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

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  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators urge Rome to end cooperation with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on June 26, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Rome City Hall in Rome on Thursday, urging municipal authorities to end the city’s institutional cooperation with Israel, Anadolu reports. Despite high temperatures, protesters assembled in Campidoglio Square carrying Palestinian flags and banners while seeking to make their voices heard by members of the City Council meeting inside the municipal building. They also chanted pro-Palestinian slogans and protested Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Maya Issa, president of Palestinian Students in Italy, said demonstrators had once again gathered outside City Hall to call on Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and the municipal administration to terminate all existing agreements with Israel. Issa said more than 16,000 Rome residents had signed a petition in recent months calling for the municipality to end its

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  Israeli citizen sentenced over US secrets plot

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  An Israeli citizen has been sentenced in the US after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal a trade secret from an Arizona-based semiconductor technology company, in a case that adds to long-standing practice of Israeli-linked espionage. Guy Galanti, 48, an Israeli citizen who lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, received a sentence of time served and three years of supervised release from US District Judge G. Murray Snow, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Tuesday. Galanti had remained in custody since his arrest in September 2025 and pleaded guilty on 26 May, 2026, to conspiring to steal a trade secret. According to prosecutors, Galanti worked as a senior-level manager for Green Technology Investments (GTI), a Scottsdale company

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  Houthi leader warns against Israeli presence in Somaliland, pledges response

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, warned on Thursday against what he described as Israeli efforts to establish a presence in Somaliland, saying the group would respond to any such move. Speaking in a televised address, al-Houthi said Israel was seeking to expand its influence in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in an effort to strengthen its control over strategic shipping routes in the Red Sea. He warned that Ansar Allah would not remain passive in the face of any Israeli presence in the region and affirmed the group’s readiness to confront it. Al-Houthi also called on countries bordering the Red Sea to adopt a unified position to safeguard regional security, sovereignty and strategic

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  Sudan’s war deepens humanitarian crisis as hunger, inflation and currency collapse impact civilians

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to worsen more than three years after the outbreak of war, with millions of civilians facing mounting hardship amid soaring food prices, collapsing public services and a rapidly depreciating national currency. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of a deteriorating humanitarian situation, citing an increasing risk of famine, rising civilian casualties and the continued displacement of millions of people as fighting persists across the country. For many Sudanese, the impact of the conflict is no longer measured solely by battles or military advances, but by the struggle to obtain food, clean water and electricity, and by the steady decline in the purchasing power of the Sudanese pound. Since the conflict erupted on 15th April 2023,

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  Hezbollah rejects direct talks with Israel, urges Lebanese government to embrace Iranian support

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Hezbollah has renewed its opposition to any direct negotiations with Israel, urging the Lebanese government to abandon what it described as a policy of concessions and to take advantage of Iranian support in addressing the conflict with Israel. In a statement, the group criticised the Lebanese government’s current approach, saying it had resulted in “gratuitous concessions” to Israel and deepened political divisions within Lebanon. Hezbollah reiterated its categorical rejection of direct negotiations with Israel, calling instead for an immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The group also urged Lebanese authorities to capitalise on what it described as Iran’s support, arguing that it had helped secure a ceasefire and commitments from the United States regarding an Israeli withdrawal from

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  UNICEF: More than 260 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since ceasefire began

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  More than 260 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire began in October 2025, according to UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, who warned that conditions for children remain dire despite the truce. Speaking to Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Elder described the ceasefire as a “cruel and deadly illusion.” “We are in the midst of a supposed ceasefire, but what we are seeing is a cruel and deadly illusion of a ceasefire. An average of one child dies every day,” he said. Elder said that two sisters were killed on Saturday and that other children had recently been killed in drone strikes and aerial bombardments. “Since the start of this supposed ceasefire, more than 260 children have been

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  Despite Entenal Differences: Strong American Support for the US – Iran Agreement

