said 350,000 displaced Palestinians were left sleeping in

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  Iraq has lost more than 50% of agricultural land to climate change: President

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  President Nizar Amidi said Wednesday that Iraq has lost more than 50% of its agricultural land to accelerating climate change, urging greater international support for countries facing its effects, Anadolu reports. “Accelerating climate change has led to the loss of more than 50% of our agricultural land and an unprecedented rise in desertification rates,” he said during the opening day of the high-level segment for heads of state and government at the COP31 UN climate conference in Antalya. Amidi said successive wars and deteriorating political and economic conditions had weakened Iraq’s ability to adapt. About 20,000 people had been forced to leave their homes after losing their livelihoods, he said, and indicated that climate change had also disrupted ecosystems and

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  UK premier vows to continue pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains “heartbreaking,” adding that his government is doing “everything” possible to pressure Israel to allow necessary aid into the territory, Anadolu reports. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains heartbreaking,” Burnham said during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons. His comments came after he was asked about the recent storm in Gaza, which flooded more than 70,000 tents and brought down dozens of war-damaged walls, according to the Government Media Office. “We are doing everything that we can to put pressure on the Israeli government to allow the necessary aid into Gaza and to lift the restrictions on it,” the prime minister added.

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  Republicans lost the election. Trump keeps talking

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  I am not fascinated by Donald Trump in the way an Irish friend of mine once was. Yet journalism has its own logic. Some public figures simply refuse to grant you the luxury of ignoring them. They remain in the headlines, dominate public debate, and linger in everyday conversation. Just when you think their story is drawing to a close, another chapter forces its way onto the front page. Last week, Republicans suffered a bruising defeat in the midterm elections. The party’s standing in Congress weakened. Questions began to swirl around key figures in the administration, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump himself acknowledged that the war with Iran had contributed to the Republicans’ losses.  Yet one thing remained unchanged.

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  Israel detains 11 foreign activists, deports 12 for supporting Palestinian farmers in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Israel has detained 11 foreign activists and deported 12 others from the occupied West Bank while they were taking part in activities supporting Palestinian farmers against attacks by Israeli occupiers, the coordinator of the Palestinian “Fazaa” campaign said, Anadolu reports. In an interview with Anadolu, campaign coordinator Mohammed Matar said “around 800 foreign activists, including diplomats, had participated in the campaign’s activities since it was launched on Sept. 28 to support Palestinian farmers and communities targeted by occupiers.” According to Matar, Israeli authorities detained 11 activists in the al-Bawabeer area of Masafer Yatta, while 12 international activists were deported from the village of Kafr Ni’ma, west of Ramallah. The detainees in Masafer Yatta hold Italian, German, American and Hungarian citizenship,

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  Israeli army, occupiers carry out over 1,180 arson attacks in occupied West Bank over 3 years

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  The Israeli army and occupiers carried out 1,182 arson attacks targeting Palestinian property and land in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between Oct. 7, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2026, according to official Palestinian figures, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement Wednesday that 809 attacks targeted property, vehicles and facilities, while 373 others affected Palestinian land. The central West Bank governorate of Ramallah and al-Bireh and the northern governorate of Nablus alone recorded 711 attacks, accounting for 60.2% of the total, the commission said. The statement came after Israeli occupiers set fire early Wednesday to more than 100 vehicles at a lot used to collect old and damaged cars in the village

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  BBC presenters put Israel’s case in 252 interviews but the Palestinian case in only 15, study finds

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  BBC News presenters repeatedly put Israel’s position to guests who criticised its conduct in Gaza, but rarely put the Palestinian position to guests who defended Israel, a new study of three years of the corporation’s coverage of the Gaza genocide has found. The study, BBC: The Would Say Files, was published on 5 November by the media monitoring platform NewsCord and written by Nima Akram. It examined broadcast interviews and written articles from October 2023 to this month.  The researchers searched the subtitles of more than 51,000 BBC News channel programmes for phrases such as ‘Israel would say’, then checked each result by hand to confirm that a presenter was putting one side’s position to a guest from the other

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  Obsolete and Overdue: Withdrawing US Forces from the Gulf

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Presumptions of friendship and guarantees in international relations are never secure and rarely lasting.  Even when they are given the stamp of firm endurance, a closer look will find greater benefits accruing to one party over the other.  When one needs to persuade a weaker power into surrendering real estate and valuable terrain for the more powerful counterpart to use, always employ the terminology of “joint-facility”, “joint-operations” or some such.  That will go a long way into validating the mendacity of an arrangement. The Gulf Arab states are the latest to learn this lesson from the United States, whose guardianship credentials have been looking particularly shabby of late.  Having not sought the conflict with Iran that the US, in collusion

