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

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  Iran and USA – The US Shows Signs of Decline, Iran Ascends

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  “The decline of a great power does not begin when it loses its weapons. It begins when its weapons can no longer deliver the political outcomes they were meant to guarantee.” The relationship between the United States and Iran has for decades been one of the defining conflicts of West Asian geopolitics. It has involved diplomatic rupture, sanctions, covert operations, military confrontation and a continuing struggle over who determines the political future of the region. But the present confrontation raises a question that goes beyond the immediate war: is the balance between the two countries beginning to change? The United States remains the world’s most powerful military state, with enormous technological capabilities, a vast defence budget and a global network

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  Algeria severs diplomatic ties with UAE, gives ambassador 48 hours to comply

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Algeria has today, Thursday, decided to sever diplomatic relations with the UAE and gave the UAE ambassador 48 hours to comply with the decision, Anadolu reports. In a statement reported by the official news agency, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said that the UAE ambassador (who was not named) was received at the ministry headquarters earlier on Thursday. He was officially informed of the decision to sever diplomatic relations and given a 48-hour deadline “to comply with this decision.” The ministry explained that the decision was made “after exhausting all avenues to preserve bilateral relations.” The Foreign Ministry accused the UAE of engaging in what it described as “provocative or hostile actions,” stating that Algeria had “exercised a great deal of

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  Pakistan’s Mecca Pact: From Sovereignty to Saudi Subcontracting

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  There was a time when Pakistan could still distinguish an alliance from an employment contract. In April 2015, Saudi Arabia wanted Pakistani aircraft, warships and troops for its war in Yemen. Pakistan’s parliament did something that now looks almost embarrassingly sensible: it said no. Another country’s war, it understood, does not become yours merely because its rulers are richer, louder, and accustomed to being obeyed. The Gulf response stripped away the sentimental language of fraternity. Anwar Gargash, then the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, warned Pakistan that it could pay a “heavy price” for its supposedly ambiguous position. Ambiguous? Parliament had unanimously voted for neutrality. In the diplomatic vocabulary of petro-monarchies, it seems, “ambiguity” can mean nothing more

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  Indonesia-UAE ties need to go beyond the dam

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants to invest in a large dam in Indonesia. The dam, called Bulango Ulu, sits in Bone Bolango, in Gorontalo province, on the northern arm of Sulawesi island, north of Bali. The UAE’s ambassador visited the site last month and said UAE companies, including state-owned clean energy firm Masdar, are in talks to add value to the project, most likely by supplying and operating the equipment needed to turn some of the dam’s water flow into electricity. Officials have said the dam should eventually supply water to 880,000 people and irrigate 5,000 hectares of rice fields; some reports have also cited an electricity figure as high as 80 megawatts, though public project documents point to

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  A New Sanctions Regime: Targeting Israel’s West Bank Settlements

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  International responses to Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank, notably regarding redrawing the ethnic composition of the territory, have been a slow burn affair.  Condemnation and admonitions have issued from various international bodies and civil society groups regarding the settlements of zealous Israeli nationalists.  The International Court of Justice, in its 2024 advisory opinion, clarified the point that the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem had “been established and are being maintained in violation of international law” and that “the State of Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.  Aside from tepid pronouncements at the government level, specific individuals associated with settlement

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  Turkey and the Move Away from US Security Strategies

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The Trump administration has begun preparing a US strategy for the period following the end of the war with Iran, intended to guide its Middle East policy during the final two years of Trump’s term. US sources have outlined several principal directions under consideration. The first, and most important, is the creation of a regional alignment among US allies to contain Iran, with the United States acting as its guarantor. The second, which is structurally linked to the first, is the expansion of the Abraham Accords and normalisation between Israel and countries in the region, foremost among them Saudi Arabia. On the other side, countries in the region appear to be exploring entirely contradictory strategies, mindful of the transformations brought

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  Israeli forces demolish Palestinian home near Bethlehem

  by Mehdi Editor on September 10, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned home in the village of Battir in Bethlehem province in the southern occupied West Bank on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The Israeli army claimed that the house was demolished because it had been built without a permit. Israeli heavy machinery was used to raze the building as soldiers carried out a raid in the area. Israeli soldiers and occupiers carried out 2,256 attacks against Palestinians, their land, and property during the same month, according to the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. It said Israeli forces were responsible for 1,458 of the attacks, while occupiers carried out 798. READ: Israeli forces arrest Palestinian police officers over detention of armed Israeli soldier near Beitunia Israel’s current government has

