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

• 
  Sudan: Survivors of Al-Fasher attack recount difficult escape from Sudan

  by Marwa A on May 28, 2026

  They could do nothing but watch as militia fighters shot and killed their loved ones. The survivors said they were held captive, beaten, robbed of their phones and stripped of the savings they had collected over a lifetime. The fighters even took their shoes. In early November 2025, survivors of a three-day attack by paramilitary forces in western Sudan began arriving in the desert town of Tina on the Chad-Sudan border. There, a team of Reuters journalists spoke to some of the survivors about the atrocities they said they experienced while fleeing the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Fasher, a major city in Sudan’s Darfur region. The city, which had a population of about one million people

• 
  Dr Swee Ang, founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, deplatformed by the BMA

  by Marwa A on May 28, 2026

  Introduction and summary This article sets out to rectify a long-standing wrong done to a co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Dr Swee Ang and to call out the cynical and malicious abuse of accusations of antisemitism, and the moral panic they can engender, to defame and above all cancel advocates of the Palestinians. In 2014 the Daily Telegraph published an article accusing her of antisemitism for forwarding to a small group of friends and colleagues a troubling video which unbeknownst to her was published by a notorious antisemite. As soon as she discovered her mistake, she withdrew the post and apologised, though her apology was not included in the Telegraph article. ​Nevertheless, the accusation stuck and has dogged her

• 
  Self-engineered decay: Why Israel’s political collapse cannot be separated from its war crimes

  by Marwa A on May 28, 2026

  For those unfamiliar with the intricate machinery of Israeli politics, the unanimous 110-0 vote to dissolve the Knesset on May 20 appears to be an earth-shattering event. On the surface, it looks as if the days of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition of far-right extremists are numbered. The reality, however, is far more complex. Israel’s current political implosion is fundamentally tied to its failure to escape the ghosts of October 7. When the country’s military defenses collapsed on that day, Israel was transformed from a state with a formidable reputation as an invincible regional superpower into one trapped with a struggling army, structurally incapable of decisively winning a single war. Since the launch of the devastating genocide in

• 
  Why does Muqtada al‑Sadr expect us to believe him?

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Muqtada al‑Sadr’s latest announcement—that his militia, Saraya al‑Salam, will be “integrated” into the Iraqi security forces—has been received with a mixture of skepticism and déjà vu inside Iraq. For many Iraqis, this is not a reformist gesture but another attempt by a political cleric to reinvent himself at a moment of shifting power balances. The question that imposes itself is simple: why does Sadr expect Iraqis, or the international community, to believe him now? The answer begins with the nature of the movement he leads. Few episodes illustrate the contradictions of the Sadrist current more clearly than the trajectory of one of the former commanders of the Mahdi Army who defected years ago and sought asylum in Britain. Once a

• 
  Can Kuwait really be Indonesia’s defence ally?

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Indonesia’s Defense Ministry says it wants closer military cooperation with Kuwait through training, military education, and strategic dialogue. Officials presented the initiative as part of a long-standing bilateral relationship dating back to 1968. But Kuwait is unlikely to become a central pillar of Indonesia’s defense strategy, and the recent meeting also reflects Jakarta’s lack of clear prioritization in how it engages countries across the Middle East and North Africa region. Indonesia’s main security concerns are in the Indo-Pacific: maritime security, Chinese pressure around the Natuna waters, and military modernization. Those challenges require naval capability, surveillance systems, defense technology, and industrial cooperation. Kuwait contributes little in those areas. It is not an Indo-Pacific military power and does not have a major

• 
  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr Rory Miller: What thread connects Iran, Cuba, and energy?

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Wilkerson: Is Pax American in decline?