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  Lewis Hamilton visits Rafah crossing to see Egypt’s aid operation for Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton visited Egypt’s side of the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip yesterday, touring warehouses run by the Egyptian Red Crescent and meeting aid workers who prepare and send humanitarian supplies into the besieged enclave, the Associated Press reports. Hamilton toured the crossing before visiting the Egyptian Red Crescent’s logistics warehouses in the North Sinai city of El Arish, where aid is prepared and coordinated before it enters Gaza. The Egyptian Red Crescent is the main humanitarian organisation handling aid shipments through Egypt to the Strip. At the crossing, Hamilton greeted aid workers with “Al-Salamo Alaykom”, the Arabic greeting meaning “peace be upon you”, and shook hands and spoke briefly with workers and officials.

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  Netanyahu calling Trump ‘every day’ to push for renewed war on Iran

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been calling US President Donald Trump every day to urge him to resume military action against Iran, the Financial Times reported, as Gulf leaders press Washington to choose negotiations over a new offensive. “Netanyahu calls him every day [to urge him to resume the war]. Those who don’t want a war within the White House and outside have been trying to combat that,” a person briefed on the discussions told the British newspaper.  The same source said regional leaders were telling Trump not to escalate and to put negotiations first. The FT said Arab and Muslim leaders have been alarmed by Netanyahu’s constant lobbying for a return to combat operations. Trump appeared to refer

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  Israeli military delegation visits Morocco to open permanent defence attaché office

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Israel’s Ministry of Defence announced Tuesday that a military delegation is visiting Morocco to inaugurate a permanent office for its defence attaché in Rabat, as part of efforts to strengthen military and security cooperation between the two countries. The delegation is headed by Israeli Defence Ministry Director-General Amir Baram and includes military representatives, according to a ministry statement. The ministry said the delegation held meetings with Moroccan officials on behalf of Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. During the visit, Baram is scheduled to inaugurate the permanent headquarters of the Israeli defence attaché’s office in Rabat, headed by Colonel Sharon Itach, Israel’s first permanent defence attaché to Morocco. According to the statement, the delegation met senior Moroccan defence officials, including the

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  Egypt confirms military presence in Saudi Arabia, plans to strengthen defensive deployment

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has confirmed that Egyptian military personnel have been stationed in Saudi Arabia for several months and that Cairo is working to reinforce the deployment to help the kingdom defend against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. Speaking in an English-language interview with France 24 broadcast Monday, Abdelatty disclosed the previously unannounced military presence, two weeks after Egypt’s parliament authorized President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide defensive support to Saudi Arabia. “We already have a military presence there, at the request of our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… and we are working to bolster that,” Abdelatty said. He explained that the deployment began several months earlier, following attacks against Saudi Arabia during a

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  Egypt adds 35 entities and 36 individuals to terrorism lists, including Islamic organisations across Europe

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  An Egyptian court has ordered the designation of 35 entities and 36 individuals as terrorists or terrorist organizations for five years, extending the country’s terrorism lists to include Islamic institutions and associations operating in several European countries, including Britain, Germany, France and Switzerland. The decision was issued by the Cairo Criminal Court’s Second Circuit in connection with Case No. 11108 of 2026, registered with the Supreme State Security Prosecution. The designations were published Tuesday in Supplement No. 250 of the Egyptian Gazette (Al-Waqa’i’ al-Masriyya). Among the organisations included are the Council of Muslims of Europe, the European Council for Fatwa and Research, the European Council of Imams, the European Council for Muslim Families, the European Council for Muslim Women, the

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  Netanyahu rejects Palestinian state, warns of Iran threat and calls for unity government

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tuesday of potential international pressure on Israel to withdraw from territories it controls in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon, accept the establishment of a Palestinian state and tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. Addressing the opening session of the 26th Knesset, Netanyahu called for the formation of a national unity government under his leadership, arguing that Israel must remain politically united to confront mounting regional and international challenges. Netanyahu described Iran as an “existential threat” to Israel, alleging that Tehran is seeking to resume its nuclear program. He also highlighted what he characterized as Israel’s military achievements during the war, including strikes and targeted killings of Palestinian, Lebanese and Iranian figures, claiming that these operations had

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  Report: Netanyahu and Israeli army chief clash over military options against Iran

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Disagreements have reportedly resurfaced between outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over potential military actions against Iran, amid concerns that further escalation could trigger a renewed confrontation with Tehran. Israel’s Channel 12 reported Tuesday evening that tensions emerged during recent discussions among senior political and security officials over Israel’s available options for dealing with Iran. According to the report, Netanyahu has advocated measures that have met resistance from the military leadership, particularly Zamir, who is concerned about their potential security consequences. Channel 12 said the disagreement centers on the nature of the actions Netanyahu is seeking to pursue and the risk that they could provoke another military confrontation with Iran during a

