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

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  Islamic Jihad says Palestinian factions agree in Cairo to postpone elections

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Palestinian factions participating in talks in Cairo have reached a consensus to postpone the scheduled Palestinian elections, with an official announcement expected in the coming period, according to Islamic Jihad. Mohammed al-Hindi, the movement’s deputy secretary-general, said the meetings hosted by Egypt had resulted in an agreement among Palestinian factions to delay the elections as part of broader understandings aimed at addressing national issues and continuing internal dialogue. Al-Hindi said the Fatah delegation would return to Ramallah to follow up on the understandings reached during the meetings. He added that a new election date would be determined through consensus among the various Palestinian factions. According to al-Hindi, participants also agreed to continue national dialogue in the coming period to strengthen

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  Egyptian pilot sparks Israeli backlash with video of El Al plane and Sadat speech

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  An Egyptian pilot has responded to angry Israeli comments after posting a video showing an Egyptian aircraft next to an Israeli plane at an Italian airport, accompanied by an excerpt from a speech by the late Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat. The video shows the Egyptian aircraft taxiing at the airport, with an Israeli civilian aircraft nearby. It features an audio excerpt from Sadat’s speech during the October 1973 War, in which he said: “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and depth for depth.” The video prompted comments from Israeli social media users, particularly as it was posted following an incident involving Dubai-based airline flydubai. Some interpreted it as carrying a political message or threat, while

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  Sudan’s RSF special operations commander defects to army

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Azraq al-Fanjari, commander of the special missions and special operations group within Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced on Thursday that he had defected and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces. In a video message, al-Fanjari called for an end to the war and urged Sudanese people to return to the “embrace of the homeland”, declaring his allegiance to the army. He apologised to the Sudanese people for the consequences of what he described as an “absurd war” and condemned violations against civilians. Al-Fanjari left RSF positions accompanied by about 300 officers and soldiers in around 30 combat vehicles, according to Sudanese media. The group included armed personnel and military vehicles. In the video, he said his

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  Palestinian Foreign Ministry rejects Israeli measures against British consulate in Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned and rejected what it described as illegal Israeli decisions and measures targeting the British Consulate General in Jerusalem and its staff. In a statement carried by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the ministry said the measures were “an attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied city, interfere in the work of diplomatic missions and their relations with the State of Palestine, and punish the United Kingdom for its positions in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and a two-state solution based on international law”. It stressed that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and the capital of the State of Palestine. Israel, as

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  Political failure, not economic shock, unmasks Iraq

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The grievance-laden rhetoric delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi before parliament is a transparent attempt to package a systemic crisis as an unpreventable “external shock.” His claim that Iraq is suffering under an “economic blockade” due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the halting of crude exports is merely a political lifeline. It seeks to conceal a burning truth: Iraq is not enduring a temporary disruption; it is suffering from complete institutional nakedness that was previously hidden behind the price of an oil barrel. The danger of the government’s narrative lies not only in justifying the devaluation of the Iraqi Dinar to 1,520 per US Dollar, but in the glaring regional false equivalence Baghdad relies

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  UN condemns Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The United Nations on Thursday strongly condemned ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group on Saudi Arabia, particularly recent strikes targeting two airports.  UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made the remarks during a press conference in New York. “The United Nations reiterates its strong condemnation of these attacks, particularly the recent attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh,” Dujarric said. He said the UN was deeply concerned about the ongoing military escalation in Yemen and the surrounding region, as well as intense clashes on several fronts. READ: Houthis warn airlines against flying in Saudi airspace amid escalating tensions “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law,” he said, urging all

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  Israeli media reports possible attack on Iran before Israeli election

  by Mehdi Editor on October 9, 2026

  The United States and Israel are planning to resume the war against Iran before Israel’s election scheduled for 27th October, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Thursday, contradicting statements by US President Donald Trump. Earlier on Thursday, Trump said in a statement that the United States would not attack Iran before the US midterm congressional elections scheduled for 3 November. Channel 12 reported that Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had held talks with unnamed US officials, warning them that a possible strike on Iran could lead to the Israeli election being postponed. It did not specify whether the talks were held by phone or in person. According to the channel, Zamir was briefed during the talks on US military preparations

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  Israeli soldier killed, 3 injured in southern Lebanon as Tel Aviv continues to violate framework deal