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Seventy-eight per cent of Americans support ending the war with Iran, while 57 per cent believe it has created more problems than it has solved. At the same time, the US economy continues to grapple with inflationary pressures linked to the war and energy markets, with inflation remaining elevated owing in part to supply disruptions associated with the conflict in the Middle East. Against this backdrop, the US administration strongly favours an agreement with Iran to bring the war to a definitive end. That preference was reflected in the framework agreed by the two countries and announced a few days ago. Yet the agreement has also fuelled Israeli discontent amid growing divergence over the “day after” arrangements. Against the backdrop

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  Israeli army arrests groom, father and brother during wedding raid in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Israeli forces raided a wedding celebration in the town of Anata, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, on Thursday evening, arresting the groom, his father and his brother. A young woman was also injured, while several Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation during the raid. Local sources told Anadolu that Israeli forces stormed the town and raided the wedding of the al-Refai family, arresting groom Saeed Nasser al-Refai, his father Omar Nasser al-Refai, and his brother Jamal Nasser al-Refai. وسط إطلاق قنابل الغاز على الحاضرين.. قوات الاحتلال تقتحم حفل زفاف في بلدة عناتا شمالي القدس المحتلة، وتعتقل العريس ووالده وشقيقه وفق وسائل إعلام فلسطينية pic.twitter.com/081ej4uqIB — الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) June 25, 2026 The sources said the forces detained wedding guests for more than

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  IOM: 1,430 people displaced in Sudan’s North Darfur in one day

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday that 1,430 people were displaced from five villages in North Darfur state in western Sudan in a single day due to worsening insecurity. In a statement, the IOM said its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams estimated that around 1,430 people fled the villages of Shatmarta, Singari, Goz Laban, Dal Burida and Khair Wajid in the Ambro area of North Darfur on Tuesday after security conditions deteriorated. The organisation said some of the displaced moved to other locations within Ambro, while others crossed the border into neighbouring Chad. It added that the situation in the area “remains tense and volatile” and that it is closely monitoring developments. The latest displacement comes three

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  Liberman: Netanyahu leading Israel towards ‘civil war’

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  Opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Liberman has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging Israel towards “civil war” in order to remain in power. Writing on X on Thursday, Liberman said: “The government (of Benjamin Netanyahu) is dragging the State of Israel into a civil war – just to cling to power for a few more days.” The former Israeli defence minister shared a photo showing a police officer surrounded by a large crowd of Haredi Jews who protested on Wednesday against military conscription. The officer appeared to be pleading with the crowd to leave him alone. “The sights we saw yesterday are a national disgrace,” Liberman said. A police officer begging for his life in front of

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  Trump rebuked Netanyahu over Gaza: ‘All the Jews are sick of you’ – CNN

  by Marwa A on June 26, 2026

  CNN has revealed details of a tense phone call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September last year, according to journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan in a new book, published Tuesday, examining the relationship between the two leaders. According to the book, Regime Change, Trump expressed strong frustration with Netanyahu over what he saw as an insufficient response to US efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The authors quoted Trump as telling Netanyahu: “I’m tired of your behaviour. I’ve done everything to protect you, and you’d better move forward with this. Everybody is sick of you, Bibi.” He added: “All the Jews are sick of you, even the Jews on

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 22 Jun

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  MEMO speaks to Motasem A. Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as part of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire.

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  Israel will remain in territory occupied in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza ‘indefinitely’: Defence minister

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  The Israeli army will remain in territory occupied in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip “indefinitely,” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The army “will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza – indefinitely,” Katz said at a combat officers’ course graduation ceremony at the Israel Forces Officers Training School, as cited by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. “Commanders and soldiers have all the necessary backing to complete their mission and defend themselves and the citizens of Israel,” he reportedly added. Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 4,200 people and injured over 12,000 others since March 2, according to official Lebanese figures. Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades

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  Israeli prime minister faces calls to resign during military ceremony: Report

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced anti-government chants on Thursday, with attendees calling for his resignation during a speech at a military graduation ceremony in southern Israel, Anadolu reports. According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the chants erupted during Netanyahu’s address at a graduation ceremony for combat officers at the Bahad 1 military base, home to the Israeli army’s officers training school. During his speech, Netanyahu claimed Israel was “at the height of a continuing regional war.” He also claimed that Israel had “managed to change the rules of the game in the region, break the barrier of fear, and prove the strength of its iron grip.” The chants came amid ongoing protests in several Israeli cities against Netanyahu’s government,