• 
  The Hajj ceasefire the Middle East never expected

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  As missiles crossed the Gulf and oil traders braced for another regional inferno, an altogether different procession unfolded in Mecca. More than 1.5 million Muslims arrived for the 2026 Hajj under the shadow of a US–Israeli war against Iran, a conflict that had already rattled shipping lanes, shaken energy markets, and revived fears of a region-wide sectarian rupture. Yet inside Islam’s holiest sanctuary, another logic prevailed — one that neither drones nor deterrence theory could fully explain. The striking reality was not simply that the Hajj continued. It was that the pilgrimage quietly imposed limits on war itself. In an era where global diplomacy increasingly appears exhausted, transactional, and militarised, the Hajj revealed an overlooked truth about Middle Eastern order:

• 
  Ireland to ban imports from Israeli settlements by mid-July

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said Ireland is moving ahead with legislation aimed at banning trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. McEntee said the government hopes to pass the law by mid-July, in a move reflecting growing Irish criticism of Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories. The Irish move comes despite strong opposition from the Israeli government, lawmakers in the US Congress and pressure from international business groups. Ireland has been one of the leading European critics of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Since late 2024, Dublin has warned it could impose economic measures targeting settlements over continued settlement expansion. The Irish foreign minister said the tougher approach was driven by what she

• 
  360 Palestinian children, 84 female prisoners spend Eid al-Adha in Israeli jails

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Eid al-Adha begins on Wednesday while 360 Palestinian children and 84 female prisoners remain held in Israeli prisons, away from their families, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society. In a statement issued for the holiday, the head of the non-governmental organisation, Abdullah Al-Zaghari, said the detainees were among around 9,400 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Al-Zaghari said the child detainees included three girls, while the female prisoners included dozens of mothers who were “taken away from their children and families”, depriving their children of “warmth and their natural right to a safe life”. He added that Israel continued to deprive more than 9,400 Palestinian and Arab prisoners and detainees of “their freedom and human life” inside prisons and detention camps,

• 
  Hezbollah says it carried out 32 attacks on Israeli troops, positions on Tuesday

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had carried out 32 attacks targeting Israeli troops, military vehicles and positions in different areas of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The figures were compiled by Anadolu Agency based on statements issued by the group until 2100 GMT. In a series of statements, the group said the attacks were carried out “in defence of Lebanon and its people and in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire and attacks on villages in southern Lebanon”, as well as to confront an Israeli army incursion towards the town of Eastern Zoutar. The attacks included 13 strikes targeting concentrations of Israeli troops and vehicles in Eastern Zoutar, particularly near the water reservoir and riverbed area, as well as

• 
  Iran is quietly turning Hormuz into a political checkpoint

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Iran is no longer using the Strait of Hormuz only as a crisis weapon. Tehran is trying to turn the waterway into a lasting source of political and economic leverage. That shift should concern Washington and its Gulf partners. The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most important oil chokepoint. The US Energy Information Administration estimates that about 21 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products moved through the strait in 2022, equal to roughly 21 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption. Around one-fifth of global LNG trade also passed through Hormuz.  For decades, Iran threatened to close Hormuz during confrontations with the United States. Yet Tehran usually avoided full closure because the strait also serves Iran’s

• 
  Saudi Arabia says 1.7 million pilgrims performed Hajj this year

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics said on Tuesday that the total number of pilgrims during the 1447 AH Hajj season reached 1,707,301. The authority said 1,546,655 pilgrims arrived from outside the kingdom through various entry points, while 160,646 pilgrims performed Hajj from inside Saudi Arabia, including citizens and residents. According to the authority’s statistics, the number of male pilgrims reached 893,396, while the number of female pilgrims stood at 813,905. The authority added that 1,485,729 pilgrims arrived through air entry points, while 54,429 entered by land and 6,497 arrived by sea. READ: Saudi Arabia deploys drones, AI to enhance security during 2026 Hajj pilgrimage

