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

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  Erdogan Says Turkey Ready to Support Reconstruction in Southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is prepared to contribute to reconstruction efforts in southern Lebanon and will continue its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Speaking on Thursday, Erdogan said Lebanon stands to benefit from greater regional stability and cooperation, adding that he had discussed with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun the forms of assistance Ankara could provide. Erdogan also expressed support for continued dialogue between Lebanon and Syria, saying stronger relations between the two neighbouring countries would be beneficial and that Turkey is ready to assist efforts to develop bilateral ties. READ: Turkey’s Fidan meets new Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya on first foreign visit since election The Turkish president said Ankara is willing to participate in initiatives aimed

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  Israeli soldiers stage mutiny at Sde Teiman base over removal of memorial display

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli soldiers staged what Israeli media described as a mutiny on Thursday after leaving the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel in protest against orders to remove a memorial display linked to battles they had fought in. The soldiers later returned to the base. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that dozens of soldiers from the Tsavar Battalion of the Givati Brigade walked out of the Sde Teiman base chanting: “To hell with all the officers.” The newspaper said the soldiers were protesting after their commanders removed signs and symbols they had installed. According to the report, the battalion commander had ordered the removal of a memorial corner inside the base containing flags and items commemorating battles in

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  FIFA has a Gianni Infantino problem

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  There are sentences one never expected to write. Here is one: Sepp Blatter is beginning to look good. That is quite an accomplishment by Gianni Infantino. Blatter presided over FIFA when corruption became so synonymous with international football that the organisation occasionally resembled a criminal enterprise with a sporting division. Eventually, American prosecutors arrived. In 2015, the United States indicted nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives on racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering charges arising from what prosecutors described as a 24-year corruption scheme. Two serving FIFA vice-presidents were among those charged. The scandal engulfed the organisation and helped end Blatter’s presidency. There was always an exquisite irony about America’s sudden missionary zeal concerning FIFA governance. Five years earlier, the

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  Egypt imposes new departure fee for travellers

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Egypt has introduced new fees for people leaving the country and for cement production under amendments to the state’s financial resource development law. The amendments were published in the country’s official gazette 28 July 2026 through a presidential decree and will take effect the day after publication. Under the new law, a fee of 100 Egyptian pounds will be charged on departures from Egypt. The measure exempts Egyptian and foreign drivers of public passenger and freight vehicles, as well as workers on cross-border truck routes. READ: Egypt announces annual reshuffle of senior security leadership The law also introduces a fee of 35 Egyptian pounds for every tonne of cement produced, regardless of type. Cement manufacturers will be required to pay the

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  Lebanese Army chief says Israel seeks to fuel internal strife

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal said Israel was seeking to stir internal divisions in Lebanon, urging national unity to counter such efforts. Haykal said creating internal strife was “one of the objectives of the Israeli occupation” and stressed the need for awareness and unity to confront such attempts. He said the military was facing major challenges during the current period, adding: “The challenges before us are great, and we have no choice but to continue making sacrifices and giving our best.” Haykal said the army would continue carrying out its duties to preserve security and stability and protect the country amid the region’s sensitive circumstances. READ: UN rights chief says office has documented possible war crimes during conflict in Lebanon

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  Iraq denies Trump’s claim of prior knowledge of US-Saudi strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Iraqi government said on Thursday it had no prior knowledge of the US and Saudi strikes on positions of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), an umbrella group that includes Iran-backed armed factions, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s statement that the operation had been coordinated with Baghdad. Government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi said in a media interview that the government “had no knowledge of the strikes and did not give approval to any party to carry out these attacks”. He stressed that the government “will not allow Iraqi territory to become a stage for military operations without its knowledge and without the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces”. The PMF said on Wednesday that 20 of its members, including

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  Israel rejects mediators’ Gaza proposal, insists on Hamas disarmament: Yedioth Ahronoth