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Israeli army said Thursday that one of its soldiers was killed and three others wounded in southern Lebanon as Tel Aviv continues to attack southern Lebanese towns despite a framework deal with Beirut, Anadolu reports. Those wounded were taken to the hospital, the army said in a statement. Israel has continued attacks on Lebanon since March 2, killing more than 4,380 victims and injuring over 12,410, according to Lebanese authorities. Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26 in Washington providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the deployment of the Lebanese army in areas vacated by Israeli forces. Israel has continued attacks on southern Lebanon despite the agreement, and remains in

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  5 Palestinians killed, over dozen injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  At least five Palestinians, including a woman, were killed and more than a dozen others injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports. The attacks targeted the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood and the Al-Tawam and Amer Project areas in Gaza City, the Al-Sudaniya area in the northwest, as well as Al-Mawasi in northwestern Rafah and areas around Bani Suheila and northeastern Khan Younis. A medical source told Anadolu Agency that Palestinian Mohammed Rajab Warsh Agha died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced people at the Egyptian Camp in the Al-Tawam area of northwestern Gaza City. Earlier, a medical source at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s

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  The Palestinian election dilemma

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  At the beginning of October  2026, Israel refused to allow officials from the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and international election observers to enter Gaza to monitor preparations for the legislative elections. Israel continues to refuse such access in Jerusalem. The Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for 28th November 2026 face a more complex situation than previous elections. The obstacle is no longer confined to Jerusalem, as it was during the 2006 elections and the attempted elections of 2021, but now extends to the Gaza Strip as well. Gaza has around 1.24 million registered voters out of approximately three million Palestinian voters, a number that cannot be disregarded under any circumstances, quite apart from the overriding political consideration, which is as significant

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  Israeli army shells outskirts of village in southern Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Israeli army fired an artillery shell toward the outskirts of a village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province Thursday, Syrian media reported. State-run Alikhbariah TV said Israeli forces targeted the vicinity of Sweisa village in the southern Quneitra countryside. No casualties or damage were immediately reported. The shelling came amid continued Israeli military incursions and attacks in southern Syria. Earlier Thursday, Israeli forces advanced into the village of Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya in Quneitra province with two tanks and more than 15 military vehicles carrying soldiers, Alikhbariah TV reported. The forces moved toward the outskirts of Tal Krum, the broadcaster said. READ: Human rights group documents 453 Israeli incursions, 69 killings since 2024 Late Wednesday, Israeli artillery also struck agricultural areas surrounding Al-Samdaniya

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  Naza and whose testimony we believe

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Naza is being hailed as the definitive film on Gaza. Palestinian doctors have been showing us the same truth for three years. The question is why we only listen now. Would anyone be calling it a masterpiece if a Palestinian had made it? Daniele Rugo and I were asking each other that as we walked out of a screening of Naza at the Zurich Film Festival. Daniele’s own film, Life Support, which my organisation, Health Workers 4 Palestine, is proud to have backed as associate producer, was having its international premiere there. Between us, we had watched Palestinian doctors, nurses and journalists document the destruction of Gaza in real time for three years, many of them at the cost of

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  Yemeni government forces say 1,370 Houthis ‘neutralized’ in 1,729 strikes

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Yemeni government forces said Thursday that 1,370 Houthi fighters had been “neutralized” in 1,729 strikes as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” military operation, Anadolu reports. The forces said in a statement that the strikes targeted Houthi observation posts, forward command-and-control centers, weapons depots, supply points, reinforcements and military positions across several fronts. It said they used “advanced modern weapons” in the operations, which also destroyed or damaged 300 military vehicles, equipment and other assets. The figures could not be independently verified. Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the launch of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation Monday, saying it aims to restore state institutions, retake the capital, Sanaa, and end Houthi control. READ: Syria denies reports of joining Yemen

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  Iran rejects giving up uranium enrichment, handing over enriched stockpile

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iran will not give up its right to enrich uranium or hand over its enriched uranium stockpile, the country’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said uranium enrichment is an inseparable part of the nuclear process, according to state broadcaster IRIB. When asked whether Tehran could abandon uranium enrichment, he said: “Under no circumstances.” “How can you claim to have a nuclear industry without having the starting point of the process?” he asked. Eslami said the nuclear industry is a driving force behind scientific and technological development, stressing that Iran would not retreat from its right to technological advancement. He also ruled out handing over Iran’s enriched uranium

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  Trump says US will not attack Iran before midterm elections