• 
  Qatari mediation leads to Iran-US understanding on frozen funds

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Iran’s Tasnim news agency on Tuesday reported that Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf discussed in Qatar how Iran could obtain $12 billion as a first step in an agreement between Tehran and the United States. The Associated Press also reported that the United States and Iran reached an understanding on Tuesday over the issue of Iran’s frozen funds. The agency said Qatari mediation had succeeded in securing a common understanding between the two sides on the matter. According to the report, both parties are expected to announce an agreement on the funds later on Wednesday. A source close to the Iranian negotiating team told Tasnim that, under the understandings, around $24 billion in Iranian funds would be released. Iran

• 
  US ‘Suicidal Empathy’ for Israel as Gaza Faces Apocalypse | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we discuss Mouin Rabbani’s Gaza Apocalypse, a real-time account of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the decades of policy, international complicity and failed diplomacy that preceded it. We also examine Israel’s plan for the occupied West Bank, described as a staged process of ethnic cleansing: first entrenching apartheid, then emptying rural areas, forcing Palestinians into cities and creating the conditions for mass expulsion. The episode also covers Mladenov’s Gaza plan, Ben-Gvir’s humiliation of flotilla activists, the normalisation of Israel’s far-right politics, US’ “suicidal empathy for Israel”, Trump’s efforts to link Iran negotiations to the Abraham Accords and reported US-Israeli moves to strip Jordan of its custodianship over Al-Aqsa. Get your copy of ‘Gaza

• 
  Israeli strike kills new Qassam commander, family sources confirm

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Family sources in the Gaza Strip said Mohammed Ali Ouda, known as Abu Omar and described as the new commander of Hamas’ armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed along with his wife in an Israeli air strike targeting Gaza City. The announcement came after Israel said it had carried out an assassination operation targeting Ouda, whom it described as “the new commander of Hamas’ military wing”. Local sources said funeral prayers for Ouda would be held at Al-Nour Mosque west of Gaza City on Wednesday afternoon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the defence minister said in a joint statement that the Israeli military had carried out an attack on Mohammed Ouda in Gaza, describing him as the new commander

• 
  Palestinians mark Eid al-Adha at Ibrahimi Mosque under Israeli restrictions

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  A limited number of Palestinians performed on Wednesday Eid al-Adha prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, amid tight Israeli restrictions. The Israeli army closed the gates of the mosque and searched worshippers at entrances, forcing some to head to other mosques after delays in entering, an Anadolu correspondent reported. Israeli forces also fired stun grenades near the mosque, causing panic among worshippers, as attendance is estimated at around 300. “Eid al-Adha is the greatest holiday for Muslims, but the occupation forces closed the gates of the Ibrahimi Mosque and fired stun grenades at worshippers,” Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin told Anadolu. Dudin said the number of worshippers did not exceed 30% of the usual attendance,

• 
  Iran announces reopening of Tabriz airport

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  Tabriz International Airport in northwestern Iran is set to reopen on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the country’s Civil Aviation Organization announced, Anadolu reports. “Tabriz Airport, which was attacked during the recent war, has now been restored to activity by Iranian specialists and will reopen on Wednesday,” Iran’s public broadcaster IRIB cited the official as saying. The airport will join other terminals that have resumed operations following disruptions caused by the war with the US and Israel. Earlier this week, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, also citing the organization, reported that the number of reopened airports had reached 20. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel, as well as

• 
  Three killed and a number of injuries reported after Israel shelling residential areas in Gaza City

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  According to the Israeli occupation, the target of the assassination was Mohammed Awda, reportedly part of the new leadership within the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. However, there has been no confirmation so far. It is likely that the operation failed, but up to this moment there is still no official confirmation on whether it succeeded or failed, unlike what happened previously with former leader Izz al-Din Haddad. A joint statement from Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz read: “At the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the army carried out an airstrike in Gaza a short while ago targeting Mohammed Awda, the new commander of the military wing of Hamas and

• 
  Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark 1st day of Eid al-Adha