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Israeli government has rejected a proposal reached by mediators in Cairo with Palestinian factions and is insisting on the complete disarmament of Hamas as a key condition for any progress on US President Donald Trump’s plan, according to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Citing a source, the newspaper said the 15-point document currently under discussion “does not sufficiently meet Israel’s demands”, adding that Israel had informed former UK prime minister Tony Blair, acting as an envoy, of its objections. The report said Israel has made clear it will not withdraw from the so-called Yellow Line until Hamas is fully disarmed and the Gaza Strip is completely demilitarised. READ: New Hamas chief outlines 6 priorities topped by ending Israeli offensive in

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  Iran’s Araghchi: Egypt is an important friend, its security is of utmost importance, warns of ‘Israeli conspiracy’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran was not responsible for the strike that targeted two Egyptian vessels at Damietta Port. In a post on his official X account, Araghchi said: “Egypt is an important friend and partner in the region, and its security is of utmost importance to us.”     He urged vigilance against “Israeli plots and false-flag operations designed to undermine regional peace.”       He added that “the threat is clear, mutual, and fearful of Muslim solidarity,” calling on countries in the region to remain alert to attempts to drag them into further escalation.  READ: Yemen’s Houthis deny drone attack on gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta Port Araghchi used the term “false flag”, which refers to operations carried

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  US sanctions global networks supporting Iran’s Mahan Air, Revolutionary Guards

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  The US imposed sanctions on six individuals and entities Thursday in four nations for their roles in supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its primary transport network, Mahan Air, Anadolu reports. “The United States today sanctioned six entities and individuals in China, India, Russia, and Iran that enable the Iranian regime’s … IRGC,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The move targets the “Mahan Air Network,” which Pigott identified as the IRGC’s “airline of choice” for transporting weapons, military personnel and equipment worldwide. READ: CENTCOM chief proposes 2-week air campaign against Iran following killing of service members: Report The Treasury Department accused Mahan Air of facilitating military training and procuring drone systems by providing travel services for IRGC‑Qods Force.

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  Iranian army says drones target key US facilities at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Iran’s army said Thursday it targeted key US military facilities at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base with one-way attack drones amid an exchange of attacks between Tehran and Washington across the Middle East region. In a statement, the army’s public relations office said the operation was carried out in retaliation for the killing of an Iranian Air Force Su-24 pilot at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February, the official IRNA news agency reported. It said the drones struck power generators, navigation systems and administrative and support buildings used by what it described as the US military at Sheikh Isa Air Base. READ: CENTCOM chief proposes 2-week air campaign against Iran following killing of service members: Report The

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  UK’s top court greenlights appeal of Palestine Action ban

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  The UK’s highest court granted permission on Thursday for Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori to challenge a Court of Appeal ruling upholding a ban on the group, Anadolu reports. Ammori has been fighting to have the decision overturned amid a mass civil pro-Palestine campaign. The top court said Ammori could appeal the Court of Appeal decision, and that the case would be heard in the final quarter of 2026. “We will be arguing in the Supreme Court that the ban is unlawful, as it is disproportionate to free speech and the right to protest. The fight continues,” Ammori wrote on US social media company X. The Defend Our Juries group, meanwhile, said 70 people have been arrested under the terrorism

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  Pakistan, Saudi Arabia welcome Jordan proposal for Arab-Islamic meeting on Palestine

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Pakistan and Saudi Arabia welcomed Jordan’s proposal to convene a meeting of Arab and Islamic countries to address the worsening situation in Palestine, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The announcement came after Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, a ministry statement said. According to the ministry, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, including recent developments in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. It said the two sides welcomed Jordan’s initiative to bring together Arab and Islamic countries to discuss the situation in Palestine, particularly occupied East Jerusalem, and agreed to remain

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  Saudi Arabia hosts international meeting to create multinational maritime defense alliance for Bab al-Mandab