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  US, Gulf states call for reopening Hormuz, reject ‘any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control’ over waterway

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  The US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries called Thursday for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that free navigation through the strategic waterway remains “essential” to regional and global security. In a joint statement issued after a US-GCC ministerial meeting in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, the two sides emphasized the importance of reopening the strait, saying “free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation,” including the right of transit passage under international law, remains “essential to regional and global security.” The statement said the ministers rejected “any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control” over the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers also stressed the need to maintain “momentum and unity” as negotiations between the US and Iran proceed toward a more permanent

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  Hundreds of Palestinians protest Israeli policies of home demolitions in Negev

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Hundreds of Palestinians protested Thursday in Beersheba in Israel’s southern Negev region against Israeli policies of home demolitions and land confiscation targeting Bedouin communities in the area, Anadolu reports. According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, protesters included residents of Bedouin communities affected by demolitions or facing displacement, as well as supporters from among Arab Israelis. The protest was organized by the Higher Steering Committee for Arabs in the Negev, the Committee of Heads of Bedouin Local Authorities, and the Regional Council for Unrecognized Villages. Demonstrators carried banners affirming their rights to land and housing, with slogans including “The Negev belongs to its people and owners” and “No to house demolitions, yes to our right to housing.” READ: Former Israeli

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  2 killed, 7 injured in RSF drone strike on fuel station in southern Sudan: Medics

  by Marwa A on June 25, 2026

  Two people were killed and seven others injured in a drone strike by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a fuel station in White Nile State in southern Sudan, according to a Sudanese medical group on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement that the strike hit the fuel station in Rabak city in the morning, in the second attack in less than a week against civilian and vital infrastructure. It condemned what it called the “systematic targeting of civilian facilities,” warning that attacks on civilian areas “worsen the suffering of the population and aggravate the humanitarian situation in the country.” The network called on the international community and humanitarian organizations to protect civilians and

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  Iran’s parliament speaker rejects US claim unfrozen assets will fund American farm goods

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who heads the country’s negotiation team, on Thursday rejected a US claim that Tehran’s unfrozen assets would be used to buy American agricultural products. “America falsely claims our unfrozen assets will buy their agriculture,” Qalibaf wrote on US social media company X. “The only crop we’re harvesting is what you planted: decades of mistrust,” he added. “It’s organic, abundant, and homegrown.” Qalibaf also criticized Washington’s trade and political record, saying the US “only exports GMO soybeans, broken promises and trash talks.” His remarks came after US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that initial financial relief for Tehran would involve about $500 million in American goods. Trump said no cash would be provided directly to

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  The EU does not need to clarify its support for Israeli colonialism

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israeli colonialism entrenched an apartheid system. The reality has been documented multiple times and acknowledged even within Israel, most prominently by the non-governmental organisation B’Tselem in 2021. Recently, the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas was reported to have used the term apartheid during a visit to Mexico. Kallas has made several contradictory statements since the start of the genocide which reflect both the EU’s lack of political cohesion over sanctioning Israel, as well as the underlying concern to safeguard Israel’s impunity.  However, Kallas’s remark comparing Israel to South African apartheid, has been blown out of proportion and out of all realms of credibility by Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who expressed displeasure at Kallas’s comment and blatantly called Israel “the

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  Life Support: doctors in Gaza bear witness to genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Hospitals represent life. The killing of people inside them, the doctors in Life Support say, is a line that should never have been crossed. Daniele Rugo’s 93-minute documentary opens with British doctors talking about Gaza, their connection to it, the resilience of the people there and a love of life that even decades of siege has not extinguished, before showing what happened when that line was crossed, again and again, over two years. The film had its world premiere at Sheffield DocFest on 13 June 2026, where it was nominated for the festival’s Tim Hetherington Award, followed by a Q&A with Rugo and contributors Dr Ana Jeelani and Prof Nick Maynard. A public premiere follows at Curzon Mayfair on 9

