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

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  America First’s Real Test Is Washington, Not Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Iran crisis has become more than another confrontation in the Middle East. For America First, it is a test of a political promise: Can the United States break from the cycle of endless wars, reserve its power for clear national interests, and resist turning every foreign crisis into another open-ended American commitment? That question goes to the heart of what America First was supposed to change. For its supporters, America First has never meant abandoning American power or retreating from the world. It means asking harder questions about how that power is used and for what purpose. Must every regional threat become a test of American credibility? Must every crisis lead to a larger military commitment? Or is American

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  Pro-Palestinian candidates score wins in US Democratic primaries

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The results of US primary elections point to the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, which has placed the Palestinian issue at the centre of its political message. Supporters of the movement say more than 250 progressives now hold elected positions across the United States. They also say that 35 progressive candidates defeated establishment Democratic candidates for Congress in this year’s primary elections, describing the results as a major shift within the party. The United States is currently holding primary elections ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, with Democratic and Republican voters selecting their parties’ candidates for Congress. READ: American Jews favour Mamdani over Netanyahu as 30% say Israel committed genocide Among the most notable results from Tuesday’s

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  24 Palestinian workers released by Israel return to Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Twenty-four Palestinian workers detained by Israeli forces returned to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing on Wednesday, following their release under the terms of a ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. About 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, including 92 women and 370 children, are currently held in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions, with dozens reported to have died as a result of starvation, torture and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights organizations. In 2002, Israel’s Knesset passed the “Unlawful Combatant Law,” which allows Palestinians to be held for indefinite periods without indictment or sufficient evidence being presented to a court, according to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. Since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza on Oct.

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  Detained Gaza hospital director Abu Safiya suffers serious health deterioration following reports of torture and abuse

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The Palestinian Prisoners’ Information Office said detained doctor Hossam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, is facing extremely difficult health and humanitarian conditions in Israel’s Rakevet Prison after enduring severe and repeated abuse that left him with multiple injuries, including fractures to his rib cage. In a statement, the office said Abu Safiya was subjected on 27 July to what it described as the most violent prison raid since his arrest, calling it “the hardest day of his life in prison.” It said detainees were beaten with batons, subjected to electric shocks, exposed to tear gas and rubber bullets, and attacked by police dogs. The statement said Abu Safiya suffers from chronic heart disease and high blood pressure, as

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  US to use military, economic, diplomatic tools to end Iran war: Vance

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  The US will use military, economic and diplomatic tools to bring the Iran conflict to a resolution, Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News Wednesday. Asked about the setbacks in negotiations with Iran, Vance cited two factors: “Number one, the Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people. Number two, they have a fractured system.” “There are people within their system that want the war to be over and there are also people in their system that are crazy radicals who want the war to continue,” he said. “Our job is to navigate through that and get the best outcome for the American people and for the President of the United States as well.” Vance expressed hope for a

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  Darkness: How corruption, mismanagement, and heat ignited Libya’s protests

  by Marwa A on August 6, 2026

  When temperatures crossed 43°C across western Libya in July, with some places like Al-Azizia, just south of Tripoli, recording near 50°C, it was not merely the air that reached a boiling point—it was the collective patience of a population pushed beyond its limits. What began as desperate protests against devastating electricity outages, lasting up to 14 hours a day at summer peak, rapidly transformed into a full-scale political rebellion against Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and his Government of National Unity (GNU). Attempting to deflect mounting public anger, Prime Minister Dbeibeh took to the stage during a cabinet meeting on 18th July to publicly lash out at the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL). He openly accused the state utility’s

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  Israeli Researcher Calls for Treating Qatar as ‘Hostile State’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  An Israeli researcher has described Qatar as a hostile state and called for Israel to adopt a comprehensive strategy to deal with it. In an article published by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS), Israeli researcher Ariel Admoni urged Israel to treat Qatar as a “hostile state”, citing what he described as Doha’s media influence across various sectors. Admoni also recommended coordinated political, economic, legal and media measures, including the establishment of a specialised centre to study Qatari influence. He called for efforts to target Qatar-linked specific businesses and institutions in the United States and Europe, rather than pursuing military escalation or direct propaganda campaigns. “A sophisticated, well-coordinated campaign could restrain and weaken a dangerous state that acts