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  Smotrich says Israel demolished 35 Palestinian structures in northern West Bank

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said authorities demolished 35 Palestinian structures near access roads serving new settlements in the northern West Bank, describing the buildings as unauthorised and linking the operation to efforts to strengthen Israeli settlements in the area. Smotrich said the demolitions were carried out by the Civil Administration’s enforcement unit, which falls under his authority as part of his responsibilities within the Defence Ministry relating to civilian affairs in the West Bank. “We are demolishing illegal construction, creating a deterrent effect, and protecting the northern West Bank settlements that serve as a security belt for Israel,” Smotrich said. He added that Israeli authorities were working to “fortify and strengthen the settlements.” Smotrich did not identify the precise

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Ali Akbal Dareini: Iran is Changing its Military Strategy, Will it Work?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 10, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Does US Conduct Unlawful Military Strikes and is Israel a Terrorist Country?

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  Gaza resumes secondary exams after two-year disruption and extensive damage to schools

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Palestinian education authorities have resumed the General Secondary Education Examination, known as the Tawjihi, in the Gaza Strip after approximately two years of disruption, despite extensive damage to educational infrastructure and continuing difficulties caused by the war. Jamal Youssef, director-general of examinations at the Palestinian Ministry of Education, said the damage to Gaza’s education system had severely disrupted the administration of the Tawjihi exams and affected tens of thousands of students. Speaking during an interview on the Tallat Sabah program, broadcast by Radio Al-Rabea, Ma’an Satellite Channel and the Ma’an Network, Youssef described the destruction of educational facilities in Gaza as “systematic and near-total.” He said the ministry and its General Examinations Committee had introduced a series of exceptional measures

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  Netanyahu says Israel ‘very close’ to achieving goals against Iran during southern Syria visit

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel was “very close” to achieving its objectives in its confrontation with Iran, as he visited Israeli forces deployed on Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) in Syrian territory. Netanyahu toured an Israeli military position on Mount Hermon accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Deputy Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai. He received an operational briefing from Northern Command chief Ori Gordin and 210th Division commander Yair Peli, according to Israeli reports. Speaking from the summit, Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s military position across its northern front, pointing to Damascus, Lebanon and the Golan Heights and asserting that Israeli forces had established an unprecedented degree of control over the surrounding area. “We control the entire region

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  Israeli forces arrest Palestinian police officers over detention of armed Israeli soldier near Beitunia

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Israeli forces have arrested three Palestinian police officers in connection with the detention of an armed Israeli soldier near Beitunia, west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, approximately two weeks ago, according to Palestinian and Israeli media reports. Among those arrested is Sergeant Fadi Muhammad Ali, a Palestinian police officer who works at the Beitunia police station, according to local sources cited by Quds Press. The sources said Ali, a resident of the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood, was arrested earlier this week as part of Israeli action against Palestinian police personnel allegedly involved in the incident. According to the reports, Israeli authorities allege that the officers participated in setting up a checkpoint and detaining an Israeli national in the Beitunia

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  Hamas rejects possible postponement of Palestinian legislative elections

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Hamas has rejected suggestions that upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council elections could be postponed, calling for the vote to be held as scheduled and for arrangements to be made to ensure a free and fair electoral process. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement on Wednesday that the group was concerned by recent remarks from Palestinian Authority officials raising the possibility that the elections might not take place on time. Qassem called for adherence to the announced electoral timetable and said the necessary political and administrative arrangements should be completed to allow the vote to proceed. His comments follow remarks by senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub, who said this week that he did not believe elections scheduled for 28th November

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  Hebrew report: Syrian group attacking Israel linked to Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The Israeli news channel i24NEWS has reported that the group Uli al-Baas, which has claimed attacks against Israel, is a joint arrangement involving networks linked to Hezbollah and figures associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. However, there is no conclusive public evidence to prove this. In a special investigation, the channel said the name “Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Uli al-Baas” had re-emerged in southern Syria after claiming operations targeting Israeli military positions. This came as a security report circulated alleging that the group was linked to media and funding networks that reportedly bring together figures associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and others who had ties to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The channel said the group denies the allegations and insists that

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  Likud accuses Dahlan of seeking to oust Netanyahu and right-wing bloc in next election

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Israel’s Likud party stepped up its attack on a Haaretz report on Wednesday evening over an alleged warning that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the 7th October 2023 attack, moving from denying the report’s contents to accusing Palestinian and Israeli figures of trying to interfere in the election in cooperation with foreign parties, and calling for a criminal investigation. In a strongly worded statement, Likud claimed that “the real issue that has emerged over the past two days is blatant foreign interference in the Israeli election”. It alleged that ousted Palestinian Fatah movement’s leader Mohammed Dahlan, who lives in the UAE, was behind information published by Haaretz journalists Shlomi Eldar and Roth Yuval.