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Saudi Arabia said Thursday it hosted an international meeting in Riyadh to finalize the creation of a multinational maritime defense alliance aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Saudi Defense Ministry said the meeting was attended by chiefs of staff and representatives from 43 countries, as well as a delegation from the European Union to discuss ways of enhancing the security of international maritime routes and counter threats to global navigation and trade. It said the meeting addressed the growing threats to maritime security, including the security of commercial vessels, oil tankers, and maritime infrastructure. It also explored ways to strengthen multilateral defense cooperation to protect supply chains

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  Palestinian Football Association files complaints over Israeli claims against slain Gaza football figures

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said Thursday that it had filed formal complaints with international and continental football governing bodies over Israeli military allegations against 12 Palestinian football figures killed during the war in Gaza. Last week, the Israeli military alleged that the 12, including a FIFA-accredited international assistant referee, were members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad group. The PFA rejected the allegations, saying they were made only after the victims had been killed and were unsupported by independently verifiable evidence. In a statement, the association said it had submitted complaints to FIFA, UEFA and the Asian Football Confederation. “Taking people’s lives and then accusing them without any evidence, legal process or opportunity to defend themselves is an utterly disgraceful

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  Turkiye ‘closely’ monitoring efforts to end Israeli attacks, occupation: President Erdogan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Turkiye is “closely” following diplomatic initiatives seeking an end to Israel’s attacks and occupation, said the nation’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Anadolu reports. “We assessed how Turkiye could contribute to these efforts. We also discussed opportunities to further develop our bilateral relations in various fields. We believe that the growing dialogue between Lebanon and Syria will benefit both countries. We stand ready to make the necessary contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries, which have had a difficult past,” Erdogan said during a joint news conference with visiting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Following the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Turkiye wants to play an active role in all initiatives aimed at safeguarding Lebanon’s sovereignty, Erdogan

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  CENTCOM chief proposes 2-week air campaign against Iran following killing of service members: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  US President Donald Trump is reviewing a military proposal for an intensive 10- to 14-day aerial bombardment against Iran following attacks that killed four American service members, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. “Trump is in an escalatory mood,” a senior administration official said about the deliberations, though the US president continues to contemplate the “depth of that response.” The plan, presented by Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), aims to utilize a “go big” strategy to cripple Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities. Cooper argued that Washington must increase its air attacks to “significantly blunt” the Iranian threat and break the stalemate. He maintains that destroying Tehran’s offensive infrastructure would eventually reduce the need for

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  Yemen’s Houthis deny drone attack on gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta Port

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthis on Thursday denied reports linking the group to a drone strike on two gas vessels in Egypt’s Damietta Port on the Mediterranean coast, Anadolu reports. “There is no truth to the rumors about targeting a ship at Damietta Port in the Arab Republic of Egypt,” a source at the Houthi-run Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the group-affiliated Saba news agency. The source said the Houthis only target Saudi Arabia, calling his group’s position “clear, declared, and explicit.” “Navigation is safe in the Red Sea, and there is no justification for any concerns,” the source added. Earlier in the day, Egypt confirmed that a drone caused a fire aboard two vessels at Damietta Port on the Mediterranean coast

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  Iran protests Bulgaria’s decision to host US tanker aircraft on its territory

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday protested Bulgaria’s decision to allow US military aircraft to use its territory in support of military operations against Tehran, Anadolu reports. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Araghchi raised the issue during a phone call with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and briefed her on regional developments, continued US “aggression,” and Washington’s role in escalating tensions in West Asia. “The Bulgarian government’s approval of a US request to deploy military aircraft at Bezmer Air Base in support of military operations is, in our view, condemnable, unacceptable and inconsistent with the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries,” Araghchi said. He urged Sofia to “urgently reconsider” the decision. READ: US launches strikes on Iranian military targets after