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  Mohamed Salah arrives in Trabzon amid a massive public reception

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Egyptian star Mohamed Salah arrived in the Turkish city of Trabzon on a private jet on Wednesday evening to a huge welcome from fans after Trabzonspor announced it had begun negotiations to sign him. Thousands of Trabzonspor supporters gathered at the airport carrying flares and chanting to welcome the Egyptian forward. Addressing the crowd at the airport, Salah said he was overwhelmed by the reception. “I just want to say I’m very happy to be here. Honestly, I find it difficult to describe how surprised and happy I am because there are 25,000 people here. I don’t remember ever receiving a welcome like this before,” he said. READ: Palestine Football Association says FIFA failed to enforce rules against Israel Salah said

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  Iran says it backs Palestinian leadership decisions on Gaza’s future

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday during a phone call with Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ political bureau, that Tehran supports every step, initiative and decision taken by the Palestinian leadership during negotiations on Gaza’s future. He added: “The hearts of the Iranian people and its officials are with the Palestinian people. Tehran will continue to support the Palestinian people and stand by them.” Earlier on Wednesday, Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and its negotiating delegation, said the group was still awaiting an official response from Nikolay Mladenov, Gaza’s representative on the Board of Peace, regarding the implementation of the second phase of the roadmap under the latest Cairo agreement reached with the mediators. In a

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  Turkey says any attack on al-Aqsa mosque is an assault on Turkish values

  by Mehdi Editor on August 6, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey regards Al-Aqsa Mosque as one of its own sacred sites, stressing that “any violation directed against it is regarded as a violation of the values of our nation.”  Fidan made the remarks on Wednesday during a press conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where he took part in the ministerial meeting on Jerusalem. He described the meeting as “historic”, saying it addressed several regional issues, including developments in the Gulf, the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Palestinian issue. Fidan said Turkey’s focus had not diverted from the Palestinian issue, Al-Aqsa Mosque, or the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. He said these issues

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  Israel’s Netanyahu hints at unilateral military action against Iran amid regional de-escalation efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hinted that Israel could take unilateral military action against Iran as diplomatic efforts continued to secure an agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Tehran and Washington, Anadolu reports. “We heard today the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, declare that Iran intends to continue developing a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu said. “As Israel’s prime minister, I am determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he added. Describing the US as “Israel’s greatest ally,” the Israeli premier said, however, that he was “determined to do whatever is necessary to ensure” Israel’s security. On Tuesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said mediation efforts between the US and Iran had

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  US military says it redirected 48 vessels while enforcing Iran blockade

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that American forces continued to enforce a US blockade against Iran, reporting that dozens of commercial vessels had been redirected as part of ongoing maritime operations, Anadolu reports. “A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet is refueled during a patrol over regional waters in the Middle East while the U.S. continues enforcement of the blockade against Iran,” CENTCOM said on the US social media company X. “As of Aug. 5, CENTCOM forces have redirected 48 commercial vessels, disabled 2, and boarded 2,” it added. Iran said Wednesday that a joint statement with Oman on a proposed navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz was in the final stages of drafting, provided no external party

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  Egypt’s flag carrier resumes flights to Sudan after suspension since May 2025

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  EgyptAir resumed flights to Sudan on Wednesday, with its first flight landing at Port Sudan International Airport after operations had been suspended since May 2025, Anadolu reports. Sudan Airports Company said in a statement that Port Sudan International Airport had received EgyptAir’s first flight, marking the resumption of the direct route between Cairo and Port Sudan. The return of direct flights would strengthen air connectivity between Sudan and Egypt, support operations at Port Sudan International Airport and expand travel options for passengers, the company added. With EgyptAir’s return, the number of international airlines operating at Port Sudan International Airport has increased to five, it said. READ: 350 more Sudanese return home from Egypt under voluntary repatriation program The other international carriers

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  Canada, UAE conclude ‘successful’ negotiations on comprehensive economic partnership