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  Israeli army conducts military exercises near borders with Egypt, Jordan

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The Israeli army has conducted large-scale and unprecedented military exercises along its borders with Egypt and Jordan, as it prepares for several scenarios, all stemming from the failure to prevent the 7 October 2023 attack. Hebrew-language media reported that the 80th Division, responsible for the southern borders, had completed extensive training for its forces, with a particular focus on the borders with Egypt and Jordan. The exercises also covered rapid responses to emergencies, while increasing manpower and strengthening the forces’ presence and movement on the ground. The reports said close coordination was carried out between the ground and naval forces to maintain readiness in the Red Sea city of Eilat. An operations officer in the Yoav Brigade said the exercise

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  Lebanese army: Nearly 7,700 Israeli violations since framework agreement

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  The Lebanese army said on Wednesday it had recorded nearly 7,700 Israeli violations since a framework agreement was signed on 26 June, warning that continued violations threatened existing understandings and arrangements. In a statement, the army command said Israel had stepped up attacks on residential areas and institutions in recent days, killing and wounding large numbers of people. The latest incident killed at least 12 people, including women and children, in what the army described as a massacre in the town of Kafr Rumman in the Nabatieh district. Israeli attacks have intensified in several areas of southern Lebanon in recent days, particularly around Nabatieh, amid continued air strikes and artillery shelling. The escalation comes as preparations are under way for

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  Syria condemns Netanyahu’s ‘illegal entry’ into its territory on Mount Hermon

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Syria on Wednesday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “illegal entry” into its territory and visit to the Mount Hermon area, calling it a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. The Syrian Foreign Ministry issued the statement after Netanyahu entered the Syrian-controlled part of the occupied Mount Hermon area earlier on Wednesday, accompanied by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz. Netanyahu’s visit comes as Israel prepares for a Knesset election scheduled for October. The ministry said Syria strongly condemns the “illegal entry” by Netanyahu into Syrian territory and his visit to Mount Hermon, describing it as a “provocative step and blatant violation” of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and international law. It

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  Iran rejects IAEA Board resolution on nuclear file

  by Marwa A on September 10, 2026

  Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has rejected a decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors to refer Iran’s nuclear file to the UN Security Council, for the first time in 20 years. In a post on social media on Wednesday, Gharibabadi said US and Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards had disrupted the inspection and verification process sought by the agency. “They attack our safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use this disruption itself as a pretext to secure a decision from the IAEA Board of Governors,” he said. Gharibabadi described the approach as “fabricated”, saying: “With these fabrications, you cannot make up for the failure of your

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  From Sabra and Shatila to Gaza: The cost of impunity

  by Mehdi Editor on September 10, 2026

  Imagine this scene: “One young woman, fearing she would not survive, stepped out of the crowd and handed her infant to one of the female doctors.” Those are the words of American Jewish nurse Ellen Siegel, recalling that moment from Shatila—one of Lebanon’s 12 official Palestinian refugee camps, established in 1949—and the adjacent Sabra neighborhood, which was predominantly Palestinian but was not itself an UNRWA refugee camp. Siegel had volunteered to go to Lebanon as a nurse to help Palestinians and Lebanese civilians caught up in Israel’s 1982 invasion, and was working at Gaza Hospital in the Sabra area when the massacre began. On September 18, as she and other foreign medical workers were being forced out of the hospital

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  Extremist Israeli minister unveils 1,000 new settlement units after trade sanctions

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday announced plans for 1,000 new settlement housing units in the northern occupied West Bank, a day after 12 Western countries said they intended to impose trade restrictions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements, Anadolu reports. Smotrich said on US social media company X that 1,665 dunams (411.5 acres) had been added to the Kida and Havat settlements, allowing for the construction of 1,000 new housing units. The leader of the Religious Zionism party described the move as “another historic step in the settlement revolution.” Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory illegal under international law, a position

