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

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  Tunisia court sentences Ghannouchi to 20 years in prison

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  A Tunisian court yesterday sentenced Ennahda movement leader Rached Ghannouchi to 20 years in prison on charges of conspiring against state security, in a case linked to a “Ramadan gathering”. The same sentence was handed to Ennahda figures Youssef Nouri and Ahmed Mechri. The court also issued 20-year prison terms, effective immediately, against three other leaders abroad, including Ghannouchi’s son-in-law and former foreign minister, Rafik Abdessalem, according to Mosaique FM. In addition, three other defendants, who had been released pending trial, were each sentenced to three years in prison. The case relates to a meeting organised by the opposition during Ramadan in 2023, in which Ghannouchi warned of the dangers of “political exclusion” by the authorities. Ghannouchi, 84, has been

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  Gaza flooded with sweets as fuel and medicine withheld, health official warns

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  The director-general of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Munir Al-Barsh, has described a catastrophic situation in the besieged enclave, saying that it is being flooded with chocolate and soft drinks while fuel, medicine and basic food are withheld, leaving infants in incubators at constant risk of death. Al-Barsh said that the situation is not a temporary shortage but a deliberate manipulation of aid, masking ongoing starvation and continued killings despite claims of a ceasefire. Inside the corridors of Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, where the sounds of medical devices mix with the cries of the wounded, doctors are struggling with a harsh reality: babies in incubators need electricity to survive, yet fuel is unavailable and the aid that

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  Lebanon’s Amal Movement rejects Washington meeting, rules out direct talks with Israel

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  Lebanon’s Amal Movement has rejected the direct talks held in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli officials, reaffirming its refusal to engage in any direct negotiations with Israel. Mustafa Fawani, head of the movement’s executive body, said that Amal remains committed to the ceasefire framework overseen by the “mechanism committee”, which he described as the body responsible for implementing the truce announced in November, 2024. He added that Israel “has not adhered” to the agreement. Fawani said that the movement “does not seek validation from anyone” but instead “grants recognition in national belonging, resistance and steadfastness”. He added that its path “is lived, not merely told”, stressing that its history is built on sacrifices and martyrs in defence of Lebanon. OPINION:

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  Vance likely to lead potential 2nd round of talks with Iran: Report

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance is likely to lead a potential second round of talks with Iranian officials, CNN reported on Wednesday. Vance is “expected to lead another round of negotiations with Iranian officials, should a meeting happen before the ceasefire expires next week,” CNN reported, citing sources. The first round of talks was held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad over the weekend to permanently end the US-Israeli war on Iran that began on Feb. 28, but an agreement could not be reached. Efforts to hold another round of talks are underway. Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which is still holding. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump suggested that talks could resume in Pakistan in the next

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  Palestinians confront Israeli occupiers attempting to seize West Bank home

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  Palestinian residents confronted Israeli occupiers Tuesday who attempted to seize a home in the town of Shuyukh in the southern occupied West Bank, according to sources. A group of armed occupiers stormed the town in northeastern Hebron and raided a Palestinian home, trying to take it by force, but residents intervened and prevented the confiscation, sources told Anadolu. Fadi al-Ayaydeh, executive director of Shuyukh municipality, said residents were surprised early Tuesday to find occupiers had set up a tent on land belonging to Palestinians. “We went to the site and found a large number of residents there. During that time, armed settlers confronted us and fired shots in the air to intimidate people,” al-Ayaydeh told Anadolu. READ: UN experts urge end

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  Israel envoy to US says France should be excluded from Lebanon talks

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  Israel’s ambassador to the United States said his country does not want France involved in peace negotiations with Lebanon, following calls from a group of countries urging both sides to advance talks, Anadolu reports. After direct discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, Yechiel Leiter criticized France’s role, saying Paris should not be part of the process, according to French media reports. “It is certain that we do not want to see the French interfering in these negotiations,” Leiter told reporters. His remarks came after 17 countries, including France, called on Israel and Lebanon to “seize the opportunity” presented by ongoing peace talks. READ: France signals possible review of EU-Israel agreement over Lebanon strikes Asked whether the Israeli government had made a