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan celebrated the “successful conclusion” of negotiations for a Canada-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement during a phone call Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The agreement is the “fastest such agreement ever negotiated in the two countries’ histories,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. It said the deal reflects the “focus, resolution, and commitment” both countries bring to their bilateral relationship. The UAE is Canada’s largest export market in the Middle East, while two-way trade between the countries is growing 10% annually, according to the statement. READ: US, UAE to establish military artificial intelligence task force The agreement will “lower tariffs, create new opportunities for

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  Arab, Muslim foreign ministers meet in Jordan to forge joint stance on Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Arab and Muslim foreign ministers convened in Jordan on Wednesday to formulate a joint position on Jerusalem amid what Amman described as escalating illegal Israeli measures targeting the city’s identity and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, Anadolu reports. According to Jordan’s state news agency Petra, the meeting brought together members of the Arab ministerial committee tasked with confronting Israeli policies and measures in Jerusalem, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. The ministers discussed developments in Jerusalem and its holy sites as they sought to adopt a unified position against Israel’s policies and actions. – Jordan Opening the meeting, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned that “Jerusalem is facing an escalating danger”

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  Iran, Oman reached ‘preliminary understandings’ on Hormuz transit, says Iranian official

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Iran’s deputy foreign minister said Wednesday that Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on nearly all issues on future Strait of Hormuz arrangements, adding that a final understanding is “on the verge of being finalized.” Their understanding includes the location of entry and exit routes for maritime traffic, Kazem Gharibabadi said in remarks carried by Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA. He added, however, that “this understanding does not mean the complete opening of the Strait of Hormuz.” It represents “rather a new and different model from the past 60-year practice,” he said. “In order to enter a second phase, Iran needs to assess whether the US is truly prepared to return to its commitments or not,” he said. Iran’s

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  German activists vow to intensify campaign against Volkswagen’s potential deal with Israeli defense firm

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  As Volkswagen explores converting one of its German factories from civilian vehicle production to manufacturing components for an Israeli missile defense system, local peace activists are stepping up efforts to stop the move, Anadolu reports. The campaign comes amid reports that Volkswagen is in discussions with Israel’s state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems about repurposing its Osnabruck plant after passenger car production ends in 2027. The site could manufacture components for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, including launchers, transport vehicles and power generators, according to the Financial Times. Volkswagen has not confirmed any agreement and says no decision has been made on the plant’s future. Even without a confirmed agreement, Osnabruck Peace Initiative (OFRI) said it plans to intensify its grassroots campaign

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  Saudi-led consortium finalizes $55B acquisition of gaming giant EA

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  A Saudi-led investment group finalized the $55 billion acquisition of American video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA), according to official statements and industry reports released on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The deal, which takes the publisher of major franchises such as EA Sports FC, the Sims, and Mass Effect private, marks the largest leveraged buyout in corporate history and the second-largest acquisition in gaming history, behind Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Under the terms of the transaction, the acquiring consortium, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) alongside Affinity Partners, provided $36 billion in equity and secured $20 billion in debt financing from JPMorgan to complete the acquisition. The investor group, which includes Affinity Partners, the private equity firm founded

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  The meaning of Tell: Why the West Bank may be nearing a breaking point

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  The events in Tell, southwest of Nablus, were not an isolated act of violence. They were a warning. For years, Israel has treated Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank as open spaces for military raids, settler invasions, land theft and collective punishment. The expectation was that Palestinians would endure the violence, bury their dead and return to the same unbearable routine. In Tell, however, that carefully maintained equation was briefly disrupted. The confrontation began when armed Israeli settlers entered the area near the village, attempting to attack Palestinian homes. Villagers confronted them. Israeli soldiers and armed settlement personnel then intervened, transforming the settler attack into a broader military assault. During the confrontation, a Palestinian man seized an Israeli weapon

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  Egypt presses Israel to reopen Rafah crossing for goods: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Egypt is pressing for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza to allow goods into the enclave, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “By contrast, Israel insists on limiting the entry of goods to the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under its control,” the broadcaster said. Israel’s security establishment and political leadership have informed the US and Nikolay Mladenov, the high representative of the Peace Council, of their unified position “not to allow the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip except through the Kerem Shalom crossing,” the broadcaster said, citing an unnamed Israeli source. On Feb. 2, Israel reopened the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which it has occupied since May 2024, on a limited basis