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  Israel’s flag carrier suspends Moscow flights over security concerns: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israel’s flag carrier El Al announced Thursday that it is temporarily suspending flights to Moscow over security concerns following an escalation in Ukrainian attacks inside Russian airspace. Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that El Al suspended flights on its Tel Aviv-Moscow route for the coming days “due to developments between Russia and Ukraine.” The report cited the company as saying that “a situation assessment will be conducted next week, after which a decision will be made regarding resumption of the route.” El Al said affected passengers will be updated and “offered a choice between various alternatives,” according to the newspaper. It did not specify when the suspension takes effect. Yedioth Ahronoth said the decision followed “multiple Ukrainian drone strikes on

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  Israel’s security chiefs revisit Gaza expulsion plan despite global rejection

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Council has convened an urgent meeting to revive plans for the so-called “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, despite senior officials warning that no country has agreed to take in Palestinians from the besieged enclave, Haaretz has reported.   According to the Israeli newspaper, Shmuel Ben Ezra, the new head of Israel’s National Security Council, summoned senior defence establishment officials this week to discuss “encouraging the voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The meeting is said to have been attended by officials from the Israeli army, Shin Bet and Mossad, who reportedly said there had been no practical progress on the plan.   The renewed push comes as Israel’s genocide has devastated Gaza, displaced almost the entire

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  Iraqi Oil Ministry denies reports of potential OPEC exit, urges output quota reassessment

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Iraq’s Oil Ministry denied claims that Baghdad is threatening to withdraw from OPEC, after Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the country could eventually reconsider its membership if its production quota is not raised, Anadolu reports. The ministry said in a statement that claims Iraq is threatening to end its membership in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries do not reflect the official position of the Iraqi government. Neither the prime minister nor the government has raised the issue of withdrawal, the ministry said. Rather, Iraq has consistently emphasized the need to reassess production ceilings in line with the sustainable production capacities of member states, as well as understandings related to Iraq’s security and economic situation, it added. Bloomberg earlier reported,

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  Power, water, and governance: The roots of Iran’s summer blackouts

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Summer nears, yet Iran’s power troubles run deeper than just hot days. Blackouts loom not simply due to weather but because neglect has weakened the grid over years. Outdated plants struggle now where new investment was ignored before. Fuel runs low at times, worsened when rivers shrink beneath long dry spells. People use energy without limits even as imports stall under trade barriers. In offices far from city lights, researchers calculate gaps – up to 13,640 megawatts missing during high stress, roughly a sixth of what users will ask for. Electricity Supply barely creeps toward 68,420 megawatts while needs climb past 81,000. Heat presses down; machines fail more often; factories keep drawing juice anyway. Together, these strains overwhelm any buffer

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  Former Israeli leaders threaten court action over state-backed ‘Jewish terrorism’ in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Dozens of Israel’s most senior former political, military, intelligence, legal and cultural figures have threatened to take Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to court unless it acts to “eradicate Jewish terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, warning that settler and military violence against Palestinians is being enabled to advance an “ethnic cleansing” agenda and future annexation. In an extraordinary “final warning” to the Israeli government and security establishment, the signatories accused Israeli officials of allowing Jewish extremists to carry out murder, sexual assault, theft, arson and desecration of the dead with “almost complete impunity”. They warned that the campaign of violence breaks Israeli and international law, threatens Israel’s security, deepens its global isolation and fuels anti-Semitism worldwide.   “This letter is

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  Israeli forces kill Palestinian man inside home in occupied West Bank raid

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  A Palestinian man was killed Thursday after being shot by Israeli forces during a raid on the town of Sarta in the occupied West Bank, as his family said Israeli troops prevented paramedics from reaching him for nearly two hours after shooting him inside his home. Israeli forces raided the town, west of Salfit, conducting house searches and arrest operations targeting several Palestinians, witnesses told Anadolu Agency. During the raid, Israeli soldiers entered a home and opened fire at Mustafa Taha Khatib inside the house, critically wounding him, the witnesses said. Khatib was transferred to Salfit Government Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Khatib’s uncle, Yassin Khatib, said the family awoke to find Israeli troops