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US will not attack Iran before the midterm elections because the two sides are engaged in “productive discussions.” “We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump said the US and Iran are having “productive discussions,” while maintaining that a blockade of Iran “will remain in full force and effect”. Trump also claimed that oil was flowing through the Strait of Hormuz at “record numbers,” claiming that 22 million barrels had passed through the waterway later Wednesday and that “not one barrel” came from or was going

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  Crude oil tanker struck by unknown projectile in Strait of Hormuz: UK maritime agency

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday, Anadolu reports. In a delayed report, UKMTO said it received information from a verified source that the tanker was hit at 1709GMT on Oct. 6. No casualties were reported, while the extent of damage to the vessel and any environmental impact remain unknown, it said. UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident and advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. READ: Iranian president says Tehran cannot be easily isolated amid strong ties with neighbors

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  Syria arrests 5 former Assad regime militia, intelligence members for crimes against civilians

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Syrian security forces arrested five former militia and intelligence members affiliated with the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime for their involvement in massacres and serious crimes against civilians, the Interior Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The ministry said internal security forces carried out intelligence-based operations that led to the arrests. Among those arrested was Shahin Hamdan al-Shahin, one of the founders of the Shawaheen Regiment militia during the former regime. Al-Shahin began working with the former regime’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate in 2015 under the command of Suheil al-Hassan before helping establish armed groups, according to the ministry. It said he was directly involved in massacres against civilians, particularly in eastern Hama province and along the Ithriya-Raqqa road in 2017. The

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  Lebanon looks to EU support for state control of weapons, end to Israeli occupation

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Lebanon said Thursday it is counting on EU support for its decision to place all weapons under state control and efforts to end Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory, Anadolu reports. “Lebanon has taken a clear sovereign decision to place weapons and the use of force exclusively in the hands of the state throughout its territory,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said during a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Beirut. He described the move as essential to restoring sovereignty, consolidating stability and rebuilding strong and capable state institutions. “We count on the European Union continuing to stand by Lebanon and its legitimate institutions to achieve this national objective,” he said. “We also count on its

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  Amnesty International slams France for increased military equipment deliveries to Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Amnesty International’s French office criticized France on Thursday for increasing deliveries of military equipment to Israel, accusing Paris of helping sustain Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “The genocide in Gaza perpetrated by the Israeli authorities has been ongoing for 3 years,” the rights group wrote on US social media platform X. “Why is it not being stopped? Because Israel can count on the support of other countries.” It singled out France, saying Paris had increased deliveries of military equipment to Israel in 2025 compared to 2024. READ: Amnesty accuses France of ‘double standard’ over Netanyahu plane The rights group said France delivered €19.8 million ($22.1 million) worth of military equipment to Israel in 2025, up from €16.1 million

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  Debris falls in Saudi capital after ballistic missile interception, causing property damage

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Thursday, causing property damage, the Saudi Civil Defense said, Anadolu reports. “Civil Defense teams in Riyadh responded to debris from a ballistic missile after it was intercepted and destroyed,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing the Civil Defense spokesperson. The official said the missile was launched by Yemen’s Houthi group, adding that the incident caused property damage to a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex. The development comes amid a sharp escalation in Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, military sites and oil infrastructure. Yemeni government forces launched a new offensive under Operation “Dawn of Yemen” this week aimed at restoring state institutions

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  In a genocidal state, even Netanyahu is seen as ‘too pro-Palestine’

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  There is something deeply absurd about Israeli politics ahead of the 27th October election. Benjamin Netanyahu — the man who steadfastly has been rejecting Palestinian statehood for ages, expanding settlements and waging a destructive genocidal campaign in Gaza is now being attacked for being too soft on the Palestinians. Apparently, even Netanyahu is not anti-Palestinian enough for today’s Israeli extremist settler-occupiers.  That alone tells us how far Zionist politics has shifted. In a genocidal state facing international criticism over its conduct in Gaza, Netanyahu somehow finds himself portrayed as the moderate in the room. That would almost be funny if the consequences were not deadly. The latest attack comes from hardline politician Avigdor Liberman, a long-time rival of Netanyahu from

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  Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A top adviser to the US ambassador to Israel has systematically suppressed, delayed, and rewritten internal diplomatic cables to shield the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from scrutiny by Washington, The New York Times reported Thursday. David Milstein, an influential gatekeeper at the US Embassy in Jerusalem since April 2025 and principal aide to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, repeatedly stymied assessments intended for senior policymakers, according to an investigation based on interviews with more than a dozen US officials and reviews of internal State Department records. In late March, Israel approved record-breaking occupation expansions across the occupied West Bank. Embassy personnel drafted an alert warning that the move risked violating US President Donald Trump’s explicit red line against