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  UK’s Burnham faces pro-Palestinian backlash over chief of staff appointment

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Less than a month into office, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing backlash over several Cabinet appointments, with pro-Palestinian activists urging his government to impose sanctions on Israel. Among the appointments that have drawn criticism is James Purnell, whom Burnham selected as his new chief of staff. His role as chair of the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group from 2002 to 2004 has sparked anger. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Councillor Jonathan Purcell, a deputy leader of Greens in Tower Hamlet Council, said it’s “absolutely clear” where Burnham’s priorities lie. “James Purnell is the former Labor Friends of Israel chair. If that isn’t a demonstration of where he stands on this issue, then I don’t know what

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  Iranian president reaffirms support for Palestine, backs Hamas-led negotiation decisions

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s support for the Palestinian cause on Wednesday, saying Iran would back decisions taken by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in negotiations, according to the Iranian presidency, Anadolu reports. During a phone call with Khalil al-Hayya, the newly appointed head of Hamas’ political bureau, Pezeshkian congratulated him and expressed hope that he would succeed in serving the Palestinian people, the presidency said in a statement. Pezeshkian said Iran would continue supporting the Palestinian people “to the greatest extent possible” and praised al-Hayya’s role in coordinating Palestinian factions. He added that Tehran supports “every measure, initiative and decision” taken by Palestinian leaders during negotiations. Despite recent Israeli and US attacks on Iran, the Palestinian issue has remained a

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Wednesday that it struck the Saudi oil tanker Wafaa with several ballistic missiles in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu, Anadolu reports. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a statement on X that the missiles hit the tanker “accurately.” Saree said the attack was part of what the group calls its maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and its “blockade for blockade” strategy. The attack brought to eight the number of Saudi oil tankers targeted by the group since the blockade began July 22, he said. READ: Yemen’s Houthis deny drone attack on gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta Port Saree also claimed that 29 Saudi oil tankers had either been prevented from passing through the

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  ‘US interference’ delaying Strait of Hormuz deal with Oman: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  US interference and threats by President Donald Trump are the main reasons for delays in reaching an agreement with Oman on new navigation arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, an informed Iranian source said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “The main reason for the delay in the agreement with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz is US interference and Trump’s threats,” the source told Iran’s Sepah News. “As long as there is US interference and the threat of a military attack on Iran, the agreement will be delayed,” the source said, adding that “Iran will not reach any agreement under the shadow of threats.” The remarks came a day after a senior Iranian official told Press TV that Tehran and Muscat had entered “a

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  UK charity regulator opens inquiry into funding of illegal Israeli settlements

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into charities registered in England and Wales over concerns that charitable funds have been directed to illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. The regulator will examine how much money charities have transferred to organisations or projects operating in the settlements, how recipients used the funds and whether the spending advanced the charities’ declared purposes. It will also consider whether charitable assets or beneficiaries face risks and whether it should take regulatory action. The inquiry will initially focus on eight unnamed charities selected according to factors including the location of their partners and how recently the alleged activity occurred. Read: UK Charity Commission urged to act against Zionist trust ‘fundraising’ for IDF The

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  US has used ‘virtually all’ key long-range missiles in Iran war – report

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  The US Army has used “virtually all” of its stockpile of two key long-range precision missile systems during Washington’s five-month war against Iran, raising serious questions about the country’s readiness for another major conflict, Reuters has reported. Citing three people familiar with internal military data, the report said the US has exhausted most of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), surface-to-surface weapons that allow forces to strike targets accurately from a considerable distance. Two of the sources described the remaining stockpile of the weapons as virtually depleted, although they declined to disclose the number of missiles still available. The disclosure highlighted the scale at which the US has consumed some of its most advanced and

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  Israeli forces raid refugee camp, town north of occupied Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on August 5, 2026