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  Dozens of Israeli soldiers leave Sde Teiman base after dispute with commanders: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Dozens of Israeli soldiers left the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel on Thursday following a dispute with senior commanders, the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported, Anadolu reports. The soldiers are members of the Sabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade, according to the report. “According to sources in the Givati Brigade, the command staff decided to remove and destroy symbols displayed by the battalion’s companies,” the newspaper said. It said the battalion commander insisted on carrying out the decision despite opposition from the soldiers. “One of the commanders used a five-kilogram sledgehammer to destroy one of the symbols,” a soldier serving in the unit told Israeli news website Walla. READ: Israeli army suicides rise again as two female soldiers die, bringing

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  The West Bank on a powder keg

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  The pace of settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank has escalated to the point where their consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to contain. The recent incident in the village of Tell was one such example. Last Friday, a settler attack on the village resulted in the killing of four Palestinians and the death of two Israelis after a Palestinian seized the weapon of a settler who had been pointing it at the villagers. The incident occurred amid a wave of escalation by settlers that began only a few weeks ago and has spread across most parts of the West Bank. It has resulted in deaths and injuries, among them children, as well as attacks on homes, mosques and

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  Netanyahu flight through Europe raises questions over ICC obligations of Rome Statute states

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aircraft crossed the airspace of Greece, Italy and France on its way to the US despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, raising questions over the three Rome Statute states parties’ obligations to the court, Anadolu reports. “Granting Netanyahu transit permission on the grounds of ‘diplomatic necessity’ does not exempt these countries from their obligations under the Rome Statute,” Abdurrahman Erol, an international law expert at Istanbul Medeniyet University, said. He said ICC precedent decisions concerning Hungary, Mongolia and Italy make clear that neither diplomatic necessity nor head-of-state immunity justifies non-compliance with the court’s arrest warrants. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Nov. 21, 2024, over alleged

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  Iran claims ballistic missile strike destroyed 3 US F-35 jets at Jordan air base

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Thursday that it targeted Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan’s eastern desert with ballistic missiles, destroying three F-35 fighter jets and heavily damaging three others, according to Iranian media, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the IRGC said its aerospace forces struck the deployment ramp and maintenance hangar housing US F-35 fighter jets at Al-Azraq Air Base with several ballistic missiles, describing the attack as a response to a US strike on two residential homes on Iran’s Qeshm Island. The IRGC claimed that three F-35 aircraft were completely destroyed, while three others sustained heavy damage. It also claimed that several officers, as well as technical and maintenance personnel, were killed in the attack. READ: US airstrike targets border

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  The damage caused by Israeli strikes targeting several homes in different areas across the Gaza Strip

  by Mehdi Editor on July 30, 2026

  WATCH: Wounded Journalists Demand Their Right to Travel for Medical Treatment

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  Iraqi armed group issues deadline to Government, Warns of Retaliation Following Saudi-US Strikes

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  The Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Wednesday denied involvement in reported attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and accused the United States of carrying out what it described as an attack on a procession serving pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala. In a statement, the group accused Saudi Arabia of supporting US policies in the region and alleged that Riyadh has acted in coordination with Washington. It also rejected demands for its disarmament. The group said it had given Iraqi authorities until 7th August to respond to what it described as US aggression. According to the statement, the deadline is intended to test the government’s willingness to deter attacks and hold those responsible accountable. The group warned that

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  Netanyahu says Israeli special forces would rescue him if arrested abroad

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News that Israeli special forces would intervene to rescue him if he were arrested in a European country. Referring to his military service, Netanyahu said: “I served in it for five years, and let’s assign them a new mission,” suggesting that the unit could be tasked with rescuing him should he be detained abroad. Netanyahu’s remarks come against the backdrop of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes and crimes against humanity, Israel committed against the Palestinians during its ongoing genocide in Gaza. Under the Rome Statute, member states are generally required to cooperate with the court, including by executing arrest warrants, although

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  London Hackney votes to begin ending 58-year twinning link with Israel’s Haifa