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  Iranian president says Tehran cannot be easily isolated amid strong ties with neighbors

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that Iran cannot be easily isolated, pointing to the country’s ties and extensive exchanges with its neighbors. “They cannot isolate us so easily because we have 15 neighboring countries in the region, and through each of these routes, we can maintain many of our economic, commercial, political and security exchanges,” Pezeshkian told reporters before departing for Turkmenistan, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said opportunities arising from regional engagement could also contribute to developing Iran’s interactions, regulations and trade. “I hope we can achieve the objectives we have in mind and will pursue through our discussions,” he added. Pezeshkian departed for Turkmenistan to attend and address the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit

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  UN mission in Libya affirms commitment to working with new parliament leadership

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday affirmed its commitment to engaging with the new leadership of Libya’s House of Representatives and all its members to advance the political roadmap toward holding elections, Anadolu reports. The statement came in response to the election earlier this week of Al-Salihin Abdul Nabi Al-Obaidi as speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives, succeeding Aguila Saleh. The mission said it followed an earlier session attended by 102 members, with 98 voting in favor of amending the House’s internal regulations and establishing a rotating presidency for the chamber for a maximum term of 12 months. It added that a second session held the following day, with the participation of 111 members, saw the election

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  Human rights group documents 453 Israeli incursions, 69 killings since 2024

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented at least 453 ground incursions by Israeli forces into Syria and the killing of at least 69 people between Dec. 8, 2024, and Oct. 6, 2026, according to the Syrian Al-Ekhbariya channel on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The figures were included in a report by the group examining the practices and violations of Israeli forces on Syrian territory since the fall of the former regime. The incursions were concentrated in the southern provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, and to a lesser extent in the Damascus countryside, according to the report. The network recorded at least 162 cases of arbitrary Israeli detentions. Of those detained, 127 were released, while the fate of 35 others is

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  Bangladesh signs 15-year port deal with UAE-based DP World

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Bangladesh signed a 15-year concession agreement Thursday with UAE-based DP World to modernize and operate a major container terminal at the country’s busiest seaport, as police dispersed protesters opposing the deal, Anadolu reports. The agreement covers the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chattogram Port, which handles approximately 44% of the port’s container traffic. Chattogram Port Authority Chairman Rear Adm. Md Moniruzzaman and DP World Chairman Essa Kazim signed the agreement in Dhaka, according to a government statement. Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam and UAE Ambassador Abdulla Ali Al Hamoudi attended the ceremony. Under the agreement, DP World will modernize and operate the terminal, while ownership of the land and infrastructure will remain with Bangladesh. READ: Syria signs $800 million agreement

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  From Aramco to ACWA Power: How Saudi Arabia is redrawing its map of energy influence

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  In February 2026, an agreement to develop+ two solar plants in Turkiye illustrated Saudi Arabia’s expanding energy diplomacy. A country whose global economic presence has long rested on oil exports is now entering decades-long partnerships to generate electricity abroad. ACWA Power’s agreement with its Turkish counterparts envisages two gigawatts of solar capacity in Sivas and the Taşeli region of Karaman, as the first phase of a five-gigawatt framework. The projects remain under development, but the relationship extends from energy trade into infrastructure investment. For Riyadh, the strategic question is how to translate oil-sector leverage, investment capital and project delivery into durable relationships that can withstand market shifts and political tensions. Connecting capital with national strategy Aramco and ACWA Power have

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  American Senate candidate accuses Netanyahu of pushing US into Iran war

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The Democratic candidate in Michigan’s Senate race accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of influencing the Trump administration’s decision to enter the war with Iran, Anadolu reports. “We are in the war in Iran in part because of the advocacy of the Israeli prime minister,” Abdul El-Sayed told NewsNation chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert on Tuesday, according to The Hill’s report Wednesday. “There’s no disagreement on that,” he added. “He came to the Situation Room and advocated for the war, and we’re now paying … for it. Our gas, our groceries are unaffordable, and that’s on top of the billions in tax dollars that we spend sending our money over there,” he said. War fuels affordability concerns The war began

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  EU to launch training and support mission for Lebanese army: foreign policy chief