  Israeli forces raided the Qalandiya refugee camp and the town of Kafr Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem, early Wednesday and imposed strict restrictions, including preventing dawn prayers at mosques in the camp, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. In a series of statements received by Anadolu Agency, the governorate said Israeli forces launched a large-scale raid on Qalandiya and Kafr Aqab. The forces imposed a curfew on the streets of Kafr Aqab and heavily deployed military vehicles in the area, it added. Israeli forces prevented dawn prayers at all mosques in Qalandiya and sent text messages to several residents announcing the start of a large-scale military campaign in the camp, the governorate said. The forces also arrested the father of Laith

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  Ali Al-Zaidi may be the failure Iraq needs

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  We should at least entertain the theoretical possibility that Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, is not a fully formed Iranian proxy in the mold of Nouri al-Maliki or Adel Abdul Mahdi. Imagine the following scenario: al-Zaidi speaks the loud language of reform, but governs with cold pragmatism. His promises to “disarm the militias” and “eradicate corruption” give him moral cover to enact cosmetic adjustments that leave the core machinery of plunder untouched—the very swamp in which his government lives. Parliament, unable to bear the cost of toppling yet another prime minister, cooperates. His media campaigns—from a Washington visit packed with a box of carefully arranged illusions, to an upcoming pilgrimage to Tehran packed with a box of loyalty—are cheap

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  There are no “good” Pakistanis left: The geopolitics of obedience

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  For most of Pakistan’s history, the security state has divided the country into two convenient species: the obedient and the dangerous. The terminology changes with geography, ethnicity and political need. “Good” Taliban and “bad” Taliban. “Good” Baloch and “bad” Baloch. Patriotic Pashtuns and foreign-sponsored Pashtuns. Heroic Kashmiris and suspicious Kashmiris. More recently, acceptable supporters of Imran Khan and unacceptable ones — the former frightened into apology, the latter insufficiently broken to surrender. “Good” has never meant peaceful, democratic or law-abiding. It means useful. A good Pakistani mistakes submission for patriotism and silence for unity. A bad Pakistani asks the questions the state cannot survive: Who rules? By what right? For whose benefit? The present military order now faces a grave

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  Trump’s Iran war exposes Washington’s strategic drift

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  The confrontation with Iran has put one of Donald Trump’s central political promises under real strain. Trump built his political brand on a straightforward idea: America would stop pouring resources into endless wars and start putting its own interests first. “America First” meant restraint, making allies carry more of the load, and staying out of conflicts that offered no clear payoff for the United States. Instead of showing that discipline, Washington has looked increasingly reactive, locked into a policy without a clear political endpoint. The criticism is no longer coming only from Democrats. A growing number of conservative commentators, realist scholars, and voices inside the MAGA movement argue that the administration has entered a conflict without a credible way out.

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  Gaza Ceasefire Falters as Trump Remains Trapped in Israel-First Agenda | Palestine This Week

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we are joined by Palestinian political analyst Muhammad Shehada to examine the major developments of the past seven days. The episode covers the latest Hamas-Israel ceasefire negotiations, the role of Gaza in exposing dark money and foreign influence in US politics, Israeli-funded efforts to “poison” AI-generated information and important legal victories protecting anti-Zionist speech in the UK and Germany. We also discuss why Israel and the US are being mentioned in connection with the Ceuta migration crisis, as well as the debate sparked by Green Party plans to twin Greater Manchester with Ramallah and the history of terrorism in Palestine. In this episode of Palestine This Week, we are joined by Palestinian political

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  AIPAC spends $30m but fails to stop El-Sayed in Michigan

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has suffered a major electoral defeat after Dr Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, crushing pro-Israel congresswoman Haley Stevens despite an unprecedented spending campaign on her behalf. AIPAC’s super political action committee, the United Democracy Project, spent more than $30 million promoting Stevens and attacking El-Sayed, according to Federal Election Commission filings analysed by the New York Times. NBC News projected El-Sayed as the winner on Wednesday, dealing a major blow to the pro-Israel lobby’s efforts to determine the outcome of one of the most closely watched Democratic contests in the country. El-Sayed campaigned against US military assistance to Israel and repeatedly highlighted AIPAC’s intervention in the race. Stevens, by contrast, received

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  Michigan Primary: How Standing Up to Israeli Genocide Could Win Democrats Congress in November