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  UK sanctions on illegal settlements mark diplomatic setback, major failure for Netanyahu: Israeli report

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper in Israel on Wednesday described the announcement by 12 Western countries, led by Britain, to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as a “diplomatic setback and a significant failure” for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden announced Tuesday their intention to impose restrictions on trade in goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements. In a statement, the 12 countries said the Israeli government’s actions in the occupied West Bank undermine the possibility of a two-state solution and urged Israel to immediately halt illegal settlement expansion and violence by occupiers. Yedioth Ahronoth said that “with the European Union unable for months

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  Beyond Iran: America’s long record of Middle East blunders

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The US government continues to double down, even as its stubbornness costs it dearly—not only in material terms, but also in geopolitical influence. Washington is rapidly losing power and status in the Middle East, a decline that could produce a wider domino effect, reverberating around the world. The latest expression of this hubris came from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Speaking at a G20 gathering of finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina, on September 1, Bessent declared that within two years, the Strait of Hormuz would become “a worthless piece of water,” as oil would instead be transported through overland pipelines. Bessent is now promoting a new narrative that shifts the emphasis from the military war to an economic one.

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  UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ over Strait of Hormuz escalation

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” of escalating military actions and threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, his spokesperson said on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Guterres expressed grave worry regarding recent attacks against commercial vessels and “threats of additional action” against maritime and energy infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint. Dujarric emphasized Guterres’ position that navigational rights and freedom of passage in the region “must be fully restored and respected in accordance with international law.” He recalled the UN chief’s appeal to all parties involved to “exercise utmost restraint” and avoid hostile actions or rhetoric. The UN warned of “grave consequences” for civilians, global economic stability, and international peace

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  After 9/11: How the Muslim became a security subject

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, the most enduring legacy of 9/11 may not be the destruction of the World Trade Center or even the wars that followed. It may lie in something less visible but more enduring: the transformation of the Muslim from a religious and political identity into a security subject. The attacks were an act of mass terrorism, but their historical significance lies equally in how governments subsequently interpreted and responded to them. The question, therefore, is not only why 9/11 happened, but how its aftermath changed the meaning of security itself. The immediate response was understandable. The United States declared a “War on Terror”, invaded Afghanistan and subsequently Iraq, expanded intelligence cooperation and transformed counterterrorism into

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  Finland backs sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements but ‘unlikely’ to impose ban

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Finland said on Wednesday that it would not be able to impose national trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements but would support continued EU efforts, despite being part of a joint declaration by 12 countries to support such trade curbs, Anadolu reports. In response to a question from Anadolu, the Foreign Ministry said Finland joined the statement because it aligns with the country’s long-term foreign policy objectives, including support for the rules-based international order and international law, as well as support for the two-state solution and the Palestinian Authority. But, it added: “Finland is unlikely to impose national sanctions or restrictions due to the fact that we lack national legal basis for it.” “Therefore, we support continued work in the

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  Saudi Arabia warns residents of possible threat in Abha, Khamis Mushait

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  Saudi authorities issued alerts Tuesday warning of a “potential danger” in the southwestern cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait amid escalating Houthi attacks from neighboring Yemen, Anadolu reports. The Saudi Civil Defense urged residents to “immediately proceed to the nearest safe place (inside a building or an interior room away from windows) and stay there until the danger has passed,” according to a statement on US social media platform X. The warnings came as escalating fighting in Yemen increasingly spilled into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Earlier Tuesday, Riyadh said Houthi attacks targeting civilian and economic sites in the southwestern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran had injured 73 civilians, including women and children. Report: US officials consider reducing Middle

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  Red Cross meets Israeli authorities in effort to restore access to detainees

  by Marwa A on September 9, 2026

  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday its team met Israeli authorities and toured a military detention facility as part of efforts to resume access to detainees held in Israel, Anadolu reports. The ICRC said in a statement that the team held a technical meeting with detaining authorities, conducted an assessment and toured parts of the facility, but “neither met nor had direct contact with any detainees.” “This meeting is a step in the right direction towards resuming proper visits to detainees held in Israeli places of detention,” said Julien Lerisson, ICRC’s head of delegation for Israel and the occupied territories. Lerisson said the organization would continue discussing the arrangements for such visits with relevant authorities