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The European Union is set to establish a new mission to train and advise the Lebanese armed forces, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, stressing that the mission will not replace the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a press conference with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Beirut, Kallas said planning for the EU’s new support mission had been completed and that the bloc had received a formal invitation from Lebanese authorities. She said she expected EU foreign ministers to formally establish the mission on Oct. 12. READ: Report: Iran transfers $200 million to Hezbollah to assist displaced Lebanese “It will advise and assist the Lebanese armed forces and internal security forces to

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  Iran reviewing US feedback on 7-day plan, expects to respond within days

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iran is reviewing US feedback on Tehran’s proposed seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and expects to respond within the next few days, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “The negotiation process is still ongoing, and messages are being exchanged through mediators,” Araghchi said, according to the official IRNA news agency. “We presented our proposal, which was called the ‘seven-day plan,’ and we heard the Americans’ views in response,” he added. “We are currently reviewing them. I believe we will respond within a few days,” he said. The seven-day initiative centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming negotiations between Tehran and Washington. What is the 7-day plan? Araghchi said in late September that Iran

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  Indonesians must boycott pro-Israel singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert at Borobudur

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  On 31 October, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli will perform at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, in Central Java, Indonesia, before a second show in Jakarta on 3 November. The Indonesian government is rolling out the red carpet as if this were a state visit. The state-owned bank BNI is selling discounted tickets and payment plans. Indonesians must boycott this concert. Bocelli is not just a beautiful voice. He is one of the most openly pro-Israel stars in the world, and a friend of the leaders carrying out the genocide in Gaza. Not one seat should be filled by people who say they stand with Palestine. Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world. It has never

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  Air France denies transporting weapons to Israel after union allegations

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Air France on Thursday denied transporting weapons or ammunition to Israel after several unions alleged that a shipment of mechanical components destined for an Israeli arms manufacturer was scheduled to depart aboard one of its flights, Anadolu reports. The airline told broadcaster franceinfo that it had no booking for the cargo identified by the unions. “Air France has no reservations for this type of merchandise on its flights, on the date indicated or any other date,” it said. “Air France does not transport weapons or ammunition on its flights to Israel,” the company added, saying it complies at all times with international regulations governing the transport of goods. READ: Rights groups sue France over failure to stop corporate support for Israel’s

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  Turkiye completes preparations to submit Mecca defense pact to parliament: Foreign minister

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Turkiye has completed preparations to submit the Mecca defense agreement to parliament for approval, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday, stressing that the pact is defensive in nature and does not authorize attacks on other countries, Anadolu reports. “The necessary work for the agreement to be submitted to parliament has been completed,” Fidan said at a joint news conference in Ankara with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orban. Fidan said the agreement provides for mutual defense if one of its signatories comes under attack. “Once a country that is party to the agreement is attacked, you stand by it for its defense. This is not an attack agreement,” he said. He also clarified that the pact does

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  The Board of Peace’s commitment is tied to Israeli colonialism

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Three years since Israel commenced its genocide in Gaza, the Board of Peace issued a statement in which one sentence particularly stands out. “The President fulfilled his commitment to the people of Israel.” The sentence refers to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages, but the entire statement carries further weight that displaces Palestinians from the narrative.  Besides omitting the historical context of colonialism, of Gaza’s particular history, as well as the genocide itself, the Board of Peace’s statement is openly revealing its allegiance: “Genuine and durable security for Israel is the foundation on which any peace must be built, and it is the surest guarantee that no October 7 will ever happen again.” October 7 could have been avoided primarily if the

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  Rubio says Iranian threats not constraining US operations in Europe

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Potential Iranian threats do not limit American military operations across Europe or NATO territory, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “No. There is nothing we want or need to do against Iran that we can’t still do,” Rubio said in response to a question as he departed Greece for Portugal on the final stop of his European tour. The Pentagon redeployed all American bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to domestic bases following a security alert in late September involving suspicious vehicles. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident, while Tehran rejected the allegations. US President Donald Trump acknowledged that unspecified threats prompted the relocation. “Yeah, I

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  Campaign seeks to bar Biden officials from power over complicity in US-backed Israeli genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Progressive organisations in the US are campaigning to prevent former officials within the administration of President Joe Biden, accused of complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, from returning to government.   The initiatives target senior figures including former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, his deputy Jon Finer and former Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, according to a report published by Haaretz. One campaign, #DroptheGenocide20, launched last month, calls for the exclusion of 20 former Biden appointees from future administrations. Separately, the American Committee for Middle East Rights plans to launch ONRECORD, a database assessing the records of former US officials responsible for Middle East policy, after the midterm elections. “Being complicit in genocide should be