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  At 2 a.m. Michigan time last night, NBC projected that AIPAC’s candidate was on her way to look for a new job. Representative Haley Stevens’ defeat in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary is the last nail in AIPAC’s coffin. The once-feared Israel lobby is sinking, along with Israel, like a stone in American public opinion. Despite sixty-to-one spending against Abdul El-Sayed, Stevens couldn’t keep her head above water. AIPAC and its Israel-first Jewish billionaires turned Michigan into the most expensive Democratic Senate primary in American history and lost anyway. Just think about it for a second: a PAC that backs a conservative candidate who champions tax cuts for billionaires in one congressional district while simultaneously bankrolling a liberal, like Stevens,  who

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  Stillborn peace plans: Israel, Hamas and the question of disarmament

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  Another trumpeted achievement, another heralded occasion of momentous significance.  Or it may be nothing of the sort.  US President Donald J. Trump is again on the stage pulling on the strings of history.  This time, attention has shifted to whether Hamas and other armed groups in the Gaza Strip will disarm, something conditional on Israel withdrawing its forces from the war-torn enclave.  And there, we are presented with the first, insoluble problem. The latest roadmap published by the US-led Board of Peace is intended to advance the rest of Trump’s 20-point peace plan signed by Hamas and Israel in October 2025.  It involves the respective cessation by Israel, Hamas and relevant Palestinian factions of “all military operations in accordance with

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  What happened to the Gaza Board of Peace?

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

   It has almost been 7 months since President Donald Trump, in January 2026, announced the establishment of the Board of Peace to govern the post-war Gaza, oversee the construction of the devastated region, and establish an international force to monitor the ceasefire. Alas, nothing has emerged in the public domain about its progress or the actions on the ground. Today, the board seems to have been buried in the mounds of ongoing multi-front wars in the region and all the buzz around it seems to have been overshadowed by the diplomacy around Iran-US and Israel-Lebanon wars. Since the adoption of the charter during the Davos meeting on 22nd January 2026, only two meetings have been held. President Trump announced this

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  Ben-Gvir defies Israeli court over crocodile moat plan around prison holding Palestinian detainees

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, toured crocodile trenches surrounding a wing of Ketziot Prison housing Palestinian The visit came despite a temporary order issued by the Jerusalem District Court on 2 August suspending the plan to place crocodiles around the prison pending a ruling on a petition filed by the animal rights group Let the Animals Live. Ben-Gvir said: “There are supposed to be crocodiles here, but the court has issued an order and continues to put obstacles in the way of what we are doing.” Defying the court’s decision, he added: “There will be crocodiles, and we will fight the battle in court.” Silman said she had visited the site

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  Hamas threatens withdrawal from Gaza understandings amid continued Israeli air strikes

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  Hamas has told mediators it is considering withdrawing from the understandings currently being discussed to reach an agreement on Gaza, in protest at continued Israeli air strikes across the territory, according to Israeli media reports. Israel’s Channel 14 reported that the message sent to mediators could affect the course of the sensitive negotiations currently under way, as the parties work to draft an agreement setting out a framework for the next phase in Gaza. Israeli sources said the government is assessing the implications of Hamas’s message and the options available over the coming hours. Discussions are continuing within Israel’s political and security leadership over how to respond to the latest developments. According to the reports, the debate in Israel centres

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  Sudanese official says army pushes back RSF in two areas of North Darfur

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  The Governor of Sudan’s Darfur region, Minni Arko Minnawi, said on Tuesday that the Sudanese army and allied forces had defeated the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Hajar al-Marfaein and Bir Saliba areas of North Darfur State. In a post on Facebook, Minnawi said the battle in Hajar al-Marfaein and Bir Saliba was “a heroic epic” in which government forces proved that determination could overcome aggression after fierce fighting that ended in a battlefield victory. He added that forces on the ground had reported the killing of Major General Mahdi Adam, also known as Jabal Moon, the RSF’s Western Axis commander. Minnawi congratulated the forces involved in the operation, paid tribute to those killed, wished the wounded a

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  Netanyahu: US sent Israel draft Gaza Agreement but “we have not approved it”