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  The courtyards surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday – the first day of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday – were packed with Muslim worshipers performing Eid prayers, Anadolu reports. Eid-al-Adha commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim — also known as Abraham to Christians and Jews — to sacrifice his son on God’s command. Muslims on this day sacrifice animals to remember Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice, and the meat from those animals is distributed to the poor in the community. This year’s Eid al-Adha holiday — one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar — comes amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in force since October 2025. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 880 people have been

• 
  Israeli airstrikes kill 31, wound 40 in southern Lebanon

  by MI on May 27, 2026

  At least 31 people were killed and 40 injured in Israeli airstrikes Tuesday in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Anadolu reports. The strikes targeted the towns of Burj al-Shamali, Kawthariyet El Riz, Habboush, Maarakeh and Selaa. Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that at least 10 people were killed, including women and children, in a single strike on Burj al-Shamali. The outlet also reported at least three airstrikes near the Qaraoun Dam in eastern Lebanon, home to the country’s largest water reservoir. The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to intensify attacks against Hezbollah over the group’s drone strikes against Israeli forces. Since March 2, Israel has been conducting an expanded offensive on Lebanon, killing

• 
  Iran restores global internet access after months of restrictions

  by Marwa A on May 26, 2026

  Iran has restored international internet access following months of restrictions imposed after nationwide protests in January and later intensified during the war with the US and Israel, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Tasnim reported that the process of lifting restrictions had begun following an order by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to return internet access to conditions that existed before January 2026. According to the report, users once again have access to international websites, while fixed broadband services, including FTTH, VDSL and ADSL, as well as mobile internet services, are now available without restrictions. Iran had imposed a near-total internet shutdown during protests on Jan. 8 and 9, severely disrupting both domestic and international connectivity

• 
  Israeli forces bulldoze land during incursion into Syria’s Quneitra countryside

  by Marwa A on May 26, 2026

  An Israeli force entered the village of Al-Rafid in the countryside of Syria’s Quneitra province on Tuesday and conducted bulldozing operations west of the village, according to Syria’s state news agency, SANA, Anadolu reports. SANA reported that an Israeli military bulldozer advanced toward the village in southern Quneitra before conducting land-clearing operations in areas west of Al-Rafid. Syrian authorities did not immediately respond to the incident, and the motives for the operations are still unclear. The incident comes amid continued Israeli violations of Syrian sovereignty, particularly in the south. Israeli forces have carried out near-daily airstrikes and ground incursions in southern Syria, including setting up checkpoints, searching civilians, raiding homes and detaining residents, among them children and shepherds. Following the

• 
  Netanyahu says Israel expanding ground offensive in Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on May 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel is expanding its military offensive in Lebanon with “large forces on the ground,” despite a US-announced ceasefire that remains in effect until early July, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu made the remarks at the start of a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet, according to a statement from his office. “We are deepening our operations in Lebanon, and the Israeli army is operating with large ground forces and controlling strategic areas,” Netanyahu said, without specifying the locations. He also claimed the army was “fortifying the security belt” to protect northern Israeli towns. The Israeli army has continued to violate the ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended by the United

• 
  4 women killed in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon town despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on May 26, 2026

  Four women were killed Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the town of Maareke in southern Lebanon despite an ongoing ceasefire, Lebanese media reported, Anadolu reports. The state news agency NNA said civil defence teams recovered the bodies of four women from the rubble following the Israeli strike in the Tyre district. Rescue teams were continuing search operations for a missing family believed trapped beneath the debris of the destroyed building, the news agency added. Israel has continued attacks on Lebanon despite a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was extended for 45 days starting May 17. Earlier Tuesday, Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese towns of Kherbet Selem and Srifa killed two people,

• 
  CENTCOM denies reports of US Navy escort operations in Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on May 26, 2026

  The US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied media reports Tuesday that the American Navy resumed escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. In a statement on US social media company X, CENTCOM rejected claims that the “Project Freedom” initiative had restarted, saying US forces are not assisting commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. Earlier Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal, citing US military officials, reported that the navy guided a Greek supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil through the strategic waterway off the coast of Oman. The vessel had been stranded in the region since early March and is now bound for India to deliver its cargo, according to the US military officials cited in the report.