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  Italian opposition slams government for not joining sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Italy’s opposition parties on Wednesday slammed the government for not joining a group of countries imposing restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the La Repubblica newspaper, Anadolu reports. Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte called on the government to “show a shred of dignity” and back an opposition bill in parliament to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements. “Show a shred of dignity and approve our bill in parliament to proceed with sanctions,” Conte said, criticizing Rome’s decision not to join the initiative. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein also condemned Italy’s absence, calling it “shameful” and accusing the government of missing another opportunity to defend international law and avoid “double standards.” Foreign Minister

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  Palestinian families in Jordan Valley face displacement deadline today

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Thirty-six Palestinian families in the Abu El Ajaj Bedouin community, near Jiftlik in the occupied West Bank’s Jordan Valley, face the threat of forced displacement today after more than 40 demolition orders were issued against their homes and community structures, the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has said. According to residents, armed Israeli settlers issued the demolition orders and set a deadline of Wednesday 9 September — today — threatening violence against anyone who refuses to leave. In the nearby community of Ash-Shuneh, residents given a similar verbal ultimatum have since received a postponement, though MAP said threats from settlers remain. The threats come a day after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a new package of UK measures against

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  Israel’s Campaign Trail Runs on Cruelty Towards Palestinians | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we look at Israel’s election campaign and how politicians are competing to run the most hateful campaign in an effort to win support from an increasingly radicalised Israeli public. We also discuss the push to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Israel’s efforts to win US backing for its plans, allegations of apartheid against Palestinian students in Israeli universities, Britain’s proposed sanctions on illegal settlements, Nicaragua’s case against Germany at the ICJ and concerns over the future of UNRWA.     WATCH: Is Evidence of Genocide in Gaza Being Erased? | Palestine This Week

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  Trump allies push ‘Israel First’ retaliation against UK at Americans’ expense

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Prominent American Zionist commentator and ally of President Donald Trump, Mark Levin has called on nearly 40 US states to retaliate against Britain using controversial anti-BDS laws, raising fresh questions over the willingness of Israel’s most vocal supporters to impose economic and constitutional costs on Americans in defence of a foreign state. Levin issued the threat after Britain announced a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. “SO NOW OUR STATES CAN BOYCOTT THE UK” said Levin on X arguing that states with laws penalising boycotts of Israel should deploy them against British companies complying with the new measures. SO NOW OUR STATES CAN BOYCOTT THE UK Close to 40 states across the U.S. have

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  Tunisian businessman Lazhar Sta dies after health deteriorates in prison

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Tunisian businessman Lazhar Sta, who was being held in connection with a financial case, died at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis, his daughter Amina Sta said in an Instagram post. Amina said her father died around midnight after being transferred from Mornaguia Prison in critical condition on the evening of Saturday, 5 September 2026. She said he had been suffering from several illnesses and that prison conditions, including high temperatures and limited water supplies, had worsened his health. She accused the authorities of negligence and said she would take legal action before international courts against those responsible for the deterioration of her father’s health and his subsequent death. She also criticised the authorities for failing to inform the family immediately

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  Israeli military court sentences Palestinian journalist to 4 years for ‘incitement’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  An Israeli military court on Tuesday sentenced Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Fatafta to four years in prison on charges of so-called “incitement”, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate said. The syndicate condemned the sentence in a statement, calling it “a new chapter in the targeting of Palestinian journalists and a systematic attempt to silence voices and suppress freedom of opinion and expression”. The Israeli army arrested Fatafta on 30 May 2024 while he was passing through the Container checkpoint northeast of Bethlehem in the southern occupied West Bank. READ: Israel isolates detained Palestinian journalist Bushra al-Tawil in Ramle prison The syndicate said prosecuting journalists in Israeli military courts over their journalistic work or expression of their views was “a flagrant violation of international law

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  What next after Tel Aviv closed London’s consulate—one older than the State of Israel itself?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  While following Channel 4’s coverage of Tel Aviv’s decision to close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, I was struck by a comment from the presenter or commentator on the story. He noted, in essence, that the consulate was older than the “State of Israel” itself. The remark may seem like a passing historical observation, but it captures something of the paradox in the situation we are witnessing today. Britain’s diplomatic presence in Jerusalem dates back decades before the establishment of the State of Israel. Yet this long-standing British institution now finds itself facing an Israeli decision to close it, against the backdrop of measures taken by London toward Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. And this inevitably raises the