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  London borough of Hackney has voted to begin the process of ending its 58-year twinning agreement with the Israeli city of Haifa. Councillors approved the proposal by a majority show of hands during a full council meeting. Hackney established the relationship with Haifa in September 1968, although council documents indicate that the link has remained inactive since 2019. The decision fulfils a manifesto commitment made by the Green Party, which secured 42 of Hackney’s 57 council seats in the May local elections. Under the approved proposals, the council agreed in principle to terminate the relationship but will not make a final decision until it completes public engagement and an equalities impact assessment. Mayor of Hackney Zoë Garbett will also write

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  Palestine finance minister warns ending banking ties with Israel would disrupt essential services

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Palestinian Finance Minister Istifan Salameh warned on Wednesday that any disruption to banking ties with Israel would severely affect the Palestinian Authority’s ability to provide essential services, including electricity, water, and fuel. Speaking about the Palestinian Authority’s financial situation, Salameh said the government had reached what he described as “the end of the line” economically and financially in its relationship with Israel. He warned that severing banking relations would make daily life significantly more difficult for Palestinians by disrupting access to critical public services. Salameh also said the ongoing cash liquidity crisis and shortage of Israeli shekels are not new problems, arguing that the long-term solution is to gradually reduce reliance on the Israeli currency because, according to him, Israel

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  Disarming settlers barely scratches the surface of Israel’s colonial violence

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  At the UN Security Council on Tuesday this week, Palestinian Permanent Observer Riyad Mansour called for “a strong international response before it is too late” with regard to settler violence in the occupied West Bank. However, it is already too late. It has been too late for decades now, and the rhetoric used by diplomats doesn’t help Palestinians achieve a semblance of dignity, let alone autonomy and liberation. Israeli state and settler violence increases in relation to the government’s requirements for colonial expansion. Rhetoric, however, has stayed several steps behind. It is not until it is too late that statements are issued about how the international community needs to step in to protect Palestinians. However, in 1947, the international community

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  Israeli soldier charged with contacting alleged Iranian intelligence operative

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israeli prosecutors have filed an indictment against an Israeli soldier accused of maintaining contact with an individual alleged to be an Iranian intelligence operative, according to a joint statement issued by Israeli authorities. The statement, released by the Israel Police, the Ministry of Defence, and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), said the accused served in both the regular and reserve forces of a classified military unit. According to the statement, the State Attorney’s Office filed the indictment in the Tel Aviv District Court on 16th July, charging the soldier with contacting a foreign agent and attempting to provide information to the enemy. Israeli authorities said the investigation found that the accused had been in contact with a person who

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  Gaza hospital director warns of worsening humanitarian and health crisis

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, warned on Wednesday that approximately 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip are at risk of famine and malnutrition amid the continuing humanitarian crisis. In radio remarks, Abu Salmiya said the at-risk population includes 74,000 children suffering from varying degrees of malnutrition and 25,000 pregnant women facing the risk of severe anemia. He warned that deteriorating conditions are placing increasing strain on Gaza’s healthcare system. According to Abu Salmiya, rising rates of malnutrition and infectious diseases, combined with shortages of medicines and medical supplies and severe transportation constraints, are pushing the territory toward what he described as a complete health and humanitarian collapse. He said hospitals continue to receive dozens of

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  Jordanian figures demand withdrawal of US forces and cancellation of military agreement

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  More than 130 Jordanian political, academic, cultural, trade union and tribal figures have called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Jordan and the cancellation or restriction of the kingdom’s military agreement with the United States. In a statement published last week, the signatories warned that the presence of foreign forces had exposed Jordan to security, political and economic threats and increased the risk of the country becoming involved in a regional war in which it had no direct interest. “Based on our national responsibility and in recognition of the magnitude of the risks facing the region as a result of the accelerating military escalation, we demand the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Jordanian territory,” the statement declared. Read:

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  Smotrich highlights expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday highlighted his government’s expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, describing the approval of new settlements as the fulfillment of campaign promises. In a post on the social media platform X, Smotrich wrote: “The construction of 104 new settlements is just some of the promises fulfilled.” He added: “As I promised, we are proceeding with the establishment of new settlements,” arguing that they serve as “a protective wall” for Israeli cities including Ra’anana, Tel Aviv, Givatayim, and Jerusalem. On 15th July, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the establishment of a new settlement in the West Bank. At the time, Smotrich said that since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took office in late

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  From Tehran to Riyadh: How Israel Draws the Red Lines America Can’t Cross

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israel dragged America into another war, then sat back on the spectator bench and watched U.S. taxpayers foot the bill. Borrowed money burned into bombs. Billions more bled out at gas stations and in inflation, all to reopen a strait that was open before Donald was duped into fighting Benjamin’s war. Now Benjamin Netanyahu watches from a safe distance, gloating as missiles fly between the U.S. forces and Iran in a war he spent years pushing Washington to fight. At home, flag-draped caskets of American soldiers arriving home from a war Israel instigated and American soldiers carried out. In Congress, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood before the Senate requesting more money to keep the war running. Lawmakers asked to

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  Israel strikes power transformer, cuts electricity to three areas north of Ramallah

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israeli forces targeted a main electricity transformer in the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Wednesday evening, cutting power to the town and the neighbouring villages of Abu Falah and Al-Mughayyir. Local sources told Anadolu that Israeli troops entered Turmus Ayya on foot, patrolled several neighbourhoods and streets, and fired live ammunition and tear gas before targeting the main electricity transformer, causing a power outage across the three communities. The sources said specialist crews were working to restore the electricity supply. In the northern West Bank, Israeli forces also raided the village of Burin, south of Nablus, sparking clashes, according to local sources cited by Anadolu. The sources said Israeli military vehicles entered

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  Turkey’s Fidan meets new Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya on first foreign visit since election

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met the newly elected head of Hamas’ political bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, and his accompanying delegation in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Wednesday. The meeting marked al-Hayya’s first foreign visit since he was elected head of Hamas’ political bureau on 20 July. According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan congratulated al-Hayya on his election and wished him success in his new role. During the meeting, al-Hayya briefed Fidan on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. He said the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had intensified what he described as illegal settlement activities and attacks on holy sites in Jerusalem. Al-Hayya also said Hamas continued to take what

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  Houthi official denies reports of plan to charge ships passing through Bab al-Mandab

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  A senior political official from Yemen’s Houthi movement has denied reports that the group plans to impose fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Hizam al-Assad, a member of the political bureau of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah), said in a statement issued on Wednesday evening that Bab al-Mandab Strait “is open to international navigation safely and securely, except for Saudi shipping”. He said Saudi vessels would remain banned from using the waterway until Riyadh lifts its blockade on Yemen, restores what he described as the Yemeni people’s legitimate rights, respects the country’s sovereignty and stops interfering in its internal affairs. Earlier, Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that the Houthi movement was considering imposing transit fees on

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  US launches strikes on Iranian military targets after Trump warning

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  The US military has launched strikes on military targets inside Iran after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran against further attacks on American forces. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had “successfully completed a heavy wave of strikes” against Iran in response to the Iranian missile attacks on US forces. It said the strikes targeted dozens of targets belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including military command centres, missile and drone facilities. CENTCOM said: “The strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighbouring Gulf countries.” It added that more than 50,000 US troops are currently deployed across the Middle East and remain at the highest level

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  Palestinians launch national observatory to document Israeli violations

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  The Palestinians launched the National Observatory for Documenting Israeli Violations of international law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights on Wednesday, aiming to unify efforts to document alleged Israeli violations and strengthen accountability cases before international courts and legal mechanisms. The observatory was launched during a ceremony organised by the Human Rights and Civil Society Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the Ramallah Municipality Theatre. The event was attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, members of the PLO Executive Committee and Fatah Central Committee, ministers, governors, ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, human rights organisations and civil society representatives. Speaking on behalf of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mustafa said: “The occupation may be able to destroy a building, confiscate land