• 
  Israel continues attacks, illegal settlement activity despite ceasefire: Turkish president

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Even as the Muslim world seeks an atmosphere of peace, Israel continues its “occupation, destruction, massacres, and illegal settlement activities” from Gaza to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Lebanon, flouting ceasefires that are in effect, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a message marking the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, Erdogan gave thanks to God for allowing Turkiye to reach another holiday in good health and peace of mind, but also lamented how the negative effects of the Iran war “triggered by Israel’s provocations” are being felt across multiple international sectors, including energy, agriculture, trade, transportation, economy and security. He said Turkiye continues to stand out as an oasis of stability even as the region

• 
  Iran demands release of $12 billion in frozen assets in potential deal with US

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Iran demands the release of $12 billion in frozen assets in a potential deal with the US and insists that another $12 billion “should be transferred within 60 days” of signing the agreement, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Tuesday. Iran’s top negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf visited Qatar on Monday for talks aimed at “securing access to $12 billion in the first phase, as well as removing obstacles,” Tasnim said, citing a source familiar with the matter. “Given past experiences regarding the release of Iranian funds in South Korea and Qatar, emphasis was placed on carefully monitoring the implementation process to avoid repeating previous issues,” the source said. READ: Middle East nations ‘will no longer be shield’ for

• 
  Middle East nations ‘will no longer be shield’ for US bases, Iran’s supreme leader says

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Tuesday that the nations of the Middle East “will no longer be a shield for American bases” and that Washington will no longer have a “safe haven” in the region, Anadolu reports. Khamenei’s remarks came in a statement issued to mark the climax of the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He called on Muslim nations and other countries of the region “to pursue shared interests” for shaping a new regional and global order. “I sincerely invite all Islamic countries and governments to friendship and cooperation for the common good,” he added. The call comes amid Pakistan-led mediation efforts to put an end to the US-Israeli war on Iran that started

• 
  Manufacturing a substitute enemy: When Iran replaces Palestine in Arab media

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Gulf media do not merely report on Iran; by constantly amplifying the Iranian threat, they shift the Arab gaze from the wound of Palestine to a new form of security anxiety. What is the main threat in the Middle East: the occupation of Palestine or Iran? The answer to this question is not determined only in the arena of politics; the media also play a role in constructing it. Palestine remains the region’s open moral wound, yet part of the Gulf media, by constantly highlighting Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear program, and the military option, is shifting the Arab gaze away from Israeli occupation and war toward a new security anxiety. Criticising Iran is legitimate, but when Iran

• 
  Sheikh Ekrima Sabri warns of escalating threats to Al-Aqsa Mosque

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Ekrima Sabri warned on Monday of escalating dangers facing Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling on Arabs and Muslims to take urgent action to protect Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. In statements reported by Sanad News Agency, Sabri said Al-Aqsa Mosque is facing increasingly serious threats because of continued actions by Israeli forces and settlers inside the compound. He specifically condemned an incident last Friday in which settlers entered the mosque compound and carried out religious rituals connected to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, describing the event as dangerous and unprecedented. According to the reports, six settlers entered the compound after afternoon prayers through the Bab al-Ghawanima gate, assaulted one of the mosque guards and moved toward the Dome of the Rock while

• 
  Former ICC prosecutor says she faced pressure and threats over Palestine investigation

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, said she was pressured and threatened in connection with investigations related to Palestine, including direct contacts from former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bensouda said Cohen met her twice — in Munich and New York City — and explicitly requested that she halt investigations concerning Palestine. She described the request as direct interference in the work of the court. According to Bensouda, the pressure later escalated into indirect threats targeting members of her family. She said her husband was followed and information was gathered about him in what she believed was an attempt to influence her decisions. Bensouda stated that she informed Dutch authorities

• 
  Lapid attacks emerging Iran agreement and accuses Netanyahu government of repeated failures