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  Israeli High Court begins hearing petition seeking removal of far-right minister Ben-Gvir

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  Israel’s High Court of Justice on Wednesday began hearing a petition seeking the removal of the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from his post over allegations of interference in the Israeli police, Anadolu reports. Amid concerns over potential disruptions inside the courtroom, the judges decided to hold the hearing without public attendance, while broadcasting the proceedings live, according to an Anadolu correspondent. Ahead of the session, dozens of Ben-Gvir supporters gathered outside the court building, carrying signs reading “It’s time to tell the High Court: Enough” and “End the judicial dictatorship.” Ben-Gvir arrived outside the courtroom and addressed his supporters, saying: “Gali Baharav-Miara (The government’s legal adviser) says that I am deciding policy and changing the police — she is

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  30 projectiles fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel: Report

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  At least 30 projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel in less than an hour, according to Israeli media on Wednesday morning, Anadolu reports. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that more than 20 projectiles were initially launched toward the Galilee Panhandle, with about eight intercepted by air defense systems, while the rest fell in open areas. Around 10 additional projectiles were fired toward Acre, Nahariya, and nearby communities, the report said, adding three were intercepted, with the remainder landing in open areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties or material damage. READ: Hezbollah rejects any deal from US-backed Lebanon-Israel talks

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  Saudi Arabia to provide $3B to Pakistan amid debt repayment obligations to UAE

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  Pakistan’s finance minister confirmed late Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide $3 billion in financial assistance to Islamabad to avert stress on its weak foreign reserves amid debt repayment obligations to the United Arab Emirates, Anadolu reports. Muhammad Aurangzeb, who is in Washington to hold staff level talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), told reporters that Riyadh will provide the promised amount next week, Pakistani broadcaster Geo News reported Wednesday. “We have held a detailed meeting with the Saudi finance minister today. He has clearly told (me) that $3 billion will be provided (to Pakistan) as additional deposits,” Aurangzeb was quoted as saying. The development comes as Pakistan is set to repay a $3.5 billion debt to the

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  Trump says Iran war is ‘close to over’

  by MI on April 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump, in an interview to be aired on Wednesday, said the US-Israeli war on Iran is “close to over.” “I think it’s close to over, yeah. I mean, I view it as very close to over,” Trump told Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo when asked if the war is “over.” A video excerpt of the interview was shared on US social media company X. “You know what, if I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country, and we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly,” Trump added. Earlier, Bartiromo said in a video on Instagram that Trump repeatedly referred to

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  Greece accused of using migrant ‘mercenaries’ in pushback operations on Turkish border

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  Police in Greece have been recruiting migrants to violently force other migrants back across the land border with Türkiye, according to a BBC investigation published on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The report, done in collaboration with the Consolidated Rescue Group (CRG), alleges that so-called “mercenaries” – themselves migrants – have been deployed in the Evros border region since at least 2020 as overseen by senior officers. Internal police documents are said to describe how the recruitment was ordered and managed. Witness testimony gathered by investigators describes serious brutality, including migrants being stripped, robbed, beaten, and in some cases sexually assaulted. The BBC says it was first alerted by a video showing alleged mistreatment, later corroborated through accounts from migrants, former mercenaries,

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  Humanitarian access to southern Lebanon severely restricted, markets have collapsed: UN official

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  Nearly 63% of planned humanitarian convoys to southern Lebanon have not been completed due to negative or absent responses to deconfliction requests, a senior UN official said Tuesday, warning that aid delivery is severely hampered by escalating violence, Anadolu reports. “Nearly 63% of planned humanitarian convoys to southern Lebanon have not been completed due to negative or absent response or deconfliction requests… Even when convoys are cleared, our teams are being stopped at multiple holding points. Last week, one of our convoy missions took 15 hours to complete,” Samer AbdelJaber, regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe at the World Food Program (WFP), told lawmakers in Brussels during a session at the European Parliament Committee on