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday evening that his government remains committed to what it described as its “security requirements” in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the Israeli military will not withdraw from its current positions until Hamas has been fully disarmed. Netanyahu said the government had instructed the military to “take all necessary measures” to protect Israeli soldiers, civilians and territory. He added that any future arrangements in Gaza must ensure that security threats cannot re-emerge. He said US President Donald Trump and his team believe it is possible to reach an agreement that would lead to Hamas being disarmed and the Gaza Strip becoming a demilitarised area. Netanyahu said Israel is reviewing the US proposal but

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  Gaza faces surge in infectious diseases amid escalating skin outbreaks

  by Marwa A on August 5, 2026

  As temperatures soar during the peak of summer, tents housing displaced people across the Gaza Strip have become like ovens, with no cooling facilities and little access to basic necessities. Inside a fabric tent at the Al-Attar camp for displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, 70-year-old grandmother Umm Ahmed Tabaza sits beside her two-year-old granddaughter, Sama, fanning her with a piece of cardboard in an attempt to cool her after she was exhausted by the heat and illness. Inflamed blisters have spread densely across the child’s body, causing severe itching that sometimes leads to bleeding. After she contracted chickenpox, the infection spread to several members of her family living with her inside the tent. Despite

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  Lebanon-Israel talks in Rome focus on border, security arrangements: Lebanese official

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  The first day of the seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome focused on border issues and mechanisms to verify the implementation of security arrangements, a senior Lebanese official told Anadolu on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The first day of the seventh round of negotiations with Israel concluded, with the afternoon discussions divided into two meetings, one military and one political,” the official said. At the political meeting, the two sides discussed the border issue, with Lebanon presenting its position. The discussions are scheduled to continue on Wednesday, the official said. During the military meeting, participants discussed mechanisms to verify the implementation of the security arrangements, including an Israeli withdrawal, Hezbollah’s weapons, as well as the third party

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  Indian vessel sinks after Red Sea attack off Yemen, all 14 crew rescued

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  An Indian vessel sank after coming under attack in the Red Sea by an explosives-laden boat off Yemen’s western coast, with all 14 crew members rescued, Yemen’s government-aligned National Resistance Forces announced on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The forces’ December 2 news agency said the Faize Noore Oliya was attacked while sailing about 13 nautical miles south of Al Hudaydah, in the Red Sea, causing it to sink. The agency did not give details about the circumstances of the attack or identify the party responsible. It said the Yemeni Navy and Coast Guard carried out a joint rescue operation that saved all 14 crew members, including 13 Indian sailors and one Yemeni. No casualties were recorded, and the crew members were

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  Understanding with Oman on Strait of Hormuz ‘within reach’ if US stops interference: Iranian official

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  A senior Iranian official said Tuesday that Tehran is close to reaching an understanding with Oman on a new navigation arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz, provided the US stops interfering in the negotiations, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Iran’s Press TV, the official said talks between Tehran and Muscat have entered “a new phase” and are centered on establishing “a new corridor” to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategic waterway. The official said an understanding with Oman is “within reach if the US stops interference.” He accused US President Donald Trump of attempting to influence the talks and claim credit for the outcome, saying the actions have “only slowing the negotiating process.” The proposed corridor would

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  Israeli army launches renewed raids in southern Syria

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  The Israeli army on Tuesday launched a renewed wave of raids in southern Syria, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Anadolu reports. Israeli forces advanced into the village of Mariya in the Yarmouk Basin area of Daraa province in southwestern Syria, SANA reported. They carried out a limited incursion into the western part of the village and searched several civilian homes before withdrawing from the area without making any arrests, the agency said. Since Monday, the Israeli army has also continued earthmoving operations and work to reopen an old dirt road north of Wadi al-Raqad from the direction of Mariya village, using a bulldozer accompanied by a tank and a pickup truck, it added. Southern Syria has witnessed

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  Israel commits 6 ceasefire violations in Lebanon despite Rome talks