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  AIPAC is losing its grip on Washington | Palestine This Week

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we look at what the US midterms mean for America’s ties with Israel. We cover Trump blaming the defeat on a “great dislike” for Israel, AIPAC’s shrinking influence, and the push to turn US aid into a lasting military partnership. We also cover the floods in Gaza, Netanyahu’s stalled Gaza plan, and settlers taking over Palestinian homes in Jericho     WATCH: Israel’s ‘Preferential Democracy’: Accept Inequality or Lose Your Seat | Palestine This Week

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  German student replaces flag outside Berlin parliament with Palestinian flag in protest over Gaza war

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  A 22-year-old German man climbed a flagpole outside the German parliament building, the Bundestag, in Berlin, removed the German flag and replaced it with a Palestinian flag in protest against the German government’s position on Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The man, identified as Aaron, carried out the protest on the morning of Sunday, 8 November, alongside activists from a group called Peacefully Against Genocide. Police later detained him and two other participants. The protesters filmed the Palestinian flag being raised and broadcast the footage live on TikTok. The incident triggered political and security reactions, prompting German authorities to launch investigations and review security measures around the parliament building. Aaron, a physics and computer science student in Heidelberg,

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  Israeli report raises questions over future of US military aid to Egypt after Israel

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  An Israeli news report has raised questions about the future of US military aid to Egypt following Washington’s recent announcement that it would suspend military assistance to Israel. The i24NEWS report said Washington could review its military support for Cairo amid shifts in US foreign policy, particularly following President Donald Trump’s decision concerning military aid to Israel. It also highlighted the potential impact of any cuts in US funding on the Egyptian army’s weapons systems and Cairo’s ability to secure alternatives for maintenance, spare parts and military upgrades, given the reliance of a large part of its defence procurement on US arms manufacturers. According to the report, US aid allocated to Egypt for the current fiscal year amounts to about

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  Algeria accuses Morocco of polluting Hammam Boughrara Dam

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Algeria has accused Morocco of causing pollution at Hammam Boughrara Dam near the two countries’ shared border, with Interior Minister Brahim Merad describing the situation as a “systematic attack”, the Algerian Press Service (APS) reported. Speaking during a field visit to Tlemcen province in western Algeria on Tuesday, Merad said: “This phenomenon is not innocent and is considered a systematic attack.” He added that the authorities would refer the matter to senior officials to take the necessary measures in coordination with relevant national and international bodies. Merad made the remarks during a visit by a ministerial delegation to the border area of Maghnia, on the instructions of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The delegation included the ministers of water resources, environment,

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  Palestine Festival in London and Glasgow: Heritage, arts, recognition and urgent relief for Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) will hold the 21st edition of its annual Palestine Festival in London on Saturday 28 November 2026. The following day, Sunday 29 November, the festival’s third Scottish edition will take place in Glasgow. The two events will mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This year’s festival will combine the celebration of Palestinian identity and heritage with solidarity with Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jerusalem and across Palestine. The programme will feature artistic and cultural performances, recognition of organisations and initiatives supporting Palestine, and a fundraising appeal for Gaza. Urgent relief for Gaza at the heart of the festival The festival’s main fundraising appeal will support families

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  Rezaei: Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Iran’s seven conditions are met

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said on Tuesday that the US response to Iran’s conditions was “misleading”, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz would not be reopened until Tehran’s seven conditions were met. The Fars News Agency quoted Rezaei as saying that Iran had asked the United States for a clear and explicit response to its conditions, but Washington had so far failed to provide one, instead offering misleading responses. Rezaei said US statements about the continuation of negotiations were aimed at easing economic pressure and lowering oil prices. He reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Iran’s seven conditions were fulfilled. READ: Netanyahu, Trump reportedly clash over Iran in tense call: Report

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  Yedioth Ahronoth: Mansour Abbas offers to recognise Hamas as terrorist organisation in return for government partnership

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  The head of the United Arab List, Mansour Abbas, has given preliminary approval to recognising Hamas as a terrorist organisation, in response to one of the conditions set by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot for joining the next government.  The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website, citing sources in the Change Bloc, that Abbas had sent a message to the bloc confirming his willingness to recognise Hamas as a terrorist organisation in return for genuine political and government partnership. According to the sources, Abbas is demanding that the Change Bloc demonstrate a serious commitment to establishing a genuine partnership with his party, rather than simply agreeing to the proposed conditions without guaranteeing meaningful political participation. READ: Hamas urges mediators