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  Israeli court convicts lawmaker Cassif of assaulting police officer

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  An Israeli court on Thursday convicted Ofer Cassif, a lawmaker who supports Palestinian rights, of assaulting a police officer four years ago, prompting him to respond: “Enough with the occupation,” Anadolu reports. It was not immediately clear what consequences the conviction by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court would have for the lawmaker from the Joint List, according to an Anadolu correspondent. According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the indictment said that during a demonstration held about four years ago in the southern Hebron area, Cassif sought to drive his car toward the protest site, but police officers prevented him from doing so. “Following a verbal altercation, Cassif got into his car and drove toward one of the police officers, causing the vehicle

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  Don’t argue about what Zionism is; look at what it does

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  What is happening in the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be a wake-up call to us all. It is not just in Gaza that the Zionist state is committing genocide. Take a look at the following book extract, for example: “It was at this overcrowded hospital that the delegation received a shocking introduction to the effects of the measures being taken by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people. Of course, not every casualty was seen, but the general picture can be obtained from the following list of casualties: A young man with five children was chased by Israeli soldiers to the roof of his two-storey home and deliberately thrown to the ground; he broke both legs and is now paralysed

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  Gaza still has no hospital operating at full capacity: Israeli rights group

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Gaza still has no hospital operating at full capacity a year after a ceasefire took effect, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Israeli rights organization released a report assessing the state of Gaza’s health system nearly a year after the ceasefire began in October 2025. It said the period has not brought about a genuine recovery of the health system despite a limited increase in the number of hospitals that have partially resumed operations. “The number of intensive care beds has practically not changed, the shortage of medicines and essential medical supplies has worsened, while thousands of patients remain deprived of life-saving treatments that are unavailable in the Strip,” the organization said. “In October 2025, 14

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  Israeli forces advance into village in Syria’s Quneitra countryside

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Israeli forces carried out a new military incursion into Syria’s Quneitra countryside on Thursday, advancing into the village of eastern Samadaniyah, according to Syrian media. The Syrian Al-Ekhbariya news channel said two Israeli tanks and more than 15 military vehicles carrying soldiers entered the village and advanced toward the outskirts of Tal Krum. No further details were immediately provided. The incursion came a day after the Israeli army shelled the outskirts of Al-Samdaniya Al-Sharqiya village in Syria’s southern Quneitra province, according to the official SANA news agency. Israel has carried out repeated shelling and ground incursions in southern Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. Damascus has repeatedly demanded that Israeli forces withdraw from Syrian territory

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  Iraqi Airways resumes Iran flights after 7-month suspension

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Iraqi Airways resumed direct flights to Iran on Thursday after a seven-month suspension that began amid the US-Israeli war on Iran in early March, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA). The national carrier said regular daily flights would operate from Najaf International Airport to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan. The resumption followed efforts by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Transport Minister Wahab al-Hasani after the necessary regulatory and technical requirements were completed, the airline said. It added that restoring the routes aims to facilitate passenger travel and expand Iraq’s regional air connections, particularly for religious, medical and educational purposes. Iraqi Airways suspended its flights to Iran in early March as a precautionary measure following the outbreak of the

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  UK removes signage from East Jerusalem consulate as Israeli closure deadline expires

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Workers removed signs from the British Consulate General in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday as an Israeli deadline for shutting down the diplomatic mission expired, according to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground, Anadolu reports. The correspondent saw workers taking down a plaque identifying the building as the British Consulate General, along with signage for its consular section. Thursday marked the end of a 30-day deadline imposed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who ordered the consulate’s closure in response to British sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on imports of settlement products. Saar said on the US social media company X that Israel had established a “clear principle” that any measure taken

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  Berlin police intervene in pro-Palestinian demonstration, detain protesters

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Police intervened in a pro-Palestinian demonstration and detained some of those who refused to leave in Berlin, on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. More than 1,000 people gathered at Oranien Square to protest what they described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza, before marching toward Hermann Square. Since October 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and injured over 175,000 others, according to Palestinian figures. The war has also destroyed about 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure. READ: Major espionage arrest puts German ex-spy chief’s Israeli connections in the spotlight

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  7th October: The earthquake that put Palestine back at the centre of the world