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  UN investigators: Israeli operations in Syria may amount to war crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  UN investigators said on Tuesday that Israeli operations in Syria, including the detention of dozens of people, may amount to “war crimes”.  “We are deeply alarmed by violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Israel on Syrian territory, which may amount to war crimes,” Commissioner Fionnuala Ni Aolain told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria, mainly targeting military sites. Israel has said the strikes are aimed at preventing the new authorities from taking control of the former regime’s weapons stockpiles. Israeli forces have also moved beyond the buffer zone bordering the Golan Heights, most of which Israel has

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  Israeli settlers call for Oslo accords to be scrapped in response to sanctions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  The leadership of Israel’s settler movement on Tuesday called for the Oslo Accords to be scrapped, settlements to be expanded into Areas A and B of the occupied West Bank, and the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled, in response to recent European sanctions targeting settlements. Israeli political and settler circles are also working to push the United States to take countermeasures, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11. The broadcaster reported that Yesha Council chairman Yisrael Gantz met US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to discuss possible US steps in response to sanctions imposed by Britain, France and other countries on settlements. READ: Israel advances plans for more than 1,000 settlement homes in central West Bank It said the meeting was

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  Hamas says Israel exploits Board of Peace silence to step up Gaza attacks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Tuesday that Israel’s destruction of homes near displacement camps in Gaza showed it is continuing its attacks on Palestinians. Qassem said Israel is exploiting the Board of Peace’s silence and weak response, along with the failure of mediators and Arab and Islamic states to take practical steps to stop the attacks. He called on all parties to move beyond statements and take practical steps to stop the attacks, warning that the lack of effective measures would allow Israel to continue killing Palestinians and destroying their homes as a prelude to displacing them. READ: Board of Peace says Israel must implement Gaza commitments to move roadmap forward The comments came as Israeli aircraft carried out a

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  Huckabee warns UK of US backlash over Israeli settlement product ban

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has warned that British trade measures against products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank could backfire and harm economic ties between the two countries. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Huckabee said the British measures were likely to have “repercussions”, which he described as “very negative”, and argued that they would not achieve London’s intended goal. The US ambassador said several US states, including Florida, have laws that could restrict trade with entities that take similar measures against Israel. READ: Huckabee repeats claim despite Trump remarks: US would not exist without Israel He warned that British restrictions on a US ally such as Israel could affect British companies, saying the measures could prompt US

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  When allies change the rules: A language Israel has never liked hearing

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  The United Kingdom’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank was not a routine legal measure, nor a narrow trade restriction. It was a political declaration—clear, deliberate, and unusually blunt—that London, alongside eleven other states, has finally chosen to speak in a language Israel has long resisted: the language of accountability. For the first time in decades, Britain—historic ally, early sponsor of the Zionist project, and a state that has traditionally avoided any step that might irritate Tel Aviv—issued a condemnation of remarkable clarity. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is “entirely illegal,” and that what is unfolding there amounts to “ethnic cleansing carried out

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Does US Conduct Unlawful Military Strikes and is Israel a Terrorist Country?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Michael Ratney: Iran: The Rules of the Game Have Changed, Now What?

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  Report: US officials consider reducing Middle East footprint after Iranian strikes expose base vulnerabilities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  US military and intelligence officials are discussing whether to reduce or restructure the country’s presence in the Middle East after Iranian missile and drone attacks exposed vulnerabilities at American facilities across the region, according to a CNN report. CNN reported that repeated Iranian strikes had targeted a number of US military installations in the Middle East, causing significant damage and killing 18 US service members. The attacks have prompted discussions within the US government about whether some military and intelligence operations could be conducted without relying as heavily on permanent facilities in the region, according to officials cited by the network. CNN reported that US facilities in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait sustained substantial damage during Iranian attacks. The

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  Tehran plans to equip metro stations as civilian air-raid shelters

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Authorities in Tehran are developing plans to equip the Iranian capital’s metro stations for use as civilian shelters during air raids, according to Iranian media reports. Mehdi Chamran, head of the Tehran City Council, said work was underway to prepare metro stations to accommodate civilians during emergencies and to identify the facilities and services required at or near the stations. “We are currently working on equipping subway stations so they can be used as shelters,” Chamran was quoted as saying by the Iranian news website Didban. “We are also identifying the necessary facilities located within or in the immediate vicinity of these stations.” Authorities are also expected to install signs directing residents to designated shelter areas, according to the report.