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  Gaza is protected by international law. Why are its people still unprotected?

  by EditorMehdi on November 11, 2026

  In Gaza, children are no longer dying only from bombs and bullets. They are also dying because they have nowhere safe to sleep. The day before yesterday, heavy rain flooded thousands of tents sheltering displaced Palestinians. Families woke up surrounded by water. Their mattresses, blankets and remaining belongings were soaked. Some shelters collapsed. According to the United Nations, five people, including three children, were killed when a sand hill collapsed onto tents in Deir al-Balah. An infant also reportedly drowned in another incident. These deaths raise a painful question. How can millions of Palestinians live under international law, while the international system cannot even guarantee them a safe place to sleep? The United Nations estimates that 1.4 million people in

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  US senator urges Israel to allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  US Sen. Brian Schatz on Tuesday urged Israel to immediately allow rescue equipment, building materials and winter supplies into Gaza after deadly flooding affected thousands of Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schatz said heavy rainfall over the weekend flooded more than 70,000 tents in Gaza, leaving four people dead, including three children and a woman. “Nearly everyone in the area needs help. This is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in real time, and the Israeli government’s ongoing blockade of fuel and the destruction of equipment has made getting help to people much more difficult. This is not a partisan accusation,” Schatz said. He also cited criticism from US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which described the Israeli

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  Iran denies ongoing talks with US, planned meeting in Qatar

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  Iran’s top security official denied on Tuesday that Tehran was holding negotiations with Washington or planning a meeting in Qatar, rejecting US claims of ongoing diplomatic contacts, Anadolu reports. Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei described US claims about continuing negotiations or a planned meeting in Qatar as “complete lies,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Speaking in a television interview, Rezaei accused Washington of spreading the claims to ease economic pressure and drive down oil prices. “I emphasize that we are not currently conducting any negotiations with the Americans, and there are no negotiations between us and Washington at present,” he said. Rezaei said Iran had presented seven conditions that Tehran considers the legitimate rights of its

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  Netanyahu, Trump reportedly clash over Iran in tense call: Report

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump reportedly clashed during a call over the weekend amid disagreements about the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran, media reports said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, citing sources familiar with the conversation, said the call focused primarily on Iran and differences between Washington and Tel Aviv about a possible renewal of the war. Sources described the conversation as particularly difficult and confrontational, with one calling it “a screaming conversation from hell.” Netanyahu’s office, however, rejected the account, denying the conversation was contentious. “Fake news, complete nonsense,” it said in response. A senior Israeli official also confirmed that the call had taken place but insisted that it had

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  Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot slams Netanyahu’s ‘shameful’ Knesset speech, urges Israeli emergency government

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot on Tuesday denounced caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the newly sworn-in Knesset as “shameful” and “delusional,” warning that keeping him in office endangered Israel’s security, Anadolu reports. The Yashar party leader, who has been tasked with forming the next government, accused Netanyahu of using the swearing-in ceremony of the 26th Knesset to sow division and hatred. “I became even more convinced that he is unfit to remain in office for even one minute more,” Eisenkot said in a statement. He urged the swift formation of a national emergency government, saying Netanyahu’s continued rule divides Israel and puts its security at risk. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, accused Netanyahu of lying and

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  UN condemns Houthi broadcast of video showing detained staff member making ‘forced statement’

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  The UN on Tuesday condemned the Houthi group for the broadcast of a video showing one of its staff members making a “visibly forced statement” while in detention, Anadolu reports. “We issued a note yesterday in which we condemned the broadcast on the 5th of November, 2026, of video footage showing a United Nations staff member making a visibly forced statement while in custody of the Houthi de facto authorities. “The video exposes our colleague to public vilification, puts him at further risk, and causes distress to his family,” said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. The UN urged Houthi authorities to immediately remove the video and stop publishing statements recorded while personnel are in detention, said Haq. He also urged the

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  Israeli parliament to vote on replacing speaker next week

  by Marwa A on November 10, 2026

  Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana announced Tuesday that parliament would vote next week on replacing him following a request by 67 lawmakers, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Ohana said the debate and subsequent vote would take place on Nov. 17 at 4 pm local time (1400GMT), when the Knesset plenary convenes. Although the procedure is permitted under parliamentary rules and supported by a Supreme Court ruling, Ohana described the request as “exceptional.” “Despite my strong opposition to the intentions of the emerging coalition, I will act as I promised and respect the will of the majority of Knesset members,” he said. He confirmed that parliament would convene next week to consider the request. The announcement came as Israel’s newly elected