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  Petition to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement reaches 1M signatures

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  A European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement has surpassed one million signatures, organizers announced on Tuesday, making it the fastest initiative to reach the threshold since the mechanism was introduced, Anadolu reports. Launched in Jan. 2026, under the title “Justice for Palestine,” the campaign has also exceeded the required national signature thresholds in 10 EU member states, surpassing the minimum of seven countries needed for validation. The initiative, led by the European Left Alliance and supported by civil society groups and Palestinian-led movements across the bloc, urges the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel, citing alleged violations of international law and human rights. “One million people have spoken: the EU must

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  The language of media as a weapon of war

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  The language of hegemonic media does not merely describe the world. It organizes it, hierarchises it and, above all, disciplines it. Within the dominant vocabulary of international relations, certain terms are systematically deployed to legitimise allies and delegitimise adversaries. This is not a semantic detail, but a central mechanism in the production of consent around the global order. A simple observation reveals the pattern: countries such as the United States, its European allies and “Israel” are governed by “governments”. Meanwhile, nations that challenge this imperial order, such as Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea, are frequently described as “regimes”. The distinction is far from neutral. “Government” suggests institutional legitimacy; “regime”, in mainstream usage, carries the mark of suspicion, illegitimacy and

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  Cracks in Europe’s support for colonial violence and genocide

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  Spain was recently targeted by Israel’s antisemitism narrative after an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up in El Burgo, during the Burning of Judas festival. “The appalling antisemitic hatred on display here is a direct result of the @sanchezcastejon government’s systematic incitement,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated on X, while noting that the Spanish ambassador to Israel was summoned for a reprimand. However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s statement illustrates that the problem is not the burning of Netanyahu’s effigy, but rather the Spanish government’s current stance against Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its wars in Lebanon and Iran. After decades of European blind adherence to Israel’s ethnic cleansing and colonial expansion, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has illustrated

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  Fuel crisis in Gaza amid ongoing Israeli blockade

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  IMAGES: Protest in Gaza against Israeli death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners

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  West Bank students forced to study outdoors after illegal settlers block road to school

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  Palestinian students in the occupied West Bank were forced to hold classes outdoors after illegal Israeli settlers blocked the main road to school with a fence and barbed wire, Anadolu reports. Residents of Umm al-Khair village in the Masafer Yatta area in southern West Bank… pic.twitter.com/Ly5uh1eod7 — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) April 14, 2026 Palestinian students in the occupied West Bank were forced to hold classes outdoors after illegal Israeli settlers blocked the main road to school with a fence and barbed wire, Anadolu reports. Residents of Umm al-Khair village in the Masafer Yatta area in southern West Bank said the route was closed early in the morning, preventing around 55 students from reaching school. Villagers staged a sit-in protest

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  Palestinians confront Israeli occupiers attempting to seize West Bank home

  by Marwa A on April 14, 2026

  Palestinian residents confronted Israeli occupiers Tuesday who attempted to seize a home in the town of Shuyukh in the southern occupied West Bank, according to sources, Anadolu reports. A group of armed occupiers stormed the town in northeastern Hebron and raided a Palestinian home, trying to take it by force, but residents intervened and prevented the confiscation, sources told Anadolu. Fadi al-Ayaydeh, executive director of Shuyukh municipality, said residents were surprised early Tuesday to find occupiers had set up a tent on land belonging to Palestinians. “We went to the site and found a large number of residents there. During that time, armed settlers confronted us and fired shots in the air to intimidate people,” al-Ayaydeh told Anadolu. Israeli forces

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  Serbian president announces joint drone production with Israel