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  Gaza shifts US politics as pro-Israel lobby suffers setback in New York primaries

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  New York City’s Democratic primary elections have highlighted a growing shift in attitudes towards Israel among Democratic voters, after three progressive candidates secured notable victories that were seen as a blow to the traditional party establishment and the political influence of pro-Israel groups, particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Brad Lander won in the 10th District, Claire Valdez in the 7th District, and Darializa Avila Chevalier in the 13th District, putting them on a near-certain path to reaching Congress in the November elections. Lander and Avila Chevalier also succeeded in unseating incumbent members of the House of Representatives. Observers said the war in Gaza and US support for Israel played a key role in several of the races,

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  Israel prepares to resume fighting on Yemen front, updates plans against Houthis

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israeli Channel 14 has reported that the Israeli military is preparing for the possibility of renewed fighting on the Yemen front, amid what it described as the reactivation and updating of operational plans targeting the Houthi group.  The channel said the move follows statements by Israeli Défense Minister Israel Katz, who issued direct threats to the Houthi leadership, asserting that “the account with the group remains open” and that it would pay a heavy price for its attacks against Israel and its interests in the region. According to the report, military plans have been updated in preparation for any political decision to launch new operations against the group in Yemen. It added that the Israeli security establishment is working to

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  215 civilians die in RSF-run prison in South Darfur: Sudanese medics

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  More than 215 civilians died at a prison run by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Darfur due to the spread of diseases and epidemics in less than two months, a Sudanese medical group said Wednesday. In a statement, the Sudan Doctors Network said the deaths were reported inside Daqris Prison during May and June. The deaths were caused by “the spread of diseases and epidemics, as well as torture and mistreatment of detainees, under detention conditions that lack even the most basic standards of healthcare and human dignity,” it added. The group said 31 detainees, including children, were transferred to a hospital in Nyala more than two weeks ago despite showing no apparent illnesses. “Their fate remains

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  Iranian, Saudi foreign ministers discuss US negotiations, regional developments

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan over the phone on Wednesday the latest progress in negotiations with the US and regional developments, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, (IRNA). Araghchi briefed the top Saudi diplomat on “the latest course of negotiations, progress achieved in implementing agreed understandings, and consultations carried out within this framework,” IRNA said. The two ministers also reviewed the latest regional and international developments. They stressed “the importance of continuing consultations, maintaining diplomatic channels, and strengthening joint cooperation” to support regional stability, advance the negotiation process, and achieve “positive and lasting results.” The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement the two diplomats emphasized “the importance of continuing efforts

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  Ultra-orthodox Jews protests disrupt traffic across Israel amid opposition to military conscription

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Mass demonstrations by ultra-orthodox Jews (Haredim) caused widespread traffic disruption across Israel on Wednesday as protesters opposed efforts to expand mandatory military service for members of the community. Large vehicle convoys travelled at slow speeds from dozens of locations across 19 cities, from northern to southern Israel, before converging on Military Prison 10 near Kfar Yona, where individuals accused of evading military service are being held. The protests were organised in response to recent measures aimed at increasing the enlistment of Haredi men into the Israeli military. United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf led one of the convoys departing from Jerusalem and criticised the government’s conscription policy. “It is inconceivable that a young man can study Torah in Bulgaria without

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  Oil, elites, and empty promises: Inside the US-backed coup against the UN in Libya

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Following the conclusion of the United Nations-facilitated Structured Dialogue, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNSMIL, Hanna Tetteh, briefed the UN Security Council on the fragile state of play in Libya. Her briefing shed light on the UN’s latest efforts to revive a stalled political process, but it also highlighted an emerging geopolitical friction point: a competing, US-backed counter-push led by Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Massad Boulos. This American initiative is increasingly seen as a direct challenge—and direct competition—to UNSMIL’s long-term election roadmap. According to the final report of the Structured Dialogue—which concluded on June 7, 2026, after six months of deliberations—the group of approximately 120 Libyans representing civil society and various interest groups produced nearly