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticised the emerging agreement between the United States and Iran, describing it as “a disaster” and accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of failing across multiple regional conflicts. Speaking at a press conference in the Knesset in Jerusalem, Lapid said: “The agreement reached with Iran is a disaster. The political management of the entire event was extremely poor, and everything that should not have happened has happened.” He added that, from Israel’s perspective, the most serious issue was that “this agreement was written in our absence from the negotiating table.” Lapid’s comments followed reports by Axios citing US officials who said Washington and Tehran were close to an agreement that could include reopening the

• 
  Saudi source says normalisation with Israel still tied to Palestinian statehood

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  CNN reported, citing a Saudi source, that Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is what the source described as a “clear and irreversible path” toward establishing a Palestinian state. The reported Saudi position came after US President Donald Trump stated that countries in the Middle East would be expected to recognize Israel once a broader agreement with Iran is reached. According to the source cited by CNN, Saudi Arabia continues to maintain its longstanding position that normalization must be linked to credible progress toward Palestinian statehood. Trump had earlier written on social media that he expected Middle Eastern countries and others to join the Abraham Accords after a deal ending the conflict with Iran is finalized. READ: Qatar denies reports of $12bn offer to Iran to secure US

• 
  A peace that carries the scent of accepting reality

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  In international politics, the most important transformations do not always occur in the text of agreements. Sometimes the real transformation lies in the words that suddenly disappear; in red lines that gradually fade; and in silences that carry more meaning than any statement. The possible agreement between Tehran and Washington is precisely of this kind. No official document has yet been released, no final agreement has yet been signed, and even its details remain unclear. Yet the very language used by the American side, along with the political coordinates of the talks, suggests that the matter goes beyond a tactical understanding or a temporary ceasefire. What is now taking shape is the reflection of a gradual shift in America’s understanding

• 
  Trump links Iran negotiations to expansion of Abraham Accords

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  US President Donald Trump reportedly demanded that several Arab and Islamic countries join the Abraham Accords as part of broader regional arrangements connected to negotiations with Iran. According to Hebrew and American media reports, Trump published a statement on his Truth Social platform in which he linked progress on a possible nuclear agreement with Iran to expanding participation in the Abraham Accords. Trump reportedly said he had spoken over the weekend with several regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of Qatar, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. He stated that after what he described as major US efforts in the region, there should

• 
  Israeli ministers call for escalation and strikes on Beirut

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Two senior ministers in the Israeli government called on Monday for a major military escalation in Lebanon following continued drone attacks attributed to Hezbollah. During a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to coordinate with US President Donald Trump and announce what he described as a “return to war in Lebanon.” According to reports, Ben-Gvir called for cutting electricity supplies to Lebanon, taking control of the Zahrani area, and resuming intensive military operations. READ: Netanyahu threatens to expand offensive in Lebanon as Washington signals support Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich went further by explicitly calling for strikes on Beirut in response to Hezbollah drone operations targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and

• 
  Resolutions are disconnected from the Palestinian reality

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  If Israel is not held accountable for colonialism, colonial violence and genocide, no amount of resolutions can provide even the slightest remedy for the Palestinian people. Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted a resolution which will keep the institution busy with the collected data, but fail to change conditions on the ground for Palestinians.  WHO’s resolution, ‘Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and in the occupied Syrian Golan’ requires monitoring, assessment and reporting on almost the entire spectrum of consequences as a result of colonial violence, including food insecurity and famine, starvation and its impact, and attacks on the health system. With regard to the latter, there is no mention of who carries out

• 
  Netanyahu visits Hadassah hospital amid ongoing questions over his health

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, visited Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Monday evening, according to Hebrew media reports. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem this evening (Monday).” Netanyahu’s office claimed he was at the hospital for “dental treatment”, without providing further details, according to the report. The visit came days after Netanyahu revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer around a year and a half ago and had undergone radiation treatment. READ: Netanyahu threatens to expand offensive in Lebanon as Washington signals support The disclosure was made during statements and medical reports submitted to the Tel Aviv District Court as part of a lawsuit