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday that Serbia and Israel will jointly produce military drones, claiming the partnership will result in the “best drones in this part of the world,” Anadolu reports. Speaking at an event marking the Day of the Military Police Special Unit “Cobras,” Vucic said the cooperation would be based on a 50-50 partnership. “We will do this together, half and half. That shows we will have the best drones in this part of the world,” he said, praising Israel’s technological expertise. READ: Italy suspends automatic renewal of defense agreement with Israel He dismissed media reports questioning arms shipments, suggesting that increased defense exports reflect Serbia’s efforts to strengthen its security system. Vucic reiterated that Serbia will continue

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  Israel’s Netanyahu says US reports to him daily on Iran talks, sparking backlash

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the Trump administration provides him with daily updates on negotiations with Iran, remarks that drew swift criticism from US lawmakers and commentators, Anadolu reports. “I spoke yesterday with Vice President J.D. Vance. He called me from his plane on his way back from Islamabad. He reported to me in detail, as this administration does every day, about the development of the negotiations,” Netanyahu said at a Cabinet meeting. “The explosion came from the American side, which could not tolerate Iran’s blatant violation of the agreement to enter into negotiations. The agreement was that firing would cease and the Iranians would immediately open the straits. They did not do it. The Americans could

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  Berri’s calculated defection and the future of Shia politics in Lebanon

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  On 2nd March, when the Lebanese government declared a total ban on Hezbollah’s military and security activities, most of the commentary focused on Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Almost no one focused on the man who made it possible. Nabih Berri, speaker of parliament and leader of Amal, the other pillar of the so-called Shia duo, ordered his ministers not to object. For a figure who had spent three decades shielding Hezbollah from institutional consequences, that silence was the loudest political act in Lebanon this year. The standard reading treats Berri’s move as a reaction. Hezbollah broke its promise. It had given Berri personal assurances that it would not enter the war in support of Iran, and then it launched strikes

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  Israeli strike on police vehicle in Gaza kills 4, including child

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  An Israeli strike killed four Palestinians, including a child, and wounded others Tuesday after targeting a police vehicle in eastern Gaza City, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, medical sources said. The bodies of the victims were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital in western Gaza City and Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in central Gaza following the strike, the sources told Anadolu. No immediate details were available on the number of wounded or the severity of their injuries. Witnesses said an Israeli drone fired a missile into the police vehicle as it traveled along Al-Nafaq Street in eastern Gaza City. The attack left the vehicle in flames, killing those inside and wounding several passersby, they added. READ: 6 Palestinians killed in Israeli

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  Iran says to use parts of oil revenue to rebuild damaged infrastructure

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Iran will use part of its oil revenue to rebuild oil and gas infrastructure damaged by US-Israeli attacks, the country’s oil minister said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Oil sales in March and April were “satisfactory,” Mohsen Paknejad added in statements carried by the semi-official Fars news agency. He, however, did not give any figures about Iran’s oil sales. More than 3,300 people have been killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran since Feb. 28, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets before a two-week ceasefire was announced last week. The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday aimed at ending their

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  Extremist Israeli minister demands apology from German chancellor over ‘no West Bank annexation’

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has demanded an apology from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for saying that “there must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank,” Anadolu reports. “On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the German Chancellor should bow his head and apologize a thousand times on behalf of Germany, rather than daring to preach morality to us on how to conduct ourselves against the Nazis of our generation,” Smotrich said on the US social media platform X late Monday. Israel will “not accept instructions from hypocritical leaders in Europe, a continent that is once again losing its conscience and its ability to distinguish between good and evil,” he claimed. “The days when Germans dictated to Jews”

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  Qatar says solution to Strait of Hormuz crisis ‘must be regional’

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday that any solution to the crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz “must be regional,” with the participation of the coastal states and those depending on the waterway, Anadolu reports. “Everyone must work toward a sustainable solution on this issue,” Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in statements carried by the Qatari television Al Jazeera. “The security of the Strait of Hormuz must not be threatened by any party, and there should be no preconditions for reopening it,” he added. “The language of threats is unacceptable, and we deal with all threats in a way that ensures the safety of our country,” the spokesman said. There has been “no issue” in managing the Strait of Hormuz, he