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  The Israeli army committed six ceasefire violations Tuesday in Lebanon, according to Lebanese state-run National News Agency, despite a new round of direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv in Rome, Anadolu reports. The reported violations came as the seventh round of US-mediated talks between the two sides opened in the Italian capital, despite the two countries signing a framework agreement in June. In southern Lebanon, the news outlet reported that Israeli military vehicles advanced from the town of Haddatha toward the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal in the Bint Jbeil district, while Israeli forces carried out artillery shelling and operated drones and reconnaissance aircraft above the area. It added that Israeli troops also fired machine guns toward Haddatha as military

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  Anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, UK appeal tribunal confirms in landmark ruling

  by Marwa A on August 4, 2026

  The UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld a landmark ruling that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism and constitutes a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. The judgment rejects the University of Bristol’s attempt to overturn the central findings in favour of its former professor, David Miller. The ruling reinforces a distinction which pro-Palestine campaigners, Jewish anti-Zionists and civil liberties advocates have defended for years: opposition to Zionism as a political ideology is not inherently the same as hostility towards Jewish people. In its judgment, handed down on today, the EAT upheld the findings that the university’s decision to dismiss Miller and its refusal of his internal appeal constituted unlawful direct discrimination. It also preserved the conclusions that his

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  Palantir revenue surges 93% amid criticism over support for Israel’s Gaza war

  by Mehdi Editor on August 4, 2026

  US artificial intelligence and data analytics company Palantir Technologies reported a 93% year-on-year surge in second-quarter revenue, despite mounting criticism over its support for Israel and the alleged use of its technology in the Gaza war, Anadolu reports. Revenue reached $1.94 billion in the three months ended June 30, up from $1 billion a year earlier, the company said Monday. Net income attributable to common shareholders more than tripled to $1.06 billion, while diluted earnings per share rose to $0.41 from $0.13. Palantir’s US revenue climbed 115% year-on-year to $1.57 billion. US commercial revenue jumped 149% to $764 million, while government revenue increased 90% to $809 million. “This quarter was otherworldly,” CEO Alex Karp said, citing accelerating demand for what

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  6 Saudi-flagged oil carriers reroute around Africa, avoiding Bab el-Mandeb

  by Mehdi Editor on August 4, 2026

  Six Saudi-flagged very large crude carriers (VLCCs) sailing in ballast have turned away from the Bab el-Mandeb route and are heading south through the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. MarineTraffic wrote on US social media platform X that the first Automatic Identification System (AIS) destination changes for five of the six vessels were recorded July 30 as the tankers continued southward. The Ghinah and Laynah updated their destinations to Durban, South Africa, while the Burqan initially signaled Durban before switching to Algoa Bay and later Port Elizabeth. The Dilam and Hazm initially listed Gibraltar as their destinations. The Hazm subsequently changed its destination to Durban at 2220GMT on July 31, according to the platform. READ: Yemen’s Houthis

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  Over 600 Palestinians detained by Israel in West Bank raids last month: Advocacy group

  by Mehdi Editor on August 4, 2026

  Israeli forces rounded up 630 Palestinians in military raids across the occupied West Bank in July as part of escalating arrest campaigns since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, a prisoners’ rights group said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Women, children and former prisoners were among those detained in the Israeli raids, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement. The group said the latest wave of arrests brought the number of Palestinians detained since the Gaza war in October 2023 to more than 25,000 people. “The arrest campaigns were accompanied by escalating violations, including field interrogations, violent night raids on homes, systematic destruction of property, assaults on detainees and their families through beatings, threats and humiliation, holding family members hostage,

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  Iraqi Airways resumes direct flights to Moscow after months-long suspension

  by Mehdi Editor on August 4, 2026

  Iraqi Airways resumed direct flights between Baghdad and Moscow after a several-month suspension, Russia’s Transport Ministry said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The first flight arrived at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport earlier Tuesday, marking the resumption of regular direct air service between the Iraqi and Russian capitals. Flights are scheduled to operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, according to the ministry. Iraqi Airways said the decision to resume the route was driven by growing demand for direct flights between Baghdad and Moscow. The resumption comes as another Middle Eastern carrier prepares to restore direct service to the Russian capital. Syrian Airlines said it will resume flights between Damascus and Moscow from Aug. 16. The two developments expand direct air connections between