• 
  Qatar denies reports of $12bn offer to Iran to secure US deal

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari has denied reports claiming that Doha had offered Iran $12 billion to help secure an agreement with the United States. In a post on X, Al Ansari said: “The reports suggesting Qatar “offered” $12 billion to Iran to secure a deal are simply not true.” He added that the allegations were being circulated by parties seeking to undermine the agreement and weaken diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting stability in the region. Al Ansari said Qatar’s diplomatic efforts, carried out in coordination with regional partners, were “well known and clear”, adding that “such narratives are nothing more than desperate attempts to tarnish Qatar’s reputation as a trusted international peace facilitator.” READ: Qatar’s emir

• 
  Israel plans major troop reduction in southern Lebanon amid drone attacks

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Israeli media reported on Monday evening that the Israeli army is planning a major reduction in the number of its forces deployed in southern Lebanon in the near future, despite ongoing security tensions and the growing threat of explosive drones. According to the reports, thousands of Israeli soldiers have been stationed for several months in areas of southern Lebanon in what resembles a “security belt”, following the halt of ground operations under ceasefire understandings. The reports said the decision comes at a surprising time, particularly as no tangible progress has been made in the ongoing political negotiations with Lebanon. Hebrew media sources added that Israeli forces in the area are increasingly concerned about continued explosive drone attacks, which have killed

• 
  Netanyahu threatens to expand offensive in Lebanon as Washington signals support

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened on Monday evening to expand Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon. In a video statement, Netanyahu said: “We will not back down — quite the opposite. I said: press the accelerator in Lebanon. We will hit them, we will hit them head-on.” Netanyahu acknowledged that Hezbollah was using fibre-optic drones against Israel, saying: “It is true, they are launching drones at us, drones operating with fibre-optic technology.” He added: “We have a specialised team handling this matter.” Meanwhile, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said in a post on X that a senior US official had indicated Washington would support an escalation in Israeli military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Ravid, the US remarks came

• 
  Herzog warns of ‘moral decline’ in Israel amid rising violence against Muslims and Christians

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  Israeli President Isaac Herzog has acknowledged growing violence and extremism within Jewish society against Muslims and Christians, criticising what he described as a “state of brutality and moral decline”. Herzog made the remarks on Sunday during the Jerusalem Unity Prize 2026 ceremony at the President’s residence in Jerusalem, according to Israel’s public broadcaster, where he addressed rising violence in Israeli society, including settler attacks and abuses against activists and religious figures. Without naming him directly, Herzog also criticised Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over the publication of a video showing the mistreatment of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, which triggered widespread international condemnation. READ: Netanyahu allies push to bar Arab party from Israeli elections “We are witnessing a horrifying

• 
  US ambassador to Israel sparks controversy over remarks to Lebanese about tomatoes, mobile phones

  by MI on May 26, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sparked widespread controversy after calling on Lebanese people to “thank Israel for its contributions in technology and agriculture”. Speaking at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange during the Atlas Award 2026 ceremony, Huckabee said Lebanese people should thank Israel for its contributions to mobile phones, USB storage devices, car navigation systems, as well as cherry tomatoes and seedless watermelon. “I wonder if everyone in Lebanon understands that if there were no Israel, they wouldn’t have a cell phone,” the American diplomat said.  He added: “I wonder if they understand that every time they use a USB, every time they use car navigation, every time they eat a cherry tomato or have a delicious bite of seedless

• 
  The rise of China in Middle East politics

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  The Middle East is no longer shaped solely by the influence of Western powers. For decades, countries such as the United States, Britain and France dominated the political and strategic landscape of the region through military alliances, oil politics and diplomatic interventions. Today, however, a new global actor has steadily emerged with growing influence across the Middle East: China. China’s rise in Middle East politics represents one of the most significant geopolitical transformations of the 21st century. Unlike Western powers that historically relied heavily on military presence and political intervention, China has adopted a different strategy based on economic cooperation, infrastructure investment, energy diplomacy and political non-interference. This approach has enabled Beijing to build strong relations with rival states simultaneously,