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  35 killed in Israel, over 8,000 injured since outbreak of Iran war, data shows

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israeli data showed Tuesday that 35 people have been killed and more than 8,000 injured since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. The tally was given by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), an independent think tank affiliated with Tel Aviv University, though no independent reports have verified the actual number of casualties or the extent of damage. Israel enforces strict censorship on reporting its losses from missiles and drones launched by Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, as well as from ground fighting in southern Lebanon. The institute said that Iran has launched more than 640 missiles that entered Israeli airspace, along with more than 765 drones since the war began.

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  Italy suspends automatic renewal of defense agreement with Israel

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of its defense agreement with Israel, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” ANSA news agency reported citing Meloni’s talk with reporters in the northeastern city of Verona. She further said international efforts should continue to advance peace negotiations in order to stabilize the situation in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Meloni also urged caution on the issue of Russian gas. The defense agreement, whose renewal the government decided to suspend, has been in force since 2016. Intending to enhance defense capabilities, the agreement focuses on cooperation across several sectors,

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  France, UK to host Hormuz conference in Paris on Friday

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  France and the UK will co-host a conference aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday in Paris, the French presidency announced Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The Elysee said French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair the conference, broadcaster BFM TV reported. The conference will bring together “non-belligerent countries willing to contribute” to “a multinational and purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when security conditions allow,” the French presidency added. READ: Iran warns US blockade is a vengeful act harming America and global economy Washington and Tehran held talks in Pakistan’s capital over the weekend, the most significant since 1979 when they severed diplomatic

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  Nobel, Not Flattery: Pakistan’s Moment of Leverage

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  There are few habits in client-state politics more revealing than the urge to decorate empire’s latest strongman with the language of peace. Some time ago, Islamabad flirted with the idea that Donald Trump deserved a Nobel Peace Prize. If Pakistan still insists on indulging that theatre, it should at least abandon the farce of nominating Trump and pursue the more interesting vanity project: Shehbaz Sharif should try to win it himself. Not because the Nobel Peace Prize is some sacred moral instrument. It is a political trophy, often less a judgment on peace than a referendum on geopolitical fashion. Precisely for that reason, it should be used politically. If Sharif insists on playing this game, he should stop wasting the

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  US blockade of Strait of Hormuz ‘dangerous, irresponsible’ act: China

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  China on Tuesday called the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “dangerous and irresponsible,” state-run media reported. Washington’s blockade would only “exacerbate tensions, undermine the already fragile ceasefire, and further threaten the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a regular news conference in Beijing, according to the China News Service. Beijing believes that only a “comprehensive ceasefire” can fundamentally create conditions to ease tensions in the strait, Guo said. He urged all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement, focus on dialogue and negotiations, and take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and restore “normal navigation” in the strait as soon as possible. Washington and Tehran held talks —

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  Spanish premier slams Israel for violating international law

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez slammed the Israeli government on Tuesday for violating international law amid ongoing tensions with Iran, Anadolu Agency reports. “International law is today fundamentally being violated by one country, which is the government of Israel,” Sanchez said during a news conference after he held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. He recalled that Spain, since the very first moment, has described the war “initiated unilaterally” by the US and Israel as a “mistake,” and “illegality.” Sanchez noted that in moments when the international order “is being openly called into question,” the world should return to the principles and basics. “Because it is from there that this future and prosperity are built. And that

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  Iran says damage from US-Israeli strikes estimated at about $270B

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Damage from US-Israeli strikes against Iran is estimated at about $270 billion, the Iranian government spokeswoman said on Tuesday, citing preliminary assessments, Anadolu reports. “One of the issues that our negotiating team is pursuing, and which was also pursued in the Islamabad talks, is the issue of war reparations,” Fatemeh Mohajerani told Russia’s RIA Novosti, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The $270 billion figure is not final, Mohajerani stressed, adding: “Damages usually have to be examined in several layers.” The regional hostilities escalated after the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, killing and injuring thousands. Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel, Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets before a two-week