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  Report: Israeli officials lobby Washington over proposed Turkey-Saudi trade corridor

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israeli officials are reportedly lobbying the Trump administration to oppose a proposed overland trade corridor linking the Gulf to Europe via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, according to media reports. The proposed project would establish a land transportation route for goods, commercial cargo and passenger traffic, connecting Gulf states with European markets through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. According to the reports, senior figures within Israel’s governing coalition have stepped up contacts with officials in Washington in an effort to persuade the US administration to intervene against the initiative. The reports claim Israeli officials believe the corridor could undermine Israel’s strategic and economic position by diverting regional trade flows away from Israeli infrastructure. According to the reports, Israeli

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  Shin Bet chief orders removal of memorial for 7 October victims to avoid ‘constant reminder of defeat’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Israel’s Shin Bet chief David Zini has ordered the removal of a memorial inside the agency’s headquarters dedicated to personnel killed in the 7 October attack and its aftermath. Israeli critics said the move appeared to be an attempt to remove symbols of the failure and defeat associated with that day. In a statement, the Shin Bet confirmed that Zini had instructed staff to dismantle the memorial. The agency said the decision was based on the view that displaying photos of only some of those killed “reduces the scale of the failure and reflects only part of the disaster”. It noted that a permanent memorial wall bearing the names of all fallen agency personnel already exists. However, Haaretz quoted people

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  Washington talks stall as Israel refuses to leave southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Washington have reportedly hit a deadlock over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, amid Israeli demands for guarantees preventing the return of Hezbollah and preserving the operational freedom of its military. According to diplomatic sources cited by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the fifth round of US-mediated talks has so far failed to produce an agreement that would allow Israeli troops to withdraw. Israel is insisting on remaining in southern Lebanon until it is assured that Hezbollah has been pushed away from the area and prevented from rebuilding its military infrastructure. The dispute emerged during the fifth round of meetings between the Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Washington, according to the London-based newspaper

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  Trump says Turkey was poised to join war alongside Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Turkey had been a potential participant in the war on Iran’s side. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “was a prime candidate to go into the war with Iran — maybe on the Iran side, because he’s not a big fan of Israel,” Trump claimed that he personally intervened and asked Erdogan to stay out of the conflict, adding that the Turkish president had complied with the request. Asked whether he would respond positively to Ankara’s request to acquire F-35 fighter jets and jet engines needed for its domestically produced combat aircraft, Trump said he would “probably do something” that would satisfy Turkey. He also confirmed

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  Awakening human consciousness to the reality of the horrific genocide in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 25, 2026

  People can be consciously aware of atrocities without experiencing the moral outrage those horrors warrant. This emotional detachment is particularly pronounced when atrocities target “those who are different,” occur in seemingly “remote” lands, or repeat so frequently that they dissolve into a familiar, predictable monotony. Psychological frameworks explain this affective insularity through cognitive biases like the “just-world fallacy,” which blocks empathy in otherwise deserving cases to protect one’s own psychological comfort. Alternatively, it manifests as victim-blaming to rationalize aligning with the oppressor, or as compliance with propaganda narratives designed to dehumanize victims and render them unworthy of concern. The rendering of atrocities into something ordinary through repetitive exposure systematically erodes the human capacity for a fittingly shocked response. This was

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  ‘Shocking’ photo of freed Palestinian journalist shows ‘tragic’ conditions in Israeli prisons: Rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  A prisoner advocacy group said Wednesday the “shocking” photo of Palestinian journalist Mujahid Bani Mufleh after six months in Israeli detention shows the ongoing “tragic” conditions in Israeli prisons, Anadolu reports. “Israeli prisons have turned into a tool for slow and direct killing of Palestinian prisoners,” the Palestinian Prisoner Society said in a statement. Bani Mufleh posted a photo of himself on Wednesday after a long treatment journey for an illness he contracted while imprisoned by Israel. The photo showed part of his brain skull removed as a result of surgeries he underwent while in Israeli detention. The Palestinian journalist also lost significant weight, appearing noticeably pale and almost unrecognizable. “Bani Mufleh is not an isolated case, but points to