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  The Race for Universal Monarchy

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  The sixteenth century saw the rise of two Mediterranean empires driven by apocalyptic fever who sought to bring Christianity and Islam together under the rule of one emperor. Ebru Turan’s new book The Race for Universal Monarchy: Apocalypticism and the Ottoman-Habsburg Rivalry in the Sixteenth-Century Mediterranean looks at the Ottoman Habsburg rivalry through the lens of competing ideologies shaped by overlapping historical events. The Crusades shifted political ideologies in both Europe and the Middle East creating a need to justify acquiring power in line with religious end times beliefs. Both Charles V, King of Spain and Archduke of Austria, and Suleyman I, the Ottoman Sultan, not only viewed their clash as part of the usual political rivalry, both saw their

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  Hebrew TV channel reports rise in Iranian attempts to target senior Israeli officials

  by Marwa A on July 30, 2026

  Israeli security agencies have warned ministers and other senior officials of what they describe as an increase in Iranian attempts to target prominent Israeli figures, including current and former officials, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The Hebrew-language broadcaster said security assessments indicate that while targeting Israeli officials has long been a standing Iranian objective, the frequency and number of such attempts have increased significantly in recent weeks. According to the report, Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, has tightened security measures for a number of senior officials in response to the assessments. In a related development, Channel 12 said that, following recommendations from the security services, the departure time of the government aircraft carrying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to

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  UN warns of ‘major public health risks’ in Gaza as 83% of displacement sites report infestations

  by Marwa A on July 29, 2026

  The UN on Wednesday warned of “major public health risks” facing civilians in the Gaza Strip, with rodent and ectoparasite infestations reported in 83% of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said during a news conference that “civilians in Gaza face major public health risks, adding to the insecurity and displacement.” “Widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations were reported in 83% of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, and that is alongside sewage in streets, stagnant water and poor sanitation conditions,” he said, adding that humanitarians on the ground are “scaling-up rodent control this week.” “To reduce public health risks, sustained access to critical equipment

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  Netanyahu proposes phasing out US military aid to Israel over 10 years: Report

  by Marwa A on July 29, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed to US President Donald Trump a plan to gradually end direct US military aid to Israel over the next decade during their White House meeting on Tuesday, according to Israeli media on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, citing an unnamed political source, said the two leaders discussed the future of US military assistance to Tel Aviv during their closed-door talks. According to the report, Netanyahu proposed gradually reducing US military aid until it is completely phased out within 10 years. The outlet said Netanyahu suggested that US-Israeli cooperation on missile defense programs would continue, with the two countries shifting their focus from direct financial assistance to joint defense development projects. Israel is

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  F1 season to end in Europe if Qatar, Abu Dhabi races cannot proceed

  by Marwa A on July 29, 2026

  Formula 1 will conclude its 2026 season in Europe if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix cannot take place because of the situation in the Middle East, the sport’s president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Speaking during a media roundtable following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Domenicali said both races are confirmed but Formula 1 would monitor developments until mid-September. “We will take the maximum time for us to see how the situation will develop, and we will take the decision at the right time,” he said, according to the Formula 1 website. “That moment will not be before the middle of September. For us today, the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are confirmed,” he added.

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  The death count trap: Why tallying victims won’t stop Israel’s genocide

  by Marwa A on July 29, 2026

  The words ‘killed’, ‘injured’, ‘maimed’, and the like often lose a great part of their meaning when they are repeated so relentlessly. Take, for example, a headline like: “13 Palestinians Killed in Gaza, Others Wounded.” Though many of us can still feel a deep sense of sadness over such a tragedy, the news itself becomes less shocking over time. According to figures produced by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israel has killed and wounded a total of over 250,000 Palestinians since the start of the genocide in 2023. The tally is updated daily because the killing never stops. On July 23, six Palestinians were killed in Gaza. A day earlier, 13 were killed, and the day before that,