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  Iran warns US blockade is a vengeful act harming America and global economy

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Tehran has said that threats by US President Donald Trump to impose a “naval blockade” on Iran amount to an illegal war that cannot be won through revengeful actions against the global economy. In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said such a move would ultimately harm the United States itself.  He added: “Can an illegal ‘war of choice’ be won through a ‘revenge of choice’ against the global economy?! Is it ever worthwhile to cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face?!” READ: US begins blockading ships entering or exiting Iranian ports Iran and the United States said on Sunday that talks held in Islamabad had ended without a final agreement to end the war, with

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  Sudden anti-Israel rhetoric in South Korea: A call for Iran or human rights?

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  “It is disappointing that they do not reflect on the criticisms of people around the world who are suffering and struggling due to ceaseless actions against human rights and international law.” South Korean president, Lee Jae Myung, stated this in a post on the social media platform X on 11th April. Lee’s “stance” is drawing significant attention beyond political circles and reaching a public that has long remained silent on Israel’s continued actions against human rights. However, it raises a question: is this really about human rights? The dispute began suddenly on 10th April. Lee shared a video on X showing Israeli soldiers pushing a Palestinian off a rooftop, claiming the victim was a tortured child, and compared the incident

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  Hezbollah rejects any deal from US-backed Lebanon-Israel talks

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  A senior Lebanese Hezbollah official said on Monday that the group will not abide by any agreements resulting from direct talks between Lebanon and Israel being held in the United States, stressing its firm rejection of the negotiations. The remarks were made by Rafic Safa, a senior member of Hezbollah’s political council, ahead of expected talks in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors. The discussions would mark the first direct meeting in decades between representatives of the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations. Speaking to Associated Press (AP), Safa said: “Whatever results from these negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we have nothing to do with it and it does not concern us in any way.” READ: Hezbollah

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  Russia questions Trump’s Board of Peace

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Russia’s Foreign Ministry has raised doubts about the Board of Peace announced by US President Donald Trump regarding Gaza, saying the initiative raises many questions. Kirill Logvinov, head of the ministry’s Department for International Organisations, said there were growing questions over the aims of the board, according to Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency. He said recent developments in the Middle East “raise further questions about the real goals and tasks of the Board of Peace, as well as how it will operate, even among countries that have formally joined it”. Logvinov added that “many delegations have preferred observer status” within the board. READ: Hebrew newspaper claims Russia gave Iran list of “vital targets” in Israel He also pointed out that

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  Fascism for the digital age

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Old-school fascism controlled the press with a fist; the new version controls the data with a contract. When the state and the corporation agree on which words—and which images—are ‘dangerous,’ the truth is not only suppressed; it is simply made unsearchable. The official American narrative of the ‘miraculous’ rescue mission in the Zagros mountains on 3rd April 2026 serves as a perfect case in point. Despite America’s digital iron curtain, the truth keeps breaking. The narrative concerning the rescued pilot is already in ruins, and the Trump administration has moved from defending the story, to managing the wreckage. The first signs came over Telegram:  grainy phone photos of debris, an empty ejection seat, and videos of helicopters flying low over

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  Sanctioned tanker crosses Hormuz despite US blockade

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  International maritime tracking data on Monday evening showed that an Iranian “shadow fleet” oil tanker had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, despite the start of a US-imposed naval blockade on Iranian exports. The ship-tracking platform Kpler reported that the tanker Elpis, which has been under US sanctions since last year, traversed the strait carrying a shipment of oil, in a direct defiance of the tightened US measures that officially came into force earlier on Monday.  In contrast, other vessels were seen avoiding the crossing. Reports indicated that a tanker registered in Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, changed course towards the United Arab Emirates, while a third vessel halted off the Iranian coast. These developments come amid heightened