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  A few days before 7 October, the US National Security Adviser said “the Middle East was quieter than it had been for two decades”. That sentence now sounds like a full summary of the American illusion. Washington was looking at the region from above. Normalisation was moving forward. Israel felt secure. Gaza was besieged but “under control”. The West Bank was being swallowed slowly by settlements. Palestine was no longer treated as the center of the conflict, but as a disturbing file that could be managed with aid, work permits and economic promises. Then 7th October happened. It was not only a military operation. It was a political, intelligence and psychological earthquake. It surprised Israel, the United States, Arab governments

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  Major espionage arrest puts German ex-spy chief’s Israeli connections in the spotlight

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  The arrest of former German intelligence chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage on behalf of a foreign country  has drawn attention to his connections with Israeli intelligence figures, including allegations that he approached a former Shin Bet chief to organise the abduction of a German heiress’s children. Hanning, who led Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005, also serves on the advisory board of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an American pressure group whose leadership includes former senior Mossad officials. The 80-year-old was arrested on 6 October and ordered into pretrial detention the following day over allegations involving state secrets and foreign intelligence services. Prosecutors have not publicly identified the countries involved. Commenting on his connections,

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  Houthi leader hopes Pakistan, Turkey will not help Saudi Arabia

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hizam Al-Asad, a member of the political bureau of Yemen’s Houthi movement, said the group hopes Pakistan and Turkey will refrain from taking part in military operations against it alongside Saudi Arabia. “We hope the governments of Pakistan and Turkey will refrain from participating in the aggression by the Saudi enemy and the siege imposed on our country, which has continued for more than 11 years and has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties,” he told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency. On Monday, under the Makkah Defence Pact, Turkey and Pakistan decided to move towards the practical implementation of their collective defence commitments and ensure the rapid deployment of troops and military assets in Saudi Arabia. READ: Houthis warn airlines

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  Hamas official condemns Peace Council’s 7th October statement as ‘racist and biased’

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim on Wednesday rejected a statement issued by the Peace Council marking the third anniversary of the 7th October 2023 attack, describing it as “racist, biased, and rejected in both form and substance.” In a post on X, Naim said the statement was inappropriate for an institution representing international will, laws and resolutions. He also argued that the council’s language did not contribute to establishing peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Earlier on Wednesday, the Peace Council published a statement on its official X account marking the third anniversary of the 7th October attack, emphasising Israel’s security as a central requirement for lasting peace. READ: Mamdani says occupation and apartheid must not continue three years

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  Congressional Democrats seek information on Kushner’s investments in Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  US Congressional Democrats are seeking information about Jared Kushner’s financial investments in Israel following a CNN investigation that raised questions about potential conflicts of interest involving his business interests and his role in Middle East diplomacy. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter on Monday to Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, requesting details about its business dealings in the Middle East. The request followed a CNN investigation reporting that Kushner’s private equity firm was the largest shareholder in an Israeli company that supports businesses involved in Israeli military operations. READ: Kushner signals US support for Israeli operations in Gaza if Hamas refuses to disarm Garcia said committee Democrats were “investigating the unprecedented and dangerous

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  Mamdani says occupation and apartheid must not continue three years after 7th October

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday marked the third anniversary of the 7th October 2023 attack, mourning the victims while criticizing Israeli policies and calling for an end to what he described as occupation and apartheid. “We mark the third anniversary of the horrific war crimes that took place on 7th October, during which Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted over 251 people,” Mamdani said. “We grieve alongside our neighbours and friends who are facing unimaginable loss,” he added. Referring to Israeli policies in the three years since the attack, Mamdani said: “Three years after the massacre, we must refuse to accept a world where occupation and apartheid continue.” READ: Mamdani renews call for Netanyahu’s ICC arrest

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  Report: Iran transfers $200 million to Hezbollah to assist displaced Lebanese

  by Mehdi Editor on October 8, 2026

  Hezbollah received $200 million from Iran last month to assist Lebanese families displaced by the war with Israel, according to two informed sources, despite tightening US sanctions on Tehran and increasing difficulties in transferring funds. Intermediaries involved in facilitating the transfer said they charged a commission of 20 percent, with one describing the fee as four times the usual rate. Asked to comment, a Hezbollah official confirmed that funds had been secured and said a distribution plan would be announced in the coming days, without specifying the source of the money. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have been displaced by the Israeli military campaign following Hezbollah’s decision to join Iran in the conflict that began with US-Israeli attacks on 2nd