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  Egypt, Jordan welcome UK measures restricting trade linked to illegal Israeli settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Egypt and Jordan welcomed measures by the UK restricting trade linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, calling for further international action to halt settlement expansion and protect the two-state solution, Anadolu Agency reported. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the UK’s decision to ban trade in goods and certain services associated with illegal settlements is an important step that reflects a commitment to international law and relevant international resolutions. The ministry said the measures will help counter illegal settlement activity and attempts to impose new realities on the ground in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. “Continued settlement expansion undermines the territorial unity of Palestinian land and the possibility of establishing an independent, viable Palestinian

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it seized US unmanned underwater vessel near Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that its naval forces had seized a US unmanned underwater vessel near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, amid heightened military tensions between Tehran and Washington. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC Navy said it had captured and taken control of what it described as an intelligent US unmanned submarine during an operation in the Strait of Hormuz area. According to the Iranian account, the vessel is now in the possession of Iranian forces. Iranian media reported that images of the captured vessel were expected to be released. READ: US sanctions 36 Iran-linked targets under ‘Economic D-Day’ campaign The type of underwater vehicle involved, its mission and the

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  Israel advances plans for more than 1,000 settlement homes in central West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Israeli authorities have announced a land designation covering approximately 1,665 dunams for the settlements of Keida and Hadat in the central West Bank, a step intended to facilitate plans for the construction of more than 1,000 housing units. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds responsibilities within the Defence Ministry relating to West Bank civilian affairs, announced the move alongside Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz, who also heads the Yesha Council, an umbrella organisation representing Israeli settlements. According to the announcement, authorities have completed a so-called “Blue Line” designation defining the boundaries of land associated with Keida and Hadat, both located in the Shiloh settlement bloc. Israeli officials described the designation as an important step toward advancing development

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  More than 1,000 flights canceled at UK airports following technical failure

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  More than 1,000 flights were canceled at UK airports following a technical failure at a Britain’s air traffic control service center, according to reports on Tuesday. The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said in a statement that technical issues were causing disruptions in flight departures at UK airports including major London airports. “We are investigating a technical issue which is causing some disruption to flight departures,” NATS said in the statement. It later determined that the issue was in “our flight processing system.” Flight-tracking site FlightRadar24 said that as of 8 pm local time (1900GMT) more than 1,000 flights were cancelled due to the technical failure including inbound flights to London, Manchester, Birmingham airports. READ: Belgian union threatens strike over Brussels

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  Rajoub Doubts Palestinian elections will be held in November, calls 2021 postponement ‘strategic error’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 9, 2026

  Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub has expressed doubt that Palestinian elections scheduled for 28th November will take place as planned, arguing that the political arrangements and consensus required to hold the vote have not yet been reached. Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah’s Central Committee, made the remarks during a televised interview with Al-Ghad TV on Monday, in which he discussed the electoral process, internal Fatah affairs and broader Palestinian political developments. “It is my conviction that the elections will not take place on 28th November — period,” Rajoub said. Rajoub argued that a presidential decree setting the election date should have been preceded by a comprehensive national dialogue among Palestinian political factions to establish the rules, guarantees and conditions governing the

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  US sanctions 36 Iran-linked targets under ‘Economic D-Day’ campaign

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  The US Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it imposed sanctions on 36 targets linked to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airlines, accusing the sector of facilitating the movement of weapons, personnel and illicit cargo, Anadolu reports. The action, carried out under the Treasury’s “Operation Economic Outcast,” includes sanctions against Iran’s remaining active airlines, as well as companies and intermediaries accused of helping Tehran acquire US-origin aircraft and aviation technology. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were intended to cut financial lifelines supporting the government and warned companies doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines that they could face exclusion from the global financial system. The Treasury Department said the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was also targeting third-country firms

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  UK announces sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 8, 2026

  Citing the existence of “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians,” Britain will impose a trade ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the country’s foreign secretary announced Tuesday. In a statement to lawmakers in the House of Commons, Ed Miliband said today marks the “beginning of a new approach” on Israel, announcing that the UK will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements. “The legislation I have announced today will be in place within six to nine months and we will also take more immediate steps,” he noted. Today’s measures “represent a clear message” to the government of Israel, to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to the world that “we will not acquiesce in