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  Israel declares 115 acres as ‘state land’ to expand illegal West Bank settlement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Wednesday the designation of 465 dunams (115 acres) of land as “state land” to expand the illegal settlement of Givat Haroeh, built on lands in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich wrote on the US social media company X that “465 dunams have been declared state land for the purpose of expanding Givat Haroeh settlement.” He added that “we continue to build, expand, and strengthen effective sovereignty on the ground,” claiming the move would “strengthen Israelis’ security.” Smotrich also reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood. “During my term, a Palestinian state will not be established,” he wrote. READ: Israeli Cabinet minister brags about demolishing 5,700 Palestinians homes in 1 year,

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  Israel forces destroy cemetery containing remains of Canadian soldiers in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israel has destroyed a cemetery in the Gaza Strip containing the remains of 22 Canadian soldiers killed in the first UN peacekeeping initiative in 1956, according to media reports Wednesday. “It’s like there’s no headstones anymore,” Lia Bons, whose brother Adriann is buried in the cemetery, told CBC News. “It just looks like dirt, gravel, sand.” An officer with the Israel military admitted that soldiers in the Brigade Combat Team dug down to a depth of 20 – 30 meters (66 to 98 feet) under the cemetery to destroy a Hamas tunnel in February and no measures were taken to safeguard the remains of the soldiers because the operation was conducted under combat conditions. The Gaza War Cemetery in the

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  The illusions of Western virtue: Ursula von der Leyen and Europe’s moral bankruptcy

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has every right to condition European relations with any other country or bloc on respect for human rights. That, of course, would hold true if she genuinely cared about such values herself. In response to the June 19 signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran—intended to bring an end to a destructive war—von der Leyen declared that the European Union does not intend to lift its sanctions on Tehran. Speaking on June 15, ahead of the G7 summit, she firmly conditioned any diplomatic thawing on domestic changes within the Islamic Republic. “The principle of sanctions is that we need real change on the ground before we can think

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  Israeli Cabinet minister brags about demolishing 5,700 Palestinians homes in 1 year, vows to demolish more

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir bragged Wednesday about demolishing 5,700 Palestinian homes over the past year, vowing to demolish more buildings amid ongoing Israeli military escalation against Palestinians. “I demolished 5,700 homes in the past year alone,” Ben-Gvir said during a conference in Tel Aviv, as cited by Israel’s Channel 12. “I will continue demolishing more and more homes in Bedouin communities,” he vowed. Palestinian Bedouin villages and communities are spread across northern and southern Israel, including the Negev, as well as in the occupied West Bank. In a report on June 10, Amnesty International said Israel has accelerated policies targeting Bedouin and herding communities in the occupied West Bank through land seizures and related measures. READ: Olmert: Israel is

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  Thank you, Israel, for overplaying the empire’s hand

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  One must give credit where credit is due: Israel, by behaving with the strategic subtlety of a chainsaw in a porcelain museum, has achieved what diplomats, clerics, monarchs, generals, and think-tank acrobats spent decades failing to accomplish. It has helped bury the old Sunni–Shia melodrama as the organizing principle of West Asian politics, and it has made the American “security umbrella” look less like an umbrella than a very expensive lightning rod. This is no small accomplishment. For years, the region was instructed to understand itself through sectarian grammar. Riyadh and Tehran were not merely rival capitals; they were presented as metaphysical opposites, civilizational antagonists, eternal enemies locked in theological combat. Every battlefield was translated into sectarian prose. Yemen, Syria,

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  Israeli media highlight concerns over Egypt’s growing military capabilities

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israeli media have once again highlighted Egypt’s growing military capabilities and moves linked to strengthening its military presence in Sinai, reflecting concerns within Israeli security and political circles. Israeli platform News1 published a report citing Israeli security assessments regarding Egypt’s military capabilities. The report claimed that decision-makers in Tel Aviv are closely monitoring the modernisation and development programmes undertaken by the Egyptian army in recent years. According to the report, some Israeli assessments believe that the scale of Egypt’s military procurement and training exceeds the requirements of traditional threats along its western and southern borders. This has prompted questions within Israeli circles about the long-term strategic objectives behind these capabilities. READ: ‘Israel will have a war with Egypt in 15 years’:

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  Israeli minister says army won’t leave occupied territory in Lebanon ‘even if US demands’ it

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed Wednesday army forces will not leave territory occupied in southern Lebanon “even if the United States demands withdrawal.” “Israel will not leave its security zone in Lebanon, even if the United States demands withdrawal,” Katz said during an event in Tel Aviv, as cited by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. There was no immediate response from Washington. The comments come as senior Israeli officials continue to insist on maintaining control over occupied areas in southern Lebanon despite a recent US-Iran understanding, which includes commitments related to respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Katz and Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir pledged to maintain control of what Israel describes as

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  Critical minerals: The next energy battle in West Asia

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  For decades, oil and natural gas defined power in the Middle East. Control over hydrocarbon resources shaped alliances, triggered conflicts and influenced the global economy. Today, however, a quieter but equally significant competition is emerging beneath the surface. The next strategic battle in West Asia may not be fought over oil fields or gas pipelines, but over the critical minerals required to power the global energy transition. As governments around the world accelerate efforts to reduce carbon emissions, demand for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, batteries and advanced digital technologies is increasing rapidly. These industries rely heavily on critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements. Without them, the green transition cannot occur. As a result,

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  “The Jewish KKK” and the Catastrophe Jewish Critics Warned Was Coming | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  This week, we begin with Hannah Arendt, the Jewish intellectual who warned that a state built without Palestinian consent would be condemned to permanent war. Her warning now feels less like abstract history and more like a description of Israel today: a militarised society, trapped in endless war and dependent on propaganda to justify the violence needed to sustain its project. We also look at the casual anti-Muslim racism used by Israel advocates to dismiss equality for Palestinian, the UN Human Rights Council’s findings on Israel’s targeting of children in Gaza, and the rise of settler violence in Hebron and around Al-Aqsa Mosque. The episode ends with Trump’s U-turn on Iran, Lebanon’s central role in US-Iran diplomacy and the pro-war

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  Netanyahu’s corruption case testimony concludes after 98 hearings

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial testimony concluded Wednesday after 98 court hearings spanning one-and-a-half years, with the Israeli premier describing the proceedings as “10 years of hell,” Anadolu reports. Corruption allegations against Netanyahu first surfaced publicly in 2016 before then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit filed formal indictments against him in November 2019. He faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three major corruption cases known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. Case 1000 centers on allegations that Netanyahu and members of his family received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors. Case 2000 involves accusations that Netanyahu negotiated with Arnon Mozes, publisher of prominent Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, to secure favorable media coverage in return

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  Trump warns Iran negotiations would end if tolls imposed on ships

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that diplomatic talks with Iran would terminate instantly if Tehran attempts to collect fees from maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. He claimed Iranian officials assured Washington that there are “no tolls, no insurance costs, & no other charges of any kind” being sought or received from vessels transiting the strategic waterway. “If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The US president also reiterated that no cash will be provided directly to Tehran. Instead, Washington intends to utilize controlled Iranian funds to pay American farmers for exports such as corn and wheat. “Food is desperately needed in Iran, and we

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  Israeli minister warns US will soon find itself ‘on collision course’ with Tel Aviv over Iran deal

  by Mehdi Editor on June 24, 2026

  The US will soon find itself “on a collision course” with Israel over its agreement with Iran, Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar said Wednesday, arguing that the deal will not resolve concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Local Government Conference in Tel Aviv, Zohar criticized US handling of negotiations with Tehran, and warned: “The conduct of the US at this moment regarding the Iranian issue is not good.” “They do not internalize who they are dealing with,” Zohar was quoted as saying by Israeli news site Ynet. “The US will find itself on a collision course with Israel in the near future, and our response to the US will not be automatic,” he added,