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  Amnesty warns French bill could criminalise solidarity with Palestinians

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Amnesty International warned on Monday about the potential impact of a proposed French law aimed at penalising anti-Zionism, saying it could effectively make support for Palestinians a criminal offence. In a statement posted on the X platform, the organisation’s France branch criticised what is known as the “Yadan law”, warning it could lead to “criminalising support for Palestinians”. The statement said French MP Caroline Yadan plans to submit the bill to the National Assembly on 16 April, cautioning that it could open the door to “extremely serious abuses”. The draft law, first introduced in November 2024, proposes penalties for denying the existence of the State of Israel or comparing it to the Nazi regime. READ: Algerian president, Pope Leo XIV call

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  Hezbollah launches ‘hard-to-detect’ drone for first time: Israeli broadcaster

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  The Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Hezbollah launched at least 40 drones towards northern Israel on Monday, causing significant damage. Among them was a drone deployed for the first time, equipped with an optical guidance system that makes it difficult to detect. According to the broadcaster, one of the drones crashed in the settlement of Kiryat Shmona.  It said only a small number of the drones were intercepted, while the rest struck targets, causing heavy damage, without providing further details. Kan added that the new drone is considered an advanced aerial system, resistant to electronic warfare and difficult to detect or stop. It said the drone can manoeuvre inside buildings, carry up to 5 kilograms of explosives, and reach ranges

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  Israel rejects Lebanon ceasefire during Washington talks: Report

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israel pre-empted a Tuesday meeting with Lebanon in Washington by rejecting a ceasefire during preliminary talks, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Anadolu reports. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views the start of the talks as “a tactic to buy time without stopping the fighting, while showing goodwill toward the Americans and (US) President Donald Trump,” the daily said, citing Israeli sources. The sources expressed skepticism about the possibility of making progress in the planned talks. Since March 2, Israel has been carrying out an expanded offensive in Lebanon that has killed 2,089 and injured 6,762 others. The US State Department said in a statement on Monday evening that the talks will be held at the department’s headquarters in Washington on

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  What kind of colonialism is Trump deploying in the Middle East?

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  As a Political Science student who studies peace-building in the Middle East, I want to start with something a scholar named Edward Said taught us: pay attention to the language first. Not the bombs, not the speeches about “peace,” not the media event. The language. Because power rarely calls itself power. It often arrives as expert advice, as management, as a “solution” imposed on people who are portrayed as unable to govern themselves. “That is why Orientalism (1978) is not a book we read and shelve. It is a method for catching an empire in the act. Said showed how the West does not merely describe the East; it produces an East that can be managed. A place that must be

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  Turkish top diplomat says Netanyahu seeking to designate Turkey as a new enemy

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan said Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to designate Turkey as a new enemy, amid rising regional tensions. Speaking during a meeting with editors at the Anadolu Agency headquarters, Fidan stated that Israel “cannot live without an enemy after Iran,” in reference to ongoing geopolitical developments. The Turkish minister’s statements come amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following Ankara’s announcement of an indictment against 35 Israelis — including Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges including genocide — suspected of targeting the Global Flotilla as it attempted to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. In his remarks, Fidan said that his country believes

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  Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon and Tyre’s ancient citadel

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Monday, targeting the town of Qantara and the outskirts of Tibnin, while artillery shelling struck the ancient citadel of Tyre, a site listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, the citadel area includes the shrine and tomb of Prophet Simeon the Just, raising concerns over damage to cultural and historical heritage. Israeli drones and artillery also targeted multiple towns and villages across southern Lebanon, amid continued escalation. READ: UNESCO-listed shrine destroyed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon An earlier airstrike on the town of Bustan resulted in the deaths of several Syrian workers, while another strike on Nabatieh al-Fawqa killed a young

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  Algerian president, Pope Leo XIV call for justice for Palestinians

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Pope Leo XIV issued a joint call urging the international community to act urgently to achieve justice for the Palestinian people and support their right to establish an independent state. Speaking during a meeting at the Cultural Center of the Grand Mosque of Algiers, President Tebboune said the two leaders are delivering a unified message calling for an end to violations against Palestinians and affirming their inalienable right to self-determination. He praised Pope Leo XIV’s stance on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as courageous and principled, and noted that Algeria’s position aligns with the Vatican’s calls for security and stability in the Gulf and Lebanon, as well as efforts to alleviate human suffering.