• 
  The illusion of a political solution in Ali al-Zaidi and the Green Zone

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  There is a familiar analytical noise that rises with every new government in Iraq, a noise that feels like replaying an old recording at a higher volume, nothing more. What is happening today with Ali al-Zaidi’s government is no exception; it is a pale repetition of what we saw with Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and with those before him, and with those who will follow, so long as every prime minister is born from the same equation and bound by the same conditions that have governed the political process since 2003. All this noise manufactured on television screens—by commentators who hang their university degrees on the wall behind them—does not produce a single fruitful paragraph capable of convincing Iraqis that anything

• 
  Tensions rise inside Israeli coalition over compulsory military service law

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  Israeli media reported that ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, commonly referred to as the Haredim, informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they reject efforts to advance a compulsory military service law. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, representatives of the Haredi parties told Netanyahu and coalition officials that they do not trust the government to manage the legislation in a way acceptable to them. The report quoted them as saying: “We absolutely do not trust that you will introduce the compulsory military service law.” The dispute centres on proposals concerning mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, an issue that has repeatedly caused political crises inside Israeli governments. Israeli media said it remains unclear whether the Haredi parties aim merely to block introduction of

• 
  Médecins Sans Frontières step up efforts to address facial injuries in Gaza

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  At the only facility of its kind in the Gaza Strip, the technical team at Médecins Sans Frontières are intensifying efforts to create transparent plastic masks designed to reduce the visible impact of war injuries suffered by residents. The injuries sustained often leave scars, facial protrusions, and deformities — especially on the faces of children, who endure significant embarrassment and psychological distress within their communities because of these disfigurements. According to the technical supervisor, Mohammed Al-Qatrawi, “We are working with resources that are barely available, and the raw materials we use are locally sourced because of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, we are doing our utmost to improve the conditions of war-related injuries and the various deformities

• 
  Iran says agreement with US could collapse over unresolved clauses

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  Iran stated on Sunday that a potential agreement with the United States to end the ongoing conflict could be cancelled because of what Tehran described as American obstruction regarding key clauses of the proposed deal. According to Tasnim News Agency, disagreements remain unresolved despite discussions held on Sunday, particularly concerning the release of frozen Iranian financial assets. Iranian affairs analyst Ali Hashem said that optimism surrounding a possible memorandum between Tehran and Washington had quickly faded as tensions re-emerged over unresolved issues. Citing an informed Iranian source, Hashem said Tehran believes Washington is retreating on two central matters: the mechanism for releasing frozen Iranian funds and the scope of a proposed ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon. According to the source, the

• 
  Egypt rejects involvement of non-Red Sea states in regional security arrangements

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  Egypt announced on Sunday that it rejects the involvement of non-Red Sea countries in security and political arrangements concerning the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The position was expressed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during talks in Cairo with Yemeni Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaya al-Zindani as part of the ninth round of the Egyptian-Yemeni strategic dialogue. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and its backing for Yemen’s internationally recognised government and state institutions. The discussions also focused on maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid growing regional tensions. Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s “categorical

• 
  Arab and Islamic states reject reported Somaliland move to open representation in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on May 25, 2026

  Fifteen Arab and Islamic countries jointly rejected plans by the self-declared Somaliland to open a “so-called embassy” in occupied Jerusalem and considered the move a “flagrant violation” of international law and UN resolutions. The joint statement, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, was issued by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Djibouti, Somalia, Palestine, Oman, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon and Mauritania. The ministers condemned the “illegal and unacceptable” step by Somaliland, which lacks international recognition as a sovereign state. According to the statement, opening such a mission in occupied Jerusalem would constitute “a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions” and would undermine the legal and historical status of