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  “The Zionists Who Hate Jews”: a century of evidence against Zionism’s oldest defence

  by Marwa A on July 29, 2026

  Zionism has a chequered history: the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, wars without end, apartheid, land theft and now, genocide. Less well known is an older, darker chapter: the harm Zionism has done to the Jewish people it claims to protect. Many prominent adherents of an ideology that presents itself as the guardian of world Jewry have also, throughout Zionism’s history, “hated the Jews”, argues Joss Sheldon in a striking new book. “We’ve been gaslit for far too long,” Sheldon writes in the book’s opening passage, challenging the familiar premise that Zionism serves the interests of Jews. He continues: “This fabrication – that Israel is the ‘Jewish State’, a place which serves the Jewish people – has been repeated so many

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  When Washington buried a war maker

  by Mehdi Editor on July 29, 2026

  Today, as the flags fly at half-staff over the United States Capitol, Benjamin Netanyahu sits in the pews of Washington’s National Cathedral, paying his respects to the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The irony is as suffocating as the incense: the man who spent decades lobbying for American blood to be spilled in Israel’s name has finally met his maker, and the very beneficiary of his zeal is present to honour him. Let no one mistake this funeral for a moment of national mourning. This is a gathering of the war party, a reunion of those who have spent a generation remaking the Middle East in the image of Israeli power, and Lindsey Graham was its most devoted, most zealous, most

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  The National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action call for restoration of political legitimacy

  by Mehdi Editor on July 29, 2026

  The National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action has today issued a statement calling for the restoration of democratic and political legitimacy for the management of Palestinian national affairs. The Commission said the Palestinian cause is currently facing its most dangerous phase in decades.  The statement read, “While the Israeli occupation continues its settler-colonial project through its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, alongside ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the Palestinian political system is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy. This crisis stems from the suspension of the popular will, the paralysis of national institutions, and the continued management of Palestinian national affairs through authorities that have lost their democratic and political legitimacy.”

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  Can disability become the next soft power tool in Indonesia-MENA ties?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 29, 2026

  A ministerial meeting in Amman last week barely registered outside Jordan’s own newswires. An Indonesian government delegation sat down with Jordan’s Minister of Social Development to compare notes on how each country supports people with disabilities. On its own, it looks like a courtesy visit. Set against Indonesia’s fast-growing ties with the wider Middle East and North Africa, it raises a bigger question: could disability policy become a real tool in how Indonesia and the region build closer relations with each other? Indonesia’s relationship with the Middle East used to run mainly through two channels: buying oil and gas, and sending pilgrims to Mecca. That is changing. Trade between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates has grown to $5.1 billion

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  Nearly half of Americans want Netanyahu arrested despite Israel’s multimillion-dollar propaganda drive

  by Mehdi Editor on July 29, 2026

  Nearly half of Americans believe the US should arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll⁠. The survey found that 49 per cent support arresting Netanyahu on the basis of the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), while 27 per cent oppose his arrest and 23 per cent remain unsure.  Among those who voted in the 2024 US presidential election, 74 per cent of Kamala Harris voters supported arresting Netanyahu. Notably, almost a quarter — 23 per cent — of Donald Trump voters also backed his arrest.  The findings suggest that calls to hold the Israeli prime minister accountable for Israel’s conduct in Gaza have spread well beyond the

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  Trump says US will be hitting Iran ‘hard,’ but will ‘let them keep talking’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 29, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US will strike Iran “hard” in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on American forces in Jordan, Anadolu reports. In a phone call with Fox News, Trump said the US strikes overnight against Iran-backed militias in Iraq were “coordinated with” the Iraqi government. Following Iran’s attack on Jordan, the US president said “we’ll be hitting them (Iranians) hard,” stressing that “They’re going to get a beating.” About negotiations with Iran for a peace deal, Trump said: “We’re going to let them keep talking.” Earlier this week, Trump said the US was having “good talks” with Iran and that there is a “good chance” of reaching a deal, but warned the military operation could