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  UNESCO-listed shrine destroyed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Israeli forces have destroyed the shrine of Prophet Shimon the Just in the town of Shamaa in the Tyre district, according to official and local media reports. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli artillery shelling targeted the area of the ancient citadel in Tyre, where the shrine was located. The site was listed as part of a UNESCO World Heritage area, granting it international cultural protection. According to the report, surrounding hills near Shamaa were subjected to intermittent shelling early Monday, though there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. READ: EU calls for immediate halt to attacks in Lebanon, urges protection of civilians Lebanese media, including Al-Akhbar, said Israeli forces had bulldozed the shrine before destroying it in an

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  Pope Leo XIV vows to continue opposing war despite Trump criticism

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV said he will continue to oppose war and advocate for peace, despite direct criticism from Donald Trump. Speaking to Reuters aboard the papal plane, the Pope said the Christian message is being misused, adding that he would not engage in a personal dispute but would remain committed to his principles. “I don’t want to get into an argument with him,” Pope Leo XIV said, stressing that the message of the Gospel should not be used inappropriately. He reaffirmed his intention to raise his voice against war, promoting peace, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation to resolve conflicts. READ: Trump attacks Pope Leo, posts ‘shocking’ image as Christ The Pope also highlighted the human cost of ongoing conflicts, stating that innocent

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  Jerusalem church leader condemns Trump’s self-comparison to Jesus

  by MI on April 14, 2026

  The Latin Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, Bishop William Shomali has criticised US President Donald Trump over a post in which he appeared to compare himself to Jesus Christ, describing the act as “offensive and unacceptable.” Shomali’s remarks followed the circulation of a digitally altered image shared by Trump depicting himself with features resembling Jesus, in the context of criticism directed at Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff spoke against US and Israeli military operations against Iran. The Jerusalem church official said that ongoing military actions contradict Christian teachings, emphasizing that Jesus represents humility, service, and self-sacrifice, rather than domination or exclusion. READ: Trump attacks Pope Leo, posts ‘shocking’ image as Christ He described Trump’s actions as a form of self-aggrandizement, adding

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  Iran’s parliament speaker backs Pope Leo after Trump criticism

  by Marwa A on April 13, 2026

  Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf praised Pope Leo XIV’s stance against the US-Israeli war on his country, describing his opposition of the conflict “inspires millions” amid rising regional tensions, Anadolu reports. “Honoring Pope Leo’s fearless stand! ‘I have no fear’ echoes as he condemns the war crimes of Israel and the US. This slogan lights the path for all who refuse to stay silent on the killing of innocents,”Qalibaf said in a post on the US social media company X. He added that the pope’s leadership “inspires millions” and thanked him “for this light.” Qalibaf’s remarks come after a series of statements by Iranian officials defending the pope following criticism from US President Donald Trump. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud

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  6 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza despite ongoing ceasefire

  by Marwa A on April 13, 2026

  Six Palestinians were killed and seven others wounded Monday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, medical sources said, as Israel continued its violations of a ceasefire in effect since last October, Anadolu reports. Three Palestinians were killed and a fourth was injured in an Israeli strike in the central city of Deir al-Balah, a medical source said. Witnesses said an Israeli drone targeted a gathering of civilians on Al-Mazraa Street in Deir al-Balah, in an area outside the army’s agreed control zone. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in the Muawiya area northwest of Rafah in southern Gaza, another medical source said. A fifth Palestinian was shot dead near Abu Hamid roundabout in Khan Younis. Both locations are